Chapter 19: The Rescue Mission
Part 4: Keith's View
~~ 25 dobashes ago ~~
Keith was waiting patiently for his next test. Suddenly, the scents were very close and started to creep up to the door very quietly. He quietly listens to the outside of the door, he could hear much. But he defiantly knows that two people are talking. Suddenly, he heard the sound of footsteps that are running in the hallway. "Keith!" a familiar voice has called out his name, "Keith, where are you? Keith?"
"Pidge?" Keith called out as the footsteps turned to a dead stop. "Pidge, is that you?" Keith is making sure that he wasn't being tricked. Being a prisoner for a month has taught him how to bring his guard up even more.
"Keith?" the voice came closer to the door. "Keith are you in…there?" the voice sounded disappointed. Keith waited for a few ticks for an appearance to see the face. "Ah, quiznak. I hate this height."
Keith jumped as he is now noticing that the voice that belongs to the real Pidge and she is shorter that the height he is expecting. "Pidge," Keith got closer to the door. Trying to look over the window of the cell, "How are you here? What's going on?"
"No time," Keith has begun to hear clicking sounds and begun to hear typing sounds on a keyboard of a computer. "Right now, I need to bypass the main frame of this lock to get you out. It will be difficult for me to decode the system to bypass it, but just give me a few dobashes before getting you out." All at once, Keith remains calm again.
"Yup," Keith thought out loud. "That's you alright."
"Of course, it is me, Keith," Pidge replied. "Who else do you think it is, instead of me?"
"It's a long story," Keith replied. "And there are some parts of it that you don't even want to know about." Keith began to remember the times when the children tried to pretend to be one of his friends. They have taken him a few times but beginning to learn their scents. He can tell the difference from one to another. Not just the voice anymore.
"That bad, huh?" Pidge's voice sounded worried.
"Yup," Keith lightly sighed as he leaned again the wall. "Most of it," Keith began to wait patiently while Pidge is typing away.
While Pidge is typing, Keith has begun to hear the sound of a lock and load gun and begins to shoot in the different direction where Pidge is standing. "Uh Pidge," another voice has shouted across the hall. "We got company," the shooting continues.
"Hunk?" Keith jumped while his ears straighten up.
"Hey there Keith," Hunk shouted. "No time to talk but being busy for a moment."
"Hold on, Hunk," Pidge called out. "I'm almost done," Pidge's typing sound has begun to pick up some speed.
"Well, you better hurry." Hunk's voice almost shakes in fear as Keith also begins to hear gunfire. Due to the sound of its rhythm, it sounded scarce.
Keith's ears relaxed. Yup, Keith thought with a smile across his face. That's Hunk alright.
"The enemy is coming from the shadows and it seemed to be approaching here really fast." Hunk cried out in panic.
"The vents!" Keith shouted as if he had almost forgotten about something. "Hunk, they are using the vents and the passages from the walls to get to you." Suddenly, he heard a loud THUNK at the end of the hallway.
"Thanks for the heads-up Keith!" Hunk called out.
"No problem," Keith replied as he relaxes while he waits for the right moment to get out of his cell. Suddenly, he heard another pair of footsteps heading to his and Pidge's location. He was about to sniff the air until a sound from a computer dinged.
"Got it," Pidge's voice happily sounded as she unhooked her computer. Slowly, the door to Keith's cell has begun to open. Keith stepped back for a moment as he allow the door to open.
As the door is slowly opening, the pair of footsteps are picking up the pace. Keith sniffed the air again and started to recognize the scent. Keith lowly growled.
"Pidge!" Hunk called out from across the hall, "Look out!"
"Huh?" Pidge's voice sounded as the sound of a swinging blade started to attack her.
Pidge! Keith panicked as he heard Pidge has activated her bayard and started to fight back. Before he knew it, the door has nearly opened fully, and saw Pidge fighting one against one of the Shadow Mother's children. Within a swipe, Shadow Mother's child has knocked Pidge's bayard out of her hand. Flew across the floor towards the end of the hall.
Oh no! Keith jumped. Pidge!
Pidge trembled as her back hit the wall. The Shadow Mother's child crept closer to her as he held a knife in his hand. Soon, the knife turned into a blade within a blink of an eye.
"Hey!" Keith growled as he zoomed in and out of his cell.
The Shadow Mother's child jumped as he turns around, within a blink of an eye. Keith quickly kicked him in the gut. The Shadow Mother's child cried in pain, suddenly Keith grabbed both of his shoulders. Picked him up and tossed him to the wall. All at once, the Shadow Mother's child collapsed and blacked out.
"That will teach you a lesson for hurting one of my friends, you quiznaker." Keith growled as he heard the rest of the footsteps retreat. And the scent of Hunk has started to head right towards Keith and Pidge. While the blade turned back to a knife within his hand.
As Hunk came, he deactivates his bayard ad his eyes widened. "N-no way," Hunk spoke in awe as he picked up Pidge's bayard. Keith turned to Pidge with a worried look on his face.
"Pidge," Keith spoke to her. "Are you okay?"
"Y-yes," Pidge nodded. "I'm okay, but…how…?" Suddenly, it hit Keith.
Oh right, Keith thought. I'm in galra form, not human. Guess I need to give them a hint. Keith chuckled, "I know what you are thinking," he spoke. "You don't recognize me but wonder if my voice can."
"Uh…" Pidge looked puzzled.
"Keith?" Hunk jumped, "Is that you?"
"Yup, it's me." Keith nodded. Let it sink in 3…2…1…
Both Hunk and Pidge jumped.
And there it is! Keith smiled with a chuckle.
"Keith!" Pidge nearly stuttered as she panics. "What did they do to you?"
~~Present time…~~
Keith sighed as he is relieved that it wasn't one of the tricks that the Shadow Mother and her children are pulling. "It's a very long story Pidge," Keith replied. "But I don't even think that I have the time to explain it all, right about now."
"Oh uh," Hunk snapped out of it. "Keith's right, those Shadow Ninjas will be back here at any moment."
"Well," Pidge pulled out a uniform. "Before we can go, you need to change." She handed me a red paladin uniform.
"Thanks," Keith smiled.
"No problem," Pidge return the smile. "I'll be the lookout, while you get dressed."
Both Keith and Hunk nodded. Pidge dashed through the hall while Keith entered his cell and started to change.
While Keith is changing, Hunk nearly brought a nervous look to his face. "So," Hunk began. "What is it like to be a Galra?" Keith's right ear flicked.
"Irritating," Keith answered. "But like I said, one we get out of here. I will explain everything of what has happened."
"Uh, okay." Hunk has started to have another thought in mind. "Those guys sure know how to hurry while you got out there to save Pidge."
"That's because they don't want to mess with their "Shadow Mother's" new pet as a toy," Keith replied as he put his belt on.
"Wait," Hunk raised an eyebrow. "Shadow Mother?"
"Later," Keith replied as he slipped his blade into the back of his belt and put his helmet on. As both Hunk and Keith walked out of the cell, Pidge ran back to Hunk and Keith.
"The hallway is way too quiet now," Pidge spoke. "So, we will pass through okay without getting jumped or anything, for now."
"Great," Hunk smiled.
"Good to hear," Keith smiled. "Now let's g-…" Keith pauses his sentences as he clutches his chest and leans against the wall.
"Keith?!" Pidge began to worry.
"Are you okay buddy?" Hunk asked.
"Don't worry," Keith calmed down. "I'm fine, but…" suddenly, it hit him. "Are there any others here? That the ones who also entered into the ship?"
"Yeah," Pidge nodded. "Not just me, you and Hunk here. There is Lance and Matt here as well, and they are also been looking for you."
"Where are they at?"
"To a room that is called the "Mother's Quarters," Hunk asked.
Keith nearly jumped.
"Why?" Hunk asked.
Oh no, Keith's eyes began to widen. "Pidge, contact Lance."
"What? Why?" Pidge asked.
"I'll explain within a few moments," Keith answered. "Just please."
"Alright, if you insist." Pidge tapped her commlink, "Lance, this Pidge. Calling on Lance."
I hope that Lance and Matt don't run into Shadow Mother, Keith thought. If they have, they better get something out of there before my life will truly end.