Please review? I really don't know what yall think and would like to!

"Mom!"

"Katie!" Coleen turned at the sound of her daughter's voice and limped toward her. Pidge sprinted to her mother and they embraced. "I'm so glad you're okay, honey."

"Mom, where's dad? Matt?"

Coleen's shoulders shook and she hugged her daughter tighter. "Those monsters, they took them with the other scientists at the garrison. I overheard they were being taken on a ship. My boys..."

Pidge whimpered into her mother's chest. She had been so scared she was alone. Before she could say anything more, the other cadets wandered closer. They were all scuffed up from their final escape attempt and almost all of them were ready to give up. Two figures darted past Pidge and she looked to see Admiral Sanda and General Iverson rush into the cadets.

Admiral Sanda fell to her knees. She pulled two seventh graders against her and exclaimed, "Cadets, we were so worried. James? Ryan? Keith? Nadia? Ina? Hunk? Lance?"

"Lance!"

Lance answered, "Veronica!" and ran to his sister. "Veronica, what's going on? Where is everyone?"

Veronica shook her head, her unwashed curly hair clinging to her face. "I was put here instead of with the other teachers. Shiro and the others are across the lot by Hangar A. God, Lance, everything is so messed up."

Iverson went in a circle and spun the other direction. "Wait. We're one short. Kogane? Seniors, report."

Pidge looked at Lance who blanched. Hunk and Griffin helped Kinkaid limp to the middle of the group. Ryan's leg was messed up from a blaster shot. He was pale and clammy with sweat. General Iverson cursed and crouched beside Kinkaid as they gingerly lowered him to the ground. "Ryan, James, where is Keith?"

They shared a look and couldn't meet Iverson's gaze. Pidge lifted her head, but failed to keep her chin from trembling. She tugged on her mother's hand and saluted the admiral. "Cadet Kogane separated from the main group in a desperate attempt to create a diversion so we could," she started crying and swallowed a sob, "so we could escape. He did not expect to survive. We... We saw his jet go down."

She started shaking and dropped her salute to clench her fist at her side. Iverson frowned, his one good eye nearly closing, before he reached out and put a heavy hand on her shoulder. "Miss Holt... Are you sure?"

Lance confirmed, "Yes, sir. We all saw the explosion."

Rizavi was wringing her hands near her chest when she suddenly ran to Admiral Sanda and hugged her. Sanda took a step back, shock on her face. She instinctively she held the upset girl clinging to her. Leifsdottir drug her feet as she walked to Griffin. She leaned into his side and held his hand in both of hers. He closed his eyes and placed his forehead against her hair.

Pidge squeezed her eyes shut as Iverson patted her shoulder. She heard him take a deep breath. When he stepped back, her mother wrapped an arm around her chest and they both sank to the ground. Iverson and Sanda whispered to one another and Griffin joined them.

Pidge watched them with complete apathy. Everything was meaningless at this point. Matt and dad were taken, probably across the universe. Keith was... She jumped when the gate they'd been forced through opened again. Pidge's mother pulled her to her feet and put herself between her daughter and the aliens.

"Is anyone injured?"

Pidge looked under her mother's arm as the medic and another alien she had never seen walked up to the cadets. Iverson and Sanda stepped up beside Coleen and the seniors and Veronica formed a solid line between their teachers and the younger cadets.

Sanda asked, "Why are we here? What do you want?"

The medic scanned heads and countered, "Where is the young one? Your alpha child?"

"What the hell are you talking about? We don't have any little kids here," Iverson answered.

The stranger spoke up and clarified, "The leader of the ones under our care is missing. You call him by the name Keith."

Iverson locked his jaw and answered with gravel in his tone, "He's dead. You bastards shot his fighter out of the sky."

The medic narrowed his eyes and accused, "You're lying."

"Why would we?" Sanda held herself with what dignity she could find and kept her shaking fists at her side. "We loved that boy with everything we had and now he's dead. Because of you... you heartless monsters."

The medic was breathing hard. His hand was flexed and kept twitching as though reaching for something. The stranger turned and wrapped an arm around the medic's chest to pull him back from the humans. What was going on? Why were they so interested in Keith?

Before she could ask, the gate opened again and Pidge caught her breath. Tears stung her eyes and she whispered, "Keith!"

He was crying and they'd put that thing back on him so he couldn't speak. The alien who was escorting Keith let him collapse to the ground. She looked to the other aliens who shared a look and went to her with barely concealed urgency in their wide steps. Pidge watched, her confusion multiplying, as the woman whispered to the males. Then the medic knelt beside Keith and brought him to his senses with a touch.

"Keith," Lance breathed and tried to break from their line.

Veronica clutched his arm and Iverson put a hand on Lance's chest. "Don't, McClain. He's alive, but we don't know any more than that."

"Sir, we have to help him!"

"We will, Lance." Veronica reassured. "We're going to get him back."

"Wait, what are they doing?" Coleen asked.

Pidge looked over to see the stranger hold Keith's struggling form with an excessive amount of care they'd yet to display. The woman chewed on the corner of her nail and glanced back as Keith stopped kicking and went limp. The alien males shared another look. When Keith was completely relaxed, he was placed on the ground and the woman knelt beside him.

Pidge watched as she reached out and brushed Keith's hair off his face, pausing to rest her fingertips lightly on his cheek. Then she unlocked the muzzle and removed it, crushing it in her fist. They spoke quietly for another minute. The medic reached into his pocket and began administering first aid to Keith while he was unconscious. At least, Pidge hoped he was unconscious.

The woman looked down at Keith once more before walking toward Admiral Sanda. She blinked at the admiral, her emotions carefully hidden behind a blank stare. Pidge squeezed her mother's arm. Something more was going on, but she couldn't figure out what. The alien woman lifted her chin and said, "Ulaz, the dark child needs your attention. Lieutenant Thace, the choice must be made."

The stranger looked at the woman with a raised eyebrow. She frowned and crossed her arms. Looking back at Keith, she cocked a hip. Pidge asked, "Why are you so interested in the alpha kit!?"

The woman startled and all three aliens looked at Pidge before her mother could hide her again. The medic approached the line of seniors who refused to budge. He scowled, showing his fangs for the first time. Only Griffin managed not to flinch. The medic growled, "Foolish children, let me take care of you. That wound will not heal without medical attention and if he loses the leg, his continuing existence will not be tolerated. Move aside."

He reached out and gripped the shoulder of Griffin's jacket, physically shoving him out of the way. Rizavi and Hunk caught him while the medic crouched beside Kinkaid who could not move away in time. Pidge bit her cheek as Ryan screamed. She looked over. The medic had only cut away the melted cloth covering the wound.

Ryan bit back another scream as his the wound began bleeding profusely again. The medic clicked their tongue in annoyance and reached into his pack. He muttered derisively, "You should have remained where you were until we came for you. You would have been spared this pain."

Kinkaid was in tears while the medic worked. The medic used a light that somehow sealed the bandage material to itself on Ryan's leg and said, "I would give something for the pain, but it would put you out of sorts and you must be fully alert to pass inspection."

"Inspection? What-"

The woman glared at Lance and he immediately cut himself off. She looked at the one she'd called Lieutenant Thace and insisted, "Make the call."

The lieutenant frowned and walked a short distance away. Pidge watched him tap his helmet and he said, "This is First Lieutenant Thace requesting two transfers from quadrant gamma of holding bay alpha. We'll need a stretcher and restraints."

"This is command. We hear you lieutenant and have sent vehicles to your location. What is your destination?"

The alien answered, "My commander's star cruiser and the designated facility for apprehended youths."

"Negative, lieutenant. The red lion has incapacitated Commander Prorok's ship. His crew is being reallocated to Commander Sendak's cruiser until a replacement ship is available."

The lieutenant looked at the alien woman and answered after a moment's hesitation, "Affirmative, command. We'll set our destination and be there within the varga." He faced the humans and said, "Kits will enter the vehicle or be executed. You two," he pointed to Sanda and Iverson, "will accompany them and are responsible for their care from this point on. Should anyone cause further disturbance, they will be executed with extreme prejudice. You, woman, come with us."

Pidge stepped closer to her mother and clung to her arm. Coleen shook her head. "You've already taken my husband and son. I'm not leaving my daughter."

Iverson stepped closer to Coleen, but the alien woman reasoned, "Believe me, as a fellow mother, I understand your resistance and hesitancy. But know that nothing good will come from it. If you want her to live, you'll come with us willingly."

"Like hell she will!" Lance exclaimed and jumped in front of Coleen. "If you try to take Mrs. Holt, I'll kill you."

"McClain!" Sanda shouted.

Lance took a fighting stance. The lieutenant glared at Lance and said, "Step aside, kit. You will not win."

"You've already killed countless others. I'm willing to die to save who's left."

Pidge yelped as the medic moved silently past her and grabbed Lance's arm. Lance tried to turn, but the medic bent his arm and forced him to his knees. He glared at Coleen and said, "Move, primitive. You will not be given a third chance."

Pidge shouted in alarm, but her mother took a step forward. She refused to let go and begged, "Mom! Mom, don't go!"

Coleen looked down at her daughter, tears streaming down her face. "I'm sorry, Katie. I'm so sorry."

"No!" Pidge reached out as the alien woman grabbed her mother's arm and pulled her away. When Pidge tried to go after her, the medic grabbed the back of her collar and she jerked to a stop. "Let go of me! Mom!"

Pidge slipped out of her uniform jacket and twisted to bite the medic. As he flinched, she kicked his shin and he released Lance. Lance pushed forward to his feet and shouted a battle cry. The lieutenant stepped between him and Coleen and dodged Lance's sloppy punch before catching his arm. Lance was slammed face first into the fence.

Lance struggled weakly, but then the gate was opened once again. Pidge felt Iverson grab her around the waist and pull her back as a formidable alien entered the enclosure. He was taller than the medic and broader. His plated armor glowed with a threatening light that matched his mechanical eye and altered arm. Two others, a male and the woman Keith hated, entered behind him. The medic and the woman by Coleen lifted their fists to their chest.

The lieutenent yanked Lance's arms behind his back and cuffed him. Lance was forced to his knees and the lieutenant apologized, "Forgive my impertinence, Commander Sendak," and lifted his fist to his chest.

The bionic alien excused, "No matter, First Lieutenant. I've heard a lot about this particular collection. Lieutenant Brona, third class, insisted I be present for their inspection." His monocular gaze traveled to the woman by Coleen and said, "You must be Second Lieutenant Krolia. I wasn't aware you'd arrived following your transfer."

The woman nodded her head and answered, "Second Lieutenant Krolia, formerly Third Lieutenant beneath Warlord Ranveig and Head of Security, reporting for duty. My first orders came following the escape of the red lion. I beg forgiveness for not reporting to you upon my immediate arrival, Commander Sendak."

Pidge was almost too upset to catch that distinction. She was technically beneath the alien that had Lance, so why had he and the medic deferred to her? The commander smirked crookedly at his newest lieutenant. "I'll forgive you, Krolia. You come highly recommended and I expect your experience will be appreciated in the coming pheobs."

"Vrepit sa," Krolia answered. She lowered her fist and asked, "Shall we commence with the inspection, then?"

"At your leisure, Lieutenant."

Pidge shivered. Was he flirting with her? She'd said she was a mother. Did that make him her husband? The other woman beside the male behind the commander shot Krolia a subtle dirty look. Krolia nodded to Thace. "You are more familiar with these primitives, Lieutenant Thace. I follow your lead."

Thace nodded and said, "These are militant youths. We believe they were being trained by the the two elder primitives. Following their incarceration, they proved to be difficult to contain. We have isolated the individuals with aggressive tendencies. As a result, they have become more docile. I have already arranged for them to be moved."

Krolia continued, "These three will be taken and put with the rest aboard your ship, commander."

"Three?" The woman behind the commander clarified.

Krolia held the hostile stare of the woman. "Yes, three, Lieutenant Brona. The alpha kit was sedated to prevent further defiance and the female caused more problems than we originally thought. The third, a male kit, is paired with the alpha. Remove him and the youths will have no true sense of order while they are being transferred, rendering them obedient and submissive."

"That is complete yupper scat," Brona snidely retorted.

"Is it, Lieutenant?" Krolia challenged. "From my understanding, you were their warden and they nearly escaped multiple times. Based upon this, I highly doubt your capabilities and judgement. Fifteen of our soldiers and multiple squadrons of sentries were lost due to your incompetence." Brona's face contorted in a scowl and Krolia continued, "Further, during my transfer, I researched what we learned about this colony. They bond together, an alpha and omega if you will. If the alpha is injured or otherwise incapacitated, the omega will rise up and assume responsibility for their pack.

"My time beneath Warlord Ranveig taught me much about these colonies. He has long held the largest record of planets annexed into the rule of our glorious emperor, Zarkon. I know when primitives are ready to give up. Until the omega was brought into submission, this group was still aggressive. Look at them now, Lieutenant." Krolia narrowed her gaze. "Tell me if they want to keep fighting."

Pidge flinched when the aliens all admired their beaten state. She hadn't really thought Lance was a leader, but he had always tried to emulate Keith's behavior at an almost subconscious level. Brona finally relented. "They have been brought to order under your... experienced guidance. However, there is no place for a third primitive. Kill the spare and be done with it."

Lance opened his mouth to shout, but Thace dug his talons into his shoulder. Thace said, "That would be unwise. Commander Sendak, is it true you intend to make the alpha child a challenger for the arena?"

Sendak looked at the male who had been silent this whole time. "It is something I've considered. Many of my officers have suggested as much."

Krolia said, "Then I suggest that the alpha and omega are held together, commander. With his omega, he will maintain his aggressive nature and grow to become an even stronger opponent. My research told of many instances where a pair was separated by circumstances that ended with one or both of their deaths. If we are to go to the trouble of bringing the alpha, there is no option but to imprison the omega as well."

The commander frowned and asked the man beside him, "Lieutenant Haxus, what do you think on the matter?"

The man narrowed his gaze shrewdly and walked up to Lance. He tipped Lance's chin up with a sharpened talon. "The omega's eyes tell of a fighter, though not of the same caliber as the alpha. He would not last a single round within the arena. However..." Haxus looked over where Keith was still unconscious. "They are both young and the journey long. Their small size will make up for the space allowed a single prisoner. And if you are right, Lieutenant Krolia, perhaps the omega would still prove an interesting diversion within the arena."

Two vehicles drove up just then and a half dozen hollow soldiers stood at the ready. Sendak grinned wickedly and announced, "Place all three prisoners in the brig of my ship. They'll prove why this planet is worth five of our other colonies and the honor showered upon my fleet will be glorious."

The aliens all saluted and said as one, "Vrepit sa."

Thace led Lance to the vehicle, terror and anger fighting for control on his face. Haxus came forward and took Coleen by the arm. Krolia nodded her thanks and went to where Keith lay. Ulaz knelt beside her. They briefly whispered before Krolia lifted Keith in her arms. He groaned and his head rolled against her chest plate.

Brona stopped Krolia with a hand on her arm. Pidge heard her murmur, "You have quite a mouth on you, for someone recently transferred. You'd best watch your tone or someone might take it upon themselves to silence you."

Krolia leaned close and said just loud enough for those around her to hear, "I appreciate the warning, Lieutenant Brona, third class. I will answer in kind. Do not make me pull rank again. You may be Haxus's subordinate, but I am Sendak's. Get on my level before you make such ridiculous claims."

Then she walked to the vehicle and laid Keith on a contoured stretcher. She carefully secured the straps over his chest, waist, and legs. Then the commander left with his higher officers. Brona scowled long after the vehicle was no longer visible. Then she lifted her blaster and demanded, "Everyone get on that land crosser. Hesitate and I will shoot."

Pidge felt Iverson tug her forward. He whispered, "Go with the juniors, Katie. We'll bring up the rear." She nodded and joined the slow procession. When they reached the vehicle, there was just enough room to stand shoulder to shoulder. When the seniors, Admiral Sanda, and General Iverson were boarded, The sides rose up to seal them in darkness.

The student nearest grabbed her hand. She squeezed even though she couldn't tell who it was. They all swayed as the vehicle went into motion. Scared murmurs and gentle sobs were heard throughout the hour long ride. The vehicle came to a slow stop and the side opened up to reveal a door just large enough for them to go single file. They were all identified by hand signature again.

Pidge blinked in the starlight. The medic had called it a more functional facility. The lieutenant had described it for apprehended youths. She'd expected the jouvie center in town, but this was worse. She joined the procession that marched beneath the gates of the high school she'd attended before transferring into the garrison. Welcome to high school.