Krolia triple checked the settings on the monitor and frowned. Chewing on her cheek, she looked over her shoulder where Keith and Lance were signing to one another. Neither had told her, but Lance was incredibly anxious about the surgery. Keith was doing his best to keep the other boy calm. Krolia saw Keith take Lance's hand in both of his and hold it to his chest. She looked away as Lance closed the distance and lifted Keith's hands to his cheek.

Antok nodded Ulaz forward and stood at her shoulder. "Your kits, why do they smile and blush when they make that gesture?"

Krolia chided, "It's rude to stare, brother."

Antok leaned on the console and sloppily replicated their sign language. "What does this mean?"

Krolia's lip quirked up at the corner. "You always did enjoy cracking linguistic codes."

"Yes, but there is not enough information being relayed to make a cipher," Antok replied, frustration dripping from his tone.

Krolia answered, "Of course. They're holding a private conversation. That is their way of communicating when they don't want to be overheard. They've been doing so since their time as prisoners aboard Sendak's cruiser. If you know them, you can pick out phrases."

She turned and folded her arms. Antok was closer than he'd been in many long deca-pheobs. She sighed with the relief it brought. They'd never say it out loud, but they'd missed each other. Closing her eyes, she let more of her weight press into his side and his tail tickled the back of her legs like when she was a kit.

"There, what does that mean?"

Krolia opened her eyes in time to see Keith give a small flex and his hand curved near his forehead. Lance deflated slightly and sighed back, making Keith smirk. Krolia smiled and tipped her chin. "Keith just called Lance his brave boy for allowing Ulaz to shave part of his hair. Lance told him to stop patronizing him."

"You got all that from so little?"

Krolia chuckled and nudged Antok. "I said it gets easier once you know them. You see that?"

Antok raised an eyebrow. "No."

Krolia explained, "That little motion is what Lance calls Keith without words. It means 'leader' with the over-arching theme of love. Keith has a similar motion for Lance. I believe it's more teasing, but from what I've gathered, Keith is only like that with Lance. When I asked Keith about it, he explained that back home, Lance was nicknamed their team 'sharpshooter'. He was the most accurate cadet with their firearms."

Keith made a different motion overlapping the same curve near his forehead. Krolia explained, "That was another nickname. 'Loverboy'. When we want to speak to Lance, we do this," she then touched one palm and her forehead and the motion was completed by putting her knuckles together with her fists in front of her chest.

Keith noticed and nudged Lance. Lance turned as much as Ulaz would allow and signed. Krolia translated, "What is it, teacher?" She signed, "Sorry. Don't worry about it." Keith looked at her skeptically, but Lance shrugged. They resumed their silent conversation.

Antok put a hand to his chin. "This has been enlightening. I shall consider what you've told me in the coming days."

Krolia looked again at the console. "It's not that complicated. If you wish, I can give you a file depicting everything about their planet's languages. Of course, there's little variations on how they use sign language, but learning the base level would allow you to converse with Lance when he removes the prosthetic."

"Very well. Send the intel at your first earliest convenience." Antok pushed off the console and lifted his hood. "Now, I must go to our father. Once the balmera is within range, we will depart."

Krolia touched his arm before he could leave. "You will speak to him of what we discussed?"

Antok covered her hand with his and nodded. "I shall return for the kit before we leave."

"Thank you," Krolia said. He left the surgery bay and she opened the coms to receive emergency messages only. When everything was prepped completely, she waited for Ulaz to bring the patient to the sterile table.

Ulaz finally lowered the hair clippers. Keith pulled the hair band out of his hair and used it to hold Lance's remaining hair in a small bun on top of his head. Lance raised an eyebrow. Keith pushed his bangs off his forehead and placed a light kiss there. Krolia heard him whisper, "For luck."

Lance closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "It's time. I want to hear again."

Keith clapped him on the arm. "That's the spirit." He took Lance's hand and led him to the table. "Krolia, we're ready to start the surgery."

Krolia nodded and gestured to the table. "If you will, Lance, lie down and try to relax. I know you're aware of the procedure, but I will inform you when each step begins. Keith, I know this is hard for you given your history, but I need you to be strong for him." Keith shuddered and looked at the table. Krolia reached out and put a hand on the side of his neck. "Sweetheart, you can do this."

Keith nodded and relayed the first half to Lance. Lance did as told, shivering and saying, "Is the table always so warm?"

Krolia smiled and said, "We want our patient to be as comfortable as possible... and it helps keep your internal temperature at a safe degree. For what we are going to do, it is simply an accommodation. Ulaz, let us begin."

Ulaz glanced over the surgical instruments and chose a syringe. "I will place a catheter to administer the paralytic and subsequent doses of medication for any pain." He looked at Keith and the kit informed the patient.

Keith grimaced and moved closer to Lance's head. Lance offered a brave smile and reached over his chest to take Keith's hand. Before Ulaz inserted the catheter, Lance murmured, "Squeeze as hard as you need to." Keith furrowed his brow and bit his lip. When his eyes darted toward Lance's arm, Lance insisted, "Don't look at it. Keith, it doesn't bother me."

Keith took several deep breaths and forced himself to meet Lance's eyes. Krolia grabbed the first drug to be administered and handed it to Ulaz. When the drug entered the vein, Lance gasped and his eyes widened. Catching his breath, he said, "What a rush. Is it always that fast?"

Krolia passed the initial pain preventative to Ulaz and checked Lance's vitals. Brushing his hair back, she smiled and nodded. "You're doing wonderful. We're just about to flush the ear canal with a secondary local anesthetic." Lance twitched a nervous smile up at her and looked to Keith. Krolia said when Keith fell silent, "You need to let go of his hand now, sweet one. Can you please stand beside me."

Keith squeezed Lance's hand one last time and moved. While Ulaz tilted Lance's head and worked, Krolia took the vial of liquid gold and used a wire loop to remove a minuscule drop of quintessence. She carefully placed the loop in a small circular dish and the shimmering viscous liquid inside took on the beautiful color. Then she drew up the liquid into two syringes.

Keith asked, "Is that quintessence? The same energy from the crystals?"

Ulaz tilted Lance's head the other way to drain any excess anesthetic and answered, "Yes. This is what powers the universe. Every living being has it. Your lions are alive because of it." He took one of the syringes Krolia offered and said, "The blades confiscated a small amount the empire had been harvesting from colonies. Once the planets have been stripped of anything the empire deems valuable, the druids use their magics to siph-"

"I know what they do," Keith interrupted. He swallowed hard and shook his head. "You don't have to say it. When I touched the corrupted crystal, I saw. I'll never forget what I was shown."

Ulaz looked up from his work. Krolia knew what he felt. All she wanted was to hold Keith and comfort him. Until Lance was healed, they couldn't help Keith overcome the trauma he'd witnessed. Instead, she explained, "The quintessence is what will graft the healthy cells to the damaged ones. It will also give us a small window of time. While we wait for a permanent energy source, the residual quintessence will power the prosthetic for a few quintants. We'll know if the grafting process took before a crystal is available."

"Keith, buddy, we going to be alright?"

The three of them looked at Lance. Keith smiled and said, "Turns out you'll be able to hear before you know it. Just a couple more steps."

"Sweet."

Krolia nodded for Ulaz to continue and leaned over the table to inject the contents of the syringe into the patient's ear canal. "This will only take a second." She tilted his head so the fluid didn't come back out and watched the level go down as it was absorbed. "There. We're all done."

"The surgery is complete, Lance."

Lance's eyes watered where he lay. "I know, Keith... I heard her." He sniffled, unable to do more until the drugs wore off.

Krolia smiled and teared up. Wiping his hair off his forehead, she kissed him and said, "It's wonderful to have you back, sharpshooter." She blotted his eyes as he closed them. "Rest, child. You did well."

Ulaz administered the final pain killer through the catheter and removed it. "We'll keep you under observation for forty vargas. The effects should last perhaps a quarter pheob. The blades will be back before that with the crystal."

Lance looked to Keith for translation. Keith smiled and took Lance's hand. "Seven days and you'll have permanent hearing. There's no way an explosion will hurt you like this again."

There was a beep over the coms and Antok said, "Sister, we're ready. Can you please unlock the door."

Krolia looked from the door to Keith. He glanced up from the weight of her gaze and she hurriedly looked elsewhere before he saw the worry in her eyes. She stepped away from the surgical table, but he put a hand on her arm. She turned and instantly pulled Keith to her chest. He hugged her tight.

"I have to go... mom."

Krolia gasped. Ulaz shot her a look, but she shook her head. She kissed his hair and closed her eyes. How many times had she planned to tell him? How many variations on this exact scenario had she considered? And now that the time had come, she was speechless? "Sweetheart... my beautiful boy... you'll be careful out there? Please? Stay with Thace and do as he says. Please, Keith."

Keith nodded against her chest. "I'm only going for the crystals."

Krolia put a hand to the back of his head and looked at the ceiling. She couldn't catch her breath. He told himself it was for the crystals, but it was because he thought he needed to go. That no one else could do what he could. The way she had when he was so small. So helpless. But he wasn't helpless now. They'd been training him and he excelled.

"Mom... the door."

Krolia noticed the coms were going off again and realized she couldn't delay any longer. Still she didn't let go. Squeezing him, she whispered, "I love you, Keith. I love you more than there are stars."

Keith made a strange noise in his throat and answered, "I love you too, mother." Keith gently pulled from her arms and went to the table. "Lance, I'm going with Thace and Antok to the balmera. I'll be gone for a few days."

"So what... now we need some space?"

Keith snorted and looked at the ground. Leaning over the table, he kissed Lance's lips. "Your pickup lines are still terrible, loverboy. I'm going to be out of radio contact for a few days. So yeah, you can enjoy the view while I'm gone."

"You're lucky I can't get off this table or I'd kick your ass for leaving me behind."

Keith kissed him again and whispered, "I love you, sharpshooter. I'll be back before you miss me."

"I love you too, Keith."

Wiping her eyes, Krolia smiled bitterly and asked, "Do you need me to help you finish up, Ulaz?"

Ulaz nodded toward the door. "Go."

Keith stood and went to the door. Krolia unlocked it and stepped into the hall. Thace and Antok waited patiently. Keith had his hood up when he emerged from the surgical bay. Thace put a hand on his shoulder and pulled him to his side. "Ready to go, kit?"

Keith nodded. Antok turned and walked toward the hangar. Krolia followed, letting Keith and Thace murmur. Walking in pace with Antok, she whispered, "He knows. I don't know when, but he learned the truth." Antok glanced sidelong at her and she said, "Do not let the empire take him again. Swear you will protect him."

"Even if he were not of my flesh and blood, I would treat him as my own son." Antok paused and put his hands on her shoulders. "I swear nothing will happen to him."

"Thank you, brother." She walked into the hangar where Kolivan and the rest of the agents going to the balmera waited. Red stood when she saw Keith and approached. Krolia left Antok to intercept her. The lion appraised her and came to a halt. When Krolia reached out, the lion lowered her head. "Brave lion... I have a request. I know without your paladins you are landlocked. I only ask that you act selfishly. Keith is my greatest treasure. Take care of him... and be careful. The empire has eyes everywhere."

Footsteps approached and Krolia backed away. Keith ran past and hugged the sentient feline. When she opened her mouth, he stepped back. "She's willing to take us."

Antok flicked his tail and the five agents he'd selected for the mission approached the lion. Regris stood off to the side moping. Antok went to him and put a hand on his shoulder. After a moment, he went to the lion and ducked inside. Krolia took his place beside her nephew. The airlock opened and the red lion walked forward, stretching like a cat before the hunt. Then she took a running leap out into open space.

Kolivan closed the airlock and went to the door. Pausing on the threshold, he asked, "Was the blue paladin's surgery successful?"

Regris twitched a curious ear. Krolia answered, "When I left him, his hearing was restored. Ulaz sedated him while the paralytic wears off. The last thing we need is any sudden movement to dislodge the grafted tissue."

Kolivan nodded. "When he wakes, I wish to have a conversation with him."

"As you say, leader." Krolia watched her father leave. Regris moved closer to her side and she playfully ruffled his hair. "While your father watches over Keith, I get to spoil you! Come, nephew. I want to introduce you to some friends."

Keith gently ran a hand across the console. Red shuddered in his mind and he echoed the motion. Thace stared out the monitors and asked, "Are you nervous?"

Keith kept his breathing normal even though his heart rate was elevated. "Yes."

"Good." Thace put a hand on Keith's shoulder and said, "I'd be worried if you told me you weren't."

"I didn't lie that Red would take us willingly... but she's scared and angry. I... I know the empire hurt her, even if she won't tell me what they did."

Thace squeezed Keith's shoulder and grimaced. "Yes... The empire's witch and scientists did all they could to learn where the other lions were hiding. When she was placed on Commander Prorok's cruiser, I hacked into the files and sent anything pertaining to Voltron to Kolivan. Frankly, after the torture they put her through, I'm surprised your lion allowed Coleen to tamper with her."

Keith clenched his jaw. Red growled low in his mind. They couldn't afford to lose focus, but it was getting harder to concentrate on anything except the instinct of survival. Then they rounded the gas giant they were using for cover and the balmera came into view.

They were still far from contacting the empire. Thace said into his com, "We've reached the first checkpoint. There's only two cruisers orbiting the balmera. Shall we proceed?"

Antok replied, "Affirmative."

Thace nodded and Keith tapped an icon. The holographic image of a cat hiding in long grass blipped onscreen. Gripping the throttles tighter, he took a deep breath and exited the orbit of the gas giant. "Here goes nothing. I hope Coleen knew what she was doing."

A shiver ran up his spine as they flew closer and closer to the balmera. He was practically shaking when an incoming message lit the screen. Opening a channel, he heard the transmission officer say, "State your business and designation."

Thace pressed a button on the side of his neck and answered through the vocal scrambler, "This is Imperial Cruiser 174 Voctoris seeking permission to land and receive our next shipment."

Keith held his breath as the officer on the other end went silent while their request was confirmed. When Keith thought he would black out, the officer answered, "You're approved for landing, Vessel Voctoris. My apologies for the delay. We weren't expecting you for another ten vargas. Proceed to landing bay septa. We'll have your shipment rushed."

Thace said, "There is no need for that. We have our coordinates and are making our approach."

The channel closed and Keith saw the path Red wanted to take to reach their landing point. He started descending when Thace cautioned, "Easy, kit. A cruiser doesn't move like that. Keep it slow and level like I taught you."

Red balked for a moment before relenting to his command. It was tedious, but they didn't draw any unwanted attention from passing fighter patrols. When they finally touched down, Keith slumped breathlessly in the pilot's seat. His sweaty hands wouldn't stop trembling. He shoved his fists in his lap.

Thace went to the door and said, "Wait here. I'll signal when it is safe." He dropped down the hatch to where the rest of the blades waited.

Keith took a moment to catch his breath and opened the hangar. Thace and the others darted toward the shelter of a rocky cave system. They vanished into the shadows. Red crouched down defensively when a squad of sentries approached their 'cruiser'.

In the blink of an eye, the blades attacked the sentries with one coordinated attack. The robots fell. One blade quickly knelt beside one and used a wire to jack into its systems. There was a flash on Keith's gauntlet as the info uploaded. Keith flicked through a map and looked up. The blades drug the robots out of view and Thace gave his signal.

Keith jumped up from the chair and exited Red's mouth. She moved until she was hidden beneath a large overhanging shelf. Keith ran beneath her and then ran to the blades. When he had joined their ranks, they entered the mines and vanished into darkness.

Lance held a plank, his stomach quivering at the three minute mark. A drop of sweat landed on his thumb and he released every muscle with a held breath. Blue barely moved beneath him where she slept. He didn't like to be super annoying by doing jumping jacks or something equally active, but she was incredibly patient. Which was part of why he was exercising up here. Krolia and Regris had invaded Blue's hangar to train.

No one had approved his workout. Even though he felt better than a million bucks, he'd probably have his newfound hearing plagued by a thousand rebukes and then be locked in his bedroom if not sedated the moment they discovered what he was up to. He did try to take it easy. Ulaz had impressed it upon him that the implants could tear from trauma. But since being deaf hadn't really slowed him down, he wasn't going to let surgery do the same. What was that thing Adam had always told them? The only way to recovery was to push through the injury. Focus and discipline were his best friends if he ever wanted to get back to where he'd been.

He laid on his back with his feet under his knees and took a deep breath. As he exhaled he pressed his body up, bending his back and bracing on his forearms and extended legs in a two foot staff pose. He was more stiff than he expected, but he pushed through the pain and held the yoga pose for the full rep. Then he moved on.

When he was halfway through the routine, Krolia called, "Lance, join us down here for a while."

Lance broke concentration to peer over Blue's side. Regris was wearing what looked like a cross between a sweat suit and martial artist's gi. Krolia too wore the strange uniform, the pale blue complimenting her complexion. Lance slid down Blue's rear leg and hopped to the floor. Krolia held out a canteen and he took a drink hoping she didn't notice the sweat staining the back of his shirt.

Krolia went to a rack of guns and took a rifle from the top. She inserted an energy pack and pulled a pin to prime the weapon. There was a small hum that would have been indiscernible from the ship had they been operating at full power. She slipped the strap of the rifle over one shoulder and Regris reloaded the pistol.

Lance watched him take aim at a target halfway across the hangar. He looked away before Regris fired. No doubt he could hit the target even though it was close to the same distance as when Lance fired at the rock on Aris to prove his abilities. Regris groaned and Krolia clucked her tongue.

"The energy pistol isn't built for that range, nephew. I told you to stick to the closer targets."

Lance jerked back with a gasp. Krolia glanced at him with a knowing smirk. She slid the rifle off her shoulder and rested it on a crate. "Why don't you demonstrate, sharpshooter?"

Lance cautiously approached. Taking the rifle, he glanced down the scope and asked, "What's the accuracy on this thing?"

Krolia fixed his grip and how it was braced against his shoulder. So there were small variances on how galra held their firearms after all. She explained, "The scope has several different modes, from infrared to holographic to visual only. It will also pick up on heat signatures from living sources through fifty feet of ship-iron. It can't necessarily shoot through all of that, but you have an unobstructed shot on anything within five kilometers with hardly any drop off at the farthest distance."

Lance let out a low whistle. "Where has this baby been all my life?"

A snort of laughter made him glance over his shoulder to see Brad and Chad watching their lesson on the makeshift firing range. His neck burned and he focused on the targets. Taking a deep breath, he sighted in and pulled the trigger. He lowered the weapon, habit making him check it for safety before remembering it didn't use shells.

Krolia smiled and ruffled his hair. "Good shot. Go ahead and empty that power clip." She went back to Regris and corrected his stance with her foot. "Face your target straight on."

Lance ignored her and started putting rounds into the targets. When that power pack was drained, he put it back on the charger and chose a different gun. This one was more like an assault rifle. Taking a new power pack, he was halfway through loading it when Coleen sprinted into the hangar.

She clutched a holoscreen in one hand and was pale. She called, "I found them, Krolia!"

Krolia's eyes went wide and she ran to Coleen. Coleen held out the device and Krolia scrolled through the data. "They're so close." Krolia covered her mouth and her eyes flicked through the information. "They were transferred. Why would he have them brought there?"

"I don't care, Krolia! This is our chance! I have to try!"

Brad and Chad shared a look and jogged over. Coleen held out the device in both hands as if that alone would convince them. Brad took a step back and started pacing. He cursed under his breath and ran his hands through his hair. Lance and Regris made eye contact before approaching. Lance looked around Chad's shoulder. On the device was a still photograph of Coleen's husband and son.

There was silence as they all considered what this meant before Lance voiced what they were all thinking. "When do we leave?"

Coleen's tearful eyes landed on his with a hope he hadn't seen in a long time. She looked to Krolia. Krolia's eyes unfocused as she made a few quick calculations. Before she could speak, Kolivan said, "This is unwise."

Lance jumped as the blade leader spoke from a few feet away. They all parted. Brad stopped pacing and grabbed Lance's shoulder, moving to stand beside Chad in front of him. Brad stated, "That doesn't mean we're staying. The men in that photo are two of the smartest people from our planet and they just happen to be Coleen's family."

"I understand your personal stake in all of this, but that does not change my opinion."

Chad defended, "This isn't just personal. If Matt and Sam Holt are being held at that research facility, more of our scientists could be there as well. We need to extract them before the empire becomes stronger from whatever knowledge they have." He folded his arms and challenged, "Surely you know all about extracting your agents from dangerous situations."

"Enough," Coleen interrupted. "Sir, I'm not asking for your assistance, only that we have permission to attempt a rescue operation."

Kolivan looked around their circle. His gaze was unchanged. Krolia answered for him, "It's not about the people, Coleen. There is too much risk should you fail... right, father? If you are caught, the blades will be in a compromising situation." Krolia smiled with a little too much fang. "Therefore, I shall be acting as your handler."

"Krolia," Kolivan growled.

"You took me off active duty, remember? I have every right to do as I see fit."

Kolivan took a step toward his daughter but Brad put a hand on his chest. Kolivan glared down at the human. Looking to Krolia, he said, "You do not even have your blade."

Krolia rested a hand on the pistol at her hip. "I'll improvise. Coleen, we leave in one varga." Coleen stepped around Kolivan and jogged from the hangar. Krolia turned to the weapon rack and started priming weapons.

Brad stood completely still and immobile blocking Kolivan. Lance and Chad went to Krolia. She held out a pistol holster and said, "Strap that to your belt, Lance." Chad took a pair of pistols and an assault rifle which he slung over one shoulder.

Brad appeared at Lance's shoulder and said, "Trade me, cadet."

Lance looked over and saw the sniper rifle he'd been firing in Brad's hands. He took the gun and passed the assault rifle back. Then Krolia crouched and opened a lower weapons locker. Purple blades as thin as glass were sheathed within. She took two and said, "Take what you need. Lance, here. Just in case you run out of munitions."

Coleen returned then wearing a set of marmoran armor. Brad and Chad shared a look. Their own armor had been scavenged from the cruiser they'd remodeled. Lance had to wonder when Krolia had gifted Coleen with the superior protection.

Kolivan groaned and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Krolia, you really intend to go through with this?" She answered by glaring and shoving a power pack into her gun. Kolivan glanced at the ceiling. "Fine. Regris and I shall accompany you."

Lance looked back in surprise. "Sir?"

Kolivan pulled up his hood, tucking his braid around his neck. "You want to rescue them, correct? Regris has been part of many similar missions and I have more experience than all of my agents. Paladin, prep your lion. We leave when she is ready. And we must be back before Antok completes the retrieval of the crystal."

He walked away and spoke to a blade in the doorway. Lance didn't give him a chance to change his mind and ran to Blue. She opened her eyes and Lance instantly knew she hadn't been asleep this whole time. Her jaws parted without a word and he ran to the cockpit. Jumping into the seat, he opened the doors on her stomach so the others could enter. Keith was sure in for a surprise when he got back.

Keith crouched beside Thace in the tunnels. Their route was momentarily obstructed while a group of natives navigated the dark tunnels. Low light from the walls themselves was their only guidance. The longer Keith watched, the more sick he felt. The empire had enslaved these people. They all wore collars to remind them of it. The natives were forced onward by the sentries and the blades moved forward.

Keith paused, but Thace whispered, "We can do nothing for them now, kit."

Keith swallowed a growl and dropped down the sloped tunnel after the other agents. He landed in a crouch and rolled aside so Thace could land a second later. The other agents were spread out behind rocky outcroppings and Keith saw why a second later. A beautiful blue crystal almost as tall as him erupted out of the ground like a misshapen tooth. While the natives worked to remove it further, a group of sentries watched them carefully.

Antok took a small ball from his belt and twisted it in half like a weird rubix cube. Blue lights began to blink around the circumference and he rolled it toward the crystal. A cloud of mist exploded from the grenade and the blades all rushed forward. Keith took out his blade and jumped to plunge it through the neck of a sentry. He jumped back as it fell forward and looked around for his next target. Shoren withdrew his blade from the last sentry and went to the tunnel entrance.

Keith looked around at the gassed natives. They'd all fallen unconscious. He looked from them to the crystal. Thace walked past him and said, "Do not worry about their welfare, kit. The empire will eventually discover that we are behind this attack and we have done all we can to protect them."

Keith glared behind his mask. "Is there anything we can actually do?"

Antok and Thace looked at one another before Thace pulled Keith aside. Keith couldn't make eye contact, but Thace embraced him. "I know you want to help these people, but we have a greater mission. We cannot risk that mission to give these people a temporary freedom, kit. Even if we destroy the imperial presence on this balmera, we cannot defend it." Thace stepped back and Keith finally looked up. Thace put a hand on Keith's heart and said, "Remember why you came here. Now is your chance to complete your own mission. Do you remember what I told you?"

"That the balmera is a living creature."

Thace nodded. "You have twenty quintants. Once the crystal is free, we will be as ghosts here."

"Yes, teacher." Keith watched Thace return to the larger crystal and considered how to get his own crystals. The empire stole these crystals, digging them from the balmera. The image of ripping fingernails in a POW film the garrison had made them watch caused him to shiver. He reached out to steady himself and gasped in surprise.

The balmera was warm. How had he missed that? And even though it looked like rock, there was a strange texture... like thick calloused skin. He removed his gloves and put his bare hands on the wall. There was a strange pulse and he inhaled through his teeth. Red rumbled in his mind, reminding him of their connection. Wait... was she jealous?

Keith delved into that thought and mentally reached out. That strange pulse pulled further, hiding like a scared creature. Keith whispered out loud, "Don't be afraid. I'm not here to hurt you." The balmera's sentience turned back to him and a tentative tendril reached out. It too was warm and Keith closed his eyes. That warmth seemed to wrap around his index finger before retracting in sudden excitement. Keith smiled at its enthusiasm and said, "That's right, I met the alteans, and I don't know the correct way to do this, but I need your help. It's about my friend."

The image of Lance's grinning face came to mind and the balmera circled around it curiously. The creature turned back to Keith and suddenly it was attached to him. It pulled out his memories. Keith braced against the wall as all the fear and pain he'd felt during earth's conquest and every second after hit him like a punch to the gut. He fell to his knees breathing hard and put his head against the wall.

Keith wrapped one arm around his stomach as the pain receded like the tide. The balmera reached out again, this time more hesitantly. The pain vanished as the balmera took it from him. Keith's eyes watered as he stared at the wall in confusion. The balmera shoved the image of Lance back at him. Lance sleeping in the grass bed. Lance holding his hand. Lance on top of him while they sparred. Just Lance.

Something pressed against his hand and Keith pulled back suddenly. Two small blue crystals, each the size of the one on Allura's ring, fell to the cave floor. Keith picked them up, tears streaming, and put his forehead to the wall again. "Thank you, friend. I have no words to express how much this means to me."

A small noise to the side of the cave made Keith look over. One of the natives had woken up. A child. She shook in fear beside the wall. Keith approached and held out a hand. She whimpered and turned to the wall. "It's alright. We're not here to hurt you."

"The balmera... you communed with her... how?"

"Kit," Thace called and the native screamed. Keith looked from the girl to Thace and his teacher finally saw her. There was slight hesitation before Thace demanded, "We're leaving. Come now."

Keith stood and looked from the girl to Thace a final time and said to the girl, "I'm sorry." He stored the crystals in his belt pouch and sprinted back to the others. They had the crystal on a cart. Keith jumped on the side and Thace pulled him in. Without looking at his teacher, he apologized, "I'm sorry for hesitating." Thace said nothing more and they hurried through the caves back to the surface.

The research facility hovered above a planet between it's other orbiting celestial bodies. Coleen muttered, "That's not a moon, that's a space station."

Brad snorted, but Chad sighed. Kolivan answered obliviously, "The moons in this system are quite a bit larger than that facility, however the moons in the next solar system are considerably smaller. It has to do with the composition of the dust caught in the gravitational pull of its star."

Coleen looked wide eyed at Kolivan and Krolia rolled her eyes with a shared smile. Krolia tapped the screen and a small portion of space enlarged. "Those tell the base when a ship is incoming. We'll only have one chance to deactivate them. The exit will be hot since they point outward. Scans of the facility show concentrations of prisoners to be in the center most chambers and the floors above it. Cell blocks in similar facilities have been on the lowest levels. I know our priorities are your family, Coleen, but we will take anyone we find that won't be a liability."

"Understood."

Krolia smiled and lifted her hood. "Lance, when you're ready."

He looked at Coleen sitting on the floor beside him, a keypad at the ready. She nodded confidently and he rolled his shoulders. "Get ready below. We're going in."

When the others were gone, he gunned the throttles. Blue ran along the asteroid and pushed off a full speed. When they were within range of the sensors, Coleen hit the switch and they passed through their perimeter. There was no response from the base, but that wasn't their only concern. Coleen frowned as her fingers flew over the keypad. The hangar door remained shut. Lance grit his teeth to keep from pulling back. They were on a collision course!

The bay doors opened and Lance yanked back. Coleen slid three feet into the console when their forward momentum cut off suddenly. It took all of Lance's strength to hold Blue at her hover. Then he slammed a fist on the console to release the blades on the base.

What security there was in the hangar was quickly overpowered and subdued by swords and gunfire. Lance helped Coleen stand and asked, "You alright?"

She touched her head and nodded. "I'm joining the rescue. Stay with Blue. We'll be back as soon as we can." Then she ran down to the others with her keypad in hand.

Lance fell forward over the throttles and let Blue settle in the hangar where she felt safest. He ran a hand over her console and praised, "That was some flying, beautiful." She preened at his compliment and he smiled. Sitting upright, he asked, "Now how about we see what we can do to help the others?"

Blue rumbled loudly just for him and his screens went dark before lighting up the way they had in his dream when she'd shown him Keith's parents. The entire base was before him. It was overwhelming for a moment before he rotated it so he was looking at it from above. Blue separated it into floors and all the heartbeats glowed with different colors. Three people with red cores ran from cover to cover going low while three others with violet cores made their way to the second floor.

More violet hearts ambled around, but where the prisoners were being held was a complete rainbow in every shade and hue. Lance zoomed in and sorted through it. Then he tapped his coms and said, "Lance here. I have information on the prisoners."

"Go ahead, sharpshooter."

Lance zoomed in on the third floor. "I have human scans on the third level, but I think that's also higher security. More galra soldiers are there than the lower floor, but I don't have readings for sentries. However, there are also human scans in the cell block... third from the back on your right side, bravo team."

"Confirmed, paladin. Hold your location. All members proceed with caution."

Kolivan's terse reply made Lance force himself to take a deep breath. He pulled his legs up onto the pilot's seat and ran his hands over his face. Shaking out his arms, he leaned forward and muttered, "Stay calm, loverboy. Focus. Do that thing Keith always does."

"Lance, you're still on mic, sweetie," Coleen said.

Lance blanched and quickly muted his mic. Putting a hand to his mouth, he watched both squads approach their objectives. His eyes flitted from screen to screen. How much time had passed? Brad's team had reached the cell blocks when the screens went dark. "Blue! Bring it back!"

Lance stood and frantically scanned the console to find what he'd pressed when she rumbled a warning in his chest. He froze and looked through the monitors. The hangar door was open and a tall galra was lit from behind. Blue's hearing picked up his conversation as twenty sentries filed in behind him.

"No, that won't be necessary. I'm sure this is nothing. Yes, I'm following protocol. Yes, the system has already reset. Acxa, you worry too much."

The tall galra smirked at something said to only him and sauntered into the hangar. He flipped long white hair over one shoulder and held one hand to his ear, the other crossed over his chest like a teenage girl talking to her boyfriend. The sentries stood in a perimeter around the man as he went to the console.

"Oh Acxa, that was quite mean spirited. I didn't know you had it in-" The man frowned and his hand hit several buttons in rapid succession. "I'm going to have to call you back." He hung up and his hands flew over the console. "That's interesting. And what a strange code... who opened you...?"

Lance cursed and jumped out of the chair. The bay door below was still open and he dropped in a silent crouch before running for cover behind some cargo crates. He tapped his coms and said, "Lance for anyone, I have hostiles. We haven't been spotted ye- Ah FUCK!"

"Halt!"

Lance drew his pistol and fired before the sentry could raise its own gun. As it fell to the ground, Lance saw the other sentries turn toward him. He sprinted forward and slid beneath a table. Popping back up, he flipped it with one arm and hid behind it. He pulled a grenade from his belt and twisted it before lobbing it without looking. Then he took off again for new cover. If he could reach the other side of the hangar, Blue could flank with him.

When he slid behind a stack of crates, he pulled his rifle out and looked down the sights. The galra was nowhere to be found, but the sentries were all alerted to an enemy presence. Lance double checked the rifle and took aim. The first and second sentry dropped before their algorithms tracked the trajectory to his location. Lance cursed and backed up to run again when Blue emerged from her dark corner.

She lifted her lips in a growl and hissed, drawing the attention of the remaining sentries. Her ears laid back as she pounced forward. The robots were crushed beneath her paws. Her claws dug into the metal as she turned when rifle fire pelted her side. Lance took two steps and grabbed the pistol again, taking pot shots to draw their fire back to himself. Five took the bait. Lance ducked back into cover as more than a few explosions went off from Blue fucking up the base.

"Lance! We're on our way! Hold fast!" Krolia screamed in his ear.

Lance took four shots and four sentries fell. He ducked back down and pulled another grenade out. He panted for breath and took off running, leaving the grenade where he'd been. He was almost back to cover when the galra with white hair stepped into his path.

"Found you, assassin." He drew a sword and stood at the ready.

Lance cursed and slid to a stop holding the pistol and the dagger Krolia had given him. He gripped the hilt in a fist as he would have held a flashlight with his gun. The grenade went off, but Lance didn't flinch. The galra raised an eyebrow and twirled their blade. Lance rolled his eyes behind his mask. At least now he had confirmation that flamboyance was a galra trait.

"Not going to draw your own sword to duel me? I'm wounded," the galra quipped. His eyes flitted over Lance and he added, "Though you are quite small for a galra. Are you the one they left to protect the paladin? It's quite pathetic, truly."

Lance looked sideways where Blue was being pestered by the remaining sentries. Her annoyance became his own. Snarling, Lance drove forward firing three shots before slashing with the knife. The tall galra telegraphed his movements and dodged around Lance. His sword sliced along Lance's side below his ribs.

Lance screamed, but the suit didn't tear. He stumbled into boxes and whipped around to glare at the galra. The tall man tilted his head. "That was a boy's voice just now. Was it your mother or father? Which made sacrilegious love with a galra?"

Lance grit his teeth and charged again. The galra danced around him, taunting him. Lance growled and punched. The galra's head whipped back as Lance connected with his nose and he put a hand to his face. Squinting he reprimanded, "That was not very sportsmanlike, boy."

The man bore his teeth and rushed him. Lance grunted before he was shoved into the crates. The galra was strong, terrifyingly stronger than him, holding him where he stood. Then he yanked back Lance's hood and the mask fell. It only made the galra snarl, "You are not galra. Nor are you an assassin. Tell me what you are, boy."

Lance grimaced, his hands shaking to hold the sword away from him. He spat through his teeth, "I'm the Blue Paladin of Voltron, you fucking prick!"

The galra's eyes widened and his grip went slack. Then Blue roared and the galra flinched before gripping Lance's throat, talons digging into his neck. Lance let go of the sword unable to breathe. The galra was crushing his trachea! His eyes unfocused and there was a high ringing in his ears. He gasped, but there was no air. His eyes rolled back.

A single gunshot rang out and Lance fell to the floor. He gasped and coughed. Blood hit the ground in front of him. When he could look up, the galra was gone. Hands grabbed his shoulders and arms and then he was on his feet. Brad had Lance's arm wrapped around his shoulders. Lance's feet barely touched the floor, but he tried to help. Then Blue roared again before he was carried into her.

Brad put him in the pilot's seat and reached for the first aid kit. He sidled through the door and Coleen took his place. Lance finally got to look at what was happening in time to see Blue blast the hangar door and leap out into space. He grasped at the controls as they were suddenly free falling. He yanked back and she responded by flying from the base at full speed.

Lance coughed, unable to rub his throat, panting while he couldn't release the throttles. Coleen said from beside him, "They aren't pursuing us!"

"What!?"

"There!" Coleen pointed to the screen and their rear view came up. "They had the chance to sound the alarm and send their drones after us, but they didn't. Why?"

Lance wheezed and encouraged Blue to go faster. "Let's just count our blessings and not look a gift horse in the mouth."

Keith leapt off the cart and rolled into combat. The landing zone had become a firefight while two cruisers focused fire on them. Thace body slammed a galra and motioned the cart forward. Red leapt out of cover and arched her back. Her tail went up and a bright laser blast hit one of the cruisers. She jumped aside, dodging more blasts, and fired again with a loud hiss.

"Red!"

The lion sidled toward them before turning. Keith saw her open her mouth and catch the cart and the two blades beside it. Thace grabbed Keith's shoulder and tossed him toward the lion. "Run!"

Keith did as told, all hesitation gone. Red turned to intercept him and Thace. Then Thace screamed. Keith turned to see Thace fall. His heart stopped and time stood still. He wasn't moving. Then Red's jaws were around him. He jolted and slid in her mouth. She opened her jaws again and Thace landed beside him.

Keith crawled over and grabbed Thace's face. "Thace! Teacher, wake up!"

They slid as Red took a hit and Keith screamed from her pain. Tears streamed from his eyes as he forced himself to his feet. He nearly ran into Shoren and shouted, "Help him!" He stumbled into the cockpit and fell against the back of the chair. Red screamed again. Keith took his seat, nearly losing it from a near blast, and grabbed the throttles. "Come on, girl! We have to go now!"

She hopped sideways before leaping into the air. Her thrusters were at max output. She double jumped up the side of the cavern and back into the air. A blast of energy shot from her jaws and hit a cruiser. It went off course from the attack and hit the cruiser beside it. Keith didn't dare look back as dozens of fighters followed them.

Keith rubbed his cheek on his shoulder and grit his teeth. "Come on, come on!" He would not lose Thace for this. He didn't notice he was already past the gas giant and that everything had gone quiet. Red was still anxious and his shoulders hurt where she'd been hit. He looked at the door, but no one had come up. Tapping his coms, he asked, "Shoren, Antok, please tell me what's going on?"

"...Kit... I am alive..."

"Thace," Keith sniffled, "don't scare me like that again."

"Heh. Take us home, Keith."

"Yes, teacher. I can do that." Keith scrubbed his tears away and took several deep breaths. Focus. When the ship finally came into view, he had to blink awake. Red rumbled. She was tired too. The hangar opened and Keith sighed in relief. The floor was a solid comfort. It took too much effort to stand from the chair.

"Wake up, nephew."

Keith jolted and looked up at Antok. Glancing around in self disgust, he realized he'd passed out on the floor of the cockpit. He took Antok's offered hand. Once again on his feet, Antok wrapped an arm around his shoulders. When Keith tried to move on, Antok didn't let go. Keith looked up, tired, confused, and miserable.

"His injury is not your fault, kit."

"Hm?"

Antok smiled kind and warm. "Thace. I saw how distraught you were, but you should not blame yourself for what happened and Thace does not either. He wanted me to tell you that when they took him to the med bay."

Keith exhaled and rubbed his eyes in fatigue. "I understand... it's just kind of hard to think clearly right now."

Antok chuckled and patted Keith on the cheek. "You'll be better with rest. Let's go see your mother before finding your bed." Keith nodded complacently and allowed Antok to lead him forward. His feet barely left the floor as he forced himself to move. He let his head fall against Antok, eyes shut, when he heard a door open. "Here we are, kit."

"Mmm?"

"Antok? I thought you'd be with..." Krolia gasped and Keith was limp and surprised when she hugged him. "Sweet one, I'm here. I heard about Thace. Oh what would I have done if I lost you?"

Keith kept his eyes shut and simply let her hold him. He slowly returned the embrace and released a shaky breath. "I'm here, mom."

"Keith! What happened? Are you hurt?"

Keith opened his eyes, his head against Krolia's chest, to see Coleen racing into the room. He reached out and took her hand. "I'm just tired. Red and I aren't used to flying for so long."

"Keith? Is that you, son?"

Keith's eyes shot wide as if he wasn't dead tired and he looked at the door daring not to hope. "Sam? Is it..." Keith swallowed his fear and leaned on Coleen, questioning whether he was hallucinating. Keith touched his arm. He gasped when he made contact. "Sam?"

Keith fell forward on the older man, barely taller than him now. Sam Holt caught Keith in his wild hug. "Since when did you get so affectionate?"

Keith laughed in tears. "It's been a long year, Sam."

Sam chuckled and stepped back. Keith noticed Matt leaning on the door frame beside a grinning Lance. He threw an arm around both of them. Then he blacked out.

Shiro and Adam sat with the doctor Levas in a quiet corner of the cell block. Shiro was barely himself anymore. Between the chronic pain and the depression his illness had brought, Adam wasn't sure amputation would cure him. He squeezed Shiro's good hand and Shiro's head fell on his shoulder. "You said you had good news?"

Dr. Levas nodded, though she did not smile. "When you came to me, you asked me to amputate Mr. Shirogane's diseased arm. It won't be pleasant, but I think I've discovered a way to complete the surgery. When the aliens give me my next ration of pharmaceuticals, I will amputate your arm, Takashi."

This chapter took all day... and a few more from the last week. It got long...