Keith woke up to a slightly familiar energy hum. It took a moment to remember where he was, though. Staring at the blankets above him, he tried to roll onto his back and met resistance. Matt groaned behind him. Keith looked over his shoulder to see Matt's face buried in long white hair. He smiled and scooted down and out of their pillow fort. The bridge remained dark and he stretched on his way out. He paused near the chair he'd sat in the day before.

Red rumbled in his mind and he closed his eyes. Taking a deep breath, he ran his hands over his face and left the bridge. No one else was around, not even the mice. He didn't pay attention to where he went, though he never felt particularly lost. Red's familiarity of the castle through her previous paladin created an almost surreal sense of deja vu. The further he went, the more he thought he heard voices and laughter. Sounds that belonged here instead of the graveyard silence it now evoked.

He fell against the wall when it became overwhelming and closed his eyes. What was so different now about the castle that he struggled to walk? He gulped for air and leaned forward holding his stomach. Focus.

"Keith?"

Thace's confusion made Keith look up half convinced he'd summoned him accidentally. Thace jogged to him and clasped his shoulder. Keith slid down the wall until he was sitting and whimpered, "Help me, teacher."

Thace tilted Keith's chin up with his fingertips and Keith saw the worry in his mentor's eyes when he asked, "Are you injured?"

"No. It's..." Keith shook his head. "I can't think! The castle... I feel too much."

Thace clicked his tongue behind his teeth and said, "Close your eyes, little one." Keith did as instructed and felt Thace kneel behind him. Warm hands guided Keith's shoulders until his back was against Thace's chest. His arm crossed Keith's chest and his other hand covered Keith's eyes. "Breathe. Focus. I know you're capable, kit. Breathe like we've done before."

Keith let Thace hold his weight while he tried to calm down. Now that he couldn't see anything and Thace's heart beat loudly behind his temple, the stimulation from the castle faded to background noise. Keith shuddered in relief and sagged against Thace.

Thace waited a few more minutes before asking, "Can you tell me what upset you?"

Keith tipped his head back. "I... I don't even know. When I was on the bridge, it wasn't so bad at first. Then I couldn't find anyone and..." He wrapped his hands around the arm across his chest which tightened in response.

"Slow your breathing, kit. I've got you. You're safe," Thace consoled. Keith didn't let go, but he stopped himself from digging in his nails. Thace asked, "What happened on the bridge?"

Keith thought back as his pulse slowly returned to normal. "When I woke up, I think there was a power surge."

"I felt nothing, but-" Thace shifted and Keith inhaled sharply. Thace whispered close to his ear, "It is only the adviser."

"Is something wrong?"

Keith squirmed as the voice of Coran came closer. Thace explained, "The kit is hypersensitive to quintessence fields. We've been able to work through his attacks before, but something aboard the castle is triggering him. Is the ship's crystal nearby?"

"Not remotely," Coran said slowly, "but... I believe I might be able to discern the cause. May I?"

Thace relaxed, but only uncovered Keith's eyes. He pushed Keith's hair off his forehead and leaned forward to kiss the exposed skin. "Open your eyes, precious one."

Keith took a final deep breath and opened his eyes as he slowly exhaled. Coran was half crouched, one knee on the floor, a few feet away. His hands were folded in front of him, concern making him lean in. Keith shivered and pressed into Thace, pulling his legs to his body.

Coran offered a kind smile. "You are Keith, yes?"

Keith licked his dry lips. "Yeah. Keith Kogane."

"Alright, Keith," Coran said with a nod, "last night when we discussed the yellow lion, you kept glancing toward the end of the bridge. You know of Zarkon's past?"

"Yes." Keith grimaced. "I... I touched a corrupted balmeran crystal... but what I feel now is different."

Coran nodded again. "Keith, alteans are able to channel quintessence. May I place my hand on you to confirm my suspicions? "

He knew exactly what Coran suggested. He'd been taught the history between altea and daibazaal. He didn't know if he wanted to feel more from the adviser, since they'd been on opposing sides a day ago. Keith looked over his shoulder for reassurance. Thace blinked slowly and hugged Keith from behind. Keith swallowed his fear and nodded to Coran. "Alright. If you think it'll help."

"Good lad," Coran said with a wink. He reached out, hand aimed to land on Keith's shoulder. Keith forced himself to relax, but before Coran could touch him, a loud growl echoed down the hall. Coran pulled back suddenly and Thace drew his sword, one arm still protectively around Keith's chest. Coran looked to the end of the dark hall and sighed. "As I expected."

Thace asked suspiciously, "What is down there?"

Coran stood and brushed off his clothes. "The atrium of lions, where the black lion waits. He is the source of your disquiet."

Thace stood and glared into the dark. "If he is hurting Keith, we should not stay."

"I don't think it's intentional," Keith murmured. He climbed to his feet and walked around his teacher. "I want to see him."

"There is nothing preventing that, but you cannot get close," Coran said. "King Alfor placed preemptive measures to deny Zarkon should the castle be captured."

Keith rolled his shoulders and repeated, "I still want to see him."

"My little one," Thace said leveling his gaze on Keith, "if you think this will bring you peace, we will go, but the black lion... if I feel you are threatened at all..."

"I understand," Keith answered without blinking. He rubbed into Thace's side and said, "We'll leave, I promise."

Thace groaned unhappily and lightly scratched Keith's scalp. Keith took it as permission and followed the original pull that had led him here. Now that he understood more, he didn't give in to the fear this time. Butterflies raged in his stomach as he walked down a grand hall. It widened the further he went and opened up to a high circular room. On two walls, a tunnel seemed to curve away into the dark. An orange glow formed a dome over a large dark shape, curled up and asleep.

Keith stared wide eyed at the being within the paneled energy dome and felt the strange vibrating hum go silent. This was the black lion of voltron, leader of the pride. The lion himself was easily three times the size of Red. His sleek ebony body had white accents around his chest and down his muzzle and legs. Large crimson mechanical wings sprouted between his shoulders and were laid gracefully over his slumbering body. His back rose and fell evenly within his protective barrier, each breath causing a low moaning wind to circulate within the room.

Keith approached the barrier, curiosity making him raise a hand. Why had he been brought here? What did the lion want from him? When he touched the barrier, he expected resistance. The panels in front of him vanished and he took a step to catch himself. He looked over his shoulder in surprise and saw that the panel had reformed behind him. Thace bore his fangs and shouted, anger twisting his expression and knuckles white on his sword.

Keith ran his hands over the panels suddenly afraid he'd made a terrible choice. On the other side, Thace did the same, eyes desperately searching for even the smallest weakness. Their eyes locked. A looming presence made Keith freeze. Thace slammed a fist on the barrier. Keith's hair blew over his shoulder and he squeezed his eyes shut. Focus. Focus and patience. Don't panic... Breathe. He slowly turned and forced himself to open his eyes.

The black lion no longer slept. Yellow eyes bathed Keith in light. Keith followed his sentient gaze as it swept over Coran and Thace in a screaming match. The benevolent glowing eyes landed back on Keith. He stretched out his wings and front feet, flexing his claws, and gave a chuffing yawn that echoed within the atrium. Laying his wings along his back and lifting his shoulders in regal dignity, he nodded his head to Keith, beckoning him closer.

Keith took a step. He needed to know why he was here. He took another step. The lion blinked slowly, throwing the room into darkness for a moment. An overwhelming sense of acceptance flooded through Keith. This was right. He came here for a reason. The lion was that reason. Right? The lion wanted him for... something. Himself? His paladin? Keith paused. But what about Red?

A lion roared. Red roared. Keith jerked and gasped as the black lion's trance broke. He felt Red's rage burn and turned toward her. She stalked the perimeter of the particle barrier with hackles raised and claws out. She hissed, showing her lethal fangs. Keith looked from her to the black lion. Black looked down his nose disapprovingly at her before lowering his head back onto his paws, one wing draped to hide his face.

The particle barrier vanished completely and Red lunged forward. She circled Keith, placing herself between him and her leader, judging the black lion's reaction. When he seemed to be asleep once more, she nudged Keith back the way she'd come. He sprinted toward Thace. As soon as they were beyond the perimeter of the barrier, it reappeared and Thace caught Keith against his chest. Thace wrapped his hand around the back of Keith's neck and forced him further toward the entrance of the atrium. Red continued growling as she followed and placed herself in the doorway.

"I thought you said he couldn't get close!" Thace thundered at Coran with his ears flat against his skull. Keith hid behind him, half afraid of intervening, half afraid Thace was going to attack Coran.

"I believed he couldn't!" Coran shouted back. "Alfor didn't want anything to be able to penetrate the barrier without the other lions and their paladins! Of course the black lion wasn't bonded to him, so maybe the lion himself countered Alfor's wishes should his paladin appear first? I don't know, this is all very speculative!"

Keith clung to Thace's arm in a desperate attempt to keep him from lunging at Coran and said, "I'm safe, teacher. Red wouldn't let him hurt me."

Thace growled, hand twitching. "I know Red will keep you safe, but I don't trust him!" Thace jabbed an accusing finger toward the black lion. "Ten thousand deca-pheobs ago, Zarkon had a direct connection to that thing. They shared goals. What's to say that's changed... at all?" He snarled and turned to pull Keith into his smothering embrace. It would have been terrifying had Keith not known it came from a source of love. "I will not lose you, Keith."

"I am terribly sorry," Coran apologized. "I really never suspected things would go this way. Keith, I have to agree that you should not be here alone. For your safety, you understand? Until all the lions are present with their paladins, we don't have the strength to fight Zarkon if he does retain his connection to Voltron."

"He will not be here at all," Thace snapped. "Come, little one, we've lingered long enough." Keith didn't resist as Thace guided him away from the atrium, his unsheathed sword at his side.

Lance watched Matt with more than a little jealousy. He'd agreed to wait until Allura and Coran were done talking and he'd regretted it as soon as Keith took Matt into the middle of the room to spar. That was over three hours ago. It also became immediately apparent how much Matt needed the refresher. Keith hit Matt again, making him wince. Lance sighed when Keith came around Matt's side to work on basics.

Lance grimaced and really hoped he'd looked a little more coordinated when Keith had trained him aboard the cruiser as prisoners than Matt did now. Brad should have come along for this mission. He wasn't quite Adam's match in hand to hand combat, but he would have freed up Keith so Lance could be his sparring partner. Lance flopped onto his back in spread eagle melodrama.

Maybe Coleen and Sam would need help. They'd been excited about something when they asked Keith for Red's consent the night before. Keith had reservations at first, but after conversing with his lion, they'd both agreed to try what the Holts suggested. Keith hadn't been thrilled. In fact, he'd been subdued since the day before. At first, Lance suspected it had to do with Krolia and Kolivan off on recon, but then he'd seen Thace monitoring his student closely.

It could only mean something had happened. Lance wanted to bring it up. He really did. There was just no good time. It should have been easy. There were only a handful of people on board. So how was it that every time Lance opened his mouth, someone interrupted him?

Today was day three. Krolia's team would return by tomorrow morning with the rescue the day after. That had been the tentative time table Kolivan approved unless a more urgent situation arose. Seventy two hours. It already felt like he'd been away from Blue for weeks. For the first time in months, he was alone in his head. He knew how absurd that was, which was why he hadn't complained out loud. There were way bigger problems than a little mental loneliness.

So when a new, lower, voice chuffed teasingly at him, Lance yelped and jolted upright. He looked in the direction it seemed to come from half expecting a lion to burst through the wall. Keith called in a peeved tone, "Ignore him."

The new lion's mirth rumbled through Lance's chest in stark contrast to Keith's annoyance. Lance settled cross legged and asked, "How?"

Keith sighed and wiped back his sweaty hair. "Hell if I know. He hardly leaves me and Red alone."

"Who you talking about?" Matt asked.

Keith shook his head and came closer. When he sat, he immediately leaned into Lance. Lance absently ran a hand up and down Keith's side between his ribs and hip and asked, "Is this why you've been anxious since we arrived?"

Keith nodded without making eye contact. "It's the black lion. He's here. We connected, but then Red... Lance, what if I'm not actually her paladin?" Before Lance could respond, Keith rambled in deteriorating composure, "I mean, we took care of each other and I don't want anything to happen to her. So now, I'm scared we were never supposed to fly together. But I want to. I want to fly."

"Hey, mullet, shh. Shh, shh, shh," Lance whispered. "How many times has Red saved you? Saved us? You hear and feel what she does, same as I do for Blue. No one we've met can do that. You're a paladin, Keith. Nothing can change that."

"But, what about Red?" Keith sniffed and rubbed his nose with the back of a hand. "I can't ignore the black lion forever."

Lance looked at the ceiling, at a loss for ideas. Why was the black lion reaching out now? Neither of them had come up with anything when Matt said, "Let the bayards decide."

Lance and Keith looked at him with matching confused looks. Then Keith gasped and Matt grinned. "You said the bayard changed when you held it. That was how Allura confirmed that you were her father's successor. If you are paladins, as I believe you both to be, the bayards will reveal it."

Lance smirked with a low chuckle. "Look at you, tech genius and great friend all in one. How did we get so lucky?"

"Just admit you love him," Keith teased.

Matt snorted and sat across from them. Half an hour later, Allura and Coran finally arrived. Coran wore a variation on what they'd seen so far, but Allura wore knee high boots over high-waisted pants. A long sleeved shirt hugged her figure and she had finger-less gloves. She'd pulled her hair into a high ponytail and it bobbed as she trotted and cartwheeled into the room. Lance nudged Keith with an elbow and nodded toward a love struck Matt. Keith hid his snicker behind a palm and stood, taking Lance's hands to pull him up.

Allura hovered between the three of them and asked, "Are you all ready?"

Keith bit his lip and rubbed his arm. Lance answered, "Always!"

Allura smiled, nervous and excited, and gestured toward Coran. "Then let us begin. Coran, open the armory."

As they went to the adviser, sections of the floor began to rise. Lance stared at the array and let out a low appraising whistle. Allura giggled at his response and angled her path to five armor stands. Each held different colored plate armor that covered the less bendy body sections on the model beneath. A black body suit with interlocking plated panels similar to what the blades wore waited in a drawer below.

What drew Lance's eye was the strange object waiting in a holder. The curves formed a hollow where a contoured grip begged to be held. Like the armor, there were four in different shades that matched the lions. Lance took a step toward the blue bayard when he noticed Keith hesitate. He followed his gaze to the black armor, but the weapon holder was empty. Lance bumped Keith's hand with the back of his. Keith took a deep breath and turned toward the red bayard.

Lance held his breath. Almost the instant Keith touched it, the shape shimmered with light. Lance heard Matt mumble some science jargon about conservation of mass and an energy source. Lance smirked as Keith's confidence meter shot back to full and said, "Of course your bayard is a sword, samurai."

Allura put her hands in the middle of Lance's back and shoved. "Stop dawdling and show us your unique weapon style."

"My money's on lance," Matt joked.

Keith scoffed and shot back, "Technically, it's a long range weapon."

Lance reached for the blue bayard burning with his own curiosity. When his fingers wrapped around the grip, the weight shifted, elongated, and he had to use his other hand to support and balance it. The light faded and Lance looked his weapon over.

Allura said, "That's an altean light rifle."

"That doesn't sound very impressive," Lance replied trying not to sound disappointed, "especially as heavy as it is."

"Light, like the sun," Keith clarified, coming closer to inspect the assault rifle. "These were infantry weapons during the great war, right?"

"Yes," Allura slowly answered, her expression growing tight.

Coran raised an eyebrow. "For a time they were all that held the empire at bay. Until the druids were able to duplicate the alchemy to forge their own rail gun tech, that is."

Keith ducked his chin sheepishly for bringing up a sore topic and said to Lance, "The bayard chose one of the most advanced weapons for you, Lance. No wonder we call you our sharpshooter."

Lance swelled with pride and looked through the scope to deflect attention. "What about you, Matt? See anything you like?"

Matt started giggling like a madman and Lance looked over to see him holding a staff as high as his chest. "Did either of you ever see that really old video of the kid at school shouting at his classmates?"

Keith sat between Kolivan and Thace. He stole glances at the screen in his grandfather's hand while he scrolled through the intel they'd gathered. He saw a schematic of a honeycomb of mining tunnels when a sharp pain struck the top of his ear. He hunched his shoulders and glared sideways in time to see Thace lower his hand and raise an eyebrow. Keith huffed and drummed a finger on the table. Thace smiled into his lap before looking away.

Keith bit his cheek and closed his eyes. Of course, Thace was right. Kolivan would tell him when necessary. Patience and trust would prove themselves yet again. Ten minutes later, Sam and Krolia entered the briefing room.

As they took their seat, Kolivan stood and said, "First of all, the situation is as bad as we feared. I know we planned to begin the operation in the morning." Kolivan pulled the information from his tablet to the table and the honeycomb lit up in red sections. "However, according to the reports we lifted from the mining operation, the planet's crust has become increasingly unstable over the last few quintants. If we hesitate even ten vargas, we may miss our chance."

"Do we have any idea where the lion is?" Thace asked while leaning on the table.

"No," Kolivan nodded toward Allura, "but that's where you'll come in. Princess, are you sure about this? Your safety is of the highest priority."

Allura pulled up the hood of her marmoran armor. "Thank you, Kolivan. I understand your concern, but it is a risk I'm prepared to take."

"Then everyone should get to their places."

The blades stood as one and divided into their teams. Keith and Thace joined Matt, Lance, and Allura. Coleen and Krolia joined a handful of other blades, and Kolivan and Ulaz left with the rest. Coleen touched Matt's arm in passing. Matt paused and immediately hugged her. She whispered, "Be safe out there, all of you."

Matt gave her a peck on the cheek and said, "We will. Love you, mom."

"I love you too, Matty."

Allura giggled, earning a look from Coleen who took in their matching smirks. Allura said, "I'll make sure everyone makes it home, Coleen."

Coleen's eyes crinkled and she opened her arms to all of them. "Group hug before you go." Keith crowded in with his friends and heard Coleen ask, "What was that thing your squad always said before drills, Keith?"

Keith smiled and met Lance's eyes over her head. "Ohana."

"Ohana," Coleen, Lance, and Matt repeated.

She squeezed them all one last time and let go. Keith felt Krolia caress his hair in passing. After the time they'd been together, everything they needed to say could be said in gesture, but he wanted to say it out loud. "I love you, mom. We'll see you when this is over."

Krolia replied with a warm maternal smile, "I love you too, my little one."

Warmth flooded his entire body and he swelled with it. He practically floated down the hall to the hangar where Red waited. She was much calmer now compared to when they'd gone to the balmera, but there was still an excitement, a drive to complete this mission. They all boarded, crowded in the head of the lion, when Allura asked, "What does that word mean?"

"Hmm?" Lance asked, "What word?"

As Red found her stride, Keith focused on the conversation. "You mean 'ohana', right?"

"Yes. It held such weight when you said it earlier."

Matt recited, "Ohana means family. Family means nobody gets left behind."

"Or forgotten," Lance and Keith finished.

A small passenger pod exited the castle and joined the convoy. The space before them lit with a ring of blue light and Red followed the pod into it with the castle on her heels. Keith felt a hand grip each of his shoulders as his passengers braced. Within the safety of the teleduv, before the mission stole all their attention, Thace said, "Such an idea is common among earthlings, correct? My research referenced the concept of morale increasing chants, but I am uncertain as to their direct applications. Is this 'ohana' one such chant?"

"Hell yeah," Lance answered. "It's like, when you need to get your adrenaline pumping and you shout 'What Team?'"

"Wildcats!"

Keith and Thace both jumped at Matt's loud voice in the confined space and Allura winced. Lance laughed and high-fived Matt. The lion jolted from turbulence and Keith saw Allura's reflection waver. Matt caught her with an arm around her waist and pulled her to his hip. As the vibrations faded, Matt asked, "Don't the galra have like, a motto or something?"

"The empire believes in extremes. Their entire purpose revolves around the belief in honor through victory or death. We of the blade are of the thinking that knowledge, even at the cost of life, is the highest value," Thace explained.

Keith muttered, "Knowledge or death."

"Correct, kit," Thace confirmed. "Knowledge will lead you down a path of self-fulfillment. We live our lives knowing that the knowledge we collectively impart on future generations will far exceed our own." Thace leaned over the control panel and the teleduv opened up. "Watch your exit, Keith. It's tighter than you think."

"Kinky," Lance muttered.

Keith swallowed a laugh while Red skirted around an asteroid field. Coran said over the radio, "The castle will wait on the other side and watch your backs."

"Affirmative, Houston. We'll rendezvous in three vargas," Kolivan said. "Red team, sync your tickers... now."

Keith tapped the screen without looking and heard the clock start ticking down. He answered, "Red team is go for first objective. Are we clear for approach?"

Coleen said, "Deactivating enemy long range sensors. Hold position, red team."

Keith felt the feline equivalent of a horse chomping at the bit from Red and reined her in. "Please confirm, command. Are we go for approach?"

"Is anyone else extremely turned on right now?"

"Focus, Lance," Thace rebuked under his breath.

Keith continued to stare ahead and ignored the banter. Both him and Red were tense. She wanted her brother and Keith really would have felt more comfortable with a wing man. His experience drilling in his fighter with Adam came to mind. He took a deep breath and forced himself to go through his flight checklist. There was no change in his body to show the comfort such a simple action brought. Feeling more in control, he waited for Coleen to answer.

"We have confirmation their alarms are down. Proceed, Red Leader," Coleen finally permitted.

"Red Leader copies. We're going in."

"Seriously, is no one else like, really sweaty?"

"Lance, honey... we still hear you," Krolia said in exasperation.

Keith didn't react to the alarmed noise behind him and gave Red her head. Their intent synchronized. He scanned the space ahead for any threats while she flew in all her terrifying glory. The others groaned from the increase in g-force. Red broke through the thin atmosphere on a very fast course straight toward the ground. Seeing how clear the air was, Keith smirked and gunned the throttles. Red eagerly broke the sound barrier a second time. He guessed they were well past mach 2 speed, though he really didn't know how to calculate it on this planet.

When they were close to crashing, Keith called, "Hold on tight," and pulled Red out of her nosedive. Her trust in his judgement turned his smirk into a full on shit eating grin. The yellow earth opened up into a series of canyons. Red's idea became his own and he let her drop to all fours and leap into the gorge. Keith returned her trust, letting her instincts meld with his own and they ran through the twisting canyons making switchback turns on a dime.

"There! Aim for that cavern opening," Allura said.

Keith and Red began to slow down. A mile ahead and slightly above them partly around the corner, Keith saw what Allura did. Red growled in agreement and prepared to double jump up the cliff face. With a heavy thud, her claws dug into the wall and she propelled herself up. Her paws wrapped around the edge and she pulled herself into the cavern. Crouching down, she crawled forward through the cave mouth. The tunnel opened into a larger cave. Red's eyes lit up the walls and Keith took in the deep scars from mining equipment.

He caught his breath and said when they finally came to a stop, "Red team has reached the mining tunnels. Preparing to continue on foot."

"Roger, Red Leader. We've reached our objective as well and are going radio silent. Contact Houston if you need assistance."

"Copy, command. Red Leader out."

Thace started down the ramp and called, "Lance, with me."

Keith turned on external cameras and checked the sensors. "Cave readings are clear. No signs of natives or hostiles. O2 readings are inadequate so keep your masks on and an eye on your suits' reserves and filtration system."

"Roger, Red Leader," Lance replied as he followed Thace and ducked into cover. He scanned the cave through the scope of his bayard rifle and said, "No hostiles confirmed. Matt, Allura, you're on deck."

Matt turned to leave, but Allura hesitated. "Are you sure you and Red will be alright?"

"We both agreed this place makes the most sense for us. We can support you from here." Keith smiled over his shoulder. "We're fine. Get going, Princess."

Allura searched his face before replying, "Very well." Her light steps descended the ramp after Matt.

Keith turned to face the screens with a long exhale. Before his friends and mentor disappeared from sight, he said, "Remember, it'll take time for us to reach you in an emergency so watch each other's backs out there. Maintain radio contact. I expect a check in at least every fifteen dobosches and turn back in," he checked the timer, "ten minutes over a varga if you don't make contact with the yellow lion."

"We read you loud and clear, Keith," Lance answered back. "Allura take point. I'll take rear guard."

Keith cued the live feed from their suits that Coleen had rigged up through Red's console. When he watched Lance move to his position with tactical precision, he allowed himself a half smile and teased, "Good to see you remember the drills, sharpshooter."

"Oh yeah? I had my reasons. After all, why do you think I always wanted to watch your ass, mullet?" Lance's overconfidence filled his voice as he answered his own question, "If anyone's going to hit that, it'll be me."

"Oh my god, Lance," Keith sputtered out between giggles.

"Please keep the bedroom talk to a minimum, children," Thace interrupted with a sigh of exasperation.

"Roger, Team Captain," Keith answered. "You heard him, loverboy."

Lance made an indignant sound and Thace groaned low in his throat. But the coms went silent and Keith focused on the console. The live feed showed nominal tunnels in the strange discoloration of galra night vision. He tapped the console and pulled up the maps Kolivan had made. Their location pinged back every five ticks as they navigated the labyrinth. They had to turn at least once every hundred feet or so.

Keith paid extra attention to their route. Many of the lower tunnels led to dead ends, but technically that was what they were looking for. As Allura brought them deeper into the planet's crust, Red's seismic sensors began to trigger. Nothing major. It didn't read any higher than the empire's readings from the past few months. Still, Keith watched with building paranoia.

When they were about two thirds down, the party halted. Keith looked at the ticker and frowned. "Red Leader asking for scheduled check in. Red team, please confirm."

"Stop doing that! I can't handle your 'on channel' voice!"

Allura said without thinking, "We read you, Red Leader. Please advise. I thought we were going to find the lion here, but there's nothing to signify his presence."

Keith leaned forward and looked from screen to screen. "Copy. Hold position while I find you an alternate route."

"Wait, what's that?" Keith glanced at the live feed to see Matt approach the cave wall. His gloved hand lifted to brush away shale. Matt said in encouragement, "It looks like a cave drawing of a lion. Allura, we're heading the right direction!"

Allura walked in a circle. "But he should be here! I don't understand. This is exactly how I felt when I located the green lion."

Lance slowly approached Matt and examined the wall closer. "Red Leader, do you see this? They're everywhere. I thought this planet was uninhabited." He reached up to touch the drawings. "It's kind of sad to think- What the-" As soon as his hand hit the wall, the crude drawings all lit up. Bright yellow light flooded the tunnel.

Keith closed his eyes and shouted, pushing back from the console, temporarily blinded. He heard the others scream in similar discomfort and an alarm started blaring. He scrubbed his eyes, blinking to clear his vision. When he could see again, his blood pressure dropped. "I've lost visual. Guys, what's happening?"

"There's been another earthquake. We're leaving now," Thace's voice didn't betray the fear his vitals portrayed.

Keith wasn't quite as successful when he replied, "Affirmative. Maintain radio contact while I try to clear up the visual feed." Their voices fell into the background as he tried to figure out what still worked. The alarm was a huge distraction. "Red, shut that off." She complied while his hands were busy with the rest of it. Thinking became a little easier and he considered protocol. Leaving the channel to the others open, he said on a second frequency, "Red Leader for Houston. We have... a situation."

"Keith, what's wrong?"

Keith took a deep breath and tried to calm down. "I lost visual during another tremor. Is there any way to get it back?"

"Don't panic," Sam said evenly. "Did the tremor affect your lion or was it localized to your team?"

"I think we're fine," Keith answered. Bolstered by Sam's logical tone, he scanned the console. "Nothing's messed up in the cabin. I can do an external check-"

"No, don't leave your lion," Sam interrupted. "You need to be there for your team. Walk me through your checklist, Keith. I hear the others in the background. Your coms still work?"

"Yes. I've still got radio and Red's functioning." Keith brought up the map. "I've still got tracking. They're making their way back to me. We're going to meet them."

Coran asked, "Are there any new seismic readings, or was it just the one?

"Uh," Keith looked at the alarm, "it's kind of a constant low rumble."

"Then you have to stay put," Coran instructed sternly.

"What? But-"

"He's right, Keith," Sam reaffirmed. "I know you want to get them to safety as quickly as possible, but the planet's crust can't handle Red's movement. You could cause a worse quake and end up burying you all. Understand?"

Keith had already grabbed the throttles. Red didn't respond. She grumbled unhappily, but he understood what she was doing. He'd barely begun to process their options when the alarm sounded again. Sam asked in a slightly less calm voice, "Keith, what's that siren?"

"It's the tremors," Keith answered. "This one's stronger." Coran and Sam became background noise as he focused on his teams coms. "Thace, I can't get to you. You need to get everyone back to the lion, asap!"

Before Thace could answer, a third tremor made Keith's barely restrained panic break loose in his chest. Red shifted uneasily as the ground beneath her became unstable. Then Allura screamed. The other's voices joined her's before cutting to silence. The console went dark as Keith lost the holo-map and audio on his team. The earthquake didn't stop and Red backed up, suddenly nervous.

Keith fought internally and externally, holding her in place while the entire cave shook loose rocks and stalactites. He shouldn't leave. Shouldn't abandon the cave. His team. But he knew deep down, they couldn't stay here.

Growling a curse, he let Red follow her instincts. They blasted out of the cave into the canyon, scrambling back into open sky. Then he snarled, "Houston, I've lost all contact with my team and have been forced to find a new location. What is the status on enemy- I have enemy contact! Drawing fire! What is command's current objective?"

"We have visual of the Red Lion. Command is overdue for a check-in," Sam informed.

"Well make contact and tell them to get the hell out! I'll lose these assholes and circle around to pick up the others." Keith felt his adrenaline pump wildly through his veins, feeding Red's own urge to attack and remove the threat. "Alright, girl. Let's ground these fuckers."

"Princess, over here!"

Lance groaned, but an uncomfortable pressure on top of the right side of his chest and legs pinned him in place. Opening his eyes, he saw the ceiling of the cave a couple hundred feet above him by the still glowing cave drawings. Someone panted, getting louder, and their footsteps echoed in the darkness. When he tried to move his head, he came into contact with something hard. Reaching up with his free hand, he realized in slow moments what had happened, even though his mind was foggy from a form of shell shock.

"H... Hel...p..." Lance struggled to take a deep breath as the rubble threatened to smother him. He started to gasp, every little breath making fear spike through him. He knew the armor was the only reason he'd survived the fall, but if he didn't get free soon, all that waited was a slow painful death. He tried to keep his chest from convulsing with panic. It took all of his courage to risk his precious oxygen and gasp louder, "Help."

There was a mad scramble in the rubble beside him. Someone knelt and cleared away the loose rock. "I'm here, Lance. We'll have you free in a moment."

"Th... Thace, I... I can't breathe."

"Stay calm, kit," Thace reassured while reaching up and gingerly touching Lance's neck. "Allura, I need you!"

Lance heard her grunt in exertion and then Matt groaned followed by the sound of dragging. "Coming!"

The cave floor vibrated as Allura joined them. Thace quickly said, "He's having difficulty breathing, but I don't think anything's broken. Help me free him."

Allura nodded firmly. "Right." Then she reached under the largest chunk and lifted. "Go!"

Thace hooked his hands in Lance's armpits and drug him out from under the boulder. When he was free, Allura dropped it with a low boom and bent over her thighs panting. Lance gasped, finally able to take a deep painful breath, and some of the fear left him. When he tried to stand up, Thace pushed down on his shoulder and said, "Let me check for injury. Can you wiggle your fingers and toes?"

Lance went cold for a moment, afraid Thace had a reason to be worried. What if he couldn't move? What if he'd been paralyzed during the fall? There wasn't a single part of him that didn't hurt, but it wouldn't feel that different, right? Apprehensive, he held his breath... and wiggled his toes. Sighing in relief, he answered, "Yeah, I can."

"And no pain?"

"My entire body hurts."

"No sharp pain," Thace clarified.

Before Lance could answer, the ground rumbled louder and Allura insisted, "We need to keep moving. I'm sorry, but a full exam will have to wait until we return to the castle. Can you move, Lance?"

"Yeah," Lance said and reached for Thace's hand. He regretted his answer when his entire body protested. He wasn't looking forward to seeing his reflection. His body momentarily clenched up in a full spasm and he could tell Thace gave him a severe look behind his mask. Lance insisted, "I can."

Thace tilted his head in disagreement, but didn't press the issue. He walked to Matt and gently examined him as well before saying, "Wake up, kit."

Lance turned in a circle to get a better idea of what they were dealing with when he noticed how quiet it was. He walked a short ways and said, "This is Redtail for Red Leader." The dead silence sent chills down his back. He shivered, but the pain didn't hold a candle to what he was afraid of. Lance repeated, "This is Redtail for Red Leader, do you copy?"

"We lost contact when the tunnel collapsed," Allura gently said at his shoulder.

"What?" Lance took another step and turned back to pace. What were they supposed to do? He bit his lip in concentration. All of their contingencies didn't cover their exact situation. "How are we supposed to get all the way back up there?"

"We can't," Thace answered bluntly. "Our only hope is to push on toward the yellow lion." Lance tried to think of an argument, but Thace added, "Look at your ticker. We're past the point of no return to rendezvous with the red lion and if we don't leave in thirty dobosches, we might not leave at all."

Matt chose that moment to come to consciousness. Lance trotted back with Allura at his side. Matt reached to take their offered hands and asked, "What was that about 'we might not leave'?"

Thace slowly rose to his full height and faced them. "I won't lie, we're in a bad spot. We've lost all contact with our people and are trapped further in the planet's crust than our readings indicated possible. We're going in blind from this moment onward. Allura, can you still feel the lion?"

"I- I think so." She hugged herself and admitted, "I'm a bit rattled."

Lance could hear the tremor in her voice and said, "I know this got a whole lot tougher in the last twenty minutes, but we're going to handle everything else, Allura. Take a deep breath and calm down. We'll continue when you're ready."

She turned toward him and said, "Thank you, Lance, but we really need to keep moving. The longer we stay put, the more likely we are to be buried for good."

Thace nodded. "Affirmative. Allura, take point. I'll watch our flank."

Lance fell in between them beside Matt and they trudged onward. The path before seemed like a walk in the park compared to what they were forced to deal with now. Allura had them clamoring over and around boulders that resulted from the collapse. At the edge of the cave, a gentle downward slope opened into a well rounded tunnel entrance. They wordlessly paused.

Lance tried to stretch, but his side stitched up and he bent over holding his stomach. His breath hissed between his teeth. Thace put a comforting hand on his shoulder and said, "Rest a moment." Lance nodded gratefully and noticed Matt hunched in similar discomfort. While they caught their breath, Thace called ahead, "Are we close?"

Allura touched the wall and her fingers passed over uniform bumps and ridges. "Yes," she announced, relieved and excited at the same time. "Alteans made this tunnel!"

Lance swallowed his pain and stubbornly resumed walking. "We need to go faster. The others might need us."

"Yeah," Matt agreed. "I'm tired of caves anyway."

Thace didn't comment. Lance silently thanked him for not voicing how terrible they were doing. He'd been keeping a close eye on the ticker as they'd traversed the cavern. Three vargas had passed an uncomfortably short while ago. Their time was up. Lance focused on his footsteps to keep his mind preoccupied. One foot, then the other. Keep going. There isn't going to be anything else if you don't keep walking.

The tunnel went on for what must have been over a mile before Lance thought he felt something change. It almost made him stop and he asked, "Does anyone else feel a breeze?"

"Yes," Thace answered. "That shouldn't be possible. We are even deeper beneath the surface than before."

"Unless there's something living down here," Matt said. He met Lance's eyes and added, "Something big."

Another hundred feet ahead, the tunnel angled steeply down. Lance held his arms out as he slid down the slope, trotting to catch his balance when it leveled out. The shape of the lion blended against the wall as near perfect camouflage. Lance would have walked straight into him if he hadn't lifted his head, bright yellow eyes taking in their presence as if to ask what took them so long. He rolled onto his side and stretched out his feet with a huge playful yawn before settling on his haunches and opening his mouth for them to enter.

Lance's legs nearly gave out in relief that they'd found him. He stumbled sideways and caught himself on Matt's shoulder. "Let's," his voice cracked, "let's get out of here."

They boarded the yellow lion and the control panel lit up as Allura took the pilot's seat. Lance hung back near the wall braced in the corner. The lion stood and Allura said, "Time to get smashy."

The lion roared enthusiastically and jumped at the ceiling. He knocked loose hundreds of rocks that cascaded harmlessly around them before lifting his mouth and shooting a beam of bright energy at a forty five degree ascending angle. Then he jumped into the tunnel left brhind and started running toward the surface. Well at least now they knew what had caused the earthquakes.

Lance slowly slid to the floor and hugged his knees. Now that the danger was past, he felt drained on every level. He had no energy to handle any more emotions while his body started shaking with shock and fatigue. He closed his eyes as the lion's motion started to lull his defenses. Safe.

"What the quiznack?"

Allura's curse was punctuated by the yellow lion roaring in pain. Lance was thrown sideways into the door. He scrambled to his feet, sliding into Thace behind Allura. Looking out the screens, he saw over a dozen fighters circling around them.

allura called out, "Keith! Coran! Anyone respond! We found the yellow lion and are airborne!"

"Allura, where are you? Is everyone safe?" Keith's voice rose in desperation and he screamed in pain. "We need to find each other and run. Everyone else is already en route to the castle!"

"Affirmative! We are, uh," Allura scanned the console for coordinates, "I- I don't know! I can't find-"

"We're going to go straight for that gas giant, Keith," Lance interrupted. "Allura, pull up and gun it!"

She did as he instructed, but six fighters flew to intercept them. Allura dove to take them back toward the surface and the yellow lion took several hits. Lance fought against the pull of the ship and grabbed the throttles. The yellow lion leveled out and he said, "Move, Allura!" They switched places and he yanked up on the throttles. The lion surged forward in newfound confidence and Lance said on com, "I have taken flight control and am making my way to the gas giant now!"

"I'm ahead of you. There's at least three on my tail that won't go down!" Keith groaned again.

Lance scanned the sky and blasted through the line of fighters trying to pin him in. The lion's jaws clamped around another with a loud metallic crunch before he tossed his head. They broke through the upper atmosphere and Lance spotted a flash of red and blue high above.

"I have eyes on you, Red Leader!" The yellow lion put on a burst of speed and opened its mouth to shoot an ion blast. It hit two, scattering the rest. Lance said, "Bogey down. You're clear, Keith! Make a break for it. We're on your six."

"Copy, Redtail. Thanks for the assist," Keith said with relief.

Lance hailed the castle and said, "This is red team. Mission was a success. All hostiles have been eliminated and we are inbound for rendezvous in T-90 ticks."

"Glad to hear from you, Redtail. We look forward to seeing you in the hangar. Houston out."

Keith took a few minutes to go through his post flight checklist and calm down. Even though he didn't show any physical damage, his body felt every blow Red had taken. The experience wouldn't easily be forgotten. He wouldn't want to, either. He needed to be better... but staying here and berating himself wouldn't help.

"We're going to the infirmary, Keith."

Keith paused halfway out of the chair. "Is someone hurt?" He tried to recall who exactly he'd heard on the coms. Had they all spoken in the two minutes of flight time from the planet to the castle?

"It's standard procedure," Thace said. "The armor did its job, but we're being cautiously paranoid."

"Alright. I'm on my way," Keith replied while simultaneously questioning what Thace meant. He entered the infirmary expecting only his team, but half of command was here as well receiving first aid. Even Coleen sat on a table while Ulaz wrapped her arm.

Matt watched from where he lay with quick worried glances at his mom until Thace said sternly, "For the last time, look forward." He tapped Matt's forehead as if to chastise him further and added, "The sooner you follow my instructions, the sooner the scanner will confirm any injuries."

Keith felt his worry decrease seeing his last team member conscious. Lance sat up and swung his legs off the exam table. Glancing around he made eye contact with Keith and they angled to meet near the wall. While everyone else was distracted, Keith wrapped his arms behind Lance's neck and hugged him. Lance winced, but Keith sucked in a sharp breath through his teeth. Lance's pulled back and his worried eyes held an unasked question.

Keith explained under his breath, "Red took some nasty hits before you and Yellow came in for the save. How about you? What happened after we lost contact?"

Lance shifted uncomfortably as his breath hitched. After a moment, he said, "The cave floor collapsed and we fell off the map. If Allura hadn't been there, we wouldn't have made it out."

Keith moved to stand at Lance's shoulder and grabbed his hand. "Are you hurt?"

"Bruised in body and pride, but I'll live," Lance answered in a dull tone.

Keith didn't ask anything else to stave off an interrogation of his own. After half an hour, Kolivan and Krolia entered the infirmary. They all turned to listen and Kolivan said, "I think we all know the implications of what we did today. We will hold our position until morning to insure we are not pursued. Princess, your advisor is asking for you on the bridge. I believe you are aware of your part in this?"

Keith looked across the room to see Allura nervously nod and stand from where she sat between Matt and Coleen. Kolivan waited for her to leave before he finished, "It is not our choice, but I hope the alteans agree to accompany us. It is in their best interests if they want to keep the lions safe until the missing paladins are found. For now, all we can do is get a good night's rest."

Kolivan blinked as he looked around the room at his people with pride. Keith gave a tired smile and started toward the door, tugging Lance after him. "Kit," Krolia called as they passed, "how are you? You sounded distraught on the coms."

Keith rolled his lips and closed his eyes. He heard her click her tongue and she pulled him to her chest with one arm. He let his temple rest against her for a few moments before answering, "It was a close call, but we're safe. I just need a night's sleep, like Kolivan said."

When she finally let go, Keith and Lance continued walking to the showers. Without a word, they both began to strip out of their armor. Keith asked with his back to Lance, "Do you need any help?"

Lance hissed in pain and replied, "Nah, I'm good."

Keith stretched and walked into the shower stall. Hiding in the corner, he cranked up the temperature and tested it with a hand before stepping into the steaming stream. He pulled the hair tie out of his braid and shook it out. "Remember how shitty the garrison showers were? They never upgraded the water system when they built onto the original compound so there was never great pressure and luke warm was the best you'd get."

The water turned on somewhere to his right and Lance laughed. "That's the reason? I thought it was just their way to limit the time we wanted to spend in the showers."

Keith ran his hands through his hair and reached for the foamy shampoo Allura had given them. "Sanda filed countless complaints before Hunk mentioned how outdated the system was. How it'd only take a bad connection and a little corrosion to trip the entire system and blow the boiler."

"Hold the phone," Lance exclaimed. "Are you saying the admiral rigged that explosion during summer break?"

"I mean, I might have overheard someone tell Takashi to take me off base for the week," Keith admitted. "We went to some ranch along the state border 'on leave', but I knew he hadn't filed a request for a vacation. We went out and rode some horses. Takashi got chased by some chickens. We had a blast. When we returned, the showers were fixed. Hot water for days."

"The more you talk about growing up at the garrison, the less I believe the officers were hardened veterans," Lance shot back.

Keith washed the soap off his face. "I didn't even notice until now, but I think they're the reason I adjusted so well to living with the blades. Being around an extended family of fighters is second nature at this point." He sobered a bit and added, "I never appreciated them enough back then. I should have hugged Ellen and Marcus for everything they did for me."

"Who?"

"Sorry, the admiral and Iverson," Keith clarified while he conditioned his hair.

"See what I mean?" Lance shut off the water. "I would never say her first name even if I were alone in my dorm out of fear she'd appear and make me run laps."

"Like conjuring Bloody Mary?" Keith asked incredulously.

"Exactly!"

Keith chuckled and rinsed his hair. He stood under the water for another few minutes breathing in the steam and clearing his head. It hadn't been a week since he'd broken down in Kolivan's arms, but thinking and talking about earth didn't completely debilitate him anymore. Feeling better, he shut off the water and wrung an excessive amount of water from his hair.

When he stepped out of the shower stall, he spotted Lance by the cupboard with a towel wrapped around his waist while he roughly dried his hair with another. Keith stopped and stared.

A dark purple mark started beneath Lance's shoulder blades and traveled down before disappearing beneath the towel. Keith crept closer and reached out. Lance shivered when Keith's damp fingertips touched the small of his back. He half turned and Keith gasped, "Oh... Lance..."

Lance's brows lowered and he halfheartedly held the towel in his hand in front of his chest. "Thace gave me painkillers, so it doesn't hurt as much as it looks like it should."

Keith bit his lip and held his breath. Shaking his head, he reached out and guided Lance's shoulder so they faced each other. He exhaled and reached for the towel in Lance's hand. Lance didn't try to stop him and it fell away to reveal the full damage. Keith immediately closed his eyes, but what he'd seen remained in his mind. He took a jilted breath and covered his mouth with a hand to stifle any sound he might make.

He'd failed his team. He should have found a way to reach them. Should have made them turn back before the cave in. They'd desperately needed him and he'd turn tail and run. A weak whimper escaped him. He started shivering. Lance's warmth pressed against him, tone arms circling his back. Keith rested his forehead on Lance's shoulder and whispered, "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

Lance rubbed his back with one hand and murmured back, "It's not your fault, mullet." They stood for another few seconds like that until Lance stepped back and said, "You're upset because it's been a draining day. We're both tired. So dry off and come to bed."

Keith nodded and reached for a towel, now thoroughly chilled. He grabbed the biggest one he could find, at least as big as a beach towel, and swaddled himself to warm up. Another towel dropped onto his head and he felt Lance gently squeeze his hair to extract as much moisture as he could before rubbing in a way that wouldn't make knots. When he was dry, Keith moved the towel on his head to drape over his shoulders and yawned.

Lance gave a crooked smirk. "There you go. See? I was right."

Keith rolled his eyes and attempted to flirt, "I can't handle your 'take charge' voice, loverboy. You gonna make me sleep tonight?"

Lance's smirk grew and he blushed before taking both ends of the towel around Keith's shoulders and used it to lead him out of the bathroom. "You better hope I make you sleep tonight."

In the end, Lance passed out from the pain killers while Keith dug around for pajamas. Keith silently thanked Thace and carried Lance to bed. He brushed Lance's hair off his forehead and listened to him breathe in the dark. In. Out. Repeat. Every now and then, his breath caught as his ribs protested his injuries and Keith would count the seconds until he breathed easy again. Still, it was a blessing he could sleep at all.

Shadows beneath the door silently paced the halls for a short time. Even they'd vanished. Hours had passed. Keith wished he could sleep. He really needed the rest, but his mind refused to let him. The bruising on Lance's body haunted him and he kept replaying his actions. What if? What if he and Red had stayed in the cave? What if he'd gone with them in the first place? What could he have done differently to help his team? And the biggest question of all...

Sighing, Keith kissed Lance's temple and crawled out of bed. He waited, but it seemed Lance was out for the count. Keith covered him again with the blanket and crept into the hall. The castle lights were dimmed for the night with only the emergency runner lights along one wall as a guide. He put the lights on his right and tried to remember the way to the atrium.

Everything looked different in the dark. He couldn't be sure, but he kept walking until a familiar pulse resonated with his heartbeat drawing him onward once again. It wasn't Red. She was quick and hot and sharp. This was warm, but methodical. Soothing and intelligent in a way that was scary. Black. Keith relaxed and let himself be guided to the atrium.

When he walked down the ramp, the chamber echoed with the bassy rumbles of the three lions. Yellow had curled up with his shoulder against his leader's, one crimson wing laid over his golden body. Red tucked her head under Black's chin and her body posture was relaxed. Keith smiled. Their sisters may still be aboard the blade's ship, but their family was whole again.

Black opened his eyes and Keith stood at attention. Everything he'd thought to ask the lion left him while burning shame made him breathe faster. When the lion blinked, Keith approached and asked, "What could I have done?" Nothing. "Did I make the right choices today?" Silence. Red opened her eyes and Yellow turned to look at him. Keith picked up his pace and demanded, "Would he have been hurt if we had flown together?"

Red chuffed in rebuke and lifted her chin. Keith stopped, but his throat locked up and tears stung his eyes. "I... I can't help but feel like I failed them. That I'm not the leader they think I..." He couldn't finish voicing his insecurities and slowly dropped to his knees. "I need to know, if I had flown as your paladin, would my team have been safe."

Warm breath blew over his hair, but he didn't look up. The black lion's answer came the only way he could give it. After all, Keith was being unfair. He knew the answer before he came here, deep in his heart. They'd taken the risks knowing they existed. So would it have been different with Black. Maybe... maybe not.

"Why did Red choose me? Why did you save me when I should be his?" Keith sniffled with a stuttering breathy inhale. Red pushed out from under Black and circled behind and around Keith. He leaned into her cheek and whispered, "Do you still want to fly with me?"

She purred and rubbed into him, pulling his body to her with one paw. They laid together, just the two of them in his mind. He felt so many things from her. Trust came first. Trust in her own instincts and trust in his. She saw more in him than he saw in himself. That was why she'd saved him that first time and every time after. Potential. So much potential and promise. Red had seen others like him. Leaders, though he seemed much younger. But her instincts said he could be like them.

The love he felt from her overwhelmed him. She gently began to lick him and reassured in her wordless way that this was what she'd been planning for. He folded himself into her. He pressed his forehead to her jaw and whispered, "Thank you, Red. For everything."

She rubbed against him with a final lick and lifted her head to meet Black's eyes. Keith knelt between her front feet and copied her. "I know what's expected of me... and I accept. But until we find the other paladins, find Red's true paladin, we will not fly together. That is my one condition."

The black lion slowly rose to sit, folding his wings with regal grace along his back. He blinked and bowed his head in agreement. Keith exhaled in relief, shoulders sagging. The yellow lion chuffed humorously and Red pawed at him. Keith knew he was being teased. The yellow lion bent forward and apologized by nuzzling into Red. Keith half smiled and reached out. "Don't worry. We'll find your paladin. I just wish I knew where to start looking."

The yellow lion seemed to grin with every kindness and touched Keith's hand. Instantly the image of a blue planet with a single pale moon entered his mind. He gasped and dropped his hand. "Earth," he panted. "Your paladin is on earth."

Lotor jolted awake before clenching up in bed. He held his breath and slowly forced himself to relax one muscle at a time. When he finally exhaled, he realized he was trembling. That dream... had been far too real. Maybe he'd been spending too much time thinking about their destination, but it felt like he'd been there. Just out of reach.

He made his way to the bridge of his cruiser and stared into the inky black of space. He put a hand to his chin, gently rubbing his jaw. Footsteps made him glance over a shoulder to his friend and first officer. "You should be asleep, Acxa."

"An odd statement coming from you," she replied.

Lotor smirked at her blunt tone and asked, "How much longer before we reach our destination?"

She walked to the console and checked their route. "Twenty quintants, my lord."

"Thank you. I think I'll sleep better now."

He was almost off of the bridge before he heard her ask, "What's so important about this colony, Lotor? I haven't seen you this upset in deca-pheobs."

Lotor paused. "I'm... not quite sure myself. A gut feeling, I guess?"

"Your instincts are rarely wrong." She walked over and smiled at his questioning look. Linking her arm in his, she leaned her head into his shoulder and asked, "Mind if I join you?"

Lotor lifted her hand to kiss the back of it. "Of course."

That's right, I'm giving Lotor a fucking actual redemption arc! I don't care if it's transparent and technically a spoiler, our pretty boy deserves it!