Hi All!
Once again, all relative disclaimers apply and I thank you all very much for your kind, thoughtful reviews.

Enjoy,

Failte

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            The force of the blast sent Dante, Pidge, and Renata sprawling across the floor.

            "Shit!" Dante swore as he jumped to his feet.

            Pidge grabbed Renata's arm and pulled her up.  "Go!  Follow Hunk and Caleb, stay with them.  Don't turn back!"  He told her, giving her a not-so-gentle shove.

            Dante raised his blaster and shot at Haggar, but she evaporated before his eyes.  His shot hit Lotor in the shoulder.

            Lotor roared with rage and fired back, but his shot went wild and hit the wall above Dante's head. 

            Pidge fired off a shot and hit Lotor in the stomach. 

            With the firing stopped, the two men ran to Lance, who had yet to get up.

            "He's hurt bad," Pidge said, noticing the blood spread across Lance's back.

            "Come on," Dante reached down and grabbed Lance's arm.  "Help me get him back to the Lions."

            Pidge helped lift their fallen friend.  They each threw one of Lance's arms around each of their shoulders and half-carried, half-dragged him down the hall.

            Shots were fired but they didn't turn around to see who was firing at them.  Dante was grazed by a laser on the leg. 

            They didn't stop until they reached the Lions.

            "What happened?"  Hunk called, running from Yellow.

            "Haggar hit him."  Pidge said.

            "Alright.  I have Keith strapped into Black, it has the biggest cockpit, I thought he would ride with Lance."  Hunk ran a hand through his hair in frustration.  "We have to get out of here, get to Hillor and get them both help.  I'll fly Black, we'll tether Yellow to Black and Green.  Renata can ride with Pidge and Lance with Dante.  Let's move!"

            Hunk helped Dante strap Lance's unconscious form into the fold down passenger seat in Blue.  They worked fast as they heard the unmistakable sound of men running through the woods.  Shots were fired from the trees as Renata climbed into Green ahead of Pidge.

            "Let's go!"  Hunk called as he fired up Black.

            Blaster shots followed them as they took off.  Renata covered her eyes with her hands and held her breath as Pidge and Hunk took off together, Yellow hanging beneath them, tethered with huge, powerful magnets and cables.

            "Are you okay?" Pidge asked her.

            She nodded, but didn't remove her hands.

            "It's okay, we're airborne, you can look."

            Very slowly, she lowered her hands and looked at her lap, making sure not to look out the window.  She was going to have two black eyes and her lip was split.

            "We'll have a doctor check you out when we get to Hillor.  There's a med ship waiting for us."
            Renata shook her head, "I'm fine."  She whispered.  "It is more important for the Captain to be seen."

            Pidge watched as she continued to stare at her hands as she twisted them on her lap.  "What is it?"

            "I…I, uh, I don't like flying."  She whispered.

            Pidge smiled, "I promise not to crash."
            She looked up at him with a small smile, "I would appreciate that."

**********************************

            Darcy paced Castle Control.  According to the console, they had Keith and all five Lions had taken off, although they were flying in a strange formation.  It appeared that Yellow was flying below Black and Green.

            Allura was curled up in the high-backed chair in front of the main console.  She had just checked on Cady and found her to be sleeping peacefully in her crib under the watchful eye of Nanny.  To ease her own mind, she had a guard posted outside the nursery.  Nurse Helene had said that Cady would be fine, the worst thing she could find was a slight diaper rash.

            "They've left Livior, can't we contact them?"  She asked Koran.

            The old man rubbed his eyes and sighed, "Lt. Collier asked us not to.  He said they would contact us."

            "But what if something happened?"  Darcy asked.

            "If they don't contact us by the time they hit Hillor, we'll contact them," Koran promised.

            Darcy returned to pacing.  Exhaustion and worry were making her edgy.  Still not used to the new ring on her finger, she idly twisted it.

            Finally, the console beeped, signaling an incoming communication.  Darcy stopped pacing and Allura jumped to her feet.

            "Lance?"  Darcy pushed a few buttons, tuning in the call.

            But it wasn't Lance.

            "We're on our way to Hillor," Hunk announced.  "Keith and Lance need medical attention right away."

            "What?"  Darcy leaned over the monitor, clutching the edges.

            Looking tired, Hunk sighed, "Lance was hit by Haggar in the back.  He hasn't regained consciousness yet."
            Darcy felt the air forced from her lungs and she gasped for breath.

            "How's Keith?"  Allura asked in a quiet voice.

            "He's in bad shape, Allura.  They beat him up pretty bad and he's lost a lot of blood."
            Blinking back tears, Allura asked, "But he's alive?"

            "Yes, he's alive."
            She nodded, unable to respond.

            "Listen Darcy, we need your help."  Hunk said.  "We need you to meet us at Hillor, have someone fly you here.  It'll be easier if you fly Yellow back, we can move faster if she isn't tethered to us."

            Numbly, Darcy nodded.

            "I'm coming too," Allura announced.

"No!"  Hunk said with a force that surprised everyone.  "Allura, Lotor is alive.  He and Landor are out there.  I don't think it would be wise for you to leave the castle."

"Lotor's alive?"  Koran asked.

Hunk nodded, "He's badly scarred and he lost an eye, but he is alive and he and Landor have teamed up."

Allura sighed, "But Keith…"

"Will be home soon."  Hunk interrupted.  "We're approaching Hillor.  Darcy, if you take a K-67, you should be able to make it here in a couple of hours.  I would suggest Cpl. Hvakley, he knows his way around pretty well."

Darcy nodded, still unable to speak.

Hunk studied her pale face, "Are you up to this?  We can have Sven come…"

"No, I can do this.  I'll be there as soon as possible."  Her voice was low.

He nodded, "We'll be waiting."

            Allura gripped Darcy's arm as she turned to leave.  "Contact me, Darcy, as soon as you see them.  Let me know what's going on."

            "I will," Darcy promised.

****************************

            Keith moaned lightly as the Lions touched down.

            "Hey Cap?  Can you hear me?"  Hunk asked, lightly tapping Keith's cheek.

            "Mmmm."  Keith breathed.

            "Hang tight, man, we're getting you to a doctor now."

            Caleb was the first one out of his Lion.  He ran to the med ship where a small triage had been set up and quickly explained that there were two men, badly injured.  Dr. Gorma and three nurses, along with a local doctor and other people willing to help, raced to the Lions with a pair of gurneys.

            "We don't know what all is wrong with Keith," Hunk said as he and a local man laid the fallen Captain on a gurney.  "He was just moaning a bit, but he hasn't regained consciousness yet."

            "What about Lt. Collier?"  Dr. Gorma asked, eyeing Lance's pale, still form.

            "He was hit in the back by Haggar, we aren't sure what she hit him with."

            "Alright, let's get them aboard and have a look.  I want to get them stabilized and on the way home ASAP."

            The four pilots were locked out as Dr. Gorma and his helpers tended to Keith and Lance.  Hunk paced angrily.  Dante sat against a tree, getting his weight off his injured leg.  Caleb leaned against another tree, fiddling with his blaster.  Pidge sat against Green's massive paw, attempting to clean and bandage the cuts he had received from Landor.  They all felt helpless.

            "We have to get into the air as soon as we possibly can," Hunk announced.  "We don't know if Lotor knows where we are."

            Renata slowly sank to the ground beside Pidge and took the antiseptic wipe from his hand.  "Let me.  It was my job to tend to the wounds of His Eminence."

            "You're not a slave anymore, Renata."  He told her.

            "I want to help," she said, shyly.

            Pidge held out his hand and watched as she cleaned the cut that ran diagonally across his palm, placed a clean bandage over it and secured it with gauze wrapped around his hand.

            "It does not look too deep, I don't think you will need stitches.  Now, your arm."  Renata indicated the spot where Landor had stabbed him, just above the elbow.

            Pidge unzipped his flightsuit and gingerly pulled his arm from the bloodstained sleeve.

            Renata averted her gaze from his well formed torso, busying herself finding another bandage.

            "Well, will you look at that," Dante whispered with a smirk.

            "What?"  Hunk asked.

            "I do believe young Pidge may have found himself a little friend."

            Hunk raised his gaze to Green and saw Renata leaning over Pidge, tending to his wounds.  "I wonder what Rankin would say."

            "Did you tell Allura we have Renata with us?  Maybe she should contact Rankin and have them come to Arus."

            "Yeah," Hunk pulled his communicator from his belt.  "I'll do that now."

            "You will probably need a couple of stitches for this.  You should have the doctor tend to it before we leave."  Renata whispered.

            Pidge continued to watch as she bandaged the cut.  It throbbed with pain, but he found his attention diverted by the way her fingers moved competently over his skin.  When she finished packing everything back into the first aid kit, Pidge grasped her hand. 

            "Thank you, Renata."  He whispered.

            She nodded.

            Tugging his flightsuit back on and zippering it, Pidge stood and offered his hand to her.  "Come on, let's go see what they've found out about Keith and Lance."
            She took his hand and allowed him to help her up.  As soon as she was on her feet, she dropped his hand and fell into step behind him.

            Sighing with frustration, Pidge stopped and turned to her.  "You aren't a slave anymore, Renata.  You don't have to walk behind me and you don't have to keep your head down."
            She slowly raised her head and looked at him, blushing furiously.  Her left eye was swollen and her right eye badly bruised.

            "Come on," he said gently.  "We'll find ice for your eye."

*************************

            Allura was still curled up in the chair in Castle Control, dozing, when the console beeped.  She jumped awake, but Sven beat her to the monitor.

            "Sven," Hunk said.  "I'm glad I reached you."

            Allura appeared at his side, "What is it, Hunk?"

            "I wanted to let you guys know that we have picked up an extra person.  A slave girl named Renata…"

            "Rankin's sister."  Sven whispered.

            "You know of her?"
            "Rankin has mentioned her, he said she vas vith Risin, so he had assumed she vas dead."

            "We thought you might like to contact Rankin, let him know we're bringing her home."

            "I vill," Sven promised.  "Ve'll contact him immediately."

            "What about Keith, Hunk?"  Allura asked.

            "Dr. Gorma is tending to him and Lance.  They haven't let us in.  Has Darcy left?"

            "Yes, she left about twenty minutes ago."

            "As soon as she lands we're taking off.  We don't want to stay any longer than necessary, but I don't want the med ship leaving without the five Lions to escort it."

            Allura nodded, "Keep me posted Hunk."

            "We'll let you know when we take off."

            "Thank you."  Allura closed the connection and watched as Sven punched in the code to place a call to Rankin and Paget.

************************

            Nurse Jewelia, one of Dr. Gorma's assistants hurried out of the med ship and toward Hunk.  "Lt. Landers, we need your help."

            "What is it?"

            "Dr. Gorma said you're the only one with the same blood type as Captain Whitaker.  He needs to do a transfusion."

            Hunk nodded, "I'll be right there.  Pidge, Caleb, front and center!"

            They all gathered before him.  Pidge had just had his arm stitched and Dante was seated on the ground near them, a nurse cleaning and bandaging the wound on his leg.

            "I'm going to go aboard, Keith needs a transfusion.  Keep your eyes peeled for any sign of Doom or Darcy."

            "No problem, Hunk."  Pidge said.

            Hunk turned to follow Nurse Jewelia.

            "Wait!"  Pidge called out.  "Nurse, how is Keith doing?"

            "He's very weak.  He lost a lot of blood and Dr. Gorma thinks he has three broken ribs, a fractured kneecap, and a concussion, but he won't know for sure until he has x-rays.  He has a sprained ankle and needed twenty-seven stitches in his arm."

            "And Lance?"

            "We don't know for sure.  Dr. Gorma bandaged his back, but he can't do much else until we're back on Arus.  They're both stabilized but neither have woken yet."

            Pidge nodded, "Thank you."

            About an hour out from Hillor, Darcy was strapped into a K-67, the second fastest ship in the Arusian military, second only to the Lions.  She twisted her hands together in frustration, urging the ship to move faster.  Cpl. Hvakley sat beside her, quietly flying.

            They both started as her communicator beeped.

            "Barlow."

            "Darcy?  It's Pidge."

            Her heart pounding hard, she replied, "Yeah, Pidge, how is he?"

            "Dr. Gorma doesn't really know.  They were able to bandage him up and stabilize him, but he's at a standstill until we get back to Arus."

            "Can't they take off now?  Maybe three of you could fly back with the ship and when I get there we could take off."  She suggested, desperately.

            Pidge shook his head, "Hunk is aboard now, giving blood, Keith lost a lot of it. Dr. Gorma wants to finish that before we take off and we'll have to give Hunk a little while before he flies again.  If all goes well, we should be ready to go when you get here."

            "Have either of them woken yet?"

            "No, not yet."

            "Any sign of Doom?"

            "No, so far everything has been clear."

            "Have you contacted Allura yet?"

            "I'm about to do that."

            "How is Keith?"  She asked.

            Pidge repeated everything Nurse Jewelia told him.

            She nodded grimly, "Thank you for the update, Pidge."
            "Darcy, watch your back.  Lotor is after Lance, he might try to use you.  Be careful."

            She nodded, "Thanks for the warning."

            "We'll see you soon, Darc."

            "About an hour."

            Pidge nodded, "See you then."

            She snapped the communicator shut and looked at Cpl. Hvakley.  "Is this as fast as this ship can go?"
            He smiled kindly, "Afraid so."

*******************************

            Night was reaching Hillor just as Darcy arrived.  They were given clearance to land in an open field not far from the med ship.  Pidge and Dante were there to meet her.

            "You can head back now or grab something to eat first," Pidge told Cpl. Hvakley.

            He saluted, "I'm going to head back now, sir."

            "Very well," Pidge returned the salute.  "Thank you for your help and have a safe trip back."

            "Any changes?"  Darcy asked as they hurried toward the med ship.

            "No, but we're ready to take off.  Hunk is feeling up to flying and Keith is stabilized.  How're you holding up?"

            "I'm fine."

            He studied her as they approached the ship.  "Have you had any sleep at all?"

            "Some."

            "Darcy, glad to see you," Hunk greeted her.  "Ready to fly?"

            "Can I see him, Hunk?"

            He looked down at her.  She was so pale.  The exhaustion and worry that had made her restless were now wearing her down.

            "We want to be in the air as soon as possible, but I think you can check on him.  I'll see about getting you some coffee for the flight back."

            "Thanks Hunk."  She followed him aboard the med ship.

            It was very quiet and low lit.  Dr. Gorma was standing in the hallway talking to Nurse Jewelia.

            "Hey Doc, any news?"  Hunk asked.

            "No changes yet," Dr. Gorma muttered.

            "We're about ready to take off.  Can Sgt. Barlow see Lance before we go?"

            The doctor looked up, took in the pale, worried face of the young pilot and nodded.

            "In here," Nurse Jewelia opened the second door.

            "Thank you," Darcy whispered.

            The room was brightly lit.  Lance was lying on a bed in the center of the small room.  IV tubes ran into the back of his hand, an oxygen hose was strapped across his face.  His flightsuit had been removed.  Bandages were wrapped tightly around his torso and a light blanket was pulled up to his chest.  The only sounds were the beeping of the heart monitor and Lance's shallow breathing.

            With her heart in her throat, Darcy crept to the bedside.  He was very pale, with dark circles under his eyes.

            She brushed her fingers across his cheek, he was so warm.

            "Hey, baby," she whispered.  "I just wanted to see you.  We're heading back to Arus soon.  You'll be just fine."

            She watched and waited for some response.  None came.  Leaning over, she brushed her lips over his.

            His eyelids fluttered.  Darcy held her breath and watched as his eyes flicked open and then closed again.           

            "Lance.  Lance, can you hear me?"  She stroked his cheeks, hoping for another sign.  She knew that just because his eyes opened didn't mean he was coming out of it.

            The door opened.

            "Come on, Darc, we gotta head out."  Hunk said.

            "I'm on my way," she replied, not turning away from Lance.  "Hang tight, baby, we'll get you home and back on your feet before you know it."  Placing a gentle kiss on his forehead, she paused a moment, hoping he would open his eyes again.  He didn't.

            She leaned down, resting a hand over his heart, and placed her mouth against his ear.  "I love you, Lance."

            With a heavy heart, Darcy left the room and followed Hunk down the hallway.  Hunk handed her a travel mug full of strong coffee and slung an arm around her shoulders.

            "He'll be just fine, Darcy."

            "I hope you're right, Hunk."