"We're going to start by going over the schedules and see who was on duty when these breaches were made.  From there, we will begin full surveillance of Castle Control."  Keith told the gathered team.  "But we need to be careful, we can't let on that we are investigating.  If whoever is doing this knows we're on to him, he may back off or try something different."

"Have you checked the surveillance cameras?"  Dante asked.

"Yeah," Lance sighed.  "They looped a tape.  It showed nothing out of the ordinary."

"They tampered with the cameras?"  Allura asked.

Lance nodded.

"We don't want to seem too obvious.  Hunk, I want you and Caleb to find four cross shooting points in Castle Control where we can hide cameras, we need to be able to see the computer station and I want to be able to see the entire room.  I want the cameras installed tonight while Dante is on duty, we don't want any of the guards to know what you're doing, be discrete.  If anyone asks, you're fixing something."  Keith instructed.  "Pidge is there any way you can make it so no one can sign on without a recognized identification?"

Pidge shrugged, "It's set up like that now, I don't know how they're doing it.  I'll do what I can, but I think we're dealing with someone who knows what their doing.  They may be able to figure a way around it."

"Do what you can," Keith said.


"Can't you just change all the passwords?"  Allura asked.

"That's where it gets sticky," Pidge said.  "If there is an emergency, whoever is on duty needs to be able to sign on to the system.  The best course of action is to find out who's doing this as soon as possible.  We'll change all the passwords after that."

"Go get to work."  Keith dismissed them.  "Allura, I want to talk to you."

She watched as the others filed out of the room.  Lance took Darcy by the arm and led her away from the others.

"What is it, honey?" She asked him.

Keith pulled out the chair beside her and turned it to face her, "Lance and I think it would be for the best if you, Cady, Darcy, Schuyler, and Becca all went to Pollux until this threat passes."

Her eyes widened, "No."  She put her hands on the arms of the chair and pushed herself up.

"Allura, we don't know who's doing this or why, I don't want you in the line of fire."

"Keith, I will not leave Arus.  I am the Queen, I have a responsibility to my people." 

"Where are you going?"  He called after her as she left the room.


"I have to use the bathroom."

Keith followed her down the hall, "We need to talk about this, Allura."

"There's nothing to talk about Keith.  I'm not leaving."

"Keep your voice down," he hissed as they passed a guard.  "We don't know who we can trust."

Allura glared at him.  It upset her more than he could ever know that someone in her crew could do this.  She knew all the guards by name, some of them she even knew their families.   There is just no way that one of them could be doing this.

Keith followed her into their room and paced impatiently while she took care of business.  This was not something he was willing to budge on.  He stopped and faced the door when he heard it open.

"I'm not leaving, Keith.  I know you're only doing what you think is right, but I need to stay here for my people."

"What about our children?"

Allura closed her eyes, her arms wrapped around her stomach, "Don't put me in this position, Keith."

"I could say the same to you, Allura."

She opened her eyes and looked at him, tears filling them.  "I can't leave Keith.  I know you and the rest of the Force will keep us safe."

He crossed to her and put his hands on her shoulders, massaging them, "Honey, I just want to keep you safe and you will be on Pollux."

"You know I can't just leave.  What kind of message would that send to my people?  I have a responsibility to them and to Arus."

Keith pulled her to him, wrapping his arms around her tiny frame, feeling her firm, swollen stomach press into his.  "There are times I wish you weren't ruler of a planet."

Allura pushed him away, the tears spilling out of her eyes, "That's a terrible thing to say!"

"No, Allura, it's not!  I love you, you know I do."  He began to angrily pace the room.  "You and our kids are the most important things in the world to me, you're my life.  There are times I wish we could just leave Arus, leave behind all the painful memories left by Doom.  Now we have some new threat, granted we don't know how dangerous it is or if it's just a joke someone is playing."

Allura watched him, listened to what he said, feeling her heart break.  "Are you sorry you got tied down here?"  She whispered, sinking down on the edge of their bed.

He whipped around to face her, "Of course not!  I just want you to be safe."

"So I'm a burden."

"No!"  Keith ran his hand through his hair, frustrated.  This was not going well.  He crossed to the bed and fell to his knees in front of her.  "Angel, I love you, I love our life here.  I wouldn't have it any other way.  I'm just frustrated.  I want you to be safe and I'm afraid our home isn't safe anymore."

Allura cupped his cheek with her hand, "I know this is hard for you.  When you married me you not only got a wife, but you also picked up a lot of other responsibilities…"

"I can handle the responsibilities of being your husband, Allura, I just don't think I could handle it if anything happened to you."

She sighed and brought both hands up to frame his face, forcing him to look her in the eye.  "If you don't catch whoever is doing this by the end of the month, I'll go to Pollux.  That will give me enough time to work with Koran and get my affairs in order."

"You'll be careful?"

"I will."

"And you'll keep your communicator with you at all times?"

"You know I do."

"Where's Cady?"

"Nanny has her."

Keith stood and crawled onto the bed behind her, "I would feel better if she was back in her nursery."

"She's safe with Nanny, but we can go get her if you want."

Keith knelt behind her and began massaging her shoulders, "I'll go get her."  He leaned forward and kissed her neck.  "Stay here.  Relax.  I'll bring Cady back here and then I have to meet with Lance, but I'll try and make it quick.  Just relax, everything will be all right."

Allura wiped the back of her hand over her wet cheeks, "I love you, Keith."

"I love you, too."  He stood and leaned over to give her a quick kiss.  "I'm going to lock the door, don't open it for anyone other than members of the Force, Nanny, or Koran."

"I won't."

"I'll be right back with Cady."  He kissed her again.

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

"Do you really think Allura is going to go for this?"  Darcy asked Lance.


They stood on the Observation Deck, talking quietly.

"I don't think so, but Keith says he can talk her into it."

"I really don't want to go, Lance."

"I would feel better knowing you guys were out of harms way."

"I know you would, sweetie, but I don't want to leave you." Darcy laid her hand on his arm. 

"Darcy…"

"But if Allura wants us to go, I'll go."

He dropped a kiss on her forehead, "Thank you, babe."

"What are you going to do now?"

"Keith wants us to go over the schedules."

Darcy nodded, "I'm going to go find Becca and Schuyler."

"What are you going to do?"

"I don't know, why?"

"I think it would be a good idea if you guys went to our room, lock the nursery and bedroom doors and stay there.  I'll come and get you for dinner."

Darcy tilted her head and looked at him, "Are you serious?"

"Deadly serious."

"So we're prisoners in our home."

Lance grinned and leaned so his mouth was just a breath away from hers and whispered, "I think there are worse things than being locked in our bedroom."

Darcy couldn't help but smile, "Let me know if there is anything I can do to help."

He leaned against her, pressing her against the wall, "I can think of a couple of things."

"You know what I mean."

Lance brushed his lips over hers, "Go find the baby."

"See you at dinner," she gave him a quick kiss and slid out from under him.

Darcy found herself looking at every guard and maid she passed.  She knew them all.  Who could it be?  Who would do this?

Becca was not in the nursery, nor were they in the rec room or her room.  Darcy began to get annoyed, she had specifically asked her sister to stay in the castle.  She passed Keith who had just retrieved Cady from Nanny's care, he had not seen Becca, but if he did, he would tell her Darcy was looking for her.  When Nanny said she didn't know where they were, Darcy began to worry.

She pulled out her communicator and dialed up Lance.

"Collier."

"Lance, I can't find Becca."  She tried to control her voice, but it rose.

"Did you check the rec room?"

"Yes."

"Did you see if she was in the nursery with Nanny?"

"Yes!  I looked everywhere Lance, I can't find her!"

"Okay, calm down, Darcy.  They're here somewhere."  Lance turned away from his communicator when a guard interrupted.  "What?  Are you sure?"  He turned back, a bit pale.  She could tell he had started moving quickly.  "Honey, Pvt. Fforden said he saw Becca going into the hospital wing with the baby."

Darcy felt her heart stop, "What?"

"Where are you?"

"I'm heading to the hospital wing," she found her feet felt heavy as she began running.  "Meet you there."

With her heart in her throat, Darcy ran as fast as she could, arriving at the hospital within seconds.  She rushed through the door and stopped when she saw Becca talking to Dr. Gorma.  Schuyler had her head on Becca's shoulder, her eyes red and her face pale.  Dr. Gorma was holding a small vial up and explaining it Becca

Lance ran through the door, running into Darcy.  He grabbed her shoulders to steady himself, "What is it?  What's wrong?"

At the sound of his voice Schuyler began crying.

Darcy still hadn't found her voice, too scared to talk.  So she crossed over to her sister and took Schuyler, cradling her to her shoulder and rubbing her back.  "She's so warm."

Lance gently stroked his daughter's tear streaked cheek, she was burning up.  "What's wrong, doc?"

"Just an ear infection and a slight fever.  Becca noticed how warm she felt and brought her here."  Dr. Gorma held up the vial.  "I was telling her, these are drops, twice a day in her ear and she'll be just fine.  This," he held up a bottle of pink liquid.  "Is for the fever."

Lance listened as Dr. Gorma explained the medicine while Darcy tried to calm her baby.  She swayed slightly, whispering endearments that Schuyler wouldn't understand. 

"Come on," Lance took her arm.  "Let's put her to bed."

"Darcy, are you okay?"  Becca asked, following them out of the hospital.

Darcy nodded.

"Thank you, Becca, for bringing the baby in."  Lance wrapped his arm around his wife's shoulders and steered her toward their room.  "We'll take her to bed.  Um, why don't you go get something to eat."

Becca nodded, confused.

Wordlessly, Lance led Darcy to their room and took Schuyler from her hands.  He administered her first dose of medication, changed her and rocked her until she fell asleep.  It didn't take long, the baby had drained herself crying.  Leaving the door to the nursery open, Lance found Darcy in the bathroom wiping her eyes with a tissue.  He crossed his arms and leaned against the doorway.

Darcy looked up and blushed when she saw his reflection in the mirror, "Is, uh, is she asleep?"

"Yeah.  You okay?"

"I'm fine."  She tried to walk past him, but he grabbed her arm and pulled her against him, wrapping his arms around her tightly.  "Lance."

"It's okay, baby."

Darcy buried her face in his throat and tried to calm her nerves.  "I know, I'm being silly."  She mumbled.

"No you're not."  He rubbed her back and kissed her temple. 

She lifted her head to look at him, "It's just that I couldn't find her and with everything that's going on I got scared and when we found her in the hospital…"  Her voice cracked.

Lance wiped away her tears with his thumb, "She's fine, Darcy."

"I know.  I'm being silly."

"No," Lance smiled at her.  "You're being a mommy."

She returned his smile with a weak one.

"I have to go meet Keith.  It shouldn't be long.  If you need me for anything," he tapped his communicator.  "You know how to get a hold of me."

"I know."

He stepped back and ran his hands up and down her arms, "You okay?"

"I'm fine."

He dropped a kiss on her forehead, "I love you."

"I love you too," she gently shoved him. "Go do what you need to do so you can come back."

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

Becca was feeling perplexed, afraid Darcy was mad at her.  But she had done the right thing, hadn't she?  Yes, she did, she knew she did. 

Not knowing what else to do with herself, Becca did what Lance had suggested and went to the kitchen.  It wasn't that she was hungry, just not sure what else to do.  Everyone was acting so strange. 

The door opened and she paused when she saw Pidge pouring himself a glass of juice.

He looked up and did a double take, "Hi, Becca."

"Hi," she whispered back.

"How're you doing?"

"I'm alright.  What about you?"

"I'm fine."

Becca studied him, her heart racing.  "You like tired, Pidge, you really need to rest."

"I'll rest when all this is over," he muttered, forgetting she had no idea what was going on.

"When what is over?"

"What?  Oh, nothing.  Forget I said anything."

She stepped closer, "What's going on Pidge?"

"Nothing for you to worry about, just trust us."

"You guys are frightening me.  Something is obviously going on and no one will tell me."  Her eyes widened when she saw the weapon holstered on his belt.

Pidge set his glass down and crossed to stand in front of her, "You have nothing to be frightened of, Becca.  I won't let anything happen to you."  A lock of hair had come loose from her ponytail and lay on her shoulder, he fought the urge to reach out and touch it.

"Pidge?"

"What?"

Becca felt her nerve failing her, "What, uh, what's going on…with us?"

He locked his gaze with hers.  Her eyes were pure brown, not hazel.  No flecks of gold or green, just pure brown, the color of chocolate.

She blushed under his scrutiny and felt like a fool.  He wasn't answering her question.  Becca looked down, unable to watch him watching her.

"Rebecca," he reached up and tucked the stray strand behind her ear.  "I'm sorry I've been so tied up since you got here."

"It's okay, I understand."

"No, it's not okay.  I'm sorry and I'll make it up to you, I promise."

She smiled, "I told you, I'm going to hold you to that."

"Maybe tonight?  I have an assignment I have to take care of for Keith, but I should be done in a couple of hours."

Her smile grew, "I'd like that."

He met her smile with one of his own and Becca felt her knees weaken.

"Great, we'll try this again.  Hopefully the alarms won't go off this time."

"Hopefully," she whispered.

"I'll find you later."  And then he was gone.

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

The Force was trying to be as subtle as possible.  Hunk and Caleb had their tool belts on and were pretending to be fixing a couple of monitors.  Keith had disappeared into his study with Lance and a couple of files.  They didn't want the guards to see them going through the schedules and files. 

Pidge sat down in front of the main computer terminal and began reprogramming the system.  He felt himself stiffen when he heard Dante enter the room.  He knew he shouldn't allow this to come between them as friends and teammates, but he couldn't help but feel some animosity towards Dante. 

"Hey man," Dante came up and clapped him on the shoulder.

"Hey," Pidge's response came out through clenched teeth.

"How's it going?"

"Fine."

"You okay, dude?"

"I'm fine."

Very casually, Dante said, "I was talking to Becca earlier."

Pidge glared at the computer screen, his hands clenched in tight fists.  "Oh."

"Yeah, she's a great girl."

"I know."

"Did you know she isn't seeing anyone back on Terra?"

"Yeah."

"Are you sure you're okay?"  Dante asked.  "You seem kind of, I don't know…stressed?"

"I'm fine Dante," Pidge spat.  "If you don't have anything of importance to say, I really need to get this done."

"Oh, I don't know, I think Becca's pretty important."

Pidge stood, sending the chair he was sitting in rolling back, "What is with you, Dante?"

Dante held his hands up in defense, "Nothing, man, calm down."

"What?  Are you after her?  Another notch on your bedpost?"  He spoke quietly and his hands clenched and unclenched as he stepped closer to his teammate.

Silence filled Castle Control as everyone watched the two men at the far end of the room. They couldn't hear what was being said, but it didn't look good.

Dante snorted, "Yeah, right."

Pidge moved with a swiftness that shocked Dante.  There was a sickening sound of bone connecting with bone when Pidge's fist smashed into Dante's jaw.  A shocked expression crossed Dante's face as he stumbled back and fought to retain his balance. 

Hunk's wrench fell to the floor with a clang as he raced across the room.  "Pidge!  What the hell are you doing?"

"It's alright," Dante gingerly touched his cheek and wiggled his jaw.  It wasn't broken, it just felt like it.  "I'm fine."

Pidge glared at him, his hands fisted at his side.

"You're an idiot," Dante told him.  "All she wants to do is talk about you.  Even if I wanted to, I don't have a chance in hell with her.  You obviously like her, do something about it before you lose her.  You only have a few weeks before she goes home."

"Aren't you on duty?"  Hunk asked Dante.

"Yeah, I'm going."

Hunk turned to his old friend, "You okay?"

Pidge made a decision.  "Hunk, I have to go do something.  When this scan stops running, restart the computer, I'll be back."  He pushed past his friend and left Castle Control.

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

AN:  I wanted to comment on one of the reviews I received for this story.  I put this at the end so you can skip over it if you like, or you can read it.  The tequila I referred to in a previous chapter is indeed an alcoholic beverage, not a drug.  (Although, some people do consider alcohol a drug).  I am over the legal drinking age (As is everyone in this story) and I have had tequila, both in shots and Margaritas.  The first thing you need to know is that alcohol affects different people in different ways, so some people would have been up all night throwing up and then felt like crap in the morning.  Other people would have been hungover the next morning.  And then there are people like me, I don't drink very often, but I have been drunk in the past (a couple of times by tequila) and I have never had a hangover.  How drinking affects people changes on a person to person basis.  You need to factor in metabolism, your physical size, what you had to eat or how much water you had to drink beforehand, etc…

I just want to avoid any confusion on this topic.  Thank you for your reviews, I really do appreciate them.

Thanks!

Failte