DISCLAIMER :
VOLTRON AND ITS ELEMENTS ARE OWNED BY WEP.
Mystery of the Christmas Star
Chapter Seven
It took another two minutes, and breaking all of the safety regulations, to get the team and equipment to the point in the wall Haggar said she was sure led to the wreckage. Lance had held the group together so far, but Keith made it all look easier than it really was! The Lion rebel now held a new point of view of his commanding officer – if he could only have the chance to tell him so.
"Lance, I'm right here. Now do you understand why I chose you over the others?" Keith tried to squeeze his friend's shoulder, but his hand went through Lance as if the guy wasn't even there!
Looking over at Alfor, Keith almost understood what was happening, but couldn't put it into words. Alfor's face was pained, for he too went through all of this – the time to say good-bye or return (if one is given that option). "You are only here to see, not interact son. This is the man who will take your place?"
"Yeah dad. This is Lance, he's Red's pilot." Keith's voice choked slightly. He never thought he could miss the hothead this much.
"Come on, we're almost through! Pidge, any good news?" Lance was grasping at any straw he could get right then.
Pidge was still crying, "their brain waves are crashing! If you don't get them in the stw's soon, there's no hope!"
Lance wasn't ready to take that for an answer. "How about their body temps? Are they low enough to give us more time?"
"Good thinking, Lance! Find every chance and use it! Looks like he'll do just fine." Keith was so proud of his friend that the rest was a blur.
However, Allura was looking all around. She saw what was happening. "Keith, there's Lotor and Haggar – working WITH our team? Poor Pidge and Hunk are so upset."
"Lotor helped to lead the Lion team to the two of you. Now see, they've broken through the rock and metal to you." King Alfor softly directed the two of them.
Lance crawled in and tried to pull Allura out, but Keith's corpse had a death hold on her body. "Come on buddy, it's me and the team! We're gonna take care of you guys, so give me some help here!"
Keith could see that Lance was nearing his breaking point. Reaching out to touch his own hand, Keith and Allura both noticed that they were only able to touch their own bodies. After a split second of that, Keith pulled back and his dead body released Allura's "It felt like I was being drawn back into my body."
"That is how the two of you would return to life. See they are doing all they can to rescue the two of you. These people must really care for you both." Alfor pointed his hand towards the team.
Pidge chirped in excitedly. "Lance! It's Keith – his brain activity just jumped up again! I don't know what you did a minute ago, but keep it up!"
"I was talking to him. Lotor start talking to Allura, it might bring her back too! Hunk let's start getting these two out of here!" Lance's heart began to race as fast as his mind. He once again began to hope, even over those annoying flat tones showing that the couple's heart rates were non-existent.
Lotor bent over as Sven fastened Allura into the stw. Tears were bathing his face. "Allura, please don't go. I know a young woman who needs your help, but you have to come back to us for it to work."
"Your wrong Lance, it happened because Keith touched his own dead hand. Love, we have to give them some kind of hope for now – and this way we can still return if we decide to." Allura softly touched the face of her shell, and pulled back as quickly as Keith had.
"Lotor, keep it up! Allura's brain waves have picked back up! There's still a chance!" Pidge blurted out in his happiness.
The scene suddenly blurred before their eyes. When it cleared again, Keith and Allura saw the doctors frantically doing all they could to resuscitate the couple. The crying from down the hall was so loud that neither Keith nor Allura could ignore it.
"When the living think of the dead, we always hear them." Alfor gently explained it to his children.
The three of them willed themselves to the waiting room. Haggar said something about waiting in the hall for some news, but she smiled at Keith and Allura as if she could see them clearly. It was as if the old witch knew that the couple was standing there. The couple decided that couldn't be, so they stood there listening to everyone's thoughts.
Lance sat right next to the door, his eyes shut to keep from crying. His thoughts shook Keith to the core. "Keith, I don't think that I can do your job man! You make it look so easy. Allie we need you both! The two of you are what keeps us all from falling completely apart!"
Lotor was in one corner by himself. His thoughts showed the desperation in his heart – he had really changed. "Allura, please don't leave. You were the first person to treat me like a friend. I have been the world's worse fool to turn my back on your offers of help and friendship then; I know that now. Keith, this world still needs you both. I'd personally make sure you had the chance to marry Allura, if the two of you would only come back!"
"He did all that he could to save my little girl. The computer showed that. He pulled her from her seat in the nick of time, gave her his jacket to keep her warm, and sat her where the cold was last to take effect. All are proof that he has earned her hand in marriage. If I could only tell them that, I know that they would return!" Nanny was weeping to herself as she rocked in her chair beside a wearier than normal looking Koran. He was wondering if the planet could survive after losing its best beloved hero and Princess in the same day.
Pidge and Hunk were praying their hearts out with Sven and Romelle. Allura showed Keith a feeling she had caught off of Romelle – the young woman was with child! They both heard Sven regret that he wouldn't be able to give the couple his and Romelle's surprise; that he and Romelle had eloped a few weeks before.
Keith and Allura smiled when Sven thought about how he and Romelle were going to ask the two of them to be the child's godparents. And then they could sense a little thought. The child had understood all her parents had told her about Keith and Allura. She was begging them not to leave her all alone in a world without them!
All over the Castle of Lions and Arus prayers and thoughts were being offered for the saving of Keith and Allura. How could they ignore the requests of their dearest friends and people as well?
Turning to the old King, they could see that they didn't have to tell Alfor their decision – he just knew. It hurt to lose his daughter again, but he also knew that she was with a man who loved her as much as she loved him. "Since you both wish to return, we had better return you to your bodies quickly."
Walking into the hall, they notice that Haggar was still smiling at them. The truth became so clear in the couple's minds at the sight of that knowing gleam in her eyes. "She can see and hear all of us!" Allura gasped.
Haggar nodded, with a tear in her eyes. She had to take a couple of breaths to keep from crying, but was smiling so brightly. She knew that the pair she fought to save was returning to them all, and that they had forgiven both her and Lotor for the past.
"Haggar, tell the rest that we're on our way back! And tell Lance that I think he did a pretty good job of taking my place this time. That he just needs a few more missions this strenuous to polish himself – but he's as good a leader as I was at his rank. And tell Lotor that he has a really sweet mom watching over him, who misses him." Keith spoke quickly, as he felt that he wasn't able to stop – his body was pulling him back.
Allura had that same feeling, but had to say something to help prove Haggar's words were true to the others. "Tell Lotor that he knows I'd help his friend even without his promise to Keith. And tell Romelle and Sven that we're hurt we missed their wedding, but we're honored that they'd choose us for their daughter's godparents! And tell Nanny that we're holding her to that bargain of hers!"
Allura giggled with joy as she and Keith were pulled back into the infirmary.