"We're just out of Lotor's sensor range, Cap." Lance told Keith.

"Good." Keith and Lance had changed out of their Voltron suits, and were back in the black outfits. "Let's just hover here for a bit, and see what they're up to."

"No problem." Lance eased back on the thrusters and the ship slowed. He gazed into the view screen. "Looks like they're damaged. That's why we caught up with them so fast." Lance turned and watched his friend applying black makeup to his face and neck. "Uh, Keith?...Now that we're here, how do you propose we get on that ship? I mean, Lotor isn't exactly going to welcome us with open arms."

Keith didn't look up. "We're going to ram them."

Lance looked incredulous. "Excuse me, I thought I heard you say that we were going to ram them?"

Keith nodded. "We'll aim for a cargo port and ram through. You go find us another ship, and I'll take care of Lotor and Allura."

"Hel-lo!" Keith didn't answer. Lance tried another tract. "Ah, I'm not sure that's such a good plan Keith."

"Well, you're the genius, come up with a better one."

Lance looked thoughtful. "Ok, ramming sounds good. But I'm not hanging around the ship, waiting for you. I'm going with you."

Keith shook his head. "No, you're not."

Lance stood and faced his friend. "Yes, I am. Keith, you need me, you'll never pull this off alone, Shadow Training or not! I came to help. I love her too, you know."

Keith sighed. "All right, but we do this my way, understand?"

Lanced nodded and turned back to the console. "Let's go get her."

"My Lord! There is a ship appearing on our sensors! It is headed toward us at top speed!" A robot soldier called out to Lotor.

"What! What kind of ship?" Lotor asked.

"Looks like an Alliance ship sir!"

Lotor smiled. "Well, well, a rescue. How nice. Let them get close. Then, blow them away!"

The robot turned back to the controls. "Yes sir!"

Lance dodged another laser blast. "Keith! That was close!" He yelled.

Keith franticly fired back. "Keep going, we're almost there!" He called back.

Lance took the ship into a deep dive, then spun around to get very close to Lotor's ship. Just a bit closer…There! He swerved into the bulwark, breaking through the metal like it was paper. Their ship screamed in protest, and came to a halt just inside the cargo bay. Neither spoke for a moment. "Now that was a landing!" Lance said when he got his voice back. He grinned at Keith.

Keith didn't smile back, "Let's go." He got to his feet and bolted for the door. Lance followed at his heels. They slunk through the ship, black shadows hiding in black shadows. Keith spied a group of robot guards. He nudged Lance, and indicated toward the robots. Lance nodded and pulled out his gun. Together they rushed forward, surprising the guards. Shots were fired. Lance got a gash across one arm, but managed to take his enemy down. Soon, all the robots were down, but one. Keith held the hapless creature against the wall, his gun at the robot's throat. "Where is she?" He demanded.

Lance grew nervous at his Captain's expression, "C'mon Keith, let him up. He can't tell you anything the way you're holding him."

Keith didn't seem to hear. "Where is she!" He growled again. The robot pointed to a hallway behind them. Keith glanced at it, then back to the robot. "Give a message to Lotor for me." He told the robot. Keith then blasted the creature beyond repair. Lance felt a chill run up his spine. He'd never seen Keith like this before. Keith turned to Lance, his eyes still not sane. "Are you coming?" Without waiting for an answer, he took off down the hall. After a moment, Lance followed.

They made their way down the seemingly deserted hallway. "Keith?" Lance looked around nervously. "Be careful. I—" His thoughts were cut off as laser fire erupted all around them. Both hit the floor, shooting everywhere.

One bolt went through Keith's thigh. He groaned and rolled around a pillar. Lance hid behind the next one. "Any more bright ideas?" He asked.

Keith scowled. He reached into a pouch on his belt, and took out a small metal box. Punching a button, he let the box fly into the squad of robot soldiers. "Cover your ears." He told Lance. Both covered ears and eyes as a huge explosion ripped through the compartment. When the dust settled, Lance peeked around his pillar.

"Well, that worked." He walked over and inspected Keith's thigh. "Just a scratch." He helped Keith to his feet. "Let me guess, those little things were courtesy of Shadow Corps? Got any other surprises I should know about?" Keith glared at him. "All right then, let's find Allura." They continued down the hall, stopping in front of a large door.

"This could be it. Cover me." Keith blasted the door controls and cautiously stepped inside. Something heavy hit him over the head. Moaning, he fell to his knees, blackness crowding his vision.

"Well, we found her!" Said Lance cheerfully.

"My God! Keith!" Allura dropped the piece of metal she was holding and dropped to Keith's side. "What are you doing here?" She asked hugging him tightly.

"Hello! I'm here too!" Lance quipped as he helped Keith to his feet.

Keith shook his head to clear it, and pulled off his mask. "Allura!" He pulled her into his arms, then pulled back to look at her. Seeing the bruises on his face, his eyes darkened. "Did he touch you?" He snarled.

Allura shrank back at his tone. "No, no, I'm fine!" She took his hand, "Keith, I'm fine!" She looked up at him and smiled.

"Uh, I hate to break up this reunion, but we really should get out of here." Lance looked out into the hallway. In the distance they could hear people running their way.

Keith took Allura's face in his hands. He bent down and kissed her gently, then drew her against his chest. "I love you." He said closing his eyes.

She sighed, tears filling her eyes. "I love you too."

Lance came back in the room. "I think I liked it better before you two got together." He muttered. "Come on!"

Keith took Allura's hand and followed Lance. "Where are they?"

Lance nodded down the direction they had come. "Better hope there's a back door out of this place."

"They brought me down here in an elevator. It's over here." Allura ran down the opposite hallway.

Lance followed close behind. Keith paused to grab a laser rifle from one of the demolished guards. He handed it to Lance, who in turn handed his blaster to Allura.

"Here it is. Get in!" Lance pushed Allura in front of him and covered Keith.

The doors closed. "Where does this lead?" Asked Keith.

"Up to Lotor's private chambers." Allura told them.

"Great. Nice easy escape from there." Lance muttered darkly.

Allura shook her head. "He's probably not there."

"She's right Lance. Knowing Lotor, he'll be on his way to see if Allura is still where he put her. I should have waited there for him." Keith growled. Allura took a step back at Keith's tone. She glanced at Lance, who shrugged. Before she could say anything, the doors opened. Keith pulled her behind him, and cautiously stepped into the room. "All clear, let's go." They walked carefully through the room, touching nothing. They paused at another door. "Any idea what this opens up to?" Keith asked Allura. She shook her head. "I'll go first, Allura, stay here, behind Lance." Without waiting for a reply, Keith opened the door and went out.

Lance tightened the grip on his gun. Allura's hand on his arm startled him. "What's going on? Why is Keith acting like this? She whispered.

Lance shook his head. "Too long to get into now Princess. This is not the Keith we're used to seeing. This is Captain Montgomery of the Shadow Corps. Don't worry, he'll be back to normal as soon as we get out of here." Lance smiled. I hope anyway. "Are you sure you're all right? Lotor didn't…do anything?"

She smiled at him. "Not for lack of trying. But I had great teachers in self defense."

Lance squeezed her hand. "I think it's best we keep that part to ourselves." Allura remembered Keith's reaction at Lotor's name, and agreed. Still holding her hand, Lance slipped into the room. "Keith!" He hissed.

"Over here!" Came the reply. "I think I found a way out." Lance and Allura joined him at the other side of the room. Keith stood to the side of a large window. Glancing down, Lance could see the launch bay for the robot ships.

"There must be fifty ships in there!" Lance exclaimed.

Keith nodded. "So they won't notice one missing. Let's go." They found a stairway leading downward. Keith walked down quietly, motioning for Lance and Allura to follow. They almost made it.

Unknowingly, they triggered an alarm in the control room when they stared down the steps. Lotor laughed. "So you thought you could get away that easily did you? I think not!" He pressed a button on the control panel.

An explosion ripped through the stairwell. Allura crashed forward into Lance, knocking them both down the stairs. She hit her head, and everything went dark. Lance went down, smashing his knee, and bruising his already sore ribs. Blood began to pour down his leg. Keith flew into the wall, re-injuring his shoulder. He yelled in pain, and collapsed to his knees. The dust settled, and Keith turned to look for his friends. Spying Allura laying motionless on the floor, he scrambled to his feet, wincing at the pain in his shoulder. Lance sat by her looking dazed. "Allura!" Keith knelt at her side.

Lance shook himself back to reality. "Keith! Wait, she's all right. Just unconscious." He carefully got to his feet, testing his knee. It hurt like hell, but held his weight. "We need to get out of here!"

Keith nodded. He wiped a thin trickle of blood off his lip, and bent to pick up the Princess. As he tried to lift her, pain shot though his arm and shoulder, almost making him black out. He fell to his knees, moaning, clutching his arm.

"Keith!" Lance bent over his friend, helping him to his feet. He gently probed Keith's shoulder. Keith gritted his teeth in pain. "Looks like it's broken. I'll get her. Move!" He shoved Keith aside, and threw Allura over his shoulder. Wincing at the pain in his leg, Lance balanced her carefully over his shoulder, and urged Keith down the stairs. They paused at the bottom. "Let's run for it. We don't have long until Lotor figures out we survived." Keith nodded, and they bolted for the nearest ship. Once inside, Keith helped Lance strap Allura in. Lance slid into the pilot's seat and started the engine. "Sit down and belt in, this is going to be a bumpy ride." He told Keith. He pushed a few buttons, familiarizing himself with the controls. "Keith! I said sit down!"

"No."

Lance's head snapped up at Keith's voice. Keith was standing near the hatch, one hand on the door lever. "Wh-What are you doing?" Lance's voice caught in fear.

"Get her back to Arus. I'll be there as soon as I take care of Lotor." Keith turned to leave, but Lance stopped him.

"You promised her you would never leave her again." It was a low blow, but Lance had to try something.

Keith paused. "She tells you everything doesn't she?" Keith said quietly. He closed his eyes and opened the door. "I swore first to protect her. He won't touch her again." Keith's voice was tight with emotion.

"Keith please, don't do this! If you kill him like this, you'll be no better than he is. Do you want to get up everyday knowing you're a murderer?"

"Go Lance, before you can't get out of here." Keith turned back and brushed his hand down Allura's cheek. "Tell her I love her." He said softly.

Lance grabbed him by the arm. "Tell her yourself." He wasn't ashamed at the tears running down his face. He was losing his captain, his best friend, his brother.

Keith smiled. "I'll make it back, don't worry." He jumped down out of the ship, wincing slightly. "I can't leave you in charge after all." Their gazes locked. Lance started to say something, but was interrupted by laser fire. "Go now!" Keith yelled closing the door. Lance stood a second longer, then pushed the engines into life. Keith rolled out of the way, firing at the robots, as the ship took off. Lance punched the buttons opening the bay doors and blasted into space. Keith watched them leave, then he spied the control room, and bolted for the door.