Again, I don't own Voltron or it's characters. Just the ones I invented.
Lance woke with a start. God, what a dream! He lay there a moment more, then sat up. Pain rocked him back down on his bed, moaning. It wasn't a dream. Pidge and Keith, they're…He sat up, more carefully this time and looked around. He wasn't in sick-bay, but in his and Dorma's rooms. How did I get here?
Lance swung his legs around, and sat on the edge of his bed. His body felt like one big bruise. Scowling to himself, he made his way to the shower. Once inside, he let the hot water pour over him. He stepped out a short time later, and toweled off quickly. He pulled on a pair of jeans, hard to do one handed, and looked around for his cigars. Damn Dorma, she must have hid them. He walked outside and stood leaning on his balcony railing overlooking the countryside.
The areas around the Castle were still smoldering. Lance could see figures working among the debris, trying to put out the many fires. Smoke could be seen in the distance, where villages were still burning. He was still standing there an hour later when someone knocked at the door. He didn't move.
The door opened and Jeff walked in. Looking around, he spied Lance on the balcony and went to join him. They stood there, not talking for a few minutes. Jeff reached into his pocket and pulled out a package of cigarettes. "Here, figured you could use one of these." He took one for himself then handed the pack to Lance.
"Thanks." Lance took one and lit up. He glanced over at Jeff, one eyebrow lifted in surprise. "Since when did you start smoking?"
Jeff shrugged. "I stole them from Cliff."
Lance took a long drag on the cigarette and made a wry face. "Ugh. These things suck." He looked up at Jeff. "Have you seen him?"
Jeff nodded. "For a few minutes this morning. He's still out of it. Your mom managed to finally drag Kim off to bed." There were dark circles under his brown eyes.
"When did you get here?"
"Late last night. I brought you here, you don't remember?"
Lance shook his head. "It's all kinda hazy. I remember Dad telling us that Keith..." His voice cracked. "Then Hunk came in with Pidge. I think Mom might've slipped me something, because I don't remember much after that."
Jeff nodded. "She did. We figured you needed the rest." He sighed. "Once you called and told us you had the kids, I decided to head this way to pickup the miscreants myself. I couldn't raise you so I called Sven, but he couldn't get anyone either. Next I had Headquarters give it a try. When they couldn't get through, we knew something was up. I got a squad together and headed this way. We got within range and found a whole fleet of enemy fighters surrounding the planet. Took them out and landed just in time to help pick up the pieces." Jeff crushed out his cigarette on the railing. "A week ago, I was drinking in a bar with Keith and now…Dammit Lance, what happened up here?"
Lance shook his head. "This Haltor came out of nowhere. Claimed to be Lotor's son. None of our Intelligence Forces or Hazar's either for that matter, even knew he existed. He wanted Keith's head for killing Lotor. Looks like Haltor got his wish." Lance flicked his cigarette off the railing and stood staring after it.
"Lance, we may still find him." Jeff said quietly.
Lance shot him a scathing look. "I can see the wreckage Jeff. We won't find anything."
"You don't know that!" Jeff paused a moment. "We found Commander Montgomery this morning."
Lance looked up sharply. "Is he dead too?" He snapped.
Jeff shook his head. "Broken back. The docs repaired his spinal cord and he's expected to make a full recovery."
Lance pulled another cigarette out of the pack and gazed back out over the landscape. "Well, that's something I guess."
Jeff looked at Lance in barely controlled anger. "You know, Allura thinks he's still alive."
Lance shrugged. "If that's what she needs to believe, let her." Lance straightened up, wincing. "Look Jeff, stop fooling yourself. Keith isn't going to make some miraculous appearance this time." He gestured back at the debris in front of them. "No one could survive that. He's dead." He crushed out his cigarette on the railing. "It's a wonder it took this long."
"What do you mean?"
Lance shot him a scathing look. "It's a fucking war Jeff. Frankly, I'm surprised we've all lived as long as we have."
Jeff was saved from answering when Dorma entered the room. She joined them outside. "Svavaliadeelin, you should be resting." She picked up the pack of cigarettes and frowned at her husband.
"Don't start with me Dorma." Lance snarled.
Dorma exchanged a glance with Jeff. He shrugged. "I just came to tell you that your father is calling for a debriefing. I'll go let him know you're up." Jeff nodded to Dorma and quickly left the room.
"How are you feeling?" Dorma asked. Lance shrugged and went back inside. "Lance?"
He whirled to face her, his green eyes bright with unshed tears. "How do you think I'm feeling Dorma? Pidge is dead, Keith is dead, and Cliff might as well be. Me? I'm doing just peachy." Lance shot back sarcastically.
"Lance…"
"Back off Dorma! Just leave me alone!" Lance stormed into their bedroom and slammed the door shut behind him.
Dorma stared at the closed door, whispering to himself. "Keith is not dead. He is not dead."
They gathered, a few hours later, in one of the larger conference rooms.
Allura sat at the head of the table, in her usual spot. Her face was pale, and her eyes were bloodshot, but she had a determined look about her.
Coran sat next to her on her right. The elderly advisor seemed to have aged ten years since the battle began. Pidge's death had hit him hard.
Hunk sat next to him, his face still bearing the marks of his grief.
The rest of the room was occupied by the unwounded members of the Vehicle Force, Admiral Harrison, Hazar, Jeff, and Arus's Council.
Lance walked in and took his seat, leaving Keith's conspicuously empty. Dorma slipped into the seat next to him.
"Now that we're all here, I call this meeting to order." Allura spoke up. She nodded to the Admiral.
"Reports coming in say that most of the fires are being contained. They should be out in the next day or so. Then we can start assessing the damage and rebuilding." He told her.
"And the…casualty rates?"
Harrison closed his eyes a moment. Then he looked up and passed her a stack of papers. "As per your orders Majesty, the nearby villages were evacuated. Most of the losses were in your defense forces and ground troops."
Allura quickly scanned the pages in front of her. She turned towards her Council. "See to it that the villages hit hardest are given whatever support they need, as soon as possible." They nodded in agreement.
The meeting continued along that vein for a while. Finally Lance spoke up. "What are we doing for Pidge and Keith's memorial services?"
Silence descended into the room like a thunderclap. Everyone looked from Lance to Allura. "We can't avoid the issue forever Allura." Lance told her.
Jeff cleared his throat. "I talked to Chip. He's on his way and should be here by the end of the week. He agrees that we should bury Pidge here, on Arus. This was his home." He said quietly.
Allura nodded soberly. "I was thinking of outside, near the woods. There is a small clearing where we used to go for picnics. I think Pidge would rather be there than down in the catacombs." A stray tear trickled down her cheek. Hunk choked back a sob and put his face in his hands.
"And Keith? What are we doing for him?" Lance pushed heartlessly.
His father, Dorma and Jeff shot him identical dirty looks. "Lance Edward." Harrison said warningly.
Lance turned to his father. "What Dad? You don't think the man's worthy of a memorial service?" He said coldly, his green eyes flashing dangerously.
"C'mon Lance, have a little consideration." Jeff said neutrally.
Lance whirled on his friend. "For what? Are you telling me we're waiting until we find enough pieces of him to bury?" The room looked on in stunned silence.
"We haven't stopped looking for him yet. There's still a chance we'll find him." Allura told him.
"Give it a break Allura! Keith's dead, do you hear me. KEITH'S DEAD!" Lance got to his feet and marched out of the room. After a moment, Dorma excused herself and followed her husband out the door.
Lance stormed down the hallway. Dorma quickly caught up with him. "Why did you do that?" She demanded.
"Do what? Force everyone to accept the truth? Keith's dead Dorma. Deal with it." He snapped back.
"Like you are?" Dorma's violet eyes flashed fire. Several Castle personal stopped and stared at them. "In here." Dorma pulled her husband into the Rec-room. "You are acting like an ass."
"Why? Because I'm the only one willing to deal with reality!" Lance responded.
"If this is your way of dealing with it, you are sadly in need of help." She shot back. Lance snarled at her, his green eyes flashing. Dorma pushed on. "You did not have to be so cruel. Allura has feelings too. He is her husband."
"She's just feeling guilty that they never had the chance to make up before he was killed." Lance retorted hotly.
"And are you acting like this because you are feeling the same way?" Dorma shot back.
Lance went pale and his green eyes flashed dangerously. "That was low Dorma." He hissed.
"It is true, is it not?"
Before Lance could answer, Allura strode in, her blue eyes blazing. "There you are. Lance, tell me one thing. Why are you so convinced Keith's dead?"
Lance snorted. "Why?" He grabbed her hand and dragged her outside onto the balcony. "Look around you Allura. Look! They're picking up hand sized pieces of things out there. Don't you think that if Keith was alive, he'd have been found by now?"
Allura went pale. "I will not give up on him! Not until some one brings me proof that he's gone."
"What more do you need! Dammit Allura! I want him back too! But he's not coming back." Lance started to shake, and the tears he'd been trying to hold back finally broke free. "Keith's not coming back." He pulled Allura into his arms, holding her tightly as she too began to cry.
Dorma walked up to stand next to them. "We will find him." She said softly.
Lance shook his head, not looking up. "No we won't Babe. Not this time."
"Lance, he is alive." She said, more forcefully this time. Both Allura and Lance looked up at her. "Remember what I am. If he were dead, I would feel it. Even without the bond we share, I would know." Her violet eyes bored into his.
Allura's eyes lit up. She took Dorma's hand in hers. "Are you sure?" Dorma nodded. "Then we need to find him! He must have escaped before the ship blew up. I'll go tell the Admiral, and Cass. We'll get a team together and—"
Lance shook her. "Allura! Listen to yourself! We're not even sure if he is alive."
"You heard Dorma! She'd know if he was dead!" Allura persisted.
Dorma nodded. "I would never have said anything if I did not believe it to be true. Keith is alive. Svavaliadeelin, you must trust me in this."
Lance shook his head. "Dorma, I know you're trying to—"
She cut him off before he could continue. "Lance, you must believe me. I do not lie. And, I would not have said anything if I did not know it to be the truth." She looked up at him unflinchingly.
Lance sighed and rubbed his good hand over his head. "Even if it were true, where do we begin to look? There's nothing but rubble out there."
"Then we'll search it all!" Allura grabbed Lance's hand tightly in hers. "Lance, I vowed long ago that I would always come for him. I don't intend to go back on that promise now."
Lance looked deep into her blue eyes and saw the conviction written there. He sighed again. "All right, we'll look for him." Allura started to turn but he held her back. "But this goes no further than the three of us is that clear? I won't have everyone getting their hopes up, then having them shot down again."
Allura nodded. "Thank-you Lance. She kissed him softly on the cheek, then turned and embraced Dorma. "Thank-you for believing me." She whispered, then rushed from the room.
Lance leaned heavily on the railing. Dorma placed her hand on his. She could feel his grief and weariness and it softened her heart. "Svavaliadeelin?"
"Dorma, what if you're wrong?" He asked quietly.
"I am not. And if you would open yourself up, you would know that as well."
Lance shuddered. "I'm afraid to Dorma. I can't stand the thought that he might be…he might be…" Lance broke down, his body shaking with sobs.
Dorma drew him into her arms. "Keith is alive Lance. We will find him." She held him until his sobs subsided, then gently led him from the room.
After the doors closed, two figures immerged from the shadows.
"Whew! Do you think they saw us?" Dreana asked.
Hans shook his head. "They would've said something."
Dreana looked up at him, hope filling her face. "What if Dorma's right, how will they find him?"
Hans paused thoughtfully a moment, then grabbed her hand. "I have an idea. But it all depends on how Troi is feeling. Come on!" Hand in hand, they ran from the room.