Hello all! Sorry for the late post. I hope you like the latest installment. By the way, made a few changes in chapter 13 so that the story flowed better. No biggie, but if you want to reread chapter 13, you are welcomed to do so. Hope everyone is well. Still working on this story. I'm hopeful the finish product will result in an great story at the end. Chat soon! xoxo

A person 56: Hi! I'm so happy that you're hooked! I hope you enjoy the latest chapter.

SnyperLady: I know. I love bad boy Keith. He's so hot! LOL! Yeah, Lotor is preparing himself for Allura. We'll see how that turns out. Oh, I feel for Allura. She really has suffered as well. Yeah, Romelle and Lance. I've wanted to pair them up for a while. I love me some Zombie! LOL!

GoPinkLion: Oh Lucy! I feel sorry for her. Oh, I can't wait till the Lotor/Allura confrontation. Hmmm…Keith and Allura….you'll see.

Michelviant: Yes. Very much the original. I still don't feel comfortable writing for the new one. I'm hopeful I think of a good story based on the new one.

Playlist

Wet-Don't Wanna be Your Girl

Radiohead: How to Disappear Completely

Oasis: Don't Look Back in Anger

Chapter 20

Pulling up to Kogane's building, Sam studied the area with the expectation of finding Allura's car. When she told him she was returning to base, something deep inside of him nudged him about the validity of her statement. Allura was lying and he knew it.

Once she left, Sam told himself that he was being childish and stupid. So, he entertained himself with reading and watching TV. When those things didn't work, he went to his computer and logged in to do some work. Tempted to check the entry log, Sam noticed that Allura never checked in to base. Angry that he was now sure of her lies, Sam picked up his keys and drove over to the first place he was sure to find her-Kogane's place.

And, there he was. Parked in front of the brownstone, waiting to see if he could catch them. He found no one. Sighing in frustration, Sam felt not only angry, but confused. Where was she? Where was he? He looked for the motorcycle, but knew he wouldn't find it parked outside. Shaking his head, Sam couldn't believe what he was going to do next. Getting out of the car, he crossed the street and walked over to the brownstone's front door where he knocked.

After standing for about a minute or so, he knocked again. Nothing. "He's not home," Sam whispered to him. Or he doesn't want to open the door. "No, that's not Kogane."

So Kogane wasn't home and Allura wasn't there either. Running his hand through his head in frustration, Sam turned around and walked back to his car, he had one more place to go to.

XXXXXXXXXX

Opening her eyes Hope smiled when the first thing she saw was Darrell smiling back at her, "I dosed off," she whispered as she pulled herself up little from him. Wrapping the bed sheets to cover her naked form, Hope took her hand and pulled her black hair away from her face.

The room they had rented for the night was spacious, clean and had a view of the city. They had managed to end up on the 48th floor of a five star hotel with a wall to wall window that displayed a star filled night and a full moon. The only light inside the room was the moon's natural glow.

"I didn't want to wake you," he replied as he raised his hand to caress her cheek, "We've been asleep for about two hours of so."

"You've always managed to tire me out," she giggled.

"You're not so bad yourself," Darrell told her as he looked deep into those blue eyes that as long as he could remember, were filled with so much love and devotion for him. Hope had been the only woman who had loved him unconditionally. And as he looked at her, Darrell couldn't understand why he ever thought of leaving her. "I missed you. I…I miss you."

"I know," she shrugged a little. "So do I. But, we have now. Let's enjoy now." Her tone was sad, but peaceful. Not an ounce of anger or defensiveness in it.

Darrell's smile gradually faded as she said those last words to him. Had Hope given up the possibility of an eternal life with him? Was she no longer interested in him? Had she finally decided to experience life? It's what he'd always wanted for her. He never wanted Hope to feel she had missed out on opportunities because of him. So, why had it bothered him what she had just said?

Knowing, he was the one who had to get past this, Darrell replied, "Yeah. We do." He then pulled her back down and kissed her enjoying the taste of her lips and the scent that was Hope.

Never replying to him, Hope allowed Darrell to guide her back to him. She wrapped her arms around him, closed her eyes and enjoyed the now with him.

XXXXXXXXXX

Allura's car followed Keith's motorcycle to an abandoned brownstone a few blocks from his own home. Slowing down, Keith parked his bike, got off and walked over to Allura's car as she lowered her windows, "Get out," he forcibly told her.

He was beyond angry and she knew it. Without of a word, Allura turned off the engine and got out of the vehicle, mentally preparing herself with what would come next.

"Why are you following me?" was his first question. Keith was in total command mode. There wasn't an ounce of emotion laced in his question, but Allura knew that Keith was great at keeping his emotions hidden from anyone when command mode set in.

"It wasn't my intention to follow you–"

"But you did," he countered, "Why?"

"Listen, Keith–"

"Why Altair? I expect an answer from you."

Withholding her own anger, Allura took a deep breath. She knew that at this point, she was talking to her commanding officer, not Keith Kogane, not her former lover, but her commanding officer, "I needed to talk to you and I went over to your house. I was about get out of my car and knock on your door when I saw you leave."

"And you followed me?"

She nodded, "I don't know why I did. I just felt I had to." Her last statement made him angrier. But, she wasn't going to allow him to intimidate her. She needed to find out why Keith was at that bar and why he was talking to Hazar.

"Do you have any idea what you could have happened to you?" Keith's voice was cold and filled with fury, but Allura detected concern and fright, "Allura you could have been killed!"

"I can take care of myself Keith," she answered, but the strength in the message just wasn't there.

"The hell you can!" he yelled back. "That Drule had at least three times your strength. Do you think he cared that you could defend yourself?" His eyes widened as his wrath increased, "You hit him and his fist would have found their way to your face! You think anyone would have defended you? No! They wouldn't have cared or they would have been too afraid to fight him. Then, he would have picked you up, taken you to a back alley, raped you in the presence of anyone out there until he was tired of you and then killed you. That's what he would have done Allura. That's where we would have found you. If we would be lucky enough to find you. And the sad part is that no one would dare say it was him."

Allura swallowed hard. Keith's bluntness had left a mark on her. Yes, she was a trained soldier, but she was also a woman and the fact that she was strong, but not strong enough to take on a Drule of that magnitude gave her a different perspective of her mortality. Looking up at him, she whispered, "I'm sorry." And this time she meant it. "I'm sorry for frightening you."

Keith didn't reply. Instead, he took a deep breath and asked, "Why did you follow me? What was so important that couldn't wait until tomorrow?"

"I-"

Suddenly, he realized why she needed to speak to him. Keith's eyes narrowed as he asked, "Did you come to tell me about you upcoming nuptials to General Gellar?" Her blue eyes lit up with shock and even worry. It was as if she was worried about what he thought of the entire situation. Tired, angry and wired, Keith didn't want to hear any explanations. Even more, he didn't want to hear what Allura had to say, "You don't owe me any explanations Altair".

She looked disappointed, but nodded, "I just wanted you to hear it from me."

"It wouldn't have made a difference," his cold tone made an appearance.

"I think differently," Allura suddenly defended back. "See, I'm not the heartless cold soul you are. Unlike you, I wanted to show you some respect. I wasn't about to act the way to acted toward me!"

"What do you mean by that?"

Her eyes watered as she shook her head in frustration, "I waited for you Keith Kogane. I waited for an explanation. I waited for you to tell me why you would do such a heinous thing. And I never got one. And then like a fool, even though I'd seen the proof, I went against everything and everyone. Family and friends countless times told me not to believe you, to forget you, to let you rot in that prison cell, but I wouldn't. I followed you. I left my home, my friends, and my family to follow you. And, not once did you ever appreciate or acknowledged me."

"Allura–"

"Years Keith. Years on Earth, trying to visit you every week and you denied me. You left me. No explanations, no apologies, not one ounce of respect for what we had," At this point, Allura's tears flowed freely, "You left me. Telling me that marrying Sam makes no difference to you...it does to me. It tells me that I can finally put our past behind us."

Keith listened to every single word Allura said to him. And in that moment, he felt the internal walls of his heart crumbling. There was so much he felt like telling her, but he couldn't. He wouldn't. There was no point in doing so.

There's no point, Keith kept repeating in his mind. He had lost Allura, lost her years ago. The book of their life together would come to a close the day she'd unite her soul with Gellar's. Their connection would break and he'd lose her completely.

Keith couldn't let go of her without one last reminder of what he felt for her. Their connection. A connection that kept him warm and safe during those many years locked away in a cell. He hadn't left her, not the way she thought he did. How easy it would be to walk away. To get on his bike and never look back. To forget that the evening ever happened. He could do it, but didn't want to. He wanted to feel her one last time.

Looking at her, Keith noticed the hurt in her eyes, the disappointment and sadness Allura must have felt for their situation. He had hurt her so much. Keith knew he had to let her go. But, he just couldn't let her go without one taste of her. One feeling that needed to last him for however much time the Lions granted him the gift.

On an impulse Keith drew to Allura towards him, he inclined his face toward hers and lay his mouth on hers. For a long time, he kissed Allura taking in every bit of her that he could for it be the last time he'd ever feel her touch again.

Keith kissed her gently, but with each passing second, he lost the carefulness, the insecurity. And as that happened, Allura knew gentleness wasn't what she craved. She immediately wrapped her arms around his neck and deepened the kiss. Keith groaned softly before his arms encircled her small waist, gathering her against him.

Their hearts beat faster and faster as images of a life past flashed in their minds simultaneously. The first time they met, their first kiss, their first taste of intimacy. But it wasn't only seeing it, they felt it. Felt every emotion from those days long ago.

And just as it came, it left. No warning. No gentle dismissal. It was over.

Slowly, Keith let go of her, but not before he brushed his lips against her ear, a touch that sent shivers through her nerves and made her body tremble, "I wish you happiness, Altair," he whispered to her. He pushed those words with all the strength he had, for they were the last thing he wanted to say to her, "With all my heart, be happy."

Finally, letting her go, Keith turned and walked over to his bike, turned it on and left Allura seriously wondering if she really could be.

XXXXXXXXXX

Darrell could tell it morning was approaching. The sun wasn't still out, but the room became a lot lighter than hours prior. Sighing deeply, he turned over, wanting to wrap his arms around Hope. But when his arms reached the other side of the king sized bed, he found no one. Immediately sitting up, Darrell turned on the lamp on the nightstand and when he looked at the other side, he found it empty except for a piece of paper lying on the pillow.

Picking it up, Darrell quickly rubbed his eyes to clear the cobwebs before reading the content,

Didn't want to wake you. Thank you for last night. As always, magical.-Hope

Darell didn't know how to take the message. Hope has apparently had a wonderful time, just like he had. But, there was nothing in the message of another encounter or anything that told him something of what she felt for him.

Could it have been that she had finally gotten over him? Was it truly over for them?

It was what he wanted. But for some reason, he now wasn't sure.

XXXXXXXXXX

Walking into her home, Hope quietly made her way to her room crossing the dark living room when all of a sudden the lights came on. Surprised, she watched her mother sitting in one of the dining room chairs.

"Mom," Hope sounded surprised. "I thought you'd be asleep."

Calmly Romelle stood up from her chair and walked to the dining room, "Have a seat next to me dear," she told her daughter as she sat down and patted the seat on the sofa which she sat.

Hope did as told. Romelle never showed any anger toward her daughter, but Hope could tell she was, despite the calmness she portrayed. Not wanting to anger her mother any more than she already was, she did as told.

"You were with him?"

Hope nodded, "Yes. I was."

Romelle shook her head. Despite the anger she felt, she looked at her daughter with eyes full of concern, "Why do you do this to yourself? Hope, I don't want you to be disappointed. He will disappoint you."

Smiling a little, Hope replied, "Mom, I know it doesn't seem like it, but I know what I'm doing. I know Darrell and I know what I need to do."

"How can you be so sure?" Romelle questioned.

Sighing, Hope was about to reveal something she wanted to tell her mother for a very long time, but just didn't know how she'd take it, "Mom, please don't get mad, but I have to try. I have to try with all my heart and strength, I have to try."

"But, what if he disappoints you?"

"Mom? Are you sure that you are thinking of me or…of you?" Hope questioned carefully.

The question took Romelle by surprise and she found herself unable to recover or even look into her daughter's eyes. Seeing the opportunity, but still carefully putting together her thoughts as to not offend her mother, Hope took the opportunity to continue, "Sometimes, things…circumstances pull people apart. But, it is up to one of them to pull them back together. I believe with all my heart and mind that Darrell and I belong together. There's no doubt, there are no questions."

Taking her mother's hand within hers, Hope squeezed it gently. Romelle looked at her daughter as she continued speaking, "I won't allow doubts to enter my mind. Darrell thinks I need to find myself, when in reality, he's the one that needs to find himself. I need to be patient. I need him to find his way."

"But, Hope. What if he doesn't?"

"You don't give him enough credit," she shrugged. "Darrell never had a chance to reflect. The war took away the time he needed to reflect, to mature. He's going through that process now and I have to wait until he finally realizes it. And mom, he will."

"I don't understand how you can be so patient," Romelle shook her head.

Hope sighed, "I don't understand how you can't fight for what's right in front of you."

"Hope!"

"He loves you mother," Hope stated firmly. "He always has. Nothing is preventing you from taking that leap now, but yourself."

"You don't understand."

"Father is no longer with us," she reasoned. "And Dad found his true love. Why can't you?"

Standing up, Romelle walked away from her daughter, "Hope, this is so complicated. You won't ever understand why I did what I did."

"Then help me understand," Hope stood up. "Why won't you give Uncle Lance another chance?"

Looking at her daughter, a single tear escaped Romelle, "Because if I do, he will hate me."

XXXXXXXXXX

When Allura walked in to the apartment, the last person she expected to see was Sam sitting in the living room waiting for her. After Keith left her, she couldn't find it in her mind to go back home. She drove around the city most of the night. By the early morning hours, she knew she'd have to go home and face him. But she wasn't expecting the encounter so quickly.

"Where were you?" he asked eerily stoic as the look of surprise emerged on her features.

Allura knew that look. Rarely was Sam angry at her and this would become another occasion in a handful that occurred over their years together. No need to lie, she had to tell him the truth. The last thing that she needed was Sam having a confrontation with Keith, "I had to go see Keith."

"Did you spend the night with him?"

"No!" she was shocked. He looked relieved.

"Care to tell my why you had to go see him and why you are back at four thirty in the morning when you left a little past ten last night?"

She took a deep breath, realizing what was about to begin, "I had to speak to him about our engagement."

At the statement, Sam stood up angrily, "Why the hell do you need to speak to him about that, Allura? It's none of his damn business what happens in our lives!"

"You don't understand–"

"The hell I don't!" Sam shouted in a tone so filled with anger that Allura didn't doubt that the neighbors in the apartments around them would hear. "And you have no business going over to explain anything to that bastard."

"That bastard has saved our planet more times than any of us have," she reminded him with equal anger now. "And he's my commanding officer and the man–"she caught herself before finishing the sentence. "I owed him the respect of letting him know. You took that away from me. You and your damn gloating!"

"So now it's my fault that I want to share with my friends that I'm going to marry the woman I love?" he snorted sarcastically.

"No," she shook her head, "But, it sickens me that you have to stoop so low as to announce our engagement in front of him knowing what he and I had. That was low, Sam. He didn't deserve that."

"So now you're defending him!"

"In this instance, yes," Allura replied firmly. "You didn't only disrespect him, but you disrespected me. You know the protocols, you know the way we do things. How dare you disrespect my position in the Corps and my position as a Voltron pilot? How dare you?"

"You're insane, Allura!" Sam laughed humorlessly, "We've dated for ten years. Ten damn years and I finally get an acceptance from one of my many proposals. So yeah, I was beyond happy that I went ahead and told my friends. Why not? So excuse me for not paying attention who was in the room at that moment when I was sharing the one thing I wanted in my life. You."

Allura looked at him. She knew that his words made sense, but still part of her didn't believe that all of Sam's intentions were genuine. In her heart and mind, he had partly made the announcement to spite Kogane. "Ever since, Keith came back into the picture, you've changed," she lowered her voice trying to calm herself. "You are not the same Sam."

"No Allura," he countered. "Ever since he came back, you've changed. You're not the same Allura. You're not same woman." He turned around and walked back to the bedroom. Sam was tired. Mentally and emotionally. His one night of happiness soured beyond what he could have ever thought.

Just before he walked into the bedroom, he turned around and looked at Allura. Pain and anger held his eyes, "Maybe you've never been."

Alone in the living room, Allura finally sat down in one of the sofas, leaned back and closed her eyes, "Maybe you're right Sam," she whispered, replaying in her mind all the events that transpired in the last few hours.

XXXXXXXXXX

Lion practice took place early in the morning as scheduled. Allura, who barely slept the night before was off her game and Keith, knowing everything that happened hours earlier, didn't go easy on her. As usual, their captain was all business and didn't excuse anything or anyone, even himself when he made his mistakes on occasion.

Lance, who had patrol, looked tired and worn out, but he performed well. Although Keith did have to call out his attention a couple of times. Darrell had been just as bad as Allura. Keith knew something was wrong with the kid. He was barely keeping up with work and made it just shy of two minutes past roll call. Keith knew he couldn't get into Darrell's personal business, but whatever those reasons were, the kid needed to snap out of it. Perhaps he'd talk to Hunk to get him to talk to Darrell.

Hunk performed the best, but to Keith it looked like he was purposely focusing on his maneuvers to distract him from something he too was going through.

Overall, not their best practice.

Once practice ended, the team dispersed to freshen up and grab breakfast before meeting once again for debrief. As usual, Keith went to get his morning coffee before returning back to the lair. It was on his way back that he ran into to hallway were Allura waited for him.

"Keith, we need to talk," she immediately told him.

Tired, he sighed, "If it's about yesterday–"

"No," immediately interrupted him, "That's not what I want to talk about. You made things very clear." Walking a little closer to him, she said, "There's a reason you went to that club. I want to know why."

"It isn't any of your business Altair," Keith calmly told her. "Besides, it's better that you don't know."

He began to turn and walk away, but his nonchalant communication didn't distract her from what she wanted to know, "You're wrong. It is my business because I follow your orders. And to follow you, I need to trust you Keith."

He turned around and looked at her.

"It's already hard to do so," she continued. "Don't make it harder."

"Did you recognize him?" he suddenly asked.

Sighing, Allura nodded, "It looked like Hazar."

This time is was Keith that nodded as he rested his back on the hallway wall, "I hope that you never say his name to anyone ever Allura. His identity is to remain a secret at all costs. Do you understand what I'm telling you? I trust that you'll respect my wishes."

"Why is that?"

"If I am to trust you with the rest of the information, you will grant me this one request, yes?"

Hesitantly, she nodded her reply.

"Altair,"

"Fine, Keith," she replied firmly. "I won't say a word to anyone."

Satisfied by her reply, Keith continued, "He's been helping me find…someone."

Allura's sharp blue eyes collided right into his dark ones, "Who?"

"Haggar."

"The witch? Why? And why out of all people, Hazar?" She asked surprised.

"I told you before, she's the key to all this. She disappeared all those years ago with Lotor," Keith explained. "Even if we destroy him, nothing will end until we get rid of her too."

"Is that your only reason?"

Keith hesitated for a moment before answering her, "Should there be another?"

"I don't know," Allura looked deeper into his eyes, "You tell me."

Just when he was about to answer, the rest of the group began trailing in. Ensign Mosley, lagging a bit behind the group held her datapad with one hand, while the other typed information on to it. She was already working on getting the agenda ready for debrief.

"We should head in to the conference room," Keith suggested.

"This conversation isn't over," Allura warned.

Without answering, he turned and walked away.

XXXXXXXXXX

As expected, debrief went as usual. Keith called out all errors performed at practice, even his own and offered suggestions on how to improve. The rest of the team patiently listened. Even Lance who looked tired, took his suggestions and orders well–he either nodded or remained quiet.

For Keith, that was a win.

Once debrief was over, the team began getting ready to be dismissed when Keith suddenly, said, "Before I dismiss you there is something I need to tell you all."

Knowing this was not regular procedures, everyone looked up. Even Kirian who took the minutes looked up questionably as whatever was about to happen was not part of the agenda.

"What I am about to tell you will most likely shock you or anger you," he began as he looked at Lance who sat up and focused his full attention on Keith. "Nevertheless, whatever your thoughts are, they don't matter to me. My decisions are final and I will move forward."

"What are you saying, Captain?" Coran looked perplexed as he took a defensive position.

Ignoring the question, Keith looked at Allura before looking at the rest of the group, "I've been actively looking for Haggar. And for me to find her, I've recruited a number of Drule informants."

"Informants?" Lance's voice was finally heard in the room. "What do you mean by informants? There's more than one now? Who are those informants?"

"That's one bit of information, I can't tell you or anyone in this room," Keith replied briefly looking him before turning his sights to the room.

"And why is that?"

"We've gone through this before Lance. I have to protect these people's anonymity," he answered. "When I decided that I wanted to work with them, one of their stipulations was that I never gave away who they were. I plan on keeping that promise."

"You're joking, right?" Lance laughed sarcastically. "You keep a promise? You loyal? That's impossible."

"Lance!" Allura warned. "Stop it. Let him explain."

"Explain what?" Lance lashed out at Altair. "Explain how he's loyal to a bunch of criminals? Possibly murderers? I guess all those years in prison helped you forge alliances with Drules." Standing up from his chair, Lance walked over as Keith stood up from his preparing himself from what would probably be another altercation between him and Lance.

"Gentlemen, stop this!" Coran yelled.

"Lance!" Hunk stood up.

"Stop this!" Darrell added at the same time.

Mosley, who stood by Coran looked shocked, not knowing what to do next.

"You damn bastard! What the hell do you know about loyalty?" Lance shoved him. "What do you know about being an ally, a friend?" Another shove. "What do you know about any damn thing?" and another. Keith held his anger in check, making sure he didn't react as Lance continued to provoke him once again.

He could have shoved him, kicked him, hell punch him just once and anyone action would have make Lance stop talking. Unfortunately, it would have made him use other methods to get his point across and that is the one thing Keith didn't want to provoke Lance to do. So, instead, as Lance continued his taunting Keith thought of another way to shut him up.

"Not everything is black and white Lance," he calmly answered as he stepped back, "Loyalty is shown in different ways and it's not always clear to others. Loyalty means giving up part of yourself for the greater good. Have you ever had to give something for the greater good, Lance? What have you given up to prove your loyalty? What's so clear to you that may not be clear to others?"

Lance's eyes widened at the realization of Keith's words. He knew.

Looking adamantly at him, Keith sighed, "May I continue?"

Nodding curtly, Lance turned around and sat down to everyone's surprise.

Looking at the rest of the group, the captain continued, "It's important to find Haggar. Stopping Lotor won't solve anything until we have her."

"Why?" Kirian suddenly asked as she looked at her tablet and searched for some information, "Hasn't she been gone…for decades?"

"She disappeared with Lotor and managed raise and groom a future king to the throne of Korrinth. Who is to say she won't do it again if Lotor fails?"

"It may be a never ending cycle," Allura reasoned as Kirian nodded in understanding.

"So are you saying that there are Drules working for us?" Hunk asked skeptically.

"Not necessarily," Keith answered. "They have no ties to any one planet. This is strictly a business deal for them."

"So how do you know they are trustworthy with the information they provide you, Captain?" Coran then asked.

"I've worked with them, Coran. We have an agreement. They have never lied."

"What if they do?" Darrell added.

Keith shrugged before casually answering, "I'll find and kill them. But it won't come to that. I've worked with them for years. They are loyal to me."

"Because they are afraid of you," Darrell challenged.

"Maybe," Keith answered as he remembered Hazar's request, "But, like I said before, loyalty is shown in ways that may not be clear to us. It's not up to us to judge."

XXXXXXXXXX

After debrief, the team went on to work on their daily job duties. Keith on the other hand went straight to Coran's office.

As soon as he was summoned to enter, the Captain entered, "Coran, I need access to the Arus penitentiary."

Looking curiously at Keith, the Advisor asked, "Is there a reason why?"

"One of my sources has demanded the release of a prisoner," he answered calmly, "I'm going to set him free."

"What?" Coran was shocked, "Keith, have you gone insane? You can't do that."

"My source just divulged certain information that is helpful to our mission," he continued, "But in order to get it, I had to promise the release of this prisoner."

"Who is this prisoner?"

Keith was hesitant for a moment, "A young man."

Coran chuckled humorlessly, "You know that I can find out Keith."

"I know," he nodded. "But I rather that you don't. Coran I'm asking that you provide me access to the penitentiary records."

"Why?"

"Because I'm going to erase the records," he answered.

Coran's eyes widened. What in the name of Arus was Keith going to do?

XXXXXXXXXX

Allura worked in her office, concentrating on her reports when the Vidscreen alerted her that a call was coming through. Looking up and seeing who it was, she whispered, "Lucy?" Punching the code to access the call, Allura smiled when she saw Lucy appear on screen, "Hey Lucy. What's going on? You okay?"

Looking seriously at her friend, Lucy answered, "I need a ride to the airport. I'm leaving Arus."