Hello all! Here's the next chapter. Sorry for the delay….:(

Rossodisera: I'm sorry for not posting regularly. Ha! Thank you for staying tuned. I don't want to give you anxiety so…hopefully this chapter won't do that…then again…

Snyperlady: Girly! So nice to see you're still with me. Not sure how you'll like Mosley here…LOL! Regarding Sven…I think you all will find out soon.

Qiavance: Thank you so much for reading! I'll admit this story has kicked my butt, but I'm glad you're enjoying it and I hope you'll like the next few chapters as well.

Guest: Ha…well….

GoPinkLion: Hey! Thank you for reading. So, there's reasons why Keith doesn't want to share too much. You'll find out soon. I'm loving that Lance suspects. I hope he's ready for what he's about to hear. Then again, I've known the answer for so long that when it does come out, you all are going to think it's dumb. LOL! I'll say that the ending was a surprise to me also. I wasn't planning on writing her confession so early, but it kind of worked…I think…well, let's see. Hope you stay tuned!

LibAkilah: I think personally Sam is in love with a fantasy, but that's my opinion. I hope he realizes it as well.

Aipom4: I guess you are right! LOL. Like I said, it was a little too early for me, but I guess it worked out. LOL!

Playlist

Feliyan Studios-Unnamed Action/Dramatic Music

Flesh-Black Crown

John Murphy-In the House, In a Heartbeat

Chapter 27

They studied the files on the screen for a while before Kirian stood up and walked over to the laundry room. Satisfied when she noticed that her clothes were dry, she folded them neatly and began walking back to the living room. Keith was still engrossed, studying the plans with detail. Leaving the clothes on a chair, she walked over to the kitchen, poured two glasses of wine and walked over to him, handing over one of the glasses to him.

"Found anything interesting?" She asked as he took the glass from her hand.

He didn't notice the way Mosley made herself at home and if he did, he didn't say anything about it. Rather, he continued studying the information in front of him. Nodding, he answered, "Yes, I think I found an area where we can drop off Gellar without getting detected. I'll need to speak about this to Darrell to see if he can calculate a point of entry."

She sipped her wine and then sat next to him, "Show me where."

Inhaling her scent, the captain tried to control a sudden emotion. "This area over here," he stated flatly, and unemotionally.

Kirian smiled. "Do you think the area is free from Drule guards?" She asked as she turned to him.

"I wouldn't be able to tell from these two dimensional images. Perhaps a three dimensional image will answer that." Keith noticed that she leaned closer to him, in an obvious attempt to get closer. Turning away, he then gulp the remains of his glass and walked away from her. He headed to the kitchen where he put the glass on the counter before turning to the laundry room. Minutes later, he walked out carrying blankets and pillows. "I think we should call it a night, I have to get up early to get to the base," he told her as he headed toward the living area and placed the blankets on the larger of the two sofas. "I'll leave you to prepare your bed."

Keith was about to turn and leave, but Kirian had already made her way to him, "Thank you for letting me spend the night," the young girl told him as she came closer to him.

He nodded curtly. "Good ni…" he began, but was quickly cut off by her lips touching his. Keith didn't fight it, he didn't even flinch. His body responded to this woman and he couldn't understand for the life of him why. Maybe it was the three bottles of Guinness and the glass of wine that he shouldn't have mixed, but his thoughts felt cloudy, muffled by a strange lack of control to everything around him.

When Kirian felt she wouldn't be turned away, she came closer him and pushed him down the sofa. Once sitting, the younger girl straddled the captain and claimed her lips within his. She took his lips with such fury, such possession as if they had always belonged to her.

"We shouldn't," Keith whispered as she took off his shirt.

"Shhhh…kiss me," she answered back as the woman battled with his tongue.

Unable to control himself, Keith's hands travelled under Kirian's sweatshirt and up to her breasts, teasing her nubs which quickly hardened at his touch. The captain didn't know what to do with himself. He didn't know what was coming over him, especially with a girl half his age and who he had never felt anything for. The sweatshirt suffocated him and he tore it away from her body, exposing her to his eyes.

She didn't pull back, if anything, she pressed herself against him and continued playing the game she had just started with even aggressively. "Take me," Kirian whispered in between kisses. Then, she felt him tense up a bit, she wouldn't let him get away though, she would finish was she had come there to do.

"I…" Keith whispered hard as she took her hand and reached under his pants and began the next stage of the game.

"Just enjoy," she whispered. "No commitments, no attachments, just…enjoy."

VVVVVVVVVV

Silence fell inside the vehicle as both Sam and Allura looked at the large droplets of rain that hit the windshield of the car. She wondered what possessed her to confess. Why was it so important for Sam to know her feelings toward Keith, feelings that she had long ago abandoned and discarded; at least she thought she had?

"You never stopped loving him, did you?" Sam asked as he finally turned around to face her. "I can't…the truth Altair.'

Her characteristically strong blue eyes shone brightly as she faced him. Maybe being parked right below the streets light post made them shine, maybe they were tears she held from dropping, maybe it was the anger that she felt at divulging the secret that she held to herself for so many years. Either way, Altair's eyes burned with a mixture of anger, fear and grief.

"No," Allura intently looked toward Sam, "I've always loved him Sam. And deep down, you've always known that. Haven't you?"

He remained silent, not answering and confirming the obvious.

"I thought that by not seeing him…by keeping myself away from Keith, I could stop my feelings. But I can't." Allura suddenly wiped one pathetic tear from her cheek. "I don't know, how to describe it to you Sam. I just can't turn my feelings for him off. He's part of me, he's inside me. I can't tear myself away. I feel him all over…."

"Stop!" Sam shouted. "For God's sakes just stop it Allura!"

"I'm sorry," her tone was gentle, but firm. "But you wanted to know."

He nodded, a seething tone of anger still very much alive, "Yeah, I wanted to know. So, what now? What about us?"

Allura honestly didn't know how to answer that question. Sam looked at her grief stricken and destroyed. He knew the truth, the truth that they both ignored for a decade. What a hell of way to tell him, she thought. Altair could have cried, but no more tears came out. She could have comforted him, told him that things would work out. She couldn't. The truth was out, she couldn't go back. There was no turning back. "Sam, I..." suddenly a white light emerged from outside the vehicle.

"It's heading right toward us," Sam suddenly hollered.

Recognizing what it was, Allura's eyes widened. "Sam! Get us–" she shouted before the world turned black.

VVVVVVVVVV

Keith succumbed when he heard her low sultry voice telling him to just welcome back the feelings he had locked away so long ago. Yet, the captain felt guilt. This wasn't right, if anything he knew he'd feel worse after it was over. This girl…this woman was not, could never be, and would never be…his Allura.

"No," he shook his head. He was about to turn her away when felt a bite on his lips. "What the…"

"Oh, my God!" she suddenly startled. "I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! I must have gotten carried away," Kirian's eyes widened in regret.

He looked at her, "That's…that's ok. Kirian, I'm sorry. I over stepped my boundaries."

"No, you didn't. I encouraged you," she spat out. "Keith, I wanted this. I want you."

The captain shook his head, "This…this was a mistake. I'm sorry Kirian, I shouldn't have misled you." He finished as he picked up the sweatshirt and handed it back to her. Kirian quickly put it back on as he scrambled away from the sofa. "This shouldn't have happened."

"You still love her," Kirian sighed, shaking her head. "I…I should have known."

"What are you talking about?"

She looked at him with a knowing look, "Lieutenant Altair. You love her."

Keith looked at the younger women with question, "What makes you say that?"

Kirian shrugged, "I see the way you look at her. Besides, I've heard the rumors that go on at the base. They say that you two were together…once upon a time."

He didn't answer her. Instead the captain turned and began heading to the stairs. Suddenly, something stopped him as he took the first few steps. As Kirian stood to make up her bed, she curiously looked at him just stand by the stairwell. "What's going on?"

"Something is wrong."

"What?"

"She's in trouble."

XXXXXXXXXX

Keith took the wet streets with his bike like a mad man, dogging every car, zig zagging every curve despite the torrential rain around him. He didn't know where Allura was, but somehow he was able to connect to her for the briefest of moments before he felt nothing of her. Able to see visuals of what she last saw, he was able to target the area. Her last location was not far from where he lived.

Within a few minutes, he saw a car parked awkwardly by a street lamp. It looked like it had been hit head on. Its passenger door was open, the back lights blinking. Immediately Keith parked his bike, got off and ran. He wasn't expecting to find Allura. He didn't feel her so he knew she wasn't there. But he hoped he'd find a clue.

However, he didn't expect to find Sam sprawled over the passenger seat, out cold. Going around the car, he opened the driver's door and pulled the man out. Sam didn't flinched. Keith checked for a pulse and sighed with relief when he found one.

"Gellar," he called out as he slapped his cheek lightly, "Come on, wake up."

Sam groaned, but didn't wake. Trying to assess his wounds, Keith found burn from a stun gun on his right shoulder. Picking up his communication unit he called to the base, "Get me a MedTech unit. General Gellar is down."

Once he provided his location, he began getting his team together. He'd knew where he was heading to, but he'd need a damn good plan to get there.

XXXXXXXXX

Romelle sighed as she laid on top of Lance's body feeling the warmth of his skin and the beating of his heart.

"That. Was, Incredible," he whispered as he played with her hair.

She laughed at his tone, "I can't disagree."

Gently pulling her away, he laid over her and began kissing her neck. She giggled as his hands caressed her body, "Aren't you sleepy?"

"Hell no," he said in between kisses. "I have a sudden urge to kiss you all over."

She laughed again, "Lance. Don't you have early morning practice tomorrow?"

"This is worth going in late," he answered as he continued his exploration of Romelle's body.

"You're incorrigible!" she smiled. "I love you."

That statement made him stop and look up. Romelle immediately tensed, "I…"

He smiled.

"Uh..Lance–"

"I love you too," he said, his smile widening, "I've never stopped loving you. I never will."

The sole statement brought tears to her eyes, "Neither have I. It's always been you. I guess I never realized it until it was too late."

He brought himself up to her and kissed her with such affection that wasn't sexual in any nature. This was a passionate kiss full of love, devotion and downright gratitude. Romelle didn't hold herself back. She was completely giving herself in this kiss.

When they were finally able to pull again from each other, she smiled and whispered, "What now?"

He caressed her cheek gently, "I want to spend my life with you. No more games Elle. No secrets, no fear, no more games."

She averted her eyes from him, a feeling of concern and worry entered her features. Lance noticed it immediately.

"You're hiding something from me and I want to know," he whispered. "I know it's worrying you. I know it's consuming you. I promise you that I won't judge you. I will help you. I will do anything in my power to make it right. Please tell me."

Romelle thought long and hard. She was so tired of feeling the way she felt. But when she was with Lance, she was happy and she was herself. She had grieved and sacrificed to a certain degree her own happiness. Maybe it was time. Maybe, it was time for everyone to know, to be happy. Looking up to meet his eyes, Romelle shed a single tear, "Lance, I–"

"Lance, come in," Keith's voice boomed from Lance's comm. device. He turned around instinctively reaching as Romelle sighed deeply, "Lance here."

"I need you at the base immediately," Keith's voice replied.

Keith' tone was serious and even, but Lance knew the man and immediately picked up the hidden anxiety, "What's going on?"

"It's Allura," he replied, "She's been taken."

Romelle's eyes widened. It took every effort not to gasp or make any sound.

"I'll be right there," Lance said terminating the communication and immediately getting up from bed.

"I'm going with you," Romelle replied getting up herself.

"No," he ordered in full soldier tone as he began dressing. "At this point we need to follow protocol. Keith is going to hold closed door sessions. He won't let you in. He has the power to not even let Coran in. I'm not sure what he'll do. It's better if you stay."

"Lance! She's my cousin. I can't let–"

He walked up to her and gently grabbed her shoulders. Speaking even toned and slowly, he told her, "Romelle, I will tell you everything that we will do. Step by step. I won't hide anything, okay?"

She was shaking, a nervous wreck, but she managed to nod.

As he turned around and grabbed his jacket, he kissed her forehead, "We're getting her back okay. Allura will be back. We'll make sure of it."

Romelle nodded again, "I know."

"And we're not done talking. After this is done and over, we still need to talk."

At this, Romelle managed to give him a slight nervous smile, "I know."

XXXXXXXXXX

Lotor could not stop staring at the precious jewel he had taken from Arus. His porcelain doll lay sleeping on the bed in his quarters of the mass ship on route to Korrinth. Her dress, now dirty and filled with mud, sprawled over silken red sheets and her once golden curls, now wet from the rain spread limply throughout the pillow her lovely head rested on. She was a mess, but Lotor didn't care. He saw far beyond what she looked like at the moment.

"Such a beautiful sight," he whispered to himself as he sat beside her caressing her cheek. Gently, he placed his lips against hers kissing her sweetly and with a softness that even surprised him. "Allura, I don't think I could ever love someone more than I love you."

Altair lay sleeping. Unaware of what was happening.

It hadn't taken much, Lotor pondered as he thought back to just an hour or two prior when he had caught up to her and the so called boyfriend. For some reason they had parked their vehicle on the side of the road by a streetlight. It was so convenient that Lotor shook his head shocked by the simplicity of how he was able to apprehend them. All he had done was raise the lights out of his own vehicle bright enough to blind them and crash head on to immobilize them.

The rest was really simple. Stunned by the crash, Gellar wasn't even aware when Cossack opened the door and stunned him. Allura was a different story. She knew what was going to happen, but she wasn't aware of who was going to take her. She was prepared to fight and she fought hard, but not hard enough. The effects of the crash affected her equilibrium just enough so that her punches were careless and somewhat painless. She missed her target (him) various times. The dress she wore didn't help.

It didn't take too much to finally pin her to the ground. Cossack injected her with the serum that subdued her and placed her to sleep. Lotor quickly picked her up and took her into his car, driving off into the night without one witness to view the incident. The plan was executed better than he had even hoped for and even better, he doubted anyone would miss them anytime soon.

A knock at the door brought him back to the present, "Come in."

It was Cossack, who walked in with news, "ETA for Korrinth in ninety minutes. You'll be needed at the bridge soon." He looked at his friend curiously, "How long till you change back to…you?"

Lotor shrugged, "Should be another 30 minutes of or so."

"Good," Cossack commented, "You look very strange to me."

At this, Lotor laughed, "You're not the only one. I avoid looking into the mirror. Do you have the princess' rooms ready?"

"Yes," the drule nodded, "Everything is taken care of. Once we arrive at Korrinth, there will be some maids ready to bathe and prepare the princess."

"Good," Lotor smiled. "I want her to wake up feeling refreshed and clean. How long will the serum be in her system?"

"She'll be out for a while. Probably sometime tomorrow mid-day," Cossack replied. "On a human, the serum is stronger."

"How unfortunate," Lotor looked at Allura again. "Well, at least she will be well rested for our date."

Cossack laughed, "Ever so the romantic." He turned around and walked out the door, but not without saying, "Once your face comes back, report to the bridge."

Now alone with his soon to be bride. Lotor felt content and at peace.

"No," Lotor replied as he once again kissed his prize on her lips, "You have just never been in love. Can't you see what I see, Cossack? This is the most beautiful woman I have ever seen and will probably ever see for the rest of my life."

XXXXXXXXXX

Walking in to the conference room, Keith didn't waste time with formalities. The team didn't either. No one needed to fight about nonsense or faulty protocols and safety processes. That was something they could deal with later. Right now, all of them wanted to get Allura back. Coran remained quiet knowing that as a family member of Allura's, he would be too emotionally involved to provide ideas. He was lucky Keith allowed him in.

"What's the plan?" Lance asked as Keith walked in.

"We go to Korrinth," he replied simply as he sat down across from his team. "Lotor knows we're coming, so there is no need to waste time coming up with a plan involving any element of surprise."

"Front door attack?" Hunk huffed. "Not a good idea."

"I agree, but what other choice do we have?" Darrell said. "He's not going to let his guard down. He expects us to go after him. He'll have an army waiting for us."

"Do you think we'll be able to go on stealth mode prior to entry?" Lance looked at Darrell after he finished speaking.

The younger man shrugged, "Yes, that's not a problem, but the lions won't last long on stealth. With their weight and the density of the planet…it's not really an advantage".

"Maybe we don't have to all go in at once," Hunk reasoned. "Could work if we come in waves. This way, we'll be able to stay longer undetected and have the available back up in case we get ambushed.

Keith maintained his silence throughout the conversation. Coran, also silent, watched the Captain, studying him, trying to figure out what he was doing, "You're trying to reach her."

Looking at Coran, nodded, "Yes, but I can't."

Coran looked worried.

"I can feel her Coran, I just can't reach her," Keith put the Advisor's mind to ease.

The rest of the team looked at their captain. Hunk, who had his head down as he pondered Darrell's word, looked up, "You can feel her?"

Looking up, Keith nodded, "It's a feeling…I don't know how to explain it, but I can feel her presence around me. Right now, I can sense her presence, but I can't reach it. I can't communicate with her. She could be drugged or probably knocked out during the attack and hasn't regain consciousness. But, she's alive. That I'm sure of."

"How is that possible?" Lance questioned curiously. "Have you always been able to do that?"

"It can only happen when two lion souls share a bond," Coran said quietly looking at Keith. The Captain looked away, not wanting to share any more than he already had.

The room was quiet. No one would say what they already knew.

Taking a deep breath, Keith took command of the room, "No lions will be going in."

"What?" Hunk replied surprised.

"He's expecting our lions to go in and attack," the Captain answered calmly. "What he won't be expecting is a small ship that can fly me in on stealth mode."

"But, how will you manage to fly in under radar?" Darrell asked. "Just because he won't see the lions going into Korrinth, it doesn't mean he'll put his guard down."

"He'll see the lions," Keith nodded, talking and strategizing at the same time. "He'll see all five lions."

"Come again?" Lance remarked.

Looking at Darrell, Keith asked, "Can you create holograms of Blue and Black? They'll have to be believable."

"I can do everything and anything you ask me to," Darrell cockily answered. "But what are you thinking?"

Hunk smiled, "We're creating a diversion. We'll come close enough for Lotor's fighters to fight us, giving the small ship a chance to go into the planet without detection."

"That's the plan," Keith said as he kept on thinking. "Lance, you're going to have to lead the diversion with Hunk and Darrell. Once I'm in, the three of you will be on your own till I can bring Allura back."

"How long is our window?" Lance asked.

"I'm not sure," Keith shook his head. "I'd say no longer than two hours and I'm pushing it. Darrell, I'll need specs of the castle."

"Sending them to your datapad right now," the younger man answered as he took out his own datapad and began taping the commands to send the plans.

"Hunk, you and Darrell will need to work on building the holographic images into each of the lions."

"How long do we have?"

"Eight hours," Keith replied. "Six would be better. It would give you a chance to test the system and make any changes without worrying about time."

"What do you need me to do?" Lance asked noting that Hunk and Darrell would be busy and he had nothing to do, yet.

"You and I will be studying the castle's layout in details. If I fail, you'll need to go get Allura. Maybe not the same day, but in a future mission. You'll need all the knowledge you can get."

"Coran," Keith looked at the advisor, "The plan does not leave this room. No one and I mean no one knows about this plan." He looked at the rest of the group, "Got that?"

"You think we have a mole?" Coran asked.

"I'm not sure," he shook his head. "Honestly, I don't think so. But, it doesn't hurt to be careful. I'm interested to know how he got in the first place. Unless…"

"Unless what?" Coran asked.

"Unless he was able to manipulate his entry when he first entered Arus, the first time we met him."

"Keith, I checked everything," Darrell responded calmly, but a little defensively.

"I'm sure you did," he answered. "But he would have known that. He would have known we would check. So, somehow, he found a way for us not to detect it. It's the only explanation that I have at the moment." Looking at Darrell, Keith sighed, "Whatever he hid, he hid it well."

Darrell nodded, understanding that Keith wasn't blaming anyone, but rather was indirectly telling Darrell not to blame himself either.

"What now?" Hunk asked.

"We begin immediately," the Captain responded. "The lion's Lair is now in complete shutdown. The only ones allowed are the people in this room. No one else."

"Agreed," Coran acknowledged.

"We begin immediately. Coran, is anyone else aware of Allura's disappearance?"

"At the moment, no," the advisor replied. "But they know that Gellar is at Medtech. It won't be long."

"Make sure we keep that information in-house, I don't want the public to worry and I sure as hell don't want the news sensationalizing things. It will just cause panic and disrupt our plans."

"I'll make sure we it's kept here," Coran nodded, determined not to let anything get in the way of getting his niece back.

"Gentlemen," Keith said standing up, "Let's get going. We don't have time to waste."

XXXXXXXXXX

In her quarters, Kirian laid in bed with a small frown on her face.

Somehow, Keith had become aware that Lieutenant Altair was in trouble and went to her, leaving the ensign alone for over twenty minutes wondering just how he had been able to know she was in trouble. Once back, he told her to get dressed, they were heading back to base.

She rode in his motorcycle back in the rain. She didn't care she was wet again as the rain poured over them. With her hands around his waist, she placed her head on his back. Best feeling in the world. She couldn't complain. Why would she? She couldn't have been happier at the moment.

Then, as she was following him to the Lion's lair, he stopped her.

"Kirian, I will relieve you of your duties until this mission is done."

"What?" she asked shocked. "Why?"

"In cases where a team member has been captured, only the force and Coran are allowed to partake in the mission."

"But I'm the Advisor's right hand? Why don't I count?" she shook her head confused as to why she wouldn't be allowed.

"Please understand," Keith's tone was still cold, but she could tell that he was trying to gently help her understand the reasons. "This is the protocol. You know this? You've read all the protocols that the Corps has when it comes to the Voltron pilots."

"Protocol also states that upon permission certain officers can also participate in critical missions," she reminded him.

"Upon the Captain's permission," he said, "And I'm denying it. Right now, I don't know enough of the situation to need any more help. If I find that you can support the mission, I will call on you. But right now, you are relieved this Voltron duty until further notice."

Not knowing what to say or do, Kirian nodded curtly, saluted the Captain and walked away.

Now she laid in bed replaying that scene in her head. "Why is he so adamant about keeping me away?" she whispered to herself.

Sighing, she tossed and turned in bed.

Earlier, she had no choice but to go to her room, shower once again and call it a night. And it had been a promising night. "Damn," she whispered to herself again.

Well, it wasn't over. She had gotten somewhat what she wanted from him. And despite his love for Altair, who was to say….

"Oh," she sat up. "I'm day dreaming."

Getting up, she walked over to her kitchenette and began making a pot of coffee for herself. Maybe she wasn't allowed on this mission, but she was going to prove to him, she could do others. Opening the bag she took with her to the captain's house, she retrieved the plans she had gone over with earlier with the Captain. Perhaps she needed to daydream a little less and begin planning her next move.

XXXXXXXXXX

It was well over four in the morning when Keith and Lance finalized their plan of entry into Korrinth. Both stayed in the conference room as Darrell and Hunk worked with the lions and Coran discussed with his groups the best ways to keep Allura's kidnapping from hitting the newscasts.

As Keith studied the screen in front of him, memorizing the hallways and areas of Lotor's castle, Lance studied him. Noticing that the captain had not touched the first cup of coffee that was offered to him hours before, Lance deduced that Keith was working on adrenaline. Looking back at him own cup, he was shocked that with everything going on, he was already working on his third to keep his mind active and attentive.

"I don't think we can do more," Lance said tiredly as he picked up his cup and drank his coffee.

"No," the Captain answered. "It's the best we can do with the time we have."

Keith looked tired, but determined. Lance noticed that he also looked worried, even if he tried not to show it. At times, Keith closed his eyes for a moment and then shook his head curtly in frustration. He was probably still unable to connect with Allura, Lance thought.

Sighing deeply Keith leaned back, he closed his eyes once again. After a few seconds, he opened his eyes again and breathed out in frustration.

"You haven't been able to reach her," Lance offered.

"No," Keith whispered. "I'm not sure what's he done to her."

"How…how can you do that? Connect? Do all of us have that ability?"

Looking at Lance, Keith answered, "It's like Coran said, it can only happen when two lion souls are connected."

"You're still connected to Allura?" Lance asked sitting up from his chair. "After all these years? How is that possible?"

Turning to the screen, Keith replied, "I'm not sure." With that, he didn't say another word.

Unwilling to let the conversation die there, Lance pushed on, "Is it because you're still in love with her?"

"Will that question help us get her back?"

"No," Lance shook his head, "But it will tell me why this connection to her is even possible."

"Just be glad that I still have it Lance." Keith was not going to answer that question. "My priority right now is to get a member of the team back. That's all."

Changing the subject for a moment, Lance said, "No one's contacted us about Gellar."

"I'm sure he is alright. When I found him it looked like he was only stunned. He was lucky, it would have been worse. Gorma would have said something if it was bad," Keith replied as he turned his chair to look at his lieutenant.

"I guess you're right," Lance shrugged.

"I'm going to see him later this morning," Keith continued the conversation. "At some point he's going to need to know the plan to get Allura back. And, I'm sure he going to want to go."

Lance's tired eyes widened a little in question, "You're not thinking of allowing him to go."

"If he wants to go, I won't stop him."

"You can't be serious!"

"When they were attacked, they had just left my house. Gellar wants in on the Korrinth mission. Allura concurred that I allow it."

"They're both crazy!" Lace raised his voice, "He's not going to survive one minute in that hellhole."

"He has the backings of Allura, the Generals and even Coran."

"You can override those backings."

"I can," Keith acknowledged. "But tell me something Lance, if you were in his position would you want me to stop you? And, if it was the woman you loved who was at the hands of a maniac, would my orders stop you from going to save her?"

For a moment, Lance thought of Romelle and he inwardly cringed at the thought Lotor on her, "No, you wouldn't be able to stop me."

Nodding, Keith asked, "How can I deny him from trying to save the woman he loves?"

XXXXXXXXXX

When Sam opened his eyes, he wasn't sure where he found himself. At first, the fluorescent lights bothered him and caused his eyes to see so much light that whatever lay around him meshed with the bright light above. Slowly, though, the light withered away and the scene around him appeared away like the lifting of a fog. As the fog from his eyes lifted he saw a figure standing by the window of his room, staring at nothing in particular.

Medtech? He thought as he looked around. How the…Allura!

"Feeling any better?" Keith asked without turning around.

"Where is she?" Sam asked as he sat up.

"Lotor took her," the man at the window answered flatly.

The general said nothing as an immense feeling of guilt percolated inside of him. He sighed heavily in frustration, "Allura," he whispered to himself.

"It wasn't your fault." Keith then told him. "We can't control everything, no matter how much we want to."

Sam let out a humorless laugh before answering, "And I bet you would have been able to save her Captain, am I right? Because you seem to do it all."

Turning around Keith's dark tired eyes locked against Sam's blue ones, "I carry a very special gift, but I'm still human Gellar. Even I can't control what happens in life."

Continuing to stare at the man standing in front of him, Sam sighed and nodded. "What do we do now?"

"We have a plan. The lions will cause a diversion so that I can safely enter Korrinth without detection. I leave to get her at nineteen hundred hours tomorrow. I'll be safer to travel and land at night."

"I'm going with you," Sam firmly told him. "And don't argue with me about that."

Keith nodded, "I expected it. Rest, General. The next day or two will be very challenging." He finished as he began to walk out.

"Kogane." Sam called out.

Keith turned to look at him.

"Why are you here? You could have sent word."

Shrugging, he sighed, "Just needed to make sure you were alright."

"Why?"

"I always make sure that my teammates are well."

Sam stared in disbelief at first, but just as he was about to counter, the captain walked out without another word.