Some of the tension in Shiro's shoulders melted away when the Castle pulled in the Red and Blue Lion. Some of the tension. Now that they'd found Keith and Lance, he had a slew of new fears. Had they arrived too late? Had the Lions turned into coffins? Had he failed again? In the darkest corner of his mind he hoped that if one of them was dead… it wasn't Keith.
"Coran… status report." Shiro said.
The world held its breath while Coran scanned the Lions for signs of life. Shiro closed his eyes and nails dug into his palm. Please. Not again.
"It was a close call, but the life support systems didn't fail." Coran said.
Shiro almost fell on his knees. Almost. He managed to stay upright through sheer force of will. He was still the commanding officer and that meant upholding a strong front for the others.
"Thank God." Shiro whispered and then said louder: "Get them to the sick bay with the others."
The Blue Lion opened its jaws to show them its unconscious pilot. The Red Lion did not. Shiro looked at Coran.
"What's going on?" He said trying not to sound alarmed.
"I… don't know." Coran admitted: "Maybe the Lion doesn't have enough power to open up."
Damn it!
"Recharge it. I'll get Lance to the sick room." Shiro said.
He hated himself for leaving Keith alone but at the moment he couldn't play favorites. He lifted Lance on the stretcher and took him to the space hospital as quickly as he dared. He didn't see anything serious, but the worst wounds could always be hiding under the skin.
Allura, Pidge and Hunk were all resting when he got the sick room. The sight of Lance made Hunk shoot up on his feet.
"Lance! Is he…?"
"He'll be alright." Shiro said.
Hunk fell back down on his bed on the verge of tears.
"Thank God. I… I don't know what I'd have said to his mom if he'd…" Hunk said before trailing off.
Pidge adjusted her glasses. A nervous quirk she shared with her brother.
"Where's Keith?"
"He's okay too but he didn't have enough power to open the Lion, so we are recharging it right now." Shiro said.
A relieved sigh floated through the room. There was a crack in Allura's queenly mask.
"You all risked so much for me. I… I don't know what to say." Allura said and dried her eyes: "Thank you. All of you. Thank you."
"Don't mention it, princess." Shiro said.
"I will. Believe me. I'll never let you forget what you did for me." Allura said and got up.
She walked up to all of them and kissed them on the forehead. Her lips felt warm on Shiro's skin and left behind a feeling like a… blessing. The sudden gesture of affection made Hunk blush while Pidge accepted it without a word or blink. Lastly Allura knelled down to kiss Lance's forehead.
"I'm sure he'd appreciate that more if he was conscious." Pidge said.
"Don' make this weird, Pidge." Allura said and then looked at them with great sadness: "If it ever comes down to choosing between me and the cause… defeating Zarkon is more important."
"We don't leave anyone behind!" Hunk said.
Shiro and Allura shared a look. Neither were looking forward to seeing Hunk's idealism crumbling. War made cynics of them all.
"Yeah. Besides, we can't fly the Castle without you." Pidge said.
Allura smiled.
"I suppose you wouldn't. Thank you, Pidge."
Coran's voice echoed through the intercom.
"Shiro… I… Keith is… gone."
Shiro's good mood died a screaming death.
"What?! What do you mean he's…?!"
"I… I recharged the Red Lion and the moment it had enough power to fly… he just took off."
Shiro's biomechanical arm clenched into a fist. It wasn't easy but he managed to sound calm. Hold a strong front. Don't let your enemies or allies see you sweat.
"Contact him and prepare the Black Lion. I'm going after him." Shiro said.
"He's not answering, and it will take time until any of the Lions can fly." Coran said.
Allura climbed out of her bed.
"I'll have the Castle follow him. We won't be able to catch him, but we should be able to follow him." Allura said.
"You do that." Shiro said.
When Allura was gone, Pidge and Hunk looked at him. Both were worried. Scared.
"Shiro… what's going on?" Pidge said.
"I don't know." Shiro admitted and then looked at the sleeping Lance: "He might."
Once the preparations to get the Lions back into flying shape were underway, Coran pulled Lance out of his slumber. Shiro emptied the sick room for a private word with him. Lance crawled back into consciousness slowly and Shiro let him take his time despite wanting to shake him awake.
Finally, Lance opened his eyes. They were unfocused and it looked like he could slip back into sleep at any moment.
"… Shiro?"
Shiro smiled.
"Hi, Lance."
"… what…?"
"Everyone is okay. Partially thanks to you. Coran told me that you got Keith to retreat."
"… my roguish charm… did it again…" Lance said and looked around: "… is he…?"
"He's gone."
"What?!"
Fear almost got Lance up, but he was too hurt for that and fell back down.
"He took off on his own and I think you know why. I need you to tell me what you've been hiding from us." Shiro said.
"… I…"
Shiro summoned some steel into his voice.
"Lance. I'm not asking as your friend. This is an order as your commanding officer." Shiro said before softening his tone: "You're not the only one who's worried about him."
Lance lied back and closed his eyes. He took a deep breath.
"… Keith… his mom was Galra."
Shiro sat in stunned silence waiting for Lance to laugh it off as a bad joke. He didn't.
"… he only found out when we… got here."
If Shiro had looked down, he would have seen that his cyborg arm had clenched the arm handle on his chair hard enough to leave dents.
"I see. And… how long have you know?"
"… Razkha. One half breed… knows another."
"I… see. Then why? Why didn't you tell me?"
Lance didn't answer and just looked at his biomechanical arm. Shiro sighed and rubbed his mechanical fingers.
"Fair enough. Anything else?"
"… Zarkon… has the Black Bayard. He… was the previous Black Paladin. Keith… saw it himself. Zarkon… talked to Keith… through it…"
Shiro blinked and tried not to crumble down in front of Lance.
"I… uh… okay. This… uh… has been… very helpful. You… you should get some rest now."
"No." Lance shook his head: "We need to find him. I… help me up and…"
"Lance. This is an order. Rest now. I'll get Keith back." Shiro said and smiled: "This isn't the first time he's ran away from home… although the last time he did it on bike."
"… but…"
"No buts. Sleep now. Keith will be home when you wake up." Shiro said.
Lance's head hit the pillow.
"… he ran away… on a bike. That's… adorable…"
"Yeah. It was."
Shiro managed to get out of the sick room before breaking down. Barely. It took an effort to breathe. At the back of his mind he could hear the chanting of a bloodthirsty crowd. Champion! Champion! Champion! Champion! The scar that connected flesh and blood with steel ached. It hurt more than it ever had. Had he been played for a fool? Had he given his trust to the enemy? Was Keith…? Had that little bastard…?
Keith…
Keith…
… Keith…
He stared at his arm. The constant reminder of his gladiator days. Somedays he just wanted to rip it off… and he would have if not for the thought of using it to strangle Zarkon one day. The arm reminded him who the real enemy was. Who truly deserved his ire… and it was not that sullen, lonely boy sitting at the back of the class. That angry kid who had stolen his car on the day they had first met, forcing him to bail him out.
After calming himself down, Shiro headed to the deck were everyone was waiting for him. Despite being wounded, they had all taken their posts.
"Well? What did he say?" Coran asked.
Shiro looked at them. All of them. His heart cried out when he looked at Allura. He wished he could apologize in advance for the pain he was about to cause.
"Keith's mother was a Galra."
Everyone fell quiet as their minds tried to process what heir ears couldn't possibly have heard. Pidge let out a nervous chuckle.
"Is… is this a joke?"
"No. Lance has known for a while." Shiro said.
Allura had to lean against one of the chairs to stay standing.
"If… if that is the truth… we have to find him before he takes the Red Lion to Zarkon."
"What?! No! Keith wouldn't do that!" Hunk said.
"And how do you know that?! He's a Galra!"
"Allura…" Coran said softly.
"No! Don't you start! We can't risk the Lions!"
"Princess, I'd like to imagine that I'm a better judge of character then that. Keith is no spy." Shiro said.
"Then why didn't he tell us that he's a… Galra?" Allura said.
"Keeping secrets can become a habit." Pidge said quietly.
"I'd also imagine he was afraid how we'd react." Shiro said and looked at Coran: "And it's not like he'd be the first Galra to pilot a Lion."
Allura looked like she'd been slapped and Coran's posture quaked.
"You know?" Coran said.
"I do now." Shiro said.
"Know what? What aren't you telling us?" Pidge said.
"Shiro…" Allura said weakly.
Shiro hoped there had been a gentler way to do this.
"Zarkon was the Black Paladin before me."
Before anyone could say anything, Shiro moved to the offensive.
"We have kept things from each other. Things we shouldn't have but Pidge is right. Keeping secrets can become a habit. They're out in the open now and we will deal them as a team. As adults. But for now, we need to get Keith back."
"That… won't be too difficult. He won't get far with so little power." Coran said.
"Then I'll go get him." Shiro said.
After changing into his pilot gear, Shiro headed to his Lion. The Lion bowed its head to him and Shiro climbed in. He wondered how often it had done the same for Zarkon. What did it say about the Lions that they had considered Zarkon fit to lead the pack? What did it say about him?
Coran's voice interrupted his thoughts.
"I'm sorry." Coran said through the intercom.
"You had your reasons." Shiro said.
"That doesn't' make it right. It's just… we didn't want to tarnish Alfor's memory. It was his inventions that allowed the Galra… to become what they are."
Shiro didn't answer and let Coran vent.
"We all trusted Zarkon and… his son was supposed to marry Allura when they came of age."
"Wait. Zarkon was going to marry his heir to an Altean?" Shiro said.
"The Galra weren't' always so… obsessed with blood purity. Zarkon even married an Altean himself. Honerva. A scientist on par with Alfor."
"Alfor must have been a great man designing and piloting something like Voltron." Shiro said.
There was a guilty edge to Coran's voice.
"Alfor was always a better scientist than soldier. I… advised against him piloting the Red Lion but he could be… stubborn."
Shiro smiled sadly.
"It was supposed to be you wasn't it? You were supposed to be the pilot of the Red Lion."
"I was the next in line, yes, and… I was always a better pilot than Alfor but… it was not meant to be." Coran said and Shiro could hear him rubbing his moustache: "Bring the boy home. I've known too may Galras to blame them all for Zarkon's crimes."
"I will."
What little power Keith had been given, hadn't carried him far and the Red Lion had landed on a forest planet. The trees stood tall as mountains and Shiro had never seen such a blue sky. The Red Lion stood abandoned in the middle of it all and curious animals that resembled rabbits were studying it curiously. There was an unguardedness to them that only came from never having known predators. Shiro rubbed a few of them affectionately with his hand made of flesh and blood before following Keith's trail.
Keith had gotten sloppy. There was no attempt to hide his tracks. Which meant he was hoping to be found or too distraught to care.
"Keith?!" Shiro called.
He didn't see Keith, but he could feel him. The boy was close by.
"I know you're here. Come out. Please."
There was no answer.
"I know about your mother. Lance told me everything. You don't have to hide anymore."
He didn't get an answer, but he hadn't expected to. Instead he heard a gasp and suddenly he knew exactly where Keith was. He looked at a tree covered by a thick layer of leaves and with a running start was able to reach the lowest branch. He pulled himself up and… reflex made him reach out for a weapon. The only thing that made him hesitate were the familiar features on the Galra's face and the Paladin uniform.
Keith jumped down, nimbler than any human being and disappeared into the forest. He had never seen anyone run so fast. Shiro stared after him and tried to make sense of what he had seen. Once his hand had stopped shaking and he was sure he could speak without his voice cracking, he took out his radio.
"Coran." Shiro said.
"Did you find him?!" Coran said.
"I… did. There… there has been a… mutation of some kind."
"What… what kind of mutation?" Coran said.
Shiro told him. Coran was quiet for a very long time.
"It has to be the Quintessence. It can… change people." Coran said and stroked his moustache: "You should… you should fall back and wait for reinforcements."
"Keith is not some dangerous animal. I'll go after him. He's tired and wounded. He won't get far."
"Shiro… you don't understand. Quintessence… it can twist people. Make them… something they're not."
"Is that what happened to Zarkon?"
Coran didn't answer.
"Keith wouldn't want you to get hurt because of him." Coran said finally.
"Then it's a good thing he won't. I taught him everything he knows about martial arts… but not everything I know."
"This is still too dangerous."
"I survived the gladiator pits. I think I can handle one angsty teenager." Shiro said and started walking after Keith: "Wake up Lance and tell him to be on standby. We might need that… roguish charm of his."
Shiro picked up a brisk pace without running. He left the running to Keith. The more he ran, the faster he tired himself out. Shiro took out an emergency ratio and wolfed it down as he walked. It was a tasteless biscuit that he flushed down with some water. The taste left a lot to be desired, but it kept him full.
After walking for two hours, Lance contacted him.
"… Shiro?"
"How are you feeling?" Shiro said.
"… honestly? Been better."
"Sorry that I have to ask this right now. Did Coran… explain the situation?"
"… yeah. Keith is… feeling blue."
"That he is. I was hoping you could help me with that."
"… you're the boss. Just give me… my cue."
After three more hours of walking he finally caught a sign of Keith. His body had betrayed him, and even willpower couldn't push him forward. Shiro walked up to him.
"Keith."
Keith growled when he noticed him and covered his face.
"Don't look at me!"
The blue skin, feline ears and yellow eyes had made Keith look more like his mother than his father. But it was still Keith's face. His expressions hadn't changed nor most of his features.
"Keith. Please."
Keith grabbed a handful of dirt and threw it at him.
"Go away!"
"Not without you." Shiro said and reached his hand out to Keith.
Whatever mutation had caused this had also made him stronger and Keith pushed him off despite being twenty pounds lighter. It was only the grip on his biomechanical arm allowed Shiro to cling on.
Keith swung at him.
It was an angry hit without any real skill behind it and his aim was ruined by tears. Still, Shiro didn't want to take any chances. Not when Keith had had such a drastic increase in strength. He moved around Keith, letting him spend himself. When it came hand-to-hand combat, Keith was the best after him but… Keith hadn't survived for a year as a gladiator. The Galra empire had thrown its worst at him and he'd come out alive. Keith's temper tantrum was nothing after that.
It didn't take long for him to have Keith in a chokehold.
"Let me go!"
Shiro didn't let go and instead hugged him.
"Keith. It will be alright."
Keith… went limp before resuming his hopeless struggle. He was sobbing while trying to push him off.
"No, it won't! Look at me!"
"I see you, Keith. I see you." Shiro said and hugged him tighter: "Lance! You're up."
Shiro's radio came alive.
"… Keith?"
Keith stiffened when he heard Lance's voice.
"… Lance?"
"… were you really that embarrassed… about cooking me breakfast? Come on. You'd look… great in an apron."
"… what?" Shiro said.
"Lance… I… you… Not in front of Shiro, damn it!" Keith complained.
"… you know me… poorly… if you think I'll pass on a chance… to embarrass you. I wouldn't have… pussied out." Lance said before coughing: "Sorry… think I coughed out a piece of my lungs there. Now… get your blue ass back here. I… have something to say to you… that has to be said… face to face."
"Lance… I…" Keith said.
"… you promised… don't be a… liar twice over… please…"
Keith could only grind his teeth to that.
"… passing out now. I like my bacon… crispy… my eggs scrambled and my coffee black… like my men." Lance said and started chuckling to himself.
The radio fell quiet and Keith's shoulder shook while he tried not to cry.
"I'm here. Let it all out." Shiro said.
Keith stopped fighting… and started crying like a lost child. Which Shiro suspected he was beneath it all. Good God, Keith was only nineteen. He let him cry. Some men prided themselves on not crying but there were times when you had to let the tears flow or you might drown in them. He let Keith cry out the worst of his fears and anxieties.
It took a long time but eventually Keith managed to calm down.
"We need to head back so Coran can do a check-up on you." Shiro said.
Keith stared at his new hands.
"How can I go back… looking like this?"
"Keith… you've never been a coward. Don't start now. I'm not giving up on you, so don't give up on yourself. There are people waiting for you to come back." Shiro said and smiled: "You're not alone so don't leave us hanging either."
Keith stared at his feet. Shiro put his hand on the boy's shoulder.
"Let's go home."
Kolivan had never cared for waiting and Kroalia rushed quickly to his quarters. When she entered, Kolivan was hunched over reports that their spies had sent from all over the empire. Kolivan was an older Galra. Scarred and powerful with a custom-made uniform to show his rank among the Blades.
"You wished to speak to me." Kroalia said.
"Yes. Our spies have managed to uncover more about the pilots of Voltron."
"I see."
"They seem to be from Earth."
An old pain twisted her chest.
"I… I see."
"The word is that the Red Paladin is a half-Galra… named Keith." Kolivan said.
All the training in the world and decades of combat couldn't prepare you for some things. Kolivan didn't reprimand her even when her knees buckled, and she had to lean against a wall.
"What were the odds that your son would join the fight someday? You could almost believe in destiny." Kolivan said and rubbed the scar running over his eye: "I suppose the time has come for us to offer Voltron our assistance."
Kroalia managed to regain her composure.
"I volunteer as an envoy."
"Why do you think you're here?" Kolivan said.
