First Pidge had to familiarize herself with her new identity: Hellen Buckhoff. The girl had black hair and hazel eyes. The O section created hair extensions and contacts for her. The hazel effect was something new they had created and Pidge was less than pleased to be the test subject.
"Read up on all her social media," Lance suggested, handing her a stick, "get a feeling for how she portrayed herself, those that knew her really well are gone. The only people left are those who know what she wanted them to know."
While Pidge was doing that, Keith was really suffering.
Lance had taken his gun away.
He was more comfortable with the sword anyway, but it was the principle of the thing! Until he passed all his protocol classes and practical's, Lance told him he wasn't even allowed to turn his bayard into a distance weapon.
Hunk and Allura studied up on Jermite and Olkari cultures. They talked well into the night about possible solutions and even roll played possible arguments and scenarios. They did this while taking the same classes Keith and the others were taking occasionally they were in a class with Shiro and other trainees.
Before they started in earnest, however, Lance had taken them back to Iversons office.
"No one can know what we're doing," Lance said sternly. Pidge said 'duh' and the others kind of rolled their eyes.
"I'm serious," Lance stressed, "not even shiro, keith."
"What?"
"I know you and Shiro talk a lot, but work stays quiet. He's not a B and has no business in our affairs."
Keith scowled, "But he's on team Vol-"
"But he's not a B," Lance said, "he's an A. and believe me when I say that halfway through our operation some A or two are going to get a whiff of something going down and try and figure out what we're up to. It happens all the time. And I bet you a deca-Pheebs salary that they'll use shiro to get the information this time."
"This time?"
"Frok and I had to get rid of all kinds of people who wanted to know what B section was up to. I've lied, mislead, and only told the truth when I was sure the other guy would die soon after I said anything."
"Oh my-"
"Just don't tell anyone what we do or even hint at it. Hunk, I know you can't lie very well, but you can just tell them the truth. To save their life, you can't say anything. Or that you're not allowed to. They will press you which is why I've been trying to teach you how to lie better because if you answer them, they'll leave you alone."
Hunk hung his head. It wasn't that he didn't try to lie, it was that nothing came to his head that made any sense for the lie to work in any conceivable way.
"Don't worry too much," Allura patted his shoulder, "your honesty will work wonders in what we're going to do. People can sense honesty and respond to it."
"Sometimes that response is to con you for all you're worth, but sure," Lance said with a shrug and earned a glair form Allura.
"I like to think I'm a better judge of character than that," Hunk said and Lance nodded, "The only reason you've not been conned….accept by me."
"You sound so proud."
Lance shrugged again, "still, the point will be to keep everything secret and confidential. We will be stepping on toes, make sure you crush them with you do."
"Lance," Pidge made a face, "Your analogies need work."
"But they are accurate," Lance grinned, "you four are now B section. B section does what they want and no one can tell us 'no'. We answer to Iverson and the council, that's it. We owe no apology and we owe no explanation."
"That's so dangerous…"Hunk muttered.
()
"Today," Lance stood before his trainees, "I show you a martial skill popular with the Jermites. If you do not know it, you will lose any and every fight you have with them unless you can use a long range weapon that STAYS long range. Give a Jermite an inch and they will take a few hundred miles. Pepk should be here soon to show you the fundamentals. I'm going to show you a warm up to loosen the joints and muscles that will be screaming at you in a few hours."
They groaned and Lance grinned.
Training was hard, but there were moments where watching them go through everything he did was….fun.
True to his word, when the Jermite arrived he made them wish they'd never been born.
The alien was insect like with the speed and power of a praying mantis. His joins rotated and Pidge noticed his eyes glittered in patterns, giving him a sight advantage as well.
The martial skill of the Jermites was something humans could not copy, but they could learn to counter it with their own inventive skills.
"Hunk, you have the power, but not the endurance," Pepk replied at the end of the training, "I want you to walk everywhere and run every morning and evening."
Hunk groaned.
"Keith, you have potential, but you are too forward. This is not a brawl. You show your hand way too soon and often. There is a flow to this."
Keith nodded, well aware of his own skill.
"Pidge, I give you the same council. Don't rush."
Pidge sighed.
"Allura…" Pepk hesitated, "I wish to tell you that your skill is lacking only in that you are not using your full potential. It is my understanding that Alteans can mimic other races…this is dangerous when dealing with my race. We would see it as a high insult and you would be banned from not only our home world, but I can guarantee that the officials would put out a recommendation to have you removed from the agency."
Allura palled.
"But, I think you should work with whatever advantages that you have," he said with a kind smile, "just be careful. I will train you in both ways so that you can use your full potential when you need and so that you can hide it when you need."
Allura nodded and huffed, clearing her mind of her potential punishments.
"Why are you so different?" Pidge asked, "why aren't you insulted?"
"Maybe because I have a big brain. Like you," Pepk said, "My kind are rather…one track, if you get my meaning. I've always liked to stick my fingers into whatever I can."
"yeah, like saltpeter and C4," Lance called from the back of the room. Pepk was facing them and away from Lance, so only they saw the change in expression. A narrowing of the eyes and a thinning of the lips.
"-And don't get us started on his more intricate renditions of pipe bombs and-"
"B2, how about a spar?" Pepk asked, his eyes still narrowed. Lance hesitated.
"Naw that's ok pepk," Lance laughed nervously, "my bad."
"Out of practice?"
"a little, but I'm training with Jedin in the evenings, so I don't need extra practice with you."
Pepk snorted, "I'm stronger than Jedin."
"That's why I asked you here," Lance gave his winning smile, "these guys need the best because I need them to stay alive no matter what."
Pepks antenna twitched, "B2…are you-"
"SHOWERS!" Lance called, "Then Dinner! After dinner will be your individual classes!"
Hunk and Pidge groaned and Keith and Allura rolled their eyes.
()
Days continued and soon the paladins found a rhythm. In spite of what he'd said, Lance found himself training with the others with Pepk and even a few other classes.
"You are starting to creep me out," Pidge said as Lance chewed on his eraser as he read through a booklet.
"Say that again, Hellen, but slower."
Pidge rolled her eyes and grit her teeth, but she complied.
"Is something the matter Lance?" she asked.
Hellen wasn't a push over, but she was kinder than Pidge was on a normal basis.
"Nothing is the matter, Hellen, thank you for asking," Lance smiled at her, "but I'm a little rusty and if you guys are going to ask me questions I'd rather know the answer."
Lance had taken to addressing Pidge as 'Hellen', to get her used to being called that. The others picked up on it and now Pidge was officially 'Hellen' so long as no one else was around.
()
"Lance," Keith and Allura walked up to him after their weapons training, "we need to talk."
"Shoot," Lance said then added, "Not literally…"
Allura rolled her eyes, "we are still Voltron. We need to address the coalition. We've been gone for a long time and we need to make sure everything is going well."
"Isn't Kolivan and the Blades doing that?" Lance asked.
"Yes, but-"
"But you all are getting the travel bug and can't stand another rote day of training," Lance folded his arms as they avoided eye contact, "sorry, but this mission takes priority. Getting you all ready for it is going to take a lot of time. I'm speeding things up as fast as I can, but there's only so much I can do."
"But we are stil Voltron, other planets look to us to lead them," Keith said.
"That was before you all put Voltron under the agencies rule," Lance said, "Allura and I tried to keep us separate, but now we have to play the game. Pidge will open up the opportunity to travel again, but until then we have to get you guys up to snuff."
"A quick trip isn't going to hurt anyone," Keith argued back.
Allura watched them go back and forth. Neither one was getting upset and she smiled.
"What if," she said, "We simply tell the council that we're doing this as part of our training?"
Lance and Keith looked at her and Lance shrugged.
"Yeah," Keith grinned, "If B section can really do whatever it wants, then should we not exercise that and go anyway?"
Lance scowled, "I fear I rubbed off on you and created a monster."
Keith shrugged, "We could count this as training and at the same time scout out a planet to put Pidge on."
Lane nodded and scratched the back of his neck. His instincts were screaming that they should not go…
"IF we can get approval, then we can," Lance said, "but remember. We have a game to play. If we ask this favor now, then that's one less favor we can ask later-"
"Wonderful!" Allura clapped her hands, missing what Lance had been saying, "I'll put together a request form, Keith you need to be part of this as well."
Keith nodded and they walked off together. Lance watched them and sighed; this next mission was going to be harder than he thought at first.
()
The council approved.
This put Lance in a bad mood.
He rode along with them as a member of Voltron and did his part with a smile, but they all knew he was sour.
"Its not that bad…is it?" Pidge asked in her usual direct way.
Lance made a face, "Not now, but down the road the council is going to bring this up when they ask for something unreasonable, or they'll bring this up and hold it over our heads if we ask for something else. I have a few cards up my sleeve, but I use them sparingly."
"This is important, Lance," allura stressed, "trust me?"
Lance sighed, "Fine, but I get to say 'I told you so' later."
She laughed and rolled her eyes, "deal."
()
"How is everything on earth?" Kolivan asked as he met with them, "I apologize we haven't been over that way in a while."
"We're fine," Keith said, "We apologize for not aiding you sooner."
The Blades had been distributing aid and helping to rebuild the worlds worst hit by the empire. They also recruited POWs to help in the harder labors as punishment.
"Lotor not giving you any trouble?" Allura asked.
When they had captured Lotor it was a complete surprise to the half Galra. He tried to play on his good relationship with Allura, but she had had time to cool her affections when Romell had told them about her peoples plight.
"Lotor has not spoken since he was locked up," Kolivan replied, "but we keep a strict guard on him at all times. How are your people?"
"They are adapting to earth well enough," Allura replied.
The Alteans could not stay on the "safe planet" that was used mostly in emergencies. So they were moved once again to earth where they were welcomed with open arms.
"After most of the earths population was whipped out, the humans thought earth could use a bit more diversity," Lance shrugged.
"So you've had little trouble?"
"None that we can't handle at the moment," Keith said.
"But," Lance added leaning forward, "if we could rely on you if things get out of hand, that would help me sleep better."
"Of course," Kolivan said, slightly offended, "just give us a call."
It was from then on that Lance stopped being in a bad mood.