Hunk tried to curb the painful pounding in his head by reminiscing about Earth and the things he missed about it, but even remembering was a difficult task. His mind, normally organized and filled with recipes he wanted for his teammates to taste, was cluttered with thoughts – of how long they've been in there and how long will they have to stay, of his friends, of Pidge. The youngest Paladin is an endearing savage whose mind he could relate to but not surpass. She reminded him of his nieces back home, if not less independent and sharp-tongued. Whether he made it obvious or not just as much as Shiro does, he wanted to protect the younger girl.
Yet, he failed her.
And it was not just him. He could see it in the vicious outbursts of Lance whenever that general comes in, in the restless pacing of Keith in his cell, and in the tight clench of Shiro's jaw. All them were drilled, tortured, without any reservations. They never offered alternatives, not freedom, not even assuring that the Green Paladin is still breathing. They never mentioned her, never mentioned what they have done to her. It was like they decided to leave it at there to add to their persecution.
He wouldn't forgive them. He will never forgive them.
He buried his head in his arms as he listened grimly to Lance's pained groans. Even in his delirious and fevered state, his brotherly concern for the youngest Paladin still seeps its way through. Shiro was trying his best alleviate the younger Paladin's pain and comfort him. Keith would stop once and a while in his restless pacing to pick in and around his cell for any means of escape. Hunk could only console Lance by his words and body language. The distance of his cell has become the obstacle that keeps him away from comforting his longest best friend.
The doors slid open and the Galran commander stepped inside. He surveyed each of the remaining Paladins with a stony face. His eyes fell on Lance who was heaving in his fevered sleep.
"That one will soon be dead." He said matter-of-factly, like he was not talking about another living creature. "The Galra has no need for the weak."
"You, fucking bastard!" Keith snarled. "What did you to Pidge? What are you planning to do to Lance?"
The commander looked at Keith as if seeing him for the first time. "You are acting more like Galra right now, half-breed. Good. You will make a good soldier for the emperor. As for him," He pointed at Lance. "It will be better to exterminate the weak as they have no place, no use for the empire. It will do you good to not become like him."
"Answer his question!" Hunk shouted. "What did you do to Pidge?"
The commander dutifully clasped his hands behind his back. "That is not of your concern. Your duty from now on is to serve the emperor. You will grow strong for him, fight in the arena, and become a source of entertainment for the Galra. Otherwise," He flexed his hand in a clawing manner. "I believe you all have been acquainted many times with our resident druid."
"If you think that's enough to make us disclose the Lions' location," Shiro glowered. "Think again."
"You will be persuaded." The commander said. "That is, if you want to see your friend, the Green Paladin, again."
The Paladins stilled. The statement (or threat as it sounded to Hunk) suddenly weighing them down. Hunk didn't like the implication of that. He could mean a lot of things – alive, breathing, or …he dared not to continue that line of thought. He didn't like it one bit. She's alive. His guts said so and he will only listen to it.
The commander bore his gaze down on them. "Perhaps we can find a middle ground." He proposed. "The locations of the Lions in exchange for the Green Paladin. I will even let the Blue Paladin live his final days."
"Lance will not die!" Keith said firmly as he gritted his teeth. "We'll get out of here and find Pidge ourselves. We will not take any offer from you or anyone in Zarkon's side."
"And how do think you will accomplish that, pup?" His tone challenging as he walked toward Keith's cell and leered at him. "You cannot even break into my ship without the Green Paladin's expertise, let alone escape unscathed. Without him, you are weak. Just as he is weak by himself."
Keith glowered at him. His fists clenched at his sides and his stance guarded. He was about to retort when a choking laugh sounded from the cell besides his.
"Bahahahaha! That's so funny." Lance slurred, apparently have awoken from Keith's shouts. "Did ya' say him? Him? 'Cause you're soooooo wrong. Just like that purple-y dude!"
The general narrowed his eyes at him. "Wrong? What do you mean?"
Shiro tried to hush him down but Lance, who's still running high in fever, ignored him. The Blue Paladin snorted loudly. "Are ya' an idiot? Like a BIG ONE? Pidgey's not he! She's a she!"
"Lance!" Hunk was panicking. Pidge can totally kick a Galra's butt for a record-breaking time of three seconds without any negotiations prior (it was Lance's idea to record each Paladin's time before and after dealing against a Galra) but with how they got them in a very tight leash…he's afraid for her. Now that they know she's a girl, he didn't know what they will try to do with her.
"And ya' know what?" Lance wasn't done yet. He has tried to stand up but wobbled like a slinky moving down the stairs. Shiro has to grab his arm to prevent him from falling face-first. "She's not weak! She can like…uhhh…what was that word Hunk? Ah! Murder you from where ya' stand. She's a gremlin, alright!"
The commander scoffed. "How very enlightening. Pray tell, how do you think she will accomplish that?"
"She will devour ya'." Lance grinned but despite his delirious state, it came out as menacing. "Like a hungry, very hungry, and angry lioness."
GROOOAAARR!
They all jumped back. Lance threw his head and laughed, apparently finding their reactions funny. "Ya' guys are soooo jumpy!" He chortled. "It's just a kitty! Small and cute kitty. Smart and fierce kitty!"
The commander glared at him. "There is no such animal within my ship."
THUMP!
The commander paused abruptly when something hit against the far wall of the room. He narrowed his eyes at a large dent printed on the metal wall. It was vaguely humanoid, as if someone was thrown at it with such powerful force.
"What was that?" Hunk whispered. His eyes wide as he stared at the misshapen wall.
THUMP!
THUMP!
The sounds were getting louder and more powerful. The humanoid dent deforming at each impact.
THUMP! THUMP!
BANG! BANG!
BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!
Lance whooped. His unfocused eyes alighted with glee. "Kitty's coming! Blue told me so!" He waved his arms wildly. "Come, little kitty! Lance loves green kitties!"
"Quiet, human!" The Galran hissed.
Then, the alarms blared. Red lights flared as the alarms screeched at their ears in urgency. It was like a switch that was flipped that all of them looked up to the flashing contraptions mounted on the walls. Shouts and footsteps erupted from the hallways at the other side of the doors.
The commander pulled out what they assumed to be a communicator and tapped on its sleek surface. A holographic screen blinked out as a Galra soldier answered his call. The bridge of the ship appearing behind him in a flurry of frantic movements and glaring, red light.
"What is the situation? Did those Alteans find us?"
"No, sir!" The soldier answered quickly. "We detected an intruder inside the ship. We have sent the sentries on their way but we lost connection to them upon contact with the target."
The commander grimaced. His grip on the communicator tightened in aggravation. "Send more sentries! Bring me my soldiers! Do you think the Emperor will let this slide?"
The soldier flinched visibly. "B-But, Sir! The intruder is-"
"If I do not tolerate such simple mistakes, neither does he!" He snarled. "Where is that wretched brat that dared step foot in my ship?"
The soldier peered briefly at the screen at his right before turning back with a frantic expression. "He's in the sector you're in, sir. Just a couple of blocks awa-" His eyes went wide. "H-He's moving your direction! The guards are-bBzzZzzt!"
BANG! CLUNK!
The connection cut off as something heavy pounded against the opposite wall where the doors are affixed. There was yelling just outside and the telltale sounds of fighting as laser guns fired and the armored bodies dropping lifelessly on the ground. The deafening clash of metal against metal reverberated against the walls. The lights above flickered once or twice as if something was interfering with them.
"What's happening?" Keith asked as he looked wildly at them for answers. "Hey, you!" He called for the commander. "What's happening outside?"
Leave it to Keith to ask the enemy for answers at a time like this, Hunk thought.
The commander clicked his tongue in irritation. He dropped the communicator with a loud CLUNK! and stomped on it. His hand going over his back as he pulled out a crooked sword from its sheath. "Be quiet, half-breed! I have no time to deal with lesser species like you."
Keith opened his mouth to retaliate but another hit went against the thick wall – this time, more powerful and nearer than the previous. The battle has gotten closer to them now, just at the other side of the doors.
Despite the assurance that someone else was trying to take down same enemy, it all felt wrong. Something felt off about it. Hunk was not liking that feeling of uncertainty right now and it was not just him. For the first time since they got captured, Yellow made her presence known in his mind and she shared the same sentiment with her Paladin – uncertainty, sorrow, and fear. Hunk leaned firmly against the wall as a particularly powerful impact shook the whole room and the fighting died down abruptly. There was a few tics of tense silence that hang over them.
Then, they heard it again. An inhuman sound vibrating against the walls. A roar.
The doors caved in and shot to the other side of the room as a force threw it off its hinges, barely missing the commander in centimeters. The smell of blood and burning rubber and metal assaulting their noses as smoke filtered through the room. Galran sentries, or what was left of them, spilled into the prison. Their pieces scattering amongst the bodies of the fleshed Galra. A low growl rumbled as a lone figure stepped inside.