Everyone was tense as they sat, waiting for Lance to show up. Lance had Coran call them all to the lounge so he could tell them 'something'.
Only the Blades hadn't left yet after their last mission, so they were there as well.
When lance did show up he looked somber and everyone began to worry even more.
"Everyone," he said, "we are gathered here today to mourn the loss of Keith Mullet. Who was killed in the line of stupidity-"
Pidge busted out laughing and Lance grinned. Keith was not amused.
"Tell me that wasn't why you called us here," Shiro said, looking pained.
"Right," Lance cleared his throat, "I've actually never done this before. Umm, I guess the easiest way to start is to show you this."
He puled out a pin and handed it to Shiro. Everyone leaned over to get a look at it. It was about the size of a quarter, but was the shape of an eye that was divided by three grooves. In each section was an engraved star.
"I am a Three-Star Field Agent of the Tri-World Council Agency. I did NOT come up with the name. the fact is Earth has been dealing with aliens for a LONG time. We are in an alliance with two other planets and between the three of us we've been able to hold the Galra off and other threats. The pin is basically my badge. I show that to people and I get to take over any investigation I choose. Its also gotten me out of jail a lot more than I'll honestly admit. The fact that I have three stars on my badge means I am capable of traveling between all three planets. One star just means you're limited to work on Earth."
"Wait," Hunk held up a hand and Lance paused. He let what he had said so far sink in.
"You're telling us you're a member of MIB?" Pidge said, her lips twitching, prepared for this to be another joke.
"Words do not explain how much I hate those movies," Lance said, and meant it.
"So…aliens ARE everywhere?"
"No," Lance answered, "we respect each others worlds and privacy. Occasionally, we get a rogue moron who thinks moving to the other planet without the proper authority is a good idea. That's where we come in. He handle the messy stuff that get's by our barriers and shields. A little before we got the news that the Kerboros mission was a bust, we were getting an Unwanted Entity, or a stranger alien not in our council, coming in almost every night. So there was something wrong with the barrier. If there hadn't been anything wrong, then Shiro would never have made it back to us in the first place."
"Sooo your job iiissss…?"
"It can't be very difficult," Pidge added, "you can't even pass biology."
"My Job is mostly to pick up the loose aliens in town, question them as to why they were there and either send them on their way or throw them in a nice little jail building we have specifically for them. And basically I do most of the odd jobs no one else wants to do. I'm muti-skilled so I get stuck with the missions that go above everyones head."
"How did you get this…job?" Shiro asked.
"How ARE you able to DO it?!" Pidge challenged, "What 'multi-skilled' you can't even pass the simulator!"
Lance smiled and ignored Pidge, "Classified. But I can tell you that its because I have a horrible sense of direction."
"That makes more sense…"
"OH no," Keith said, "You've told us this much, now is the time to spill your guts."
"Can't," Lance shrugged, "You only have level 4 clearance. That information is level 3."
"How did we get level four clearance all of a sudden?"
Lance thought for a moment. He had to word things just right.
"When we left Earth I was on a mission of sorts, so I had a communicator that goes straight to Iverson-"
"IVERSON?!"
"Yeah-"
"WHY IVERSON?!"
Lance sighed, "Iverson is the reason the three planets are working together instead of fighting each other. contrary to popular belief, he's actually a good guy."
"Lies," Keith snapped and Lance shot him a glare.
"Anyway, I've been sending him updates of what's been going on out here. I finally received an answer back a little while ago. He told me he was able to get you limited clearance and that only under pain of death was I to tell you anymore."
"We're fighting the empire straight on! We probably know more than HE does! We're on the front lines, how much clearance do we really need to-"
"I don't make the rules," Lance cut in, "I can only guess that its to protect the other planets in our alliance. They are even more touchy about strangers visiting their worlds than we are."
"But they're ok with you," Pidge asked picking up the three star pin from Shiros hand.
"I worked my butt of for that privilege, don't let anyone tell you different," Lance snapped. Pidge had obviously found a sore spot.
"Tell us what you did," Hunik said, eyes wide, drinking everything in. It made so much sense! Why he was always tired, why he always knew the weirdest facts but could've for the life of him pass an exam!
"Can't. Most of the agents don't have that level of clearance."
"What level are you privy to?" Pidge threw the pin back at him.
"I know everything," Lance said firmly, catching the pin and sticking it into his pocket, "I. know. Ever-y-thing. You should've seen the look on Iversons face when I passed the last test, though…priceless. Then he licked into me for getting a 'D' in English, so I guess its even."
"So all those times Iverson called you into his office?"
"It was to give me a job to do," Lance said, "Which is why I didn't go that night shiro crashed. I was supposed to be on vacation, and I refused to be given a job when I was promised time off. Though, I really should've gone to see what he had to say."
"And the guy I met…" Keith prompted. He wanted more information on what he'd asked last night.
"The guy you met is my partner. I can't tell you anything about him, I really shouldn't even told you his name, but he's a good guy and you can totally rely on him. But do not sneak up on him. He's jumpy. Make some noise when you walk."
"He told me to 'not just give up this time'?" Keith prompted again.
"Yeah, so?" Lance said raising an eyebrow, "what of it?"
"What did he mean 'this time'?!" Now Keith was sure that Lance had been talking about him behind his back. He wanted Lance to admit it.
Lance rolled his eyes, "you quit the garrison, I'm guessing he's telling you to not quit this fight half way through either."
"I didn't quit the garrison, I was expelled!"
"Because you lost your temper," Lance added, "You quit. You knew hitting Iverson would get you expelled and you did it anyway. No control is the same as quitting."
Keith had never heard it put that way before. But it answered his question. Just like the Blades, this agency had its own code and standards.
"He probably just wanted to give you good advice," Lance said shrugging, "as for what you called the threat he made, you really would regret messing up what he was doing because then Earth wouldn't be able to protect itself and you'd no longer have a home to go back to."
"So what is he doing?"
"Classified. Iverson wouldn't even tell me what it was, only to not interfere with his work. But I can now pretty much guess what it is and, Keith, Kolivan, Please, don't bother him, k?"
Koilvan simply nodded.
"Why do you get to meet this partner person," Hunk muttered, scowling at Keith.
"So not fair," Pidge shook her head, "so what are we supposed to do with information?"
"Nothing as far as I know," Lance shrugged, "we're on our own out here and doing our own thing, but it should help to make you feel better that Earth is more protected than you thought, right? And, stars forbid, anything happens where I'd have to take over, you all now know that I'm qualified."
"Somehow I don't feel safer," Pidge and Keith spoke in unison.
"But its true that its good to know Earth is safe," hunk said and brightened, "and aid from the other planets will come if they're in trouble, right?"
Lance lied through an easy smile, "That's right."
()
"Lance," Shiro jogged to catch up as Lance headed to the training deck.
"Yep?"
"I wanted to ask you…without the others…"
Lance waited and when Shiro still didn't continue said, "I'm too busy to date Shiro, sorry."
"What? ..oh, nonono, that's not-"
Lance laughed at the very flustered Shiro, "I know, you just looked like you needed a break, just ask the question, I'm not going to mind."
The atmosphere a lot more relaxed now, Shiro asked, "Why were you at the garrison?"
Lances heart nearly stopped. Leave it to Shiro to ask the million-dollar question.
"Classified," Lance said grinning, "But I really enjoyed your lessons and demonstrations…the ones I was still awake for at least…"
"you…most of my classes were outside."
"I have many skills, one of which is sleeping while standing."
Shiro didn't believe it for a second, but got around to what he really wanted to know.
"What did you know about the Kerboros mission?"
Lance was surprised, that was not the follow up question he'd been suspecting. Technically that information was level 3, but, Lance decided to tell him anyway since it related to him directly. But first lance looked around to make sure no one was coming.
"Only that the barrier failed," Lance said thinking back, "the agency tries to keep out of the general public and businesses. We might have advanced alien tech, but we believe that the Earth, and the other planets, should progress at their own natural pace and limits- given there's no dire emergency that requires an immediate boost of tech, which the barrier is to prevent. We watched the preparations for the mission, but didn't intervene. I mean, Iverson was in charge of it and all, but that's his day-job. He did what he could to make it as safe as possible without telling too much. When you all disappeared, the world saw it as a sad day and a tragedy; we saw it as a crisis. The fact that a large enemy ship made it past our stations and we didn't know about it until too late? Every one of us was in a state of panic. Can't tell you any details about WHAT we did, but don't think we didn't try and find you guys."
"And when I came back?"
Again, Lance chose his words carefully, "The agency got there the same time as the garrison. We hold power over the government in a large extent, but we don't like to use it if we don't have to. Agents were working on getting you sent to our care facility instead of the garrison labs. But then Keith showed up and I figured what the heck?"
"Aren't you afraid someone might just copy that pin and assume a position in your ranks?" Shiro grinned, abruptly changing the topic, "I mean, you just showed everyone in the room that pin, and it's a simple design. I wouldn't put it past Hunk and Pidge to try something as a joke."
"Absolutely not," Lance said thinking the same thing, "that would be not only improbable, but a very, bad. Idea. I'll have to talk to them about it later."
"What would happen if one were caught?"
Lance searched shiros face, unsure as to why he was being asked this. He instinctively trusted shiro, but this line of questions was raising red flags.
"We would know right away," Lance said seriously, "no matter what. And that person would be taken down."
"Even though the agency doesn't reach this far?"
Lance raised an eyebrow. He felt a little insulted at that question. Shiro didn't seem to think he said anything strange, so lance just smiled.
"If you get a headache again tonight, you should try some of that tea hunk has in the cupboard."
Shiro froze as Lance walked away.
How had Lance known about his headaches?
()
Overtime, Lotor really did make himself useful. Shiro suggest they trust him and Lance said they should let him out only if they put a shock collar on him.
Keith kept in touch, at first, but it had been ages since he'd called in. They assumed he was on a mission somewhere and so they kept busy themselves.
Matt was a frequent visitor. And Lance made sure Pidge kept her mouth shut about him and warned her and hunk to not try anything funny like copy his pin. He liked practical jokes as much as the next teen, but that was not a laughing matter.
"Gee, I only thought it," Pidge said in her defense, "Not like I was going to DO it."
"Really?" Lance said with all the disbelief he could muster. Pidge looked hurt.
"No faith, Lance? I'm stung!"
"That's how I've lived this long," Lance said and made sure she was looking at him, "I'm serious. Copying the pin will do more than get us into trouble, ok?"
"Got it," she nodded, "but shouldn't you tell Matt?"
"No, I only got permission for you guys. If anyone finds out Kolivan and the other guy sat in on that discussion, I'm fired."
"They're good at keeping secrets."
"Which is why I didn't protest too much about it."
"So what's your problem?"
"You are," Lance sighed, "its always the small ones that get underfoot."
She scowled and reached out to hit him, but she grinned and danced out of reach. When she didn't get up he made faces at her until she finally started to go after him.