Getting use to Lotor constantly in their presence was…difficult. He seemed like a pretty ok guy, but some how none to the trio could bring themselves to trust him completely. Which, in turn, made things very awkward. Especially since Allura seemed to be warming up to him just fine. They would talk for hours and the trio would avoid them.

Shiro, though looking more ill with every day, seemed to be back to his more…amiable, self.

"I really am sorry, Lance. I shouldn't have said those things."

"If I was still upset about it, I'd tell you."

"I honestly don't know what's wrong with me…I could've sworn I'd talked to you guys…"

"Are those migraines getting worse?" Lance asked, "should we head to the space mall and see if we can't find something to help?"

"I don't know…yeah, let's do that."

"Ok, we're heading that way next week, so think you can wait until then?"

Shiro nodded and Lance gripped his shoulder, "You got this, Shiro, k? We got your back."

()

The day Lotor requested them to come to HIS place for a change, they were more than eager.

The chance to get a really good and open look into the main Galra hub? YES PLEASE! Lance even brought his issued com unit to take pictures and send back. There wasn't anything that said this truce would last.

()

The three of them followed the sentry robot to its own doom. They looked around and Lance took pictures.

"That the one you use to contact Iverson?"

Lance looked at Hunk and nodded, putting a finger to his lips. Hunk looked around and then leaned over.

"Think he'll be able to send a message to my family?"

Lance winced inwardly.

"I'll see what I can do," Lance whispered back, "after we get back to the castle, k?"

Hunk smiled broadly and nodded.

()

As Hunk and Pidge worked on their new toy/victim, Lance took his time to really look around the area. He took pictures and moved stuff around. And, on a whim, he pocketed what looked like a screwdriver.

As he reached the far end of the room he noticed a small hatch in the ceiling. Looking back and seeing the other two sufficiently occupied, he climbed on top of the junk in the corner and went through the opening.

He could stand and walk fairly easily and the passageway seemed to have been kept clean. Lance could think of a few public buildings back on Earth that could take note of this.

Coming around a random corner Lance bumped into a Galra soldier. They both froze, each fighting their initial instincts.

"What are you doing here?" the Galra said instead.

"Got lost," Lance said, and it was partly true. The passageway was confusing and he now had no idea if he was on the second floor or the fifth.

The Galra snorted and went back to what he was doing. He was messing with a box full of wires.

"Something broken?" Lance asked.

"The lighting in the north hall was flickering this morning," the galra still seemed guarded.

"Hunk and Pidge are messing with a sentry right now, do you want me to call them? They could fix it no problem."

"No."

Lance shrugged and moved forward to get a better look. The galra tensed, but continued to work.

The paladin watched the galra fix the wiring and replace the wire covers.

"You and Hunk should work together," Lance said, "Your fingers are like his. They work magic."

The galra had no idea how to respond to that.

"You will find an exit if you go strait down this hall," he said instead. Lance grinned.

"thanks."

They gave each other stiff nods and separated. But Lance wasn't done exploring, so he took a marker out of his pocket and placed an arrow on the wall next to the junction of walk ways. He hummed as he turned random corners, marking then as he went.

Then as he reached one corner he saw that it was already marked. It was a triangle.

Lance knew that triangle.

To follow, or not to follow…that was the question…Iverson had told him not to. Frok would be even more upset with him if he broke the rules any more than he had. But It had been so long!

"You are in big trouble."

Lances heart nearly kissed his brain. He spun around to find his partner, hands on hips, and hair much shorter than before.

"You don't like it, so don't do it to me," Lance hissed, "I almost died."

"If you could die, it would've happened years ago."

"Aww, don't be angry," Lance grinned, "I really didn't plan on any of this, I swear!"

"You don't plan on anything."

"Unless its leaving the hospital?"

He had Frok there. The alien sighed and gave up. Reaching behind him he pulled out both of Lances guns. Lance beamed as he took them, feeling the security that came with holding the weapons you rely on for so long.

"You are here as a guest?" Frok asked.

"Yeah, Lotor is trying really-super-special-hard to get us to trust him."

"He seems like one to change his mind on a whim."

"What do you think will happen if we kill him?"

Frok took his time answering, "I think it would be more trouble than it would be worth. We already cut one head of the mythical Hydra, let's make sure if we cut this head off, we have something we can burn the stump with."

"Look at you," Lance cooed, "reading up on mythology. Did you take you Crit. Before you left?"

Frok nodded, "Passed easily."

"You're welcome."

"You missed yours."

"Well I've been kinda busy here."

"Did you tell your team about your 'day job'?"

"Oh, yeah, Iverson gave them level 4."

"They will not be joining us?"

"Not unless they bully Iverson into letting them. After the last episode of the 'young recruits' program the council will squish that flat before anyone has a say."

"You're afraid."

"Of what?"

Frok narrowed his eyes at him and Lance became increasingly uneasy under that glare. It also occurred to him that he'd never seen both of Froks eyes at the same time. His long fur always covered them up.

"Will your clan be ok?" Lance asked, abruptly changing the subject. Frok rubbed the short fur on his arm, then the short hair on his head.

"They will understand that it was in the line of duty. Though my chances of a mate have now decreased significantly."

"Maybe you can find someone out here," Lance teased, "I like being an uncle and mixed babies are the cutest."

"That, my clan would not be ok with," Frok shook his head, but he was smiling.

"The barrier isn't working well, is it?" Lance asked and Froks silence answered is question, "Quiznak, I knew Iverson didn't tell me why you were out here for a reason. Then Keith told me he ran into you and what you told him – he was largely offended by the way - and it all made sense. The barrier is busted, its not getting fixed anytime soon and-"

Frok placed a large hand on Lances head. He could tell his partner was working himself into a state. And once he was in a state, he was more or less useless for the rest of the day.

"At least tell me there's a plan," Lance said, "I really don't want to take everyone home and there not be anything there."

"There's a plan," Frok nodded.

"You're lying."

"Only partly."

Lance chuckled and accepted the information. It had been so long since he'd talked like this. Hanging out with the others was fun, but it wasn't…natural. This was easy, talking like normal, not worrying about what he was saying or how he said it.

"Give me your issue," Frok said and Lance handed over his com unit. Frok took it apart and started to work on it. "We are constantly on the move, therefor messages do not reach us unless we remain stationary for a time. But I found a way to make it so that WE should be able to send messages."

"Iverson said to not interfere with you."

"And yet, I'll feel safer if I can contact you."

"Valid point."

"I have one more server to mark," Frok replied, "Its one that i'm not too…confident, I can accomplish."

"Where are you going?"

"The ship the witch Haggar is in control of."

Lance shivered, "you have to go to her ship? Wouldn't any ship in her command be fine?"

"I have attempted already, twice, and have come very close to being caught both times. Are you up to date on the codes?"

"I'm up to date from the time I left, but, isn't getting in, like impossible in the first place? And then you have the druids to watch out for, and boy are they ugly to fight. Do you have your-"

"I am well equipped," Frok cut him off, "Remember the codes and I will attempt to inform you if I fail. Then you can inform Superior Iverson."

"Yeah, I don't like this kind of talk," Lance scowled, "how about you just not fail, yeah?"

"True."

()

He came out of the passageways on the floor above where Hunk and Pidge were. On his way back down he swung past the lions and stashed his guns in the red lion. Though he really wanted to wear them, it wasn't wise to suddenly have two new weapons appear out of nowhere.

"Where have you been!" Pidge shouted as he finally found the room they were in, "We're about to turn him back on!"

"Sweet!" Lance grinned, and did his best to forget about what Frok was doing. Iverson was right to keep him in the dark. It was all of Lance's will power to stay with the team and not go with his partner.