Keith used what Hunk called the "garage opener" which was just an outside code that would allow him into the castles hangars. When he landed he was shocked to see Lotor standing there as well.

"What are you doing here?"

Lotor was not happy, "This is most likely a jest by the foolish red paladin. Nothing I try is opening the door and I can't get a message to Allura for her to open it!"

Ketih tried his hand at it, and sure enough, the door was jammed shut.

Not good.

He asked Krolia to help him pry the door open. It took a while, but soon they were able to slip through.

Everything looked fine. It was a little too quiet, and there was an air of tension, but that could be due to Keiths own mistrustful tendencies.

When they turned the corning to go down the hall that would lead them straight to the bridge, the Altean picked up on banging sounds coming from further down the smaller corridor.

Heading toward the sound they came across Corans door.

"Coran?!" Keith called, the banging stopped.

"Hello?!"

"Coran, what's going on?"

"The door wont open and I can't get Lance or Shiro to come open it for me!"

"Where are the others?!"

Keith and Krolia again started to work on prying the door open. Lotor just stood there and didn't do anything. Just another reason to not like the guy.

"They left earlier today to answer a mild distress call! They should be back soon!"

"Why…Why didn't Shiro and Lance… go with them?!" Keith said between the efforts put in to open the door.

"Shiro's been getting terrible headaches and they were going to go to the mall and pick up something to help!"

Keith didn't like the sound of that. Why had no one told him that shiro wasn't feeling well?

When they finally got the door open, Coran stepped through and bushed himself off. Then they all made their way to the bridge, stopping at the lounge, the kitchen, and even a few conference rooms in case one of them was in there.

When they saw the Bridge door, partly melted and dented in, they increased their pace.

Keith first saw Shiro, second he saw Lance, the third thing he saw was so strange his mind was having a hard time processing what was going on. He was frozen to the spot, but Krolia and Lotor had no qualms and rushed forward to get Shiro off of Lance.

Why would Shiro be trying to kill Lance?

That didn't add up.

Coran and the other Altean were already rushing over to see if Lance was ok. So Keith, now, could focus solely on Shiro what the HELL was going on there.

Lotor, even with Krolias help, was overwhelmed and knocked back. He stuck his head and lost consciousness. Keith filled in and between Krolia and him, they could just barely keep Shiro at bay.

"Shiro! Stop!" Keith shouted, trying to get through to the man, but nothing was working, "What are you doing?!"

Krolia cried out as Shiros weaponized hand grabbed her arm as he spun her around and out of his way.

"What's wrong with you?! Shrio! Answer me!" Keith knocked Shiros hand back and landed a solid kick to his abdomen. Shiro staggered back wards and Ketih knew his moment was now or never.

And he chose never.

He couldn't kill him.

"Tell me what's going on!"

Shiro regained his footing and darted forward to fight some more. More mute than a sentry.

()

Lances sense of reality was shifting. Was he ten? Was the man trying to kill him Shiro or…? He blacked out for a time, ready for it to be the last, but when he opened his eyes next, he found Keith and Shiro fighting.

But that was wrong…

Right?

His world spun as Coran lifted him and started to carry him from the room. Over Corans shoulder he saw just how brutal the fight between them was. And then it was cut off as Coran left the room and hurried down the hall.

Nonononono, Lance thought, tears forming, not again…not now…it hurts too much…

()

Krolia joined in as support, but could see that her son wanted this fight for himself. He had told her all about this 'shiro' person and had been grateful to him, however, she couldn't fathom what was going on right now.

Keith was trying desperately to find a way to stop Shiro without killing him.

But the more he fought, the more he was beginning to realize that there might not be a way. And that slow realization was like a cold poison in his veins. It froze him and made his moves slow and choppy.

"Keith!" Krolia snapped, seeing him falter one to many times, "Focus!"

How? How could he focus on taking the life of the one person he truly saw as family? The thought was terrifying.

Then it clicked. He remembered Pidge and her strategies.

"Krolia! Left!"

She dove and attacked from the left, and sure enough, Shiro blocked it with his right. Keith came in and saw Shrio move to block Keiths swing. Which would've succeeded if he had been aiming for Shiros middle. But he aimed for the shoulder and severed the right mechanical arm completely.

Shiro collapsed. Panicking, Keith checked, and when he felt the pulse under his finger tips he truly felt the relief wash through him.

()

The man walked down the brightly lit hall. Nothing dark or dangerous about it. Passing the windows, it was daylight outside. The man felt perfectly confident of his actions in the middle of the day.

When he entered into a large room with four aliens. They were the Rodakkin. The potential fourth planet to ally with the council. They were a race of strong fighters and highly advanced technology.

Their price, however, was a specific level of control over the other races. Not complete control, but just enough. The council tried to dislodge them, but there were members of the council that actually thought it was a good idea. With every passing day each planet was drifting further apart in their relations and even fighting amongst themselves as a whole.

Lance heard the whimper form in his throat and instead cried out when the man threw him at the Rodakkins feet.

"This is the only one I have to give," the man said, "do you accept the offer?"

"The question, is if you think this is enough for you?" the aliens voice was soft and unassuming. Lance was shaking, but he tried to get his bearings so he could scoot away. Any show of defiance would be better than just waiting to die.

"I trained this child myself, weather you wish you use him or eat him, I don't care, just so long as you do your part."

"Of course," the aliens nodded with the whole half of their body, "but we were promised three."

"I'll get the other two later, is one enough to at least seal the deal?"

There was silence as the Roakkin spoke amongst themselves. Lance was able to scoot about a foot to one side before an alien claw gripped his broken arm and made him scream. They twisted Lance around, dislocating the shoulder, to carry the boy potato sack style.

()

Lance came to, after passing out from the pain, to the man and the aliens having a heated discussion.

"You said three hundred," the man snapped.

"I do not recall."

"Of course you don't."

"Is the number truly a problem when what we are offering is complete and total security?"

Lance blinked trying to get his head to start working again, the mans answer was like an adrenaline shot.

"Not really."

Lance looked around. There had to be something…anything…

There in the Rodakkins belt was a gun. Lance focused on attempting to move without the alien holding him noticing. If he could just reach the gun, then he would have a fighting chance. His fingers brushed against the metal and Lances breath began to come in, short and sharp. He had to. Failure was Not an option.

Finally grabbing it he yanked it out and fired into the back of the aliens legs.

The kick-back from the blast sent Lance flying. He was so far past pain at that moment, though, that when he landed, he simply aimed and fired three more times.

The man had gotten out of the way in a hurry. He knew Lance was a perfect shot, even under pressure.

Now, with all four Radekkins dead, Lance leaned back against the wall. His legs out stretched, his right arm useless. He was still having a hard time getting a full breath of air. It was making him dizzy…

"With that, Lance, you've just doomed everyone," the man sighed. His voice alone made Lance suddenly alert. He gripped the gun again and pointed it at the man that was slowing walking towards him.

"You won't fire," he said, so sure of this fact, "I just want to talk. Have a discussion. Because you OBVIOUSLY didn't understand it when I EXPLAINED it to you BEFORE!"

Gone was the kind face. Gone was the gentle tone. The face Lance thought he knew so well was twisted into an ugly rage as he reached down to grab Lances face.

And Lance fired.