"We're coming up on Olkarion!" Coran called through the ships com.

"Is the Balmera already there?"

"Not that I'm seeing."

"They are going to meet us here, right?"

"that's what we agreed on."

"well we don't have a lot of time!"

"They'll get here, Balmeras don't travel that fast."

"Neither did we in getting here."

"Pidge," Shiro called coming onto the bridge, "I need you up front. We're not spending a lot of time here. Get out there, gather those that are ready and then we're leaving the moment the balmera get's here."

"Right'o!"

"Can I go too?" Jackson asked.

"No," Harvy answered, "when that Balmera arrives you'll be going straight there. You have everything already prepared, right?"

"Yes, Sir."

"Good, go double check your gear and make sure everything is in working order."

Jackson nodded and left.

Harvy shrugged, "if you don't give them something specific to do they tend to do stupid things."

"Oh, I get it," Shiro said with a chuckle, "We've all been there."

()

"Boss!" B1A5 flung the office door open and froze. Behind the desk was not Iverson, but a strange lady in a pinstripe suit.

"I assume you're looking for Iverson," she said, "he's moved back to his old office. He only occupied this one temporarily."

"..aaaannnd…tttthhhhaaaat's…."

She sighed and stood, jotting down the address on a sticky note. She held out her arm and forced him to walk over and take it from her. He gave a quick glance around the room and then left without another word.

Looking at the address he groaned out loud and stuffed the note in his pocket. He knew the garrisons address and he did not look forward to having to go there. Veronica and Rachel went there. Hiding the fact that he knew how to use a gun – really well – was going to be even more complicated.

He kicked his bike off the rack and started to run before he hopped on. He picked up speed as he left the parking lot and aimed his bike down the hill. The faster he went the better he felt. Taking his hands off the bars he held out his arm and leaned them back, like a fighter jet. Letting gravity take him faster than he could peddle.

He grabbed the bars and slammed his feet against the peddles, and regained control of the bike just in time to bring the bike to a skidding halt at the stop light at the bottom of the hill. The other pedestrians cried out as he stopped. He gave an apologetic grin and a mumbled apology, and when the light turned, he sped as fast as he could down the road.

He picked up more speed as he neared the garrison entrance. The entrance was oddly shaped, and he enjoyed entering as fast as he could. Last time, he'd been pretty fast, this time he'd try a little faster.

As he angled his bike just so, two people appeared at the corner, leaving the garrison. Lance caught sight of a kid in a red jacket before he had to slam on the brakes and spin the bike to slow himself more.

"Watch it!" Lance shouted. The kid shouted something back, but Lance was already taking off across the parking lot and didn't pay him any mind.

Parking the bike and clipping the lock, he walked into the building where the head offices were.

()

It didn't take too long for the Balmera to arrive. Pidge was getting the Olkaries settled into their rooms when they received the hail from the Shey.

"We are awaiting your arrival," she said and Hunk grinned. Jackson nodded and thanked her.

"I'll take you over," Hunk said, "is your stuff already in there?"

"Yup," Jackson ran out of the room, eager to go see something new.

"Show him around, get him introduced, and then we need you back here," Shiro said, "try and be quick."

"Sure thing."

()

It was easy finding Iverson. All Lance had to do was follow the booming voice.

"You are a disgrace! How can you stand there in that uniform and claim to deserve it!? The Garrison does not condone such behavior! One more slip up like this and I'll kick you out myself!"

Lance peaked into the room through a narrow window by the door. Two cadets stood in front of his desk. They were standing at attention and, from the way their fists were clenched, they were terrified.

Lance smiled and chuckled.

He waited for them to leave, one looked like he was about to pass out. B1A5 slipped into the office and shut the door.

"What did they do?" Lance asked walking behind Iversons desk to the safe where his guns were kept.

"That's not your concern," Iverson sighed, "I swear, its harder and harder to discipline kids these days."

"Careful, you're dating yourself."

Iverson smiled and rubbed his shaved head. He'd been prematurely balding so he decided to just shave it all off. He honestly wasn't that old, but in the eyes of a child he must seem ancient.

As Lance buckled his gun on Iverson told him to sit down.

"What's up?" He asked, "is this going to be an away assignment?"

Iverson shook his head, "I got the report back from your last ten missions. The reports from those you've worked with."

"Ooook?"

"The council thinks it would be wise to assign you a partner until you're 18 years old."

Lance face twisted.

"Hear me out," Iverson said, knowing he was on thin ice, "I've convinced them to lower it to 16."

Lane sighed, "I don't need a partner, Boss."

"The reports say otherwise," Iverson said.

"Are they different from the reports I've given you?"

"No, they match yours just fine."

"Then I don't see what the problem is."

"You're actions need to be reigned in a bit," Iverson tried to make it sound less than it was, but Lance was smarter than that. The boy bristled and his eyes burned.

"'Reigned in'?"

"Their words, not mine."

Lance stood, "I don't care. They made me an agent! If they think I need a partner, then why didn't they just give me a followup trainer!"

"Good question," Iverson said, leaning on his fist, "but this is the case so you're going to have to suck it up."

Lance folded his arms and plopped back down on the chair, "So who's my ball and chain?"

"You will meet up with him next week," Iverson said cheerfully, glad no actual shots were fired, "as for the second thing that was discussed this week, you will now be attending the garrison."

Lance blinked and Iverson picked up a few student reports, shuffling them together.

"Eeeexuse me?"

"Yup, instead of a mission today, you will be testing into the garrison. Of course you already have an in, but this will give us all the paperwork in case anyone asks questions or-"

"NO!" Lance stood again, this time the chair fell, "I'm fine with a baby-sitter, but a baby-sitter AND a cage?!"

"This is hardly a cage," Iverson said, slightly insulted. Though he was an agent, he loved the garrison. This was his favorite position to be in.

"Easy for an authority figure to say," Lance snapped, "why am I here, Iverson?! I was trained! I follow my training! Why am I being punished for doing my job!"

"You're training was not complete," Iverson said, "You were never passed the responsibility from your trainer. Not officially."

"I did it just fine! I figured it out! It's not that hard!"

"Lance," Iverson said and the boy flinched at the name, "B1A5, please. Just sit down and listen to the rest of what I have to say. This isn't so much a punishment as it is a long term mission."

B1's eyes narrowed, suspicious. But slowly, he righted the chair and sat down.

Iverson let out a breath and continued, "There is a boy that will be joining the garrison next year. The recruitment staff picked him up from a near by foster home. There is more than a little evidence that he's a mixed race."

"So?" Lance rolled his eyes, "I'm Cuban and Irish."

"I mean half-alien," Iverson raised an eyebrow and noticed the boys interest.

"Aren't there precautions in place so that doesn't happen?"

"Not all precautions are full-proof," Iverson shrugged, "Its not known for certain if he is a half-blood, but that's why you'll be here, inside the garrison, keeping an eye on him."

"And the partner?"

"Is for when you are given outside jobs."

Lance groaned again; a long mournful moan. His head resting on the back of the chair as he kicked his feet.

"Complain all you want, but the council already made the decision," Iverson sighed, "here, fill out these forms and get your parents to fill out these."

He handed the boy two packets of papers and watched as the he looked at them the way cadets looked at a pop quiz. Iverson hid a grin behind laced fingers.

()

Rax met them when they landed.

"Shey is organizing a a group that has volunteered to go with you."

"Wait, what?" Hunk scowled, "we didn't ask-"

"It was their idea," Rax said, looking down his nose at Hunk, "they wish to help on more fronts than one. Will they be denied?"

Hunks mouth was open, but nothing was coming out, so Jackson took over, "I'm sure their help will be more than welcome. But we have to contact the castle to make sure they are prepared to receive them, right?"

Jackson looked over to Hunk who nodded, "yeah, let me just contact Shiro really quick. Rax, take Jackson and show him around, I'll be right back."

He turned and ran back inside his lion.

"We did not think it would cause problems," Rax said and gave a small shrug. Jackson smiled.

"Hunk is a planer, when events happen outside that plan it takes a while for him to readjust."

Rax nodded, "I understand. I too like following a plan. Follow me and I shall show you who we are."

()

"YOU?!" B1 glared at the Hogro standing outside HQ, "Why you?!"

"I have been temporarily reassigned as your Partner, code name Frok."

"WHY?"

Froks head tilted slightly, "perhaps because I already know you as a liar?"

B1 glared harder, "I didn't lie to you."

"Then perhaps because I follow orders?"

"I follow orders," B1 muttered disdainfully.

"You did not-"

"Oh shut up, were you briefed on today mission?"

Frok stood, silent.

"Well?"

"You told me to shut up-"

"AAAAAAAARG!"

()

"We have recalibrated your teledove," Ryner said, patting Pidges shoulder, "It should allow the Balmera and your ship to enter without too many problems."

"And the problems that are within that amount?" Shiro asked.

"The Balmerans have their caves," Pidge said, "If one is on the surface when they enter the worm hole, then they'll most likely fly off into the void."

"Better pass that along," Shiro muttered as Hunk called in to tell them about Rax's proposal.

"I mean, I don't see it going wrong, I just don't know what they can do off of a Balmera, you know?"

"If they want to join this side of the fight, they are welcome to," Shiro said, "But make sure you tell them what they'll be getting themselves into. Shey's people may be a little too peaceful for what will be needed here."

Hunk nodded and cut the feed.

()

Iverson closed his eyes. His anger bubbling slightly. He'd known the situation was bad, but this was…worse.

"Tell me again, what happened."

B1A5 sighed, "Our mission was to check on the seemingly random and suspicious activity at an apartment complex. The landlord, being an otherworlder, his paperwork was fine and his records were clean. However, we discovered an illegal transport device in an illegal underground complex. We arrested the alien, disabled the machine, and called in the proper matenance crews to come and clean up."

"And Frok?"

"He got himself shot."

Iverson hissed, "A shot meant for you, yes?"

B1 shrugged, "I told him to disable the device. He chose to ignore me. He got himself shot."

"From your own report and from the otherworlder that shot the gun, that shot would have killed you."

"That would be my fault," B1 said again, "I would not have died. I already had started to move. At most the shot would have hit my arm. Frok moved and intercepted the whole blast. His actions were not only contrary to what the plan was, but his own fault. In the end I still had to do everything myself. I had to disable the device AND arrest the alien. He simply became baggage."

Iverson rubbed his eyes. He briefly wondered what happened to the bright eyed child he'd recruited, the one with the kind and simple smile. Then he berated himself since he also knew full well what had happened.

"B1A5," Iverson said, barely able to keep his temper level, "You are hereby suspended until your partner is fully recovered."

"What?!"

"This is my decision," Iverson clarified, "Until you learn what it means to be a partner, you will have Frok by your side until you are 18-"

"But Boss!"

"-You will also be trained as a fighter pilot the moment you reach that point in school, and you will stay close to home and under my direct tutelage, AND you will have two team members you will have to work with."

B1 stared in shocked horror.

"Until you can learn that a partnership is NOT about YOUR job and THEIR job, I will continue to load on restraints."

"..S…Sir…" Lance leaned forward, "please…you said I could just be a cargo pilot!"

"Cargo pilots don't work in teams," Iverson said, letting his anger show with his indifference, "Fighter pilots have to work with at most four others. Every time you leave your partner out to dry, I will add one more team mate you will have to work with. So you better learn quickly."

B1 shook his head, "I…I can't…Boss, I CAN'T!"

"You will, regardless," Iverson said, "Or you will be forced to quit. Now I suggest, B1A5, that you go to that hospital, and you check up on your partners condition."

B1 was red in the face and quickly turning purple. Finally, he let out the breath he was holding. He took off his weapons and put them on Iversons desk. With out a word he left, slamming the door behind him.

Iverson sighed and took out a bottle of aspirin.

()

Lance stormed into the hospital and into Froks room. The Hogro was sitting up.

Good.

"Let's go."

"The doctor said I was to not leave until a week from now," Frok said.

"Yah, well, he's not a superior and you weren't given the order to stay. We need to go for a walk. Now."

Frok observed the tense face and irritated grimace.

"No."

"Now!"

"No."

Lance was ready to start tearing his hair from its scalp, but it was too short. He never grew his hair out, afraid someone would grab it during a fight. Now he wished he could grab it himself. Instead he rubbed his hand back and forth and swore.

"I do not know what those words mean," Frok replied.

"Who cares? You'll be hearing them a lot if I have to put up with you for much longer," Lance snapped, "What were you thinking?! I'm a trained solo agent! If I get shot, then I get shot! NO one asked you to bud in! All you had to do was your part of the job!"

"Partners do not leave the other to take the hit."

"Well, that's what you did," Lance said, "You left me by getting taken out. YOU LEFT! I had to do everything ANYWAY! What was the point of you even being there?!"

"Well," Frok said with a shrug, "I guess it was to be your shield for a moment."

Lance had no response for that.

"That…that-that's the dumbest thing I've ever heard!" Lance roared and he reached out and grabbed a handful of Frok hair, pulling on it.

"Ow!"

"Stupid! You are the dumbest idiot I know!"

"Stop it!"

"Get up and walk you moron!"

"NO!"

"YES!"

()

From what Jackson had been told about the Hogros, he had to agree that the Balmerans would get along just fine.

Still, this was a big step. He'd never been off world before and only knew two Hogro agents by sight and a short hello in the morning. Now he had to correspond between two races he'd just barely gotten to know.

"Every one going to the castle get on the lion!" Hunk shouted and turned to Jackson, "Ok, so you listen to Shey, and Rax, and Grandma here, ok? Ok…this is going to work. Make sure everyone is under ground before you enter the teledove."

Shey chuckled, "Everything will be fine."

"I wish I had your confidence," Hunk said and gave her a hug, "the moment we reach the other side, get in contact with the ship to solidify plans."

"Yes, yes, we know," Rax said and began to push Hunk away from his sister and toward the lion.

()

Two years later B1A5 was required to move into the dorms.

"Hi, I'm Hunk," the larger boy held out his hand. Lance stared at it for a moment and then took it, forcing the smile on his face as he introduced himself as well.

"I'm in the engineering class," Hunk said fidgeting with the zipper on his jacket. He had already unpacked. Lance tossed his case onto the other bed.

"I'm in the pilot program. I'm going to be a fighter pilot and explore the universe!"

"That's cool," Hunk said and an awkward silence prevailed.

Lance had done a lot of 'learning' since his first mission with Frok. It was easier to work with him after a while, and he guessed he understood a little bit on how to rely on a partner, but he still had no idea why he was asked to complete missions with a partner when he was perfectly capable of doing it himself.

And now here he was, in yet another situation that would be simpler if he didn't have to 'learn'.

"We'll find out at the end of this year where we will be assigned," Hunk said, for the sake of conversation.

"Yup, I do so hope I get to be a fighter pilot," Lance said, his back to Hunk so his roommate didn't see him roll his eyes.

"What's your favorite snack food?"

That was a completely different conversation. Lance looked up and raised an eyebrow at him.

"What do you mean?"

Hunk shrugged, "What's your favorite snack?"

Lance thought for a moment. He didn't think he had one. No one had asked him before.

"Mmmm…"

"yeah, I have a lot I like too," Hunk said, "Hard to think of just one."

Lance smiled and shrugged. This year, if he worked really hard with Frok, then he wouldn't have to be a fighter pilot. He could be a cargo pilot and do away with the threat of having to work with a team. He had enough problems with a partner, a team would fall under 'cruel and unusual punishment'.

One year to prove that he didn't need any more 'special lessons'.

()

"Everyone ready?" Allura asked, clasping her hands behind her back.

"You talk to Lotor?"

"Of course," she said and she didn't even blush, "he'll be ready and waiting for our signal."

"All we ask," Keith sighed. This was a delicate plan make even more difficult because only half of them knew what was really going on. He really wanted to tell Hunk and Pidge everything, but then he'd have to tell Allura and she was such a straight arrow, Allura would never go with their plan. And after all this, Allura would never forgive them.

"It will be fine Red Leader," Lance said elbowing him in the side, "don't think to much about it. I mean, it is your instincts we rely on the most, right?"

Keith scowled at him and then sighed again.

"Alright, then start up the teledove and let's get going."