A/N

I did say I'd update soon :P.

The Kace District, a small section of a glittering city not far from the market where they'd found the vendor, sparkled in a menacing light. The nights on Callioa, the planet which they were on currently, lasted the length of a regular day on Earth, and a day lasted about thirty minutes. Which meant the nightlife on the planet really thrived. Neon lights flickered eerily over the streets, and everywhere Keith looked, he saw poverty poorly disguised in finery. Dancers in vivacious, if not risque, outfits with dark circles under their eyes and tight shoulders, gentlemen in crisp suits with dangerous glints in their eyes, and young girls in lipstick drawn too broadly for their mouths. Callioa was a colony planet, meaning that it had no original inhabitants, and everyone who lived on its dark surface had migrated to it at one point. This provided an easy way to hide among the crowds, seeing how very few people in the streets shared a species. As Keith trudged down the street, his hood pulled tightly over his shock of black hair, he reflected on how long they'd been searching for Raliore Destra. Six days. It had taken them three days to find the Nebula Nightclub, and this was the third night of waiting for Destra to appear. Of course, they had all considered that the vendor had lied, and that Raliore Destra didn't even exist, but they knew this was their only lead. And they were going to follow it until it was a clear dead end. After walking for several moments of tense silence, Keith arrived at the Nebula Nightclub. The pulsing lights, thumping music, and complete claustrophobic feel of the club never ceased to give him a roaring headache and an itching uncomfortable feeling, tonight being no exception. Pushing his way through the horde of people gathered near the front, Keith glanced toward the tables in the corner and nestled in the back, most of them overflowing with energetic people laughing and doing things that Keith didn't really want to dwell on. His eyes darted to Shiro by the bar, who was chatting merrily to a Balmeran, then to Allura in the corner, who seemed to be having an interesting time flirting with some guy. Her posture and facial expressions made Keith think that she was mimicking how Lance acted, which, for this situation, seemed appropriate. Thinking of Lance brought a sharp sense of awareness to Keith, and he cleared his throat, turning on his mic.

"I'm in position. Pidge, Hunk, and Coran, sound off," he announced as inconspicuously as possible.

"It's Hunk, and I'm ready to jump this guy if he comes out the back," Hunk's voice crackled from the earpiece that Pidge had designed.

"Coran here. I'm with Hunk in the back," Coran added.

"Good. Hang tight," Keith replied, waiting for Pidge.

"Pidge here, I'm in position at the front. If this guy doesn't show up tonight, I'm going to personally clobber the guy who gave you this information," Pidge threatened.

"You and me both, Pidge," Keith growled, before glancing again at Shiro and Allura.

"Just a thought, but if the guy doesn't show up, then what are we gonna do?" Hunk wondered, his voice full of anxiety.

Keith gritted his teeth at the thought. "Then we'll keep looking."

The answer was simple, but it was enough to quiet them all.

Keith made his way to the second floor of the club, walking with extra caution in order to go unnoticed. The open area of the club was ringed at the top by a balcony that allowed for a perfect vantage point, and Keith preferred to be able to see everything during a mission like this. After ascending the steps, he leaned against the balustrade of the grated balcony and observed the flow of colors around him as they pulsed along to a furious beat. The dischord of the dancefloor was overwhelming in many ways to Keith, the lone wolf who preferred solitude over company. He often opted for being the silent observer than an active participant, which he recognized was a trait that more often hindered him more than helped him. And as the new leader of Voltron, he knew that he needed to be the one who pulled everyone together rather than the one who let them all fall apart. His mind flickered to the last time he'd been forced into the role of leadership, and just how badly he'd misused his power and almost cost them all their lives. Lance had been there then, and had rightfully confronted Keith, letting him know just how badly he'd messed up. But Lance always supported Keith. Or at least, he had after the Black Lion chose Keith as her next paladin. And that had encouraged Keith, despite the fact that he'd had no desire to be the Black Paladin whatsoever. Keith tightened his grip on the railing of the balustrade, swearing that he'd find Lance, no matter how long it took. Preferably, they'd find him sooner rather than later, not just for Lance's sake, but for the fact that they needed to return to Earth as quickly as possible.

"I've got a visual!" Pidge's voice excitedly yelped into his ear, making Keith jump. "Destra's entering the club, accompanied by two other Galra."

"Understood," Keith acknowledged, a rush of adrenaline shooting through his veins. His eyes gravitated to the entrance, where he witnessed Destra strut in with self-assured confidence. The Galra flanking his sides both appeared to be capable combatants, and Keith instantly noticed the weapons concealed among their clothing.

"All three are armed," Keith warned his team, his eyes never leaving the trio. He watched attentively as the three pushed a group of people out of a booth in the corner and started to order an abundance of drinks, loudly harassing any female who came within five feet of them. Keith noticed Allura begin to make her way toward them, but considering the circumstances, he would have rathered Shiro approach them. However, before he could stop her, she slid into a seat right next to Destra, handed him a drink, and began to flirt dangerously with him. Her mic suddenly turned on, and through his earpiece, Keith could hear their entire conversation.

"Is this seat taken?" She asked, her voice much more husky than normal.

"It is now, darling," Destra replied, his voice making Keith bristle.

Restraining himself from any unnecessary action, Keith continued to listen.

"And who might you be?" Destra wondered, leaning closer to Allura. She pursed her lips, and Keith was amazed at how well she was pulling off her role. After a second thought, however, Keith remembered just how skilled of a diplomat she was, and that she knew how to play to different peoples' personalities and desires. This role was more perfect for Allura than Keith could have hoped.

"Does that matter?" She asked coyly, maintaining eye contact.

"Not at all," Destra purred, dismissing his lackeys with a hand gesture. The two slid out of their seats and melted into the crowd in an instant, leaving Allura alone with Destra.

"Shiro, keep an eye on those two," Keith ordered, to which Shrio replied by leaving his seat at the bar.

"I wonder, what's a strong Galra like you doing at this backwater joint?" Allura inquired, keeping her voice neutral.

"Well," Raliore puffed his chest a little and gave her a sly grin before taking a sip of the drink, "I've got business not far from here."

"Oh?" Allura breathed, her eagerness almost slipping through her facade.

"Have you heard that Voltron has returned?" Raliore prodded, practically waving bait before Allura.

"I might have heard something," Allura tapped her chin and scrunched up her features thoughtfully, for all the universe looking like a thickheaded party girl.

"Well, I captured one of the Paladins," Destra boasted, sending a collective wave of fury through all those listening.

"That's quite an accomplishment," Allura stated, trying to look amazed and restrain herself from wringing his neck at the same time.

"Oh, yes, but you don't want to talk about that, do you?" Destra pushed himself closer to Allura, so close in fact, that he was breathing on Allura's face.

She smiled, probably trying to look mysterious, but instead she looked irritated.

"Or maybe you do. Princess Allura."

A second of shocked silence passed. In a moment of realization, Keith's eyes widened and his body moved on its own, twisting around. With that motion, he barely evaded a hit from one of Destra's men. Pulling out his mother's blade, Keith lunged for the Galra. They danced around each other violently, one attacking while the other dodged at the last second, then repeating the same process. With a heavy arch, the Galran's blade knocked Keith's clear from his hands and sent it flying against the wall. Snarling, Keith jumped away from the Galran's reach and kicked his blade out of his hand in retaliation. As the Galran threw a punch at Keith, Keith grabbed his wrist and, gaining the advantage of momentum, flipped his attacker clear off the balcony. Without wasting a moment, Keith rushed for his blade and became aware of the panicked and extremely confusing conversation flying through his earpiece. In fact, because of so many things happening at once, it wasn't even a conversation, more like a jumble of garbled words. Grabbing his blade, pivoting, and racing at the balustrade at full speed, Keith leaped off the balcony and into the screaming masses below. The patrons of the nightclub were rushing about in confusion, shrieking or fleeing in fear, as Allura battled Destra himself on the floor. Keith landed in a roll and lunged at his previous opponent, who had been advancing on Allura from behind. With several quick thrusts, Keith finished him and continued on to aid Allura.

"Allura!" He yelled as Destra tossed her viciously onto a table, which collapsed under the pressure of her body. Keith lunged at Destra, managing to catch him by surprise and penetrate his side with his blade. Keith tackled Destra, pulled his blade out of the Galran's side, and held it against his throat.

"What was that about capturing a Paladin of Voltron?" Keith demanded, pressing the sharp edge of his sword so hard against Destra's neck that he drew blood.

Destra growled, and in an instant, he pushed Keith off of his body and into a nearby stool. Keith's neck snapped back, cracking his head against hard metal. Groaning, Keith propelled himself to his feet and, with his head spinning, pursued Destra. He followed the Galran out the back entrance, which led into a narrow alley. Destra glanced behind him, trying to gauge just how close Keith was to reaching him. At that moment, Hunk and Coran sprang out from behind a pile of garbage and brought the Galran crashing to the ground. As Keith staggered forward, one hand pressed to his temple, Hunk held Raliore Destra down while Coran stripped him of his weapons and stuffed them in a bag.

"Where's Lance?!" Hunk demanded, gripping Destra's shoulders.

Destra's eye bugged, and in that moment, Keith realized that Destra never knew anything about Lance.

"Where is he, huh? Where's the Red Paladin of Voltron?" Hunk repeated, furious.

"I-I don't know, alright! I've never even seen the guy!" Destra yelped, eyes full of terror.

"Don't lie!" Hunk snapped, "You said you captured a Paladin of Voltron!"

Destra gulped.

"I...I only said that to impress people. M-my Commander captured him about a month ago, but I was at a Nightclub when he did. I was kicked out of his forces not long after. I swear, I'm telling the truth!"

Rage bubbled in Keith's stomach, but he merely sneered. Hunk on the other hand, didn't believe a word that the Galran spluttered.

"How did you recognize Allura then? Even in her disguise?"

"I didn't recognize her at first, but after we kept talking, I realized who she was. Your profiles are drilled into every Galran soldier," Destra blubbered, singing a completely different tune than earlier.

"Coward," Keith spat, aiming the tip of his sword just above Destra's nose.

"Who was your commander?"

"Rask Xeris," Destra replied without hesitation.

Keith shook his head.

"Let him go, Hunk."

"What? But-"

"He won't be of any more help to us," Keith announced, a hint of disappointment creeping into his voice.

"But-"

"Just let him go."

Warily, Hunk eased onto his feet, allowing Raliore Destra to scramble away, his back trusting them too much for any proper Galran soldier.

"What are we going to do now?" Hunk turned to Keith, concern etched across his soft features, "Start over?"

"Not entirely," Keith responded, eyes flashing yellow in the darkness of the alley.