The prison was hectic, to say the least. All of the guard's forces had been required in the mess hall were the grand majority of the inmates were fighting like there was no tomorrow.
Blasters missed targets, blows were dealt, and Dreks was having the time of his life. He lifted a guard into the air. They dropped their blaster and plead for mercy. Dreks hurled them into the horde of people without a second thought and cackled out loud.
This was probably the most fun he'd had in Rotations. Now that he was fighting for a purpose and didn't have to worry about how he himself would escape, he could practically do what he wanted.
It hadn't taken long at all to convince the others to join in. Most of them enjoyed fighting for no real reason anyways. Walking down the hall he'd whispered to his friend Nav that he would be the one to slip away for long enough to hand the Blue Paladin the key card. Then he told five others, and the plan spread before they even set foot in the mess hall. Everyone from his cell block remained silent while Dreks waited for the other cell blocks to arrive. When every last inmate was in and the doors had been closed, he picked up the first table he saw and let out the loudest battle cry. Then he flung it in the direction of none other that Serus. That's when Lance's entire cell block began to fight. By the next tick, half of the other cell blocks had joined in. And the addition of twenty guards only added to the marvelous chaos.
...
His chest hurt. He'd been running non stop for the last fifteen minutes, and still no Solitary. He wondered if he was going in circles. All these hallways look the same! Dios, get an interior decorator in here.
He thought of what he would do once he found Keith. Lance wanted to have even ten minutes to sit down and catch up, to slow down and process that they were finally closer to getting the band back together. But that wasn't in the cards for either of them that day. Still, tears stained his cheeks and clouded his eyes.
The hooting and hollering from the mess hall got quieter as Lance got farther and farther away, replaced instead by the soft thudding of his feet on cold hard stone and his ragged breath bouncing off the walls. He passed cell block after empty cell block, with no end in sight. His hair stuck to his head, beads of sweat forming on his brow. Coming upon a forth in the path, he at last took a quick breather. I'm pretty sure I've been down here before. Have I? Dios, I don't even fuckin' know anymore. He shook his head. Idiot, you're wasting time. Just pick one and go. Starting on the hall to his right, a bone- chilling chorus of sounds erupted outside the prison walls.
Wind lashing against the stone walls, kicking up layers of dust and firing them like bullets at the windows. People's muffled screaming. Blasts fired. That better not be who I think it is because if it is... they could not have possibly come at a worse time.Lance's heart sank. He had to see for himself. He searched around for a door that would take him outside. At the end of a long corridor, he spotted a heavy metal door with a small window at eye- level with a clear blue sky on the other side. Bingo.
The Blue Paladin ran so fast he slammed against the door, and like lightning he pressed the key card on the scanner. Four ticks it takes to open a door. Six to seven seconds. Good to know. He made a mental note of it. Opening the door he got a taste of what he'd been missing the last two weeks. The fresh air on his face. The smell of plants and dirt in his nose.
Beyond the door was a balcony complete with metal railing. Lance was on the third floor. And the sight was not pretty.
Dust whirled around everywhere, and he had to cover his nose and mouth, hair whipping in the wind. Thousands of feet away and miles it seemed from the ground, hovered two tremendous Galra ships. They were both partly occluded by clouds they were so high up. If nightmares could dream up a ship...It wouldn't be half the monsters these are. They were various tints and shades of grey and sickly purple. Five circular rockets glowed combinations of white, yellow, and blue at the behemoths' bellies. The force it took for these ships to hover was heating up the air and sending waves of dirt and plant life everywhere.
Smaller crafts were spilling from the two main ships' sides, like swarms of locusts. Thousands of clusters blasted Cortaalis troops both in the air and on the floor, taking them all by surprise. Some of the even smaller crafts landed and Galra themselves swept entire acres of native soldiers clean. The soldiers presumably having been stationed there to guard Red. Red sat in the middle of the chaos, protected by the force field, directly underneath one of the two mother ships.
Lance's slitted eyes darted around, unable to process it all. There was movement closer to him. A team of maybe ten Galra, all two feet taller than him and many times broader were headed for the prison, all wearing heavy armor and helmets. They were close.
He ran back inside and slammed the door behind him. "Dammit, where is he?!" He screamed and ran through the maze of hallways once more.
...
Lance was utterly lost. Not here... Not here... Not here. Don't worry buddy. I'm not leaving without you.
"Hey! Hey you!" The high-pitched whine of a blaster heating up sounded behind him. Lance stopped dead in his tracks and turned around. It was a guard. A straggler. Dreks you had one job. Lance dove into the utility closet next to him. He crashed into a bucket and whatever the alien equivalent of a mop was and muttered a curse.
"Hey you! Stop-" The guard was cut off. He let out a strangled cry and his blaster clanked on the stone. Lance took a peak. A Galra soldier towered above the guard who was already a great deal bigger than the paladin. The guard fell to his knees, blood instantly soaking his armor, gushing out of a gaping wound in his chest. The Galra held a jagged sword, soaked in the blood from his victim.
"Finally," He said, his voice deep and silky. "My blade was itching for her first kill." He growled.
Lance squeezed his eyes shut in an effort to stay still. The longer he waited the more likely those ugly purple cats were to find Keith before he did. The air was hot and stale in the closet, and he clutched the key card close to his chest.
Just as soon as the footsteps vanished away into another hallway, Lance bolted out of the closet, grabbing the guard's blaster along the way. While he did his best to not look into the dead guard's face, it was hard not to. He was barely an adult, maybe two years older than him.
It seemed like there was no where else to look. He'd gone left, right, sideways, upside down, and fucking right again. Now as an added bonus, there were ten steroid- infused monsters scattered throughout the place that could be around literally any corner, ready to cut him up and talk creepily to their she-weapon afterwards.
Something caught his eye. There was a small inconspicuous door between two offices. Only, he guessed it used to be inconspicuous before it was ripped open. Fresh blood dripped from some of the scraps of metal. He jogged up to it. There had been a key card scanner to get it. Now the door was simply a jagged hole in the wall. If this isn't Solitary, I don't know what is. It was the absolute last place there was for him to check. The 'door' led to a stair case, which in turn led down four whole flights. Underground I go. The staircases were illuminated by dim red lights, making it seem like he was descending into hell. The air became stale and warm again. He dashed down the first two when he heard it.
"Ah, the Red Paladin. It is an honor to finally have your acquaintance."
No. Sword guy. A shot of cold fear spread through him. He cleared the next flight in two bounds.
"Who's blood is that?"A weak voice asked.
"Who, this poor young fellow? He never had a chance."
He cleared the next flight in a single leap. His legs skid on the metal and he almost lost his balance.
"Now, young paladin, it's your turn."Sword hit electric force field, and the roar of static echoed off the walls.
Lance rounded a corner and there he saw a sight that enraged him. All other cells were empty. The Galra soldier struck his sword again and again on the green shield, grunting with effort. He couldn't see Keith yet. He brought the blaster up and aimed straight for Sword Guy's head. I am so tired of being pushed around by everyone, and nothing ever turning out right.This was the one time things were going to be alright. He would make it alright. Lance pulled the trigger.
But the Galra soldier was quicker. He moved his head out of the way easily and laughed without looking at him. "And who's this? Another head for Her to bash in?"
"You can sure as hell try!" Lance yelled at him, shooting twice more. The yellow beams of energy simply bounced off his armor. "Aww, what? Gimme a break!" His armor is blaster- beam-proof? Of course it is, because things weren't hard enough were they?
"Lance?! Is'at you?" Keith stepped forward, as far as the green force field would allow. His eyes were wide as saucers, and he was wearing a dark brown set of clothes.
Lance melted with momentary relief. Okay. He's okay.
Sword Guy said smoothly, "Going against orders and killing you was rather enticing on its own," He gestured towards Keith, and then his eyes locked onto Lance, "but I think it would be wiser to satiate Her hunger and tear this one apart instead. No orders to keep this one alive. What do you think, darling?" He flipped the sword in his hand, making the semi- dried blood drip to the floor.
I'm so tired. While Lance was downright pissed that things were going wrong left and right, he was physically exhausted as well. He fought through it; it would all be worth it once they were both safe. So instead of giving in... he relaxed himself. Even smirked. "Here's what's gonna happen next: I'm getting him and I-" He pointed at Keith. "out of this piece of shit whether you like it or not. Try and stop me."
"Sounds like fun." The Galra said with a steely grin.
Lance gripped the key card in his fist and charged. Sword Guy swung, aiming for his throat. Lance slid under him and came up on the other side (A trick Keith himself had taught him a while back). He slammed the key card down on the scanner. It would take four ticks for the cell to unlock. Only, Lance was ripped away before the second tick, and flung to the opposite wall. Son of a bitch that hurt. He got back up, sucking in air like he was suffocating. This would be more difficult than he thought.
He charged again, this time using the blaster as a shield. The sword connected with the metal gun and Lance was swung around. His back collided with the wall, only inches away from the electrified force field. His eyes reflected the neon green in the electricity. "Dammit be careful!" He heard next to him and his reflex response was to groan and roll his eyes. And it was genuinely surprising.
Lance felt a feeling in his gut he hadn't felt since he last heard Keith insult him. Utter loathing. He smiled as he realized that he missed hating this guy. Of course he was probably also going to cry and hug him in due time, but it was nice being in close enough proximity to have the argument that ensued.
"Don't tell me how to save your sorry ass!" He retorted, and dodged a direct swing of the sword. He dashed away, leading the Galra away from the cell.
"Are you being serious?" Kieth punched a wall, voice cracking, wiping any trace of redness around the eyes (and tears for that matter). "I didn't have to come all this way for you, y'know."
"Oh trust me, you were a great help, especially when you somehow got caught despite being encased in a thousand tons of magic steel." Lance dodged another blow and shot one of the light fixtures, bringing it down on the crazed Galra's head. Then he sprinted back to the scanner and tried a second time. He stole a worried glance at Keith, who held nothing back. He rambled, the words tumbling out of his mouth.
"They wouldn't listen to me when I was piloting Red, so I thought maybe if I approached them like a person and not a threat, they'd listen to me."
"So you got out of the only thing protecting you? What didja think was gonna happen after that on a planet who hates Voltron enough throw me in prison?!"
Keith did not have time to answer. "Look out!" Lance's eyes widened and he swung his head around just in time to jump away from a huge purple hand.
"Stay still!" The Galra soldier growled. Lance tried out his aim on the blaster's scope and line it up between the soldier's eye's. But when he pulled the trigger the weapon became searing hot and it let out a spray of sparks.
"Dios, ow!" He flipped it into the air and it clattered to the floor. On the side was the huge gash where the Galra's sword had slashed it. Now it was malfunctioning and it took on an orangish glow. Lance shook his hands in front of him to cool them down, while his broken weapon whirred and sparked. The soldier charged at him and without thinking Lance kicked his gun at him. It struck the soldier in the face, searing some of the fur off. He bellowed.
Lance tried for a third time to keep the key card on the scanner for four ticks.
"I think I know where my bayard is, it's in one of these rooms. I remember they took it-" Keith eyed one of the utility rooms at the end of the smaller cell block.
Suddenly Lance felt a red hot pain at his back and then his whole body was on fire. His vision blacked out for a moment. He cried out in pain, and from what little he could see he brought together what had just happened. Sword guy had thrown the malfunctioning blaster at him, and he'd been pushed into the energy force field. Luckily his body had only been in contact with it for a split second, but it was enough to make him double over and stagger back, clutching his stomach. Time slowed down.
I'm about to go down, and if I do without unlocking this damn cell, we will both die. What can I do? He got an idea, and he shrugged internally. It was worth a shot. He got back up, ignoring Keith's yelling, took the key card firmly in his hand... and licked it. Then he smacked it down on the scanner. An enormous hand wrapped around his shoulders and under his arms, and before he knew it he was on the ground.
His senses finally came back to him, the pain mostly gone. I really hope that worked or I'm gonna look so stupid. Keith will never let me live that down . But four ticks later, he heard a beep. He tilted his head up. No more shield, the scanner had gone from red to green, and the key card was held firmly in place with his spit. "Bingo." He murmured tiredly, and laughed weakly at the towering figure above him of the Galra soldier.
A furious battle cry like Lance had heard many times before rang out, and the soldier staggered backward as another much smaller figure jumped on his shoulders. "Get away from him!" Keith warned. Lance shakily got to his feet. I'm okay, I think.
The Galra smashed against a wall and Keith yelled out. He crumpled to the floor. Lance whipped his head around, trying to find something to fight with. In the spur of the moment, he took off one of his shoes and used it as an oven mitt to grab the red hot gun. It was whirring like a tea kettle, and Lance knew it would soon explode. He made for the soldier, who had his sword raised, ready to strike. He dug the gun between the soldier's back plate and his belt, and kicked it in with his still- covered foot.
The Galra dropped the sword and screamed in pain and turned to face him, the gun sizzling as it melted exposed flesh. Once focus was directed back to the Blue Paladin, Keith swiped under the soldier's legs, making him lose his balance. Keith got to his feet, ready to deal some more blows. The Galra grabbed his foot and flung him towards Lance, and they crashed to the ground. Keith rolled off of his friend, and poised himself to jump back into action while Lance struggled to get back up. "I'm gonna go for my bayard. I'll lead him to me, you stay here."
"Keith wait-" Lance protested groggily, but Keith was already half way down the hall, having momentarily caught the attention of the soldier. He stood upright. But Keith's plan had not worked. The soldier had his eyes set on Lance even though the Red Paladin had taken off.
"It is so vexing when maggots get in my way. " He said, teeth gritted. He lifted his sword and dragged it on the metal floor, the jagged end grinding as he neared Lance.
The Paladin backed up and glanced behind him. He was a little ways away from the cell. If he lifted the key card from the scanner the energy shield would go up. "It looks like your friend has abandoned you." The Galra soldier laughed. "Now hold still." Lance's back hit the wall. His hand reached for the scanner. He was ready. Sweat beaded down his back, his heart pounding with great intensity.
Keith bolted down the hallway, armor in one hand and unsheithed bayard in the other. He skidded to a stop bandehind the soldier and his eyes locked with Lance's. Lance nodded, and he nodded back. Dropping his armor, he took a few steps back, and charged. Keith's bayard hit the Galra soldier's back and sent him flying into the cell. Like lightning, Lance swiped the key card from the scanner, the scanner went from green back to red, and the energy shield appeared.
"No!" The soldier shouted and punched the shield. It zapped his fist and he fell back. The red hot gun let out a final croak and exploded, and the guard fell silent.
"Suck on that, bitch." Lance said between breaths, and he slumped down.
Suddenly his friend was by his side, knelt down and shaking his shoulders. "Hey hey, Lance, we gotta go. Are you okay, can you stand?" He asked urgently, his hands moving to the Blue Paladin's face. Lance was finally face to face with one of the people he was afraid of never seeing again. His lips twisted into a smirk.
"Hey Mullet Man." He gripped Kieth's hand, and with some help he was hoisted to his feet.
"If this was any other time, I would break your nose for that."
"Wouldn't be you if you didn't." Lance replied, mischievous glimmer in his eyes. "I think I'm good."
But Keith was hardly convinced. His silver eyes darted around Lance's battered face, as if assuring himself that it was really him. Lance blinked in response. He couldn't believe it either. "I'm good." He repeated.
Keith nodded slowly. "...Okay." And together they made their way back up the four flights of stairs and onto the main floor, Kieth carrying his bayard and armor in one hand, and not letting Lance fall behind with the other.
This chapter took sooo many hours over a four day period to write. But I love you all and I really hope you enjoy it, I think there's two more to chapters to go before this story is through.
(Please remember to review, any type of comment would be greatly appreciated and makes me want to keep writing)
