Author's Note: Alright! I am on a roll with this whole bonding time thing. So I thought I'd do some character development for Coran as well. I own nothing.

Information Sharing

Coran was fiddling with his station late one night cycle on board the castle. It was a few days since they had left the Balmera. They had left a signal with Shay and her people just like they had on Arus and jumped out of the sector. Allura was resting as they prepped for another jump. Coran turned at the soft tapping of footsteps in soft shoes. He smiled as Kathy made her way onto the bridge. She was in the red robe Allura had given her, along with the matching slippers. He didn't see her in them often. She was also wearing one of the Princess's spare sleeping outfits. Allura had insisted on sharing clothes with the half Galra girl when Pidge had proved too small to fit any of them. Kathy had protested but been unable to stop Allura from slipping some of her things into her room while the paladin was out training. Coran had a sneaking suspicion that Allura was doing this mostly out of guilt for how she'd treated the red Paladin when she'd first arrived at the castle, but whatever meant they were getting along was fine with him. She smiled at him and sat down in her chair on the deck, but didn't activate her console. Coran stepped over to her.

"What's on your mind number four?" Kathy uncurled herself slightly from where she was sitting and sighed.

"Too much Coran." That was true, ever since they had left Arus Kathy's mind had been working at a breakneck pace. Everything she knew about Zarkons Empire was running through her head ad nauseum. Everything they might need to know to survive. Everything that was safe to share. But she hadn't had a chance to share any of it, they'd been so busy, saving the Balmera, dealing with Rolo and Nyma, and the corruption left behind by the crystal Sendak had used, the loss of King Alfor. Then there was all the information she wanted to know. Earth, her fathers home world. There were three people on board this ship who could tell her so much about her father's home world. But she hadn't had the courage to actually ask about it. Coran smiled at her, he seemed to realize that she was torn inside. So he sat in front of her on the floor and pulled up a map.

"I was actually going to ask for your help. We have some basic knowledge about what the Empire has taken over in the past ten thousand years but we don't know much besides that. I was hoping you would be able to help with that." Kathy nodded focusing on the map in front of her.

"The center of the empire isn't there, not for about two thousand years." She said pointing at the bright marker on the map.

"Zarkon had it moved to this system. No one knows why, there have been rumors, they're using the planets for some kind of experiments. Not much there honestly, not sure what kind of experiments they could be doing, not sure I really want to know." She tapped her chin as Coran moved the marker. She circled an area of space far outside the center of the Empire.

"This was Sendak's, not sure who will take over the area now. Another of his generals but the question remains which one." She circled another area, on the other side of the center of the Empire. "This one was handed over to a general Prorock, a few years back. Mostly mining colonies and worker worlds, slave worlds. Nothing the Empire considers important. Prorock doesn't even actually command from there, he lives on the Central Ship, Zarkons ship, here." Kathy pointed. They continued this way for quite some time, Coran never asked how she'd come by this information, just dutifully marked it down with a slight smile. After about two hours Kathy paused.

"That's all I know. All the information I had before I was sent to Sendak's ship." Coran nodded and closed the map.

"That's quite a lot of information. I'm surprised anyone can remember all of that off the top of their head." Kathy's smile was brimming with nostalgia.

"My uncle, when I was younger, he used to make me memorize maps. He'd quiz me and if I remembered everything I got this fruit, they were rare but he had a tiny tree in his quarters where he would grow them. Goligi berries he called them, they were sweet and bright red, they always stained my mouth. My other uncles weren't big on giving out sweets, they all showed their affection in different ways but that was always my favorite exercise." Coran smiled. Kathy wasn't big on talking about her family, or her past. He could tell it had taken a lot for her to tell him that. He laid a hand on her shoulder. She sighed.

"I hope they know I'm alive. I hope they're proud of me." She looked him straight in the eyes her bright gold eyes glowing slightly.

"I would be if I was your uncle. I am proud of you." Her smile grew more genuinely happy and she lunged forwards and hugged him. He smiled and hugged her back. He felt her yawn and patted her on her head.

"Get to bed number four. Can't have you being too tired if we end up in a fight." She smiled at him again and nodded. He shooed her off to bed and she left. He could tell she felt a little better, more useful. He smiled at the mice, perched on his console.

"We should get back to work, shouldn't we?" They chirped at him and spun in circles.