Keith awoke with a headache in what looked like a rain forest. He could hear a nearby waterfall and smell rare flowers. As he started to get up he felt something cold on his injured shoulder and an ice pack fell to the ground. Still in a mental fog, Keith took a moment to get his bearings straight and scan the small camp site. Everything had been used recently, but whom? And how did he end up in a rain forest when he was in a frozen cavern moments ago? Just how long had he been out?
Keith looked up; to his surprise the ceiling was a strange sheet of icy blue crystal. Where was this place? A movement in the bushes caught his attention. He smiled as Daniel dressed in a pair of old jeans and a black t-shirt came into view.
"Daniel?" Said Keith. This place was so dream like it was hard to tell what was real and the bump on his head from the fall (at least he remembered falling thru the ice) didn't help.
"Keith? What are you doing here?" Daniel said. He seemed surprised, but smiled though it was clear he was worried about something.
"Trying to find you, but I got side tracked." Answered Keith. He looked around. "What are you doing here? And where is here?"
"We're still in the mountain, but I think we're at some kind of weird hot spring and it might've been the first Voltron Force Base or Vacation home." Said Daniel.
"Why do you say that?" asked Keith.
"Partly because while you were out Black flew in and . . . " started Daniel as he pointed to five stone buildings with the Arusian royal crest and a craved lion head above the entrances, each the color of a Voltron Lion.
"Okay, anything more . . . concrete?" said Keith as he neared the structures to get a better look and noticed the broken overgrown sidewalk around them. "How did that get here?"
Concrete as you call it is actually an ancient invention used in construction for centuries. The idea came from Earth when Merlin travelled to assist in our creation with Red's first pilot in tow. A mysterious voice whispered to them. Both turned to where they heard it, but only the Black Lion was to be seen.
"Did Black just talk?" asked Daniel.
"Either that or we've both lost it." Answered Keith. Neither of them took their eyes away from it.
Both of you are still sane, though both of you must recover and return to the others soon. This mountain is a place of sanctuary used by our very first pilots to rest and recover from injuries and wounds in battle. The Arusian Queen, Ariella the First gave the waterfall and hot spring healing properties. That was before the Purple Plague struck the fifth planet as you call it. Black Lion said as Keith and Daniel walked toward it to the water's edge.
"Purple Plague? Did it have anything to do with Haggarium?" asked Daniel. Was it possible the cure was on the fifth planet?
"Do you remember how to get to the fifth planet?" asked Keith. The missing pieces to the puzzle were there. If Black could only point them in the right direction, . . .
I'm afraid to protect the rest of the Universe, that was wiped from our memories as the uninfected ones were scattered throughout the stars to forget what they were. At the time, the Elders thought it was best that the fifth planet be forgotten. Explained Black.
"Why? Couldn't they be cured?" asked Daniel in a panic.
There was more to it than that, but most was wiped from our memories. All I can remember is it was something that caused problems and distrust within our first pilots. A traitor, but who and why is beyond me. By the time they discovered the Traitor's identity if they ever did, we had already been sent to Arus never to see our original base or pilots again. Mine had already met his end by the traitor when we left. Black said grimly.
"A traitor? Was it a member of the team?" asked Keith.
I cannot say. Only my pilot died shortly after he began suspecting a traitor near his team. Whether he discovered the Traitor's identity and confronted them on his own, I cannot say. I do remember tears from his team mates, friends, mentors and children. He was a good man and both of you remind me of him. Brave, selfless, quick thinking, always there when someone needed him, and a love of speed no one could match. Answered Black. Then without warning Black splashed both of the humans with the hot spring water. You two might want to change before leaving the cave.
"Come on, Daniel." Said Keith. He started to lead Daniel to Black.
They quickly changed into dry uniforms, though Daniel looked a bit unsure of himself.
"You okay?" asked Keith.
"Just not sure if I should be in this thing right now." Answered Daniel. "As long as I'm infected, I'm putting everyone in danger. I mean I almost . . . you were nearly . . ."
"But you didn't and I wasn't because of your strength." Said Keith. He looked over Daniel's uniform a moment. "Still, not perfect."
"Why? What's wrong?" asked Daniel. Keith put Daniel's Voltcom on him to the boy's surprise.
"Better, but still not there." Said Keith. He took Black's key and transferred it to Daniel's Voltcom. The gray on Daniel's uniform turned black.
"Wait! Are you sure about this? With my infection, I'm . . ." Started Daniel.
"Still in better shape to pilot Black than me." Finished Keith. He placed a hand on the boy's shoulder. "You weren't the only one hiding an injury, though mine has been . . . getting worse. The doctor has a patch to reduce the effects on you and he says they're close to a cure. Between surgery and recovery, I'm out of the cockpit for six months and I can't fight at my best if then. We need you. Even if I wasn't hurt, we would need you."
"What do you mean?" Asked Daniel. "I've caused a lot of problems."
"You make things happen and bring us together." Keith answered. "If you hadn't caught Lance's attention we probably wouldn't have four of the keys or Vince which means Black would still be a mess and Haggarium robeasts would still be near impossible to beat, not to mention Lance and Allura could've both been killed if you and the other cadets hadn't helped them and that was day one on Arus. I know you've made mistakes, but who hasn't? If I had a dollar every time I've made one I might be able to buy a small planet. You've had your heart in the right place, even if misguided. Besides, you're family to all of us."
Hurry! Maahox and Lotor are near! Said Black.
"Wait! That can't be. I mean, with my infection I feel Haggarium from like a hundred miles away and Lotor is practically made of Haggarium. I would've felt it. He would've tried to control me." Cried Daniel.
But they are. Said Black.
"We need to stop them." Keith Said. He started out of the cockpit and turned to Daniel. "Come on. I can't take them alone."
"But if Wade could control me to the point where I almost . . . I don't want to take the chance that Lotor could . . ." Started Daniel.
"I can't force you to go with or fight, but I wish you could find your courage again." Said Keith as he left. Daniel only watched.