Chapter 9:

The Meaning

"It's that prince, Lotor, isn't it?" Keith asks, after a moment's thought.

Allura blinks, giving him a curious and stunned look. "Well, yes, sort of – how did you…?"

Keith shrugs absently and admits, "I had a hunch. They keep talking about an Oathbreaker - you know, in the story – and if that's Zarkon, then… Well, it's kind of obvious, isn't it?"

He pauses, looking down at the beads in his hand, and then back to her. "What I don't understand is what all that's supposed to mean or why that girl gave me these. I mean, she practically shoved them in my hand and told me to look for this guy!"

"May I see those?" Allura asks, softly.

Keith nods, holding out the strand, and Allura takes it, ever so gently. She looks over the beads, tracing her fingers over the shape of both languages, one that is her own, and there are unshed tears in her eyes.

It's probably one of the top ten most uncomfortable moments of his life. Allura's grief is palpable and he cannot really think of any way he can possibly help. This whole situation is too much. "The girl, Fala, she said it was a record, proof of what's happened," he explains and tries not to squirm.

With a sniffle, Allura blinks back her tears and plasters a thin smile on her lips. She nods, offering the strand of beads back to him. "That's exactly what it is, Keith."

"Well, what are we supposed to do with it?" he wonders aloud, spreading his arms in a gesture of pure uncertainty. "Does she want us to give it to this prince or something?"

"I expect that is exactly her intent," Allura says dryly.

Keith rolls his eyes. "Come on, we don't even know if he's alive."

"And there's no proof that he's not," Allura admonishes him. She sighs, reaching over to adjust his sleeves and collar a little. It's an action she mimics from Shiro, one that he suspects she means will put him at ease. He knows that she doesn't really understand why it's a bit weird when she does it, but he doesn't have it in him to tell her not to. Besides, it is the effort that counts, right?

She tries, she really does, and that's enough for him.

"Besides, Keith, Lotor's never been just the prince," Allura adds. "To the Galra, he's always been much, much more than that."

Keith stares at her, raising an eyebrow in disbelief.

"What's going on?" Hunk asks, approaching. He's not hiding his concern very well and, with just a glance past his shoulder, its clear Lance also has an eyeball on them.

The prisoners, though they are trying to hide it, are watching, too.

Keith shrugs, jerking a thumb at the prisoners. "Looks like they want us to pass on a message to that Lotor guy, if we ever end up finding him."

"What," Hunk manages in bewilderment. "But he's missing, right? Like, really missing. Like might be dead missing."

"I think we established that, yes," Keith says, wryly.

Allura rolls her eyes at both of them.

"So, hold up - how exactly do they expect us to find him?" Hunk asks, shaking his head and raising a hand. "It's a big universe."

"You are the Paladins of Voltron," Allura replies with a kind smile, as if it explains everything, "Avatars of the Lions. To them, there is nothing you cannot do."

Both Hunk and Keith give her a skeptical look. Still, she knows a lot more about the Galra than they do and the idea of asking the prisoners to explain what is obviously something cultural is frankly more than a bit daunting. There is such fear on their faces, even now – fear and suspicion, both.

"Hey, Allura, what's going to happen to these guys?" Keith pipes up. "I mean, now that they're free and stuff."

She sighs, raising her eyebrows, and straightens up to her full height as she turns her gaze elsewhere. "That is entirely up to them. I believe their elders are discussing the situation now."

"Where would they go, though?" Hunk asks. His brow furrows in deep thought. "They can't stay here, but… isn't this their home?"

Keith wants to ask him how a place like this prison could ever be a home, but their coms chirp.

"Hey, you might want to get up here," Shiro says. His voice sounds shaky but a lot steadier than it was earlier. "We found something."

Allura looks at them in curiosity and concern, as Hunk turns and exchanges a glance with Lance, who has already drawn up to his full height.

"Status?" Keith asks and waits for the response, one hand drifting to his knife.

Lance tenses and Hunk shifts, ready to pivot and run. Allura raises a hand partway, ready to signal for Coran.

There is a dreadful pause and Keith is suddenly viscerally aware of how quiet it is.

The prisoners are watching them, frozen in place, a wave of animal dread hiding just beneath the surface.

"No factor," Shiro states and this time he definitely sounds more himself. "Words on touchdown."

Keith lets out a breath that he didn't know he was holding as Lance and Hunk both relax and, with them, the prisoners, too. "Wilco, Black Leader," he manages.

"One of these days, you're going to explain what that means," Allura says, frowning.

The three paladins exchange glances and smile.

"Come on, Princess," Lance says, offering his arm and his cheesiest grin. "We've got a date with the boss."

Allura rolls her eyes and, with a huff, marches off towards the entrance corridor without them. Keith follows her, shooting an exasperated look at Lance over his shoulder.

But Lance smiles, shrugging, as if to say I tried, and then Hunk tugs him along.

Situation normal, Keith thinks.

Notes:

The Paladin is the heart of the Lion, the voice through which channels the will of the Mother of Lions. And when the hearts of the Paladins are as one, Voltron, champion of the Mother, emerges to stand against the wrongs of the universe.

- Book of the Druids, circa Couerun Treaty, Pollux Archives.

I had so many rejected drafts for this chapter because Allura just gave them so much information and it was way too soon for some of it.