The team was resting in the lounge when Pipsi purred in Keith's arms. Subconsciously Keith returned the purr, turning red when the realized.
"Did you just purr?! Like a cat?!" Lance asked. Keith didn't answer instead he opted to watch his baby.
"Oh… I thought that was a human thing," Allura admitted.
"No, no, no, no humans are NOT supposed to PURR," Lance interjected.
"Fascinating," Coran said, "the only intelligent species I've ever heard of that can purr are the Galra. Speaking of, we should be almost to the Blade of Marmora's base."
"Coran, how soon will we get to the Blade of Marmora's base?" Shiro asked as they stood on the bridge. Keith was still holding his daughter against his chest.
"Based on the coordinates that Ulaz gave us, we should be there within a few doboshes," Coran replied.
"I can't wait to see it. I mean, they were able to fold space-time, and that was just an outpost!" Pidge exclaimed.
"Mm, the space taco left us too soon," Hunk said placing his hand on his stomach as it grumbled.
Pipsi chose that moment to babble full of laughter as Keith rocked her gently rocked her in his arms. Keith smiled lovingly down at his daughter.
"The base is in range," Coran reported.
"Take us in slowly," Shiro commanded.
"That might be a bit of a challenge," Coran stated.
Looking out into space they saw a bright blue star in between two black holes.
"Is that a black hole?" Hunk asked.
"No, no, no, no, no, it's two black holes and a giant blue star," Coran replied.
"That's not better," Hunk noted.
"No kidding. Hust inside a black hole, the temperature is one-millionth of a degree above absolute zero. But just outside of that, it's hundreds of millions of degrees Celsius," Pidge replied.
"Coran, have you located the base?" Keith asked. Coran zoomed the screen in on the base, it was hidden between the black holes and the star.
"In between those three deadly celestial objects," Coran replied.
"The perfect defensive position," Pidge stated.
"Or the perfect trap," Allura put in.
"Yeah, I'm with Allura. Maybe we shouldn't, like go in there at all?" Hunk suggested.
"What are you talking about? We have to go in that's why we came out here,' Keith said sounding agitated as if he were resisting the urge to snap for his baby's sake.
The computer beeped and they all turned to face it and saw Galran characters on the screen.
"Identify yourself," the computer said.
"Open, a hailing frequency, Coran," Shiro ordered. The console beeped as Coran obeyed. "We are the paladins of Voltron, sent here by Ulaz."
After a moment of silence, the characters change. "Two may enter. Come unarmed," the computer stated, and the communication ended.
"Why would they insist we come unarmed?" Allura asked. "Shiro, this doesn't feel right."
"We've come too far to turn back now," Shiro replied.
"They just sent up a route to the base, but we'll have to move quickly. Because of the solar flares, it's only open for another varga," Coran informed the team as the screen highlighted the path with a blinking icon at the top. "Then, it will be closed for two quintants."
"They're going to close it for two years?" Hunk asked worriedly.
"Two days," Pidge stated.
"Oh, Hunk replied with relief.
Lance smirked, "So, any thoughts on who's gonna join you on this little mission? I'm thinking things might get a little hot, so gonna want someone who can stay cool."
"You're right," Shiro replied. "Keith, you're coming with me."
"Wha—?!" Lance exclaimed as Keith handed Pipsi over to Allura. "Keith's a hothead! He's probably going to shoot first and ask questions later! And they're not going to be able to answer because they'll be dead!" Lance continued leaning closer to Shiro staring him down.
"We haven't yet severed Zarkon's link with the Black Lion, so it has to stay here," Shiro said putting his hands on Lance's shoulders gently pushing him away. "And the Red Lion can stand the heat from that sun. So, yes, it'll be Keith."
"Please stop crying," Allura urged her baby pleadingly. "I don't know what's wrong," Allura said facing the remaining team, "I've only just fed her, she does not need to be changed, I tried singing her to sleep, but she will not stop crying. Any ideas?"
No one responded, "That's it I'm comming Keith."
"I am Kolivan, leader of the Blade of Marmora," a tall muscled Galra stated.
"My name is Shiro and this is Keith. We are paladins of Voltron," Shiro returned.
"I know who you are," Kolivan stated.
"Then you know we're sent here by one of your own," Shiro said.
Suddenly the sound of Pipsi wailing came through Keith's helmet.
"Keith, are you there?" Allura asked through the comms.
Keith groaned and put his helmet up to his mouth to answer. "I'm kinda in the middle of something." Pipsi's wailing lessened when she heard Keith's voice.
"But I don't know what to do!" Allura implored.
Keith sighed, "You're her mother, figure it out," he said and turned off the comm.
"What was that?" Kolivan asked.
"Sorry about that," Keith replied, "the wailing came from my baby."
Kolivan looked confused, "You are but a boy," he stated slowly. "How is it that you have a baby?" He asked then seemed to remember something and shook his head fondly before snapping out of it, "Never mind."
"Some mad scientist injected a girl with a serum that impregnated her with my DNA," Keith said rubbing the back of his neck feeling like he needed to explain, "And she doesn't know anything about baby care," he supplied further.
"And you do?" Kolivan asked curtly.
"Well, no… but I have my instincts," Keith replied.
"That's it, I'm contacting your mother," Kolivan stated as he left. The other Blades followed their leader out leaving Keith and Shiro stunned and completely alone.