Keith flipped his armor onto the chest plate and carefully peeled back the protective exoskeleton covering the delicate circuitry that operated the suit. He sucked in a breath through his teeth when the damage revealed itself. "Whoa," Lit exclaimed, "you completely severed the central system and it fried the circuit boards when they overloaded."

Keith groaned. Not only did his suit need an overhaul, it was practically useless the way it was now. He'd been defenseless wearing it. "Do you think you can fix it? I don't want to send it back unless I have no other choice."

Lit frowned in thought. "It might take a few days, but I think I can do it."

"Only days? Lit, you're amazing." Keith spontaneously hugged him. "Thanks, man. It means a lot."

Lit flushed with pride. "Your support is appreciated, Lord Kogane. I shall not disappoint you. Vrepit sa."

"Vrepit sa," Keith answered and grasped Lit's forearm.

"The archivist should be able to fill in the gaps in your knowledge, young one. This armor is remnant of the royal guard of Daibazaal," Talias explained from where she sat with her needlework. "You'll need a temporary replacement, Keith. Tomorrow, we shall venture to the armory."

"You really think they'll have something that'll fit?"

Talias chuckled. "Perhaps a youth's first armor. I believe Lotor's is still around here somewhere." Lit carefully bundled up the damaged suit and exited Keith's bedroom. Keith plopped down on the couch. Talias spared him a sidelong glance. "It's a relief your friend can repair your gear."

"No kidding. Kolivan-" He froze and reached into his pocket where Lance's phone was vibrating again. "Uh, excuse me." In the hall, he looked at the contact. Agent K was what Lance had saved. Probably some movie reference he didn't understand. Keith tapped the accept icon and held the phone up to his ear.

"Lance, I just received your message. Do not engage. Do you hear me? You don't know who you're dealing with. I repeat, stay away-"

"Kolivan," Keith shut him up with a word. He sighed and breathed, "It's, uh..."

Neither said anything for nearly a minute. Then Kolivan said simply. "Keith. How did you get this transponder?"

Keith sighed and slid down the wall until he was sitting on the floor. "Lance, uh, let me borrow it."

"Indeed." Kolivan paused, the silence heavy with meaning. "Are you safe, boy? Are you free to speak?"

"Of course," he answered, but glanced at his bedroom door regardless.

Kolivan sighed and the relief was palpable in his voice when he went on, "That's good to hear."

"You're not," Keith licked his lips nervously and whispered, "angry with me, are you?"

"Angry? No. No, Keith, I'm not- You didn't think-"

"What else was I supposed to believe?" Keith covered his face with his other hand. "I abandoned my objective and I-" His emotions were flooding again, pushing to the surface and threatening to drown him now that he was opening up to his mentor. "The others must have told you what a failure I was back on Faive and I knew you wouldn't, but you never came looking for me. Kolivan," Keith rasped, "I didn't know the suit's tracker was busted." He shut his eyes, hating the sting of unshed tears. This wasn't how a blade should behave.

Kolivan replied after a short pause, worry causing him to rush, "Keith, I'm coming to extract you. We have your coordinates from the transponder now. Hold fast and we'll be there by daybreak."

"Wait, it's not- I don't need an extraction. Faive was a bust, but I've secured a position-"

"Keith, sweetheart, who are you speaking to?"

Keith looked up to see Talias in the door frame. Her glare flicked over his face, dark eyes narrowing the longer she looked at his flushed cheeks and red rimmed eyes. Kolivan's faint voice said through the phone, "Boy, who's with you? Keith!"

Talias's glare intensified when she focused on the phone. The burning recognition in her eyes made Keith wish the phone would burst into flame. Instead, she extended one slender hand. "Give it to me now."

Instantly regretting, but fearing what would happen if he refused, he handed the phone over. Talias put one hand on her hip, stood straighter, and tapped a nail on the back of the phone. Her face twisted in revulsion and she spat disgustedly, "Kolivan, I can't say it's a pleasure to speak to you again. What are you scheming, calling my ward, assassin?"

Kolivan barely growled, "Talias, I should have guessed."

"Don't skirt around the topic, you double crossing, slimy ramalorm!" The integrity of the phone was in danger of cracking in her hand. "You will stay away from my charge, betrayer, or you'll feel my wrath."

"Whether Keith maintains our relationship or not is out of your power. Put him back on the line, woman."

"No," Talias snarled bearing her fangs. "You have done nothing but place the child in harm's way and I will not let my sister's fate fall upon him as well. I will only warn you once more. If you attempt to take my ward, there will be no safe haven for you or your treacherous guild."

The veins on her neck stood out and her nostrils flared. With forced control, she tapped the end call icon. Inhaling through her nose, she exhaled slowly and composed herself. Slipping the phone into her apron pocker, she said resolutely, "Keith, I do not want you fraternizing with that man, understand?"

Keith took a moment to find his voice before defending, "You shouldn't have hung up on him, Talias. I still had things I needed to tell him."

"Have you not been listening to a word I say, child? That," she paused and spat, "assassin ruined my sister. I know I spoke fondly of him in the past, but when I consider our later interactions, my anger... It is something beyond my control." She reached out, gently stroking his cheek with the back of her hand and wiping a wet trail away. "He is a poor influence and-"

"No, he's not," Keith interrupted, rising to his feet and holding Talias's glare. "Before Kolivan, I had no self control. Shiro or Lance was it for me, but I couldn't do that to them, relying on them when it was my responsibility. I asked Kolivan to mentor me, not the other way around. Kolivan, Krolia, my mother," he emphasized and Talias flinched, "we all made the choice individually to rebel against Zarkon's tyranny and genocidal ways. If that makes him a 'poor influence', I'm glad he's in my life."

"You do not understand," Talias scathingly whispered. "Tell me, how often has your life been jeopardized by his orders? How many of your fellows have perished? How much less have you watched that bastard mourn?"

"We were at war!"

"Do not raise your voice to me. You have no defense. The truth is, that he and his guild would all die, and you would be sacrificed as fuel for their self righteous pyre."

"That would be my choice!"

Talias turned away with a huff. "What should I expect? You are but a child. Your limited experience clouds your judgement."

Keith snapped, "Your's blinds you! The universe is changing and you're too stuck in the past to see it!"

Talias whirled back, eyes watered, but anger twisting her lips. "I'm trying to protect you!"

He knew he should stop. They were both being vindictive and cruel, but if they ended the conversation here, they would still heal. The stronger, rage driven side wanted her to know how much her words stung. He answered in kind, deaf to his own words but not blind to her reactions. The tears she had held back were unleashed and her hand rose to her mouth in horror. He was also aware of his own tears when he finally stopped verbally assaulting the woman he respected with all his heart. She was frozen and Keith was trembling when his words finally sank in. Talias whispered, "Is that how you truly feel? Am I smothering you so much?"

Keith shut his eyes and bit his quivering lip to the point of drawing blood. Her heartbroken disappointment was forever burned into the back of his eyelids. He couldn't take it back, so he ran. When he fell to his knees, his legs no longer functioned. He screamed where he landed. The garden's voice, the haunting night song of the solar harp, was his only consolation.

He shouldn't have said those things. He certainly hadn't meant them as harshly as he'd come across. He covered his face and bent double over his legs. He was such an idiot! So blinded by anger, he'd fallen back on old defenses. "What is wrong with me?!"

Sometime near dawn, the harp began to play a new song. Keith uncurled from where he lay behind a retaining wall to see the archivist seated by the beautiful instrument. He wiped at his puffy eyes and runny nose and tried to appear natural as he turned to leave. He paused when the archivist called his name gently. He closed his eyes. He wanted to run. He wanted to be anywhere else. Only, he was trapped. There was nowhere to go. Lifting his chin and swallowing his pain, Keith steeled himself and returned to the archivist's side.

"The harp has been restored masterfully since the attack. Talias hasn't lost her talent in the many years away from her instrument."

Keith reached out and plucked a few notes. His words had bite as he commented, "She knows what she's doing, manipulating them."

The archivist played a few chords. "Is that what you believe? That she worked in the shadows, pulling the strings behind the curtain?" Keith glowered at the ground and the archivist chuckled. "Perhaps, to a degree, you are correct in this assumption. Though everything she did was for your well being. I do not know if it was right or wrong, but her heart was in the place it should be."

"She yelled at my friend! She doesn't want me to-"

"You are not aware of the full picture, young one." The archivist smiled sadly, eyes down turned at the corner. "Talias holds a great grievance, one she has tried to forget, but which has forever haunted her."

Keith looked up, red eyes wide. "Why didn't she tell me? What could be so horrible that she mistrusts our allies?"

"Ah, that is not a recounting meant to be told in my tones." The archivist reached into his robe and removed a familiar device. "Here. I spoke to Talias after you fled. I believe this belongs to your friend."

"Wha- No, it-"

The archivist leveled his stare. "Talias saw your friend following you on your shopping escapade yesterday. She wasn't sure what was said, but her fear was very real when you did not respond to her call. You should not worry her so, boy. She is much more sensitive than she lets on."

Keith sat beside the archivist and pulled his knees to his chest. "I said some awful, unforgivable, things to her."

The archivist's warm hand gripped his shoulder. "It is not up to you to decide what is unforgivable. All you can do is ask forgiveness. We all have actions we regret, young one."

Keith sniffed and put his forehead on his knees. He was right, of course. He needed to apologize to her. Even if she never forgave him, he wouldn't forgive himself for not trying. Pushing to his feet, Keith gently hugged the old galra. "Thank you. I'll go to her now."

"Good lad. Best of luck."

He tried to figure out what he wanted to say on the way back, but he hadn't settled on anything by the time he knocked on her door. He waited in nervous expectation. She finally called in a raspy voice, "Come in."

Keith silently opened the door and entered. The room was dark. It took him a moment to find her in the covers of her bed. Her nightgown was disheveled, falling off one shoulder and her hair was a mess. She wiped at her eyes with a handkerchief. "Keith, you're back."

Keith dragged his feet, suddenly nervous, and hesitated in the middle of the room. Talias sat up in bed and fixed her clothes. "Come here, sweet boy, it's alright."

Keith approached slowly, his heart in his throat, and perched on the edge of the bed. "Talias, those things I said... I'm sorry. God, I'm so, so sorry." He rubbed his face as tears threatened to break loose again. "I didn't mean any of it."

Talias's hand on his arm made him catch his breath. She shook her head. "No, you did in part. Your words were grounded in truth. The world you grew up in brought you into adulthood much too soon. I have been treating you as if you are still an infant. I was wrong, Keith. You were right to accuse me of those things and I am deeply sorry. Is there any way you can forgive me?"

Keith looked over at her tear filled gaze and nodded, unable to say more. She lost control again, new tears and sobs making her put the handkerchief back to her face. Keith scooted closer and wrapped his arms around her chest. "I forgive you. I don't know what made you lash out at Kolivan, but I forgive you, Talias."

"Thank you, Keith. I forgive you as well. I never should have pushed you so far."

They held each other on the bed until both of them had stopped crying again. Then Keith hicupped and complained, "I can't believe you didn't say anything when you saw Lance yesterday."

Talias settled back on the pillows. "So that is Lance. He is certainly tenacious. I never expected him to follow so devotedly as long as he did."

"He was worried about me. He's a good friend," Keith shrugged.

"Does he know what you're involved in?"

Keith shook his head. "I didn't have time to even start. He thought Lotor had a harem."

That finally earned a giggle from her. Her eyebrows rose incredulously. "Really? A harem? Lotor would faint at the mere thought."

After a hesitant pause, Keith explained, "Lance was confused and Kolivan was upset. My suit had a tracker in it, like all of the blades, but the last blow at the Kral Zera fried it. I was essentially dead before he called last night."

Talias's mouth opened in a small 'o', embarrassment making her cheeks flush. "Oh dear. He must have... Perhaps I may have been too quick to judge."

"Will you tell me... why?"

Talias's lips pursed and she paled. Holding her breath a moment, she looked down before reaching for his hands. "For that, we must first go to the armory."

Keith didn't understand, but he nodded. Talias threw a housecoat over her nightgown and stepped into her heeled boots. The walk was silent as they walked arm in arm. In the armory, Talias sent the officers out and unlocked a vault near the back. Inside a case, was a set of armor nearly identical in form to his marmoran armor. The luxite sword was resting beside it awaiting awakening.

Talias tapped a button and slid the glass away. She grabbed the bracer and peeled back the superficial layer revealing blue wiring similar to the glow of the sword. "This is the only surviving suit of armor belonging to the guard protecting the royal family of Daibazaal. The armor you wear is a mock replica after the source of luxite was lost. This armor was indestructible, unlike the wiring in your's. The blades of marmora were an elite force, the best of our warriors bound in oath and sworn by blood. Their blades were handed down generation to generation. That is, until the great war with Altea.

"Before the events that were the catalyst of the war, I studied the medicinal properties of quintessence alongside Empress Honerva. I was there when the prince was born. I saw her change. She was once a dear friend, Keith, but the longer she studied the rift in our planet, the more power hungry she became. I saw the effect she had on Zarkon, and yet, I did nothing."

She paused to catch her breath, wringing her hands. "We mourned the loss of the emperor and empress. It was during the time between the state funeral and the destruction of Daibazaal that I took Lotor and my sister to our estate. The young prince was inconsolable, but I did everything I could to protect him. It wasn't enough." She dabbed at her eyes and Keith reached for her hand. She continued, "We received a message. Zarkon had survived. He told me to return his son to him. I had no choice. I followed the orders of my emperor unaware of the fleet hiding beyond the atmosphere of my home.

"When we left, they set upon us, the blades of marmora and a host of altean soldiers led by Prince Alfonse, King Alfor's younger brother and the new paladin of the blue lion following the death of his predecessor. The blades had broken their oaths and betrayed their emperor to the enemy. It was their goal to use Prince Lotor, Krolia, and myself as political hostages. Zarkon did not take the bait." Talias stared at the ceiling and stifled a sob. "To protect the prince and my sister, I agreed to heal their soldiers, the traitors responsible for killing my kinsmen. I do not know for how long I was their prisoner, but that prince of Altea... his words twisted and ripped apart my heart. I was hardly the same person anymore. You have no idea how many times I considered exploiting my knowledge to stop his heart when he inevitably came to rest in my medical bay.

"Then came the day they were found out. Zarkon had finally come to our rescue, or so I thought. The fleet was being torn to shreds when Alfonse came to our room. He carried the prince and pulled us to the bay with the lion of voltron and forced us to board. Once inside, we were made to climb into healing pods he had personally adapted. I fell asleep for a time only to emerge and discover nearly ten thousand years had passed. Lotor's mother and father had become unrecognizable. I made it my goal to protect him and I have done so ever since.

"Krolia found herself unable to forgive Zarkon and Kolivan latched onto that. She disappeared for a time with the pretense of locating the blue lion. She returned a few years later only to ask to be posted at the edge of the empire. I was ashamed of her and she has not forgiven me, nor do I believe I am worthy of her forgiveness." Talias stood and locked the armor back in its case. "That is the history I share with the blades of marmora and why I reacted with callous venom. Now you know the full truth."

Keith sat, letting the full weight of her words settle in his chest. It made him want to cry again. Instead, he silently padded to her side and embraced her. "I am so sorry you had to suffer through that alone. I had no idea the war had torn apart the civilians of the empire like that."

Talias returned his hug. Her hands were shaking behind him. "I haven't told this to anyone except Marikus."

"Marikus?"

Talias flushed at her slip up. She cleared her throat and explained, "The archivist. He and I... well..."

Keith tightened his grip. "Your pain is mine now as well. Let me help you."

"Alright, child. Alright."