Lotor walked to the hangar of the blue lion and made eye contact. The air practically shimmered with the anger she and the other lions shared over losing their paladins. She was fierce, loyal, and a terrifying force of power. He opened his mouth to speak, but a low rumble came from her. A wave of fear hit him and he took a step back. Renewing his courage, he set his stance and said, "Please, I know the things I said only give you reason to hate me, but I was wrong. I want to bring them back as much as everyone else does. Please, I'll do anything." She stood in her hangar and glared down at him. Her tail flicked side to side as she considered the sincerity of his words. Lotor closed his eyes and spread his arms. "Please, lion, help me."

He could feel her move closer to him, but he didn't react until a gust of hot air hit his face and he flinched. Then her cool nose touched his forehead. Lotor opened his eyes and reached out as she settled on her chest. "Thank-" She stood before he could touch her and he faltered. "I understand your hesitancy. I-"

"Lance, calm down. You're making Red nervous."

Lotor backed up against the wall as the blue and yellow paladins walked by. Lance groaned and said, "I just can't believe I said that. I'm such an idiot! Stupid!"

"Hey, don't say that. You're one of the smartest people I know, Lance. Maybe dumb about this, but we can't really think about that right now."

"Hunk," Lance whined and admitted, "I told everyone that I loved him! I-"

Hunk must have cut him off with a look, because he said, "No. You said others love Keith. No one should have suspected you spoke personally. Well, apart from me and Allura. Oh, and Coran. Talias probably has you figured out as well." Hunk added, dragging out the first word, "Maybe Krolia and Kolivan?"

"What?! But... how! I haven't- I didn't-"

There was a gentle tap and Lotor looked around the wall to see them standing with their helmets together. Hunk said, "We've all known for a while, Lance. The bond, it reveals everything, even if you didn't understand what you were feeling at the time."

"Why didn't you say anything? Keith... did he know?"

Hunk said on a sigh, "Yes. But you weren't exactly ready to commit. Your actions and words never added up. He was confused. But today... Lance, we can't let this distract us now. You need to handle this, especially if you really are going to fly the black lion in a few hours."

"Oh god, Hunk. I love Keith. I love him so much. Why couldn't I have just told him before he left? Before he met Lotor?"

"Hey, dude, breathe. Lance, we'll get him back. You and me and Allura. Pidge and Keith will return with us and you can finally admit all that gay shit you've been bottling up for years."

Lance laughed nervously and cleared his throat. "Fuck you too, Hunk."

Hunk laughed and patted Lance's shoulder. "I don't think Keith is into threesomes, but sure."

Lotor held his breath as the paladins continued walking down the hall. The simple curse Keith used came to mind and he breathed a single word. "Fuck."

Keith and Pidge sat side by side at the back of the holding cell. Her head rested on his shoulder as she dozed. They'd decided to sleep in turns and he held her hand so he could quickly wake her if needed. Galra soldiers watched them and the doors. They took Sendak's orders seriously. The entire time they stood watch, they didn't say a single word to each other. Which was alright with him. Keith wasn't in the mind to listen to idle chatter or forced conversation.

He listened to the hum of the ship. They were traveling fast and this had to be a standard destroyer judging by the hangar they'd been caught in. He couldn't be sure exactly how long they'd been traveling, but if his sleep patterns were anything to go by, he'd hazard to guess nearly six days. He calculated the math in his head and frowned. He tried to remember any stars that had been visible when they'd first been brought to the cabin of the Retribution, but he'd been too upset to notice. With no idea exactly which direction they were traveling, he could only guess which of up to a dozen galaxies they were likely flying through.

Keith focused on his breathing like Kolivan had taught until his emotions were back under his control. The guard pacing the hall beyond the cell's energy barrier cast an uninterested glance at them. Keith didn't waste energy glaring. They were all aware of how he felt as much as he was aware of their undying loyalty to Sendak. At their core, they were true galra and Keith respected their sense of honor even though he and Pidge were Sendak's hostages. He would have expected nothing less had they been under his own command.

Keith tried to relax. The rhythmic hum of the engines was almost meditative and he felt his breathing sync with it. Closing his eyes, he tried to connect to the lions yet again. The only one he found was Pidge. Her dreams left her anxious. He reached out and mentally soothed her fears as he would have with a hug. Her breathing deepened and she snuggled closer into his side. Keith felt the waves of her mind settle.

Waves. Water. Ocean. Vast. Space. Moons, planets, stars. Blue sun. Home. Lethua. Krolia. Kolivan. Talias. Lotor. Blue... Lance... Lance!

A lion roared.

"I love Keith! I love him so much!"

Keith gasped and sat up as Pidge startled. Not fully awake, she called, "Lance? Lance!"

Their guards watched her outburst and Keith whispered, "Shh, Katie, hush. Lance isn't here. He's not here." He wrapped her in his arms until she quieted and their guards grew bored.

Her heart still pounded against his racing heart when she hissed, "I felt him, Keith!"

Keith put a finger to his lips and put their heads close together. Pidge closed the gap until their foreheads touched and Keith took a deep breath. She knew exactly what it meant. He felt it through their bond. He whispered breathily, "I tried to contact the lions and our team."

Pidge's eyes narrowed in sardonic disbelief. "Did the power of gay love just transcend the void of space?" Keith snorted and covered his mouth. Pidge rolled her eyes. "I can't believe I said that out loud. I guess this means Lance finally admitted his feelings toward you, but Keith... to connect to him... You never got over that crush, did you."

Keith considered denying her statement, but they'd both know he was lying. Stupid mental link. Instead he closed his eyes and kissed her forehead. "If they can't find us, I swear nothing will happen to you, even if I have to kill Sendak and Haggar myself."

Pidge hugged him, ruining the image of damsel in distress by saying, "That's my line, you big idiot. You've spent too much time with Kolivan. You're starting to talk like him."

Keith's breath stalled in his lungs. "That ship Sendak shot down... Kolivan was on board."

Pidge tensed in his arms. "We'll get justice for them both, Keith. I swear it." Keith opened his mouth to reply, but the ship's engines began to grind and whine. Pidge asked, "What's going on?"

Their guards braced as they went about their tasks. Keith whispered, "We're landing."

The fear they'd managed to hold at bay struck with full force. Keith scooted until their backs were to the wall and braced as the ship jarred against the landing bay. The engines still revved when a guard dropped the energy barrier and instructed, "Stand against the wall with your hands out."

Keith bit back a growl, but did as told. At gunpoint, they were both cuffed behind their backs and led from the cell. Sendak was waiting when they finally stepped onto the planet's surface. Keith looked around for some kind of landmark, but a dark haze filled the sky. A gas. He flicked through his memories trying to remember Gnov's lessons. Then a blow between his shoulders forced him to walk.

They fell into step behind Sendak and entered a base. A firm hand on his bicep kept Keith from standing closer to Pidge. Sedak asked after a length of silence, "What? No bold words?"

Keith could feel Pidge roll her eyes and he smirked. "Don't tell me, you want to fulfill the antagonistic obligation to monologue? Gloat about how clever your carefully laid plans were and how flawlessly executed they went? We both know who the mastermind behind this was, Sendak. You may want the throne, but you'll always be that witch's puppet. She's the one who gave you that arm and eye, after all, those strengths you abuse so frequently. You're no different to her than that clone of my brother."

Pidge smirked like a smug cat and Keith noticed the galra guards share a look, but he kept his eyes locked on Sendak. Sendak simply raised an eyebrow and his lip twitched in amusement. "See, Prince Keitaran, bold words. I'm going to enjoy watching her break you."

Keith defied, "You're going to be disappointed."

Sendak said nothing more. The tap of their feet was a grim march. Keith fought to keep his anger dominant for Pidge's sake. He refused to let her feel his growing fear. Then they came to a door. It opened to a large round room with a depression in the center where she waited. Sendak led them forward until they stood before the witch.

A guard hit the back of Keith's knee. He was forced to kneel and look up into her face when someone yanked on his hair. Haggar smiled from the depths of her hood. Keith clenched his teeth while she circled him like cattle at auction. Her low, raspy voice appraised, "He'll do wonderfully, Sendak." She stopped in front of Keith and held his face in both ice cold hands. She tipped his face to get a closer look and asked, "And the green paladin, what benefit does she bring, given your failure to fetch my son?"

Sendak answered bluntly, "The green paladin is my prisoner, witch. I hold a deep grudge for which she will suffer."

Keith saw Haggar's anger flare in her glowing yellow eyes before she looked to Sendak. "You deviated from your task by bringing her. I saw the attack, Sendak. You had the opportunity to kill the paladins, but your anger," she positively snarled, "prevented you from doing so. I hold all accountable, even you, commander. The green paladin is a small price to pay for the wrath I hold in check."

Sendak growled, "We had a deal, witch."

"A deal you failed to fulfill on your end, Sendak." Several druids in silver masks appeared around the room in a burst of smoke. Haggar continued, "Had you done as I asked, the throne would already be yours. The delay is no fault but your own. Sendak, leave the green paladin and go, before you lose my goodwill and I revoke our bargain."

Sendak growled and his soldiers watched the druids warily as they drew curved silver blades from their cloaks. At last, he gave a mocking salute. "Vrepit sa, witch." He gestured to his men and they all left.

Keith cried out as the guard shoved him forward by his hair before following his comrades. Pidge took a step toward him, but then a druid manifested in front of her. Another appeared behind her and took hold of her shoulder. Keith pushed to his feet and faced Haggar. Her lips curled into a smile beneath her hood and she commanded, "Release them."

Keith didn't betray the confusion he felt as the cuffs were removed. With lightning reflexes, he turned and caught the arm of the druid. He quickly brought the druid to their knee and positioned his hands to snap their neck. "Step away from the green paladin."

The druids beside Pidge raised their blades, but Haggar simply chuckled, saying, "My, my, Prince Keitaran. I heard you were talented in combat, but I never expected to be given a demonstration so soon."

"What?" Keith snarled.

Haggar motioned her druids to step away from Pidge and paced toward Keith. "You wish to kill my disciple, consort of my child? To do what is necessary to reach your end? I will not stop you. In fact, it would bring me great satisfaction to know a kindred spirit was brought to my humble residence. I'll even make it easier for you." She waved her hand and a familiar knife with a glowing blue symbol in the hilt materialized.

"How did you-"

Haggar silenced him with a crooked smirk. "Use your blade to kill my disciple, and the green paladin will be returned to her people."

Keith challenged, "You're bluffing."

Haggar held out the blade with the hilt toward him. "Is that a risk you're willing to take?"

Keith stared at the blade weighing the odds. He looked at Pidge. She was unsure as well. Then the druid in front of him disappeared in a plume of smoke and Keith stumbled. Pidge took another step toward him when the druid appeared before her. She tripped on the hem of her dress and the druid caught her arm. Haggar commanded, "Take her to a cell."

"No!" Keith ran toward her when strange energy surrounded his chest and he fell to his knees screaming.

"Keith! No, Keith! Let go of me, you fuckers!" Pidge's colorful insults faded the further she was taken until the only thing remaining was her anger reverberating through the bond.

Keith was panting when Haggar released her magic. Pushing himself up off the floor, he glared at her on his hands and knees. "You bitch!"

Haggar lifted her hands and the druids formed a five point circle around the two of them. They mimicked her gesture and she replied humorlessly, "You shouldn't speak such words to your mother-in-law."

Keith clenched his fists and pushed onto one knee. "You aren't Lotor's mother, Haggar." He spat and said, "Honerva and Zarkon died the moment they entered the quintessence field. You are no more than a husk, an afterimage, of the woman she was!"

Haggar narrowed her eyes and said, "You may be Lotor's beloved, but you will suffer for such a statement."

The floor lit up beneath them and Keith looked down half a second before the purple energy struck him again. It snaked around his wrists and ankles, holding him to the floor. He screamed as every fiber of his being was struck in synchrony and slumped forward when it ended. Sweat was already beading on his forehead. Chest heaving with every breath, he lifted his head and flicked the hair out of his eyes. "What do you want? Lotor isn't coming. You will get nothing from me."

Haggar paced slowly in front of him. "You are mistaken, boy. Lotor knows what will happen if he does not come for you. Your options are limited." She flicked her wrist and his knife sliced his cheek before embedding in the floor behind him. "Join me as my disciple in pursuit of the secrets of quintessence, or die."

Keith put on a brave smile in defiance. "Then my empire will be safe. They're never coming to save me. I made sure of it."

"Fool," Haggar whispered and lifted her hand.

The dark energy hit him straight in the chest and he would have fallen on his back had the energy not held him upright. His arms protested and he screamed as every muscle threatened to tear. When the attack ended again, he fell forward. His hands and arms quaked beneath him, threatening to give out. Blood from the cut on his cheek dripped to the floor. He concentrated on that pain and felt his breath stutter through his teeth. Haggar was speaking even though he couldn't hear it over the ringing in his ears. The blades had withstood this kind of torture for thousands of years without yielding. He would also. Even though it would kill him. Then the next round of attacks came and he felt as though his vocal chords would tear from his screams.

He woke up as he was drug through the halls. His skin was clammy with sweat and his hair stuck to his scalp. His wrists hurt where the druids held him. Breathing hurt. Everything hurt. He whimpered as the druids came to a stop and opened a cell. He was thrown into the darkness within and screamed weakly where he rolled. Then the door was shut and the light disappeared.

He lay where he'd landed against the cold metal until his eyes adjusted. His voice was raw when he whispered, "Pidge?"

A small figure was huddled against the far corner. A faint whining was emitted from them. Keith crawled along the floor toward them. It took so much effort and too much time, but he finally reached them. Pidge's brown curls were black in the darkness. He reached out toward her, and she flinched. He tried again, "Pidge, it's me, Keith. I'm here. Please... tell me what they did to you."

She was trembling under his touch. Keith cried out as he sat up and gently lifted her into his lap. He held her vulnerable form in his arms and reached for her through the mind link. She was defensive. A barrier of pain and fear kept him at bay. Keith began to cry and put his forehead to her hair. Closing his eyes, he focused like the blue lion had shown. Like he had to save Dar. But there was nothing.

He was openly weeping now. Why? Why couldn't he help her? "Pidge, please, come back to me." Between the sobs, he began to sing the nonsensical language of altea in the form of his lullaby. His voice choked up and he coughed up blood from the tearing in his throat. Rocking her, he tried to continue, but his voice wouldn't cooperate.

Then he heard another voice pick up weakly where he had ended. Keith lifted his head and looked toward the wall where the voice originated. Whoever was beyond slowly sang louder as their confidence increased. Keith held Pidge tighter, protecting her. The voice ended the lullaby and a man's muffled voice said, "I never thought I'd hear the language of my homeland spoken by another while I still lived. Stranger, you are altean?"

Keith's voice was cracked and hoarse, but he answered softly, "Yeah. But I only know that lullaby. I was raised away from Altea."

"Hmm. I would think so. Altea was destroyed long ago. I don't recognize that accent though. Which of the colonies were you from?"

Keith coughed again, desperate for a sip of water. "I wasn't." Why did this voice sound familiar? The only alteans he'd ever spoken to were Allura and Coran, and his accent was vaguely similar, but there was a hint of something else. A drawl of some sort.

"How is your wife? I heard her shouting when they brought her here, but then she began screaming in pain. It ended maybe half a varga ago."

Keith looked at Pidge's inconsolable state and breathed, "She's my sister, and I can't get her to respond." Fresh sobs wracked his body. "I don't know what to do. I can't channel quintessence."

"You can channel quintessence? You're an alchemist?" The man was growing louder and more insistent.

Keith coughed weakly. "The lions showed me how. But I can't reach them! They're too far!"

"The lions? Stranger, what do you know of the lions?"

Keith nearly missed the note of desperation in the man's voice. He shivered in his own pain and answered, "We are paladins of Voltron. Pidge flies the green lion. I flew the red, then the black when we lost our leader."

"But the lions showed you how to channel quintessence?"

Keith repeated, "Yes."

"Stranger... Don't think about the lions or how far away they are. Focus on the girl, on your connection."

"I can't," Keith rasped through his tears. "She's shut me out."

"No, she hasn't. You two are much closer than that. Call to her. Draw her to you. Reach out and pull her from her pain." The man was adamant.

Keith hiccuped and turned her in his lap so that her chest was to his. Her head fell forward and he hugged her limp form. Putting his forehead to her's, he whispered, "Katie, listen to me and wake up. Please."

He once again opened the mind link. It was like a log bridge over a surging river. The walkway was in danger of splintering with every mental step. Keith stood on one side and called out to her. Then he heard her voice. She was screaming for him. He shouted her name until she found him. The bridge was all that separated them. She had tears in her eyes and her face was streaked from crying.

She put one foot on the bridge and it seemed to quake. Keith reached out. She was so scared. He was terrified. But he stepped onto the bridge. "Katie! Come to me!"

Pidge stared wide eyed at the bridge as it cracked and started to give beneath him. Then she was sprinting to him. The bridge couldn't hold. With a last shout, she jumped and he caught her in his arms. Then the bridge collapsed beneath them and they fell toward the surge.

Keith returned to himself gasping. Then he started coughing again, but there was no blood this time. A faint light faded from around them. He held Pidge's face in one hand and whispered, "Katie? Katie, can you hear me?"

Her eyes fluttered open and she asked, "Is it really you?"

Keith held her to himself and cried into the curve of her neck. "Yeah, Pidge. It's me."

Pidge hung onto his neck like she never wanted to let go. "I never thought I'd see you again. That witch... you were in so much pain. I... who's singing?"

Keith then noticed the altean in the next cell was singing the lullaby again. He stopped when he noticed Pidge's question and said, "It's good to hear he brought you back, woman."

Keith felt her flinch and explained, "He's the altean prisoner Acxa told us about."

"Oh. That explains how he knows the lullaby."

The man laughed bitterly. "My son loved that lullaby." Keith felt his throat lock up, but the man continued, "It was often the only way I could get him to stop crying after his mother... I'm sorry. I shouldn't tell you these things. The witch takes advantage of every weakness. At least I know she lied about being the last altean in the universe. It gladdens me to know my kin are still out there."

Keith felt Pidge look at him asking how much to say. He cleared his throat and said, "The witch... she was altean, I mean, before she became Haggar. The only other alteans I know are Coran and Princess Allura. They fly the castle of the lions. Allura is the current paladin of Azurine."

"Azurine... Haven't heard that name in how many deca-phoebs. I assume the lion herself told you?"

Keith and Pidge met eyes in the dark. "No. Her previous paladin did, through her eyes. He, uh..." Keith cleared his throat. "He was a great man. Krolia of the Blades of Marmora told me about him... and their son."

"You met the Blades of Marmora? You are quite the traveler, stranger."

"I am a blade as well."

Keith could hear the man stop breathing. He cleared his throat and asked, "Is that so?"

"Yeah. I'm half galra on my mother's side. I was born with my grandfather's condition and she named me after my father's mother. Do you know who I am?" Keith tried to keep the hope from his voice. All this time. All those years he'd been told he was dead.

The man breathed his name. "Keith? Is- is it you, son?"

"Dad?!"

When Keith's voice broke, Pidge asked with a hint of danger, "Who are you?"

The man hesitated, then said with all the pride of his heritage, "I am Prince Alphonse of Altea, formerly the Blue Paladin of Voltron."

Boom. I didn't think it would be a surprise who the dude was, so Blarg!