Keith let Acxa dock the Retribution so he could clean up before seeing to the girl he had rescued in the infirmary. When he removed his mask, he glared at the eyes with blood splattered across most of it. He set it in the water basin to soak. His tunic was stiff with crusted gore. When he stripped it off, his armor beneath was stained as well. Keith turned on the shower and sat in the tub. The water droplets fell from the ceiling in a heavy downpour. He put his head on his knees and let the water rinse the blood from his armor.

He wanted to let himself break. He needed to break. What had happened over the last hour was possibly the worst thing to happen since he allowed Haggar to change him. This wasn't about his future, not when he influenced so many others. He hugged his knees tighter and held his breath. No one would see him cry here.

Kolivan had taught him better than this. He exhaled slowly and inhaled until the rhythm calmed his emotions. He stood and slipped out of the armor as his hair went white so he could tell when all the blood was washed away. He wrapped a towel around his waist and hung his gear to dry when the bedroom door opened. Acxa entered the bathroom as his hair returned to black.

She bit her lip and stood close. Keith wrapped a hand behind her neck and pulled her against him. She embraced him with her head against his chest and asked, "Are you alright?"

Keith kissed her hair. "No. Not in the slightest."

"Never scare me like that again. Please, Keith."

Keith cleared his throat. "What happened on that ship... I promise I won't lose control again. I refuse to become her."

Acxa looked up and wiped his wet hair off his face. Keith closed his eyes and kissed her mouth to seal his oath. She sagged and he used both arms to hold her up. His towel hit the floor. He whispered after a breathless minute, "Have you checked on the girl?"

Acxa answered, "She was transferred to the destroyer's med ward. The infirmary wasn't equipped for one so young as her. Was she a victim during the evacuation?"

Keith nodded and went to dress. Choosing soft clothes in shades of black, he answered, "Her mother's dying wish was for me to save her. Rhea. The only thing I know about her is her name."

Acxa reached for his hand. "What are you planning to do? She... We can't keep her with us, for her own safety."

Keith lifted her hand to his lips. "I promised I would take care of Rhea so she is going to remain in my custody. I keep my promises, Acxa."

"I know," Acxa agreed.

They left the Retribution and Keith's soldiers saluted him as he passed. Keith nodded and smiled as he went. They were loyal to only him and he made sure they knew he appreciated their service. The medical ward was located low and centrally within the ship. The elevator let them out on an expansive open floor plan. First aid was closest with the more intense units further in. The burn unit was to the right. They treated everything from pistol burns to heat rash from uniform chafing.

The small chamber held a fine healing mist around the smaller figure inside. That was Keith's goal. The doctors attending the child saluted as best they could holding charts and equipment. Keith dismissed their formality with a wave of his hand. "How is she? I want a full briefing."

"Very well, my prince," The female holding Rhea's chart said. "Female youth of unknown origin brought to the infirmary of the Retribution one varga ago has been transferred to my ward for intensive care. She suffered minor burns to her back and feet and has acute lung damage from smoke inhalation for an undisclosed amount of time.

"The pod has dispensed the primary healing gel via aerosol according to protocol. I expect to advance to the secondary stage within the varga. Tertiary stage shall follow and she will be dismissed after a brief physical examination to be sure she is fit for travel." She hesitantly asked, "My lord, what shall I use as identification?"

Keith nodded, his brows lowering with every new bit of information. He put a hand to the pod. She clutched the ash smudged blanket in both small hands. He answered, "Her name is Rhea and she is mine. What else have you discovered? Has a complex blood screen been run?"

The doctor nodded and added a name to her chart. "As is the standard protocol. She is full blooded galra, though mineral deposits in her skin suggests Iiterai as her planet of origin. Bone growth and dental structure would place her between eight and nine deca-pheobs old. She is small for her age, which would correlate to the impoverished living conditions before you unified the planet and instated a governing body."

Keith shut his eyes and took a deep breath. Maybe two and a half in human years. Young enough to forget everything that had happened, but old enough to realize she should be with her mother. Keith nodded again and said, "Thank you. Can I stay with her?"

The doctor's eyes softened behind her face shield. "Of course, my prince. May I assist you in any way? Your breathing seems labored."

Keith cleared his throat. "I inhaled some of the smoke when I carried her from the burning building."

The doctor gestured him to sit with a wide arm. He sat against the wall on a bench and Acxa stood over the healing pod. There was a soft look in her eyes, one he rarely saw and one she tried to hide from him. She looked down, then to him. Her eyes widened when she realized he'd caught her. She flushed and folded her arms in embarrassment, turning away from him. Keith chuckled and it turned into a coughing fit. Acxa's attention snapped back and she sat beside him on the bench holding his hand in both of hers.

The doctor paid their subtle interaction no heed while she checked Keith's pulse. She hooked a sensor to his wrist and a set of data popped up on the monitor. She frowned and reached into a drawer to pull out an oxygen mask with a small bladder attached to the side. She cracked a vial and a gas similar to the haze inside the healing pod filled the bladder. She helped Keith put the mask on and said, "Lie down on a stretcher. You can still stay beside the child, but your blood oxygen is compromised at the moment. You should rest while you can."

Keith did as told. The gas was cool on his lungs and he could already feel the mild anesthetic taking effect. He closed his eyes as the bladder filled and deflated with every breath. A thin blanket was thrown over him and he couldn't open his eyes any longer.

Lotor was past emotions as he replayed the message the witch's executioner had broadcast that morning. It was quite the display. He had been horrified and beyond shock when his soldiers told him there was an urgent transmission he needed to view. More than one of his crew had needed to immediately leave and at least one hadn't managed to before their stomach revolted.

The executioner was more crimson than silver as he spoke to the camera and viscera painted every surface and wall. Lotor had heard Krolia was going to increase the bounty on her son's imprisonment, but for so many hunters to band together, the prize would have to be immense. Lotor scowled and left his office.

Krolia was strolling through the gardens when he found her. He saluted her softly with bowed head and asked, "Krolia, may I have a word?"

Krolia nodded to Gnov and the other woman left. She nodded to him. "What is it? You seem upset."

Lotor fought the rise of bile in his throat. "It is about the disturbance this morning."

Krolia's expression grew pained and she looked away. "It is done, Lotor. Let me handle the aftermath."

"No," Lotor pressed, "not this time. I know what happened. Please, aunt, I want to be included in this. Iiterai was lost three years ago when criminals killed the family lording over it, but that man salvaged the situation and actually made it a safe haven. Why-"

"If you want to be included, nephew, use his name," Krolia commanded.

Lotor held her level stare and swallowed the lump in his throat. He lowered his volume and said, "Keith must have had some purpose for reforming Iiterai and protecting it. If we go there, perhaps we can gain knowledge into what the witch is doing. Maybe learn about her end game."

"Or perhaps you show your hand early and lose everything." Krolia chastised, "You are too eager to rush into battle, Lotor."

"And you are more than willing to sit idle and do nothing," Lotor snapped.

Krolia's eyes flashed dangerously and Lotor struggled to hold his ground. She leaned closer and bore her fangs. "I am willing to let the scum of the universe bash itself against my enemies. Every loss tells me more about the witch and her kind than all the spies I could send after her. Every loss is one less criminal to threaten my people.

"I saw the aftermath of this latest attack. The witch plays at honorable intentions while challenging me to open war." Krolia softened her tone and reached out to touch Lotor's face. "Answer me honestly, nephew, does she scare you? Does Keith... scare you?"

"Nothing will stop me from my mission."

Krolia's eyes narrowed at the corner and her lip trembled. She gently pulled Lotor to her and kissed his forehead. "Then you are not ready to face her... or him. You are not to pursue this, Lotor. Am I understood?"

"Is that the command of my empress?"

Krolia's lip twitched in amusement. "It is the request of someone who loves you, dear child."

Lotor's heart fell. She knew he couldn't deny her when she did this to him. He hugged her and answered, "Very well, Krolia."

"Lance, it's time to come out of the closet."

Lance glared at the door and didn't answer. Three knocks were followed by Alphonse jiggling the doorknob and sighing. Allura whispered from a distance, "This is ridiculous. I'm going to break the door down."

"You will do no such thing!" Coran rebuked.

Alphonse sighed again. "Maybe he fell asleep. I'll wait here until he emerges."

Lance heard them leave before Alphonse threw his weight against the door and groaned while he strained. Lance watched the chair he'd wedged under the handle shake, but hold. Alphonse said in a tone that told his patience was being tested, "Open the door, Lance. You can't hide in there forever."

"Oh? And who was it that locked me in here in the first place?" Lance quipped above crossed arms.

"You gave me no choice." Lance kicked the door as hard as he could. Alphonse snapped, "Do not interrupt me when I'm speaking, young man!"

"Well, I'm done listening!" Lance sank lower where he sat. His long legs were uncomfortably jammed against the walls in the small space, but he was still angry. "Leave me the hell alone!"

Alphonse was silent for a minute before answering gently, "Then talk to me. Lance, I want to help and I know you're hurting."

Lance felt a nudge in his mind and frowned. Alphonse respected those boundaries more than any of them. Sighing, he used his foot to kick the chair out from under the doorknob. Alphonse slowly opened the door. His genuine concern as he chewed his lip made Lance look away. Alphonse slid the chair out of the closet and sat against the other wall. He coaxed, "Let me help you, Lance."

Lance pulled his legs closer to make room. "I was... so angry. I didn't listen to the lions, Allura, anyone. There was only this empty pit that wouldn't be filled like an insatiable thirst. That... that came from Keith, right? What's happened? Is he alright?" Alphonse's mouth opened slightly and his eyes narrowed at a painful memory. Lance clenched a fist. "What did he do?"

Alphonse exhaled slowly and ran a hand over his face. "I will spare you the images, but you may listen to the audio recording for yourself." He pulled a device from his pocket and hesitated before pushing play.

"This is Prince Keitaran, the silver executioner of Witch-Empress Honerva, and this disgusting creature, is a bounty hunter lured by the price Blood Empress Krolia of the house of Lethua has placed on my head." Lance could hear whimpering and whispered pleading as whoever Keith was speaking about begged for their life. Keith himself sounded hardly winded, though he had never spoken so terrifyingly in his life. He continued, "Look around me. Take in this exact image. This is what awaits any who prey on the weak under my protection. This is what those without honor will find as their reward."

The sound of a knife slashing flesh was followed by the steady drip of a large quantity of liquid hitting the wet floor and a heavy, sticky, thud. Lance covered his mouth as he realized Keith had murdered the bounty hunter. He looked wide eyed to Alphonse, but the older man sat with his eyes shut and his hand over his face. Lance jumped as canon fire sounded over and over above distant explosions. Keith finished, "Let this be a warning to all who oppose the Witch-Empress. Choose your side wisely, or expect my shadow and the flash of my dagger to be the last thing you ever see."

Alphonse hit stop before the audio restarted its loop. He explained, "Moments after Coran and myself managed to contain you, we received an urgent call from the coalition. That is the message Keith gave on every known frequency across the universe. From what we've been able to gather since, we've learned a small planet outside of imperial jurisdiction and beyond our influence had been attacked by a large number of ships flying under different banners in a unified strike. Keith had created a democracy of sorts and they supplied Haggar's druids and Sendak's troops with goods. It was only one colony of many Keith has secured for Haggar through his influence as her ambassador. I do not know how Krolia will respond, but it seemed a clear invitation to start a war. I'm afraid of how the witch will react to Keith's declaration as well. She isn't exactly known for her caring disposition."

Lance realized he was holding his breath. "He seemed different."

Alphonse nodded once. "He was under the effects of powerful quintessence. In his anger over what had happened to those who lived on that planet, he unleashed what I believe to be potentially, nearly thirty percent of his full alchemical abilities. There was... too much to be caused by one normal assailant. He lost himself for a moment. I know this because you felt it too."

Lance stopped breathing as cold fear gripped his heart. That's what he'd been through? Lance put his elbows on his knees and held his head in his hands. He closed his eyes and concentrated. It was distant, and he didn't dare reach out, but he could feel Keith's heartbeat. Slow and steady. "He's... he's safe... for now. Alphonse, that void, that was quintessence?"

Alphonse reached out and lowered Lance's hands. He was completely somber as he answered, "Yes. At its core, quintessence is neutral. It is everything and nothing. Life and death. It will take shape however its wielder decides while shaping the wielder in return. That is why it is so dangerous to tamper with it. That is why I am terrified that Haggar is the one teaching Keith in the ways of Altea."

"He's stronger than her, Alphonse. He won't succumb like she did."

Alphonse pursed his lips and stood. "I pray you are right."