This one is for you gogetagirl5! I promised an update so you got it! We've finally reached chapter 23. The next chapter will officially surpass the length of part one.

Shiro heard Keith moan and turned over to see him climb out of bed. He walked, drowsy and weaving, out of the bedroom. Shiro folded his hands behind his head and exhaled slowly. How old had Keith been the last time he'd let Shiro sleep with him? Back when he had nightmares after his dad vanished. Definitely before he'd filed the adoption papers. Now, Keith had insisted on it, passing up on whatever Shiro had interrupted so that their mutual comfort could continue.

He heard Keith taking a piss and felt his lip twitch. Seemed like he still forgot to shut the bathroom door behind him. Or maybe he'd started doing it intentionally. He'd admitted to adopting a galra child and kids had a habit of getting into mischief behind closed doors. Shiro stretched out and swung his legs off the bed. He rolled his neck and followed Keith to the bathroom, passing him and closing the door.

When he returned to the living space, Keith had started his morning stretch and strengthening exercises. Shiro smirked and took his place beside him. "Finally accepted my recommendations?"

Keith started doing push-ups. "I never said they were wrong. Only tedious, obnoxious, painful... shall I go on?"

"Oh, are you done quoting a thesaurus?" Shiro teased. He could practically hear Keith roll his eyes and started doing jumping jacks. "What's today's plan? Can we contact the team?"

"Yes, though I'd rather wait until the Retribution returns. More backup... if the druids resist. Honerva," Keith breathed her name and sat on the floor stretching toward his toes, "was exhausted when I returned her to her rooms last night. Frenik said she was off her meds, has been for several days. I can't believe how well she did last night in the ballroom."

"Yeah..." Shiro replied slowly, "The doctor mentioned you were trying to help her, but... Keith, buddy, as advanced as medicine is, there isn't a known cure for mental deterioration. You can only hope to slow the progression."

Keith nodded. He finished stretching in silence and Lotor emerged from the bedroom. He'd dressed for the day carrying his boots in one hand. Dropping them by the table, he went into the kitchenette and asked, "Is anyone else hungry?"

Shiro laid out breathlessly on the floor and replied, "I could eat."

Lotor worked for nearly half an hour and asked, "Can you set the table, dear?"

Keith climbed to his feet and walked behind Lotor to reach into a cupboard. Laden with dishes, Keith tried to retreat to the dining room when Lotor trapped him with an arm. He pulled Keith to his chest and kissed his temple, then whispered in his ear. Keith turned his head and Lotor leaned in for a kiss with his eyes shut.

Keith smirked and vanished from Lotor's arms. Shiro startled upright, catching his breath and stiffening up, but Keith reappeared beside the table completely at ease. "You are so possessive in the morning, my heart... or is it jealousy?"

Lotor followed Keith to the table with a steaming kettle and two large bowls on a serving tray. Raising a sidelong eyebrow, Lotor replied, "Perhaps, though I seem to recall you enjoy a little objectification."

Shiro stood and stretched out his hamstrings while their light flirting continued. He tried to ignore the banter. Clearly Lotor meant to set him off guard in retaliation for his unkind words the night before, even if he had spoken from a place of naivety. Unwilling to show intimidation, he kicked, low then high, and followed it up with a roundhouse.

"Oh my god, will you two please stop!" Keith suddenly intervened. "We're all aware of the abundance of testosterone in the room. Come and get it, Shiro."

Shiro did as bid while Keith finished setting the table. Lotor followed suit and reached for a bowl from the serving tray. He filled his own bowl with a combination of steamed grains and topped it off with the hot milky liquid from the kettle. He passed to Shiro and motioned for him to do as well. Shiro copied him and watched Keith dump a large spoonful of what looked like fruit and custard over his hot porridge.

Lotor made a small scoffing sound and Keith beamed at him, unrepentant. Lotor took the custard and placed a modest serving on his plate. Passing to Shiro, he explained, "You're supposed to combine the two with your silverware in mouth size portions, but some of us are heathens when out of the public eye."

Keith grinned around an obscenely large mouthful and reached over to smear custard on Lotor's nose. Lotor pushed away Keith's hand and wiped off his face with a cloth napkin. Keith swallowed and said, "It's a family recipe too, but I think only Hunk and Lotor have the skill to make it."

"Then it's a good thing I prepared as much as I did, or Rhea wouldn't get any."

Shiro sampled the food and found it delicious. "This is really good. I don't know the last time I had a home cooked meal." Keith and Lotor shared a look of concern and Shiro winced internally, adding, "Sorry, that came out wrong."

Keith looked at the table and shook his head. "No, you're right. This is awkward for you, yeah?"

"Dearest, perhaps save this discussion for later? You'll only upset yourself again." Lotor punctuated his request by covering Keith's hand on the table. They shared another, softer look and Keith yielded with a small nod. Lotor smiled at Shiro and asked, "What do you wish to do today? For once, we have some free time on our hands."

Before Shiro could answer, Keith said, "I promise as soon as the Retribution returns, we'll make plans to get you home to the castle."

Shiro lowered his gaze to his bowl and continued eating while he considered the options. He understood Keith's insistence about contacting the team. Hell, he'd been the one to bring it up. Did he want to return to voltron? Absolutely. But that meant leaving Keith here and he couldn't accept that. They had only just found each other again. The only question that remained was how Keith would react. This seemed like a topic for the promised later discussion, so he asked, "What do you two do in your down time?"

"Research."

"Train."

Shiro's eyebrows lifted incredulously. "Seriously? No hobbies?"

"I find great fulfillment solving questions about the cosmos," Lotor answered in complete seriousness.

"That reminds me, how is the shortage problem coming around?" Keith asked.

Lotor perked up at his interest and began, "I'm so close to a solution. It probably won't do what Sendak wants, but I've been reading notes from the library. This technology has been lost to us for so long, I only dream to walk in the footsteps of those great alchemists."

"I know you will, love. There isn't a breath of doubt in me that you'll figure it out." Keith reached for Lotor's hand and squeezed it with pride in his dark eyes.

Lotor met his loving gaze and said, "That's why I started researching yelmors. They're what led the alteans and galra to the idea of terraforming in the first place. Imagine the good we could do for our people if we find a breakthrough."

The two of them seemed to be lost in each other's eyes while Shiro continued eating. When he swallowed he mentioned, "Aren't those the things Coran always goes on about? Maybe he knows something that could help."

"If only that were the case," Lotor answered, finally breaking eye contact. "Coran may be altean, but he's an engineer. Alchemy is far beyond his range of expertise."

"There has to be someone," Shiro insisted. "What about your dad, Keith?"

"No," Keith said suddenly. He sat up and everything casual about the conversation vanished. "Alphonse may have attended the same academy Honerva did, but his heart is not in druidcraft. They did unspeakable things to him and I won't risk triggering a panic attack or worse by involving him."

Shiro barely kept his jaw from dropping. There was his answer. If Keith was that determined to protect his father, Shiro knew he'd do the same for him. Even if he didn't want him to. He opened his mouth to debate, but Lotor said first, "Beloved, I don't believe that is your decision to make."

Keith flashed a glare at him and stood from the table. He took his dishes to the kitchen and went to his bedroom, closing the door behind him. Lotor longingly watched him retreat. When he moved to follow, Shiro put a hand on his arm. "Let him go."

Lotor swallowed the lump in his throat and started clearing the table. Taking the serving tray, Shiro took it to the kitchen and rummaged through cupboards for anything resembling storage containers. Lotor placed their dirty dishes in the sink and said, "To your left."

"Thanks," Shiro replied automatically. They worked in silence for a minute before he broached, "You're right and he knows it. That's why he stepped away."

"I'm aware," Lotor said quietly. "The first time he did this, I panicked, afraid I'd accidentally destroyed the tenuous trust we'd built between us. I convinced myself he'd leave. The entire day, all I could think about was returning to an empty bedroom. I was wrong. I know better now." Lotor cleared his throat and wiped his hands on a towel. "You should get dressed. I'll take you to the library with me. I'm sure you can find something to distract yourself while I work."

Shiro clapped him on the shoulder. "Sounds like a plan."

Krolia stood outside the room with her eyes closed gathering strength. Strength she desperately needed to continue interrogating Matthew. She pinched the bridge of her nose between both hands and suppressed a whimper. Why wouldn't he tell her the truth? What was he trying to accomplish?

"Empress, you should rest. It's been over thirty vargas."

Krolia straightened up and shoved her emotions away. "Open the door."

He flinched when the metal clanged, but didn't look up where he lay on the table. He'd gotten worse in the time it had taken her to use the bathroom. He was drenched in sweat and shivering with fever. She bit her lip and sat across from him again. "Matt, I'm back." No response. She slowly reached out and touched his hand. "Matthew, there's no point in keeping silent. I know you think you're doing the right thing, but let us help. You need medical attention."

She frowned at how hot his skin was beneath her touch. Was he even capable of coherent thoughts anymore? Grimacing, she made up her mind and reached for the manacles. When he was uncuffed, she picked him up, a child in her arms. The door opened before she could give the command and a stretcher waited shortly beyond.

Krolia placed him on the stretcher and furiously wiped hot tears off her cheeks. How could she have let it go this far? A doctor started pushing the bed down the hall and she trotted to catch up, reaching to take Matt's hand in her's. In the med ward, the doctors rushed to tend him and Krolia grudgingly moved aside. She paced along the far side, away from the equipment, and fought back her guilt.

"Empress, we've made progress with the decryption."

She jumped and looked toward the officer then back to Matt. Whatever was in the hidden message had to be related to what she'd seen in Gnov's file. But she was hesitant to leave him. She walked to the door and said, "Brief me and play the file here."

"The rebel leader's ship received this message shortly after your consorts left the hub. The content seems to speak for itself."

"We have a situation. Lone Wolf has been compromised and the Lost Astronaut is found. Proceed with caution. Call when you get this."

Krolia gasped and covered her mouth. No. No, it couldn't be true. Her eyes wide in realization, she looked at Matt again on the bed. "Who has heard this?"

"Just myself and the agent who decoded it, Empress."

She nodded, feeling some of the panic fade. "Keep it that way. Summon every blade we have on site and get me in contact with Kolivan or the paladins." She paced to the bed and lifted Matt's hand in both of hers. She kissed the back of it and scolded, "Your stubborn nature is remarkable, but you are in for a lecture when you wake, child." To the doctors she said, "Keep me updated on his condition."

Then she lifted the edge of her dress to run with her officers. They were nearly to the com center when the base's alarms started to sound. She looked out the window to see a red streak fly past pursued by twenty fighters. Her heart leapt into her throat and she put on a burst of speed. Sliding into the coms room, she screamed, "Tell them to stand down!"

"Empress! It's the Retribution! We're under atta-"

"I said stand down, soldier! That's an order!" As the transmission officers frantically relayed her message, she barked to another, "Hail that ship!"

"The channel is open."

"Keith? Lotor? This is Krolia, please respond!" Her knuckles were white where she gripped the console and she silently begged for her son to answer. Please, please, let them have returned home to her.

"It's good to hear you, darlin'. Thanks for getting those fighters off our tail. We have wounded and children on board. Would you be so kind as to clear a hangar for us, my love?"

Krolia's chest fell at Alphonse's voice, but she answered, "I've left the door unlocked and a candle lit."

"See you on the ground."

Krolia's eyes unfocused while she processed what was happening. If Alphonse had been trying for subtlety, a different ship would have been more sensible, but there were wounded and children. More information would have to wait. Back in command, she said, "Notify the hospital for mass casualties. I'm going to the hangar." If there was even a chance Keith was on board, she would be there to welcome him with open arms.

Her soldiers stood at the ready with weapons aimed at the docked ship, a contrast to the doctors flooding in from the right. The ship itself bore recent battle damage, but she'd had no intelligence of the Retribution engaging her armada. Then the bay door of the Retribution opened and figures began walking down the ramp.

They leaned on one another or helped push medical beds with patients carefully strapped in place. The uniforms were a mix of imperial officers and what had to be the crew of the Retribution. Leading the group was Alphonse wearing his paladin armor boosting a child up on his hip. Krolia jogged to meet him and he reached out to hold her face and kiss her.

A stretcher went by with a woman lying on her side covered by a blanket. She sobbed twice and then screamed as two more doctors joined the three people that accompanied her. Krolia asked in alarm, "Is that Gnov?"

Alphonse followed her gaze and answered, "Yes. I need to go with that girl, Krolia. She's important to our son."

Krolia nodded and kissed him again. "You have my blessing. What can I do to assist?"

Alphonse hugged the girl he held and said, "This is Rhea. I need you to keep her safe."

"Of course," Krolia instantly agreed. She reached out and said, "Rhea, dear, can you come with me?"

The child looked nervously from Alphonse to her and she smiled warmly. After a moment's hesitation, Rhea leaned toward her and reached out. Krolia lifted her weight off of Alphonse and lifted her onto a hip. She nodded toward Alphonse and he sprinted after the med team. More people exited the ship and Krolia continued watching the evacuation of the Retribution. Her eyes darted from person to person trying to figure out what could have possibly happened. She needed to get Gnov's report, to drag the information Alphonse had been withholding out of him. Both of them had gone with that woman.

"Empress."

"Auntie!"

Krolia turned to see a galra woman in a Retribution officers' uniform saluting her. Rhea grinned and reached for her and Krolia tilted her head in recognition. "Perov?"

The blade agent nodded and dropped the salute. "Yes, my empress. My mission seems to have come to an end."

"And what mission was that?" Krolia asked with more than a little suspicion.

Perov smiled somewhat sadly and approached her. She reached out and fluffed the galra kit's hair. "Prince Keitaran made me promise to protect his kit and queen above everything else. Even his own life."

Krolia bit back a gasp and looked toward where the doctors had gone. "Who is Gnov's lieutenant? Who is next in command?"

"Him," Perov said with a nod toward an imperial officer corralling three students from the academy around a hospital bed.

Krolia started toward him and said, "Your mission continues, Perov. Stay by my side."

"As you wish, Empress."

Krolia walked to the man and called, "Officer, what's the status of the ship?"

The man turned to her and saluted with a dirty look past her to Perov. "It's not exactly my say. My ship got blown to pieces."

"We were defending ourselves. We did nothing to antagonize an attack." Perov's level answer did nothing to calm him.

"And now we're trying to salvage a terrible situation," Krolia defused before the officer could act out the violence his posture threatened. "How are the kits?"

The officer looked at the hospital bed. "He breathed in a lot of smoke before I reached him and the blue paladin came to our rescue. Gnov will never forgive me if he doesn't recover."

"Officer," Krolia said gently, "what's your name?"

"Haerth, your majesty."

She nodded and reached out. "Hearth, I can tell you care very much about the well being of these kits, but I need you to oversee this entire medical emergency. The Retribution is now under our jurisdiction, though I doubt we will have any resistance from its crew. Once everyone has received attention, have the ship's flight logs scanned and analyzed. We need all the information we can glean to help the paladins and blades where they are."

"Yes, Empress. There is a prisoner that was taken for medical care. He claims fealty to the witch-prince and may have the answers you seek."

"Thank you," Krolia said with genuine honesty. "Perov, let's go."

Shiro watched Lotor vanish among the bookshelves yet again and followed behind out of curiosity. Leaning a shoulder into it, he asked, "How long have you been working on this?"

Lotor bent and tilted his head sideways to examine titles and replied barely moving his lips, "As long as I can remember. It's always been in the back of my mind. Active research? A little longer than I've known Keith... off and on. Here." He pulled a book and passed it to Shiro before moving on.

Shiro half smiled and trailed after him. Lotor pulled another book and Shiro took it without question. Shiro said, "How did that work when you and Keith lit the Kral Zera?"

Lotor flipped open a book and read for a few moments. "He knew how absorbed I could get. Though he was hardly one to speak. His conspiracy theories never ceased. Always trying to protect everyone... and leaving himself vulnerable in the process." Lotor closed the book and held it to his chest. "I know he's capable. After all, Kolivan wouldn't have allowed him to participate in the mission that led to our meeting if that were not the case. But I worry. I lost him, Shiro. I should have been there to protect him and instead I was off researching what inevitably led to nothing."

"Do you still blame yourself for something so out of your control?"

Lotor shrugged, eyes on the floor in childlike silence. "How can I not?"

"You shouldn't." Shiro felt that same weakness from the night before when he'd found Lotor asleep by the window. Damn. Eyes crinkling at the edges, he set the books on the shelf and approached Lotor. "I know it's hard, but I've been in your place. Everyone makes decisions they regret. All we can do is learn from them so we don't repeat our mistakes." Lotor's shoulders started shaking and Shiro reached out. "Come here."

Lotor surrendered to a hug, bending his knees to fold into Shiro's hold. Shiro reconsidered how old the prince was. The galra he knew personally had been much more emotionally reserved. Part of him wanted to say it was just his knack for breaking through emotional barriers like he had with Keith. Deep down, he knew it was because he'd been accepted by them now. He wasn't an outsider offering assistance, but Keith's brother. Family. And what Frenik and Keith had told him the night before only cemented in how important that was to the galra.

Shiro closed his eyes and said, "I don't blame you for Keith's predicament, Lotor. More importantly, he doesn't either. It's time to move on. Can you do that for us?"

Lotor exhaled slowly and nodded against Shiro's shoulder. "Keith is right. You do give good hugs and pep talks."

Shiro smiled and squeezed Lotor one last time before backing up with his hands still on Lotor's shoulders. "You gonna be okay now?"

Lotor nodded again, cheeks flushed with embarrassment. He wiped at his eyes with the back of a hand and cleared his throat. "Yes. Thank you, Shiro."

Shiro retrieved the books from the floor and said, "You're welcome. Any time you need another hug, just find me. It's what big brothers are for."

"I shall," Lotor said, almost surprised by his own response. "Now then, let us resume what we were doing?"

A baby coughed and began to cry. A weak, slightly braying sound. A newborn. A man said with a relieved sigh, "He's breathing on his own."

A woman screamed and another insisted with a mix of excitement and anxiety, "I see the head! Just one more big push!"

"I can't! I can't! It hurts too much!"

"Yes, you can," a man encouraged. "Come now, my dear, you're almost done."

The voices weaved in and out, pulling him to consciousness. Matt blinked awake feeling slightly groggy. He groaned and looked around. Medical equipment monitored his vitals, his pulse slightly lower than normal, but rising. Heavy blankets held him in place. He didn't think he was strapped to the bed. The idea that the blankets themselves were enough to immobilize him made him realize how weak he felt.

He moaned and closed his eyes, content to wallow in pain and the fogginess of his mind a few moments more. He could feel the needle buried in his arm no doubt feeding antibiotics and whatever pain killers were numbing the marks on his back into his bloodstream. He tried to recall what had happened, how he'd gotten here, but there were blank spots in his memory. He must have blacked out.

The woman screamed again and he turned to see where such an intense sound came from. His own room was dark, empty apart from himself, but the room across the hall was bright and several people were visible through the glass. Curiosity made him force himself from the warm bed. It took every effort and when he pushed back the blankets, he immediately shivered from the air striking his sweat drenched body, hospital gown clinging to his skin.

He grabbed drunkenly onto the IV stand, waiting for his legs to cooperate or give out. The heart monitor blipped and started to flat line as the sensor detached from his chest. The light above the door changed from a white night-light to red. His breathing became labored as he staggered slowly to the window and gazed through. When the IV line reached the limit and the needle jarred loose, he didn't even notice, blood slowly trailing down his arm and dripping from his fingertips.

Another baby began to cry, the two making a strangely miraculous symphony. The woman's sobbing broke into strained laughter and she asked, "Can I hold them?"

"Of course, but only for a few moments. We need to ensure they are strong and healthy."

Confusion welled up inside Matt as he watched the doctors part to give the woman her infant children. Acxa. She was here? He ran his hand along the window for support, sliding until he found the door, and stumbled into the hall. He fell into the glass across from his room and started to fall. The door opened and two people crouched beside him. They lifted him back to his feet and practically carried him to his room.

"Keith... Where's Keith? Is he safe?" Matt closed his eyes as the room spun, suddenly light headed. He blacked out again before he hit the mattress.

Keith folded his arms and glared at the console. Where was the ship? It had landed on Iiterai, picked up its cargo, and began the return voyage, and yet no one had followed protocol and checked in this morning. He triple checked the route they'd planned, the route they always took. Everything was nominal. No sighted imperial cruisers. No reported complications. They were so far behind the front line, if any threats had been spotted, every alarm would be going off. All was quiet... and it bothered him.

Dawn was over six hours ago. His first instinct had been to contact the ship. No response. Why had the ship gone silent? It wasn't like Acxa or the crew, but he didn't want to raise an alarm until he knew something was wrong. If they didn't return on schedule, maybe then he could justify pulling ships to try to find the missing Retribution. Even as he made the decision, he hated it. Everything was too quiet.

Sighing, he sat heavily and slumped. Maybe he should do what Shiro had suggested instead of waiting. Shaking his head in defeat, he closed his eyes and prepared to contact his dad. His chin dipped toward his chest. Then the door opened. He looked over his shoulder and saw Apothica hovering outside the room.

"May I speak to you?"

Keith tilted his head. "Of course." Despite his warm welcome, she still approached slowly. He put a hand on her arm and asked, "What's wrong?"

Apothica pulled away, covering where his hand had been with her own. Red flags flew at full mast in Keith's mind and he looked closer. There was a slight redness beneath her eyes and when she'd spoken, her voice sounded different. He pursed his lips, resisting the instinct to press her about why she'd come to him like this. When she did speak, her voice was barely a whisper. "Are you planning to leave us?"

"What? No!" He leaned forward to touch her hand, but she drew back again. Keith felt apprehension for the first time in ages and his hand hovered between them. "Apothica, I don't know how to help if you won't open up to me. You weren't like this last night. What's happened?"

Her lip trembled and her eyes shimmered when she finally looked up. "You found your brother, Keitaran. I know what that means to you. Why do you think my mistress kept him hidden from you?"

Keith felt his blood pressure plummet, but strained to keep his expression from changing. Honerva thought he'd run when he found Shiro? He felt something akin to guilt and looked down. "Is that why you came to stop me from waking him up? Why she was so angry?"

Apothica bit her lip and nodded. "We all know why you stay."

"Why I stay? She's my mother and the mistress of our coven."

"She's our mistress, Keith. Not yours. There's nothing any of us can do to stop you. You're too powerful, too well connected," Apothica insisted, voice pitching from her intensity. "Quiznacking flame, everyone knows you're still in love with Lotor! Even after he-" She cut herself off and covered her face with a hand. Slumping in her chair, she started shaking before sniffling and collecting herself. "Is it really only because of my mistress that you stay? I thought we meant more to you. Keith... I don't have anyone else. Haggar, Acxa, the other druids... we're the only family any of us can rely on. But you," she rasped, green eyes shining with envy, "so many people love you. I... I used to hate that about you."

Keith sat back in shock. When had she ever been so vocal? He thought back to when he'd first joined the coven. How hostile she had been. It had taken almost half a year before she'd even meet his eyes while treating him after Haggar's... more intense training sessions. He swallowed the lump in his throat and hesitantly reached out, but stopped short. "Apothica, I'm sorry, but I have a confession."

"What?" She raised tear filled eyes to his.

Keith felt hot, palms sweaty, but he refused to look away. "If I wanted to, I could leave here and never come back, that's true. But if you think I don't care about the people here, you don't really know me." He licked his lips, mouth dry again. God, he hated that feeling. "Apothica, I'm the one who suggested the armistice."

Her lips became one thin line, and her chest convulsed. Her face grew pale. Horror quickly overwhelmed her and she covered her mouth. She shook her head. "What? How could you possibly have-" She gasped and pulled her legs up on the chair further from him. "You spoke with the empress."

"No," Keith immediately denied. "I haven't seen or spoken to her since the day Sendak abducted me."

"Then who?" She practically screamed.

Keith flinched. "My fathers, the rebels, and the paladins. Honerva needed a reason to get away from Sendak. He uses her. I want better for this coven, Apothica."

"Don't!" Apothica shouted and held up a hand defensively. "Don't call me that after admitting you hold responsibility for my brother's death."

"I thought Lotor wouldn't be involved. I told him to forget about me. I believed he had. I'm sorry-"

"You told him?" The accusation and pain in her voice cut like a knife.

Keith stood up and folded his arms, shoulders hunched. He walked a few steps from the table, fighting his instincts to run. "Our paths crossed on the first mission Honerva assigned me. I dealt with it as I could... and that meant letting him live. She knows I can't hurt him and you're right about how I feel. I'm sorry. I'm sorry, alright. How many times do I have to apologize?"

"It won't bring Serad back."

Keith winced and closed his eyes. "I know. That's why I brought Lotor into this. I learned from my mistakes. But you know I won't apologize for loving him. What we had... Not a day goes by that I don't think about how our lives would be different if I had killed Sendak that day."

He took a deep breath and straightened up. When he turned to look at her, she had curled into herself on the chair. She refused to meet his gaze and whispered, "Is there anything else?"

Keith sighed, but he knew if their relationship would recover, she needed to make the first move. He turned to the door and said, "I plan to contact the paladins later today so my brother and Honerva can recover from their traumas without harming each other. I-" The console lit up and he turned to see a message blink. He went to see who it was, hoping it was the Retribution, but he scowled when he read it. Opening a hailing channel, he said, "We read you, Ignatious. Permission to land granted."

He leaned on his palms and rocked forward. Apothica asked, "What is Sendak doing here? The weapon isn't complete."

"I don't know. Notify the others." Keith looked at her, all trace of his previous emotions gone. "Honerva is in no condition to entertain his company. I'll receive him in the west day lounge. Apothica, I want you to know that I still trust you. Please, take care of my mother while I deal with our unwanted guest." He didn't wait for her to respond and left.

Is it just me or is every chapter a cliffhanger at this point?