School Days
Part XI
Cloud Break
By KittyCaro
Disclaimer: Characters from the Adventures of Voltron and the New Adventures of Voltron are copyright 1984, 1985, 1986 and 1997 by WEP. Any and all new/original characters belong to the author.
Rating: Rated R for some language and adult situations.
Author's notes: This is an AU fic about Keith and Allura. The songs included in this fic are from the album 'On Air' by Alan Parsons (1996) The quote Lance uses on Keith belongs to Joe Kita's book, "The Father's Guide to the Meaning of Life."
I want to thank Lynne (Bonds 2: The Ties That Bind) for being my muse, editor, and cheerleader. We wouldn't be here if it weren't for you, my friend :D
Shannon, please let me know what you think of chapter three, maybe we include it on the HRH site ;-)
Buelo (boo-eh-low) could be defined as a baby-talk word for abuelo (grandfather)
C&C are welcomed.
Originally Published 05/08/2001 - Revised 03/22/2015
Rating: Rated R for some language and adult situations.
Author's notes: This is an AU fic about Keith and Allura. The songs included in this fic are from the album 'On Air' by Alan Parsons (1996) The quote Lance uses on Keith belongs to Joe Kita's book, "The Father's Guide to the Meaning of Life."
I want to thank Lynne (Bonds 2: The Ties That Bind) for being my muse, editor, and cheerleader. We wouldn't be here if it weren't for you, my friend :D
Shannon, please let me know what you think of chapter three, maybe we include it on the HRH site ;-)
Buelo (boo-eh-low) could be defined as a baby-talk word for abuelo (grandfather)
C&C are welcomed.
Originally Published 05/08/2001 - Revised 03/22/2015
Click on the following links to move along to that chapter.
Saturday, April 11th, 2303
It was one year ago today…
When five young Space Explorers came to Arus answering a cry for help, for justice.
It was one year ago today that Voltron was brought back to life…
What should have been a time to celebrate became one of grief, anger and regret for Princess Allura and her champions, because someone very special wasn't among them… Sven.
A few months after his untimely death, the lives of the members of the Voltron Force were slowly returning to a semblance of normalcy. They went to lion practice four times a week and took turns in patrolling the planet. Their great concern was Arus's safety. Granted, this planet was better defended now that it had Voltron. The Castle had the latest in security systems thanks to Hunk and Pidge's expertise and the Royal guards were in constant training.
As the team considered all of this, they realized that they wouldn't be totally safe until Zarkon's empire fell. Unfortunately, they couldn't use the mighty robot to attack. As Allura once said, "Voltron is the Defender."
So, they had to find another way…
The ceremony began at the steps of the Castle of Lions; HRH Princess Allura, HRH Queen Orla, Counselor Balthazar Coran and the Voltron Force- clad in crimson uniforms and wearing black bands on their arms joined the procession.
Being a Saturday, the working people were free to stand along the road or watch the huge screens that were set up in the parks. Most business, museums and stores were closed; virtually the planet had come to a halt.
Finally the procession came to St. Olaf's Cathedral, one of the oldest buildings in Arus, the scene for coronations stretching back to King Åalfor 'Black' Lion.
The caravan paused as the congregation sang 'Aarhus Mine.' Then the Princess, followed by her aunt, Coran and the Voltron Force, sat in the sanctuary, not far from the spot where her father, King Alfor was crowned twenty-five years ago.
The service itself included traditional prayers and hymns. Coran and Hunk read the scriptures, and Allura delivered a heartfelt speech- commending the Force for a year of honorable service and their continuing efforts to eradicate the specter of evil from the galaxy.
"…We have all despaired at our loss, and only the intensity of our friendship and our mission to protect Arus has given us the strength to move forward."
"Sven- I want to thank you for the way you brightened our lives. I feel cheated because you were taken from us so soon, but I must learn to be grateful that you came along at all. You stood tall as a human being of unique qualities- the joy for life you transmitted wherever you took your smile and the sparkle in those unforgettable blue eyes. But the attribute I found the most appealing was your intuition, which saved us countless times."
"And so, I would like to end by thanking God for giving me the opportunity to meet a man I'm proud to have called my friend; the unique, the irreplaceable Sven, whose goodness and compassion will never be extinguished from our minds."
After the teary-eyed Princess returned to her seat, there was a performance by the Arusian rock band Smuk. It was her idea to have the quartet- which included an acoustic guitar, drums, bass and piano as part of the ceremony. They were dressed in black. The leader of the group, Ove Madsen- a tall, handsome man in his early twenties with shoulder-length blond hair and blue eyes, reached for his guitar and addressed the audience.
"We dedicate this old Terran song, called 'Brother Up in Heaven' to Lieutenant Commander Sven Asbjörnsen- who fought bravely to bring peace back to our world."
"A boy flies for freedom
But dies for the peace
In the clouds, he waits for an answer
But there's no release
It's strange here without you
And it's so hard to see
So brother up in heaven [Ove looks up as in supplication]
Please wait up for me
Oh brother up in heaven
Please wait up for me
I still see his shadow
His laugh lingers on
When I dream, we're all back together [He briefly closes his eyes]
When I wake up, he's gone
It's strange here without you
This was no meant to be [He slowly shakes his head]
So brother up in heaven
Please wait up for me
And though we try to change the world
A flower when it's cut will surely die
So why do men with so much hate
Destroy what they cannot create
While we all stand by
We look back in anger [He frowns slightly]
But you helped us to see
So brother up in heaven
Please wait up for me
Oh brother up in heaven
Please wait up for me."
It was one year ago today…
When five young Space Explorers came to Arus answering a cry for help, for justice.
It was one year ago today that Voltron was brought back to life…
What should have been a time to celebrate became one of grief, anger and regret for Princess Allura and her champions, because someone very special wasn't among them… Sven.
A few months after his untimely death, the lives of the members of the Voltron Force were slowly returning to a semblance of normalcy. They went to lion practice four times a week and took turns in patrolling the planet. Their great concern was Arus's safety. Granted, this planet was better defended now that it had Voltron. The Castle had the latest in security systems thanks to Hunk and Pidge's expertise and the Royal guards were in constant training.
As the team considered all of this, they realized that they wouldn't be totally safe until Zarkon's empire fell. Unfortunately, they couldn't use the mighty robot to attack. As Allura once said, "Voltron is the Defender."
So, they had to find another way…
The ceremony began at the steps of the Castle of Lions; HRH Princess Allura, HRH Queen Orla, Counselor Balthazar Coran and the Voltron Force- clad in crimson uniforms and wearing black bands on their arms joined the procession.
Being a Saturday, the working people were free to stand along the road or watch the huge screens that were set up in the parks. Most business, museums and stores were closed; virtually the planet had come to a halt.
Finally the procession came to St. Olaf's Cathedral, one of the oldest buildings in Arus, the scene for coronations stretching back to King Åalfor 'Black' Lion.
The caravan paused as the congregation sang 'Aarhus Mine.' Then the Princess, followed by her aunt, Coran and the Voltron Force, sat in the sanctuary, not far from the spot where her father, King Alfor was crowned twenty-five years ago.
The service itself included traditional prayers and hymns. Coran and Hunk read the scriptures, and Allura delivered a heartfelt speech- commending the Force for a year of honorable service and their continuing efforts to eradicate the specter of evil from the galaxy.
"…We have all despaired at our loss, and only the intensity of our friendship and our mission to protect Arus has given us the strength to move forward."
"Sven- I want to thank you for the way you brightened our lives. I feel cheated because you were taken from us so soon, but I must learn to be grateful that you came along at all. You stood tall as a human being of unique qualities- the joy for life you transmitted wherever you took your smile and the sparkle in those unforgettable blue eyes. But the attribute I found the most appealing was your intuition, which saved us countless times."
"And so, I would like to end by thanking God for giving me the opportunity to meet a man I'm proud to have called my friend; the unique, the irreplaceable Sven, whose goodness and compassion will never be extinguished from our minds."
After the teary-eyed Princess returned to her seat, there was a performance by the Arusian rock band Smuk. It was her idea to have the quartet- which included an acoustic guitar, drums, bass and piano as part of the ceremony. They were dressed in black. The leader of the group, Ove Madsen- a tall, handsome man in his early twenties with shoulder-length blond hair and blue eyes, reached for his guitar and addressed the audience.
"We dedicate this old Terran song, called 'Brother Up in Heaven' to Lieutenant Commander Sven Asbjörnsen- who fought bravely to bring peace back to our world."
"A boy flies for freedom
But dies for the peace
In the clouds, he waits for an answer
But there's no release
It's strange here without you
And it's so hard to see
So brother up in heaven [Ove looks up as in supplication]
Please wait up for me
Oh brother up in heaven
Please wait up for me
I still see his shadow
His laugh lingers on
When I dream, we're all back together [He briefly closes his eyes]
When I wake up, he's gone
It's strange here without you
This was no meant to be [He slowly shakes his head]
So brother up in heaven
Please wait up for me
And though we try to change the world
A flower when it's cut will surely die
So why do men with so much hate
Destroy what they cannot create
While we all stand by
We look back in anger [He frowns slightly]
But you helped us to see
So brother up in heaven
Please wait up for me
Oh brother up in heaven
Please wait up for me."
Two days later…
Pidge stepped out of Green Lion and walked over to a patch of grass beneath the tallest oak on the hill overlooking the great Castle of Lions. He leaned against the tree, and then sat cross-legged below it. Folding his arms, he breathed in the moist, cool air, happy to be alone with his thoughts. These past few months had been tough on him.
He reached for his ever-present laptop computer. After checking his e-mail, he decided to write to his brother, who was on a recognizance mission with the Vehicle Voltron team on the Garnet quadrant.
Hello Chip:
I hope you're doing okay. How are the VV members doing? Did you find any flora and fauna on that planet you mentioned in your last e-mail?
I know your research team is worried because you have gone through so many planets without achieving the desired results. And the last livable planet you visited was crawling with Drules. I don't understand those people- you're just doing your job and they come with their robeasts and attack you. And when Vehicle Voltron defeats them, they destroy the planet in retaliation.
It seems that they simply don't want to share the galaxy with anyone, just like their cousins from Doom. I know I shouldn't be saying this, but I hate them- I hate them because of all the pain and suffering they have caused.
On Saturday, we attended a ceremony to commemorate the return of Voltron. It was very touching; the Princess thanked us for being here and also talked about Sven. But the ending was very sad, because a local rock group dedicated a song to him called 'Brother Up in Heaven' and many people began to cry, myself included.
I know I must learn to take the pain, if I want to be a great space explorer like you and the rest of the guys. I must pretend that nothing happened and just carry on.
At least I'm able to take refuge in my work and in Sophie, who listens to my constant rambling. (BTW she asked me to say hello)
Keith has also given me a lot of support and advice, just like the counselor that I had back at the Academy. You know that the Alliance is very protective of its soldiers in time of family trouble, although by way of a process that doesn't involve a lot of discussion about feelings.
Hunk says that he detects a resolve on the part of Keith to bear his sorrow with stoicism, and a refusal to bare his soul, for fear of showing weakness. But that's silly. I have seen Lance and Hunk cry a few times and I don't consider them weaklings, on the contrary.
[A white, fluffy cloud moves across the sky, directly overhead. Pidge looks up as the wind shuffles the cloud.]
Pidge no longer sat on the grass, but in a chair, facing a burly man in his early forties with reddish-brown hair, and piercing brown eyes. It was Commander Angus MacDonald, a tough, no-nonsense flight instructor, who only expected the best from his men. And who thought a thirteen-year-old didn't have any business flying a fighter- boy genius or not.
"Trekell," he said in a raspy voice, "our fighters have laser cannons and heat-seeking missiles that could tear into hull, flesh and bone. Do you *really* think I'm going to let you pilot another one, after you almost crashed?!"
"Sir, I know I can do it. Please, give me another chance."
"That's out of the question! I won't let you get near a ship until you turn eighteen. You're a menace to all of us."
"But, sir-"
"Dismissed," he said curtly, turning his attention to some papers on his desk.
Pidge wanted desperately to give him a piece of his mind! He could spare it, unlike MacDonald, the pompous jackass. But if he did that, he could throw him out of Academy and his parents would be so disappointed.
So he saluted him and turned on his heel, and walked toward the door.
"Hey- Trekell?"
Pidge spun around. Did he change his mind?
"Yes, Sir?"
MacDonald smirked. "Don't worry kid, we can always use another computer technician."
Pidge winced. Just because he was good with computers didn't mean that he wanted to spend the rest of his life sitting in front of one, while his friends were out there exploring the galaxy or fighting the enemy.
He stepped out of the office and sat on a wooden picnic table on the main gardens of the Academy. He rested his head on his hands. How was he going to tell Chip that he wouldn't be flying again any time soon?
He had aced all his courses and wanted to focus all his attention in flying. But the moment he slid into the cockpit, he became so nervous that he didn't pay attention to the instructor, and almost crashed on Hangar 11th.
"How did the meeting go?"
Pidge looked up and saw Sven, a guy who always seemed so calm. It was hard to read that politely expectant look he had. You had the feeling he was sitting back, watching the circus around him with amused interest, unhurried, and enjoying it all.
"Pretty bad, Old MacD won't let me fly another fighter until I turn eighteen."
Sven gazed at him for a few moments. He sensed that the boy wasn't telling him the whole truth.
"Per- are you scared of flying?"
The teenager felt himself blushing fiercely. "Yes," he said sheepishly. Shit! He must think I'm a geek, he thought.
"What about you, have you ever been scared?"
The older teenager sat next to him. "Of course. Being frightened is a normal function of a human being. It is how you react to that fear that distinguishes us from the rest."
"You make it sound so easy."
Sven folded his arms across his chest. "Don't tell anyone about this but, sometimes, when I'm in the cockpit waiting for the order to launch, I recite the lyrics of a song that makes me forget about my fears."
"Really? I thought you meditated or something."
He chuckled softly. "That too, but this song reflects what I feel when I'm about to take flight."
"And how does it go? Maybe I can use it for next time."
Sven looked up into the heavens and said:
"I only know what I can see
So I imagine what could be
Where the horizon cuts the air
Look for me out there
Someday I'll touch the blue blue sky
Someday I'll touch the blue blue sky…"
[A roaring sound breaks into Pidge's reverie. He glances up and sees Yellow Lion flying overhead on its way to the Castle. It was Hunk returning from his patrol.]
Well Bro, I must report for Castle Control duty. Please say hello to everyone at the VV Force for me, okay?
Peace,
Pidge
Pidge stepped out of Green Lion and walked over to a patch of grass beneath the tallest oak on the hill overlooking the great Castle of Lions. He leaned against the tree, and then sat cross-legged below it. Folding his arms, he breathed in the moist, cool air, happy to be alone with his thoughts. These past few months had been tough on him.
He reached for his ever-present laptop computer. After checking his e-mail, he decided to write to his brother, who was on a recognizance mission with the Vehicle Voltron team on the Garnet quadrant.
Hello Chip:
I hope you're doing okay. How are the VV members doing? Did you find any flora and fauna on that planet you mentioned in your last e-mail?
I know your research team is worried because you have gone through so many planets without achieving the desired results. And the last livable planet you visited was crawling with Drules. I don't understand those people- you're just doing your job and they come with their robeasts and attack you. And when Vehicle Voltron defeats them, they destroy the planet in retaliation.
It seems that they simply don't want to share the galaxy with anyone, just like their cousins from Doom. I know I shouldn't be saying this, but I hate them- I hate them because of all the pain and suffering they have caused.
On Saturday, we attended a ceremony to commemorate the return of Voltron. It was very touching; the Princess thanked us for being here and also talked about Sven. But the ending was very sad, because a local rock group dedicated a song to him called 'Brother Up in Heaven' and many people began to cry, myself included.
I know I must learn to take the pain, if I want to be a great space explorer like you and the rest of the guys. I must pretend that nothing happened and just carry on.
At least I'm able to take refuge in my work and in Sophie, who listens to my constant rambling. (BTW she asked me to say hello)
Keith has also given me a lot of support and advice, just like the counselor that I had back at the Academy. You know that the Alliance is very protective of its soldiers in time of family trouble, although by way of a process that doesn't involve a lot of discussion about feelings.
Hunk says that he detects a resolve on the part of Keith to bear his sorrow with stoicism, and a refusal to bare his soul, for fear of showing weakness. But that's silly. I have seen Lance and Hunk cry a few times and I don't consider them weaklings, on the contrary.
[A white, fluffy cloud moves across the sky, directly overhead. Pidge looks up as the wind shuffles the cloud.]
Pidge no longer sat on the grass, but in a chair, facing a burly man in his early forties with reddish-brown hair, and piercing brown eyes. It was Commander Angus MacDonald, a tough, no-nonsense flight instructor, who only expected the best from his men. And who thought a thirteen-year-old didn't have any business flying a fighter- boy genius or not.
"Trekell," he said in a raspy voice, "our fighters have laser cannons and heat-seeking missiles that could tear into hull, flesh and bone. Do you *really* think I'm going to let you pilot another one, after you almost crashed?!"
"Sir, I know I can do it. Please, give me another chance."
"That's out of the question! I won't let you get near a ship until you turn eighteen. You're a menace to all of us."
"But, sir-"
"Dismissed," he said curtly, turning his attention to some papers on his desk.
Pidge wanted desperately to give him a piece of his mind! He could spare it, unlike MacDonald, the pompous jackass. But if he did that, he could throw him out of Academy and his parents would be so disappointed.
So he saluted him and turned on his heel, and walked toward the door.
"Hey- Trekell?"
Pidge spun around. Did he change his mind?
"Yes, Sir?"
MacDonald smirked. "Don't worry kid, we can always use another computer technician."
Pidge winced. Just because he was good with computers didn't mean that he wanted to spend the rest of his life sitting in front of one, while his friends were out there exploring the galaxy or fighting the enemy.
He stepped out of the office and sat on a wooden picnic table on the main gardens of the Academy. He rested his head on his hands. How was he going to tell Chip that he wouldn't be flying again any time soon?
He had aced all his courses and wanted to focus all his attention in flying. But the moment he slid into the cockpit, he became so nervous that he didn't pay attention to the instructor, and almost crashed on Hangar 11th.
"How did the meeting go?"
Pidge looked up and saw Sven, a guy who always seemed so calm. It was hard to read that politely expectant look he had. You had the feeling he was sitting back, watching the circus around him with amused interest, unhurried, and enjoying it all.
"Pretty bad, Old MacD won't let me fly another fighter until I turn eighteen."
Sven gazed at him for a few moments. He sensed that the boy wasn't telling him the whole truth.
"Per- are you scared of flying?"
The teenager felt himself blushing fiercely. "Yes," he said sheepishly. Shit! He must think I'm a geek, he thought.
"What about you, have you ever been scared?"
The older teenager sat next to him. "Of course. Being frightened is a normal function of a human being. It is how you react to that fear that distinguishes us from the rest."
"You make it sound so easy."
Sven folded his arms across his chest. "Don't tell anyone about this but, sometimes, when I'm in the cockpit waiting for the order to launch, I recite the lyrics of a song that makes me forget about my fears."
"Really? I thought you meditated or something."
He chuckled softly. "That too, but this song reflects what I feel when I'm about to take flight."
"And how does it go? Maybe I can use it for next time."
Sven looked up into the heavens and said:
"I only know what I can see
So I imagine what could be
Where the horizon cuts the air
Look for me out there
Someday I'll touch the blue blue sky
Someday I'll touch the blue blue sky…"
[A roaring sound breaks into Pidge's reverie. He glances up and sees Yellow Lion flying overhead on its way to the Castle. It was Hunk returning from his patrol.]
Well Bro, I must report for Castle Control duty. Please say hello to everyone at the VV Force for me, okay?
Peace,
Pidge
After reporting back from his patrol, Hunk went directly to Lyon- the capital Arus. Annie had invited him for lunch.
A short while later, the young couple sat in the comfortable family room. It was furnished with deep leather chairs and sofas, and there were wonderful old paintings of nature scenes on the walls. The only sound was the ticking of the antique clock on the marble fireplace.
Annie eyed him carefully. She understood just what kinds of pressures Hunk lived with, and just hard he worked. He had been in an apparent good mood through out the meal and had complemented her repeatedly on her cooking. But now he had a wistful look on his face as he stared out over the fireplace.
"You miss Sven terribly, don't you?"
Her question was greeted by such a wide-eyed, solemn look that Annie realized immediately that she had hit the mark.
"Yes, he was an excellent friend. No- he was more than that, he was like a brother."
Hunk paused for so long, that she began to regret reminding him of the fresh pain of loss.
He turned his face for a brief moment to gaze through the window, with a reflective expression in his beautiful brown eyes. Then he spoke with a quiet tone in his voice, as if waiting for the worst.
"After what happened to Sven, your folks must think that I'm not the right man for you."
Annie used her fingers, firm and reassuring, to turn his face toward hers. Her golden brows were gathered tightly over curious blue eyes.
"How could you say that? My parents like you very much."
"Anna," he said at once, but he read her expression of disapproval and relented. "I know, but I can't help feeling…"
His voice trailed away, and she urged, "How do you feel?"
He drew a shallow breath. "Scared of dying… scared of losing you."
"Oh, Jonathan." Her voice cracked with emotion. "That won't happen; you will always be in my heart as I hope I will be in yours."
He searched her expression intently and then a smile softened his sober features. He put his arm around her shoulders. She stayed snug in the curve of his arm, but half-turned toward him.
"Hunk." Her voice was gentle. "I love you," she murmured soothingly, lifting her mouth to meet his. She braced herself for a hard, powerful, passionate kiss. She could feel his heart beating beneath her hand and knew he was barely holding on to the threads of composure. He was very strong, and a war of emotions played across his face as he looked down at her.
He hovered over her mouth for a moment, his dark eyes seeking hers as he gathered Annie into a firm embrace. Then he lowered his head and brushed her lips as lightly as butterfly wings. She clung to him, enjoying the tenderness and slowness of that kiss. The care with which he held her made her heart turn over.
Fueled by her response, he curled his hand in her honey blond hair, angling her head so their kiss could mature. He took his time; the kiss turning more passionate, until Annie's mouth slowly parted and allowed him entry. She slid her fingers into his hair and prolonged the kiss until she was drowning in its sweetness.
He found himself too hungry to leave the feast she was offering. She was made for kissing, her mouth warm and sensually shaped, and her reactions both refreshingly modest and unashamedly eager. It took a huge amount of willpower on his part not to take advantage of both those things.
She let out a soft sigh when he drew back. He seemed unable to catch his breath and his face was flushed.
"I don't want to ruin what we have started," he said raggedly.
She looked deeply into his eyes and then broke into a smile. "I won't let you, my love," she replied tenderly.
A short while later, the young couple sat in the comfortable family room. It was furnished with deep leather chairs and sofas, and there were wonderful old paintings of nature scenes on the walls. The only sound was the ticking of the antique clock on the marble fireplace.
Annie eyed him carefully. She understood just what kinds of pressures Hunk lived with, and just hard he worked. He had been in an apparent good mood through out the meal and had complemented her repeatedly on her cooking. But now he had a wistful look on his face as he stared out over the fireplace.
"You miss Sven terribly, don't you?"
Her question was greeted by such a wide-eyed, solemn look that Annie realized immediately that she had hit the mark.
"Yes, he was an excellent friend. No- he was more than that, he was like a brother."
Hunk paused for so long, that she began to regret reminding him of the fresh pain of loss.
He turned his face for a brief moment to gaze through the window, with a reflective expression in his beautiful brown eyes. Then he spoke with a quiet tone in his voice, as if waiting for the worst.
"After what happened to Sven, your folks must think that I'm not the right man for you."
Annie used her fingers, firm and reassuring, to turn his face toward hers. Her golden brows were gathered tightly over curious blue eyes.
"How could you say that? My parents like you very much."
"Anna," he said at once, but he read her expression of disapproval and relented. "I know, but I can't help feeling…"
His voice trailed away, and she urged, "How do you feel?"
He drew a shallow breath. "Scared of dying… scared of losing you."
"Oh, Jonathan." Her voice cracked with emotion. "That won't happen; you will always be in my heart as I hope I will be in yours."
He searched her expression intently and then a smile softened his sober features. He put his arm around her shoulders. She stayed snug in the curve of his arm, but half-turned toward him.
"Hunk." Her voice was gentle. "I love you," she murmured soothingly, lifting her mouth to meet his. She braced herself for a hard, powerful, passionate kiss. She could feel his heart beating beneath her hand and knew he was barely holding on to the threads of composure. He was very strong, and a war of emotions played across his face as he looked down at her.
He hovered over her mouth for a moment, his dark eyes seeking hers as he gathered Annie into a firm embrace. Then he lowered his head and brushed her lips as lightly as butterfly wings. She clung to him, enjoying the tenderness and slowness of that kiss. The care with which he held her made her heart turn over.
Fueled by her response, he curled his hand in her honey blond hair, angling her head so their kiss could mature. He took his time; the kiss turning more passionate, until Annie's mouth slowly parted and allowed him entry. She slid her fingers into his hair and prolonged the kiss until she was drowning in its sweetness.
He found himself too hungry to leave the feast she was offering. She was made for kissing, her mouth warm and sensually shaped, and her reactions both refreshingly modest and unashamedly eager. It took a huge amount of willpower on his part not to take advantage of both those things.
She let out a soft sigh when he drew back. He seemed unable to catch his breath and his face was flushed.
"I don't want to ruin what we have started," he said raggedly.
She looked deeply into his eyes and then broke into a smile. "I won't let you, my love," she replied tenderly.
Lance walked through the halls of Aarhus University, until he reached the Department of Psychology. Upon entering the main offices, he strolled over to the office of Dr. Edmond Furøy. He had been coming to Furøy for the past few weeks, on the request of the Princess.
Ah, my sweetest Allura… I shouldn't be here. I don't even believe in this psychology crap, he thought warily. He felt like a space cadet on his first day of training.
After a few minutes of gazing at the metal door, he touched the bell key. The door automatically opened. "Come in," a male voice said. Lance entered to the sight of the doctor staring out the window. He was a stocky man in his late sixties, with thinning gray hair and brown eyes.
A wall of grayish clouds had begun to blot out the brilliant colors of the sun, and for some reason the man felt compelled to note that.
"Do you think is going to rain?"
Lance hemmed, "Doctor, I didn't come here to talk about the weather."
Furøy craned his head. "Are you still planning on going back to Terra?"
Lance nodded mutely, shoving his hands into his pockets.
The doctor glanced back at the window. "If you leave your Voltron post, Zarkon will see us as weak. He won't stop until we're all dead. And if he does happen to let us exist, we will become his slaves. Do you really want that?"
"I couldn't even save my friend," he murmured.
"Please, Lieutenant, sit down," Furøy said, pointing to a well-padded chair across the room. The doctor sat in his desk and opened up his notebook.
Name: Lt. Lance Beaumont. Age: 23
Diagnosis: anxiety reaction- severe.
Active symptoms: In remission.
Admission note: After a few sessions, the anxiety stemming from the loss of his comrade seems to be subsiding. The subject is blessed with the gift of youth. He's reliving his past less and less and living the present, sometimes he thinks of the future. Unfortunately he has endured severe stresses in his line of work, stresses that civilians are rarely subjected in their lifetime.
"What do you fear?" Furøy asked.
"Fear?" Lance asked glancing at him. "I don't know if you could call it fear. There are moments of confusion. Some of them are deeply stamped on my memory, and a few will haunt me forever."
"Please, tell me about them."
"One of the most confusing moments was when Keith, Sven and I were doing undercover work for the Alliance. We had to find the location of lazon mines and destroy them before the Drules could use them for their fleet. We knew it was dangerous, but we accepted because we would be able to graduate sooner."
Lance told him of the villagers they met before the Drules blasted their lives beyond belief. Families torn apart as men were forced to work in the mines, and women ravished and then slaughtered. It had been more than the young, lighthearted cadet could stand.
"I used all the skills I learned at the academy. If I made a mistake, I would be shot at, or worse yet, someone I cared for could be blown to bits."
He passed one hand across his brow and went on. "We hid in a cave with some villagers. Among them there was a young girl, she was about thirteen years old. She and her family were very kind to us. They shared their food with us."
Lance's hazel eyes misted over at the memory of the girl who reminded him so much of his sister, Lucie.
"What happened to her, Lieutenant?" The doctor prodded gently.
Lance gulped; the noise sounding like a swallowed sob. "She was captured. We went after her, but the Drule soldiers who had taken her kept us pinned down with their laser rifles. We could hear her screams-"
His body shuddered at the memory.
"Those bastards raped her, and when they were through with her, they killed her."
"I… I just went crazy," he said. "I lunged myself at one of the soldiers. He pointed his rifle at me, but I didn't care about getting killed. I heard the shot and then-"
"What?"
Lance blinked. "Keith shoved me away, and he was hit on the leg. The three of us were then thrown into a cell. We quickly realized that he needed medical attention and devised a plan to escape."
"When we returned home, I asked Keith why he saved my life. He said it was his duty, and also that it would be great blow to my family if I die. It was right there that I promised myself never to desert any of my friends."
"But then we were assigned to come here and I failed to keep my promise. If I had not let Sven alone with Hagar he probably wouldn't have been hurt and wouldn't have gone to Ebb."
"Son, you didn't know what would happen," Furøy's tone was soft and sympathetic.
Lance closed his eyes, and his thin brows came together painfully. "Don't you see?!" He gasped. "I should have been the one who died, not him!"
"Lance, you can't blame yourself."
"But I do!"
"What would you have done differently?"
"I should have stayed with him! We could have stopped Hagar from reaching the Princess. We could have done something!"
"He asked you to get help because you were still under the effects of Hagar's spell."
He shook his head. "I shouldn't have listened to him. I'm totally useless. I don't have what it takes to be part of the Voltron Force."
The doctor studied him for a few moments. "Years ago, I met a man about your same age who wondered about his mission in life. Do you want to know what became to him?"
Lance looked away. "I don't care," he said curtly.
"You should."
Seeing the end of the conversation rushing toward him, Lance stood and started for the door. "I'm sorry for taking so much of your time, Doc."
"You are who you choose to be, Lieutenant Beaumont."
The door opened.
"Well, I choose to be a civilian and go back to my family," Lance concluded bitterly. He turned back, and the door closed after him.
Furøy wearily leaned back in his chair and murmured, "That young man became ruler of a planet and created a mighty robot. He was His Royal Highness, King Alfor."
Ah, my sweetest Allura… I shouldn't be here. I don't even believe in this psychology crap, he thought warily. He felt like a space cadet on his first day of training.
After a few minutes of gazing at the metal door, he touched the bell key. The door automatically opened. "Come in," a male voice said. Lance entered to the sight of the doctor staring out the window. He was a stocky man in his late sixties, with thinning gray hair and brown eyes.
A wall of grayish clouds had begun to blot out the brilliant colors of the sun, and for some reason the man felt compelled to note that.
"Do you think is going to rain?"
Lance hemmed, "Doctor, I didn't come here to talk about the weather."
Furøy craned his head. "Are you still planning on going back to Terra?"
Lance nodded mutely, shoving his hands into his pockets.
The doctor glanced back at the window. "If you leave your Voltron post, Zarkon will see us as weak. He won't stop until we're all dead. And if he does happen to let us exist, we will become his slaves. Do you really want that?"
"I couldn't even save my friend," he murmured.
"Please, Lieutenant, sit down," Furøy said, pointing to a well-padded chair across the room. The doctor sat in his desk and opened up his notebook.
Name: Lt. Lance Beaumont. Age: 23
Diagnosis: anxiety reaction- severe.
Active symptoms: In remission.
Admission note: After a few sessions, the anxiety stemming from the loss of his comrade seems to be subsiding. The subject is blessed with the gift of youth. He's reliving his past less and less and living the present, sometimes he thinks of the future. Unfortunately he has endured severe stresses in his line of work, stresses that civilians are rarely subjected in their lifetime.
"What do you fear?" Furøy asked.
"Fear?" Lance asked glancing at him. "I don't know if you could call it fear. There are moments of confusion. Some of them are deeply stamped on my memory, and a few will haunt me forever."
"Please, tell me about them."
"One of the most confusing moments was when Keith, Sven and I were doing undercover work for the Alliance. We had to find the location of lazon mines and destroy them before the Drules could use them for their fleet. We knew it was dangerous, but we accepted because we would be able to graduate sooner."
Lance told him of the villagers they met before the Drules blasted their lives beyond belief. Families torn apart as men were forced to work in the mines, and women ravished and then slaughtered. It had been more than the young, lighthearted cadet could stand.
"I used all the skills I learned at the academy. If I made a mistake, I would be shot at, or worse yet, someone I cared for could be blown to bits."
He passed one hand across his brow and went on. "We hid in a cave with some villagers. Among them there was a young girl, she was about thirteen years old. She and her family were very kind to us. They shared their food with us."
Lance's hazel eyes misted over at the memory of the girl who reminded him so much of his sister, Lucie.
"What happened to her, Lieutenant?" The doctor prodded gently.
Lance gulped; the noise sounding like a swallowed sob. "She was captured. We went after her, but the Drule soldiers who had taken her kept us pinned down with their laser rifles. We could hear her screams-"
His body shuddered at the memory.
"Those bastards raped her, and when they were through with her, they killed her."
"I… I just went crazy," he said. "I lunged myself at one of the soldiers. He pointed his rifle at me, but I didn't care about getting killed. I heard the shot and then-"
"What?"
Lance blinked. "Keith shoved me away, and he was hit on the leg. The three of us were then thrown into a cell. We quickly realized that he needed medical attention and devised a plan to escape."
"When we returned home, I asked Keith why he saved my life. He said it was his duty, and also that it would be great blow to my family if I die. It was right there that I promised myself never to desert any of my friends."
"But then we were assigned to come here and I failed to keep my promise. If I had not let Sven alone with Hagar he probably wouldn't have been hurt and wouldn't have gone to Ebb."
"Son, you didn't know what would happen," Furøy's tone was soft and sympathetic.
Lance closed his eyes, and his thin brows came together painfully. "Don't you see?!" He gasped. "I should have been the one who died, not him!"
"Lance, you can't blame yourself."
"But I do!"
"What would you have done differently?"
"I should have stayed with him! We could have stopped Hagar from reaching the Princess. We could have done something!"
"He asked you to get help because you were still under the effects of Hagar's spell."
He shook his head. "I shouldn't have listened to him. I'm totally useless. I don't have what it takes to be part of the Voltron Force."
The doctor studied him for a few moments. "Years ago, I met a man about your same age who wondered about his mission in life. Do you want to know what became to him?"
Lance looked away. "I don't care," he said curtly.
"You should."
Seeing the end of the conversation rushing toward him, Lance stood and started for the door. "I'm sorry for taking so much of your time, Doc."
"You are who you choose to be, Lieutenant Beaumont."
The door opened.
"Well, I choose to be a civilian and go back to my family," Lance concluded bitterly. He turned back, and the door closed after him.
Furøy wearily leaned back in his chair and murmured, "That young man became ruler of a planet and created a mighty robot. He was His Royal Highness, King Alfor."
In the silence of his study, Keith looked at the documents and schematics that Pidge had downloaded to his notebook. They showed the location of Doom Bases.
He entered a few numbers into the computer for a moment and frowned at the results. They revealed that Zarkon had more than five hundred secret bases scattered through out the Denubian Galaxy. Based on that information, Arus and its allies were in great danger. The Voltron Force had to do something to stop that bastard.
He leaned back on his leather chair and glanced at the holopic sitting on his desk, which brought him back to his days at the Space Academy.
He picked it up and stared fondly at the group posing in crisp red flight suits just like the one he was wearing now, their eyes full of hope, their whole lives ahead of them. He was part of that group. Beside him sat Lance, wearing a proud smile not realizing that Pidge (who was standing directly behind him grinning like the Cheshire Cat) was giving him bunny ears. Next to the pilot of Green Lion was Hunk, failing miserably to keep a straight face.
And sitting next to him was Sven, with that teasing smile of his. He seemed so alive, full of energy.
Keith replaced the picture, his mouth twisting with disgust. For Zarkon, the attack on Ebb was only another way of getting slaves to work in his mines, but for him it meant the loss of a friend, a brother.
He put on a strong face, but his heart was broken.
He constantly reminded himself not to cry, because as he had so often been told by his father, "Men do not cry, they must be strong."
And so he would wake up every day, and as he was getting dressed, he would promise himself to hold back the tears no matter what. He had to be strong and help his grieving friends.
Oh yes, he believed in friends. He believed everyone needed them. But then one day they might be gone, and what then- what then?
He joined the military, thinking that it was great. Sacrificing yourself for your planet was good. Helping your friends survive was good, even if you died in the process. They were a generation called to defend humankind. Everyone fights- no one quits.
Then he remembered the oath he recited along with Lance and Sven before Space Marshall Graham, in the ceremony after their successful undercover mission.
"I do now of my own free will, after having been advised and warned of the meaning and consequences of this oath, join the Galaxy Alliance for not less than four years and as much longer as may be required by the needs of the Alliance. And I'll bear true faith to its principals and allegiance to the same."
But as time passed by, he was feeling uncertain about his role as captain of the Voltron Force, unsure of his future and that of Allura and his friends, and guilt-stricken for what happened to his First Officer.
Hitting the desk with a fist, he whispered, "Dios mío, por favor dame la fuerza para continuar." (God, please give me strength to continue)
"Keith, this computer has been idle for ten minutes. Do you wish to continue?" A synthesized voice broke into his reverie.
He looked at the monitor and sighed. He had thoroughly studied the information and knew the odds of getting to those bases. If only he had more time to weigh his options, but was there ever enough time?
Keith decided on submitting these findings to his teammates tomorrow, after lion practice.
Kneading his bloodshot eyes, he said, "Computer... save and close."
"Saving and closing."
Keith stood and crossed to the bathroom. He leaned over the sink for a few minutes, splashing warm water on his face. He eventually looked to the mirror, but his dark hair and pale skin remained blurred by condensation. After drying off, he left the study and headed for the Royal library, hoping Allura would be there.
He entered a few numbers into the computer for a moment and frowned at the results. They revealed that Zarkon had more than five hundred secret bases scattered through out the Denubian Galaxy. Based on that information, Arus and its allies were in great danger. The Voltron Force had to do something to stop that bastard.
He leaned back on his leather chair and glanced at the holopic sitting on his desk, which brought him back to his days at the Space Academy.
He picked it up and stared fondly at the group posing in crisp red flight suits just like the one he was wearing now, their eyes full of hope, their whole lives ahead of them. He was part of that group. Beside him sat Lance, wearing a proud smile not realizing that Pidge (who was standing directly behind him grinning like the Cheshire Cat) was giving him bunny ears. Next to the pilot of Green Lion was Hunk, failing miserably to keep a straight face.
And sitting next to him was Sven, with that teasing smile of his. He seemed so alive, full of energy.
Keith replaced the picture, his mouth twisting with disgust. For Zarkon, the attack on Ebb was only another way of getting slaves to work in his mines, but for him it meant the loss of a friend, a brother.
He put on a strong face, but his heart was broken.
He constantly reminded himself not to cry, because as he had so often been told by his father, "Men do not cry, they must be strong."
And so he would wake up every day, and as he was getting dressed, he would promise himself to hold back the tears no matter what. He had to be strong and help his grieving friends.
Oh yes, he believed in friends. He believed everyone needed them. But then one day they might be gone, and what then- what then?
He joined the military, thinking that it was great. Sacrificing yourself for your planet was good. Helping your friends survive was good, even if you died in the process. They were a generation called to defend humankind. Everyone fights- no one quits.
Then he remembered the oath he recited along with Lance and Sven before Space Marshall Graham, in the ceremony after their successful undercover mission.
"I do now of my own free will, after having been advised and warned of the meaning and consequences of this oath, join the Galaxy Alliance for not less than four years and as much longer as may be required by the needs of the Alliance. And I'll bear true faith to its principals and allegiance to the same."
But as time passed by, he was feeling uncertain about his role as captain of the Voltron Force, unsure of his future and that of Allura and his friends, and guilt-stricken for what happened to his First Officer.
Hitting the desk with a fist, he whispered, "Dios mío, por favor dame la fuerza para continuar." (God, please give me strength to continue)
"Keith, this computer has been idle for ten minutes. Do you wish to continue?" A synthesized voice broke into his reverie.
He looked at the monitor and sighed. He had thoroughly studied the information and knew the odds of getting to those bases. If only he had more time to weigh his options, but was there ever enough time?
Keith decided on submitting these findings to his teammates tomorrow, after lion practice.
Kneading his bloodshot eyes, he said, "Computer... save and close."
"Saving and closing."
Keith stood and crossed to the bathroom. He leaned over the sink for a few minutes, splashing warm water on his face. He eventually looked to the mirror, but his dark hair and pale skin remained blurred by condensation. After drying off, he left the study and headed for the Royal library, hoping Allura would be there.
Thunder boomed above the Castle and lighting crackled dangerously close as Allura sat on a table at the library, working on her essay on a book called, 'Using the Law for Political Control' by H.R. Clifton. It was the first thunderstorm of the season.
She saw two technicians pulling some wiring slabs out of a circuitry conduit next to the door. They were probably spot-checking a fault.
Then she wondered if Keith would pay her a visit. He and Lance had not joined them for lunch. Keith was checking some Alliance reports in his study. And Lance- well… he had excused himself again, saying that he had to write some important letters.
The beautiful Princess was painfully aware of the fact that her friends were not the same men they were a year before. Their lives had been dramatically altered by the loss of their comrade. They used to have fun, now they didn't feel like doing anything. They tried to keep themselves occupied- practicing, working out at the gymnasium; going out together, but nothing seemed to work.
The one person most affected by this situation was Lance, because he felt responsible for Sven's death. But he wouldn't talk about it with her or any of the guys. He was very shy, and he used that shyness as a shield. People mistook it as him being recalcitrant, but he wasn't. He was a very sweet, deep, intelligent and funny young man. And he'd suffered so much that one just wanted to put one's arms around him and kiss all the hurt away.
Allura had asked him to look for Christian so they could renew their romance, but he had said that it wasn't fair to approach her at this time. At least he had agreed to visit Dr. Furøy. She hoped the good doctor could help him.
She was so immersed in her thoughts that she failed to notice the approach of a tall, crimson-suited figure.
When Keith's hands dropped lightly onto her shoulders she jumped, abruptly twisting around in her seat.
He quickly mastered his statement, trying to look unconcerned, and then said in a business-like tone voice, "Princess, I came for a book and saw you here. Do you need any help?"
She smiled up at him, straightening the collar of her pink jumpsuit and fiddling with her thick golden braid. It made her look younger than she was, like the girl he met in their first day of school nine years ago.
A smile tugged at his lips. She looked so innocent and so damn sexy at the same time, causing a stirring inside him- the kind that was so powerful it made his breath catch up in his throat and his blood rush to 'certain' places.
"Why yes, Commander, thank you," she answered primly, "I'm having a bit of trouble with some terms this American author is using."
He sat next to her and reached for the book. The technicians finished their work and exited the room. The moment the door closed, Keith leaned forward and kissed her, sweet and soft on the mouth. Allura kissed him back, and he pulled her toward him then, folding his strong arms around her.
"Ally," he whispered against her temple, "There's so much I want to tell you."
She slowly pulled back and looked up at him, his tone making her suddenly afraid. "What is it?"
He must have seen the fear in her face, and his brown eyes softened. "Nothing important. It's okay."
"Keith." Her voice was gentle but firm. "Please, talk to me."
"I – I can't explain." His words sounded lame, and he felt a pang of guilt for trying to lie.
She lifted a hand to feel the beard-roughened line of his cheek. "Try."
"No, it's nothing," he told her. Allura contemplated her beloved, who showed evidence of trying hard to be cheerful. But the signs of tension were unmistakable; for once, Keith looked surprisingly uneasy.
He ventured a smile, but it quivered at the corners of his mouth. "I have to go, I'll see you at dinner," he said gruffly.
She nodded. "You better be there, I have missed-"
The beeping sound of his communicator cut off her reply. He reached for it and said, "Keith here."
"Chief," Pidge said, "Coran wants us to meet him in his study- pronto. Could you tell the Princess? I think she's in the library doing her homework."
He looked at Allura. "All right, I'll tell her- Keith out."
"I wonder what's wrong, it isn't an attack or Coran would have sounded the alarm," she remarked anxiously.
"There's only one way to find out," Keith said, helping her to stand up.
She saw two technicians pulling some wiring slabs out of a circuitry conduit next to the door. They were probably spot-checking a fault.
Then she wondered if Keith would pay her a visit. He and Lance had not joined them for lunch. Keith was checking some Alliance reports in his study. And Lance- well… he had excused himself again, saying that he had to write some important letters.
The beautiful Princess was painfully aware of the fact that her friends were not the same men they were a year before. Their lives had been dramatically altered by the loss of their comrade. They used to have fun, now they didn't feel like doing anything. They tried to keep themselves occupied- practicing, working out at the gymnasium; going out together, but nothing seemed to work.
The one person most affected by this situation was Lance, because he felt responsible for Sven's death. But he wouldn't talk about it with her or any of the guys. He was very shy, and he used that shyness as a shield. People mistook it as him being recalcitrant, but he wasn't. He was a very sweet, deep, intelligent and funny young man. And he'd suffered so much that one just wanted to put one's arms around him and kiss all the hurt away.
Allura had asked him to look for Christian so they could renew their romance, but he had said that it wasn't fair to approach her at this time. At least he had agreed to visit Dr. Furøy. She hoped the good doctor could help him.
She was so immersed in her thoughts that she failed to notice the approach of a tall, crimson-suited figure.
When Keith's hands dropped lightly onto her shoulders she jumped, abruptly twisting around in her seat.
He quickly mastered his statement, trying to look unconcerned, and then said in a business-like tone voice, "Princess, I came for a book and saw you here. Do you need any help?"
She smiled up at him, straightening the collar of her pink jumpsuit and fiddling with her thick golden braid. It made her look younger than she was, like the girl he met in their first day of school nine years ago.
A smile tugged at his lips. She looked so innocent and so damn sexy at the same time, causing a stirring inside him- the kind that was so powerful it made his breath catch up in his throat and his blood rush to 'certain' places.
"Why yes, Commander, thank you," she answered primly, "I'm having a bit of trouble with some terms this American author is using."
He sat next to her and reached for the book. The technicians finished their work and exited the room. The moment the door closed, Keith leaned forward and kissed her, sweet and soft on the mouth. Allura kissed him back, and he pulled her toward him then, folding his strong arms around her.
"Ally," he whispered against her temple, "There's so much I want to tell you."
She slowly pulled back and looked up at him, his tone making her suddenly afraid. "What is it?"
He must have seen the fear in her face, and his brown eyes softened. "Nothing important. It's okay."
"Keith." Her voice was gentle but firm. "Please, talk to me."
"I – I can't explain." His words sounded lame, and he felt a pang of guilt for trying to lie.
She lifted a hand to feel the beard-roughened line of his cheek. "Try."
"No, it's nothing," he told her. Allura contemplated her beloved, who showed evidence of trying hard to be cheerful. But the signs of tension were unmistakable; for once, Keith looked surprisingly uneasy.
He ventured a smile, but it quivered at the corners of his mouth. "I have to go, I'll see you at dinner," he said gruffly.
She nodded. "You better be there, I have missed-"
The beeping sound of his communicator cut off her reply. He reached for it and said, "Keith here."
"Chief," Pidge said, "Coran wants us to meet him in his study- pronto. Could you tell the Princess? I think she's in the library doing her homework."
He looked at Allura. "All right, I'll tell her- Keith out."
"I wonder what's wrong, it isn't an attack or Coran would have sounded the alarm," she remarked anxiously.
"There's only one way to find out," Keith said, helping her to stand up.
Keith and Allura caught up with Hunk in the hallway, and they all walked together to Coran's study. They found him sitting on his mahogany desk, with Pidge standing beside him. There was an unsettled air pervading the room, evidenced in the ashen faces of both men.
"Coran, what's wrong?" Keith asked his brow furrowing.
"After lunch, I came here to finish some paperwork, and found this letter lying on my desk," he replied somberly. "It's Lance's resignation."
"What?!" Three voices cried in unison.
Allura blinked in confusion, hardly able to digest the information. "Y-you can't be serious," she gasped.
Coran's brow grew thunderous. "I'm sorry, Princess. He's giving me a week's notice. He included a copy of his request to the Alliance to be discharged from the service."
"He's not thinking straight," Hunk choked out. "Who's going to fly Red Lion?"
"He doesn't seem to care anymore," Coran said. "He should have given me this missive in person."
"He didn't follow procedure, because he knew you will try to talk him out of it," Keith stated grimly.
"Where is he?" Hunk demanded.
"He's not in the Castle and he didn't take Red Lion," Pidge replied excitedly, "I have tried to contact him, but it seems that his communicator isn't working."
"Or he doesn't want to answer it," Hunk interjected.
"I'll look for him," Keith offered.
"No, Keith," Allura gasped, looking desperately at him. "We're a team, we are going together."
"Princess, let me deal with him first, please?"
"But-"
He touched her lips to still her voice. When his fingers lingered, he immediately pulled them away. "If I need your help, I'll call you, okay?"
Allura forgot herself and glanced at Keith. He caught her gaze and they stared at one another. In his eyes she saw anguish and despair.
"Keith," she whispered. He could hear the tears just beneath her words.
"I'll take Black Lion," he said with finality. He stepped back and slipped out the door.
Hunk walked over to Allura and enveloped her in a bear hug. She rested her head against his shoulder, crying softly.
"Don't worry, Princess, I'm sure Keith will make Lance change his mind about leaving us."
"He has to," Pidge interjected, his voice tinged with emotion. "I don't want to lose another brother."
"Keith feels defeated, he misses Sven so much," she whispered.
Hunk's grip relaxed into an embrace, his hand lightly stroking her back. "We'll wait a few minutes and then go after them," he murmured soothingly.
She withdrew slowly and smiled at him, feeling much calmer. "Alright."
"Okay, let's get ready," Pidge said, hurrying off.
"Coran, what's wrong?" Keith asked his brow furrowing.
"After lunch, I came here to finish some paperwork, and found this letter lying on my desk," he replied somberly. "It's Lance's resignation."
"What?!" Three voices cried in unison.
Allura blinked in confusion, hardly able to digest the information. "Y-you can't be serious," she gasped.
Coran's brow grew thunderous. "I'm sorry, Princess. He's giving me a week's notice. He included a copy of his request to the Alliance to be discharged from the service."
"He's not thinking straight," Hunk choked out. "Who's going to fly Red Lion?"
"He doesn't seem to care anymore," Coran said. "He should have given me this missive in person."
"He didn't follow procedure, because he knew you will try to talk him out of it," Keith stated grimly.
"Where is he?" Hunk demanded.
"He's not in the Castle and he didn't take Red Lion," Pidge replied excitedly, "I have tried to contact him, but it seems that his communicator isn't working."
"Or he doesn't want to answer it," Hunk interjected.
"I'll look for him," Keith offered.
"No, Keith," Allura gasped, looking desperately at him. "We're a team, we are going together."
"Princess, let me deal with him first, please?"
"But-"
He touched her lips to still her voice. When his fingers lingered, he immediately pulled them away. "If I need your help, I'll call you, okay?"
Allura forgot herself and glanced at Keith. He caught her gaze and they stared at one another. In his eyes she saw anguish and despair.
"Keith," she whispered. He could hear the tears just beneath her words.
"I'll take Black Lion," he said with finality. He stepped back and slipped out the door.
Hunk walked over to Allura and enveloped her in a bear hug. She rested her head against his shoulder, crying softly.
"Don't worry, Princess, I'm sure Keith will make Lance change his mind about leaving us."
"He has to," Pidge interjected, his voice tinged with emotion. "I don't want to lose another brother."
"Keith feels defeated, he misses Sven so much," she whispered.
Hunk's grip relaxed into an embrace, his hand lightly stroking her back. "We'll wait a few minutes and then go after them," he murmured soothingly.
She withdrew slowly and smiled at him, feeling much calmer. "Alright."
"Okay, let's get ready," Pidge said, hurrying off.
"To be a better soldier, realize that life is as tenuous as puffs on a dandelion and that you must do everything to protect it. Remind yourself regularly of this." - Joe Kita
The rain had grown into a steady downpour by the time Keith reached the village of Nova Arusia and he cursed the skies angrily. He was sure that Lance would be there.
As he entered the deserted street- the scene of Hagar's assault- he saw a familiar figure standing near a half-burned thatched-roof hut.
"Lance!"
He looked up, and as the rain hit his face, he saw his commanding officer walking toward him, dressed in his Voltron uniform, his red helmet tucked in the crook of his arm.
"I have been looking for you. Why didn't you answer my calls?"
Lance glared at him through narrowed eyes. "Last I heard… we are not married and you are not my boyfriend. So fuck off."
Keith frowned. "I'm sorry, but I can't do that. We must go back to the Castle and talk about the letter of resignation and your request to be discharged from the service."
"There's nothing to talk about. I'm leaving Arus."
Keith groaned in frustration. "How could you make those decisions without telling us?"
Lance sank down against the wall. He smoothed back his wet hair and closed his eyes.
"I just can't stay here after what happened to Sven," he murmured.
"But Lance, it wasn't your fault."
"Yes it was, that's why I'm going back home."
"But you can't go, we need you," Keith's voice quavered. "Think about our mission. Think about the Princess- do you want to leave her heartbroken?"
"Of course not!" he snapped. "I love her too much!"
"Then forget this fucking nonsense and let's go back!" Keith said in a shrill voice, as water dripped from his face and hair.
Lance leaned his head on the wall and sighed. "We've known each other for almost eight years. I understand my own feelings, but I don't have any idea about yours. You don't always say what's in your mind, so I have to guess. It's always been that way."
The commander sat back on his heels in front of his new first officer. He studied him for a few moments, and then said, "I know we have had our differences in the past; maybe because we have different ways of handling our emotions."
Lance's eyes grew glassy with tears. "Why did he die? He had a great life ahead of him. He was so happy, so excited to be back in action. He shouldn't have died, it wasn't his time."
Keith placed a hand on Lance's shoulder. "I'm sorry."
Lance bit his lip, trying to suppress a hysterical laugh. He's sorry?
"I was upset when Sven died. We all were! But you- you hardly shed a tear, didn't you? Sometimes I wonder if you ever really cared for him at all."
Keith gasped, shocked. "How can you say such a thing?" His voice was deep and harsh.
Lance stiffened and immediately got to his feet. "Because it's true! You only care about your damned duty!"
Keith looked up and swallowed hard. "Lance," he murmured huskily, "I know what it's like…"
And tears that he had so resolutely denied erupted uncontrollably, forcing him to stop.
He felt a stab of pain on his chest that puzzled him until he realized that it wasn't only the loss of Sven. He had also lost two other loved ones a long time ago.
Keith found himself standing in the cemetery on the hills overlooking Tijuana. It was a rainy afternoon just like this one. His grandfather had lost his battle with cancer, and his grandmother had died of a heart attack the following year. Keith was only six years old when that happened. He couldn't do anything to save them, but he wished he could have at least said goodbye.
Sometimes his grandparents seemed like a distant memory, almost as if they had never existed.
How he enjoyed accompanying his buelo to the cornfields where he would tell him amazing stories; or call him muchacho feo (ugly lad) when he would beat him at lottery and card games; the warmth of his buela's arms and kisses; her contagious laughter which lit her whole face; the smell of the rose garden where the trio played hide-and-seek countless times.
His father had managed to hide the news of their demise for years. When Keith found out, he begged Demetrio to take him to the cemetery. As he stood before their graves, the eleven-year old vowed to keep their traditions and customs alive. He embraced his Mexican background with all his heart and soul, further straining his relationship with his father, who wanted him to forget that side of his family.
A wide-eyed Lance stared helplessly as Keith cried as if the world were to end.
He had never seen his friend broke down in tears… never!
The tortured look in his eyes made him realize how badly he had hurt him. Keith had loved Sven like a brother and he had treated him like a piece of shit.
"Keith?" The soft, contrite words broke into Keith's mind. "I'm sorry, I'm shouldn't have said that. You really loved Sven."
"But I couldn't save him," he choked out. "I shouldn't have let him go alone when you went after Hagar."
Lance sat and leaned Keith up next to him. It was the first time he admitted feeling guilty for Sven's death.
What could he tell him to make him feel better?
For the first time in his life, Lance was at a loss for words.
Then he remembered a saying from their Ethics professor in the Space Academy.
"Do you remember what Professor Martínez used to say?"
"What?" Keith said huskily.
"To be a better soldier, realize that life is as tenuous as puffs on a dandelion, and that you must do everything to protect it. Remind yourself regularly of this."
"Does that mean you're staying?" he ventured, forgetting his tears for a moment.
"Yes, because now I know that you can't live without me," he teased.
Keith glared at him. "Of all the arrogant-"
A smile tugged at his lips. "Don't worry, my dear Keith, I won't tell anyone *our* little secret."
The rain finally stopped, and the clouds rolled back to reveal a beautiful sunset.
Lance stood up. He arched his back and looked up at the heavens.
"Sven- wherever you are, I promise you that we'll kick Zarkon's scrawny ass!"
"And Lotor's," Keith sniffed, rising to his feet.
Lance glanced back at him. "Especially Lotor's!" He said, winking.
Wiping off the tears from his cheeks, Keith slowly stood and smiled tremulously, opening his arms wide to his friend.
Lance went to him. They held each other in a backbreaking embrace.
Real men show emotions. Cry when you are sad, and smile when you are happy, Keith thought. I wasn't able to say goodbye to Sven, but I feel better for letting my tears show just how much I cared for him.
Lance then shoved him away and choked out, "Now get the fuck away from me! We're the only members of the Voltron Force who don't have girlfriends and everyone will think we're lovers."
Keith smiled, and it transformed his face. "Well, you're not that ugly."
Lance almost laughed aloud. "And you're not so bad yourself, mon Commandant. But you're *definitely* not my type."
"I shall learn to live with that," he said, eyeing him with a resigned look on his face.
Three figures hiding behind some bushes sighed with relief. They had heard their entire conversation.
"Don't you think we should go over there?" Pidge asked in a low voice.
"No, this is their private moment," Allura replied, smiling and blinking away her tears. "They needed to deal with their pain on their own terms."
"Hush, you guys," Hunk gently scolded them. "Do you want us to get caught?"
"Of course not," they said in unison.
"Okay then, keep your voices down."
The teenager sat down on a damp pile of hay, thinking that he had never felt so proud to be part of the Voltron Force than at this very moment.
Gazing at the multi-colored horizon, he remembered the lyrics of the song Sven had taught him so long ago…
~I only know what I can see
So I imagine what could be
Where the horizon cuts the air
Look for me out there
Someday I'll touch the blue blue sky
Someday I'll touch the blue blue sky
If I could kiss this Earth goodbye
And cruise the never-ending sky
Where the horizon cuts the air
Wait for me down there
Someday I'll touch the blue blue sky
Someday I'll touch the blue blue sky~
The End.
05/08/2001
Revised 03/22/2015
The rain had grown into a steady downpour by the time Keith reached the village of Nova Arusia and he cursed the skies angrily. He was sure that Lance would be there.
As he entered the deserted street- the scene of Hagar's assault- he saw a familiar figure standing near a half-burned thatched-roof hut.
"Lance!"
He looked up, and as the rain hit his face, he saw his commanding officer walking toward him, dressed in his Voltron uniform, his red helmet tucked in the crook of his arm.
"I have been looking for you. Why didn't you answer my calls?"
Lance glared at him through narrowed eyes. "Last I heard… we are not married and you are not my boyfriend. So fuck off."
Keith frowned. "I'm sorry, but I can't do that. We must go back to the Castle and talk about the letter of resignation and your request to be discharged from the service."
"There's nothing to talk about. I'm leaving Arus."
Keith groaned in frustration. "How could you make those decisions without telling us?"
Lance sank down against the wall. He smoothed back his wet hair and closed his eyes.
"I just can't stay here after what happened to Sven," he murmured.
"But Lance, it wasn't your fault."
"Yes it was, that's why I'm going back home."
"But you can't go, we need you," Keith's voice quavered. "Think about our mission. Think about the Princess- do you want to leave her heartbroken?"
"Of course not!" he snapped. "I love her too much!"
"Then forget this fucking nonsense and let's go back!" Keith said in a shrill voice, as water dripped from his face and hair.
Lance leaned his head on the wall and sighed. "We've known each other for almost eight years. I understand my own feelings, but I don't have any idea about yours. You don't always say what's in your mind, so I have to guess. It's always been that way."
The commander sat back on his heels in front of his new first officer. He studied him for a few moments, and then said, "I know we have had our differences in the past; maybe because we have different ways of handling our emotions."
Lance's eyes grew glassy with tears. "Why did he die? He had a great life ahead of him. He was so happy, so excited to be back in action. He shouldn't have died, it wasn't his time."
Keith placed a hand on Lance's shoulder. "I'm sorry."
Lance bit his lip, trying to suppress a hysterical laugh. He's sorry?
"I was upset when Sven died. We all were! But you- you hardly shed a tear, didn't you? Sometimes I wonder if you ever really cared for him at all."
Keith gasped, shocked. "How can you say such a thing?" His voice was deep and harsh.
Lance stiffened and immediately got to his feet. "Because it's true! You only care about your damned duty!"
Keith looked up and swallowed hard. "Lance," he murmured huskily, "I know what it's like…"
And tears that he had so resolutely denied erupted uncontrollably, forcing him to stop.
He felt a stab of pain on his chest that puzzled him until he realized that it wasn't only the loss of Sven. He had also lost two other loved ones a long time ago.
Keith found himself standing in the cemetery on the hills overlooking Tijuana. It was a rainy afternoon just like this one. His grandfather had lost his battle with cancer, and his grandmother had died of a heart attack the following year. Keith was only six years old when that happened. He couldn't do anything to save them, but he wished he could have at least said goodbye.
Sometimes his grandparents seemed like a distant memory, almost as if they had never existed.
How he enjoyed accompanying his buelo to the cornfields where he would tell him amazing stories; or call him muchacho feo (ugly lad) when he would beat him at lottery and card games; the warmth of his buela's arms and kisses; her contagious laughter which lit her whole face; the smell of the rose garden where the trio played hide-and-seek countless times.
His father had managed to hide the news of their demise for years. When Keith found out, he begged Demetrio to take him to the cemetery. As he stood before their graves, the eleven-year old vowed to keep their traditions and customs alive. He embraced his Mexican background with all his heart and soul, further straining his relationship with his father, who wanted him to forget that side of his family.
A wide-eyed Lance stared helplessly as Keith cried as if the world were to end.
He had never seen his friend broke down in tears… never!
The tortured look in his eyes made him realize how badly he had hurt him. Keith had loved Sven like a brother and he had treated him like a piece of shit.
"Keith?" The soft, contrite words broke into Keith's mind. "I'm sorry, I'm shouldn't have said that. You really loved Sven."
"But I couldn't save him," he choked out. "I shouldn't have let him go alone when you went after Hagar."
Lance sat and leaned Keith up next to him. It was the first time he admitted feeling guilty for Sven's death.
What could he tell him to make him feel better?
For the first time in his life, Lance was at a loss for words.
Then he remembered a saying from their Ethics professor in the Space Academy.
"Do you remember what Professor Martínez used to say?"
"What?" Keith said huskily.
"To be a better soldier, realize that life is as tenuous as puffs on a dandelion, and that you must do everything to protect it. Remind yourself regularly of this."
"Does that mean you're staying?" he ventured, forgetting his tears for a moment.
"Yes, because now I know that you can't live without me," he teased.
Keith glared at him. "Of all the arrogant-"
A smile tugged at his lips. "Don't worry, my dear Keith, I won't tell anyone *our* little secret."
The rain finally stopped, and the clouds rolled back to reveal a beautiful sunset.
Lance stood up. He arched his back and looked up at the heavens.
"Sven- wherever you are, I promise you that we'll kick Zarkon's scrawny ass!"
"And Lotor's," Keith sniffed, rising to his feet.
Lance glanced back at him. "Especially Lotor's!" He said, winking.
Wiping off the tears from his cheeks, Keith slowly stood and smiled tremulously, opening his arms wide to his friend.
Lance went to him. They held each other in a backbreaking embrace.
Real men show emotions. Cry when you are sad, and smile when you are happy, Keith thought. I wasn't able to say goodbye to Sven, but I feel better for letting my tears show just how much I cared for him.
Lance then shoved him away and choked out, "Now get the fuck away from me! We're the only members of the Voltron Force who don't have girlfriends and everyone will think we're lovers."
Keith smiled, and it transformed his face. "Well, you're not that ugly."
Lance almost laughed aloud. "And you're not so bad yourself, mon Commandant. But you're *definitely* not my type."
"I shall learn to live with that," he said, eyeing him with a resigned look on his face.
Three figures hiding behind some bushes sighed with relief. They had heard their entire conversation.
"Don't you think we should go over there?" Pidge asked in a low voice.
"No, this is their private moment," Allura replied, smiling and blinking away her tears. "They needed to deal with their pain on their own terms."
"Hush, you guys," Hunk gently scolded them. "Do you want us to get caught?"
"Of course not," they said in unison.
"Okay then, keep your voices down."
The teenager sat down on a damp pile of hay, thinking that he had never felt so proud to be part of the Voltron Force than at this very moment.
Gazing at the multi-colored horizon, he remembered the lyrics of the song Sven had taught him so long ago…
~I only know what I can see
So I imagine what could be
Where the horizon cuts the air
Look for me out there
Someday I'll touch the blue blue sky
Someday I'll touch the blue blue sky
If I could kiss this Earth goodbye
And cruise the never-ending sky
Where the horizon cuts the air
Wait for me down there
Someday I'll touch the blue blue sky
Someday I'll touch the blue blue sky~
The End.
05/08/2001
Revised 03/22/2015
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"The Lion's Keep: The Next Chapter" is the most recent version of the "The Lion's Keep",
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