Katie hummed and shifted as she woke, nestling closer to the source of warmth and comfort in her bed. Her eyes fluttered open as her grip on thin fabric loosened.

"Good morning." A deep, drowsy voice greeted as the chest beneath her head raised and lowered slowly.

The green paladin sighed and closed her eyes. "Morning, Takashi. What time is it?"

Shiro hummed and shifted slightly. "Ten." He muttered. "Just after ten."

"Whoa." Katie pushed herself up to sit. "We slept in really late. I can't believe Allura let us." Shiro chuckled as Katie yawned and rubbed her eyes. "I hope dad slept okay. He said he has had nightmares and that they sometimes wake him up-"

"I'm sure he slept fine." Shiro whispered and took her hand. "He knows his daughter is safe, his wife is safe, and he's no longer controlled by the Galra. All we have now is to find Matt and get to your mother." Katie nodded, threading her fingers through his. "Hey, come here."

Katie lay back down on his chest, burying her face in his shoulder. "He's finally safe. He doesn't have to worry about the Galra and he doesn't have to worry about me or Mom like I know he has been." Shiro hummed, placing his prosthetic on her back. She toyed with the collar of the shirt she had given him some time ago. "I missed him, and now... I can't believe how well I slept last night."

The black paladin chuckled, rubbing her back. "I slept pretty well, too. Maybe when we get Matthew back, we'll sleep better."

Katie laughed. "I don't know if that's possible! But, it does sound nice."

Shiro nodded, rubbing her knuckles with his thumb. "We should get up. I think everyone else might start to wonder and come to wake us up."

"Yeah... Just gimme a couple minutes." Katie muttered, closing her eyes.

"Alright."

~

Katie hated it when Lance was up to something. She hated it with a passion.

"Oh, come on! Please? Just one, I swear!" Lance pleaded, already on his knees as he held the plate of the native food up to her. "Please, please, please! It's a traditional, celebratory food! Just try one. Just a little, tiny bite is all I'm asking of you!"

The green paladin groaned and took one. "Just so you know, I don't trust you. I trust the natives, but I don't trust you." Lance eyes lit up and he nodded. He watched intently as she took a bite. "That's... Actually really good." She hummed, inspecting the treat. "What is it made of?" Katie plucked another off the plate and handed it down to Fazluna.

Lance shrugged. "Dunno. The natives made it for us out of some plants. Said that it's a traditional food, passed down for generations. Helps you relax." He stood up and let her take another for herself. "Good, right?"

Katie nodded, eating her second one. "Yeah, it's great. Everyone else get one?"

The blue paladin nodded. "Yeah. But they only had one."

"Is it okay that I'm having more than one?"

"I don't see why not." Lance shrugged again. "Have however many you want. The aliens didn't say anything about it being an issue."

"Sweet. I think I'll take, like, ten more." Katie told him as she gave another to Fazluna. Lance snorted and gave her the plate. "Thanks."

"Have at it, Pidgeot."

~

Katie hiccuped and jumped. She blinked, wide eyed. "Whoa..." Katie gasped and stumbled backwards. Fazluna giggled, rocking on the bench they were just sitting on. Katie giggled, then covered her mouth. "What was... In those thingys?" Katie hiccuped again, her skin tingling. Her head felt like it spun around and the buildings were twisting strangely. Katie giggled again behind her hands, then looked up.

She squeaked as she spotted her father rushing passed one building and ducking behind another. "Daddy!" Katie squealed out and stumbled forward. Then she turned to Fazluna, her legs feeling like jello. "Stay right-right there, Fazluna."

"Okay!" The little alien squeaked, her tail waving before she lost balance and fell over.

Katie giggled, then stumbled after where her father disappeared. "Daddy, where'd ya go?" She hiccuped, her hands pressing against the side of the building to keep her up. "Dad, I saw you. Whatchya doing?"

The green paladin stumbled out of the cluster of buildings and towards the caves. Katie paused. "Why would... He come here?" She heard her name off in the distance, but shrugged it off. Katie stumbled forward into the cave she heard noises come from.

A familiar, gut-wrenching scent filled her nose, bringing her to her senses. "O-oh..." Katie covered her mouth and nose. "Oh, God..." She paused as she stepped in a puddle. Katie looked down and gasped. She whipped her head up.

Chills shot down her spine and her eyes widened. Her feet seemed stuck to the ground and she couldn't move.

Bodies... All piled on top of each other... All covered in sickening amounts of blood.

Her stomach twisted and tears sprung to her eyes as her father turned to face her, blood smothering his hands and the front of his clothes.

"Katie..." Samuel breathed out and took a step closer. Katie stumbled back, summoning her bayard. "Katie, please, listen to me. This isn't what it looks like."

"Then what is it!?" Katie shouted, activating her bayard. Tears already tumbled down her cheeks. "What is this, Dad!? It looks like you've just murdered all these natives and freed prisoners!"

"I know, baby girl!" Samuel moved closer. Katie raised her bayard. "I was trying to save Bax! He was still breathing, so I tried saving him, Katie."

Her name rang out again somewhere outside the caves, but she ignored it. "Th-then... What happened?"

Samuel glanced around. "I... I saw someone. I thought... I followed them and found..." Samuel looked up at Katie and met her eyes. "Sweetheart, believe me... I promise I wouldn't hurt them. I knew most of them." Katie trembled, lowering her bayard. Samuel's shoulders slumped. "We need to tell-"

A bright light flashed behind Samuel and he made a sharp, gagging noise.

Katie screamed, a glowing, purple blade jutting from Samuel's chest and dark red liquid spreading over the fabric of his shirt.

Katie trembled, the thick liquid dotted her face and her torso. Her amber eyes widened until they couldn't. Her throat clenched and a low cackle shocked her spine. Katie's knees gave out and she fell to the floor, eyes still wide as she stared.

Her nightmares couldn't even compare to this.

"D-Daddy?"

A sharp, vile smirk pointed her way. "Daddy's long gone, Paladin."

Samuel collapsed to his knees, eyes wide before they rolled back and he fell completely.

A Galra knelt down and pulled his blade out of Samuel's limp body. Whimpers and sobs tumbled past Katie's lips, her hands over her mouth. He stood up and grinned at the red soaking his blade. "What a nice sight. So Humans can be killed. So easily, too."

Katie shook violently as the Galran advanced towards her. He grinned down at her. "You pitiful thing. It's difficult to believe you're a pilot of Voltron." He got down on one knee and took her chin in his thumb and index finger. He raised her head to meet her fearful gaze. "You poor thing. Easily terrified. So vulnerable. I think Zarkon and the druids will have fun with you."

All words died on Katie's tongue and she couldn't even think. Her mind was blank as she stared into bright yellow eyes that seemed to stare deep into her soul.

Her name was called again, closer and more frantic.

The Galra's ears twitched and he stood. "Sounds like the other Paladins are searching for you. Too bad you're my prize now." He snatched her arm and yanked her up. Katie cried out, pain shooting up her arm and through her shoulder. "Quiet!" The Galran hissed. "They'll find us!"

Katie glared up at him and sucked in a shaky breath. "Takashi!"

The Galran barked and threw her against the wall of the cave. Katie screamed and collided with the floor. She wheezed and gasped for breath.

"Get away from her!"

A blue blast hit the Galran's shoulder, forcing him off his feet and to the ground.

"Here! She's in here!" A pair of footsteps rushed closer. "It's okay, Pidge. We're here." Lance lay a hand on her shoulder and helped her sit up.

Keith and Hunk ran in next, shortly followed by Shiro.

"I will restore my place in the Galra Empire!" The Galran snapped, raising himself to his feet. "I will destroy Voltron!"

Lance and Keith snarled at the Galran and lounged at him, Hunk beside them.

Katie looked up and froze.

Just... Just hours ago he was holding her and telling her that he knew she was going to be great. Sobs spilt passed her lips and she shook.

Her view was obstructed by Shiro. He cupped her face and forced her to looked up at him. "Look at me, look at me." He whispered, petting her hair out of her face. "Don't look... Don't look at him, keep your eyes on me." Katie spotted tears in Shiro's own grey eyes and choked.

"He's gone..." She whimpered, then she suddenly wailed. "He's gone! He's dead!" She screamed, throwing herself away from Shiro. "Dad! Daddy, please!"

Katie scrambled to her feet and tried to run over to his lifeless body. She screamed and thrashed as arms wrapped around her waist to keep her held back. "No! No, let me go to him! Dad! Dad, wake up!" She cried, trying to pry Shiro's arms away. "Dad!"