Keith's POV:

If only I had not gone on that mission by myself, things might have been different, but as it turned out it wasn't.

I had the chance to change things and turn back, but my stubbornness prevented me from making a change.

Now I had to pay the price along with my team.
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Shiro's POV:

"Shiro! I know this looks bad, but don't come for me! Don't!", Keith panted.

I watched Keith as he tried to convince me to stay, he didn't look good at all.

I watched as my heart pounded a hundred miles as Keith bled and gasped for air.

It was a horrible sight and I cringed as blood ran down Keith's mouth in a slow river.

"Thirty doboshes or he dies.", Zhantic reminded me as he cut off contact.

I stared at Keith one last time in horror just as Zhantic shut off the call.

I saw Keith's eyes widen just as the contact went dead and his face was a look of loss.

Keith had been tortured beyond belief and it looked like he didn't have much time.

I was stressing out.

I knew Keith wanted me to stay, but I couldn't let Zhantic hold him prisoner and continue to torture him to death.

Allura grimaced, "I was able to find the red lion's location.", she said as she looked at where Zhantic used to be.

I looked at her in worry, "So you know where Keith is then if Zhantic was able to hack into our systems, right?", I asked.

Allura looked at me and put a hand on my shoulder, "I know where Keith is."

I nodded and looked at the team who were all in a state of shock.

"Okay guys, listen up. We need to save Keith, but I need you all to stay calm and do what you've always have. We can't save anyone if we panic.", I said motioning them towards the lion landing dock.

Pidge looked at me, "It's a trap."

Hunks face was ghostly pale along with some green, "Keith isn't looking to good Shiro. And with the whole thing being a trap are you sure this is a good idea? I mean, what if we end up like Keith?"

Allura crossed her arms, "Trap or no trap, this is extremely dangerous."

"I agree with Pidge,", Lance said looking concerned, "This is a trap."

I sighed and nodded, "I know, but we're smarter then some Druid. I'm sure we'll get Keith.", I encouraged Pidge and the others.

But I wasn't just trying to convince the team, I was also trying to convince myself.

They all nodded reluctantly and soon everyone was in their lions, flying towards the coordinates Allura had given us.

As we flew there, a million thoughts ran through my mind.

I knew and was very aware this was a trap, but I couldn't leave Keith with that Zhantic or I would never see him again.

I was scared for Keith and I only hoped we would make it in time to save him from certain death.

To my surprise, Red greeted us as soon as we came near the base, tail flicking up in agitation.

"Keith, are you in there?", I asked sending a transmission immediately.

All I heard was static on the other end and I realized Keith wasn't in the lion, he was still back in the galran base.

My shoulders slumped a little, a part of me had thought that Keith had gotten away on his own, but if Red was by herself Keith must really be in trouble.

"Allura, why isn't Red attacking the base?", Pidge asked over the radio.

"I'm not sure, if Keith's in danger, Red would would be attacking unless maybe Red is possibly waiting for backup.", Allura guessed.

"Well then, that's what Red is getting!", Lance announced firing at the galran base.

Hunk, Pidge and I joined in, firing at the bases defenses.

I looked back at where Red floated idly, tail still flicking with agitation, but no action whatsoever.

Fighters and full galran battleships appeared as we attacked, trying to defend their base.

"C'mon, what are you waiting for Red?", Lance asked as he shot down three fighters.

I glanced back at Red in confusion. Why wasn't she doing anything?

"Allura, what's wrong with the red lion?", I asked as I veered around an ion cannon blast.

Hunk took out the cannon as several fighters exploded.

Allura's voice was frantic, "I don't know Shiro. Red protects Keith pretty well as you know when Red attacked the Blade's base. I figured Red would have ripped the place to shreds by now."

I grimaced as Lance almost blasted me with his lion.

"Careful Lance!", I yelled as I summoned Black's jawblade and sliced some fighters with it.

"Sorry!", Lance apologized making Blue swerve in a loop-de-loop to avoid several shots.

"Shiro, we need a plan!", Pidge yelled as an explosion blew up near us.

"I'm working on it!", I yelled over the radio as I avoided another ion blast.

"Didn't we just destroy that?!?", Hunk asked exasperated.

I gritted my teeth, valuable time was slipping as we fought off the bases forces, I had to get in there.

We had already been fighting and traveling for over thirty doboshes and I had a sinking feeling Zhantic was not going to be patient.

"Alright guys! I need you to cover me as I go in and find Keith!", I said as more fighters flocked to the scene.

"Are you sure!?", Pidge yelled.

"Yes!", I yelled back as explosions sounded around us and shook the air.

"I'm not sure that's a good idea!", Hunk said as he avoided an ion blast.

"And why not?!?", I asked stressed out.

The place was absolutely chaotic and Keith was probably dying this very minute.

"Your lion's bigger and not that fast, no offense Shiro,", Hunk explained, "It's probably best if we sent Pidge or Lance in there."

"Yeah, we need you and Hunk out here for sure if we're going to hold them off.", Pidge said as we fought, "Lance would probably be more ideal cause if he ran into trouble he'd have no problem shooting it down. He can also pick up Keith if he can't move and still get out of there.", Pidge agreed.

I considered their advice as the team awaited my order.

I sighed and shook my head, Hunk and Pidge had made a good point.

"Shiro?", Pidge asked over the radio, "What's your call?"

I straightened, it was time to make a decision, "Lance, you're getting Keith! Pidge and Hunk, you're with me!", I ordered.

I heard Hunk and Pidge sigh in relief, glad I had heeded their advice as they positioned themselves in front of Lance, blocking him from enemy fire.

"Hurry Lance! Find Keith and get out!", I ordered.

"You got it!", Lance said speeding off towards the entrance of the base.

I watched Lance go before firing again at the galran ships and fighters.

All of Keith's hopes rode on Lance, I only hoped Lance would make it in time.
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Lance's POV:

I rushed through the ships, shooting as I went.

Shiro was counting on me to get Keith back and I wasn't going to let him down.

"Come on Blue!", I yelled as she dodged and wove her way through the tangled mess of ships.

The blue lion roared and shot our way through, easily avoiding any other enemy fire.

I quickly patted Blue's dashboard in appreciation as we finally landed down in the landing dock.

"Thanks Blue. I don't know what I would do without you, but I have to do the rest solo for now.", I said as I opened the mouth.

I quickly ran out of the lion and as soon as I did the blue lion's barrier went up, protecting it from intruders.

Immediately enemy sentries stormed at me training their guns on me while shooting in clean rows.

I sighed and summoned my bayard transforming it into my sharpshooter gun.

These sentries obviously had no idea who they were dealing with and also I didn't have time to play.

I easily shot down the sentries within two doboshes.

I grinned, proud of myself for taking them down before rushing off down the halls to find Keith.

Where the heck would Keith be?

I searched the halls while avoiding patrols and shooting down the ones that caught me.

"Lance, how's it going over there?", Shiro asked over my helmet sounding strained as I heard an explosion in the background.

I had probably covered half of the base with my pace, but I was being to slow. I had to pick up the pace.

"No luck, but I'm trying my best.", I responded ducking around a corner to avoid two galran soldiers.

"Well, please hurry it up!", Pidge yelled, "It's getting tight in here! I don't know how much longer we can hold them off."

I heard Shiro grunt as his lion roared, "No pressure Lance but you need to hurry!!", he yelled.

I nodded even though no one could see it and ran down the halls again, continuing my search.

Keith and team Voltron lives rested on my shoulders.

Gee, no pressure there.

I grimaced as I ran down the halls.

I was running short on time and time was not my friend today. I needed to locate Keith.

I stopped for a moment, taking time to breathe and think.

"Okay Lance, you can do this.", I said out loud, "If I were Keith where would I go?"

I paced a little.

C'mon, how hard could it be to find that stubborn mullet!

Then I remembered something and I quickly contacted Pidge.

"Hey Pidge! Do you know where the labs are?", I asked as I tapped my foot impatiently.

Pidge took a while to respond, " Yeah, umm it's just at the back of the base. It's northeast!"

I heard lion roars and the crunching and banging of ships and knew I had to get a move on.

"Thanks Pidge, hang in there!", I said before taking off.

I quickly ran over to the labs and as I ran I promptly tripped on my face.

I grumbled and got up and I nearly yelled out in fear as I saw I lay on top of a dead galran soldier.

His eyes were glazed open and blood oozed from his gut in a slow sticky rivers.

I looked at the pieces on the floor and realized they were from the sentries.

Someone had obviously been here who was not a friend to the empire, and I was certain that Keith had been here.

I stood up shakily, but not before closing the soldier's eyes.

I couldn't bear it, even if he was the enemy, it just didn't feel right.

I took a shaky breath and steeled myself, pushing the scene out of my mind and focusing on finding Keith.

After a few more minutes of frantic running I reached a huge room which was clearly the Druid's lab room.

Gun blasts scorched the floor, walls and stairs.

A couple of unconscious soldiers, or what I hoped were unconscious, lay in the room scattered and several sentries were broken.

I hunkered down as I saw a couple of patrols curling the floor plan in the lab while three galran soldiers stood beside a giant metal door.

I needed to find Keith and a gut feeling told me he was past the heavy metal door on the other side.

Should I be offensive or defensive?

I decided I was only getting past everyone if I used well timed strategy and decided to try to take out as many forces as I could quietly.

I snuck and hid in corners as I waited for a patrol to pass me, I wanted to try something I'd watched in a spy movie once.

Suddenly without warning, I immediately knocked them out using my hands to knock their heads together roughly.

The two guards dropped and I sighed in relief.

Then I smiled, who knew copying the movies could work?

I continued to take out three more patrols, one which were galrans and the other two robot sentries.

One more patrol, then I would attack for the door.

As I snuck toward the three galrans who were transversing next to the door, I easily shot down the last sentry patrol.

The soldiers turned around as they heard the metal crash to the ground and looked around in suspicion.

I smiled, it was all going according to plan.

I trained my gun on them and shot one guy who stepped forward as he pulled out his gun cautiously.

The other two immediately whipped out their guns and I shot the guns down before revealing myself.

"Hands in the air,", I warned training the gun on both of them, "or I shoot."

The soldiers didn't respond well, one attacked me and I had to shoot him unconscious while the other pulled out a second gun.

I pulled up my shield just as the last galran soldier standing started firing at me.

I huffed and while still holding the shield up, fired my sharpshooter at him, knocking him out along with his buddies.

Finally, I made my way to the door and tried to open it.

I kicked the door in frustration as I saw it was a lockdown door. It wasn't going to open to anything less then an explosion.

I scoured my brain.

"C'mon Lance, I know you can think of something.", I said to myself.

I needed an explosion or maybe a really powerful blast.

I closed my eyes and concentrated, calling out to the blue lion.

I need you Blue. I need you here., I thought as I squeezed my eyes shut.

I heard Blue roar from the far side of the base and smiled as she crashed down into the lab, breaking the ceiling and several catwalks in the process.

"Yeah, Blue!!", I cheered as the blue lion blasted down the door making it fly to the next county.

I quickly rushed in the room, just knowing Keith was here.

I stopped and looked in horror at the scene before me and I was both happy and regretful I'd been right.

Happy I'd finally found Keith, regretful and horrified by the shape he was in.

I looked at the scene of blood and saw Keith's limp body lying in a dark liquid that coated the floor.

I rushed over and kneeled beside Keith and tried to evaluate the damage.

Blood was running from almost every part of his body and blood was running down his mouth in smooth rivers.

Not good. Not good at all.

I took off my helmet and gingerly picked up Keith, holding him in my arms.

"C'mon mullet, wake up.", I said shaking his shoulders a little.

Keith didn't respond. Not even a twitch or moan.

I was starting to get scared.

"Wake up! Keith, c'mon!", I cried out.

I looked at his broken and cried breastplate which had a hole right in the center.

I didn't want to but I took off the armor and saw clearly Keith had been stabbed right in the gut.

Blood covered the whole area as I tried one more test.

I put my ear to his heart and listened, but all I got was nothing.

I broke down tears streaming down my face as I brought Keith closer to my heart.

"Keith, I'm sorry!", I cried softly. "You can't leave Keith, I need you!", I confessed burying my face in the crook of his neck.

I'd been to late.

Keith was dead.

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