A Sacrifice for Understanding

Chapter 8

*Author's Note: Just to clear things up, this story is currently in the time period when season 7 takes place, Keith was 21 when season 7 takes place. Originally, Lance was 19 when season 7 takes place, however, in this, he was 21 when they received the distress signal and is now 25 at the time when season 7 takes place. (He arrived on Earth right before the Galra invasion happened and the distress signal was sent)*

The paladins exchanged wary glances, unsure of what to make of the woman who had so easily dispatched the Galra drones. Hunk, however, was the first to speak, his voice tinged with recognition. "Veronica?"

She nodded curtly, her face unreadable as she turned toward the remaining drones, her weapon flashing with precision as she shot them down. She gestured for them to follow. "Come on, before more of them show up."

Allura and Coran hesitated for a moment, uncertainty flickering in their eyes, but the eagerness of the other paladins quickly overcame any doubts. They hurried after Veronica as she led the group through the city, her pace purposeful. The journey was short, but the tension in the air was thick. When they reached the Garrison, they stopped dead in their tracks, eyes wide with surprise.

A massive particle barrier surrounded the Garrison, shimmering in the light. The paladins exchanged glances, their thoughts a mix of confusion and concern. This wasn't just a defensive measure—it was something much more.

Standing at the entrance was Lance.

His posture was rigid, his expression cold and unreadable. The paladins' hearts sank as they took in his presence. He wasn't the smiling, joking friend they remembered; this Lance was distant, hardened.

As they stepped closer, Hunk and Pidge rushed forward, eager to close the distance between them and their long-lost friend. They were ready to embrace him, to welcome him back into the fold, but just as they reached out, Lance stepped back, his eyes narrowing.

Allura, her patience already strained from the journey, took a step forward, her voice rising with frustration. "Lance! We didn't come all this way just to be treated like this by one of our own!"

Lance's gaze remained icy, his jaw set. "Then maybe you shouldn't have come," he replied, his tone biting, his words laced with a mix of bitterness and unresolved anger.

The group stood in stunned silence, the sting of his words hanging in the air. Keith clenched his fists, but it was Allura who broke the silence, her voice a sharp, determined cry. "The Galra will destroy Earth if we don't work together to stop them!"

Lance stood motionless, his gaze flickering momentarily toward the Garrison's walls. The weight of Allura's words seemed to hit him, but for a brief moment, he didn't move. His mind raced, the guilt slowly creeping into his chest. Had he really been so consumed with his own pain that he failed to see the bigger picture? The fate of Earth—of all the people he had been trying to protect—was hanging in the balance.

The realization hit him hard, like a blow to the gut. His shoulders sagged, and his gaze softened, but only for a moment. The coldness returned, replaced by the ever-present guilt that gnawed at him.

Lance turned away from them, his eyes never leaving the Garrison's walls. His voice was barely a whisper, more to himself than anyone else. "Stupid Lance, you can't save them yourself..."

 Without another word, he began to walk back toward the entrance of the Garrison, his footsteps heavy with the weight of his internal conflict. The paladins exchanged worried glances, unsure of what to do, but they knew one thing: they couldn't afford to lose Lance again. Not now, when everything was on the line.

But Lance didn't look back. His focus was on the mission, on the people he had sworn to protect. Despite his overwhelming guilt, he knew what had to be done.