Half But Never Whole

Chapter 4 - Half A Team

"You fight like a Galra!" Zarkon sneered at him before rushing forward to attack again.

"I knew we couldn't trust him." Allura hissed as she and the other paladins began surrounding him, their bayards raised, aimed at him.

"W-what?" Keith gasped, turning around frantically. they had formed a circle around him.

**********

It was time for the next part of their mission. No time for arguments. They were still able to form Voltron much to Allura's relief.

Shiro reiterated the entire plan one last time to the team, Allura, Coran, Kolivan, and a masked blade member, before heading toward the Black Lion.

"Shiro!" Shiro turned to see Keith approach him and threw his arms around him, face buried in his shoulder. "Take care out there." It's been a while since Shiro saw Keith so vulnerable, his heart ached for his brother.

"I'll be gone for a tick," he replied with a smile. "Hold down the fort for me until then?" Keith nodded with a small smile. Someone cleared their throat from behind and they both jumped, only realizing that the team and Kolivan had been watching them. At once all emotion cleared itself from Keith's face. He became as stoic as Kolivan as he stepped back in line with the others. Shiro nodded to the others before heading back out.

Several dobaches later there was still no word from the blade called Thace. He was supposed to make contact with his team once he reached his position.

"Zarkon took the bait. He's got my location." Shiro said as soon as he popped up on the screen. "Is everybody in position?"

"We haven't had word from Thace yet." Kolivan said "It has been over 2 vargas. It is most likely he's been caught or killed. We must abort this mission immediately."

"Abort?" Allura cried in anger. "We cannot abort now."

"We need Thace to take down Zarkon's security system and upload the virus. If our man inside is caught we cannot take any chances. It's how we've survived for so long." The masked blade said.

"It's held you back." Allura snapped.

"We would rather wait than jeopardize everything, besides it's too late to get someone else on the inside," Kolivan added.

"I'll do it," Keith said, getting to his feet. "For once being Galra could work to our advantage."

"What?" Allura said flabbergasted.

"Pidge, you can rig one of the pods with a clocking device, right?" Keith continued, ignoring Allura. Pidge nodded nervously.

"Going into Zarkon's ship is a suicide mission," Kolivan growled. "I would never command someone so inexperienced to go in there alone."

"No one is commanding me. I'm doing it." Keith replied firmly.

"Pidge, get that pod ready," Shiro said from the screen before anyone else could say anything. "Keith... Let me know when you are on your way, I'll give you cover." Keith nodded before following Pidge to the pods.

"Listen." Pidge began slowly, eyes fixed determinedly on the pod as they worked. "I know I've been a shitty teammate lately... but... Just don't fucking die ok? I-if you do.... I'll kill you." Keith looked down at them in surprise and then smiled. "Duly noted."

**********

Lance waited patiently for the green light. he was itching to get back into Blue and kick some furry purple alien ass.