Don't Ask, I'll Never Tell

A Revelation

The three Paladins stood with their backs against the wall. Keith glanced around the corner then turned to the other two. "Okay, we're getting close now."

"Keith."

Keith's attention switched to Pidge. "Yeah?"

"I hope you don't expect to fight again. Not until we find your bayard, at least."

"If all goes well, we may not have to." Keith answered passively.

"With our luck, we will." Lance argued. "I suggest we get the answers we're looking for and get out, asap."

"That's the plan." Keith turned his attention to Pidge. "Pidge, do you think you'll be able to locate my armor?"

"I should be able to. I just need to trace the location from where the last comm went out and go from there." She tinkered with her helmet for a moment. "Got it. It's... wait."

"What's wrong?" Keith asked.

"It... It's on the move. Either someone's relocating it or..." Her face contorted with confusion for a split second before she seized both Keith and Lance's arms in either hand. "We need to move! Now!"

They ducked behind a pillar in the next corridor. "What's the--"

"Shh!" Pidge slapped a hand over Lance's mouth as heavy footsteps echoed down the corridor. 

Keith risked a glance from behind the pillar to see the vague outline of a person about his height in the red paladin armor. He threw himself back against the wall when he saw the figure beginning to turn toward their hiding place. The three paladins waited with baited breath as the footsteps came closer. Each step seemed agonizingly slow as it closed the distance between itself and their hiding place.

Just as the armored figure stepped into sight, it stopped to survey the area. When Keith saw the its face, he covered his mouth to prevent himself from making a sound. Lance's eyes widened and he grunted with shock. However, luckily for the three of them, he was muffled by Pidge's hand which remained firmly pressed against his mouth.

It was like looking through a mirror, Keith thought. There he stood, the Other Keith, in his red paladin armor. There was hardly a difference in sight. They could have been twins. Pidge and Lance turned to Keith as if searching for an explanation. But there was none to give. He was just as confused as they were. Keith shook his head. This simply wasn't possible. This had to be another illusionary dream. But he knew, deep down, that the figure who stood before him was as real himself. 

After a few ticks, the Other Keith continued onward and the three Paladins released the breath that they hadn't been aware that they were holding. 

"Keith?" Lance started.

"I know." Keith replied.

"What's going on, here?" Pidge asked.

Keith ran a nervous hand through his hair. "I don't know. But this can't be good."