Voltron- beyond the stars

8-Retrieval

"You'll need to retrieve the Red Lion from Sendak's ship," Allura explains in front of the diagram.
"That's a pretty big ship," Keith replies. "How are we suppose to know where the Red Lion is?" Keith asks, still unconvinced.
"Well it's not a matter of 'us'. It's a matter of 'you'," Pidge smiles.
"Pidge is right. Once we sneak you onto the ship, you're going to feel its presence and be able to track it down," Hunk acts out.
"Yeah! Remember when you felt that crazy energy in the desert?" Lance jumps in.
"Yeah. You made fun of me for that," Keith points out.
"Aaaand I'm proud of that. But it turns out that mumbo jumbo is exactly what you need," Lance brags.
"Keith, remember, the red lion is extremely temperamental," Allura reminds.
Same as the pilot. Will that be a good match?
"You'll have to earn its respect."
Keith nods and Shiro places his hand on his shoulder.
"All right, here's our plan of attack," Shiro explains.

I hop out of Roo with my helmet protecting me from immediately dying from exposure to space. I patiently wait as Pidge slices a hole through the ship with his bayard. The four of us slip in and I follow Shiro as he travels along the corridor. Shiro peeks down the vent and pulls it out, setting it aside. He swings his legs over and falls down, his jetpack slowing his fall. After I decide it's safe enough for me to go I do the same thing, my jetpack automatically turning on. I set down on the ground and stay alert as Pidge and Keith drop into position.

"Pidge, what's your ETA?" Lance asks, his voice filling my ears.
"We're in," Pidge whispers back.
"Let's go."
I nod and hold off activating my bayard. I don't know the most effective way to sneak around with a six foot stick.
I lose track of where we're going. Keith peaks out from a turn and Shiro follows, Pidge staying crouched. I jog up to Keith, cautiously peering down the end of the hall. I hear Shiro suddenly groan so I spin around.
"Shiro? What's wrong?" I urgently ask.
"I- I've been here before. After I was taken by the Galra off of Kerberos. They brought us here," Shiro replies.
"So the other crew members might be held captive here," Pidge hopefully pipes up, "We- We gotta rescue them!"

Shiro's face twists up in what I assume to be anger. Or is it regret? I'm not sure whether it's from another bad memory, regret, or from Pidge's inability to stay focused on the mission, but whatever it was it was pissing Shiro off.
"Pidge, we don't have time. We have to find the Red Lion and get back to Arus," Shiro reminds, his fists clenched.
"But we can't just leave prisoners here!" Pidge protests.
"Look, no one understands that more than me, but in war we have to make hard choices. Now let's get moving," Shiro decides, beginning to walk down the hall.

Shiro's right. We have to finish our mission. We have to be able to form Voltron. We'll come back for the prisoners. I follow Shiro down the hall, but Pidge's scream stops me in my tracks.
"No!"
I turn around, startled at his unnecessary outburst. What part about surprise attack did you not understand?

"Commander Holt is my father," Pidge admits, "My brother was also on the Kerberos mission with you."
"Commander Holt is your father?" Shiro repeats.
"Yes! I've been searching everywhere for him and my brother and I'm not going to give up when I'm this close to finding them! I won't!" Pidge defies, turning in the other direction.
"Wait! I'm coming with you," Shiro promises.
"What?" Keith and I simultaneously say. We really shouldn't deviate from the plan.
"I remember where the prisoners are held. Change of plans, Keith. You go find the Red Lion. Luna, go accompany him," Shiro instructs.
I have no idea how to fight. Keith has a bit more experience, but he hasn't had proper training. What if we run into guards?
"Are you sure without you we'll be fine?" Keith ponders.
"You'll be fine. Remember, patience yields focus," Shiro directs.
I hear the doors slide open from the perpendicular hall and a flash light appearing.
"We got to go! Run!" I yell, and set off with Keith in the opposite direction of Pidge and Shiro.

I run side by side with Keith and skid to a stop.
"Great, now which way?" Keith thinks out loud.
"Ummmm."
Before we can decide there are footsteps to the left side so we're forced to go down the right.

Run. Turn. Hide. Turn. Run. Aaaand we're back where we started.
"Argh!" Keith shouts, frustrated.
"What the hell man!" I scream, throwing up my hands in exasperation.
"Do you know even where we need to go?" I ask Keith.
"No! So just shut up and let me concentrate!" He snaps.
I stare at him, my heart deflating. Why did he yell at me? I was just asking a simple question.

My emotions must have been shown on my face, because Keith's snarl quickly disappears.
"I'm sorry."
I stare at him, silent.
"Just find the Red Lion," I tell him, trying to keep my voice from shaking.

He opens his mouth, but quickly closes it and nods. He shuts his eyes and I breathe in and out. This is no time to start crying. I need to stay focused on the task at hand. I need to stay alert while Keith does whatever the heck he's doing.

About twenty seconds pass before Keith opens his eyes.
"Got you! Let's go!"
He sets off in the direction we had originally came from, and shouts, "C'mon Luna!"
I sigh, and follow Keith.

We eventually run into a humongous room basked in a red light. The Red Lion sits curled up in the center, encased in its honeycomb shield. It looked uncomfortable, and I was reminded of animals in a zoo: Unwillingly being taken from their homes and forced to serve a higher force for no benefits.

"Bingo," Keith smirks, coming to a halt in front of his future lion. He reaches his hand up and places it on the shield, ripples flowing out from his touch.
"Let's get out of here. Open up," he orders.
Nothing happens.
"It's me, Keith. Your buddy," he tries again.
His eyebrows turn, and so does his tone.
"It's me! Keeeeith! I- I am your paladin!"
He pounds on the shield.
"Keith, maybe you should calm d-"

I'm interrupted by a wave of bullets coming from behind us. I put my arms up in an attempt to block, but quickly remember I have a shield. I tap my left wrist, and my shield materializes, thankfully before I get hit. I see Keith do the same.

"Hey! Open up! I'm bonding with you!" He shouts over the sounds of the lasers.
"C'mon! We're connected!"
"We can't just stand here!" I scream, the lasers pounding on our shields.
Keith groans and activates his bayard. I decide to do the same.
"On my ma-"
Completely ignoring my countdown Keith rushes forward at the alien thing coming at us.
Of course.
I charge after Keith and drop my shield once I get close enough. I'm assuming it'd just materialize again. I grab my staff with both hands and swing it at the alien Keith had pushed aside, cutting it in half.

I look up and see Keith slice the legs off of another one. He straightens back up just to be pushed down by the remaining three alien's bullets. I tap my wrist, but my shield doesn't materialize.
"Shit!" I curse. I turn around to look for it, but am knocked down by the flurry of bullets.
It stings, but it doesn't hurt.
I sit up and realize Keith is a few feet from me and the aliens are running towards us.

"Luna! Hold on!" He shouts, holding his arm out.
Without thinking I pounce at him, clasping his arm, before I reach over and grab the control panel. He slams his hand down on the center button and the ship opens up, revealing space.

Don't let go don't let go don't let go. Keith and I are both struggling to hold on to the panel; I know we simply aren't strong enough to hold out against the suction of the outside.

Debris is also falling through. I hear Keith grunt and one arm loosen from the panel.
"No!"
I look at him flailing around, struggling to regain his grip.
I let go with my left and almost get yanked off. I outstretch my hand and Keith attempts to grab it.
His eyes dart up, accompanied with a "Look out!"
I don't have enough time to see what happens, all I feel is a giant scrap of something impact my right side and I lose my grip.

I'm flung out. Regain composure Luna you are not dying
I try to make myself stop moving so violently.
"Keith?!"
I hear heavy breathing on his side, but no words.
What do I do, what do I do? I don't want to drift away from him, I can't!
All of a sudden I hear a growl, and I'm encased in something.
What's going on?!
Relax
I'm blindly sent who knows where, and a couple seconds later I emerge in Roo's control room.
Was that Roo in my head just now?
"Thanks buddy," I laugh, scooting up in my chair.
"Keith? Are you with the Red Lion?" I ask, seeing it outside.
"You betcha," he replies.
"Let's go then!" I shout, driving Roo to Arus.

A.N.
Thank you all for being so patient. Also 1K reads WTH IM, I NEVER EXPECTED THAT TO HAPPEN WHAT AHH THANK YOU SO MUCH I APPRECIATE YOU ALL!