Don't Ask About My Demons

In Which a Message is Reached

Many light years away, on a lone desert planet with a mere population of ten, a soldier and an old woman sat across from one another in the old woman's kitchen. Such an event may have been considered strange, especially due to the fact that the old woman was deemed crazy by all but the soldier who sat before her.

"Did you get the message?" The old woman asked.

The armored soldier shook her head, retracting her visor to allow her to take a drink from her cup. Gleaming yellow eyes stared over the brim. "Enlighten me."

"It's about Voltron. They're trying to organize an uprising... one may even call it a revolt. Something about setting one of their Paladins free?"

The soldier swirled her glass in hand. "Hm... so even Voltron needs saving now?"

"It would appear so. The Galra can be a nasty bunch. Except for you, of course, dearie. Although I would prefer it if you didn't place your weapons on the table."

The soldier laughed and picked up the double blades. The Galra symbols glistened in the light before the soldier returned them to their sheaths. "Gran, you've had more protection from me than that old guard cat of yours since you took me in. And that's saying something!"

The old woman smiled. "I was surprised that Miyuki took such a liking to you. He hates almost everyone. The mail carriers don't come to the house anymore. After the first two were eaten, the rest seem a bit hesitant. I can't imagine why."

"Is that why I haven't seen them come by? I thought you cancelled your magazine subscriptions." The soldier snorted. "We should send Miyuki after the Galra. Maybe then we can finally end this blasted war." The soldier intended to be lighthearted but ended with a dark tone.

"Now, now!" The old woman scolded. "We'll have none of that negativity at MY table! Its bad for the plants! They thrive on positive emotion, you know!" Gran gestured to a collection of plants decorating the centerpiece. Some plants were long and twisted while others were short and spiny. A few seemed to have a mind of their own, snapping at the minor disturbances in the air like hungry snakes.

"Of course they do, Gran." She responded with a considerate glance toward the odd arrangement of flora. "So you were saying something about Voltron?" The soldier leaned over the table in interest.

"Oh yes! Sorry! My poor brain gets so discombobulated sometimes! The Red Paladin..."

"Do you have any knowledge of who it is?" The soldier took another swig.

Gran tapped her chin. "Now let's see if I remember correctly." She sat back in the wooden chair. Almost instantly, a fluffy purple cat with various spikes along its spine hopped onto her lap. Gran petted the creature absentmindedly. "...It was the Red Paladin, I believe. Something about... a Galra and human hybrid-- that's big news, apparently. Honestly, it's ridiculous. If a human and a Galra love each other, why shouldn't they be able to have a family? It's downright sickening to hate someone for how they're born! Isn't that right, Miyuki?"

The cat made a sound in resemblance to tv static all the while staring at nothing in particular with eyes as black as the darkest corner of the galaxy.

"Miyuki agrees with you." The soldier smiled for a moment before frowning slightly. "I wish everyone thought the way you do, Gran."

"Everyone isn't as perfect as I am, dearie."

"But they're just rumors, aren't they? The Red Paladin couldn't possibly be half human, half Galra, could he?"

"I never said he was a boy."

"Lucky guess."

"Right. I guess it makes sense for him to be a boy. I mean, the Galra are overrun by men, huh?"