A Space In-Between (Shidge/Klance AU)

3- The Plan

"Beware the plan has multiple stages and can take weeks," Katie warned as she beckoned them to the table she stood on. No one questioned why she had stood up. They nodded to her and she smiled. "Well here it goes: step one is information. Allura and Shiro can watch over the enemies movement while me and the guys ask villagers sneaky questions. Our faces aren't pegged as traitors. We can pick out civilians who'd obviously be happy to help. Once we rally an alliance and enough info we can move to step two. Step two is infiltration. This might take the longest because what's needed is for one of us to gain an high status in Lotor's eyes. One that can sneak us in from the city. Villagers can only take us so far." She looked around and Keith raised his hands.

"I will volunteer," he said. Lance's face melted to a frown. 

"No, no, no. I will be the volunteer!" Lance said pushing Keith. Keith gave him a 'what the fudge' look and regained his balance.

"I'm best suited and I'm sure Katie will require your help with the villagers," Keith said, looking towards Katie for help. Before Katie could respond to his look of plead, Allura spoke.

"Yes, I'm sure Lance's flirtation will be very useful - actually it would. It is cute how terrible he is at it. If he can get a few words that are information coated from a few of the female villagers, then that'd help a lot!" Allura cheered. Lance perked up and place a fist on his chest.

"Yes, yes I would. Keen, or whatever your name is, you can have that lame job. I'll go serenade the ladies!" Keith tried to correct Lance, but looked at Lance's happy face and decided against it. 

"Now we have that out of the way, lets move on. The final step is defeating the prince. Though, that part is a little undeveloped. We'll work on it. We'll need the information Shiro and Allura gather from observing. Now let the mission begin! Do you two know some useful information already?" Katie continued, ignoring the previous conflict.

Shiro and Allura thought for a moment. "We don't need someone to gain that status, we already have one. The advisor is still appointed in the castle. Coran is his name. He was close to my father, if you know what I mean. A past lover. Anyway, he'll gladly assist us in overtaking the kingdom. Wait, he is not close to Lotor... but he can get Keith in," Allura explained. Katie smiled and responded to her instantly.

"Perfect."

Katie looked at the sun-filled town and non-stop movement happening in the square. Music blasted and dancers preformed. Food was lined up, beckoning people to devour. Allura and Shiro were right, there was a festival today. She looked over to Hunk and Lance- who were strangers just days ago- and nodded.

They entered the town and greeted the villagers. They received smiles and laughs back. Lance sashayed over to a female group looking at the newcomers. He gave them a smile and said something that made them laugh.

Hunk dashed off to talk to the chef and the others messing with food. Katie should've known the only reliable one would be Keith, who was taking a test to become a guard at the castle at that very moment. Allura and Shiro taught him the best they could for the three days they had. Katie sighed and marched to where two guys talked, pointing at the dancers with smiles.

"Hello, fellas," she greeted with a smile, catching their attention. The tallest smiled down at her. Katie continued, "I need help with some cultural difference. I from farther out and I don't understand what is happening." The other man nodded and pulled his hat off in a bow.

"Well, let us explain. Its King Alfor's death day today and we celebrate his rule while King Lotor thinks we are celebrating his death. Some actually are in fear of the king's ears," he said giving a smile. The man beside him gave a smile that was fake, but hard to catch. Katie didn't like him, but the one who spoke might be a possible alliance member.

"King Alfor? Please do explain. I lived in the country, separated from the world for so long. Haven't heard anything since King Vincent's rule," Katie said. She was using information Allura fed her. The one with the fake smile twitched.

"Oh? Why have you decided to come into the city now?" he asked, ignoring the look his friend gave. They defiantly were two of a kind: one of Lotor's spies and an alliance-worthy villager. Katie had prepared for a question like that.

"My father and brother disappeared when I was young- barely old enough to remember their faces- and now recently an illness took my mother. I came to the city with two of my friends. My cousin decided to enter the military using what his father taught, so I didn't travel with him. I'm actually hoping to find him sometime," Katie explained, the pain in her face real. Her story was closest to the truth then any lie could possible hold.

The possible alliance member elbowed the guy trying to make him apologize. When the guy seemed to not understand the clear gesture, the smiler did it for him. "Sorry about my eldest brother. He believes in tradition. He actually is in the military too. I'm Corso by the way," the guy said holding out a hand. Katie shook it, hoping it belonged to their culture just as hers. They guys flinched.

"You are supposed to take it and bow, then I bow," Corso said and Katie turned red. "You weren't lying when you said your family has been disconnected." Katie gave a laugh and redid the gesture the proper way.

"Sorry, my father was accounted as a rude man by my mother, though she loved him anyway," Katie explained after correcting her mistake. 

"It is fine. What is your name, I don't believe I've been granted the knowledge of it yet," the man next to Corso said, holding out his hand to her. Katie repeated the gesture and the man half-willingly did a sloppy version of Corso's respectful bow. "Though, I assume you want mine before yours is given. All ladies do. I'm Bon."

Katie gave the two a smile, a sincere one unlike Bon's. "I'm Pidge Gunderson, at your service," she said. They seemed unfazed by the strange name. Allura had given her approval of the name so of course they didn't. Katie continued to discuss things with the two until a commotion started.

The three turned to Lance having a glass poured over his head by an offended lady with a man's arm wrapped around her shoulder. Lance wasn't smiling and Hunk gave him a disapproving stare. Katie slapped her forehead and pardoned herself. She walked over to Lance with Hunk doing the same.

"What the heck, Lance?" they said in unison. Lance turned to them, dripping wet. He gave them an awkward smile and Katie rolled her eyes. At least she gained some interesting info from the two brothers. Corso was defiantly a freedom fighter and Bon was obviously a spy.

XD I failed to get this out before 21 o'clock (9 PM). Whoops lolol

-ThatOneServant out!