Disturbed Utopia

The Meeting.

Lance sat in a room that was much too large for the white, marble table that the six Altea Academy students were at.

They were all at what was known as the city hall, where the Council and the Government held meetings. Where Lance would now continue to visit and continue to know the other kids that are now around the table.

The other kids... Lance couldn't help but feel sorry them as much as he felt sorry for himself. It was not uncommon for people to hate this heavy position, but they had no choice.
The others looked defeated. Well, he would like to say that they all did, but one person seemed to hold an expression of determination. He had strange hair, only one part was white, at the front, while the rest of his hair was black, and he sported a scar right across his nose.

"Now!" Lance jerked his attention to the redheaded Government official at the end of the table. He introduced himself as Coran and had a moustache that Lance found to be impressive.
"We will go around and introduce ourselves! We must get to know one another as we will be like a family from now on!" His bubbly personality seemed out of place from the usual, deadbeat personality most Government officials seemed to carry. "I am Coran, as you must know by now, and I shall be your guidance counsellor until you are all sure of your responsibilities. If you have any questions, feel free to ask! Now let's start from here."
Coran pointed to a small girl to his left, Lance recalled her being her the one that has been screaming in the school hall.

She looked around nervously as everyone looked over at her. She took a deep breath with her eyes closed.
As she opened them again she had a new look in her eyes, as to say *these people's opinion means nothing to me*
"I am Katie, although I go by the name of Pidge. I'm in the ninth year. Let's get along."
Around the group, there were mummers of "hi Pidge" as if this was an AA meeting. Lance laughed quietly to himself as to that no one would hear him.

Next was another girl. Lance had remembered her from being from his engineering class. She was quite muscly, different from the typical girl in Altea, as this society has strict standards.
"Hi!" She smiled way too happily "I'm Shay! I'm excited to get to know you all"
The group seemed to respond more enthusiastically with her cheerful and kind greeting.

Lance stopped paying so much attention.

The next was a guy named Hunk, who was also incredibly friendly. He also wore blue.
Then the guy with weird hair, who happened to be called Shiro. He wore black, indicating his in his last year of the academy.

Then Lance introduced himself, trying to act cool and collected, much like the opposite of what he normally was.
And lastly was the most beautiful girl Lance had laid his eyes on.

She had long, fluffy, white hair, and beautifully tanned skin, extremely tanned even in contrast to her black uniform. As Allura looked around the group, she made direct eye contact with Lance, which he took as an opportunity to look back at her with his signature flirty smirk.
She seemed startled and quickly looked away.

"Great! I have a good feeling about this group. Now, we must discuss a few things. First and foremost, this week you shall all be getting to know one another. Therefore we can have a vote as to who you think should be the Council leader," Coran placed a finger seemingly randomly on the white table. Then in front of him appeared a blue, almost translucent screen with writing on it.
It was a checklist. God, Lance hated checklists.

"And so during this week we must also discuss the issue with the troubling gang 'Blade of Marmora'" he continued to tell us everything we already had to deal with. Whilst Coran talked about these horrid things happening in Altea, Lance glanced over at Pidge, who had a look of crazy wonder. *Who in their right mind would be happy with what he's discussing?!* Lance couldn't help but think.

Then he understood as she placed a finger tentatively on the table. Without a second delay another blue screen appeared, to which Pidge looked even more delighted. Lance heard Allura chuckle slightly, and Lance found himself doing the same.

Coran looked startled, and then composed himself quickly.
He cleared his throat "Yes, right. We will also be learning how to use this technology. It's very different from what you are all used to at the Academy. Speaking of which, you are all still expected to finish your education," Lance let out a groan "Also, Lance," Coran pointedly looked at the said boy, "We must discuss this 'Marmora' business. This," Coran pressed the screen, and a photo popped up "is Kolivan, known to be the leader of this gang. This gang is at war with another, a gang called 'The Galra Circle.' We must interfere and protect the Altean citizens from these rebels. Now, this is Kolivan's right hand," Coran pressed another button on the screen, and Lance's eyes widened at the sight.

A boy, around the same age as Lance, appeared on the screen. Lance would recognise that mullet anywhere.
"Keith," Shiro said out loud before Lance got the chance.

"Why yes Shiro, how did you know?"

"We knew each other once upon a time," his eyes focused on the photo of Keith. Although Lance would like to say it was a look of hate Shiro held for Keith, much like how Lance felt towards Keith, it was instead a look of affection.

Lance quickly spoke up, "I knew him too! We were rivals back in our 8th year of school."

"Well," Coran stroked his moustache "this could be useful for us to make contact with the Blade of Mormora."

Allura perked up and stood with her hands on the table. "We could contact them and ask for a treaty. We could excuse their crimes if they were to help us!"

"No way!" Pidge exclaimed, and stood up much like Allura had, "these are criminals! They have killed people, tortured people. We can't give them mercy!"

*How are they not activating the screens now?* Lance asks himself.

"But we need to make peace with these people! And besides, what does it matter that much to you?" She thought for a moment, then her face changed to a look of compassion. She took one hand off the table and lightly kept the other one settled. "Wait... did they hurt someone who you care for?" Allura asked.

The room was silent for a full two minutes, everyone looking over expectantly at Pidge, her face still scrunched up.
She then settles her features and sighs. She sits back down, her hands still on the table.
"I don't know. All I know is that they kidnapped my brother, and I haven't seen him for years."

There was an awkward silence.

"Not only did Keith go over to them without choice, they even kidnapped a friend I cared for very much. I cannot forgive them," Shiro joined in, making the air even tenser.

Lance felt the urgent need to fill in the silence. He searched his mind for something that could be deemed comforting.
"Ummm," he finally started, all eyes turned to him, "how are you guys not activating the screens right now?"