A/N: this chapter is long and possibly boring since it is explaining most of the story mechanics, but I promise it will get more interesting soon!
Congrats to @TopicTrash for winning the machine-naming contest!
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Soon thereafter, the Castle of Lions has made it's landing on the rocky surface of the Balmera. Lance couldn't really tell until Pidge came to help, as he was preoccupied with giving Keith a breathing mask. He was spiraling in his own little world of anxiety and guilt for not noticing Keith was ill sooner. His thoughts wandered through the forest of his dark thoughts.
I should have noticed...
I was so, so stupid...
I'm a failure...
The sudden contact of a hand with his shoulder sent fear through his spines. He jumped backward, raising his hands to his chest defensively in case of an attacker. When his nerves stilled a little bit his vision had cleared enough to make out a small redhead peering up at him curiously, their eyeglasses shining up in his face.
Pidge placed her hands on her hips in a sassy manner. "Geez, Lance. It's just me."
Lance took a deep breath to still the spikes pricking in his chest and lowered his guard. "Sorry...about that."
Pidge nodded her head, adjusting her glasses to go further towards her hazel eyes. "Well, Hunk and his girlfriend went to fetch a doctor. Shiro, Allura, and Coran are doing some diplomatic work with the leaders."
Lance's gaze landed on the pale, unconscious boy before him. The bags under his eyes were fairly evident; a bruise forming where the IV was punctured in his arm; his breathing was slow, and Lance could see the goosebumps forming along Keith's now bare arms. Keith looked way too sick and malnourished for comfort. Lance thought about placing a second IV (if that would help, he thought) in Keith's forearm before a new voice rang through the room in an echo.
"Oh my!" Shay said with a sharp gasp. Lance turned to see her in her usual attire, placing a hand over her gaping mouth with fear in her eyes. Hunk stood behind her, equally concerned. He breathed an apology when a slightly taller Balmeran pushed past him to get a good look at the sick boy. He was taller than Shay, his greenish skin slightly rougher and scratchy. He wore what was probably the equivalent to a doctor's coat, though it looked much more like a gang outfit than anything.
The Balmeran peered over Keith, taking a good look at his features. Lance watched with anxiety as the doctor pulled a metallic stethoscope-type thing from his gray handheld bag and placed it under Keith's shirt. After a few tics, he clicked his tongue and bent over to search the bag once more.
It went on like that for a while: the doctor checking Keith's blood pressure and temperature, among other stuff, while everyone else waited eagerly for him to finish. Hunk had tears threatening to leave the home that was his eyes, and he pressed his tanned face into his girlfriend's chest. She smiled down at him, remorse pricking her features. She whispered sweet nothings to the yellow paladin, though they seemed to be lost on him.
Pidge watched like a hawk would a mouse. Her hazel eyes scanned the man, or maybe they were on Keith (Lance couldn't really tell when it came to Four Eyes). She bit the bottom of her lips, her eyebrows furrowing when the doctor lifted the red paladin's gray tee and let out a raspy gasp.
Lance instantly thought of the worse, as he seemed to always jump to conclusions when it came to his rival. His lungs lost all air, making him have to gasp for air through a pounding heart and an aching chest. "What is it?" He immediately questioned. "Is he alright?"
