30
Sometimes silence is deafening.
The halls of the castle were quiet when they all returned. Corran had been thankful to see them all but the worry on his face couldn't be hidden when he realized Lance was not with them. He swallowed hard, remembering the conversation he had with him only days before. However, needing to attend to the princess, he pushed his fear away and took off.
Everyone was quiet, not really sure what to do.
Hunk had gone to the kitchen, cooking to help calm his nerves. He had stirred the same bowl of ingredients far longer than he needed to.
Shiro stays planted by the entrance, waiting for Lance's arrival. If Lance didn't return, it would be his fault and he knows this. So the best he can do right now is hope that Lance was right.
Pidge, however, had taken to the computers. She had been trying to get different radio waves to be more easily heard. In doing so, she'd found many different ways to get ahold of the team. Quickly, she started to send signals to the blades. She needed to get to Keith. He had to know what was happening. He needs to come back and help.
"Keith. Come in Keith. Pidgeon here." She says once she's found the right wavelength.
"Pidge?" Keith says surprised. "What's going on?"
"Lance isn't here. I'm worried." Her words are short. "Come back?"
"Wait. What happened to Lance?" Keith can't hide the worry resonating in his voice.
"He might be fine. He might not. Our plan fell through."
"The blades and I tried to tell you to give us-"
"Keith. I know. We were wrong." Pidge's voice is fragile. "We need you. Just in case?"
"No in case." Keith responds harshly. "Lance will be fine."
"But-"
"No."
With that, Pidge ended the call and went back to working with radio waves. She would have to distract herself somehow.
Despite his words, Keith does head back to the castle. It takes him nearly two quintants to arrive. When he walks in the doors, Keith can tell Lance has not arrived from the quietude that echos the halls. He storms into the main hall, and is met with a tired looking Shiro.
"Keith!" Shiro says excitedly.
"Where did you leave him?"
"You mean Lance?"
"Who else did you all leave behind?"
"We didn't have any other -"
"GUYS WE HAVE A PROBLEM!" Pidge shouts through the intercom. "Come now!"
Keith and Shiro dart into the main room. Static sounds through the com.
"What's going on Pi-"
Pidge puts her finger up.
--
More static. Loud, painful static. Then a breath .
"Forty five," The voice on the other end is Lance, they can all tell that. But his voice is broken and airy. "Grass between my toes."
"What is this one even talking about!?" Says another voice through the com.
"He's not making any sense." Replies a second voice.
Static. Banging. A gasp.
"Answer the question!" Says the first strange voice.
"Forty six," Lance's voice is even more tense this time. "Swimming in the ocean."
--
"What is happening?!" Keith can't hold back his anger.
"If I had to guess, he's being tortured for information." Pidge responds through gritted teeth.
"What is he counting?" Hunk asks.
"That I'm not sure of." Pidge nods. "I'm trying to track the location of the helm now."
--
"All you have to do is tell us where they are." Says the original voice. "It shouldn't be that hard."
"Forty seven." Lance responds.
"Enough of your counting!" Shouts the voice through the com.
Static. A lot of static. Coughing.
"The full moon." Lance chokes up.
