It all began with a bright flash of light.
...Actually, that's a lie. It started with before the mission had even started when all the paladins had gathered at the front of the ship on Allura's orders (RIP Allura).
"Alright, paladins, now that we have the rebels helping us, we should advance further into their defenses in order to get to Zarkon. Here's a layout of the ship, we are going to enter through the top."
Lance coughed. "Uhm, shouldn't we enter through the bottom? They have a weaker defense there and we could-" He stopped when he heard Pidge sigh and Shiro started glancing at him, obviously annoyed.
"Oh, uh...nevermind."
Allura pointedly stared at him for a few beats. "..As I was saying, we are going to enter through the top. Pidge, you are in charge of hacking into the defenses, Hunk and Shiro, you two are going to enter the ship and gather information, and..." Allura looked at the empty space next to Lance, where Keith would be.
She then shifted her gaze towards Lance. "Lance, you can stay here with Coran. I hear the ship needs fixing."
"Wait, what? I'm staying on the ship?! I can help-!" Shiro turned towards him. "Lance, do what you're told. Maybe you can listen instead of whining." Lance looked at him, dejected. "Okay. Sorry."
- hours later -
"Uh, Allura?" Pidge's voice strained through her comm. "There's something wrong with the defense system. The shield has different coding then usual- they've changed their security." Static started to blur out much of what she was saying. "Wai....ho.....n...It wa......ap! Shi....oming, help-!" It was quiet for a few seconds.
"Pidge? Pidge are you alright?" Allura tried to fix the connection while Lance stood, watching with Coran.
"All...a! C...hea...me? Th.....ms are....ng! It...as...trap!"
Lance stood in shock for a few seconds, then sprung to action. "Allura, it was a trap! We have to go get her!"
Allura grimaced, tapping the screen aggressively. "Allura? Cmon, we have to sav-"
"Lance would you shut up?! I'm trying to do something! Quiznak, you're such a child!" He just stared at her, then ran to Red.
-
He ran to the coordinates Pidge was supposedly was at, heart racing as he avoided guards.
As he turned the final corner, he spotted Pidge with her bayard, multiple sliced guards in pieces littering the floor. He sighed in relief. "Pidge, there you are! Are you alright?"
Pidge turned towards him and grinned. "Thank Quiznak you're here! I'm not injured but we should hurry." He stared at her in confusion as she grabbed her computer. 'Thank Quiznak'? And to him? She must be delusional.
"Pidge? Are you sure you're okay?" She looked at him with observing and wide-open eyes, though not any different than an owl.
"Yes, why do you ask?" As she said this, she dug her foot in a sentry instead of stepping over it and stood next to him. A crunch of electricity finalized his thoughts of the sentry's being alive.
He watched her warily. "No reason. But I can't wait to get back and see the team. You think Keith will be happy to see me?"
She rolled her eyes and sarcastically teased, "Oh yeah, he'll be so happy." She continued walking, not knowing Lance had drawn his Bayard behind her. How could she forget he just left for a month-long mission? No way, that's how. This was definitely not Pidge.
She turned around with the sound of his sword, eyes glaring yellow.
"Oh, Lance. This would've been so much easier if you had just believed me." And with that, she appeared behind him in a flash, and a bright white light overtook his vision before an endless abyss of dark.
