The Monster in the Sky. Klance AU

Chapter 16: Sleepy Time

Happy New Year everyone! :)

"Keith," Hunk hissed, swallowing thickly to suppress the tears welling up in his eyes. "Keith, you have to open your eyes. At least tell me you can hear me." He continuously diverted his gaze between Keith and the closest rebel who was holding the gun that had blasted Keith. The red paladin seemed to still be out cold but all the others could do was watch. They could only hope that Lance was getting them help because Hunk wasn't sure how long Keith was going to be able to survive.

A groan from Keith sparked a tiny glimmer of hope inside Hunk's heart. Regardless of the excruciating pain laced in the noise, it was a solid sign that Keith was alive- and he could hear Hunk.

"Stay strong for us, alright? I'm sure Lance is going to save the day at any second and then we can get you help."

Keith moaned, face scrunching up in an expression that could have only been read as immeasurable pain. "It hurts..." He choked out, voice raspy as if he hadn't had anything to drink for awhile. Tears were trailing down his cheeks but he wasn't even aware of them. All his body was able to focus on was the sharp pain in his shoulder where the gunshot had hit him. It felt like the joint had been set on fire multiple times.

"I know it does," Hunk snapped his neck up to ensure the rebels hadn't heard what he said. They can't have. They were patrolling the areas, all walking up and down the length of the room with the exception of one who had the barrel of his gun against Shiro's head. "You're going to be okay."

"Be quiet!" The rebel yelled, smacking Hunk with the butt of his gun. Hunk let out a sharp hiss, wishing he had checked on the guard a second time before opening his mouth again. The force of the hit sent him catapulting onto his knees.

-

"Why are you doing this?" Lance choked out, though his words sounded more like a sob than an actual sentence. He was surprised that Dr Anderson could even understand him when he was in such a state. Lance didn't think he had cried so much before in his life; not even when he had been back on Earth. There was just something about someone you trust betraying you and knowing all of your friends' lives were in your hands that hurt. It hurt more than being hit by a car going at full speed. It hurt more than being involved in a plane crash. It hurt more than any physical pain ever could.

"Voltron took everything from me, Lance. Everything." The alien pulled something small from his back pocket and watched as it glowed for a moment. It was bright enough to be a liable energy source for the entire room; perhaps the whole floor even. After a few seconds, the device expanded into the size of a gun. The same kind the guards had had outside. The same one being pressed into Shiro's head.

"But how? We defeated the Galra and protected the-"

"Shut up!" Luckily, Dr Anderson decided to hit Lance with the gun itself, as opposed to a bullet. The impact still sent him hurtling towards his knees, the gun he had been holding- his only hope- skidding across the floor just out of his reach. "Do you remember Aliyah?"

Lance had met so many people on his escapades with Voltron so the name didn't even seem familiar to him. The way his face fell and his shoulders slumped made that obvious enough. It wasn't as if it was anything personal; that much was apparent in Lance's appearance on Garfle Warfle Snick. He wasn't the best person with names, especially when he had heard hundreds throughout his journey through space.

"She was my daughter. The Galrans kept her prisoner on one of their ships. Voltron came to Alkafa to form an alliance and promised you'd bring all of our children back safe. Sure, you brought some back but not my Aliyah. She was four years old when she was taken. She was supposed to be staring school but, instead, she was kidnapped. You never brought her home." Lance could see how much Dr Anderson's hands were trembling around the weapon; a sign that he didn't really want to hurt Lance. "I lost my baby because of you. You should have saved her."