Don't You Trust me?

Flight Arrangement

There was a total of four pods lined up ready to go. They were compact enough to fit two drivers and one passenger as well as a small load of cargo. Along with a band of agents, Lance and Keith stepped into the clearing. The wind picked up slightly sending a set of leaves dancing through the air.

Lance turned to the group, "You all have your assignments, get in and get out." She gestured her hand towards her, "Let's move out!"

The agents divided into their groups of three making their way to their pods. Lance led the way to the pod Keith close behind. The wind was getting choppier as they made their way across the clearing. They boarded, and he allowed the door to secure before speaking.

"Where's our third person?" he looked around him only to see no one.

"I'm right here," Krolia replied walking into the room, she placed her hand on Keith's shoulder, "Ready to go?"

"We're all good to go," Lance replied, "Could you start take-off?"

Krolia nodded, she quickly disappeared through the door that led to the cockpit. As soon as the door shut Lance turned to Keith.

"You good?"

Keith met her eyes furrowing his eyebrows, "Yeah why wouldn't I be?"

"It's just I could've sworn that you tensed up when your mother placed her hand on your shoulder?" She reached out to do the same, but before she had the chance to make contact he pulled away.

"Just leave it alone Lance," He growled, "It's fine, it's merely something I need to get used too." He ran his hand through his hair. His raven bangs fell back into place as he sighed.

"You should go upfront and get to know her," Lance suggested.

"You sure? Isn't that like your chair or something?"

Lance chuckled, "No, no matter your rank you sit anywhere you can fit. So-" She pushed him toward the door that led him to the cockpit- "Go talk to your mom." After resisting Keith finally gave in and walked through the doors. He came to another set of doors after only taking a step and they opened upon his approach.

"We're prepared to talk off when you-" Krolia turned in her seat expecting to find Lance, but instead found Keith.

"Oh, Hi Keith." she said turning more in her seat, "Where's Lance?"

"She's..um she's in the back...." He ran his hand over the back of his neck, "She...Uh she wanted me to sit up here with you and...um..." his eyes wandered throughout the cockpit while he searched for the right word.

The cockpit was a little cramped, but it wasn't that bad. The two captain seats sat side by side with just enough room to get in and out of them without having to climb over something.

"...Catch up," He finally said finding the right word. He settled himself into his seat. Taking one look at the controls, he knew that he had no idea how to fly this pod, but he figured out how to fly his lion so he could figure out how to fly this right?

"It's easy enough. You'll catch on quick," Krolia said adjusting herself in her seat. Keith jumped when he heard her speak.

"Oh, yeah..I uh..figured," he replied awkwardly.

Krolia pressed a button to her left, "We're all set. Taking off in 3...2...1. The pod took off gently rising above the treeline. From what he could perceive from the pod's windshield, he saw the other three pods rise with them. He turned when he heard his mother speak once more.

"Were clear of the tree line and ready to leave the atmosphere. Will make contact when we have reached the location."

A response from the radio reached Keith's ears right before the pod picked up speed and they were off.

It had been a while since they had taken off and Lance being by herself in the back of the pod was bored out of her mind. It would've been easier if they had been allowed to talk, but sneaking onto a Galra ship required entire radio silence, and many hand signals.

Her communicator started buzzing in her hand. Flipping it over she saw it was Jarep calling. She answered holding it up so she could hear him.

"Hey Jarep, what's up?"

"Just wanted to check in to make sure everything was still on the right track."

"Jarep this isn't my first mission, and since when did you start checking in on missions?" She asked. Something in the pit of her stomach didn't feel right, Jarep was making her uneasy.

"Since I saw the video, the Paladins have of "Krolia"."

Lance could practically hear the quotation marks, "you've got to be kidding me, not this again-" she switched hands with the communicator- "I told them that was absurd."

"As did I, but then I made contact with the Blade-"

"You did what?!" Lance leapt to her feet.

"They even said that Krolia hasn't made contact with them for a while now. So the likelihood of that being Krolia is very slim."

Lance looked towards the door that lead to the cockpit, "yeah, but there's still a chance."

"Even then you need being careful."

"Fine. If you insist I will keep my eyes open," Lance said before hanging up.

Almost immediately the doors slid open and Krolia walked into the room. Something was off as she approached almost like she was withholding something. Krolia stopped right in front of Lance her hands behind her back.

"We have eyes on the ship."

"That's good. But why are you informing me in person? I can hear over the radio?" Lance glanced behind her to the door.

Without warning Krolia's hands slipped around her neck squeezing the life out of her. Gritting her teeth, Lance kicked out her legs. Making contact with Krolia she sent her falling onto her back. Without waiting for her to get back up Lance flew from her seat, tackling Krolia. Krolia, however, rolled out of the way. Climbing back to her feet Lance was ready to go at her again when an unseen force kept her from moving.

Krolia approached holding her right hand out in front, in her left she possessed a tool that was about the length of her forearm. The mysterious force seemed to grow stronger as "Krolia" approached. Oh shit. Was the last thing that she thought before everything went black.

Keith turned to see his mom enter and settle back into her chair. She brushed her hair behind her ears.

"Everything go okay? I thought I heard a crash?"

"Affirmative, everything went fine. Lance said that she was going to go off and see what she could find on her own when we infiltrate the ship.

Keith only nodded in response. The fact that only over the span of a few days he learned a lot more about Lance from other people then he had when he was with her caused him to believe what his mother told him.

"Why didn't she come up here and tell us that herself?"

"She..Um...I needed to tell her something that was confidential." She replied turning her head slightly away from him. They continued the approach in silence.

They landed in the loading bay with another pod that departed with them. Keith followed his mother out of the cockpit and through the room where Lance had been riding with them. Boxes that sat across from the bench had been strewn about and some of them gathered in a corner. I must've been remarkably bad at flying this thing.

He didn't get time to ponder whether or not he should do something before Krolia was pushing him out the door advising him to stay on mission. Something caught his eye and he turned to look. Lying on the floor was a tool with blood splattered on it. He hadn't had a chance to say anything before Krolia hauled him away from the pod and down the nearest corridor.