Don't You Trust me?

Silver Blades

Keith followed silently behind Krolia his blade as his sole weapon, but oh how he wished for his bayard at the moment.

The halls were silent almost too quiet. They hadn't had to stop for any passing sentries once, which made this all the more peculiar. Keith glanced behind him out of instinct to see if anyone was behind him.

"I swear Keith if you do that one more time..." his mother whispered stopping to peek around a corner.

"Doesn't something seem off to you?" he asked in reply not bothering to apologize. He felt the hairs stand up on the back of his neck, he whipped around only to find the eerily quiet halls behind him. "Seriously, something's off. An active Galra cruiser and not a single-"

"Shh. We're almost there." Krolia darted across the hall and stopped in front of a door with a panel on it. Keith followed his eyes darting back and forth down the hall. By the time he approached, there had been a buzz and then the doors slid open.

Krolia led him into the room immediately flipping through the computer someone had foolishly left open. Keith continued into the room his eyes following the shelves that lined the walls filled with small metallic containers and glass jars. They didn't keep his attention for long, however, for sitting in the center of the room was a container that appeared large enough to hold a person. All along it were several tubes attached that ran back farther than he could see into another room. He approached keeping his blade ready. The container was cloudy and cold to the touch, almost like ice. He ran his hand along the container leaving streaks. Something seemed to be on it concealing what was inside.

He glanced over to find his mom still searching through the computer. Bringing his forearm to the glass, he moved it in circles making it, so he could see. When he pulled his arm back, he saw the exact same person standing across the room from him. Something seemed to be on it concealing what was inside. He stumbled back hardly able to get his mind around it. He misstepped and crashed into a cart, the whole thing clattered to the floor including everything that was on it.

His mother or who he thought was his mother came running over. She glanced at the door as if waiting for someone to come in. When she turned back to face him her eyes narrowed, "What are you doing?" she growled, "We have a mission to be taking care of and-"

"Who are you?"

All along it were several tubes attached that ran back farther than he could see into another room. She looked at Keith her eyes narrowing slightly, "What?"

"You heard me," Keith said grunting as he sat up, "Who are you?"

"Keith, you know exactly who I am," she replied laughing it off.

"Say it," Keith retorted, his grip on his blade tightening. She noted this and placed a hand over his, giving him a gentle smile.

"I'm what I've always been. Your-"

"Don't you dare finish that sentence." The sudden interruption caused them both to turn their heads to the door. Standing in the door with a ripped piece of her shirt pressed to her forehead was Lance. She was glaring at 'Krolia' with absolute disdain. In her hand, she held a silver throwing knife with a few more attached to her thigh. She stepped into the room allowing the doors to close behind her.

"Next time you try to knock someone out and then proceed to bind them, make sure they're not armed."

"Thanks," 'Krolia' replied, "I'll take it under advisement."

They proceeded to pace in a circle neither one approaching and neither one retreating. Keith not sure what to do sat there watching the whole thing fold out.

"We both know this isn't the real you so why don't you drop the whole act," Lance called out flipping her knife into the air.

"Fair enough," She fished into her pocket and pulled out the same device Lance has seen too many times. There was a flash for a brief moment and then a hooded figure was standing before them. "Shall we get on with it then?"

Lance flung her torn piece of her shirt to the side and drew another blade, "Yes let's."

The two lunged for each other. At the last moment, Haggar disappeared, leaving Lance to stumble into a wall. She whirled around just as Haggar reappeared. She threw a knife drawing another one immediately. Haggar deflected the blade directing it off into the computer instead. Lance dived out of the way as Haggar sent a beam of dark energy her way before disappearing.

She reappeared moments later right in front of Keith a dark smirk forming on her lips. Dark magic enveloped her hands as she prepared herself for Lance's move.

Something overcame Lance. She didn't know what it was, but all she knew the longer Haggar stood in front of Keith the deeper the pit in her stomach grew.

"Get away from him!!!" she yelled throwing her knife at the same moment Haggar released a blast of energy that sent Lance diving for cover. The impact of the blast slammed Lance against the wall.

As soon as the smoke cleared Lance crawled out from her hiding spot being careful to spot Haggar before she spotted her. When it became evident, that Haggar was no longer in the room with them she crawled out completely.

"Keith?" she called softly. A soft moan reached her ears, and she scrambled to the noise. The dust finished settling as she approached only to find Keith lying on his side. She crawled over to him saying his name over and over again.

"Keith? Can you hear me?" she rolled him onto his back. One of her knives was protruding from his shoulder. "Keith?!" She gently slapped his face trying to wake him up.

He suddenly jerked sending himself into a coughing fit. He tried sitting up, but Lance refused to allow him.

"You need to stay still. I'm going to contact one of the other groups and see if they can aid us," she pulled her communicator out and set it to the side so she could contact the other group as well as have her hands free to see what she could do for Keith.

She wasn't going to be able to withdraw the knife because that was helping to stem some of the bleeding but not all of it. She found Keith's blade and drew it close to his scarlet jacket, at that moment his hand seized her wrist preventing her from removing his jacket.

"Don't even think about it," he voiced his words starting to slur together.

"Keith, I have to. The blade is preventing you from bleeding out some but if I can get something else it will help all the more." Lance glanced over at her communicator. Why aren't they picking up?

"Not the jacket," he winced as he tried moving his shoulder,

"Keith, I have to do something! It's just a jacket-"

"Not to me it's not!" he snapped. He looked away from her, "I'll be fine until we get back to the base. Just get me to my feet." He gripped her hand wanting to see what she would do, his eyes searching hers, "Please Lance,"

After a moment of hesitation, she nodded and helped him to his feet. She guided his left arm around her neck. They both started for the door but stopped when the door slid open, several guards ran in holding them in place at gunpoint.

"If either one of you moves, don't expect to step foot off this cruiser," A Commander shouted a smile growing on his face.