Stranded

Chapter 16- Contact

Hello! I hate that this took so long to write, but I was having some serious writers block. I knew where I wanted to go, but I couldn't find a way to get there. I think we've got it now though! I'm looking forward to writing the next chapter. Despite the block, this has now become the longest chapter of this story! Enjoy!

Beeping. Why did it always have to be beeping? Before Voltron, the only beeping Shiro was concerned with was the beeping of the microwave telling him his food was ready or the beeping of the coffee pot informing him of the only thing that would prevent him from murdering someone. With the sheer number of beeps and sounds coming from the Castle of Lions and from the Lions' themselves, Shiro was certain he would never be able to get the God awful sound out of his mind. Too many times had he been awoken from a blissful, worriless slumber and forced into the loud and hectic world that was his new reality. Today was no different as Shiro dragged his body off of the floor to discover the source of the noise.

Keith cracked an eye open from his spot a few feet away, but none of the other Paladins showed any intentions of moving. He saw that Shiro was taking care of it and returned to his dead-like state. The rest that all of the Paladins had finally started receiving was doing wonders for their various injuries and had finally started the long process of healing, but their minds were getting antsy. They had nothing to do except monitor the comms and scanners for any signs of life and try to find a way to get the Yellow Lion moving once again. The information from the Blue Lion gave Pidge a place to start on removing the bomb buried inside the Yellow Lion's leg, but it was still slow work. Hunk was trying to combine the coms in both Lions in the hopes to reach Allura but neither Lion had enough power to boost the signal enough to reach that far.

This had better be worth it. Shiro grumbled out when the incessant beeping was giving him a bigger headache than any hangover he'd ever had. He doubted he would have many opportunities to sleep during their stay on this planet so he had intended to make the most out of this time.

"I-I-I don't believe it!" He stuttered out loud. The largest smile that the man hadn't been seen using since his time on earth graced his face once again. It was here! It was really here!

"Guys! Guys wake up!" He called, smacking legs and shaking the others until they grudgingly opened their eyes.

"Whaaaaaaaaat is it Shiro?" Lance questioned stifling a yawn.

"Look and see for yourself." With that, the paladins huddled around the small monitor stationed in the Yellow Lion; squinting to clear the sleep from their eyes and attempt to read something so early in the morning.

Slowly their eyes started to adjust to the bright screen glaring at them in the early morning hours. Pidge gasped, and practically scrambled on top of Hunk in her hast to make it to the small screen.

"It's here! It's actually here!" Pidge cheered, already starting to trace the signal.

"Huh?" Keith, bless him, was a little slow after being so abruptly woken up. He never did well early in the mornings. His appearance showed his mental capabilities; his hair spiked in all directions, eyes red from lack of sleep, and a hunched posture showing how close he was to returning to his death-like sleep he was in. Shiro was about to gently explain to him what was going on as a big brother should when Lance beat him to it.

"THE CASTLE!! The Castle of Lions is here!" Lance yelled in his face, grabbing both of Keith's shoulders and shaking him harshly to help drive home his words.

"Lance, you have like fifteen cousins, don't you know not to shake babies?" Hunk quipped, making no move to stop the other man. Keith was too far gone at this point from lack of sleep and the aggressive shaking to notice Hunk's comment, but Pidge let out a chuckle as she continued.