Chapter 26 – The Return to Arus

relief of finally landing at the castle was immediate. The Lions' engines purred softly as the platform adjusted to receive them, and the silence that followed the chaos of the mission was almost deafening. Lance let out a long sigh, his fingers still clenched tightly around the controls. He hadn't realized until then how hard he'd been gripping everything, as if his body were still trapped in the heat of battle.

Hunk was the first to exit the Yellow Lion, his expression a mixture of euphoria and exhaustion. "We did it," he muttered, more to himself than to anyone else. But as he took the first step out, his knee buckled slightly, a sudden pain radiating through his leg. He frowned, confused. "What the...?"

On the other side of the platform, Lance tried to laugh, but the sound came out more like a shaky sigh. "Hey, Hunk, are you...?" The words died in his throat as a deafening buzz ripped through his head. The world spun. His stomach twisted as if he'd been punched by an invisible fist. A second ago, he'd felt fine. Now, his vision darkened at the edges, and his balance faltered as he tried to descend the landing ramp.

The pain hit like a brutal strike. Pressure on his ribs, then burning in his shoulders, as if he'd been hit directly. But he hadn't. That made no sense. His mind finally caught up. Lapiz. The Blue Lion. He was feeling the impact Lapiz had taken during the battle, but only now, as the adrenaline wore off, was his body registering it all.

Lance lost control for a moment. His foot slipped on the edge of the platform, and he toppled forward. But before he could fall completely, a dark blur moved like lightning, grabbing him by the arm and pulling him back to safety.

"Lance!" Luan's voice cut through the silence. His twin brother, still wearing the stealth armor Black/Gamora Blade, held him firmly, the helmet partially lifted to reveal worried eyes. The blue bioluminescent lines on the armor pulsed lightly as he adjusted Lance's weight, preventing him from falling.

Lance blinked, trying to focus on his brother's face. "I... I'm fine..." he murmured, but the dizziness betrayed him.

"Of course you are," Luan said with bitter irony. "That's why you almost fell off the platform." He shifted position, letting Lance lean on his shoulder.

Hunk, still rubbing his aching leg, looked over at the two and grimaced. "Wait... are you feeling this too?"

Luan frowned. "Feeling what?"

Hunk rolled his shoulder, testing the weight. "My body hurts, but it doesn't make sense. I wasn't hit directly. But the Yellow Lion was..." He stopped, eyes widening as the pieces clicked. "Lance, what are you feeling right now?"

Lance let out a dry laugh. "Feels like I got run over."

Silence fell between them, an unspoken understanding hanging in the air. Whatever was happening, it wasn't a coincidence.

Luan exchanged a worried glance with Lance before clenching his fists. "This isn't normal."

Lance gave a short, choked laugh, his face still pale from the sudden pain. "Oh, sure… Being a Paladin is great. We pilot giant robots, save planets, and, as a bonus, feel every bit of pain from every explosion our Lions take. Where did I sign this contract again? Because I clearly didn't read the fine print."

Hunk huffed, still trying to stretch his aching leg. "At least now we know we can't ignore when our Lions are getting hit anymore."

Lance exaggerated a sigh. "Great. Now, in addition to my own pain, I'm a vessel for intergalactic suffering. Call me Lance, Martyr of Cosmic Pain."

Luan rolled his eyes, though the concern on his face remained. "If you can walk to the infirmary without needing to be carried, maybe I'll even take your drama seriously."

At that moment, the hurried sounds of boots echoed through the hangar, announcing the arrival of the others. Shiro and Keith entered first, followed by Coran, who looked particularly alarmed at seeing Lance practically being dragged by his twin.

"What happened?" Shiro asked, instantly switching into leader mode, quickly assessing the Paladins' condition. "Lance? Hunk? Are you injured?"

"Depends," Lance answered, winking at the team leader. "If by 'injured' you mean 'feeling every hit my Lion took like I was run over by a space train,' then yes, I'm fantastic."

Keith frowned, arms crossed. "What are you talking about?"

"From the wonderful bonus that comes with the Lions," Hunk replied, shaking his head.

"Apparently, we share the damage they take. Which, honestly, would've been a cool thing to know before we jumped into them."

Everyone in the hangar fell silent, absorbing the princess's words. The aura of authority in her voice was undeniable, and even Lance and Hunk's pain didn't diminish the weight of that possibility.

Coran stepped forward, his brow furrowed. "But that... doesn't make sense. None of the Altean records mention a physical transfer of damage."

"Perhaps not in the records," Allura pondered, her voice calm but firm. "And certainly, my father never exhibited such reactions—at least none he ever shared. However, if I may speculate..." — she paused briefly, her gaze sweeping the room until it rested for a moment on Luan — "It's possible that, due to the bond between Paladin and Lion — especially in the case of certain Paladins who were already in tune with their Lions even before we met — that connection has deepened in an organic and instinctual way. A kind of energetic symbiosis that, under extreme conditions, begins to surpass the conventional limits of the neural interface."

She lifted her chin slightly, her eyes shining with a spark of both admiration and concern. "These bonds... they seem to have gone beyond the interface. Almost as if the Lion feels what we feel — and returns real synaptic connections between the Paladins' consciousness and the energetic conduit of their respective Lions. An exchange. A physical reflection of the trust being built."

The silence that followed wasn't doubt. It was acknowledgment. Everyone there felt, even without fully understanding, that something beyond technology was at play. It was almost mystical — as if the Lions were alive in a way that defied logic. As if they recognized their Paladins as parts of themselves.

"If that's true," Shiro said after a few seconds of reflective silence, his voice firm but laced with caution, "then we're not just piloting the Lions — we're connecting with them. It's no longer just command. It's symbiosis. And that changes everything. It comes with an even greater responsibility."

Luan, still holding Lance firmly, looked at his brother with narrowed eyes, his expression darker than usual. "If this pain Lance is feeling is an echo of what Lapiz suffered... then we're dealing with something bigger than just technology. We need to understand the limits of this bond — before someone crosses a point of no return, whether trying to protect their Lion... or being protected by it."

Shiro nodded slowly, running a hand along his temple as if trying to organize his thoughts. "If this connection is reciprocal, intense to this point... it can strengthen us. But it can also destroy us if we don't learn to control it."

"Great," Lance muttered, letting out a long, theatrical sigh as he let his head drop against Luan's shoulder. "If I drop dead right here, someone note down that I want to sue the universe for moral and psychological damages, cool?"

From the communicator, Pidge's voice came through with a sarcastic tone. "Unfortunately, that kind of action doesn't exist in the intergalactic jurisdiction. Yet."

Lance groaned loudly. "Of course. We suffer, feel everything, and still have to deal with universal bureaucracy. Perfect."

Keith, who had been watching everything in silence, finally spoke. The gravity in his voice drew everyone's eyes to him. "If this kind of connection is real, then the Red Lion might be feeling... and waiting for me. We can't leave it there."

Allura crossed her arms, her eyes glowing with serene but noble determination. "I agree. But we need to be careful. This is new territory — not just for us as pilots, but for Voltron as a whole. Now more than ever, we must act in harmony. Not as five individuals... but as one soul. As Voltron."

The atmosphere inside the castle was thick with tension. Still recovering from the mission to retrieve the Yellow Lion, the Paladins now faced another tough decision: return to Arus. Keith had felt the presence of the Red Lion, and despite the exhaustion, he couldn't ignore the call.

"Are you sure about this?" Allura asked, crossing her arms as she looked at Keith. "We can't afford another battle without a clear strategy."

"I know it's there," Keith replied, firm. "Something pulls me in that direction, like the Red Lion is waiting for me."

Lance scoffed, leaning against the wall. "Oh, sure. And what if it's a trap? The Galra might be waiting for us to go back there."

Luan, who had been listening in silence until then, finally spoke up. "Trap or not, the truth is the Red Lion is essential for us to complete Voltron. And if Keith is feeling this connection, we have to consider it."

Shiro nodded. "Luan's right. We need all the Lions. Let's come up with a plan before we approach Arus."

(Some interspatial portals later – Location: Approaching Arus)

The castle hovered in orbit above the planet, its sensors picking up signs of Galra activity on the surface. The tension was palpable as the paladins analyzed the holographic data.

Pidge was adjusting the data on the display, her eyes scanning rapidly through the holographic readings while the rest of the team watched in silence. The projections showed two large Galra ships—one circling in high orbit, while the other floated closer to the planet's surface, executing a meticulous patrol pattern.

Keith remained silent for a moment, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath, as if trying to hear something beyond the mechanical signals on Pidge's display. His expression tightened slightly before he raised his hand and pointed at the ship in high orbit.

"That one," he said firmly, his eyes opening again and locking onto the holographic projection. "The Red Lion is there. I can feel it."

Pidge raised an eyebrow, still analyzing the data. "Well…" she murmured, her fingers flying over the keyboard, bringing up energy readings to confirm Keith's intuition. After a few seconds, the graphs adjusted, revealing an energy signature similar to that of the other Lions. "Yeah, looks like you're right. The energy patterns match."

Before she could continue, Hunk suddenly leaned over her, resting his head close to her shoulder and pointing at another part of the graph.

"Hey, hey, wait a sec!"

He indicated a set of chaotic readings. "Look at these erratic spikes. That doesn't look normal. The energy on that low-orbit ship is fluctuating in a weird way… and it's increasing."

Pidge stiffened slightly at the unexpected proximity, her shoulders tensing for a moment before she forced a neutral expression and focused on the display. She blinked a few times, trying to ignore the sudden heat rising to her face.

"I-if you could… stop breathing in my ear, I might be able to concentrate better," she muttered, leaning slightly away but not entirely pushing him back.

Hunk gave an awkward grin, pulling away a little. "Sorry! But seriously, that doesn't look good."

Shiro, who had been watching the exchange carefully, crossed his arms.

"Pidge, can you calculate that ship's route? I want to know exactly where it's headed."

Pidge adjusted the parameters of the reading and watched as the calculations processed on the display. The projection showed the path of the low-orbit ship, revealing that it was moving slowly toward a point on the planet's surface. After a few more seconds, the system flagged an anomaly—biological data.

"There's something here," she said, her expression growing more serious. "Life signs. A small cluster of beings."

Luan, who had remained silent until now, leaned in slightly to observe the data. His gaze narrowed before he spoke, his voice calculated but carrying a certain weight.

"If we're to make a hypothesis… these beings are sentient. And if the Galra are heading toward them, it's not likely for anything friendly."

The silence that followed was tense.

Shiro furrowed his brow. "That means we have two problems now. The Red Lion, and this potential threat to those beings."

Keith clenched his fists, his mind clearly already made up. "We can't ignore them."

Lance, who had been quieter than usual, crossed his arms and let out a sigh. "Great. So now, in addition to stealing a Lion from inside a Galra ship, we also have to stop a potential alien massacre. It's not like I wanted to sleep or anything."

"If you wanted to sleep, you shouldn't have become a Paladin," Pidge shot back, her tone sharp but with a slight glint of amusement in her eyes.

Lance pointed a finger at her. "First of all, I didn't know that piloting a giant robot lion came with a full package of intergalactic problems. Second, I'm waiting for a plan, because as far as I know, fighting two Galra ships at once isn't exactly our weekly routine."

Shiro took a deep breath and nodded. "Alright. Then let's make that plan."

"We're splitting our forces," Shiro announced, stepping into commander mode with calm precision. "Keith, Pidge, and I will infiltrate the ship in high orbit. That's where the Red Lion is — and if we can, we'll sabotage the ship from the inside. We need to disable their systems and ensure it won't become a threat again."

"Meanwhile," continued Allura, her gaze turning to Luan, "the ship in low orbit seems to be moving toward that life cluster Pidge detected. We can't ignore the possibility of a Galra assault. Luan, we'll need you on the ground."

"Understood," Luan responded promptly, his expression already focused. "I'll use the same infiltration craft from the previous mission. I'll reach the village before they do and begin evacuation. If possible, I'll sabotage the landing zone before they have time to react." He activated his portable console, fingers already tracing descent routes and opening entry scans.

"Lance, Hunk," said Shiro, turning to the two. "You'll handle containment of the low-orbit ship. We need you to draw their fire, keep their focus on you as long as possible. That will give Luan time to evacuate the civilians and slow the Galra troop deployment."

"So... explosive distraction. I can do that," Lance replied, a mischievous smile forming despite the evident fatigue. He stretched in his seat, the freshly tuned blaster strapped to the side of his suit. "With style, of course."

"It's always with style," Hunk muttered, rolling his eyes but already adjusting the Yellow Lion's configuration for ground combat. "Just don't die in the process."

"I'll try."

"All comm channels will remain open," added Pidge as she prepped her equipment. "But with interference from both ships, there might be signal blocks. Luan, you'll be closest to the village, so… any anomaly or signal from the ground, you're our first alert."

Luan nodded without taking his eyes off the tactical projection. "Understood. I'm already implementing a redundant communication protocol. If they try to jam the signals, I'll have alternate routes ready. I'll also leave a monitoring AI running in the castle's system, just in case."

Allura stepped forward, standing tall. "Very well. If everyone is ready... begin the operation. And remember — this isn't just a rescue. We're dealing with civilians and with living technology. The Lions aren't machines. They trust you."

Luan was the first to leave, donning the stealth armor once more, its glowing blue circuitry activating the camouflage mode. As the others rushed to their posts, the plan went into motion: a divided force, each team with a crucial goal, every second carrying the weight of possible defeat. But they all knew they were going all in — and that Voltron would only rise whole if each of them fulfilled their role.

------(>_<)------(^▪︎^)-----(°○°)---

Recovery Mission: Initiated

Stellar Sector: Aae'ruhn-Ka

Coordinates: X-781.44 / Y-508.32

Time: 06:19 UST (Universal Stellar Time)

Earth Equivalent: 03:19 GMT

The Blue and Yellow Lions tore across the sky of Arus like comets, slicing through thick clouds before diving rapidly toward the horizon. The first blasts were fired in sync, hitting a Galra scanning tower that collapsed amid sparks and debris. The vibration of energy echoed across the fields below as enemy troops began to react.

With precise movements, Lance had the Blue Lion spiral evasively through the plasma beams that started crisscrossing the sky. "Nothing like a good light show to say good morning to the Galra," he muttered with a half-smile, firing at a tank that was approaching the outer defenses.

Beside him, the Yellow Lion advanced more steadily. Hunk kept the shield active while alternating between offensive barrages and tactical support. "They're focusing fire on us. They really don't want us near those towers," he reported tensely but maintained control over every move.

Up above, in the metallic guts of the high-orbiting ship, Keith, Shiro, and Pidge advanced silently. Red emergency lights cast jagged shadows along the walls, and the muffled sound of alerts was constant. The three moved as a unit, each one alert to their surroundings.

Pidge was examining a side terminal, typing rapidly on her handheld device. Lines of altered code reflected in her visor. "The Red Lion is located in the lower cargo bay. They've activated multiple layers of security — physical and digital. We'll need to access three manual points to cut power to the containment field."

Keith, already breathing a bit heavier, kept his eyes fixed ahead, guided by something deep inside. "We're close," he murmured, clenching his fist. "I can feel it. He's waiting."

Shiro nodded, activating his cybernetic arm in preparation. "Then it's time to bring him back."

The corridor leading to the security panels was narrow, with ducts running along the sides and the floor creaking beneath the Paladins' feet. The lights flickered at erratic intervals — not a good sign. Pidge lifted her visor for a moment, concentrating on the terminal's readout. "We're almost at the first control point. But the cyber defense matrix is still active... I'm going to need a few minutes."

"You'll have it," Shiro said without hesitation, taking the lead. Keith followed close behind, both already with their bayards in hand, ready to respond to any threat.

They turned the corner and found the first panel protected by a green force field. Robotic sentries stood guard — three Galra drones armed with spinning energy blades. They didn't hesitate.

"Contact!" Keith shouted, leaping forward with a clean arc of his blade, slicing through the first drone with precision. Shiro veered left, activating his mechanical arm to block an incoming strike and retaliating with a punch that slammed the second robot against the metal wall. Sparks flew.

Pidge rushed to the terminal as the two of them faced the third drone together. "Hold them off for five more seconds!" she called out, typing rapidly, the code flashing across the screen faster than anyone could follow.

Keith and Shiro stood side by side, fending off the attacks. When the protective field dropped with a low hum, Pidge called out, "First core deactivated!"

"The next one's two sections below," she continued, already scanning the next map. "And it looks like the security there is even heavier."

Keith wiped the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand and smirked. "Perfect. That means we're on the right track."

The path to the second control point led them through a narrow, dimly lit inner staircase. The metallic echo of their steps was oppressive, but they moved in complete silence. Each of them was focused, senses sharp. Time was precious — and limited.

As they reached the new sector, the doors creaked open, revealing a wide corridor filled with monitoring equipment and automated patrols. "This looks like an observation center," Shiro muttered. "They'll definitely notice us if we're not quick."

"Then we'd better be invisible," Pidge replied, already activating a partial cloaking function on her visor. "If we keep the noise levels below thirty decibels and avoid the thermographic cameras, I think we can make it through."

Keith crouched, moving with feline precision along the corners of the corridor. He stopped for a moment and turned, eyes alert. "There are two Galra guards patrolling the path to the terminal." His tone was dry, leaving no room for hesitation. "Can we take them out silently?"

Shiro nodded. "I'll take the one on the left."

In perfect sync, the two advanced. Two strikes, two unconscious bodies. No alarms triggered. Keith looked at Shiro, and for a brief moment, the two shared a look of silent understanding — the kind only those who had faced the impossible together could share.

Pidge slid up to the second terminal and connected her device, her eyes glowing with the blue light of the holographic interface. "Okay... This one has triple-layered protection. I'll have to break it manually, one by one. Cover me."

This time, the enemies didn't wait. An alarm sounded — maybe a motion sensor had detected an unusual vibration. The doors on both sides of the hallway hissed open with a pressurized snap, revealing armed Galra soldiers. Keith spun his blade and stepped in front of Pidge, while Shiro raised his metal arm, ready to hold off the charge.

"Three minutes!" Pidge shouted, not taking her eyes off the screen. "I just need three!"

"You've got two and a half!" Keith replied before launching himself at the first wave of soldiers.

Pidge had piloted the Green Lion to an opening in the ship's hull, activating her bayard and making the circuits on her katar glow an intense blue. With a precise cut, the blade vibrated and pierced through the reinforced metal, opening a passage wide enough for Shiro and Keith to pass through. As soon as they touched the floor of the dark chamber, they deactivated their oxygen masks and looked around.

"Pidge, status?" Shiro whispered into the communicator.

"We're in," she replied, her voice low and focused. When she heard no response for a few seconds, Pidge assumed they had already moved ahead. Shiro simply nodded to her, and the three of them moved quickly, disappearing into the shadows of the hallway ahead.

The ship's interior architecture was oppressive — irregular pillars supported the arched ceiling, and the purple lights flickered annoyingly. Keith led the way with firm steps, eyes alert. Pidge stayed more to the rear, analyzing the structure and noting any weaknesses. But it was Shiro who stopped suddenly, freezing in the middle of the corridor.

His eyes locked onto something that wasn't there — or that only he could see. The droids patrolling the hallway seemed to fold in his presence, as if they recognized him. The light hit him fully, and a name slammed into his mind. Zarkon.

Shiro trembled, a low grunt escaping his lips. Keith immediately turned, alarmed. "Shiro?"

"I... I've been here before." His breathing was unsteady, but his gaze was firm. "After they captured me near Kerberos... this is where they brought me." He looked around, eyes glazed, as if confirming something with his own body.

Pidge tightened her grip on the bayard, eyes wide. "So that means... your team..." Her voice faltered. "They might be here!"

Shiro was silent for a long second, and the hallway's silence seemed to compress the air. "Pidge... we don't have time. The Red Lion is here, somewhere. If we don't recover it now, the Galra might use it. I hate to say it, but the entire universe is at stake."

The pain on Pidge's face was immediate. Keith also looked away, his jaw clenched. But before anyone could say anything, Pidge exploded — the frustration, desperation, and anger boiling to a breaking point. "And the prisoners?! We're just going to leave them here?"

Shiro tried to argue, but the words failed him. The pain he saw in Pidge's eyes pierced through any logical justification. And then came the revelation. Pidge's voice faltered for a moment, but the truth came out like a blade: "Commander Holt is my father. And Matt... Matt is my brother. They were with you."

Shiro froze.

Sweating inside the armor, Keith panted — his breathing rapid, sticking the thermal suit to his skin. He ran down another circular corridor, the red lights spinning like a never-ending alarm, and reached — once again — the same fork. For the third time.

He stopped in the center of the junction, frustrated, and lightly bumped his head against the metal wall in front of him. "I'm getting... really tired... of this maze," he muttered, trying to keep his cool. The feeling of déjà vu was suffocating.

Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath, trying to remember Shiro's words, like an anchor in the chaos: Patience leads to focus. He murmured it like a mantra, until his mind cleared, the sounds around him faded, and the heat — the intense heat he'd felt since stepping into the ship — seemed to point to something.

He turned. There was a corridor to the south he hadn't taken before. The energy he felt seemed to vibrate from that direction. "Found you," he whispered to himself, and dashed toward the right path.

Meanwhile, elsewhere in the ship, Pidge and Shiro ran in sync through the lower corridors. Shiro kept a controlled pace so Pidge could keep up, and together they moved with military precision. Security cameras rotated above their heads, and Pidge fired without hesitation, using electric pulses to disable them before they could raise any alarms. 

As he hit one of them, Pidge crouched and began digging into its system. "I can reprogram it. Might be useful," she murmured, her fingers typing at lightning speed as she converted the Galra recognition protocol to neutral. "Now you're under our control." 

Shiro simply watched, surprised by the efficiency of the maneuver. 

A few minutes later, a heavy door blocked their path. Shiro prepared to force it open, but Pidge signaled. The door slid open with a muffled hiss. 

"Nice work," Shiro said with a brief smile, patting Pidge lightly on the shoulder. 

They crossed the threshold, and Pidge's eyes immediately scanned the dark interior of the cell. "Dad!? Matt!?" 

Hope flickered for a second… then faded. 

Inside were six prisoners — but no humans. No Holts. 

The disappointment hit like a punch to the gut. 

Even so, Shiro stepped forward. "Don't be afraid. We're here to help you escape." 

One of the aliens, with bluish skin and sunken eyes, rose with difficulty. Upon recognizing Shiro, his eyes widened. 

"It's you… the Champion," he murmured, like someone seeing a myth come to life. "If anyone can get us out of here, it's you." 

Shiro froze, confused. "You know that name?" 

That brief exchange hung in the air while Pidge took a deep breath, trying to hold back the tears. With one last glance at the prisoners, she whispered, "We'll take them to the Green Lion." 

Above ground, the Blue Lion cut through the sky in acrobatic curves. 

Lance led the Galra fighters like he was in an aerial race, his reflexes sharpened by survival instinct — and, of course, the thrill of adrenaline. 

"You'll never catch me! This is the closest thing I get to a vacation!" 

Hunk, on the other hand, was handling the chaos on the ground. The Yellow Lion absorbed heavy impacts from enemy fire, its armor already glowing with signs of overload. 

"We're drawing way too much attention!" he shouted, firing a burst that toppled a communication tower. 

Meanwhile, Keith pushed through increasingly hot corridors. 

He was close. Very close. But not alone. 

A Galra soldier emerged, barking orders. 

Keith responded with his bayard already activated. 

A blast skimmed his face by mere inches, and he lunged forward with silent ferocity, striking the enemy with precision. Purple blood splattered against his armor as he took a deep breath and adjusted his shield. 

Ahead, the door. 

Keith reached out, and as if by instinct, the scanner recognized him. The room opened silently. 

There, in the center, bathed in a reddish light, rested the Red Lion. Its imposing silhouette looked asleep — but far from defenseless. 

"You must be the Red Lion," Keith murmured, voice low and cautious as he approached the pedestal lit by the crimson glow of the energy barrier. 

The metallic structure pulsed with an almost living vibration — cold, distant. 

He raised his hand, hesitating, and placed it against the containment field. 

"It's me. Keith. I'm here." 

Nothing. 

No response. 

No connection. 

The silence weighed more than the space around him. 

And then, the alarm blared. 

The door burst open with a metallic crash, and five Galra sentries stormed the room, opening fire within seconds. 

Keith dove to the side, activating the bayard's shield as he rolled behind one of the columns. 

"I'm trying to connect with you!" he shouted, his voice strained with tension. "You know me. You know who I am!" 

The firefight was relentless. 

Keith blocked one blast, dodged another, attacked with precision bordering on desperation. 

Each strike, each move, was more savage than the last. He knew he couldn't afford to hesitate. Not here. Not now. 

When he thought he had subdued the enemies, an explosion hit him square in the chest. 

The pain was instant. 

The world spun. 

His body was thrown against the chamber wall, hitting the metallic floor with a heavy thud. 

Keith gasped, struggling to breathe. 

The metallic taste of blood already rising in his throat. 

The remaining sentries regrouped for a final strike. 

Keith dragged himself, stumbling, until his back met the cold structure of the pedestal. 

He was cornered. 

No way out. 

The Red Lion's vibration behind him remained constant, but silent. 

And then, at the brink, something inside him broke — or maybe opened. 

"Keith, remember..." 

The memory hit like a strike to the chest. 

Allura, standing before the projection of the Galra fleet, hands raised and eyes glowing with authority and a hint of concern. 

Her voice echoed firmly in Keith's mind. 

"The Red Lion is temperamental. He does not submit. You'll have to earn his respect." 

In the memory, Keith nodded. 

He knew it wouldn't be easy. 

But that never stopped him before. 

"Earning his respect will be your greatest challenge," Shiro had said, placing a hand on his shoulder, with the familiarity of someone who knew him better than anyone. "But if anyone can do it… it's you." 

The voices faded as reality came crashing back in. 

The sentries raised their weapons.

Keith rose with difficulty, his eyes locked on the Lion's structure. "Is that what you want? For me to prove myself?" he growled through clenched teeth. "Then watch."

He spun around and hurled his bayard into the emergency panel on the right — activating the lower hatch.

A sharp alarm shrieked through the chamber as the pressure dropped. The hatch blasted open, sucking three of the sentries straight into the void. But the force was stronger than Keith had expected.

He tried to grab hold of something — but it was too late.

His body was thrown into space.

Darkness engulfed him.

No propulsion. No anchor. No hope.

The universe became an endless abyss, the sound of his own blood pounding in his ears louder than the silence all around.

His heart raced. Breathing turned frantic.

He floated, defenseless, his armor humming with critical alerts.

And then… something changed.

In the soundless void, a presence erupted into light. A fury. A home.

Red.

A roar tore through the vacuum — not through ears, but straight into his chest.

The Lion recognized him. 

And it was coming for him.