Title: In Memory of…

Warnings: Deathfic

It was a typical autumn day. The weather had not yet turned to winter’s cold, yet summer’s heat was gone. The leaves of the trees had begun their change from green to reds and gold. Lance tucked his hands into his pockets as he entered the Galaxy Garrison Space War Memorial Museum. His footsteps echoed through the empty hallways. He never paused to look at any of the pictures or memorabilia as he walked. He had walked along these halls so many times that he knew where he was going without even having to look.

Finally he stopped before the display that had led him to the Space War Memorial Museum. He stood motionless in the quietness of the museum for the longest time before he felt a hand on his shoulder.

“I figured I would find you here today.”

“Hey, Sven.” Lance said.

“Been here long?” Sven asked

Lance shrugged. “Haven’t really been paying attention to the time.”

“How are you doing?” Sven asked concernedly.

“About as well as can be excepted I guess. You?” Lance asked.

“About the same.”

“Do you know if the others are coming? It would be great to see everyone again it’s been so long.” Lance said.

“They’ll probably all show up here sooner or later.” Sven said.

“More like sooner.” A voice from behind them said.

Both men turned to see Hunk and Pidge walking towards them. After they all greeted one another they turned back to the wall, which contained the memorial for their one missing team member.

There was a large portrait with a gold plaque beneath it. Commander Keith Charles Weissman: September 14^th 3076 –September 28^th 3101. Gave his life so others may be free. There was a display case that held all the medals Keith had received in the few short years that he had served in Galaxy Garrison. A larger display case to the side contained a replica of his Voltron Force uniform. Panels on the wall told the history of his efforts in the battle against Doom’s forces. The panels also told of some of his life facts his short life, all of which seemed like insignifact things to those that knew him well.

Each became lost in their own thoughts of their dear departed friend recalling the battle that occurred twenty years ago, the battle that had claimed Keith’s life.

~`~`~

The battle was the hardest the Voltron Force had ever been in. Days had gone past and still neither side had been defeated or victorious. All the villagers of Arus had been forced back into the caves to hide, or were held up in the castle praying the Voltron Force would once again be victorious over Doom’s forces.

The first attack consisted of three powerful robeasts all attacking different locations on the planet. Separately the lions were of no good against the powerful robeasts. Much of Arus’s beautiful landscape and rebuilding attempts had been destroyed before the team managed to form Voltron and destroy the three robeasts. All of the five lions had taken heavy damage during the battle. The heaviest damage was too Green and Yellow lions, even with the full team of mechanics working twenty-fours hours a day it would take at least a week to repair them to a point where they would be flight worthy. Red, Blue and Black lions had all taken on heavy damage of their own but were not grounded like the other two lions. All of the Voltron Force team members had been injured in the battle, but none of their injures were severe of life threatening.

They assumed the battle was over. That with the three robeasts defeated Doom would turn tail and run back into hiding so there would be enough time to fix the lions before the next attack. But as the sun broke over the horizon the next morning they found out how wrong they were. Legions of Doom fighters attack the planet’s surface searching for villagers they could take prisoner and for mere destruction. The three lions seemed to be enough to defeat the fighter crafts, and after several long hours of battle they sent the remaining Doom fighters fleeing off the planet.

All the forces of Doom gathered outside the airspace of Arus, cut off all communications so their was no way Arus could ask from help from any of their allies. The attacks grew quite regular but the Voltron managed to ward Doom off each time but their defenses were growing weaker. The castle shields had been breeched by several blasts and were only running at thirty percent, everyone knew that many more direct hits and the shields would be completely lost.

It wasn’t until the fourth day that Doom’s master plan came into realization. A large ship had been built beside Arus with a weapon of mass destruction. A weapon that had enough power to destroy a planet was aimed to destroy Arus. Zarkon, Lotor and Haggar all watched from within the ship gloating that their expected victory. As they weapon powered up the Voltron Force knew they had to stop the ship before it could fire. With Yellow and Green lions still out of commission and the others still badly damaged they prayed they would have enough power to stop Doom.

The lions were vastly outnumber and taking a heavy beating and the ship had only taken minimal damage. It was then the Voltron Force Captain knew there was only one option to defeat the ship. With a burst of speed he flew Black lion straight through the end of the blaster cannon and deep into the ship. Both ship and lion were destroyed in a ball of fire. The remaining Doom fighters were either destroyed or surrendered to the remaining two lions. The war against Doom was over.

~`~`~`

“I spent nearly two years after that blaming Keith for not loving me enough to live through that battle.” Lance sighed as he wiped tears out of his eyes. “It was the only way I knew how to deal with Keith dying.”

Sven gave Lance’s shoulder a comforting squeeze. “Keith did what he felt had to be done to save the rest of us and all the other planets that would’ve been destroyed.”

“I know. Keith had a noble heart… it was one of the things I loved so much about him.” Lance said.

“We all did. It’s what made Keith… Keith.” Hunk said.

“It was that selfless act that helped bring peace to the galaxy.” Pidge said.

“If only Keith were here to see the peace he helped to create.” Lance said quietly.

“His spirit will always be here with us.” Sven said.

Lance gave a small smile and nod. “I know. It’s just on days like this I really miss him.”

“We all do. That’s why we are all here.” Sven said. Hunk and Pidge nodded in agreement.

Lance’s smile grew bigger. “I know. It’s good to be with family during these times. Especially on a day like today that marks the twentieth anniversary of the day the war ended.”

The four men stayed by Keith’s memorial for a long time, sharing memories of their departed friend.