Title: So Far Away
It was a quiet morning in the castle of lions. Morning practice was over and Hunk and Pidge were helping the mechanics make some minor repairs to the lions. Nanny and Coran had immediately whisked Allura away for more of her daily princess training. Keith and Lance were in Keith’s room, engaged in a heated discussion about Lance’s behavior during that morning’s lion practice.
“Just what is your problem lately?” Keith asked.
“You would know what my problem was if you weren’t too damn busy to notice.” Lance said.
“It’s called responsibility. Maybe you should try it some time.” Keith said.
“Being responsible doesn’t mean giving up everything else in life except fighting the war. You used to know that. But all of that changed when Sven…” but Lance didn’t get a chance to finish his sentence.
Keith turned his head to hide the tears in his eyes as he smashed his fist against the wall. “Shut up.” He growled.
A thick silence hung in the air for several moments before either of them spoke.
“Sorry.” Lance mumbled. He wished he could take back the words, or find the words to make it all right again.
Ever since Sven had been injured they had been growing further and further apart. Keith emerging himself in his work and Lance sinking into self-blame and neither seemed to have the strength to pull themselves out of the depths of sorrow at the loss of such a dear friend. And the longer that it went on the less hope there seemed to be that they would ever be able to put the pieces of their relationship back together again.
Before either Keith or Lance could say anything else Keith’s wrist communicator chirped. Keith sighed and answered the page. “Keith here.”
“Keith, it’s Coran. We have a situation in the control room.”
“I’ll be there in a minute.” Keith turned and headed out the door, followed by Lance.
When they arrived in the control room everyone else was already gathered there.
“What seems to be the problem?” Keith asked.
“We’re picking up a distress signal from Ri-chu, one of Yeterin’s Moons.” Coran said.
“Can you tell if it’s Alliance or Druel?” Keith asked.
“It is really faint but the signal appears to be coming from an Alliance supply freighter.” Coran said.
“And voice communication?” Keith asked.
“I’m afraid not there is only a beckon. We will need to have someone go check it out and assess the situation.” Coran said.
“I’ll do it.” Lance quickly said. He shot a glance at Keith. “After all what better way to learn responsibility, right?”
“I’ll go with you.” Hunk offered.
“No. I can do it.” Lance said.
“But we don’t know why the ship is in distress. It could even be a trap.” Hunk said.
“I can handle it.” Lance said. Before anyone could argue he took off running for the launch bay.
“What was that all about?” Pidge asked, scratching his head and staring in the direction that Lance had run.
“What do you think? It’s Lance being his typical unthinking self.” Keith said, only glancing briefly in the direction Lance had gone.
Keith stayed in the control room, working on the computer while waiting for Lance to report. But, several hours passed and there was still word from Lance. Ri-chu was only two hours away and nearly five had passed and Keith was growing concerned that whatever fate had befallen the distressed ship had also been inflicted on the shuttle Lance had taken.
Coran came into the control room and cleared his throat. “Has there been any word from Lance?”
“Not yet.” Keith said.
“Perhaps we should send out a search party.” Coran suggested as though it was something that Keith hadn’t thought of.
“I’m going to go look for him.” Keith stood. “And I am taking black.”
“I don’t think it’s wise for you to go alone. We can’t afford to lose two pilots.”
Keith glared at the older man. “We aren’t losing anyone.”
“I think we should organize a search party and not just have you take off the same way Lance did.” Coran said.
“You can go ahead and do that. I am going to look for Lance.” Keith said, his tone left no room for argument. He walked past Coran, breaking to a run once he reached the hallway.
All the lions were still sitting in the repair bay. Hunk and Pidge were taking a break and the mechanics barely looked up from their work when the Voltron captain ran into the room. He inserted the lion key and blasted off out the repair bay dock and charted a course for Ri-chu.
The two-hour flight was painfully long, as he watched the stars and the empty blackness, move in blurs past the windshield as he pushed the mechanical lion forward as fast as he could. His thought fraught with worries for his best friend and lover.
When he finally reached Ri-chu the moon was engulfed in a swirling red cloud. Lightening flashed from within the depths of the clouds, flickering in random patterns that vaguely resembled some kind of ancient form of Morse code. The sensors on the control panel began to flash and a loud alarm began to blare.
“Shit!” Keith swore. “You don’t have to tell me that’s an ionic storm, I already KNOW!” he yelled at the computer. He pounded a few keys on the control panel to shut off the annoying alarm.
When Keith tried to scan the surface of the moon he got nothing but static. Even though, unlike the shuttles, the lions were built to withstand ionic storms the magnetic pull of the ionic storm could be felt tugging at his lion. Keith knew then what happened to the supply freighter and Lance, the ionic storm had pulled them down to the surface of Ri-chu. Keith sent a message back to Arus then dived into the ionic storm.
The high winds of the ionic storm created enough turbulence to push the large lion around, making Keith keep a tight hold on the steering to avoid going into a roll. Lightening bolts struck at black lion, interfering with the sensors and all attempts to make contact with Lance’s shuttle or the supply freighter. The communication screen flickered with static images of communications and television broadcasts, both past and present, from Yeterin. Each image flashing on and off so quickly that Keith could barely even make out what any of them where.
Finally Keith emerged from the worst of the storm as he neared the moon’s surface. Reddish brown dust blanketed everything and swirled around on the high winds. What little light reached the moon’s surface had a reddish hue due to the ionic storm. The storm also made the temperatures on the surface of the moon peak to well over a hundred degrees during the day, currently the heat sensors read an outside temperature of a hundred and ten. Ri-chu, with nothing more then red sand, strong winds and high heat, reminded Keith of a desert.
After several attempts he managed to get a fix on the supply freighter only a few hundred yards to the west, and Keith hoped that Lance’s shuttle was close to the same location. He tired again to contact Lance but the storm still seemed to be effecting the communications, leaving him with nothing but static.
Keith’s eyes widened in surprise when he saw the supply freighter, it lay on the sandy ground, torn in two sections. The hull of the freighter showed signs of fatigue from the constant blasting of the sands against its sides. The symbol of the Alliance was so faded that it was barely recognizable. The closer he studied the freighter the more it appeared that the crash had occurred many long years ago, yet the beacon it was putting out was the same one they had picked up on Arus just a few hours earlier today.
“This crash probably happened before I was even born.” Keith said in disbelief. He did a quick scan of the freighter, the sensors picking up a large amount of Meladonia radiation from the large section of the cargo hold.
A large dust devil picked up and knocked black lion around, Keith struggled with the controls to avoid crashing, making a less then smooth landing by the remains of the freighter. The safety restraints tightened, holding Keith to the seat. Keith groaned slightly at the impact and ran a system check to be sure nothing had been damaged. Once Keith had determined that nothing had been damaged, and with the dust settling he prepared to take off. It was then a small shuttlecraft, sitting just inside the smaller section of the crashed freighter caught his eye. Though it was cover in dust he could still make out the royal symbol of Arus on the side. “Lance!”
Keith moved black lion closer to the wreckage, laying the mechanical lion down only a few yards away from the shuttle. He made sure his helmet and breathing mask were securely in place, before exiting his lion. He jumped down on the sandy ground and sprinted towards the shuttle.
When he reached the shuttle the first thing he noticed was the seal on the shuttle door was compromised. He could feel his stomach tighten as his heart raced in fear and worry for the man that he loved. Keith pulled at the door, but it refused to open, he was forced to retort to kicking it several times before it would even budge. In gust of wind and sand Keith burst into the shuttle. “LANCE!” Keith screamed his lover’s name, but no reply came. “LANCE!” Keith called out again as he rushed towards the front of the shuttle. Keith froze in his tracks, for a brief moment it was as though he forgot how to breathe.
Lance was sitting slumped in pilot’s seat. Lance’s brown leather jacket lay discarded on the floor, one hand hung over the arm of the seat, the other folded over his chest.
“Lance…” Keith said in a quieter voice as he slowly approached the motionless man. He could just barely hear the soft sound of music coming from Lance’s CD player over the wind that howled outside.
“”We need to find a way to break this silence that's
between us
So I scream your name
But every time that I touch you
You feel so far away
And every time that you need me
I feel so far away
And every time that you reach out
You feel me pull away
And every time that I touch you, I touch you, I touch you
You feel so far away“”
Keith closed his eyes for a moment, he recognized the song as one Lance had been listening to a lot lately. It was So Far Away by a group from Earth known as Stabbing Westward. Every time he heard this song it reminded him of the troubles that plagued his and Lance’s relationship. As the song faded, the last of CD’s player’s power slipped away bringing the music to an end.
“Lance…” Keith said quietly, his hand shaking as he reached out to check his lover’s pulse. When Keith’s fingers touched Lance’s neck, Lance’s eyes snapped open, making Keith jump slightly and pull his hand back.
“Keith…” Lance said in a quiet voice.
“How you doing?” Keith asked.
“Not good.” Lance motioned slightly to his left leg. Making Keith notice for the first time that the control panel had caved around Lance’s leg, the sharp metal cutting into Lance’s flesh. “Almost all out of oxygen too.”
Keith glanced at the small oxygen canister and noticed it was down to only four percent. These containers were only of use for under three hours, and Lance been using it as sparingly as possible, but there was only a few minutes of clean air left. “Use mine.” Keith unhooked his own breathing mask.
“You need it.” Lance argued.
“Not as much as you do.” Keith said.
“But…” Lance tried to argue more, turning his head as Keith tried to place the mask over his mouth and nose.
“Just use it. I’ll be fine while I work at getting you out of here.” Keith said. “And I can use the end of yours.”
“I have already been more… contaminated. There’s…” Lance started.
“I know. The sensors picked up on the Meladonia radiation.” Keith said. “It’s probably what caused this ionic storm. When they discovered how unstable it is they stopped using it a couple decades ago. After the leak on colony X482 created that ionic storm, like this one, that last ten years.”
“I know… everyone was dead by the time any help could get there.” Lance said quietly.
“But that’s not going to happen to us. The lions can fly through ionic storms. I came in black and before I entered the storm I sent a message back to the others.” Keith said.
‘”Hopefully they get sooner then you got mine.” Lance said.
“We never got one from you.” Keith moved to grab the medical kit before bending down by Lance.
“Then why are you here?” Lance asked.
“Because I was worried about you when there was no word from you for so long.” Keith said.
“Oh.” Lance smiled slightly. Then frowned. “What if they don’t get your message?”
“Doesn’t matter. Black is in fine condition. I’ll get us out of here.” Keith said. “No hold on while I try to get this off your leg.”
Lance nodded. He gritted his teeth in pain, his face going pale as Keith pulled at the control panel. “Why was this freighter carrying such a large load of Meladonia anyway?” He asked trying to use conversation to avoid thinking too much about the pain.
Keith shrugged. “I think this freighter crashed more then twenty
years ago.”
“Then how did we just get the distress beacon?” Lance asked.
Keith shrugged again. “Ionic storms have been known for creating some… unique disturbances.”
“But…” Lance started to say when suddenly, Keith cursed loudly and pulled his hand away.
“What happened?” Lance asked.
“I cut my hand.”
“How bad?”
Keith held his hand up and showed Lance the shallow cut that ran across three of his finger. “I need to find something to grab hold of it with.”
“Use my jacket.” Lance said.
“Mine’s made of thicker material.” Keith said as he undid the jacket of his uniform. Underneath he wore a black t-shirt. He wrapped the jacket around his hands and moved back down by Lance.
Several minutes later Keith was still working at peeling the metal away from Lance’s leg. He sat back slightly, sweat pouring down his body, his face flushed and breathing heavy. He grabbed the small oxygen canister and took several long breaths of the fresh air. He glanced at Lance, Lance’s eyes were closed and his face was pale. He reached out and touched Lance’s cheek, worried pulled at his heart at the feel of Lance’s cold and clammy skin. “Lance…” Keith said quietly. There was no response. “LANCE!”
Lance slowly opened eyes. His normally bright hazel eyes were dull.
“Lance, are you okay?” Keith asked, his voice trembled slightly and was fraught with worry.
“Keith…” Before he could say anything else a loud cracking noise filled the small shuttle.
Keith turned his head slightly and looked at the expanding spider web cracking on the windshield of the shuttle. It looked like thin ice that had too much weight placed on it ready to crack open a drag the foolish person that stepped out on to it into the icy cold depths of the water below. As the cracking grew louder Keith realized the integrity of the windshield had been breeched. He turned his body and covered Lance the best he could, second before the windshield shattered inward, spraying reinforced glass and sand inwards. For a moment Keith didn’t move, from his place over Lance.
“Keith?”
Keith didn’t want to move his back felt like it was on fire, full of shards of glass, and breathing felt impossible. He slowly lifted his head, a steady line of blood trailing down the side of his neck.
“Keith, are you okay?” Lance asked worriedly. He wasn’t even aware that the oxygen mask had been knocked off and lay on the floor beside the pilot’s seat.
Keith blinked a couple times. “Sorry.”
“For what?” Lance asked as a feeling of dread crept over him.
Keith didn’t respond instead he leaned forward and gently kissed Lance’s lips. His head dropped forward onto Lance’s shoulder and he lay motionless.
“Keith… “ Lance slowly moved an arm and brushed his fingers across Keith’s cheek. But when he touched him, Keith felt like he was so far away. KEITH!” Lance screamed. Tears were running down his cheeks as he realized his lover was dead. That Keith died trying to save his life. He slowly wrapped his arms around Keith’s lifeless body. “I am coming with, Keith. Perhaps then we can find a place where the silence is broken and we will never feel so far away from each other ever again.” Lance closed his eyes and hugged Keith and allowed the grim reaper to come and claim him.
So Far Away
By: Stabbing Westward
Each night I feel the distance that has grown between us
Open up as lonely as the space between the stars
I wish that I could find a way
To smash my fist right through these walls
Of ugliness and emptiness
And gently touch your face
But every time that I touch you
You feel so far away
And every time that you need me
I feel so far away
As you lie silently beside me choking back your tears
I wonder if you recognize
That silence now defines us
Desperately I try to fight this overwhelming sense
That I may never find
The strength to change
How hopeless we've become
We need to find a way to break this silence
We need to find a way to break this silence that's between us
So I scream your name
But every time that I touch you
You feel so far away
And every time that you need me
I feel so far away
And every time that you reach out
You feel me pull away
And every time that I touch you, I touch you, I touch you
You feel so far away