Chapter 4
"Analyze." Allura said as she put the clump of dirt on a beam. The system immediately responded.
"Analysis: foreign contaminant. Substance is a three phase system composed of various combinations of naturally derived solids. Subject is most commonly referred to as "soil", "dirt", or "earth"." The last word caught Allura off-guard. Lotor was off doing what he usually did so she thought she might as well.
"Define "Earth"..." Allura commanded, a bit shakingly. "Earth" - the surface of the world as distinct from the sky or sea. Dozens of images pop on the screen with mesmerizing landscapes and beautiful people and cultures. Allura's eyes widened as she noticed that humans and alteans used to live together in harmony.
""Earth" - the surface of the world as distinct from the sky or sea." The system said. Allura stared in awe.
"Define "sea"" Allura said as she leaned forward to take in all the information.
""Sea"...an expanse of salt water that covers most of the Earth's surface and surrounds its land masses--"
Lance and Pidge were strapped on the transport with energy bands. The typing human has now mastered waving and waves an enthusiastic goodbye. Lance waves back. He also tried to talk to Pidge.
"Pidge...?" She didn't answer. She gives him the cold shoulder. Refuses to speak to him. She was pissed.
"...Pidge....??" He tried again. She looked away. Lance deflated at that. His friend looked so hurt...He wanted to help. But couldn't...It seems he may have caused some trouble doing this. Somewhere ahead of them however, Keith is still cleaning Lance's filthy tracks tanks to his dirt covered shoes. Oblivious to everything around him. Cuts through traffic. Robots crash into each other in his wake. He doesn't notice Pidge's and Lance's drive past. Lance snorts as he notices him.
"GOOD LUCK CLEANING THAT, BUDDY!" Lance calls out as the transport hovers through a corridor and they enter. It's a fully automated clinic for 'broken' bots and humans. Day care for the 'malfunctioned'. The rejects are kept in force field fences, dozens lining the walls. Pidge scrunches her face up. Lance frowns. Now he sees why she didn't want to be sent here. He shrieks in fear as one grabs his foot. A human with red hair and a funny mustache.
"Coran Coran the gorgeous man~" He says. Pidge's eyes widen.
"Coran! Oh, what have they done to you..." She says, covering her mouth. So he knew this human. His wires and stuff must have been fried for a human to act like that. The transport stops at a inspection station. Robotic arms activate. Lance scooches away a bit, in fear of the unknown. He's never been grabbed by one of these and he doesn't want to know what they could possibly do to him. He watches them systematically check Pidge. They perform an I.D. scan too. That's when they attach a 'Defect' boot to her head. Pidge sighs.
"Here we go again..." The boot is pressed and the capsule is back. Pidge's capsule gets lifted and taken away. The robot arms try to do the same thing to Lance.
"Oh hell no!" He dodges and tries to run, but bumps into a robot made for saloons. It starts painting on his face with make-up. He spurts and coughs as powder and lipstick get in his mouth. He narrows his eyes but the robotic hand snatched him and put him in one of the force field pens. Lance looks unimpressed at the field.
"I feel like I'm back at kindergarten." Lance watches as Pidge's capsule is taken in the 'diagnostic' room. The frosted glass doors shut. Orderly-arms run diagnostics on a few reject robots. Pidge is taken out of her capsule and stays calm. She's annoyed, indeed. But calm. A series of tests begin. Lance can only make out silhouettes from the outside. The first test was on her arm, the one that had a gun. Lance stares in horror as from outside the door it looks like they're trying to chop it off.
"What the fuu--" A human with a defective vacuum shoots dust in his face. He rubs his eyes. Next thing he knows, he hears a screech. It wasn't her but he mistakes it as hers. Then she is washed, but as they scrub her neck? To Lance it looks like they're trying to decapitate her. He needs to stop the torture. He takes off his gloves and fires his cutting laser on the fence and then jumps right through the glass door, shattering a part of it.
"WHAT THE?! ARE YOU AN IDIOT??" Pidge asks as she looks at him.
"Oops." He says as he realizes what's happening. He shrugs.
"If I'm here might as well go, you know??" He grabs her hand, the one still being checked.
"LANCE WAIT--" And the gun activates. It shots and everything just seems to go in slow motion as it's slowly making it's way towards the door. It hits the panel at the entrance.
"LANCE! YOU IMBECILE!" Pidge yells at him as she snatches her hand back from his grip. They both look at the other room with wide eyes as the smoke clears....All orderly-arms go limp...The repair ward doors open up...and all force fields fall...He just let loose the looney bin...The Rejects look at each other for a beat. Then cheer wildly. The mob rushes to Lance, picking him up and they carry their hero out of the ward, on their shoulders. Lance yelps as he's almost being dropped. Pidge can't help but stare for a second in astonishment. She didn't think he could get more idiotic than following her on the ship. She was wrong. Then realizes her friend was being taken away by a crazy mob.
"Shit- LANCE!" She immediately gets out of the robot's grip and starts running after the mob or robots and humans. The rejects march Lance out the entrance. Their red defect boots all blink, activating a warning light above the doorway. Suddenly an embedded row of stewards, from under Shiro's care, pop out of the wall. Race to the repair ward. Sirens wailing. Pidge's eyes widen.
"Shit!" Stars hovering. The reject mob stampedes through the halls. Disrupts all robot traffic, Lance carried over their heads. Suddenly, the mob stops in front of...a blockade of stewards.
"Halt." They said as a white hand on a red screen flashed in front of them. Lance's eyes widened. He was screwed. Lance get's dropped right in front of them and pushed forward on the floor.
"Uhhh....Heyyyyy there, friends....heheheh...listen this is all~ just a big misunderstanding...ok??" He says, as he tries to play it cool.
"LANCE!" Pidge says as she flies right next to him. The steward takes a screenshot just as she was rubbing her gun arm. She appears to brandish her gun at camera. The duo's faces now on every wall...passenger's hover chair...cabin...hallway...
"Caution: Rogue robots...Caution: Rogue robots..." Pidge looked in horror at the screens. Lance shrinks down in fear. Oh ohhh....he fucked up big time now. The stewards seem to charge up. That's when Pidge realizes what's happening. They're about to shoot a retractor beam. Not on her watch.
"LANCE!" She pulls him towards her, evading the beam and puts her hands under his arms.
"HOPE YOU DON'T HATE HEIGHTS!" She says. Lance looks confused.
"What do you- WOAH!" She picks him off the ground and starts hovering and zooms right past the stewards.
"SO COOL!! AHAHAH!!" Lance says, looking back at the stewards as Pidge was flying, trying to evade them. But robots and humans were already recognizing them. Their faces were after all plastered everywhere. Match them with the "Wanted" screens. Call attention to them. Point. Stewards in hot pursuit. They were fried, screwed, juiced...JUST FUCKED. The mass of rejects take their cue. Rebellion! They bust through the steward blockade. Pidge looks around as the robots surround them. She snarls. The rebellion bursts through another blockade and Pidge starts flying right through the opening. She shoves Lance in a porthole cubby. She covers his mouth and waits as she lets the mob and stewards pass.
"Shut. up." She whispers to him. His face grew hot as she felt her breath against the side of his face. And they were so close too...Damn it. She takes her hand off and Lance almost wanted to whine. He liked it when she touches him. It's like small sparks on his skin. She glances out the porthole and smirks. She can see the docking bay below her. Just under the bay doors, a row of emergency escape pods. She looks at Lance and sighs.
"Come on. We're going this way." She puts her hands under his arms again, this time grabbing his torso. She starts flying. As they were flying, Pidge couldn't help but blush. Was he always this well built...?? Wait no- Stay focused, Pidge! You need to get to the emergency escape pods. She looks down and sees Lance enjoying the flight. A small smile creeps at her lips. No! She was mad at him! She shoves him in the elevator and hits the button to go down. They ride in uncomfortable silence. Pidge was leaning against the wall, arms crossed. Lance was just shifting from one leg to the other. He looked up and noticed the screen.
"Oh hey! That's us!" Lance says. Pidge frowns at the screen with their faces and puts her hand up, shooting it. Lance's eyes widen as he tries to shrink in fear.
"O-Ok....not a fan of photos..." He says, his voice cracking a bit. Dark. The elevator chimes. Pidge and Lance step out. Rows of numbered bay doors line the hallway. Pidge approaches "Bay #1". She and Lance enter...The small girl navigates in the dark well and approaches a console. Fiddles with some buttons. Lance looks around and then his eyes fall onto Pidge's hand, hanging to her side. His fingers start twitching as he intertwines his hands together. He looks away blushing. Was it too much to ask for some closure from her...??
"Hey...Pidge...?" He asks, weakly. Banks of controls light up around them. Lance looks in awe. At the end, an escape pod lights up. Its hatch automatically opens. Bathes the room with light from its lit interior. Pidge turns to Lance.
"Come on. Get it." She says. Lance strolls in and sits down. He looks at her innocently and pats the seat next to him. She shakes her head.
"Sorry...But I have a directive to fulfill...Somewhere in here there's a plant stolen from me..." Lance frowns and strolls out the pod.
"Guess i'm staying then." Pidge frowns at him.
"Lance..." She pulls him by the hand and pushes him in there. As she goes to the panel, he creeps behind her. He put a hand on the panel and she turns around with wide eyes.
"You can't make me go, Pidge. End of the story." She opens her mouth to protest when the elevator chimes. They both look in that direction and Pidge hisses. She quickly closes everything and pulls Lance into hiding behind some tubes. They both watch as Shiro comes in.
"Shiro...?" Pidge says with wide eyes. They watch from the shadows as...
...Shiro enters the pod...
...opens his chest cavity...
...emits his suspension beam...
...and deposits the PLANT.
The two humans looks at each other in the shadows.
"The plant!" They both whisper in shock. Shiro exists the pod and starts walking towards the console. Pidge watches him. As she turns to speak to Lance, he's gone.
"Lance...?" She whispers, in hope he could hear her. Lance was inside the pod, picking the plant up and showing it to Pidge.
"Lance! No!" She whispers frantically Too late. Shiro hits a button. The pod door shuts on Lance and launches the pod into space. Pidge's eyes widen in horror. Shiro turns around and exits.
"LANCE!" She rushes to the window and looks out in space at the flying pod. She snarls and looks to her side. Lance's pod rapidly shrinking in the distance and the plant icon on Pidge's chest glowing made her realize what she had to do. She rushes to a narrow service airlock. She enters it like a phone booth and lunches herself out in space. Behind her a blue trail could be seen as she speeds up to catch up with the pod. In the pod however, Lance was plastered to the door.
"Cruising speed." Said the system. He was dropped to the floor.
"You are now free to move around the cabin" Lance frowns.
"You are now free to move around the cabin MY ASS. Sheesh..." He said in a mocking tone. Then realized he was in danger.
"Oh shit-" He opened his old chest cavity that was a bit stuck since he hasn't used it in forever then put the plant in. Lance peers out the rear hatch window. Sees the Axiom receding from view. He clambers up into the pilot's seat. Pulls back hard on the throttle. Nothing happens. Looks down at the console.
"What the hell?!" Then Lance notices something. A SELF-DESTRUCT DIAL!
"OH HELL NO!" Pushes every button on the console. Everything activates:...Lights flash...Oxygen masks drop...Windshield wipers activate...Flares fire off...Parachutes deploy...Lance's eyes widen when he spots the timer. He panics. Looks for a means of escape. Spots the hatch. Grabs the pod's fire extinguisher. He starts slamming on the hatch's jammed handle. Come on come on...
Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two...
Pidge was racing through spaces after the pod. Suddenly in the distance the pod explodes. She was gut-punched. She froze. Oh God....
"No....No....no no no no NO!" She goes even faster than before to see if he survived. He had to survive! He couldn't die! No- Not Lance! Anyone but Lance- She felt tears prick at the corners of her eyes when suddenly something whizzes past her. She blinked in surprise until she heard the cheerful cheer and then the call of her name.
"WOOOOO! HI PIDGEEEEEE!" She sighs in relief to see him alive. She turns around and starts going towards him. Lance however had the same idea. He held the fire-extinguisher back and launches himself forward. Attempts to fly back over to her. It's hard to steer...They rocket right past each other again... Pidge blinks in surprise.
"Stay there! I'll come! Weee!" He starts shooting smaller bits of foam, slowly making his way towards her. Pidge looks at him, amused. As he finally gets to her, he accidently gets foam in her face. Pidge giggles as she waves it away from her face. She was about to hug him when he put a hand out.
"Wait wait- Before you strangle me...Look what I've got!" Lance says as he smiles and opens his cavity. He takes out the plant. Pidge's eyes widen. She scans it and immediately her hatchet opens as well, taking the plant in. She beams and starts laughing.
"LANCE! YOU- YOU- I COULD KISS YOU RIGHT NOW! FUCK IT!" She hugs him, twirls him around and then pulls him in a short kiss. Her lips felt so light. Or was that the fact they were in space. Lance was pretty sure he short-circuited. Did she just- he was now floating with his fire-extinguisher in the ninth cloud. SHE JUST KISSED HIM! She giggled and waved towards him to come.
"Come on, Lance." She tries to reach for him. He puts his hand up.
"Waitttt! NOW~ I can fly myself! WOHOOOO BABY~" He starts flying with his fire-extinguisher. The two fly around the stern of the ship. Lance does a few barrel rolls.
"HAH! Top that, Pidgey!" She giggles and matches his moves perfectly. The pair fly between the booster engines of the ship. Weave in and out of the rocket flames. Bank up along the ship's port side. Execute a double helix in perfect unison...However, inside the ship, Shay was watching out the window.
"So many stars." She spots Pidge & Lance dancing among the stars.
"Oooh...Hey, that's what's his name --" She backs up to wave hello, but bumps into someone. No other than Hunk.
"Hey! What the--" Shay leans over to his armrest. Turns off his holo-screen. Points out the window.
"Look! Look at THAT!" Shay says, excitedly.
"Wha...huh?" Hunk looks out the window at the two dancing through the stars.
"Hey... I know that guy! It's, uh...Lance! Hey Lance! It's your buddy, Hunk!" Shay beamed.
"Right, Lance! Hi Lance!" Shay said, waving. They both wave until Lance's out of sight. Hunk absentmindedly lowers his hand to his armrest...and touches Shay's hand. Both turn towards each other. They make eye contact for the first time. Awkward beat.
"Uhh...Hi." Hunk says, smiling. Shay smiles back.
"Hi." Shay says back.
Pidge and Lance were soaring across the Axiom's bow. Allura was still at her desk, learning about earth as Lotor was piloting the ship and was turning the sky-dome to night.
"Define "hoe-down""" Allura said. The Captain is still engrossed in her Earth research. Multiple images litter the screen. Crops, farms, a barn, etc.... An image of people dancing in the square pops up.
""Hoedown" - a social gathering at which lively dancing would take place." The system responded. Lotor came inside the room.
"Lotor! Earth is amazing! These are called "farms". Humans would put seeds in the ground, pour water on them, and they'd grow food, like, pizza-- And we lived in peace too! Oh it's--" Lotor interrupted her.
"Good night, Captain." He shuts off the screen. Allura makes an annoyed grunt. The Captain glares at the ceiling. Then whispers conspiratorially to the computer:
"Psst- computer... Define "dancing"." Allura asked, eagerly waiting for the answer.
""Dancing" - A series of movements, involving two partners, where speed and rhythm match harmoniously with music."
Dancing. It was a great feeling to say the least. It was like their hearts were soaring alongside them in perfect sink. And they didn't mind the fact that Lance accidently turned on his music either. It was a nice cruise along the ship the two were having. Lance couldn't help but take in all her beauty. She truly was like an angel. That's when Lance's frie-extinguisher runs out of foam.
"Ah shit..." he says as he let's it fly around in space. Pidge giggles and takes it hand, pulling him close. He ends up with his hands on her hips and her hands on his shoulder. Both of them stare at the other, flushing, with wide eyes. Pidge coughed and slide her hands around his torso, looking away, so she can fly with him.
"Come on." She tells him. Lance takes in the way her arms feel around him. She scans the ship for a way in and smirks when she finds one.
"Bingo~" She says. She goes down on the ship's lower hull...A Repair-bot welds an antenna. Pidge and Lance fly into the open hatch behind him. It shuts. The poor bot bangs on the closed door. Stuck outside. Guess he wasn't going in anytime soon.
"The Lido Deck is now closing...The Lido Deck is now closing." Said the system. The last few passengers exit the pool area. All wearing the same color blue uniforms...But two people were still at the pool. Wearing red uniforms. Shay and Hunk. They ripple the surface of the pool. Hunk and Shay float over the water's surface. Splash one another playfully.
"Hey now. Stop that!" Hunk said, chuckling.
"Make me!" The two laughed.
"Man! I didn't know we had a pool!" Hunk said. That's when a bot came to them.
"No splashing, no diving." Hunk and Shay both groaned.
"Ah, fuck off!" Hunk said and splashed the bot. Shay gasped and they both started laughing. Lance and Pidge were just sneaking in on the floor above them.
"Oh heyyyy~ My matchmaking worked-- woah!" Pidge pulled him after her.
"We don't have time for that!" They bot hid behind racks of towels. Pidge was looking over and noticed stewards with their photos on them. Ah great...Lance however was still too focused on her hand. He just wanted some closer. You can't just- give him a thank you kiss and do nothing after that! Come on, you cold hearted woman. Give him a chance. She looked around and noticed a trash chute.
"There we go..." She mumbled, putting her hand on the rack just as Lance was reaching towards it. Lance frowned. He then pressed his recorder and music started playing. She jumped up, startled and Lance put his arm out for her.
"Pidgeyyy??" He asked. Pidge looked at him, a bit confused, but also annoyed thanks to the noise. She stops his recorder and frowns.
"Stop it! They'll hear us, Lance!" She says, putting his hand down. He looks hurt. She then pushes him down. She was about to leave when Lance caught her arm.
"Where are you going?!" He asks. Pidge points at her chest then up.
"Directive, Lance." She says, firmly. Before Lance can protest she zoomed towards the chute and flew in it.
The Captain sits by his window to space. Holds a toy Axiom model over his earth globe. Allura was pretending she was getting to Earth. That's when noises came from the chute. Pidge flew out and opened her cavity to reveal the plant. Allura dropped the toy and globe.
"How...? How'd you find it?!" Pidge was panting. She straightens her back, salutes her and presents to the altean the plant, properly. Allura gently picks it up.
"We can go back home...for the first time!" Allura says, excitement filling her as she dreams about what humans and alteans can become.
"What's it like now?" Pidge blinks in surprise.
"W-What...?" She asks. Allura chuckles.
"No, no! Don't tell me! I want to see for myself!" Allura says. She turns on the console and hits a button. A strange device raises from it. The Captain sticks it to the side of Pidge's head. She makes a small 'ow' as it sticks a bit to her hair. A holographic screen projects from the device. Plays back images of her time on Earth. A collage of images rapidly scroll past. All displayed from her point of view:...Being delivered to Earth...Flying above the devastated landscape...Blowing up a rock...Scans of numerous trash locations...Allura shakes her head, frowning.
"Wait...that doesn't look like Earth... Where's the blue sky...? Where's the green??" Allura asks. Her face drops. Slumps in defeat. The dream is over. Suddenly, the Hello Dolly clip of POYSC plays... It stirs the Captain out of her funk. She looks up at the screen. Leans in for a closer look.
"I know that song." Pidge nods.
"That's dancing, ma'am." Allura smiles.
"I remember yeah..." A small smile grows on her face and looks down at her foot. It's tapping in time to the music. Her gaze drifts over to the plant in her hands. She lifts it up. Makes the boot dance.
"...You made it somehow, eh little guy? You didn't give up, did you?" Allura says. A leaf of the plant falls. Allura gasps.
"Oh no, no-- Wait a minute." Allura makes her chair hover. Pidge's recorded memories continue playing...The clip changes to It Only Takes a Moment. She recognizes the music. Watches the lovers on screen hold hands. Something familiar about the gesture... Looks at her own hands. Slowly, she interlocks her fingers... Pidge's eyes go wide. THIS is what Lance wanted...Closure...
Her memories continue on the screen: Her name being called... Lance presents her the plant, she protests -- ...The screen goes blank for a second. But it comes back. Lance's vigil for her plays out:...protecting her from the rain...the sun...the sandstorm...keeping watch night and day...trying to jump start her heart using his own heart...Amazed at Lance's selfless dedication to her. She realizes the meaning of Lance's love. Oh God...Love! That's what it was- The feeling the everything! She fell for that idiotic dork.
"Lance...you dummy..." She mumbles to herself as she watches the screen. Down by the towels, Lance was growing impatient. He was now rehearsing with himself how to ask Pidge what he wanted.
"Hey Pidge?...hm. no. Pidge, listen...i really- no no. mi amor? no no no- she knows spanish, idiot!" He sighs and slumps down on the floor.
"I'll never get it right...Where even is she...?" He looks at the chute and frowns. He sneakily rolls towards the chute and peeks up through it.
"Pidge?" He tries to call out. He looks down and gulps. That's a big fall...Welp...Better than staying there. He started climbing up. Holds himself spread eagle to stay in place. Carefully inches his way up to the Captain's quarters...
"The shit I do for her..." Lance grumbles as he climbs. A monorail pulls up. Keith steps off. Still hot on Lance's trail, scrubs the dirty tracks towards the bridge lobby. Then notices Lance's FRESH tracks...leading to the trash chute. Keith frowns.
"Ah-hah! Gotcha!"
Back in the Captain's quarters, Allura was at her wet bar, watering the plant in the sink. She smiles fondly at the plant.
"There you go little guy. You came a long way for a drink of water... Just needed someone to look after you, that's all --" Finally, it hit her. Struck by the realization, she stares out the window at space for a bit. She sees her reflection holding the plant and then the globe in the back.
"We have to go back." Allura mumbled. She frowns, presses a button and calls for Lotor. Pidge was still lost in the moments. That's when she realizes- Lance! lance was still waiting for her. She turns to leave, only to find Lotor block her way. She gasped and backed away.
" Auto, Eve found the plant. Fire up the Holo-detector." Pidge frowned.
"It's Pidge, ma'am...You know, the one you asked to be built especially for this?" Allura blinked.
"O-Oh! You actually--...Oh. Well, Pidge found the plant then!"
"Not necessary, Captain. You may give it to me." Lotor said as he started getting closer. Pidge frowned and grabbed him.
"You know what? I should do it myself." Allura said, not noticing how Pidge grabbed Lotor. The small girl lets go of the galran who stumbles forward as the altean was reaching for the elevator.
"Captain!" Lotor rushes and blocks her way. Pidge narrows her eyes and snarls. The hell was his problem?!
"Ma'am, I insist you give me the plant." Allura frowned and shielded the plant from him.
"Lotor, get OUT of my way!" Allura barked.
"We cannot go home!" Lotor said. Allura's eyes widened. Pidge stepped back in shock.
"What are you talking about? Why not?" Allura said. Lotor frowned.
"That is classified. Captain, give me the plant." Lotor said. Allura held a hand in front of her.
"What do you mean, "classified"? You don't keep secrets from the Captain!" Allura said.
"Give me the plant." Lotor said.
"Tell me what's classified!" Allura said.
"The plant." Lotor said. Pidge growled and balled her hands into fists.
"FOLLOW YOUR DAMN CAPTAIN'S COMMANDS!" Lotor stiffened and Allura's eyes widened.
"Aye-aye, ma'am." Lotor said. He starts walking to the vanity console. Allura looks at Pidge and smiles a bit.
"Thanks." Pidge nods. Lotor starts tapping some buttons.
A new BNL video message appears. Labeled: "TOP SECRET: FOR AUTOPILOT ONLY". The BNL fanfare plays. Cut to the BNL CEO at the podium. Haggard. Nervous. Wears an emergency oxygen vest. The fanfare plays too long. Pidge was starting to feel uneasy. So did the captain.
"Just cut it off, will ya?!" The CEO said. He nervously chuckles after that.
"Hey there, Autopilots! Uh, got some bad news. Operation Cleanup has, uh, well... failed! Wouldn't you know, rising toxicity levels have made life unsustainable on Earth." Allura's eyes widened. Pidge narrowed her eyes. They left those poor people to die- Lance's family! Her family! They both were on Earth. Poor Lance...
"Unsustainable? What?" Allura said, more to herself. But it was a lie! And this plant proved it! Life was sustainable, it just needed help!
"Darn it all, we're going to have to cancel Operation Recolonize. So just, uh...just stay the course. Rather than try to fix this problem, it'll just be easier if everyone remains in space." Pidge and Allura look offended.
"Easier?" Allura asks, taken aback by the audacity.
"Alright, uh...uh...I'm giving override directive: Lotor. Go to full autopilot. Take control of everything! And do not return to Earth! Repeat! Do not return to Earth! Now let's get the heck out of here." The CEO says as he put on a gas mask. Just as he runs out of the room, the message cuts out. Allura looks at the plant.
"No, wait a minute. Computer, when was that message sent to the Axiom?" Allura asks. The paused image on the holo-screen highlights. Data begins to calculate on the screen. Years scroll backwards and it stops on "2110".
"That's -- that's nearly 700 years ago!! Auto, things have changed! We've got to go back!" Allura tried to reason. Pidge looked at Lotor with hopeful eyes. His program can't be that strong...he had to say 'yes'.
"Ma'am, orders are: "Do not return to Earth"." You piece of purple sh--
"But life is sustainable now! Look at this plant, green and growing! It's living proof he was wrong." Pidge butt in. Lotor shot her a glare.
"She's right!" Lotor shook his head.
"Irrelevant, Captain." Allura scoffed.
"What?! It's completely relevant! Out there is our home! Home, Auto! And it's in trouble! I can't just sit here and...and...do nothing! That's all I've done! That's all anyone on this blasted ship has ever done...NOTHING!!" Allura pleaded.
"On the Axiom you will live." Pidge growled.
"THIS IS NOT LIVING! THIS IS SURVING, YOU ASSHOLE!" Pidge said at him, enraged. Lotor snarled at her and turned to the Captain like she wasn't even there.
"Must follow my directive. And you should stop butting in, EVE." Pidge was fuming. HOW DARE THIS PURPLE GRAPE SAY THAT?! The Captain turns away in frustration. Her eyes catch sight of the captain portraits. Notices Lotor in every one of them. Looking over all their shoulders. A little closer every generation. The Captain slowly looks over her shoulder...and Lotor is right behind her. The Captain looks at the plant in her lap. Her countenance grows determined. She rights her hat...turns to face Lotor...and gives the most authoritative order of his career:
"I'm the Captain of the Axiom. We are going home TODAY!" Allura says. Pidge perks up with hope. Lotor gets in her face. Pidge gasps. The 'nice' persona Lotor was portraying was gone. Pidge rushed to help the Captain and pulled Lotor back. The galran growled and gave an electric command. Suddenly Shiro was in the room.
"Shiro! Help me!" Pidge pleaded. That was her friend....right? Shiro walks past her and using a beam takes the plant.
"MY PLANT! That's my plant. This is mutiny! Pidge! Arrest him!" Pidge nodded and pointed her arm at her friend. She tried to hold a stern look but couldn't. Shiro puts his hands up.
"Put it in here...now." Pidge said as she opened her cavity. Shiro slowly advances towards Pidge. Suddenly something in Shiro's stern look changes and his eyes change from yellow to black.
"P-Pidge...I'm so sorry..." His eyes change back to yellow as Pidge lowered her guard a bit. But then tosses the plant across the room...down the TRASH CHUTE. Pidge tried to go after it but Lotor grabbed her.
"NO!" Both girls screamed. It's over. The plant is gone. But in that frozen moment...The plant appears. Rises like a ghost, up from the chute. Lance's head follows. Unaware of the plant resting on his head. He smirks.
"Sup, Pidge? Uhh...What's he doing?" Lance asked, pointing at Lotor confused. Pidge wanted to cry in relief.
"LANCE!" She screams out. Lance blinks in surprise.
"Didn't expect you to miss me that much. What's poppin'?" Lance says, nonchalantly. That's when the plant fall's on Lance's chest.
"Ohhh. That's what it was- Wait! The plant!" Lance was even more confused now.
"GIVE IT TO THE CAPTAIN/ME" Both girls said. Lance blinked in surprise. Lotor let's go of Pidge and blocks his view.
"The plant!" Lotor demands. Lance leans back a bit.
"Woahhhh there, buddy. Hell no." The cuban boy says back. Pidge tried to jump Lotor but was tackled by Shiro, sending her rolling.
"PIDGE!" He called out as she groaned in pain. Lance frowned, opened his chest cavity and put the plant in.
"Take it now, suckerrrr!" He said, sticking his tongue out. Lotor growled and took out a taser. He stabbed Lance with it and sent a shock wave through him. Lance's chest circuits blow and he wheezed. The world seemed more in a haze. He leaned from side to side a bit and falls lifelessly down the chute. Pidge's eyes widened in horror. She screams as hard as she can.
"LANCE! NO!" She choked back the sobs threatening to come out. NO- NO NO NO NO! Shiro pressed the button of her Defect boot that she didn't take off and the capsule covers her. He picked up the capsule with his beam and threw her out. Allura watched in horror.
"All communications are terminated. You are confined to quarters." Lotor says as he walks out the room. Everything turns off.
"NO! MUTINY! MUTINY! MUTINEEEEE!!"