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[bigbrained]

[Being core members of the Voltron coalition meant that sometimes the team had to spread their forces thin in order to take care of everything that required their attention. Sure, they had other allies who could hold their own -the Blade of Mamora for example- but it had a little more impact if the paladins themselves saved a colony or planet, as opposed to more Galra.

In other words: politics.]

I mean, I understand what Coran was saying but I still think it's kinda dumb, right Keith? [Undeterred by Keith's noncommital 'uh huh's and 'yeah's, Hunk continues on as he follows Keith's lead and slows down his approach. They're going to have to try and sneak up on this installation or risk the Galra retaliating against the captured techs for calling for help.] They've been around way longer than we have, and fighting for way longer too! It kinda feels like we're shoving them out of the way to get all the glory. Not that that's what we're doing, but it sure feels like that's what we're doing. I guess in the end it doesn't really matter who gets the job done so long as the people are saved, but it still leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Right? Do you have a bad taste in your mouth too, Keith?

Comments

[bigbrained]

...you don't think that generator is emitting some kind of- some kind of field or something, do you? [It's okay Keith, he doesn't expect you to answer.] The lions always recover so quickly, it's almost crazy that Yellow's been down for so long. Maybe that second blast wasn't a blast after all, maybe that was some kind of suppression field?

[whatsacactus]

I... don't know.

[Yeah, it's more on the clueless "I don't know what you said" tone than anything. But Hunk's got the supply bag, so Keith uses the rock he was leaning against to push himself back to his feet and oh god he can tell the painkiller wore off. He's sore and just... ready to be home. He wishes there was some way to beacon over to the others from their suits.]

Did you wanna check it out?

[Wait why can't their suits do that?]

[bigbrained]

[welp now they know what the new suit upgrade is gonna be

Hunk, honestly, does not want to check it out. He doesn't want to go into danger, he doesn't want to risk getting hurt worse because Keith is so bad off that he couldn't help Hunk anywhere. He doesn't want to take risks; he just wants to hide until someone comes to save them, guns blazing.

But then there's Yellow, dark and unresponsive, laying on his side in a trench in the forest.]

...yeah, [Hunk finally answers.] If it's something that can knock lions offline permanently, we need to dismantle it before the others get here. [Paladins are replaceable, after all. Voltron isn't.]

[whatsacactus]

[Keith nods, one hand on his side to make sure the binding is still in place before he stands up straight.]

That's what I was thinking [It so was not. He was remembering that old parental advice "If you get lost, find a landmark and stay there" that his dad used to tell him. The others knew they were coming to investigate that thing, so surely that's the first place they'd go looking.

But Hunk's sounded better.]

Lets go then.

[bigbrained]

Haha! Yup, let's go. Let's just...get up and go. [Keith, you are an amazing person. Can you teach Hunk how not to fear for your own life to the point of paralysis?]

[whatsacactus]

[He's an idiot, don't aspire to be like him, Hunk. Someone's got to give a shit about them as they go back into that place.

He stops when he gets to the edge of the cliff though, still not entirely trusting his own leg to get down with.]

So we know it can hit with physical force, it's loud, and it did something to the lions. What else?

[bigbrained]

[Okay but first, mf pills. Load up, buddy; if they're gonna die today then their deaths better damn well be painless.] I can't be positive because I only saw the readings for a second, but the Fraunhofer line of that pulse looked almost identical to Voltron's...which means it's probably a quintessence-based weapon. I don't know how they managed to refine it to make it like an EMP but that's the only explanation I can think of.

[whatsacactus]

[Keith listens. Really tries to, even when he takes one of the pills from Hunk. But it just goes in one ear and out the other, no matter how hard he tries to make sense of what he's talking about. He's glad there are other paladins on this team that know what they're doing. He sure doesn't a lot of the time.]

....So basically, go in, figure out where the power source is, break it if we can. Right?

[Forgive him, Hunk. Be the smart one of this team.]

[bigbrained]

[Hunk is of the opinion that the team needs people Keith just as desperately as smart people who do the science. It's why they're a team.]

Ideally: yes. Realistically: ...I've been thinking. [Hunk laboriously lowers himself to his knees and grabs a stick, clearing leaves away from the ground before he begins sketching out the vague shape of the base they'd attacked.] Remember when we were looking at the schematics, and thought they looked weird? About how it was circular, and how it seemed like the entire structure was built around the generator? [Glances up at Keith and doesn't wait for an answer, knowing Keith will probably just wave him on to continue anyway.] The only reason they'd go to the trouble to build a base around a generator is if it can't be dismantled and moved. [Do you get what he's saying? Because Hunk kinda doesn't want to say it aloud in case it sounds as crazy in real life as it does in his head, but...]

[whatsacactus]

[Keith watches him, almost steps in to help him because Hunk don't hurt yourself there.

But around the generator... because it can't be moved or dismantled. He thinks on that, initially comes up blank because that's just not his line of thinking, but he tries. Hunk is counting on him here so he tries to think the process through. Why wouldn't they be able to move or dismantle something they built? Why bother building around it and using it if they couldn't do that?

He sounds a little withdrawn when he answers:] Did... They not build the thing themselves?

[bigbrained]

Okay, so, I- Ah geez, I don't want to sound alarmist but I think the generator's actual power source might- might be a tear. [Looks up at Keith, expression pinched.] Like the one Coran told us about. On the Galra homeworld, Daibazaal.

[whatsacactus]

A tear?

[Crap.

Crap, oh crap that's bad. They have no way they know of to get rid of that. Not without just blowing this whole planet up. And as much as Keith wants to see something blow up, he's not into the idea of the entire planet going.

He looks back to Hunk, expression pinched as much as his.]

Then what do we do?

[bigbrained]

I...I-I, I dunno. [Hunk slowly wipes the drawings from the soil, pushing himself back upright. He'd kind of been hoping Keith would just magically have some kind of badass solution, impossibly, improbably, but it looks like they're equally clueless.] It's still just a theory. We won't know anything until we get in there and I see the generator up close.

[whatsacactus]

[He sighs a little through his nose, looks off in the direction of the base. It's not the best idea they've had, but it's far from the worst. Keith gently rests a hand on Hunk's shoulder.]

Then we'll get in there so we can take a look. Go from there. [When in doubt: put off making any big decision. Leadership.]

[bigbrained]

[Hunk blows out a breath, nodding. Regardless of what they find, they have to get in there...and if Keith's determined, then they'll make it that far, at least.] ...hey, how's the leg? Tape-stitches holding okay?

[whatsacactus]

It's -- [His immediate reaction is to say "It's fine". But it's not, and Hunk deserves better than that from him after all this. He's exhausted and hurting, he's fighting to stay upright while he's standing still, he's got no idea they're doing the right thing, but it's the only thing he can think of instead of waiting for their friends to get hit with this thing too.]

It's still pretty bad off. And we could probably stand to redo these, but I think it can wait until we figure out what's going on.

[bigbrained]

[OKAY SO, HE WANTED THE TRUTH BUT MAYBE HE SHOULDN'T HAVE ASKED] Maybe you should, um, hang back...? A little bit?

[whatsacactus]

[Okay, no, he's not about that. His hand tightens on Hunk's shoulder and his expression hardens.]

We need to figure out what's down there so we can warn the other when they get in range of our comms.

[bigbrained]

I'm not saying don't go at all! I'm just saying, right now you're the only one we've got who can actually make the Black Lion move! [please stop glaring] This is no disrespect to Shiro but if he can't figure out what to do, they're gonna need you.

[whatsacactus]

[Oh.

His face softens a little, more confusion while he thinks that through. God. He's bad at this.]

..I don't know, Hunk. [He knows Hunk is right. He just hates to admit it because it means not being in front and taking the hits. This is all his fault though.]

You think you can do it? [A genuine question. He just wants to get a read on how Hunk's feeling first.]

[bigbrained]

We're a little low on options. At least my bayard still works! [That's him, Mr. Look On The Bright Side...sure...]

[whatsacactus]

[Okay, that does get a smile from him, and a little pat on the shoulder.]

It sure does. If you think you're ready, then let's go.

[bigbrained]

[You can tell him he can't do it! Really, you can tell him he's not ready and that he'll fail and they can just give it up!

........no they can't, but a guy can dream.

Hunk lets out a shuddering sigh before wrapping an arm around Keith's back and side so he can help him back down the slope. It's still slow going, but heading down is significantly less painful than it was to climb up, so by the time they reach the foot and the furrow Yellow left in the ground, Hunk isn't in nearly as bad shape as he was last night.] Soooo we're expecting to get followed, right? Can you walk okay?

[whatsacactus]

Probably. [To the being followed. He managed to get down but only with Hunk's help. And not without focusing a little too much on Hunk's hand against his side and how warm his arm feels against his back and now is not the time. He's fairly sure if Hunk got bored of it, he could just pick Keith up and toss him down, but he doesn't and they get there. And That's all that matters about it. They made it. Not how nice that felt or how he doesn't. Exactly want to pull away from him.

He clears his throat and looks around, really surveying the scene now.]

I'll have to, we don't have much choice. C'mon. [He'll just. Untangle himself and start picking his way across the landscape. He can do this.]

[bigbrained]

[Reluctantly letting Keith slip away, though he'd been taking comfort in his closeness, Hunk readies his bayard and just gets his chain gun ready to go. It's heavy and difficult to lug around, but the hum of it makes him feel a little safer as they press on into the jungle towards the base.

The hike is grueling and tense, silent save for their footsteps and the sounds of wildlife. Hunk confirms the croaking he'd heard really was some harmless space toad, and feels a little silly for almost shooting it into a smear on a log.] Sorry little guy, [Hunk calls after the toad as it hops away frantically.] Keith I am fffffreaking out. Where's all the patrols? How come we haven't even heard anything yet?