Out Of Reach

7: Chains

Lance lifted his Bayard as a shadow shifted. "Kosmo?" He asked hesitantly. "I'm not a fan of games involving teleportation."

"Who are you? How did you get here?"

The voice echoed around him.

Lance adjusted his hands, his free hand moved to grab ahold of the blaster on his thigh. He was ready to cover his own back if he needed to.

"I'm looking for a friend." Lance replied steadily. "Maybe you can help?"

He wasn't a very trusting person. And his heart was racing.

Something was wrong.

Keith wasn't stealthy, Krolia was, she was very good, but Keith never did anything quietly.

He liked making a display, big explosions and showing off with speed and ease.

Lance knew that something was wrong purely because Black and Red were so quiet.

There wasn't enough of Keith's dramatic flare for things to be right.

"I asked who you were."

"A nobody." Lance replied.

He didn't want to use the word paladin until he set eyes on who he was talking to.

Was this one of Haggar's tricks?

"A nobody?" The man huffed. "What is a nobody doing here?"

"Looking for a paladin." Lance answered steadily.

A figure flashed before him. Another teleporter.

He stood tall, his glowing eyes locked onto Lance.

"Oh really?" He asked leaning forward. "I don't believe you."

"Then don't." Lance huffed. "I'm not here to change your mind."

The alien huffed.

Lance couldn't place his species. He wasn't sure exactly where he was from and that made him nervous.

"You think you're funny?"

"I'm hilarious." Lance grinned.

Pidge's drones had found him. They flooded the room.

Lance rolled out of the corner he had been backed into and shot at the fire.

It exploded instantly glowing brighter and the alien flinched lifting his hand to shield his eyes.

Lance vanished down the tunnel the alien had appeared out of.

He finally skidded to a stop in another cave.

Hanging from the ceiling was-

"Kolivan." Lance gasped.

He lifted his blaster and shot the chains securing his ankles, then shot his hands free.

Kolivan fell to the floor with a grunt.

"Kolivan, I need you to get up." Lance instructed lifting his Bayard to cover the entrance. "Pidge, it's a trap, they've got Kolivan and-"

The alien appeared, he had teleported into the room and he slammed Lance into the wall. A blade pressed against his throat.

"You lied."

Lance tried to kick the alien away but the dagger went into his metal leg and it sparked no longer responding to his command.

"Ah!" He hissed at the alien.

"I will destroy you all." He whispered another blade pressing against Lance's neck again.

A large hand ripped him away from Lance but he teleported before he hit the far wall.

Lance let out a shuddering breath.

"Paladin." Kolivan nodded. He limped slightly. "We must leave."

"What is that thing?" Lance demanded ripping the blade from his knee. His leg went ridgid, locking straight. "Perfect."

"He is one of Haggar's druids."

"Even better." Lance frowned. "Why are you here?"

"I went in search of my brother's." Kolivan answered. "This druid was using their coms as a death trap."

"Why hasn't he killed you?" Lance asked stumbling towards the exit. "No offence and all."

"None taken, he was going to when Krolia and Keith arrived." Kolivan groaned. "We must find them."

"They're tough." Lance reminded.

Kosmo appeared and launched towards them again.

This time Lance latched onto Kolivan's arm and they were both teleported.

Pidge was there her Bayard aimed right at them. "What are you doing?" She hissed.

"Having amazing fun." Lance grumbled stumbling slightly. "Can you fix my leg?"

"Really?"

"Better than me getting stabbed." Lance reminded.

Pidge nodded in agreement. "I've called for back up."

"Good, cause we need Allura." Lance decided. "She's the only one who might be able to battle this guy."

"Did you find Keith?"

"No." Lance shook his head. "I don't know where that guy went either."

"We'll find them, and Kosmo."