"Vrepit sa." A common phrase among the Galra. Lance couldn't count how many times he'd heard it, but for some reason this time was different. "Vrepit sa."

Why did it keep ringing in his head. "Vrepit sa. Vrepit sa."

Why was it changing now? "Vrepit sa Lance. Vrepit sa Lance."

"Wake up Lance."

Lance jolted up in bed, breathing surprisingly labored for having just woken up. He glanced around the room he was in, not recognizing his surroundings. The room didn't resemble the cockpit of his lion, or a room in the Garrison, or even the hospital room he'd fallen asleep in after the Atlas had defeated the strange robot. It looked like a hospital though, but duller than the one he remembered. His helmet wasn't on his bedside table, there were no flowers or get well cards from his family and fellow paladins. The walls were a sterile looking mixture of pale blue and white. There was a bag of fluids by his bed, which when he looked closer was connected to him.

Outside the door voices were talking quietly, not concerning him. At least until the door swung open slowly, revealing the green paladin.

"Pidge!" He croaked out hoarsely as she walked over to his bedside, eyes glimmering.

"Lance! You're awake! We missed you back at the Garrison... somehow. Even professor Shirogane sent his condolences!" She chirped.

"Shiro? Isn't he in hospital too? After what happened in the Atlas I'd think he'd be here too." Lance asked.

Pidge furrowed her brow. "The Atlas? Lance are you ok?"

Lance gave Pidge a concerned expression. "You mean you don't remember what happened? That robot beast thing kicked out butts as Voltron but Allura's gem thing in Shiro's arm made the Atlas do the thing and it turned into a robot too and we won!"

Pidge put a hand to Lance's forehead. "You doing alright? You must've hit your head insanely hard in the simulation.

Lance glared at her. "Cut it out Katie. This isn't a joke!"

A fearful expression crossed Pidge's face before replacing itself with concern. "Lance my name is Pidge Gunderson. I don't... know a Katie."

"So you're telling me you're a boy?" Lance questioned, gaze roaming over the person he believed to be the green paladin of Voltron, Katie Holt.

Pidge nodded. "Just like I always have been."

Lance jumped out of bed, a newfound adrenaline coursing through his body. "I have to find Keith!"

Pidge watched in shock as he darted out of the hospital room and down the hallway, before regaining common sense and chasing after him.

Lance came to a sudden halt after he'd run a good distance from the hospital, taking a good moment to remember his surroundings. Left. He commanded himself, forcing his body to turn that direction, the vast expanse of desert becoming visible. He started running again, not stopping until he was on the outskirts of town, where a small cottage was visible on the horizon. He remembered everyone claimed it was abandoned and unsafe, therefore never going out there, but he knew better. It was where Keith was, and surely Keith would remember him.

His walk slowed to a trot, and his head began throbbing. The heat was surely getting to him, as well as the lowering levels of adrenaline. He often felt the same after missions or training sessions with Voltron. He just had to make it to Keith's house. It was there, so close, he just had to make it, but oh the pounding in his head hurt.

The Garrison at his back provided the comfort he needed to continue, knowing the Atlas and that odd robot were still behind it, being worked on and improved.

He made it to Keith's small house, pushing open the door. To his surprise the raven-haired boy was standing with his back to the door. He whirled around, frightful eyes ablaze, drawing his blade.

"Keith! Oh, I'm so happy to see you!" Lance grinned, throwing himself on the couch. "Wait... something looks off about you... don't tell me. Haircut?"

Keith shot him a bemused look. "And who might you be? And how do you know me?"

"Keith, c'mon. It's me, Lance. I freaking own your lion man, you know me."

"I don't own a lion, that's dangerous. Are you ok? Are you having a heatstroke or something?"

"Keith. I'm Lance McClain, paladin of the red lion of Voltron, you're the paladin of the black lion, aka my leader. We met in the Garrison as kids, then you dropped out, and we met again when we rescued Shiro from the crashed Galra ship!"

Keith paused, looking over the Cuban boy. "Ohhh... you're Lance. That kid who was in the news recently."

Lance beamed. "You know it, and all the ladies love me for it."

Keith scoffed. "Didn't think you'd be getting girls from being the worst pilot at the Garrison. You crashed that simulator so badly it broke and you got knocked out of your seat and hit your head. Pretty sure from after that you were out cold?"

"Nope..." Lance chuckled. "I was in the hospital after an epic battle against a giant robot— you were there! Hey wait why aren't you in the hospital?"

"I haven't been in the hospital since—"

Lance cut him off with a shocked yell. "Your scar! That's what's different! WHERE'S YOUR SCAR?" He trailed a finger down Keith's right cheek, where a scar should've been. "Are you wearing makeup Kogane? Never thought I'd see you in it."

Keith shoved him off. "Listen up buddy. I have no clue why you're here or anything you're rambling about. Cut it out!"

Lance stumbled back, the pain in his head reaching a new height of pain. "God. C-can I sit down?"

Keith scoffed. "Look, I can take you to the hospital. You're not well, but there's not much I can do here."

Lance groaned, clutching at his head. "Keith... how old are you?"

Keith raised an eyebrow. "Lance, I'm eighteen. Now c'mon, we're going to the hospital."

Lance collapses on the couch, clutching his head. "Oh god oh god oh god. Oh esto no puede estar pasando."

He blacked out.