Emberson, Hunk, Lance, and Pidge all crouched down near the ledge near the crash sight. Pidge was trying to hack into the video feed and audio in the small set up the Garrison had set up. Em was keeping watch, making sure no one snuck up on them, while Lance scoped out the place. Hunk was just telling them how bad of an idea this was. 

    "Whoa! What the heck is that thing?" Lance exclaimed, looking over the sight. He must have caught sight of a woman, because his voice suddenly went smooth. "And who the heck is she?"

    "Lance!" Pidge and Em scowled at the same time, Pidge smacking his head. 

    "Ow!" Lance yelped. "Right, alien ship. Man, we'll never get past all of those guards to get a look." 

    "Aw, man." Hunk said in false disappointment. "Yeah, yeah, I guess there's nothing to do but head back to the barracks, right?"

    "Nope! Not yet!" Em stated as Pidge's computer beeped in confirmation. 

    "Wait! They set up a camera in there and I grabbed its feed. Look!" Pidge gestured to the screen. The other three gathered around, to see a man with black and a white tuff of hair strapped down to the table. His right arm was robotic and he was dressed in rags. But Em never could forget a face - especially one that was important to a friend of hers'.

    "Shiro??" She whispered in shock, eyes wide and a hand covering her mouth.

    "Hey! What are you doing?" Shiro struggled. 

    "Calm down, Shiro." A voice that Em recognized as Iverson stated. "We just need to keep you quarantined until we run some tests."

    "You have to listen to me! They destroy worlds!" Shiro grunted, wiggling on the table. "Aliens are coming!" 

    "That's Shiro!" Lance exclaimed, pointing at the screen in disbelief. "The pilot of the Kerberos Mission! That guy's my hero!"

    "They. . .They said he was dead." Em stammered in shock, looking like she was about to cry. 

    "Guess he's not dead in space, after all." Hunk stated. 

    "Where's the rest of the crew?" Pidge muttered, skimming through some files. Em placed a hand on her friends' shoulder in comfort. 

    "Do you know how long you've been gone?" Iverson questioned, bring their attention back to the live feed. 

    "I don't know. Months? Years? Look, there's no time. Aliens are coming here for a weapon. They've probably on their way. They'll destroy us. We have to find Voltron." Shiro demanded in a rushed tone. 

    "Voltron!" Pidge echoed, making the other three look on in shock. 

    "Sir, take a look at this." 

Ember got closer to the screen, watching the men carefully as they moved around the supposedly-dead pilot. 

    "It appears his arm has been replaced with a cyborg prosthetic."

    "Put him under until we know what that thing can do." Iverson ordered, making Ember's eyes flash with anger. 

    "What?!" She snapped out loud, jerking herself up. "Are they crazy?! That goes against so many health violations, it's not even funny! They haven't checked if he has a concession, or if he has any other injuires-!"

     "Ember, shush!" Lance hissed.

    "Don't put me under! No! There's no time!" Shiro struggled in his bindings, trying to get his point across. "Please!"

     "They didn't ask about the rest of the crew." Pidge whispered to herself. 
     "What are they doing? He's a legend. They're not even gonna listen to him?" Lance furrowed his eyebrows. 

     "We have to get him out." Pidge stated, making Ember nod in agreement. 

    "I hate to be the voice of reason, always, but weren't we watching on TV because there was no way to get pass the guards?" Hunk stood, clearly on alright with their mission. 

    "That was before we were properly motivated." Lance explained, before putting a thinking face on. "We've just got to think. Could we tunnel in?"

     "That'd take too long." Ember sigh, seeming like the only person that would take him seriously. 

    "Maybe we could get some hazmat suits and sneak in like med techs." Pidge suggested. 

    "You guys could just let me do the talking - I'm practically a graduated cadet in the med field." Ember grinned, pointing her thumb at herself. 

Hunk held up his hands and moved them along with what he was saying. "Or we can dress up like cooks, head back to the dorms, sneak into the commissary - little late-night snack."

    "No." Lance denied instantly. "What we need is a distraction." 

Emberson let out a shriek of surprise as four explosions happened not-to far away from the sight Shiro was stationed in. Pidge, Lance, and Hunk joined in, jumping at the sound. 

    "Is that the aliens? Is that the aliens? Are they here? They got here so quick!" Hunk panicked, running his hands through his hair and crouching down. 

    "No, those explosions were a distraction, for him." Pidge observed, pointing towards a lone hover bike that was driving quickly to the sight while the Garrison left to investigate. 

    "The Garrison's headed towards the blast, and he's sneaking in from the other side." Em said in a soft tone. "How did he know. . .?

    "No way!" Lance exclaimed in dismay. "Oh, he is not going to beat us in there!" He brought the binoculars away from his eyes and sneered in the persons direction. "That guy is always trying to one-up me!" 

    "Who is it?" Hunk asked as Lance started running - making the other male, hidden girl, and female start to stand. 

       "Keith!"

       "Keith?" Ember perked up a little, going to run after Lance. 

       "Who?"

       "Are you sure?" Hunk seemed to not believe the Cuban boy. 

       "Oh, I'd recognize that mullet anywhere!" Lance shouted over his shoulder. 

       "Who's Keith?" Pidge asked, trailing after the other three. 

       "A brilliant pilot!" Ember clarified, a small smile on her face as they slid down the rocky hill. "One of my friends!

       "He's a show off, Bee! Don't give him more credit than he needs!" Lance snapped, making Ember giggle lightly. 

Bee was the nickname Lance and Hunk decided to dub her - seeing as she dressed in black and yellow. But the rivalry that Lance and Keith had made her laugh every time.

The quad cadets made there way swiftly through the halls, arriving in the room Shiro was held in just as Keith got him off the table. 

    "Nope. No, you- no, no, no. No, you don't. I'm saving Shiro." Lance declared, walking towards the two older men and putting Shiro's robotic arm around his shoulders. 

       "Who are you?" Keith asked in confusion. 

       "Who am I? Uh, the name's Lance." At Keith's blank expression, he continued. "We were in the same class at the Garrison."

    "Really? Are you an engineer?" Keith asked, making Em cover her mouth to hold in a snicker. 

    "No, I'm a pilot! We were, like, rivals. You know, Lance and Keith, neck and neck." Lance explained a bit more. At this, Keith seemed to remember. 

     "Oh, wait. I remember you. You're a cargo pilot."

    "Well, not anymore. I'm a fighter class now, thanks to you washing out." Lance stated. 

Finally, having enough, Ember raced forwards. "Stop it, you two!" She hissed, griping Shiro's chin and lifting his head up. She scanned over his face - noting the new scar across the bridge of his nose - and giving him a once over. "I don't see any injuries. Those idiots put him under as well - without even checking if he had a concussion! The nerve!"

    "Jalus?" Keith asked in shock, making the black-hair girl look up at him.

    "Told you, call me Emberson, Ember, Em - whatever." She shook her head. "Come on, lets get him to a place I can actually check up on him." She ordered, turning around and marching outside. The two boys that held Shiro up exchanged glances and shrugged, following her lead. 

Hunk took the binoculars once they were outside, looking towards the group of Garrison soldiers that were making their way back towards them. "Oh, man. They're coming back and they do not look happy."

    "We've got to go." Pidge stated, starting to where Keith hid the hover bike. 

    "Then lets go! Move it!" Ember hissed, gesturing for everyone to hurry up. 

    "Uh, do you mind if we catch a ride with you?" Hunk asked, hopping on the bike without getting an answer. As soon as Hunk hopped on - along with everyone else - the bike fell backwards. Emberson let out a yelp of surprise when she harshly collided with Keith's back.

    "Sorry!" Ember apologized, quickly setting herself to where she was facing Shiro as Lance got him up on the bike.

    "Is this thing going to be big enough for us all?" Pidge asked, looking at the bike. 

    "No." Keith replied in an irritated tone. 

Blue lights flashed on them, making the teens look up. Coming straight at them were some Garrison vehicles. Just as fast, Keith turned on the bike and made a U-turn. 

    "Hey, why am I holding this guy?" Pidge complained, holding onto Shiro by under his arms and moving him around. 

   "Pidge, stop moving him around! If he has a concussion - you're going to make it worse!" Em ordered, her back against Keith's as he drove.  "Just try to keep him as still as you can, alright?!"

    "Easier said then done!" She retorted. 

    "Can't this thing go any faster?" Lance complained. 

    "We can toss out some non-essential weight." Keith suggested, pointing back at Ember. "She stays though - she's the medic."

     "Oh, right!" Lance looked around to find something to toss - before finally getting it. "Okay, so that was an insult. I get it."

 "Big man, lean left!" Keith ordered. Hunk complied, making them all turn. Ember held onto the craft as tight as she could, squeezing her eyes shut as she heard a vehicle crash. 

 "Oh, man! Mr.Harris just wiped out Professor Montgomery! No, no. He's fine." Hunk seemed to be giving everyone a commentary. 

     "Big man, lean right!" Keith shouted back. Once again, Hunk did so. The craft did a heart-stopping jump over a trench, landing in a small worn-out path that Keith maneuvered easily. 

    "Guys?" Hunk stammered in fear. "Is that a cliff up ahead?"

    "Oh, no, no, no!" Lance chanted. Ember closed her eyes tightly, holding onto their ride tighter. 

    "Keith!" She exclaimed. 

    "Yup." The said boy replied simply, pushing the bike to go faster. 

    "You better stick this landing!" Ember shouted over the 'no's.

Emberson felt herself free fall as Keith drove them off the cliff and everyone around her screamed in fear.  

    "What are you doing? You're going to kill us all!" Lance screamed from his spot next to Shiro. 

    "Shut up and trust me!" Keith snapped back. He switched some gears around - making a smooth landing before racing across the terrain. "I'm a little offended that you didn't trust me." 

    Ember felt Keith speak in a light tone, making her sigh. "I trust you." She breathed. "I trust you, I just don't know what you're going to do next."

▬ ✦✧✦ ▬

As soon as they arrived at what Ember assumed what Keith's cabin - Shiro was starting to move around a bit. Lance and Keith managed to get the older male in the chair on the front porch before Ember shooed them away. 

    "Shiro? Shiro, can you hear me?" Ember asked in a low tone, watching as Shiro's eyes readjusted. 

    "Emberson?" Shiro slurred tiredly, making her smile a little. 

    "Yes, yes, it's me." She sighed in slight relief. "Do you have any injuries that are hurting you at the moment? I need to know if you have a cut, bite - anything."

    "No. . .No, I'm good." He mumbled, making Ember nod. 

    "Alright, what's your full name then? Can you follow my finger?"

Shiro's dark eyes followed Ember's finger as she moved it around in different places. "M. . .My name is Takashi Shirogane."

    "Good, good." Ember let out a sigh, dropping her hand. "It doesn't look like you have a concussion, but I want you to take it easy." When Shiro didn't respond, she tapped his cheek lightly to get his attention. "Shiro, what's the last thing you remember?"

    He stared at the young girl for a moment before closing his eyes. "I. . .I don't know, I can't remember anything after that. . .bright light."

    "Don't strain yourself," Ember stated, standing straight up. "I'm going to go inside with everyone else, alright? I'll send Keith out here for you, sound good? He can give you some clothes to change into."

    "Yeah. . ." He trailed off as he looked off to the distance. Ember nodded, walking through the door that was obviously broken. 

    She didn't take three steps into the shack before Keith was on her. "Well?" He demanded, some cloth that Em assumed was clothes in his hand. 

    "He doesn't have any injuries, maybe a few bruises at most. He doesn't show any sign of a concussion - but it does seem like he has amnesia within the past year." She diagnosed to the raven-hair boy. He nodded, closing his eyes and letting out a sigh. 

    "He's asking for you, try not to ask too much questions. I don't know what that'll do to him. . ." She trailed off as Keith opened his eyes and placed a hand on her shoulder. 

    "Thank you." He squeezed her shoulder before walking out the door, shutting it behind him. Ember let out a sigh, feeling exhausted as she made her way over to the coach.  

    She plopped down right next to Lance and laid her head on his shoulder. "I'm exhausted." 

    "I can tell." Lance chuckled, putting an arm around Ember's shoulders. "Are you sure you're not just saying that so you can lay on me?"

    "I'm pretty sure." Em smirked and closed her eyes - not taking the small break for granted. "How are you Lance?"

    Em felt the boy relax more into the broken couch as he shrugged. "I'm good, Bee. I'm just. . .majorly confused."

    "I think it's just better to wait for an explanation then to go search for one." She replied in a soft tone. "Especially if the person is close by."

    "I almost forgot you knew Keith, Bee." Hunk said from his spot, looking around the cabin. "I don't know how it almost slipped my mind!"

    "Yeah, How do you know Keith? As long as I've known you - you've been in the medic division of the garrison." Pidge adjusted her glasses. 

Emberson opened her eyes and smiled lightly at Pidge. "You've only known me for a year or less, Pidge, I wouldn't expect you to know."

    "Bumblebee over here use to be in the piloting class with Hunk, Keith and me!" Lance blurted out before Em could finish. "She was one of the best too! Well, not as good as me."

    "I didn't know that!" Pidge exclaimed, watching as Em shoved Lance playfully away from her. "What made you stop?"

    "Fate just decided flying through space to explore wasn't for me." Ember stated simply, eyes glinting slightly. "I miss it sometimes, but I don't regret the choice."

    "She was one of the best pilots in the class," At the sound of Shiro's voice, Ember stood up and smiled at the older male. "Almost as good as Keith."

    "You guys give me too much credit." Ember blushed lightly, starting to mess with her fingers. "How are you doing, Shiro?"

    "Better." Shiro sent her a smile back. "Keith was just bringing me in to show me something."

When the four other cadets turn to look at said boy, he did a quick sweep over them before turning around. With a harsh tug, Keith pulled off a tarp that was covering on of the walls - reveling maps, pictures and notes. 

Emberson took a deep breath in, looking at all the data that has been collected.

    "After getting booted from the Garrison, I was kind of lost and found myself drawn out to this place." Keith explained, eyes glazing over the information. "It's like something. . .some energy, was telling me to search." 

    "For what?" Shiro asked, looking at Keith while the other cadets watched in wonder. 

    "Well, I didn't really know at the time. . .until I stumbled across this area." Keith pointed a gloved hand at the circles with the words 'Energy Source!' written in bold letters. "It's an outcropping of giant boulders with caves covered in these ancient markings. Each tells a slightly different story about a blue lion, but they all share clues leading to some event, some arrival happening last night. Then, you showed up."

    "Mon Dieu," Emberson breathed, reminding Keith and Shiro that others were here. They turned, Shiro sending a nod towards the younger teens. 

    "I should thank you all for getting me out. Lance, right?" Shiro stuck out his metal arm for a handshake. Lance stuck his hand out, pausing slightly when he realized it was his metal arm, before grasping it in a strong handshake.  

    "The nervous guy's Hunk. I'm Pidge." The said girl shook his hand quickly. "So, did anyone else from your crew make it out?" 

    "I'm not sure." Shiro grimaced with a far away look in his eyes. "I remember the mission and being captured. After that, it's just bits and pieces." 

    "Well, I'm glad you're back!" Ember exclaimed, wrapping Shiro into a hug. The black-hair man flinched slightly, but wrapped her up in a hug as well.

    "It's good to see you too, Em." Shiro breathed, giving the younger girl a tight hug before letting go. 

    "Yeah, sorry to interrupt, but back to the aliens. Where are they now?" Hunk asked, pointing out the obvious.  "Are they coming? Are they coming for us? Where are they at this very moment?" 

    "Hunk, breath." Em stated, making Hunk take a deep breath and let it out slowly. 

    "I can't really put it together. I remember the word 'Voltron'. It's some kind of weapon they're looking for, but I don't know why." Shiro looked up at the cadets. "Whatever it is, I think we need to find it before they do." 

At the mention of 'Voltron', Pidge and Emberson exchanged glanced with a knowing look. 

    "Well, last night, I was rummaging through Pidge's and Bee's stuff, and I found this picture." Hunk dug through his bag, pulling out a picture. "Look, it's Pidge and his girlfriend." He chuckled, not realizing it was actually Pidge herself. 

    "Hunk," Em warned.

     "Wait, give me that!" Pidge snatched the picture away. "What were you doing in my stuff?"

    "I was looking for a candy bar," Hunk tried to defend himself. "But, then, I started reading his diary." He pulled out said book from his back pocket. 

    "What?!"

    "I noticed the repeating series of numbers the aliens are searching for looks a lot like a Fraunhofer line." Hunk finished his statement. 

    "Frown who?" Keith crossed his arms. 

    "It's a number describing the emission spectrum of an element, only, this element doesn't exist on Earth. I thought it might be this Voltron."

Ember let out a sigh, smiling slightly to herself. "Man, the Fraunhofer line has so many colors as a visual graph." 

    "I think I can build a machine to look for it, like a Voltron Geiger counter." Hunk finished, not bothered by Ember's input. 

    "Hunk, you big, gassy, genius!" Lance exclaimed - seemingly making it a compliment. 

    "It's pretty fascinating, really." Hunk insisted, digging around in his pocket. "The wavelength looks like this." 

He pulled out a graph with black dots being connected by a red line - the lines going up and down. At the sudden picture, Keith snatched it out of Hunk's hands. 

    "Give me that!"

The black-haired boy walked over to a picture of canyons he had, holding the graph close enough. The edge of the canyon - the parts looking like they touched the sky - almost looked exactly like the graph itself. 

They watched with baited breath as everything seemed to click into place. They knew where they had to go next.