Hey guys, I'm back again! So, sorry it's a little short, but hope you liked the first chapter, and thanks for reading! Please leave comments/critiques/questions and hope you enjoy!

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Keith had packed a few essentials while Shiro had checked out his bike for what parts he might need. Though, he was a pilot, not an engineer, so his help in that field was minimal.

Then they headed to the Garrison, where Keith began his testing and background check. The professors didn't find anything about his mother, and he wasn't much help since he never knew her and his dad wouldn't talk about her. Other than his parents, Keith was passed to take the exam.

The test was an introductory test, finding Keith's strengths and weaknesses to determine what class he would be placed in. Engineering sucked, to say the least. Communications wasn't his thing, and the ones who heard him cursing through the simulator's radio would all agree.

But piloting, that was a whole new field. He didn't miss a single question on the written and oral questions. And in the simulator, he amazed even the instructors. When he finished, it was obvious where he'd be.

"Good job, Cadet Kogane," his instructor, Iverson, boomed. "You've proven to be too capable for the cargo pilot occupation, so we've decided to place you in the fighter class, but you are at the bottom. If you want to stay in the best pilot class, you'll need to rise through the ranks."

"I don't think that'll be a problem," Keith snapped back. He disliked Iverson already. Actually, he disliked most people who tried to tell him what to do or how to do something. He wasn't like them, and would do anything how he wanted to. "My test was just a warm-up--"

Iverson leaned down, getting all up in Keith's face. If there was one thing he hated more than bratty children, it was bratty children with disrespect and attitude. "You better hope so."

Keith struggled not to snap back or punch the guy. Though with how close the man was he could easily land a shot and maybe break his nose, or at least give him a good black eye.

For Shiro... for Shiro... Keith repeated his mental slogan, struggling to submerge the anger rising in his stomach. Iverson eventually stepped away, and with a deep breath, Keith saluted with another glare.

After that, Keith was dismissed to find his dorm and mingle amongst the cadets.

--

There were hundreds of them throughout the corridors, but Keith was only looking for one. The first cadet he had met. They all wore the same uniforms as him, white and orange, rather than the gray that Shiro had worn when the two met.

Through his search, he bumped right into two other cadets. The first looked to be of Latino descent, with tan skin and brown hair. His eyes were as blue as the ocean, and stood out against their desert surroundings. He was tall and lanky, with a scowl directed at Keith.

The second was more broad and heavier built. His hair and skin was darker than that of the first. Instead of a scowl, the second had more of a nervous smile on his face.

"Hey," the first sneered.

"Hey," Keith replied nonchalantly, completely unaware of the first's standoffish attitude. The two locked eyes and stood there for a few tense seconds.

"Sorry about him," the second intervened, disrupting their glaring contest. "I'm Hunk, this is Lance--"

"You're the new pilot aren't you?" The first demanded.

"Maybe. So what if I am?" Keith countered.

"It's your fault I'm back in cargo class," Lance growled. "Because you were automatically deposited into the fighter class, they had to kick out the lowest ranked: me! It took me forever to get to fighter class...!"

Keith was honestly only half-listening to Lance's ranting, and Hunk's anxious blabbering. No, his mind was past them, as his eyes locked onto his new friend. He started to walk past, before Lance grabbed his arm.

"Hey--!"

"I'm not done here, Kogane. Just you watch, I'm going to become an even better pilot than you," he threatened before he spotted two really cute girls walk by. His grip automatically loosened as Lance let out a whistle.

Keith jerked away and jogged towards Shiro. By the time Lance looked back at Keith, he was lost in the crowd.

"Hunk," Lance muttered with a growl. "I think I found my new rival."