Don't Forget About Me (Previously, Keith Isn't Dead)

"What is that?"

Lance glanced out of Red's windshield, following what he assumed was Keith's line of sight.

"Uh, what're we lookin' at-" He started, eyebrows raised as all he saw was empty space. But, his question was interrupted by frantic cries from Coran.

"-Another ship! Un--r cloaki--! Wormhole vorte-- is powe---- up! Get Voltron out of there! F-rst -touch it is telepor-ed-!"

There was a barrage of confused responses from the paladins, and it was difficult to make out anyone in particular for a moment. But, just at the end of their little commotion, Lance heard another, much quieter voice.

"C'mon you stupid thing, go faster!"

He would have missed it if he hadn't still been watching Keith's fighter jet, which was now zooming ahead of Voltron.

A great ball of light was forming across from them, and Lance's hands tightened on his controls. He felt Red growl out a warning, and Lance's heart thudded against his ribcage.

"What's he doing?" He yelled, eyes widening as the ball of light channeled into a beam- a beam aimed directly at Voltron. A beam Keith seemed to be aiming for.

His thoughts were interrupted as Shiro barked at them to fly to the left, and they complied, but Lance's eyes never left Keith's jet.

"He's gonna get hit!" He yelled, disengaging from Voltron and speeding off towards Keith.

A sonic boom threw Red off course, and Lance yelled as he spun out of control. For a moment, there was a flash of bright, white light, then it was gone, but only for a moment. It was immediately replaced with a small explosion of light every color of the rainbow, and then nothing.

"Keith!"

Red was surging forward without Lance needing to pilot her, and she slowed to a stop in the area Keith should have ended up. He opened his mouth to call out on comms, but his mouth was dry and by the time he felt he could utter a word he was being interrupted.

"Ha! They missed us! How'd they miss us?" Cheered Hunk, followed by a whoop from Pidge and an announcement that the ship was retreating.

They hadn't heard Lance, too distracted by the commotion of the explosion and battle.

"Let's regroup at the castle." Shiro said, and, catching a glimpse of Lance so far away, added, "Lance, Keith, fight's over."

"Keith?" It had come out short, and Lance's chest was tightening but he tried again. "Keith!"

The celebrations faded away in the background, and Lance swallowed, frantically checking and double-checking the stretch of space in front of him for the small fighter jet.

An eerie stillness began to settle, and it wasn't broken much by Coran, who had gotten back in touch with the lions.

"Paladins? Paladins do you copy? Can you hear me?"

"Yes, Coran. We copy." Replied Shiro, voice even and yet pinched with wariness.

"I- I don't understand what happened. There was a wormhole vortex I believe. It fired- I swear it did, but it never reached you. It had to have made contact with something..."

The conversation was like background noise to Lance, and he found his voice once more, continuing to stare out ahead of him. "Keith. Do you copy?" He demanded.

Nothing.

"Keith? Where'd he go?" Pidge joined in, gently steering Green towards Red.

The rest of the team fell silent.