Chapter Seven

The hours slipped by like water in a stream. The pile of discarded books grew until there were more books read than unread. Keith had a used hypospray half filled with stimulants next to his hand, given to him despite Doctor Gorma's reservations. His eyes were clear and focused, but the slight tremor in his hands belied this fact. Allura's mouth was turned down at the corners as she flipped through yet another book with no solution in sight. Lance, having revived ten minutes after his faint, was sitting on the couch, looking more transparent with each turn of the page. Nanny was not used to being up so late as the others were--Mulder and Scully were on a different internal clock which accounted for their alertness and the Voltron Force were used to working late--so a thermos filled with coffee was at her side. She drank out of it as often as Keith used his hypospray, and freely shared it with any who asked for a drink.

Hunk and Pidge had joined them an hour after their search began. They said not a word to the agents, only giving them nods of acknowledgement, and immediately began to search with the others. Hunk picked up a book while Pidge took a computer console, planning to hack into wherever he could to find what they needed. Scully sat in the computer console next to him, having finished looking through all the English language texts concerning magic that were in the archives and even those in Princess Allura's private collection. Mulder was next to her and for all intents and purposes looked busy, but his furtive glances towards his ill kinsman told otherwise.

It was around one in the morning when the alarm klaxons blared. The Voltron Force were on their feet in an instant and out the door. Nanny didn't even look up. She continued to read as if nothing was happening. Mulder's and Scully's eyes met and simultaneously, they got up. They headed in the same direction the others had gone.

"An attack, do you think?" Mulder asked as they jogged down the corridors. They had to run around Arusian soldiers who seemed to come out of nowhere.

"Looks like," Scully said. "And it appears that this happens often. Did you see them move?"

They reached Castle Control and were shocked at the number of people in it. Even more so when they saw the Voltron Force jump into chutes that appeared empty.

"Where are they going?" Mulder demanded, going up to Coran.

"To the Lions," the older man replied tersely. "There is an attack. I suggest you return to the archives. You will be of no help here."

Mulder took no offense at his harsh words and backed off to the entrance to where Scully still stood. Her eyes were riveted on the gigantic viewscreen in the room where tiny spots in the Arusian sky seemed to be coming closer and closer. They stayed long enough to see the Lions and Arusian fighters start attacking the spots, and lights began to fill the sky. It was then did Coran spot them and he physically shoved them out of the room.

"Work to save Lance," he said. "This will be over soon."

They were still looking at the viewscreen when the doors slid shut. Amazed, they walked back to the archives.

"Did you see that?" Mulder asked. "I've never seen anything like it before."

"I hope they come out of it alright," Scully said. "Lance and Keith are not in tip top shape."

"You know, Scully, somehow I get the impression that they've been through worse."

A clearer head immediately followed the quiet hiss of the hypospray as Keith injected it into his arm. Blowing air out between his lips, he pushed the throttle to catch up with the rest of the team.

"How are you holding up, Lance?" he asked.

"Not too bad," Lance replied. "Took a double dose."

"Is that such a good idea?" Pidge questioned. "I'm no doctor, but taking more than you need to..."

"Believe me, Little Buddy, I needed it."

"We'll hammer it out later," Hunk said. "Here they come."

The Lions tore into several Doom fighters, metal claws flashing in the light of the blue and red laser beams. As Coran stated, it was over quickly. For once, there wasn't a Ro-Beast to deal with. But when they got back to Castle Control, they had worse problems to face.

"Where's Lance?" Keith said, looking around.

Allura immediately ran to Lance's chute entrance and pushed a button. The doors slid open and Lance crumpled at her feet. His eyes were half-open and sweat beaded his brow.

"Lance!" she exclaimed. "Keith, help!"

Keith rushed to her side. Realizing he was too weak to lift Lance, he gestured for Pidge and Hunk to help and they rushed Lance to the medwing. Lance didn't appear to understand what was happening to him as Doctor Gorma and several nurses began hooking him up to different machines. He was unconscious by the time they were done.

His anxious teammates and the agents were waiting outside his room when Doctor Gorma came out. They were huddled in a big group, finding strength in each other as they awaited Gorma's pronouncement.

"He pushed himself too hard this time," Gorma told them, rubbing his eyes. "I know it's useless to try to talk you out of taking anymore stimulants, Keith, so all I can do is warn you. Princess, make sure that he doesn't take more than two doses in an hour and that he gets some rest every two hours. A half-hour nap is a good idea."

"I'll be sure, Doctor," Allura said, putting a hand on Keith's arm.

"Can we see, Lance?" Mulder asked.

Gorma looked at him, realizing that he'd never seen this man before, nor the red-haired woman next to him.

"My cousin and his wife," Keith explained quickly. "He and Lance go way back." Way, way back.

"You may see him now," Gorma said. "But let him rest. I'll give you five minutes."

"Thank you," Mulder said.

He made a beeline into the room. Scully hesitated, discomfort on her face. Allura caught her eye. The others went to follow Mulder, but Allura stayed behind.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Allura asked gently.

Scully wasn't given to poring her heart out to people she hardly knew, especially people as young as the Princess, but she hadn't had a good heart-to-heart with a female friend in a long time, five years to be exact. Most of her heart-to-hearts, the few that there were, often were with Mulder. Her reserve kept her back somewhat, but the Princess' open demeanor pushed her over.

"Seeing Mulder and Lance together just...I don't know. I'm jealous," Scully confessed. "I wish that I could have the same satisfaction that he has in knowing that somehow, my memory was still alive."

Allura's penetrating blue eyes held the same look that Scully's often did when Mulder presented her with a new theory. "And because Mulder must have found someone special enough to have a child with," she said.

"That too," Scully said, her voice low. "I know that if he found someone else...I stayed alone."

"Oh."

That one word made Scully look up and see a look of uncertainty cross the Princess' face. She caught a whiff of something suspicious.

"What is it? What do you know?" Scully demanded.

"I can't tell you," Allura said regretfully. "It's not for me to say."

"Do I...do I die?" Scully asked, swallowing hard.

Allura stubbornly kept her lips pressed together, her expression giving away nothing.

"Then who is it up to to tell?"

"Who else? Lance."

Scully frowned. "Why would it be up to him?"

Allura sighed. "Just ask him."

While his partner was having a chat with the Princess, Mulder was sitting at Lance's side. He hardly knew the lieutenant, but he felt a bond with him. Not only because Lance was his great-great-great grandson, but because there was something about the younger man that Mulder found familiar and that ensured their bond. He didn't know what it was, but it was there.

"He looks so..." Pidge began.

"...un-Lance," Hunk finished sorrowfully.

"We're running out of time," Keith said.

They looked at him. He didn't look much better than the prone form on the bed.

"Let's get back to work then," Pidge said, starting to leave.

"I'll be right there," Mulder said.

They glanced at him but didn't say anything. After a few last words and touches, the three left the room and Mulder alone with Lance. Mulder's eyes were fixed on Lance's face and he could see the family characteristics in him. The same hazel eyes now hidden beneath closed eyelids, the same thick chocolate brown hair that still topped Mulder's own head, the same height and wiriness that he knew would not be easy to get rid off. And he knew that he did not want the younger Mulder to die.

The doors slid open and Scully walked in, her expression sympathetic. Allura had gone with the others but Scully opted to stay with her partner. She went to stand at the opposite side of the bed and began looking over the various instruments that surrounded Lance.

"Recognize any of them?" Mulder asked.

"No, but I can make a guess at what they do," she replied. "You okay, Mulder?"

"I'm fine, Scully. I just feel so damn guilty that he's like this because of us."

"I know," she said. "Listen, Mulder. No matter what happens, I just want you to know that..."

"Nothing will happen, Scully," he interrupted.

Scully smiled without humor and gestured towards Lance. "Well, something obviously will."

"We don't know the details so we can't make any qualifications for anything," he said. "But I know, Scully. I know."

She nodded and ducked her head. He tilted her chin up so he could look into the eyes that he had grown to love and smiled reassuringly.

"'Till death do us part, Dana. And even then..."

"I know, Mulder. I know."