Chapter Text
The day Krolia chose to stay on Earth and protect her family and the Blue Lion was the start of the happiest days she'd ever known. Days of peace, of love, of watching as their baby, Keith, walked back and forth between them, teaching him to talk. She didn't ever think she would fit into a domestic life, being born a warrior, but it just seemed to...click. Her Mate, Tex Kogane, went to work while she cared for Keith and kept watch for any trouble from Galra scouts from the safety of their little cabin home, which was filling up gradually with pictures that Tex took of them.
Occasionally, they'd get curious Galaxy Garrison cadets or people from the nearby city coming by to see who lived “all the way out here”. Keith loved these visits, but they always bothered Krolia. Every visit forced her to put on foundation and cover her ears to pretend to be...well, human. It was better than hiding in the back all the time. It got to the point where she just covered up during the day and took everything off when Tex got home. Any pictures of her without the foundation on were hidden in the back and brought out later.
She adored Halloween, though. She could go the whole day without wearing anything to hide her features, and Tex would color his and Keith's skin to match hers. Then they'd go out getting candy for Keith in the city, without any worry of being discovered as...well...not human.
She went to Tex's work once, he was a “fireman”, and he saved people. She tried on the uniforms with Keith and spent time with the team, and was assured several times that they wouldn't keep him overnight, that they'd send him home every day. And he did return every night, with a triumphant story of heroism and bravery.
Krolia thought he'd have made an impressive Blade of Mamora if he were a Galra. She wanted to introduce them to Kolivan and the others, but things were too risky for her to make any move.
And so they lived in happiness and peace and love for five years, until the day everything changed.
The day her beloved Mate didn't come home, Krolia knew that something had gone wrong at his work. When she heard a knock at the cabin door, she put on the hooded shawl to conceal her ears and checked her foundation in the mirror before she went to open it.
“Mrs. Kogane?” The man, who she recognized as one of her Mate's coworkers, said sadly. “I'm...I'm sorry. Tex, he...he didn't make it out in time. He was...crushed by the building as it fell apart around him.”
Her eyes widened and she looked to the side. “I...I see.” She said softly.
“I know this can't be easy for you to hear.” The man nodded. “If there's anything I can do for you...”
“I'll...I'll contact you.” She nodded, and the man nodded with pursed lips before he stepped away and walked back to his car. She watched him go and then shut the door, her knees finally buckling as tears formed in her eyes.
What would she do if someone came to investigate the Blue Lion's signal again? She didn't know if she could take them on by herself. She looked to the side at the knife that was positioned high up on the wall and sighed, getting up to take it off the display hooks. “I don't have a choice.” She breathed.
Texas Kogane had been the only thing standing between her and too-curious neighbors that would report her to the government. It wasn't safe for her here now. Her...or their son. She looked towards a door and walked over to open it. Her son, barely five years old, slept peacefully with the moon shining on his face, clutching a hippo plush close.
She would have to return to the Blades with him, it was the only safe place for both of them now. She walked over and gently kissed his cheek. “Keith...”
“Nnmmgh...Mm...?” He squirmed a bit and slowly opened one sleepy eye, reaching up to rub at it. “Mommy...?”
“Yes, dearest. I'm here.” She nodded, lowering her hood. “Keith...we have to leave this place.”
“A trip?” Keith asked.
“Yes.” Krolia nodded.
“Why?”
Krolia glanced away. “...Your father...has left this world. He was killed in the line of duty. It's no longer safe for us. You know how mommy and daddy said that mommy wasn't like other mommies?”
He nodded. “'Cause you're purple and gots funny ears.”
She chuckled a bit. “Yes, that's why. I'm...not from this world, sweetheart. And...it's no longer safe for me to be here. So, mommy is going to take you back to her home.”
“Space?” Keith asked, clutching the hippo tightly.
“Mmhm.” She nodded. “Space.” She sighed, looking out the window.
“Are we going to ride in the kitty-cat ship?” Keith asked excitedly.
“Oh, no. I can't get into it.” Krolia shook her head. “And I don't know if you would be able to, either. No, we'll take the ship that your father and I hid years ago.”
“When?”
“Tonight.” She pursed her lips. “We're leaving tonight. I'll pack you some clothes. Do you want to bring the hippo?”
“Uh-huh.” He nodded, holding it tighter.
She smiled and kissed his cheek. “Okay. Get dressed and then wait for me in the living room.”
They would have to work fast. At least their closest “neighbors” were the people in the Galaxy Garrison. Which, of course, made leaving as soon as possible more urgent.
She packed up as Keith got dressed and then went to the bedroom to change into her old Galra uniform after washing the foundation off her face. She packed pictures and clothes and held onto one of her Mate's vests before packing that as well.
Kolivan would scold her for being sentimental, but she couldn't help it. Six years on Earth had influenced how she acted, and it wasn't in a bad way.
At least, she didn't think so.
She joined Keith in the living room and then ushered him out to where she had the ship hidden. It would be a long flight back to the Galra Empire, but she knew it had to be done. She put Keith's booster seat in the back seat and buckled him in before loading in her bags and getting in the front.
“Quiznak.” She muttered, noticing how much power had been depleted. She'd have to ditch the ship and get another at some point.
“Quiznak!” Keith echoed in his booster seat behind her, clutching his hippo to his chest.
“Don't repeat that, honey.” She said absently.
“Okay.” Keith nodded.
She flew off into the night sky, leaving behind their home and everything that wasn't packed, and focused on what was ahead of them. She hated to do this, but she really had no choice. She'd heard enough stories and seen enough movies about what happened when aliens were discovered on Earth. They were taken away and experimented on at a place called Area 51. She couldn't take that chance.
After a little while, she sent an encoded message out to Kolivan and reached over to turn on a portable music player she'd packed. She had grown accustomed to the sounds of playful string instruments and dulcet tones singing about being in the country and taking care of a farm or their truck, or whatever else. Music her Mate listened to a lot. She couldn't remember who did this particular song, but it soothed her and put Keith to sleep as they flew on through the silent star ocean.
She could at least take comfort in the fact that she had concealed the entrance to the cave the Blue Lion was in years ago. She'd found that certain minerals interfered with the Galra sensors and had taken advantage of that.
Now, far away and alone with Keith, with her son gently snoring away behind her, she finally allowed herself to mourn the loss of her Mate. He would be buried and she would be reported missing, and that was fine. That was for Earth to deal with. She was going home.
If only she could have brought him with her...
–
An alert roused her from her slumber and she looked at it with a frown. Sighing, she motioned for Keith to be quiet before she answered the call.
“Fighter craft, identify yourself.” A Galra said on the screen.
She glanced back at Keith before replying. “My name is Krolia. I've been on a scouting mission, and I'm heading back to Central Command now.”
“I see that your ship is damaged, Krolia. Allow me to escort you back in my cruiser.” The Galra offered.
“That's not necessary. The damage is minimal.” She assured him.
“I insist. After all, you have an older model fighter craft, so clearly your scouting mission didn't go so well. I'll have you brought in by tractor beam.” The Galra said calmly, a serene smile on his face.
“...You're...very kind.” Krolia said, resisting the urge to grit her teeth. “But, I do not need an escort. I'm sure you have other priorities.”
“Oh, no. I couldn't possibly let you go on and continue flying such a damaged vessel.” Krolia felt the tug of the tractor beam. “I'll meet you in hanger C.” The call ended.
“...Damn it.” She banged her fist against the console.
She had to protect Keith. She glanced at her blade and pursed her lips. Would she be able to take on the commander on her own? She had to try. For Keith.
“Mommy?” He asked worriedly.
“It's going to be okay, sweetheart.” She said, nodding. “It's...it's going to be okay.”
She would make sure it was okay.
The ship was pulled up into a hanger bay and she saw sentries surround it. Sighing, she opened the top of the ship just enough for her to get out and held up her hands.
“We don't have any scouts assigned to the sector you just came from. We have, however, been having previous scouts go missing.” The commander said with a cold smile. “I wonder if you and that little factoid are connected?”
“I don't understand. What are you accusing me of?” Krolia asked, frowning.
“Now, you seem like a smart woman.” The commander said snidely. “I'm accusing you of attacking those scout ships and committing treason.”
“I have done no such thing.” Krolia said firmly.
“Then, why do you have an older model fighter craft? Why have scout ships been going missing from the sector you claim you were scouting in?” He reached up and tugged at her hair roughly, forcing her to bend back a bit. “Shall I hand you over to the druids?”
“Mommy?”
Krolia's eyes widened. 'No. No, honey, please, don't call for me. Stay quiet.'
The Galra Commander looked over at the ship before shoving Krolia towards his second in command and going to investigate the ship. He opened it wider and his eyes widened. “...What...is this?” He reached out for Keith and the child shrank back, clutching his hippo close.
“No! Mommy? Where's mommy?” Keith asked worriedly.
The Galra pursed his lips. “What is it saying?” He asked, looking at Krolia. “And do not lie.”
'How would you know if I was?' She thought bitterly. “...He's calling for me.”
“Is that the truth?” The Galra commander asked.
“Yes.” She glared at him. “He is my child.”
The commander looked at Keith. “...A half-breed?” He reached in again.
“Don't touch him!” She slammed her head into the Galra holding her and ran at him, pulling out her blade to attack him.
“Mommy!” Keith cried out when he saw her.
“Now, now, let's not be hasty.” The commander said, blocking her attack as sentries trained their weapons on her. “After all, you wouldn't want to leave him unprotected, right?”
“...Leave him alone.” She said, looking at the commander. “Please. I crash-landed on his planet and fell for the local that nursed me back to health. We had a child. I haven't been in the Galra Empire for six deca-pheobs. That's the truth. I did attack scout ships, but that was to protect my family. I'm not...I'm not a traitor.”
“Hm. I've heard the mothers of half-breeds can be irrational. Very well. You and your...child will be taken to a cell until we arrive at Central Command.” The commander said calmly. “The druids will judge your loyalty there.”
“Mommy?” Keith asked.
“Escort Krolia and her child to a cell.” He looked at the suitcases. “And these?”
“Our belongings.” Krolia reached in and unbuckled Keith before lifting him into her arms. Then she took the suitcases with her other hand and turned to him. “I will go quietly.”
“I'll have the cases scanned for weaponry. And your knife will be confiscated until Lord Zarkon deems you are loyal enough to have it back.” The commander said as his second-in-command led the duo away. “Pray the druids do not find you disloyal, Krolia.”
“Vrepit Sa.” She said quietly as they were led out of the hanger.