[13] Run, run, run run runrunrun!

                                    

                                          
Dead.
                          
Roy had warned him, but it still came as a shock. Stupidly, Lance had given himself the benefit of the doubt. He closed his eyes, drawing in a long breath and letting it out again.
                          
Lance wouldn't let the revelation slow him down - there was something else important at hand.
                          
"Lance, this one's badly injured!" Olly called. "Broken arm, and I'm not sure yet, but we could be looking at two or three broken ribs."
                          
Lance nodded to show he had heard, gently shifting the still slightly warm body - Lance tried not to shudder when he thought about what that meant - and rolling her out of the corner. Two small yellow eyes peered out at him.
                          
"Hey," he whispered, holding a hand out. The yellow eyes flinched, and the little one ducked back down. "Hey, I'm not going to hurt you, we're here to help."
                          
Seeing their fear, Lance reached up and pulled off his helmet. "See?"
                          
They peered out curiously again, then a tail curled around Lance's wrist. He gave a small smile, reaching out his other hand to lift the child into his arms. They gripped onto Lance's arm tightly, head resting on his shoulder.
                          
Lance felt the lump in his throat resurface, looking across the pod to where Roy and Olly were tending to the other alien - another Galra female.
                          
Her eyes snapped open, and she flung an arm out to attack them.
                          
Roy and Olly immediately held her down.
                          
"Don't move, you're hurt!" Olly yelped, jumping forwards to help.
                          
She struggled against the girls, breaking free after a long moment when Olly let out a shriek. Olly gave a short scream as the girl scrambled away, huddling in the corner.
                          
"Olly!" Roy ignored the girl, reaching for Olly instead. She placed her hand on the back of Olly's neck, pulling her forwards so their foreheads touched.
                          
Olly's eyes fluttered closed, and she calmed down instantly. "Thank you..." she whispered.
                          
None of his damn business. 
                          
Lance turned to face the Galra girl, who glared back at him, though she broke off into a wince, clutching her arm to her chest.
                          
The girl hissed at them, before skittering for the open door.
                          
"Oh, no you don't." Roy growled, pulling back from Olly at just the right time to see her escape. She brought her hand down on the console, causing the doors to slide shut, locking in place.
                          
She crashed into the door with her shoulder, slamming it in frustration with her good arm before turning to face the rest of the people in the pod.
                          
"Let me go." She said; voice dangerously low.
                          
"You're injured, just let us help y—"
                          
"No! Let me go!" She punched the closed door again, the thud echoing through the pod. "I won't go with you!"
                          
"S-sis?" The little Galra child in Lance's arms said quietly, lifting her head. Her tail flicked in the air, and her grip tightened on Lance.
                          
"Mik!" Still pressed up against the door, the girl stared at the child. She seemed conflicted, before coming to a decision. "I'll do anything you want, but please- don't hurt my sister."
                          
"We won't." Lance promised, "We only want to help."
                          
The girl wrinkled her nose in suspicion, before giving a hefty sigh – which she broke off with a cry of pain. She slid to the floor, focus flicking between the others.