"If you insist on maintaining this charade of ignorance, you leave us no choice but to apply pressure." Zethrid threatened, her glare striking a match of terror in the Paladins' hearts.

"Finally!" Ezor chimed, smiling brightly. "Who's our first victim?"

Zethrid and Ezor both looked around at the group of heroes, Zethrid making a decision before her best friend could land on a choice.

"You." She cackled, grinning at Pidge. "I'd bet half my fleet that this group of heroes has a soft spot for the small one."

The youngest Paladin scooted herself a little farther away. Not much, and hardly noticeable, but she did. The Paladins all took a half step forward, doing what they could to protect her.

Ezor grinned, walking towards her slowly, adding a dramatic flare to the situation.

"Don't you touch her!" Lance snarled, charging them in a mad rush as adrenaline kicked into his veins.

However, Ezor easily overpowered him, kicking him against the wall in hardly a second.

A sentry instantly trained their laser blaster on him as he raised his head, making everyone think twice about going over to help him.

"Your defiance is adorable and so very misguided." Zethrid smirked, staring at the Blue Paladin.

"Leave us alone!" Pidge ordered, glaring at them will all the rage she could muster into her face.

Ezor grinned, whipping out her tentacle that sprouted from her head to clasp at Pidge's restraints, pulling her closer.

Pidge let out of cry of fear, and Hunk cried out her name in fright.

Pidge landed into Ezor's outstretched hand, groaning as the former general grabbed her armor to keep ahold of her.

"Let her go!" Keith ordered, in the process of lunging forward when he heard a laser gun get cocked. He froze, glancing at the Galra who kept his blaster pointed at him.

Pidge was moaning slightly, the fear evident in her eyes as she stared at Ezor, close to tears.

Ezor slammed her against the wall between the Paladins, having no problem in giving them a front seat view to the torture.

Ezor forced Pidge further up the wall, the sound of metal, Pidge's suit, grinding metal, the brig's wall.

Pidge kicked her legs against the wall, doing nothing to slow her demise.

"Answers!" Ezor demanded, her eyes fixed directly on the Paladin she was so keen on torturing.

"We told you, he's dead!" Keith hissed, clenching his fists as hard as he could.

"Release Pidge, right now." Shiro ordered, his remaining arm clenching as he resisted the urge to attack them.

"And why would we do that?" Zethrid snarled, crossing her arms. "We could kill her without a second thought, you know."

"So." Krolia glared, narrowing her yellow eyes. "What's stopping you?"

All the Paladins rounded on her with a look of surprise, a few roaring her name in anguish. The two ex-generals, too, were taken aback.

"Well…" Ezor mused, before pausing to think her statement over.

"We need answers." Zethrid broke in, apparently having thought it through in a flash instant. "And this is the only way to do it. Unless…" she paused for dramatic effect. "…you're fine with letting her miserable life slip out of this reality…"

"No!" Everyone gasped at the same time, including Krolia, who evidently hadn't wanted any harm to befall the youngest Paladin because of her prodding statement.

"How about we up the level of torture?" Zethrid suggested, towering over the Paladins as she smirked.

"Yeah." Ezor agreed, ignoring the protests of anger that arose from the Paladins lips. "Let's do that."

"Stop hurting her!" Allura demands, her eyes turning frosty.

"Hmm." Ezor grinned, using her free hand to punch Pidge's cheek, alright my a small cry of pain from the Paladin as it began to darken into a bruise. "I think I'll continue."

"She's only a child!" Romelle snarled, turning from her normally passive side to her enraged half. "Stop it!"

"Oh. Gee…" Ezor taunted, adjusting her hand position so that her lanky fingers were wrapped around the youngest Paladin's neck. "That's too bad you feel that way…I really, really feel like KILLING someone, don't you think, Zethrid?"

"Yeah. That'd be great." Zethrid nodded, her expression turning cruel.

"You unhand her this instant!" Keith roared, slamming his foot against the ground.

"Hmm…I don't know…" Ezor mused, tapping her finger against her lips as she over looked them. "I have…well, fun is putting it lightly. But, yeah, I have but fun with this one. I don't want to stop, or trade, or whatever you want me to."

Pidge was beginning to thrash in Ezor's grip, trying to get air in through her lungs, her eyes glazed as she coughed horsey.

"Let her go this instant!" Shiro ordered, his eyes turning frosty.

"Like I said earlier; no. I'm having fun." Ezor grinned, cocking her head at them as Pidge tried unsuccessfully to kick the older woman away from her. "Besides, it's really funny looking at your expressions."

"Do you think this is a joke?!" Romelle gapped, staring at them in shock. "Do you actually think that this is enjoyable to watch?"

"Let us elaborate; enjoyable for us. Depressing for you." Zethrid smiled, all teeth. "After all, if it was anyone else, they'd fight back, and maybe be able to get away. It's more fun like this."

Pidge went slack in Ezor's grip, causing all the other Paladins to let loose a string of threats and demands and pleads.

"Oh." Ezor looked at her in disgust, sighing. "She's no fun anymore." She grunted, tossing Pidge onto the floor farthest from the Paladins.

As soon as Pidge came to a stop, she spluttered out several weak coughs, her breathing eventually falling back to the normal rhythm.

"Pidge!" Everyone sighed in relief, taking few steps in her direction before guns were once again pointed in their direction, freezing them.

"Did you really think we'd end it there?" Zethrid snarled, walking up to Pidge as she stared down at the latter.

Pidge, who still managed to keep conscious, stared up at her with a worried expression, her eyebrows knit together in pain.

"Pidge, keep calm." Keith called over, wishing he could provide better comfort. But, with the gun aimed at him, and with Zethrid towering over her, there was nothing he could do. Anything he said would end up as a lie.

"It's gonna be okay!" Hunk assured her, obviously a false statement.

Lance pushed himself into a sitting position, doing nothing that would make the guard push the gun harder into his skull. "Yeah. Hunk's ri-"

He was interrupted by a piercing screech as Zethrid stomped down on Pidge's leg, an eerie snapping sounding at the same time.

Everyone flinched at the sound, some(just Romelle)covered their ears with a squeak.

Unfortunately, as soon as the scream died away and they were only left with the tired pants that came from the youngest Paladin to occupy the room, Zethrid stomped down on her other leg, and everyone called out Pidge's name again, fighting back the urge to walk closer to her to give her comfort.

Just as Zethrid raised up her hearty foot to bring down on Pidge's other arm, the alarms blared.

"Hall breach in hanger one. Lockdown sequence initiated." The recorded voice chimed, causing Zethrid and Ezor to pause, before they both heading out the door with their guards, resentfully casting a glance back at Pidge.

"Thank God." Keith gasped, easily the first to her as he checked her breathing and pulse. Shiro came second, instantly inspecting her legs. Lance came next, instantly helping Shiro with the inspection since he had two hands instead of one, and they were chained in front of him. Hunk came next, combing his fingers through her hair as he tried to comfort her tired sobs. The three women were a bit slower to approach, but, when they did, Krolia instantly pushed all of the males away from the girl, crouching over her.

"Keith." She instructed, jerking her head to indicate that her son must approach. "Try to get her comfortable. Romelle, take off your boots; they'll act as excellent splints. Allura, keep everyone out of my way!"

Allura frowned, slightly confused by the order, and found that everyone already had fallen into line, and, despite wanting to be close to Pidge, kept their distance.

They all looked on in awe as Krolia worked, and although her hands had limited motions, she still managed to fix Pidge's legs, for the most part.

"…Mom?" Keith asked, worry sparking in his expression. "Will she…"

"She'll be fine." Krolia told them, sitting back on her heels to look at the rest of the group.

At her words, everyone breathed a sigh of relief, visibly relaxing.

"It isn't all cheery, however. Her small structure isn't built for inter-galactic travel, much less such advanced torture. She might…well, she'll be fine for now, but one more torture sessions hosted by those two fricken' quiznaks would certainly seal her fate."

Shiro mumbled something about watching one's language under his breath, but everyone ignored his statement.

"So. We need to get out of here before then." Lance mused, staring at her questionably.

"How?" Inquired Romelle. "Our hands are all bound. There's no way to free us."

"Keith." Krolia barked, and her son got her point.

"There's still only one guard." Keith reported, glancing out the tiny window.

"Everyone," Krolia ordered, gesturing to the door. "Line up around the door, be prepared to jump the guard."

"Pidge?"

Krolia hesitated, frowning at her. All signs pointed to Pidge being unconscious, except how her eyes would flutter open every few moments and close soon after.

"I don't know." She admitted. "Having a team member who can no longer walk will put a dent on any possible way we can escape."

"I can carry her." Shiro reassured her, kneeling beside her limp form and holding her carefully with only one arm. He did it in such a way that he didn't apply pressure to her legs, despite having his fingers curled around her femur's armor.

"Are you sure you're up for it?You're still recovering." Keith pointed out, frowning uncertainty at his older brother.

"If we stay, she is going to die. And we can't drag her around. This is the best way." Shiro pointed out.

"If you get tired, I'll gladly take over." Hunk volunteered. "Just don't overexert yourself."

"Alright." Krolia sighed, then glanced at the door. "The alarm has stopped. They could be back at anytime. Positions, everyone."

Within seconds everyone was lined up, braced and ready for the doors to open.

Suddenly, loud grunts and screams sounded from outside the door, and, when it opened fully, revealed the four mice, happily chittering to Allura as they sat proudly atop the beaten-up officer.

Author's Note; this is my multi-chapter book based off of season 7! It's an AU, if you couldn't already tell, based off of how perfect Acxa and Coran's timing was. So…what if they were five minutes too late? I dunno. I just like the idea. I hope to update every Friday or Saturday. Prepare yourselves for more Pidge angst!