Kevak did not reappear with the food tray. Lance was almost disappointed, but there was the more pressing matter of the fact that Kevak did not return alone. Kevak had brought with her what Lance was pretty sure was a Galra.

He was purple, not particularly furry like Sendak had been, and his smile featured pointier teeth than Lance was comfortable seeing outside of a monster movie. He also, interestingly enough, had the same white eyes that both Kevak and Haggar had.

"Hello Lance," the Galra greeted him, sounded far more genial than Lance was comfortable with. Lance would liked to have looked at Kevak in betrayal, but that would have meant that he was placing a level of trust in her that she hadn't earned. Maybe if she had brought some food, then he would have brought out his betrayal eyes, but instead she just got a heaping helping of fear and terror.

Because Lance had apparently crash-landed on a Galra-infested planet.

Lance didn't panic, couldn't let himself panic. Garrison rule number two: panic is the enemy. Pilots were demanded to have no fear of crashing. It was why one of the first tests the fighter class was given was the Kobayashi Maru. Granted, it wasn't actually called the Kobayashi Maru, but every student called the no-win test by that name instead of the official title of Jupiter Descending. What it did was weed out any cadets who had a panic response, sending them down to the cargo class.

So. Lance had to come up with a new plan.

First up, beat the fight out of the Galra. Definitely also the guards posted on the other side of the door. Steal one of their weapons, and get out as fast as humanly possible. Faster, even, because he most definitely crash-landed on a Galra-infested planet after having a run-in with Zarkon.

Because, Lance realized, he was locked up without his Lion or his bayard, in the midst of Galra-controlled universe. For all he knew, Zarkon himself was coming to put an end to Lance's tenure as the Blue Paladin. For all he knew, Zarkon already had.

Which meant that about the only reason to keep Lance alive was so he could tell them where to find the castle – and, more importantly, where to find the other lions.

He wasn't sure if he could be more relieved at that knowledge, that it was him and only him that was a prisoner of the Galra. At the very least, Lance was glad that it wasn't any of the others. He knew that if it had been anyone else but him, he would want to switch places with them in less than a heartbeat. He would endure whatever torture they could put him through, if it meant that no one else had to suffer it.

But he could avoid the torture altogether, if he just managed to trick the Galra into loosening up on his bonds. He grew up helping his cousin Marci practice her magic tricks, he knew how to wiggle his way out of smaller bonds. He also knew how to pick locks and slip out of handcuffs because of her.

"You seem perfectly lucid today," the Galra continued, still smiling that toothy smile. "Mother Haggar says that you're mind is clear. I am here to confirm that."

The Galra took a step forward, and Lance glanced at Kevak, eyes wide with terror. In response, she merely smiled at him. "Do not fear. Healer Pyrric is well-versed in all forms of noninvasive medical techniques. You must be feeling quite disoriented."

Lance was, but not for any of the reasons that Kevak might have thought. However, he couldn't voice any of the things that he wanted to say, owing to the unfortunate hurdle that was the gag.

"Pay close attention, Kevak," Pyrric said, holding out his hands. This time Lance was definitely sure that there was glowing happening. Pyrric moved his hands, and Lance expected to feel the swooping sensation of skin ghosting against skin. Instead, he felt warmth. Comforting warmth. It was like stepping out in a sunny day and feeling the sun warm your skin.

The difference was so stark that Lance was left frozen in place, Pyrric's hands moving and extending that warmth along the edges of his body. He felt it in his right knee, along his back (how that was, Lance couldn't know), and up against his right side. Pyrric seemed to be smiling as his hands trailed their way through the air over Lance's body, coming to a stop on either side of his head. His eyes, interestingly enough, were also glowing yellow.

"Well, this is nothing short of miraculous," Pyrric murmured, stepping back. "Kevak, come here. You are familiar with the process of medicinal quintessence manipulation, yes?"

"Of course, Healer," Kevak replied, stepping close. She held up her hands, themselves and her eyes glowing with the yellow light. "What am I to do?"

"Step here," Pyrric instructed, taking a step to his right for Kevak to stand beside him. "Hold out your hands over the central Qi, but do not probe. Let yourself feel his quintessence."

Kevak held her hands out, over the center of Lance's navel. It was, interestingly enough, the same spot that Pyrric and Haggar had started, when they had begun their examination. Kevak felt... comforting, but in a different way than Pyrric. Kevak felt unsettlingly familiar in a way that Lance couldn't place. It was like he had encountered her before, had befriended her, had shared life experience with her. Only, that couldn't be, because Lance had absolutely no memory of ever meeting anyone like Kevak in the past.

Kevak started to move her hands under the gentle guidance of Pyrric, moving further and further up, toward his head. Lance tried to focus as much on Kevak as he could on the naggingly familiar sensation, and barely missed how Kevak's head tilted inquisitively.

"It feels different," Kevak said. "Far less tumultuous."

"You can say it, Kevak," Pyrric gently said. "Calmer. His mind is calm. And clear. It appears the treatment has worked. The quintessence has taken. Mother Haggar will be most pleased to hear of this."

Kevak's hands pulled away, and Lance almost whined at the loss of the sensation, but he had more dignity than that.

He did not have enough dignity, he was sad to discover, not to lean into the missing touch. Kevak glanced back at him worriedly, and Lance thought he caught sight of a frown. "Do I call for Mother Haggar, then?"

"Not as of yet," Pyrric replied, already moving toward the door. "Maintain observation for support that this lucid state is not fleeting like it has been in the past. However, I would suggest feeding him. You did mention that he had appeared lucid when you came in with his meal. Our Lance here must be starving."

Okay, Lance had so many issues with that statement, but the pleading moans of his stomach couldn't deny him the truth that he was indeed starving. He could only hope that Kevak would return with the good-smelling food again, and that he could have the good fortune to have his bonds loosened enough for him to break free.

At the very least, the loss of the gag could allow him to barter for time spent not wearing it. His jaw was starting to ache something fierce and Lance would not allow a sore jaw to be his downfall. The Galra may have taken much of his dignity, but he still had his pride, and his calculating mind, and those they couldn't take away from him.