Wanderlust (Keith Kogane x OC) ON HOLD

9

It was Keith's decision to analyze the computer chip in his room. Charlotte agreed being as she did receive it from his lion. Soft humming filled the room as she activated the laptop Pidge gave to her. It had a small port on the side just the right size for the computer chip. Eager to find out what's on it she inserts it and props the device on her lap. Keith hovers over her shoulder to see the screen deciding to set his head on her shoulder. If she wasn't so focused Charlotte would've blushed at their close proximity. Her nimble fingers tap at the mouse pulling up the file. Not much was on the device only a video and single document. She clicks on the video first.

A strangled yelp of shock leaves Charlotte's throat at who appears on the screen. Her father, the man she's been searching almost a year for was now in front of her. His appearance differed from when she saw him last. He had the body of a young man. His attire struck her as odd. A silver brooch encrusted in maroon jewels attached a black cloak over top a suit of gray armor etched with strange black markings. The scar on his right cheek was gone, his sandy blonde hair brushed against his shoulders. A silver key hung around his neck, the gold lettering missing. However the same aquamarine eyes stared back, matching her own bright orbs.

"T-this had to of been recorded before I was born. My father is much older than this now." Charlotte frowns. But why did the Red Lion have this?

"Let's click play and see what he has to say. Maybe it'll explain what's going on." Keith urges reaching from behind her to click the button.

"Log one, day one. I've recently landed on a planet called Altea. I offered their king an ancient artifact from my homeland in exchange for shelter. He was skeptical at first until I convinced him of a way to keep the universe at peace. With his help I will finally be able to begin Project Guardian. Combining his knowledge and resources with my own will guarantee our success. If all goes well this will pave the way for a better future. This technology needs to be developed. For not only the sake of my people, but to ensure the survival of the entire universe. End log one."

Silence falls over the room. Water droplets fall onto the device in Charlotte's lap. Percy leans out of her jacket pocket to wipe away the tears on her cheeks with his fluffy tail. Her fingers pat his head in appreciation but it doesn't quell the aching inside her heart. She'd forgotten how much she missed her father and seeing him again out of the blue brought a fresh wave of emotions. Keith was never a touchy person but his instincts were telling him to wrap her in a hug. So he did.

"This can't be real...there's no way my father is over ten thousand years old..." Her voice sounded so lost and broken. He tightens his hold around her, swaying gently to calm her down. Keith was new to the whole comforting thing give him a break.

"It's possible he used one of those cryo-pods." He speaks softly as Percy squeezes out from between them and over to the laptop. Charlotte turns her eyes back to the task at hand. The squirrel presses a few buttons on the keyboard pulling up a document titled PRJ-GDN 1-6. A drawing of seemingly random lines appeared on the screen.

"A blueprint?" Keith eyes study the design trying to make sense of it. "I'm not seeing a pattern."

"Could it be a small part of a larger design? The document itself is titled using one dash six which usually means there's more to it. But there's nothing left on the disk itself." She groans leaning back into Keith.

"Zoom in on the right corner I think something is written there." He nods at the screen and she complies honing in on the spot he requested. Sure enough the familiar scrawl of her father could be seen. In small lettering the words 'Project Guardian' lined the corner of the diagram.

"Project Guardian again. Wait, Keith what if Coran and Allura were wrong about the key being the device that could destroy the universe? Sure it could be classified as the ancient artifact but it's possible there's a much bigger picture to this that we're not getting." She speaks piecing together all the information. "When I was in the Red Lion a panel opened up and I inserted my key. That's how I found the chip. Who's to say there aren't more of them hidden in the other four lions?" Charlotte gasps jumping up and pulling him to his feet. The twinkle of excitement she gets when discovering something new now prominent in her turquoise eyes.