Commentary meme: Kolivan tore through the tiny quarantine cell and slammed the doctor against the wall before pivoting and kicking the sentry unconscious. Then he cradled Shiro’s smaller form against his own, taking in the cub’s liquid eyes and relieved expression. He gave into his own primal urges and ducked his head to greet Shiro’s properly.“Never again,” he promised himself as much as Shiro. Never again he would allow his personal mission to come so close to failure.
Quote from “Crossing the Border.”
So this is going to sound horrible - but this whole storyrevolved around Kolivan sweeping Shiro into his arms like he weighs nothing,one arm under Shiro’s knees, the other around his shoulders. It’s actually animage I saw in a movie and absolutely loved, and went, “Yes! I will writethat!”
…I, for the life of me, cannot remember the movie. #EpicFail
As for the “Never again”line – you’ll see me veer from the usual linear plot in many stories. Whenthings get boring or too dark or too fluffy in the “present,” you’ll see mewrite a flashback. (Pretty much, “Reunion” from S4 is my kinda writing. Lovedhow the writers show us Pidge and Matt in the past and the present and give usnot only the back story but also motivation by doing so – and a cameo of Shiro andKeith.)
Digressing slightly – Take “TheFinal Act of Mercy.” It’s super dark inthe “present” – Shiro learning from Sendak how to survive in the Galra Empire,finding the Red Lion, and eventually being experimented on by the Druids. Icontrasted that darkness with fluffy flashbacks of Shiro and Keith in thegarrison. Shiro learns Sendak killed his own brother – while in the past, Shirocuddles with sick, cat look-alike Keef, all in the same chapter.
“Never again” falls into thiscategory. While I was writing “Crossing the Border,” I thought, “I’m bored.Kolivan’s going to join up with Antok, break into the cell, and that’s it. Action.Done. But why do I care? What makes this interesting?”
That thought led to – What isKolivan thinking when he saves Shiro? Probably about how Shiro didn’tlike this mission, didn’t like that he had to wear the necklace/collar, but hehad to wear it because it’s the only way he’ll be accepted and be “safe” whiletraveling. And this is most likely the most dangerous mission he’s ever beenon. He’s going back to Drule Central. He’s going to be close to Sendak, andhe’s also now the second-in-command of space ninjas. So Shiro’s obviouslynervous/concerned, which led to him having a conversation before the missionwith Kolivan about what happens if something goes wrong.
And that became what Kolivanthinks about while going to save Shiro – how Shiro was scared and how Kolivanpromised him everything would be okay – and that Kolivan would always save him.
Which then led to Kolivan’s“Never again.”
I should also note that I hada very hard time finishing the second part of “Crossing the Border.” It just didn’t click like others had, but after three rewrites, I posted it. So theaftermath one-shot helped to clear that part up and explain the “Never again” thatyou read in the second part.
