Prisoner of Love
Stars still gleamed in the Arusian sky, as the shuttle lightly touched down. The Voltron Force was gathered on the tarmac. Diana was dressed sharply in her military finest. "I wish you didn't have to go." Hunk pouted.
"Me too," Diana stood on her tiptoes and kissed him. Their kiss was interrupted by the approach of two burly MPs.
"It's time."
"All right." Diana moved to Allura, she whispered in her ear: "Be ready." Then Diana squared her shoulders with determination and strode toward the shuttle with an MP on either side of her.
"Why do I feel like I am never going to see her again?" Hunk whispered, unhappily.
"No one at Garrison is talking. I am not sure what is going on, Hunk, but I do know this much: Diana will get to the bottom of this."
As the hatch was sealing, one MP produced his set of handcuffs.
"Afraid I might overpower the two of you and steal this ship?" she quipped as she slowly
raised her hands in front of her.
"Just following protocol, Commander," Richard replied. She still flinched as they clicked closed. Then he guided her to her seat and buckled her in. She sat straight and tall in her seat. Tall and proud, Diana girl. She thought to herself. Don't let them see yourfear. If they do, they will eat you alive. Diana dozed on and off during the long trip to Earth.
Meanwhile on Arus…
Allura nervously paced the conference room. Her dress swirled about her ankles.
"Would you like me to tell them?" Coran calmly asked.
Allura stopped, "No, I must tell them. I need to be as half as strong as Diana is."
Soon the doors opened and Keith led the rest of the team in with a somber Hunk trailing behind. She waited until everyone was seated before beginning. "Good morning, everyone," she began, in a very business-like manner. "I was asked to bring all of you together to explain the situation." She swallowed hard.
"About time!" Lance cut in. "What did straight-laced Commander Kincaid do?" Hunk's interest was peaked and he leaned forward, eager to hear more.
"I will come to that," Allura responded. "Two weeks ago Space Marshall Graham contacted Coran and I concerning allegations of assault and fraternization."
CRASH! A chair slid forcibly across the room and slammed into the wall. Allura jumped and the other boys turned sharply to see Hunk standing red faced with his fists clenching and flexing at his sides. "That dirty bastard," he growled.
Keith moved to stand beside his lieutenant. "Take a deep breath and tell us about it, Hunk." Keith's voice was calm.
Hunk took a ragged breath, "Remember the ball about a month ago?"
"Yes," Keith urged.
"Prince Andrew of Ruthenium cornered Diana on the terrace after she and I danced a few times. He was a bit forceful in his attempts at affection." Hunk spat the last word. "He left bruises on her upper arms. She struggled with him, which only egged him on. To get free, she decked him and escaped the terrace. I found her a little later, she already had the night physician in the infirmary document her injuries. That bastard also smacked her around. Her dress was torn-" Hunk was so consumed with rage that he could not continue.
"Did he-?" Pidge's eyes were fearful.
"No, he did not rape her, but he did leave bruises on her breast, neck and arms. When he left Arus, he vowed he would get revenge."
"What can we do to help Diana?" Pidge asked quietly.
Keith answered. "We may be asked to testify."
"We will do all that we can." Allura assured him. "Diana confided in me about that night when the charges were brought up."
"Who is she supposed to be fraternizing with?" Lance asked, giving Keith a side long look.
"We need to rescue her." Hunk demanded, slapping the table top so hard it shook.
"We can't, Hunk, she's at the Galaxy Garrison headquarters by now."
As the Voltron Force spoke, the transport was landing. As the craft powered down, Richard approached her. Unbuckling her belt, he removed one of the cuffs. Understanding, she quietly turned around and put her arms behind her. "Thank you," he whispered.
"I have no desire to cause trouble with you. You are just following orders." He took her arm and led her out of the transport. Several other MPs joined the trio as they made their way across the tarmac to the awaiting vehicles.
The convoy drove quickly to the stockade where she was rushed inside. Quietly they led her to an empty cell and the cuffs were removed.
Tiredly, she dropped onto the bunk. She closed her eyes and tried not to think about the days ahead.
Diana groaned as she awoke. Her neck cried out in agony. Keeping her eyes closed, she started to work the kinks out of her neck with her fingers.
"You are awfully calm." A soft voice spoke.
"I choose when to fight and when not to." Diana kept her voice neutral, as she opened her eyes.
A middle aged man stood at her cell door. He held an open file in his hands.
"You must be my JAG lawyer." She stated blankly.
"Yes, I am. Commander Hawks," he answered. "You have an impressive record; totally spotless until now. You are facing some serious articles of misconduct."
"Understood, but the Article 128 was self defense." Diana stated firmly. "The prince attacked me. Please contact Prime Minister Coran of Arus to obtain the security footage and the medical records from the night in question, Commander."
"I will contact Arus as soon as possible."
"Thank you," She watch him scribble notes into the file.
"Is there anything I can do for you?" he asked as he closed the file.
"No, thank you, I am fine."
"All right, I will be back in a few hours."
"I look forward to seeing you." Commander Hawks turned to leave.
Soon a guard approached her cell with keys in hand. "Time for a shower," he gruffly told her.
Calmly, she walked through the door and followed him to the shower room. A female guard awaited her in the dressing room. With a cool and even stare, the guard watched Diana undress and led her to the shower. The water was brisk and cool against her skin as she quickly washed. The shower room was dank and musty. When she was finished the woman handed her a rough towel. Diana quickly toweled herself dry. With no expression, the woman handed her the bright yellow jumpsuit she would be required to wear during her stay in the stockade. Diana dressed quietly. Once she was finished, the guard took her to the mess hall for breakfast.
The mess hall was bustling with activity. Inmates were milling around, receiving their food and talking. After all of the silence, Diana found the noise deafening. She gathered her food, carefully avoiding the sausage gravy and bacon. Sitting at the only empty table, she ate in silence.
She stood to remove her tray and to empty it, and two MPs joined her and steered her out of the mess hall. They took her to a small fenced in exercise yard. "So I'm in solitary." She whispered.
"Yes," one MP answered, as though she'd asked him the question. He opened the gate to the yard. She walked past him and into the tiny space. Finding the center, she closed her eyes and searched for inner serenity. Tapping into it, she bowed to her unseen partner and began. Her eyes remained closed, melting away the concertina wire and chain link fence. Her mind transported her to Arus's beautiful sun kissed and sweet fragranced garden.
One guard cleared his throat and Diana knew that her time was up. Bowing again to her invisible partner and thanking them for his help in her time of need, she turned back to the guards.
Her day was otherwise rather uneventful. After lunch, her JAG lawyer returned, but instead of coming to her cell again, she was escorted to a small room.
"Good afternoon, Commander Hawks," she greeted.
"Good afternoon." He replied.
"Were you able to contact Arus?" she asked, as she sat down in front of him.
"Yes, Minister Coran was most helpful."
"That is good to hear."
"We have much to discuss. The court martial begins the day after tomorrow."
"They're not wasting any time, are they?" she grumbled.
"No, so we better get started." Diana and Commander Hawks then proceeded to work for several hours.
That night, Diana stood in her cell, looking through the window that sat high above her. As she stared out at the twinkling stars a melody consumed her. "Somewhere out there…
beneath the pale moonlight…someone's thinking of me and loving me tonight." A single tear slipped from her gray-blue eyes and traced a salty trail down her cheek. "I am sorry, Tsuyoshi," she whispered very softly.
"LIGHTS OUT!" a gruff voice bellowed loudly down the hall. Diana slowly moved to her cot.
Meanwhile on Arus…
A very concerned Allura sought out Keith. "Keith?" she stormed into his office, almost catching him in the arms of his lover.
Red faced, Keith straightened and met her in front of his desk. "Princess, what's wrong?" He gripped her shoulders.
"It's Hunk," she gasped. "Nanny just informed me that he has not eaten in three days."
"That won't hurt him. He could stand to lose a few pounds," Lance quipped.
"I will go talk to him." Keith softly soothed the agitated princess.
"Thank you," she tried to smile. "And the maids have told me that his bed has not been slept in either."
Worry furrowed Keith's brow. "I will go right now."
Lance and Allura tagged along with Keith as he made his way down to Hunk's workshop. The door refused to open for them. Keith punched in his access code, but the panel only flashed red.
"Let me try," Allura pushed past Lance. Her code opened the door.
The workshop looked like a war zone. Twisted metal, engine parts and other unidentifiable objects were scattered about the floor. A scorched fuselage was suspended from a hoist and Hunk was beneath it with a welder in hand.
"Hunk?" Keith called out.
"Yeah!" Hunk groaned, as he pushed himself from underneath the battered fighter.
"You got a minute?" Keith carefully stepped over the rubble. He was quick to notice the dark circles beginning to appear beneath Hunk's vacant eyes. "How are you doing?" He asked, lamely, as Hunk stood up, wiping his greasy hands on a rag.
"I'm kinda busy right now, Keith. Can you get to the point?" Hunk's voice was sharp and stiff.
"I have been told you are not eating and sleeping. You need to be able to fly your lion and to be battle ready."
Hunk turned from Keith. "I am not hungry or tired, Commander, and I have work to do." He bent down to retrieve a molded body panel for the fuselage.
"If you need to talk my door is always open." Keith murmured.
"It's ALL my FAULT!" The heavy body panel went flying across the room. "She's being court martialed because I fell in love with her!" he yelled.
"That's not quite true." Keith kept his voice calm and even. "Diana is being court martialed because we have all gotten closer to each other since we've been on Arus. The Galaxy Garrison discipline went out the window from the moment that we were captured by Zarkon."
"Then why aren't we all on trial?" Hunk demanded angrily. His tension electrified the room.
"I don't know," Keith answered, quietly. "But I think part of the reason is Prince Andrew. His interest in Diana was unnerving and obsessive."
"If I ever see that bastard again-" Hunk smacked his fist into his open palm.
"What will that solve, Hunk?" Keith asked.
"It will make me feel better." He growled. "I wish I could talk to her." Defeated, Hunk plopped down to the floor.
Keith knelt beside him. "Let me see what I can do." He touched his shoulder. "Will you please try to get some rest and eat something if I get you a few minutes with her?"
"I'll try and thanks."
"Come with me, and I'll make a few calls." Keith turned to Lance and Allura. "Will you two get Hunk something to eat and bring it to my office?"
"Yes," they answered in unison, and turned to leave. Hunk rose to his feet and followed Keith.
After fifteen minutes of calls, Keith convinced the communications officer on duty to connect him to the stockade. After a brief delay, Diana appeared before them.
"Keith!" she exclaimed softly, "What is wrong? Is Tsuyoshi all right?" An emotion that Keith almost believed was not possible for her was clearly visible in her eyes. Fear.
"He's fine," Keith assured her quickly," Him and me wanted to see how you were holding up."
"One day at a time, but I am hanging in there."
"We only have a few minutes and Hunk needs to talk to you." Keith stood up and Hunk eagerly slipped into his chair.
"Diana!"
"Stay strong for me, Tsuyoshi," Diana could see how worn and tired he was. "Don't lose hope."
"I miss you," he whispered.
"And I you. I will be all right. You must believe that." Keith's console began to beep.
"Time's up, Hunk," Keith whispered.
"I love you," Hunk whispered tearfully, as he stroked her cheek on the screen.
"I love you," she mouthed back to him, just as her screen went black. Bowing her head, she allowed the tears that she'd been holding back to fall freely. A guard opened the door and crossed the room.
Taking her arm, he gently coaxed her to her feet. "I am sorry for your loss." He whispered.
"Thank you," she choked, thanking Keith silently for providing the cover story of a death in her family to be able to contact her.
Diana allowed herself to be led back to her cell. Once alone in the dark, she curled up into a ball on her cot. As the day's first rays pushed through her window, she fell into a restless slumber.
Diana spent her Sunday falling in and out of restless dreams and nightmarish visions. Food that was brought to her for lunch sat untouched beside the door. Dinner was much the same, untouched, and she remained on her cot unmoving.
"Commander Kincaid," a female voice shook her out of her slumber. "It's time to get up and shower-you are due in court in two hours."
"All right," Diana murmured softly, uncoiling herself. By 0800 hours they whisked her away, tucked safely in the middle of a small convoy of cars traveling to the courthouse.
With a mob of security, Diana was ushered into the courthouse. She held her head high as she entered the large court room. Six MPs surrounded her. So much security floating around here just for me…like I'd shot a President or something. She thought.
Scanning the room, her eyes came to rest on the platform where the committee who would decide her fate would rest. Tearing her eyes away she found her accuser, Prince Andrew, sitting smugly, surrounded by his guards behind the prosecutor.
As the hour neared, the milling stopped, and the room quieted down. The rustling of papers grated on Diana's frayed nerves.
Soon, the assembled crowd was ordered to rise. In a single file, the twelve member panel entered solemnly. After the panel was seated, the Judge Advocate sauntered in and took his place on the raised platform in the center.
Finally, everyone was permitted to sit. As the charges were being read, Diana's eyes shifted from one member to another looking for any signs of prejudgment.
The prosecutor was a long-winded rather arrogant man. He paraded before the panel and threw his arms about dramatically.
Commander Hawks stood to begin his opening statement. Did he memorize my file? Diana asked herself as he rattled off her achievements, metals and awards. When he sat down, the prosecutor called Prince Andrew to the stand.
Diana bit the inside of her cheek in an effort to restrain herself from calling him a liar. Commander Hawks waited patiently for his chance to cross examine the prince.
Andrew should have been a Hollywood actor. He played spoke in a wounded melodramatic fashion. His answers were well-rehearsed. Satisfied with the testimony, the prosecutor sat down.
Commander Hawks stood with a remote in his hand. "Prince Andrew, can you tell me and the court what this is?" He pushed a button and a still shot of Andrew gripping Diana's upper arms appeared on a large view screen. The picture caught Diana's distress and the look of wild need in Andrew.
"Oh-I- um…" The prince stuttered.
"Or how about this?" Hawks pressed another button and the entire scene played in slow motion. Diana watched him rip her dress, maul her breasts, jerk her head back by pulling her hair, he bit her, and finally back handed her. The final moment of the video was her decking him.
Diana could almost see the smoke coming from Andrew's ears. He positively seethed on the stand.
"Did you actually see Commander Kincaid kiss or act overly romantic with any of the members of the Voltron Force?"
"She danced with Lt. Garrett several times. She was always with him even before the ball." Andrew insisted.
"And what prompted you to believe that Commander Kincaid and Lt. Garret were involved?"
"The way they acted around each other."
"So you are an expert in human behavior?" Hawks queried.
"Well, no," Andrew stammered, angrily.
"Did you see Diana be more than professional with anyone else?"
"She and Lt. Garrett were hardly apart." Andrew protested.
"Were the other members of the Voltron Force with them?"
"Well, yes."
"Did you ever see them alone?"
"Not that night."
"You had other occasions to see them together?"
"Yes."
"How many times?"
Andrew winced. "Once."
"When did you see them alone and what were they doing?"
"It was the morning of the ball," Andrew began. "They were in the garden. Garrett had her in his arms."
"Did you have a clear view of what they were doing?"
Andrew hesitated. "No, there were trees."
"Is it possible that you mistook, say a dancing lesson, for something else?"
"I guess."
"No further questions." Hawks turned away from him.
As Andrew left the witness stand red-faced, he glared at her. Approaching the defense table, he hurdled himself across it and grabbed her by the throat. Pulling her from her chair he began to shake her violently. She smacked the back of her head against the heavy wooden divider separating the defense from the audience. He screamed, "I know what I saw! You held his hand, the way you smiled at him!" Diana struggled against him while fighting for oxygen. Her vision grayed, and she felt his hands being removed and she heard the Judge Advocate order for some medics.
Andrew continued to rant and rave as he was forcibly removed from the court room. The Judge Advocate cleared the courtroom, ending the court martial for the day.