Chapter One:
Out of Bounds
Pain.
Horrible, throbbing, aching pain was Keith's first sensation when he awoke, collapsed on the cockpit floor in a heap of armor and sweat. Everything around him was dead silent, save for the soft, low hum of the Red Lion's machinery in low power mode. Even the lights were dimmed- something that never happened when he was aboard.
What the quiznak…
Swallowing, he tried to force away the dark spots swimming before his vision, and glimpsed his fallen red and white helmet nearby. With a low moan of pain, he forced his aching body to a seated position, and tried to reach out to his Lion's consciousness.
She was awake, but just as exhausted and pained as he was, providing no answers to their whereabouts other than it was in an unsavory location. Running a hand through his dark hair, Keith tried to piece together all that had happened since falling through the wormhole in the castle.
Must've crashed somewhere... hit my head pretty hard...
Musing dazedly, his amethyst eyes glanced up to the front window of the cockpit. All the controls were off, and his Lion had endured severe damage, it seemed- having gone into a semi-conscious mode, with no lights flickering on at his touch. Outside were slate gray walls on either end, in an empty chamber with lights flooding in from the top. Keith couldn't make sense of where he was exactly; he only knew that whatever the location may be, he needed to find a way out as fast as possible.
With a muffled grunt, the young man forced his sore, slim, armored figure to stand up, only to hear the grating of metal on metal from somewhere outside.
Placing a hand on the grip of his bayard, Keith turned to the rear of the Lion, ready to activate his crimson sword at any second. Footsteps boomed softly against a hard floor outside, signaling someone's approach. Heart pounding, the Paladin whirled around, searching for the source of the impending conundrum.
Where the hell am I?
His answer came momentarily, as the Lion around him let out a dazed growl. Body tensing, Keith turned towards where the machine's loading ramp opened, sensing someone trying to come in.
Who…?
His answer came only a fraction of a second later, and it caused the young man's stomach to sink down to his toes with dismay. It was with immense apprehension that he laid eyes on the towering, violet-skinned figure approaching, clad in burgundy and slate gray. Door unsealing before him, it was only with a cold look of satisfaction that the intruder greeted the youth.
Not again.
"Paladin of Red…" Zarkon mused, "So here we are again."
As soon as Keith glimpsed the unmistakable figure looming over him in the cockpit, his sword materialized in his hand with a flash of crimson light. Lavender eyes narrowing, the paladin took a single step backwards, though his stance remained defensive.
"Zarkon," he nearly spat, and from the Lion containing the two figures, a low, threatening growl caused the floor and walls to tremble ever so slightly. "I wasn't expecting to see you again... so soon after your defeat."
"My defeat?" The words escaped Zarkon's ancient throat in a huff of amusement, "Says the kit barely coming into his claws…." Lavender eyes piercing the low light of the hibernating cockpit, he watched the boy. "You've to learn much, child, of what winning consists of."
Keith tensed, taking a moment to evaluate his current predicament. He couldn't attack Zarkon- not here, not now when he was so exhausted and fatigued. It had taken the entire might of Voltron to go against the Galra Emperor, and they hadn't even been able to stick together in the aftermath of the battle.
And now they're going to kill me... take the Lion... I can't go up against this entire central command base on my own...
"So this is it then?" The young man queried, hoping to buy himself a bit of time before his execution. "You slaughter me, regain the Red Lion... and then you're back at square one."
The faintest of smirks tugged at his lips.
"Seems you haven't had much of a victory either."
Pupilless eyes narrowing to amused slits, the towering Galra held a stony expression upon his leathery face, jagged scar catching ambient light in a puckered ream of flesh.
"You are a cheeky one, aren't you," He quipped, voice dry as he stepped forward, heavy boots echoing through the cockpit.
Massive hand taking the boy by the chin, his hold was surprisingly gentle, slightest hint of jagged teeth peeking between harsh lips. "Don't worry, boy… You'll not die by my hand."
Keith considered driving his sword between Zarkon's armor pieces right then and there- get it all over with once and for all, even if it meant that the Lion would be stormed by the might of the Galra army outside. But something within the Emperor's grip on his face, as well as his choice of words, gave the Red Paladin pause.
"Why keep me alive?" He tested, dark eyes narrowing further. "If you think I'm such a weakling... a child... what purpose would you have..."
Keith's mind finished the thought before his mouth could, and his heart sank.
Other than to lure the other Paladins here...
Empty chuckle clawing from his throat without conviction, the ancient ruler gently patted the boy's cheek with long fingers.
"Believe me, child... My curiosities run far deeper than merely using you as bait."
Slowly straightening to his full height, the Galra towered over the human. "If you're smart, you'll come with me willingly."
Jaw tensing, Keith's gloved hand tightened on his sword, before the blade flickered and disappeared in a flash of crimson light. Fingers remaining closed around the bayard, he met Zarkon's gaze. He'll kill me if I don't... what else could he possibly require?
"What do you want from me, then? You have just as much knowledge of my friend's whereabouts as I do... I can't be of any use trying to find them."
Reply only coming in the form of a wry twitch of lips, the towering ruler brought an armored hand to rest upon the Paladin's shoulder. "Child, you have much to learn still… And believe it or not, Paladin of Red… I am a curious being, and you have managed to pique that curiosity."
Having subconsciously leaned in as he spoke, the Emperor straightened to his full height again, tapping his claws on the white shell of the human's armor. "Bid farewell to your Lion in the meantime."
Gritting his teeth with barely concealed rage and furious resignation, Keith shrugged off the clawed hand upon his shoulder.
"You ask quite a lot for someone who is 'merely curious," the young man nearly spat the words.
"Believe me when I say I could ask much more." Voice rumbling, Zarkon allowed his hand to fall away and into a calm gesture. "After you, boy."
"I don't doubt it," Keith muttered, pushing his shoulders back slightly. Entire body remaining tense, he strode past Zarkon, before making his way towards the entrance to the Lion. Placing a lone hand on the wall for half a moment, the faintest flicker of regret flashed in the young man's eyes, before he turned back to the Emperor.
"Well?"
"Giving you a moment, boy," The Galra answered with his content gaze remaining on the smaller figure, "I know how it feels to lose a Lion."
Low purring rumble beneath his words, however, he approached on armored feet.
Swallowing as the tall alien approached, the young man turned his gaze back to his hand on the Lion's interior. Goodbye for now...
Finally pulling his hand away as the beast grumbled almost mournfully, Keith's jaw tightened once more, and he motioned to the exit.
"Let's get this over with."
With hesitant footsteps, the paladin followed the Emperor out of his Lion, eyes flicking to the mundane, steel walls of their surroundings, before turning back to the massive Galra.
Why does he let me walk around like this? With my bayard and armor, hands unbound… he's far more trusting than I could ever expect him to be…
"Before anything, you will be run through the medical facilities, see to that… headache of yours." Hands clasping at his back, Zarkon stood tall, almost seeming to puff out in the illusion of his heavy armor.
Stiffening, Keith flashed back to when him and the rest of the paladins first rescued Shiro; how fuzzy and bleary the man's perception of reality was when he awoke, delusioned and brainwashed.
He's going to do the same things to me… Now I see what he truly wants.
"I can live with a bit of a headache, thanks," the young man refuted, following at Zarkon's heels.
"I'll not have the first Red Paladin in ten thousand years fall subject to unnecessary complications brought on by stubbornness," Words smooth and wrapped in a particular warmth unexpected of the Emperor's leathery exterior, his hand once again drifted, bringing the boy more even with him as they walked.
Shrugging off Zarkon's grip once again, Keith scowled, eyes remaining forward facing.
"I think Shiro would beg to differ," the young man remarked dryly. "After seeing what you all did to him, I think my hesitation stems from a bit more than just stubbornness."
"Yet it seems our efforts of curiosity only made him a better leader for your petty band," Zarkon pointed out, looking to the young Paladin with violet eyes of simmering light. "We made him stronger. Far more than his weak species could ever dream of."
"And he still managed to help us use that power against you, to defeat your army," Keith mumbled.
"You believe that a few scant battles equate to victory over the entire galaxy?" A short sound, somewhere between a bark and a laugh escaped the mauve-skinned being.
Coming to the door, a sly look entered the elder's eyes, and he motioned to the nearby activation pad. "Try opening this door."
Keith glanced incredulously to the entrance, body stiffening. How does he know...
"Why?" The young man queried with faux nonchalance. "Nothing'll happen."
Still chuckling, Zarkon shook his head, massive hand gesturing again, "And if nothing happens, Paladin of Red, my curiosity in that department will be sated."
Rolling his eyes, and hoping that the same coincidence would not occur again, Keith placed a hand against the sensor- only to have the door slide open once again at his touch.
"How in the galaxy…" Forehead creasing in confusion and dread, the paladin stared at his hand, perplexed.
"Hmmm… How curious indeed," The Emperor mused, giving the boy a sidelong look with those pupiless eyes of his. "Seems you not only fight like a Galra, you scan like a Galra too… My, my, my… What an anomaly we have here…"
Hands clasped at his back, the Emperor motioned for the youth to keep going with a simple thrust of his chin.
Keith's frown deepened as he followed, eyes narrowing slightly.
How is this possible...
"Did you always know?" He finally questioned curtly, though he couldn't sate the slight curiosity in his tone.
"I had my suspicions, in reviewing security feeds of the Balmera you Paladins so nobly liberated." Eyes calm, they posed no threat, just as they offered little in way of comfort. Neutral and studying, the Emperor had yet to determine his opinion. "You're no human, child… And that makes me curious."
"Genetic mutation does exist, you know," Keith deadpanned, not wanting to admit the possibility that lay right in front of him. "And besides... look at me. I'm clearly not Altaen, either."
He gestured to his slim, armored figure with one hand. "This makes no sense."
Eyeing the boy with his wise gaze, the ancient ruler clucked somewhat in amusement.
"That is why are going to see Witch Haggar," Zarkon rumbled in explanation, "She will answer the question of your lineage."
Keith swallowed hard, suddenly wishing he had stabbed this blasted Emperor in the ribs when he had the chance.
I'm descended from my enemies?
He was hating the sound of this entire revelation more and more with every step he took.
"And then?" Keith asked plainly as they strolled. "If you find out I'm a beast like you... then what will you do with me?"
Vents in his armor pulsing with a brief flare of violet light, the elder being shook his head. "Beast is such an uncouth term, boy… Galra are just as sentient as any other being."
Continuing through the hallway, luminescent red streaked his maroon armor in gleaming slices of blood and fire, scales comparatively dim with age.
"Though a hell of a lot more barbaric than most," Keith murmured under his breath. "It's not just a lack of sentience that makes someone a beast."
"Then you should have seen the world I was born into." Bowing somewhat to the boy's level, those lavender eyes shimmered as he spoke, words carrying an odd weight to them, compelling others to draw in. "A world of far more cruelty than this. My reforms have been peaceful in comparison."
"If you think peace should be built on genocide, abuse, and slavery, then you're no better," Keith disputed, meeting Zarkon's eyes with a steely glare. "Dozens of planets have been sucked completely dry, just to run your technology and keep yourselves alive. That is cruelty."
"Planets come and go all the time, child… Stars die and nebulas waste away, all under the watch of time…" Coming to another door, Zarkon motioned for the boy to activate it again, "The weak are culled, as is the nature of things."
Placing a hand on the panel, Keith scowled as the door slid open.
"But you're not allowed to die, apparently," he retorted, tone bitter and spiteful. "The ruler of the galaxy can take whatever he wants to keep himself alive, at the cost of bilLions of lives." The young man glared up at Zarkon.
"You should retire, old man."
Amusement making its way into his pupiless eyes, the ancient ruler let out a soft snort. "I've made it this far… So why stop now, hm? Without a strong leader, even the greatest of Empires and lowliest of tribes will fall into disarray."
Slight sneer pulling at jagged lips, Zarkon led the boy down another hallway parting from the rest.
"And yet after all this time, you still have a weakness," Keith countered. "A chink in your otherwise seemingly flawless armor. Nobody's perfect, after all."
"It'd be a shame if anyone were, after all." The emperor mused with a sly look, "Though I would say I've got that so-called weakness handled for the time being."
Hand drifting to the Paladin's armored shoulder once again with a rattling of claws, the violet-amber flash of quintessence cast its colors on the approaching beings. Following the colors, however, a creeping darkness slithered across the ground, nipping at the boy's ankles.
Keith opened his mouth to retort, but instead found himself sidestepping the flash of light, moving away from the approaching darkness along the floor.
"What the..."
Pausing in his stride, the Emperor looked back to the boy with neutral eyes, hands clasped behind him.
"It is magic, boy," He rumbled in explanation, "Come. Witch Haggar awaits."
"Oh I'm not so worried about magic," Keith muttered, following hesitantly. "I'm more concerned about its purpose."
"You have nothing to fear from the Witch."
"Tell that to Shiro..."
Shaking his head, the emperor gestured again, heavy footsteps bringing them at last into the chamber beyond.
GREETINGS, EVERYONE!
This was a spur-of-the-moment dual project which was undertaken by myself and my co-author, the wonderful Talicor! We began this story as a two-person RP over text message, just to have fun with exploring the possibilities of Keith's backstory, but it soon developed into an entire full-scale fic about not only the Red Paladin, but a complete AU where things in the Galra Empire are not always as they seem.
I would like to take a moment to thank Talicor for assisting me in this work, and for being such a fantastic friend and RP partner! This entire story is going to turn out to be at least 30k words, if not more, and is steadily growing more and more!
I hope you readers will enjoy this new adventure with us, and will let us know what you think! Though we are doing this for our own pleasure, feedback always helps in spurring creativity and lets us know what you all think.
Thanks again for reading! Hope you enjoy the rest of the tale!
Disclaimer: Talicor and I own nothing, save for the few OCs which we have scattered throughout the fic.