Brothers Turned
Disclaimer: I do not own Voltron or any of its characters.
Rating/Setting: Rated T for mild swearing and some violence. Setting is DotU.
Chapter One
Koba hissed as Lotor knocked a beaker containing some unknown green liquid to the floor of Haggar's laboratory. The liquid made a hissing sound similar to Koba's as it spread across the cold stone floor and a thick lavender vapor quickly arose from it and then dissipated. "Why did you bring me here,Witch? I don't believe that Allura has romantic feelings for the commander. He's only a pilot!" His words sounded confident but his tone and his eyes said something different.
Cackling at him, Haggar waved her hand and the glass shards from the broken beaker disappeared. "Why, noble prince, you do not believe your own eyes? The moments in time that I have shown you indicate Princess Allura is in love with Commander Kogane."
Rounding quickly, he raised a fist toward her. "You can make whatever you want appear in that crystal ball, Haggar… if it suits your purpose."
Noticing the lack of conviction in his tone, she continued, "You know it was nothing that I have to contrive. It is there for your own viewing. The knowledge is implanted in your own memories… how the commander has put himself at risk for her. More than is necessary for a soldier."
"Arrrrrg. It still doesn't explain why you brought me here. Did you just want to torment me with the images?"
There was true anger in his voice and if she didn't have her magic, she would have been afraid. As it was, she was hoping that his anger would fuel her plan. "I brought you here because I wanted to tell you of the plan that I have to break the Voltron Force."
Making a dismissive gesture, Lotor turned to leave the dark laboratory. "You've tried to destroy Voltron many times and have failed as many times. On another day, I would stay and hear you out, but not today old crone."
She had expected him to be oppositional, but she knew how to stop him in his tracks. "You mistook me, Lotor. I didn't say that I would break Voltron. I will break the Voltron Force. Wouldn't you love to see them turn on each other… perhaps even kill each other?" Haggar was pleased to see the prince stop and give a slight glance over his shoulder.
"I would enjoy seeing those Alliance pilots tear each other to bits, but Allura is part of the Voltron Force and I do not want her harmed."
"Are you willing to listen to the plan?"
Lotor turned to face her, crossing his arms over his broad chest. "I will listen, but if it is nonsense, I'll toss that flea-bitten cat of yours into the arena with the robeasts."
"I have a spy in the castle, he is the reason I have managed to get some of the images I have shown you. I have given the spy two drugs. One for the commander and one for his second-in-command, McClain, the pilot of the Red Lion."
The prince stroked his chin as he asked for details, "What do these drugs do? Will it kill them?
"No it will not, the scanning procedures they have for ingested items would turn up a deadly poison. These drugs will not cause any alarms to sound. Instead of killing the two pilots, the drugs will cause personality changes. Kogane's drug will make him jealous of other men in Allura's life, and by what my lackey says, McClain is one of her close friends. Kogane will start to turn on his friend. McClain's drug will increase his anger and natural tendency for rash action. In a short time, the two will soon be at each other's throats. In battle, they will be slower and not as coordinated. We may be able to defeat them by this alone."
"And if we can't, Haggar?"
"I expect that one of them will lose patience with the other. One of them could die. At the very least, their bond will be irreparably broken and the Alliance will recall them."
"This plan sounds promising and I like that I don't have to do anything but reap the rewards. How soon can you administer the drugs?" Looking at Haggar's face, Lotor said, "Let me guess, you've already done it." Seeing her nod, he asked, "Have you seen any effect yet?"
"The spy indicates that the commander was irritable with the whole team yesterday after Lion practice. He doubled the practice time for today. I am sure that they will not meet his expectations, which will only make him and McLain more irritable toward each other."
"How long with this potion last?"
"My Prince, it is a combination of chemicals and magic. The chemical part will last about a week, the magic part, well, that is more uncertain. The magic will be dependent on the feelings of anger and jealousy. If other strong emotions are allowed to surface, then the magic will be broken."
Lotor smiled and rejoined, "Then let's hope that feelings such as love and friendship don't arise."
Haggar's mouth turned up in an evil grin as Koba jumped onto the table. Rubbing the cat's back as he hissed, she crooned at him, "See my pet, you don't have to worry about the robeasts. The prince approves of our plan."
Grunting in her direction, Lotor said, "I admit, Haggar, it has promise and since my father won't know if it fails, I like it even more. Keep me updated."
Koba hissed with displeasure as Haggar stopped stroking his fur and turned back to her crystal ball. "There will be time for that later kitty. Right now, I want to see how the potions are working."