AN – I can't believe it's been years since I updated this, or many of the other fic's written as Cpt. Kallan Beyda. I looked at the date, 2014, almost three years ago when I last added a chapter. Well, I've taken it down, read, re-read, made a lot of changes, reviewed, made more changes, edited and finally feel it is ready to be republished after yet another read through. Although the story is much the same for the first 15 chapters, there are significant but subtle additions to the later chapters.
Some of the lengthier chapters have been cut shorter, so where there was once only 13 chapters, there are now 22 covering the same material. Actually, the story is closer to completion than I realised when I looked at my plot outline. I'm not sure why I suddenly stopped, and I sincerely apologise. I will say, in the re-reading I believe my writing skills have improved since first publishing. I hope you agree, if you grant me the opportunity of returning to my tale. I've actually added a few new subplots which I think make the story flow a little better. I hope you enjoy them.
I'm going to be publishing most probably twice or possibly three times each week, Monday/Friday or Monday/Wednesday/Friday. I hope you will join me for the story, or re-join me if you have been waiting. Once again, apologies for the lengthy gap. And now, on with the show.
Chapter 1: Nanny!
"They think," an older, grey haired woman muttered under her breath as her fingers flew through the air. Chodina Malory, Chief of Palace security, manipulated a state of the art, three-dimensional computer displays while her mind worked rapidly to catalogue the damage from Doom's most recent attack on Arus. "I'm a bumbling old woman. Well, I didn't reach my position within the royal family without extensive qualifications."
"Before this infernal war," she paused suddenly, turning contemplative. Both her words and work ceased as she stopped for a second to reflect upon all she, and her planet had lost.
Before this war, Chodina Malory had been a mother, a wife and the head of security for the royal family. Few knew her real purpose, imbedded in the menial task of courtesan within the palace walls. The position gave her direct access to the Queen and her offspring on an intimate, daily basis. They had become her primary duty once her own children grew to adulthood.
Chodina's son died in the first wave of attacks by Zarkon. A fighter pilot in the defence squadron located on Moon Base Balor, he'd lost his life battling three enemy craft over the old Palace. The incursion devastating, all of Arus's air defences had been crushed in the well timed and orchestrated battle.
Her daughters, still at university, had been rounded up and forced to leave Arus on slave ships with more than three quarters of the population. The reports reaching Dina's ears from escapees with respect the treatment her people Doom caused her blood to boil. As a mother, the security chief hoped Venna and Elytra suffered a quick and painless death instead of the images her mind invented of the debauchery inflicted on young woman by Zarkon's troops. Vinton, her husband, simply disappeared with many native Arusians in the confusion that followed those first harrowing days. In the years since, she'd given up hope of finding him alive.
"Now," she reminded with grim determination, reinforcing the walls around that part of her shattered heat, "is not the time to rehash the past. Now is the time to look to the future. These small victories against Planet Doom are just the beginning. To be truly free we must defeat Zarkon completely."
"Once that has been achieved, our people need to rebuild and populate Arus." Fingers returning to dance in the air and manipulate the holographic image, the woman recommenced to her self-appointed task. "My beautiful planet, I remember you as a thriving, living being, supporting several billion Arusians in peace and tranquillity. Now mere million's hide in the nooks and crannies able to support life. The rest has been destroyed. Dull browns and greys have replaced the warmth of a golden sunset over a brilliant vista of blue water with green hills in the background. Sand and dust now take the place of fields filled once filled with colourful crops ready to harvest. Barely an animal survived the initial attacks."
Forcing her mind away from the melancholy thoughts, Chodina redirected her attention to the job at hand. While the rest of the palace staff went about their duties, she needed this time to complete the more serious side of her position. She'd made a promise to the Queen on her death bed, a promise that would only be broken by her own demise.
"This repopulation," determination entered Chodina's tone, "must start with the marriage of our Princess and her ascension to the throne. Before that can occur, I need to find Allura a suitable consort. He must be worthy but most of all, he must be rich. Arus needs funds and connections to rebuild its once magnificent cities. There is little we have to trade, except the reputation of our Voltron force. I fear that will buy us little on the open galactic market."
A gleam entered her eye. Perhaps she should start with the four remaining members of Voltron. Sven's recent injuries proved life threatening. His body would no longer be able to sustain the forces the Blue Lion expected during battle, disqualifying him immediately. Hunk and Pidge were ruled out with a few quick swipes of her hand. Neither were suitable for many reasons. Lance's background proved interesting. He was neither rich enough, nor his personality appropriate for the future Consort to Arus's Queen. Sighing she began to investigate the last member. Only then could Chodina say she'd given the saviours of this Planet a fair chance for the hand of their sovereign.
An hour later, more than a little puzzled, the security chief rubbed her chin thoughtfully. Something didn't add up in the young commander's history. It both intrigued her and sent a quiver of warning along her spine. How could someone, a person in a powerful position with direct access to the Princess have escaped intense scrutiny for so long? Just who was Commander Keith Kogane and more importantly, were did he come from?
Sending out several electronic requests, the woman left the program to run in the background whilst turning her attention to more immediate concerns. Tomorrow, she'd return to check on the progress of her queries. In the minutes before Chodina would be required to make an appearance upstairs, she needed to hunt down her network of informants within the Castle. Someone, somewhere, must know something about Keith Kogane's history. At this point in time, even rumour would be helpful. Until then, Chodina steeled herself, returning to the silly personality of Nanny. She still had a sworn duty to protect Crown Princess Allura. Her honour demanded it.