The Exile
The Exile Returns
The Castle was as decrepit as the old man that still inhabited the throne. The high vaulted hall was emptier than he remembered, reflecting the state of the tattered empire he had been so cruelly banished from. So many things had changed. The Emperor was now dead, the humans had made peace with the Drules, and his former commander was now the prime minister. If he was not so apprehensive he would have chuckled at the idea of Drules being ruled, no he thought, governed by an elected representative. What had become of their once mighty Empire? At least, the Western Empire still kept to the old ways. As he approached the throne, he began to tremble a bit. The logical side of his brain wondered why he still feared his father. Surely, he would not kill him for coming to talk. In truth, a voice screamed at him to run away while the going was good and to reconsider this plan of action. His Emperor was right. He told him to make this place a dream, to forget what had been before. Yet, here he was. He walked to the appointed place and years of training took over. He went on automatic as he felt his helmet slip underneath his arm and his knee felt the coldness of the stone floor.
"It's dangerous for you to be here." The deep voice bellowed down from high, its scratchy overtones reverberating through the chamber. He did not sense any emotion in the voice. It was a statement of pure fact. His presence was dangerous for both him and Doom, but for different reasons. Still, a part of him wanted to hear something else from the wizened creature that stood before him. A hint of pleasure or even anger would have been better than indifference. After all, ten years had passed. Though, to the ancient king, that would not have seemed like a particularly long time. He had celebrated more than his fair shares of birthdays. Lotor had long ago accepted the reality that he was no longer a prince, nor even a citizen, of the planet called Korrinoth; but he was still the man's only son. He took solace in that at least he allowed his admittance to his Court.
The tall monarch stood up and strode down the stairs. Lotor's head was down and could only judge his closeness by the footfalls. His father had not asked him to rise. He was making a point that he was still king in this tiny part of the Denubian Galaxy and he would make the warlord wait, acknowledging his rank. The Arusians may have robbed him of his slaves and his vast holdings but his dignity was still very much intact. Lotor felt a hand roughly pull his hair back until his eyes were forced to meet those of his father.
"You dress like them now. Are you no longer a Korronite?" The man hissed through his teeth, two yellowed fangs exposed. The court fell quiet. His father's temper, he noted, was still feared as he heard the increase in heartbeats.
"Your Highness, you yourself stripped me of that honor." He felt the hand loosen up, but the eyes bearing down on him only became more intense.
"Then why does your face darken my hall? You know that to return is punishable by death." Zarkon scowled.
"Your Highness, you need me." The words came out slowly.
"Need you? Korrinoth has not had a day's peace since your obsession with a certain princess destroyed it. Fool, answer my question." The tyrant's voice was softer now.
"Father, I came back for Korrinoth, that is all the answer your require." The last words were measured. A part of him had hoped that the man had considered how his actions had also brought their world to ruin, but obviously he still never would acknowledge his own failures. He still looked for scapegoats when he could find them. They had both made mistakes, but he at least acknowledged his. He could easily see the old man throwing his scepter deep into his back and dying like so many others had on this exact spot.
"You know the terms of the Peace Accord with Alliance. You cannot be here. Both Hazar and the Alliance will demand your removal. You cannot stay." His voice was no longer rough, and for a moment, Lotor detected some concern in his eyes.
"Father, have you heard nothing of the Great Trade War in the Western Territories? Is the Drule Empire unaware of what is spilling over into the Denubian Galaxy. Lord Vashru is coming. He is looking for easier pickings." Lotor's voice was impatient.
"There is no more Drule Empire. We are all republicans now" A roar of laughter went through the hall. Lotor could not help himself but smile at the absurdity of the statement.
"Why did your Emperor let you come here?. He knows your status within the confines of the Republic and Alliance. Envoys were sent. I assume before your Emperor returned their decapitated bodies the message was delivered. Considering their fate, I would say your appearance is rather brazen and will not be tolerated." The old man took a deep breath.
"So tell me, why would he risk his favorite general, the great Hero of the Veraktus? Surely, Emperor Morak wants his Commander of the Third Battalion close by. After all, Lord Vashru may be peeking behind an asteroid. Unless, of course, you have also been exiled from there. Tell me that this is not some rogue military force that you hooked up with." Lotor smiled to himself. The old man had kept track of his exploits.
"Do not joke about Lord Vashru. I am here because of him. Father, it is not something to discuss publicly." Lotor's voice was strained as the words came out. He looked up at the man who still had his fingers firmly entwined in his hair.
"You do not want to tell the Court how you denied your birthright." Zarkon's fingers tightened around him tightly. "You left a prince of Korrinoth, you come back a prince of the Veraktus."
"I was stripped of my rank and my citizenship. Then, I was banished to the Western Territories to meet a certain death. You let them take me without so much as a fight. Your entire Court shunned me on the marble which we are all standing on. I was the blood sacrifice for all of Korrinoth's alleged sins." Lotor's voice was soft but defiant, a bit of arrogance flavored his tone "I have done nothing wrong by making a home where I was wanted."
"It was the best I could do. The Supreme Council, with Hazar leading the charge, wanted your head. I saved your ungrateful life with every resource that I had left at my disposable." The old man released the hair and stepped back.
"Saved me, more like condemned me to a fate worse than death. Last time I checked, the Westerners were at war with the Imperials.. It is nothing short of a miracle that I stand before you today." Lotor kept his voice perfectly modulated. "I did what I needed to survive. Unfortunately, my actions have condemned you all. Lord Vashru wants to strike a knife deep within my heart. He has vowed to destroy my home and my loved ones."
"Let him come to Veraktu, then." Zarkon growled.
"He has been there and found the devil waiting for him. He escaped while I chopped his only son to pieces on a command deck. And now, he wants revenge. He has vowed to destroy everything I ever cared about, including Korrinoth. Lotor's voice was filled with passion as he looked intently into the old man's eyes.
"Korrinoth…you care so deeply for Korrinoth when you have the Empire of the Veraktus in all its splendor. Go back to the Western Territories and leave us to die off. The age of kings is over. Let the Republic and the Alliance rot. We are not fools we know Vashru is coming. We welcome a warrior's death. You are no longer my son." Lotor was surprised to hear the other warlords join in a chorus of approval at the king's words.
Lotor swallowed the lump in his throat as the memories of that horrible day crashed in around him. He could still feel his royal insignia ripped off his shirt. He still remembered his sentence being carried out. He still saw Hazar's face amongst the other Drules and the Alliance. A look of self-satisfaction plastered on that usually impassive countenance. He fought as he was being forced into the deliberately disabled ship. The last thing he remembered was being hit by a stun gun. The ship was programmed with the jump coordinates that brought him deep into the Western Territories. The ships warp drives were burnt out by the jump and it was on auxiliary power for life support. It had no weapons, no communications…just life support.
Weeks passed and soon even the food was gone. As he lay dying, he wondered why the pretense? A lazon sword to the neck would have been preferred. He would have died a warrior's death and been admitted into the Great Hall of Shavrack. That, would have been to kind for them to grant. He should have died, but he had always been favored by the Dark Gods. A transport ship to Veraktu found him and instead of dispatching the wretched, starved man as was the custom of the Westerners; they, being good merchants, felt his exotic looks would bring a good price at the slave market. Luckily, the Dark Ones had a different plan for him.
"You think because you spoke the words, because all of you turned your backs on me, that it changed anything for me. Even if you strike me dead on the spot, as is your right, you cannot change the fact that I am Korrinoth. Look at me old man, I am still your son. I am still Prince Lotor of Korrinoth, and nothing you do or say will ever take that curse you have burdened me with." Lotor stood up and looked Zarkon straight in the eye, forcing his fear down into his belly. This was not time to weaken.
For the first time in seven years, the man looked at his son. He had sent away a young warrior. Hot headed and impetuous, the ingrate was willing to take an Empire down over his lust for a woman. He had cursed himself for every letting the child live. He touched the mass of braids that swung wildly around his son's face. He looked over his scantily clad lower half and was amused at how well he had adopted to the more free dress of the Westerners, always willing to show off their sculpted physiques. His father took a moment to trace his finger down the long scar that ran from the corner of his eye down to his chin. It must have been deep to leave this much damage.
Ít must have hurt." The man whispered.
"I do not remember, Father. I passed out." Lotor gave Zarkon a wicked grin. "It was a gift from the Emperor after I lost the Yetor outpost to Lord Vashru. He thought I had held back in order to protect the civilians stationed there. He was right. I neither saved the civilians or the outpost. I have learned much since those days. He is a harsh master at times, but fair." Lotor stood patiently as the inspection occurred.
"A strange token of affection for one he so clearly admires. He brags that he has the Sword of Batak at his disposal." Lotor could tell Zarkon disapproved of the man carving up his face. Secretly, the man had always been proud that he had fathered such a handsome son.
"Your Highness, words mean nothing." Lotor said with a soft smile. "He says that to scare the superstitious."
"The Wyverins believe it. I hear that you have ships full of them. They worship you as their Redeemer. It is quite amusing actually. In your possession, you have an army of fanatical demons who think you are some re-creation of a demi-god.." Zarkon was circling Lotro now, practically demanding an explanation, "The Western Emperor has given you the Territories on a gold plate , the most formidable war machine ever assembled since the Empress Janis, and you call that nothing. I, even at my height, had less to offer. Knowing your ambitious nature, you must be ecstatic. Unlike me, he will not live forever." Zarkon gave an odd smirk. "You will not even have to overthrow him or try to take him out in the Arena. I hear his health is fading."
"I have never sought to be his heir." Lotor said solemnly. "I just do my Emperor's bidding."
"And did he bid you to come back to Korrinoth? Are the Westerners planning on using Korrinoth as some sort of base? I will not allow their war to come here. We have barely begun to rebuild since the last one." Lotor glanced around. If they were rebuilding, then the kingdom's efforts were elsewhere.
"Father, Lord Vashru is coming, whether you want him to or not. " Lotor breathed in the air of his home.
"What did you offer in exchange?" Zarkon said.
"What all great rulers want in the end. I promised to keep his Empire intact after his death" Lotor looked to the ground. "I gave him my obedience. I swore my sword to him"
"Look everyone, my son the Westerner has come to Court. He is now allied to one of those Drules that did not come to our aid as the Alliance came closer. The traitors who claimed to be our brothers but denied us in our time of need because it interfered with their silly Guild squabbles.." Lotor heard angry shouts and curses from the group of men that seemed to grow bigger and louder since he had entered the Great Hall,
"Father, your pleas were not ignored. The Trade Wars are not what it appeared to be. They could not come until the time was right." Lotor protested.
"And what has changed?" Zarkon looked at Lotor. He was not expecting a response. Lotor leaned over and whispered something in the old King's ear. The Court could not hear what was said between the two men. But the first time in many years, the old king smiled. "Well, you could have said that in the first place." The old man's eyes were gleaming.
"And deny you the chance to humiliate me in Court, where, Father is the sport in that?" A broad smile came across Lotor's face. The king looked carefully once more into that face. He did not know who was standing before him anymore. There was a hint or two of his son still there. Only a fool would come into his Court, unarmed and without a bodyguard. Yet, he strode in. His fear, if he felt it, was undetectable. His heartbeat remained steady. They all knew the monster Lord Vashru was coming. He had vowed a blood vengeance on General Lotor of Korrinoth, this was no secret. The Republic had assured the Korronites that they had the resources to protect them. The Korronites laughed at these promises. A wyverin warlord had maeked his prey, and only the Dark Lord themselves could hold something so primal back.
The crowd dispersed when Zarkon was called away by Barak, who bowed deeply when he saw his Prince. Zarkon shot the man a look of disdain. Later, Zarkon found Lotor in his old bedroom. He was on the balcony looking over the Eastern Sea, the black waves crashing up against the precipice which the Castle was built.
"You and I both know that he will not attack Korrinoth. As run down as we are we still have one of the best lazon shields in effect. At least, I can still provide that for my people." Lotor absently nodded. "You and I both know his target."
"Arus, is not my concern. I am over that." Lotor sighed.
"Yet, you stare at the star she revolves around." Zarkon stood next to him and shook his head. "I give that Queen of theirs credit. A year ago, she sat across from at me during an economics conference." He stopped for a moment and laughed."The Denubian economy is in tatters since the lazon has stopped flowing. A tyrant has its benefits. Can you believe they were asking me how to increase productivity in lazon mining? It was all so comical."
"You do not need slaves to produce lazon. There are more humane, and dare I say, economical methods." Lotor answered, but he was obviously distracted.
"Well, perhaps after you conquer us, you can share the Wyverins' many secrets with all of us. Are you going to build jump gates?" Lotor nodded. "Is it odd for you, I have only known Haggar. And there are times that we do not see eye to eye. I always feel that there is a hidden agenda." Zatkon sighed.
"They take some getting used to. They are a little bit creepy, I let them believe what they want, it keeps them from making me their supper." Lotor ran his hand across the railing.
"Anyway, Allura glared at me the whole time, but she showed no fear. I was half expecting her to pull a knife out of her boot and give it to me between the eyes. You know, she never married that pilot, what was his name?" Zarkon raised an eyebrow,
"Keith…his name was Keith." Lotor growled. "Do not pretend you forgot his name, old man. You are not that senile."
"He is in charge of the Exploratory Fleet now." His father leaned against the balcony and sighed. "That call I had to take…they know you are here."
"I have expected them to be meeting me. My men are not keeping communications silent. If their defenses have any merit, it was to be expected. We had already detected Alliance ships in the perimeter. I have ordered my men not to take any hostile actions." Lotor turned around so they were facing the same direction.
"Father, what did you tell them?" Lotor had a wry smile on his face.
"To pucker up and kiss my warty ass." Zarkon said with a laugh. "I have been dreaming of the day when I could tell them go to hell. Nothing says go for it like a giant space armada in your backyard." Zarkon frowned as he reached over and tugged at one of the braids. "Lotor, I can handle the clothes but the hair…that has got to go. Little girls braid their hair." Lotor frowned.
"Agreed, though my men will say I'm going Imperial on them.. I want you to know that I missed Korinoth." Lotor said softly as he gave one more glance over the horizon.
"And Korrinoth missed you. Will you be sleeping here tonight?" Lotor shook his head. "They will be coming soon. I should be with the fleet. They are a little unnerved. It is the first time most of my men have stepped outside the Western Territories."
"You really mean to do it. The Empire has not been united since Janis." Zarkon leaned back.
"Father, conquering the Universe is the easy part; it is conquering myself that has proved far more difficult." Lotor pointed to the star on the right. "But do not worry, I have it under control."
"Whenever a man says that, I find that he is lying to either me or himself." Zarkon looked at the black inky sky, concentrating on the right quadrant.
"All Drules lie, it is our nature" Lotor's voice trailed off. He was tired. It had been a long and emotional day. "But I will not let it interfere with my plans."
"But here you are…and there Arus, or Allura, is. You are no white knight. Just a word of advice, let Lord Vashru end that problem for you." Zarkon began to walk away.
"He still has Voltron to deal with. Some things never change." Lotor called back.
"Voltron has been sleeping. No one has seen the mighty defender in ten years, just the lions. It is rumored that it cannot be formed, but who knows? I am off to bed. Sleep well, my son." Lotor sighed. He was not going to sleep well tonight. He was already thinking about the image of Lord Vashru leaning over Allura. He could still see his fangs being barred as the man screamed in inconsolable pain as his guard dragged him off the command deck. Lotor would have defeated him save that the man's son stood in his way. He could still here the man screaming the ancient blood oath, knowing that he that he would fulfill it or die trying. A blood oath that took precedence over a war that he had been raging for seven years straight. It was now Lotor's job to keep the monster here, away from the Veraktus,
Allura should have never been a part of this, Even in the farthest reaches of the Universe, deep within the Western Territories, people told the story of the Prince of Korrinoth and the Empire he lost over the Arusian princess. He had to keep telling himself, Arus was not his concern.
*I am getting back to the Supremacy. I think I need to take it down and rewrite the whole thing. Anyway, though I intend to fill in the rest of the story. I felt I needed to jump start myself again so here's for those who wanted Lotor to come face to face with his demons again.