Note: Hi! I am not dead!

Sorry this took so long. I have been working adamently but... well I got sidetracked and I had to plan out the whole plot and stuff.

WARNING: /Heavily/ implied character suicide (not a character anyone cares about...)

also, trauma and some mental issues.

Nothing /too/ bad and I'm keeping the rating at everyone can read this, but just as a trigger warning.

Episode 2:

"Adam?" Shiro asked, his voice trembling with apprehension, excitement, and fear. What if Adam really was in front of him? What if Shiro was about to see his fiancé— no, his ex-fiancé— what would happen? Would Adam be happy to see him?

And what if that wasn't Adam there? How would Shiro deal with… with all of those emotions? The pain he had kept suppressed, the guilt, the sense of loss after he had learned that Adam was dead. He remembered the shock, the way his body had frozen and his throat had seized up. He didn't know if he could go through that again. If he would be strong enough to lose Adam again, after having lost him twice before.

Time seemed to slow down as the figure turned slowly towards Shiro, chestnut hair shining in the light, longer than Shiro remembered it being. The face that looked at him was emotionless and tired, large bags were hanging under his eyes and his mouth relaxed into a frown.

And Shiro watched, in slowed time, as the man's eyebrows raised up, his mouth opening as his forehead creased.

"Takashi?" Adam whispered, the name barely more than a breath leaving Adam's lips.

And before he knew it, Shiro had his arms around Adam, holding him close and burying his face into Adam's neck. His hair was longer and more scraggly than Shiro remembered. He had the faint traces of a beard on his chin and he seemed… he seemed frail.

Shiro held him close, tears already falling out of his eyes. "Adam," he whimpered into Adam's ear. "Adam, yo-you're here."

Weakly, Adam placed his hands on Shrio's back and rubbed small circles into Shiro's back. "Takashi," Adam breathed and then he choked out a sob and clutched Shiro like he was his only lifeline. Shiro felt his mind relax whenever he heard Adam saying his name, Takashi.

"I'm here!" Shiro soothed him. "I'm here, Adam. And I won't leave this time."

Adam stopped moving, holding perfectly still save for the sobs that wracked through his body. "Takashi," Adam whimpered. "Please… just go."

Shiro started, taken aback by Adam's words. "I-I— Adam?"

Adam pulled back from Shiro, gripping at his shoulders. "Just… just 'cause you look different—" Adam paused, taking a deep and shaky breath as his head was bent downwards, "That doesn't mean that you're real."

"Adam," Shiro whispered, his throat closing up as he reached out and grabbed adam's hand between his. "Adam I'm right here. I'm here. Can't you feel me?"

Adam shook his head vigorously. "I'm imagining things! It isn't real! You aren't real."

Shiro closed his eyes and held onto Adam's hand, bringing it close to his face until he held Adam's hand next to his lips and softly kissed his knuckles. "Adam… I left you. All those years ago.. I left you. And they told me you died… but here you are. You're here now. And I'm here now."

"No!" Adam shouted and then lowered his head again, tears spilling down his cheeks, "No, no no no…"

He wrenched his hand back from Shiro and cupped his face in his hands.

Shiro took a step back to look at him. Really look at him. Adam was definitely skinnier. His hair was thinner and longer. And… most notably, he was missing his left leg and a shiny prosthetic was in its place.

"What happened to you, Adam?" Shiro whispered.

"The… the fires," Adam mumbled. "So much fire and then the falling and the pain! The white hot pain! And then you were there! And you helped me up, Takashi, but I knew you couldn't be there… you just couldn't be…"

Shiro closed his eyes and swallowed. "Adam… I went through the entire galaxy and I missed you so much. I wanted nothing more than to return to you… And when I got here," Shiro shrugged, looking out the window and realizing that he was crying. "When I got here, they told me you were dead."

Adam didn't look up but he was clearly listening to what Shiro said.

"And all I could think," Shiro went on, "Was about how much I missed you. I thought about how I wanted to run to you and hug you and spend more time with you. I wished that I could have given you one more goodbye hug or… one more kiss."

Shiro paused, taking a step closer to Adam. "I'm not a part of your imagination, Adam. I am here, in flesh and blood… and metal," Shiro added lightly, gesturing with his prosthetic. "And, Adam, I swear to you: I will never leave you again. I will stay by your side always and protect you and be with you."

Adam buried his head downwards, refusing to look at Shiro.

"I'm right here," Shiro said softly. He moved closer to Adam and cupped his chin in his hands, pulling Adam's head up towards him.

"Adam," Shiro said firmly, "I… I missed you. Please… I'm here."

And Shiro collapsed his head down until his forehead was resting against Adam's, tears streaming out of both of their eyes. "Adam…" Shiro whispered. "I— I don't know how I can convince you that I'm here. I don't know what to say. I don't know what to do. But I am here. I am here now."

Gently, Shiro leaned forward until his lips brushed against the edge of Adam's and then he pulled back, intending to Let Adam be alone for a moment.

Shiro turned away, not able to focus on anything other than not crying anymore.

But before he could pull away, Adam grabbed his wrist and held him tightly.

Shiro looked back, his eyes wide in surprise. "Adam?" he whispered barely daring to believe that Adam was catching him and holding him there.

"Takashi…" Adam whispered. "I… I couldn't imagine all of this…" he whispered. "And if this… if this is a delusion, then I don't care." And pulled Shiro around to face him. "Your nose?" he said curiously, reaching up as though to touch the scar on Shiro's nose.

Shiro knelt down on the ground, smiling at him, and grabbed Adam's hand, pulling it towards his face until Adam's fingers brushed lightly against Shiro's scar. Adam traced the line across his nose and then moved up to tousle Shiro's white bangs. "And your hair…"

Shiro smiled softly, "A— A lot has happened."

Adam's hand drifted to the side of Shiro's face where he rested his hand while Shiro laid his own hand on top of Adam's holding him close.

"You're really here?" Adam asked quietly, his eyes glancing down to the prosthetic on Shiro's arm.

"Yes," Shiro said with certainty. "And so are you."

"Then… am I imagining how weird that arm looks? Or does it really look like that?" Adam asked, his eyes now fixed on Shiro's arm.

Shiro laughed and it felt good. It felt good to finally be back with Adam. "Yeah… it looks like that. And yeah, it does look weird," Shiro chuckled. "Maybe I should ask Sam if they have any different forms…"

"That might be good," Adam whispered, smiling for the first time for real.

"You have one too," Shiro noticed, pulling back from Adam so that he could look at the prosthetic leg.

"I… I crashed," Adam whispered. "And… and I've seen… seen these horrible things. But… but I'm here… and I… I just lost a leg."

Shrio grabbed Adam's hand in his and rubbed small circles with his thumb. "It's okay. Now we match!"

Adam smiled, laughing softly and wiping at his eyes. "When I said I'd give an arm and a leg to see you again, I don't know that I meant so literally."

Shiro smiled, blushing and laughing at Adam's bad joke. From his place on the floor, Shiro leaned up and brushed at Adam's long bangs so that he could see his eyes better. "You don't have your glasses…?"

"I need them," Adam sighed. "I just lost them… a while ago." His face darkened as he looked back into his memories, seeing whatever had broken them.

"Hey, hey," Shiro said softly, soothingly. "I'm here. It's okay."

"I know," Adam whispered, wiping at his eyes again. "Takashi… I missed you. I missed you so, so, so much while you were gone. They told me it was a pilot error but… Takashi and pilot error don't belong in the same sentence. You are the best pilot… so, I didn't believe them and then… and then Keith went missing and I…and I…"

Shiro leaned up and gently, lightly, kissed Adam, his lips brushing across Adam's like a butterfly.

"Adam, I missed you so much and there were so many times I thought about how I was never going to get to see you again or… or say how sorry I am, or… or kiss you again."

"Well… if you wanted to kiss me again then you had better do it right," Adam huffed, grabbing Shiro and pulling him into a long, deep kiss, holding him close so their arms were wrapped around each other. Shiro melted into Adam, holding him close and deciding that he was never going to let him go.

And they spent the rest of the evening talking and when it was late enough that they were falling asleep, they fell asleep side by side with Adam's head resting on Shiro's shoulder and Shiro's head resting on Adam's.

"She's awake," Coran said over the mobile device that Allura had been given.

Allura took in a deep breath, "Okay. Let me tell Romelle. We'll be right over."

When they got to the Garrison, they walked the familiar path to the chamber where Luka, their captured Altean, was being kept. Romelle kept worrying at the tips of her hair, biting her lip in agitation. "Why would she do this?" she asked Allura. "Why would she attack a planet like this? She used to be so… nice."

"I… I don't know," Allura responded.

Coran stopped them right before they charged inside of the room, his arm outstretched in front of the door.

"Hello! Glad you could finally make it!" Coran said cheerily. "So, she woke up about an hour ago but won't talk to anyone. I'm hoping that some Altean faces and maybe yours being familiar," he said to Romelle, "will help her to talk more…. Alright! Head on in there!"

With that, he threw open the door and shoved them inside.

"Wait!" Allura tried to protest so that Coran would come in with them, but he just shook his head and gestured for them to continue on towards Luka.

They walked up to where she was, hugging her knees to her chest and staring at the sheet of the bed, showing no signs of noticing that they were there.

"Hello, Luka," Romelle tried to say softly. "I'm Romelle… from the Altean planet… and this is Allura from the original Altea."

Luka shifted her steely eyes up towards Romelle's, ignoring Allura, and stared into them. "You betrayed us," she growled

"Betrayed you?" Romelle asked, surprised. "We… we never betrayed anyone."

"Oh really?" Luka growled, stretching out and getting ready to stand up. "Is the complete destruction of our planet and our brethren really not betrayal to you?"

"Lotor was the one who betrayed us," Romelle said, her voice calm and collected but with a noticeable edge to it. "He was abducting Alteans and draining them of quintessence!"

"He saved us," Luka retorted bitterly, glaring at Romelle. "And now we serve under his mother, the Great Honerva, and we shall do her bidding in order to restore order to the galaxy!"

"Why were you sent to earth?" Romelle demanded.

"We were drawn in by the energy here," Luka scoffed. "But it wouldn't matter to you, Romelle."

"Luka, Please," Allura said, stepping in. "All we want is to end this fighting. Honerva was the witch at Zarkon's side. Lotor was their son and he was the one who was taking your people and having all of the lifeforce drained out of them. Don't you think that is enough to quantify betrayal?"

"I don't know what you are talking about!" Luka hissed darkly, her eyes still fixed on Romelle.

"Then… then will you at least take us to see Honerva and decide to join her ourselves?" Romelle asked softly.

Luka scoffed, "Why would I do that? I know that you are lying and would kill her Benevolence on sight. I have no reason to suspect that you would be fair and just and consider her plans."

"Luka," Allura tried earnestly. "We just want to see for yourselves what she is like. Alteans must stand by Alteans—"

"AND THAT'S WHY YOU HAVE BEEN DIMINISHED IN OUR EYES. You are nothing but lesser peons to Honerva!" Luka screamed, all of her hatred focused on Romelle.

"Luka…" Romelle whispered, trying to keep her temper under control, "We would like to help you. We would like to… to be there for you!"

"AND WHERE WERE YOU WHEN OUR SAVIOR WENT MISSING?!" Luka shouted.

"I… I was—" Romelle started to say before Allura interrupted her.

"Luka, what we are hoping to do for everyone is to settle the war that has been ravaging through the universe for years. We want to give you a home and a place that is welcoming and calm, we want to—"

"ENOUGH!" Luka screamed. "I don't care for these false promises. I know that your word is not true."

"Luka!" Romelle pleaded, "Don't you want to see your home again? Your family?"

"What family?" Luka glared at them. "Lotor took him for his cause. I wanted to be chosen, to be his loyal servent, but he never did choose me. So when Honerva finally did, I agreed in a heartbeat, glad to finally serve Her Grace."

"Luka," Allura soothed, placing a hand on Romelle's shoulder as she spoke to try to relieve some tension. "How about a deal? We'll give you freedom upon our return to the Altean planet, if you lead us there. How does that sound?"

"Like I would Ever betray Honerva," Luka said darkly.

"How about we give you some time to think?" Romelle said steelily. "That way we can both calm down and think rationally."

"I think that's a great idea, Romelle," Allura said with a smile. "We'll check back in later and see how you're doing."

"Fine," Luka scoffed.

Allura and Romelle turned to leave and as they did, Luka called out to them, yelling, "But don't expect anything when you get back here!"

Luka watched as Romelle and Allura left, her eyes glaring daggers at Romelle's back as she left.

Luka knew that there was no way she would tell her anything. Not after what she had done. How she had left them.

She curled her arms around her knees, scowling, seething with rage.

They would make her tell.

They would torture her and hurt her and they would force her to talk.

She was certain of it.

Luka glanced out of the window, knowing that they were watching her. Reluctantly, she rested her head down on the bed, her back facing the one-way mirror. She had no intention of going to sleep— she had been asleep long enough— but she knew she had to get them to leave her alone.

A couple of times doctors would walk in and out of the room, acting like they wanted to check on her and see if she was well or not.

But they didn't disturb her 'sleep.'

And eventually, after what was probably hours passed, she stirred and sat up slowly, blinking her eyes in the darkness where the only light came from blinking monitors and flashing green and red lights.

Luka was fairly certain that no one else was around… and even if they were watching her, there was no way that they could stop her in time.

So she crept out of bed, silent as a mouse, and wandered over towards the cabinets along the side. Her legs felt like jelly and she could barely hold herself up, but she managed to make it to the edge of the counter where she began to riffle through the cabinets and draws.

And then she came upon it.

A glinting silvery knife.

Luka took the tool out of the drawer with extreme care, holding it gingerly in her hands.

Now Romelle will be sorry.

Now the Altean planet will be avenged. Along with Lotor, our saviour.

Now I will never be able to be used to destroy those I love.

Luka looked at the knife, her own eyes glinting like steel as her mind became resolute and committed.

Softly, she smiled and said, "For Altea… and Honerva."

The group stood around together, waiting in the silence of the wind before leaving Earth.

"Hey… guys," Allura said, breaking the ice as she looked down at her folded hands dejectedly. "Listen… so there was something I wanted to tell you guys earlier, right?"

The group nodded subduedly. No one was in a good mood, knowing they were going back out into the battle… into the hell before them.

"So that Altean… Luka…" Allura choked, her voice as soft as a whisper, "… she's dead. She, um, was not with us this morning and in the night—"

"How did she die?" Hunk interrupted.

Allura glanced down at their own hands— at her wrists, thinking about the memory of seeing Luka that morning. Romelle, gasping and breaking down into sobs...

Lance waved to get Hunk's attention and then mimed what happened by sliding his finger across his wrist.

"Oh," Hunk whispered. "Okay… That's… that's really sad."

"Yeah…" everyone agreed mutely, staring ahead at the Atlas and thinking about the lost life.

"It is almost time for us to leave," Allura sighed as they loaded the last couple of items onto the Atlas, trying to busy and distract themselves.

"Where's Shiro?" Hunk asked, looking around.

"He gave the speech to everyone and then said he had to take care of something," Keith told the team as he knelt down and stroked Kosmo.

From the distance, they all heard the faint sound of bickering.

"Adam, I already told you that you can come!"

"Yeah but there is no way in heck that you are getting out of my sight!"

Everyone turned to see Shiro walking back, his hand intertwined with another chestnut haired man's. The other man was wearing a casual outfit with a bomber jacket, t-shirt, and jeans and had glasses gleaming on his nose.

"Hello everyone!" the man said as he came up. "I have come to crash your— KEITH!" Adam shouted, interrupting himself as he ran forward and tackled Keith, wrapping him in a huge hug.

"ADAM!" Shiro cried. "You might still be injured!"

"Adam?!" Keith cried over both of them. "Shiro… Shiro told me that you were— Kosmo! Back off; it's okay!" Keith snapped at the growling space wolf who was attempting to protect his master by intimidating Adam.

Adam hugged Keith until the rest of the group was sure that he was about to pop from the force of the hug.

And then Adam took a step back and looked at Keith. "Wow. Okay so you've grown. And so has your hair. And is that a scar? Why is everyone getting scars?"

"Actually," Keith said, rubbing the back of his head, "I got this mark," he murmured, touching the mark on his cheek and not looking at Shiro, "because of a fight I had and… and because I'm part Galra."

"Whaaaat?!" Adam roared, stepping back.

"Not all of them are bad!" Keith said. "Um… my mom's already on board but you can meet her when we get in."

"Also," Adam sighed, shaking his head at the new information intake, "You left, young man! How can I be a responsible step-brother figure if you run away?"

Shiro smiled, stepping up and placing his chin on Adam's shoulder. "So in case you guys didn't get the memo, this is my boyfriend Adam."

"And I'm coming on the Atlas," Adam said again, cementing his views on the issue.

"Yes," Shiro noedded. "It's time we get loaded, anyway."

As they walked up the platform, Lance, Hunk, and Pidge hugging their families one last time, Keith and Adam and Shiro all started to exchange stories about the missing years and talk about what changed and what stayed the same.

When they got inside, Adam dragged Keith with him to go find Krolia so he could meet a friendly Galra who was also Keith's mom.

While they were rushing off, Shiro found Sam and called him over. "Hey, Sam, did you get the thing I asked for?"

"Yeah… I just… I don't know why you would want to change it," Sam said softly.

"Well, It's kind of awkward and bulky and I can't pretend I'm normal which makes things kind of awkward."

"Alright," Sam sighed. "We'll start the procedure after we take off. It shouldn't be too difficult as long as we use the princess's crystal."

Shiro smiled and placed his hand on Sam's shoulder. "Thank you… and thank you for texting me last night."

Sam smiled in return, "I'm just glad that you could be happy."

"Where are you?" Honerva muttered to herself as she combed through the entirety of the galaxy, searching for her son.

As she wandered through the debris of a wreckage, she saw movement out of the corner of her eye. Spinning around, she saw a lean, blue cat flicking its tail while it sat on the debris, staring at her.

Honerva stared at it. It was familiar somehow. Somehow it was… it was—

Kova

The name echoed through her thoughts and the cat began to wander towards her, jumping from debris clump to debris clump to reach her.

She held out her hand and caught the cat who perched on her shoulders as she flew back to her ship, climbing inside.

She… she could remember having that cat. She could remember that cat being with her through the worst of things. But.. she remembered a time when Lotor was still very young and Kova had come up to him and taken a liking to him.

"Can you help me find Lotor, your master?" Honerva asked it.

The cat said nothing as it stared at her.

Honerva sighed and set up the spell she would need. If everything worked well, then she would be able to use Lotor's bond to Kova to locate him. Maybe.

As she cast the spell, memories flooded her, but… they weren't her own. She saw Lotor founding a colony of Alteans, a statue of himself in the process of being erected. She saw Lotor with his generals, Narti and Kova by his side. And then… and then she saw a plain of white with a single form in the center. She squinted at the form and it seemed to grow larger and larger until she could see a Voltron-like ship hovering in the path, flickering in and out of existence.

"Lotor!" Honerva gasped as she jolted herself awake. And then she looked down at the cat to find him curled up into a ball, no more light in his heart. She looked at him and then walked away, leaving him for dead.

After flying for a couple of days, Honerva came upon the spot that was connected to where Lotor was. She could see a ship, flickering in and out of existence against the backdrop of the stars.

"My son," Honerva whispered to herself as she flew towards him.

"Lotor!" She called out, hoping to hear his voice but knowing she couldn't. "Lotor, my son, are you there?"

Of course she didn't get a response. Honerva focused herself, forcing herself to calm down and breath. She had to get Lotor out of there. She had to pull him out of… of that energy plain.

She closed her eyes and focused on breathing until she was able to concentrate her energy. She just had to access the quintessence field for a brief moment. Nothing more than what she had already done.

And then, like a cold wave of water washing over her, she felt the quintessence fill her body— every edge and gap of it— until she was no longer in the same field of existence. She forced her way into the quintessence field, pulling towards Lotor. She could feel his energy pulsing like a heartbeat and it helped anchor her to him. She pulled towards it, calling out for him over and over again.

And then she felt a tether binding them. And she pulled on it, pulling Lotor back to her like he was trapped in quicksand— the energy sucking and pulling on him, refusing to let go.

But then, he shot back towards her as though he were flung away from the energy.

After regaining her breath and barings, Honerva looked around until she spotted Lotor, her wonderful son, drifting alone through space. He wore no helmet and his hair drifted around him in fluid locks.

Honerva scrambled to get to his limp form, and cradled him in her arms as she flew back towards her ship and clambored inside in a daze, barely able to think. As she wandered through, she drew on as much quintessence as she could and pushed it into Lotor, hoping to sustain him.

And when she got to the energy room, she placed Lotor in the middle of her circle, hoping she could push some quintessence into him. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed the trembling and small form of Kova. Somehow, the thing still wasn't dead, despite looking two steps away from it.

Regardless, Honerva pushed all of the quintessence that she could muster into Lotor, hoping for a miracle.

After a moment, Lotor was still not moving. Honerva stopped casting her spell and knelt next to Lotor, placing her hands on his chest and pleading, "Please, my son. Return to me."

And then she felt it. She felt him stir beneath her.

And she saw movement out of the corner of her eye. Kova was stirring, moving away from her, his coat looking shinier and much better looking than before.

"Drink this," Honerva told Lotor as she placed a bowl of soup up to Lotor's lips and tilted it so he could drink. The cat was curled up on Lotor's lap as he stroked it gently, almost catatonically.

"What is the beast's name?" Lotor asked, his voice dry and raspy and his eyes downcast.

"Kova," Honerva replied. "And it seems his life force is tied to your own."

Lotor looked up at her with emotionless, dead yellow eyes and then back down at the cat. "And you are?" he asked.

"Honerva. I— I am your mother," she choked out, forcing herself to say the words. She wanted them to be true. She wanted them to be true so badly it hurt. But that didn't change the fact that they felt foreign and strange to hear and say.

"Honerva…" Lotor said, trying out the name. "My mother. And who was my father?"

Honerva hesitated, not sure if she should tell him where he hailed form or if that would revert him back to a state of insanity. "Your father was a proud Galran leader," Honerva said slowly.

"Zarkon," Lotor said steelily.

"Yes," Honerva replied bitterly.

"Leader," Lotor said, testing the word out. "Ruler. Dictator…"

"Those are correct word choices," Honerva muttered "But Zarkon is no longer with us today and he cannot interfere."

"Then.." Lotor whispered, struggling to get the words to form. "Then… he will… not… interfere."

"Interfere with what?" Honerva asked, her interested piqued.

"Your plan." Lotor murmured. "I overheard…"

Honvera looked at him in those soulless eyes. "You heard about my plan… will you side with me?"

Lotor looked at her blankly and almost as though he were a mechanical sentry, he said "I will do as a loyal son would."

"I would like you to see something," Honerva told Lotor as she held his arm to guide him.

"What is it, Mother?" Lotor asked dully.

"Your project," Honerva whispered as the door to their ship opened and they stepped out into the blinding light of the outside world.

Lotor looked around, blinking his pupil-less eyes and stared at the lush fields and glittering blue sky before them. The few remaining Alteans ambled about with their daily lives, farming and gathering.

"What… what is this?" Lotor asked quietly, some of the old interest and curiosity that he used to possess returning to his voice.

"Your planet," Honerva said, turning him around so that he could see the enormous statue of himself that stood looking over the colony. "The Altean planet that you created to save and preserve the Alteans and their culture."

"Why…" Lotor said softly, closing his eyes and putting a hand to his head. "Why would I—"

He cut himself off with a cry of agony, crumpling to his knees and clutching at his head.

"LOTOR!" Honerva shouted, trying to catch Lotor but failing as he shook her off, staring into his hands as they covered his face.

Honverva knelt next to Lotor and grabbed his arm. "Lotor…."

I open my eyes, the room dark and ominous, cast in purple lighting.

"Report," A strong voice commands and I look up to see someone sitting on a throne before me. He is large and Galran and his eyes shimmer yellow menacingly.

I swallow and stand as upright as I can manage, my small body quivering.

"He is scoring excellently in his studies," a woman beside me says gruffly. "Some of the best scores we've ever seen— but he is rather stunted in growth for his age."

"Hmm," the large emperor says.

In my mind, I see the name Zarkon appear before me and I shudder, realizing that this man is my father.

Against my own accord, I step forward tentatively and begin to speak, the words sounding tentative and afraid in my own ears. "Father? May I ask a question?"

The woman behind me grabs me forcefully and pulls me back beside her. "I apologize, Lord Emperor Zarkon. I shall be punishing him—"

"No," Zarkon interrupts. "Let the boy speak. He may ask one question."

Again, I step forward and stand my ground sayng as clearly as I could, "Who was my mother?"

"She was the only person who I cared about," Zarkon says slowly. "But now she is lost forever and I am no longer bound to any rules."

"But what was she like?" I ask again, pleading edging into my voice.

"Enough!" the woman shouts, grabbing my shoulder and shoving me backwards.

"Father!" I cry in surprise. "Please! I must know where I come from! I must know who my family is!"

"Silence!" Zarkon commands.

I fall back into the straight posture I was so conditioned for and stare glumly at the floor, curiosity burning in my mind.

I blink furiously, trying to clear the tears out of my eyes. And then… and then there was only blackness.

Lotor opened his eyes slowly, blinking and groaning in pain and exhaustion.

"Good," Honerva commented, leering down at him from above where he lay. "You're awake."

Lotor moaned and forced himself to sit upright. As he did, he heard Honerva murmuring slightly as she took notes on him.

"We have run into a problem," Honerva said quietly.

Lotor replied nothing, the memory of a long forgotten past still haunting his mind.

"You need quintessence to survive and we happen to be at a shortage."

"Quintessence," Lotor repeated rubbing at his head.

"Yes, and ever since the Galra Empire split apart, we have been having shortages. I believe that while I was Haggar and for Zarkon as well, we both required pure quintessence to be able to continue to function or else we would begin to deteriorate and die. My hypothesis is that from having been born already tainted with quintessence and from your prolonged exposure to it, you, too, need copious amounts of quintessence in order to function at your prime."

Lotor nodded, swallowing thickly as he processed what Honerva was saying. "Where… where are we to find… quintessence?"

"From other planets," Honerva declared to him. "The same way that the Galra empire has always taken quintessence."

She stood above Lotor, leering down at him with her ice cold gaze. "Come now, son. We must acquire the help of our fellow alteans."

Note: Thanks to everyone who has left such nice comments on this fic! It really encouraged me to go all in and create a good story.

As you can tell, I am going to deviate from the s8 plot quite a bit, but I plan to make call backs to the original whenever I can/ when it fits.

Thank you for being patient and please stick with me for this wonderful fic!