Lotor finished his message to the Blue Lion, and slumped into his chair. He couldn't believe he didn't notice his generals flying within the vicinity of his hideout, and now Voltron would never trust him. Heart pounding in his throat, Lotor tried to brainstorm a way of of it. The generals would likely turn on him if they discovered he wasn't fully loyal to the Galra Empire, so he needed a new strategy.

As the princess and the Blue Paladin were dragged back aboard his ship, he glared down them through a mask of cold menace. Allura glared back, her expression fierce like a lioness. It was obvious he would have a difficult time convincing her to believe him.

"Take them to the dungeon." Lotor ordered Acxa, Ezor, and Zethrid. "I will fly with the prisoners and the Lion back to Galra Central Command. I will need you three to patrol the area near to asteroid belt to see if there are any lingering Paladins."

Lotor held his breath as his generals nodded and headed in separate directions. Acxa had already called Galra Central Command...they would be expecting him soon. The whole situation was deteriorating, and fast. If only he could trust his generals with his plans. They had fought so hard for acceptance from the Galra Empire, and he feared their loyalties lay more deeply with the Empire than with him.

"Why am I not surprised." Allura's voice shook him from his thoughts. "I can't believe I trusted you."

Her voice was sharp, and he groaned internally.

"Listen," Lotor hissed. "We have to head to Galra Central Command. Axca has already called you in, and we have very little time. I have an idea, but we will need to work together in perfect harmony in order for this to work."

Looking taken aback, Allura frowned.

"Is Lance and I being captured your idea of 'perfect harmony'?" she spat. "I don't know how much he can hold out."

Lotor looked at the Blue Paladin and hesitated. It was unwise to put him in more danger, but it had to be done. Guilt twisted in Lotor's belly as he watched the Paladin's sides heave.

"Me?" the Blue Paladin coughed, words slurring. "I could hold out forever, my lady…."

"I didn't realize my generals were so near by," Lotor cleared his throat. "We'll need to act fast if you are to escape Central Command unscathed."

"And you expect us to just trust you, again?" Allura hissed.

Lotor sighed and rubbed his brow.

"Do you have any other choice?"

As Central Command appeared on the horizon, Lotor could feel his pulse quicken. What they were about to attempt was borderline suicidal, but it had to be tried if the Blue Lion and the other two Paladins were to be reunited with Voltron.

Allura and Lance knelt shackled in front of him. Allura had finally agreed with the plan, and she now sat keeping Lance steady as they made their descent towards Central Command.

If Zarkon fell for the two Paladins as bait, the plan could work. Lotor kept repeated this to himself in his mind in an attempt to keep his composure. How long had it been seen the last time he had physically struggled to keep his composure? He had always been so sure of himself when executing his plans to gradually take on his father. Now it seemed he was a young boy again, struggling to lie to his father about the Yupper he had attempted to smuggle home with him.

"This is it," he murmured, half to himself. "Prepare for landing, Paladins.

"I hope you're right about this." Allura warned. "If you betray us, you'll have the wrath of Voltron to face."

Her voice wavered here. Was she bluffing?

"Will I?" Lotor inquired curiously. "You don't seem so sure."

"You will." Allura snapped. "Lance and I may be away, but that won't stop the others from coming for you."

Lotor frowned, and leaned back in his seat. Something about the way she spoke of the other Paladins made him feel sick to his stomach. With dread, he realized that the princess and the Blue Paladin must not be the only Paladins who were compromised at this time.

"Another one of your Paladins is unable to fight." Lotor said evenly, as if it were truth.

Allura turned away defensively, and he determined that it must be truth.

"Allura?" the Blue Paladin rasped. "What does he mean?"

"It's Shiro." The princess sighed. "He's under some kind of spell."

"Then it means even more to your team that we pull this off." Lotor concluded. "If you can follow through with this, I can help your other Paladin."

Allura remained silent, and Lotor sighed.

"It can be done. We just have to work together."