Some times I do wonder why my mind went so dark when I first started writing this story back in '03 - talking about abusing our fearless commander. For some reason I always liked the triumph over all and enduring unimaginable odds stories. Also, I really don't think Lotor would play nice once he got his hands on Keith. Anyway, have no fear, he'll bounce back!
And with that reassurance, I give you Chapter 8- where in a plot is hatched, and poor Keith finally gets a bit of a break.
The three 'guests' of the Drule Empire stood near a table in the main room of the suite. On the strangely Gothic style table, they had crudely attempted to piece together the layout of Lotor's cruiser using whatever materials they could find. The Admiral, having seen more of it than the others came in handy, granted not by much, but it was something.
As they planned, Allura couldn't help but have her thoughts turn to worry over what Keith was enduring at the moment. Some comfort was taken in the knowledge that he was wanted by Zarkon, so Lotor would not kill him… yet.
"We need to get Lotor to agree to let us see him." The Admiral stood back and sighed. "However, I don't think that is a likely occurrence. And there's no way we can get into the detention sector."
"We need to play to his arrogance." Allura rubbed her chin in thought. "He loves to gloat and lord over others when they are in a tight spot. It's normally how he makes his greatest mistakes."
The two other military personnel nodded trying to figure out how to use that information.
"Any luck with your communicator?" Selena asked remembering that Allura had mentioned Keith adjusting the signal.
"I don't think so. Do you think we could try and connect it to a control panel on this ship and get a signal out?"
"It would be worth a shot." Selena took the device from Allura's hands. Walking over to the wall near the door, she punched in a few buttons on a small communications console. "You don't happen to read Drule, do you?"
"Not very well." The Princess admitted, "But it's better than nothing, right? And I've been learning little things from the boys, so maybe luck will be on our side."
The Admiral watched as the two women worked on their long shot option. "I think we will need a lot of luck to get out of this alive."
Lotor's confident strides echoed down the halls of the ship on his way from talking with his father.
Zarkon was delighted in his success. The Prince smiled knowing that with the Commander in their hands, Arus was as good as destroyed. And that meant his bride would be his shortly. A shiver of anticipation ran down his body at that thought.
However, at the same time it meant that the insignificant human in his torture chamber was a large part in their past failures... his failures. That realization and the current situation angered him to know that his place at his father's side had been threatened by one man.
The Prince of Doom had since cleaned up from his last session with his prisoner. The commander's abilities, even when in such a weak condition, made the warrior in him want to admire the pride he had never seen before in humans. And yet, that sheer willpower angered Lotor all the more. A dark smirk graced his face as he looked at his watch, the next few hours before they landed on Doom would be enjoyable.
For each of his past failures, he took out the anger on the man, who at this moment was strapped on a table bleeding.
In addition to his prized possession, he still had the other Alliance officers in his guest chambers.
With the Admiral, Doom was assured something wonderful to be exchanged - more concessions from a military that didn't take them seriously.
Contemplating the glory that would come after displaying the once mighty Voltron Commander's head on a spike, Lotor grinned, feeling power and success course through his veins.
The cool air of the ship's intricate torture room wafted out as the door opened, along with the smell of blood and burnt flesh.
"My deepest apologies Commander." Lotor's voice full of venom and mockery. "I do hate to keep you waiting for what we have next. I'm afraid you will have to wait a bit longer. You bled too much on my clothes before father's call, and I don't want to upset my other guests."
Thick black straps held his head, wrists, waist and ankles to the cross shaped table. To many, this would bring panic and psychological distress, however Keith knew that he had to keep up his defiance. While he may lay motionless on the table, his eyes remained on his enemy as if still assessing the Prince's moves.
"So much blood. We'll have to use it as paint for my throne room back on Doom." Lotor motioned at the puddles on the floor.
Keith snorted, trying to keep his mind focused. He had realized that he was more than likely going to bleed out long before Lotor and Zarkon got him back to Doom, but he had to be strong.
"I had hoped you of all people would have lived longer." Lotor moved a little closer seeing the man's sickly pallor. "I guess we had a little too much fun earlier. What are we to do? I simply can't have you looking like this for your presentation to father tomorrow." Lotor was poking at Keith's open and oozing wounds.
"Only a half day of torture and you're already like this? You could have at least given me some pleasure in this and cried out- I wouldn't have thought it less of you Captain. We Drules are known for our... more intense torture methods. You are one of the few who make torture unamusing."
Tapping on Keith's cheeks earned him a scowl from the injured man.
"You talk more than an old woman." Keith groaned yanking his head away as best he could from Lotor's touch.
"Ah, I see your fighting spirit is still in that weakened worthless piece of flesh." Lotor smiled grabbing Keith's chin in his hand. "And you've always been worthless. You realize it's hopeless- you've been abandoned again Captain. Your precious Garrison and your friends on Arus have forgotten about you… just like your family did back on Earth. Oh yes, I know all about you Keith Kogane."
Keith's nostrils flared with anger as he tried to calm himself with deep breathing. Getting too worked up meant more blood loss for him and more satisfaction for Lotor.
"Are you getting mad Captain?" Lotor enjoyed the feeling of his fingernails digging into the man's flesh. "Well you should. I'm going to destroy you and anything you've ever touched. Before I kill you, I want you to know utter failure!"
Keith's only recourse was to once again spit blood at the Prince. This time the direct hit dripped down the blue skin of Lotor's cheek.
"Ah that's very touching. I will say you had a very bright career ahead of you- but now… all you have ahead of you is death!"
Keith had to stop himself from replying. It would only mean more pain to aggravate Lotor. On the other hand, the longer the Prince was with him, meant more time for Selena to get Allura out. His vision began to get cloudy - on the verge of passing out again.
"Oh dear, about to pass out from blood loss? I suppose you should be taken care of soon." With that Lotor once again left the room with Keith fighting the darkness once again.
"Any luck?" Selena asked the other woman who had been zapped twice in her attempts to connect the com link to the wall unit.
"No." She sounded so disheartened. Allura had seen Pidge doing similar things before in the castle and with other computer systems. 'Why didn't you ask him to teach you more?' She chastised herself.
"Why don't we take a break?" The Admiral asked from behind both women. They were getting more desperate and flustered by the moment. "It won't do anyone any good to get sloppy and start a fire."
"Wait!" Allura smiled standing up and running to the Admiral. "That's it!" She threw her arms around the older man.
"Excuse me?"
"A fire! We start a fire. In the commotion they might not be looking to keep us contained. They'll be worrying about the ship!"
"It just might work…" The Admiral agreed.
"We won't get another chance. It has to be at the best moment possible."
The group's new plan was barely taking form when there was a knock on the door. Suddenly an entourage of armed soldiers entered and spread out.
Behind them came Lotor holding a bloody handkerchief in his hands, finishing cleaning them. He made no attempt to hide the object as if flaunting the fact that their comrade was indeed in a bad state.
"Ah, honored guests of the Galaxy Garrison," He began. "I do hope your stay thus far has been a pleasant one. There is no doubt that you have better accommodations than your illustrious Captain Kogane."
Allura had to bite her tongue to keep from saying anything. He knew her voice and would give away her true identity if she spoke.
"You're a monster." Selena spoke for Allura.
"Ah, well, I do believe that we are able to see our own kind quite well my dear. You were quite willing to sacrifice others for your own gain after all" His grin grew. "Anyway, I think I've broken the him a bit too much. You will provide some medical assistance. I need the prisoner to survive the night… at least."
Lotor looked at the three people in the room. His gaze lingered on Allura for longer than she would have liked, but thankfully it appeared the disguise was working enough.
'I am so glad that Selena found enough grease to make my hair look darker. Even with the hat, you could still see it was blond... and all the reports say Lotor is collects blondes for his harem.'
"You'll allow us to treat the Captain then?" The Admiral spoke up taking Lotor's attention away from Allura.
"We have a med kit back on the shuttle." Selena mentioned. "If you'll allow, we can retrieve it and assist you."
"I suppose it might be more than a one person job. I don't think he'll be of much help." The blue man shrugged.
"Will you bring him here?" Selena continued walking up to Lotor. If she played her cards right, Keith could be moved here and that would aid in their escape process. "I'd rather not subject my father or staff to further unpleasantness."
"You think flaunting your human beauty will work on me?" The Prince laughed. "Well of the two of you, I do suppose you are the better looking. I suppose I could allow for the prisoner one last comfortable bed before his public and most painful execution."
And with that the Prince turned and left the room, his guards following at his heels.
"This is a win for us." Selena sighed taking a seat in a chair near the door. "He also didn't see the mess we made with the door console."
"We're not going to get that lucky again." The Admiral noted. "We need to make this count."
"So when we get Keith, we patch him up for travel and then escape." Allura wiped tears out of her eyes.
He was drifting in and out of consciousness. It was hard to tell what was a dream and where the glimpses of reality melded together.
The one common appearance in his pain riddled mind was of a golden haired angel. His Allura smiled at him. In one vision she motioned for him to walk next to her along the lake near the castle. The peace was soothing and he let himself enjoy the pain and blood loss induced hallucinations.
The next he knew she was looking down on him, she looked a little strange, but he could still tell it was her. She whispered to him in her song-like voice of her love and words of comfort.
He almost believed his angel was truly there, but his mind held too many doubts. He tried to grasp on to the pleasant feelings before Lotor would return and ruin his at least pleasant, pain induced dreams.
"Ally..." His voice cracked as he turned his head in towards the warmth of the hand that caressed his cheek.
"I'm right here." Her voice told him.
"Ni..ce dre..am." He smiled once again at the fuzzy figure leaning over him.
"Please rest." Her lips were soft against his and Keith tried to move his head upwards, not wanting to lose the contact. It was in vain as his body gave out and he went back asleep.
Allura looked over the fitfully resting man on the bed before her. It had been hard to see him in such a state when Lotor's guards brought him into the room. They practically dumped him in a heap near the door leaving the three of them to get him to a bed.
His clothes had been ripped to shreds, and what was still on him had crusted over with dried blood.
Selena needed to slap her back to reality as they worked with what little tools they were given from the shuttle's med kit and scavenged around their suite.
Those weapons they secretly brought from the shuttle and the escape plan were set aside as all three of the room's able bodied occupants worked diligently on the injured man. They couldn't even attempt to move him in his current state. Pressure was applied to his shoulder and other wounds. Bandages attempted to cover already red with infection cuts along his back and chest.
"He should be stable for now." Selena said pushing a shot of morphine into his system. The needle earned a groan from the occupant of the bed.
Allura gently dabbed his skin with a damp towel to keep his temperature down. Tears rolled down her face as she lightly traced the bandage that was already absorbing the blood from the area Lotor had branded him. Smaller cuts and bruises littered his once handsome face.
"How are we going to get him out now?" Her lip trembled.
"We continue with the plan. If we have to, we can drag him. But we have to do it before we set down on Planet Doom." Selena said standing up and leaving the room. Her father placed his hand gently on Keith's damp hair and smiled at Allura before he too left the small bedroom connected to the main room they had been in for most of their time on the cruiser.
"You hear that Keith? We're going to get out of here." Allura smiled as she left the towel on his forehead. "Then we'll be back on Arus. And I'll... I'll show you how much I love you every day. No more hiding."
"Ally." He groaned out after she was silent for a time. His battered body tried to move as if to grasp onto her voice.
"Don't move. Please Keith. I'm right here."
Her words seemed to have little effect at easing his worries. Kneeling on the bed looking down on him, Allura leaned in and lightly pressed her lips to his. The feeling of their lips connecting sent a rush through Allura's body.
He had thought she was a dream the last time she kissed him. Sighing, she wanted nothing more than to assure him that she was there.
"I'm here."
As carefully as she could, she curled against Keith praying that their luck could hold out a bit longer. This was their only chance. Looking at the door, Allura decided that she hadn't the heart to leave Keith's side right now.
'A few minutes like this won't hurt.' She smiled sadly as she felt the heat rolling off Keith's battered body. And yet, his heart was strong, and she took comfort in that steady sound.
"I love you Keith."
"I've plotted their trajectory." Pidge said after pushing the sensors and his computer abilities for several hours.
"Whatcha' got?" Lance asked seeing everyone's anxiousness. There wasn't much any of them could do until they located their teammates.
"After doing a little hacking into Garrison records and some help from Alex, I was able to locate the signal of the shuttle. It took off and headed on a roundabout course towards Doom." Pidge pulled up a map of the flight path. "Selena forgot that there are secondary tracking systems on all new Alliance ships if you know how to find them."
"Round about? What does that mean?" Hunk's voice broke the silence as the others mulled over the situation and how dire it was turning out.
"Maybe she was going to try and land on the far side of Planet Doom, trying to stay undetected from the normal traffic around the planet." Hunk rubbed his head, trying to piece together Podge's information.
"There's more to the story guys." Lance spoke up. "It seems that Admiral Aimes, Selena's dad and Keith's mentor at the Academy, was reported missing some time ago."
"Why would that mean anything?"
"Think about it," Lance began, "They get tired of being beat, so they start to play dirty. Take out people important to us- namely our leader- and you've got a power to exploit."
"They wanted to use the Admiral to get to Keith?" Alex asked looking at the men around her.
"Zarkon." Coran sighed. "It is highly unlikely Lotor came up with this plot. It is more cunning and calculated."
The Force members nodded in agreement.
"Lotor's track record could have been a catalyst to grab the Admiral and the recent influx of attacks was meant to distract us from the news." Coran looked at those surrounding him. "It is hard to understand the ways of Doom."
"It gets worse." Pidge continued. "The shuttle's tracker seems to have been dropped around this area." The group looked to a spot around half way to Doom.
"How can that be? Did the ship malfunction again?" Alex asked not understanding that could happen.
"Either the shuttle suddenly exploded- not likely," Pidge clarified seeing Coran's face, "Or they got picked up."
"If they got hit by a beam or pulled into a larger ship under a cloaking device that tracker wouldn't be able to send its signal." Lance cursed. "That means Lotor or Zarkon have them all."
"We have to play this smart." Hunk stood up. "We can't just go in guns blazing."
"Agreed." Coran and Lance replied.
"We also don't have much time." Alex added. "They will be on Doom in what? Another few hours. Once they are planet-side… well, it's a whole different game then."
"Contact Pullox, the Alliance and anyone else we have in our corner." Lance stood next to Hunk a look of defiance in his eyes. "We're going to have ourselves a little rescue party to plan."
Rescue party! Stay tuned to see if that happily ever after is around the corner!
Thanks again for reading!
