The Third Sphere Part I: Keith's Redemption
Author's Notes: Apologies for the hiatus. This thing called life and responsibilities got in the way of writing. And then there was a problem with my muse for giving me another story to write and not this one…the list goes on and on. Thank you very much for all the reviews and following the story. It's really warms the heart to read your comments. And despite the fact that I have been gone for almost a year, you're still waiting for me to finish. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you for your patience. ^_^
Personalities and character description will also be loosely based on the Voltron Force TV series (Keith's and Allura's eye color, Lance's physique, etc.) as well as some of their techs (e.g. Voltcoms and Lion upgrades). Back story of the Voltron Force were taken from Dynamite's comic Voltron: Year One.
Disclaimer: I do not own Voltron and its characters. I'm just a fan of the universe.
-oo-
Chapter 9
"Keith!"
Hunk and Pidge rushed over to the pair who just regained consciousness. Hunk hunched over as he released Keith from the bindings that they've placed on him. Pidge hovered over Allura, checking her vitals. Sven and Lance though kept their attention to Sigis. The consciousness just stood there, unaffected by what was happening around him.
Allura was the first to approach the consciousness. To everyone's surprise, Sigis bowed down in respect to the monarch.
"Your highness."
"Alexander," Allura replied, after acknowledging his action. "You have done a great disservice to your station as a Mystic Knight of Arus. How do you plead?"
"Not guilty," he answered. "I have served my king and the Royal House for decades. I only want what is owed to me, eternal rest from this world."
"But prior to your death," Allura remarked. "You have already agreed to become part of Voltron upon your passing. It was a request from your king that you have accepted whole-heartedly. We owe you nothing."
"I deserve to join the afterlife for the loyal service that I've done for the Royal House of Arus," he repeated in anger. "I had done it willingly and accepted the role given to me with honor. I deserve more than what you have made me become."
"You have forfeited that right when you let Zarkon free you from Voltron," she answered, her voice was even and in control.
"I did no such thing!" Sigis exclaimed.
"What did Zarkon promise you when he released you from Voltron?" Keith asked as he stood beside Allura, and leaned on Hunk for support.
But Sigis remained silent. His eyes never left Allura's and it was apparent that the anger was still there.
"You will answer the question, sir knight," Allura commanded. Her voice was full of power and authority that Sigis cringed at the command.
After a few moments he answered solemnly, "I can only tell you what you already know. Zarkon promised me eternal rest. He freed me from Voltron, but he wasn't able to free me from the magic that bound me to this world. My freedom from the magical binds would only happen if I allowed him to become Voltron's consciousness."
"Voltron's consciousness?" Lance echoed in disbelief. "He wanted to be a part of Voltron?"
"It makes sense if you think about it," Sven remarked. "When he was human, Zarkon put everything in the creation and becoming Voltron's sole pilot. That was his whole life. To Zarkon's mind, Voltron was his. He just wanted what was his to begin with. The whole reason he was fighting alongside Doom was because he wanted Voltron."
"That is a discussion for another time, gentlemen," Allura said as she raised her arm to halt the discussion.
She then turned back to Sigis who was still standing between Sven and Lance. His gaze never left Allura, and though his voice was solemn and subdued, Sigis' eyes were full of contempt. Allura held his gaze, never backing down from this battle of wills.
"I would have to agree with the princess," Pidge said as he took a sideway glance at Sigis. "What I want to know is what are we going to do with him?"
Keith looked at Allura and whispered, "whatever he did to me was more because he was desperate. We shouldn't forget that he did provide us with valuable information concerning the Third Sphere."
"He almost killed you, Keith," Allura whispered back.
"Almost," he replied with a smile. "He didn't succeed, Lura."
"I can't set him free, Keith."
"Can't? Or Won't?"
Allura bit her lower lip to refrain from answering. She couldn't look at Keith. She turned suddenly and headed straight to their sleeping quarters. Keith took a deep breath, let it out slowly and followed behind.
When the door clicked silently behind them, Allura turned to face Keith.
"Lura, please – "
"Don't start, Keith," Allura cut him off. "You cannot expect me to release him from his duties especially after what he did to you."
Keith knew all too well that there was no convincing Allura when her mind was set. He did the only thing he knew that would give him a sliver of hope.
Keith reached out, held her face and lowered his face to hers. Their lips touched but Allura at first denied him access. Keith persisted until she eventually relented. She opened herself to him, giving him full access to her. Their tongues danced as Allura's arms slowly reached out around his neck and pulled him closer. Keith released her face and his arms trailed down her body, wrapping her waist in a tight embrace.
He missed this. He missed her. In all this planning and plotting with Sigis, he craved for this time alone with her. Sigis gave him little to no time for the simple things in their relationship.
"I missed you," Keith stated in between kisses. He heard Allura sigh as he captured her lips once more for another intense kiss.
Eventually, he felt her pull away but she didn't break their embrace.
"Keith," she started.
"I'm not saying that you immediately release him from his duties," Keith cut her off. "All I'm saying is that despite the fact that he tried to kill me, he was on a mission to help destroy the Third Sphere. He is owed a warrior's death after the decades of service he had done for the Royal House."
Allura sighed and reached out to touch his face. She caressed his cheeks and replied, "I almost lost you, Keith."
"But you didn't," he answered. "I'm still here, hoping that we're still together after what I've put you through. Everything I've done, all I could think about was you. I did this to protect you, as stupid as that may sound now. Everything that I've done was for you. I couldn't lose you, not with the threat of the Third Sphere hanging on us like this."
Allura sighed and closed her eyes. Her hand was still caressing his cheek, memorizing the texture, feeling the softness and remembering those moments when those cheeks where touching hers.
"This is a huge ask, Keith," she remarked.
"I know," Keith replied. "The decision is still yours, Lura, but I just want you to see this in a different perspective. He did help us make headway in locating the Third Sphere. He was able to train me to use magic. He made me ready for those attacks on me here at Headquarters. Despite the fact that he wanted to kill me, he was just desperate for death. He wanted his soul to rest. He deserves it after all the decades he was inside Voltron, assisting us when we needed it."
"Fine," Allura said. "I'll consider it. Anything else, Commander?"
Keith smiled and answered, "Yes, it has something to do with Hunk."
"What about Hunk?"
