Hell Hath No Fury

Disclaimer: I do not own Voltron or any of its characters nor any of its alternate universe personas. So sad, I could become fond of a Lotor with green eyes…

Part 5 of the Chivalry story arc: 1. Chivalry; 2. Lion House Restored (& 2A. LHR – Allura's POV); 3. Doomed Quest; 4. Alternate Choices; and 5. Hell Hath No Fury. While some of the stories can be read as stand alone, this one must be read AFTER Alternate Choices for it to make sense.

Rating/Setting: Rating is T, bordering M. There are some topics that could be triggers for some people; I will try to post warnings for those chapters. However, I'm never graphic or explicit in any of my writing. If you've read Alternate Choices, you should know what the trigger topics are. Setting is DotU in flavor.


Chapter Nine

~Day Three in the Mirror-verse, continued~

Eleanor and Lancelot's morning started off much different that Keith's had. After readying themselves and having a light breakfast, they prepared to leave the room. Looking at Eleanor, Lance thought that Orla had done a good job with her disguise. Everyone had thought it best that Allura be disguised. Her presence would cause an uproar even if the reasons for her being there were disclosed. Therefore, Allura/Eleanor had used a dark rinse for her hair and eyebrows, changing both to a light brown. Her hair was then braided into a simple plait that now lay across her shoulder and down her chest. Brown contacts were in her eyes and no make-up was applied. The look was simple – something that Allura Alt never attempted. Pidge would have admired the black-framed glasses that graced Allura's face. The combined effect left Eleanor looking like a strikingly pretty girl – but nothing like the Queen of Altea.

"Well, do I pass, Lancelot?" Allura asked with a touch of concern.

"Indeed, Eleanor. I'm not sure that Keith will even recognize us." Lance winked in an effort to relive some of her tension.

Allura let out the breath she was holding as a knock sounded at the door.

"Eleanor? Lancelot? This is Avok. I've come to escort you to the command center."

Allura looked at Lance. "I know. Like we don't know where the command center is. But we have to earn their trust." Moving toward the door, she added, "I'm just glad they're willing to help." Allura triggered the door sensor and stepped out. "We're ready, Avok. Thank you for assisting us."

Avok smiled at her and said, "When I saw you yesterday, I thought about how you looked so much like my sister Romelle." He saw her surprised look and continued, "Queen Allura in no way reminds me of my sister - neither in her looks nor in her actions. You, however, I think you and Romelle would be friends." Turning his back to her, something that none of the other Resistance leaders had yet to do, he moved down the corridor with the expectation that they would follow.

The walk was quiet with only a few comments here and there. Eleanor and Lancelot were barely given a second glance by staff and soldiers in the castle. Both breathed more easily as it was obvious that their disguise worked to hide them likeness to their alternates.

After entering the command area, the three proceeded to the conference room where they spoke yesterday. The rest of the leaders were gathered, including Lotor and Merla. Lance and Allura couldn't help but stare at the couple. Keith had explained the crucial role that both had played in his survival on the quest, but it was still hard to believe. And suddenly, Allura was hit with another thought, one that hadn't occurred to her until that moment. She could only believe that it was her intense concern and worry over Keith and the events at hand that had made her forget. Looking at the Queen and the Prince, she asked, "Before I leave, would it be possible for me to see Jaden?"

Lotor and Merla didn't flinch. They had been expecting such a request. The woman that Keith had described as the Princess of Arus would be drawn to the child just as Keith had been. Merla responded, "We thought that you would want to meet him. How about we go see him after this meeting?"

Unshed tears glistened in Allura's eyes as she quietly said, "Thank you. That would be perfect."

Lance watched the leaders closely during the exchange. He felt that Allura had done more to cement them in the Resistance's good graces with her sincere request and response than anything they had done so far. His eyes then sought Orla's as he waited for the meeting to begin.

Calling the group to order, she quickly had everyone's complete attention. "We all know that Queen Allura promoted a number of people from within her military structure to replace officers that were killed in battle. Almost all are known commodities, but one promotion has been startling. Allura has promoted a black ops operative that we thought we had eliminated months ago. Pressing a few keys on her data pad, she turned as the screen behind her flared to life with a picture. She said, "Newly promoted General Naveena Flynn is now commander of Queen Allura's base of operations."

Allura just stared at the screen as Lance softly whispered, "Naveena."

Even though it was softly spoken, it did not go unnoticed by Lance's alternate who was standing beside him. "Do you know of her in your universe, Lancelot?"

With his eyes still glued to the image of Naveena on the screen, he said, "She's our replacement pilot and… my girlfriend."

All eyes turned to him as he finally tore his gaze from the picture. However, it was Allura that spoke next. "It appears that like my alternate, Naveena is an opposite in this universe. Her skills on our side were piloting and explosives. Are they the same here?"

Alternate Lance was still staring at his counterpart when he answered, "Yes on all counts, but add in that she is also an accomplished assassin." He continued to stare at Lancelot. "Can you separate the two of them in your mind? If you go to Ormond, there is a likelihood that you will run into her. She won't know you and hesitation on your side could ruin your mission."

Lancelot looked from his alternate to Allura. "I can do it, Eleanor."

She nodded and looked back to Orla. "We've looked at the defenses and found several vulnerabilities. Lancelot and I would like to take a small shuttle to Ormond with some contraband that the Resistance has acquired. Our cover will be that we are free-lance agents looking to sell some things we stole from the Resistance. Once inside, we'll use your com system to relay a message to Ormond for Queen Allura. I'll make plans with Allura for our encounter and in the meantime, Lancelot and I will do our best to get Keith out before the set time."

"Forgive me, Eleanor," Merla began, "but that doesn't sound very detailed."

"Well, that was the abridged version. Lancelot and I have detailed plans for where we will go and how we will proceed once inside the fortress. We just didn't see the need to give out details for that. I'm sure you understand that the fewer that know, the better."

Merla nodded her acceptance.

"The Resistance will be happy to loan you a shuttle and the necessary cargo for your cover." Orla typed some things on her data pad as she spoke. "There," she said as she looked up. "A shuttle with cargo has been placed under your aliases." She saw the visible relief in both of them as she spoke. "I understand the need for secrecy in your endeavor. However, we need to discuss contingencies as to what will happen if you are unable to retrieve the commander before you battle the Queen. What are your plans in regards to the battle?"

Allura looked to Lance and nodded.

"Some things will have to wait until Eleanor and the Queen speak. Obviously, we can't dictate location, but we're hoping to get the Queen to agree to the fight occurring on the mesa that is about ten miles from the fortress. We will ask for just the Queen and one observer." Lance spoke with the confidence of a man that had worked out the details.

"And you actually expect her to play by the rules?" Lotor asked with surprise.

Allura actually looked at him with a smile. "You just don't realize the irony of you saying that, Lotor." She saw him actually blush. "I'm sorry. I forget myself and the differences between our universes. If you can overlook my resemblance to the Queen, I should be able to overlook yours to our Prince Lotor." When he smiled back, she continued, "Actually, I expect her to cheat. However, I have something that may shift things in my favor."

Lance looked at her in surprise but said nothing. Was she just saying that or did she really have something to assist her?

"What I need, is for the Resistance to do something that will require Haggar to leave Ormond. If she stays, I may not be able to save Keith and myself." Allura looked at the faces around her. "Can you do it?"

Merla and Lotor seemed to be having a secret conversation as the group talked amongst themselves, searching for something that would pull Haggar off-planet, but not the Queen. After a few moments, Lotor spoke. "Ascension. Merla and I will lead an attack on Ascension." Seeing the looks of the other Resistance leaders, he continued, "Merla and I have wished to make a push to regain control of my home world. This would be the perfect time."

"What makes you think the brown goblin will go to protect Ascension?" Lance asked.

"Robeasts."

All eyes turned to Lotor.

Orla frowned and looked at the prince. "What are robeasts, Prince Lotor?"

Lance and Allura looked at each other. This universe hadn't been attacked yet by the creatures known as robeasts? Both of them were surprised at this revelation. Their reaction did not go unnoticed by Lotor.

"Eleanor, you seem to be familiar with robeasts. Perhaps you could better explain them than I can. I can only go by the reports of my people who are able to smuggle information out."

"Robeasts are creatures that have been transformed by magic to be as large as and sometimes larger than Voltron." She saw the worried looks that crossed the faces of the people around her. "These robeast are sometimes robots that have been transformed, sometimes they are animals, but often they are people or members of other species. Some are transformed against their will, and others…" Allura's eyes darted to Avok and quickly back to Orla, "others willingly go in an attempt to save themselves, others, or just for the opportunity to be the one to defeat Voltron."

Avok stared at Allura; he had caught her look during her explanation. "So are there robeasts on Ascension as Lotor claims?"

Lancelot answered, "We don't know, but Doom, I mean, Ascension was Haggar's home base of operations in our universe."

"It is so in our universe as well," Lotor responded. "I have heard reports that Haggar and Admiral Graham use the new arena they have built to test out these robeast creatures on the prisoners of war."

Allura closed her eyes. There truly was no escaping evil. Opening her eyes, she agreed with Lotor. "Haggar would go to Ascension if she felt her work was in danger. You will need to take Voltron. Are you prepared to do that?"

Lotor looked to Orla. He was Black Lion's pilot, but Voltron belonged to the Alteans. "I am willing."

Orla took a deep breath and said, "I am not the ruler of this world. Prince Lotor is ruling for Jaden. It is his decision to make. But before I give my opinion – and that is all that it is, I have a question."

"Ask it." Allura said.

"What is your intention regarding the Queen? Will you fight her to the death or leave her alive for us to deal with?"

Allura could see Orla hands clenched in the fabric of her dress. Her knuckles were white. The Arusian Queen took a moment to study the seer of Altea. What did Orla truly want? Did she want her niece dead or brought to trial? Did it matter? No. What mattered was what Allura could live with and she had made that decision the day after her marriage when Keith told her what had happened to him in this universe. Her eyes were like steel as she responded. "I want Haggar off planet so that she cannot save or spirit Queen Allura away. Without Haggar, the Queen will die by my hand. She will not find a way to return to my universe and harm me or mine. It ends here."

Orla nodded with relief.

Lance's alternate looked at Eleanor and asked, "Do you think you can beat her in hand to hand or with a lazon sword? Queen Allura may not be a warrior, but she's pretty good."

Lance burst out laughing as a true smile formed on Allura's face. Slapping his alternate on the back, he said, "Take us to your gym and challenge her yourself. I'd like to see for myself what I look like when she kicks my butt."

"Okay, after Eleanor has seen Jaden, we'll go to the gym." Alternate Lance looked at Eleanor and asked, "Do you really kick his butt?"

"Not all the time, but enough. However, I'd never challenge him to a shooting contest. He's the best marksman I know. Only Keith can rival him."

Lancelot genuflected before Allura, "High praise from you, my Queen."

Laughing, she said, "But well-deserved." Turning to look at Merla, she inquired, "Can I see Jaden now?"

An hour later, the group was on the way to the gym. Lancelot didn't envy his alternate's timing for the challenge. He could feel the anger radiating off of Allura.

Jaden had torn her heart out. He was the spitting image of Keith, just with blue eyes. If she had any doubts about killing Allura Alt, they were gone. The fact that if she failed and Keith was left here, her alternate would kill their male children or use them to coerce him into doing whatever she wanted. And Allura knew, just like his alternate, Keith would do whatever it took to protect what was his. She wouldn't let that happen to him.