Behind Enemy Lines
Planet Doom…
Sven stood between a pair of armed robot guards. They kept him separate from the other prisoners, as if his mere presence would incite another escape attempt. That didn't concern Sven so much as the mistreatment he saw. People were shoved together like so much livestock, threatened and hurt with a whip for what seemed to be no reason at all. It set his teeth on edge, but he was in no position to do anything about it.
The slave ship trembled when the landing gear lowered. Sven grimaced as the vibrations pained his shoulder wound. A part of him felt thankful it was not his right shoulder. He didn't need his fighting ability taken from him.
Soft murmurs of conversation sounded at his back.
"…sent down to the witch's lab already. I thought it was going to the arena."
"Haggar wants to save it for Voltron. Not that he'll be making any appearances," the second guard said with a snicker. Sven knew it referred to his current imprisonment and narrowed his eyes.
The hangar doors opened, exposing the interior of the next room and the other personnel posted there. Memories of the last time he'd been here surfaced in his mind. His gaze went to his right arm. Though concealed by the long white sleeve of his shirt, the black skull tattooed there, the symbol of his previous imprisonment, felt as heavy as the shackles at his wrists. He clenched his hands. The one positive he took away from this was that Azura was spared seeing this place.
A guard shoved him forward. Sven grunted, for the guard struck his left shoulder, and headed out of the ship. Other prisoners were herded to the left doorway in the hangar. Sven was led through a doorway on the right.
Once outside, they came upon a winding stone pathway leading toward the castle. Heavy mist surrounded it, making it appear ominous. Beyond the castle lay the large arena, the raucous cheering harmonizing with the high-pitched calls issued by circling vultures. Sven realized Zarkon had no intention of putting him in the dungeon. Though the concept of fighting to the death did not sit well with him, he took some solace in his chances of finding one or all the avatars in the arena. They had become expendable now that the robeast had taken their powers. Sven just hoped they were still alive.
The guards did not lead him into the arena as he originally thought. They escorted him down a corridor rank with blood and death that ended at a cell. One of the guards shoved Sven forward. His foot caught on the remains of a prisoner. He refrained from reacting to it and turned, only to have the door slammed in his face. Peering through the tiny opening, Sven frowned at seeing a guard had taken position outside. He turned away from the door to observe his surroundings.
The cell was no more than a room carved into the wall. A window was set on high, the light from the arena above casting elongated shadows across the rocky floor. Sven crossed over to the window. He stood on tiptoe to get a better look. A furious roar sounded, followed by the loud thud of a body falling. Blood flowed into the cell, forcing Sven back to avoid being hit. His frown deepened. There was only one way out of here.
Knowing he'd need to gather his strength for the fight to come, Sven settled upon a flat rock. He closed his eyes, intent on gathering his thoughts only to call up an image of Azura. He could not help but react to it. The ache that began in his heart seemed to extend to his arms. Arms, he realized, ached far more than his shoulder wound, simply from the want to hold her again. Sven struggled to withdraw the ring from his pocket. It gleamed between his thumb and forefinger. Had she made it safely to Arus? Or was she still on her way, sustained only by the water his jacket had absorbed? The ring in his hand vanished when he closed his fist.
Just hold on a little longer, Azura. I will see you again.
The distinct sound of a struggle alerted him. After pocketing the ring, Sven approached the door and looked through the opening. Three robot guards had their backs to him, making it difficult to see what- or who- occupied their attention. One of them was thrown back, slamming into the door to Sven's cell with such force it vibrated. Now that it was out of the way, Sven gasped at seeing whom the guards were wrestling with. Though he looked like a man, the pale, iridescent skin and the animal-like snarl said otherwise. Sven wasn't sure how he knew it was Tirisekaal, but he didn't question it. He only felt relieved that the avatar still lived.
Tirisekaal growled as he lashed out at another guard. It countered by jamming the butt of its rifle into Tirisekaal's middle. He grunted in pain and doubled over. The second guard grabbed the chain circling Tirisekaal's wrist and yanked on it. He fell to his hands and knees, head bowed, fingers curled within the dirt while the two guards stood over him.
"Hurry up! Zarkon wants every slave sent to the arena," one of the guards ordered.
Its companion nodded and snapped a shackle around Tirisekaal's neck. Taking the accompanying chain in hand, it gave a severe tug that brought another grunt from Tirisekaal. Reluctance was in every move as he assumed his feet. When he did, he glanced in Sven's direction. Though his eyes were partially hidden by strands of mussed hair, there was no denying the intense anger in them. For a brief moment they stared at each other, two strangers with only one thing in common, before Tirisekaal was dragged out of sight.
Sven turned away from the door. Worry gnawed at him. Despite the frenzied strength Tirisekaal demonstrated, he would be no match for a robeast. Sven's next move was clear: in order to save Azura, he had to keep Tirisekaal alive. It was what steadied him when he heard approaching footsteps. It did not occur to him that he might not survive the arena.
Above Planet Doom…
"There it is," Lance murmured, slowing Red Lion to a stop. "Planet Doom."
Harmony stared at the black orb floating ahead, finding its lack of a sun far more terrifying than the sight itself. Because of this, Doom was nearly invisible save the scattering of lights along its surface. Thin bands of vapor stretched out seemingly from space itself, reaching for Doom like a spider drawing in prey. A strange, thick cloud surrounded it. Lightning flashed at random intervals. A floating rock Lance had defined as an asteroid flew too close to this lightning. Harmony gave a start at seeing it explode.
"That would be us if not for the atomizer," Lance said grimly. He glanced away from Doom, his brow furrowing. "I thought there'd be at least a ship or two coming in for a landing. It's the only way we can sneak in."
"Wait, look at that," Harmony said, pointing toward the lower right corner of the view screen. "There's something coming in from under the cloud."
As she spoke, the end of a large craft poked through. When it fully emerged, she gasped.
"Yep, I recognize it," Lance said with a nod. He cracked a wry grin. "Looks like Keith and the rest of the team took care of that armada we saw."
"That's a relief," Harmony said. "I was afraid they wouldn't be able to stop it without Voltron."
"There was a time when that was true, but not anymore," he replied, his determined tone matching his expression. "We give the people of Arus reason to hope. We won't let them down."
Harmony smiled, touched by his sincerity. "You have a heart as big as Hunk's," she complimented.
"Will I get a kiss on the cheek, too?" Lance asked, the mischievous glint in his eyes making her giggle. He smiled, obviously pleased to hear her laugh, before gesturing toward the screen. "The good news is that we can use the ship to get us to Doom. There's just one thing I need you to do."
"What's that?"
Lance rubbed the back of his head, looking rather uncomfortable with what he was about to say. "You have to sit on my lap." When Harmony stared at him, uncomprehending, he was quick to add, "I'll be turning the ship upside down. I don't want you to hurt yourself." She nodded and sat down without hesitation. Her arms went around his neck. There was an awkward moment before Lance slid an arm around her waist. He flashed an uneasy grin. "Here we go."
Lance pushed down on the handle, sending Red Lion soaring well below the crippled ship. Once they were within its shadow, he twisted the right handle. The Lion turned upside down. At feeling herself slip off his lap, Harmony hooked her leg around his to steady herself. The change in direction also brought a sense of momentary vertigo. She felt herself turning green. Determined not to give in to her discomfort, she kept her eyes on the enlarging gray underside the screen displayed until a thud sounded.
Lance powered the Lion down. Harmony had to adjust herself on his lap to better accommodate his movements. More than once did he glance over, his cheeks reddened from embarrassment. She offered an apologetic smile.
When darkness fell, he tapped a final button. A loud hum resonated in the room, which she identified as the atomizer. The room took on a reddish hue. The sense that it seemed powered by fire teased her senses. Perhaps the intense heat from its resting place was needed to fuel the atomizer, much like fire was needed to create swords.
After Lance helped her to the floor, he dropped down. She lay on her stomach at his prompt. He removed his helmet and stretched out alongside her. The red light from the atomizer cast his features in shadow.
"What now?" she asked.
Lance pressed his ear to the floor, nodded to himself. "We wait until the ship docks. Given its velocity, I'd say we have about ten minutes." He paused, looking thoughtful for a moment, before glancing over at her. "Do you have any idea how you'll find the avatars?"
"Yes, although it might be a little difficult because of the absence of a sun here. I'll have to rely on what I absorbed and the suit to be find them."
"There's four of them, right?" he asked. At her nod, curiosity shone in his eyes. "Why don't you have one?"
The question brought a sad smile to her face. Back home, no one thought twice about her lack of an avatar. It was just how things were. Her response elicited alarm, and he was quick to apologize. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you."
"No, no," she said, touching his arm. His gaze met hers. "I don't have an avatar, not in the way the others do. I learn about my powers from my mother. Still, growing up was lonely for me. I didn't always see my friends. I used to pretend I had an avatar."
He glanced away for a moment. "Sounds a lot like what the princess told us," he murmured. "Doesn't seem like growing up royalty is all that great." He looked at her again. "Is that what you are? Royalty?"
"In a way," Harmony replied. "Our parents rule over Aethia. One day, I'll take my mother's place as Lady of Light. My friends will rule with me."
Lance nodded. "What happens when you take your mother's place? A coronation?"
She smiled. "Yes. We call is the Age of Ascension."
Something flashed across his eyes, there and quickly gone. "And is there, ah, a Lord of Light waiting for you when this happens?"
Harmony's first instinct was to smile, for there could only be a Lady of Light. But as Lance continued to study her, the question lurking beneath his words resonated with her. She felt both flattered and conflicted.
Taking her silence as an answer, he averted his gaze. "Don't worry about it," he said in a low voice. A faint smile of self-mockery touched his lips. "I don't even know why I asked. It's probably none of my business anyway."
Harmony reached for his hand. "Lance," she started to say, when a loud bang reverberated through the cockpit. She grabbed onto him. He steadied her without a second thought.
"It's all right," he said. After the shaking passed, his expression turned serious. "Looks like we're here. Can you use that light trick of yours to see what's happening out there?"
Harmony concentrated on seeking a light source beyond the Lion. It took some time, but she formed a picture in mid-air between them. Despondent soldiers emerged from the craft, followed by a blue-skinned man in red. His expression was one of furious humiliation, which turned into hostility at a robed figure's approach. He passed by her without a word. As he left, a malicious smile spread on the woman's craggy face. Harmony studied her for a moment. Something about her triggered her memory.
"There's the old witch," Lance supplied, frowning.
Harmony gasped. "She was in the glen with her monster. How did she find it?"
"She's the one who creates all those robeasts. I don't think there isn't much she can't do," Lance muttered.
Suddenly the light flashed, sending a jolt of pain through her hand. She cried out and lost control of the image.
Concern shone in his eyes. "Are you all right?"
Harmony looked down at her hand. Two red welts had been emblazoned across the back of it. She winced as she flexed her fingers. "The light here is corrupted. I won't be able to use my powers for very long."
"Well, don't try it unless you absolutely have to," he advised.
"But what about being able to see what's happening outside? You can't turn on the radar," Harmony fretted.
He managed a grin. "We'll just have to be extra sneaky. You ready?"
Harmony bowed her head. "The sooner we find the avatars, Azura, and Sven the better."
After she stood, Lance accessed a small lever in the floor. An opening appeared between them. Lance replaced his helmet, removed the weapon at his side, and dropped out of sight. Harmony waited, her nerves fraught with tension, until he reappeared.
"Come on," he urged, his voice low.
Harmony dropped beside him. Lance leaned against the underside of the craft, his weapon raised as he peered around the edge. After announcing it was clear, he took her hand. Harmony held fast to him as they raced toward an open doorway, and out into the darkness.