Chapter 10 is here and I have to admit, life is making it hard to find time to write. So many bunnies need to have their voices heard... stupid job search on top of working my normal job. I feel that I have no time to devote to this story.
Have no fear dear reader, I have things plotted out and the end will be here sooner than we think! The tournament begins next chapter and of course the rescue effort is clearly underway!
Anyway, thank you once again for stopping by and letting me entertain you. This chapter gets a bit dark, but the light is close- I totally promise! Pinky swear!
So get ready for some angst and a Keith who will need lots of cuddles once it is all over!
"Voltron Force you are cleared for landing near bunker seven," A voice of the Drule controller announced as the Lions and their cargo made their final approach to the reconstruction site. "Didn't expect to see you so soon Keith after you informed us of those delays, but we're glad to see those materials."
"And we are happy to assist." Allura opened the video channel and got a surprised reaction from the man controlling the tower.
"Queen Allura, it is truly an honor to see you come personally. Normally your husband is the one flying Black, I apologize for my assumption."
"No need. I've heard Keith talk about his new friends on the construction site. It is good to meet you in person." Allura smiled a genuine smile seeing the Drule man with an eye patch that Keith had told her about several times. The two men were becoming fast friends with all the coordinating they needed to do to get this generator project up and running.
"Allura decided she wanted to get out of the castle for a bit. Thought we'd leave Keith to all the boring stuff." Lance smiled and got a smirk from the tower controller.
"We're glad to see you all. We'll have things unpacked and sorted right away. You are welcome to either relax in your lions or join me in the tower while the workers unload." The Drule informed them.
"Actually, if you don't mind, we're going to try out a new shuttle we've brought along," Pidge spoke up, continuing with their cover stories. "I've made modifications to the gravity thrusters and wanted to try it out on the far side of the planet's gravity anomaly."
"Sounds like a plan. You'll let me know if you need any assistance, right? And I don't need to remind you how that area messes with communications." The man replied, totally buying the story.
"We've got it covered." The young scientist smiled and nodded.
Closing the communications with the planet, Lance turned to his team on the video screens.
"Looks like smooth sailing so far." His smile grew.
"This was the easy part." Hunk reminded him. "Now we've got to get to Carmenthia without being seen."
"Sit back, relax and leave it to a professional at sneaking." Lance replied cracking his knuckles as they all exited their lions in a secured area of the construction zone. As the group entered the shuttle, Allura looked back at the Drules that were working side by side with others from the Alliance. She knew that this peace and time of cooperation could not die with the actions of Merla. Keeping this whole mission a secret remained of the utmost importance for all their sake, not just Keith's.
The stealth ship was ready to go within minutes of the Lions being locked down. Lance took the helm of the small craft and the others each sat at stations monitoring various sensors.
Pidge pulled up maps and took the lead in explaining the intel.
"It should only take half a day to get near the planet's atmosphere. After that we're going to have to be careful getting in without being noticed." The youngest member of the force spoke. "I recommend we piggyback on one of the ships entering the capital."
"Are there still ships entering?" Alex asked looking at the traffic monitors that had lessened. None of them liked to voice the meaning behind the stop of the activity of entering the planet. Keith was dealing with limited time on the planet and they all knew it.
"I've located a larger personnel transport." Hunk brought up the ship's current location on a path to Carmenthia. "Lance we have a small window to get in without being noticed, but I've seen you come in from a blind spot before."
"Don't sweat it. Just make sure you all are buckled in, we're going to have to punch this thing." The Red Lion pilot smiled as he revved the engines and blasted off the planet's surface.
Consciousness returned to Keith with a sharp sting of a hand against his face.
"Wake up," a worried female voice called to him as she continued to slap him in the frantic attempt to wake him. "Keith, please be ok."
The throbbing in his head pierced the fogginess of his mind as his eyes opened. His dark brown orbs met the worried purple hue of Maysha's eyes. For a moment he thought he had seen the blue sapphires that belonged to Allura, but reality quickly came back to him.
"Oh, thank the heavens," she teared up seeing he was once again back with her.
"Maysha? What?" Keith sat up from the soft bed and felt dizzy. Looking around he found himself back on his bed in the harem room, but quickly realized the only thing shielding him from the world was a thin sheet.
His body felt heavy and tired in certain places that he wished to not think about at the moment.
Taking a better look at the woman at his side, he instantly picked up on the fresh bruises on her arms and face.
"Who hit you?" He asked trying to rack his mind for what had happened in the last hours? Minutes? Who knew how long.
The last thing he remembered was royally pissing off the Queen of the Drules. She had mentioned a punishment… it seems that he was not the only one to suffer for his failure to persuade Merla for a private party. It was a stupid plan, he reprimanded himself.
"She… I tried to stop her." Maysha freely cried. "It had to be some kind of drug in the wine she forced you to drink… you went limp for a minute before waking and…"
"Maysha?" Dread formed in the pit of his stomach. Closing his eyes, he could remember nothing solid. Short glimpses of nightmarish images came to him. Bodies surrounding him, screams of both pleasure and pain.
Even without making much sense of the memories - more like nightmares – Keith knew what had most likely happened.
In the bed, under the green canopy, the Queen of the Drules had brought his body to climax without his ability to stop it. The wine had been laced, causing him to lose his composure... to lose his mind for long enough time for Merla to strike.
He had played with fire… and got burned.
"You fought her, even with the drug in the beginning… I tried to help. Merla knew I was helping you in your mind's battle to find reality." She touched the side of her head where dried blood was still present.
"Merla? She… and I?" Keith felt as if he was going to hyperventilate. A series of tremors took over his body and an image of Allura came to the front of his mind.
"I'm so sorry Ally…" He whispered trying to compose himself as his anguish washed over him. Tears came to his eyes as the thought of failing her welled up inside. Doing his best to push the feelings down – not wanting to feel or think about anything - he let out a single, choked sob.
Any other feeling – even the pain of Lotor's private hell seemed preferable to the emotions he was going through now.
"She… and you… I don't know how long, I must have passed out after they hit me on the head... I tried. I fought as long as I could. When I woke up, I found you here." Maysha wiped away a few more tears and looked to Keith.
Keith balled his fists and brought them to his face. Taking deep breaths, Keith tried to keep the limited contents of his stomach down and get his mind back into the game… and unfortunately it was a game. Some sick and twisted game of Merla's where she was ready to stoop to low and dirty tactics for still vague reasons.
"I'm sorry. I tried to… but I couldn't help you… I.." A silent sob stopped her from continuing knowing exactly how he felt, as it had happened to her the first night she was sent to the harem. In her case, she carried the vivid nightmares of that time and she silently prayed that he would not remember what had been done to him.
"Aw, is her highness' favorite unwell?" The Drule man who controlled the harem smirked as he and a few others walked past Keith and Maysha in their grief.
Keith's head shot up at the voice and rage spilled over the edge of his control. He was on his feet and tackling the smug man to the ground before anyone could react.
The fists that had tried to block out the memories and feelings just seconds ago were meeting with flesh and bone of the blue-skinned man.
Maysha and the others in the room were silent as Keith merciless pummeled the harem boss. Some smiled knowing the man was finally getting his just desserts for previous actions, while others were shocked and frightened by the sheer animalistic rage that Keith was unleashing.
As the man's eyes rolled back, unconscious from the assault, Maysha could feel Keith's rage consuming his mind. Jumping off the bed, she grabbed for an arm knowing that the man before her was not a murderer. It would only add to his mental anguish and truly push him over the edge of sanity.
"Keith! No!" She cried as she rode the powerful swing of his arm from its arch towards the ground, where she fell.
Keith's body froze seeing her once again on the ground. Maysha shrunk back preparing for yet another blow to strike against her colored skin, but the emotionally wounded man stopped in time.
His breath was ragged and coming out in gasps as he tried to calm himself. Turning back, he looked around the room of startled and frightened people.
No one spoke, or dared move for fear of a similar attack on the harem boss. And none wanted to try and calm the emotionally and physically violated man like Maysha had tried.
Keith's vision began to blur as his breathing continued to be uneven and labored. He was getting dizzy.
While the room was large and wide open, yet it felt stifling. Staggering away from Maysha and the body of the beaten man, Keith wished to find a dark corner. He needed somewhere to compose himself, and yet his legs gave out after only a few steps.
Maysha was at his side as his body once again shook with silent screams of sorrow and rage. The blood of the Drule man on his hands felt heavy as Keith realized he would have killed the man on the ground had it not been for the woman at his side.
"Let's clean you up." Maysha tried to offer him her comfort, her silent support. She felt it was a good sign that he complied and allowed her to help him over to the far side of the bed – where others could not see him – and sat him on the steps. Leaving his side for a short time, Maysha pulled together new articles of clothing and a bowl of water.
Dipping a rag into it, she began to wipe his tear stained face. The tears may no longer be falling, but she knew the pain was still raw. And so very deep.
Draping a sheer fabric over his shoulders, she then took time to wash the blood off his hands.
"We'll get through this Keith. You cannot let it break you. Merla cannot win."
Keith's internal struggle with wanting to remember what had happened and wanting to forget the last few days waged on as the time ticked closer to when he would see some of his challengers for the battle the next day.
It was hard to get his mind back in some semblance of order. It was easier to stay numb and not think. But according to sources, he would not have the luxury of time to stew in his pain and misery.
"The door is going to open soon." Maysha moved closer to Keith but made sure not to touch him. To be honest, the display with the Drule man had scared her. She knew Keith possessed a great deal of strength, the muscles on the man alone told of the dedicated training. From the little she had allowed herself to look into his mind, she soon found that he valued control and ability to remain strong in high importance... something that was now taken from him in more ways than one.
"Keith…" She whispered looking back at him sitting on the steps. He had since put on the shorts she had found and wrapped himself in the sheet tightly. His gaze remained on the wall.
From the opposite side of the room, the magical doors opened wide to reveal all manner of men. They were all humanoid in form with different colors of skin, mostly Drule, but others were obviously from different planets and races.
Those in the harem seeking a powerful ally or hoping to impress who they thought would be the next King of the Drules, flocked towards the newcomers.
Maysha watched as several couples smiled and laughed together as the harem girls tried to attract the men. Out of the crowd of men, Maysha's eyes found those of her cousin. The slightly darker shade of lavender prominently stood out among the blue and green hues of the others.
Pecin, the ruler of the Carmenthians strode away from the giggling women and towards Maysha's position. If she had been hoping for him to be outraged that his very cousin had been thrown into a harem and subjected to the things that went on there, the look in his eyes told her to expect a different story.
Instead of acknowledging her, the man looked straight at Keith.
"So this is the unworthy human that my Queen has favored?" The man's voice was loud, attracting the attention of the other combatants. Word had spread among the group of a new addition to the fighters- Merla's very own chosen contender.
Keith merely looked up at the man and then returned to shutting out the world.
"Pecin." Maysha tried to get in between the two men, knowing her cousin's obsession with Merla would not make him friendly with one who the Queen desired above all.
"You dare speak to me with such disrespect cousin? I am your King." The man's angry gaze turned towards the woman for a brief moment before turning back to Keith. His anger growing as Keith continued to ignore him peeked and swiftly taken out on the woman before him.
The cry of the woman who had also suffered much caught his ear and something snapped inside him. Keith could mope and detest himself later… Maysha was right. Merla could not win. He would not let her threaten others… his friends and a family included.
Standing up he gently put his hands on Maysha's shoulder, guiding her off to the side lightly.
"What's wrong former King Kogane? Not liking your new role as play toy?" Pecin stood before Keith eye-to-eye. The two men looked quite similar in body type, toned muscle and height. The King of the Carmenthian people wore a wrapped fabric from his waist to his knees, a golden sash crossed from one shoulder to the waistband. Keith smirked out of nowhere thinking how very Roman this all was before he let the expression drop from his face.
"A human, without magic abilities or royal heritage, is not fit to compete. My dearest is merely infatuated with you for your exotic appeal." The man continued, trying to try Keith's newly returned, yet fragile control. "You will be the first to fall tomorrow. I shall see to that."
Maysha's hand went to grip Keith's hand, still resting on her shoulder. Closing her eyes, she tried to give Keith strength to remain composed. A fight now would mean death for the both of them.
"Strong words from someone who sells his family into slavery… not to mention his planet for some whore." Keith spat out, not being able to keep silent.
"Now, now, such language from such skilled lips." Merla's voice caught everyone's attention.
Maysha's grips tightened seeing Keith's body language and the mental anguish in his mind as the Queen of the Drules walked into the room in a flowing gown.
"I want to officially welcome all the challengers. Tomorrow you will be enemies, but tonight we are all friends." The smile on her painted lips turned up as she walked closer to the Carmenthians and Keith. "Pecin, love, you mustn't let your jealousy of Keith start any fights." She leaned against the other man's back and kissed his shoulder.
"And you…" Merla smiled from behind the Carmenthain King. "Shall always have a special place in my heart and memory. Such skill… power… passion."
Keith felt ill but remained tall. He was not about to give Merla the added pleasure of seeing him in distress.
"It is a shame that one of you might not come out alive tomorrow." The Queen pushed away from Pecin and continued the few steps closer to Keith and Maysha. "I don't suppose I could get one last kiss before I bid you good night?"
If looks could kill, Merla would have been dead several times over.
"I guess we're back to not talking." Merla laughed as she turned and looked at the remaining twenty men wishing to partner with her and willing to risk their lives doing so. "You are to relax and entertain yourselves with my harem. Your needs will be attended to, within reason. Tomorrow, you will all prepare for the tournament as it begins at dusk."
The Queen then left the room and all eyes returned towards Keith.
The fighter and seasoned tactician in him overtook the emotional turmoil that he had been dealing with at that moment. If he wished to survive, he would have to push any feelings down and away.
The looks from the other contenders had him cursing internally. They were all going to be targeting him due to Merla's fixation with him… especially this Pecin.
"Whatever relationship you share with my Queen will not be enough to save you tomorrow Earth-man." Pecin voiced the thoughts of several others with his words.
For a moment, Keith wondered if reasoning with the Carmenthian King would work. If they knew he wanted nothing to do with the woman, would they be less inclined to take his head off? Not to mention other parts of him. He decided against replying as he looked to Maysha and got a shake of her head.
The man before him was completely infatuated with the blue-skinned snake. As far as Keith was concerned, they probably deserved each other. He obviously didn't care that his own cousin was being subjected to this hellish existence. And that bothered him. Family, no matter what they did or who they were, was precious.
Seeing that Keith was not going to respond, Pecin looked at his cousin once more and turned with an air of superiority. To her credit, Maysha stood strong, even with the cold treatment from her relative.
Keith was thankful that the harem women and men provided a distraction for the others. It was good to not have so many eyes on him, as he returned to his corner of the room, with Maysha not straying far.
"What do we do now?" She asked as he sat facing the others, still not certain that an attack would come from the others.
"We figure out how to win." He simply replied.
So, I decided to not write "that" scene. I think there are several stories out there where Allura is the victim to Lotor, but since we have a female villain, and a hero that needs his control ('cause we all know he does) I thought it would be interesting to try and explore that aspect of loss of that control. And a few other reasons, of which you will see in a few chapters.
I admit, it seems I really like to beat on poor Keith. I guess I will just have to make it up to him. Anyway, next chapter we have the blood bath, unless Allura and Co. can hustle and stop it.
Stay tuned!