KathDMD: Yes, Lance is a good man! He has proved it many times over in the five years he worked with Wade, standing by Allura, and helping Keith. In this chapter he shows what a good friend he is to both Keith and Sven!
Warning: Graphic language ahead!
Lowering The Boom
Sven was in the small room he had been staying in, packing his one bag and getting ready to leave. He had received the message from the spaceport that his ship was fueled and ready. Sven ground his teeth as he wondered if Bandor had personally supervised the procedure, to make sure he left. He was more than ready to go, but it had been hard saying goodbye to Erik earlier that morning.
After the nasty breakfast in the nursery, he had started asking Nanny to bring Erik to him in the garden. Sven hated dealing with her, because he didn't think a servant should be raising his son. However, if he had to choose between her or Romelle, he was going to take Nanny. It bothered him that everyone thought he was the problem, and Romelle so blameless.
He was also upset about how Romelle and Erik were getting back to Pollux. He had been drinking coffee in the mess hall yesterday when he'd heard about the broken hyper drive on the Polluxian transport craft. Listening further, he found out that a replacement was not available on Arus, and would need to be ordered from the plant on Selint.
The mechanics had been concerned because they did not want to upset His Majesty, the King of Pollux. When Sven heard that he had wanted to roll his eyes, but the next comment was the one that pushed his buttons. The Odeon prince had come to the Polluxian party's rescue, and offered them a ride back to Pollux on his ship. Sven had sat there and listened to the mechanics talk about how luxurious the prince's craft was. He hated the idea of his wife and son on board Fauk's ship, but knew that he couldn't do anything to stop it.
The bag was all packed, and Sven was trying to decide if he wanted to leave before Fauk and company did, or after. There was the issue of saying goodbye to Romelle too, and whether he should even bother. Sven knew that the last two days she had either been with Erik, or helping with Larmina's wedding gifts. Nanny had mentioned that Romelle and Allura had lunched together, in the private dining room. He had no doubt he had been the main subject of conversation.
Romelle was his wife, but no one cared that she wasn't acting like it. Instead he was the one that was reprimanded by his twerp of a brother-in-law. He found all of her talk, about how they should get to know one another better maddening. They were married, and what else was there to know? Sven debated going to say goodbye, not sure that she would even care at this point. He was so deep in thought that when the holoscreen popped up it startled him.
Reaching up to touch it, he saw the face of one of the castle security officer's, asking him to come to Commander Kogane's office right away. Sven acknowledged the message, and after making sure the screen was shut down he let loose a string of Norwegian curse words. He had not seen Keith since the wedding, and really didn't want to listen to him lay the guilt on about Erik.
If not for the time with Erik, he would have been sorry that he'd even come to Pidge's wedding. Sven had not planned on attending at all, after his experience at Lance and Allura's wedding. However, his old teammates had all come to Crydor and asked him personally to come. It had meant a lot to him that they'd done that, plus it had gotten Bandor off his case about attending.
Sven had thought that staying down in the pilot's quarters would give him plenty of time with his friends, but it hadn't worked out like that. Lance was married and sleeping on the third floor, Keith was busy with his lady friend and her son, while Pidge was busy with Chip, Hunk, and the wedding. They would have been glad to have had Sven's company, but he felt like a third wheel, since they all had girl friends. There was also the issue that Bandor was spending a great deal of time with them, and the last thing Sven wanted was more of his brother-in-law.
Sven arrived at Keith's office and rang the chime, waiting for the door to open. When it did he was taken aback to see Lance, Daniel, and Vince there also. He started to worry about what was going to happen next. Sven thought about the visit that Lance had made to his quarters the other night, and how he had reacted. Daniel he knew was suffering from the same infection that he was, and that Vince was working with Pidge on a cure.
"Sven, thank you for joining us. Please have a seat, and help yourself to some coffee." Keith greeted his old friend with a smile, as he indicated the chair and the coffee. At the back of his mind he had been wishing he hadn't gone along with this idea, but looking at Sven now he decided it was for the best. The man was drawn and thin looking, while his eyes were puffy with bags under them from lack of sleep. Allura was right to suggest this, Keith thought, no longer upset about her dumping it in his lap.
"There might even be some food left if the cadets haven't scarfed it all up!" Lance teased, "Do you remember when we were at the Academy, and all the food we would eat?" He was hoping that by reminding Sven of their long history together it would put him in a better frame of mind.
"I am not hungry, and I was just getting ready to leave; my ship is all fueled and waiting for me." Sven stated simply, feeling outnumbered and claustrophobic in the small room.
"That is what I want to talk to you about, Sven. Please sit down." Keith's voice took on a note of command that everyone in the room recognized right away. Sven narrowed his eyes, but sat down, looking like a soldier about to be taken to task. He could feel the haggerium starting to get going, and he tried to stay calm and remember that Keith and Lance were his friends.
"Sven, I am going to be blunt with you, because I don't see any other way. You are not in a good place, either physically to mentally right now, and shouldn't be alone. There is also the haggerium poison in your system, which is both causing and exacerbating your problems. Because of all that, I am requesting that Daniel go back to Crydor with you." Keith saw Sven all set to interject, but he cut him off.
"He will go back to Crydor with you, and you will resume Pidge's treatment plan, which Daniel will do with you. Vince will monitor the progress by comm link, and once a week will come visit you on-site with one of us along." Keith summed up his decision in a firm voice, which turned slightly softer "Sven, Daniel, and Vince are aware of everything that is happening in your life right now. I told them because if Daniel is with you, he needs to be aware of your mental state and what is causing it."
The Viking had been slumped in his chair, as he listened to Keith. Now hearing that his friends had discussed his personal problems with two cadets and that he was being ordered around like one of those boys was too much. He stood up and let loose with a string of curse words in Norwegian that echoed off the walls of the small office. Sven turned toward the door as he was cursing, and finished his rant in English "I will not sit here and listen to this, and you can't tell me what to do!"
Lance had been shocked at how bad Sven looked, thinking it was even worse than the other night. He was also still having guilt feelings about the fact that it was because of him that Sven was in the state he was in. The guilt that Bandor was carrying around was easy to spot, because Lance had the same guilt, but for different reasons. The Polluxian king was dealing with it by losing sleep, while Lance's was causing him to smoke more. Thinking about how helpless he had felt, after the conversation in Sven's quarters, something snapped in Lance.
"You god damn will stay here and listen to it!" Lance's voice boomed around the room, as he went on "Sit your stupid fucking ass back down on that fucking chair. Yes, Keith can tell you what you fucking will do – Bandor has ok'd it! Quite frankly, your one damn lucky asshole! The only reason you aren't in a GA prison is because of him; I suggest you remember that. I always knew that you were a cheap, stubborn bastard, but I didn't think you were a stupid, selfish one too!"
Sven had stopped mid-step and regarded Lance with apprehension when he'd uttered the first sentence. His old friend continued on, condemnation in his voice, as he said what he did, Sven felt like he'd been hit with a stun gun. Daniel and Vince, remembering Lance's reaction outside of sick bay, all those months ago, knew that the Red Lion pilot was a force to be reckoned with when his temper was up.
The Viking sat back down in the chair, figuring that Lance would push him into it if he didn't – he knew Lance's temper too well. Sven had heard from his friend on more than one occasion about his cheapness and stubbornness, and based on how everyone was treating him, he probably was stupid he reasoned. However, he took exception to one word that Lance had thrown at him.
"You stuck up bastard, what do you mean I'm selfish?" Sven lunged out of the chair and leaned over into Lance's face. Daniel and Vince were wondering if they would have to restrain the man here and now, and Daniel reached for the stun gun. Lance though took care of the situation for them.
"I told you to sit your fucking ass down on that fucking chair! What part of that did you not understand?" Lance stood up to his full 6'3 height and got right back into Sven's face as he swore. The Viking looked up at his friend, saw the fury in his eyes, and sat back down very quickly. He knew that Lance would punch him without a second thought. Sven looked over at Keith, who was sitting there doing nothing.
Keith for his part was letting Lance run things now, it being part of the reason why he'd invited him to the meeting. Lance had never taken any crap from Sven when they had been roommates at the Academy. Lance was there for moral support, and to provide physical and verbal enforcement if needed. Keith had rather suspected it would be, and the Red Lion pilot had come through.
"Selfish, yes I said you were selfish! I also said you were stupid, but you're not arguing about that, I see!" Lance gave him a scathing look, "You have a son who needs a father, in case you have forgotten! However, you are not acting like a father at all, since you are willing to turn your back on him and die, because you aren't getting your way! All you've done is whine about how unfair everyone is being to you, and never once thought about what you are doing to them."
"But Romelle and Bandor are." Sven's voice took on a strident note, wanting his friend to hear his side of the story.
"Shut the fuck up! Romelle is trying to give your son a stable life, and Bandor is just taking care of his sister! And why are they having to do your job? Because Mr. fuck it all I'm always right, my way or the highway, you let them down." Lance's voice was full of scorn, "You say you don't want someone else raising your son, but your actions certainly indicate otherwise. Your son needs you to make every effort to be in his life, and to live as long as possible. Don't you want him to be proud of you, and respect you?" Lance was practically shaking as he finished talking, and he'd never wanted a cigarette so badly in his life.
Sven sat in the chair slack jawed, as he thought about what his friend had just told him. He had only seen everything from his point of view, not realizing that other people saw his actions differently. It shamed him to be told that Bandor was acting more like a man than he was. Lance had always known how to hit below the belt, Sven remembered now. He glanced over at Keith, and the cadets, who were all regarding him like a bug he felt. However, he wasn't going to down without a fight.
"And what if I don't agree to this plan?" Sven asked in an aggrieved tone, still hating the idea of being told what to do. When he saw the cold, calculating smile on Keith's face he was very sorry that he'd tried to have the last word.
"Well, that is certainly your choice Sven." Keith tilted his head, as he went on in a level voice "Lance made a very good point, but I don't know if you really heard it or not. Your actions in kidnapping the Crown Prince of Pollux, and consorting with Maahox and Lotor were acts of treason against the Galaxy Alliance. There is a warrant for your arrest that was issued at the time, just in case you weren't aware." Keith stopped, and sat back slightly, while keeping the cold smile on his face.
'Wow, I've never seen Keith act like a bad ass before, he is really turning the screws' Vince thought, and Daniel replied 'you don't get to be Black Lion's pilot and head of the Voltron Force by being soft'.
"Once we located you on Crydor I had a message from the GA, requesting that I take you into custody. However, your brother-in-law, who you resent, pleaded with the authorities to let him handle it as a family matter. Lucky for you they said yes, with the condition that you behaved yourself." Keith knew he should feel bad for what he was doing to Sven, but the man faced certain death if he didn't get back on those treatments. Lance's words about his responsibility to Erik had hit Keith hard, because of growing up without a father.
"Lance, since you are my second in command, I would like your opinion on whether Commander Holggerson has behaved himself while on Arus? Of course, your position as Prince Consort of Arus will give your opinion extra weight." Keith had turned to Lance, "The way I see it, if we think the Commander has not behaved himself, we can turn him over to the GA. Unless of course Bandor would object?"
Lance's face took on an evil smirk as he thought about what Keith had just said "Somehow I don't think Bandor will have a problem with us turning Sven over to the GA." It had been a long time since Lance and Keith had worked together, as they used to so long ago, and it felt good. He knew that Keith was feeling the same way by the look they exchanged.
Sven let loose another string of Norwegian curse words, but this time they weren't spewing out with as much venom. When he finished he regarded Keith and Lance with loathing as he announced "Fine, I'll do what you want! My son is not the fucking crown prince!" That riled Sven, and only the thought of Lance kept the Viking in his chair, but he did add "Just so you know Keith Kogane, you are a bigger bastard than Lance is!"
"Sven, how nice of you to say that!" Keith smiled pleasantly at his old friend, as he added "I will look forward to you being around next year to tell me that!"
'Do you think you could get Sven to teach you how to swear in Norwegian like he does? That is awesome!' Vince thought to Daniel, who sighed in his brain 'Well, it's not like I'm going to have too much else to do. It will be either that or listen to him whine about his marital problems'. He heard Vince think back 'at least he won't be talking about sex; when do you think the last time he did the deed was?' Daniel groaned inwardly, tired of hearing about sex all the time from Vince.
"Daniel, why don't you go get your bags, and we'll walk you out to the spaceport!" Lance suggested, thinking it would give him time to go have a cigarette. He had definitely earned it he decided, as Keith gave him a grateful smile.