Major boo-boo on my part...repost...

I don't own Voltron...

Chapter Eleven

On Planet Arus…

**…I'm coming back to you…Keith…**

The handsome captain shoots up in the bed, the voice piercing his mind and sounding just like Allura. He quickly scans the room to make sure he's not imagining things, but all he sees is darkness. Shaking his head, he lies back down and throws his arm over his face. It seemed so real…but he can't imagine why that message would come to him. The Princess was safe in her quarters, having been escorted there by him, personally. She placed a chaste kiss on his lips at the door, after making sure that they weren't seen and left him to wonder how she can run so hot and cold. The encounter in his room had him wanting to explore that curiosity she had about him, as well as settle the burning curiosity he had about her. Someone was looking out for the both of them, because she left before he could do anything.

Sighing, he kicks off the covers and swings his legs over the side of the bed, rubbing the back of his neck. He decides to try to finish the reports that he had started this afternoon, since he was wide awake now. The clock reads 2 am and he groans as he walks over to his desk. Turning on the lamplight, he immediately notices that his papers have been thrown in disarray. Being a neat freak, he knows that someone had been going through his work…but whom?

Allura…

But why would she be looking at Garrison reports? That niggling feeling that he has been having over the Princess since Lotor attacked comes back with a vengeance. He has been trying to accept the fact that she was really traumatized from the attack, but that isn't his Allura. She wouldn't take so long…there was something seriously wrong here. Coupled along with the fact he caught her sending that secret communication earlier that morning, he is finally admitting to something that he had hoped was untrue, but will not name it...

Until he has proof.

He didn't have the courage to actually bring that incident up to her…his clouded brain was focused on other more delightful things at the time. In retrospection, it is something he really needs to look into. Her sending messages, sneaking around, and the most important tell…her reaction to him. Since they admitted their love for one another, she seemed eager to be with him in any way they could find; now...

He closes his eyes briefly as he remembers the sweet kisses they shared that first time. Her lips were so sweet and so giving…his eyes shoot open.

The kiss!

The kiss he got from her in the launch bay was not the same…it just didn't feel right, now that he thought about it. He plops down into the chair and stares into the darkness of the room; his brain running through every scenario he can possibly think of to find out what has gone wrong…is it possible that the attack was more than a kidnapping attempt? Did Lotor have something more sinister in mind for the Princess?

"Hell…" he exclaims and he jumps up to leave the room.

Coran is sitting in Castle Control, looking at the radar detectors that face the general direction of Planet Doom. He is deeply engrossed with some minor blips when Keith runs in, "Coran, do a complete sweep of the East Wing. Make sure that you have a team sweep every area…this isn't over yet."

Coran swings around and stares at the disheveled young man. "The area has been swept twice and nothing has been found…why do we have to do it again?"

Keith takes a deep breath and replies, "There is something wrong…I've been having a bad feeling about what happened for some time now. I was going to do some more investigating about that attack because it went too easy…"

"What do you mean, easy? The Princess was almost kidnapped!"

The Voltron commander shakes his head, "Yes, we know that...but think about it…there were too many things that just didn't follow with how Lotor works. I think he had an alternate agenda that we haven't figured out yet. In the meantime, have an extra guard placed around the Princess, but don't let her know that you are doing it."

Coran's mouth forms an "O", "You know how she's going to act to that…she won't have it!" Keith smiles, "She won't know and he is to report to me only, understand? Once we find out what is actually going on, I'll tell her about the guard." His smile gets bigger when he hears the royal advisor groan before he adds. "If you think it is best…"

"Yes, thanks…have Hunk take over for you now and get some rest." Coran shakes his head, "There is no place I'd rather be right now…I feel more secure here at control, if you can believe that." And he turns back to the panel calling the captain of the Castle guard to meet him in control for Keith's orders.

Keith nods and then he heads back to the pilot's quarters. He's right about one thing…this will most definitely piss her off! He thinks as he runs his hand through his hair. It will also allay some of the fears that he's beginning to have; he has to find out what is going on and make sure that it won't harm the Princess. He can't take another hard shot at his heart like the day of her so-called burial. She's had enough of Haggar's sick potions and spells…hell, they ALL have and if it is in his power to stop it, he will. He reenters his bedroom and flops down on the bed, hoping that he can get back to sleep. Beautiful images of his golden princess flutter in his head and soon he's drifting back to sleep.

The team assembles for their early morning practice; Keith called for it a little after dawn since his attempts at going back to sleep failed. Even with the sweet dreams of Allura, his body decided that it was too much strain to stay neutral and he suffered from overwhelming arousal. He groans, realizing that he still has that problem. The Voltron commander stands in Castle Control, waiting for the rest of the team. Looking over the monitors for the launch bay, he hears them coming…boisterous as ever.

"Keith, is this really necessary? We don't do dawn!" exclaims Lance, still rubbing his eyes. Pidge hits him on the arm, "You should have gotten in earlier than you did last night…" he stops for a second, "Wasn't her name Jelena…Jelissa…Jel?"

Lance smiles smugly, "Her name is Jalene and not on your life…was having way too much fun!" and he emphasizes the remark by wagging his eyebrows. Hunk lets out a hoot and slaps him on the back. "You never cease to amaze me, buddy!"

They all chuckle, but they slowly cease when they reach their captain. "Hell, Keith…what's eating you?" the Red Lion pilot asks.

"Something isn't right. It has been eating at me since the attack and I can't shake it. I have implemented some new protocols to try to fish out what exactly is going on."

"What is it, Cap? What aren't you telling us?" asks Pidge as he straightens his glasses.

"I can't tell you guys now, because I have nothing to go on but a feeling…"

Hunk sighs, "And we all know what that means…"

Keith frowns, but continues. "When I have what I'm looking for, I'll let you guys know…right now, we need to start our drills." He looks around quickly and asks, "Has anyone seen the Princess?"

Everyone shakes their heads. "Haven't seen her since last night…you don't know where she is?" asks Lance sardonically. Keith shoots him a sharp look, "She was in her bedroom the last time I saw her…"

"And what time was that ?!"

This time, both Hunk and Pidge smack him on the arm. "Shit, I was just kidding!" Lance says ruefully, rubbing the sore spot.

"Okay, enough playing. We'll wait a few more minutes then we have to get in the air."

Cringing after hearing that remark, the other pilots know that if he has to take off without a member…it's curtains for the one that gets left behind, even if it is the Princess.

Just as they are preparing to lift the chutes, Princess Allura runs into the room; a little out of breath and very frumpy looking.

"Practice is at 6 am, Princess. You were about to be left." Keith says coolly. The ice edge to his voice makes the others look at him strangely…what happened between the two of them?

"I'm sorry…I overslept…I had a real hard time sleeping last night," she explains as she twists her hands; obviously nervous about what she did. But this does not appease her commander, "Nevertheless, Princess…you have a punishment coming. I'll decide what it is after we get back. We've wasted enough time…let's get to the lions!" and without another glance at her, he runs for chute number 1. The rest of the guys hang back a minute, still trying to understand the coldness that he was displaying to the princess, out of all people. Pidge touches her arm lightly then runs off. Hunk follows suit and then Lance comes over. "You know how he is when it comes to practice…he's a bear until about 9!"

A wistful smile comes over her face as she looks up at him. That same strange feeling that he had the night of the attack comes back and suddenly; he wants to kiss the hell out of her. He shakes his head, mentally flogging himself for thinking that way over the woman that his best friend is in love with. But, as he looks at her he could swear that her eyes are inviting him…

Clearing his throat, he says, "We need to get out there, before he hangs us both!" and he runs to the second chute. Alira stands there, vaguely understanding what just took place. The more she looks at him, the more she feels that dark desire to make love to him…and she has never felt that way for anyone but Lotor. Only he could seduce her with a mere look, but this Terran has laid her bare with his gorgeous blue eyes.

But I'm supposed to be with Keith!! But that didn't matter in that one instant; she was reaching out to Lance unwillingly and he seemed to be responding. She releases a breath and runs to the number four chute…maybe getting in Blue Lion will straighten her out…

The lions launch and take off for the Altarian Flats again, this time to make sure that the hydraulics in Blue are up to code and the practice ion sensing. As they fly out, Keith still can't shake the feeling that something is really wrong with Allura. More and more things are just not reading right and until he can find out what it is, his intense feelings for her have to be put on hold…at the cost of his sanity. Even looking at her hardens him like diamonds and he can do nothing about it…the whole cold shower thing is wearing thin! He turns on all vidscreens and look at his princess. Even disheveled, she's gorgeous, inside and out. She has always put others first, even at her own risk. There is nothing in this universe that he would rather do than to keep her safe from everything, but that would go against her fighting spirit. She was a myriad of contradictions, and he loved every single one of them. He smiles softly…never would he have thought that this could be between them, and he isn't gonna let it go, not even in death.

"Alright everyone, this is to test Blue's hydraulic changes. Princess, accelerate to mach 4 and fire retros…this should kick in the hydraulics before you come into contact with anything."

"Right, Keith…just give me the green light."

"On my mark…three…two…one…mark!"

The Blue Lion takes off and bursts into a daring climb to build up the speed. "Reaching mach 4 in ten seconds…" calls Alira and she levels Blue out and continues the run. As Blue speeds up, she begins to think about that handsome Lance again and forgets to fire her retros. The lion shakes violently and she lurches forward into the control panel.

"Princess, fire the retros! Do it NOW!!!!" screams Keith and she tries to grab hold of the levers to steady Blue.

"Dammit, Allura…you need to fire them before you shake yourself apart!" hollers Lance as they all helplessly watch Blue twist and turn in the middle of a mach 4 run. Alira starts to panic, but she remembers that the Princess wouldn't make such a horrible mistake, so she calms herself a little and flips the retro-thruster switch. Four thrusters fire from each paw and Blue settles down and as expected, the hydraulics steady her out completely.

An uneasy silence falls over the team as she makes her way back to the formation. She knows that this morning has not turned out to be a good one and could jeopardize her mission,but she better wait until they land to give self recriminations. Keith sighs a breath of relief that she didn't fall apart, but the anger at her foolhardy flying has him boiling.

"Blue is working …so it seems, so let's get to the ion sensors. The new Doom ships have limited stealth ability and we need to calibrate the sensors to read the smallest tachyon pulse that is emitted…"

The rest of the practice goes well, which is a good thing for Alira because she doesn't think that she will be able to deal with the stone silence she is receiving from her commander. As they dock all the lion ships, the fake princess braces herself for the infamous tongue lashing from Keith.

Although, in her twisted mind, a tongue lashing from Keith doesn't sound like a bad thing!

Returning to the launch bay area, she remembers that passionate kiss that Keith had given her and she feels a tightening in her loins. It was a great kiss, one that made her want more, but he just doesn't give her the tingles that his second in command does and that is something that she wants more of. The problem being is that she's supposed to be Allura, not Alira, and she's in love with Keith…isn't she?The bay area is clear; the guys must have already gone to the locker room to clean up, so she takes this time to contact Lotor…

Taking out her special communicator, she types in her code and hears a beep alerting her to the connection. "My prince, this is Alira…please come in. I am calling in my daily report."

"It's about time, what news do you have to tell me?"

"All is well, my prince. They still do not suspect any subterfuge, and I am getting around easily enough. I still do not have solitary access to Castle Control as of yet, but Allura's shift is not for another day."

"Excellent, keep the reports coming. This will all over in three days, my love…soon we will all get what we truly want!"

"As you command, my lord."

"Lotor out" Alira sighs at the fact that he called her "my love". He had never said that to her before and with a lighter attitude, she heads for the locker room to clean up.

As she enters the room, she sees a great cloud of steam coming out of the shower room and a wicked thought lures her over to the doorway. She tries to make out the figures, but the voices come through very clear…

"You didn't have to come at her like that…she made a mistake. No one is as perfect as you, Captain Infallible!"

"Don't be such a smart ass! She could have killed herself and for what? She had instructions!"

Alira frowns…at this rate Allura won't have a boyfriend to come home to if she doesn't do something…

And why should I? I'm here now…she can't help him…

Her thought abruptly stops when the steam clears and she sees them…her jaw hitting the floor. There they both were, showering while talking…both of their gorgeous bodies glistening with the hot water pouring over them. She moves a little more in the shadows, her eyes greedily taking in the sights yet again. She had seen Keith and it was through a door but up close…her mouth dries up. His body is magnificent, with the well-defined arms and legs, as well as rippling muscles for miles. Then her eyes turn to Lance and she almost chokes again…he's not as muscular as his leader, but his sinewy arms and legs are still well toned. His short chestnut colored hair stops at his collar, but the urge to run her fingers through it causes her hands to shake. Her eyes move down his muscular back and lands directly on his buttocks. Firm and toned…she stares until she notices a little mark on the right side that slightly resembles a strawberry. She unconsciously licks her lips wanting to see if it tastes like one. Wanting to compare, she moves her gaze back to Keith and isn't disappointed, his is just as firm with slight dimples in the hips…great for grabbing hold of…

Okay…let's calm this down a bit!!!

But she can't pull her eyes away. Suddenly they turn and she almost faints away. The only male member she had seen until now was Lotor and he was impressive…but now…

Both are very impressive, with Keith having the edge in size and length.

Bet he has more power behind his thrusts as well! she thinks smiling dangerously. Her eyes widen when she sees a tattoo on the left side of his manhood, just at the abdomen cut line. She narrows her eyes to see what it is and it resembles a big cat…a black panther, maybe? A wave of envy and arousal combine to overtake her senses, this is what the Princess is surrounded with day after day…how in the hell can she deal with it?

Then, it comes to her…Allura is still a virgin and wouldn't dare think of doing something like this! If the occasion arises, she's sure that the Princess would faint away from fear at seeing a sight like this…that's usually the case when you're talking about observing naked men. But, Alira doesn't have that problem. Being introduced to sexual activities for the first time through the Prince of Doom, she has never lacked in the attention…he seems to revel in the fact that no one touched her before him. It wasn't romantic in anyway, but he did seem to care for her in a small sense…he chose her for this mission out of all the women he had in the harem. A proud smile covers her face and she closes her eyes at the memory. The sudden quiet alerts her to move from the doorway before they realize that they have had an audience. She hurries over to the lockers and hides on the opposite side from where they're headed. Silently, she continues to listen to their conversation…

"I don't know what's up with you two…first, you can't keep your hands off each other and now…" says Lance, using his towel to dry himself. His companion stands there with his towel draped around his waist, staring a hole in the back of his head.

"I know you're staring at me...cut the shit and tell me what's wrong? You don't come at her like that!"

Keith sits on the bench and stares at him even harder. "If I didn't know any better, I would swear that you were jealous," he says cautiously. Lance jerks up and looks at him with a shocked look on his face. For a split second he thought that Keith had caught on to the feelings that he has been having, but he's not psychic. Settling his features, he uses the towel on his head. "Now I know you have issues…everyone knows that you and Allura have been pining for each other since forever…why would I even think about it? She's like…my sister!"

A really HOT sister…but he really doesn't need to hear that from me!

Sitting on the bench to put his underwear on, he looks at Keith closely and sees anguish in his eyes. "Seriously, man…why are you so upset?" In the back of his mind, for the first time, he wishes that Keith would say that he doesn't feel anything anymore for Allura…that it was the biggest mistake he had ever made telling her his feelings for her. In a sickening sort of way, that would leave him to take up where Keith leaves off…their friendship would be in the toilet though and was that really worth the risk? Lance shakes his head, thankful that he doesn't really deal with these kinds of things.

Keith rests his elbows on his knees and hangs his head. "I wish I could tell you…but until I have the proof I need, it's something that I have to deal with." Lance, I can't tell you what I feel because I don't want to believe what I feel…and I hope once again that I'm wrong…

"But, it's killing you. Even I know when Mister In-Control has completely lost it." Lance stands and pulls up his boxers, waiting for Keith to say something.

"I know…but once this is over, it'll all be fine."

"WHAT WILL??!!!"

Keith stands and gets his boxer-briefs to put on. "I told you…I'll tell you in due time. Trust me."

He looks at Lance with the question in his eyes. Lance nods and continues to dress in silence. Behind the lockers, Alira frowns at the direction of conversation. Obviously, Keith has doubts…but about what? She can't allay any fears because the only way she knows how is not what Allura would know how to do…which is step up the relationship because he'll know she's a fake then, but what else can she do? She can't risk being found out…Lotor would be furious. As her mind races, she patiently waits for them to leave before she takes her turn at the shower.

Once she hears the sound of their footsteps leaving the room, Alira moves around to the other side and sees the discarded towels on the floor. She moves over to the first one and picks it up…it has the aroma of musk and a scent she can't identify. This is Lance… and she reverently places it back on the bench, deciding to go to her quarters to take a much needed bath…she needs it to calm herself down.

As she leaves the room and starts to head to her temporary chambers, her communicator goes off and she ducks in an alcove to answer it.

"Alira here…"

A loud voice comes over the system, so much so that she carefully looks around the hall to make sure that's she's alone. "Alira, my dear…I need you to move up your time table. Your mission will end the day after tomorrow."

Her expression freezes as her unspoken hopes dash a bit. A certain sadness comes at knowing that she will not be able to explore these new feelings anymore. Heaving a heavy sigh, she dares to ask why, "My prince, has something happened? Why must we move so fast now?"

"That is not your concern…just be ready when you're called!"

The sharp tone of his voice pricks a nerve in her, and she tries out a new resolve. "My prince, you have me here for a reason that you have not made too clear. You never told me what you planned to do with the Princess and what you plan to do with me…"

"Are you questioning me?" the voice asks in a dangerous tone. Alira swallows hard; that voice means do not push and there are so many things that she wants to accomplish. So, she capitulates, "I didn't mean to be insubordinate…I just felt…"

"You need to FEEL nothing! You are not important enough for me to worry about right now, so just do what you were sent there to do!"

The communicator cuts off and Alira's eyes begin to water. He has never spoken to me like that! She can feel her heart constrict and suddenly she can't breathe. Stumbling down the hall, she tries to reach her quarters running into, or rather falling into, the handsome Red Lion Pilot.

"Hey, what's going on here? Why are you crying?" he asks gently. She says nothing, but wraps her arms around his neck and sobs into his chest. Lance hesitantly holds her, but his arms get tighter the harder she cries. He starts to rock her gently and a surge of protectiveness washes over him, as well as another emotion that he is too afraid to name. This is what Keith must feel…but why am I? The embracing couple is totally unaware of the darkening set of eyes that have just turned the corner. A hard-set jaw and clenched fist approach at a rapid pace.

"Excuse me…is there a problem?"

Lance looks up and quickly pushes Alira away. She's still crying, but she does realize that another person is there…and he is the one she should have reached for to keep the Allura act. Blushing furiously, which is so unlike him, Lance rubs the back of his neck and stammers a hasty reply, "Uh, no…the Princess was upset about something and I…"

A stinging stare hits him and he quiets down. Keith turns the icy stare to Alira and it softens a little when he sees the steady flow of tears. Recognizing what she needs to do, Alira moves into Keith's embrace and holds on tight. At first, he resists but the soft body pressing against him begins to chip away at his reserve. He places his cheek on the top of her head and croons to her softly, "It's okay…don't cry, Allura." At hearing the name Allura, she raises up, desperate to scream that that isn't her name, but she has to hold her tongue. All the damned training she did and she falls apart at the seams because of her feelings! She has too many conflicting emotions running through her right now, but the one that is foremost is betrayal…betrayed by the one man that she loved more than anything and really didn't know why. She has received more caring and attention here than she ever did on Doom, but they think of her as Allura here. How she wishes that they would still give this to her once she is Alira again. Her sobs subside and Keith looks back at Lance and notices the confusion of emotions running across his face. He had to bite back a nasty remark; aware that he still has to prove what he feels is true…so for now, nothing will be said about the tender scene he walked in on.

"Are you okay now, Allura? I can escort you back to your chambers if you want!" he asks gently, keeping his arms around her. She pulls back and looks at him, "Yes…" then she looks down at her uniform and chuckles. "I still need to change my clothes from practice."

The two pilots both smile and Lance tells her, "Well, looks like you're in good hands now. I'm heading for the gym…I'll see you guys later…" and he swiftly moves down the hall, leaving the couple still in their embrace. For the first time, he doesn't feel the powerful urges to sweep her into her room and allow their feelings to control the situation…he doesn't even want try.

Yet another clue…

"Let's go." Keith says and he propels her toward her quarters. As they walk, he tries to start some chit-chat, "They have said that your rooms will be finished in two days. I'm sure you're happy about that."

Silence…

He looks down at her and sees a far-off look in her eyes and he stops them. "You weren't being truthful back there, were you? There is something very wrong here."

She looks up at him and nods, not wanting to keep this in her anymore…wanting to free herself from this agonizing pain caused by her prince. "Have you ever wanted something so bad…so bad that you dream about it every single minute of the day and night? The very thought of it consumes your entire being until it's all you ever want?"

Everytime I see my princess… is the immediate thought, but he bites it back. He waits to see what else she may tell him…instead he simply nods. She shakes her head and rushes to her chambers. Following behind her, he stands in her doorway, watching her start to pace…totally out of character for the Princess.

"Such thoughts can keep you hoping and waiting for that one time that your world will be made whole?!" He notices that her voice is getting louder and a surge of concern comes over him, so he moves into the room and stands close to her, if only to give her the impression of comfort.

"Do you know how it feels when it is taken away, cruelly ripped from you and you're told you should have never had it?!" Her voice is now a shrill and she runs over to the bed and falls upon it, sobbing hopelessly. The tug of concern draws him over to her and he sits beside her, slowly rubbing her back in comfort. More of the mystery was uncovered, but he's still not completely sure…only she can tell him what's going on.

"Allura, I don't completely understand what you talking about. Please, talk to me," he coaxes. Her sobs quiet down, but she still doesn't speak. In her mind, she knows that she has a sympathetic ear that will listen and she almost pours out her heart, but her sense of loyalty and struggling love for her prince keeps her from destroying the mission. She sits up and decides on another tactic. She places her tear-streaked gaze on him and whispers, "I know that being a princess has its good points, but when it comes to us…it becomes a burden. One that I can't take anymore…" and she leans in to kiss him…