Disclaimer: I do not own Voltron/Go Lion or any of their characters. They are the property of WEP and Devil's Due Comic and Toei Animation. All other characters are mine. This is written purely for entertainment purposes and I am not monetarily compensated in any way.
Rites of Passage
Chapter 21
Although my quarters are luxurious and I have access to a database of tens of thousands of holofilms social media applications, games, magazines, books and newsfeeds to keep myself entertained, my forced confinement is torture. It is ironic that during my command of the Rihan Annsu my workload would become so overwhelming that I would daydream of going on leave and do nothing but lay abed for days and watch the holo'. But now that it is the only option available to me; I am bored beyond belief! Perhaps if I were allowed access to a pleasure slave and some recreation this wouldn't be so intolerable. Or any company at all, aside from my valet, for that matter. But I have been denied even that. Yoi had attempted to visit and was turned away by the guard posted outside my door. No 'unauthorized visitors' they said.
Several of my juniors have been sending me holos and messages of their shipboard adventures, or misadventures more accurately, thinking that it might raise my spirits, but truthfully it just depresses me more to see them enjoying their leave while I am trapped in solitude. I haven't responded to any of them in several hours, instead I have been playing at urru. It is an interactive multi-player game but it has stopped being fun since I have been on a losing streak. I poke at an icon on the screen and cash out and roll my chair restlessly away from the desk. I decide to shower and dress for the day even if I won't be going anywhere. At least it's something to do.
As I exit the lavatory still towel drying my hair my valet alerts me that I have a call waiting on a priority encrypted channel. No doubt it is my father. I take a deep breath and steel myself for what is surely going to be a brutal chastisement for ignoring him for so long. I shrug into my robe and push my damp hair behind my ears and sit at the holo-screen and open the communication channel.
As the image appears on screen my heart drops into my stomach and I jump to me feet and brace to attention with my fist across my chest. It is not my father as I had expected, but Marshall Hazar himself! My mouth runs dry as feel a trickle of water from my wet unkempt hair drip down my neck. I'm suddenly conscious of the half-faded purple shadow that still rings under my left eye. And I realize how slovenly-how unlike an officer of the Supremacy- I must look. I wish the floor would open and swallow me whole.
"Sir!—I was—um, just finishing exercise…" I stammer the first lame excuse that pops into my head like the slacker I appear to be.
To my surprise he laughs. "At ease, Sincline. There is nothing official about this conversation. In fact, it would be best if it stayed off the record…completely." He has the voice of a war-fighter I notice; deep and gravelly from years of shouting orders over the noise of battle. In a strange way it reminds me of my father's.
At his order I automatically fall into parade rest. A weak, "Yes, sir," Is all I can manage to croak out as either sweat or water trickles icily down my spine.
"I'd like to congratulate you on your first kill. Quite a prize you bagged." Hazar says and leans back in his chair. He must be in his private residence because I can see in the background the enormous painting of a naked, reclining woman everyone talks about. Rumor has it that it is of his favorite concubine and he painted it himself. Or more accurately, I can see most of a painting of a naked woman because from my perspective all I can see is a headless torso with enormous breasts. It's comical in a way because from the angle of holo screen's camera, the Fleet Marshall's head appears to be resting between them. To my horror, as I am about to express my gratitude, I feel my lips starting to curl up in a smile and I press them together trying suppress my inappropriate, poorly timed mirth.
"Thank you, sir." I finally manage and force my self to look at the center stone of the medallion he wears around his neck. Common born, neither royal nor noble, it is his only emblem of estate; he received it when he earned the title Dai'Ahkhusu. Suddenly I am certain that it was Hazar's battalion that intercepted the Alliance vessels and gave my crew and I the chance to return home alive and victorious. Now I know to whom I am so indebted. This knowledge successfully quashes my disrespectful musings.
"I don't think I need to tell you that what you did put an end to any negotiations with the Alliance." He continues.
I open my mouth to speak but he waves a hand dismissively to stop me. "Ngh! Humans! They never honor their treaties anyway." He leans forward and shifts in his chair. "I'm glad this happened. I needed an opportunity to convince the council to reconsider negotiating Supremacy Territory away to these…barbarian interlopers." He explains.
"Yes, sir." I agree because I don't know what else to say.
"Sincline, your contract is nearly up, isn't it?" He pauses for me to answer.
"Yes, sir. I have fourteen months left, sir."
"Are you planning on renewing?" He asks and rubs his knuckle across his chin.
The question takes me by surprise. I still have no idea what my status is because the Highlander's inquest has been delayed. "I don't know how to answer that, sir. Things are a little uncertain for me." I say.
"Ah, well let me put your mind at ease, Commander. There may be some minor reprimands, for procedural violations- that sort of thing. We have to veah'rai 'yi…aside from the one you managed to get yourself." He smiles and shakes his head a little. "Otherwise we'll have hnafir'rau attacking every ship they see. But…I can personally assure you that you may—" he pauses for a moment as if contemplating what to say, "-put your mind at ease about any possible criminal charges. There will be no more Fifth Kingdom set ups from now on." He casually explains then looks at me thoughtfully, steepling his fingers under his chin.
I feel like a bucket of water has been dumped over me! I was right! Someone was trying to frame me! As high up as the Council! Someone has taken the Fifth Kingdom's side over ours for whatever purpose. And now I know that Hazar himself has taken up the Ninth Kingdom's cause. There is far more involved in this than I am privileged to know. But what I am sure of is that there is a power struggle going on within the Council itself, and now I and the Ninth Kingdom are being dragged into it.
"One more thing, you can forget about command of another ship. You've made too many people nervous in the Fourth Fleet. I hope you like paperwork, because you're going to be commanding a desk from now on." He explains.
"Yes, sir. Understood, sir." I feel my heart drop. I can't imagine a more inglorious end to my career. But to my surprise he continues.
"Unless of course you request a transfer-to the Seventh Fleet." He suggests. "I think there's room there for an ambitious officer like yourself, not afraid to take bold and decisive actions."
I am stunned and for several seconds I can't think of what to say. The Seventh Fleet is under Hazar's command. He has offered me a chance to serve under him and to lead once more! But I have obligations. "Sir, I am expected to return to Korrinoth at the end of my contract and serve my father in my place as heir apparent." The words are like ashes in my mouth.
"I expected as much; you have some time to make your decision. But between now and then, Sincline, if I were you, I'd figure out which one of the Trinity has blessed you with this victory and honor Her. " He says and looks off screen at something that makes him smile. "Think carefully about what I've told you." He says and cuts the link abruptly.
I stand there for several minutes staring at the outline of the holo before turning it off. I'm still trying to process the information I have been given and then I start to laugh. Heartily. I don't know if it's the knowledge that I, and the Ninth Kingdom, am off the hook or the preposterousness of the image of Hazar's head smashed between those enormous breasts is impossible to ignore, but I am still laughing when my valet comes back in with a pot of ullan and my clothes from the laundry. The look he gives me causes my laughter to abate somewhat.
"Good news, Sir?" He asks.
His question gives me pause. "I have no idea." I answer.
It is now after dinner and I'm still deeply distracted about my secret conference with Hazar. My initial relief is gone and has been replaced by the question of who one the council has sided against us. The why is no question. It has everything to do with the disputed territories between the Fifth and the Ninth. Someone has decided that it would be best the Fifth Kingdom depose my father and acquire all of the Ninth Kingdom's territory. Surely it means that the Fifth Kingdom is preparing for war with us. A war they believe they can win along with their secret allies.
If their little ruse had worked and had I found myself in a military prison it would have created more than an unstable line of succession for my father. It would have called into question the legitimacy of his sovereignty. My father is, like Hazar, Dai'Ahkhusu, And commonborn as well. He is also usurper. He murdered his own king, Vosta, and took the throne of Korrinoth –if it could have been called that- for himself. It was an unprecedented act. Certainly, Dai'Ahkhusu have been conquering worlds for centuries, but until my father, the Diazaba'al, none had ever come for a sitting monarch. That it was his own king, whom he swore a blood oath to serve, made it that much more audacious.
There were many that thought that the entire Empire should rise up and teach my father a lesson; take from him his bloody throne and make an example out of him. But in those days, under Vosta, and his father before him, long before I was born, Korrinoth was a slum. A third class planet on the edge of the Khrym'syn Quadrant; barely acknowledged as a Kingdom by the Empire. And because of that, the decision was made to let my father fail on his own. Fortunately, for the both Empire and the Ninth Kingdom, that didn't happen. Over the years, my father built Korrinoth into the Ninth Kingdom; a stalwart force to protect the Empire from the encroaching humans as well as one to be reckoned with therein.
It is not the first time the Fifth has tried to take my father's throne by treachery. And it will not be the last. I have no hope, out here in the middle of deep space, of figuring out all the players in this game of thrones. But I am content in the knowledge that their plots have been exposed, and that is all the edge we need. I must relay what I have learned to my father. It has been far too long that I have been at port and I haven't made contact with him. He is bound to be furious with me, but I can avoid it no longer. I summon my valet to log onto the communication servers and make a formal request for an encrypted channel under my royal title.
Before he leaves he calls my attention to some items he has left on the desk. One is a small package shipped from the Ai'ghur Quadrant. It piques my curiosity because it is very unusual to get a piece of physical mail while in deep space. But I disregard it for the moment because the other, to my utter delight, is McAllister's officer's sword which she presented to me when she surrendered the Highlander. My valet wants to know what I would like done with it.
I pick it up and examine the scabbard. It is black shiny enamel with gold etching and an ornate end cap. I draw the blade to get a better look at the cross guard. It is fine workmanship. Very fine indeed. I see that there is a sigil engraved and enameled in great detail. It looks like a rearing favi facing a clawed beast with red and blue quartered emblem in the center. There is a great deal of fine detail work in gold and colored enamel and it is also pave set with gemstones. A high quality officer's port epée is attached to the hilt as well, in complimenting colors of dark blue leather and red stitching. But the workmanship does not end there. I can see that the blade is old, hand forged steel; a gorgeous blue grey with wood grain-like water marks wrapping around it in a repeating pattern. Twin fullers run down its length and there is a gilded panel affixed on either side. On one side of the panel, in gold leaf, Terran letters read "Audentes Fortuna Iuuat" and the other "W&SolgensonCo" also in gold.
I set the sword down and cue up a new page on my holoscreen and enter the inscriptions in the translator. For one there is no translation, but meaning of the other gives me pause. "Fortune favors the bold" it reads. I shiver and I can't help thinking that perhaps Hazar is right, I have been blessed by One of the Trinity and I should make an offering to them as soon as possible.
I would like to replace my Supremacy dress sword with it, as I won this one in battle and it carries a high prestige, but it is too small for me. But it is certainly beautiful enough for display. I decide to have it mounted on onat wood with a plaque engraved with the name of the Highlander, the infamous name of her captain, and the date of her capture and defeat. As first kills go, I could not have picked a better one if I was offered a choice.
My valet alerts me that a channel has been opened and my father is being located. I pull up my chair and sit in front of my desk and get comfortable. No doubt my father will keep me waiting as a punishment for taking so long to reply to him. But this day is full of surprises! I am barely settled before the chime indicates an image is loading.
"Lotor! My beloved son! How nice to hear from you! I didn't know if you would be allowed to call me from jail." Zarkon, my father exclaims sarcastically. He is sitting at his desk with one leg crossed over the other. It must be early morning in Korrinoth because he is dressed in a plain, white tunic that he usually wears when he is puttering around in his garden and his hair is loose, not skinned back in the tight cue that he keeps it in when holding court.
"Good morning, father." I greet him. "I am not in jail, merely confined to quarters."
"Oh, well…that's good to know. How did you manage that? Supremacy regulations have changed since quite a bit, then. In my day if you defied the orders of your superiors, broke a cease fire and almost got yourself and your crew killed over a cargo vessel you'd have gotten your head removed from your shoulders." He says continuing with his typical sarcasm.
"Well, I guess things have changed. And the Highlander wasn't a cargo vessel! She was a warship!" I say, unable to keep the plaintive and defensive edge out of my voice. "The Alliance was violating the terms of—"
"That's not what I heard." He interrupts me. "I heard she was a cargo vessel on a transport mission with bad jump drive."
I'm silent for a moment, wondering where he could have gotten that information. It was my understanding that no details from Highlander had been released to anyone. At all. It was merely being referred to, even among the intelligence community, as an 'an incident.'
Finally I say, "Well, you got bad information. I can't go into detail, but the Highlander was not just a cargo vessel-" I pause mid-sentance; stopping myself before I say too much. "Did you get the message I sent? About the weather?" I ask pointedly, using our established 'code word' to indicate that there is something encrypted within the standard reply I sent him before coming aboard the Khans Khiori. Although I specifically requested a private channel, I know better than to think that it is actually so. My father and I have worked out a method of talking around the edges of things to pass information back and forth to each other.
"No. I did not." He answers and I see his eyes narrow thoughtfully. I know my father well enough that he is evaluating something. I'm sure it is that he has a spy on my ship and that spy has not performed adequately. From what my father has told me he knows about the Highlander I suspect that it is my first officer, a fellow Korronite. I put the man aboard the Highlander and he was not around for the revelations that Yoi and I discovered. I'm glad. I think back to the many months he has been under my command and wonder what he has been reporting back to my father about me.
"Curious. Perhaps your secretary still has yet to open it. Speaking of curiosities—during my confinement I watched a holo about ships can travel through space-time without using jump ports." I say cryptically.
"Oh?" He asks uncrossing his legs and sitting forward. "Sounds like nonsense."
"It probably is. Especially since, as the story goes, a human scientist from Altea, of all places, developed it." I say and he scowls, then rubs his chin thoughtfully with his finger and nods slightly.
"Lotor, it's bad enough that you're wasting your own time watching such fantasy nonsense, don't waste my time by telling me about it!" He scolds, but I can see by his expression that he understands what I am trying to do. "I have enough real problems with the Altean's already." He growls. I'm unsure of what he means exactly, but I'm sure I'll find out soon enough. I surmise it has something to do with the Lith family—a second son of Fifth Kingdom's minor nobility married into the Altean court. I suppose they continue to support the Fifth Kingdom's agendas there, which is in direct conflict with Altea's treaties with us. I had thought the matter settled before this tour of duty began when my father began serious negotiations for my marriage. I hope for the Altean's sake they are not playing both sides and making my father look a fool in the process.
"Apologies, father. I do have something important to tell you, however. During the taking of the Highlander two of my crew, subjects of the Ninth Kingdom, displayed outstanding dedication to both myself, the Ninth Kingdom and their duty." I say. My father remains quiet so I continue. "They should receive honors. I've already sent you an account about Si'lia. He saved my life. He was serving to repay his family's tenure obligation. And the other is Naro Yoi-"
"Ah, the traitor's nephew?" He interrupts.
"Father, I thought the Yoi family provided you critical aid when…" I pause, trying to find the right way to phrase my half-brother's attempted coup and patricide. It is a delicate subject that my father does not like to discuss.
"Yes, yes they did. But, my son let me tell you this-and remember it well. Treason runs deeper than blood; it's in the bone. Once a traitor; always a traitor. Keep them close, and their children closer." He lectures.
"Yes, father." I agree, knowing that argument is closed. If Yoi is going to get any reward for helping his Prince is will have to be from me. "But, the Si'lia family—"
"Yes, yes…of course. Send on whatever you want done for them to my secretary." He says dismissively. He has been distracted ever since I bought up Altea. "So, any word on your disposition?" He changes the subject.
I shake my head. "Nothing formal. The inquest has been delayed since the lead investigator died in an accident." I explain.
"What? I don't like this. This is taking too long." He says and rubs his forehead.
"It's for the best, father. The lead investigator was from the Fifth Kingdom. He was killed interrogating one of the prisoners."
"Fuck!" He curses loudly, "Lotor, you idiot boy! What the hell have you gotten yourself into?"
"Father!" It's my turn to interrupt him this time. "It's handled."
"What do you mean it's handled?" He demands.
I hesitate, unsure of how much of Hazar's conversation I can reveal safely. "I have been assured that no criminal charges will be filed. But I am going to be relieved of command in the Fourth Fleet for the rest of me contract."
"Relieved of Command? After your first tour?" My father hangs his head and shakes it slowly back and forth. "That's your idea of 'handled?' Wonderful."
"Father, that is not all." I continue and he raises his head and glares at me expectantly. "I have received a personal invitation to transfer to the Seventh Fleet, with no reduction in rank and the opportunity for advancement." I explain enthusiastically.
"Really? And who told you this?" He asks skeptically.
"Marshall Hazar. Himself." I declare.
"Oh?" He says and I see a change in his expression. It melts from contempt to curiosity to something else, something I have never seen. It takes me by surprise…I don't believe it, but it looks a great deal like jealousy. He opens his mouth as if to thinking of something to say, then closes it. Finally, I have done something that he can't criticize. "I suppose you told him 'yes'?" He says at last.
I pause for a moment, "No, I told him that I'm expected to return home. To honor my duties to you."
"Good. Because I don't need you chasing glory and causing more problems for me." He says spitefully.
I look down trying to hide my disappointment and spy my trophy sword on my desk with its gold engraving along the blade and I recall the feeling of my victory and Hazar's praise. "Father, Hazar said I demonstrated bold and decisive leadership. He thinks I have a future-" I press.
"Eh? He said all that? Hmpft, well, don't let go to your head. You just got lucky. And don't get any big ideas about transferring and extending your contract—"
"But Father—"
"Exactly, I'm your father, and as your father I'm telling you, you are coming home at the end of your contract."
I open my mouth to say something but he continues. "Not another word. I have enough to worry about with Alteans, the Fifth Kingdom…and now the Supremacy. As well as trying to make sure the Ninth Kingdom can survive your rule."
"Yes, Father." I reply despondently. At least he didn't threaten to throw me into the Pit of Skulls when I got home. I almost wish he would.
"Oh, and happy birthday. Check your account." He adds.
"Thank you, father." I respond blandly and he cuts the communication.
My disappointment is palpable. I was hoping he would praise my victory and encourage me to renew my contract. But I see now that he won't. He wants me back at Korrinoth so that he can hold me under his thumb! He is threatened by Hazar's interest and wants to keep me in my place. Beneath him. I should have expected this. Khiori forbid I should have any success to rival the Great Diazba'al!
I am however , somewhat surprised that he remembered my birthday. I log on to check my bank account to see what gift has been deposited. My eyes open wide. It spite of the standard holiday greeting it is quite generous. Ten million credits along with the property rights, titles and incomes from several estates on Korrinoth and Tyrus. I am now the Duke of Ai' on Tyrus, Duke of Nergat on Korrinoth, across the bay from Galra Castle among other lesser titles. Sometimes my father makes no sense at all. It is my thirtieth birthday and he gifts me so much wealth yet still treats me like a child. No doubt he still thinks he can control my decisions by threatening to take away the noble titles and their incomes.
An idea occurs to me. I am a man grown and under the law I am no longer subject to the bonds of Yata Shai'a. He ordered me home as my father, not as my king. I am not subject to his authority any longer. If I choose to renew my contract there is nothing he can do about it. Not until it is up, then he may invoke his authority as my King and order me to resign. But not before. To do so would mean that he would require me to break my word and behave as a coward and a criminal. I smile to myself, for once the old man is not going to get the best of me.
However, if I do this thing, declare myself independent from his custody then he is no longer obligated to see to my welfare. He cannot unnamed his son and heir, but will certainly revoke the lesser titles and incomes. Leaving me to scratch out a living on what money I have managed to save from my allowance and his cash gift. Clearly, buying the Veyhron will have to wait. Is my independence worth this great a cost?
I narrow my eyes as I think. I also have the income from my share of the Highlander…and any other booty I may seize in battle. I smile as I remember what Quarq's crony had let slip at dinner. I will have quite a fortune coming to me if I don't 'end up in Ghalai.' Which it looks like I won't. No, father, you can keep your petty lordships and titles! I think smiling smugly. I'm off to seek fortune and glory! I will create a legacy of conquest that will rival your own!
As I sit at my desk feeling victorious I notice the package that my valet had called to my attention along with McAllister's sword. It is a small plastic self sealing envelope that has an Altean postage seal. I turn it over in my hand and press on it trying to discern the contents, they are pliable and I feel no hard edges or lumps, only a firmness in the center. What they could be I have no idea. I pull the strip that opens it and dump out the contents. I frown as I see it is a folded scrap of black silk with a tangle of loose red thread attached to it. As I shake it, it opens and a decorative holo-card clatters onto my desk. No doubt a greeting from the sender.
I pick up the card and activate the message. To my complete and utter surprise the image on the holo message introduces itself as the child princess of Altea wishing me a happy birthday and a safe passage where ever I am. I suppose she is the one my father had thought to have betrothed to me. From the stilted way she's speaking I can tell that she's probably written down what she wants to say and rehearsed and re-recorded this a dozen times.
I unfold the swatch of silk in my hands and grimace. It's a handkerchief of sorts, sloppily embroidered with a large 'L' and 'A' intertwined in red and outlined in gold, along with some abstract designs around the boarder that may or may not be flowers. Or insects. As birthday presents go I've certainly received finer. But just as I'm about to stuff it back in it's package and throw it away I glance back at the holoscreen on my computer to the standard holiday greeting from my father's secretary and his impersonal, manipulative gift of money directly deposited into my account. The little princess' gift is the total opposite in all ways. Although hideous and worthless, she must have done this herself and it must have taken her considerable time and effort. I smile a little as I rub the fabric between my thumb and forefinger. It is actually a very sweet and thoughtful gift.
I look back at her chubby cheeked face, blonde hair and bright blue eyes paused in frame at the end of her recorded message. She may very well grow up to be quite pretty- that is, if she doesn't run to fat like her mother. It is really too bad about the rapidly deteriorating situation between our two Kingdoms.
I hear the door chime and after a moment my valet informs that I have a visitor. It seems that the Trinity is indeed smiling on me and the worst of this endeavor is over. Erie, Quarq's niece, has come to comfort me in my enforced solitude. I toss the Altean princess' gift into a desk drawer and go to make welcome my lovely guest.
*The End*
Glossary:
veah'rai 'yi: (phrase) lit. trans. Get/give a black eye. A colloquial description for getting a mild punishment mostly for public appeasement.
Urru: a game of chance similar to craps. Uses eight sided dice with both numbers and symbols.
Yata Shai'a: no translation. Similar to the ancient Roman custom of Pater Familias. The final rite of passage marking the change from childhood to adulthood in which a Drule male is considered completely independent from the authority of either parent. It is usually thirty years old and marked by a ritual cutting of bonds and a large celebration. However in ancient times it was celebrated with a young warrior's first victorious battle.