Watch your thoughts, for they become words.
Watch your words, for they become actions.
Watch your actions, for they become habits.
Watch your habits, for they become character.
Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny. Anonymous
Chapter 21: The Dark Rises
As the battle outside the castle walls continued, Pidge studied the beast in front of him. He ran multiple scans desperately trying to find whatever the beast hid. No matter how many times the lions attacked, the robeast for some reason would not fight back. It's as if it doesn't want to hurt the lions for any reason. Why? Pidge asked himself.
"Pidge, anything?" Sven's voice shook in frustration.
"Nothing, Sven," Pidge answered with the same tone of frustration as he looked at the scans showing negative readings. The pilot continued searching for any special weaponry the beast hid. He found nothing. "This thing is not packing anything we should watch out for."
Sven thought deeply. The Drules were stalling them. What for? He didn't know. Then, a thought crossed his mind, but it was immediately sliced away by a sudden move from the robeast.
The monster turned, as if it was ordered to do so and began heading into the closest village by the castle.
"This thing is heading to Anialis!" Hunk yelled out. "The orphanage is close by!"
"Follow it," Sven ordered.
"But, Sven…the castle," Allura countered. "What if they want him?"
"Coran," Sven switched the vidscreen and connected to castle control; the image of his beloved popped into view.
"Sven, Coran is running scans on the ships." Romelle told him.
"Romelle, has there been any attempts to infiltrate the castle?" Sven asked.
After checking all security points Romelle looked back at him, "No, love," she answered him. "Nothing."
He managed to wink at her, letting her know he was alright. She, in turn, gave him a small smile, "Be careful Sven."
He nodded before he turned his attention back to his group. "No attempts on the castle. Hunk, Pidge and I will follow this thing. Lance, Allura, protect the castle."
"Right!" Lance immediately answered.
The three lions veered off following the beast. Upon them leaving, the mother ship commenced attacks on the remaining lions. The ship targeted them, but never once did they hit them.
"Allura."
"Right behind you Lance!" She exclaimed as both lions began to strike back at the large ship.
"This is weird. We are hitting them, but they won't hit us," Lance stated studying the ship. "What are they planning?"
Allura didn't answer, her heart continued pounding. Whatever the Drules planned, it included Keith and she wished she was at his side instead of in the skies.
VVVVVVVVVV
Haggar honed in to Keith's room and within moments upon turning back into her form, she went toward his room. She opened the doors and found a nurse sitting by his side.
The nurse's instincts kicked in almost immediately. When Grace saw the witch, she stood and attempted to press the emergency button by the wall on top of headboard of the bed. Haggar, however, was too fast for Grace. She lifted her staff; aimed and fired a mist that hit the woman with such a shock that she plummeted to the floor with a hard thump.
The witch walked in toward the still figure on the bed. Haggar heard his labored breathing and knew he was in the final stages of the process. Soon victory would be hers, she relished the moment.
Outside, the booming of the explosions and the lions flying around the castle, deep in battle, were felt around the castle walls. No one suspected she had infiltrated. She smiled at that victory.
Haggar yanked off the cold blankets that lay on top of Keith and then sat down next to his body, which was still covered by a light blanket. She caressed the commander's pale face with her hard dry callused hand before tucking away the strands of hair that covered his forehead and eyes.
Seconds later, the witch saw the hint of blue from his lips gradually diminish; sweat ran down his face. She lowered her face down to his, whispering in his ear softly, "Stop fighting, Commander. It is time to come home," she gently continued murmuring. "Your father wants to see you."
Hearing those words ignited the process again. Keith breathed even harder, gasping for air. Soon, the lack of air choked him and he started convulsing. He tilted his head back as he gasped for air grasping fistfuls of the white sheet that covered him with his hands. He violently shook and his eyes darted open and rolled back until only the whites showed.
He continued gasping. his jumbled words disappeared into a faint echo.
"There…there," the witch whispered softly as if everything that was happening was natural. "There you go. Don't be afraid. It will be all over soon. It's time for your rebirth." Keith continued convulsing as she eerily played with his hair, caressing his cheek, completely enthralled with his pain.
As that happened, he drew what looked like a last breath. He opened his eyes; they were filled with pain as he looked blankly at the ceiling above. Slowly, his eyes dimmed and closed. When his fight ended, Keith slumped into unconsciousness, his hands relaxed above the bed.
"It's over. Finally over," Haggar beamed as she continued playing with his hair.
Keith looked as if he were sleeping peacefully, as if the past events had never happened. She brushed his hair with her hands as he took a deep breath of relaxation. Softly, she whispered, "Awaken soon my Prince, we have much to do."
About ten minutes later, Keith slowly opened his eyes, looking at the dreaded face of Haggar smiling back at him. At one point in his life he would have frightened at looking at that face so close to him. Surprisingly, he just gazed at her, studying every feature she held with simple curiosity.
"Welcome my Prince, your father is looking forward to seeing you," she told him, caressing his face.
He looked at her darkly, took a deep breath, and offered her a menacing smile.
VVVVVVVVVV
Maryann paced around the room thinking of a way to escape. Never did she think she'd end up at Castle Doom. What's he up to? She questioned.
As promised by Zarkon, her wounds were tended by some slave girls. When she asked them questions, she found that they just looked at her without an answer. They're scared to say anything to me, she thought.
Sighing, she laid in bed. They have my chips, but what are they planning to do with them? Then a thought entered her, what is he planning with me?
Her heart began beating faster, whatever Zarkon planned for her; she knew it wouldn't be good. She had to find a way out and fast.
VVVVVVVVVVV
Keith didn't recognize the person he saw in the mirror. It was him, but it wasn't. He felt so free, yet so restrained.
Haggar walked behind him and put on the cape that completed his new uniform. Completely black, the only color on his uniform was the red sash that crossed from the shoulder down to his side. The royal crescent of Doom and various royal metals hung on the right of his chest; his black cape had the royal crest embedded in blood red.
"My Prince, you look so handsome," she told him.
Keith closed his eyes, and swallowed hard, "I'm hurting Haggar," he replied to her. "I feel pain all over my body."
"It will soon go away, Sire. Once you're home, you'll feel fine. Now, you know what you must do to please your father," she ordered.
He nodded, "I know."
He began to walk out when the door opened and he saw Gorma walk in. The doctor's eyes widened in surprise as he looked at Keith, first conscious and second, wearing a uniform he didn't recognize.
"Commander!"
"Dr. Gorma," Keith replied with an acid tone and a smile. "I'm feeling much better. So if you'll excuse me, I'll be on my way."
Gorma stepped forward and watched as Haggar stood behind the commander laughing gleefully. Despite his fear, the doctor would not allow Keith to go willingly, "Keith, I cannot let you to leave."
"Do you think you can stop me?" Keith questioned calmy. Gorma saw pure evil in the commander's eyes. This was not the Voltron leader anymore. Zarkon made well on his promise.
"No," Gorma answered uneasily. "But I will not stand here and let you leave when obviously you are not in your correct mindset!"
Keith laughed, "I've never felt better." Keith walked up to the doctor and put his hand on the doctor's shoulder.
"You are not yourself," Gorma looked at Haggar who just watched, studying the commander's every move. Turning to Keith, the doctor tried to reason with him once more, "You have been sick for the last 48 hours. Zarkon has done something to you while you were on Doom. Please, let me help you."
At the mention of Zarkon, Keith's stiffened, "I don't need help Doctor. Unfortunately, you are another story." He closed his other hand, formed a fist and punched the doctor in the face. Gorma fell unconscious on the floor.
"It's time to go," he simply told Haggar as they walked over the unconscious doctor. Slowly, the witch disappeared into a clear mist, but Keith could still feel her presence around him.
VVVVVVVVVV
Flying once more over the robeast, Sven called out to Control, "We're not getting anywhere! This tin can is not attacking like other robeasts. It looks like it wants to stall us!"
"Stall you?" Romelle called out as she watched the vidscreen showing the robeast by the village. "I think you're right. It just seems to be destroying the nearby towns, but won't lay a finger on any one of you."
"Where is it headed?" Sven yelled as the beast flew up in the air.
Coran punched in some numbers. On the screen, he could see that the robeast floated in midair watching the lions and taking their hits; it wouldn't retaliate. "Is it just going to allow us to attack it?" Hunk asked as he looked incredulously ahead at the beast.
As both Coran and Romelle continued to look, they did not hear the doors of the Control Room open. But, soon they heard the sound of hard steps coming their way. Upon seeing the figure come toward them, Romelle gasped, "Oh, God!"
"I think we can finally put this fight to rest," Keith replied with an unnatural smile. He took out his blaster from his holster and pointed it at Romelle, who stood by the other side of the console. "If you would please get out of the way, I'd like to speak to my team."
Coran began to speak, "Keith, please put the gun down."
"I will not ask again, move Romelle." Keith cut in.
The advisor gently took Romelle's arm and pulled her out slowly, whispering to her, "Do what he wants. It's not Keith anymore."
Keith's dark cold eyes looked both people over, assessing them, before he turned and began communicating to the team. "Lance, listen to me," he told them rather flatly.
"Keith!" Lance called out excited, not bothering to pay attention to the tone, "How the …thank the heavens you're back man! There's chaos running amuck up here."
"Don't worry Lance, it will soon be over," he answered slowly, continuing to look at Romelle and Coran.
"Keith, what's going on?" Allura's voice was heard from the speakers. A chill rose from her body when she listened to Keith's tone of voice over the com, it doesn't sound like him.
"Princess Allura, just the person who I want to speak to," Keith answered coolly, "King Zarkon is willing to cease all attacks on Arus immediately… provided you do one thing for him."
"Keith, what are you talking about?"
A humorless laugh escaped him as Keith continued, "What I mean is simple. The King's ship is opening its loading bay. Zarkon will keep his word, no more attacks on Arus…should you give up the lions."
"Keith, have you gone completely insane?" Hunk exclaimed.
"I suggest you stay focused Hunk," Keith answered with his continuous frigid tone. "I believe it is a perfectly good exchange."
"Keith," Sven now entered in the conversation, "This isn't you. Zarkon-"
"Father's done nothing to me!" Keith growled back. "You have twenty seconds to make your decision."
"Keith, we won't give up the lions!" Lance hollered as he came up on the vidscreen. His eyes widen in horror when he saw Keith already dressed in Drule attire.
"You now have ten seconds. Let me make it interesting for all of you," the commander stated keeping his eyes on Lance, "if you don't come up with an answer, I will play target practice here with Coran and Romelle."
Lance's eyes widened. "Don't do this man."
"I'm not doing anything, Lance," Keith stated flatly. "It's your choice. Now you have five seconds."
"Keith, look within yourself. This isn't you!" Allura screamed, "Please."
"Five…four…"
"Keith!" Pidge screamed.
"Three…two."
"Damn it Keith!" Sven shouted.
"One." Without hesitation, the commander raised his gun, aimed, and fired.