I make no claims to Voltron or any WEP characters.

Origins: A Legend Unfolds: Chapter 26

Another long hour passes on the flight to Pollux. Lance finishes entering information into his navigation system as he replies, "Thanks Coran, I've got the coordinates locked into the lion's trajectory. We will be on Pollux in five minutes."

"Very well, good luck and may the gods bless you. Arus out."

Looking behind him at the other two occupants within the lion, Lance says, "Brace yourselves, there will be a slight jarring when we hit the lava…" Nodding, Keith pulls out the side seats and sits down in one while Maia sits in the other, each pulling a shoulder harness around them.

Approaching Pollux, the lieutenant pushes the lion as fast as it can go, entering the planet's atmosphere. Fire flashes around them as they enter the clouds. Approaching supersonic speeds, lightning streaks around the lion as they hurtle toward the ground and the awaiting lava pit.

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From the castle balcony, Lotor studies the sky, admiring the magnificent lightning storm on the horizon. His hand moves from the balcony railing to his wounded shoulder as he once again curses the Voltron commander. Thanks to the Drule medi-bots he always has with him on trips, it would be fully healed within the next day or two. His eyes suddenly shift from the clouds to a ball of fire falling out of the sky. Tilting his head slightly, he watches it as it falls toward the ground. Suddenly, its direction changes slightly, something he would have missed if he had not been watching closely. A wicked smile crosses his face then he turns around to walk back into the castle.

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Turning off the controls, Lance reaches forward for the lion's key and stores it in his pocket as he stands up from the command chair. He watches Maia and Keith stand then asks, "Ready?"

"Yes," Maia replies as she takes a step between the two men to add, "Grab hold of my shoulders and close your eyes. It will lessen the effects of the transfer." When she feels the two strong hands on her shoulders, she closes her eyes as she thinks of the young prince and they disappear.

They reappear in a bedroom of the castle. Keith releases the princess immediately, his blaster in his hand as he looks about the room. He finds it empty but for a young boy, who lies unnaturally asleep on the bed. Glancing over at Lance, he says, "That must be Bandor. It looks like they drugged him. Get him and let's get out of here."

A flash of light blinds Lance so that he holds a hand up in front of his face. He lowers it when the light dims and hears, "Not so fast…"

Maia's eyes narrow on the two new comers. The king and his older son stand in the middle of the room, swords in hand. The older man glares at them as he says, "I knew you would come back for Bandor. My simpleton daughter lives to coddle him. His only use is to keep Romelle in line so that she would keep Prince Lotor happy while he is here."

"You son of a bitch…" growls out Lance as he reaches for his own sword, about to go after them.

Reaching out, Maia places a hand on his arm and shakes her head at him. Releasing him, she steps forward as she says, "What kind of father allows his daughter to be raped and beaten?"

"She is a girl, worthless except as a tool for advancing Pollux. Prince Lotor wanted her as part of our deal with Doom, so he got her and can use her as he sees fit," King Cova replies, his eyes blazing with his anger. With his free hand, he forms a ball of light, lightning cracking at the center of it. "Now you can die…" he says then throws the ball at them.

With a wave of her arm, Maia deflects the ball, sending it at the wall where it leaves a black mark against the wallpaper. Putting her hands together, fire erupts between them and shines in her eyes as she looks over at them.

"Impossible…" King Cova stutters, his eyes wide with shock as he backs away slowly, "Women on Arus are not permitted to use their powers."

Lance and Keith exchange a cautious look as Maia laughs derisively at them, "The old Arus, with its pathetic rules for royal women, is gone." She throws her hands forward, fire streaking from them across the room at the two men. Dropping his sword, Avok dives to the side away from flames, then pulls a blaster from his belt at the same time and opens fire.

"Get the boy!" Keith calls out to Lance as he begins firing on eldest prince while diving to avoid the shots.

"NO!" the king exclaims as he forms lightening between his hands and directs it at them.

Maia turns away to avoid it then sends a ball of fire at the king as Lance runs for the bed. He pulls the young prince into his arms and jumps away just as Avok yells and tries to dive for him. Avok rolls off the bed to the other side a moment later to avoid a ball of fire thrown at him.

Hurrying back to the other two as he throws the boy over his shoulder, Lance calls out, "Let's get the fuck out of here!" Both men grab onto Maia's shoulders and they disappear a moment later, narrowly avoiding a bolt of lightning.

"NO!" screams the Polluxian king in anger as the flash of light dissipates.

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Arriving in Red lion, Lance quickly hands the boy to Keith then sits down in the command chair while taking the key out of his pocket. The mark on his hand lights up as he grabs the controls and directs the lion up out of the lava pit and into the Polluxian sky.

He is swearing a moment later, "Doom fighters!"

"Damn it!" Keith calls out as he places the boy in the chair next to Maia's and straps him in, "Don't fight any more than you have to Lance, just get us out of here!"

"I'm on it!" the lieutenant retorts as he presses buttons to fire on the fighters while racing for space. Keith holds onto the command chair behind him and sucks in a deep breath as he watches a Doom battle cruiser heading toward them. "Faster Lance…"

"I know, I know!" yells Lance as he fires proton missiles at the cruiser then pulls back hard on the controls, climbing quickly into space.

Red lion shudders as it is hit with a missile and Lance swears broadly as he straightens the lion's path. He glances at the monitor focused on the backside of the lion to find several fighters back there, still firing. Turning the controls, he spins the lion as he continues to climb, avoiding the shots. As the lion shudders a second time, he curses then says, "That's it…" and pulls back on the controller, flipping the lion midair.

Maia gasps as she watches Lance head right at the fighters, firing proton missiles and watches the lava that flies out of the lion's mouth, taking out several of the Doom ships. Next, she listens to Lance yell, "Ion knife!"

As he flies through two more fighters, splitting them in half, she hears Keith order, "Damn it Lance, enough, get us the fuck out of here!"

"Yes, Commander, sir…" snorts Lance as he flips the lion again and heads for space once more. He pushes the controls forward and the lion moves into space at top speed.

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From his vantage point in the Polluxian control center, Lotor watches the monitor as his fighters are decimated by the lion and it takes off into space before the battle cruiser can catch up to it. He turns around, his malicious gaze looking about the room, daring someone to meet his eyes and earn his wrath. However, all of the Polluxian soldier have their heads down as they go about their business.

A growling sound of frustration escapes him as he starts for the door only to have the king and his son block him. Cova's face is red as he snarls, "They took Bandor."

"And with him, any chance to retrieve Romelle," finishes the Doom prince as he glares at the king.

"That is not my fault," Cova retorts, "They had help, a girl."

"Really?" Lotor asks in a silkily dangerous tone, "You let a mere girl stop you?"

"She was no mere girl," Avok answers, trying to defend his father, "She used magic against us. She threw streams of fire at us as the Garrison soldiers grabbed Bandor then they all disappeared."

Lotor narrows his yellow eyes at the prince for his imprudence and starts to reach for the sword on his belt. Cova steps in between them, "She must have been one of the surviving princesses of the old Arusian kingdoms trained to use magic. Something that has been outlawed on Arus for centuries. We were not expecting it."

Stopping his movement, Lotor nods then states, "Very well, but this does not bode well for our treaty."

"We will find a way to make it up to you Prince Lotor," the king replies then bows in deference to the prince.

Without saying another word, Lotor pushes past the two men and walks away. Cursing the stupidity of Cova and his offspring, he makes his way back to his quarters and picks up a bottle of blood red wine. He pours his wine glass full of it then sits down on a chair as two slave girls approach him. He motions to one and she bends down over him, undoes the bindings on his pants, freeing his erection. She quickly takes it into her mouth as Lotor orders the other one, "Strip."

The other girl begins swinging her hips to invisible music as she slowly removes her clothing for the Doom prince. As she becomes nude, Lotor turns his attention to the one servicing him, "Enough for now."

She stands and steps aside as Lotor gestures the nude one to him. Trying to draw his attention to them, she sways her hips as she walks toward him, stopping just in front of him. His gaze moves over her voluptuous body then he reaches forward to squeeze her breasts as he inquires, "Do you like that?"

"Yes, my prince, but it is not my pleasure we need worry about," she replies with a sexy smile on her face for him. "How may I pleasure you?"

Lotor smiles nastily to her, "Turn around."

As she turns her back to him, Lotor stands and impales her. She grunts in pain at the intrusion but soon starts making noises of satisfaction as he looks over at the other one, "Strip, I will need you soon."

Closing his eyes, Lotor grabs the slave girl's hips and continues his punishing pace. He is just getting into it and groaning slightly when a ball of light appears before him. Opening his eyes, he finds the image of Haggar in front of him. Continuing to pleasure himself, he states, "Can you not see that I am busy, old witch?"

Haggar smiles evilly at him, "You are capable of continuing what you are doing while you speak to me."

The Doom prince snorts in derision as he continues humping the girl, "Go on."

"Your father wishes you to return and plan the next assault on Arus."

Laughter erupts out of him, "What does he need me for when he has that idiot Cossack to abuse?" He groans with his release then pushes the girl away from him as he turns to sit back down on his chair. Picking up his wine glass, he takes a sip as he gestures to the other girl to service him once more. His penis disappears into her mouth as he looks back at the witch, "Arus is dead. What is left there for me to take?"

"What you enjoy taking most," the old witch informs him with a cackle, "Pretty princesses and their pretty virtues."

Lotor snorts as he shoves the girl's head down, forcing her to take in more of him, "I can get princesses anywhere. What is so special about the ones on Arus?"

"When I have finished with them, they will do your bidding as you see fit, without question and with pleasure…"

"I have that now witch!" Lotor states as he gestures to the two girls in front of him. He pulls up the face of the one that was sucking him off and demands, "You live to pleasure me, do you not?"

He can see the fear in her eyes she cannot hide as she forces a smile onto her face and replies, "Of course, my prince."

Anger courses through him as he yanks her up and turns her around, forcing her to sit upon his lap as he forces himself into her. His hands move up to squeeze her breasts cruelly as he orders, "Move! Show Haggar how you live to pleasure me!"

Tears run down her cheeks as the slave girl starts moving her hips against him while making sounds of enjoyment. Haggar's eyes flash yellow with humorous malevolence as she retorts, "These princesses will not fake their enjoyment Lotor. They will truly live to pleasure you."

He stares over the girl's shoulder into the witch's eyes and finally states, "Very well, I will return to Doom."

Haggar nods to him then her image is gone. Turning his attention back to the slave girl, Lotor stands and forces her off his lap. As she turns to look at him, he backhands her, sending her flying to the floor. He slowly approaches her, a menacing look to his eyes as he demands, "Who do you live to pleasure?"

"You…my…prince," she stutters as she stays painfully still on the floor, afraid to move.

"Liar…" he dangerously whispers as he reaches for the sword on his belt.

The other girl is there in an instant, her hand on top of his as she smiles winsomely at him once more, "Please, my prince. Let me help you forget your anger." Her hand moves up his arm to caress his cheek, "I can make you forget…"

Lotor jerks her to him and kisses her hard, drawing blood as his fangs bite into her bottom lip. He pulls back a moment later then yanks her up into the air. She instantly wraps her legs around him as he pushes into her. Lotor ignores the pain in his shoulder as she grabs onto them then starts moving against him, her head thrown back in ecstasy as she murmurs, "Yes…"

The girl on the floor watches as the Doom prince bites down hard on the slave's nipple, blood slipping down her breast and dripping onto the floor. Inching back slowly, the girl keeps watching the pair viciously fuck as she slowly works her way to the door then leaves the room.

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A few hours later, Keith sighs in relief as they approach Planet Arus. He glances over to the side seats to find Maia seemingly asleep, her head resting against the wall of the lion. His gaze moves down to the prince to find him stirring at long last. Slowly his eyes open and he looks around the lion in confusion. Keith turns to face him as Bandor tries to hide his fear while he demands, "Where am I?"

Holding his hands up in the air to show he means the boy no harm, the commander replies, "Safe. Your sister sent us to retrieve you."

"Romelle?" Bandor shakes his head, "But she was kidnapped by brigands, Father told me so."

"No, Prince Bandor," sighs Keith, pausing to notice Maia opening her eyes and turning in her seat to face the boy as well. "We rescued your sister." When the prince continues to shake his head in denial, Keith finishes, "She'll explain everything to you when we arrive on Arus."

"She is on Arus?"

Keith watches the boy closely for a moment then nods, "We will be on the ground soon."

When the prince's eyes move to the monitor to find them moving through the stratosphere, Keith meets Maia's gaze. The princess nods to him then sits back in her seat once more. Turning back, he finds Lance looking back at him then glancing over at the prince before he turns his attention back to piloting the lion. Praying that Romelle can explain everything to her brother as he promised, the commander watches as the lion approaches the entry for Storm Kingdom's lion cavern.

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Having returned to Sven's room after her conversation with Kaya, Romelle sighs as she shifts slightly to ease her position against the Norwegian. She feels his arm move around her to hold her tight against him then he twists his head to place a kiss against her forehead. Lifting her head, the princess smiles softly at him then puts her head back down on his uninjured shoulder. She is quiet for several minutes then finally asks, "When will they return?"

"As soon as possible," replies Sven, "It takes several hours to fly to Pollux and back."

"Do you think they will have any trouble?" Romelle asks tentatively, her fingers digging into his hospital gown.

Sven takes a deep breath and slowly releases it before responding, "I pray not. However, if they do, Keith will do his best to get everyone home safely. Remember, Princess Maia has very good control of her powers. She is a weapon herself."

"I know, but I worry," she sighs then adds quietly, "my father is a dangerous man."

"Yes, I became aware of how dangerous he is when we retrieved you." Sven turns his head to kiss the top of her head once more. "I'll never let him or anyone else hurt you again."

Feeling reassured, Romelle tightens her hold on him. Both turn to look when the door to the room opens. Lifting her head, she watches Maia walk into the room, followed by Lance and the commander. She rises from the bed when she sees the youngest member of the group walking between Lance and Keith, "Bandor!"

"Romelle!" The prince runs over to her as she moves around the bed toward him.

She pulls Bandor into her arms, hugging him closely. Tears are in her eyes as she looks over at the other three to say, "Thank you."

Keith nods to her, but before anything else can be said, Bandor pulls back to demand, "What happened to you? Father said these people kidnapped you…"

"No! No, Bandor, they saved me and you," the princess explains as she brushes his hair away from his face.

He starts shaking his head, dislodging her hand as he retorts, "But Father…"

"Lied to you," interrupts Romelle.

Keith watches the young prince continue to shake his head then looks at the other two, "I think we should leave and let Romelle have some private time with her brother." As they file out of the room, the commander nods to Sven then closes the door behind him.

From his position on the bed, Sven watches Romelle turn back to Bandor and sigh. Sadness shines out of her eyes as she begins to tell her brother the facts she had taken such care to hide from him while they were on Pollux.

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Lance waits until Keith walks away to report to Coran then looks into the observation window. He watches Prince Bandor angrily wipe tears from his cheek as he continues to talk to his sister. Turning his attention to the man on the bed, Lance finds Sven's eyes full of anger, his body tense as he slowly works his way into a sitting position.

"That poor boy."

Maia steps next to him as she looks in the window as well, "It cannot be easy to find out the man you have called father, who you trusted to keep you safe, is a monster that allowed his daughter to be raped for his own political gain."

"No, I can't imagine it is," replies Lance as he watches Romelle pull her brother to her to hug him closely.

Turning his gaze from the scene taking place in front of them, Lance turns to Maia. She continues to look in the room, her eyes slightly red. He touches her arm to gain her attention then says, "Good job back there, your Highness."

She studies him closely for a moment to detect if he is serious then replies, "Thank you, Lieutenant. You flew very well…I was…impressed."

Resisting the urge to laugh at the grudgingly given compliment, Lance smiles at her instead as he states, "Remind me the next time we start arguing not to piss you off to the point that you throw a fireball at me."

A real smile slips across Maia's face and humor shines in her eyes as she retorts, "You have come close already."

"I remember," he laughs as he replies then stops as he meets her gaze. Both stare intently at the other, remembering the kiss they shared the other day in Earth Kingdom. Maia breaks contact first, "I need to return to my kingdom and check on things then get some much needed sleep. Please tell Allura I will return tomorrow to conduct a lesson."

Lance does not get a chance to answer before she disappears. Sighing in disappointment, he starts walking down the hallway and leaves MedTech.