A/N Happy weekend! I haven't had as much time to write since I have returned to work after the new year. I am hoping to find some time for myself this weekend so I can continue to work toward finishing this. The end is in sight. Sorry, this is a short chapter!
Disclaimer: WEP owns Voltron and its characters and locations. The story is mine. All other characters and locations are also mine. Please don't use without my permission.
Chapter 28
Back in the suite in the brothel, Rallock sat in anger and confusion. Having just hung up with Prince Lotor, he realized he did not have much time to rouse the princess and get her ready for the hand-off. Something in his gut was gnawing at him; there was something was that was just not right. Why was Lotor early, and why was Lotor alone? He had expected the prince to show up with at least a small armada. Wanting to call Zarkon to confirm the second change in plans, he sat down and began to dial the number. Then he stopped. If he called Zarkon again to admit a mess up on his part, he would appear the fool and never get his exiled pardoned. He would probably be thrown in jail at the least if not executed for his errors. Deciding against the call, he turned off the communications viewer and headed to the door of Princess Allura's bedroom.
He would soon be rid of Princess Allura, and that would not be soon enough. Knocking on the door, he yelled through the closed port, "Isla? Princess? Up and at 'em! You need to ready yourself. Pack your belongings. Sick or not, you are being moved tonight!"
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On the other side of the door, Allura sat up in a panic at the sound of Rallock's voice. Hearing what he said, she looked anxiously at Isla, who had been asleep on a cot near the foot of Allura's bed. "Leaving tonight? How is that possible? I thought we were leaving tomorrow afternoon-"
She was cut off a second, more forceful knocking by Rallock on the other side of the door. Isla motioned for her to respond, to say something, so they could buy themselves some time. "I-...I'm up!" Allura called back. "Please give me a moment; I am not decent."
"I don't need to come in," Rallock replied angrily through the door. "I just need you up and moving. You have fifteen minutes to get ready. Have the whore help you. I will be back." They heard Rallock's heavy footsteps trudge away from the door.
"No!" Allura moaned, flinging herself back onto the bed. "No, no, no! This can't be happening. I can't be relocated so soon! Keith will never find me…" Her words faded as she broke down into heaving sobs.
Isla came over to sit next to the princess and put an arm around her. "There, there Princess Allura. All is not lost. Does it not seem odd to you that all of a sudden you are being moved in the middle of the night? Why the second change? There may be more at work here than we realize. Come, let's get you ready," she soothed. "Can you stand? How do you feel?"
"Much better," the princess replied. Her headache was gone and her stomach felt calmer. When she tried to stand, she noted she still had a touch of dizziness, but she attributed that to having had nothing to eat all day. "I am ok."
"Then let's get up and get moving," Isla said confidently. "I will pack your belongings while you get dressed. Here put on these leggings and tunic." She handed the soft, dark garments to Allura. "After you do that, I will do your hair and request some toast for you to eat while we wait." She hugged the princess. "Stay strong and stay steadfast. I feel no fear. I really think things are happening the way they are meant to."
"I hope you're right," Allura conceded. "I just want to go home."
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Lotor landed his ship on top of a rather bland looking building in a residential sector of Rydrax. Setting his ship down and powering down his engines, he quickly turned to his communicator and dialed the code that would be him directly in touch with Black Lion. The signal was scrambled so he could not be traced on either the sending or receiving end, so it took a moment for Keith to answer. After a short delay, Keith's face appeared in the viewscreen, a grim look on his face.
"We are in position, Prince Lotor," the commander reported. "We are awaiting your signal."
"Roger that, Commander," Lotor replied. "I have landed on top of the building where I believe Allura is being held. Sending those coordinates now."
Flinching slightly at the prince's casual use of his fiancee's name, Keith chose to ignore the pant of jealousy for now. They were in too deep at this point. He had to trust that Lotor would make good on his word. He was alone in this; the prince did not have any fighters, command ships, or Robeasts to call on for backup if he decided to go against the plan and take on the Voltron Force. Swallowing his doubt away, Keith looked evenly at Lotor through his computer screen. "Acknowledged. We will be on active standby should you need is. Otherwise, rendezvous will be at the far moon as planned."
"Roger," Lotor acknowledged. "Lotor, over and out."
