Immediately after returning to the base after the battle with the red beast, enraged Zarkon summoned them in the throne room. Thace's hope that they would depart to their flagship to inspect losses and repair withered. Someone had to pay for the sabotage Thace committed. Surely they would never find the culprit, though. There were too many people in the main base, too much hassle…
Prorok took the wrong tone from the beginning, while Thace could only writhe internally, unable to help. It was as if Prorok's keen understanding of people's nature betrayed him, letting his pushy side take the better of him.
"Haggar overstretched the power of the solar barrier beyond its normal limits!" he started.
The woman frowned.
"This was no mechanical failure. The two sentries guarding the barrier were found destroyed."
I had no time to clean up, Thace thought. I risked getting caught. There was nothing I could do. Zarkon looked down at Prorok silently, and, for the first time, Thace saw commander's ears lower in fear. Prorok knew what it meant - someone in his own fleet was the cunning saboteur, someone he trusted! And Thace had a sickening feeling that his lover knew who to suspect...
"Lord Zarkon, I will start an investigation immediately. I will not rest until the perpetrators are captured…"
Prorok sounded desperate, and Thace suffocated with helpless fear. What to do? How to help? Even if he gave himself in this instance, Prorok would still be executed for letting a traitor to go unnoticed for so long. Everything happened too fast! If he rushed to defend Prorok now, they would both be murdered. The exit was guarded by several sentries, not to mention the monster's bayard and the terrible power of the witch. There was no escape, and so Thace froze, kneeling, weak and useless, praying to all gods that this ends well.
"Perhaps I can save us months of investigations."
Zarkon's words fell like boulders on Thace, each one crushing his heart more, paralyzing him with despair. I deserve to die, but I can't fail my brothers yet!
"Who has tried to chase Voltron away from me this entire time?"
What? No, no, no! Not now! Not yet! Let him be, you monster! Prorok shrinked in front of Thace.
"Who sent his fleet out without my orders to get Voltron?"
"Sire, no, I.. I would never do that!" the commander exclaimed in desperation.
"Get rid of him," the monster ordered.
The world froze completely around Thace, everyone acted as if in slow motion. This is the moment of ultimate choice. He could still attack the guards and have at least the decency to die with partner if he was foolish enough to miss the opportunity to live with him. Everything before was just a silly game, now was the time. He had to see either Prorok or Voltron and the rest of Blades die.
"No, I'm innocent!" Prorok moaned.
Thace remained kneeling, not moving a muscle. As if from distance, he watched himself betray the only man who ever truly loved him, look down dutifully as he was being dragged out to receive punishment worse than death. Punishment for the crime Thace committed.
It didn't take much time to hear what followed his own fate:
"You will be in charge of the investigation… commander Thace."
Later that day, they informed him that Prorok has been transformed into a ro-beast and died while attacking Voltron. Thace's face didn't tremble even slightly. He finished his duties and headed off to his chambers, where he fell on his bed helplessly, for memories to haunt him.