Last chapter then hiatus. The next chapter is too long and I don't have the time to write. Sorry. Hope you like it. See you guys in a long while.

It had been last night, out of nowhere and for the first time in galra history, someone had trembled the whole empire. Someone had shaken this very ship in one night. And Voltron wasn't involved in it. The details were vague when news came about today, but it had to spread through a wave of murmuring. First from the soldiers, then civilians, then the slaves, then went from Galaxy to Galaxy. From the all known universe to the unknown. It was how Lotor Learned about it, before being officially informed by his father's commanders.

Someone had managed to rescue five prisoners, blew up storages and rooms that held significant assets and weapons, and killed countless soldiers. Including, Cain. Cain, the greatest and most notorious assassin, and his father's most favorite pawn, was dead.

No one knew who that person was, though. And that made things rather interesting for the banished prince.

"Your highness," the Druid bowed to him , " We were informed of your arrival."

Lotor nodded as his generals —Narti, Acxa, Ezor And Zethrid— watched, following behind him. "What do you suppose happened here?" Ezor questioned aloud, her eyes glittered looking around.

Never in his life had he seen many marks around the ancient corridors. Most were burnt from gunshots, the rest were cracked and clawed, along with endless bloodstains around.

Acxa looked around, scanning every inch of the place as she usually did. "Unpredicted terror, is what seems like it," she said.

Lotor asked the Druid. "How is it that none of you know the culprit responsible for causing this catastrophe?"

"It was all carefully done." He replied. "All the security cameras were erased and shut down, followed with the drones. We suspect it's happened before the prisoners were set free."

"What about the soldiers and sentries that went after the prisoners?"

"Most did not know specifically which part of the ship they were since security was out of commission. And as for the soldiers that did find them... They are all dead."

The prince was stunned. Not even one eyewitness? Whoever this person was must have been a professional then.

"We also think," he went on, "that it was one of our own who betrayed us. Commander Thace and Victor were held for treason, the princess of Altea and the red paladin of Voltron were captured, and a general from Disho whom we imprisoned – all were set free and vanished without a trace. No ships or escape pods were used."

Acxa shifted uncomfortably while Ezor's grimmed a bit. Lotor kept his face blank, hiding the amusement he had. This person had a presence of a ghost, or the death of God himself. "Had Cain done nothing to stop him before his demise?"

Lotor had seen the assassin for a few times, but had no wish to meet him in person. He may be a powerful hybrid, possessing gifts of shape shifting, poisoning and teleportation. But he gained his notoriety for being too cruel with his prey. His father favored him for that, but Lotor did not. It is why he never approach the sadistic killer, and offered him to be one of his generals. When news came about his death, today, a part of the prince was actually relieved about it

"Cain was killed first before the other soldiers."

"Where was Cain killed? Take me there."

The Druid did not question him, and led the way.

By the ancients, the markings around the corridors was enough to tell a horrifying story. Neither Narti or Kova bothered to look at their surroundings. Acxa still looked uncomfortable while Ezor was amazed. Zethrid, on the other hand, looked bored.

When they arrived at the storage room, his guts twisted.

The blood was everywhere.

Cain's carcass was before him, shins cut off, and the thin sword the assassin always carried was thrusted into his body. His heart.

Narti had not reacted, both Acxa and Ezor did. The first flinched by the sight, well the latter cupped her mouth in horror. Zethrid, However, grinned by the disturbing sight.

Lotor went to closer and examined the dead man. He tried not to breathe in the blood underneath that made the floor almost black. Cain's lifeless face stared at the prince, set in a sort of what looked like a scream. His mask and cloak was nowhere to be seen. Had his killer taking it as a trophy?

Whoever did this, though, couldn't have been a sadistic. A murderous professional assassin, yes, but not like Cain. The carcass wasn't artifully mutilated or cut from ear to ear. Even if his shins were cut off, Lotor suspected it had been done to stop him from moving. There was a stab mark in his thigh, indicating he'd been tortured, but not for long as he screams would have been heard. So his killer would have... Questioned him, demanding answers. And when he finally gave those answers, he got a quick death, either from the piercing or the hole in his head that splattered blood all over his face and floor.

The sword in his heart, however, was either to make sure Cain wouldn't rise again, or the killer's signature. His calling card.

Or perhaps a warning to his father that he made a new friend he shouldn't ignore.

For Cain to die like this...He might have known his killer. Regardless of all the blood and gore, bloodlust and hatred was written all over the carcass. Not enjoyment in killing him.

"Do you think the ancients would condemn the killer?" Zethrid asked as she went closer to the body. The other three, on the other hand, went further away from it. Kova jumped from Narti's shoulder, exploring the room.

Lotor clicked his tongue "The ancients had not condemned my father for 10,000 years. So why should he?" He turned to his general. "As a matter of fact, I should be thanking the assassin. My father deserves this humiliation."

"But is he any better than Cain?" She grinned at the body. "

"He would be a tremendous asset if we have him as our ally. But he's also unpredictable. Let's pray we do not make ourselves an official enemy to him as he did with my father." They did not know his identity, and he could strike again anytime soon. But regardless of all this, Lotor could not help but smile.

"Does this situation not trouble you?" Acxa approach the prince noticing his grin.

"It would be troubling if I get targeted," he replied. "But I do wish I had been here to witness my father's reaction. I am sure I would've enjoyed it. "

"It is not something to be so amused about prince," the witch appeared before them.

Lotor silently groaned. "Hello, Haggar," he greeted.

His generals stiffened, keeping the guards up with heads held high.

"Whoever did this," witch went on, "is a deadly threat that needs to be annihilated immediately."

The prince raised his brows. "Annihilated?" He questioned. "Or is it torture and experimentation before his actual death?"

The witch said nothing for some time. Then — "your father wishes you to hunt down this scum."

"Oh?" He scoffed. "Why so sudden?"

"It's to test your worth, prince,"

Bastard.

Lotor clenched his fist. "I will not be his pawn, or his errand boy like Cain was. Why can't he take matters into his own hands rather than be fixated with Voltron? The empire is slowly falling apart because of his sick obsession—"

"You will not question the emperor," Haggar hissed back , " he has given you an opportunity to prove your loyalty and honor. If you wish to be welcomed back sooner, you will do what he commands." He clenched his jaw. "I hope I made myself clear." Then she disappeared in her mist.

"What do we do now?" Ezor asked, walking to them.

The prince sighed , saying nothing for a few heartbeats. He looked at Cain's carcass again. Where would he go, where would he start his search? He didn't even know if the assassin was a man or a woman. He noticed Kova coming towards him, carrying something between his jaw. He knelt as the cat dropped the object before him The Prince stared with wide eyes.

It was a black bow.

And it had belonged to the hybrid woman he met a couple of days ago…

—later Lotor's ship—

He sat alone in his chair while his generals left, accomplishing the task he had given him. He still stared at the black bow, now laced around his fingers.

This belonged to her, there was no doubt about it. He saw her wear this on her hair when they first met. A Cherry smell lingered around this bow—a woman's scent.

One of the traitors held in his father's ship—Victor, the Druid told him.

Victor, sorry I left my spot. I was followed and attacked, he recalled her say to the galra she was with in the mall.

I have many names. Some consider me as a freak, stranger and outcast. While others claim I am hellion, Satan and death, she told him.

Lotor found it hard to believe it was just a coincidence.

So...Kate...was a hybrid that killed Cain, rescued prisoners, and made his father look like a fool. There was a possibility she had help…

The prince chuckled. That woman was far more amusing than he thought. Thanks to Lotor's gifts—intuition—he usually knew how a person was with just one glance. Their nature, the kind of background they had, their desires. However, when he met her...he felt nothing. Which was quite intriguing. Never in his life had that occurred. Kova seemed fond of her, too. And she could understand what the ancient cat was saying, just like him and Narti. He doubted she made a bond that quickly with the animal...interesting…

Haggar wanted this girl dead, and if he captured her, he would no longer would be known as the banished Prince. Which means she was an enemy to the Empire, and him. Lotor did want to return, but capturing her was something he wasn't going to to do.

She didn't know who he was when they met, but Victor did. She probably saw him as her enemy later on, and if he hunted her down with violence and force, then it would be the end of him. He researched about this girl ever since that day in the mall, but there wasn't adingle decent intel. No galra named Kate, no hybrid named Kate, no gifters named Kate. Her name couldn't have been false, the way Victor called her Lotor sensed it was the truth.

For a while he thought he had been chasing a ghost...until today, her existence was confirmed.

He wasn't planning on giving this information to the Witch, oh no. They can start their hopeless manhunt if they wanted to. He would look for this girl in secret, and find a way to befriend her for the time being...

"Just wait for me, my dear. One day I will find you. And we will meet again." He swore silently, bringing the bow to his lips…