Hunk and Keith got into a large argument when he got back.
"Asking a question shouldn't take TWO WEEKS!"
"Asking a question lead to more, which lead to a whole other itinerary," Keith argued back.
"And you didn't think to call? Smoke signals? ANYTHING?!"
"Hunk-"
"What, you my mother now?"
"Keith-"
"Someones gotta be! What if we needed you?!"
"Hunk-"
"Screw off! Just because Lance died, doesn't mean you got to-"
"ENOUGH BOTH OF YOU!" Shiro roared getting both of their attention. Shiro seldom raised his voice.
"But Shiro-"
"Keith," Shiro snapped, "Next time stay in contact with us, that is all we ask. We understand if things get out of hand or if one thing leads to another, but you have to let us know. Hunk! You know better. Now is not the time to be getting angry instead of taking things rationally like I KNOW you know how to."
They both looked apologetic, but didn't apologize to each other. Shiro waited and made it clear that they weren't to move until they had.
Time ticked by and no one moved.
"Keith," Shiro jerked his head and keith snapped.
"Why me first?! I didn't do anything that I didn't say I would! I have nothing to be sorry for-"
The ship rocked violently throwing them off their feet.
"WE'RE UNDER ATTACK!" Alluras voice cut through the ships com, "EVEYONE TO THEIR LIONS!"
()
Lotor winced as the lions left their hangers. Voltron was awfully predictable. He'd talked to them about this fact, and they still hadn't changed much.
"seems your information was correct," Krye said conversationally, but Lotor knew better. He had been checking to see if he was a traitor.
"Of course it is."
"And with that much understanding, I marvel that it has taken you so long to capture them."
Lotor grit his teeth. The way Krye spoke bothered him. It seemed a little TOO genuine and natural. As if the guy was being eternally sarcastic and unreal.
The fight was long, in spite of Kryes confidence. Voltron put up one heck of a fight and Krye was going to remember it for a long, long time.
But the new prince was able to capture the castle while Voltrons back was turned and forced them to surrender.
Lotor left with his force to go inform Zarkon of their success. He hopped that Voltron could pull another miracle and escape, making Krye look bad in the process.
()
Krye ordered the entire castle to be searched. Every person was to be in groups of no less than 2: one searched and the other recorded everything.
In the mean time, his generals had brought the team to the bridge of the castle where Krye was looking at the technology.
"Very efficient," Krye complimented Coran who was already in restraints, "you keep a well-kept ship."
Coran snorted and didn't reply as the others were lead in and forced to kneel. Krye ignored them as reports began to flood in from those searching the ships. One brought in a folded piece of leather.
Hunk bristled at the sight of it.
Krye looked through it and then handed it to Qaltok.
"Search the ship again, I don't want a single space unchecked," Krye said quietly to his general.
After a moment a soldier walked in with the mice in a cage.
"What are those?" Krye asked.
"Mice, my lord."
"Not a clean ship after all?" Krye asked turning back to Coran, who bristled.
"I'll have you know-"
"Coran," Allura snapped, "not now!"
That's when Keith made his move. He grabbed his Bayard and attacked Krye head on. None of the other generals moved except to keep a handle on the other prisoners.
Krye blocked the blow effortlessly and exchanged a few blows himself. Locking their hilts together Krye complimented him.
"Your teacher is good," he said, "But mine was better."
Keith began to use what he'd recently learned. Kolivan had said that he had more than average, and he knew he had more than this guy, so it would be an easy win.
"Are you asking me for a duel?" Krye said quietly as he felt Keiths gathering of quintessence, "Is that wise?"
"I can end you," Keith said through clenched teeth.
"You have more, yes, but you are still very inexperienced," Krye replied, still not manifesting his own, "it would mean your death, not mine. I won every duel I've had as far back as I can remember. You?"
Keith hesitated. He still couldn't win against Kolivan, and with the few exchanges he'd had so far, he knew this guy was as good as, if not better than, Kolivan.
"Duels end in Death, Youngling," Krye said lowering his voice, "I'll give you this moment to reconsider."
Keith had been taught the rules…he knew what was at stake if he didn't set the terms…
He dropped the quintessence and instead fought without it. Krye exchanged a few more blows yes again, before over coming Keith, slamming his foot into the boys solar plexus and sending him flying into the opposite wall. Keith fell, unconscious.
"What-"
"You just didn't want him to fight at full strength," Pidge snapped, "You chicken!"
Krye sheathed his sword and dusted off his hands, "he chose life. All of you should be proud of him."
Hunk and the others seethed, but only Shiro seemed to be confused at the statement.
"Isn't that against your 'victory or death' slogan?" he asked. Krye tilted his head.
"That is Zarkons slogan, not mine."
"But you're the voice of Zarkon…"
"Yes, I am, but I do have my own voice as well."
"How does that work?"
Krye tilted his head to the other side, "Qaltok."
"Yes, my lord?"
"Are prisoners allowed to ask so many questions?"
"As annoying as it is, my lord, your ways are strange and their questions are legitimate."
The team looked to one another. Did the general seriously just defend their actions?
Krye seriously considered the words of his general.
"then let's do this," he said after a while, "For every question you ask of me, you must answer a question of mine."
The teams jaws tensed shut.
"Since I answered two of yours already, I get to ask two from you," He held out a hand to Qaltok and the general placed the wallet in his hands, "first I ask, who is this?"
He held up a small picture of Lance and Hunk, and observed their behaviors. Most turned their heads. The yellow one glared at him, so he focused his attention on him.
"A name, please," Krye said.
"…Lance," Hunk said, barely moving his lips.
"And your relationship with him?"
No one spoke this time.
"Am I being snubbed?" Krye asked his general.
"I believe the don't speak for other reasons, my lord."
"Was it too hard a question?"
"No, my lord."
"Then I will insist on an answer," Krye practically shoved the photo in Hunks face, "your relationship with the other person in this picture. What is it?"
Hunk turned his head this time.
"Leave him alone," Shiro snapped, "Lance has nothing to do with this situation, he's not even here anymore."
"Not here?"
"He died, he was our friend."
"Oh," Krye put the picture back in the wallet and handed it back to Qaltok, "Have them put this back where they found it and call off the secondary search."
Krye didn't speak until his general got back. When Qaltok took his place one step behind his lords right side, Krye said, "your third question to me was about my loyalty to Zarkon and my own voice, yes? The balance is not a simple one. All he wants is Voltron. So I will give him Voltron. What I do in between that is none of his or anyone elses business."
Shiro was sure he was the only one who caught the small smile on Qaltoks face.
"Now," Krye said, "my third question…what is a 'friend'?"
Shiro watched as the generals all closed their eyes. One bit her lip while the others muttered quietly to themselves.
()
The paladins were dragged before Zarkon.
Even after they had been gracious enough to explain what a 'friend' was to Krye, the new prince had not done them any favors. He had made sure they were jailed separately so they couldn't conspire with one another and they were even on separate ships so if one escaped, the others could not.
Keith was still a little woozy as they were all forced to kneel before Zarkon. Lotor stood on Zarkons Left while Krye stood on the right.
"Well done," Zarkon praised them both, "Not only do I have Voltron, but I have the entire castle and the paladins. The witch has been asking for fresh experiment material."
"My emperor," Lotor cut in, "Concerning the paladins, I believe I should-"
"You are already on thin ice, Lotor," Zarkon hissed, "One accomplishment does not erase complete incompetence. I'll need to see more from you before I grant you anything."
Lotor bowed his head and only the team, seated below the steps of the high dais, saw the stressed expression on his face.
"I did promise the witch more material," Zarkon said, "But, Krye, what do you think should happen to them?"
Krye tilted his head in thought, "give them to Lotors care."
Lotors head snapped up, and Zarkon clenched his fists, "Your reasoning?"
"The witch can still experiment all she likes, but their imprisonment can give Lotor another chance to prove himself."
Zarkon glared at Lotor who lowered his head quickly to hide his face. Even he wasn't prepared for what Krye had just done.
"If the prisoners escape, Lotor," Zarkon warned, "you will be seen as a traitor and executed immediately…maybe by my own hand."
"Yes, my emperor."
()
They were once again jailed in separate rooms, but this time in the same hallway. Each of them sat and waited for their fate. Would Lotor risk being executed? This was the ultimate test to see which side he was on.
()
Krye sat back and watched the security cam footage. Qaltok stood in his place.
"Qal," Krye asked, "Lotor seems to be put out that you chose to follow me…he mentioned it before, why did you follow me when I offered you the same deal?"
"You bargained," Qaltok replied, "Lotor did not."
"Was that all?" Krye turned to face his first general.
"No."
"What else?"
"May I keep it a secret, my lord?"
Krye pondered it for a moment, "Fine, but only because I know I have your loyalty. However if that loyalty is ever put to question I will have you tell me, to my face, is that understood?"
"Of course, my lord."
"Qal."
"Yes. My lord?"
"Earlier I felt light headed and a tightness in my chest…but it was not a bad feeling…"
"That could be giddiness, my lord. An emotion akin to being happy and excited."
"Ah, yes, I am excited," Krye nodded, "I recognized that one. Lotor is as easy to read as the people he looks down on. He's going to make his move and I can't wait until everything becomes ripe."
"You think he doesn't see your plan?"
"I think he doesn't understand my plan, and because he doesn't understand, he misinterprets it."
"Is that what made you giddy?"
"….no, I think it was the fact that in front of Zarkon, he's an open book. A little boy trying to fight against daddy. It was…funny."
"are you-"
"Qal, Look," Krye pointed to the screen, "Lotor just made his first move."
()
Druids appeared at Shiros door.
They hauled him to his feet and escorted him out of his cell. He stumbled out of fear at first, but they only lead him to another cell and locked him inside.
That was it.
Shiro sank to the floor and took a deep breath. He had no idea what that was about, but his knees were jelly from relief.
()
When the sirens sounded, Krye sighed.
"Duty calls," Jakal said, a small smile on his face.
"I want you and Greshik to cover the hangers, you know the drill. Romak, you stay here and guard the ship. I and Qal will take care of the escape pod area."
"Taking the fun area for yourself, my lord?"
"The plan must not fail."
They all saluted except Qaltok who was looking at his tablet.
"My lord, Zarkon has already intercepted Lotor and the paladins."
Krye tensed, "And the witch?"
"Is with him."
"Is she fighting?"
"Not yet."
"Change of plans," Krye snapped, "Everyone to their ships and take off. I don't want a single one of my people left here except for Gil and Jahk. Qal, you follow me to try and even the odds."
They ran off the ship and down the halls leading to where the lions were being kept.
"they are winning," Qal updated him, "Zarkon is loosing."
"NO!" Krye shouted as he rushed into the lions hanger just as Zarkon fell, Lotors sword buried deep into the emperors back.
"My lord-" Qaltok started but grabbed his lord instead and pulled him to one side as Hunk fired at them. The paladins were retreating and firing at them while they did so.
"We need to go," Krye hissed and in the confusion of fire escaped with his general. The escape pods were near by and instead of slowing down his ships, he used one of the pods and escaped to meet up with them that way.
()
The escape was more than successful and even though they'd been captured, a complete victory in their minds.
Zarkon was dead.
"I can't believe it," Pidge laughed, "Shiro uses his hand to hand to knock the bayard out of Zarkons hand and then passes it off to Lotor in the smoothest ark of partner fighting I've ever seen! You only see that crap in the movies and to see it in real life was ah-mazing!"
"What made you trust me with your bayard anyway?" Lotor asked Shiro, who previously hadn't trusted him completely at all.
"You risked execution," Shiro grinned, "As far as I'm concerned, you're and guilty as any of us. I think we can trust you 100 percent now."
Keith hesitated, but said nothing.
Hunk and Pidge still babbled on and on about the fight and how epic it was. Allura had also done her part keeping the witch at bay.
"That was so cool, Allura! You were so strong!"
Allura gave a shy smile, but in her gut, something didn't feel right. Her fight with the witch wasn't like the last time…she felt like it was easier, and not in the 'I got stronger' kind of way.
Still, they were all alive and well and ready for the next leg of the war.
"And now," Lotor grinned, "I know more about Kryes ships and his forces."
"Is that what you got for selling us out?" Keith asked.
"Its what I got for working with that sadistic and sarcastic quiznacking upstart, yes," Lotor said, "I didn't think he'd actually take that information and win with it."
"Looks like this guy is a lot smarter than we think. We'll have to be careful."
Now that zarkon was gone, there was a power vacuum to fill.
()
"The Kral Zera will take place in 30 quintants. A respectful distance from the death of the previous emperor who left no will."
Lotor was talking to the paladins with all his generals about the strategy they would have to take during that time when Coran cut in.
"Um," he glanced at Lotor, "A friend is trying to call in…"
"Its ok, Coran," Shiro said, "Lotor is now completely on of us so-"
"No," Keith stood, "No, shiro, he may be one of us, but not-"
"Keith, the Blades have their secrets and they can keep them, but if we're going to finish this war, we have to work together."
"Blades?" Lotor adopted a confused expression. Of course he'd HEARD of the vigilante group, but no one had ever known how to touch them, even him. The fact that Voltron was in contact with them completely was just what he wanted.
Shiro sighed, "Lotor, the Blades are shy, would you mind stepping out while we talk to them for a moment?"
"By all means," he raised his hands and left the bridge area. The door shushed behind him and he felt the red paladins eyes glaring into the back of his head.
What had he done to piss that one off?