He lay there in his quarters thinking of how the last 32 Vargas went down…
It was supposed to be an easy op. Infiltrate the Kral-Zera. Place explosives in strategic locations and let time do the rest…
That was before it all went to shit! The Black Lion appeared meaning the rest of the force was nearby. Let's just say this added more tension to an already Gorelian fire. But then Lotor came out of the Black Lion.
After that, it all happened so fast. I don't remember trying to turn all the explosives off, or the explosion, or even inadvertently saving Lotor. The op was fubar-ed and one massive brawl for power ensued.
As always I bit off more than I could chew and fought this large female general… or was she a commander? Anyway, I was finished until someone landed a well-placed shot disarming her giving me an opening.
After knocking that female general out I checked to see who it was. With Black in the air and the other operatives seemingly vanished, who would save my life?!
It was her, whoever she was! The general I fought on that planet and helped in the Weblum. She looked at my outfit and glared for a couple of seconds prompting one from me. Come to learn with her maternal part that was the worst thing I could have done…
When we got to HQ Kolivan tore into me something fierce. Calling into question my loyalty to the Blades, to Voltron, to the Coalition. Claiming I've been compromised by that traitorous woman, but I proved otherwise. Let's just say I've been confined to quarters unless to eat or bathe until further notice.
Kolivan was still fuming over the failed op. Beside him was his acting second Syrila watching the data stream of the Kral-Zera. The Red Paladin was emotionally compromised by the appearance of the Black-Lion. Lotor showing up in the Black-Lion suggested the Voltron-Force was now at his beck and call.
Sendak was in play after missing for three years now, and the Empire was now in a perpetual Civil War with Commanders and Generals vying for loyalty and power. But what irked him the most is seeing his student at the mercy of a Galra General, one he has crossed paths with and had the scar to tell, but the Ferolian woman who was once Lotor's second. The look she shot his student, reminded him all too well of another Galra female.
But Keith was too ignorant in the ways of Galra love rituals let alone Ferolians. He had no idea that the glare they shared meant something more than what it meant on Earth. Kolivan continued to watch the feed and noticed that a rather colorful red halfbreed looked to the Ferolian and back at Keith and smirked before disembarking with Haggar. He had known Syrila long enough to know something was on her mind. Still looking at the feed supporting his head with his thumbs "Speak."
She sighed "This whole incident spells trouble," She looked at the red former General of Lotor. "Not just for the boy but for the Blades." Kolivan knew she was right, Keith was too emotional like a certain someone when she was his age. He was too naive in the Galra ways. But also what was more alarming was how the Voltron-Force cozied up to Lotor. Something just wasn't adding up "I need to know where his heart lies. Summon him."
It took Keith dobashes to reach the Gand Master's rectory. Kolivan was flanked by a woman who wore her mask to conceal her identity. He still had a rather annoyed look on his face and a holographic image of the Ferolian. Keith briefly looked at it catching the name Acxa before looking back at Kolivan not wanting to garnish any more trouble.
Kolivan stood up "The Blade of Marmora is a organization built on trust in our fellow Blades and secrecy. WHen those values are threatened we need to root out those threats." He looked to Keith who had a nervous but puzzled look. "I have reviewed Data Streams of the Kral-Zera and i am greatly disturbed at what I saw."
Kolivan held his right hand towards the far wall of his private rectory and looked at the screen that was there. It showed her, Acxa, in various engagements with not just the Blades but Rebels, even the Voltron-Force. Most damning was the glare they shared during the Kral-Zera "This Ferolian half breed," Kolivan looked to the screen "is no stranger to us. Acxa Xorcah. Up until recently Lotor's second in Command, inadvertent architect of the event that caused Zarkon his life, who now share her loyalites to that witch Hagger."
Keith glared at her image but not as intensely as he did standing nearly 500 feet away "We've met…" Not looking back at him "Yes so I have heard," he looked back at Keith "I need to know what she is to you." Keith had a puzzled look on his face, "what?" Kolivan's look hardened "Your immediate future all depends on who this woman is to you. Friend? Lover? Enemy?" Keith always knew Kolivan to cut to the chase, but he was dangerous and calculating.
Keith looked at the image one more time before looking back at Kolivan, "She is an enemy I helped out of a crippled fighter and had to trust and work with during the Weblum mission, at the end she pulled a blaster on me and my temper got the best of me. Since then we have met as combatants during my time as the Black Lion pilot. Up until the Kral-Zera the last time I saw her in person was when the other Paladins and I bumped into them investigating the attack on a Galra base by a Galra cruiser."
Kolivan raised an eyebrow "What was the comment?" Keith looked down kind of ashamed before looking at Kolivan again "That she was just like the rest of them. A comment I am not proud of." Kolivan's look softened as much as the leader was known to, not much "Having just learned of your Galra lineage the comment was unfair of you. You had no right to make such a comment." Turned to face the screen "You are still young and ignorant of our ways. But your comment helped us tie together what she is to you. I suspect that glare she shot at you was your answer to your comment, be lucky you are still alive with your… answer. You are dismissed. Return to your quarters while my Second discuss your future."
Already in enough trouble for botching the Operation, he bowed his head and saluted the Grand Master. He turned and walked out of the rectory under Kolivan's watchful eye. When the door closed he turned to face Syrila "There is more to this than your grandson is letting on." He nodded in agreement, "Yes, there is clearly something more between him and her."
He sat down in his chair "Keith is an honorable fighter who has gone into the thick for those incapable of fighting. Thace reported that the Red Lion, his at the time, fought Zarkon and refused to stop until his lion was incapable during a rescue attempt of Princess Allura. He went on a suicide missionjust to infiltrate Galra Central Command"
Syrila looked at her old friend "He is young, brash, cocky in his own way. Just like his mother and OLD grandfather at one time" Kolivan looked up with a faux shocked look causing Syrila to laugh. She stopped laughing "What are your plans?" Kolivan leaned back in his chair, "For the time being, he will remain Base-Side and resume his training." Syrila looked at the glare Acxa shot Keith, "What are we going to do about her?" Kolivan looked at Acxa's picture, "Keep her at a distance. Put our best operatives on her to monitor and report back on her."
Keith got some grub which made him miss Hunk's which were weird but delicious. He brought his food to his quarters and place it on the stand near his bed. He pulled out his little personal pad which had pictures on it from his time with Voltron. He typed in his password and started scrolling through it.
He landed on an image from when they met face to face in combat downloaded from his Paladin Armor, he scrolled through other photos of her. What is it about her? We keep meeting, we are enemies in a war, but why can't I get her out of my mind? Why am I even thinking about her now when my honor and loyalty are being called into question? Get it together you idiot!
He rolled onto his side stopping on an image of her standing barking an order at one of her comrades. He got to see the profile of her face falling asleep. Clutching his dagger as his heavy eyelids finally closed.