Birthright: Chapter 4

      Keith stood staring at the young woman who was now standing before him, as she met his gaze. She could only turn away in reaction as she handed Allura a small package.
      "Lady Alysson gives you her sincere apologies," she said to Allura. "This is a small gift from her."
      Allura nodded as she took the gift from her. "Anala was it?"
      The young woman nodded. "Yes," she said. "If you don't mind, I have a lot to explain, and very little time to do it in. I must return to Vallis by the end of the week."
      Allura then turned to Coran, handling him the small package. "Then I suggest that we get down to business, Lady Anala," she said. "We can all go to a conference room where it will be a little more comfortable."
      Anala nodded. "But first, if its possible, may I speak to Captain Hayashi first....alone?"
      Allura nodded as she met Keith's gaze. "I'm sure that we can give you both some time," she said. "Lance, Hunk, Pidge."
      The other three members nodded as they followed Coran out of the Recreation Room.
      "Please call when you are through," she said. "In the meantime, I'll see to it that a room is prepared for your stay here, Anala."
      "I thank you, princess."
      Allura then quietly left the Recreation Room, turning back toward the two as they remained silent before exiting and the door sliding close behind her.

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      "Are you angry?"
      he question caught him off guard but he quickly gained his composure as he met her gaze. "I don't know what to feel at this moment." he said honestly. "I mean..what can I feel?"
      "Betrayed? Anger? Frustration." she offered. "At least that was what I felt when I learned the truth."
      "You learned the truth?" he asked.
      She smiled as she took a seat in a chair near her.
      "My mother.....your mother," she started. "You were not the only one she had to leave behind for a bit."
      "What do you mean?" he asked as he sat in a chair across from her.
      "When our father was killed, our mother did not know that she was pregnant with me," she said. "When she left Earth, she found out that she was, and afraid that Kelar would also have me killed, she entrusted me after my birth to the care of her patron mother....a god-mother of sorts, until she could establish herself within Kelar's rule and earn his trust."
      "I grew up on a nearby planet to Vallis, and was later retrieved by my mother when I was about 6 of your Earth years old," she said. "I did not even know this woman, but she claimed to be my mother."
      "I didn't know what to think at that moment, but she took the time to explain to me the whole story," she said. "Even at that age, she told me about you."
      "Me?"
      "She never forgot about you," she said. "And every year, she would somehow be able to check on you to see how you were fairing. After returning to Vallis with her, I saw through my own eyes why she feared Kelar enough to protect you."
      "Yet you and she.."
      "We serve under him, to protect the princess."
      "This Lyana?"
      She nodded. "She wants to return Vallis to how it was before Kelar took over."
      "Have you seen this Lyana?"
      "Unfortunately, I have not," she said. "My mother is the only person who regularly sees Lyana, to protect her from Kelar and his cohorts. If they ever learned that she was still alive, all our efforts would be lost."
      "Why wait this long?"
      "The people of Vallis are easily influenced. They were not educated in the arts of war, or to defend themselves against a force like that of Kelar." she said. "But if they saw someone strong enough to thwart him. To show how weak he really is, then maybe we can instill that pride that has been snuffed by his tyrannical rule."
      "And that's why they want me?"
      "You have grown up, away from Vallis, not influenced by his thinking," she said. "You can help us return Vallis to the once strong planet it once was.
      "I know I can't convince you to return with me," she went on. "And I know there is no way I can make you."
      She then opened up a small satchel on the side of her waist and pulled out a small disc, and handed it to him. "All I can offer you is something to show you what Vallis is like."
      Keith looked at the disc he held in his hands.
      "And what Vallis was before Kelar took over."

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      Allura stared at the still image before, shaken by the images that had been presented to her. It was almost deja vu for her seeing the town in ruins, people being forced to mine and to build these machines capable of mass destruction. Deep down, she could feel for Anala knowing that her people were once like the people of Vallis, and the hope of Voltron helped return her planet to a state where it could become prosperous again.
      "What exactly does Kelar do with these machines?"
      "He sells them to planets outside of your Alliance," Anala offered. "If they offer the right amount of payment, they will get the forces and supplies they need."
      "And what of your people?" Lance asked.
      "My people are hanging on by what little hope they have," Anala said. "Everyday I see myself living in this castle, and can do nothing to help those who are working hard, barely surviving, and starving for food and water. It makes me sick, but anything that we do could jeopardize our princess."
      "It seems that your princess has her hands tied," Keith said.
      "Very much so," Anala stated. "Which is part of the reason I was sent to Arus. Hope to gain your trust enough to ask that you help us with our fight against Kelar's forces."
      "Help?" Allura asked.
      "With what we have, our forces have no weapons, nothing to use against Kelar," she said. "You have seen the weapons he has developed, and what they can do. We only number in the few hundred. We would be battling against a force of a few thousand."
      Allura nodded as she met the gaze of every member who was sitting around the table.
      "I am taking your request into consideration, Anala," she said as she stood. "In the mean time, I ask that you make yourself at home here. We've readied a room for your stay."
      "Thank you princess," Anala stated.
      Coran nodded as he came to Anala's side and escorted her out of the conference room. Allura turned to Keith as the doors closed behind them.
      "I can't ask you to believe her," Keith said as he met her gaze.
      "Do you believe her?"
      Keith slowly nodded. "I don't know what it is," he said. "You'd think I'd be angry or at least put off by these revelations, but somehow, I'm not."
      "Do you think it's risky?" Lance asked.
      "Very," he said. "We would need all the info we can get on this Kelar, person. And these war machines Anala spoke of."
      Allura nodded. "We can learn from her as well."
      "I'm not going to ask you all to...."
      "You know us Keith, we're altogether on this," Lance interrupted. "Uncle Derek did all he could to protect you. Let's see why he needed to."
      "Thanks, Lance."
      "So, I think we are all in agreement?" Allura asked.
      "We can't leave Arus undefended, though."
      "Actually, I think I have that covered," Allura stated. "Keith, you and Pidge find out what you can from Anala. Lance, find a safe route back to Vallis. Hunk, work with Lance on what those Lions will need."
      "What are you going to do?"
      "Cash in on a favor from and old acquaintance."