Birthright: Chapter 7

Chapter 7


Planet Arus

Anala smiled as she sat quietly on the rail of the bridge that led to the Castle as the boys played around in the night, catching the small bugs that lit up the area they were in. She laughed as Hunk and Pidge scrambled to catch one lone bug that was floating nearby, but only ended up hitting each other as the bug escaped.

"See, they light up."

Anala looked up and smiled seeing Lance holding a small lantern in front of her with a couple of the Fireflies buzzing inside of it. She stared at the little bugs almost laughing seeing that it was the insects posterior that glowed.

"How does it do that?"

"Phosphorous," he said with a smile and sat down next to her.

"Fos ... ?"

"Its a chemical they produce that makes them glow like that," he said.

She slowly nodded. "We dont have creatures like that on Vallis."

"What kind of animals do you have?"

She smiled. "Too many, each one beautiful," she said. "We value life in all forms."

"Well life is precious, and should not be wasted."

She met his gaze. She saw the kindness within his own eyes and took the lattern from his hands. Slowly, she opened it and let the two fireflies within it fly out.

"And we give every opportunity for life to live," she said.

"Too bad we can't have everyone think that," he said. "I mean, look at us. We fight so that the people of Arus can have the right to live. Yet we posses a something that could easily take it away."

"Voltron?" she asked.

"In the wrong hands, Voltron could be used as a weapon."

Anala nodded as she turned away from him and her gaze fell upon Pidge as he showed his catch to Keith. Her eyes then widened as she slowly got to her feet.

"That's it," she said.

"What?" Lance asked as he looked up at her.

Anala laughed to herself as she turned to him. "How could I be so clueless?"

"What? What?" Lance asked.

"Lance, you're wonderful!" she exclaimed as she kissed him on the cheek.

Her yelling caused the other members to turn to them.

"What's going on you two?" Pidge called.

"I dont know!" Lance yelled back.

"I have the best plan for us to get to Vallis, without raising suspicion."

"Huh?"

"Kelar loves weapons," Anala said as the others came to gather around her. "He lives to build the ultimate in weapons."

"What are you getting at?"

"He is bent on building the most powerful, but he has never seen the power that Voltron has," she said.

"What are you saying?" Keith asked. "That we show Voltron off to Kelar?"

She nodded. "I have to think more on this," she said. "And contact mother. This will have to be pulled off well otherwise we will lose eveyrthing we worked hard for."

"What can we do?" Lance asked.

"Prepare for a fight you will never forget."


Planet Vallis

"What?"

Kelar stared at Lady Alysson as she stood before him.

"Anala has related that she has found a valuable weapon on Planet Arus, and that the Princess Allura is willing to show off her weapon to you, in exchange for a fair price."

"A weapon?" Kelar asked. "Wasn't Planet Arus still in the stone age? They do not have the knowledge or know how to build such a weapon."

"Anala has stated that she has seen this weapon in action with her own eyes," Alysson stated. She then smiled. "Are you afraid that some third rate planet was able to develop a weapon that could be more power than your own?"

Kelar met her gaze. "My weapons are the most powerful in this part of the galaxy. Nothing can beat them."

"Well, they want to prove to you that nothing can beat theirs."

"Arrogant is what I call it," Kelar stated as he stood from his chair. He then smiled to himself. "Give Anala my permission to bring these Arusians and their weapon to Vallis. I would like to see this weapon in action."

Alysson smiled as she nodded. "We've also received word from a bid from Prince Lotor."

"Lotor?" Kelar asked. "What is that half twitted Prince up to now? Wasn't it enough that I stole his gold."

"He wishes to trade five of his top robeasts in exchange for the gold you .. *uhum* claimed."

Kelar smiled as he shook his head. "My forced bested his top robeast. What makes him think that I'd be interested in any others he has to offer?"

"He says that the are better than those of years ago," Alysson stated. "He wants a demonstration as well."

Kelar nodded. "Hm...maybe we should have his robeast try their chances against the Arusians, weapon." he said. "And then we will see just how strong they really are."

"Shall I relay your inviation to both parties?"

Kelar nodded. "Yes, yes," he said. "and see that arrangements are made for their arrivals."

Alysson nodded. "Ill have Vera work on that with the other servants." she said. "Is there anything else you wish me to do before I pass on your invitations?"

Kelar shook his head as he waved his hand to excuse her. He turned to the window that was behind him.

"Alysson, dear,"

"Yes, my lord?" Alysson said as she neared the door.

"There has been ugly rumors spreading among the workers," he said as he turned to her. "Rumors that I think should be disproved before it gets out of hand and they refuse to do as I ask of them."

"Rumors, my lord?" Alysson asked.

"Long before you came to Vallis, Alysson, I had to see that the political system here, was drastically changed," he said. "Unfortunately, I had one loose end that had to be taken care of before I could have absolute rule."

"Loose end, my lord?"

"I know I took care of it, but the rumors are sending the wrong message to the workers. I dont want them to think that Vallis will change politically."

"My lord, if there are rumors, then we must see that they are just that," she said. "What are these rumors?"

He smiled as he looked down then met her gaze again. "That Princess Lyana lives and is working to gain her rule back."

"Princess Lyana, my lord?" she asked. "Im afraid..."

"Yes yes," he said. "Not much for you to worry about. But see that those rumors cease. She is dead. And there is no way she can claim Vallis again."

"I'll see that whoever continues to spread those rumors are taken care of," she said. "May I ask who Lyana was?"

"Just some little thorn I had dispatched long ago," he said as he took a seat in his chair again. "The little wench even took up with an ambassador. How lowly can she be? And the people want her as ruler again?"

"Im sure that once they learn of her infidelity, my lord, their trust in her, their belief in her, will be puffed out like the small flame that burns within them," she said. "I dont see why they would question your rule, my lord. You've given them everything they've needed."

Kelar smiled. "Just see that her name is no longer mentioned or whispered among the workers."

"Those who speak her name shall be punished."

"Good-day, Alysson."

"Good-day, my lord."

Kelar watched as she left the room, the door slowly closing behind her.

*You cant trust her, I've warned you since she first came into your life.*

"Shut-up Xue," Kelar said as he stood again and walked over to his wetbar. "She has been much more help than you have ever been to me over the years."

A dark form appeared from the corner of the room, emerging from the shadows like a black cloth, slowly taking shape before him.

*She will be your undoing.*

Kelar laughed to himself as he poured himself a glass of wine. "My undoing?" he asked. "That is ridiculous."

*Why have you never bedded her?*

Kelar turned to the dark form. "Dont you dare talk to me like that!" he seethed. "You forget your place Xue. I could have you wiped out as easily as I had you trapped here."

The dark form snickered. *You were fortunate to trap me, Kelar,* it said. *But I will alwasy have control over my existence here. And outlive you.* "And until then, you will serve me as I see fit," he said.

*And what about those ugly rumors?. Why all of a sudden your people believe that the long dead princess is actually alive?*

"Delusion follows those who are weak," Kelar said as he drank his wine.

*And the truth is what drives them*

"What is that supposed to mean?"

*Did you bother to even verify that whoever your assassin killed was actually the princess?*

"We had informants," Kelar said. "They verfied the information."

*The verified that she was alive. But they had no idea what she looked like.*

Kelar smiled. "Well, if you think that she is indeed alive, why not do something about it for me?"

*Even if it means hurting you in the process?*

"Do everything you can, Xue," he said. "I want these rumors stopped."

*I will follow up.*

Kelar then smiled as he poured himself another glass of wine. "And its about time I took care of a personal situation."

*That is?*

"With all that I have, all that I own, all that I have taken, its time I shared it with a son."

The dark form smiled. *I will see that these rumors cease, my lord. And that you are not bothered this evening.*

Kelar nodded. "Xue."

*Yes.*

"If Lyana is alive, have her brought to me," he said. "So that I may kill her myself."

*As you wish.*


Planet Arus

"The legend and stories of Voltron have not reached the ears of the people of Vallis," Anala said. "So we have that advantage. I only knew of what you have done because of the constant updates my mother had with Admiral Hayashi."

Coran slowly nodded as he looked over the plans that Anala had come up with.

"And Kelar has offered us the invitation to bring Voltron to him." Lance said. "It seems that he has taken our bait."

"The only thing I dont like about it is that we will be in his territory on his terms," Coran said. "And we barely know the kind of power this man has over the people."

"It will be one hell of an act for us," Lance said. "I just hope that we dont lose Voltron in all of this."

"Kelar's weapons are strong," Anala said. "But I know all of their weaknesses and strengths."

"Hunk has developed a short range communication link," Pidge said. "So that way, Anala can tell us what to do to defeat Kelar's weapons when he tries them against us."

"You will all be able to listen in on my suggestions for each weapon," Anala said. "And act accordingly."

Coran nodded again. He then turned to Keith.

"We all know that this is to help a planet in need," he said. "But we have no right to usurp the current power in rule over it. We are going in to help Anala return home to her planet. Once there, you will act as officials from Arus. If asked to leave, then leave. Princess Lyana will have to fend for herself. Keith, its your choice to stay behind, or to lkeave with the rest if things get out of hand."'

"I understand."

"I suggest you all get a good nights rest, it'll be a long trip tomorrow."