Part Eight
Lotor happily trotted beside Allura. He could talk again and Allura would tell everyone that he saved her life. Then, I will answer the questions everyone's been wondering about. As they walked across the bridge, the door opened and Coran ran out with the team and Nanny behind him.
"Princess, what were you doing out alone!? And why is he here?" Coran pointed at Lotor when he said, 'he.'
"I went to look for Lotor and while I was looking, he saved my life."
"Saved your life?" Keith asked.
"Hagger was here and had planned to kill me with a poisoned blade carried by her cat. Lotor got in the way, taking the one-time poison, and killing the cat. I think my tears were the cure; as they fell on the wound, it closed up."
"Your tears cured him?" Keith sounded dubious.
"Such poisons on Doom are quite common," Lotor replied. "My people are not prone to crying."
The group gasped at Lotor's words, seeing no pendent on him. "You're…talking!" Coran exclaimed.
Allura giggled at his reaction. "I was so happy he was cured, I kissed his nose. It seems my kiss restored his voice."
Coran's face softened at this. "Princess, it was still foolish to be out alone, but the end result was good. Lotor is welcome to come back."
"I accept. If we could go to the lounge, I will finally explain how and why I was changed."
"Certainly." Coran took the lead of guiding everyone inside, Lotor right behind him as he still didn't know his way around. They entered the lounge and Lotor waited until everyone was seated.
"All right. I was just concluding that Voltron can't be beat when Fath- I mean, Zarkon summoned me. He expressed disappointment and anger at my constant failures, which was nothing new. He had decided to banish me to Arus, believing it fitting I reside on the planet I failed to conquer. He had further worked with Hagger who told me I would live as an animal. She poured a clear potion on a medallion, spoke some words, and pushed it into my chest. I took on the body you see now and gained the instincts and voice. Hagger had said she knew how to restore my voice but she wouldn't tell me. Then, she threw me into a coffin ship and I came here."
There was silence and Lotor said neutrally, "You think I deserved this, don't you?"
"I did," Keith admitted slowly. "But now, I think you didn't deserve to be banished as a wolf."
"Believe me, I had thought that I did deserve it; to a certain degree I couldn't cause trouble as a wolf who couldn't talk."
"Lotor, I apologize for thinking this was a trick."
Lotor shook his head. "I understand why you thought that. We are a lot alike, you and I, Commander."
"It's just Keith, Lotor. We would be happy to have you here."
"And I would be happy to live here and provide any information you want about Doom weapons and robeasts." Lotor knew Zarkon wouldn't like it if he learned that Lotor was telling about the weaknesses of the weapons and robeasts but he didn't care. As far as he was concerned, Zarkon was not his father anymore and therefore he felt no guilt in spilling whatever secrets he had concerning the fleet's offensive and defensive systems.
Lotor stood beside Coran as the control center rose up so that the Force could go to their lions. Doom had unleased a robeast on the planet and naturally the lions needed to be sent out. The control center lowered and while Coran focused on the view screen, Lotor had the castle's sensors scan the robeast so he could study its semantics. He studied all the aspects of the monster and he laughed in a way that caught Coran's attention. "Why are you laughing?"
"I'm laughing because this was the last robeast I had designed just before my banishment. The thing seems unbeatable, but look here." He tapped a paw to one part and the screen zoomed in. "There's a sensor under its right foot. If it can be pierced, its so-called invulnerability will be gone and be easy to beat. If the team can knock it over, one of them can use the tip of a jaw blade to pierce it."
Coran switched on the comm link. "Keith, the robeast has a sensor under the right foot. Lotor say that if you knock it over, one of you can pierce the sensor and disable its invulnerability."
"Got it," was the reply.
Lotor and Coran watched as the team charged the robeast and once it was down, Red Lion used its blade to destroy the sensor. After that the team formed Voltron, traded attacks with the robeast, and finally destroyed it with the Blazing Sword. When the robeast blew up, Lotor howled in triumph. Lotor had worked with Coran for weeks to operate the controls and had helped repel the fighter ships that invaded the planet before today when the robeast arrived. Lotor knew that it took time for this one to be built and he couldn't believe Zarkon didn't improve the blueprint. Maybe he thought the design was good, giving me credit despite banishing me.
Coran smiled at Lotor's howl. The prince-turned-wolf still spoke like a wolf at times and heeded his instincts while providing information on Doom's offensive and defensive systems. He, in turn, relayed this to ally planets but not naming the source on the assumption that Zarkon would try to kill Lotor for telling all. Lotor has no reason to be loyal to Zarkon considering what he and Hagger did to him.
The Force returned to the Control Room and, once the console had lowered, Lotor pranced around them, barking happily. His antics amused them and Allura crouched down to scratch his ears and then his chin. "You were a big help in telling us about the weak spot."
"I can't believe Zarkon didn't improve on it considering it was my design."
"Yeah, he's not being smart," Lance said. "It's clear that you were the brains of the attacks."
"And now all I know is yours to use."
"It's the tactical knowledge you have," Keith said. "You also have strategic knowledge. Such knowledge is valuable and we're lucky you're on our side now."
"I feel the same way, Keith," Lotor said proudly.
The five pilots exchanged looks and nodded. "Well," Keith said. "We've talked it over and we want to make you a reserve member of the Voltron Force."
"Reserve member?" Lotor was shocked.
Keith nodded. "If one of us is unable to pilot our lion, you would step in for us. Of course, first you need to learn the controls and practice flying with paws."
"I'm honored and I accept. What should I do first?"
"Study the lion's semantics for now and in a couple of days, Allura will take you up in the Blue Lion with her."
"Okay…Commander." Keith didn't correct Lotor as the wolf was now a member of the Force. He looked forward to learning about the lions and how to fly them. And who knows? I may end up helping to form Voltron, Defender of the Universe.
The End
