"Everyone to your Lions," Keith shouted as they raced into
Castle Control. "We're going to assume
they're heading to Doom."
"Captain," Koran called out.
"Yeah, Lotor has the Princess, I know," Keith said hurriedly.
"Wait! What? How did Lotor get the Princess?"
Keith stopped and turned to the older man, "If you didn't know Lotor was here, why did you sound the alarms?"
"We have an incoming message from Doom," Koran pointed to the main console.
Keith stepped up to the monitor, "This is Planet Arus, what do you want?"
The image was garbled and the sound static, but the voice was unmistakable. "Keit!"
"Sven," Keith gripped the edges of the monitor and leaned closer. "Sven? Is that you?"
"Ja, Keit, it's me. Can you hear me?"
"Where are you?
What's going on?"
"Dere isn't much time to explain. I vas captured by Doom and I finally escaped."
"You're still on Doom?"
"Ja!"
"We're coming for you!"
"But Keit…"
"We're on our way, Sven, where can we find you?"
Koran stopped him, "Are you sure it's him? This could be a trick Lotor and Haggar are pulling."
Keith nodded, he was right. Where had Sven been the last sixteen months? Now he was suddenly contacting them. As much as Keith wanted it to be true, he needed to know for sure.
Keith turned back to the monitor. "Sven, what is your Garrison ID number?"
"Huh? Um, 384…9574J…K58."
"Your brother's name?"
Even through the static filled screen, it was obvious when Sven's face darkened. "Erik Davin Johansson, dead eight years."
"How did we meet?"
"Come on, Keit, dis is silly."
"How do we know you aren't Lotor in disguise?"
Sven sighed, "Alright. Our first year in de Academy, you tried to break up a fight between Lance and I, but de Colonel saw de three of us and tought ve vere all fighting. Ve had to clean all de bathrooms vith our toothbrushes."
"Where are you Sven?" Keith asked.
"Ve just broke out of de Pit of Skulls. Ve're in de voods right now, I stole a gun and communicator from a guard. Ve'll vatch for you guys. Dere is a clearing about a mile south vest of de castle, ve'll vait for you dere."
"We?" Keith asked.
"I have another slave vith me."
Keith nodded, "We're on our way. Sven?"
"Ja?"
"Lotor has Allura."
"Vhat? Now?"
"Yeah, we're heading to Doom now."
"I'll see if I can find anyting."
"But lay low, man, we're coming to get you, don't take any chances."
"Alright, Keit see you…" He was cut off as their communication was severed.
"Come on guys," Keith turned to his team. "It looks like we have two people to rescue."
"Three," Pidge corrected.
"Yeah. Sven said he had a slave with him." Hunk said.
Keith nodded, "Let's head out, we'll discuss this on the way."
As soon as the Lions were in the air, Keith started to formulate a plan. "Alright, Pidge, call up the interactive map of Doom on your navigation computer and see if you can find the clearing that Sven was talking about. We're going to be trying out the new cloaking device you installed, Hunk, and see if we can land undetected. We'll try to land in or as close to this clearing as we can. We want our entrance to be as quiet as possible, we'll get Sven and whoever is with him. I'm thinking Hunk, you and Pidge had better take Sven and his friend straight back to Arus so they can see Dr. Gorma. Lance, you and I are going into the castle to get the Princess."
"Sounds good," Lance called back.
"How long do we wait before we come back for you?" Hunk asked.
"Six hours," Keith told him.
"I found it, Keith," Pidge said excitedly. "I'm sending the coordinates to all of your navigation computers."
"Good job, Pidge, thanks."
The rest of the trip was spent in quiet concentration. The four men mentally prepared themselves for the battle they were about to enter and the reunion with their friend who they had all thought was dead.
"Pull back men, we're going to start a slow, easy descent. Quiet." Keith muttered.
It was a smooth, easy landing. All four Lions rested in a battle stance, ready to take off at a moments notice, while the four pilots exited. They spread out and crept around the clearing, looking for any sign of Sven.
"Psst…Keit."
Keith whirled around and came face to face with the haggard, drawn face of his friend.
"Sven," he dropped his weapon and pulled him into a tight hug. Keith was shocked at how thin he was, his skin was stretched tightly over his bones, his hair was stringy, and a thick beard had covered his face. "How are you?"
"I've been better," Sven smiled weakly.
"Come on, we're going to get you off this planet, get you to see Dr. Gorma, then we'll talk."
"But de Princess…"
"Lance and I'll get her."
"Keit," Sven grabbed his arm. "I vant you to meet somevone." He motioned to someone hiding behind a tree. "Dis is Romelle. Lotor threw her into de Pit. She's coming vith us."
Keith's eyes widened as the young woman stepped forward. Beneath the tired, frightened appearance, torn clothes, and mussed hair, beyond the emaciated look was a beautiful young woman who looked remarkably like Allura. "Romelle."
She nodded shyly and stood intimately close to Sven.
"Come on," Keith nodded his head toward the Lions. "Let's get you guys out of here." He pulled out his communicator and told the others he had found them.
"Sven," Lance ran over and threw his arms around his old friend. "God, it's great to see you again."
"Reunions later, let's get them out of here," Keith said.
Romelle was hesitant to leave Sven's side. He whispered to her, telling her she could trust Hunk and he would see her again as soon as they landed on Arus. Hunk was leading her over to Yellow when the first shot was fired. She ran full force back to Sven. Hunk and Pidge surrounded them, weapons drawn, trying to find where the shots had come from.
Keith and Lance scanned the trees, looking for whoever had fired. Keith walked backwards toward the others and whispered, "We may have to come back for the Princess. Run for the Lions."
As soon as they broke apart, Doom soldiers swarmed the clearing. Before they had a chance to get away, the four pilots were stripped of their weapons and had their hands behind their backs. They were surrounded and forced through the woods, toward the castle.
"Where's Sven?" Lance whispered to Keith through unmoving lips.
Keith looked over his shoulder and was rewarded with a punch in the side of the head.
"Eyes forward," the guard snarled.
Sven got away, Keith thought. As long as he was out there, there was hope.
They were shoved, tripped and hit as the guards herded them into the castle.
"Take them down to the dungeons," the head guard instructed.
"Hey," Lance wrenched his arm from the guard's grip. "Hands off the threads."
The guard in question responded by shoving Lance face first onto the stone ground.
"Just throw them in there."
A door was opened and they were all pushed in.
"Yeah! Let's see you do that when my hands aren't tied behind my back!" Lance shouted.
"Shut up, Lance," Keith hissed.
The door shut and the lock clicked. The sound of the guards' boots on the stone floor faded away as they left.
"Great, what now?" Lance kicked the wall and swore as his toe throbbed.
"I think I can get these off," Pidge grunted, twisting his hands in the handcuffs.
"We know Sven and Romelle got away," Keith said. "There's hope in that."
"Did anyone else notice that Romelle looked like Allura?" Hunk whispered.
"Yeah," Lance agreed.
"Maybe it's a regional thing with this galaxy, I've seen a lot of blonde women," Keith suggested.
Hunk shrugged, "Maybe."
"Psst!"
Keith whipped his head around, "Quiet."
"Pssssst!"
"Do you hear that?" He asked.
"Yeah." Lance stepped closer to the door, looking out the small barred window.
Keith joined him and they held their breath, listening.
"Psst…Lance? Keith?"
"Allura?" Keith's voice rose excitedly.
"Yeah, it's me."
"Where are you?"
He heard the click of her shoes on the floor and saw a flash of blonde hair as she jumped up and tried to see through the window of the door across the hall. "I'm over here, in the room across from you."
"Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. I feel kinda weird, Haggar did something to quiet me."
Keith rested his head against the cool metal door and took in deep cleansing breaths. "We'll get you out of here, I promise."
"I know," she whispered.
"I got it!" Pidge held his handcuffs out in front of him.
"Way to go, Pidge, can you help us?" Keith backed over to him.
Pulling a pocketknife from his belt, Pidge picked the locks and freed his teammates.
"We have to find a way out," Keith ran his hands over the door, but it was sealed shut with the lock on the outside. Lance and Hunk felt along the walls, but they were smooth.
"Keith." He heard Allura whimper and raced to the door.
"What is it?"
"Lotor's coming," she whispered.
He pressed himself up against the door and tried to see down the hall. Sure enough, Lotor and three guards walked purposefully down the hall.
"Quick," he whispered to his men.
Keith went and sat at the wall opposite the door and hid his hands behind him, the others followed his example.
Lotor looked in through the bars and saw the four men sitting on the floor and laughed. "I can't believe you walked right into our hands and delivered the Lions to us! This is too good!" He was about to open the door when he saw something glittering on the floor, a smirk crossing his lips.
Keith followed his gaze and groaned, someone had left a pair of handcuffs on the floor, he knew they weren't restrained any more.
Lotor disappeared and they heard him unlock and open a door. Keith and Lance were on their feet and at the door, Hunk and Pidge at their heels.
"Let me go," Allura shouted, struggling in his grasp.
"Don't make me get Haggar, Princess, you had a difficult time waking earlier
and it's even harder the second time around."
"Lotor, let her go," Keith warned.
The Doom Prince laughed, "I don't think you're in any position to make any orders, Captain, I hold all the cards." He turned and grabbed Allura's chin, forcing her to face him.
Keith watched in disgust as Lotor pressed his lips to Allura's. She twisted in his grasp and groaned. Lotor pulled back and grinned at her, but was rewarded with Allura spitting in his face. He brought his hand up and wiped his cheek before striking out and slapping Allura hard enough to send her sprawling across the floor.
"I will kill you!" Keith yelled.
Lotor glanced up at him before bending down and yanking Allura up by the arm, her cheek was red and she was going to have a nasty bruise. He thrust her at one of the guards who held her arms behind her. Lotor stroked one hand over her hair, enjoying the feel of her trembling. His other hand ran down her arm and then up over her shoulder. He traced his finger down over her breast. Allura twisted her head away, bile rising in her throat. She locked eyes with Keith and he watched as a tear slid from her eye.
"Lotor, we will get out of here," Lance said. "We will find you and we will kill you in the slowest, most painful way possible."
Lotor grabbed her hips in his hands and pulled her roughly against him. Allura gasped as the guard still held her hands and her shoulder was wrenched behind her.
Before it could go any further, an explosion rocked the castle. The guard instinctively dropped Allura's wrists and grabbed his weapon. Allura swiped and clawed at Lotor, scratching his face and drawing blood. Lotor roared in anger and struck her again. Her head hit the floor and this time she didn't get up.
Another explosion shook the building.
"Take her to the other dungeon," Lotor ordered, holding a handkerchief to his cheek. "Secure her." He turned on his heel and ran down the hall.
"Allura!" Keith called, shaking the bars on the window but they wouldn't give.
"She'll be fine, man," Hunk said weakly.
"I bet that's Sven coming to get us," Pidge pointed out.
"How? He didn't have a key for any of the Lions." Keith paced the room, feeling helpless and shaking with rage.
Hunk grabbed the bars and pulled as hard as he could, but they didn't budge.
The castle shook again, the sound of gunfire and guards running and shouting filled the caste.
Hunk threw his shoulder into the door, it didn't even move.
Keith ran to the door, pounding on it. "We have to get out of here!" He cried desperately.
"Keith, calm down," Lance took him by the shoulders. "We'll get out of here, we'll get her. Calm down, keep your head."
He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Lance was right, he couldn't lose control, there was too much riding on this.
"Hunk?"
The big man peered out the window and grinned, "Romelle!"
"Shh," she put her fingers to her lips. "I'm going to try and shoot the lock."
"Stand back," Hunk told everyone. "The Calvary has arrived."
It took four shots before she was able to disarm the lock. Hunk grabbed the bars and swung the door inward.
Lance grabbed Romelle by the shoulder, "What's going on? Where's Sven?"
"He's in the big Lion. He told me to come in through the passage and find you guys, here." She had a satchel over her shoulder and pulled out their weapons, handing the one she had used to Hunk.
"You are my hero," Lance placed a kiss on her forehead.
"Let's get Allura and get out of here," Keith said, checking to make sure his weapon was charged.
"Allura," Romelle whispered.
"Just stay close to us," Hunk told her. "We'll get you out of here."
Lance and Keith took the left side of the hall, glancing in every window, while Hunk and Pidge stayed to the right.
"She's not here," Keith said, desperately.
"There are other dungeons," Romelle told him. "Some down there," she pointed down a flight of stairs. "And more over there," she pointed down another hallway.
"You guys go down the stairs, we'll take the hall," Keith instructed. "If you find her, contact us right away."
Hunk and Pidge nodded, keeping their backs against the wall, they disappeared down the stairs.
"Halt!"
Lance fired and cut down the Doom guard before he could even reach his weapon.
"Come on," Keith whispered checking door after door. He froze when he heard blaster shots, six of them. There was a scream and then another shot. He looked up at Lance, they both froze, blasters in hand.
The beeping of his communicator caused Keith to jump as he pulled it off his belt, "Whitaker."
"We got her, Cap," Pidge said. "Let's get out of here, there are guards everywhere."
Keith snapped it closed and reattached it to his belt, running down the hall. He saw Pidge running up the stairs, clutching Romelle's hand in his. Hunk was right behind him, carrying a limp Allura in his arms. Keith stopped in his tracks, his breath caught in his throat.
Lance ran into him, "Keith, keep moving."
"Hunk…"
"She's breathing, Keith, but she's pretty beat up."
"Give her to me."
"I got her, Cap."
"Give her to me," Keith held his arms out.
Hunk carefully transferred the unconscious Princess into his Captain's arms.
"Come on," Romelle whispered. "Follow me, Sven said to meet him by the
Lions."
Keith cradled Allura in his arms, taking comfort in the soft breathing he felt against his neck. A large purple bruise had formed on her cheek and her left eye was swollen nearly shut. "It'll be alright," he whispered when she moaned and shivered.
"This way," Romelle led them down the pathway Fforden had shown them when they had come to rescue Keith.
Outside, chunks of rock had fallen from the castle and guards lay on the ground. They kept to the side of the castle and hurried toward the tree line.
"Lance, contact Sven," Keith said, feeling Allura shift in his arms. "Let him know we're out and heading toward the Lions."
"Will do," Lance pulled out his communicator and dialed up Black.
"Keith, we have a mile to go, let me carry her some of the way," Hunk whispered.
"No, I'm fine," he tightened his grip on her.
"Sven will meet us there," Lance snapped the communicator shut.
It took them about ten minutes to reach the Lions. Hunk ended up carrying Romelle half the way, she was completely worn out.
Sven landed Black and jumped from the cockpit, running straight to Hunk, "Vhat happened?"
"She's tired Sven," Hunk whispered. "She fell asleep."
Sven carefully pushed the matted blonde hair from her face and caressed her cheek. Romelle's bright blue eyes fluttered open and focused on Sven.
"Ve're getting out of here, Beautiful," he whispered gently.
"Time to go home," she whispered back.
"Ja, let's go home."
{{ A heavy silence filled the room. Keith had wrapped both arms around Allura, remembering how limp she had felt in his arms and how terrified he had been. Sven had his face buried in Romelle's hair, his heart racing.
"We, uh, we don't have to finish this story if you don't want to," Becca whispered.
Pidge smiled and kissed the top of her head, "It was a hard battle."
"How did you do it, Sven?" Darcy whispered.
"I didn't have a choice," he told her.
"But the Lion, how did you fly Black without a key? How did you destroy the castle?"
"You're always full of questions," Lance teased.
"If you don't ask questions you don't learn," she dug her fingers into his ribs.
Lance squirmed and grabbed her wrists, "You never learn." He leaned closer, holding both her hands in his one and grabbing her chin with the other.
"If I fill you in, will you two break it up?" Sven asked.
"Maybe," Darcy giggled as Lance's breath tickled her neck.
"Please, tell them," Hunk pleaded. "I don't want to have to hose them off."
"Alright, vell, I vasn't totally sure vhat vas happening vhile it vas happening. But vonce the adrenaline vore off and I sat down to talk to de guys, it all just came out… }}