########################################################################
Enemy My Friend
Arus
arus-dot-geo-at-yahoo-dot-com
Voltron and its characters are owned by World Event's Productions.
########################################################################
----------------
Chapter 9
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-----Doom Ship to Argos------
Anala could only find herself staring out of the small window she was seated near as Katherine sat next to her. The trip was mostly made in silence; Anala still bothered by what Katherine had said to her before they boarded the transport ship.
"So you gonna talk to me about what is going on?" Katherine whispered.
Anala turned to her. "Other than, I don't know what else is going on, I don't know what to say," Anala stated. "Lotor and Zeya are also in the dark, and about the only one, I can figure, who knows exactly what is going on, is that Roaman fellow."
"That old guy does seem a little...pushy," Katherine stated.
"I think he has everyone playing into a game he's set-up," Anala stated. "And the bad feeling I have; he wont mind killing us to see that his plan succeeds."
"Then why would Zarkon agree to work with him?" Katherine asked. "That would also mean putting Lotor and Zeya in harm's way."
"Zarkon has been blinded by the constant fights and battles he's had with Arus over the years," Anala stated. "He'll do everything he can to see any plan, as dubious as it could be, through. At this point, he probably could care less of what happens to Lotor, and I don't think he particularly cares what happens to Zeya."
"What a loving father," Katherine muttered. Katherine's gaze then shifted to the small cut on Anala's neck then turned her head away to look up toward the front of the transport ship.
"So what kind of memories did you get outta him?"
Anala turned to her, but let out a sigh. "Nothing much," Anala stated. "Seems that he's had a hard life; under the constant pressure from Zarkon to be the best. There was definitely no real love in that family."
"Well, whatever you saw, somehow got to you," Katherine stated. "So, what affected you so much?"
Anala swallowed hard, suddenly finding that her throat was dry. "I saw nothing from his memories concerning his mother."
"Mother?" Katherine asked. "Come to think of it, we never found anything about Zarkon's wives. He's had about 5 of them."
"Well, whoever she was, it seems Lotor was too young to remember her," Anala stated. "What happened to Zarkon's other wives?"
"Don't know," Katherine stated. "Save for the last one."
"What happened to her?"
"About 10 years ago, he had her thrown into the Pit of Skulls," Katherine stated. "They said that she was never found."
"Damn," Anala stated. "If she was killed, we can assume that the others were...."
"Killed as well," Katherine stated. "For the reasons? I do not know."
"With Zarkon, do you ever need a reason?" Anala asked.
-----/-----/-----/-----/------/------/------/------/-----/-----/-------/------/------/------/------/------/-----/------/------/------/------/------/
-----Argos-----
Anala shielded her eyes as she stepped off the transport. The sun shown down brightly overhead as Katherine came to stand next to her. Anala breathed in deeply, noticing the slight, spice filled odor that permeated the air. She immediate recognized the smell.
"There's a strange odor," Katherine stated.
"It's Lazon," Anala stated. "If its blanketing the air like this, that means this planet is just covered with Lazon."
"Lazon?" Katherine asked.
"The very stuff that Zarkon and Haggar uses in their weapons, ships and robeasts," Anala stated.
A sudden noise from the back of the transport caught both their attentions as 12 Doom soldiers struggled with a rather large robeast. It was a cat-like creature with large talons on each of its hands. It stood nearly 18 feet. It was slightly hunched foward, as it was lead out of the hold of the ship. Once free into the sunlight, it let out a deafening roar, stretching its arms out, the talons coming dangerously close to the guards, as they jumped out of the way.
Zeya was there to immediately calm the creature down, and as if the monster was just a kitten, let her touch it's paw, and responded to her commands obediently. She spoke with the guards before joining her brother.
"Great, just what we need," Katherine stated as she looked around. "Looks like they were planning ahead on this one."
"I'm just hoping that whatever is planned, that thing won't be used against us."
-----/-----/-----/-----/------/------/------/------/-----/-----/-------/------/------/------/------/------/-----/------/------/------/------/------/
-----Arus------
Dawn couldn't have come any faster, as the Beta Team and the original Team readied for their departure. Keith consulted one last time with Xue and Coran before issuing his final instructions to both teams. Without their leader, the Beta Team was delegated to follow any instructions issued by Lance and then from Neive when they were to reach Argos. The trip itself would be a long one since Argos was just outside of Doom's territory. A three-hour flight, of not knowing what would happen when they reach the dead planet.
Their departure was without fanfare, considering that they were now leaving Arus undefended, save for whatever Castle defenses they had. But with Lotor and his forces already involved in this strange kidnapping of both Anala and Katherine, Keith knew that he had not much to worry about the safety of Arus.
Much of the trip was made in silence save for the reports that he asked both teams to give every 20 minutes, keeping an eye out for any possible Doom ships they may encounter. Even if whom they are dealing with maybe in league with King Zarkon, Keith wasn't taking any chances that Zarkon's forces were still ready to attack.
"All's clear," Lance reported. "It should be smooth sailing from here."
"Just keep your eyes peeled," Keith stated.
"When we get there, what are we looking for?" Lance asked.
"Someplace big enough, yet probably enclosed to set up a trap," Keith stated. "If Katherine was smart enough, she should have activated her tracking device already. We'll search the planet until we pick up her signal. Once we've pinpointed it, Beta Team will land 3 clicks from that position; meet up with you guys to take the Lion ships."
"Tracking device?" Lance asked. "When did..."
Keith smiled to himself. "Long story, Lance," he said. "You guys will land 2 clicks from the point and I will land as close as possible. Once we free Katherine, I'll send her to take Black Lion."
"Question remaining is what will happen to us?" Hunk came over the com. "Seems like someone is going through an awful lot of trouble to get us to show up on this planet. Bring us out into Creepsville on a ghost planet, for what?"
"Well, we're just gonna havta find out," Lance said. "And maybe kick some doom hiney's in the process."
"Just remember, if they hurt one hair on poor Kit's head, they are just gonna havta deal with me," Hunk stated.
"We'll be sure to save some of the action for ya, pal," Lance added.
Keith took their banter to heart, but he could not shake the feeling that there was more to this than he could see. Somehow, he knew that all of this centered on him; for what reason he did not know. The strange woman however, who kidnapped Katherine, somehow in someway seemed familiar. And if going to Argos to find out why was the only way he could, then he was determined to fight this through to the end; whatever it may be.
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-----Argos-----
Anala watched as Katherine paced the room they were in. Their captors had long since locked them in the tiny room, with a small pitcher of water should they get thirsty. She smiled to herself as the young girl finally sat down against the wall with a huff.
"How long have we been down here?"
"Nearly 8 hours," Anala stated. "It only became morning on Arus not more than 3 hours ago."
"What the heck are they doing?"
"Probably setting up some sort of trap," Anala stated. "They surely won't let the Voltron Force go so easily."
"This whole thing stinks," Katherine stated. "I hate being in the dark."
"It seems that we are only here to serve as bait," Anala stated. "Their concern over us is to make sure we live long enough for that purpose."
"So, they're just going to off us when this whole thing is done?"
"I don't think so," Anala said. "Otherwise, they would have already killed us. Just the notion that we were still alive to rescue would have been enough to lure our friends here."
The door to the room they were staying in opened and the strange woman they had come to know entered, carrying a small tray with her. She met Anala's gaze before walking into the room. Katherine was quick to stand as she approached them.
"I'm sure the both of you are hungry," she stated. "I've brought you both some food an water."
She then handed Katherine the tray and once again met Anala's gaze.
"Your name is Lemille, right?" Anala finally asked.
"Yes, that is my given name," she stated.
"What are you?" Katherine blurted.
The woman met the young girl's gaze and then smiled to herself. "I'm Argosian," she said. "And so is Sendrre and Roaman; this is - was our home planet a very long time ago."
"If you're...from..."
"That makes me older than you both by at least 2370 years," she stated.
"But neither of you are full Argosian," Anala stated as she got to her feet. "In fact, you are Vallusian as well."
The woman turned to her. "Yes," she said. "But unlike a true Vallusian, I do not posses your unique abilities. How did you know?"
"Lemille," Anala stated. "Its a name originated in our myths and legends. Very uncommon."
"But how -- how can you have lived this long?" Katherine asked.
"Actually, there is someone you can ask about that," she said as she turned to Anala one last time. "He should have told you about us a long time ago, but being the arrogant ass that he is, he probably left you all in the dark."
"Who?" Katherine asked.
"Ylren."
Anala's eyes widened at the mention of the name.
"Your friends should be arriving within the hour," Lemille stated. "Finish eating and I will come for you when they have arrived."
"Now wait..."
"Kit, it's alright," Anala stated. "We will wait for your return."
Lemille slowly nodded before turning to leave the room. The door closing and then locking behind her.
"Who the heck is Ylren?" Katherine asked.
"This situation is getting beyond uncomfortable," Anala stated. "And I'm beginning to think this is more of a revenge plot."
"WHO is Ylren?" Katherine asked again. "Anala, what the heck is going on?"
Anala met her gaze. "Ylren is ...was our god," she stated simply. "A very long time ago, a Vallusian was granted with the powers to help our people, but because he was not ready for such greatness, he did what he could for us, and left our planet. He traveled elsewhere, only to return a decade later, with a daughter at his side. He stayed on Vallis for a short while before leaving once again. The young girl who claimed to be his daughter stayed behind growing up here in our ways and customs, then one day she too left; never to return."
"So what happened to Ylren?"
"Shortly after his last return, he was killed, by someone unknown...."
"Murdered?"
Anala nodded. "We never saw either of them again, so we had to assume that they were true. And as time passed, our myths; stories; even the legends encompassed this to the one day that he should return; or grant his sole powers to one Vallusian who will be as great as he."
Katherine could then only stare at her. "You mean Keith, don't you?" she asked. "That's why he stayed on Vallis all that time. Why do they think that he is the one they want?"
"Because, Kit, somehow...in someway, Ylren was able to come back," she said. "Through him."
"And they want Ylren," Katherine said. "All of this because they want Ylren for some stupid reason?"
"I'm not sure what is behind their motives, but I do believe they think that Ylren has returned, and they are trying to lure him to this planet."
"So, the only thing we can do is hopefully find out what it is they want with Keith, get off this planet before we are affected by the Lazon, and do all of this without getting killed."
"And find out what really happened to this planet...."
Enemy My Friend
Arus
arus-dot-geo-at-yahoo-dot-com
Voltron and its characters are owned by World Event's Productions.
########################################################################
----------------
Chapter 9
----------------
-----Doom Ship to Argos------
Anala could only find herself staring out of the small window she was seated near as Katherine sat next to her. The trip was mostly made in silence; Anala still bothered by what Katherine had said to her before they boarded the transport ship.
"So you gonna talk to me about what is going on?" Katherine whispered.
Anala turned to her. "Other than, I don't know what else is going on, I don't know what to say," Anala stated. "Lotor and Zeya are also in the dark, and about the only one, I can figure, who knows exactly what is going on, is that Roaman fellow."
"That old guy does seem a little...pushy," Katherine stated.
"I think he has everyone playing into a game he's set-up," Anala stated. "And the bad feeling I have; he wont mind killing us to see that his plan succeeds."
"Then why would Zarkon agree to work with him?" Katherine asked. "That would also mean putting Lotor and Zeya in harm's way."
"Zarkon has been blinded by the constant fights and battles he's had with Arus over the years," Anala stated. "He'll do everything he can to see any plan, as dubious as it could be, through. At this point, he probably could care less of what happens to Lotor, and I don't think he particularly cares what happens to Zeya."
"What a loving father," Katherine muttered. Katherine's gaze then shifted to the small cut on Anala's neck then turned her head away to look up toward the front of the transport ship.
"So what kind of memories did you get outta him?"
Anala turned to her, but let out a sigh. "Nothing much," Anala stated. "Seems that he's had a hard life; under the constant pressure from Zarkon to be the best. There was definitely no real love in that family."
"Well, whatever you saw, somehow got to you," Katherine stated. "So, what affected you so much?"
Anala swallowed hard, suddenly finding that her throat was dry. "I saw nothing from his memories concerning his mother."
"Mother?" Katherine asked. "Come to think of it, we never found anything about Zarkon's wives. He's had about 5 of them."
"Well, whoever she was, it seems Lotor was too young to remember her," Anala stated. "What happened to Zarkon's other wives?"
"Don't know," Katherine stated. "Save for the last one."
"What happened to her?"
"About 10 years ago, he had her thrown into the Pit of Skulls," Katherine stated. "They said that she was never found."
"Damn," Anala stated. "If she was killed, we can assume that the others were...."
"Killed as well," Katherine stated. "For the reasons? I do not know."
"With Zarkon, do you ever need a reason?" Anala asked.
-----/-----/-----/-----/------/------/------/------/-----/-----/-------/------/------/------/------/------/-----/------/------/------/------/------/
-----Argos-----
Anala shielded her eyes as she stepped off the transport. The sun shown down brightly overhead as Katherine came to stand next to her. Anala breathed in deeply, noticing the slight, spice filled odor that permeated the air. She immediate recognized the smell.
"There's a strange odor," Katherine stated.
"It's Lazon," Anala stated. "If its blanketing the air like this, that means this planet is just covered with Lazon."
"Lazon?" Katherine asked.
"The very stuff that Zarkon and Haggar uses in their weapons, ships and robeasts," Anala stated.
A sudden noise from the back of the transport caught both their attentions as 12 Doom soldiers struggled with a rather large robeast. It was a cat-like creature with large talons on each of its hands. It stood nearly 18 feet. It was slightly hunched foward, as it was lead out of the hold of the ship. Once free into the sunlight, it let out a deafening roar, stretching its arms out, the talons coming dangerously close to the guards, as they jumped out of the way.
Zeya was there to immediately calm the creature down, and as if the monster was just a kitten, let her touch it's paw, and responded to her commands obediently. She spoke with the guards before joining her brother.
"Great, just what we need," Katherine stated as she looked around. "Looks like they were planning ahead on this one."
"I'm just hoping that whatever is planned, that thing won't be used against us."
-----/-----/-----/-----/------/------/------/------/-----/-----/-------/------/------/------/------/------/-----/------/------/------/------/------/
-----Arus------
Dawn couldn't have come any faster, as the Beta Team and the original Team readied for their departure. Keith consulted one last time with Xue and Coran before issuing his final instructions to both teams. Without their leader, the Beta Team was delegated to follow any instructions issued by Lance and then from Neive when they were to reach Argos. The trip itself would be a long one since Argos was just outside of Doom's territory. A three-hour flight, of not knowing what would happen when they reach the dead planet.
Their departure was without fanfare, considering that they were now leaving Arus undefended, save for whatever Castle defenses they had. But with Lotor and his forces already involved in this strange kidnapping of both Anala and Katherine, Keith knew that he had not much to worry about the safety of Arus.
Much of the trip was made in silence save for the reports that he asked both teams to give every 20 minutes, keeping an eye out for any possible Doom ships they may encounter. Even if whom they are dealing with maybe in league with King Zarkon, Keith wasn't taking any chances that Zarkon's forces were still ready to attack.
"All's clear," Lance reported. "It should be smooth sailing from here."
"Just keep your eyes peeled," Keith stated.
"When we get there, what are we looking for?" Lance asked.
"Someplace big enough, yet probably enclosed to set up a trap," Keith stated. "If Katherine was smart enough, she should have activated her tracking device already. We'll search the planet until we pick up her signal. Once we've pinpointed it, Beta Team will land 3 clicks from that position; meet up with you guys to take the Lion ships."
"Tracking device?" Lance asked. "When did..."
Keith smiled to himself. "Long story, Lance," he said. "You guys will land 2 clicks from the point and I will land as close as possible. Once we free Katherine, I'll send her to take Black Lion."
"Question remaining is what will happen to us?" Hunk came over the com. "Seems like someone is going through an awful lot of trouble to get us to show up on this planet. Bring us out into Creepsville on a ghost planet, for what?"
"Well, we're just gonna havta find out," Lance said. "And maybe kick some doom hiney's in the process."
"Just remember, if they hurt one hair on poor Kit's head, they are just gonna havta deal with me," Hunk stated.
"We'll be sure to save some of the action for ya, pal," Lance added.
Keith took their banter to heart, but he could not shake the feeling that there was more to this than he could see. Somehow, he knew that all of this centered on him; for what reason he did not know. The strange woman however, who kidnapped Katherine, somehow in someway seemed familiar. And if going to Argos to find out why was the only way he could, then he was determined to fight this through to the end; whatever it may be.
-----/-----/-----/-----/------/------/------/------/-----/-----/-------/------/------/------/------/------/-----/------/------/------/------/------/
-----Argos-----
Anala watched as Katherine paced the room they were in. Their captors had long since locked them in the tiny room, with a small pitcher of water should they get thirsty. She smiled to herself as the young girl finally sat down against the wall with a huff.
"How long have we been down here?"
"Nearly 8 hours," Anala stated. "It only became morning on Arus not more than 3 hours ago."
"What the heck are they doing?"
"Probably setting up some sort of trap," Anala stated. "They surely won't let the Voltron Force go so easily."
"This whole thing stinks," Katherine stated. "I hate being in the dark."
"It seems that we are only here to serve as bait," Anala stated. "Their concern over us is to make sure we live long enough for that purpose."
"So, they're just going to off us when this whole thing is done?"
"I don't think so," Anala said. "Otherwise, they would have already killed us. Just the notion that we were still alive to rescue would have been enough to lure our friends here."
The door to the room they were staying in opened and the strange woman they had come to know entered, carrying a small tray with her. She met Anala's gaze before walking into the room. Katherine was quick to stand as she approached them.
"I'm sure the both of you are hungry," she stated. "I've brought you both some food an water."
She then handed Katherine the tray and once again met Anala's gaze.
"Your name is Lemille, right?" Anala finally asked.
"Yes, that is my given name," she stated.
"What are you?" Katherine blurted.
The woman met the young girl's gaze and then smiled to herself. "I'm Argosian," she said. "And so is Sendrre and Roaman; this is - was our home planet a very long time ago."
"If you're...from..."
"That makes me older than you both by at least 2370 years," she stated.
"But neither of you are full Argosian," Anala stated as she got to her feet. "In fact, you are Vallusian as well."
The woman turned to her. "Yes," she said. "But unlike a true Vallusian, I do not posses your unique abilities. How did you know?"
"Lemille," Anala stated. "Its a name originated in our myths and legends. Very uncommon."
"But how -- how can you have lived this long?" Katherine asked.
"Actually, there is someone you can ask about that," she said as she turned to Anala one last time. "He should have told you about us a long time ago, but being the arrogant ass that he is, he probably left you all in the dark."
"Who?" Katherine asked.
"Ylren."
Anala's eyes widened at the mention of the name.
"Your friends should be arriving within the hour," Lemille stated. "Finish eating and I will come for you when they have arrived."
"Now wait..."
"Kit, it's alright," Anala stated. "We will wait for your return."
Lemille slowly nodded before turning to leave the room. The door closing and then locking behind her.
"Who the heck is Ylren?" Katherine asked.
"This situation is getting beyond uncomfortable," Anala stated. "And I'm beginning to think this is more of a revenge plot."
"WHO is Ylren?" Katherine asked again. "Anala, what the heck is going on?"
Anala met her gaze. "Ylren is ...was our god," she stated simply. "A very long time ago, a Vallusian was granted with the powers to help our people, but because he was not ready for such greatness, he did what he could for us, and left our planet. He traveled elsewhere, only to return a decade later, with a daughter at his side. He stayed on Vallis for a short while before leaving once again. The young girl who claimed to be his daughter stayed behind growing up here in our ways and customs, then one day she too left; never to return."
"So what happened to Ylren?"
"Shortly after his last return, he was killed, by someone unknown...."
"Murdered?"
Anala nodded. "We never saw either of them again, so we had to assume that they were true. And as time passed, our myths; stories; even the legends encompassed this to the one day that he should return; or grant his sole powers to one Vallusian who will be as great as he."
Katherine could then only stare at her. "You mean Keith, don't you?" she asked. "That's why he stayed on Vallis all that time. Why do they think that he is the one they want?"
"Because, Kit, somehow...in someway, Ylren was able to come back," she said. "Through him."
"And they want Ylren," Katherine said. "All of this because they want Ylren for some stupid reason?"
"I'm not sure what is behind their motives, but I do believe they think that Ylren has returned, and they are trying to lure him to this planet."
"So, the only thing we can do is hopefully find out what it is they want with Keith, get off this planet before we are affected by the Lazon, and do all of this without getting killed."
"And find out what really happened to this planet...."