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A Change in the Winds
Arus
arus-dot-geo-at-yahoo-dot-com

Voltron and its characters are owned by World Event's Productions.
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Chapter 15
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Allura took in a deep breath before she stepped through the door that led to the conference room. As she walked in, she saw that Lance was in one of his heated arguments with Coran as Anala stood between them. As predicted, Lance was arguing against having Lotor even breathing in the same room as he, let alone, allowed even footing within the Castle of Lions. Her presence had gone unnoticed by them as she viewed the scene before her. Hunk and Pidge were desperately trying to get Lance to calm down, as two guards stood at the far side of the room, guarding over their captive, the woman they had come to know as Siaras. She then looked toward the opposite end of the room, to see Lotor standing quietly at one of the windows, ignoring all that was transpiring in the large room. She studied him from the door wondering, if this whole situation as as strange to him as it was to all of them. After all, he is their sworn enemy...

'Was,' her mind corrected. 'Was your enemy.'

She averted her gaze as she thought more on it, as she watched as Anala tried to get a word in between the quarreling men. Here she was defending her position, justifying her reasons, yet Lance did not want to hear any part of it. Allura could only admire the young woman, for her devotion to someone, who at one time, did not have any qualms over seeing the death of anyone on her planet; or even yet, on the Voltron Force. What did Anala do to reach him? Change him? How was she able to see past the evil that he was, to reach a part of him, that none of them ever could?

She looked toward him again, as he continued to stare out of the window. Dressed now, in clothing from Vallis, she regarded him differently now. His once unruly hair, was now neatly tied back, trimmed in some areas, but still long as she remembered it. Was this how Anala saw him?

"I won't have it, Coran!" Lance yelled, waking her out of her reverie. "We can't have our enemy freely walk these hallways as if nothing matters!"

"Lance!"

Lance quickly turned toward the door of the conference room as all eyes within came to rest on her. Allura knew she would have to deal with this situation, even it meant angering her teammates more than they already were. This was HER castle, her home, and she wasn't about to let anyone determine how she wanted to run it. Not even Coran or Lance.

"Lance, one more word out of you, I will have the guards escort you out," she said as she walked into the room. "You should know better than to take your anger out on Coran. If you want anyone to blame, you blame me."

"But Princess!"

"Lance, sit down!" she nearly yelled.

Hunk and Pidge slowly pulled Lance away from where they were standing to have him sit in a nearby chair. Hunk, kept his large hand on his shoulder, as he took a seat next to the hot headed pilot as Pidge handed a tablet over to Coran.

"We have much more important matters to discuss, than this petty bickering," she stated as her gaze came to rest on the young woman across from her. "I do not tolerate anyone who tries to play on our hospitality, and then decides to try and murder a member of my team. Do you have anything to say, Siaras?"

All eyes in the room turned toward the woman.

"I did what I came to do," she stated. "Rolsin knows about your search for the sixth lion ship. He knows that the three royals are the only ones able to activate it. And he will do everything in his power to make sure you will never be able to resurrect that lion. He has Princess Zeya in his captivity, and without her, you will never find where that ship is burried."

"And I assume that it was you, who also relayed enough information about our defense systems to have his forces test us?" Allura asked.

"Rolsin was right to believe the intel reports he received about your forces, Princess Allura," she stated. "For that, he was most impressed."

Allura only shook her head. "Siaras, as ruler of Arus, I am holding you until a full investigation can be done into your recent activities," she stated. "You, as a spy of the Triasian forces, are now under arrest. Till such time a hearing can be made to determine a suitable punishment, you will be held here, until word from the Galaxy Alliance can be heard as to how we will deal with your punishment. Till then, you will remain in our cellblock."

"Arus will be a heap of rubble before then," Siaras stated.

With a nod from Allura, the guards that were guarding Siaras, slowly pulled her to her feet and then led her out of the conference room.

"Lance, you should be happy to know that Dr. Gorma says that Keith will be fine," she stated as she met his gaze. "However, due to the extent of his injuries, I will have Neive take your place as pilot of the Red Lion, so that you are able to pilot Black. His healing will take some time, and we are in no position to leave Arus unprotected. The Beta Team will serve as backup in the Garrison Fighter ships, should the need arise, and if for any reason the Beta Team must take charge for Voltron, Iliana shall take Neive's place in Blue."

"Iliana?" Hunk asked. "She's barely had any flight time; not to mention any combat time whatsoever."

Allura slowly nodded. "I know Hunk, but she's a great pilot and strategist. I believe she will be able to handle it when the time comes."

"If I may, princess, please allow me to step up her training in the meantime," Hunk asked. "I can have Kit and the others run drills in simulation."

Allura nodded. "I trust that under your tutiledge, Hunk, she will be able to become a better pilot," she said. "If you want, you can go and see her to deliver her new assignment. If she is up to it, you can work on a schedule to ramp up her training."

Hunk nodded as he slowly stood. "I'll go ahead and workout a schedule and submit a proposal to you and Coran by the end of the day," he stated.

The door to the conference slid open again as Kit, Shane, Teri, Neive and LiAnne entered the room. Allura nodded at their presence.

"Thank you for taking time to join us," she stated. "Kit, please go with Hunk since you will be needing to work with your new teammember."

"New teammember?" Katherine asked.

"Hunk will explain it to you," she stated. "Please, go on ahead and deliver Iliana her new assignment."

Katherine nodded as Hunk came to join her. Together, they left the conference room as the others found seats around the table before them.

"As you just heard, you will be getting a new teammember," Allura stated. "Since we are one man down, Im assigning Neive to the Alpha Team, as Pilot of the Red Lion, until Keith is fully recovered. Lance will be moved to pilot Black Lion and will serve as commander during this time. I know this will be awkward at first, but we do not know what kind of tactics this new enemy uses, and I want to be prepared for anything they may have in mind. Till then, Coran will be assigning you new shifts for watch assignments. Shane continue helping Neive in translating the last few entries in my mother's journals. See if there is anything that she left behind as clues to where the sixth lion may be burried. Without Zeya, we will have to rely on our own research to locate it."

Shane slowly nodded.

Allura then turned her gaze to Lance. "Lance, I am entrusting you to put whatever feelings you have aside on this," she stated. "I need your cooperation, and your guidance. You are now in charge of the team, and I want to know that I can trust you not to make irrational decisions. Your duty is to ensure the safety of Planet Arus and my people. I expect no less from you. Please do not make me feel that my decision to have you pilot the Black Lion, one that I would regret. I know you, and I know you will do that position justice."

Lance could only meet her gaze, then slowly turn away. "I apologize for my outburst earlier," he stated as he slowly stood. "And I thank you for your trust in me, Princess."

"I've never doubted you, Lance," she stated.

"If it is alright, may I leave to start on my duties?" he asked.

"Since you were taking on some of Coran's job, you will no longer need to do so," Allura stated. "Coran will do as much as he can in the time being. I want your full devotion to working out a way to confront the Triasian forces. When Keith is well enough, Im sure you can consult with him on your ideas."

Lance slowly nodded. "Thank you."

Allura nodded and then watched as he quietly left the room. She then turned to the others. "Coran has your assignments, so you are dismissed," she stated. "Neive, please stay back."

Allura then turned to Anala. "If its alright with you, Anala, I wish to speak with Lotor," she stated.

Anala met Allura's gaze and then nodded. "I understand," she said. "Lemille and Sendre will be joining us shortly, with the information they've gathered. Im sure their knowledge on the Triasian forces will be helpful to you."

Allura nodded. "I will speak with you later, on that," she stated.

The room slowly emptied as Coran was the last to leave, the sloor slid closed behind them. Allura met Neive's gaze as he sat solemnly at the conference table, his arms crossed. He then turned away as his gaze fell on the man who had remained quiet through the entire meeting.

Allura closed her eyes for the moment, trying to muster enough courage to even find herself able to confront him.

"You've grown into your role as Princess, Allura."

Allura opened her eyes at the sound of his voice. The voice she has so long feared...hated. She looked up to see that he was now facing her, his arms crossed in front of him.

"Im not a scared little girl anymore," she stated. "And I can only thank my friends who helped me grow into the woman I am now."

Lotor smiled to himself before turning to the young man who remained. "So you must be Prince Neive of Helena?" he asked. He then laughed to himself when he saw the young man's expression. "Dont be so surprised, Neive. I know everything about your heritage and your birthright. Your father was a valiant soldier under the command of King Alfor."

Neive didn't answer. All he could do was stare at the Doom Prince. Allura noticed the pensive expression on her cousin, and taking a deep breath, she knew that whatever ill will she may have toward him, she could no hold it against him. She could see that something was different; that somehow Anala had touched apart of him that changed him.

"Lotor, as hard as a decision it was for me to make, I have extended the asylum I have given your sister here on Arus, to protect you from any harm that may come to you, because of what you have done in the past," Allura stated. "Because of our alliance with Vallis, and my trust that I have in Anala, I trust her that for whatever reason, she has placed her life; her own trust in you.

"However, this does not protect you from the any legal precidence that the Galaxy Alliance may have against you," she warned. "And we will do everything in our power; I will do everything in my power to help Anala provide you with the defense needed to clear your name. The actions you have displayed today, shall be used to help you, should the need arise. Your arrival on Arus, and your timely care to my teammate, ultimately helped to save his life, and for that I can only offer my thanks."

Lotor looked at her. How much she had changed. This was no longer the girl he had been infatuated with, but a young woman who carried the burden of her rule entirely on her shoulders.

"Take it as one step closer to making amends for what I have done," he stated. "And it will be a long road in doing so."

"If we work together, Im sure we can make that journey a short one," she stated.

"A question for you, Princess."

"That is?"

"You stated that Princess Zeya was a key to help finding this sixth lion," he said. "Why?"

"She is the daughter of Princess Karone, the last survivor of the Kingdom of Mythrias," Allura stated. "My mother..." She hesitated for a moment as she looked to him. Could she fully trust him? "My mother hid several clues through her journals, and one of those clues indicated that the Sixth Lion would only be found if all three descendants of the three Kingdoms were brought together, the location of this lion will be shown to us."

"I assume it also has to do with the armlets you both are wearing now."

Allura looked down at the silver armlet she wore. She slowly nodded. "Without Zeya's armlet, we have no way of finding where the Lion ship is hidden," she said.

"Do you think it can work without her help?"

"I dont know," she stated. "If we had her armlet, we could try."

"If this Lion ship is found, will you be able to fight against the Triasian forces?"

"If it is as powerful as a weapon my mother has described, it should help us," she said. "I can only hope that we can use it to help us fend off their forces."

Lotor slowly nodded as he then proceeded to pull off the shoulder bag he wore. He opened the small bag and pulled out the silver armlet he had found where Zeya had been standing before she disappeared with the three Triasian brothers.

"It seems that Zeya was able to figure out something about the location of the sixth lion," he stated as he held the armlet toward her. "There is something inscribed on this, that I can not understand."

Neive stood from where he was sitting and followed his cousin as they came to stand before the Doom Prince. Allura looked over the armlet, recognizing the royal seal of Mythrias etched into it. On the side, however was a series of Arusian glyphs.

"Neive," Allura stated as she handed the armlet to him. "What do these say?"

"They're numbers," he said. "Strange, though. They seem random."

"What kind of numbers."

"This first line, is 143, 23, 0, 34", he stated. "This one is 25, 17, 46, 30."

"What can these numbers mean?" Allura asked herself. She then breathed in deeply. "They're coordinates."

Neive studied the numbers again. "Yes," he stated. "These coordinates would put this in the heart of Mythrias."

"But where?"

"I'll have to talk to Shane and Lance," Neive stated. "But I have a feeling that I do know where this is, and it makes perfect sense."

Allura nodded. "Take this to the control room, and I will meet you there in a few minutes," she stated. "Have Lance also find any recent scans of where this is located. I want to be sure we are on the right track."

Neive slowly nodded, though he then turned to Lotor. "We may have never fought each other, Prince Lotor, but I do look forward in fighting along side you," he stated as he held out his hand to him. "Please, accept my offer of friendship."

Allura watched as her cousin exchanged a handshake before leaving the conference room. She marveled at how Neive suddenly changed his demeanor toward the Doom Prince. How did Neive suddenly become so trusting of him? As the door slid closed behind him, and awkward silence fell on them.

She quickly turned to him and in taking a step back, she said, "I had the castle servants prepare you and Anala a room here. You are welcomed to go anywhere in the Castle, save for any high security areas, in which you must be accompanied by a guard or one of the Voltron Force members; Alpha or Beta. If there is..."

Allura was then caught by surprised when he grabbed her by her hand and pulled her against him, as he took her into a deep kiss. She breathed in deeply as she placed her free hand against him, but could not find the strength to push herself away. As the kiss came to an end, she could only stare up at him, questioning in her eyes.

"I know you heart belongs to another," he said in a whisper. "I've always known that as long as he was at your side, I would never be someone you could care for. Out of my own jealousy, I knew that as long as he was there, I would never have you, but I would not accept it. Don't let him slip away, Allura of Arus. I found my future, in someone who saw through the hurt that I had experienced in my life, to blindly follow someone who I thought could make me the man I thought I could be. She saw through it and made me whole again. My love for you was genuine at the time, and I dont want to see you make the same mistakes that I have. Do not drive away those you care for, and as long as you have faith in him, he will be there for you always."

Allura continued to stare at him as he slowly released her hand and walked away. Her hand slowly went to her lips as she thought about that kiss, and the words he had just spoken to her. As the door to the room slid closed behind him, Allura could only fall to her knees as she held herself.

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Anala had stood quietly in the doorway, returning to the conference room once she felt that enough time has passed, and nodded to Neive as he passed her. She stared into the room as she watched as Allura slowly move away from Lotor, knowing that the situation was still uncomfortable for the princess.

She then watched as he pulled the princess into his embrace and kiss her fully. Anala knew that his love for Allura was something he could not totally let go of, and she couldn't blame Allura for that. She knew that Lotor was now loyal to her and that he had something to live for. She smiled inwardly, as she turned to leave the conference room. She was happy that she was able to bring about a change in him, for the better; and that he was making an effort to make amends for the mistakes he made in his past. As the door slid closed behind her, Anala decided to make her way to the Control Room so she could send a message to her mother and to check on how Reece was doing. She stopped a little ways down the hall as she turned back to the conference room. She then breathed in deeply as she continued her way toward the Control Room.

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Zeya let out a scream as she was thrown against the steel wall of the cell she was in. She fell to her knees as she coughed, tears edging at her eyes as she braced herself against the wall and the ground. Water was then thrown on her, as she looked up at the man who stood before her.

She breathed in deeply as he came to kneel before her, roughly taking her face into his hard hand and forcing her to look at him.

"Now, are you ready to cooperate with us?" he asked.

Zeya pulled her head away as she swung her arm to hit him. He only laughed as he blocked the attempt and then with his open hand, slapped her which caused her head to hit the nearby wall. He then grabbed her by her hair as he pulled her to sit up. Zeya cried as she tried to grab at the hands that held her.

"Maybe I should just skin this hair off your head," the man commented. "Seems like you Doom royalty love to grow this shag as long as you can."

Zeya screamed as he tugged at her again, dragging her until she was now in the center of the cell. He then released her as he brought her arms together and bound them by her wrists. She then watched as he pulled a hook down from the ceiling of the room and hooked the binding on it, and it lifted her off the ground. She struggled against the bindings as she was lifted off the ground.

"Still not talking, huh?" the man stated as he circled around her, pulling a knife from the sheath on his waist. He smiled as he held it against her, the cold steel touching the skin on her neck. He slowly traced the tip of the knife across her neck, and down her collar.

"I warn you now, if you dont start talking with us, the pain will only get worse," he stated. "I could make this all go away if you just cooperate."

Zeya gulped hard as he held the knife against her neck. She then stared at him, as she spat in his face.

"Your choice, young lady," he stated as he walked behind her and used the knife to tear open the back of the bodice and shirt she wore.

She then let out a scream as the sudden stings of several whip lashes could be felt across her back. She closed her eyes as her body arched against each lash, biting her lip so she could not cocentrate on the seering pain she was now experiencing.

It seemed like hours had passed as the man continued to lash her. Zeya gave up screaming as it seemed that it only encouraged him to striker her harder. Her back was in pain and her head lulled backwards everytime he lashed her. She then noticed that the lashing had stopped when she felt another presences had entered the cell. Her head fell forward and that was when she saw that is was the man the men of this ship called Rolsin.

"Anything from her yet, Amoris?" Rolsin asked as he came to stand before her.

Sweat soaked hair stuck to Zeya's face as she looked at him with her cold eyes.

"She has not said a word since you had her brought to me, milord," Amoris stated. "However, she does have a nice scream."

"Sometimes I feel you enjoy this all too much, Amoris," Rolsin stated as he walked around her. He then came to stand before her, turning her head by her chin as she met his gaze. "Princess Zeya, you can stop the charade now. Amoris is one of my best interrogation officers aboard this ship, and I really do not want you to go through any more of this."

Zeya pulled her head out of his hold as she continued to stare at him.

"Go...to...hell..."

Rolsin smiled as he looked at her. "So she does speak," he stated. "What is the Voltron Force doing to find this Sixth Lion ship?"

Zeya just continued to stare at him. A signal from him, gave Amoris the reason to lash her again. Zeya screamed as the pain seared through her back.

Rolsin then turned her to him. "What is the Voltron Force doing to find this Sixth Lion ship?"

"They need the three armlets in order to find the lion ship," Zeya said. "Without all three, they have to resort to finding it on their own, and even then, it cannot be activated."

"Why is that?"

Zeya shook her head and another signal from Rolsin gave her another lashing from Amoris.

"Why can't the Lion ship be activated?"

"Because, it needs the presense of all three descendants of the three kingdoms of Arus in order to do so," she stated. "I am the third descendant."

Rolsin slowly nodded. "So why do you help them in trying to find this lion ship?" he asked. "They are, after all your sworn enemy."

With another non-answer from her, another lashing was ordered. Zeya cried out as she closed her eyes to fight back the tears that threatened to spill.

"I do so because I owe them my life," she stated. "Because they've shown me that they could even trust someone, who was their enemy."

Rolsin smiled. "So you turn your back on your father and all that he has done?" he asked.

Zeya screamed again when Amoris lashed her a couple more times. "My father, killed my mother," she said. "The same as he killed Lotor's mother. I realize now, who is my real enemy."

Rolsin laughed as he stared at her. He gave a signal to Amoris and she suddenly felt herself be lowered to the ground. Zeya winced in pain as the hook still kept her hands up, keeping her upright.

"So you throw away everything that he has given you, for a life as a fugitive from the Galaxy Alliance?"

"I would rather live my life as a fugitive than to ever hear another lie from my father," she said.

Rolsin then walked up to her as he grabbed her by her hair and forced her to look toward the cel door. Zeya's eyes widened as she noticed the Koba standing on the other side of the bars. Her gaze then traveled up to see Haggar standing behind the unmistakable form of King Zarkon.

"See Zarkon, even your own daughter has turned against you," Rolsin stated. "Now, what do you think we should do with her?"

"Kill her, if you must." Zarkon stated. "I no longer have a daughter."

Zeya's eyes widened as she was then pulled up by the hook again. She then yelled out as Amoris continued in whipping her. Rolsin could only smile as she reacted to each whip, seeing that her resolve was now slowly being torn away.

"Do you wish to cooperate with us?" Rolsin asked as Amoris whipped her again. "I can have him stop, if you just say that you will."

"There's nothing more I can tell you," Zeya stated. She let out a scream again as she was whipped again.

"OH, there's more that I need to know," Rolsin said. "And I know that you have the information I need."

Zeya winced as she was whipped three more times. "Whatever it is, you will never get it from me."

Rolsin could only shake his head. "Then, so be it," he stated. He then turned to Amoris.

"Continue until she gives up, or falls uncscious," he stated. "If she does the latter, wake her up and continue again."

"Milord, she's already lasted longer than most men have," Amoris stated. "I dont think she is going to say anything more."

Rolsin turned to her. "Dont you know, Amoris, you continue to beat a dog until it either obeys you, or until it gives up in biting you," he said. "She will break."

"I could have my men have their way with her," Amoris suggested. "That usually softens up the women real fast."

"No, she is to remain untouched," Rolsin stated. "When she passes out for a tenth time, release her and have her brought to my quarters. Im sure by then, she will have a loose toungue."

"Aye milord," Amoris stated. "I'll send word to you."

Rolsin nodded as he slowly exited the small cell. He then turned to King Zarkon as his witch glared at him.

"If I do have your help, Zarkon, I promise to let you have any planet under my control," Rolsin stated as he turned to the old king. "As long as I have your promise that I will deal with your daughter and your son as I see fit. In fact, when we do take over Arus, you can have that pitiful planet and have Princess Allura as slave under your rule."

"You have your work cut out for you, Lord Rolsin," King Zarkon stated as he turned to watch the man whip Zeya again. "The Voltron Force is a force I wouldn't just ignore completely."

"As long as I have your help, Im sure together, we can find a way to defeat them," Rolsin stated. "I will even allow your witch access to any technology we have to help her create her monsters; under carefule watch that is."

"Rolsin, if you do encounter my son, I have only one request."

"That is?"

"When you do break him, I want him to be brought before me so that I can deal with him personally."

Rolsin smiled. "And what of his wife?" he asked. "After all, she is partly responsible for..."

"The only thing I want from her, is her son," he stated. "Bring me her child. It will be all the payment I need."

Rolsin nodded. "My servants shall show you to your new accomodations," he stated. "Haggar, if you wish to start now, I can have them take you to a room set up to be your new laboratory."

"If you dont mind, milord," Haggar's raspy voice echoed. "I would like to stay behind until your man is done with my protege."

Rolsin regarded her for a moment. "As you wish," he stated.

Rolsin then nodded as he signaled for a guard to escor the king from the cellblock to new quarters. He turned to the cel as he heard another scream from the young princess. He knew Amoris would break her, sooner or later. And she would be his to do with as he pleased.

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