I don't own Voltron or its characters, just the ones I invented.
Keith straightened the hem on his dress jacket as the guard verified his identity. This was the third time, since he had boarded the 'Explorer', that he had been stopped to have his identity confirmed, and he wasn't complaining. Finally the guard nodded and Keith stepped inside the reception hall.
There were nearly a hundred people there, more than half Keith recognized as security forces. At least Lance is taking his new duty seriously. For once. His eyes scanned the room and picked out Allura standing near the open glass doors leading to the deck. She was surrounded by his parents, his aunt and uncle, Cliff and Kim, Hazar, Dorma, and of course, Lance. He made his way over to them. Allura looked up in surprise as he came nearer. He nodded and took her hand kissing it. Glancing down, he noticed she was not wearing her wedding ring. He looked up at her quickly, but her blue eyes remained icy. "Allura. You look beautiful as usual." He said evenly.
"Thank you." She looked him over carefully. "You shaved."
Keith nodded. "I figured it was time for a change."
"So did I." She replied coldly.
They stood staring at each other for a few moments until Cliff cleared his throat. "Well, well, what do we have here?" He fingered the gold stars on Keith's epaulettes. "When did this happen General Montgomery?" He grinned at his friend.
Keith shifted his gaze to his friend. "Back on Earth. With all the excitement, I guess it sort of slipped my mind." He smiled, but it didn't quite reach his eyes.
"General! Congratulations Keith." Edward smiled proudly at his son.
"Thanks Dad."
Alex draped his arm over Keith's shoulders. "About time you told them." He grinned at his Godson.
Brenda frowned at her husband. "You knew about this?" She elbowed him in the ribs. "And you didn't tell us!"
Alex laughed. "It wasn't my news to tell dear. The paperwork came across my desk a couple of weeks ago."
"Congratulations Keith. Now, if you'll all excuse me, I must see to the rest of my guests." Allura nodded slightly, then turned and walked away. Lance shot an angry look at Keith, who ignored him.
Cassandra tried to ease the tension. "So Keith, what wisdom did Old Chuck impart on you with this promotion?"
Keith tore his gaze away from his wife, and turned back to the group. "Marshall Graham gave me a position on the Galactic Council. I leave for Earth at the end of the week. Excuse me." Keith left his stunned group of friends and family, and marched off towards the bar. Lance waited a moment, then stalked off after him.
"Well, that was pleasant." Edward said sarcastically.
"Could have frozen the planet with all that ice." Alex commented.
"They need to fix this." Cassandra watched her son with concern in her brown eyes. "Before it's too late."
"Cliff, you may want to alert your security forces in case those two decide to make their disagreement public." Alex added.
"A wise idea Admiral. I'll get right on it." Nodding he limped off towards the door.
"They've had fights before, but never like this." Brenda said quietly.
"There's something going on here. Something they don't want us to know." Cass mused.
Dorma sighed. "I trust this will go no further?" She questioned. They looked at her in surprise. "Keith has accused Allura of having a relationship with Lance. That the child she lost was his, not Keith's." She said quietly.
"You've got to be kidding me? Keith said that?" Edward looked stunned.
Dorma nodded. "Things were strained between Keith and Allura long before this. Running a planet and maintaining peace is a full time job for the Galaxy Alliance, and yet, they are trying to do both on their own." She sighed. "Keith was never one to be overly expressive about his thoughts and feelings. These past few months, he has drawn even more into himself. If Lance cannot get through to him…" She watched as her husband approached Keith. "I fear they will not recover this time."
Cass followed her gaze. "Dorma, I'm afraid you might be right."
Keith stood at the bar and ordered a whiskey. Taking the glass, he downed the drink in one gulp and ordered another.
"When were you going to tell us you were leaving?"
Keith glanced up to see Lance standing next to him. Lance had his hands folded across his chest, a murderous look in his emerald green eyes. Keith turned back to his drink. "When I got around to it." He downed his drink again.
"You son of a bitch. I ought to kill you right now." Lance stepped forward.
Keith pulled open his jacket and placed his hand on his blaster. "Try it."
Lance grew red with anger. "You're a big man with a weapon at your side."
Keith's eyes flashed dangerously. "This is far too public a place for us to be having this conversation." He turned away from Lance.
"Bastard, don't you turn your back on me!" Lance grabbed Keith by the shoulder and forced him to turn around. "You're just going to leave? Just like that? What about Allura?"
"What about her? It's obvious she's made her decision. I've made mine. Now take your hands off of me." Keith shrugged Lance away. "Besides, why should you care? Now with me gone, the two of you can stop sneaking around." His eyes were dark with emotion.
Lance's hands clenched into fists. "Public or not, you're not getting away with that." He swung at Keith, catching the young general by surprise. The blow caught Keith on the mouth, splitting his lip.
Keith snarled and threw a punch of his own, solidly connecting with Lance's jaw, sending him backwards into a table of hors d'oeuvres. Lance recovered quickly, and sprang to his feet, lunging at Keith.
"Uh-oh, looks like you were right Alex." Edward grabbed Alex's arm and they headed towards their sons.
Hazar got there first and stepped between them. "Enough." He turned to Lance. "Back away." He glared malevolently at him until Lance scowled and backed off. Hazar then faced Keith. "And you. Outside, now."
Keith met Hazar's gaze unflinchingly. "I don't think so Commander."
Hazar narrowed his eyes and was about to say more when the room erupted in chaos.
The glass doors behind them, shattered as two dozen figures crashed through. They opened fire, aiming at anyone and anything. People started screaming as they were cut down by the laser fire.
Keith reacted instantly, shoving Hazar to the floor and leaping over the fallen table. Taking out his gun, he fired, hitting one of the enemy before the man could shoot again. Rushing forward, Keith aimed at another.
Behind him, Cliff's security forces recovered quickly, and mounted an attack of their own. Soon the room was filled with brightly colored laser blasts.
Allura's scream stopped Keith short. He whirled around, spying her struggling in the arms of one of the enemy. Snarling, he vaulted forward, knocking the man to the ground. Both their guns flew out of reach. Keith turned to his wife. "Allura! Are you all right?" He called out to her.
"Keith! Behind you!" Allura screamed.
Keith turned, but not fast enough. The man's fist caught Keith on the side of the head, dazing him. Keith fell back seeing stars. He shook his head to clear it and got to his feet. "Allura! RUN!" Allura didn't need a second invitation. She quickly got to her feet and fled towards the main doors. Keith didn't pause to watch her leave, but threw himself forward into his enemy. They grappled on the floor, each trying to out muscle the other. Keith managed to get the man's helmet off, and stared down in disbelief. "Lotor?"
The man scowled, and threw off Keith's grip. Keith stepped back stunned for a moment. It looked like Lotor, yet the face was much younger, the hair and eyes a different shade. Still….
"It is a pleasure to finally meet you Commander Montgomery." The man smiled evilly.
"Who are you?" Keith demanded.
"Why, don't you recognize me?" He taunted.
"Should I?"
"You should, you killed my father."
Keith stood, stunned. "You…you're Lotor's son?"
The man nodded. "My name is Haltor. Unfortunately, I was not allowed to know my father as he was murdered when I was a child." The man said coldly.
They stood looking at each other, oblivious to the fighting going on around them. "Lotor deserved to die." Keith said firmly.
"Then Commander, so do you." Haltor rushed forward into Keith.
Keith rolled with the punch, throwing Haltor over his shoulder. "By the way, it's not Commander. It's GENERAL!" Keith attacked Haltor before the man had the chance to recover, knocking them both out onto the deck. Keith followed up with a sharp kick, stunning Haltor.
Haltor rolled to the side, his hands clenched around his middle. "You will pay for that old man." He growled.
"Yeah, yeah, come and get me." Keith retorted.
Haltor leaped to his feet, fists out in front of him. Keith easily dodged Haltor's attack, and threw in a few punches of his own. Haltor went sprawling to the ground again. Before Keith could come after him once more, Haltor rolled out of the way, lashing out with his own legs, knocking Keith to the floor.
Keith's breath flew out of him and he lay gasping for a moment. Sensing movement, he quickly moved out of the way of Haltor's fists. Around them, the fighting between Haltor's robots and Cliff's people were still going on. Keith and Haltor seemed not to notice. They both got to their feet, and circled each other warily.
"I grow tired of this game General." Haltor said menacingly.
"That's a shame, I'm just warming up." Keith shot back. "Why don't you just go back to whatever rock you climbed out from under."
"Die Human!" Haltor roared.
"Not today Haltor!" Keith threw himself at Haltor, knocking them both through the glass doors to the outside deck. They crashed through the glass, slamming into the tables set on the deck.
The younger man recovered quicker and grabbed a wine bottle from one of the tables. Whirling, he smashed the bottle across Keith's face.
The glass shattered, cutting into Keith. Crying out in pain, Keith covered his face with his hands. He staggered backwards into the railing. Keith opened his eyes, trying to see Haltor, but there was too much blood. It ran down his face, effectively blinding him.
Haltor smiled and stepped forward, easily evading Keith's frantic movements. "Goodbye General. It was a pleasure killing you." He grabbed Keith by the ankles and threw him over the railing. Keith fell, his arms flailing, into the deep water of the lake far below, and disappeared.