A short chapter, I know...especially after a HORRIFYINGLY long break. For that, I apologize, and I do hope my loyal readers enjoy. Life has been quite hard for me lately, but I'm struggling to keep writing, a way to escape... Thank you for bearing with me.

I make no claims on Voltron or any WEP characters.

Allura blinked seeing Duvessa standing in the Control Room rapidly barking orders to several individuals on holomonitors, and from the tone of her voice, she was not happy. She walked over, listening.

"I want your men to go through that town very carefully, Captain. Doom took everyone from there for a reason and with the high traces of Haggarium that we are picking up, there could be more than just that. If you find any survivors, I want them brought here to the Castle immediately."

"Yes, Princess," the captain stated and the holomonitors winked off.

"Damn it," Duvessa muttered and turned. She looked at Allura and stepped towards her. "How those bastards had some sort of laboratory on Arus…"

"And only three towns over," Larmina growled, her arms crossed over her chest as she leaned against the main computer console. "I know our Haggarium monitors are up and running, Pidge is almost religious about checking them daily."

Pidge walked over as he entered from Green Lion, having heard Larmina's statement. "Well, what I found earlier is probably to blame, then." He stopped beside Allura. "They stole Baltan tech and are using it against us, specifically, cloaking technology."

"What?" Duvessa gasped as Keith and Lance joined the group. "How did they get their hands on it?"

Pidge grimaced. "It's a long story. Suffice to say, my people are not happy."

"I'd imagine not," Duvessa agreed. "So, they managed to cloak their operations and we only just found out about it. Is there any way to check and see if they have any more hidden outposts here?"

Pidge nodded. "I think so. I have an idea on how we might be able to, but it will take some time."

Allura nodded. "Get on it, Pidge. We need to make sure the planet is safe."

Pidge turned and walked out to his lab, Hunk and Vince following in case he needed any help.

Duvessa looked to Keith and back to Allura. "The people he took. How should we proceed in order to get them back?"

"Short of a full on attack on Doom? Not much," Lance muttered, his tone dark. "Bastards."

Duvessa clenched her hands into fists at her sides. "And Voltron shouldn't be used that way."

"We've done it before," Keith whispered. "Against Allura's wishes."

Duvessa looked at him. She could hear the pain in his voice. She looked to Allura, who blushed, a guilty look on her face. "I'm sure the circumstances were…justified…in the end?"

"Oh, yeah. More than," Lance answered. "But, for now…our hands are tied."

Duvessa nodded. "Then, we will need intelligence gathered and gone over, yes?"

Lance nodded back. "I'll get in touch with our network of people and get them on it." He moved away to another console with Keith.

Allura smiled at Duvessa. "You're sounding like a queen, Aunt Vess."

Duvessa looked at her, blushing. She shook her head. "I…"

Allura took Duvessa's hands into hers. "I feel that…it's almost time."

"I'm not ready."

"No one ever is," Allura whispered. "Though, a king at your side…" Her eyes moved to Keith, who had moved to another station near Lance, looking over sensor data. She looked back to Duvessa. "A king at your side would be ideal."

Duvessa blushed and shook her head. "Neither of us is ready for that, yet. And I'm still not comfortable taking the crown from you…"

Allura smiled. "One of us will have to eventually. And if it's you, I won't complain." She released Duvessa's hands. "So, you and him seem to be on friendlier terms. And he seems to be more like his old self. What happened while you were away?"

Duvessa smiled softly. "The celebration went well until Sylvan showed up."

"What? You mean he was there?" Allura asked.

Duvessa nodded. "Yes. He was under the impression that Keith and I were both dead and that it would be you at the celebration. We got to the Fractal, Sylvan broke the stabilizer on us, and Keith did some amazing piloting before I intensified the storm…"

Allura's eyes went wide. "You…but why?"

"The Drule fleet was coming. I couldn't let Altuna be destroyed. I didn't have much choice," Duvessa answered. "But, then we had to land and Keith and I made our way through the forest to…I want to say it was Waystation, where we stopped at an inn. We were there for a night before the Drules arrived and we left on horseback to Cassia Falls."

"When the robeast showed up and we came out and Pidge brought you back here," Allura stated.

Duvessa nodded. "Yes."

"So, did more of his memories come back while you were making your way back here?" Allura asked.

"More or less, yes," Duvessa stated. She touched her crown. "With some help."

Allura shot her a puzzled look. "What kind of help?"

"The crown," Duvessa whispered. "It…I don't know what exactly it did, but it helped him."

Allura blinked and looked to Keith. "It really has accepted him, hasn't it?"

Duvessa nodded. "It has." She looked over to Keith and Lance, who were discussing something. She softly smiled. "I think he's going to be able to resume command of the Force."

"Which would leave you in a position to lead the planet while I keep flying Blue," Allura stated with a knowing grin.

Duvessa looked back to her with a scolding look, but then laughed. "Maybe. But, for now let's worry about getting our people back from Doom."

Allura nodded and they moved over to where Keith and Lance were talking.

"We're going to have to go there, have Manset's ships on standby, and we're going to have to kick the door down," Lance stated.

"I know. But, we need intelligence first," Keith stated. "And then, we're going to have to figure out how to save any people who may be infected. We don't have a cure yet."

"Yeah. And shipping them all to Crydor with Sven isn't exactly the best idea, either," Lance agreed. "I just hope New Balto can come up with a cure soon. I think Pidge said they were close."

Keith shook his head. "Not close enough. Not for that many people," he shook his head and sighed. "Too many could to die because of this."

Duvessa watched him, hearing the pain in his voice. Not that she could blame him. She suddenly yawned, then blushed. "I apologize, I guess the last few days are finally catching up to me."

Lance looked between the two of them as Allura stopped beside him. "Yeah, you two have had a rough couple of days. You two should probably get some rest."

"And I think Keith needs to visit Doctor Gorma, make sure that he's fully cleared to return to duty," Allura murmured.

Lance nodded. "You think you are, Keith?"

Keith nodded back. "I know I am," he answered. "I've got my memories back."

Lance blinked. "How?"

"It's a long story and one I'm not sure how to even talk about right now," Keith answered. "Just know, they're back."

Lance nodded and chuckled. "Well, welcome back, buddy."

Keith nodded. "Well, I'm going to Medtech and then get some rest. If you'll excuse me?" He started for the doors.

Allura smiled and nodded at Duvessa, who turned and followed him out.


Keith walked down the hall towards his room after having left Medtech. Gorma had cleared him for duty, seeing that his memories were fully back. His steps slowed before he got to his room, stopping outside of Duvessa's room. He paused, looking at her door, debating with himself on if he should see her and let her know that he was officially cleared. Before he knew what he was doing, he'd rang her buzzer.

The door slid open and Duvessa stood there, looking up at him, dressed in a black satin nightgown. She smiled. "Keith."

"Gorma officially cleared me," he stated.

She nodded, her smile brightening. "That's great news."

He nodded. "I…wanted you to know."

She studied him. "Come in."

He blinked and looked at her. "I…shouldn't."

"Yes, you should," she whispered. She reached out and took his hand and pulled him into her room, locking the door behind him.

Keith pulled her into his arms and kissed her. "I'm sorry that the ceremony was cut short and that Doom took your people," he whispered.

She shook her head. "No. It's not your fault, Keith. And I have faith. The Force will bring them back home."

He nodded. "We will."

She reached up and touched his cheek, looking deep into his eyes. "What's bothering you?"

He shook his head. "I don't know. I just…I needed to see you."

She smiled. "I'm right here, Keith. Safe and sound, thanks to you."

He bent and kissed her again. "Would you object if we tried to…make up for lost time?"

She giggled and kissed him. "No objections. I've missed you so much," she whispered.

He kissed her, lifted her off the floor and carried her to her bed.