For one last time, Lotor ran his eyes over the supplies in his backpack. He was uncertain what exactly they would find on the mysterious planet below, but one thing was certain. Scans of the surface showed a landscape teeming with a dense population of lifeforms. Indeed, Lotor would have never guessed that the seemingly remote world would house anything other than wild beasts. However, Coran had even picked up on some forms of communications going to and from the continents dotting the green and blue sphere. It was remarkable that such a (what they were assuming was at least a somewhat advanced) race to occupy a planet and leave no mark on it…The concept caused Lotor's mind to buzz with questions and theories. Budding plans blossomed slowly in his thoughts…

It would revolve entirely on their findings in this new world. He glanced up into the doorway to see Allura. He couldn't help but notice how loveable she looked in the rugged, olive poncho that hung over her alabaster armour. Nor could he ignore how stunning her snowy mane looked when it was weaved in a thick braid. The entire outfit gave her a seasoned look entirely at odds with the youthful excitement barely hidden in her brilliant cerulean gaze. She was ready for this. She had been ready for this since she had stumbled upon the old Altean map that had led them here. Once again, he mused why she had been so taken with this notion.

She interrupted his thoughts with an eager tone. "Are you ready?" She asked.

Lotor felt a small smile tug at the corner of his mouth. "Yes," he replied as he slipped his pack over his broad shoulders. "I think we shall have all we need."

Allura nodded. "Alright." Her voice took on a slightly more tentative tone. "I don't think you have ever rode in Blue yet?"

Lotor followed the princess out the door, keeping his stride steady in pace to hers as they moved down to the hanger. "No, I have not had the pleasure," he stated, he kept his voice low. A flicker of anticipation ignited his soul, but he kept it carefully hidden under the surface.

She nodded her acknowledgement and then asked curiously. "Have you ever seen Voltron before or the Lions? Like when you were younger," she clarified.

Lotor was surprised at the question and he could not cover up the stiffness that came naturally to his stance when his past was spoken of. As his memory stretched far, he could feel her watching him with soft eyes. It made him entirely uncomfortable. It was… unnatural. He grappled with what he was going to say for another moment, while the anxiety coursed deeper through him. Finally, as they entered the lift that would take them to the hangers, he said simply. "I did glimpse the lions in array on one occasion."

Again, she nodded, clearly seeing his dislike for reliving whatever was going on in his mind. She couldn't comprehend what the man had been through in his long life. The visceral feelings of bias she held towards his species were slowly being replaced by a primal desire just as deeply engrained within her. The more she learned about his past from him, the more difficult it was to see him as the threat he could be. Yet, still, a nagging corner of her mind warned her. It echoed the cautions which years of war had instilled inside of her. He was a beast, not to be trusted under any circumstances. All of the lies he was raised with clung to him like an odour that could not be washed away… Forever? She was unsure.

Finally, the lift hissed open. No one broke the painful silence till they stood face to face with the massive blue lion. She sat idle, towering in strength of power that Lotor could almost feel like an enveloping energy around the massive machine…

"Isn't she beautiful?" Allura asked.

He glanced down at the Altean princess "Yes," he replied in agreement. He motioned politely for the princess to enter first. She grinned and made her way towards Blue –

He was only able to take two steps forward when a massive wave of excruciating energy ran through him, blasting him backwards and contorting his muscles. Heat and agonising waves of pain rolled through him, distorting his body mid-flight. He landed with an exclaimed oomph, stunned, on the hard floor a couple meters away.

"Blue!" Allura turned her angry gaze to the lion, shocked at what she saw and worried at the same time.

Lotor let out a strained growl as he struggled to get his arms under him. Stars danced in his vision. His fingers burned, and his sensitive ears rang loudly, throwing his orientation into a torrent of conflicting signals. His breath was coming irregularly, and he focused on relaxing the spasming muscles in his chest.

Allura rushed to the smoking half-Galra and knelt down beside him, less worried for Blue's reasons than for Lotor's state. Her hands gently gripped his shoulder. She was not expecting what happened next.

"Tell me why!" An adolescent, half Galran prince spoke with rage thick in his voice. It nearly hid the fear in his words.

A large framed Galran twice the size of Lotor sneered. "I don't need to tell you anything," he said gruffly. "And right now, I'm going to teach you a lesson on that." He moved forward menacingly, pushing the tacticians' tables out of the way with ease. The other recruits kept their eyes strictly pasted to their screens.

Lotor stood his ground. The glimmer of fear glazed over with raw pride as Lotor met the drill master's eyes. He bit his tongue as the other's shadow fell over him. In a flash of movement, Lotor was thrown back loudly. His back hit the computer terminal as he was viciously backhanded. Crimson rage invaded his sight but as he raised a fist to hit back, the Galra brought a knee forcefully into Lotor's stomach.

Lotor was hardly able to snatch a breath as the Galra leaned down over the bent prince. His large hand gripped the whelp's shoulder. Thick talons sank deeply into Lotor's shoulder, drawing blood easily. "I don't care if you are royalty, scat. When you are in my company, you never question anything."

Lotor flinched, stiffening instantly at the touch and lashed out instinctively in fear and defence. Animalistic impulse coursed through him, overriding the panic that shot through his mind before his consciousness realised what he was doing… He felt an impact as his previously dead arm flung across Allura's torso –

Reality finally slapped him in the face and he pulled his leaden arm back, but damage had been done.

Allura fell back shocked and confused. Her instincts kicked in and instantly her bayard was in her hand. Confliction whirled violently in her head, but she needed to protect herself. She found her legs despite the throbbing pain in the pit of her stomach. "Halt!" She ordered curtly.

Lotor fought with his muddled brain to collect the pieces and emotions spilling out of his frazzled mind, but her clear words cut through the fog. "Allura," he ground out. His body was weak. It strained to push him onto his feet. He stood unbalanced and feeling entirely out of control of the situation. Danger sent alarms rushing through him and his eyes widened significantly when he noticed the bayard in her hands. Wobbling slightly, he raised his hands. "Allura, please." The adrenaline was working hard to twist through the smoke in his head. "I didn't mean –"

She cut him off sharply. "Are you alright?"

"Yes," he said plainly. His eyes softened. A deep regret was worming its way into his stomach, throwing him on the verge of being sick. "I didn't mean to hit you," he said as genuinely as he could. Somehow, the words sounded hollow and wrong. He forced himself to meet her eyes. Inside, everything was falling apart. Roaring memories threatened to break the walls he had long built up and he had no idea why he suddenly felt so weak.

The princess stood tensely for a handful of seconds. Hesitantly, she lowered her weapon. "Okay," she said as she let out a breath and put her bayard away. "It was just a mistake," she stated, sounding as if she were talking more to herself.

Lotor nodded. His body was recovering well, but his spirit felt crushed. She couldn't hide the pain he had caused her. She couldn't hide the hurt in her eyes. It stabbed daggers through him. "I hope you are alright," he offered, confused on how to fix everything.

She faked a small smile. "I am." She turned to Blue. "Let Lotor on this time. Really, we must go. Come, Lotor. She won't do that again."