"What's going on with the Blue lion?!" Coran's confused voice broke over the Paladin's comms simultaneously. "Allura?" He hailed her lion to only get static followed by a violent crash then static once again. "Is anyone able to contact the princess?"
Shiro's concerned voice crackled to life. "Negative. Where is –"
The man was cut off by Yurn's furious tones. "Hey! I thought we had an agreement! What's the meaning of this?"
Coran pushed Shiro to the background for a moment placating the pirate, "Um, we are having a technical problem. Not to worry…"
"Lotor isn't responding either," Lance added apprehensively.
Yurn continued irately. "I want you guys off my planet, dammit!"
Coran remained at a loss, ignoring the captain's tirade for the moment. Diplomacy was never his strong point…
"We need to get a visual on Blue," Shiro commanded.
Coran turned his eyes to tracking the rogue lion.
Shiro patched himself into the main hailing channel. "Yurn, we will handle this."
"She's leaving the planet?" Coran asked more to himself in incredulity. He attempted to contact the princess once more.
Hunk's uncertain voice broke into the chaotic conversation. "Do we abort our explorations?"
"Yes!" Yurn growled. "The woman is the only one with any sense! Get out!"
"Hey!" Pidge called sharply.
Coran wrinkled his nose at the pirate's insolence regarding his princess.
"Enough of this!" Shiro's baritone held an uncharacteristic sharpness that cut though the disorder like a knife. "Yurn, get out of our channel. We will leave now. Paladin's get back to your lions we need to catch Allura in the Blue lion. Call off the mission and someone get a visual on that lion."
The orders brought the situation into relief, kicking each member, even the unwilling pirate captain, into focus.
Coran turned his attention back to the monitors. The blue blip on the solar map was moving fast through the atmosphere now on a trajectory leading towards one of the earliest renditions of the experiment. It was a dark terrestrial planet with shifting geo-plates so unstable, the Altean man could see the surface slowly shifting with the naked eye. "She is heading towards Planet 1."
"That is Euro 1," Yurn angrily corrected.
"Get off the channel!" Shiro snapped. He waited until he heard the pirate grumble followed by a snap of static before continuing, "Do we know for sure Allura is in her lion?"
Coran scanned for the princess' transponder. A blank screen began to flash amidst the blue lettering. "I am unable to locate her," he replied tersely.
"We need to find her and Lotor. Lance, Red is the fastest lion, get on her tail and try to attain control. Hunk, I'm sending Pidge and you off planet. Abort your mission and figure out why her transponder is not registering. I will search the surface for the two of them until I join you."
The affirmatives rolled in one by one as the Blue lion went into another series of erratic behaviours, this time going into a sharp vertical incline.
XxX
Pidge took off full tilt to get to her lion, leaving Shiro alone in the ramshackle building they had been searching. He only stood for moment, gathering his thoughts. Anger and fear were eating at him. This was the second time.
He broke into a jog to his lion. It was the second time the princess had found herself in mysterious peril around the half blood prince. His jaw tightened at the thought. "You're going to get yourself killed, princess," he whispered through grit teeth.
As if reading his very thoughts Pidge spoke into his comm. "Lotor better not be behind this."
"If he is…" Shiro trailed off. He had to tell himself to take a breath. This temper was growing out of control. He blamed the stress of past events… Still, he didn't remember being so easily riled. He shook the thoughts away from his mind, needing no distractions. He continued with a clearer tone, "If he is, we will find out soon."
XxX
Lotor's grip tightened on the back of the seat. He was grateful no one else was present to witness the shaken fear plastered onto his face. The lion's power was enough to put the fear of God into anyone sane.
A powerful vibration shook the hull violently as the lion entered the dense atmosphere of the proto-planet. Blue took on a more precise trajectory and Lotor was actually able to cautiously lessen his grip. His boot hit the floor softly and he stood warily as Blue took an easy approach to the ashen surface. Lotor did not dare take the pilots seat again, though an easy feeling was drifting on the edge of his subconsciousness. It was a difficult thing for him to grasp but Lotor could akin the sensation to standing by a calm stream after witnessing the same stream swollen and violent from a storm's rains.
Still, he would not take the princess' seat.
Blue smoothly weaved over the surface before spiralling downward. The jagged, volcanic surface approached quickly and Lotor couldn't fight the anxiety light in the pit of his stomach.
His fears were reproved when she dipped into a dark canyon which he had not noticed. He squinted out the viewport looking for any signs of previous life. "Where is she?"
"How did she get here?" A dozen other questions ran through his mind.
Blue gave no obvious answers.
He remained silent as the lion landed carefully on a ledge along the canyon. The sky was roiling and black. He caught glimpse of the stars through a sliver in the crags. His mouth twisted into a frown. "Where is she? This planet is barren."
She responded with a click from the airlock opening. The sulfuric atmosphere filled the cabin and Lotor immediately donned his helmet. As he cautiously stepped onto the hard, ashen surface, a rumble sounded from far away and the lightest of tremors travelled up his boot. He gave the lion one last look before moving towards the precipice. Just don't abandon me.
His eyes tracked down hundreds of meters to the bottom. A churning river of molten lava burned intensely. This makes no sense. The lion is deceiving you.
He burned the image of the princess into his mind. Memories threatened to drown the thought of her.
Lotor stood before the door leading to the bridge of his father's flagship. Dayak slowly circled the young prince as per her usual custom. "Straighten up. Get rid of that smile."
The boy did as best as he could. Still, his face seemed the more difficult to tame. Even the attempt was humorous. His grin cracked wider despite himself.
"Lotor, the Emperor will not appreciate mirth in his presence," she spoke matter-of-factly. Her left eyebrow rose in suspicion. "What has gotten into you?"
Lotor looked up at her, meeting her eyes and feeling bold. This lightness in his chest made his toes dance. He contained it only barely for the sake of the switch. "One of the superior officers told me a secret," he said borderline excitedly.
Dayak frowned. "Who?" The question was sinister.
An inkling of fear wormed its way into his stomach. Uncertainty eclipsed the lightness. "Commander Koyar," Lotor answered warily.
There was a dark, terrifying glint in the Galra's eyes. "What did he tell you?"
Lotor was suddenly, explicably alert. He knew a lie would be found out. He began very carefully. "He told me – "
The young prince startled when he was interrupted with a swat to the shoulder. Lotor barely controlled the flinch. "I have a better idea. Why don't you forgo me and tell your father what Commander Koyar told you?"
She motioned to the door. "I am sure he would be very interested in hearing your secret. Go on, you will be fine."
He didn't believe the lie.
Lotor ground his teeth at the memory. He had taken two weeks to recover from the beating he had received. Commander Koyar had been beheaded in front of his eyes before the Emperor lost control.
"No, the lions are pure," he didn't realise that he had spoken aloud until Blue grumbled behind him. He didn't have to look at her to feel the magnificent presence behind him. He jumped.