A snap and sizzle accompanied the Galran's incense. It smelled strongly of patchouli and bogfruit.

As the others filed into the warm conference room, Lotor took in the familiarity of the space. The long rectangular room was dominated by a ruddy wood table. The high windows let the harsh sunshine bleed onto the burl pattern. A sparse bouquet of rare flowers was the only décor. The room reminded him of the desert dwellings outside. Hardy plants grew in square pots alongside the far wall in another, mini garden. There was nothing like this planet and Lotor relished every moment on its surface.

"I can sense the reminiscence, Emperor. I hope you don't mind me addressing you as such. Interim is a worthless addendum," Naigus spoke as he gingerly took a seat.

The paladins took the cue as well and sat. Lotor made it a point to sit beside the princess, on her left. Shiro took the chair on her opposite hand. The black paladin moved straight to business. "We are here to end hostilities between the Nahook and the Shadi so they may join the Voltron Coalition."

Naigus glanced at the man, before turning to direct his answer towards Lotor. "Did you not update them on Mindt's history, my lord?"

Lotor nodded. "I did." He shared a glance with Allura. "It is our goal to unite them despite the past. The Empire is changing. I am the shift."

A slight smile touched the corner of Naigus' eye. "I always knew you would emerge victorious, Lotor. Your father treated you too harshly. He did not see the potential."

Wrong, He saw and feared it. That is why he was weak. That is why he crushed you, little knowing you would rise. The thought sent a chill down his spine, but Lotor responded impassively. "Indeed. Well you were an integral mentor, doctor." He sighed, feeling the old galra would not focus till he was able to recollect thoroughly. "Now, I call on your guidance again. We must request a summit. I want this planet to be an example. Commander Vos is appointed warlord of this region, yet civil war remains."

Allura added, "A united people with so much knowledge can be a great ally. With the use of your sciences and our newly acquired information regarding terraforming, we can begin to heal the galaxies, spreading a message of peace."

Naigus stroked his chin thoughtfully. His bushy silver eyebrows rounded curiously. "Terraforming requires a large quantity of energy princess," he began.

"An unlimited source of quintessence is necessary, I agree," Lotor said. "Which is why Voltron is the heartbeat to our campaign. Working with the Lions and Princess Allura, I will soon be able to open doors to such a reserve."

Shiro shifted uncomfortably with the openness. "We offer you our aid in the name of peace. Others have not been so forthcoming," he said.

The professor folded his clawed hands neatly on the table. "What you are saying is intriguing, to be sure, Lotor. Yet with all of your brilliance, you do not see why this is folly." A desolate look clouded Naigus' face. "These people have been on the edge for centuries. Only Galra weapons have kept the matter from exploding. You know well how violent the Shadites can be. They will be the largest opponent to this proposed alliance."

Sadness eclipsed the nostalgic glitter in Naigus' eyes. "You know well." He faced the paladins sitting across from Lotor, Allura, and Shiro. "You are all young and headstrong and, undoubtedly, curious. Please, allow my apprentice to show you this magnificent center." Naigus stared back at Shiro. "Let me speak to the royalty in my presence."

Ice shot across the table and suddenly not even the hot afternoon sun could melt the sheen that passed between the two men. After a long, tense silence Shiro stood. He spoke in clipped tones. "I will accompany the other paladins. Princess, alert me if any new progress is made."

A brightly faced galra adolescent broke into the room at exactly the right moment. "Hello!" He held a blinking datapad and possessed a bionic right eye that irised in and out, distractingly.

Allura nodded to Shiro. "I will let you know, Shiro."

Satisfied that he was not completely left out, Shiro moved to return the apprentice's greeting and introduce himself before heading out with a shrugging Pidge, huffing Lance, and starving Hunk.

As soon as the door clicked behind the group, Naigus stood. "Lotor, stand," he ordered.

The emperor interim hesitantly obeyed his former mentor and immediately stiffened when the older galra embraced him. He was aware of Allura startling in her chair behind him.

Naigus smiled a sharply fanged grin. "I missed you," he said before moving beside Lotor to take in the princess. "And you brought a princess!"

Lotor could not stop the blood rushing to his cheeks. "Actua" –

"My dear, you are beautiful as the desert sunsets!" The doctor gingerly took her hand and graced it with a gentle kiss that was grossly at odds with the scarred, powerful fingers which held her grasp.

"Thank you, Naigus." She smiled nervously, still taking in the abrupt change of demeanour the old galra showed. "I must say, I am pleasantly surprised by… this."

Naigus chuckled and rose slowly from his knee using the table to help himself up. "The pleasure is all mine, I assure you." He stepped back to take them both in.

There was something in his gaze that made Lotor terrified and relieved at the same time. He tentatively estimated it to be pride. Why would he be proud of you after all you did? You don't deserve that pride, nor his love.

The elder interrupted his dark thoughts. "I know I said it before, but I knew you would grow past this, Lotor."

Lotor took a deep breath, struggling with the sincerity. "I appreciate all you ever did to help make that happen, Naigus." Redirect. "Now, may I be so bold as to assume you meant everything else said in the paladin's presence?"

Naigus' ears fell. "Ah, yes. Here, let us sit." He called for beverages using a flower-shaped comm sewn onto his lapel. "I meant it all. The Shadites are on the edge of anarchy. The Circle of Decision have changed their mantle to the Circle of Entropy, and they mean it. Their leader, a heavy-handed galra fanatic named Kyrax is intent on turning the people against anyone different. He claims that the Nahook, particularly the native species, caused the Incident out of spite for galra." He raised his hands in a gesture of uncertainty.

"You see, princess, I am not sure how much Lotor has told you, but this issue that happened so long ago was a complete accident. Maybe someone somewhere wasn't following protocol exactly or perhaps it was doomed from the beginning. No one knows! I only know one thing; it was no one's fault." He set Lotor with a level gaze. "No one's."

Lotor resisted the urge to squirm. Every cell in his being contended the statement. He remained outwardly apathetic.

"What do the Nahook think of this incident? Or Kyrax?" Allura asked, keeping the conversation blessedly on track.

Lotor, desperately envious, thanked the stars Allura was able to focus.

Naigus replied, "The Nahook are a wise, patient people. They have meditated on the Incident for some time and have accepted it. Many of the younger generation are ready to leave it in the past and the elders encourage such a path as intelligent.

However, most of the elders fear Kyrax. He speaks with passion and force. The only thing that has kept his words from spreading to the Nahook is the strained relationship between the people. Therein lies the problem." Naigus grew stern suddenly. "The Nahook elders want there to be peace again, yet they fear that opening up to the Shadites will corrupt the youth as Kyrax has done in Shadi. So, they waver."

"Why don't we eliminate Kyrax?" Lotor hated to be so blunt but the answer seemed obvious. He hoped Allura saw his point.

"It would be too easy to blame the death on the Nahook. I fear it would push the Shadites over the edge." Naigus sighed, "Although, I believe if anyone could pull it off, it would be you, Lotor."

Allura, attempting to hide her disgust spoke up politely. "Why do we need to…. Remove him?" The word left a bitter taste on her tongue. "In my experience, dissidents fade into the darkness if another, more formidable voice steps up. Voltron can be that voice."

Lotor replied automatically, "Occasionally, yes, but the threat remains sleeping in the shadows."

She countered him sharply, reminding him of their purpose here. It stung more than he wanted to admit. "Perhaps, but we came to bring peace and break the toxic cycle characteristic of the old regime. Remember, Lotor?"

Something quenched his anger. It was foreign. Normally he wouldn't allow such insolence. She makes you weak. Audacity! You would have been whipped... He spoke promptly before the logical side of him dominated the conversation. "My apologies, princess. You are correct of course."

The tiny victory against his inner fire made his chest swell momentarily. His face burned with the swirling emotions turning his stomach to pudding.

Naigus' hearty laughed filled the room, snapping the Emperor Interim from his lone struggles and distracting the princess from dwelling on Lotor's shortcomings.

"You two make a good team. I am happy for you!" He clapped the half-blood on the shoulder without elaborating. "Come, I agree with the Princess too! But toppling a fanatical anarchist is hard work, and I am hungry. Maybe a solution will present itself. The sun sets!"