This one is rather long. I mention another episode of V3D in which some journalists (don't remember the exact sequence of events) managed to spy on the team, and the resulting footage was used to convince Amalgamus (the ruler) that the team was a menace. A trial followed and they were cleared. I thought it rather impossible for anyone to have acquired those images, but hey, I didn't write the show. So to explain how it is possible I invented cloaked cameras that seedy opportunists use to sell info, blackmail, etc.

Under Pressure

Lotor slept like the dead. They thought he might feel disoriented when he woke, so they took turns watching him in groups until then. Allura, Lance, Hunk and Pidge were present when he did, and even before his eyes had fully opened, they felt the spirits reaching again.

"Wait!" Cried Allura. "Let him eat something and refresh himself first!"

She was irritated and they all could feel the spirits' embarrassment as they retreated.

"You sure are in a hurry..." Commented Lance.

*This is exciting, Fiery One. We haven't had new shapes in quite a while. We will try to quell our eagerness. The thinker is not well. But we cannot repair him.*

Lotor looked up in confusion.

"Are you all right?" Inquired Hunk.

"Tired. Whatever stepped on me?"

"The spirits of the Lions took residence, and then control," explained Pidge. "You were well out of it. Do you remember anything?"

Lotor's eyes widened. "All of it," he said in wonder, "I remember all it all..."

Allura got closer.

"They said you were not well. Are you hiding something again?"

Lotor sighed and let his head fall back on his pillow.

"For this kind of unwell, you can't do much. Unless you fall out of love and suddenly find me irresistible, I'm afraid I'll just remain a melancholic idiot. I'm just tired. Sleep deprived."

His voice was breaking and Allura looked crushed.

"It's not your fault," Lotor added as she became sad. "I can't control this. I never could."

He was in obvious distress and it broke her heart.

"I'm sorry, Lotor. I am... flattered and I do admire your persistence, just not in the way you wish. It saddens me to see you suffer..."

She left the room, head lowered. Pidge followed to make sure she was ok.

"There isn't much joy to your manner of living, humans," Lotor whispered. "I release her and both of us are unhappy. Should I have acted otherwise?"

"Naw. She not unhappy," Lance said. "On the contrary, she's insanely happy. They float, the lovebirds, when they steal moments together." He sounded a tad bitter. "It's so sappy you can almost stick to whatever floor they just passed. She just feels guilty cause you're in pain. I say again, campanule. Sometimes, doing the right thing just s*cks."

Lotor eyed Lance studiously.

"And you would know, wouldn't you. It was no 'crush' you had," he guessed.

Lance shrugged.

"How can you stand it?" Lotor asked, genuinely curious.

"Who says I do?"

Hunk cleared his throat.

"Guys, you're getting creepy. Why don't we go back to the logistics of living? Let's have a nice breakfast. Now that's joyful."

"The big lummox is right," said Lance, putting his smile firmly back in place. "We could go picnic outside and seep in some vitamin D. Do drules tan?"

Well, even if sleep eluded him, Lotor had to admit having companions who understood and cared was strangely touching. He agreed, got cleaned up and dressed as Hunk worked his magic on the castle personnel to provide them with a portable feast.

They did not go far. They didn't want to anger Hausmann, who kept close tabs on Lotor. The garden was perfect for an impromptu picnic. Besides, it was still a bit chilly outside. Daffodils multiplied the sun, and a back drop of blue muscari made their yellows and oranges seem even warmer.

Hunk called Pidge, who in turn communicated with Kovak, and the little group was sorting the food when Dr. Hausmann appeared. They surmised correctly that Allura had sent him.

Lotor growled as the doctor, unfazed, passed his scanner (A/N directly borrowed from Star Trek... ^_^) on the drule.

"Well well," said Hausmann, going over his findings. "You should come to the medwing for a follow up on these problems."

"What problems, Hausmann?" Asked Lotor irritably. "I'm perfectly all right."

"Perfectly underweight, nerve shot, borderline anaemic... among others... don't tell me you feel perfectly all right. Not possible."

Lotor scowled. He turned his attention to Hunk as the pilot distributed food. The servants had packed those little drule pastries, his personal favourite. The Yellow Lion pilot was right: their knowledge was uncanny.

"So," began Pidge."You said you remember? You're so lucky, having all this knowledge just poured in!"

He was obviously fascinated.

"Don't fret, Baron, your turn is coming. You'll program those cats. And you, yellow boy, will build them. So get a lot of rest: they'll come for you."

"Does it hurt or anything?" Asked Hunk a bit apprehensively.

"No. Not until they release you. Then you remember you own a body."

They ate and then talked in comfortable companionship. Lotor saw Lance wandering a little farther off. He joined him.

"Since you understand so well, pilot," the drule started awkwardly, "I might have lost a good occasion to shut up this morning. Do you think she is all right? Could you check?"

"No need," said Lance as he gestured toward the garden's entrance.

The princess and the commander were coming, obviously to join them since he carried a basket. Allura was smiling. The relief was so clear on Lotor's face that Lance marvelled again at the depth of his feelings toward her. The Red Lion pilot really hoped Keith would make her too happy for words. He had to, after all this.

If not, he'd probably let the campanule kidnap her. Hell, he'd even help! They would sure make a strange menage à trois...

***** ***** *****

In the next days, Lotor spent his time half possessed, half being coerced into taking care of himself. Even though they were vigilant, the ex-prince was pale and they worried when his real hand began to show a slight tremor.

As soon as Lotor gave a tentative list of what would be needed, Lance announced he needed to take a vacation to get the materials from the Lost Net. Keith gave him one and Sven was called in to fill in for the Red Lion pilot. The Norwegian was not pleased to learn his nemesis had refugee status on Aris. Even after the lengthy explanation, he clearly disapproved.

In Sven's case though, it was understandable. He couldn't imagine Romelle's tormentor could have a change of heart. To him, it was as incredible as envisioning an executioner assist birth, hood and all. The former Blue Lion pilot demanded to see for himself the possessed drule.

Keith brought him to the laboratory. Sven witnessed first hand the dazed alien. A faint multicoloured aura coalesced around Lotor. Oblivious to his surroundings, he fingered his screen and typed, adding circuitry and casing to a 3D model. The holographic image showed only an inner part, but soon, the drule zoomed out, and they could see an unfinished mechanical lion. Sven had a moment of pure awe and forced himself to a neutral expression. He stiffly commented.

"Impressive."

The ex-prince zoomed in another part, and the two pilots left the lab.

"He's been at it for a while," said Keith.

"He does look sickly," admitted Sven.

"Dr. Hausmann is keeping tabs on him. He's our expert on cyborgs. Being taken over like this is not good for the central nervous system. Or the rest, for that matter. When they let go of the drule he can't even walk on his own."

"It iz strange, having him in ze castle."

"Very."

"Does he steel harass Allura?"

"Amazingly, no. He and the others kicked me until I... revealed my... affection for the princess."

"Vhat!?"

"It's true. And make no mistake. He really does love her, but he thinks he can no longer give her happiness."

"Could he ever? He never had much to offer..."

"He finally realized she was in love, just not with him. Moreover, he's diminished and most of his riches are gone, so he feels he can't make her happy. In his doomite head, power and riches matter."

"That iz crap, but I von't complain since it liberated ze princess. And how vill you manage? Doesn't Arisian law forbid her from marrying outside royalty?"

"We're working on it."

"Vith success?"

Keith sighed mournfully.

"Not yet. Some nobles are notoriously pig-headed, and unfortunately they got leverage. Allura is not one to go unilateral."

"Vell, the one good thing about Romelle's crazy father iz he revoked all those stupid laws. Romelle iz free to marry anyvone she likes."

"Good for you, neh?"

Sven gifted him with one of his sudden, rare smiles. Keith was as straight as a steel bar, but not blind, and he was immediately glad the brooding man loved Romelle so. Such a smile would turn any female into an adoring puddle, and he would have been unfair competition, really.

***** ***** *****

Ahhh choo!

Was it the seventh? Or ninth? Colds were certainly hard on drules, thought Pidge. Or maybe Lotor was allergic to something in the lab. When the spirits finally let go, the drule would sneeze, hack and cough for minutes, getting rid of accumulated fluids, so they put a tissue box near his terminal. Then, invariably, he would flee to the bathroom. After that, they'd have to cart him back to his room, for he could not stand up anymore. This day was pretty much the same.

"Are you almost done?" Asked Pidge as Lotor stumbled out of the bathroom. "With the design, I mean," precised the small Baron impishly.

"Three down, two to go," answered Lotor, ignoring the jab. "I'm keeping Green Lion for dessert. I just finished the Red. It's a beauty," added the ex-prince dreamily. "Your scoundrel will love it."

The drule sank in the wheelchair. Hausmann had insisted on this further humiliation; Lotor, uncharacteristically, hadn't argued for more then five minutes, which told volumes on how taxing the ordeal was. The chair was ergonomic and best of all, it had a winged back, so he could rest his head and doze off. He did just that as Pidge wheeled him away.

He woke up later in his bed, shuddering when he saw someone had put him in his nightshirt. He didn't dare ask if this was done by nurses. While his mind proceeded a tentative acceptance of the pilots, he didn't want them to see him like this.

Working within the spirits was extraordinary, but he was horribly weak when they left. He felt sick again, throat hurting, limbs trembling, and he needed lots of tissues, something he found disgusting. Speaking of tissues, he could do with half a ton just now. And just to spite him, the box was on the other side of the room.

He began the arduous task of getting up. He was alone in his room, and he thought it would be ridiculous to call a servant just for the purpose of retrieving a box, so he stood and started toward it. He never felt his collapse.

***** ***** *****

"You can't talk to him, Zarkon. He unavailable. Or is that too big a word for you?" Allura was saying to the caller displayed on the huge screen of the castle central. Zarkon looked healthy and as frightening as ever. Allura suppressed a shiver. The reinstated monarch continued.

"The little upstart thinks he can impress me with his supporters. He can't insult me thus and think to get away with it!"

"Supporters? What the heck are you talking about, Zarkon?"

"Don't play stupid. Haven't you heard the ridiculous, scattered refugee camps started to call themselves the Hidden Kingdom? There is talk of Lotor being the one to lead them."

"You're paranoid. Right now he couldn't lead ten fishes in an aquarium. Look for conspiracies elsewhere."

"It's not paranoia when it reaches the media, wench. It's all over the net."

Allura hid a start. She hadn't perused the newsnet for a while; she'd been distracted. Happily so, but distracted all the same.

"Don't let your crown curl, he barely even saw his own peers since he arrived here. He showed no interest in ruling, on the contrary. We have spies sicced on him, he's unarmed, and you made him so sick it's a wonder we managed to keep him alive. It was you who made his cybernetic parts fail, wasn't it?"

Zarkon lifted his chin and bared his teeth in a chilling grin. "Control, my dear, it's all about control. In retrospective though, it would have been more useful to implant an exploding device. This way, I could have gotten rid of him and you at the same time."

Allura made a sound of disgust and Coran cut the communication.

"Is it true, Coran?"

"It's those sensationalist 'reporters' again. They interviewed a couple of refugees and they happened to mention that if they could choose a new leader, they would go for Lotor."

Allura was surprised.

"Did they happen to say why?"

"I'm afraid the story of his finally letting go of you out of love has reached the press."

"WHAT! How? And how come you didn't tell me?"

"As to how, I have no idea. It made the front article of the newsnet a few days ago. As to why I didn't tell you... you were so happy, so relieved. What good would it have done? You'd find out soon enough."

"So half the universe knows I'm in love with Keith? And poked their nose in very private affairs?"

"Those who visit the sensationalist press rooms anyway. Most don't believe it's true, but many think it's a romantic story. It's spreading like wild fire."

Allura buried her head in her hands. "Arrrg, we don't need this on top of all, Coran. Keith will be horrified. Lotor is crushed enough as it is. What am I going to do? What will the nobles think?"

"Actually, I think it can play in your favor, Allura."

"How so?"

"If our nobles hold on too firmly to archaic laws in face of such a noble sacrifice, they'll be ridiculed by the press. We just have to make a few statements to confirm or deny what can play in the direction we wish..."

"Isn't that manipulating?"

"Information media is used by all. Even your father wasn't averse to a good press conference to set things in the right direction. It's an avenue we neglected, and its high time we paid more attention. By the way, the news from Galaxy Garrison are a bit disturbing these days. Zarkon is aiming closer to Earth this time. They have regualr attacks, and Garrison seem intent of centralization of defenses. The far quadrants are worried. We'll have to convene of a meeting so we can discuss this. But in regard to your situation, you have nothing to lose by using the press."

"I can't lie to people. If I do make announcements, they have to be true."

"And I would never dispute that, Allura. But you can use the plain truth. It will leave the most stubborn noble in a neat corner: either permit the change of these laws or pass for monsters. What Lotor did is noble, and Keith is an astounding young man, well worth your affection. He saved our planet countless time and showed selfless bravery. He's an able leader, and has proven to be superior to all the contenders that showed up so far..."

Allura smiled. Nikolai had been useful, after all. Bokar on his own hadn't managed to deter Nanny and Coran, but the second (or third, counting Lotor himself) villainous prince to try to snag her had radically changed her two oldest retainers' point of view on available 'nice preences'. Having all of her friend on her side was very comforting.

Just then the communicating screen lit again to show Hausmann, who told them Lotor had just collapsed.

***** ***** *****

"Complete rest for the week at least. And I mean rest!" Hausmann was in full rant mode. "No spirits, no possessions, no khiara, and absolutely NO journalists. Proper nourishment... Cyborgs can't afford to play with their health."

"He'll hate it, being bedridden," commented Hunk.

They were in Lotor's room. The drule was sleeping peacefully, safely tucked in his bed with plenty of blankets. Four pilots were crowding the place. Lance was still off world, and Sven was evidently not at ease seeing the drule, so he used this time to relay the situation to Romelle, using their most secure channel and an encryption code built by Pidge himself.

Hausmann was pacing furiously on the colourful drulean rug, another gift from the enclave.

"That'll teach him to exaggerate," he said. "He doesn't eat enough, and he's seriously depressed. If he's going to be stubborn about not undergoing therapy, he should at least take his pills. As it is, he's so fragilized even this stupid cold virus is a threat."

While ranting, Hausmann was scribbling one prescription after the other.

"You tell him to follow his regimen or I'll sic Nanny on him!"

"Geez, man," said Hunk. "You're cruel."

"You better believe it!"

The doctor passed the sheaf of prescriptions to Allura.

"All of that?" She asked.

"All of that. And I'll stick around. Doesn't he realize how fragile the immune system of a cyborg is? He's lucky to be half drule, otherwise, he would not even have survived the initial crash. The attack that made him reject his implants and the subsequent surgeries wrecked his immune system. I told him that!"

"He did not tell us," said Allura, feeling a bit hurt.

"He's proud, princess. And he probably thought we humans underestimate the resilience of Drules. It's true they are very though, but he's half human, and between the crash and multiple surgeries, he used up all his drule heritage has to offer."

Hausmann crossed his arms and addressed the air in indignation.

"And 'benevolent' spirits should know better! Let him rest! Being recreated is fun all right, isn't it? Well it'll take a bit longer! Live with it! It's not as if the actual Lions were scrap metal! Getting new bodies shouldn't be at the cost of his! He has precious little of it left!"

*Desist, Healer, desist! We understand. We will follow your directives.*

Hausmann nodded and left the room in a huff, not realizing he had just cowed five powerful, eons old spirits.

The doctor was one of the few privileged who knew about the Voltron upgrade, along with Sven and Coran. This information at least hadn't leaked. Hunk had been obsessed with the newsnet sources. How the hell had they found out? The refugees were the obvious culprits, but he didn't buy it. They seemed genuinely fond of Lotor and wouldn't willingly cause him trouble, and calling him a future leader was clearly bringing unwanted attention to him. Besides, the refugees that were interviewed were not on Aris, but in a camp on a planet much closer to Earth.

He and Pidge had pondered the problem and they planned on visiting the lake to see of they'd find those little spy cams favoured by unethical reporters. He remembered the disgust he'd felt when they found those cameras right inside their cockpits, and the trouble that followed when entities best unnamed twisted the footage to make them appear bad.

But that was for later. The teammates now turned their attention to the sleeping drule.

"He looks peaceful now," commented Allura. "But I dread how he'll take his life and future being discussed on public media. And being trapped in bed... He'll hate it. It'll be a horrible week for him. How can we help?"

"Sic Rose on him, Allura," suggested Pidge.

Allura smiled gratefully. "Pidge, you're a genius. She always manages to make him lower his guard and relax. The little brainiac can afford to miss classes. I'll fetch her."

"She'll be ecstatic," commented Pidge. "School is boring for wizkids."

"And you would know..."

They left when a nurse arrived to keep watch. Allura went directly to the educational section of the castle while Pidge and Hunk went to the lake. Pidge found a cloaked camera by using a gadget he had created after the incident of the hidden cams in the Lions. He didn't remove it, instead he carefully avoided being seen by it as he hooked his apparatus to hack the feed. He proceeded to find the destination of the images. True to type, they went directly to a trashy tabloid's database.

Well, at least, it wasn't on a drule one. Or on V'thaï...

Pidge wisely decided to sweep all the significant areas of Aris for those little monstrosities.

***** ***** *****

Another chapter done! Yey! I told you Rose was going to come back... She is in deep trouble. Allura will be furious in the next chapter. Don't worry, poor Lotor isn't dying! He's just exhausted.

Zarkon is pissed, and he has other reasons besides his wayward son supposedly stirring trouble. He's also working hard on influencing things to go in the direction he wants. We'll have a bit of an insight of that, don't know exactly where or when, but its coming.

It's a lot of job! I have little bits of the story written, snippets really, and I have to connect it all. It's fun though. Some parts are still nebulous, but I'm getting there. The end is written. Until next time, au revoir!