I make no claims to Voltron or any other WEP characters.

Enjoy Chapter 2

Mertz

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Allura is close to panicking as she pushes Blue lion as fast as it will go. She can hear Lance's voice as he continuously tries to raise Keith on the radio after losing him while in the control room. Following the tracer in Black lion they finally approach its location to find it on the ground on its side, blast damage visible to the side and head of the lion.

Allura tries to push down her fear as Lance swears, "Let's get down there quick!"

All four land their lions with Lance and Pidge reaching Black lion before Allura and Hunk. They watch as Lance exits the lion holding Black lion's key and Keith's helmet, blood visible inside of it. Allura's eyes go from the visible blood in the helmet to Lance's eyes as she pales and begins to waver. Lance grabs her to steady her and turns to Hunk and Pidge, "Get up in the lions and scan for life signs in the area. Keith managed to put the lion key in the lock box so he was conscious when he crashed. Find him."

Both run for their lions as Lance lets the helmet drop to the ground to grab Allura's shoulders, "He's alive Allura, we will find him."

Allura nods as tears run down her cheeks and her body begins to shake, "Where would he go Lance? Keith wouldn't hide from us."

Lance grimaces knowing that Keith would never just run out on them, likely he was taken. Allura starts to sink to the ground and Lance hauls her back up to her feet, "Allura, you need to keep it together and help us find him."

Allura continues to cry and Lance shakes her, "Dammit Allura I need you to help us. I can't find Keith and hold you up."

Lance manages to get through to her and she takes a step away from Lance and wipes her eyes. She finally pulls her quivering chin up and faces Lance, "What do you need me to do?"

Lance takes a deep breath, "Right now I want you to get back into Blue and get back to the castle. If they took Keith they could decide to come back for you as well. I need to know you are safe Allura."

Allura opens her mouth to argue then stops when Lance grabs her shoulders again, "I need to know you are safe Allura. The best thing you can do is get to the castle and stay near Cat."

Allura finally nods then slowly makes her way back to her lion. Lance watches her take off, then turns back to Black lion.

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Keith opens his eyes slowly, his head throbbing, to hear soft music playing in the background. He puts his hand to his forehead to try to ease the throbbing as he lifts his head and looks around to find he is lying in a canopied bed. He notices he is wearing a pair of pajama bottoms and nothing else.

Keith pushes himself to a sitting position to find the room is dimly lit as he tries to look around. The walls are a scarlet red with candles burning in different corners of the room. Looking up he is surprised to see a mirror above the bed.

"My love…you are finally awake."

Keith turns his head toward the feminine voice to see a beautiful woman, her yellow eyes glowing in the near darkness, dressed in a flowing dark blue robe, her long pink hair flowing around her. She slowly approaches the end of the bed and climbs onto it on her knees. She crawls toward Keith, her hand moving along his leg as she gets closer to him. Be my love… Keith shakes his head trying to clear the whispering in it, "Who are you?"

She continues to move her hand up his hip, then along his chest, gently caressing him before her eyes meet his, "Queen Merla…don't you remember me my love?"

Keith studies her as the whispering continues, You are my love… Be with me my love… Keith puts his hand to his forehead once more trying to stop the throbbing and whispering, "No…I don't remember anything…" Keith looks up into the mirror above the bed once more, not even recognizing the face staring up at him before turning his gaze back to Merla, "What the hell happened to me? Why can't I remember?"

Merla moves her hand to his cheek, "You are safe now Keith…you are home again, where you belong, with me."

Keith pushes back away from Merla then stops when he sees the hurt look on her face, "What did you call me?"

Merla studies his eyes, "You are Keith, champion of my kingdom and my heart." You are my love Keith…you love me…

Keith closes his eyes trying to clear his mind. He reopens them a moment later, "What happened to me?"

Merla sits beside him, allowing her long legs to become uncovered. Keith's eyes drift along her legs for a moment before his gaze meets hers again. Merla smiles seductively at him, "I rescued you from the evil forces on Planet Arus. They had kidnapped you when you were out on a mission to secure our defenses."

She reaches forward to caress his cheek, "It took me a month to get you back from them. However you were injured in the battle. " You are my love…you will do anything for me…

Keith shakes his head to clear it again, "Planet Arus? Why does that sound familiar?"

Merla grasps his hand and stares intently into his eyes, "They have been attacking us for years Keith. Their evil queen, Allura, she was behind your kidnapping. They knew they would cripple our defenses if they had you."

Merla allows tears to run out of her eyes, "I thought I had lost you my love…" then lays her head against his chest and wraps her arms around him. You love me Keith…show me you love me…

Unable to resist the thoughts in his head Keith wraps his arms around Merla, "It is alright my Queen. I'm back now and those who have made you suffer will pay."

Merla sees her reflection in a mirror across from her bed and smiles to herself maliciously. Now he is mine…

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Lance leaves the launch tube and watches as Pidge and Hunk join him. Hunk looks grimly at him as Coran lowers the dais and finally questions them, "What did you find?"

Hunk growls out, "No sign of Keith anywhere, the bastards took him."

Coran's eyes drift over Hunk's visible tension before his gaze moves to Lance, "Who took him?"

Lance wearily wipes his face, "I found tracks that showed signs of someone being dragged and followed them. Looks like Keith was knocked out and dragged to another ship. The prints were from robots, so I can only assume Planet Doom and Lotor." He runs his hands through his hair agitated, "How is Allura holding up?"

Coran sighs, "She is in her room with Caitlin. Other than that I do not know." Coran moves back to the dais, "We need to contact Planet Pollux and get Sven here to cover for Black lion."

Lance steps up on the dais beside him, "I'm hoping he still has spies on Planet Doom as well. They could locate Keith for us so we can launch a rescue attempt."

Coran nods then works on the communications monitor.

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Lance walks down the hall, but instead of going to his and Cat's room he walks into the royal family's corridor. He walks up to Allura and Keith's room and knocks on the door lightly. He hears Cat's voice saying, "Enter" and then walks in.

Lance enters the room to see Caitlin standing near the bed. She visibly relaxes when she sees Lance and glances at the bed before walking up to him and wrapping her arms around him. Lance accepts the comfort, holding Cat tightly to him before he pulls back, "How is Allura?"

Cat grimaces, "I knocked her out with a pressure point and then had Dr. Gorma inject her with a sedative. I'm hoping she will be calmer when she awakens. What did you find out?"

Lance tells Cat of finding Black lion on the ground, the key in the lock box, tracking the prints and his assumptions of who took Keith, "We've contacted Sven. He and Romelle will be here in the morning. He is making contact with his spies on Planet Doom to try to locate Keith. Hunk and Pidge are in the repair bay working on Black."

He walks away from Cat and over to the bed to look at Allura. Her face is pale and there was visible proof that she had been crying. Lance wearily settles into a chair near the bed and Cat sits down on his lap, wrapping her arms around him. He lightly kisses Cat's lips as he sighs, "We better stay with Allura tonight. I don't want her alone when she awakens."

Cat studies Lance as she pushes his hair out of his eyes, "Why don't you go rest love. I'll stay with her tonight. You won't be any good to Keith or Allura if you are too exhausted to think tomorrow."

Lance opens his mouth to argue only to meet Cat's intense emerald gaze when she grabs his chin, "I mean it handsome. If you don't go to bed I'll knock your ass out too." Cat pulls herself up off his lap, and then pulls his arm helping him rise.

Lance pulls her into his arms for one more hug, "I love you Cat…"

Cat sighs as she tightens her grip on Lance, "I love you too handsome, now go to bed."

Lance pulls away from her and slowly leaves the room.

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Allura sighs in her sleep as she slowly begins to awaken and hears quiet voices speaking around her. She opens her eyes to find she is lying on her side facing Keith's undisturbed side of the bed. Remembering the events of yesterday, tears run out of Allura's eyes as she grabs his pillow, holding it close to inhale his scent. The voices quiet as a sob escapes Allura's throat and she pushes her face into the pillow.

"Allura?" Allura can finally discern Romelle's quiet voice as she sits on the bed beside her and strokes Allura's hair.

Allura remains where she is until she feels a hand pulling on her shoulder. She slowly turns over to see both Cat and Romelle watching her, concern showing in their gazes. Allura looks away from Romelle to Cat, "They haven't found him yet have they? Keith would be here with me if they had found him…"

Cat's eyes show sadness as she slowly shakes her head, "Not yet love, but do not give up hope."

Allura closes her eyes and allows the tears to flow before she pushes away from Romelle and rises from the bed. She walks over to her closet and pulls out some clothes, throwing them on as quickly as she can. Romelle walks toward her, "Allura, where are you going?"

Allura finishes dressing and then walks to her dressing table, running a brush quickly through her hair before throwing it back in a pony tail. She turns to leave the room to find Cat standing in front of her, "Where are you going?"

Allura's eyes contain both pleading and determination, "I need to go out in Blue and look for him myself Cat."

Cat crosses her arms, "You cannot go out alone Allura."

Allura's eyes fill with tears again, "What would you be doing if it was Lance who was missing Cat?"

Cat drops her arms and sighs, "I would be tearing Planet Doom apart…" she meets Allura's gaze again, "Very well. The men will fight you but I will accompany you Allura so you won't go alone. Wait here for a moment while I get some weapons."

Allura nods and wipes the tears away as Cat walks out of the room. Romelle approaches her and smiles tentatively at her, "Sven's spies are working even now to find him on Doom Allura. Don't lose hope."

Allura nods as Romelle pulls her into her arms for a hug. Allura pulls away, fear and pain in her voice, "What will I do Romelle, if they don't find him?"

Romelle touches her cheek, "Have faith Allura. As long as there is breath in Keith's body you know he will do everything he can to return to you."

Cat walks back into the room moments later armed to the teeth. She smiles at Allura, "Let's go."

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Allura, followed by Romelle and Cat, walks into castle control to find Lance, Sven and Coran talking. Lance looks at the women as they enter; noting Allura's look of determination and the way Cat was armed. He steps away from the dais to meet the women, "What's going on?"

Allura stares determinedly at Lance, "I want to go out in Blue and look for Keith myself."

Lance shakes his head at her, "There is nothing to find Allura. Don't you think we covered every inch of that area yesterday?"

Allura glares at Lance as she puts her hands on her hips, "I don't care. I need to go look for myself."

Lance opens his mouth to argue but stops when he feels a hand on his shoulder as Sven steps up behind him and tries to reason with Allura, "Allura, it isn't safe for you."

Allura shakes her head then stops as Cat steps beside her and speaks to Sven, "She isn't going alone mate."

Lance moves his gaze from Allura to Cat, "You know this isn't a good idea Cat."

Cat pulls her sai off her belt, "Why do you think I'm bringing these with handsome? For decoration?"

Lance looks up to the ceiling for help, then looks back at the determined look on Cat's face, "Fine…I know I won't win this argument with you taking Allura's side."

Cat smiles at him and Lance shakes his head before turning to Coran, "Raise the launch tunnels Coran."

Coran opens his mouth to protest only to be cut off by Romelle, "Do it Coran, Allura needs to do this."

Coran studies Allura for a few moments before he nods and turns around to raise the dais.

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Allura lands Blue on the ground next to the area they found Keith the day before. As she and Cat exit the lion Cat grabs Allura's arm, "This is the way this is going to work Allura. You will stay right next to me the entire time, no running off, understood?"

Allura nods at Cat who smiles at her. They walk across the field as Cat's eyes scan the surrounding field and the trees before scanning the ground, "Is this where Black was?"

Allura looks around at the visible markers then at the indentation in the ground, "Yes."

Cat once again looks around the area before her eyes trace the visible foot prints left by the robots. She points them out to Allura, "These are the tracks Lance followed yesterday."

Allura looks down and sees what Cat is pointing to, "Can you follow them?"

Cat lifts her eyes to Allura and then sighs in understanding, "Yes, come along."

She leads Allura along a small path through the trees to an open meadow. In the center, all of the flowers and other wild plants have been pushed down from the weight of the ship that had sat there yesterday. Cat's eyes continue to scan the prints and she follows them up to the central indentation in the center of the meadow, "This is where the tracks end Allura. They must have dragged Keith into the ship and taken off."

Allura looks at the marks Cat pointed to then looks around the meadow again as her eyes fill with tears, "He is really gone…"

Cat pulls her into a hug, "We are still looking for him Allura." She pulls back from her, "Come on…let's get back to the castle."

Allura wipes at her cheeks and nods as Cat leads the way back to Blue lion.

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Two weeks later Keith is pacing in the room he has been confined to. Frustrated he walks up to the door and once again presses the button to open the door, but it doesn't budge. Keith finally starts hammering on the door, "Open this door!"

The door slowly slides open and a female looking robot enters the room, "Yes sir?"

Keith looks at the robot curiously before he demands, "Why am I being kept in here against my will?"

The robot's flashing eyes gleam at him as it processes the request, "Queen Merla has stated you will remain here sir."

Keith glares at the robot, "I wish to speak to Queen Merla."

The robot remains where it is for a few moments, processing, "Queen Merla is in meetings sir… She will be alerted to your request for an audience." The robot then turns and leaves the room. Keith rushes the door but is unable to stop it from closing.

He growls out his frustration and turns back into the room to resume his pacing.

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Queen Merla leaves King Zarkon's chambers trying not to scream. She has been trying to get Zarkon to force Lotor into a union with her and so far Zarkon has been reluctant. His reply to her latest request had her blood boiling, "What kind of woman are you that you can't attract my less than brilliant son? We both know he thinks primarily below the waistline, you should be able to draw him to you without looking to me for help."

She stalks down the hallway to her set of suites within Doom castle. Her Lieutenant robot steps in front of her, "Your guest has requested an audience with you my Queen. The maidbot detected a high level of stress in the tone of his voice when the request was made."

Merla snorts, "I can just imagine." She steps into her bedroom and changes into slightly more womanly clothing. The green velvet dress shows her form to its best advantage while thrusting her already high breasts higher. She has the maid change her hair style so that her hair flows down her back then walks to the room she has Keith locked into.

Keith turns to face her as the door opens and she walks in, "I demand to know why I am being kept a prisoner in this room my Queen."

Merla smiles winningly at him as she crosses the room to face him, "You are not being kept prisoner my love. But until you are fully recovered you are at risk even within my castle, there are spies everywhere." You will cease questioning me and accept that I only wish to keep you safe…

Keith's eyes glaze over slightly, "Alright my Queen…I know you only wish to keep me safe."

Merla finally stops in front of him, reaching up to caress his cheek, "Soon my love…soon you will be well enough and we will have our revenge on those on Planet Arus." then she steps up and kisses his lips, her tongue lightly glazing over them.

Keith wraps his arms around her, "My Queen…when will we marry so I may make you mine?"

Merla runs her hand down his muscled chest, "When Queen Allura and her evil minions are no more. Only then will it be safe." You are becoming tired and wish to retire for the evening…

Keith's eyelids begin to droop, "I think I need to retire my Queen…"

Merla changes the look on her face to one of deep concern, "Rest my love…only with rest will you recover."

Keith leaves her side and walks to the bed. He climbs under the covers and soon falls asleep. Merla walks to the bed and smiles down evilly upon him, "Yes…soon you will do everything I ask…including killing your wife…"

She sits upon the mattress and begins working on Keith's mind to strengthen her bond, You will do everything I request of you… You love me and only me… You will kill Allura…

Keith moves his head in his sleep and murmurs, "Kill Allura…"

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Merla leaves the room sometime later to find Haggar resting in a chair in her room. She glares at her, "What are you doing in my suites Haggar?"

Haggar smiles at her, "Just wish to see how your plan is progressing… Both Lotor and Zarkon have taken note of the fact that you have been spending a lot of time in these rooms and are curious as to what you are up to."

Merla narrows her eyes at her as she sits in a chair across from her, "Exactly what have you told them?"

Haggar laughs, "That you are trying to evoke Lotor's lust by being distant with him…"

Merla snorts, "As if that would work…"

Haggar smiles at her, "So how is your project progressing? Have you gained control of his mind?"

Merla smiles malevolently, "Yes…even with the amnesia he has a very strong will. It has taken the last two weeks to fully overcome his mind. Another week of conditioning and I will take him back to Arus." She glances back over at Haggar, "Are you ready to do your part?"

Haggar laughs, "I have already started… Already Allura is having dreams of Keith appealing to her to find him. When you are ready to leave for Arus I will send the dream of her finding him in the field we have chosen."

Merla studies Haggar, "Are you sure she will leave the castle? This plan will fail if we can't get her to come out alone."

Haggar laughs again, "It is already working… Twice now she has come out to locations I have shown her alone."

Merla smiles, "Perfect."