Thanks for coming back and I do hope you are enjoying the story.
Chapter 6, edited and ready for reading! Start!
As the shuttle began to move, Allura held tighter to Keith. She had tried to drag him closer to the wall where there was a harness they could strap into, but he was just too heavy.
Every so often she would think he was waking up due to the increased moaning that escaped from his lips, but she was disappointed each time.
She had yet to leave his side; but knowing that she should look around to see if there was anything of use in their current situation won over.
'Ally you got yourself into some serious trouble with this. You can't sit around waiting for Keith to wake up.' She motivated herself to stand.
"Ok, so what would Keith do?" Looking over at the still sleeping man, she turned and began to look through the boxes and crates held in the shuttle. Nothing very useful was to be found with the exception of a new set of clothes- a black jumpsuit that would allow her better movement than her dress. Also some rope, medical kit and a small knife that she quickly stashed in her boot after she changed.
Before bringing the few useful items back towards Keith, Allura found an active computer panel on the shuttle's wall. Pushing a few buttons, she attempted to find any bits of information on their location and flight path. When that didn't work, she thought back to all the times she watched Pidge play with the communications in the Castle. This panel looked quite similar.
"Maybe since Selena is the only one flying, she over looked locking down this shuttle...Damn." Allura's excitement for getting into the communications systems and pulling up the line to castle control ended right as she was trying to send out a message. "She must have noticed the message and shut me down. Well, she's not going to be happy for that, no matter if anything got through or not."
As she hit the now blank screen, the ship suddenly took an abrupt turn. Allura lost her balance and was sent falling to the floor.
Feeling a sharp stab of pain in her butt as she landed roughly and skidded a ways, Allura forced herself to get up. Rushing over towards Keith, who also was thrown around a bit, she noticed him actually moving more.
He groaned and brought his hands over his eyes, rubbing them like he was just waking up. Allura took this as a good sign and knelt near him.
"Keith… Keith… wake up." She took one of his hands in her own. "Open your eyes. Come on."
"What?" Keith forced open his eyes open after hearing her voice. His mind was slow to process the situation. The last thing he remembered was Selena in his room... being drugged.
It was that thought mixed with Allura's worried voice that forced his eyes open.
"Oh thank goodness you're awake." Allura sighed squeezing the hand she still held.
"Ally? Where are we? Selena?" Keith asked.
"What is the last thing you remember Keith?"
"I remember Selena in my room and I… she… drugged me."
"Sh..." Allura tried to sooth him. "We're on the shuttle they came in on. She had you and... I..."
"Did she drug you too?" Keith asked looking away from her and looking down to his legs confused. "Why... why can't I move my legs?" Keith asked as he tried to get up and was forced to settle for a sitting position.
"You've been out for a while it appears. Selena kept saying there was a mission that she needed you for. She hasn't said anything else."
"Why you? If it's a stealth or extraction mission... I can see why she'd want me, but how'd you get here?"
"She was being a pest." A voice called from the door. "And actually volunteered to join us."
"Selena?" Keith said as he stared over at the door. "What's the meaning of this? What… who has him?"
"Him?" Allura asked confused.
"You never cease to amaze me Keith…" Selena chuckled. "But how did you know this has something to do with my father?"
"You mentioned him earlier and he hasn't contacted me for a while- he never misses a chance to talk…ever. Unless he was in trouble. So are you going to tell me or not?"
"Keith." Selena sighed and for once she looked as if she was going to cry. "They have him…"
"Lotor? They have the admiral?"
"And what? We're going to go in or... am I the ransom?" He sighed.
"I'm not exactly sure." Selena answered. "I intercepted the Alliance communication sent from Doom, but that was almost a month ago. Your name was in the list of people to contact. I couldn't wait that long for a rescue plan to go through the works." Allura looked at Keith who had gone silent.
"Keith you can't go into the castle on Doom. If they find you, they'll kill you! Lotor wants you dead... You mustn't." Allura shook thinking of the horrible things Lotor would do to her commander.
Keith wrapped his weak arms around Allura, silencing her protests. She was too shocked to speak.
"Selena." Keith looked up, and away from his princess. "I'll help you. I would have rather had the rest of my team with us, but I'll go on one condition. The second I land on Doom, you get Allura out of here. She does NOT get handed over no matter what happens."
"That I can do. With your knowledge of the castle and having escaped it once before, I thinks we can go in and get out quickly. Allura can be waiting for us to get off the planet."
"No deal. She does not spend a second on Doom. If Lotor so much as breathes in her scent, he'll murder us all to get her."
"Well, with the new intel I have, that might be changing. It seems that he may have more pressing matters to deal with before finding a queen."
"What?" Keith said in utter surprise. "But he's always been after her and Arus… I.."
"Well, it seems he's really fallen out with his father. Sounds like he might not even have a planet left if he fails this current mission."
"Don't count Lotor down for the count. He's too much of a weasel to just lie down and die." Keith warned.
"He's mad with rage Keith. For some time now Drule spies have been sniffing around the Garrison trying to find targets to get to you."
"And it is no secret of my affiliation with the admiral." A long sigh escaped his lips. "How long do we have to plan?"
"We are already almost there."
"So not much time. Can I hope to at least acquire the use of my legs for this operation?" He asked feeling the pins and needles feeling in his still unresponsive limbs.
"I'm not sure why they are still numb. The sedative should have worn off by now." Selena looked away from Keith trying to busy herself with a bag of supplies.
Keith's gaze was still on Selena. He couldn't help but sense something was wrong. She wasn't telling him something.
"Keith, please don't do this." Allura broke his train of thought with her voice. He could tell she was fighting back tears. Turning away from Selena, he couldn't help but reach out and wipe away a droplet that escaped her eyes. Allura remained in his arms, wishing for an end to the insanity.
"I won't let you Keith! I order you not to go…" She sobbed into Keith's shirt. "You're in no condition to risk going to Doom. It's suicide."
"Allura, I know it's hard to understand. But I have to try. I owe Admiral Aimes so much."
"But why can't we get Lance and the others to help? If she was telling the truth, don't you think we could have pooled together our resources and gotten the Admiral out?"
"There is no time." Selena hissed back at the pair. "We've got to talk strategy."
As she started to walk closer to Allura and Keith, the ship violently shook throwing everyone once again around the room.
"What was that?" Allura questioned brushing herself off and looking back over to see Keith hiss with pain as he pushed off a bag that was thrown with the movement of the shuttle.
"I don't know." Selena said as she ran quickly to the cockpit.
"Allura listen to me." Keith said sitting up once more. She was at his side trying to check on his bandaged shoulder.
"Keith…"
"Listen. I don't know exactly what is going to happen. That jolt sounded like a tracking beam hitting us, which means this mission is going totally wrong. So I need you to promise me something."
"But.."
"Promise me you will hide and escape. No matter what happens, you MUST survive." His eyes were deadly serious. She couldn't take the intensity and had to look away.
"You can't ask me to do that…" Tears trailed down her cheeks knowing what he was asking her to do. He was going to allow himself to be exchanged for the Admiral. "We need you on Arus… I.. I..I need you Keith." She looked back into his eyes, trying to tell him everything she had been holding back for so long.
"Ally.. I.."
"No, I don't want to hear anything about duty! Don't… don't you want to stay?"
Keith cut her off with a kiss. It was so unexpected that Allura didn't know how to respond right away. But as his lips continued to lightly press to hers, she began to return the contact.
"I'm sorry my Princess. I've wanted to do that for so long." He whispered drawing back and the shuttle again made an unexpected jerk, he held her back against him. "I don't know what is coming, but know that if you are safe, then I'm happy."
"We could escape. Isn't there a pod on this ship?" She asked looking around once again in a more frantic mood. Sadly she knew there wasn't anything, she would have found one.
"You need to focus. I don't know if I can trust Selena enough to take you home, so you're going to have to use all your training. Stay down, find an out and then contact the others."
'It sounds so easy when you say it.' She thought. 'But without you there, I don't know if I can.'
"I've never doubted your abilities Allura." He grabbed her hand and squeezed it before bringing it to his lips. His statement earned a quirked eyebrow from the Princess.
"I've worried about you and I've obsessed over not making you test those abilities, but I've always known how strong you are. And it's partly why I love you."
"Well, I guess you'll have to survive whatever comes so you can tell me the rest of the things you love about me." She blushed and at the same time felt light headed with his confession.
"I'd love nothing more than to spend the rest of eternity with you." His lips were on her with more passion, hoping to spur her on to escape without him.
"And I want to get a chance to tell you how much I love you. So please…"
"I'll come back. Don't worry. Now go, hide in one of those crates over there. Take your com unit and the blaster Selena left." He motioned for the black bag Selena had been holding before the obvious change in plans happened.
"Do as I say." He continued in his serious tone. "You can't carry me and escape. You have to do one thing at a time. Hide, do anything you have to get away and then contact Lance." Taking her com unit, he quickly adjusted a setting, hoping the emergency frequency was readable back on Arus. "If we're in range they will find this once Pidge gets the systems back up. Stay out of sight."
"Keith… I can't…"
"I'll always love you Ally, Please don't cry for me... I've felt so lost for a long time, until I met you. And knowing you love me, well it gives me more purpose and determination to come back home to you and Arus. Now hide!"
His voice told her she was to do as told. The commander had spoken and there was no more room for argument. The sound of Selena's footsteps also told them that their time was precious.
Sharing one last kiss, Allura took the com unit from his hands and grabbed the gun a little ways away.
"I'll come for you. I promise you that. No matter what, I'll bring the team and return you home because Arus and I need you Keith. Please be careful."
Selena returned some time after not looking happy at all. Her eyes travelled the cargo area after seeing only Keith, still without the use of his legs, alone.
"If you're going to kill me, you might as well do it now. This mission is crashing fast and I don't really think it looks good for any of us." Selena sighed expecting Allura to blast her any second.
"You should have known better than to trust someone like Lotor or Zarkon at their word." Keith shook his head. If he wasn't in the position he was in, he probably would be laughing at Selena. Then again, people- even trained soldiers- will act differently when loved ones are on the line.
"Yeah, you think? So where's the other one?"
"Selena, if I EVER meant anything to you, you will keep her safe. Please." Keith implored knowing that Selena's help meant the difference between Allura getting out of this alive or being handed over as well.
"She really means that much to you?"
"More than anything… more than my own life. I'll gladly go in exchange for your father and Allura."
"Well, looks like you'll get your way then. I am really sorry about all this Keith…" A few tears fell from her eyes as she looked at Keith - the magnitude of her deal with Doom and her actions hitting her more in that moment than ever before.
"I'm not ready to die yet. I'm sure that castle control is aware what is happening. Get to safety with the admiral and let Allura contact Lance. Once I'm back, we'll revisit your actions. For now, please…"
"I'll get her home safe." Selena nodded. "Lotor's ship caught us in their tractor beam. We're about to be boarded. If he keeps his word – or at least the terms of the deal, he'll have my father and then let us go."
"I just hope he's feeling like playing true to his word. Maybe with me he'll forget how evil he really is and let you off. If not, you and Allura escape."
"Know that we will come for you." Selena whispered.
Keith could only sit and listen to the sounds of the smaller ship being swallowed by Lotor's battle cruiser. Once the shuttle was set down and secured within the bay of the cruiser, the voices of Drule soldiers surrounded them. Selena took one last look at Keith before she opened the doors of the shuttle.
The darkness of the Drule ship matched the atmosphere that welcomed them. A large group of heavily armed Drule men swiftly boarded, taking all weapons and suspicious objects from both Keith and Selena.
Once the all clear was given, the soldiers stood at attention creating a walkway for their leader.
The Drule Prince came forward in as much dramatic flair that could be mustered. The flowing dark purple of Lotor's cape fluttered after the quick steps to enter the ship. The once strangely handsome features of the Drule Prince were still littered with bruises and a long scar from their last meeting, and he too walked with a slight difference, most likely due to his own injuries. Upon his uniform medals and Princely markers attempted to make him look impressive.
"Ah, dear Captain Aimes, I see you have your end of the bargain here. Good." Lotor's hatred filled eyes moved to Keith's position now flanked by guards with guns trained on him. With a snap of his fingers an older human man was escorted in by three guards.
"Selena!" The old, balding man in a military uniform called out seeing his daughter standing near the Drule Prince.
"Daddy." Selena replied letting a few tears drop in relief that he was still alive. She was about to rush towards her father- but was stopped.
"Not quite yet."
"You'll excuse me if I don't bow to your majesty." Keith smirked with sarcasm at the title. "I can't seem to feel my legs quite yet. But I'm here Lotor- all you want is me." Keith said as he straightened his sitting posture.
"Keith?" the admiral said in shock.
"It's just like that Earthen holiday I keep hearing about- Christmas, was it? All I need to a nice bow around your neck commander. But we'll save that for later, shall we?"
"Captain Keith Akira Kogane- serial code 1157629, 1st Class Commander of the Voltron Force and the Gallaxy Alliance- willingly surrenders in exchange for Admiral Aimes."
Lotor grinned. He motioned for all his guards to converge on Keith.
Before Keith knew what was happening, he was hit on the back and slumped to the ground. Two soldiers each took one of his arms and lifted him to a standing position. Thick metal cuffs were placed around his wrists, neck and ankles. Solid chains connected the cuffs limiting his movement.
"Exchange complete." Lotor smirked as he motioned for the prisoner to be taken on his transport ship.
The Admiral's guards now moved to flank Keith as Lotor laughed enjoying his moment of triumph. The chained leader of the Voltron Force was quickly whisked from their presence.
"Now as a sign of good will I extend a warm welcome for you my dear and whatever crew you have. We couldn't let you leave without seeing some Drule hospitality, now could we? We're not barbarians." Lotor's billowing voice echoed in the large room.
"That's very kind but..." Selena said trying to sound grateful, but she knew the sooner they left the better. Her father was now at her side, if she could only see an escape route…
"But I INSIST! Besides you and your father may have some more use to me." Lotor smiled evilly.
Selena looked at the horde of soldiers with guns waiting for her to decline the offer.
"I will have to accept your offer then." She said. "I have only another officer in the back of my ship- I need to gather a few things as well…"
"Of course- come over when you are ready. Right now I have to see that the Captain is settled in his temporary home." Lotor motioned and the majority of the guards left the small shuttle and stood outside the ship.
"Show them to our guest quarters when they are ready." And with that the Prince of Doom left.
"Selena what's going on?" The admiral asked as he watched dumbfounded.
"Dad don't worry I have a plan."
"But what does that scoundrel want with Keith?"
"Shh.. we don't have much time. We've got three people and little time to mount a rescue mission."
A double cross! A confession! And a little bit of abused Keith... What more could you ask for? :)
Join us later for what is to become of our VF leader and his princess!