KathDMD - Honestly, I wasn't planning to have everything come together, but in the course of things, it's falling together that way. Especially when "John" discovers the missing link, and even better, discovers the reasons he was given the item he was given, and what its true purpose was. And yes...I miss my muse desperately.
Megazord Prime - Keith and Allura will continue to defend the universe in their own way, as a team, and as a family.
Author's Note - Without my muse, I am nothing.
Theme Music : None
Disclaimer - Voltron and all associated characters are the property of WEP. Space Marshall Lenora Hawkins and associated characters are the property of KathDMD. Admiral Lysette Fabrere and associated characters are the property of selena devargo.
Episode 112 : "The Apprentice"
Malva paced about her quarters deep within the recessed of Planet Doom, readying herself for the fight that awaited her. She looked down at her hand, adorning her left ring finger the single gold band with a half carat diabone embedded in it. Her own mind seemed drawn to it, not only in fascination, but she felt a strange energy take over her when she touched it…as if her thoughts began to wander.
As long as you hold it, you will always remember….
She jolted out of the trance, shaken a bit, but shrugged it off soon after.
"That was weird," she said softly to herself. "It must be all in my mind. I think with Haggar's robeast completed, the anxiety of piloting her greatest creation is taking a small toll on me. I have to stay focused." She went to walk to the door, but when she reached for the handle, a spark of flame came from her hand, and the door became engulfed in flames. She backed up in panic and closed her eyes. When she opened them, the fire was gone.
"What?" she gasped. She reached for the handle again, and this time it opened. As she stepped into the hallway, she could hear Haggar's screams from floors below in her lab.
"The Predator Robeast was DESTROYED?" Haggar shouted, the echoes filling all of Castle Doom. Malva let out a sigh.
"Is Voltron really that powerful?' she asked softly. "Is HE really that powerful? A Lion Knight of Arus….prince of his people….Defender of the Universe?" Her mind wandered around Keith, yet when she closed her eyes, a different face consumed her vision….that of the escaped prisoner, the prisoner without a name.
"Why do I keep seeing him?" she thought. She looked down at the ring, and thought she heard more voices. She shook her head again, trying to drown them out, as she continued to believe they were all in her head. "I wonder if Haggar knows who he was." She walked down the steps towards the lab. In mere hours, she would be inside the belly of the robeast, and she wanted the answers to her questions before that happens.
John awoke in the infirmary with Keith and Allura looking over him.
"He looks like he's coming around," Keith said. He looked down at John. "You had a pretty nasty spell there."
"I…." John started to say.
"Keep still," Allura said. "I'm not sure what happened, but you are going to need plenty of rest. I'm sure whatever it is, it can wait."
"No…." John said. "You need to understand. Something….is happening…"
"What is it?" Keith asked.
"Haggar…." he said. "She….put a spell on me…."
"A spell?" Keith asked. "Was she here? In the castle?"
"No," he replied, gaining strength. "A long time ago." Keith and Allura looked at one another. "I don't remember how or why, but somehow she is responsible for all of this, including my memory loss."
"Then we'll find a way to break the spell," Keith said adamantly.
"I don't think it will be that simple, Admiral," he replied. "From what I saw in my dreams, Haggar used the spell on me to manipulate and twist me into doing things for her. The vision of a young Drule woman constantly filled my mind, and not knowing who she was brought so much pain."
"Haggar has hurt so many people," Allura said, her thoughts wandering to Sven, her father, and countless others who were directly or indirectly injured or killed at the hands of her and her creations. "I promise, we'll find a way."
"Thank you," he replied. "It may unlock not only the reason I wound up a prisoner on Doom, but also the mystery of who I am, and who the woman in my visions is."
Four in the morning came quickly. Allura felt the weight of the bed shift, and instinctively gained partial consciousness. She knew him like a book….knew his routines, his comings and goings. She let out a slight moan as she struggled to speak.
"Good morning, my love," she said rolling onto her back from her side as he pulled on his uniform. "Do you want me to have the staff prepare your morning coffee?" He chuckled.
"No one ever gets it right," he replied. "Not even you. But it's ok." He leaned down and kissed her forehead gently. "You don't have to worry about that, or anything for that matter."
"Enjoy your rounds, Keith," she said with a smile as she closed her eyes and snuggled under the covers, getting back to the wonderful dream she was having.
"Goodnight, Princess," he replied lovingly as he turned off the lights and left their quarters. He strolled up the hallway and entered the elevator, taking him several floors up to Castle Control. As he exited the elevator, he caught the smell of coffee. She didn't…. He walked down the hallway and saw a cart next to the door with a coffee pot and several cups turned upside down on their coasters. He took one, and poured a cup. The coffee was blacker than Black Lion, and when he took a sip, his eyes opened a bit wider, realizing how good it tasted.
"Someone finally got it right," he said to himself. His watch started to go off, and like clockwork, he entered Castle control ready to….
"Morning, Keith," Daniel said, never taking his eyes off the screen.
"Daniel?" he asked. "What are you doing here?"
"Perimeter scan," he replied. "Figured it was something I'd have to get used to sooner or later, right?" The screen switched to Larmina doing her morning yoga, then moments later to the garden outside the main gate.
"Any idea who made the coffee?" Keith asked.
"Oh, it was me," he replied. "It's an acquired taste, but figured a little caffeine boost is good for the speed boost, right? I wasn't sure how you liked it, so I just made it the way I always make it. Every time I have the staff make it….well….it just doesn't taste the same." Keith smirked.
"So," Keith said, sitting in the next chair, "see anything?"
"Nothing out of the ordinary," Daniel replied. "Since we put down the Predator Robeast, it's been kinda quiet. Not exactly used to this."
"I know what you mean," Keith replied.
"How's John doing?" Daniel asked.
"He's starting to remember some things," Keith replied, "but not all of it. He seems to think that Haggar put a spell on him that's made him forget everything, and that he was manipulated into doing things against his will."
"Sounds like something Haggar might try," Daniel replied.
"If Haggar does have something to do with John's memory," Keith said, "she may come looking for him. And we'll be ready." Daniel nodded in agreement.
Malva carefully entered the laboratory where Haggar was putting the finishing touches on her ultimate robeast. She heard her footsteps.
"Good, you are here," she replied. Her tone was that of annoyance, but her anger was not at Malva, but at the failure of the Predator Robeast.
"I will not fail you, Your Excellency," Malva replied with a bow.
"See that you don't," she replied, "or Lord Kanji may take both of our heads." Malva took a few steps towards her.
"I have been doing some thinking," Malva said.
"That is a dangerous thing to do, my young apprentice," she replied. "Though I suppose the haggarium in your veins is beginning to have strange side effects." Malva thought back to the voices and the thoughts, and realized that it may have all been caused by her injections. But she still pressed on.
"I do have one question though," she said. Haggar's ears perked up as she carefully read her apprentice's immediate thoughts.
"You wish to know about the prisoner that escaped?" Haggar asked.
"Yes, Your Excellency," she replied. "There is something extremely odd about him. Why was he imprisoned?"
"He was caught snooping about the castle," she replied. "He had intent on assassinating Lord Kanji. I was able to snare him in a trap, and imprison him. He was stripped of his belongings and thrown in the dungeon, and over a short time, he lost all memory of who he was. And a good thing too…because he knew more than he should, and could have very well succeeded in his plans."
"I do not believe any man is capable of defeating anyone as powerful as you, Your Excellency," she replied with a slight bow. "Tell me, what is his name?"
"His name is Kerza," Haggar replied. "And as long as he stays in the realm of madness, he will not be able to trouble us again."