KathDMD - You're reading my mind again, love. Alex does have a connection to all of this, though you and I bioth know he is not a full seer...
cubbieBlueMako - Speaking of new arrivals...
Author's Note - The storyline is getting intense as Haggar's plan goes into effect. Will Daniel and the team be able to stop the threat? And will Malva's intentions be revealed?
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 117 : "Tainted Love"
Keith paced back and forth in the waiting area, full of anxiety. Lance sat there watching him pace, knowing full well his friend was practically losing his mind. It was moments later that Dr. Ecron stepped through the door.
"Admiral," he said, "everything is fine."
"And the baby?" he asked. The doctor gave him a smirk.
"Doing fine," he said. "Because she's still premature and slightly under acceptable weight, we are keeping her in Neo-Natal for a time."
"She had the baby?" Keith asked, a bit of excitement in his voice. Dr. Ecron nodded.
"It was a bit early, but she did begin to go ito labor," he replied. "I'm not sure if it was the stress, or some sort of impact, but rest assured, Admiral, both Her Majesty and the baby are perfectly fine." Keith breathed a sigh of relief.
"Can I see them?' he asked.
"Of course," he replied. "I would ask, though, that Commander McClain remain here. We need to limit the number of visitors at the moment, both due to medical reasons, as well as the fact that the nurse was hurt in the attack by that Drule Patient. We're slightly understaffed at the moment."
"Go on," Lance said. "Just tell 'Lura and the baby I said hi." He turned to leave, but let out a small chuckle. "I wonder what I'm gonna go through when Ginger finally has our baby." He left the room laughing. Keith followed Dr. Ecron into the recovery area.
"You sure you want to do this?" Pidge asked, leading Daniel and Kerza towards the Security area where Malva was being held.
"I'm not sure of anything," Kerza said, looking around, unsure.
"Keith said to bring Kerza to Malva," Daniel said. "He said that being close to that ring might jog his memory, and he may be able to find out who she is and why she attacked Allura."
"I hope you're right," Pidge said. "While it didn't take much to get her down here when she was passed out, when she was awake, she wrecked Med, wreaked havoc in Allura's quarters, and nearly killed her, Nanny and Alexander. From what I heard, the amount of power she had was nothing short of incredible."
"Haggarium poisoning is nothing to mess with," Daniel replied as they continued walking. "I should know." He looked at his hands, looking at several scars on them from fights he had been in due to his own haggarium rage barely a few years ago. They walked up to the cell and found her asleep.
"Is that….her?" Kerza asked. Pidge nodded.
"I'll go in with him," Daniel said. "If she wakes up, I may be the only thing to keep her from tearing him to shreds."
"What am I doing here again?" Kerza asked. Pidge tapped the codes into the panel, and the field dropped. After Daniel and Kerza entered, the field reactivated. Daniel motioned towards her.
"Walk up to her," Daniel said. "Look at the ring on her hand." Kerza did as he asked. He grabbed her hand, and as he moved it within vision, he blinked a few times, and nearly dropped it.
"She's fragile," Kerza said, feeling how soft her skin was, yet noticing how tense the muscles beneath the skin had become. "I….there's no doubt, if I remove it, she will die." He hesitated, looking back at Daniel. "I….I don't want to do it."
"Is there any other way to save her without having your memories wipe again?" Daniel asked. "Moreso, do you think she'll want to survive with that much haggarium in her? It's worse than poison….because it doesn't just consume your body, but your mind and soul as well."
"I'm torn, Daniel," he replied. "My Dari always told me to do the right thing. She wanted me to always remember, because her memories always give me strength. But if I take the ring, I will be sentencing this girl to death. I couldn't live with myself."
"I don't know what to tell you, man," Daniel said. "The madness has taken her so far away. I know from experience….that maybe whoever she really is is trapped inside that haggarium filled nightmare. But being that far gone….farther than even Lotor…."
"But even Lotor was cured," Kerza muttered.
"From what I hear his dose was high," Daniel replied, "higher than me, and even higher than Sven. But her….I can't even imagine the hell she is going through right now." Kerza touched her face with his hand, and it felt warm. She instinctively pressed against it.
"There has to be a way," Kerza said. "There has to be."
Keith walked up to Allura, who was laying in bed.
"Allura," he said with relief. "What happened? Are you alright?" She looked up him and smiled.
"We're fine," she replied. "They're running some tests on the baby. When they are done, they will bring her out for a feeding. Because she's so tiny, they want to keep her for observation."
"I understand," Keith said. "Lance said you were attacked?"
"Malva," she replied. "She burst through the door. She managed to wallop Nanny, then went after Alexander. She stopped for a moment, and I was able to hit her with a few frost shots, and stop her in her tracks."
"Alexander is alright too?" Keith asked.
"Yes," she replied.
"I sent Kerza with Daniel down to check on Malva," he said. "I want to get some answers."
"Do you think it's the haggarium?" she asked. "Romelle used to tell me about the fits Sven used to have, and Daniel…."
"I remember what happened to Daniel," he said. "That's actually why I sent him to guard Kerza while he tries to talk to Malva. Maybe between the two of them, they can find out her motivations, and if it's the haggarium that's causing her outbursts, maybe they can find a way to stop it."
"I hope so," she said. "But for now, it's best she stay confined. We can't risk another incident like this."
"Exactly," Keith replied. He looked around the room. "Guess there's no coffee, huh?" Allura laughed.
"Nope," she replied. "There's water if you're thirsty."
"Not my first choice," he chuckled. He walked over to the sink and filled a nearby plastic cup.
Malva opened her eyes, but the only thing she saw was lifting up a vial and carefully putting drops of blood from a daggar into it. She watched as it frothed and fizzled, the mizture obviously volatile.
"Excellent," she said to herself. "With this potion, I can contaminate the water supply of their precious Castle of Lions, turning every human who drinks it into a mindless zombie! A mindless zombie that will blindly follow my orders without question! Should one of the Voltron Force take a mere sip…they will practically deliver the Lions right to me! Then I can finally put an end to Voltron, regain my full power, and destroy Arus once and for all!" She cackled loudly, and Cova let out a screech, seemingly in agreement.
"Oh no…" she thought to herself, "…what have I done?"
Malva's eyes opened without warning. Kerza backed off, and she sat up abruptly. Daniel's Voltcom glowed, and his claws came out, ready for anything.
"You….have to….stop it…." She eeked out.
"Stop what?' Kerza asked. "Tell me, what is it?" She looked into his eyes, and he could see her struggling….struggling to maintain control.
"The water…." She eeked out. "You have to…..the water…..will…" He leaned in to listen. "…KILLL YOU!" Her eyes bugged out, her entire body surrounded by a purple glow. She lunged at Kerza, who barely dodged her. She immediately collapsed, and passed out again. Daniel checked her.
"She's asleep again," he said. He looked over at Kerza. "What did she mean about the water?" Kerza thought for a moment, then gasped.
"The water supply!" he shouted. They ran to the door as Pidge lowered the field, and they ran off as soon as it was back up.
"It's not coffee," Keith laughed, "but it'll have to do." He put the cup to his lips and took a long sip.