Phoenix Rising
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fourteen
Lotor and Allura lay on the bed, his arms around her, as they watched the image of Lotor's mother Lady Lydeaa. The gentle voice of Lotor's mother said, "You will see the vision of my thoughts just I experienced them, my son. I warn you though, many are not pleasant. These thoughts are from the time of my departure from Canesian to the time of our escape from Doom.."
The figure smiled, "You wonder, my son how this is done? My people were an advanced race. We were strong in the arts of the mind and in technology. Of course, this did not save our world..but my son, you will see the truth as I saw it long ago.." Suddenly, Allura and Lotor could see with Lydeaa's eyes...a gentle voice started the story...
My true husband, Raull, didn't want to me to go to the galaxy of my birth. Oh, not because of any petty reason on his part, but because he always worried over my safely. I was determined to go, for it had been awhile since I had seen my family and I felt that it was worth the risk to go. Raull had pleaded with me not to go, for our friend Alfor.."
Allura and Lotor looked at each other in suprise. Their parents knew each other?
The image of Lydeaa continued to speak.."He had warned that there was an up and coming Drule warlord by the name of Zarkon who had been quietly amassing power in his galaxy. Raull was afraid that my ship would be raided. Of course, this did not stop me, for I was stubborn. At first I was to be going in my personal ship, but at the last minute I changed my mind and took a long range unmarked shuttle. Perhaps unconsciously, I knew what would happen.." The image of Lydeaa sighed and said, "At any rate, my husband, unable to talk me out of going, insisted that Bengale, his advisor, accompany me, along with a small groups of personal guards as he felt it not proper for me to go alone. I let Raull have his way, for I knew that he was worried, despite my assurances..."
As Lydeaa spoke, Lotor and Allura could see, as if it were on a vid screen, fleeting images of Raull and Lydeaa laughing, smiling, talking. They could see the sequence of events as she spoke of them. They were enthralled. Lydeaa continued.. "The day of my departure came and Raull and I held each other as we kissed goodbye. I ignored the feeling of unease that had plagued me that morning, atributing it to the pain of leaving my beloved. We left and using my passkey, we entered and went through the wormhole to the Denubian Galaxy. I was looking forward to visiting my homeworld even though Bengale hovered around me and wouldn't leave me alone for an instant. The trip went smoothly. We were halfway to my homeworld when suddenly, our ship was hailed by another. We stated our mission and the other ship seemed to acknowledge it when we were hit by laser fire. The lasers happened to hit our weaponry and shields, and we prepared for the worst. Too late I wished I had listened to Raull. Our ship was disabled now, and a few moments later, we were being boarded. I had a feeling that I should get the passkey and hide it, for if these pirates knew of it's purpose, they would use it for evil. Fortunatly, the passkey (which was developed by the scientists of my homeworld) was made of a biological substance and could be intergrated into the skin and hidden there. Quickly, before anyone came, I intergrated the passkey into my skin. As the intruders boarded the ship, Bengale and the guards stepped out in front of me, ready to defend, although Bengale didn't seen quite as ready as my guards! The intruders came, their Drule death uniforms of black, making them look fierce. My guards fought them valiantly, but the Drules were ruthless and they slaughtered my guards. Bengale took me by the arm and said that I must throw myself on their mercy. I called Bengale a coward and I swore I would die before surrending. After the fighting was over, another figure came into the ship. He was a Drule as well, but unlike my husband's branch of the race, he was a hideous looking man. He was more reptilian than human."
Lotor and Allura saw a younger Zarkon,looking smug at his captives. Allura gasped, for he looked so much like Devonn. She shivered in fear as Lotor held her close.
Lydeaa continued, "Evidently, this was the pirate warlord that Alfor had spoken of. He walked up to Bengale, who bowed and said, "Greetings, Warlord. We surrender our ship to you."
The warlord smiled at Bengale and said, "Good, I see that you have sense."
I was enraged! I screamed at this warlord!
"HE may surrender, but I do not!!"
The warlord focused his attention upon me and I remembered that I had shivered, wishing that I hadn't called attention to myself. The warlord smiled and came up to me. He summoned two of his guards and told him to hold my arms behind me. I feared what he would do, but I was ready to die, even if that coward Bengale was not. To my disgust, the warlord - whose name I found out was Zarkon, reached out and touched my cheek. He looked me over as if I were a prize H'ausff'laa being sold at market, and then he kissed me. I bit him and he only smiled and hit me. Zarkon said that I was just what he was looking for in a wife - that I would give strength and spirit to his son and heir. I remember screaming at him to kill me, that I would die before submitting to him. Zarkon only smirked at me, and told everyone to leave the room. What happened next I wish had never happened. I will not go into detail of this for it was shameful for me. I will only say that Zarkon beat me and raped me. He took great pleasure in his posession of me and I - I wished that I could crawl away and die."
As the images of Zarkon's violence came into view, Allura turned her face away and wept, her head upon Lotor's chest. Through the opening his robe, he could feel her hot tears splash onto his bare chest. She shook and he held her in a death grip, his knuckles turning white and his saffron eyes burning with both rage and utter sadness at the destruction and hurt his father had caused. He looked down at Allura and realized that his behavior in the past had caused her hurt too. He continued to hold her and vowed that he would do his best by her - and the baby she seemed determined to save.
Allura calmed down a little and turned to face the image again. As if she were waiting for them, Lydeaa continued her story..
Needless to say, he took me many times on our way to his planet, which was called Doom by the locals. He "married" us, being the ruler, but I would never call him husband, for my true one was a galaxy away.. Not very long after our arrival on Doom, I became ill in the mornings. I knew then that I was pregnant. Although I did not tell Zarkon, somehow he knew from the servants and from then on he did not touch me, for which I was grateful. I lived in fear though, because I could not be sure who the father was, for the night before I left our galaxy, Raull and I shared our bed together, little knowing that it would be our last.
I did not think of Raull much during this time, simply because it hurt so - however I would sometimes hear his voice calling me, and I would answer back in my mind that I lived and not to rescue me, for I feared that Zarkon would use the technology of the Phoenix to conquer our galaxy.
Zarkon knew who I was, even though he feigned ignorance that I was of the royal house. He coveted my world, but could not conquer it.
My pregnancy with you was suprisingly easy. You gave me no trouble. Zarkon kept me in good health and though I did not know whose father was yours, I was determined to give you life and protect you from Zarkon's evil. Zarkon showed me off during this time to all his Court as if to show what a great man he was, but he was a demon.
I did not know this until you were nearly born, but Zarkon had somehow contacted my father and told him that we were married and since that was so, my homeworld was now his."
The image of Lydeaa seemed to shake a little and she said,
"When my father and the council heard this, they and the populace elected to destroy the planet rather than let Zarkon use it and them to conquer the galaxy. The moment you were born, my son, millions of voices from my homeworld cried out and then were silenced. I knew that my world was gone. I did not blame my father, the council, or the people. We were peaceful,and Zarkon would have found out some way to use our technology for his ends...As you were born, I wept in despair."
Allura wept anew and Lotor screamed in rage! His father had caused all this! People had said that he was cruel and evil, but his father - his father was the devil himself! He was truly ashamed to be part of his line. Lotor swore when he returned, he would kill him with his bare hands. Only when Allura had gasped in pain had he realized how hard he had been gripping her. He loosened his grip and kissed her gently. He whispered, "Allura, I'm sorry."
She said nothing but she only held him tighter.
The image of Lydeaa amazingly seemed to sense this interuption , for she said gently,
"I wept in despair, my son, that is, until they placed you upon my breast. I looked at your face and saw not the face of a monster, but the face of my beloved Raull. I felt such joy, for I knew that Zarkon was not your father."
..not your father..not your father.. Lotor exclaimed, "NOT MY FATHER?!!?"
Allura looked at him and gasped in amazement and shock. Suddenly, tears sprang into Lotor's eyes as he said, "All these years..all these years..I did as he commanded..I acted as he wanted.I was the son he wanted until I learned to love and he's not my father!?
Anger flared in his eyes and as Allura tried to quiet him, he pushed her away and raged. "I waged wars on entire planets, wiped out populations - all on his command! I was whipped, beaten and punished if I ever showed a shred of remorse or compassion and he is not my father? "
Suddenly, his eyes shined with unrepressed joy and happiness. He grabbed Allura with such enthusiasm that they bounced on the bed. She saw that his anger was completely gone and he was happy.
Lotor cried out, "Did you hear thar, Allura? He's not my father! Zarkon is not my father!"
He started to laugh joyfully and Allura laughed too. When they had calmed down, Allura said quietly, "Then that means Raull is your father!"
Lotor looked at her and said, "And Devonn is my - half-brother?"
Allura shivered at the mention of Devonn's name and Lotor held her again. The voice of Lydeaa interrupted them from their thoughts as she continued her story.
"Yes, my son. Zarkon is not your father, although he did believe it at the time. His pride would never admit that you were the son of another. Ah, when I saw Raull in you, I vowed that someday I would escape Doom and take you back to your true father. I was determined to do this, however, I had to wait for you to grow a little, for it would be dangerous.
Bengale, meanwhile, had landed on his feet as he always seemed to do. He became Zarkon's prime minister of all things! I did not like Bengale, but he did protect me from the jealousy of Zarkon's witch, Hagar. He had actually became her lover and while we were there on Doom, he sired two sons by her - one by the name of Yurak and the other the name of Cossack. I believe that Hagar had these sons out to spite Zarkon, but he took no notice of them. Bengale, still seemed to watch out for me. I believe that he had affection for me - perhaps love. I did not love him, though, for he was at heart a coward, and would be loyal to no one."
Lotor smirked when he heard that Yurak and Cossack were in fact Hagar's sons. "No wonder they were so ugly and stupid." Allura shushed him as Lydeaa continued to speak.
"I bided my time, waiting for you to be where you could travel without too much hardship. I was going to go once you were several months old, but then my plans went awry...One night Zarkon had been celebrating a victory he had over a distant planet he had been trying to conquer for years. He made me attend, although I did not want to. Throughout the whole evening, Zarkon made me sit beside him. He drank quite a bit, which was unusual for him. I had thought that perhaps tonight would be a good night to escape, especially if Zarkon were to pass out from drink. As the evening progressed, Zarkon began to complain that if my planet had surrended to him, he would have the galaxy in his hands and not just one little world. He glared at me as if it were my fault. To my relief, he dismissed me to our chambers, where I planned to get you and go."
Lydeaa sighed and said, "But it was not to be..As I quickly picked you up, Zarkon came into the room unexpectedly. He yelled at me to put you down, and I did. I did not want to anger him, for I knew that I was the only one who could get you out of Doom - Bengale would not. When Zarkon came to me, I knew by his look that he would use me - and he did. He kept me there with him for a day and a night, having our food sent to us. You were being cared for by your nursemaid. I do not know if Zarkon suspected that I planned to leave, but it didn't matter. Several weeks later, I was pregnant again. He made sure I was watched constantly to make sure I didn't escape. He did not care so much about the birth of this baby as he had with you, for you were his heir. He wanted to keep me against my will even though he knew I belonged to another. Nine months later, Devonn was born after a hard pregnancy and labor. When they placed Devonn on my breast, I saw the face of his father, Zarkon...."
Allura saw the image of an infant Devonn and she became hysterical, weeping and screaming.
Lotor held her as she sobbed, "I told you...I told you..Oh god, Lotor..we..must..save the baby from him! Promise me!! .."
She clung to him fiercely. He placed her face in his hands and said firmly, "I promise Allura, I swear upon all that is holy, we will save her..." He kissed her gently and Allura seemed to calm down as if his words and touch had released her terror.
Still looking into her eyes, Lotor said, "And I promise that I will be a good father to her and a good husband to you."
She smiled slightly and Lotor asked, "Are you all right?"
Allura nodded and he asked, "Do you wish to see more?" She nodded and he stroked her cheek. She nested beside him and there they watched his mother finish her sad tale.
"Despite his appearance, I loved Devonn as much as I loved you. I was determined that neither one of you would ever take after Zarkon,but in my heart I feared that it would be Devonn that would be as his father was.Zarkon had no love, no compassion. The only thing he loved was violence and domination over others. He took pleasure in other's pains. He would be kind one instant and then kill you the next. The only love he even knew was of the flesh and he used that for his own satisfaction. I knew he was abnormal - a murderer of dreams and hopes. He hated goodness and compassion. I believed and still believe he has no soul.I did not want his darkness upon you two.
Of course, after Devonn was born, I could not escape right away for you were a handful and Devonn could not travel yet.As the two of you grew, I noticed the differences in personality and temperment. You took after Raull and Devonn took after his father."
The figure of Lydeaa faced them suddenly with a solemn look.
"This brings us to the present - or rather my present. We are leaving for home tonight. Bengale has arranged it for us. Although I do not trust him, he is our only chance. Raull and Alfor have tried many times to rescue me despite my pleas, but they have failed, so I am taking the risk to get you both out. I have a premonition about tonight - I do not believe that I will see my beloved's face again in this life. Raull..you were my greatest love, my only love, and I give you your true son and another who will need your wisdom and guidance.Lotor, son of my true love, I have made sure that only you will be able to access this record. I have instructions for your father as well. I fear for Devonn - he is not of my house, but of his father's.I fear that disaster will come tonight, my son. However, since you are viewing this diary of mine, then I know all has and will turn out well."
The figure of Lydeaa smiled sadly and said, "Know this, my son, I always shall be your mother - no matter what anyone will tell you, I love you. Even from beyond, I will always love you..remember that. Remember me...and never let the woman you love depart from you..farewell, Lotor...I love you.."
All Lotor and Allura could do after that was hold each other and weep, for they knew that Lotor's mother never came back to her kingdom where his true father had waited in vain for a love that would never return.