Chapter Twenty-Seven
Medical Lab - Castle of Lions
They were all in the waiting area, anxious. Their faces were either pale with fear or red with anger. Different thoughts flew through their heads: Are they all right? Is Allura? The baby, is it? That Devonn..wish I could kill 'im!..oh my baby! what if she dies?...
All these thoughts unsaid were felt as the tension in the room rose to a pitch. No one said a word as the medics rushed in and out of the medlab. No one said what they feared - that Allura and her unborn child would die. Pidge, though, could not just sit there and wonder. He had to act, even if the rest of them could not. He had to.
Pidge knew what it was like to have no parents, for he was an orphan. His parents were killed when he was but a baby, and he had no memory of them. There were no relatives to take him in, so he was passed around from place to place until finally he was placed in an orphanage. He lucked out there, for he had found loving parents to take the place of his real ones, but in his heart, he had always wondered what it would have been like to have his real parents. He often wondered who he resembled, his mother or his father. He didn't know. Although he loved his adoptive parents, still he wondered.
He watched the medics rush in and out, frantic. Pidge knew that the Princess was poisoned and perhaps she was dying. Tears came to his eyes as he thought of her possibly dying. She had been like a big sister to him, for she was kind and patient with him. He loved her because she was not only beautiful outside but inside too. He would gladly give his life for hers again - just as he had nearly done when he saved her from Lotor the time that she "died".
If she died, and her baby survived,why it would be an orphan too, just like him. Maybe it wouldn't be passed around, because it would be heir to the Arusian throne, but still...
Nanny and Coran were getting older - they wouldn't always see after her baby. He didn't want to see that happen to Allura's baby. Surely the man she had married on Canesian had family. Who would know? Who would have the power to find his relatives? Only one person. The King of Canesian.
And that King was Lotor..the former Prince of Doom and their former enemy.
He took off in Green Lion without authorization from Keith, which was unusual for him, but he considered it worth the risk. Besides, Keith was beside himself with worry, for he blamed himself for what happened to the Princess and Giselle. Pidge knew that Giselle would be all right after some surgery that they were performing on her, but Keith was scared for the princess - everyone was. Pidge was sure that many prayers were being offered for her recovery tonight.
Arrival on Canesian
Pidge arrived on Canesian without a problem and was granted an audience with Lotor, which surprised him. Still, he gathered his courage up, for the last time they had met face to face was in battle. It would be hard for Pidge to ask Lotor for this favor, but he would for Allura's unborn child.
He was escorted to Lotor's throne room and left alone with him. He stood in front of Lotor, who was sitting upon his throne. Pidge was trying not to show fear, so he took a deep breath and put on a brave front. If he could face Lotor in battle, he could face him now.
Lotor looked at him sardonically and said, "Well, I'm honored that a member of the Voltron Force would want to visit me..what is it you want?"
Pidge said, "Lotor, you came to us and asked us for help, now I am here to recall the favor!"
Lotor raised his eyebrow and said in his old haughty tone of voice, "You dare ask me for a favor?" Then under his breath he said, "I have already paid for that time and time again..."
Pidge wasn't called tenacious for nothing. He said, "Yes, I dare! You know I would give my life for the princess, and you used to claim you loved her, well, this is for her!"
Lotor came down off his throne towards Pidge, his eyes angry. He walked up to Pidge and said, "Don't use her name to gain favor with me, boy! State your business or leave!"
Pidge backed away from the angry king but held his ground. "The Princess is dying and so is her baby." Pidge added, "I don't want Skye to grow up without her mother!"
Lotor's eyes widened, "What? Her baby? Explain!!"
Pidge said, "When the Princess came back to Arus, we found out that she was pregnant. At first we thought it was King Devonn."
Lotor visibly paled. "He never got to.."
Then Pidge interrupted him. "But the Princess said the baby was her husband's, who King Devonn killed here on Canesian." Pidge took a deep breath and sighed. "That's why I've come to you. You're the King here. You can find her husband's relatives so that if the Princess and her baby dies, Skye will have a family."
To his suprise, Pidge saw Lotor's face contort in pain and was even more alarmed when the King of Canesian paled and dropped to his knees.
Lotor murmured, "She's pregnant..I would never have.." He lifted his eyes towards Pidge and said, "She's pregnant..ours.."
Pidge for a moment thought that perhaps Lotor had finally gone mad.
Pidge yelled, "Get over it already! I have to find her husband''s family before she dies!" Then just as quickly Lotor's face became angry.
"You say she is dying! How?"
Pidge said, "Devonn came to Arus. He tried to take her to Doom and he posioned her! Please,Lotor! You said you loved her! Please help me find her husband's relatives!"
Lotor was so tempted, so tempted to say that he was Allura's husband. He nearly blurted it out, but then he remembered that cursed promise he was trapped by.
Instead, he said, "I am sorry for my outburst, but I cannot help you..please excuse me.."and Lotor left, overcome.
Pidge yelled angrily at his retreating figure, "Fine! Be that way! I'll find out myself!"
Pidge stormed off as Lotor whipped around and looked at him. Pidge was mad. He couldn't believe Lotor had been so cruel! Well, he would find out! Surely there was some record of some sort here! He had to find out for little Skye's sake...she would have a family to grow up with - her real family - even if he had to kidnap them to do it! Pidge went to search.
After Pidge had left, Lotor sat upon his throne with his head in his hands. He did not know which was worse, knowing that she was dying, or knowing that he could not see her one more time. That damned promise of Arika's! He thought that his heart had been broken before, but this! And Devonn - that cursed Devonn tried to take her again! Now he knew how her friends had felt when he had tried the same thing long ago.If he ever came across him again, he would kill him - flat out kill him.
But Devonn didn't matter right now. The only one that mattered was Allura and the baby she carried. His baby. He didn't want them to die! He had to go - he had to! If it weren't for the promise. Suddenly he thought that he could hear her faintly calling him to her.
..come, oh please come to me..I want to go..please..please...my - an-gel...
He bolted up. He had to go! He had to! promise be damned!...but he had to go, or he would never forgive himself!
As he strode out of his throne room, Lotor could still hear her voice echo in his mind ..please come take me away...come to me..please come to me..
He knew there wasn't much time..he had to go..he would keep the promise..but he had to go.
