"Princess, you're very fortunate that the laser hit on his diagnostics table wasn't too severe - although in his condition, anything could have endangered
him." Dr. Gorma was the first to speak.
Dr. Gorma, Allura and Coran were standing around Lotor, who was lying on
an examining table, still under stasis.
"Now, young lady, would you mind telling me WHY he happens to be here?"
Coran raised a questioning brow.
"They were going to butcher him. I couldn't allow that. No one deserves
that - not even him." Allura said flatly.
"Princess. I don't understand. Lotor was in one of the finest Garrison
facilities for reconstructive proceedures and I know he was under the care
of the head of surgery and reconstruction there, a Dr. S'Vantes, I
believe." Dr. Gorma said.
"Well, you didn't see what I saw." Allura shook her head. "I was in the
room they were going to work on him in. There was a table littered with
parts - and an arm." she shuddered. "The arm looked like something off of
a roebeast."
"Parts?" Dr. Gorma frowned. "Were they robotic parts, Princess?"
"I don't know. They certainly looked robotic to me."
"Hmm, that doesn't make sense. Robotic parts on humans were discontinued
because there were often rejections and too many things went wrong
with them. Genetic growth of natural limbs are done now."
Dr. Gorma looked down at Lotor's ruined face. "I'm surprised that he didn't start regen therapy immediately. This just doesn't make sense."
Allura said, "It's what I saw, Dr. Gorma. Lotor is - was our enemy, but I
couldn't allow them to butcher him. Who knows what consequences would
occur?"
"Speaking of consequences, Princess. There may be consequences of your
just taking him - essentially, kidnapping." Coran frowned. "He is in Garrison custody you
know."
"I won't let them butcher him!" She said stubbornly. "Dr. Gorma, can you
help him?"
He shook his head. "As good as our facilities are, Princess, they are not
as they once were. His arm will have to come off and he has probably lost
that eye as well. God knows if his legs can be regenerated, but a basic
one can be done here."
"Isn't there anyone else that can do this?" Allura pleaded.
"There are several.." Dr. Gorma said. "But they are mainly Alliance
doctors and they won't treat him - not a Garrison prisoner."
"There must be someone.." Allura frowned. "I mean if we can show Lotor that
the Alliance - despite what he's done can forgive - can accept him."
"Princess, do you realize what you are saying?" Coran asked. "Lotor nearly
brought the Alliance to it's knees during the war. He attempted to kidnap
you and force you to be his bride. He threatened to destroy Arus many, many times and nearly succeeded. People will not forgive so easily as you have."
"I don't know if I've forgiven him." Allura mused. "But what good will it
do to take him and make him into a monster?"
"His outsides would match his insides, for one thing." a voice said. It was
Lance.
"Lance! Keith!" Allura smiled slightly. It was plain they were not too
happy.
"Where's Hunk and Pidge?" she asked.
"They're tinkering around with Yellow Lion." Keith said.
"Soooo..what's Mr. Handsome doing here?" Lance sneered.
"Lance, I took Lotor from the hospital. They were - "
She was cut off by Lance's reply. "Yeah, Princess I heard. We certainly
don't want to make pretty boy a monster - although I've seen ground chuck
that looked better than his face." he smirked.
Allura was angry. "Lance, I won't have you making remarks. Dr. Gorma,
please. There must be another that would help him."
"You're going to HELP that bastard?" Lance looked shocked.
"Yes!" Allura said, turning her attention to Dr. Gorma.
Dr. Gorma could sense the rising tension in the room but he spoke anyway.
"There is one doctor who is not affiliated with the Alliance who helped both
sides during the war. He would not choose sides and whoever came to him he
treated. He is a highly skilled physician and he may have the facilities to
help.He's considered a bit of a rebel in the medical community." he frowned.
"What's his name? Where is he?" Allura asked.
Coran said, "Princess, I don't think it'd be wise to follow this course of
action. You must think of Arus. This would put both you and Arus in a bad
light."
"I think Arus is STILL an independent planet, last I heard, Coran." Allura
said frostily.
A moment later, Pidge came into the room.
"Guess what? Graham stepped down from head of the Alliance Council!"
"What?" Keith said, "When did this happen?"
"Just on a few minutes ago. It's all over the net!"
"But why?" Allura asked.
"Everyone is speculating. Some are saying there was some scandal. Others are
saying health problems. And guess who is taking his place?"
Lance groaned, "Please don't say it. Let it be Hawkins, or Griffin, or.."
"No.." Pidge frowned. "Amalgamus.."
"Shit! That glorified calculator! How in the hell did he step up like that?
I would have expected Hawkins to step in - at least in the interim!"
"The scuttlebutt on Hawkins is that he was sent back to Milky Way along with
Explorer and Vehicle Voltron. There's been some trouble with raids out there by the Drule Supremacy." Keith said
quietly. He didn't like the way things were shaping up at all.
"The Alliance is going to hell in a handbasket." Lance kicked at a table.
"Lance..language.." Coran said.
"There's still the election, you know." Keith said.
"You WOULD say that.." Lance scowled. "I don't trust elections.."
Allura sighed. She needed to take care of more immediate things first and
then she could deal with the new leadership.
"Dr. Gorma, please. I'd like the name of that doctor. Lotor can be treated
there and then he can go back and face trial."
Dr. Gorma sighed. "His name is Dr. Mikos Hawkins - no relation to the
Hawkins we know."
Coran frowned. If Allura was right about what they wanted to do to Lotor,
then she was right in taking him. However, with this sudden change in
leadership, all might not go well at all. They would have to return Lotor to
custody - that was for certain. He just wondered why she was doing this.
Galaxy Garrison HQ, New San Francisco, Earth
Some hours later, Amalgamus had finished recieving reports from various
newsnets and the like. He was in his 'office' or rather the Council's
conference room. Zarkon was with him, for he had just been named Amalgamus'
chief aide. This came about partly because of his supporters and partly
because Zarkon himself engineered it. It still was not where he wanted to
be, but it was a step in the right direction. Zarkon had known it would take
some time to ease himself into the Alliance mainstream.
Amalgamus, finished with rhe reports, said almost conversationally, "Zarkon,
have there been any sort of news regarding your son?"
"Yes, they now know who took him."
"Oh? And I was not informed?" Amalgamus fussed about, rocking a little.
"I just found out that the one who dared to take him was Princess Allura of
Arus." he smiled.
"Princess Allura? Astounding! Why would she do that? It is illogical!"
"There was some sort of a rumor that the doctor who had him under his care
wanted to quote - "make a cyborg of him" unquote. But I would never and I'm
sure the Alliance would never do that to my poor misguided son no matter
what he has done." he said sorrowfully.
In Zarkon's thinking, Lotor being deprived of his looks would bring him down a bit and would make his rage hot at the Alliance and Voltron. He'd be an
asset and not a liability. If Lotor were made into a "monster" then he would
forget his obsession with the princess and simply live for revenge.
But now the princess actually stealing him away was not good - not good at
all.
"I do feel for you, Zarkon." Amalgamus said in that irritatingly fussy
voice of his.
Zarkon thought, That's because it's in your program, you third rate jukebox...
Zarkon said, "Thank you. It is my feverent wish that Lotor recover and turn away from his evil past as I did. If I can turn away, surely he can as well."
Zarkon turned away and let his shoulders slump slightly.
Amalgamus said, "I denote from your body language that something still
bothers you, Zarkon. Perhaps you should talk about it?"
Zarkon sighed and continued to look out the window pensively. "Well I don't
wish to burden you."
"Nonsense. I can process data simultaneously from 900 planets in 3,000
languages and various dialects even as we speak. You will not burden my
neural nets in the least."
Zarkon turned to face Amalgamus, thinking that he looked nothing more than a
jukebox on wheels or perhaps a fishtank.
"I am sure the Princess meant well in her actions, but I cannot help but
worry. If Lotor remains away from the help he needs to rebuild his shattered
body, he may die - I don't know if I could go on if that ever happened."
Zarkon said sadly.
"Termination of life is a natural process." Amalgamus pondered. "But if it
can be avoided by negating another's foolish actions then all means must be
secured."
Zarkon thought, If you were bred by natural means,I'd swear your mother
was a theasaurus and your father a dictionary.
Amalgamus said, "I will relay to the princess to return Lotor to the
hospital where he will get the help he so desperately needs."
Zarkon's eyes glittered."That would be most helpful, Amalgamus. I am very
grateful."
"I am only doing what is right." Amalgamus said."Lotor should not have his
life risked simply because a foolish princess let her imagination run off
with her. Never fear, Lotor will be returned and he will be repaired. After
that, he'll have to face trial. Perhaps by then he will see sense and
cooperate. If he does, I am sure the Council will be lenient in sentencing."
"Of course, Amalgamus. I am sure all will work out well." Zarkon gave him a
slight smile.
Fool.. Zarkon thought as he turned away.
Blind Faith - Chapter Eight
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