"What do you mean they're GONE?" Coran practically yelled into the com.
"Sir, we've checked every inch of the Castle grounds and the Castle itself. The Princess is gone as well as - uh the Prince."
Coran drew a ragged sigh. It wasn't the guard's fault. He should have known that Allura would have taken flight with Lotor. He just didn't expect her to leave without a word. He should have known her quiet demeanor the night before meant something was brewing. She was not known for giving up easy.
But why this? Why Lotor of all people?
"All right, keep monitoring communications. If the princess calls, make it Priority One!"
"Yes sir, Franks out." The guard cut his communications off.
Coran leaned back in his desk chair and sighed heavily. Sometimes he wondered if retirement was a good idea after all. Still, he would remain in service for Allura as long as she needed him. He promised her father that much.
The door chime beeped.
"Enter.." Coran said wearily.
Dr. Gorma came in, his face grave.
"They're gone,flat gone..I think we both know where she's skipped to - she got into my files and took Dr. Hawkin's coordinates, then she locked me out of that particular file!"
"I KNEW I shouldn't have let Pidge work with her on our systems." Coran looked at Dr. Gorma steadily.
"It's my fault, Coran. I shouldn't have given her that hope. I don't even know if he would even help now. The war made him bitter I'm told."
"Baile, she would have taken ANY hope, anywhere. She's been determined not to surrender Lotor ever since she brought him here. It's not your fault."
"I feel like it is and I fear for both of them. With Graham you knew more or less what he would do. He was understanding and not as hard-nosed as the media seems to keep pointing out. This Amalgamus however - he simply sees black and white. Why Graham stepped down is a total mystery to me."
"Politics are a mystery. There is no telling. I just hope the Princess contacts us soon. Amalgamus does not know she has left Arus with Lotor. She did not take the Blue Lion but a private unmarked shuttle. Dammit it, Baile! Why Lotor?"
"I don't know, Coran. Maybe it's her way of trying to heal the breach. I believe Allura in what she said about what she saw at the hospital. Butchering Lotor and using obsolete surgery to fix what could be done naturally is barbaric. It would be like taking victory and smashing it into one's face."
"You must admit though that's what HE would have done had Doom won."
"Maybe, but we're SUPPOSSED to be the good guys in the white hats! It just shows that nothing is truly good or evil. Perhaps Allura sees that in Lotor."
"I doubt it." Coran said. "I am mainly worried for the princess."
A moment later the Voltron Force came into the room.
"Coran, we're ready to go after the princess." Keith said.
"You're not going after her." Coran said.
"What? You're crazy, Coran! She's not thinking clearly and you know it! She needs to come back and get Lotor wherever they need to put him." Lance leaned against the doorframe and scowled. All could tell he did not like this development a bit.
"Lance, she left for a reason. We may not understand that reason, but she is thinking clearly and doing what she feels she needs to do." Coran eyed the angry young man.
"I don't need to understand - " Lance was cut off by Keith.
"Lance, just cool it." Keith looked at Coran and said. "Coran, I respect the princess, but there is the problem of Amalgamus now."
"Yeah, we don't want the big jukebox from hell MAD at us, now do we?"
"Hey, Lance!" Pidge said.
"What.."
"Shut up!"
Hunk stiffled a chuckle. It wasn't often they could shut Lance up.
Keith sighed. The team was definitely on edge about Amalgamus. For that matter, so was he. He did not like it and the fact that Zarkon was so close to Amalgamus made him nervous as hell. Still, he had to give him the benefit of the doubt. They all had to.
They didn't have to like it though.
Coran said, "Yes, that is a problem. So far he has not made any sort of demand. Only inquiries really. He knows that Lotor is here because they traced the Blue Lion here along with his life signal. I expect that soon they will pressure us to give Lotor up. I may need your support while Allura is gone."
"Wait..wait..you mean we might have to go against Garrison?" Hunk asked.
"No, not at all." Coran replied."It's just that until we hear from her, I don't know how long she will be gone. This will not look good to the citizenry, nor will it look good to the Alliance. With Voltron still here though, at least it will keep them at bay a little. Arus is the holder-posessor of Voltron, not Garrison or the Alliance. There is still danger out there, and they still need Voltron."
"That's what I'm worried about.." Keith said. "The danger."...to the Princess...
She found the small planet - Tarsus through sheer perseverance and upgraded sensors that had been installed in the refurbished Polluxian craft.
It's a dustball out in the middle of nowhere!Allura thought. What if he isn't here? What if he's dead?
Worry about it later, Allura... She chided herself as she landed the craft near a set of ruined buildings. In fact the only building intact was in the middle of the mess. This at least she could recognize on the scanners.
After landing the ship, she went to the back to check on Lotor. Good. His signs were stable and the treatment that Dr. Gorma had started was still working - at least she hoped it was. Lotor still slept and Allura wondered if he was dreaming about anything.
God, what did she care about that for? She was doing this for mercy's sake. Once he was treated properly then he'd face justice and that would be that.
She heard him moan softly and her heart turned over for a moment. She steeled herself suddenly and thought of all the people he had hurt and killed without a thought.
She wondered for the ten thousandth time why she was doing this even as she unlatched the restraints that held his portable diagnostic table. Carefully she drew him outside the ship, looking about and scanning the area with her biostik. Ah ha! One solid dwelling and one life sign - human, male. She hoped it was Dr. Hawkins and not someone else. She looked down and made sure her weapon was ready - just in case.
She made her way through the rubble. Lotor's diagnostic bed beeped steadily - a good sign - and it hovered and glided fluidly as she led it along.
She had almost reached the dwelling when she heard a hoarse voice cry, "Hold it right there and turn around. Go back where ya came from afore I blow you to dust!"
Allura froze. Was it Dr. Hawkins? She took a chance.
"Please! I'm looking for Dr. Hawkins! I have someone that needs - "
She was cut off. "He's dead, girl! Now turn around and go! I'll have no part in yer bullshit war!"
"It's over! Please! I'm on a mission of mercy! You must help me!" She pleaded.
"Help? I doan help no one! Better learn,girl, that helping others is a trap. Now go!"
"No! You're the only one who can help this man!"
"Yeah! Fix em up so they can shoot em up again! Go away!"
"NO!! I will not until I can convince you!" Allura was desperate.
It was then she heard the distinct click of a laser rifle safety being taken off....
Blind Faith - Chapter Nine
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