Chapter One
Prince Lotor awoke to the annoying sound of his comm unit buzzing. That only meant one thing-his father. I am not in the mood for this now... he thought, rolling over in his bed. Of course when was he ever? But today, he had a hell of a hangover that felt like a robeast dancing a jig on his head and he was not in the mood for another chewing out by his father, King Zarkon. Lotor noticed that the slave girl that was with him last night was gone. It was just as well. When he drank enough Tyrusian brandy, he could almost believe that Allura was in his arms. But when morning came he would realize that the woman he loved was never there and he would take his rage and pain on whoever was with him. The slave girls were learning never to be with him when he became sober. He reached over and finally answered his comm summons. The form of Cossack appeared on the screen.
"Prince Lotor, your father demands your pressence in his throne room immediately. He also says you better look presentable for some guests who will be arriving."
Cossack barely suppressed a smile on his lips as he viewed the disheveled Prince. Lotor knew Cossack would report this to his father.
That little toady-when I am king, he will be robeast fodder... "Well, what are you waiting for, you idiot! Go! Tell my father what you have seen! Maybe he'll let you clean up after the robeasts!" shouted Lotor. Ow...my head...shouldn't of done that..
The prince noted with satisfaction a brief flash of anger on Cossack's stupid face.
"Yes, my lord Prince." Cossack replied, breaking the video connection.
As Lotor headed for his private baths, he felt much better. Maybe after I am king, I will keep him on...after all, I have to have someone to insult! He laughed out loud.
Prehaps today would be a good day after all.
Allura was dreaming. One of Hagar's many robeasts were attacking Arus, and she and the rest of the Voltron Force went out to fight it. They made short work of the robeast. Pidge, Hunk and Lance were even making jokes about the reliablity of Hagar's robeasts. Keith as usual, was all business.
"Cut the chatter, guys!" he sternly warned.
"Ah, come on, Cap! We didn't even have to form Voltron for this one!" Lance's voice came over her comm.
Allura stiffled a giggle. Sometimes Keith was too serious!
"Yeah, Hagar's losin' her touch, awright!" Hunk's voice this time.
Pidge, who wasn't about to be left out of anything, added, "No wonder! Look at what touches the robeasts-Hagar! Eeuuww!!! Right, Princess?"
Allura smiled and said, "You're the one who would know, Pidge!" referring to when Hagar captured Pidge after rescuing her from Lotor after her "funeral".
Everyone laughed, even Keith. Allura was sure poor Pidge was blushing!
Hunk said, "Way to go, Prin-cess!" All seemed right with the world. Another victory for the Voltron Force! But then-something went dreadfully wrong. Suddenly, Lance replied in a worried voice.
"Hey guys, hate to spoil your party, but I'm detecting an energy surge in my lion. Check your sensor readings!"
Keith said, "He's right, guys. We're all experiencing energy surges. Adjust your controls to compensate. Maybe we can....."
.WWWWWWWHHHHHAAAAAMMMMM!!!
The world exploded in sound and light. An intense pain seared through Allura's head. She was spinning down, out of control. The other lions...no! She nearly panicked. Her controls were out, but her comm still worked.
"Keith! Pidge! Lance! Hunk! Anyone! I'm going down! Please answer! Are you all right?"
No answer. The ground was hurtling quickly towards her. Unless she landed in a soft area or in some water, she had it. She was starting to get dizzy.
This is it... she thought. At least I will be with Mother and Father....Coran will protect Arus...somehow...As blackness overcame her, she felt her lion stabilize and gently glide down. Then nothing.......
She woke up with a start. What a nightmare! she thought.
She started to shake. It was real! It really happened! Where was she? Darkness surrounded her. She couldn't be dead - the ache in her head attested to that. Adjusting her eyes to the darkness, she arose from what seemed to be a hard bank and peered out a barred window. From there she spied the familar form of the black and grey Doom robots.
oh dear god-I'm a prisoner of Zarkon
! she thought with fear. But where was she? Who planned the attack? Zarkon? Lotor? Hagar? Perhaps Merla. She wondered about the others-alive or dead. Probably dead...she thought, tears threatening to come to her eyes.
She would not cry here! She knew without Voltron, Arus was in imminent danger of attack. Coran was going to have to evacuate the citizens to Pollux, as prearranged by herself, Romelle and Bandor. Allura hoped that he would get them out in time, otherwise they would be enslaved by Zarkon. ..and that would be a fate worse than death.. she thought grimly, then added..no, perhaps being married to him would be worse than death....
Suddenly, she heard the sounds of footsteps approaching her cell and knew the guards were coming for her. Something tells me all my questions will be answered, she thought, as the guards roughly bound her hands and shoved her out of her cell.