Chapter Four
Prince Lotor, now dressed neatly and feeling refreshed from his bath, walked down the long hallway leading to the throne room of his father. He wondered idily who the guests his father invited to Doom were.
I hope it's not another hopeful bride-to-be he wants me hooked up to..the only bride I desire is Allura..and she is always separated from me by that damned Voltron Force. One day she will be mine and she will love me!
This was what Lotor truly wanted. He loved her for her beauty, her spirit, her bravery, and he wanted her to belong to no one else but him. Turning his thoughts reluctantly away from her, he thought of his father.
His father had been angry at late at everyone-especially at him. He blamed Lotor for everything now, whether he was involved or not. Lotor usually stayed out of his father's sight, contenting himself with drink and various slave girls who vaguely resembled Allura. It was odd, Lotor thought to himself, that his father never punished him for stealing his starcruiser, or for stealing his throne so briefly.
Perhaps he is growing senile....still I don't trust him-not a damn.
Lotor now reached the doorway of the throne room and strode purposely through the wide opening. Lotor glanced at the motley crew of people in the room and smirked, thinking to himself.
..it's the usual suspects-Cossack the idiot, Hagar the old crone, and of course- my murdering father.
There were no other people in the room, except for his father's personal guards.Because of his obsession with destroying Voltron, his father didn't hold court too often. Zarkon did not stand on the formality of the precise court speech of his younger days either.
...always thought that was stupid....Lotor thought....mother did too.
His thoughts were distrubed by the jovial....jovial? ...voice of his father, King Zarkon.
"Come in and join the party, my drunken son!" Zarkon said cheerfully.
Lotor was astonished. What was the old man so happy about? Something must have happened. Something big.
Lotor stood next to Hagar, who seemed to know exactly what it was, but wouldn't volunteer any information.
His father stood up and said, "I have an annoucement to make before I allow our guests to be brought in.I will be taking a Queen."
Lotor was shocked. A Queen? Since when was father interested in - that?
Hmm, maybe it was that whore, Queen Merla. He's got horrible taste. .he thought.
Hagar trembled with excitement, though careful not to let it show.A Queen! she thought with glee. Zarkon will finally keep the vow he gave to me long ago to make me Queen after I defeated Voltron...and I did! He does still care for me...after all the years I have served him faithfully! Hagar waited with baited breath for her impending triumph.
"Lotor!" his father barked at him. "Wouldn't you like to know who my new Queen will be?"
Lotor quipped, "Congratulations, Cossack! I know you two will be so happy!"
....Cossack turns such a nice shade of green when he's angry! Lotor noted with a smirk.
His father actually laughed at his remark. "My dear son, you're are so witty today! You must be sober for once!"
..damn his miserable soul! Lotor seethed inside.
He kept a calm exterior though and said, "Very funny, father. Who might this Queen be?"
Zarkon smiled evily and said, "You'll never guess in a million years, my stupid son.Guards! Escort our 'guests' in!"
Lotor turned, wondering what this had to do with his father's marrying and to his amazement the guards brought what appeared to be two captives. They evidently hadn't been captives long, for they still wore their flight suits. The captives were a man and a woman, both Terran - or at least they looked that way. The man was dark-haired and had to be carried in, for he was unconcious. Lotor couldn't see his face well, for it sagged to his chest,leaving his face in shadow. The woman was petite and blond,Lotor noted with keen interest.
..Perhaps since Father is in a good mood, he will give her to me.Lotor thought.
The woman's hands were bound behind her back, but she did not look injured. The captives were taken to the foot of Zarkon's throne, where the guards dropped the unconcious man on the floor.
Lotor recognized him...It's that damned Captain Keith Akira!
Then a horrible thought came to him. ..the woman...it can't be! ....
The woman faced his father quietly, then lifted her chin in defiance. Lotor had seen that profile before. It was Allura-his Allura!