Planet Arus: The Castle of Lions
Keith: Bumping Into Destiny
Keith Akira walked along the paths near the Castle of Lions,thinking. He had regretted saying the things he had said to Coran the other day. Pidge and Hunk got all over him about it,injured as they were. He regretted that and saying the things he said about Allura.
Allura. God, where did everything go wrong! One day you're flying a lion with your teammates and the next day the world's turned upside down.
He shook his head. Nothing ever stays the same, everything always changing. I should have known-look what happened to my parents-and I was only 11 then.
WHAP!!!....ow! what the hell was that?
"Hey, buddy, watch where you're going!" a female voice exclaimed.
It was a woman in the regulation Garrison uniform. "Well, dark hair, are you going to help me up? After all, you knocked me down!" she said, looking up at him.
"Oh, I'm sorry...miss. I wasn't thinking." helping her up.
She was tall, with silver-blond hair, green eyes, and something else...he couldn't quite place it.
Keith looked at her appreciatively then he looked puzzled.There's something about her face that is strangly familar..he thought.
The girl startled him by saying, "You're wondering about my face, aren't you?"
Keith was flustered. "Ah,no-no. I just thought I've seen you around, that's all."
She smiled and said, "You're lying, Captain Akira - and you're supposed to be a good boy."
Keith looked at her stunned. "How did you know?"
She placed her hands on her hips and said. "Everybody knows you...you're a legend at the Garrison, so was your dad..."
Keith smiled slightly. "Thanks for the compliment-Ms...."
She stood up straight. "Lt. Commander K'trryn Ale'der at your service, SIR! Of course, you can call me Kate-everyone does." She gave a mock salute.
It sounds Drule, he thought..hey her face!! She has the coloring and the eyes of a human, but the hair, face and ears of a Drule!
She saw him looking at her face in fascination, and said, " I am an unusual mix, aren't I? Its the ears isnt it? My family is mainly Drule, but my mother fell in love with my father, who is human and my great grandmother was Terran too. I was named after her."she said proudly.
Hhmm...Keith thought, it turned out to be a nice combination on her.
Keith didn't know what else to say, so he offered, "Uh-Kate, would you like to walk with me?"
Kate smiled. "Sure I would, Keith...just don't knock me down, 'kay?"
Keith, for the first time smiled broadly. There's something about her...like Allura, but not. he thought.
They walked along the paths talking. Kate said, "I heard you're leaving Arus...being reassigned..."
Keith blushed. "Actually, it's just a rumor. Garrison refuses to transfer me. They want me to train new pilots for the lions - well, what's left of them anyway."
That was true. What he told Coran about leaving the other day was just to make him mad. Coran probably knew it by now, too.
Kate looked sideways at him and asked,"Got any prospects?"
Keith looked ahead. "I have a couple in mind, why?"
Kate turned to him and smiled,"'cause, handsome! I'm interrested! I'm a great pilot!"
Her? Not another woman! Allura was bad enough-distractions, complications...
Keith sighed and said,"I don't know, Kate-you may-"
She cut him off. "Look, Keith, I am a very good pilot. I was ranked number one in my class at the Garrison. The only reason I'm parking my fanny at Castle Control is because of my dad."
Keith said, "Your dad-whose your dad, Kate?"
Kate grimaced,"My dad is Jacob Cameron-General Jacob Cameron."
Keith looked impressed. "That's your dad? He's way up there isn't he? He served with my dad."
Kate tossed her head,"Yeah, he did. He thought a lot of your dad.-said he saved his butt a couple of times."
Keith nodded and said,"Wait, if your dad is Jacob Cameron, what's with your last name?"
Kate smiled,"You mean Ale'der? That was my great grandmother's name-well, actually it was Kathryn Alexander, but the Drule who carried her off couldn't say it, so she was K'trryn Ale'der. I took her name so people wouldn't cater to me 'cause of my dad."
Keith asked."Your great-grandmother was carried off --by a Drule?" Kate gave him a funny look. "Where have you been, under a rock? You never heard of the Drule Raids?"
Keith was embarrassed. He had heard something about it in school-but not much.
Kate appraised his puzzled look and said. "I can see you got the history book version...lemme tell you the real dirt on it."
So Kate told him the family story(which had been passed down from the original Kate) of her great-grandfather, who had carried Kathryn off in a Drule raid of her Garrision base. Her great-grandfather had fell in love with Kate at first sight, impressed by her bravery. Later, her great-grandmother Kate came to love her Drule husband, and they had eight children. "Eight kids! They certainly were a busy couple!" Keith exclaimed.
Kate smiled again. "Oh my mother said they loved each other very much. Although at first, gran' didn't love Z'aale."
Keith asked, "Z'aale?"
"Yeah," Kate replied. "Z'aale D'zon Lessat."
Whoa! Isn't that King Zarkon's family name?Keith thought.
Kate's face suddenly turned hard and she said, "Yeah, if you're wondering, I am related to King Zarkon, but I don't admit it. I'd appreciate it if you don't spread it around, ok?" I'm part Drule-I'll think of something really nasty if you do, Akira!"
Keith actually laughed. Gosh, it feels good to laugh. She's fun to be around with...and she's not a princess-just a general's daughter-what am I saying? that's probably worse! And a relative of Zarkon's to boot. I'll be damned..
And so they walked and talked, losing track of the time. They finally got tired of walking and sat down near the hilly slope of the castle.
Kate stretched out on the grass and looked out at the stars--like Allura, he thought sadly.
Kate sighed and said, "Keith, do you ever wonder about life, where you're headed?"
Keith stretched out beside her and said, "Yeah, I used to...before everything here went to hell.." he said bitterly.
Kate said, "I heard about your friends-I'm sorry. I've lost friends too."
Keith remained silent, for a moment, and said, "You didn't see yours get blown out of the sky or burned to an inch of their lives --or.." he couldn't say it about Allura-it was still too incredible to believe-Zarkon marrying the princess and now she has to stay in hiding with Prince Lotor of all people!
Kate looked at him and said angrily,"It's easy to feel sorry for yourself, isn't it?"
Keith cried, "What, Kate? I'm not feeling--"
Kate interrupted him. "Yes you are. I did too when Jake died. He fought with us at the battle of Tris'on. He died in my arms."
Keith whistled. "The Battle of Tris'on. That was a fierce battle-Garrison was fighting those renagade Drules, weren't they?
"Kate replied softly, "Yes, and history almost repeated itself when one of Drule lords took a fancy to me and almost carried me off. My weapon had died when I was shooting, and he picked me up and carried me off like I was a sack of meal! Jake saw and came after the Drule. The big idiot finally dropped me to fight Jake. I ran for cover and they fought each other. By this time, Garrison sent reenforcements, causing the Drules to retreat temporaily. I found Jake, barely alive. That Drule sliced him - up good," she stammered. He did it for me. I think he loved me. I don't know, maybe not.He never did say."she said sadly.
That's about how I feel..Keith sighed. Lost chances..never to return.
Kate quickly changed the subject. "So, handsome, what about it?" Keith was caught off guard.
"What about what?" he replied. Kate smiled, "Flying the lion...bozo. Whatdja think, I was asking you for a kiss?" she teased.
Actually, I wouldn't mind that a bit.. he thought.
Keith stretched his arms and said, "Well, I'll consider it-but Kate, we've only have four lions now-no Voltron. And he added with a smile. "if you fly with me, you'll have to call me Captain."
Kate laughed softly, "Okay...Captain....Bozo!!" They both laughed and continued to look out at the starry sky together.