Interlude 2: Hagar & Z'aale:Love And Betrayal
Zarkon left Hagar momentarily to check with Doom Planetary Control. She was right, the slaves were revolting - bot guards were off-line. The officers were in a panic-there were too many slaves and not enough men to keep them in line.
Already, several hundred, maybe even thousands of slaves planetwide had commandered the large bulky slaveships. Without the bots to man the retrieval ships, there was not enough manpower to chase them. The planet was in chaos. Zarkon went into swift action, calling back the mobilization force that was to go to Arus from planet A'rryut.
Fortunately, A'rryut-(War Planet) had the bots and the fighters to renforce Doom's beleaguered officers. By the time the enforcements arrived (in quick order) Hagar's virus had dissipated from Doom's atmosphere. The reinforcement bots and fighter/retrieval ships soon brought order to Planet Doom once more.
However, many thousands of credits worth of bots had to destroyed. Many slaves were lost either due to escape or death. One of the slaveships had been destroyed, crashing into a mountainous area, killing all slaves aboard. Although order had been restored, the damage had been done. Zarkon knew news would travel fast throughout the galaxy. He had to do some fast damage control. He placed all his planets on maritial law until further notice. All slaves were placed on half-rations as punishment. He executed his some of his top officers-randomly, just to set an example. With this done, Z'aale Zarkon stalked back to his chambers. There was a certain witch he needed to see.
Hagar was right where he left her. She was quiet, he noticed. There was no bravado, no smart words as before.
Zarkon spoke."The planet is secure, no thanks to your betrayal-have you nothing to say, old one?"
.....Old One, Hagar thought, and I am three years younger than he! Now is the time. I must convince him somehow to go with me to D'antayan.
Hagar spoke, "I do, Z'aale..."She saw him wince. "Long ago you vowed on D'antayan that I would be queen someday after Voltron was defeated. I helped you defeat him. You didn't keep your vow, Z'aale...that is why I did all this. Z'aale, I beg of you, leave this place and come with me to D'antayan."she paused, trying to see what he thought, but his mind was closed to hers.
She continued,"We can be happy there, Z'aale.The Old Ones who banished me are long dead. They will let you as an outworlder stay - if you are with me. On D'antayan, I can renew myself often, I can be any woman you desire-even Allura if you desire! I'm sorry I did this, Z'aale, but you derserved it! You owe me! I love you, Z'aale, I always have. I stayed with you even when you didn't want me in your bed anymore, doesn't that warrant something?" Hagar walked towards her old love, wanting him to say yes. She waited.
Then incredibly, Z'aale came closer to her, as if to apologize...He does love me! Hagar thought wildly.
"Ch'enuya,"(using Hagar's birthname) Z'aale said, caressing every syllable.
Oh by the heavens, he hasn't called me that for years!
Hagar's heart melted as it had when she was young and naive. New hope arose in her.
Z'aale repeated himself again, this time actually touching her chin with his hand, his face almost close enough to kiss.
He said softly."Ch'enuya...E'tch'aa ysi'ee....Aysha'...dia'...DIE!!!"
Hagar reeled back as though a blow had felled her. She landed in the corner, terrified.
The E'tch'aa!! The Spell Of Passing...! He used it on me! How did he know...?
Z'aale bent down to where Hagar was sprawled, smiled and said, "You said I could do nothing to you, Hagar? What do you say, now. wrinkled one?"
Hagar was weak. She could feel her power draining from her...her life essence flowing to the one she loved and betrayed, Z'aale Zarkon. She made herself stand, staggering as she did so.
She said, "Z'aale , how did you-?"
Z'aale smiled and said, "When long ago you used the spell on Zandaan, I hid as you cast it. I committed it to memory, in case I needed it. Aparently, I did."
His eyes glowed with glee. She saw her power flowing into him, regenerating him, making him if not young, then more fit, more aware, more enhanced.. Outworlders who cast the Spell Of Passing on a witch, did not recieve her powers per se, but gained vitality, and some said, the ability to sense the ones they love and enter their dreams.
Hagar was as weak as a human.
And that's pretty weak, she thought.
She couldn't believe he cast the spell of death on her. Her Z'aale....
He looked at her swaying in weakness, and pulled on her cowl, jerking her off her feet. "Tell me, Hagar, where is Allura?"
Hagar was shocked! He still wanted that girl! She spat out in jealousy, "Maybe she is in Lotor's bed, sire!"
Zarkon balled up his fist and hit her in the face, knocking her back in the wall. "I - said -tell- me -where - she- is!!" he ground out.
Hagar's face hurt where he hit her. ....I think I 'm bleeding...haven't done that in a long time....
She replied, "I don't know and that's the truth, Z'aale. Lotor took her somewhere - probably not to Arus. They wouldn't let him near her there" she said wearily.
Zarkon yelled, "I will find her!!! No one takes what is mine, especially my dim-witted son!"
Hagar said with venom, "You fool, you're besotted with her, aren't you? She is only a girl, Z'aale. I could've...."
Z'aale looked at Hagar in disgust." You could have what, you creature? I want her! She is still mine as long as she wears the choker. I will find her, and I will take her and my son---my son will suffer a thousand deaths before I am through with him."
By the stars, Hagar thought, he is bewitched! Perhaps the girl is a bewitcher!
Hagar narrowed her eyes and said, "You must be going through a mid-life crisis - AGAIN, Lord Zarkon!"
Zarkon growled out, "Shut up, ugly one! You're the one who caused this! I intend to have her and no one will keep me from her!"
"Aw, are you upset because your little dolly is gone, my lord? You're a bigger fool than I thought, Zarkon! Like son, like father!"
"SHUT UP HAGAR!" Zarkon yelled at her.
Hagar, sensing imminent danger, swiftly ran past Zarkon, out of his suites and into the main hall of the castle. Zarkon chased after her, his regenerated body moved quickly and fluidly, catching her with ease. He jerked around by her arm, wrenching it.
If I had my powers, he wouldn't dare do this!Hagar thought angrily.
She said, "Go ahead, King Zarkon! Kill me! I knew someday I'd die at your hands! You've done nothing but use me...Z'aale Zarkon! All I ever wanted was for you to love me, and all you've done is ruin my life. I loved you, Z'aale! I helped you get where you are today---and all you want to do is rut over that-that girl like a ch'aactah in heat!!"
Zarkon's eyes narrowed and he said coldly, "I never said I loved you, Hagar and I never asked you to love me. You were just useful to me. Now you've outlived your usefulness, witch!"
He took the short-sword he had been hiding and savagely stabbed Hagar with it, causing Hagar to gasp in pain, she tried to get away from him, but he had a grip on her arm like steel. She tried to block the blows with her arm, but Z'aale kept stabbing her. Blood was flying as he stabbed her in the chest, finally puncturing her heart. She slumped to the ground, blood all over her, her chest full of gaping wounds. She was dying. Her last concious thought was...Z'aale...i...love...you....hurt...Sonenya..
And then, Ch'enuya- Hagar the witch--died at the hands of her one and only love.
As Z'aale Zarkon looked down at the bloodied heap on the floor, he heard a stumbling and a shuffing of footsteps-it was Cossack, who had finally made his way up from the prison below, still blind, his cauterized eyes weeping with pus, infected.
Cossack sensing Zarkon's pressence,whined,"Sire? Is that you? I want to report Hagar! She helped Lotor escape! I tried to stop them but Lotor did this to me!" Cossack gestured at his eyes.
Zarkon walked up to Cossack and looked at the now sightless man.
If he was ever of any use to me, he isn't now, Zarkon thought ruthlessly.
Zarkon spoke almost kindly to Cossack,"Well, Cossack, you derserve a reward for reporting it to me.."
The little man grinned despite his pain. Zarkon suddenly jerked Cossack up by his collar and said, "Here's your reward, Cossack! I hope you like it!"
With that, Zarkon took his bloodied short-sword and slit Cossack's neck from ear to ear, hitting an artery. Zarkon dropped the dying Cossack on the floor and said to a guard, "Take them away and dispose of them-and clean this mess up!" Zarkon turned and walked away.
