A Woman Grown - Eight

King Zarkon, along with his witch Haggar, were in his flagship, leading the immense Doom fleet to Arus. The flagship's crew was justifiably nervous, for while Lotor was quick of temper, Zarkon would not show his anger - if you slipped up, he'd merely aim that dreadful scepter and you would be nothing but ash. Zarkon thought that it was good they feared him - they would perform much better that way.

He had decided that Lotor had taken too long and that perhaps HE should get the job done himself. After all, it had been ages since he had actually tasted the thrill of battle. His last time was when Alfor had fallen - a victim of Zarkon's long heavy sword.

Soon enough, his naive daughter, Allura would fall as well. There would be no quarter for her and her defenders from him. The men would die - just as they had been meant to when they had been captured before. After all they were escaped slaves, and what belonged to Doom always belonged to Doom, now and forever. As for the princess, perhaps he would give her to Lotor to keep him in line - after he had humiliated both she and his son. Let her have a taste of a King's love first and what it would be like for her to be his property to dispense as he pleased. Lotor would be angry, but Zarkon was not scared of that whelp. After his victory today, Zarkon knew he would want to whet his baser appetites on the young woman who had dared to defy him for so long.

"Is the roebeast ready, Haggar?" Zarkon asked.

"Yes, sire! He's ready to tear apart the Castle of Lions." Haggar grinned at him and Zarkon frowned.

"I don't need any of your fawning words, Haggar. I mean to take the castle - the Voltron Force and the Princess alive, is that understood?"

"Of course sire..but what about the Prince?"

"He'll take his chances.." Zarkon smiled coldly. If Lotor died, he'd be relieved of his failure of a son. Siring another..hm, perhaps the Princess could be of more use than he had planned. He was not young anymore but next time he'd make no mistakes - it would be something to think upon.

"Release the roebeast.." Zarkon pointed his scepter at Haggar.

"Aye, sire!" The witch bowed and disappeared. Moments later she summoned the beast from it's sleep in it's coffin-ship and it awakened with a roar. Haggar gestured with her staff and the roebeast looked to it's creator and roared again.

"You know what to do, precious.." Haggar cackled. "Win one for mama!"

The roebeast only roared back...

Everyone ran to Castle Control - even Allura, who was still in her nightgown. Coran quickly sat down in front of the large monitor and typed in some commands. Immediately the screen divided into four sections - one depicting the Doom fleet, one showing the huge coffin-ship and two others taking quick scans of Arus. All the activity was centered at the Castle of Lions.

"Where in HELL is KEITH!!" Lance grimaced. They had tried earlier to contact him and locate him but somehow his signal was jammed.

Coran ignored Lance's outburst and said, "It doesn't look good, but the Arun Defense Forces are up in the air now - they'll buy us little time though..how in blazes did they get past our Daystar defense shields?"

"Evidently my father found a way, Prime Minister.." Lotor wondered if his father was leading the attack. He didn't think so since his father seemed the type to play armchair Emperor.

"You mean YOU found a way, Lotor!" Pidge glared at him.

"We DO have scientists, boy.." Lotor sneered.

"Stop it, both of you." Lotor felt a soft hand on his shoulder. It was of course, Allura.

"As you wish love."

"Coran.." Allura went over to where Coran was seated. "Any transmissions yet?"

"I say we get Voltron out - now!" Hunk said.

"Yeah but without Keith and the Princess injured?" Lance asked. "Shit, I'll kill Keith for doing this crap."

"If we don't get killed first.." Pidge looked worried.

Zarkon was in a good mood. The roebeast was doing as instructed, simply roaring and making a show of things. The idiots that comprised the Arun Defense Forces were futilely trying to take it down, but the roebeast was only growing stronger. He decided to just hover there for the moment and let them wonder just what they were doing. Normally the Fleet would attack all at once, but not today.

The king of Doom only wondered why they did not bring out the Lions?

"Sire, incoming transmission from Arus!" The ensign who was manning the com looked nervously at Zarkon.

"Hm, perhaps it's the Princess, ready to spout off her lines.." Zarkon looked smug. "By all means let it through." The ensign nodded and immediately an image appeared on the viewscreen. To Zarkon's surprise it was not the Princess at all, but the lead pilot of the Voltron Force.

"Oh - it's you, Captain Keith.." Zarkon shifted in his chair. "I suppose you're the designated spokesperson today, eh?"

Odd. The captain's face did not have it's usual look about it. There was something in it - something dark and mad within those dark eyes.

"I don't speak for THEM." Keith smiled tersely. "They're traitors..so I figure they should get what they deserve."

Zarkon's eyes narrowed. "I really have no time for this, Captain."

"But you do, Zarkon. You want to win don't you?" Keith's eyes took on a glimmer of something that Zarkon had recognized in men before - it was madness.

"I will, boy. Don't worry about that." Zarkon smirked, his hand ready to press the button that would end the transmission.

"I'm not. But you see, I can help you." Keith lowered his head a little. "I happen to know that Princess Allura is injured - and I - well, I'm not IN the castle. I won't set foot there again.Three pilots equal no Voltron.."

Zarkon leaned forward despite himself. What was this? He gestured to the ensign. "Locate where that is coming from!"

"I'm in the woods near the castle, Zarkon." Keith said, raising his head. "Your son Lotor is in the castle with those traitors. Give them what they really want, Zarkon..a world under YOUR rule and power. I will assist you in any way possible."

Zarkon's eyes gleamed. "Bring me the Black Lion, boy. Bring it to me and I'll consider your request. Perhaps I'll even make you an officer or perhaps even - rule one of my planets.."

"I only care that they get what they deserve." Keith shook his head, the pain in his heart threatening to overtake him again. Anger was good - it kept the pain and the picture of Allura and Lotor together away.

"Bring me the Black Lion, Captain Keith and I will make sure you see that they get what they deserve."

"I can probably get through the passages in the castle without being seen, but it may take time. I don't want them to know I'm there." Keith nodded.

"Then DO it, boy!" Zarkon laughed with dark glee. "Serve me well this day and you will be at my right hand! Captain of the seven Fleets!" Zarkon punched another button.

"Haggar!!" Zarkon bellowed. "Take Captain Keith and give him a shortcut to Black Lion! He has agreed to help us."

"Yes sire!" Haggar cackled. She already knew that Captain Keith was quite mad. Ah what a day for Doom! She could taste victory! She appeared next to Keith in the woods of Arus and he turned startled.

"Don't worry, Captain Keith..we ARE on the same side now, aren't we?" Haggar cooed, running her clawed hand over his arm. My what a handsome one he was. Perhaps she could play with him later.

"Yes." Keith said tersely as he looked towards the Castle.

"I shall whisk you to Black Lion, my pretty Captain, before you can blink!" Haggar raised her staff and Keith was gone. Haggar disappeared to Zarkon's flagship where she saw Zarkon smiling, victory in his jaded eyes.

"I've done as you ordered, sire!" Haggar bowed.

"Good!" Zarkon's eyes gleamed with excitement. "Still that roebeast for now, Haggar. I want to see what our mad Captain will do."

It was then that Zarkon saw the stone lion statue on top of the paraphet change into the mechanical Lion.

"Black Lion headed towards these coordinates, my liege!"

"Aim missile launchers at it." Zarkon barked. "If it powers up weapons, shoot it down - aim for the cockpit." He punched in a transmission line and he saw Keith in his uniform - although it wasn't quite the same as it had been. Instead of red and white, it was now black and red - the colors of Doom. How appropriate.

"Captain.." Zarkon purred. "I have missiles sighted upon your Lion. Your lion may be quite powerful, but missiles at such short range - well they can be quite lethal."

"Understood." Keith said shortly. "Open your landing bay."

"Haggar, go the landing bay, deck 24.." Zarkon said with a smile. "Keep me informed - and bring the captain here to me."

"As you wish, sire!" Haggar bowed and again disappeared.

Chapter Nine
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