School Days
Part XVI
A Pride of Proud Lions
By KittyCaro
Disclaimer: Characters from the Adventures of Voltron and the New Adventures of Voltron are copyright 1984, 1985, 1986 and 1997 by WEP. Any and all new/original characters belong to the author.
Rating: R for some sexual situations, violence and bad language. NSFW
Author’s notes: This is an AU fic about Keith and Allura. The romance novel "Taming the Scotsman" by Kinley MacGregor (2003) inspired chapter one. C&C are welcomed.
I want to thank my dear friend Camillie (a Hunk fan) for her ideas and comments.
Gracias Lynne (Bonds of Love) for being my muse, beta-reader, and cheerleader.
Thank you Shannon, for giving this fic a place in The Lion's Keep, you're the best.
Originally Published 02/18/2004 - Revised 03/08/2015
Rating: R for some sexual situations, violence and bad language. NSFW
Author’s notes: This is an AU fic about Keith and Allura. The romance novel "Taming the Scotsman" by Kinley MacGregor (2003) inspired chapter one. C&C are welcomed.
I want to thank my dear friend Camillie (a Hunk fan) for her ideas and comments.
Gracias Lynne (Bonds of Love) for being my muse, beta-reader, and cheerleader.
Thank you Shannon, for giving this fic a place in The Lion's Keep, you're the best.
Originally Published 02/18/2004 - Revised 03/08/2015
Click on the following links to move along to that chapter.
"Vanity and pride are different things, though the words are often used synonymously. A person may be proud without being vain. Pride relates more to our opinion of ourselves, vanity to what we would have others think of us." ~Jane Austen
Planet Arus, Saturday June 6th, 2304 22:10
I was in Anne's bed, missing the sound of her voice. Strange that I should find the quiet night oppressive when I had always taken solace in it. The quietness rang in my ears and made my heart heavy as I imagined what she would be saying if she were here with me.
I held her guitar in my hands and smiled at the memory of her practicing with it. She loved this worthless piece of wood that I had bought for her months ago.
When Anne had asked me to teach her how to play the guitar, she offered me a smile so dazzling that I couldn't say no. She rushed toward a fallen log and took a seat while I grabbed the horses' reins and led them to an area where they could rest and graze.
She sat with the guitar in her lap, held at an awkward angle. I put my arms around her to show her how to hold it and was immediately overwhelmed with the floral scent of her hair, with the softness of her hands on mine.
She leaned back in my arms, startling me instantly. "How old were you when you learned to play?"
"About ten years old."
She rested her head against my shoulder and tilted her head so that she could look up at me. "What made you learn?"
"I was playing hide and seek with my brothers one day, and found an old guitar in the basement gathering dust, and I taught myself to play it."
"Why?"
"It just seemed wasteful to have it there with no one to care for it."
Her lips curved up at my words. "Well, I'm glad you like music. That's another thing we have in common." She returned to leaning against me, looking up at my face with her gentle blue eyes inviting me to take liberties I dared not take.
How I wished I had bought her an instrument worthy of her. A fine guitar made of good rosewood and polished to a fine sheen with beautiful carvings.
Overwhelmed with my need of her, I idly strummed it. How could that be? I have lived my whole life without Anne, so why now did I find half an hour without her unbearable?
I toyed with the strings, my thoughts drifting, my body aching for her. Damn, what is she doing in there?
The door of the bathroom opened, and my heart stopped. It was Anne in a pale blue gown that clung to her soft curves. The material was so light that when she walked, it slid up to reveal her bare feet and ankles. Her blond hair looked beautiful caught up on her head. It looked as if it were ready to fall down around her shoulders at any moment.
I couldn't breathe as I stared at her. I couldn't keep my mouth closed.
"Uh..."
"Will you play for me, Hunk?" she asked, her blue eyes twinkling.
I was able to close my mouth and did as she requested.
To my surprise and delight, she began to dance to the music. And it wasn't just any dance. She rolled her hips and moved her arms like a gypsy. She was all grace as she spun around the room. The skirt on her dress flared out, showing off her shapely legs. My heartbeat hinged on every move she made, every gesture.
"Where did you learn to do that?"
Her face falling, she paused. "Christian and I took classes in the community center. Don't you like it?"
I nodded as I struggled for breath. "I like it... I like it a lot!"
She smiled at me and started dancing again. And as she danced, she started pulling off panels of the dress... and my mouth went dry.
She lifted the hem of her skirt and crawled up on top of the bed on her knees. Pulling off another section of the dress, she wrapped it around my neck, and then used it to pull me close enough to kiss me.
Closing my eyes, I moaned at the taste of her. I tossed the guitar aside and gathered her into my arms. She was so soft, and smelled so sweet that I encircled her waist, and lifted her up, pressing my face into the valley between her breasts.
She pulled at my t-shirt until I shrugged it off, then purred as she ran her hands over my shoulders and down my arms, where she flexed her hand over my muscles. "I love the way you look."
"I feel the same."
She placed her hands on my biceps. "Move your arms."
I did, and she moaned softly.
"I'm not doing anything, love."
Her voice was a whisper. "I know, but your muscles feel so amazing..."
She laced her hands through my hair and nibbled my lips. How I loved her kisses. How I loved the way she looked at me as if I was the only man in the universe for her.
A decent man would pull away from this temptation. But I wasn't decent; I was the type of man who took what he wanted without thinking of the consequences. I had left manner and refinement to my brothers, while I had made my own way without those strict bindings that mother and society would have placed on me.
That had gotten me into trouble with Twyla. I had acted in the heat of passion and paid dearly for it. She had betrayed my trust and broken my heart. And I almost believed that I would never find love again.
Fortunately, I was wrong.
Now I wished I had the words to tell Anne how much these moments meant to me. How much she meant to me. She had given me comfort with the warmth of her tender caresses and sweet words.
I traced the curve of her swollen lips with my fingertips before I parted her lips and kissed her deeply. I closed my eyes and inhaled the sweetness of her warm breath. Her supple body pressed against mine while I loosened the laces of her gown.
"You should kick me out," I said, pulling back from her kiss to stare into her gentle, welcoming eyes.
"Perhaps, but I often do the opposite of what I should do."
"Yeah, that's something I like you about you."
Her smile widened as she rubbed herself against my groin. I growled at the feel of her there and imagined how wonderful she would feel as soon as I removed my boxers.
I reached up and unlaced her gown until her breasts were free to my heated gaze. They were luxuriously soft and full.
I held her close, my heart pounding. She made me feel warm and welcomed. No one else had ever offered me so much.
Marry her, you fool, a little voice inside my head cried.
How I wished I could. But I came to Arus with a mission. I wasn't free to just pick a woman and marry her. Everything I did could have a major impact on my work and my friends.
And yet even though I knew that, I couldn't bring myself to get out of this bed and leave her. This beautiful woman was my life.
Planet Arus, Saturday June 6th, 2304 22:10
I was in Anne's bed, missing the sound of her voice. Strange that I should find the quiet night oppressive when I had always taken solace in it. The quietness rang in my ears and made my heart heavy as I imagined what she would be saying if she were here with me.
I held her guitar in my hands and smiled at the memory of her practicing with it. She loved this worthless piece of wood that I had bought for her months ago.
When Anne had asked me to teach her how to play the guitar, she offered me a smile so dazzling that I couldn't say no. She rushed toward a fallen log and took a seat while I grabbed the horses' reins and led them to an area where they could rest and graze.
She sat with the guitar in her lap, held at an awkward angle. I put my arms around her to show her how to hold it and was immediately overwhelmed with the floral scent of her hair, with the softness of her hands on mine.
She leaned back in my arms, startling me instantly. "How old were you when you learned to play?"
"About ten years old."
She rested her head against my shoulder and tilted her head so that she could look up at me. "What made you learn?"
"I was playing hide and seek with my brothers one day, and found an old guitar in the basement gathering dust, and I taught myself to play it."
"Why?"
"It just seemed wasteful to have it there with no one to care for it."
Her lips curved up at my words. "Well, I'm glad you like music. That's another thing we have in common." She returned to leaning against me, looking up at my face with her gentle blue eyes inviting me to take liberties I dared not take.
How I wished I had bought her an instrument worthy of her. A fine guitar made of good rosewood and polished to a fine sheen with beautiful carvings.
Overwhelmed with my need of her, I idly strummed it. How could that be? I have lived my whole life without Anne, so why now did I find half an hour without her unbearable?
I toyed with the strings, my thoughts drifting, my body aching for her. Damn, what is she doing in there?
The door of the bathroom opened, and my heart stopped. It was Anne in a pale blue gown that clung to her soft curves. The material was so light that when she walked, it slid up to reveal her bare feet and ankles. Her blond hair looked beautiful caught up on her head. It looked as if it were ready to fall down around her shoulders at any moment.
I couldn't breathe as I stared at her. I couldn't keep my mouth closed.
"Uh..."
"Will you play for me, Hunk?" she asked, her blue eyes twinkling.
I was able to close my mouth and did as she requested.
To my surprise and delight, she began to dance to the music. And it wasn't just any dance. She rolled her hips and moved her arms like a gypsy. She was all grace as she spun around the room. The skirt on her dress flared out, showing off her shapely legs. My heartbeat hinged on every move she made, every gesture.
"Where did you learn to do that?"
Her face falling, she paused. "Christian and I took classes in the community center. Don't you like it?"
I nodded as I struggled for breath. "I like it... I like it a lot!"
She smiled at me and started dancing again. And as she danced, she started pulling off panels of the dress... and my mouth went dry.
She lifted the hem of her skirt and crawled up on top of the bed on her knees. Pulling off another section of the dress, she wrapped it around my neck, and then used it to pull me close enough to kiss me.
Closing my eyes, I moaned at the taste of her. I tossed the guitar aside and gathered her into my arms. She was so soft, and smelled so sweet that I encircled her waist, and lifted her up, pressing my face into the valley between her breasts.
She pulled at my t-shirt until I shrugged it off, then purred as she ran her hands over my shoulders and down my arms, where she flexed her hand over my muscles. "I love the way you look."
"I feel the same."
She placed her hands on my biceps. "Move your arms."
I did, and she moaned softly.
"I'm not doing anything, love."
Her voice was a whisper. "I know, but your muscles feel so amazing..."
She laced her hands through my hair and nibbled my lips. How I loved her kisses. How I loved the way she looked at me as if I was the only man in the universe for her.
A decent man would pull away from this temptation. But I wasn't decent; I was the type of man who took what he wanted without thinking of the consequences. I had left manner and refinement to my brothers, while I had made my own way without those strict bindings that mother and society would have placed on me.
That had gotten me into trouble with Twyla. I had acted in the heat of passion and paid dearly for it. She had betrayed my trust and broken my heart. And I almost believed that I would never find love again.
Fortunately, I was wrong.
Now I wished I had the words to tell Anne how much these moments meant to me. How much she meant to me. She had given me comfort with the warmth of her tender caresses and sweet words.
I traced the curve of her swollen lips with my fingertips before I parted her lips and kissed her deeply. I closed my eyes and inhaled the sweetness of her warm breath. Her supple body pressed against mine while I loosened the laces of her gown.
"You should kick me out," I said, pulling back from her kiss to stare into her gentle, welcoming eyes.
"Perhaps, but I often do the opposite of what I should do."
"Yeah, that's something I like you about you."
Her smile widened as she rubbed herself against my groin. I growled at the feel of her there and imagined how wonderful she would feel as soon as I removed my boxers.
I reached up and unlaced her gown until her breasts were free to my heated gaze. They were luxuriously soft and full.
I held her close, my heart pounding. She made me feel warm and welcomed. No one else had ever offered me so much.
Marry her, you fool, a little voice inside my head cried.
How I wished I could. But I came to Arus with a mission. I wasn't free to just pick a woman and marry her. Everything I did could have a major impact on my work and my friends.
And yet even though I knew that, I couldn't bring myself to get out of this bed and leave her. This beautiful woman was my life.
I watched Hunk's face as he pulled back from our kiss to look down at me. His arms were braced on each side of me, and he stared at me, as if trying to memorize my face.
I had grown accustomed to his brooding features and scowls. But his touch could be so gentle that it amazed me. Hunk was one of a kind, and I loved his earthy ways and rugged bearing, though my bear can be rather moody and quiet, when the mood strikes.
He returned to my lips to kiss me softly; I hadn't known a mere kiss could be such a wonderful experience. And when his warm, callused hand closed around my breast, I jumped with nervous excitement.
Hunk left my lips to kiss a trail down my throat to the breast he cupped. I swallowed hard at the sight of his dark head at my breast, at the feel of his tongue teasing me. His tongue was rough and hot, his lips were soothing and tender. I clasped his head to me, letting my fingers tease the locks of his soft hair. His beautiful face showed the pleasure he received from touching me.
I had grown accustomed to his brooding features and scowls. But his touch could be so gentle that it amazed me. Hunk was one of a kind, and I loved his earthy ways and rugged bearing, though my bear can be rather moody and quiet, when the mood strikes.
He returned to my lips to kiss me softly; I hadn't known a mere kiss could be such a wonderful experience. And when his warm, callused hand closed around my breast, I jumped with nervous excitement.
Hunk left my lips to kiss a trail down my throat to the breast he cupped. I swallowed hard at the sight of his dark head at my breast, at the feel of his tongue teasing me. His tongue was rough and hot, his lips were soothing and tender. I clasped his head to me, letting my fingers tease the locks of his soft hair. His beautiful face showed the pleasure he received from touching me.
Soon my boxers joined the rest of our clothes on the floor. Anne gasped audibly as she ran her hands over my tense arms. I clenched my teeth as my head reeled from the pleasure.
I was hard and aching. Most of all, I felt vulnerable to her. But I couldn't pull back. No, I needed more of her. I needed to touch every inch of her gorgeous body.
I lay down on top of her and gathered her into my arms. I kissed her again, and then drove myself deep inside of her. She cried softly, and closed her arms around my shoulders and buried her face against my neck, sending chills over me.
"I love you, Hunk."
I claimed her lips again as I slammed myself into her even deeper than I had been before. She wrapped her legs around my hips and we let our passion sweep us away once more.
I lowered my head down to her shoulder and growled as I released myself inside her.
She drew a ragged breath as I collapsed on top of her and held her tight.
"I love you, Anne." I whispered in her ear. Panting fiercely, I withdrew from her and rolled over onto my back and pulled her against my side for a long while, wishing I could remain in her soft bed and even softer arms instead of going back to the castle.
"It's time. I have to go," I said, swinging my legs off the bed.
She placed her hand on my chest and pushed me back down. "Must you?" Her lips pursed into an enchanting pout. "Can't you at least stay until dawn? We could have breakfast in bed. Pancakes with lots of syrup. How does that sound?"
"Keith has summoned the team to the Castle of Lions and I'm already late."
She frowned at my words. "I feel that someday he's going to regret his dictatorial ways. Is he still angry with Princess Allura?"
"Probably. And I can't speak for the rest of the guys, love, but sometimes I think Keith behaves like a jackass."
"Your commander needs to get a life," she murmured, covering herself with a quilt.
"You've got that right."
"Will you return to me tomorrow night?"
It was so hard to disappoint her, but I had to. "I can't, love. I must sleep in the castle; remember, we're on high alert."
She was sad but acceptant. "Alright. Please be careful. And don't forget Saturday's TV show. You promised to sign autographs and have your picture taken with the kids. You must be at the studio by seven o'clock for rehearsal."
"I'll see you there." I leaned over the bed. "Now, kiss me goodbye."
She smiled at me. "With pleasure, my fierce bear."
I was hard and aching. Most of all, I felt vulnerable to her. But I couldn't pull back. No, I needed more of her. I needed to touch every inch of her gorgeous body.
I lay down on top of her and gathered her into my arms. I kissed her again, and then drove myself deep inside of her. She cried softly, and closed her arms around my shoulders and buried her face against my neck, sending chills over me.
"I love you, Hunk."
I claimed her lips again as I slammed myself into her even deeper than I had been before. She wrapped her legs around my hips and we let our passion sweep us away once more.
I lowered my head down to her shoulder and growled as I released myself inside her.
She drew a ragged breath as I collapsed on top of her and held her tight.
"I love you, Anne." I whispered in her ear. Panting fiercely, I withdrew from her and rolled over onto my back and pulled her against my side for a long while, wishing I could remain in her soft bed and even softer arms instead of going back to the castle.
"It's time. I have to go," I said, swinging my legs off the bed.
She placed her hand on my chest and pushed me back down. "Must you?" Her lips pursed into an enchanting pout. "Can't you at least stay until dawn? We could have breakfast in bed. Pancakes with lots of syrup. How does that sound?"
"Keith has summoned the team to the Castle of Lions and I'm already late."
She frowned at my words. "I feel that someday he's going to regret his dictatorial ways. Is he still angry with Princess Allura?"
"Probably. And I can't speak for the rest of the guys, love, but sometimes I think Keith behaves like a jackass."
"Your commander needs to get a life," she murmured, covering herself with a quilt.
"You've got that right."
"Will you return to me tomorrow night?"
It was so hard to disappoint her, but I had to. "I can't, love. I must sleep in the castle; remember, we're on high alert."
She was sad but acceptant. "Alright. Please be careful. And don't forget Saturday's TV show. You promised to sign autographs and have your picture taken with the kids. You must be at the studio by seven o'clock for rehearsal."
"I'll see you there." I leaned over the bed. "Now, kiss me goodbye."
She smiled at me. "With pleasure, my fierce bear."
"Temper gets you into trouble. Pride keeps you there." ~Anonymous
PERSONAL LOG.STAR DATE.2304.06.07.1
Allura, Coran, the guys and I were in the conference room watching a transmission from Space Marshall Graham when Nanny came in, carrying a tray laden with coffee and cookies.
The members of the Alliance will meet next week in Terra to discuss the reconstruction on the planets of the Azure quadrant. The Garrison was imposing order, and guerrillas of the Oron Liberation Army were trying to transform themselves into a civilian force and local government.
But it will take more than money to repair the wounds. After peace came to that part of the universe, we began to discover the full hideous reality of what the Doom Empire did there. Officials say they expect to find more than three million victims at over five hundred massacre sites. There are many eyewitness accounts about the massacre among the refugees who fled to Norn and Phylos during the Alliance air war.
Hundreds of burial grounds have been discovered, and until the corpses are exhumed, no one can say exactly how many people died. Just before the Alliance entered Oron, in an apparent attempt to make the graves look less the result of an atrocity, metal markers were driven into the mounds. Each was given a number; a few also bore names, but most were marked with the Drule abbreviation for name unknown.
They've found all signs of a massacre, including holes in walls and the remains of burned bodies. Ruined buildings told their own tales, scores of spent cartridges and mangled robot soldiers still lying on the sidewalk outside; inside, caked blood on the floor, with walls, floor and ceiling charred and pitted by the explosions. The scene was exactly as the eyewitness and the space explorers had described it and just as it will remain in their haunted memories.
The fighting in the Azure quadrant has ended, but the debate over why the Alliance fought- to defend humanitarian principles- is just getting started. If an evil empire is prepared to kill those it does not like, then it must be stopped from doing so early and quickly.
"As the reconstruction begins," Graham continued, "it's worth remembering the oldest truth of all: whatever adjective you stick in front of it, war is terrible; some wars are necessary; some wars are just. No war is good."
He expressed that the Alliance was prepared to stand up for the values of civilization and justice. "Our primary mission is bound to be humanitarian. This was a war in which survival was genuinely at stake."
The transmission ended, and Coran said, "The summit will be held at Garrison Headquarters. Accommodations have been arranged for the Princess."
I noticed that Allura's face brightened at the prospect of going back to Terra. "It's been more than a year since our last visit. I'm glad we won't have to deal with the threat of Zarkon and Largo this time." She said.
She was recalling Zarkon's alliance with the King of the Rogue Galaxy whose pirate fleets had attacked many Alliance planets. The Voltron Force and Sven- representing Pollux on King Cova's request- had attended a conference at the Garrison to discuss how to deal with the threat. Lotor and Largo teamed up to attack Garrison Island and threatened Coran's life if we didn't surrender the Lions. Fortunately, Sven had saved the day.
"The Princess will need an escort," Nanny remarked, offering a cup of coffee to Coran.
Allura's eyes flashed fire. "Nanny, I'm not a child to be dictated to. I'm a grown woman perfectly capable of making my own decisions. For once in your life, leave me alone. I don't need a chaperone."
"Like you did the last time?" The governess bit out. "You surrendered to that fiend, instead of listening to Commander Keith! Thank goodness Sven was there to help out. He's such a sweet boy!"
Lance made the mistake of allowing a laugh to escape, and then hastily tried to cover it with a cough.
Allura glared at him, and noticed Hunk and Pidge were grinning openly at her.
"Nanny?"
The older woman turned quickly. "Yes, Master Coran?"
"Keith will accompany her," he announced as he straightened.
Allura gasped, and the chuckling stopped abruptly. Nanny twisted her hands in sudden consternation, and I sought to relieve her obvious anguish. Nodding in acknowledgement, I rose. "It's all right, Nanny. I understand your concern, but the Garrison is taking all necessary measures to protect all dignitaries."
"You must understand this is an issue of much concern here," Coran added by way of explanation, watching Nanny slowly relax under his attentive eye.
"Please, Commander," she pleaded. "We're counting on you."
"I will not let her out of my sight," I assured her, glancing at Allura, whose gaze was fixed on her notebook.
I awaited her response with bated breath. The silence stretched between us until the sound of the air conditioner finally impressed itself on my ears. Was she still angry with me for making her stand at attention yesterday, while I cross-examined her like an errant schoolgirl for disregarding my instructions about visiting her aunt Orla with an escort?
My nerves pulled taut as she considered. When I'd reached the point of thinking about shaking her, she finally looked up with a half smile of concession. Disconcerted, I blinked at the warmth I saw in those sapphire depths.
"I thank you for your kindness, Keith." She spoke in a calm, clear voice.
Coran smiled ruefully, Nanny sniffed and folded her arms across her chest, her anger only moderately appeased by her response.
I cleared my throat. "Zarkon and Lotor have been silent for the past four weeks, but we can't let our guard down. The rest of you will stay here on Arus. Lance, you will take over for me in Black Lion and Sven will fly Red Lion."
"Yes," Lance interjected. "He's coming the day after tomorrow."
"Hunk, the shuttle is ready, isn't it?"
"Sure is, chief," he replied with a wide smile. "I took the Ariane XV last night for a spin. Everything is under control."
"A spin that took you all night?" Lance asked wickedly.
Hunk frowned at him. "Shut your mouth," he whispered.
"At least someone in this room it's getting some love and attention," Lance went on. "And I'm not talking about the shuttle."
Coran cleared his throat loudly.
"Stop it, you two," I hissed.
Pidge shifted on his seat. "Keith, we'll be one pilot short."
"I have taken that into consideration. I've asked a friend of ours to fly Blue Lion."
"Who?" he asked.
"Cliff."
Hunk nodded approvingly. "Let's hope Commander Hawkins doesn't mind that we're stealing the leader of the Land Team for a week."
"Not at all," I replied. "He's going to the summit with Ginger, while the rest of the Vehicle Team continues their research work in the planet they found in the Verdana quadrant."
Save... close.
PERSONAL LOG.STAR DATE.2304.06.07.1
Allura, Coran, the guys and I were in the conference room watching a transmission from Space Marshall Graham when Nanny came in, carrying a tray laden with coffee and cookies.
The members of the Alliance will meet next week in Terra to discuss the reconstruction on the planets of the Azure quadrant. The Garrison was imposing order, and guerrillas of the Oron Liberation Army were trying to transform themselves into a civilian force and local government.
But it will take more than money to repair the wounds. After peace came to that part of the universe, we began to discover the full hideous reality of what the Doom Empire did there. Officials say they expect to find more than three million victims at over five hundred massacre sites. There are many eyewitness accounts about the massacre among the refugees who fled to Norn and Phylos during the Alliance air war.
Hundreds of burial grounds have been discovered, and until the corpses are exhumed, no one can say exactly how many people died. Just before the Alliance entered Oron, in an apparent attempt to make the graves look less the result of an atrocity, metal markers were driven into the mounds. Each was given a number; a few also bore names, but most were marked with the Drule abbreviation for name unknown.
They've found all signs of a massacre, including holes in walls and the remains of burned bodies. Ruined buildings told their own tales, scores of spent cartridges and mangled robot soldiers still lying on the sidewalk outside; inside, caked blood on the floor, with walls, floor and ceiling charred and pitted by the explosions. The scene was exactly as the eyewitness and the space explorers had described it and just as it will remain in their haunted memories.
The fighting in the Azure quadrant has ended, but the debate over why the Alliance fought- to defend humanitarian principles- is just getting started. If an evil empire is prepared to kill those it does not like, then it must be stopped from doing so early and quickly.
"As the reconstruction begins," Graham continued, "it's worth remembering the oldest truth of all: whatever adjective you stick in front of it, war is terrible; some wars are necessary; some wars are just. No war is good."
He expressed that the Alliance was prepared to stand up for the values of civilization and justice. "Our primary mission is bound to be humanitarian. This was a war in which survival was genuinely at stake."
The transmission ended, and Coran said, "The summit will be held at Garrison Headquarters. Accommodations have been arranged for the Princess."
I noticed that Allura's face brightened at the prospect of going back to Terra. "It's been more than a year since our last visit. I'm glad we won't have to deal with the threat of Zarkon and Largo this time." She said.
She was recalling Zarkon's alliance with the King of the Rogue Galaxy whose pirate fleets had attacked many Alliance planets. The Voltron Force and Sven- representing Pollux on King Cova's request- had attended a conference at the Garrison to discuss how to deal with the threat. Lotor and Largo teamed up to attack Garrison Island and threatened Coran's life if we didn't surrender the Lions. Fortunately, Sven had saved the day.
"The Princess will need an escort," Nanny remarked, offering a cup of coffee to Coran.
Allura's eyes flashed fire. "Nanny, I'm not a child to be dictated to. I'm a grown woman perfectly capable of making my own decisions. For once in your life, leave me alone. I don't need a chaperone."
"Like you did the last time?" The governess bit out. "You surrendered to that fiend, instead of listening to Commander Keith! Thank goodness Sven was there to help out. He's such a sweet boy!"
Lance made the mistake of allowing a laugh to escape, and then hastily tried to cover it with a cough.
Allura glared at him, and noticed Hunk and Pidge were grinning openly at her.
"Nanny?"
The older woman turned quickly. "Yes, Master Coran?"
"Keith will accompany her," he announced as he straightened.
Allura gasped, and the chuckling stopped abruptly. Nanny twisted her hands in sudden consternation, and I sought to relieve her obvious anguish. Nodding in acknowledgement, I rose. "It's all right, Nanny. I understand your concern, but the Garrison is taking all necessary measures to protect all dignitaries."
"You must understand this is an issue of much concern here," Coran added by way of explanation, watching Nanny slowly relax under his attentive eye.
"Please, Commander," she pleaded. "We're counting on you."
"I will not let her out of my sight," I assured her, glancing at Allura, whose gaze was fixed on her notebook.
I awaited her response with bated breath. The silence stretched between us until the sound of the air conditioner finally impressed itself on my ears. Was she still angry with me for making her stand at attention yesterday, while I cross-examined her like an errant schoolgirl for disregarding my instructions about visiting her aunt Orla with an escort?
My nerves pulled taut as she considered. When I'd reached the point of thinking about shaking her, she finally looked up with a half smile of concession. Disconcerted, I blinked at the warmth I saw in those sapphire depths.
"I thank you for your kindness, Keith." She spoke in a calm, clear voice.
Coran smiled ruefully, Nanny sniffed and folded her arms across her chest, her anger only moderately appeased by her response.
I cleared my throat. "Zarkon and Lotor have been silent for the past four weeks, but we can't let our guard down. The rest of you will stay here on Arus. Lance, you will take over for me in Black Lion and Sven will fly Red Lion."
"Yes," Lance interjected. "He's coming the day after tomorrow."
"Hunk, the shuttle is ready, isn't it?"
"Sure is, chief," he replied with a wide smile. "I took the Ariane XV last night for a spin. Everything is under control."
"A spin that took you all night?" Lance asked wickedly.
Hunk frowned at him. "Shut your mouth," he whispered.
"At least someone in this room it's getting some love and attention," Lance went on. "And I'm not talking about the shuttle."
Coran cleared his throat loudly.
"Stop it, you two," I hissed.
Pidge shifted on his seat. "Keith, we'll be one pilot short."
"I have taken that into consideration. I've asked a friend of ours to fly Blue Lion."
"Who?" he asked.
"Cliff."
Hunk nodded approvingly. "Let's hope Commander Hawkins doesn't mind that we're stealing the leader of the Land Team for a week."
"Not at all," I replied. "He's going to the summit with Ginger, while the rest of the Vehicle Team continues their research work in the planet they found in the Verdana quadrant."
Save... close.
"There is a paradox in pride – it makes some men ridiculous, but prevents others from becoming so." ~C.C. Colton
June 7th, 2304
Dear Diary:
Our meeting came to a close and Coran left the room, followed by Nanny. Keith and the guys remained in their seats.
"I am certain you all have things to do," Keith instructed pointedly, turning off his handheld.
Lance shook his head. "It's much more entertaining here, Captain. And you know I'm still trying to get this commanding officer-subordinate thing down, so it's necessary to observe one up close."
Hunk took the more innocent approach. "Naturally our concern is for you and Princess, mi Capitán. Nothing is more important than aiding you."
Pidge smirked at him. "And I don't mind learning new techniques on handling women when they refuse to be obedient, Skipper."
I glared at him. "I'll show you obedient," I threatened.
He swallowed hard. "Aw, Princess, please don't be mad," he pleaded. "You've just begun speaking to us again. I was only teasing, no reason to get all worked up."
Hunk rubbed his chin thoughtfully, his eyes shifting from me to Keith and back again. "Better stay on your toes. She seems to have a knack for getting herself into trouble whenever we leave her on her own."
"Just like Princess Romelle," Lance declared with a wry grin. "Poor Sven can't keep up with her. Fortunately there are four of us to watch over this princess."
Keith gritted his teeth. "All of you- go away. This is a private meeting."
Everyone started to protest except me. I was too exhausted to worry about surviving a private meeting with him.
"I don't think that's wise, Keith," Lance said in a quiet voice. "Not in your current state of mind."
"Yeah," Hunk said, rising from his seat in a protective manner. "We don't want you frightening Princess again."
Pidge opened his mouth to add another objection, but apparently changed his mind at the rigid determination on Keith's face.
"Out," he said, pointing at the door. "Everyone- out!"
One didn't argue with Keith when he used that tone of voice, his Black Lion's voice, the voice that condemned murderers and thieves and protected the innocent. Not even Lance dared cross him when he used it. The few who had been foolish to challenge him at such times had learned to regret it.
Just ask Lotor.
Hunk pushed Lance toward the door. "You heard the man, let's go."
Pidge was shocked and wide-eyed. "Yeah. Let's get the heck out of here."
Lance made a face at him. "We're going, but not because you ordered us. I just don't want to make a scene in front of the Princess."
"I don't care what foolish reason you come up with. Do it. Now. I mean it."
"Oui, mon seigneur et maitre!" (Yes, my lord and master!) Lance threw the words back over his shoulder.
"Out!" Keith snapped, and they scurried from the conference room, like space mice escaping as the big Black Lion stirred.
He turned to stare at me. With an impatient gesture he loosened the white collar of his jumpsuit. For countless moments he stood at the edge of the table, his black hair loose on his wide shoulders as he watched me.
Again I felt that pull of attraction, the spell of sexual and emotional magic I could not explain. This time I fought it, refusing to acknowledge that he stirred something dangerous inside me.
"You're angry with me, Keith, not with them."
"Don't say anything more, Princess. I am more than angry with you. I am furious."
"That's a big surprise," I muttered under my breath.
"You're not nearly as afraid as you should be right now." His voice was soft, yet intimidating. His posturing didn't impress me. I knew he would never harm me.
"Lotor didn't hurt me that much."
He narrowed his eyes. "Do you think I didn't read Gorma's report?" He demanded. "A minor head injury that required three stitches and two bruised ribs. Must rest at least a week?"
I shrugged, trying not the wince when my ribs protested. "I'm not dead."
Keith swore eloquently in Spanish. "You came very close, Princess! Lotor had every intention of taking you away again! Why do you insist on leaving the areas of safety I provide for you?"
"Hmm...I have trouble with authority figures?"
"Get over it," he ordered firmly.
"Leave me alone," I shot back, clutching my notebook. "I need to work on my speech for the Alliance. Then I have to call Uncle Cova, and then I'm going to prepare my luggage-"
"We must talk about us. I will not listen to any arguments."
"It would be easier on you if you just quit giving me orders."
His eyebrows rose. "That would ruin my reputation."
I rolled my eyes at him. "Keith, nothing you could do would undermine your dictatorship."
"I'll be waiting for you in the workshop, Princess."
"Go away, Keith. I'm too tired to argue with you." I settled deeper into the seat.
"I'm your commander. You're not supposed to argue with me." He focused on the computer screen. "If you like, I can bring the mice in to keep you company."
"No, I want to be alone. It's safer that way," I murmured, deleting the last paragraph. "I can take care of myself. I answer to no one."
"That was before you met me," he corrected.
"I don't think I know who you are anymore! You won't even tell me what happened when you went looking for me, after Haggar stole my spirit."
Keith remained silent. His dark eyes were merciless, boring into me deeper and deeper, until I found it difficult to breathe.
"What am I going to do with you?" I whispered softly.
"Te necesito." (I need you)
He said the words so quietly that I barely heard them. He made the statement starkly, without embellishment. Still, the way he said it was like an arrow piercing my heart. I had no defense against those two words. No way to deny that I felt the same.
I stared at him for a long moment; then without warning, closed my notebook. "You don't play fair, Keith. You really don't. You have those eyes and that voice, and now you go and say something like that..."
A slow smile softened the hard edge of his mouth. "Promise me that we'll meet tonight in the workshop. Promise me."
I closed my eyes tiredly, rubbing my temples. "I promise."
More later...
June 7th, 2304
Dear Diary:
Our meeting came to a close and Coran left the room, followed by Nanny. Keith and the guys remained in their seats.
"I am certain you all have things to do," Keith instructed pointedly, turning off his handheld.
Lance shook his head. "It's much more entertaining here, Captain. And you know I'm still trying to get this commanding officer-subordinate thing down, so it's necessary to observe one up close."
Hunk took the more innocent approach. "Naturally our concern is for you and Princess, mi Capitán. Nothing is more important than aiding you."
Pidge smirked at him. "And I don't mind learning new techniques on handling women when they refuse to be obedient, Skipper."
I glared at him. "I'll show you obedient," I threatened.
He swallowed hard. "Aw, Princess, please don't be mad," he pleaded. "You've just begun speaking to us again. I was only teasing, no reason to get all worked up."
Hunk rubbed his chin thoughtfully, his eyes shifting from me to Keith and back again. "Better stay on your toes. She seems to have a knack for getting herself into trouble whenever we leave her on her own."
"Just like Princess Romelle," Lance declared with a wry grin. "Poor Sven can't keep up with her. Fortunately there are four of us to watch over this princess."
Keith gritted his teeth. "All of you- go away. This is a private meeting."
Everyone started to protest except me. I was too exhausted to worry about surviving a private meeting with him.
"I don't think that's wise, Keith," Lance said in a quiet voice. "Not in your current state of mind."
"Yeah," Hunk said, rising from his seat in a protective manner. "We don't want you frightening Princess again."
Pidge opened his mouth to add another objection, but apparently changed his mind at the rigid determination on Keith's face.
"Out," he said, pointing at the door. "Everyone- out!"
One didn't argue with Keith when he used that tone of voice, his Black Lion's voice, the voice that condemned murderers and thieves and protected the innocent. Not even Lance dared cross him when he used it. The few who had been foolish to challenge him at such times had learned to regret it.
Just ask Lotor.
Hunk pushed Lance toward the door. "You heard the man, let's go."
Pidge was shocked and wide-eyed. "Yeah. Let's get the heck out of here."
Lance made a face at him. "We're going, but not because you ordered us. I just don't want to make a scene in front of the Princess."
"I don't care what foolish reason you come up with. Do it. Now. I mean it."
"Oui, mon seigneur et maitre!" (Yes, my lord and master!) Lance threw the words back over his shoulder.
"Out!" Keith snapped, and they scurried from the conference room, like space mice escaping as the big Black Lion stirred.
He turned to stare at me. With an impatient gesture he loosened the white collar of his jumpsuit. For countless moments he stood at the edge of the table, his black hair loose on his wide shoulders as he watched me.
Again I felt that pull of attraction, the spell of sexual and emotional magic I could not explain. This time I fought it, refusing to acknowledge that he stirred something dangerous inside me.
"You're angry with me, Keith, not with them."
"Don't say anything more, Princess. I am more than angry with you. I am furious."
"That's a big surprise," I muttered under my breath.
"You're not nearly as afraid as you should be right now." His voice was soft, yet intimidating. His posturing didn't impress me. I knew he would never harm me.
"Lotor didn't hurt me that much."
He narrowed his eyes. "Do you think I didn't read Gorma's report?" He demanded. "A minor head injury that required three stitches and two bruised ribs. Must rest at least a week?"
I shrugged, trying not the wince when my ribs protested. "I'm not dead."
Keith swore eloquently in Spanish. "You came very close, Princess! Lotor had every intention of taking you away again! Why do you insist on leaving the areas of safety I provide for you?"
"Hmm...I have trouble with authority figures?"
"Get over it," he ordered firmly.
"Leave me alone," I shot back, clutching my notebook. "I need to work on my speech for the Alliance. Then I have to call Uncle Cova, and then I'm going to prepare my luggage-"
"We must talk about us. I will not listen to any arguments."
"It would be easier on you if you just quit giving me orders."
His eyebrows rose. "That would ruin my reputation."
I rolled my eyes at him. "Keith, nothing you could do would undermine your dictatorship."
"I'll be waiting for you in the workshop, Princess."
"Go away, Keith. I'm too tired to argue with you." I settled deeper into the seat.
"I'm your commander. You're not supposed to argue with me." He focused on the computer screen. "If you like, I can bring the mice in to keep you company."
"No, I want to be alone. It's safer that way," I murmured, deleting the last paragraph. "I can take care of myself. I answer to no one."
"That was before you met me," he corrected.
"I don't think I know who you are anymore! You won't even tell me what happened when you went looking for me, after Haggar stole my spirit."
Keith remained silent. His dark eyes were merciless, boring into me deeper and deeper, until I found it difficult to breathe.
"What am I going to do with you?" I whispered softly.
"Te necesito." (I need you)
He said the words so quietly that I barely heard them. He made the statement starkly, without embellishment. Still, the way he said it was like an arrow piercing my heart. I had no defense against those two words. No way to deny that I felt the same.
I stared at him for a long moment; then without warning, closed my notebook. "You don't play fair, Keith. You really don't. You have those eyes and that voice, and now you go and say something like that..."
A slow smile softened the hard edge of his mouth. "Promise me that we'll meet tonight in the workshop. Promise me."
I closed my eyes tiredly, rubbing my temples. "I promise."
More later...
PERSONAL LOG.STAR DATE.2304.06.07.2
I made my way through the castle by instinct, and the fact that my feet knew the route by themselves. Lost in my dreams I didn't notice the two figures approaching me until I collided with them.
"Sorry."
"Hey, it's us," Hunk said, grabbing my arm.
"So it is," I agreed amiably.
"You weren't looking where you were going," Lance accused me.
I considered. "No, I don't think I was. Is this the way to the rec room?"
They looked at each other, and then stationed themselves on either side of me like sentinels, and we finished the journey together. Hunk ran to the fridge and came back with three sodas.
"Don't talk, drink," he ordered. "There are few troubles that a Coke can't solve."
"I'm not in trouble," I told him, taking the proffered bottle.
"You're probably scared about spending time alone with Princess in such close quarters," Hunk offered. "Or should be, after the way you treated her."
"Oh yeah- very frightened," I replied, and then took a quick sip of the cold drink.
Lance snorted loudly. "As your good friend, I'm willing to go in your place. You know that Princess *loves* my company."
"Hah! You wish!"
"What are you doing here, anyway? Aren't you supposed to be in the control room?"
"My shift begins in one hour, mon ami," he replied. "Don't worry about me. Enjoy your night off; God knows you sorely need it."
Hunk squeezed my left shoulder. "Did you volunteer for the job, or did Coran make you an offer you couldn't refuse?"
"Knowing Coran," Lance said, "he probably told him it was a direct order from King Alfor."
I continued drinking to hide my amusement. If they only knew that my relationship with Allura had received His Majesty's blessing two months ago, when we celebrated Arus' history.
I held up a hand. "You're right, Lance. Coran came to my study last night, and asked me to accompany the Princess to Terra. But he didn't explain his motives. Thanks for the Coke, Hunk. I'll see you guys later. I'll have my communicator with me if you need me."
I sauntered away, leaving the other two regarding each other uneasily. When I was out of their sight I stopped and looked up.
"At last," I said ecstatically. "Our time has come."
Save... close.
I made my way through the castle by instinct, and the fact that my feet knew the route by themselves. Lost in my dreams I didn't notice the two figures approaching me until I collided with them.
"Sorry."
"Hey, it's us," Hunk said, grabbing my arm.
"So it is," I agreed amiably.
"You weren't looking where you were going," Lance accused me.
I considered. "No, I don't think I was. Is this the way to the rec room?"
They looked at each other, and then stationed themselves on either side of me like sentinels, and we finished the journey together. Hunk ran to the fridge and came back with three sodas.
"Don't talk, drink," he ordered. "There are few troubles that a Coke can't solve."
"I'm not in trouble," I told him, taking the proffered bottle.
"You're probably scared about spending time alone with Princess in such close quarters," Hunk offered. "Or should be, after the way you treated her."
"Oh yeah- very frightened," I replied, and then took a quick sip of the cold drink.
Lance snorted loudly. "As your good friend, I'm willing to go in your place. You know that Princess *loves* my company."
"Hah! You wish!"
"What are you doing here, anyway? Aren't you supposed to be in the control room?"
"My shift begins in one hour, mon ami," he replied. "Don't worry about me. Enjoy your night off; God knows you sorely need it."
Hunk squeezed my left shoulder. "Did you volunteer for the job, or did Coran make you an offer you couldn't refuse?"
"Knowing Coran," Lance said, "he probably told him it was a direct order from King Alfor."
I continued drinking to hide my amusement. If they only knew that my relationship with Allura had received His Majesty's blessing two months ago, when we celebrated Arus' history.
I held up a hand. "You're right, Lance. Coran came to my study last night, and asked me to accompany the Princess to Terra. But he didn't explain his motives. Thanks for the Coke, Hunk. I'll see you guys later. I'll have my communicator with me if you need me."
I sauntered away, leaving the other two regarding each other uneasily. When I was out of their sight I stopped and looked up.
"At last," I said ecstatically. "Our time has come."
Save... close.
Planet Pollux, Sunday June 7th, 2304 15:35
"Generosity is giving more than you can, and pride is taking less than you need. Be modest! It is the kind of pride least likely to offend." ~Jules Renard
I came out to the balcony carrying a glass of iced tea and sat down on the railing, taking a deep breath of sea air. The day was unusually warm, and the late afternoon sun reflected brightly from the blue water as it rippled toward the shoreline.
I shaded my eyes, and looked up into the distance up to the coastline toward Polydeuces Castle, an ancient stone structure that stood at the very edge of the cliffs. I felt a powerful sense of anticipation at seeing the home of the Polluxian Royal family.
Romelle's home.
I drew a small picture of Romelle from my pocket and gazed into her smiling face. It was taken two weeks ago, on her twenty-third birthday party.
Her beautiful cheekbones and stubborn chin were delicate and finely etched and her large sapphire eyes vivid and questioning. I smiled at the thick sun-kissed hair braided about her head and remembered how it rippled in deep, natural waves to her waist.
I had thought her beautiful when I saw her in the Pit of Skulls. I had said outrageous things to frighten her away, and she had listened to every word, her eyes serious and intent.
I shook my head, bemused by memories that had not come in months. You were pitiful, I grunted to myself. She had not thought that. I still remember her looking at me solemnly, saying in her husky voice, "I don't care Sven, I want to help you."
I replaced the picture in my pocket. I turned my gaze from the path that led to the castle, down the trail to the beach below.
Romelle had been much on my mind when I had felt compelled to return to Terra to visit my family. I had spent two weeks in Oslo, and couldn't help feeling ambivalent, enjoying the love and affection of my family, and missing Romelle terribly.
I knew I didn't have the right to deprive her of the life every young woman of her station should enjoy. But I couldn't help feeling intensely jealous at the thought of her being courted by other men.
Now I understood what Keith felt when Coran and Nanny hinted that Princess Allura had to marry royalty.
The videophone on the lounge table rang, and I stepped inside to answer it.
"Hello?"
"Hi, Sven! How are you?"
"Keith! I'm fine, thanks. And you?"
"I'm okay. The guys just gave me their wish lists and I was wondering if you have one. You should read theirs. It's mostly food and drink, but there's some reading material that I'm sure Nanny would find offensive..."
My chuckle was cut short as I saw a cloaked figure on a horse riding toward the castle.
Who could that be?
"Sven... something wrong?"
"Er... sorry, Keith, but I must go. Call you later, okay?"
"Sure-"
I cut the communication, grabbing my tunic from the couch.
I hurried to the stable to saddle my black stallion, and kicked the animal into a gallop, racing across the meadow, scattering a herd of sheep as I went.
I had been riding for ten minutes, when I spotted the rider on the horizon. He turned, and sunlight touched something metallic on his hand. My blood ran cold and my heart beat hard. That shiny thing, no doubt, was a sword. And it belonged, no doubt, to someone sent by Zarkon to cause mayhem once again.
Just then, the figure smacked the horse's rump and thundered toward the beach. I spurred my own horse into action, yelling as I went, "Stop! Your horse is sure to fall-"
Even before I completed my sentence, his horse went down, pitching the figure head over heels. He landed with a quiet thump on the sand.
In seconds, I was at the rider's side. I quickly dismounted and inspected the damage. The man lay unconscious covered in rotting clothes, his left leg bent at an awkward angle beside him, his left arm twisted beneath him. Next to him was a spatha (a small sword) half-buried in the sand.
I uncovered his face, and for moments I was unable to breathe or even think. I closed my eyes briefly, trying to shut out the reality. My throat closed up for the pain and suffering this creature had endured before coming to this place.
Taking a deep breath, I made myself look. His body was covered with dozens of cuts. Dirty rags lay in strips across his chest. Lines of agony creased his face. His skin was blue and stretched tightly over the bones. The signs of suffering were stamped on that face, harsh and merciless.
And I knew him.
He was Prince Avok, the warrior of Pollux.
Although it seemed impossible, there was no mistake; I had seen him enough times in video and holographs. And he was the man in the painting Bandor had shown me in the castle, after my escape from Doom.
King Cova had said that his son was so strong, that he had absorbed ten million units of thermal laser rays to become a robeast. No human had being able to resist half that amount until then.
Now he looked like a corpse.
A slow hiss of air was my only warning. Eyelids snapped open, and I was staring into feline eyes blazing with venomous hatred. A hand fastened around my throat with a grip like a vise. He was so strong that he almost cut off my airway. Everything seemed to swirl, black and white rushing to overtake me.
"Stop! If you hurt me, I can't help you." I raised my head to meet those eyes. "Let go of me." I forced myself to hold that yellow gaze.
"My name is Sven Asbjörnsen. I'm a space explorer," I repeated several times and gave up when his eyes continued to burn at me.
He seemed to have no mercy in him. He was like an animal. Trapped. Hurt. Confused. A predator dangerous beyond belief, reduced to a helpless shell... like I was before Romelle found me in the Pit of Skulls. I felt linked to him, felt I could save him.
"I'll help you if you let me," I crooned softly, as if coaxing a wild beast. "I'll need tools and a vehicle. Do you understand?"
We stared at each other, locked in a strange mental combat, and he warned me off with a silent show of teeth.
"I can't get back to my cabin until you release me. You'll bleed to death."
The prince released me slowly, reluctantly, his gaze never leaving my face as I leaned to see his wounds. Fresh blood was seeping from his many cuts as if they were recent. There was a huge bump on his forehead. I had to find a way to take away his pain. As a space explorer, I could splint broken bones and tie tourniquets, but that wasn't enough.
Someone had taken their time torturing this man, derived pleasure from his suffering. God only knew how long he had endured such a terrible thing. It was inhumane to consider leaving him in such a state.
I had two choices: leave him alone to get my things, or see to it that he got professional help.
Leave him to die. Stay, and save Prince Avok's life.
Still kneeling beside the man's broken body I bowed my head. Then I reached for my communicator and called Castle Control.
It took us nearly fifteen minutes to get to the castle, and when at long last we arrived, Doctor Mortensen, Romelle, Bandor and King Cova were there to meet us.
"Lieutenant, you were right not to try and splint these," Mortensen said once he had inspected the prince's injuries. "It's a compound fracture that will require surgery."
Bandor took a deep breath. "Surgery? Dad, will my brother be alright?"
The king stood in the background, chewing his lower lip, unable to comfort his son in any way. Only Romelle braved the sight of blood and exposed bone to step up close. She stood beside her little brother.
"Doctor Mortensen knows what's best."
His big dark brown eyes swam with unshed tears of fear. "Melle, I don't want him to die..."
She leaned forward and pressed a gentle kiss upon his cheek. "He won't, I promise."
Her presence, her voice, her touch, seemed enough to calm him, and Bandor nodded weakly.
The paternal, accepting smile from the doctor indicated he had known all along that she would do whatever it took to help her family. An incredible pride washed over me. No other woman like Romelle would have possessed the courage to rise to the occasion as she had done.
The doctor looked at Avok, pale and still, and then turned his dark gaze to Cova's worried face. He led the king several yards away from the prince, who still lay limp and weak on the bed. "He has lost a lot of blood. And there's a good chance infection has set in. I won't know what more I might find until I cut away the damaged tissue."
Cova's somber face paled. He ran both hands through his gray hair. "Will he..." He cleared his throat. "Will he lose his leg?"
"Not likely, but there are no guarantees, of course."
The king glanced at his older son. "He looks so young and helpless, lying there," he whispered, more to himself than to the doctor. "Will he walk again?"
"If there are no complications, he will be up and back to normal in a couple of months."
Cova shook his head. "Is there anything we can do, doctor?"
"Pray, Your Majesty," he replied. "Pray very hard."
"Generosity is giving more than you can, and pride is taking less than you need. Be modest! It is the kind of pride least likely to offend." ~Jules Renard
I came out to the balcony carrying a glass of iced tea and sat down on the railing, taking a deep breath of sea air. The day was unusually warm, and the late afternoon sun reflected brightly from the blue water as it rippled toward the shoreline.
I shaded my eyes, and looked up into the distance up to the coastline toward Polydeuces Castle, an ancient stone structure that stood at the very edge of the cliffs. I felt a powerful sense of anticipation at seeing the home of the Polluxian Royal family.
Romelle's home.
I drew a small picture of Romelle from my pocket and gazed into her smiling face. It was taken two weeks ago, on her twenty-third birthday party.
Her beautiful cheekbones and stubborn chin were delicate and finely etched and her large sapphire eyes vivid and questioning. I smiled at the thick sun-kissed hair braided about her head and remembered how it rippled in deep, natural waves to her waist.
I had thought her beautiful when I saw her in the Pit of Skulls. I had said outrageous things to frighten her away, and she had listened to every word, her eyes serious and intent.
I shook my head, bemused by memories that had not come in months. You were pitiful, I grunted to myself. She had not thought that. I still remember her looking at me solemnly, saying in her husky voice, "I don't care Sven, I want to help you."
I replaced the picture in my pocket. I turned my gaze from the path that led to the castle, down the trail to the beach below.
Romelle had been much on my mind when I had felt compelled to return to Terra to visit my family. I had spent two weeks in Oslo, and couldn't help feeling ambivalent, enjoying the love and affection of my family, and missing Romelle terribly.
I knew I didn't have the right to deprive her of the life every young woman of her station should enjoy. But I couldn't help feeling intensely jealous at the thought of her being courted by other men.
Now I understood what Keith felt when Coran and Nanny hinted that Princess Allura had to marry royalty.
The videophone on the lounge table rang, and I stepped inside to answer it.
"Hello?"
"Hi, Sven! How are you?"
"Keith! I'm fine, thanks. And you?"
"I'm okay. The guys just gave me their wish lists and I was wondering if you have one. You should read theirs. It's mostly food and drink, but there's some reading material that I'm sure Nanny would find offensive..."
My chuckle was cut short as I saw a cloaked figure on a horse riding toward the castle.
Who could that be?
"Sven... something wrong?"
"Er... sorry, Keith, but I must go. Call you later, okay?"
"Sure-"
I cut the communication, grabbing my tunic from the couch.
I hurried to the stable to saddle my black stallion, and kicked the animal into a gallop, racing across the meadow, scattering a herd of sheep as I went.
I had been riding for ten minutes, when I spotted the rider on the horizon. He turned, and sunlight touched something metallic on his hand. My blood ran cold and my heart beat hard. That shiny thing, no doubt, was a sword. And it belonged, no doubt, to someone sent by Zarkon to cause mayhem once again.
Just then, the figure smacked the horse's rump and thundered toward the beach. I spurred my own horse into action, yelling as I went, "Stop! Your horse is sure to fall-"
Even before I completed my sentence, his horse went down, pitching the figure head over heels. He landed with a quiet thump on the sand.
In seconds, I was at the rider's side. I quickly dismounted and inspected the damage. The man lay unconscious covered in rotting clothes, his left leg bent at an awkward angle beside him, his left arm twisted beneath him. Next to him was a spatha (a small sword) half-buried in the sand.
I uncovered his face, and for moments I was unable to breathe or even think. I closed my eyes briefly, trying to shut out the reality. My throat closed up for the pain and suffering this creature had endured before coming to this place.
Taking a deep breath, I made myself look. His body was covered with dozens of cuts. Dirty rags lay in strips across his chest. Lines of agony creased his face. His skin was blue and stretched tightly over the bones. The signs of suffering were stamped on that face, harsh and merciless.
And I knew him.
He was Prince Avok, the warrior of Pollux.
Although it seemed impossible, there was no mistake; I had seen him enough times in video and holographs. And he was the man in the painting Bandor had shown me in the castle, after my escape from Doom.
King Cova had said that his son was so strong, that he had absorbed ten million units of thermal laser rays to become a robeast. No human had being able to resist half that amount until then.
Now he looked like a corpse.
A slow hiss of air was my only warning. Eyelids snapped open, and I was staring into feline eyes blazing with venomous hatred. A hand fastened around my throat with a grip like a vise. He was so strong that he almost cut off my airway. Everything seemed to swirl, black and white rushing to overtake me.
"Stop! If you hurt me, I can't help you." I raised my head to meet those eyes. "Let go of me." I forced myself to hold that yellow gaze.
"My name is Sven Asbjörnsen. I'm a space explorer," I repeated several times and gave up when his eyes continued to burn at me.
He seemed to have no mercy in him. He was like an animal. Trapped. Hurt. Confused. A predator dangerous beyond belief, reduced to a helpless shell... like I was before Romelle found me in the Pit of Skulls. I felt linked to him, felt I could save him.
"I'll help you if you let me," I crooned softly, as if coaxing a wild beast. "I'll need tools and a vehicle. Do you understand?"
We stared at each other, locked in a strange mental combat, and he warned me off with a silent show of teeth.
"I can't get back to my cabin until you release me. You'll bleed to death."
The prince released me slowly, reluctantly, his gaze never leaving my face as I leaned to see his wounds. Fresh blood was seeping from his many cuts as if they were recent. There was a huge bump on his forehead. I had to find a way to take away his pain. As a space explorer, I could splint broken bones and tie tourniquets, but that wasn't enough.
Someone had taken their time torturing this man, derived pleasure from his suffering. God only knew how long he had endured such a terrible thing. It was inhumane to consider leaving him in such a state.
I had two choices: leave him alone to get my things, or see to it that he got professional help.
Leave him to die. Stay, and save Prince Avok's life.
Still kneeling beside the man's broken body I bowed my head. Then I reached for my communicator and called Castle Control.
It took us nearly fifteen minutes to get to the castle, and when at long last we arrived, Doctor Mortensen, Romelle, Bandor and King Cova were there to meet us.
"Lieutenant, you were right not to try and splint these," Mortensen said once he had inspected the prince's injuries. "It's a compound fracture that will require surgery."
Bandor took a deep breath. "Surgery? Dad, will my brother be alright?"
The king stood in the background, chewing his lower lip, unable to comfort his son in any way. Only Romelle braved the sight of blood and exposed bone to step up close. She stood beside her little brother.
"Doctor Mortensen knows what's best."
His big dark brown eyes swam with unshed tears of fear. "Melle, I don't want him to die..."
She leaned forward and pressed a gentle kiss upon his cheek. "He won't, I promise."
Her presence, her voice, her touch, seemed enough to calm him, and Bandor nodded weakly.
The paternal, accepting smile from the doctor indicated he had known all along that she would do whatever it took to help her family. An incredible pride washed over me. No other woman like Romelle would have possessed the courage to rise to the occasion as she had done.
The doctor looked at Avok, pale and still, and then turned his dark gaze to Cova's worried face. He led the king several yards away from the prince, who still lay limp and weak on the bed. "He has lost a lot of blood. And there's a good chance infection has set in. I won't know what more I might find until I cut away the damaged tissue."
Cova's somber face paled. He ran both hands through his gray hair. "Will he..." He cleared his throat. "Will he lose his leg?"
"Not likely, but there are no guarantees, of course."
The king glanced at his older son. "He looks so young and helpless, lying there," he whispered, more to himself than to the doctor. "Will he walk again?"
"If there are no complications, he will be up and back to normal in a couple of months."
Cova shook his head. "Is there anything we can do, doctor?"
"Pray, Your Majesty," he replied. "Pray very hard."
"There are many kinds of smiles, each having a distinct character. Some announce goodness, and sweetness, others betray sarcasm, bitterness, and pride; some soften the countenance by their languishing tenderness, others brighten by their spiritual vivacity." ~Johann Kaspar Lavater
"My God, Allura. Hold still, else you'll have your buttons all askew."
"Nanny, please hurry, I must practice my speech for the Alliance Council!"
She shook her head at me and curled her chubby fingers to fasten the tiny buttons on the back of my pink satin gown. "There, child, all done now. Now put on your slippers, while I find you a cape."
I sighed and forced myself to stand quietly as Nanny went to my closet. I frowned at myself at the mirror.
"I wish I didn't have to bother with this nonsense. Why can't I just buy a gown in Terra? This one makes me look like a woman from the nineteenth century."
"Serves you right, with the way you're always bouncing about with those boys! At least Commander Keith is more responsible than you."
"Oh, Nanny-"
"Allura, a little more decorum on your part would not be at all amiss. There are many important guests going to the summit, and I don't want them to think you're a tomboy."
I assumed a docile expression and lowered my head, and began to twiddle my thumbs.
"Now do I have your approval, Nanny?"
She merely grunted, and patted several errant strands of reddish brown hair primly into place beneath her lacy cap. "Your tricks won't work with me, child. Now stand up straight and let me see how the gown fits."
I rose and obligingly performed a slow pirouette in front of her.
"You'll do. I'm sure all those kings and princes will fight for your hand in marriage, while the Commander looks on."
I frowned at her. "Why must you always refer to Keith as the Commander? It's so terribly impersonal, as though he's nothing more than a casual guest in the castle."
She gave me an austere look. "And you treat him with far too much familiarity. Fortunately, he knows his place. In fact, he's the only one of those boys who does."
I stifled a laugh and displayed what I hoped was maidenly shock. "My dear Nanny, I swear I shall behave myself around him. Now can I take off this gown, and go back to my speech?"
She breathed an audible sigh of relief. "Very well. I'll tell the girls to iron these clothes."
"And please tell everyone that I do not want to be disturbed unless there's a real emergency. I'll have my communicator on."
I watched as she glided away from my chambers with my gowns, then I hurried up to the bathroom to take shower and to change into a pair of jeans and a blouse. I was meeting Keith in the workshop. He would soon be there. My feet barely touched the floor.
I arrived at precisely six o'clock. He was ready, dressed in a vintage black T-shirt from Pearl Jam's ‘Dive Bomber' concert, faded jeans and black trek boots. There was a sack waiting on the table, next to my helmet.
"Did your afternoon go well?" he asked with a thin smile.
"Very well, thank you," I replied, putting on my jacket. "I'm all packed up and ready to go to Terra. How about you?"
"Same here," he replied, following suit. "You should see the tons of stuff those guys want from Terra. Maybe I should start charging them for shipping and handling!"
I laughed at the pained expression on his face. "Did you talk to Sven? I'm sure he wants something from home."
"I had barely said hello to him, when he muttered something about going out. He promised to call me later. Do you feel like a picnic?"
"Oh, yes. I've worked up an appetite."
In a short time we were riding in his motorcycle along a trail leading south from the castle. I breathed deeply the earthy fragrance and let my senses absorb the presence of the man I love. As the shadows lengthened, the night birds began their evening call. From the nearby swamp came the chant of frogs and the smell of dank vegetation.
Surely Keith loved me. How could he not when I adored him with every part of my being? I saw his love in his dark eyes, felt it in his touch, the way he protected me. And he had won my trust. I knew I could put my life in his hands, and that was exactly what I had decided to do. If Keith asked me to be his wife, I was prepared to say yes. We could marry in October, perhaps, after the harvest. We would raise our children in the castle and pass the years in love of the land and devotion to each other.
My glorious fantasy was interrupted when we stopped near a bluff on the lakeside of the road.
"We'll have our picnic up there. I want you see the view- and if we're lucky, something very special."
"Sounds perfect."
Anticipation bubbled deep inside of me as he assisted me from the bike. Our eyes met, and again I felt the exchange of a powerful force between us. My hands slid along his shoulders when he removed my helmet, and he brushed my forehead with his lips. I love sharing with him the closing hours of this special day.
He secured the motorcycle and the helmets, and tucked the sack under his arm. Taking my hand, he led me between the trees and up an embankment overgrown with scarlet lion's ears. Their steams bear whorled clusters of tubular-shaped orange flowers resembling a lion's ear. They were also called lion's tails because blossoms have long tapering stems.
We arrived at a huge boulder with a flat surface at about my eye level. "We'll have to climb up."
"I believe I can manage," he said. Putting his hands around my waist, he easily boosted me to the stone's lip and I scrambled to the top. I took the sack from him and waited while he found a handhold to pull up beside me.
Sitting in the twilight with my feet dangling over the edge of the boulder, I gazed at him, feeling like we were again two teenagers off on an adventure. I would have been happy to remain here for all eternity, lost in his eyes, only barely aware of the singing of the birds and the fresh scent of pine, but the light was fading and he said that he wanted to be sure I didn't miss the view.
"Follow me," he said, and led me to the far side of the rocky outcrop. There, framed by two pine trees, was a view so breathtaking, so peaceful, and so lovely in the evening's glow that I could only stare in silent admiration.
Below, the hill dropped abruptly toward the Castle Lake. The trees were widely spaced and the entire valley could be seen: Aalborg on the east, and beyond it, stretching endlessly like a dark green sea, the verdant crops of the Arusian settlers.
His arm draped over my shoulders and I looked up at him. He was studying the landscape, lost in his thoughts, his expression one of solemn pride and intense satisfaction.
"This is our home, Keith- our future- it's there at your feet."
My whisper broke into his musing and he smiled an apology. "Sorry, I know that pride is a sin, but dammit, I can't help it. The people of Arus have come so far, worked so hard, lost and gained so much."
"And you? Can't you spare one word of praise for the Commander of the Voltron Force?"
"My praise goes to their leader. Without her generosity, none of this would have been possible."
I smiled. "Shall we toast to us, then?"
"Of course."
He spread a red and white checkered blanket on the smooth surface of the grass. I sat on the fabric, and he took a seat beside me, placing the sack between us. I opened it and pulled out three plastic containers and a small bottle of red wine. Next I removed two small plastic cups and watched him pour the contents from the bottle. I opened the containers to reveal croissants with ham and cheese, and cinnamon rolls.
"A feast for a king," I observed, smiling at him, reaching out to stroke his arm with great gentleness.
"No, for a princess and her knight," he answered lightly.
"My God, Allura. Hold still, else you'll have your buttons all askew."
"Nanny, please hurry, I must practice my speech for the Alliance Council!"
She shook her head at me and curled her chubby fingers to fasten the tiny buttons on the back of my pink satin gown. "There, child, all done now. Now put on your slippers, while I find you a cape."
I sighed and forced myself to stand quietly as Nanny went to my closet. I frowned at myself at the mirror.
"I wish I didn't have to bother with this nonsense. Why can't I just buy a gown in Terra? This one makes me look like a woman from the nineteenth century."
"Serves you right, with the way you're always bouncing about with those boys! At least Commander Keith is more responsible than you."
"Oh, Nanny-"
"Allura, a little more decorum on your part would not be at all amiss. There are many important guests going to the summit, and I don't want them to think you're a tomboy."
I assumed a docile expression and lowered my head, and began to twiddle my thumbs.
"Now do I have your approval, Nanny?"
She merely grunted, and patted several errant strands of reddish brown hair primly into place beneath her lacy cap. "Your tricks won't work with me, child. Now stand up straight and let me see how the gown fits."
I rose and obligingly performed a slow pirouette in front of her.
"You'll do. I'm sure all those kings and princes will fight for your hand in marriage, while the Commander looks on."
I frowned at her. "Why must you always refer to Keith as the Commander? It's so terribly impersonal, as though he's nothing more than a casual guest in the castle."
She gave me an austere look. "And you treat him with far too much familiarity. Fortunately, he knows his place. In fact, he's the only one of those boys who does."
I stifled a laugh and displayed what I hoped was maidenly shock. "My dear Nanny, I swear I shall behave myself around him. Now can I take off this gown, and go back to my speech?"
She breathed an audible sigh of relief. "Very well. I'll tell the girls to iron these clothes."
"And please tell everyone that I do not want to be disturbed unless there's a real emergency. I'll have my communicator on."
I watched as she glided away from my chambers with my gowns, then I hurried up to the bathroom to take shower and to change into a pair of jeans and a blouse. I was meeting Keith in the workshop. He would soon be there. My feet barely touched the floor.
I arrived at precisely six o'clock. He was ready, dressed in a vintage black T-shirt from Pearl Jam's ‘Dive Bomber' concert, faded jeans and black trek boots. There was a sack waiting on the table, next to my helmet.
"Did your afternoon go well?" he asked with a thin smile.
"Very well, thank you," I replied, putting on my jacket. "I'm all packed up and ready to go to Terra. How about you?"
"Same here," he replied, following suit. "You should see the tons of stuff those guys want from Terra. Maybe I should start charging them for shipping and handling!"
I laughed at the pained expression on his face. "Did you talk to Sven? I'm sure he wants something from home."
"I had barely said hello to him, when he muttered something about going out. He promised to call me later. Do you feel like a picnic?"
"Oh, yes. I've worked up an appetite."
In a short time we were riding in his motorcycle along a trail leading south from the castle. I breathed deeply the earthy fragrance and let my senses absorb the presence of the man I love. As the shadows lengthened, the night birds began their evening call. From the nearby swamp came the chant of frogs and the smell of dank vegetation.
Surely Keith loved me. How could he not when I adored him with every part of my being? I saw his love in his dark eyes, felt it in his touch, the way he protected me. And he had won my trust. I knew I could put my life in his hands, and that was exactly what I had decided to do. If Keith asked me to be his wife, I was prepared to say yes. We could marry in October, perhaps, after the harvest. We would raise our children in the castle and pass the years in love of the land and devotion to each other.
My glorious fantasy was interrupted when we stopped near a bluff on the lakeside of the road.
"We'll have our picnic up there. I want you see the view- and if we're lucky, something very special."
"Sounds perfect."
Anticipation bubbled deep inside of me as he assisted me from the bike. Our eyes met, and again I felt the exchange of a powerful force between us. My hands slid along his shoulders when he removed my helmet, and he brushed my forehead with his lips. I love sharing with him the closing hours of this special day.
He secured the motorcycle and the helmets, and tucked the sack under his arm. Taking my hand, he led me between the trees and up an embankment overgrown with scarlet lion's ears. Their steams bear whorled clusters of tubular-shaped orange flowers resembling a lion's ear. They were also called lion's tails because blossoms have long tapering stems.
We arrived at a huge boulder with a flat surface at about my eye level. "We'll have to climb up."
"I believe I can manage," he said. Putting his hands around my waist, he easily boosted me to the stone's lip and I scrambled to the top. I took the sack from him and waited while he found a handhold to pull up beside me.
Sitting in the twilight with my feet dangling over the edge of the boulder, I gazed at him, feeling like we were again two teenagers off on an adventure. I would have been happy to remain here for all eternity, lost in his eyes, only barely aware of the singing of the birds and the fresh scent of pine, but the light was fading and he said that he wanted to be sure I didn't miss the view.
"Follow me," he said, and led me to the far side of the rocky outcrop. There, framed by two pine trees, was a view so breathtaking, so peaceful, and so lovely in the evening's glow that I could only stare in silent admiration.
Below, the hill dropped abruptly toward the Castle Lake. The trees were widely spaced and the entire valley could be seen: Aalborg on the east, and beyond it, stretching endlessly like a dark green sea, the verdant crops of the Arusian settlers.
His arm draped over my shoulders and I looked up at him. He was studying the landscape, lost in his thoughts, his expression one of solemn pride and intense satisfaction.
"This is our home, Keith- our future- it's there at your feet."
My whisper broke into his musing and he smiled an apology. "Sorry, I know that pride is a sin, but dammit, I can't help it. The people of Arus have come so far, worked so hard, lost and gained so much."
"And you? Can't you spare one word of praise for the Commander of the Voltron Force?"
"My praise goes to their leader. Without her generosity, none of this would have been possible."
I smiled. "Shall we toast to us, then?"
"Of course."
He spread a red and white checkered blanket on the smooth surface of the grass. I sat on the fabric, and he took a seat beside me, placing the sack between us. I opened it and pulled out three plastic containers and a small bottle of red wine. Next I removed two small plastic cups and watched him pour the contents from the bottle. I opened the containers to reveal croissants with ham and cheese, and cinnamon rolls.
"A feast for a king," I observed, smiling at him, reaching out to stroke his arm with great gentleness.
"No, for a princess and her knight," he answered lightly.
"Though pride is not a virtue, it is the parent of many virtues." ~George Chapman
Six hours later, Avok woke up in his hospital bed. He looked around woozily, blinked, and groaned.
"Melle...?"
"I'm here, Avok," I said, stroking his cheek. "I'm right here. How do you feel?"
He winced. "It... hurts."
"I'm sure it does." I reached for the glass of crushed ice the nurse had left on the bedside table. I sat facing him, holding a piece of ice to his lips.
"Go back to sleep now, and you won't notice the pain so much," I said, my thumb wiping away the drop of water that escaped the corner of his mouth.
"Am I going to... be alright?"
My heart lurched in my chest. Doctor Mortensen had explained every possibility. The prince's youth, the doctor had said, was on his side. In all likelihood, he would recover. But Avok could walk with a limp for the rest of his life, and infection, if indeed it had set during his ordeal, might mean amputation sometime down the road.
I refused to think that horrible possibility. "You're going to be fine."
Soothed by my promise, he closed his eyes. Hoping my assurance rang with some truth, I stood to leave.
Avok's saffron eyes flew open. "Don't go," he pleaded, reaching for my hand.
I sat beside him on the bed and gently stroked his hair. "I'm here, dear brother. I'm right here."
"You'll be here... when I wake?"
"Yes."
He closed his eyes, and in moments, slept.
Then a light rap came upon the door, and at my summons, Sven entered.
Six hours later, Avok woke up in his hospital bed. He looked around woozily, blinked, and groaned.
"Melle...?"
"I'm here, Avok," I said, stroking his cheek. "I'm right here. How do you feel?"
He winced. "It... hurts."
"I'm sure it does." I reached for the glass of crushed ice the nurse had left on the bedside table. I sat facing him, holding a piece of ice to his lips.
"Go back to sleep now, and you won't notice the pain so much," I said, my thumb wiping away the drop of water that escaped the corner of his mouth.
"Am I going to... be alright?"
My heart lurched in my chest. Doctor Mortensen had explained every possibility. The prince's youth, the doctor had said, was on his side. In all likelihood, he would recover. But Avok could walk with a limp for the rest of his life, and infection, if indeed it had set during his ordeal, might mean amputation sometime down the road.
I refused to think that horrible possibility. "You're going to be fine."
Soothed by my promise, he closed his eyes. Hoping my assurance rang with some truth, I stood to leave.
Avok's saffron eyes flew open. "Don't go," he pleaded, reaching for my hand.
I sat beside him on the bed and gently stroked his hair. "I'm here, dear brother. I'm right here."
"You'll be here... when I wake?"
"Yes."
He closed his eyes, and in moments, slept.
Then a light rap came upon the door, and at my summons, Sven entered.
Romelle didn't seem to notice the bloodstains on her blue dress. Didn't seem to notice, either that much of her hair had escaped her lovely braid. Didn't seem to notice that her cheeks were streaked with sweat and her brother's blood.
But I noticed.
Only when she was sure that his brother slept soundly did she leave his side, and only then, to clean up the room.
"I can't have father coming in here and seeing all this," she muttered, piling the bloodstained tissues onto the serving cart. "It will upset him. Tomorrow, once Avok has had a good night's sleep, I'll ask the cook to bring him his favorite breakfast." She was on her hands and knees now, wiping up the water that had dropped from the basin onto the tile.
She didn't hear the tremor in her voice, didn't realize that her tears had mingled with that pool of water on the floor.
I grabbed her by the shoulders and brought her to her feet. Immediately, she tried to drop back to her knees and resume wiping, but I held her firm.
"Romelle, let the nurses take care of that," I said softly. "Stop crying, please."
She looked around helplessly. "But he's so young, Sven. And the doctor said..." She bit her lip, then turned away from me, crossed her arms over her chest and cupped her elbows. "What if he... what if he loses his leg?" She hesitated. "What if..."
"He will be fine. He'll be just fine."
"If he survives, he could have a limp for the rest of his life."
I had warned myself on my first day in Pollux to be careful. Even then, I had known that I could be drawn into relationships I couldn't afford to keep. And the proof that I was right stood trembling before me. I had never seen great fear in her big blue eyes before, had never seen that full lower lip quiver as she struggled to hold back the tears. She had always been in complete control. Seeing her so small and vulnerable, moved me like nothing ever had.
"I would take on his limp, just to have a woman like you caring for me."
In response to her wet-eyed silence, I reached for her arm. "Let's go. We'll ask Bandor to stay with Avok."
"Where are you taking me?"
"You'll see."
But I noticed.
Only when she was sure that his brother slept soundly did she leave his side, and only then, to clean up the room.
"I can't have father coming in here and seeing all this," she muttered, piling the bloodstained tissues onto the serving cart. "It will upset him. Tomorrow, once Avok has had a good night's sleep, I'll ask the cook to bring him his favorite breakfast." She was on her hands and knees now, wiping up the water that had dropped from the basin onto the tile.
She didn't hear the tremor in her voice, didn't realize that her tears had mingled with that pool of water on the floor.
I grabbed her by the shoulders and brought her to her feet. Immediately, she tried to drop back to her knees and resume wiping, but I held her firm.
"Romelle, let the nurses take care of that," I said softly. "Stop crying, please."
She looked around helplessly. "But he's so young, Sven. And the doctor said..." She bit her lip, then turned away from me, crossed her arms over her chest and cupped her elbows. "What if he... what if he loses his leg?" She hesitated. "What if..."
"He will be fine. He'll be just fine."
"If he survives, he could have a limp for the rest of his life."
I had warned myself on my first day in Pollux to be careful. Even then, I had known that I could be drawn into relationships I couldn't afford to keep. And the proof that I was right stood trembling before me. I had never seen great fear in her big blue eyes before, had never seen that full lower lip quiver as she struggled to hold back the tears. She had always been in complete control. Seeing her so small and vulnerable, moved me like nothing ever had.
"I would take on his limp, just to have a woman like you caring for me."
In response to her wet-eyed silence, I reached for her arm. "Let's go. We'll ask Bandor to stay with Avok."
"Where are you taking me?"
"You'll see."
"I love the pride whose measure is its own eminence and not the insignificance of someone else." ~Franz Grillparzer
We found Bandor sitting in the hallway. Sven asked him to take care of our brother, and then he took me to the stables. He stepped away to fetch his mount and commented over his shoulder as he gathered the reins. "You need to get away for a while." He led the stallion back to me. "And I know a place that's very peaceful."
I opened my mouth to voice my objection to such a suggestion, but I was abruptly silenced when he swept me up and placed me onto the back of his horse. Swinging up behind me, he gave me no choice but to accept his proposal.
"What if Avok wakes up? I promised not to leave him."
"If you're not aware of it, Romelle, there's a medical staff monitoring your brother. Since you won't listen to Bandor that you should rest, you'll have to come with me."
"Sven, I can't go with you. Put me down."
"I'm not going to argue with you," he replied, kicking the stallion and squelching my protest as the animal leapt forward into a full gallop. I was flung back hard against his chest, and he laid his arm around me, provoking an odd feeling within me. Though I would have openly denied it, I was grateful for the security his body provided.
We rode for a long time, until we stopped over a hill overlooking the castle. Sven slipped easily from his saddle, turned, and lifted me down.
I pulled away from him and folding my arms around myself, said, "Why did you brought me here?"
"Because I want you to calm down."
I gazed at him. Whenever I was near Sven, he had the most extraordinary effect on me. I wanted him in every possible way, yet I knew I couldn't have him. God! I don't know what to do. I don't know what to do about him.
"Have you noticed," I began, "that you always have been present in the most difficult times of my life?"
"Maybe it's our destiny," he said quietly.
We found Bandor sitting in the hallway. Sven asked him to take care of our brother, and then he took me to the stables. He stepped away to fetch his mount and commented over his shoulder as he gathered the reins. "You need to get away for a while." He led the stallion back to me. "And I know a place that's very peaceful."
I opened my mouth to voice my objection to such a suggestion, but I was abruptly silenced when he swept me up and placed me onto the back of his horse. Swinging up behind me, he gave me no choice but to accept his proposal.
"What if Avok wakes up? I promised not to leave him."
"If you're not aware of it, Romelle, there's a medical staff monitoring your brother. Since you won't listen to Bandor that you should rest, you'll have to come with me."
"Sven, I can't go with you. Put me down."
"I'm not going to argue with you," he replied, kicking the stallion and squelching my protest as the animal leapt forward into a full gallop. I was flung back hard against his chest, and he laid his arm around me, provoking an odd feeling within me. Though I would have openly denied it, I was grateful for the security his body provided.
We rode for a long time, until we stopped over a hill overlooking the castle. Sven slipped easily from his saddle, turned, and lifted me down.
I pulled away from him and folding my arms around myself, said, "Why did you brought me here?"
"Because I want you to calm down."
I gazed at him. Whenever I was near Sven, he had the most extraordinary effect on me. I wanted him in every possible way, yet I knew I couldn't have him. God! I don't know what to do. I don't know what to do about him.
"Have you noticed," I began, "that you always have been present in the most difficult times of my life?"
"Maybe it's our destiny," he said quietly.
My eyes were riveted on Romelle. She was half turned away from me, so I was seeing her partly in profile, and I was struck yet again by her beauty. There was a great deal of strength there, and yet she was the most feminine and vulnerable woman I had ever met. I wanted to protect her and cherish her.
I love her. I had fallen for her the first time we met. I have a terrible urge to take her in my arms and kiss her passionately. I want to tell her exactly how I feel about her.
But I don't dare. It takes all of my self-restraint to remain in my place.
Romelle turned around. Taken by surprise, I gaped at her.
"Are you all right, Sven?"
"Yes. I'm so sorry about your brother."
She averted her gaze. "It has been one of the most painful moments of my life. What he must have suffered!"
"I'm sure he's going to have a quick recovery surrounded by the love of his family."
She glanced around. "I still don't understand why you brought me here."
"Don't say anything, just enjoy this wonderful evening."
We looked onto the heavens, the beautiful stars shining above. Soon we found Arus, the twin planet of Pollux.
"When I was little boy back in Oslo, my parents and I would go out and gaze at the night sky. They would tell me the names of the planets and constellations, and I promised myself that someday I would visit those stars. That's why I became a space explorer."
"What a beautiful memory."
I glanced at her. "I don't know why, but I needed to share this with you."
She lowered her gaze. "I don't have a lot of happy memories of my parents. When my mother died, my father sent Avok to military school on planet Odense. When father asked him to return home, I thought we were going to be a family once again, but soon I found out the real reason."
"What was that reason?"
"It's so hard for me to say this," she breathed.
"Do it Romelle," I pleaded, placing my hands on her shoulders and turning her around to face me. "If what you're feeling right now is causing that sadness in your eyes, you have to release it."
She looked into my eyes. "Your eyes have to shine again," I said, and glanced skywards and then back to her. "Like those stars."
"Maybe after I tell you the truth, you will change your opinion of me."
I shook my head. "No. Nothing could do that."
"I had promised myself not to talk about this, but I can't do it anymore. If I don't tell someone, I feel that I'm going to explode."
"Please, tell me."
She took a deep breath. "My father used us for his plans of conquest. He convinced my brother to turn into a robeast to defeat Voltron, and Bandor and I stayed in Doom to keep him informed about Avok's progress, and to show he trusted Zarkon and Lotor. He knew it wouldn't be an easy task, but said that if anyone could pull it off, it would be me."
I winced. How could a father do that to his own flesh and blood? Treat them like a piece of property?
"I was so touched by his words of praise, that I couldn't say no. My family means everything to me." Her voice caught and she bit her lip. "But sometimes, I hate my father for what he did to us, and all because of a stupid family feud."
Romelle had started to cry. I couldn't bear to see her sad and suffering, and instinctively pulled her to me and wrapped my arms around her. I'd have shifted heaven and earth at that moment to give her the solace she sought- to find the words to assure her that everything would be all right.
But I had no such power, and I knew it, so I just held her tightly.
"You mustn't feel bad. You didn't do anything wrong. You're only responsible for your own actions, not your father's."
She drew back from me. "Yes, but just imagining what father and Zarkon would have done to my cousin's planet-"
"But Keith and the rest were able to stop them with Voltron."
"Can't you understand?" she asked, her voice quivering, "Whether we like it or not, what our parents do, marks us forever."
"Don't say that, King Cova has paid for his mistakes. You're young, beautiful, and noble, that's what you should see in yourself." She leaned her head on my chest and I embraced her. "Romelle, you shouldn't carry that heavy burden on your shoulders."
She nodded against my chest. I could feel her warm tears seeping through the fabric of my tunic. I held her at arm's length and, for a moment, just looked at her. Her long, dark lashes were spiked with tears.
With the pad of my thumb, I tenderly brushed the dampness away.
"I know it's going to be hard, but life goes on. Your brother will recover completely, and will return to his duties as commander of your army. And rest assured, Princess Allura and the Voltron Force will be there for you."
She blinked, and the first hint of a smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. "I don't know why or how, but it feels good to be here with you."
"Thank you," I answered, deeply touched by her words.
"It's incredible, but I had never opened up to anybody like this, not even with my ladies in waiting."
I gave her a disbelieving look. "Not even with your brothers?"
She shook her head. "No- I didn't want them to worry about me," she replied shyly. "It's funny, but with you I'm not afraid to feel weak, vulnerable, scared."
I smiled at her. "I feel the same way. I'm happy to help you, to be with you." Then I chuckled softly. "And you have to admit that we have had some rough times."
She gave a nervous laugh. "You're right."
I gazed at her parted lips. "But like I said before, it might be our destiny."
She reached up and stroked my face with her slim fingers. "I don't know what I would have done without your help, Sven. Thank you."
And without a second thought, I brought my mouth down to hers and she sighed. As my hands tightened on her shoulders and my tongue found hers, her sigh became a little moan and I lost myself to her, shuddering when she dug her fingers into my back.
I was struggling to hold back, but I could feel my need for her rising. I changed the angle of the kiss and took it deeper, deeper, until I was nearly devouring her. The sound of her breath hitching and her little whimpers of pleasure were driving me mad.
I love her. I had fallen for her the first time we met. I have a terrible urge to take her in my arms and kiss her passionately. I want to tell her exactly how I feel about her.
But I don't dare. It takes all of my self-restraint to remain in my place.
Romelle turned around. Taken by surprise, I gaped at her.
"Are you all right, Sven?"
"Yes. I'm so sorry about your brother."
She averted her gaze. "It has been one of the most painful moments of my life. What he must have suffered!"
"I'm sure he's going to have a quick recovery surrounded by the love of his family."
She glanced around. "I still don't understand why you brought me here."
"Don't say anything, just enjoy this wonderful evening."
We looked onto the heavens, the beautiful stars shining above. Soon we found Arus, the twin planet of Pollux.
"When I was little boy back in Oslo, my parents and I would go out and gaze at the night sky. They would tell me the names of the planets and constellations, and I promised myself that someday I would visit those stars. That's why I became a space explorer."
"What a beautiful memory."
I glanced at her. "I don't know why, but I needed to share this with you."
She lowered her gaze. "I don't have a lot of happy memories of my parents. When my mother died, my father sent Avok to military school on planet Odense. When father asked him to return home, I thought we were going to be a family once again, but soon I found out the real reason."
"What was that reason?"
"It's so hard for me to say this," she breathed.
"Do it Romelle," I pleaded, placing my hands on her shoulders and turning her around to face me. "If what you're feeling right now is causing that sadness in your eyes, you have to release it."
She looked into my eyes. "Your eyes have to shine again," I said, and glanced skywards and then back to her. "Like those stars."
"Maybe after I tell you the truth, you will change your opinion of me."
I shook my head. "No. Nothing could do that."
"I had promised myself not to talk about this, but I can't do it anymore. If I don't tell someone, I feel that I'm going to explode."
"Please, tell me."
She took a deep breath. "My father used us for his plans of conquest. He convinced my brother to turn into a robeast to defeat Voltron, and Bandor and I stayed in Doom to keep him informed about Avok's progress, and to show he trusted Zarkon and Lotor. He knew it wouldn't be an easy task, but said that if anyone could pull it off, it would be me."
I winced. How could a father do that to his own flesh and blood? Treat them like a piece of property?
"I was so touched by his words of praise, that I couldn't say no. My family means everything to me." Her voice caught and she bit her lip. "But sometimes, I hate my father for what he did to us, and all because of a stupid family feud."
Romelle had started to cry. I couldn't bear to see her sad and suffering, and instinctively pulled her to me and wrapped my arms around her. I'd have shifted heaven and earth at that moment to give her the solace she sought- to find the words to assure her that everything would be all right.
But I had no such power, and I knew it, so I just held her tightly.
"You mustn't feel bad. You didn't do anything wrong. You're only responsible for your own actions, not your father's."
She drew back from me. "Yes, but just imagining what father and Zarkon would have done to my cousin's planet-"
"But Keith and the rest were able to stop them with Voltron."
"Can't you understand?" she asked, her voice quivering, "Whether we like it or not, what our parents do, marks us forever."
"Don't say that, King Cova has paid for his mistakes. You're young, beautiful, and noble, that's what you should see in yourself." She leaned her head on my chest and I embraced her. "Romelle, you shouldn't carry that heavy burden on your shoulders."
She nodded against my chest. I could feel her warm tears seeping through the fabric of my tunic. I held her at arm's length and, for a moment, just looked at her. Her long, dark lashes were spiked with tears.
With the pad of my thumb, I tenderly brushed the dampness away.
"I know it's going to be hard, but life goes on. Your brother will recover completely, and will return to his duties as commander of your army. And rest assured, Princess Allura and the Voltron Force will be there for you."
She blinked, and the first hint of a smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. "I don't know why or how, but it feels good to be here with you."
"Thank you," I answered, deeply touched by her words.
"It's incredible, but I had never opened up to anybody like this, not even with my ladies in waiting."
I gave her a disbelieving look. "Not even with your brothers?"
She shook her head. "No- I didn't want them to worry about me," she replied shyly. "It's funny, but with you I'm not afraid to feel weak, vulnerable, scared."
I smiled at her. "I feel the same way. I'm happy to help you, to be with you." Then I chuckled softly. "And you have to admit that we have had some rough times."
She gave a nervous laugh. "You're right."
I gazed at her parted lips. "But like I said before, it might be our destiny."
She reached up and stroked my face with her slim fingers. "I don't know what I would have done without your help, Sven. Thank you."
And without a second thought, I brought my mouth down to hers and she sighed. As my hands tightened on her shoulders and my tongue found hers, her sigh became a little moan and I lost myself to her, shuddering when she dug her fingers into my back.
I was struggling to hold back, but I could feel my need for her rising. I changed the angle of the kiss and took it deeper, deeper, until I was nearly devouring her. The sound of her breath hitching and her little whimpers of pleasure were driving me mad.
Sweet heaven, what was happening to me? My flesh was on fire. And that was nothing compared with the fire raging inside me. My blood flowing through my veins was like a river of lava.
I couldn't seem to catch my breath. My throat was too tight. And these feelings were taking me down. Feelings I had never known before... a strange yearning to lie with Sven and let him kiss me and touch me and do with me as he pleased. I knew instinctively that his kiss would be sweet, and not filled with violence like those I had endured from Lotor.
Oh, if only he would stay with me forever.
Sven tore away from my lips and took a deep breath, struggling for control.
"Forgive me!"
"Sven-"
"You must find me repulsive for taking advantage of the situation."
I frowned at his words. "I don't find you repulsive, Sven. Far from it."
He cupped my face in his large hands and stared at me. His blue eyes were dark and pain-filled. "Do you want me to take you-" he swallowed hard. "Back to the castle?"
"Yes, please."
He brought me over to his stallion and lifted me up onto the saddle. He swung himself up behind me, one arm going protectively about my waist, the other gathering the reins into his hand.
I said nothing as we rode. I was too embarrassed by my girlish reaction. As hard as I tried, I couldn't forget the touch of his lips. I couldn't deny it any longer, I was in love with Sven, and even if he didn't love me, it would make no difference. I loved him, and that was all there was to it.
I couldn't seem to catch my breath. My throat was too tight. And these feelings were taking me down. Feelings I had never known before... a strange yearning to lie with Sven and let him kiss me and touch me and do with me as he pleased. I knew instinctively that his kiss would be sweet, and not filled with violence like those I had endured from Lotor.
Oh, if only he would stay with me forever.
Sven tore away from my lips and took a deep breath, struggling for control.
"Forgive me!"
"Sven-"
"You must find me repulsive for taking advantage of the situation."
I frowned at his words. "I don't find you repulsive, Sven. Far from it."
He cupped my face in his large hands and stared at me. His blue eyes were dark and pain-filled. "Do you want me to take you-" he swallowed hard. "Back to the castle?"
"Yes, please."
He brought me over to his stallion and lifted me up onto the saddle. He swung himself up behind me, one arm going protectively about my waist, the other gathering the reins into his hand.
I said nothing as we rode. I was too embarrassed by my girlish reaction. As hard as I tried, I couldn't forget the touch of his lips. I couldn't deny it any longer, I was in love with Sven, and even if he didn't love me, it would make no difference. I loved him, and that was all there was to it.
I had managed to get away. Barely. Another minute and I would have taken Romelle right there like an animal. Though I wanted to be strong for both of us, the truth was, I was a mere man. And she was all I desired.
Many girls threw themselves at me in the academy. And since becoming a space explorer, I had been offered the charms of many women, who merely wished to fill a few lonely hours. But in my heart I craved something more. I've seen the love between my parents, a love brighter than the sun, and I would never settle for less.
Never in my life had I tasted anything as sweet as Romelle´s lips. After that kiss, I realized that I really loved her, and I wanted her to love me. How did a man go about making a woman love him?
I had never felt this for any other woman... not even for Allura.
With Romelle, I have found all I was searching for. There was such sweetness in her. Yes. If truth were told, I wanted- more than anything in the world- to satisfy my need and bury myself in her.
What if I shared these emotions with her, and she didn't reciprocate? Would that spoil our friendship?
Romelle was not a woman to feign sentiments she didn't feel. She was honest and unspoiled. If I told her I loved her and she couldn't return my love, she would say so. But the thought that she might not love me was the one thing that kept me from declaring myself.
I have nothing to offer her. All I know is what I feel when I hold her like this and the way I feel every time she looks at me.
We were bound to pay for this night. But I'll make sure I pay the lion's share of it. No one will hurt the princess for what she has given me.
I will make sure of it.
Many girls threw themselves at me in the academy. And since becoming a space explorer, I had been offered the charms of many women, who merely wished to fill a few lonely hours. But in my heart I craved something more. I've seen the love between my parents, a love brighter than the sun, and I would never settle for less.
Never in my life had I tasted anything as sweet as Romelle´s lips. After that kiss, I realized that I really loved her, and I wanted her to love me. How did a man go about making a woman love him?
I had never felt this for any other woman... not even for Allura.
With Romelle, I have found all I was searching for. There was such sweetness in her. Yes. If truth were told, I wanted- more than anything in the world- to satisfy my need and bury myself in her.
What if I shared these emotions with her, and she didn't reciprocate? Would that spoil our friendship?
Romelle was not a woman to feign sentiments she didn't feel. She was honest and unspoiled. If I told her I loved her and she couldn't return my love, she would say so. But the thought that she might not love me was the one thing that kept me from declaring myself.
I have nothing to offer her. All I know is what I feel when I hold her like this and the way I feel every time she looks at me.
We were bound to pay for this night. But I'll make sure I pay the lion's share of it. No one will hurt the princess for what she has given me.
I will make sure of it.
"Pride is the mask of one's own faults." ~Jewish Proverb
After the picnic, I was cajoled into removing my T-shirt to receive a soothing back massage. I lay sprawled in the center of the blanket- one hand tucked beneath my head- gazing at the stars.
I shifted to look at Allura. She lay nestled against me, head cradled on my shoulder, her arm draped across my chest.
I wrapped a curl of golden hair around my finger.
During these months of constant battle, I had almost forgotten the placid life of the countryside, where intergalactic upheavals, the misery of war, even the growing political chaos surrounding the inclusion of the Gabelston Empire to the Alliance, seemed as far away as Terra across the universe.
I'll never regret my years in the military, though I know that until my dying day I will remain appalled at the devastation and the waste of life I have seen. Still, I wonder if I would readily give up the disciplined life to which I have grown accustomed had it not been for Allura.
Now, I'm embarking on the career of prince consort. Though objectively it seems like a rather boring prospect, I can't imagine it being so with Ally beside me, with our sons and daughters.
I released her hair and watched the curl I had wound over my finger spring back over my hand.
She awoke from a light sleep and raised her head from my shoulder, and I gazed down at her lovely face, a face whose expressions I had come to know quite as well as my own.
"What's wrong, love?" she asked, raising her fingertips to my lips. "Does your shoulder still hurt?"
I lightly nibbled her fingers and shifted her in my arms. "No pain at all, thanks to you. Actually, I was trying to decide if I prefer a boy or a girl as our first child."
She laughed softly. "Well, I've dreamed about having a boy with your hair and your eyes."
I couldn't stop looking at her mouth. "I'll work on that if you promise not to fall asleep in my company, at least until after we are married. If you find me so boring now, I don't want to think how you will treat me a year from now."
"A year from now, we will not be restricted by ridiculous codes of propriety." She sat and her small hand smoothed itself over my chest, then my shoulders. Running down my arms, her fingers touched and stopped on a short, but thick scar upon my upper arm near my Doom skull tattoo- a constant reminder of my brief captivity.
"A souvenir from my first duel with Lotor," I told her, catching her hand up to kiss the palm.
"And this one?" The pad of her forefinger rested at the crest of a longer narrower scar upon my shoulder.
"When I tried to rescue Romelle and Bandor from Lotor on Planet Neeva."
"Hmm... both wounds are on the same side. You leave yourself open there. If you don't change your fighting habits, you could lose your life through such carelessness one day."
"You're right," I said softly. My body was beginning to burn with my longing for her. I pulled us both to our feet. I was straining against my jeans and I turned away from her to get control of myself. She knew perfectly well the effect her touch had on me.
"And you, Keith," I heard her say from behind me, "if you can't stand to look upon me before we are married, will you force me to wear a paper bag over my head after a year?"
"If you promise to wear nothing else."
She laughed in delight, and I pictured the dimples deepening on either side of her mouth. I turned around; my desire for the moment calmed, to see her standing close to me, her blue eyes sparkling majestically. She was wearing a red napkin top, jeans and blue sneakers.
"You're beautiful, Ally."
She gave me a dazzling smile. "And you, Keith, are the most handsome man I've ever known." She inspected me closely, from head to toe. "I cannot decide what I admire more of you, your height or your-" She cocked her head to one side.
"My height or...?"
"Or your beautiful brown eyes," she said promptly. She placed her fingertips gently on my cheek. "I suppose many girls have told you that."
"Perhaps one or two, but it meant very little to me. What did mean a great deal to me was that you waited for me all these years. Many times I wonder what you were doing, while I was in the Academy."
"And now that you are here with me, Keith, many times I have the feeling that you're not being altogether honest with me. I can't grasp what your life was like before coming to Arus."
"I can only tell you that military life didn't bear much resemblance to the exploits I heard of in the Academy. There is never much satisfaction in dispatching another being to his maker. Now, what did Nanny say about me taking you to Terra?"
She had been frowning thoughtfully over my words, but at the mention of her governess, her eyes twinkled. "Poor Nanny, she wanted to go with me, but she can hardly turn you away. She will come around, you'll see. I think she expects me to snare a king or a prince on this trip."
"You and one of those pompous princes? Over my dead body!"
I felt her fingers close over mine and saw that she was looking up at me, a warm smile on her lips. Then I leisurely admired the soft blush on the creamy skin of her cheeks, the slim straight nose, and the delicately formed lips, which seemed to ask the touch of my own.
I watched her as one might observe a red rose, awed by its delicate beauty.
The dark, heavy lashes fluttered downward self-consciously as I continued to stare, trying to still the desire in my body. I have played the gentleman for the past two years, while my desire for her burned like a well-banked fire at my core.
The night is hushed and still around us. There's no imminent threat upon us. Maybe I could appease this need...
Slowly, I eased myself down on the blanket, and held my hand out to her.
She dropped to her knees beside me, letting me pull her into my arms. I circled her chin with my fingers, tilting her face to me so I could look into her eyes. They were huge and dark in the pale light, full of tenderness and excitement.
After the picnic, I was cajoled into removing my T-shirt to receive a soothing back massage. I lay sprawled in the center of the blanket- one hand tucked beneath my head- gazing at the stars.
I shifted to look at Allura. She lay nestled against me, head cradled on my shoulder, her arm draped across my chest.
I wrapped a curl of golden hair around my finger.
During these months of constant battle, I had almost forgotten the placid life of the countryside, where intergalactic upheavals, the misery of war, even the growing political chaos surrounding the inclusion of the Gabelston Empire to the Alliance, seemed as far away as Terra across the universe.
I'll never regret my years in the military, though I know that until my dying day I will remain appalled at the devastation and the waste of life I have seen. Still, I wonder if I would readily give up the disciplined life to which I have grown accustomed had it not been for Allura.
Now, I'm embarking on the career of prince consort. Though objectively it seems like a rather boring prospect, I can't imagine it being so with Ally beside me, with our sons and daughters.
I released her hair and watched the curl I had wound over my finger spring back over my hand.
She awoke from a light sleep and raised her head from my shoulder, and I gazed down at her lovely face, a face whose expressions I had come to know quite as well as my own.
"What's wrong, love?" she asked, raising her fingertips to my lips. "Does your shoulder still hurt?"
I lightly nibbled her fingers and shifted her in my arms. "No pain at all, thanks to you. Actually, I was trying to decide if I prefer a boy or a girl as our first child."
She laughed softly. "Well, I've dreamed about having a boy with your hair and your eyes."
I couldn't stop looking at her mouth. "I'll work on that if you promise not to fall asleep in my company, at least until after we are married. If you find me so boring now, I don't want to think how you will treat me a year from now."
"A year from now, we will not be restricted by ridiculous codes of propriety." She sat and her small hand smoothed itself over my chest, then my shoulders. Running down my arms, her fingers touched and stopped on a short, but thick scar upon my upper arm near my Doom skull tattoo- a constant reminder of my brief captivity.
"A souvenir from my first duel with Lotor," I told her, catching her hand up to kiss the palm.
"And this one?" The pad of her forefinger rested at the crest of a longer narrower scar upon my shoulder.
"When I tried to rescue Romelle and Bandor from Lotor on Planet Neeva."
"Hmm... both wounds are on the same side. You leave yourself open there. If you don't change your fighting habits, you could lose your life through such carelessness one day."
"You're right," I said softly. My body was beginning to burn with my longing for her. I pulled us both to our feet. I was straining against my jeans and I turned away from her to get control of myself. She knew perfectly well the effect her touch had on me.
"And you, Keith," I heard her say from behind me, "if you can't stand to look upon me before we are married, will you force me to wear a paper bag over my head after a year?"
"If you promise to wear nothing else."
She laughed in delight, and I pictured the dimples deepening on either side of her mouth. I turned around; my desire for the moment calmed, to see her standing close to me, her blue eyes sparkling majestically. She was wearing a red napkin top, jeans and blue sneakers.
"You're beautiful, Ally."
She gave me a dazzling smile. "And you, Keith, are the most handsome man I've ever known." She inspected me closely, from head to toe. "I cannot decide what I admire more of you, your height or your-" She cocked her head to one side.
"My height or...?"
"Or your beautiful brown eyes," she said promptly. She placed her fingertips gently on my cheek. "I suppose many girls have told you that."
"Perhaps one or two, but it meant very little to me. What did mean a great deal to me was that you waited for me all these years. Many times I wonder what you were doing, while I was in the Academy."
"And now that you are here with me, Keith, many times I have the feeling that you're not being altogether honest with me. I can't grasp what your life was like before coming to Arus."
"I can only tell you that military life didn't bear much resemblance to the exploits I heard of in the Academy. There is never much satisfaction in dispatching another being to his maker. Now, what did Nanny say about me taking you to Terra?"
She had been frowning thoughtfully over my words, but at the mention of her governess, her eyes twinkled. "Poor Nanny, she wanted to go with me, but she can hardly turn you away. She will come around, you'll see. I think she expects me to snare a king or a prince on this trip."
"You and one of those pompous princes? Over my dead body!"
I felt her fingers close over mine and saw that she was looking up at me, a warm smile on her lips. Then I leisurely admired the soft blush on the creamy skin of her cheeks, the slim straight nose, and the delicately formed lips, which seemed to ask the touch of my own.
I watched her as one might observe a red rose, awed by its delicate beauty.
The dark, heavy lashes fluttered downward self-consciously as I continued to stare, trying to still the desire in my body. I have played the gentleman for the past two years, while my desire for her burned like a well-banked fire at my core.
The night is hushed and still around us. There's no imminent threat upon us. Maybe I could appease this need...
Slowly, I eased myself down on the blanket, and held my hand out to her.
She dropped to her knees beside me, letting me pull her into my arms. I circled her chin with my fingers, tilting her face to me so I could look into her eyes. They were huge and dark in the pale light, full of tenderness and excitement.
Keith's hand fell to my shoulder. I glanced up at him and found a slightly perplexed and thoughtful frown on his face. The warmth and comfort of his arms was making me drowsy, and I leaned my head back in the crook of his elbow. With half-closed eyes, I saw him laying his long bronzed fingers alongside my jaw and slowly turned my face to his. His shadow, cast by the orange glow of the light sticks covered me, and then his lips were upon mine, moving slowly and fanning fires that only he could kindle.
My hand crept up to caress his corded neck, and he pulled away.
As I gasped for breath, he sat frowning angrily at the ground. The pounding of my heart refused to slow, and my trembling hands urged him back, my lips brushing against his.
He sighed heavily. "Allura... we must wait."
"Why? Aren't you going to be my husband?"
"No- yes...dammit," he said harshly. "I have not spoken to Coran. And though your father has given us his blessing, I want to follow the rules."
"But I don't want to follow the rules," I whispered.
To my satisfaction, his honorable intentions crumbled, and he pulled me roughly against him as his kiss deepened. I shivered as his mouth left mine and traced a warm path over my cheek, my brow, and then paused to gently press my eyelids, which I closed and waited for his touch.
Keith has played out his hand with patience for the past two years, but now it is waning before the tumult of our passions, his worries about propriety replaced by his growing need.
A shocked gasp escaped from my throat as his hand cupped the fullness of my breast. His arm cradled my head and I stared at him aghast, and then his lips covered mine. I felt my breasts swell and harden; my nipples grew hard even before he slid his hand underneath my top. The heat of his caress flared through me, setting fire to every nerve.
There was a slight tugging behind my back, and my top fell loose. My eyes grew wide as he freed my breasts, and then my senses erupted in a fiery blaze as his hand brushed away the fabric and moved upon my naked skin.
I turned away in a feeble attempt to escape his passion and cool my own desires, but he followed, drawing me back and half lifting me against him. The cry that came to my throat became a moan that he took away with a kiss. His parted lips slanted across mine and devoured me with such ferocity that gave evidence of his starved senses.
Thorough my jeans, I felt the fierce hardness of him. An almost painful heat was building between my thighs, and digging my fingers into his back, I pressed my body so tightly against him that I could feel his erection.
He pulled back and looked down at me, letting his eyes roam my heated cheeks and my breasts. I immediately felt pride in my body at the pleasure I could see in his gaze.
Through my mouth opened, no words formed, and I could only stare up at him, helplessly caught in the web of my own desire. I felt his hand slipping to cup me through my jeans, pressing it, as he muttered hoarse, unintelligible words, pressed fevered kisses along my throat.
The heat of his mouth on my breast was a sudden shock that made me catch my breath, and my fingers threaded through the dark hair that ended in waves at his nape.
My muscles had suddenly gone soft. My breasts felt heavy, and I felt moisture gathering between my legs.
His arm slipped around my knees and lifted my legs across his. I gave a small gasp as his hand pressed into my belly, and then sliding lower under my jeans he must have gotten unzipped at some point.
"Keith..."
He slid his hand under my panties. "I won't hurt you, Allura. I'm going to make you feel good, that's all. I'm going to look at you... and touch you..."
A tremor went through me as his hand slid to the junction between my thighs, touching me where no other had ever dared. His brown eyes glowed intently above mine, as his caress grew bolder. He gasped as he felt how wet and soft I was. I accommodated him, pushing against his palm. His finger slid into me, and his thumb continued rubbing me relentlessly.
I caught my breath and stared at him in surprise, as the strange sensations leapt through me, setting my whole body on fire.
"Keith... what-"
"Allura, let yourself go," he said gruffly.
A delicious shudder went through me as I curled against him and I felt his lips against my hair, heard my name hoarsely whispered...
My hand crept up to caress his corded neck, and he pulled away.
As I gasped for breath, he sat frowning angrily at the ground. The pounding of my heart refused to slow, and my trembling hands urged him back, my lips brushing against his.
He sighed heavily. "Allura... we must wait."
"Why? Aren't you going to be my husband?"
"No- yes...dammit," he said harshly. "I have not spoken to Coran. And though your father has given us his blessing, I want to follow the rules."
"But I don't want to follow the rules," I whispered.
To my satisfaction, his honorable intentions crumbled, and he pulled me roughly against him as his kiss deepened. I shivered as his mouth left mine and traced a warm path over my cheek, my brow, and then paused to gently press my eyelids, which I closed and waited for his touch.
Keith has played out his hand with patience for the past two years, but now it is waning before the tumult of our passions, his worries about propriety replaced by his growing need.
A shocked gasp escaped from my throat as his hand cupped the fullness of my breast. His arm cradled my head and I stared at him aghast, and then his lips covered mine. I felt my breasts swell and harden; my nipples grew hard even before he slid his hand underneath my top. The heat of his caress flared through me, setting fire to every nerve.
There was a slight tugging behind my back, and my top fell loose. My eyes grew wide as he freed my breasts, and then my senses erupted in a fiery blaze as his hand brushed away the fabric and moved upon my naked skin.
I turned away in a feeble attempt to escape his passion and cool my own desires, but he followed, drawing me back and half lifting me against him. The cry that came to my throat became a moan that he took away with a kiss. His parted lips slanted across mine and devoured me with such ferocity that gave evidence of his starved senses.
Thorough my jeans, I felt the fierce hardness of him. An almost painful heat was building between my thighs, and digging my fingers into his back, I pressed my body so tightly against him that I could feel his erection.
He pulled back and looked down at me, letting his eyes roam my heated cheeks and my breasts. I immediately felt pride in my body at the pleasure I could see in his gaze.
Through my mouth opened, no words formed, and I could only stare up at him, helplessly caught in the web of my own desire. I felt his hand slipping to cup me through my jeans, pressing it, as he muttered hoarse, unintelligible words, pressed fevered kisses along my throat.
The heat of his mouth on my breast was a sudden shock that made me catch my breath, and my fingers threaded through the dark hair that ended in waves at his nape.
My muscles had suddenly gone soft. My breasts felt heavy, and I felt moisture gathering between my legs.
His arm slipped around my knees and lifted my legs across his. I gave a small gasp as his hand pressed into my belly, and then sliding lower under my jeans he must have gotten unzipped at some point.
"Keith..."
He slid his hand under my panties. "I won't hurt you, Allura. I'm going to make you feel good, that's all. I'm going to look at you... and touch you..."
A tremor went through me as his hand slid to the junction between my thighs, touching me where no other had ever dared. His brown eyes glowed intently above mine, as his caress grew bolder. He gasped as he felt how wet and soft I was. I accommodated him, pushing against his palm. His finger slid into me, and his thumb continued rubbing me relentlessly.
I caught my breath and stared at him in surprise, as the strange sensations leapt through me, setting my whole body on fire.
"Keith... what-"
"Allura, let yourself go," he said gruffly.
A delicious shudder went through me as I curled against him and I felt his lips against my hair, heard my name hoarsely whispered...
I smiled down at Nanny while we drank linden tea in my study.
"Come on, Margaret, Keith is a very responsible young man. He will protect Her Highness."
"She is twenty-three, Coran. But still behaves like a fifteen-year old. The dashing commander arrives to the castle, dripping with countless stories of his exploits, no doubt, and she fawns over him."
"You are off the mark there, Margaret. I know Allura, she is only trying to be courteous. It is certainly not as if Keith were a stranger. After all, he has been with us for the past two years."
"But, Master Coran." She drew in an appalled breath, almost dropping her cup.
"Now, Nanny, I spoke with His Majesty. He wanted Keith to accompany his daughter to Terra. He trusts him completely, and I feel the same way. There is nothing to be afraid of. He is the perfect gentleman."
She groaned and took several perturbed steps about the room. "I hope you are right, Coran. I really hope you are right."
"Come on, Margaret, Keith is a very responsible young man. He will protect Her Highness."
"She is twenty-three, Coran. But still behaves like a fifteen-year old. The dashing commander arrives to the castle, dripping with countless stories of his exploits, no doubt, and she fawns over him."
"You are off the mark there, Margaret. I know Allura, she is only trying to be courteous. It is certainly not as if Keith were a stranger. After all, he has been with us for the past two years."
"But, Master Coran." She drew in an appalled breath, almost dropping her cup.
"Now, Nanny, I spoke with His Majesty. He wanted Keith to accompany his daughter to Terra. He trusts him completely, and I feel the same way. There is nothing to be afraid of. He is the perfect gentleman."
She groaned and took several perturbed steps about the room. "I hope you are right, Coran. I really hope you are right."
I opened my eyes slowly, drowsily. Keith smiled down at me, touching his finger gently to my nose. I blinked to bring him into focus. His dark eyes couldn't hide his pride because he knew he had pleased me.
"How are you feeling?"
Smiling, I reached up and gently traced the hard line of his jaw. "Wonderful," I murmured. "I'd never dreamed it could be so beautiful."
He captured my hand, brought it to his mouth for a kiss, then laced his fingers through mine and gave them a light squeeze. There was truly nothing more sublime than having him like this. I looked down to see our entwined hands. Scars marred his knuckles and stood against the darkness of his skin.
"But you haven't... you haven't finished, have you?" I asked, lifting his hand up to my lips so that I could kiss his scars.
He chuckled softly. "That's enough for me, Allura."
"But you said this night would be special."
"We have to take it slow."
"But it's your turn now." And I placed a hand over the bulge in his pants and squeezed gently.
A growl escaped from his throat, and his hand shackled my wrist, holding my palm against him. "What are you doing?"
"I want to give you pleasure. If you move a little, I can reach the zipper-"
"No," his whisper warned softly. "You don't have to do anything for me tonight."
"But, it's not fair-"
I stared to protest, but his finger came across my lips. "Very soon, I will give a chance to do with me as you please."
Shaken by his response, I hurriedly fumbled with my clothes. I turned aside to hide my nakedness from him.
Moments later, his hands came to assist, fastening the ties of my top. "I'll be all right, promise," he breathed, dropping a kiss upon my nape. "This is only the beginning."
I glanced at him, realizing that he meant every word he said. Then he gazed at the sky for a long moment and heaved a heavy sigh.
I studied his strong, proud profile, outlined in the orange glow. His dark hair flapped up and down on his forehead in the wind, and he raised his forefinger to smooth it down. He released his breath in a halting sigh and straightened, pulling me up with him.
"We must go back."
"I love you, Keith."
He smiled. "And I love you, Allura. I want you to be my friend, my lover, my wife. I want your happiness."
"If you really want my happiness, then you must grant me a simple request."
His dark eyes narrowed on my face, but his voice remained soft. "What is it?"
"Take me to San Diego."
"Why do you want to go back?"
"To visit Saint Mary's Academy, the place where we met and fell in love nine years ago."
"You're going to be too busy to concern yourself about our school. There's your speech, you know, and then we'll be in those workshops with the dignitaries."
I frowned at him, but just for an instant. "I've have read the schedule, and there's a couple of days off that we could spend in San Diego, sight-seeing, shopping, and-"
"Visiting my father?" I felt his pain through the sudden harshness in his voice.
"Yes."
"The answer is no, Allura."
I pulled away from him. "Keith, you have not spoken to him for the last nine years. Are you afraid that he won't allow us into your home?"
"I admit that it would be awkward for him to see the ruler of Arus arriving unannounced," he said calmly, his voice now devoid of gentleness.
"At least let me speak to him. Maybe I could convince him to meet us."
He sighed deeply. "The answer is still no. I will not give Kenneth Lyons a chance to insult the girl I love."
"How can you profess your love for me when you will not allow me to help you? If you want us to be happy, then you must forgive your father. Let's go to San Diego."
"No."
I shoved him, the palm of my hand hard against his chest. "Do you think it is your God-given right to order me around? Let me tell you something, commander. I cannot and I will not give in to your childish games."
"Childish games?" He asked, anger breaking the calm impassiveness of his voice. "I don't play games!"
"Then promise me that we'll visit your father."
He reached for his T-shirt. "He's my problem, not yours."
"You're being unreasonable, Keith."
His eyes appeared black in the soft light, almost as black as his arched brows and his thick hair. "Do not bring this up again," he said it without expression, as if my pleading was not of paramount importance.
"It's obvious that you don't trust me, though there is little basis for your fears. No marriage can work without the foundation of trust. And if I can't have it, then I can't remain by your side."
"What are you saying?" He demanded.
"If you find yourself unable to give me your trust, then I will be forced to break off our engagement."
For one moment, Keith was so still that I wondered if he yet breathed, then he shook his head in unconcealed vexation. "You're talking nonsense and you well know it! Do you really think that another man could handle a spoiled little princess like you?"
I lifted my chin at his insult, looking him straight in the eye. "There a quite a few, I assure you. Lotor, for starters." It seemed to me that he blanched in the darkness but I could not be sure.
"You would take someone else rather than accepting my so-called flaws?"
I steadfastly ignored the catch in his voice. "Should you be unable to trust me, I would have no choice," I maintained quietly, watching as Keith's lips thinned to a harsh line and he lifted his gaze to the distant horizon.
"We will speak more of this later." He asserted.
I shook my head. "There's nothing more to discuss." I told him, turning to grab my jacket to hide my expression as the realization of what I had done washed over me. He needed to be spoken to harshly to make him understand. But he had said nothing to reassure me; he had not even vowed to try to meet my demand.
He was a fool, I thought, stubbornly refusing to turn back to him. I would not apologize for speaking my mind.
When our communicators went off almost simultaneously, we reached for them in tandem. In my case, it was Coran and with Keith it was Lance, informing us that my cousin Avok had reappeared on Pollux, and Sven had taken him to the castle.
Keith and I gazed at each other, and a silent agreement to postpone further discussion passed between us. Our friends needed us now, possibly more than ever.
"How are you feeling?"
Smiling, I reached up and gently traced the hard line of his jaw. "Wonderful," I murmured. "I'd never dreamed it could be so beautiful."
He captured my hand, brought it to his mouth for a kiss, then laced his fingers through mine and gave them a light squeeze. There was truly nothing more sublime than having him like this. I looked down to see our entwined hands. Scars marred his knuckles and stood against the darkness of his skin.
"But you haven't... you haven't finished, have you?" I asked, lifting his hand up to my lips so that I could kiss his scars.
He chuckled softly. "That's enough for me, Allura."
"But you said this night would be special."
"We have to take it slow."
"But it's your turn now." And I placed a hand over the bulge in his pants and squeezed gently.
A growl escaped from his throat, and his hand shackled my wrist, holding my palm against him. "What are you doing?"
"I want to give you pleasure. If you move a little, I can reach the zipper-"
"No," his whisper warned softly. "You don't have to do anything for me tonight."
"But, it's not fair-"
I stared to protest, but his finger came across my lips. "Very soon, I will give a chance to do with me as you please."
Shaken by his response, I hurriedly fumbled with my clothes. I turned aside to hide my nakedness from him.
Moments later, his hands came to assist, fastening the ties of my top. "I'll be all right, promise," he breathed, dropping a kiss upon my nape. "This is only the beginning."
I glanced at him, realizing that he meant every word he said. Then he gazed at the sky for a long moment and heaved a heavy sigh.
I studied his strong, proud profile, outlined in the orange glow. His dark hair flapped up and down on his forehead in the wind, and he raised his forefinger to smooth it down. He released his breath in a halting sigh and straightened, pulling me up with him.
"We must go back."
"I love you, Keith."
He smiled. "And I love you, Allura. I want you to be my friend, my lover, my wife. I want your happiness."
"If you really want my happiness, then you must grant me a simple request."
His dark eyes narrowed on my face, but his voice remained soft. "What is it?"
"Take me to San Diego."
"Why do you want to go back?"
"To visit Saint Mary's Academy, the place where we met and fell in love nine years ago."
"You're going to be too busy to concern yourself about our school. There's your speech, you know, and then we'll be in those workshops with the dignitaries."
I frowned at him, but just for an instant. "I've have read the schedule, and there's a couple of days off that we could spend in San Diego, sight-seeing, shopping, and-"
"Visiting my father?" I felt his pain through the sudden harshness in his voice.
"Yes."
"The answer is no, Allura."
I pulled away from him. "Keith, you have not spoken to him for the last nine years. Are you afraid that he won't allow us into your home?"
"I admit that it would be awkward for him to see the ruler of Arus arriving unannounced," he said calmly, his voice now devoid of gentleness.
"At least let me speak to him. Maybe I could convince him to meet us."
He sighed deeply. "The answer is still no. I will not give Kenneth Lyons a chance to insult the girl I love."
"How can you profess your love for me when you will not allow me to help you? If you want us to be happy, then you must forgive your father. Let's go to San Diego."
"No."
I shoved him, the palm of my hand hard against his chest. "Do you think it is your God-given right to order me around? Let me tell you something, commander. I cannot and I will not give in to your childish games."
"Childish games?" He asked, anger breaking the calm impassiveness of his voice. "I don't play games!"
"Then promise me that we'll visit your father."
He reached for his T-shirt. "He's my problem, not yours."
"You're being unreasonable, Keith."
His eyes appeared black in the soft light, almost as black as his arched brows and his thick hair. "Do not bring this up again," he said it without expression, as if my pleading was not of paramount importance.
"It's obvious that you don't trust me, though there is little basis for your fears. No marriage can work without the foundation of trust. And if I can't have it, then I can't remain by your side."
"What are you saying?" He demanded.
"If you find yourself unable to give me your trust, then I will be forced to break off our engagement."
For one moment, Keith was so still that I wondered if he yet breathed, then he shook his head in unconcealed vexation. "You're talking nonsense and you well know it! Do you really think that another man could handle a spoiled little princess like you?"
I lifted my chin at his insult, looking him straight in the eye. "There a quite a few, I assure you. Lotor, for starters." It seemed to me that he blanched in the darkness but I could not be sure.
"You would take someone else rather than accepting my so-called flaws?"
I steadfastly ignored the catch in his voice. "Should you be unable to trust me, I would have no choice," I maintained quietly, watching as Keith's lips thinned to a harsh line and he lifted his gaze to the distant horizon.
"We will speak more of this later." He asserted.
I shook my head. "There's nothing more to discuss." I told him, turning to grab my jacket to hide my expression as the realization of what I had done washed over me. He needed to be spoken to harshly to make him understand. But he had said nothing to reassure me; he had not even vowed to try to meet my demand.
He was a fool, I thought, stubbornly refusing to turn back to him. I would not apologize for speaking my mind.
When our communicators went off almost simultaneously, we reached for them in tandem. In my case, it was Coran and with Keith it was Lance, informing us that my cousin Avok had reappeared on Pollux, and Sven had taken him to the castle.
Keith and I gazed at each other, and a silent agreement to postpone further discussion passed between us. Our friends needed us now, possibly more than ever.
"What is pride? A whizzing rocket that would emulate a star." ~William Wordsworth
I'm playing online with my brother Chip for the title of Muzik Master, the latest computer game to hit the stores in Terra. The object of the game is to reach a mythical place called Muzikaa and oust its king who has banned music because he believed it corrupted his people. The weapons he uses to protect his kingdom are awesome because they operate like computer worms, transforming themselves before you can destroy them.
When you're swinging around the different levels of the game, barely escaping from the lethal radiation or stink bombs that King No'zound sends your way, you get so involved in reading computer codes, searching for that string that controls that weapon to erase it, they become more important than great animation or characters or maybe even people.
That's always been my trouble- people. There are always going to be some types you can't get along with. We're supposed to be psychologically in synch here in the castle, but even the doctors admit there's always some friction somewhere. Just look at Keith and the Princess, they still don't talk to each other unless is really necessary.
And of course the rest of the team is the one who pays the consequences. When Bandor called Castle Control to tell us that Prince Avok had reappeared, I thought we would go to Pollux and pay him a quick visit; after all it's only about 98 million kilometers from Arus. But Keith refused, explaining that Lotor could attack the planet.
What a sourpuss. Doesn't he know that we could be back in a jiffy, and kick Lotor's blue ass before he does any real damage?
Usually I'm pretty easygoing about games. Win some, lose some, it's no big deal. But something told me it was important to win this match. I had promised Sophie I would take her to the movies to see "Pride and Joy", the last installment of the "The Pride of The Lioness" trilogy.
But Chip had said, "Don't go tonight, Pidge."
And now I'm losing. I can't figure it out. Things keep going wrong.
I'm not giving up, of course. Keith says a space explorer isn't really a space explorer if he has the word ‘quit' in his vocabulary. We laugh at his corny sayings, but he's right. That's the way of the academy. So I dig in and swear at myself under my breath, and get ready for level eight.
No'zound has locked me in a dungeon, and I haven't found the key yet. He keeps changing the password. Chip played first, and found the virus trigger in less than five minutes, earning another life and a new set of weapons.
Lucky dog, I think darkly.
I keep one eye on my source code and the other on the dragons that materialize in my cell. I used all my weapons on the last level, so if I have to break the virus code before they kill me. It is not that the code is too long. I can view it all in the screen. But by the time I am within neutralizing the virus, No'zound changes it. That bastard is just too fast.
One of the dragons hits me in the chest with a fireball.
"Tsk, tsk," Chip says mildly. "You only have one life left."
"Shut up, you're distracting me."
Chip grins at me. "Tired?"
"Of course not, I thought I'd take it easy with you." Even as I say it, I know it sounds pretty lame, just a lot of phony bravado. My bro is good, no doubt about it. But something bothers me about this game. I am missing viruses I shouldn't have, not destroying them fast enough.
And I know why. I can't forget the look on Sophie's face when I told her that I couldn't take her to the movies, because my older brother had challenged me to this stupid duel.
I set my jaw, grip my mouse...and then feel sort of stupid. I shouldn't have listened to him.
"Forget it. You can keep your title of Muzik Master."
"Very good." Chip paused. "I think I shall stay online and practice for a bit," he said pointedly.
"Okay, I'm leaving anyway. I have a date, unlike some people who shall remain nameless."
"Now, Pidge, you don't have to be nasty about it." He scratched the bridge of his nose. "It's bad for your image."
"Aw, fuck off!"
I'm playing online with my brother Chip for the title of Muzik Master, the latest computer game to hit the stores in Terra. The object of the game is to reach a mythical place called Muzikaa and oust its king who has banned music because he believed it corrupted his people. The weapons he uses to protect his kingdom are awesome because they operate like computer worms, transforming themselves before you can destroy them.
When you're swinging around the different levels of the game, barely escaping from the lethal radiation or stink bombs that King No'zound sends your way, you get so involved in reading computer codes, searching for that string that controls that weapon to erase it, they become more important than great animation or characters or maybe even people.
That's always been my trouble- people. There are always going to be some types you can't get along with. We're supposed to be psychologically in synch here in the castle, but even the doctors admit there's always some friction somewhere. Just look at Keith and the Princess, they still don't talk to each other unless is really necessary.
And of course the rest of the team is the one who pays the consequences. When Bandor called Castle Control to tell us that Prince Avok had reappeared, I thought we would go to Pollux and pay him a quick visit; after all it's only about 98 million kilometers from Arus. But Keith refused, explaining that Lotor could attack the planet.
What a sourpuss. Doesn't he know that we could be back in a jiffy, and kick Lotor's blue ass before he does any real damage?
Usually I'm pretty easygoing about games. Win some, lose some, it's no big deal. But something told me it was important to win this match. I had promised Sophie I would take her to the movies to see "Pride and Joy", the last installment of the "The Pride of The Lioness" trilogy.
But Chip had said, "Don't go tonight, Pidge."
And now I'm losing. I can't figure it out. Things keep going wrong.
I'm not giving up, of course. Keith says a space explorer isn't really a space explorer if he has the word ‘quit' in his vocabulary. We laugh at his corny sayings, but he's right. That's the way of the academy. So I dig in and swear at myself under my breath, and get ready for level eight.
No'zound has locked me in a dungeon, and I haven't found the key yet. He keeps changing the password. Chip played first, and found the virus trigger in less than five minutes, earning another life and a new set of weapons.
Lucky dog, I think darkly.
I keep one eye on my source code and the other on the dragons that materialize in my cell. I used all my weapons on the last level, so if I have to break the virus code before they kill me. It is not that the code is too long. I can view it all in the screen. But by the time I am within neutralizing the virus, No'zound changes it. That bastard is just too fast.
One of the dragons hits me in the chest with a fireball.
"Tsk, tsk," Chip says mildly. "You only have one life left."
"Shut up, you're distracting me."
Chip grins at me. "Tired?"
"Of course not, I thought I'd take it easy with you." Even as I say it, I know it sounds pretty lame, just a lot of phony bravado. My bro is good, no doubt about it. But something bothers me about this game. I am missing viruses I shouldn't have, not destroying them fast enough.
And I know why. I can't forget the look on Sophie's face when I told her that I couldn't take her to the movies, because my older brother had challenged me to this stupid duel.
I set my jaw, grip my mouse...and then feel sort of stupid. I shouldn't have listened to him.
"Forget it. You can keep your title of Muzik Master."
"Very good." Chip paused. "I think I shall stay online and practice for a bit," he said pointedly.
"Okay, I'm leaving anyway. I have a date, unlike some people who shall remain nameless."
"Now, Pidge, you don't have to be nasty about it." He scratched the bridge of his nose. "It's bad for your image."
"Aw, fuck off!"
I'm sitting in my bedroom with a heavy heart after talking to Pidge on the videophone. He cancelled our movie and dinner date, because he's taking part in a match with his brother Chip for the title of Muzik Master. But I know it is only an excuse to try weapons that have the particularity of transforming themselves like computer viruses, and Pidge loves the challenge.
We were going to watch the premiere of Pride and Joy, the third installment of the trilogy of The Pride of the Lioness, the saga about a medieval princess called Leonela, who as a child had lost her family and her ancestral home to an evil king from a nearby land. And years later had returned to reclaim it with the help of her brave warriors.
It's an amazing story, with great actors, medieval battles of colossal proportions and bloodshed, beauty and wonder, fantastic natural landscapes and cityscapes, touches of humor, drama, romance and friendship so moving, that you need to go in with a box of tissues.
But most importantly is that Rolando Klum appears in the trilogy. He portrays Enrique, the youngest of the warriors, and Leonela's love interest. He got the part only two months after graduating from drama school. He's tall, brown-haired with big, hazel eyes and painfully handsome. He's true perfection, and I'm crazy about him. So crazy that I even created a website, the Unofficial Rolando Klum Fan Site, filled with pictures, movie clips, news, interviews, wallpapers donated by my friends, screensavers, guestbook, and recently I added fan fiction and fan art sections.
I gaze at the life-size cutout of Rolando dressed as Enrique that I got through the Internet. He was garbed in his finest dalmatica, green silk with bands of embroidery on the sleeves and around his neckline, and dark green hose and his cuffed, brown leather boots. An embroidered green and gold girdle encased his body.
"At least with you, I'm certain that you won't stand me up, because you would never ask me out."
Christian came out of the bathroom in a white robe, looking as beautiful as always. She's going on a date with Lance. They got back together after he and his teammates returned from the Omega Comet.
Chris pauses and looks at me. "Sophie, why aren't you getting ready to go to the movies with Pidge?"
"He cancelled our date, because he wants to take the title of Muzik Master away from his brother Chip. But he promised to take me next Friday."
My sister shook her head. "Doesn't he know that there's more to life than computer games? I know those guys need time to unwind, but why doesn't he spend it with you? You listen to his boring computer ideas when no one else does. He should treasure that."
"Well, I don't care if he wants to play that silly game instead of going out with me. I'll spend this evening updating my site. I have to upload the latest chapter of my fic and fanart from my friends."
"How many hits has it had, so far?" she asked, opening her closet.
"One thousand and ninety eight. And I just received the ‘Outstanding Rolando Site' award from the ‘Hunks in Flix' website."
"Congratulations, Moppet!" she declares with a smile. "I know those people don't give out that award to just any site. They must be really impressed by your work."
"Thanks."
She winked at me, and then reached into the closet for her forest green dress with spaghetti straps.
I am about to turn on my computer, when I hear a knock on the door.
"Come in."
It is my brother Viggo. "There you are, Moppet. I thought you had left with Pidge."
I winced. "Could we please forget about that ‘boy' for a while?"
He looks at Christian and then back at me. "What's wrong with her?"
"Her boyfriend preferred a computer game to watching the last part of the trilogy of The Lioness," she replies. "And she's feeling sorry for herself."
"I am not," I snapped, glaring at Christian.
"Well, stop that nonsense," he told me. "I need your help at the resort."
"Why?" I asked. "Are you having problems with your laptop again? I have told you a hundred times; don't shut it down without closing the system."
His disapproving look tells me that I have annoyed him. "Sophia, you have been talking for months about wanting a temp job at the resort, an opportunity to meet new people and gain some independence."
"That's right. But mom and dad say that I must focus in my studies. And you agree with them."
"I know," Viggo said. "But I've come up with the perfect job for you, and unless I miss my guess, even you'll agree."
"Really?" My interest was piqued; there is no point in denying it.
"Really. You're going to be the VIP tour guide for the Brochner Inn for this evening. Remember that we aim to give the potential customer a few extras in addition to the usual free ride. When a businessman comes here, I want someone special to show him or her a good time. The same thing goes for other VIP types- heads of state, royalty, movie stars, that sort of thing. You're perfect for this job: a native-born Arusian, young, beautiful, and intelligent. And," he added seductively, "you know all the hottest places in town."
I love my planet and I love being with interesting people. Showing the first to the second would be wonderful. I would be able to use my considerable linguistic ability, and best of all, I would be able to show my parents that I could juggle a job and my studies.
"And who's this VIP?"
Viggo's glance flickered over me and then to Christian. "It's a foreign actor; this is his first trip to Arus."
"Oh no! With my luck, I bet it's a boring old man. Please, count me out."
"I don't think he's that old," he replied in a teasing tone, "but you never know with these movie people." A smile was pulling at the corners of his mouth.
"But who is it?" Christian asks excitedly.
"Rolando Klum."
"Rolando?" The word comes out in a squeak. "Rolando Klum is coming to Arus?"
I began a happy dance around the room. "Oh my God! I'm going to see my Rolando! I'm going to spend time with him! Oh my, I can't believe it!"
"Have you heard of the fellow?"
Christian snorted. "My dear brother, where have you been? He's one of the stars of The Lioness. He plays Enrique. Our sister even has a website about him, and that cutout behind the door."
"Oh, that Rolando Klum." By now Viggo was grinning openly.
I wrap my arms around my brother's neck. "Silly, there's only one Rolando Klum in the universe. Oh, my friends are going to be sooooo jealous!"
A single blond brow arched in inquiry. "You're going to be his guide then?"
"Of course!"
"Alright, get ready. We're picking your movie star from the spaceport in forty-five minutes."
"Okay, boss!" I said happily, dashing out at breakneck pace.
We were going to watch the premiere of Pride and Joy, the third installment of the trilogy of The Pride of the Lioness, the saga about a medieval princess called Leonela, who as a child had lost her family and her ancestral home to an evil king from a nearby land. And years later had returned to reclaim it with the help of her brave warriors.
It's an amazing story, with great actors, medieval battles of colossal proportions and bloodshed, beauty and wonder, fantastic natural landscapes and cityscapes, touches of humor, drama, romance and friendship so moving, that you need to go in with a box of tissues.
But most importantly is that Rolando Klum appears in the trilogy. He portrays Enrique, the youngest of the warriors, and Leonela's love interest. He got the part only two months after graduating from drama school. He's tall, brown-haired with big, hazel eyes and painfully handsome. He's true perfection, and I'm crazy about him. So crazy that I even created a website, the Unofficial Rolando Klum Fan Site, filled with pictures, movie clips, news, interviews, wallpapers donated by my friends, screensavers, guestbook, and recently I added fan fiction and fan art sections.
I gaze at the life-size cutout of Rolando dressed as Enrique that I got through the Internet. He was garbed in his finest dalmatica, green silk with bands of embroidery on the sleeves and around his neckline, and dark green hose and his cuffed, brown leather boots. An embroidered green and gold girdle encased his body.
"At least with you, I'm certain that you won't stand me up, because you would never ask me out."
Christian came out of the bathroom in a white robe, looking as beautiful as always. She's going on a date with Lance. They got back together after he and his teammates returned from the Omega Comet.
Chris pauses and looks at me. "Sophie, why aren't you getting ready to go to the movies with Pidge?"
"He cancelled our date, because he wants to take the title of Muzik Master away from his brother Chip. But he promised to take me next Friday."
My sister shook her head. "Doesn't he know that there's more to life than computer games? I know those guys need time to unwind, but why doesn't he spend it with you? You listen to his boring computer ideas when no one else does. He should treasure that."
"Well, I don't care if he wants to play that silly game instead of going out with me. I'll spend this evening updating my site. I have to upload the latest chapter of my fic and fanart from my friends."
"How many hits has it had, so far?" she asked, opening her closet.
"One thousand and ninety eight. And I just received the ‘Outstanding Rolando Site' award from the ‘Hunks in Flix' website."
"Congratulations, Moppet!" she declares with a smile. "I know those people don't give out that award to just any site. They must be really impressed by your work."
"Thanks."
She winked at me, and then reached into the closet for her forest green dress with spaghetti straps.
I am about to turn on my computer, when I hear a knock on the door.
"Come in."
It is my brother Viggo. "There you are, Moppet. I thought you had left with Pidge."
I winced. "Could we please forget about that ‘boy' for a while?"
He looks at Christian and then back at me. "What's wrong with her?"
"Her boyfriend preferred a computer game to watching the last part of the trilogy of The Lioness," she replies. "And she's feeling sorry for herself."
"I am not," I snapped, glaring at Christian.
"Well, stop that nonsense," he told me. "I need your help at the resort."
"Why?" I asked. "Are you having problems with your laptop again? I have told you a hundred times; don't shut it down without closing the system."
His disapproving look tells me that I have annoyed him. "Sophia, you have been talking for months about wanting a temp job at the resort, an opportunity to meet new people and gain some independence."
"That's right. But mom and dad say that I must focus in my studies. And you agree with them."
"I know," Viggo said. "But I've come up with the perfect job for you, and unless I miss my guess, even you'll agree."
"Really?" My interest was piqued; there is no point in denying it.
"Really. You're going to be the VIP tour guide for the Brochner Inn for this evening. Remember that we aim to give the potential customer a few extras in addition to the usual free ride. When a businessman comes here, I want someone special to show him or her a good time. The same thing goes for other VIP types- heads of state, royalty, movie stars, that sort of thing. You're perfect for this job: a native-born Arusian, young, beautiful, and intelligent. And," he added seductively, "you know all the hottest places in town."
I love my planet and I love being with interesting people. Showing the first to the second would be wonderful. I would be able to use my considerable linguistic ability, and best of all, I would be able to show my parents that I could juggle a job and my studies.
"And who's this VIP?"
Viggo's glance flickered over me and then to Christian. "It's a foreign actor; this is his first trip to Arus."
"Oh no! With my luck, I bet it's a boring old man. Please, count me out."
"I don't think he's that old," he replied in a teasing tone, "but you never know with these movie people." A smile was pulling at the corners of his mouth.
"But who is it?" Christian asks excitedly.
"Rolando Klum."
"Rolando?" The word comes out in a squeak. "Rolando Klum is coming to Arus?"
I began a happy dance around the room. "Oh my God! I'm going to see my Rolando! I'm going to spend time with him! Oh my, I can't believe it!"
"Have you heard of the fellow?"
Christian snorted. "My dear brother, where have you been? He's one of the stars of The Lioness. He plays Enrique. Our sister even has a website about him, and that cutout behind the door."
"Oh, that Rolando Klum." By now Viggo was grinning openly.
I wrap my arms around my brother's neck. "Silly, there's only one Rolando Klum in the universe. Oh, my friends are going to be sooooo jealous!"
A single blond brow arched in inquiry. "You're going to be his guide then?"
"Of course!"
"Alright, get ready. We're picking your movie star from the spaceport in forty-five minutes."
"Okay, boss!" I said happily, dashing out at breakneck pace.
"Pride in a man is confused with dignity, in a woman, with self-love." ~José Bergamin
After saying goodbye to Chip, I went looking for Keith to tell him that I was going on a date with Sophie after all, and hoping that he would say yes.
I came barreling across the hall and nearly collided with the Princess.
"Sorry, Princess."
She laughed softly. "Where are you going in such a hurry?"
"I'm looking for Keith. Have you seen him?"
"No, but I'll help you look for him."
We found Keith with Hunk in the rec room. He was sitting at the table beyond the kitchenette reading the newspaper, while the Big Guy stood near the sink, talking on the phone with Anne. She's the new host of a cooking show called The Traveling Gourmet on SNN, a 24-hour cable news network from Skagen, one of the major fishing ports of Arus.
The city houses great museums, art galleries and prestigious cooking schools, where Anne takes refresher courses when she's not busy traveling around Arus, looking for the perfect recipe for her viewers. Unfortunately for Hunk, it's about 3000 kilometers away, so they're having a long-distance relationship.
"Of course I miss ya, honey," Hunk cooed, grabbing a box of bear claws from the counter. "Yes, I dream about you every night."
"What a sap," I whispered to the Princess.
She elbowed me. "Pidge! Be nice."
"I don't have to wear a suit and tie for the show? Great!" Hunk said relieved. "Casual look, okay. Yes, I'll tell them. I won't forget it, promise! Take care, love. Bye-bye."
The Princess strolled over to Hunk, and opened the box of pastries for him.
"Princess, the show will be this Saturday at eight o'clock, on channel 1298. Anne said that I must be there at least an hour before for rehearsal."
"Okay, Hunk," she said with a smile. "We'll be watching." Then she took a bite of a piece of pastry.
"Do you want coffee with that?" he asked, grinning at her. "I just made a fresh pot."
She nodded. "Hmm... please."
Keith sipped his coffee as he glanced up from the newspaper. "You do look a little peaked, Pidge," he said. "I trust you beat Chip?"
"Please, don't ask."
"That bad, huh?" Hunk said, setting two mugs of java on the table.
"It's just that I couldn't concentrate on the game. I kept thinking about Sophie. She's probably mad at me for breaking up our date."
"She was looking forward to attending the premiere with you," Princess noted wistfully.
"Yeah, I know. I changed my night off with Lance, so I could play that dumb game with my brother," I said, glancing at Keith. "I would like to go out with Sophie after all. I have the tickets right here," I added, tapping my breast pocket. "What do you say, Skipper?"
"I'm sorry, Pidge," he said blandly. "We agreed that you would have this Saturday off. It's a matter of discipline. Besides, I don't want to leave the castle with just three Lions this evening. I have the feeling that Lotor is watching us, waiting for the right moment to attack."
"I would only be gone three hours. Sophie desperately wants to see that movie. I'll do double duty in castle control. Please, Keith."
"No." The word was spoken softly but forcefully. And then he glanced at the Princess. "If *she* really cares about you, she'll understand that our job is first."
The Princess immediately jumped up to take part. "Don't let those tickets go to waste, Pidge. Go to the movies with Sophie."
"No, Princess," Keith said brusquely. "Not tonight-"
"Pidge wants to make it up to her," she interjected impatiently. "Really, Keith, you're being impossible. Let him go if he wants to."
Hunk and I stared at each other. If anyone but the Princess had dared to challenge Keith's authority in such a manner, he would have squelched the offender ruthlessly. But the Skipper couldn't hide the tenderness in the look he gave her as he complied with her wishes.
After a rather dramatic sigh, he said, "Alright, Pidge. You may go. Just make sure that you're back by 2400 hours."
"Thanks, Keith."
Hunk grinned at me, giving me a thumbs-up. I mouthed a thank-you at the Princess, and she responded with a wink.
After saying goodbye to Chip, I went looking for Keith to tell him that I was going on a date with Sophie after all, and hoping that he would say yes.
I came barreling across the hall and nearly collided with the Princess.
"Sorry, Princess."
She laughed softly. "Where are you going in such a hurry?"
"I'm looking for Keith. Have you seen him?"
"No, but I'll help you look for him."
We found Keith with Hunk in the rec room. He was sitting at the table beyond the kitchenette reading the newspaper, while the Big Guy stood near the sink, talking on the phone with Anne. She's the new host of a cooking show called The Traveling Gourmet on SNN, a 24-hour cable news network from Skagen, one of the major fishing ports of Arus.
The city houses great museums, art galleries and prestigious cooking schools, where Anne takes refresher courses when she's not busy traveling around Arus, looking for the perfect recipe for her viewers. Unfortunately for Hunk, it's about 3000 kilometers away, so they're having a long-distance relationship.
"Of course I miss ya, honey," Hunk cooed, grabbing a box of bear claws from the counter. "Yes, I dream about you every night."
"What a sap," I whispered to the Princess.
She elbowed me. "Pidge! Be nice."
"I don't have to wear a suit and tie for the show? Great!" Hunk said relieved. "Casual look, okay. Yes, I'll tell them. I won't forget it, promise! Take care, love. Bye-bye."
The Princess strolled over to Hunk, and opened the box of pastries for him.
"Princess, the show will be this Saturday at eight o'clock, on channel 1298. Anne said that I must be there at least an hour before for rehearsal."
"Okay, Hunk," she said with a smile. "We'll be watching." Then she took a bite of a piece of pastry.
"Do you want coffee with that?" he asked, grinning at her. "I just made a fresh pot."
She nodded. "Hmm... please."
Keith sipped his coffee as he glanced up from the newspaper. "You do look a little peaked, Pidge," he said. "I trust you beat Chip?"
"Please, don't ask."
"That bad, huh?" Hunk said, setting two mugs of java on the table.
"It's just that I couldn't concentrate on the game. I kept thinking about Sophie. She's probably mad at me for breaking up our date."
"She was looking forward to attending the premiere with you," Princess noted wistfully.
"Yeah, I know. I changed my night off with Lance, so I could play that dumb game with my brother," I said, glancing at Keith. "I would like to go out with Sophie after all. I have the tickets right here," I added, tapping my breast pocket. "What do you say, Skipper?"
"I'm sorry, Pidge," he said blandly. "We agreed that you would have this Saturday off. It's a matter of discipline. Besides, I don't want to leave the castle with just three Lions this evening. I have the feeling that Lotor is watching us, waiting for the right moment to attack."
"I would only be gone three hours. Sophie desperately wants to see that movie. I'll do double duty in castle control. Please, Keith."
"No." The word was spoken softly but forcefully. And then he glanced at the Princess. "If *she* really cares about you, she'll understand that our job is first."
The Princess immediately jumped up to take part. "Don't let those tickets go to waste, Pidge. Go to the movies with Sophie."
"No, Princess," Keith said brusquely. "Not tonight-"
"Pidge wants to make it up to her," she interjected impatiently. "Really, Keith, you're being impossible. Let him go if he wants to."
Hunk and I stared at each other. If anyone but the Princess had dared to challenge Keith's authority in such a manner, he would have squelched the offender ruthlessly. But the Skipper couldn't hide the tenderness in the look he gave her as he complied with her wishes.
After a rather dramatic sigh, he said, "Alright, Pidge. You may go. Just make sure that you're back by 2400 hours."
"Thanks, Keith."
Hunk grinned at me, giving me a thumbs-up. I mouthed a thank-you at the Princess, and she responded with a wink.
As Pidge left the room, my eyes collided with Keith's; they were glinting in a very unsettling manner, making me remember how very unwise it was to provoke him. I felt my face reddening with embarrassment and managed to say stiffly, "These bear claws are quite tasty, Hunk. Where did you buy them?"
"I'm happy you liked them. I bought them in a bakery shop near the coliseum, called The Tasty Pastry. You can get a box with an assortment of Danish pastries, or if you prefer a box of the same kind. Next time I'll get you a box of their figure eights with raspberry and apricot. They're delicious."
"Okay."
Keith stalked over to the coffee maker, poured himself a generous amount of coffee, and surprisingly stirred in a small amount of milk.
As he leaned against the counter and sipped it, I had the feeling that he was more interested in controlling his anger than in quenching his thirst.
He looked at me with the same steely glare I had last seen on Sunday. "I don't like it when someone disputes my orders," he muttered under his breath. Then he added in a louder tone. "But *Her Highness* always gets her way, doesn't she?"
I stared at him in bewilderment. "That's not true, Keith. And you know it."
He looked across the table at Hunk, who had abandoned his preoccupation with his bear claw to monitor the conversation.
"Hunk, I would like to go over next week's maintenance schedule with you. Let's go to the control room."
"Sure, chief," he replied, and then took a big gulp of coffee.
And with a final, chilly look, Keith turned around and walked toward the door.
"I'm happy you liked them. I bought them in a bakery shop near the coliseum, called The Tasty Pastry. You can get a box with an assortment of Danish pastries, or if you prefer a box of the same kind. Next time I'll get you a box of their figure eights with raspberry and apricot. They're delicious."
"Okay."
Keith stalked over to the coffee maker, poured himself a generous amount of coffee, and surprisingly stirred in a small amount of milk.
As he leaned against the counter and sipped it, I had the feeling that he was more interested in controlling his anger than in quenching his thirst.
He looked at me with the same steely glare I had last seen on Sunday. "I don't like it when someone disputes my orders," he muttered under his breath. Then he added in a louder tone. "But *Her Highness* always gets her way, doesn't she?"
I stared at him in bewilderment. "That's not true, Keith. And you know it."
He looked across the table at Hunk, who had abandoned his preoccupation with his bear claw to monitor the conversation.
"Hunk, I would like to go over next week's maintenance schedule with you. Let's go to the control room."
"Sure, chief," he replied, and then took a big gulp of coffee.
And with a final, chilly look, Keith turned around and walked toward the door.
"Keith!" Hunk shouted, and I turned around to look at him. "What happened back there? Don't tell me you're still angry with Princess for visiting Queen Orla unescorted?"
"Great, just what I need, Hunk. You questioning my actions," I said in exasperation. Then I added coolly, "Keep it up, and I'll cancel your weekend pass."
"Come on, I'm only trying to help you see that you're being too rough with her. She just couldn't see Pidge so miserable..."
"Quit it..." I growled, only to be cut off by Hunk's blistering attack. "She told you she was sorry, for Christ's sake! Why don't you just let it go?"
I cursed under my breath, and then asked him icily, "Did I say that you could leave for Skagen? Make that Devil's Canyon. There you'll watch over of the reconstruction of the road. No Anne. No R&R. No space burgers. Got it?"
Hunk held up one hand in supplication. "Okay, okay. I won't say anything about your bad behavior," he said solemnly. "Just let me make one last observation."
"What?"
"She's got you wrapped around her little finger, doesn't she?"
"Excuse me?"
Hunk gave me toothy grin. "Don't feel bad, mi Capitán. She got all of *us* under her spell-"
"Devil's Canyon," I interrupted, "that's where you're definitely going this Saturday."
And he gave a hoot of laughter, ignoring my threat. What a sorry excuse for a commander I have become and all because of my deep love for Allura.
"Great, just what I need, Hunk. You questioning my actions," I said in exasperation. Then I added coolly, "Keep it up, and I'll cancel your weekend pass."
"Come on, I'm only trying to help you see that you're being too rough with her. She just couldn't see Pidge so miserable..."
"Quit it..." I growled, only to be cut off by Hunk's blistering attack. "She told you she was sorry, for Christ's sake! Why don't you just let it go?"
I cursed under my breath, and then asked him icily, "Did I say that you could leave for Skagen? Make that Devil's Canyon. There you'll watch over of the reconstruction of the road. No Anne. No R&R. No space burgers. Got it?"
Hunk held up one hand in supplication. "Okay, okay. I won't say anything about your bad behavior," he said solemnly. "Just let me make one last observation."
"What?"
"She's got you wrapped around her little finger, doesn't she?"
"Excuse me?"
Hunk gave me toothy grin. "Don't feel bad, mi Capitán. She got all of *us* under her spell-"
"Devil's Canyon," I interrupted, "that's where you're definitely going this Saturday."
And he gave a hoot of laughter, ignoring my threat. What a sorry excuse for a commander I have become and all because of my deep love for Allura.
Christian's Home, June 11th, 2304
"Pride is not a bad thing when it only urges us to hide our own hurts—not to hurt others." ~George Eliot
I was locked in the wine cellar with Christian. She was teasing me in the darkened chamber, my efforts to restrain her exuberance proving unsuccessful.
"No one is going to believe you were helping me choose a bottle of champagne all this time, Christian. By the way, you got your dress stuck in your pan-"
Before I could finish the sentence, the cellar doors flew open, and she burst outside with her flowing hair and engaging laughter.
"Oh my, it was hot in there," she said, adjusting her clothing. "Let's go up to the balcony, and you bring the champagne."
"Okay." I zipped up my pants and tucked in my shirt.
We went into the living room and she opened the balcony doors, while I walked to the sideboard with the platter of chocolate éclairs and placed the champagne in the silver bucket filled with ice.
She raised her arms like a pagan goddess and twirled, her mint green silk chiffon dress with fitted bodice and thin straps enveloping her curvaceous figure.
"Christian, get the hell inside before someone sees you!"
My voice, filled with amusement and annoyance, did little to stop her.
"Jealous?"
She was now performing a strange ritual around the perimeters of the balcony, clapping her hand over her mouth, prancing around in circles. I strode forward, straight into her range of vision, then leaned my hip against the railing, my elbow protruding onto the ledge.
"¿Que faites-vous?" (What are you doing?)
"This is a pagan dance that I learned at the community center," she told me. "A rain dance."
"Those things don't work."
"You're too cynical, Lance. You only believe in the power of the Voltron Lions."
"Come inside now, Christian," I ordered her. "You'll have your brother complaining about it. And as usual, I'll be the one blamed."
"Viggo is busy. Stop trying to spoil my fun."
"A rain dance is supposed to make it rain," I pointed out. "And there isn't a cloud in the sky."
"But the weather could change any minute," she protested, waving her arms in weird patterns above her head.
I grunted, momentarily distracted by the glare of headlights on the drive directly below us, then turned back to the task at hand. Exasperated by her antics, I pulled Christian out of public view.
It wasn't an easy task.
She attached herself to me like an octopus, her arms flailing everywhere- over my chest, my face, my shoulders, disarranging the shirt I had finally tucked in. Chuckling, I finally caught her wrists in one hand and held them immobile behind her back.
She closed her gray eyes, shivering in anticipation. "I see that you want my complete surrender."
"I'm never letting you drink champagne on an empty stomach again. You should have tried the chocolate éclairs I brought you."
"Hmmm... women must melt when you use that accent."
I regarded her finely shaped features. "You're going to have a hell of a headache in the morning."
"Put us in our place, you French warlord, you Red Lion!" She declared, then blinked at me. "Why do you have four eyes all of a sudden? You look like a robeast."
I tightened the grip on her hands. "Has it occurred to you that someone might be watching us?"
"Someone?" She went very still. "You mean someone dangerous? Like Prince Lotor?"
"No, someone even more frightening... like your brother."
Christian gave me a wicked smile, walking me backward into the opposite railing. "It was a night like this, the first time we made love."
"Hmm, it wasn't on a balcony."
"But you seduced me by starlight." She purred.
I raised an eyebrow. "I'm glad your parents are away on a cruise. And I sincerely hope your brother and sister can't hear any of this conversation."
"We did it in the volcano!" She announced triumphantly. "Deep within bowels of the earth, near Red Lion's resting place. It was so hot and humid. We enjoyed cooling off in the mineral waters, didn't we?"
I chuckled softly. "Time to go inside, you free spirit."
"Like you." She lowered her voice to a teasing whisper. "If they think you're a lion in the battlefield, they should see you in-"
I lifted my head abruptly, holding her off. "Did you hear that?"
"No."
"It sounded like someone coughing."
"Must be Sophie," she replied in an unconcerned tone. "She sometimes has a nervous cough."
I wasn't about to take chances. I caught her by the waist and dragged her back into the privacy of the living room.
"I've got an idea," she said, stumbling up against my chest. "Let's play charades. I promise not to cheat this time."
I sighed and closed the balcony behind us with a decisive click as Christian's tipsy laughter echoed into the room. "Laugh all you want, but I'm convinced someone was watching over us out there."
"My dear Lance, forget for a while that you're a space explorer looking for suspicious activity! Wouldn't you prefer to play strip poker?"
She gave me a naughty grin and reached for the champagne flute on the table. Before she could grab it, I trapped her in my arms and gently forced her back against the closed door.
"Thank you for inviting me," I said quietly. "I know you're busy, preparing your trip and helping your brother in the resort."
Her grin was gone, and I could see her swallow hard as she tangled her fingers in my hair. "I would do anything for you, sweetie."
"I'm really going to miss the fun we have together. You're the most honest woman I know, Christian."
She compressed her lips. "You're going to make me cry," she whispered. "It's not as if we'll never see each other again, but it is time you found someone nice and stable to settle down with. We have agreed on that, haven't we?"
"Yes, we agreed."
I couldn't hide the regret in my voice as I answered. Christian has helped when I was struggling to make my mark in this planet. She had been away studying when I suffered the loss of Sven, but her letters and calls had given me the moral support I needed. In return I had protected her by my presence, and had encouraged her eccentricities and intelligence with indulgent humor.
We have not fallen in love, but our friendship will endure forever.
Christian has her job and traveling to fill her life, and no desire to marry. But Christian also says that I need a wife and family.
I have begun to wonder if she's right.
Fame, success, power and fighting for justice... that's all good. But lately I've been thinking that something essential was missing from my life. No one saw me as I truly was. Sure, I've heard rumors about my reputation. I tend to either fascinate or frighten women, and quite frankly my notoriety embarrasses me. I'm a man of simple needs and strong emotions, emotions which military life has taught me to restrain.
I waited as Christian stepped away and went about making herself presentable, twisting her pale red-gold hair into a chignon at her nape, and covered her tempting cleavage with an iridescent chiffon shawl. Then to make the transformation complete, she put on a pair of dark rimmed glasses and nodded to herself in the mirror. I'm always astonished by the contrast between the spontaneous woman she is in private and the façade she presents to the public.
"Miss Christian Brochner," she said lightly, "heiress to a resort empire, spokeswoman of the Arusian Society-"
"And strip poker-player extraordinaire," I said, shaking my head in amusement. "Mon Dieu. Talk about not trusting appearances. I'm tempted to believe there are two of you."
"You're not the only one who can play that game," she replied, pinching me on the butt as she moved past me to the door.
I stopped, on impulse, to kiss her on the cheek in the doorway. Christian resisted conscious that we were not alone. "Be still," she said softly, disentangling herself from my arms. "I'll give you what you deserve very soon."
"Really?" I gave her a boyish grin. "Are you sure you don't want to marry me?"
"And spoil your reputation as a rogue? Never."
She edged around me. I drew back inside the room to give her time to make her escape. Then I glanced around, distracted by a sudden gust of wind rattling the balcony doors. I couldn't shake off the feeling that someone was watching us.
"I'll see if Sophie is ready."
"Okay."
There was a knock on the front door. Christian paused. "Now who could that be?"
"I'll get it," I replied, making my way to the outer door, where someone outside was knocking again, impatiently.
I opened the door and saw Pidge.
"Hey, Squirt. What's up?" I said, stepping back to allow him entry. He looked sheepish and entered cautiously, as though expecting boiling oil to fall on him.
"Hiya, Lance."
"Who is it?" Christian asked. "I take it we're not in danger?"
"No." I stated wryly. "Everything is fine."
"Good evening," Pidge said softly.
She looked surprised, then smiled at him. "So, it's the brave pilot who preferred a silly video game to spending time with my darling sister."
Pidge scratched his chin and averted his gaze. I laughed at him as I walked past.
Christian playfully patted Pidge's arm, then gave him a sisterly kiss on his cheek. "Not that you asked for it, but I forgive you. But I don't know about Sophie."
"Could you please tell her that I'm here?"
"Pidge! What are you doing here?" A voice demanded from the stairs near the entry.
"I don't think that will be necessary," Christian replied, winking at him.
Pidge looked up, and then gawked.
Sophie, was standing at the top of the steps. The girl who preferred wearing cute tops and comfortable jeans was dressed in a cotton mini dress, in a flowery design like overlapping petals and asymmetrical hems that added a fluttery effect, with dangling amethyst earrings, delicate golden sandals and small pink purse as accessories. Instead of her usual ponytail, her golden hair was loose in waves, barely touching her shoulders.
She slowly descended the steps, and walked over to stand in front of Pidge. The poor kid looked like a lightning bolt had hit him.
"Hi. Are you still mad at me?" He asked, foolishly.
"Shouldn't I be?" She fenced, blue eyes flashing.
"I knew I had to see you and explain, try to make you understand- but now- all that really matters is-" he became absorbed in watching her face "-all that matters is- you look so great!"
"Yes," I broke in. "You look beautiful, ma petite."
Spots of color appeared on Sophie's cheeks. "Er... thanks, Lance."
"Let's go to the movies!" Pidge blurted. "I'll buy you a huge box of Junior Mints."
Sophie rolled her eyes at him. "I'm not going anywhere... at least, not with you."
Pidge shot her a startled look. "Huh?"
"My brother asked me to help him welcome a visitor to our resort. I thought it would be silly of me to stay home tonight while you're enjoying yourself with your brother, so I said yes."
"Sophie, I know... I shouldn't have stood you up. But here I am." In his eagerness he took hold of her shoulders. "Just tell Viggo that you can't make it. He'll understand."
"Please, let go of me."
Viggo came out of his office, talking on his cell phone. "Yes, we're on our way. Bye." He closed the phone and snapped it in his belt. "Good evening, Pidge," he said, then turned to Sophie. "Let's go, Moppet."
"I'm coming."
"Don't go." Pidge sounded like a spoiled, petulant boy. "We had a date, Sophie!"
She bit at her full lower lip. "Had, yes. Not any more." She wriggled out of his grasp and stalked towards the door.
The door opened, and then closed with a decisive click. Pidge took a quick look around, then flung himself over to the stairs, sitting and sinking his head into his hands as brother and sister got into a limousine and drove off.
Christian leaned over and whispered in my ear, "Poor thing. You should have a talk with him."
I grimaced. "Maybe if we ignore him, he'll go away."
"Lance," she said, giving me a slight push. "Go. I'll be waiting in the living room."
"Pride is not a bad thing when it only urges us to hide our own hurts—not to hurt others." ~George Eliot
I was locked in the wine cellar with Christian. She was teasing me in the darkened chamber, my efforts to restrain her exuberance proving unsuccessful.
"No one is going to believe you were helping me choose a bottle of champagne all this time, Christian. By the way, you got your dress stuck in your pan-"
Before I could finish the sentence, the cellar doors flew open, and she burst outside with her flowing hair and engaging laughter.
"Oh my, it was hot in there," she said, adjusting her clothing. "Let's go up to the balcony, and you bring the champagne."
"Okay." I zipped up my pants and tucked in my shirt.
We went into the living room and she opened the balcony doors, while I walked to the sideboard with the platter of chocolate éclairs and placed the champagne in the silver bucket filled with ice.
She raised her arms like a pagan goddess and twirled, her mint green silk chiffon dress with fitted bodice and thin straps enveloping her curvaceous figure.
"Christian, get the hell inside before someone sees you!"
My voice, filled with amusement and annoyance, did little to stop her.
"Jealous?"
She was now performing a strange ritual around the perimeters of the balcony, clapping her hand over her mouth, prancing around in circles. I strode forward, straight into her range of vision, then leaned my hip against the railing, my elbow protruding onto the ledge.
"¿Que faites-vous?" (What are you doing?)
"This is a pagan dance that I learned at the community center," she told me. "A rain dance."
"Those things don't work."
"You're too cynical, Lance. You only believe in the power of the Voltron Lions."
"Come inside now, Christian," I ordered her. "You'll have your brother complaining about it. And as usual, I'll be the one blamed."
"Viggo is busy. Stop trying to spoil my fun."
"A rain dance is supposed to make it rain," I pointed out. "And there isn't a cloud in the sky."
"But the weather could change any minute," she protested, waving her arms in weird patterns above her head.
I grunted, momentarily distracted by the glare of headlights on the drive directly below us, then turned back to the task at hand. Exasperated by her antics, I pulled Christian out of public view.
It wasn't an easy task.
She attached herself to me like an octopus, her arms flailing everywhere- over my chest, my face, my shoulders, disarranging the shirt I had finally tucked in. Chuckling, I finally caught her wrists in one hand and held them immobile behind her back.
She closed her gray eyes, shivering in anticipation. "I see that you want my complete surrender."
"I'm never letting you drink champagne on an empty stomach again. You should have tried the chocolate éclairs I brought you."
"Hmmm... women must melt when you use that accent."
I regarded her finely shaped features. "You're going to have a hell of a headache in the morning."
"Put us in our place, you French warlord, you Red Lion!" She declared, then blinked at me. "Why do you have four eyes all of a sudden? You look like a robeast."
I tightened the grip on her hands. "Has it occurred to you that someone might be watching us?"
"Someone?" She went very still. "You mean someone dangerous? Like Prince Lotor?"
"No, someone even more frightening... like your brother."
Christian gave me a wicked smile, walking me backward into the opposite railing. "It was a night like this, the first time we made love."
"Hmm, it wasn't on a balcony."
"But you seduced me by starlight." She purred.
I raised an eyebrow. "I'm glad your parents are away on a cruise. And I sincerely hope your brother and sister can't hear any of this conversation."
"We did it in the volcano!" She announced triumphantly. "Deep within bowels of the earth, near Red Lion's resting place. It was so hot and humid. We enjoyed cooling off in the mineral waters, didn't we?"
I chuckled softly. "Time to go inside, you free spirit."
"Like you." She lowered her voice to a teasing whisper. "If they think you're a lion in the battlefield, they should see you in-"
I lifted my head abruptly, holding her off. "Did you hear that?"
"No."
"It sounded like someone coughing."
"Must be Sophie," she replied in an unconcerned tone. "She sometimes has a nervous cough."
I wasn't about to take chances. I caught her by the waist and dragged her back into the privacy of the living room.
"I've got an idea," she said, stumbling up against my chest. "Let's play charades. I promise not to cheat this time."
I sighed and closed the balcony behind us with a decisive click as Christian's tipsy laughter echoed into the room. "Laugh all you want, but I'm convinced someone was watching over us out there."
"My dear Lance, forget for a while that you're a space explorer looking for suspicious activity! Wouldn't you prefer to play strip poker?"
She gave me a naughty grin and reached for the champagne flute on the table. Before she could grab it, I trapped her in my arms and gently forced her back against the closed door.
"Thank you for inviting me," I said quietly. "I know you're busy, preparing your trip and helping your brother in the resort."
Her grin was gone, and I could see her swallow hard as she tangled her fingers in my hair. "I would do anything for you, sweetie."
"I'm really going to miss the fun we have together. You're the most honest woman I know, Christian."
She compressed her lips. "You're going to make me cry," she whispered. "It's not as if we'll never see each other again, but it is time you found someone nice and stable to settle down with. We have agreed on that, haven't we?"
"Yes, we agreed."
I couldn't hide the regret in my voice as I answered. Christian has helped when I was struggling to make my mark in this planet. She had been away studying when I suffered the loss of Sven, but her letters and calls had given me the moral support I needed. In return I had protected her by my presence, and had encouraged her eccentricities and intelligence with indulgent humor.
We have not fallen in love, but our friendship will endure forever.
Christian has her job and traveling to fill her life, and no desire to marry. But Christian also says that I need a wife and family.
I have begun to wonder if she's right.
Fame, success, power and fighting for justice... that's all good. But lately I've been thinking that something essential was missing from my life. No one saw me as I truly was. Sure, I've heard rumors about my reputation. I tend to either fascinate or frighten women, and quite frankly my notoriety embarrasses me. I'm a man of simple needs and strong emotions, emotions which military life has taught me to restrain.
I waited as Christian stepped away and went about making herself presentable, twisting her pale red-gold hair into a chignon at her nape, and covered her tempting cleavage with an iridescent chiffon shawl. Then to make the transformation complete, she put on a pair of dark rimmed glasses and nodded to herself in the mirror. I'm always astonished by the contrast between the spontaneous woman she is in private and the façade she presents to the public.
"Miss Christian Brochner," she said lightly, "heiress to a resort empire, spokeswoman of the Arusian Society-"
"And strip poker-player extraordinaire," I said, shaking my head in amusement. "Mon Dieu. Talk about not trusting appearances. I'm tempted to believe there are two of you."
"You're not the only one who can play that game," she replied, pinching me on the butt as she moved past me to the door.
I stopped, on impulse, to kiss her on the cheek in the doorway. Christian resisted conscious that we were not alone. "Be still," she said softly, disentangling herself from my arms. "I'll give you what you deserve very soon."
"Really?" I gave her a boyish grin. "Are you sure you don't want to marry me?"
"And spoil your reputation as a rogue? Never."
She edged around me. I drew back inside the room to give her time to make her escape. Then I glanced around, distracted by a sudden gust of wind rattling the balcony doors. I couldn't shake off the feeling that someone was watching us.
"I'll see if Sophie is ready."
"Okay."
There was a knock on the front door. Christian paused. "Now who could that be?"
"I'll get it," I replied, making my way to the outer door, where someone outside was knocking again, impatiently.
I opened the door and saw Pidge.
"Hey, Squirt. What's up?" I said, stepping back to allow him entry. He looked sheepish and entered cautiously, as though expecting boiling oil to fall on him.
"Hiya, Lance."
"Who is it?" Christian asked. "I take it we're not in danger?"
"No." I stated wryly. "Everything is fine."
"Good evening," Pidge said softly.
She looked surprised, then smiled at him. "So, it's the brave pilot who preferred a silly video game to spending time with my darling sister."
Pidge scratched his chin and averted his gaze. I laughed at him as I walked past.
Christian playfully patted Pidge's arm, then gave him a sisterly kiss on his cheek. "Not that you asked for it, but I forgive you. But I don't know about Sophie."
"Could you please tell her that I'm here?"
"Pidge! What are you doing here?" A voice demanded from the stairs near the entry.
"I don't think that will be necessary," Christian replied, winking at him.
Pidge looked up, and then gawked.
Sophie, was standing at the top of the steps. The girl who preferred wearing cute tops and comfortable jeans was dressed in a cotton mini dress, in a flowery design like overlapping petals and asymmetrical hems that added a fluttery effect, with dangling amethyst earrings, delicate golden sandals and small pink purse as accessories. Instead of her usual ponytail, her golden hair was loose in waves, barely touching her shoulders.
She slowly descended the steps, and walked over to stand in front of Pidge. The poor kid looked like a lightning bolt had hit him.
"Hi. Are you still mad at me?" He asked, foolishly.
"Shouldn't I be?" She fenced, blue eyes flashing.
"I knew I had to see you and explain, try to make you understand- but now- all that really matters is-" he became absorbed in watching her face "-all that matters is- you look so great!"
"Yes," I broke in. "You look beautiful, ma petite."
Spots of color appeared on Sophie's cheeks. "Er... thanks, Lance."
"Let's go to the movies!" Pidge blurted. "I'll buy you a huge box of Junior Mints."
Sophie rolled her eyes at him. "I'm not going anywhere... at least, not with you."
Pidge shot her a startled look. "Huh?"
"My brother asked me to help him welcome a visitor to our resort. I thought it would be silly of me to stay home tonight while you're enjoying yourself with your brother, so I said yes."
"Sophie, I know... I shouldn't have stood you up. But here I am." In his eagerness he took hold of her shoulders. "Just tell Viggo that you can't make it. He'll understand."
"Please, let go of me."
Viggo came out of his office, talking on his cell phone. "Yes, we're on our way. Bye." He closed the phone and snapped it in his belt. "Good evening, Pidge," he said, then turned to Sophie. "Let's go, Moppet."
"I'm coming."
"Don't go." Pidge sounded like a spoiled, petulant boy. "We had a date, Sophie!"
She bit at her full lower lip. "Had, yes. Not any more." She wriggled out of his grasp and stalked towards the door.
The door opened, and then closed with a decisive click. Pidge took a quick look around, then flung himself over to the stairs, sitting and sinking his head into his hands as brother and sister got into a limousine and drove off.
Christian leaned over and whispered in my ear, "Poor thing. You should have a talk with him."
I grimaced. "Maybe if we ignore him, he'll go away."
"Lance," she said, giving me a slight push. "Go. I'll be waiting in the living room."
Lance took a seat next to me on the stairs. "Hey buddy. You okay?"
I pushed a hand through my hair. "Oh yeah. Just peachy!"
Lance glanced in the direction Sophie had vanished. "Sophie's a nice girl. You're very lucky to have someone like that who's willing to appreciate you for what you are."
"Dammit ! And to think that I got Princess in trouble to get here."
"Allura?" Lance frowned. "All right, what did you do?" His tone was no longer cordial.
"Keith denied me permission to leave, and she interceded for me. He was furious with her, but you know as well as I do that nobody can say no to Princess, not even the Skipper."
Lance relaxed. "Then are you going after Sophie? Or are you just going to sit here all night like an idiot?"
"Go to hell."
He scoffed at me. "I very likely will... someday. In the meantime, I can't imagine any other guy showing Sophie the patience you do. I for one would go mad if I had to deal with her silliness."
"Fuck you."
Lance grinned. "That's what I expected! She has hurt you, but you won't tolerate anyone insulting her. Sounds like amour to me."
"You know nothing of it."
He sighed. "Too true. But I do know if I were stricken by it, I couldn't just let my lady go to another man's arms. I only know how to fight for what I want."
"And have you ever had to?"
Lance turned darkly serious, his eyes glacial, and in that moment I was glad I wasn't facing the guy in battle. There was something very deadly and sinister about my friend.
"Every day, Pidge," he stated calmly, as an absolute truth.
Strangely, those qualities were also reassuring.
"You've got to go after her." He stated.
"I suppose you're right."
The perfect white teeth flashed again, the hazel eyes glittered. "And it kills you to admit that, doesn't it?"
"Shut up, snarky pants," I said tiredly. "I'll see you later."
I pushed a hand through my hair. "Oh yeah. Just peachy!"
Lance glanced in the direction Sophie had vanished. "Sophie's a nice girl. You're very lucky to have someone like that who's willing to appreciate you for what you are."
"Dammit ! And to think that I got Princess in trouble to get here."
"Allura?" Lance frowned. "All right, what did you do?" His tone was no longer cordial.
"Keith denied me permission to leave, and she interceded for me. He was furious with her, but you know as well as I do that nobody can say no to Princess, not even the Skipper."
Lance relaxed. "Then are you going after Sophie? Or are you just going to sit here all night like an idiot?"
"Go to hell."
He scoffed at me. "I very likely will... someday. In the meantime, I can't imagine any other guy showing Sophie the patience you do. I for one would go mad if I had to deal with her silliness."
"Fuck you."
Lance grinned. "That's what I expected! She has hurt you, but you won't tolerate anyone insulting her. Sounds like amour to me."
"You know nothing of it."
He sighed. "Too true. But I do know if I were stricken by it, I couldn't just let my lady go to another man's arms. I only know how to fight for what I want."
"And have you ever had to?"
Lance turned darkly serious, his eyes glacial, and in that moment I was glad I wasn't facing the guy in battle. There was something very deadly and sinister about my friend.
"Every day, Pidge," he stated calmly, as an absolute truth.
Strangely, those qualities were also reassuring.
"You've got to go after her." He stated.
"I suppose you're right."
The perfect white teeth flashed again, the hazel eyes glittered. "And it kills you to admit that, doesn't it?"
"Shut up, snarky pants," I said tiredly. "I'll see you later."
Castle Doom, June 11th, 2304
"There is a diabolical trio existing in the natural man, implacable, inextinguishable, cooperative and consentaneous: pride, envy and hate; pride that makes us fancy we deserve all the goods that others possess; envy that some should be admired while we are overlooked; and hate, because all that is bestowed on others, diminishes the sum we think due to ourselves." ~C.C. Colton
I found myself in my study sitting with my feet propped up on my mahogany desk, sprawled back into a leather chair with a goblet of red wine in my right hand. Cossack was on the computer giving me the latest from our cells on Arus, when Haggar suddenly appeared.
"My Prince."
"Haggar, you've come sooner than I expected. You have had a good hunting then, I assume?"
"Yes, Lotor, I have." Her gray face wore a lazy smile. She's still angry with father for letting a Drule scientist, on the advice of Viceroy Throk, create the perfect robeast for the attack at Planet Acura. With our defeat, the witch and I rekindled our business dealings, and she had the old crud all to herself once again.
I couldn't help smiling at the thought, because unfortunately for father, Haggar's love and devotion has turned into hatred. She hasn't prepared him more of the potions of Lyra flowers that had kept him strong and fit all these years, and his mind and body are starting to show their true age, much to my delight.
I turned to Cossack. "Continue with the plan," I commanded him. "And keep me posted on their activity."
"Yes, milord," he replied, hurrying off.
"So, Haggar, what have you seen in your old crystal ball?" I smiled, lifting the glass for another sip of wine.
"Princess Allura has been invited to attend a peace summit on Planet Terra. She, along with her advisor and the Voltron Force were discussing her travel arrangements."
My arm paused, and I looked up at her, my lips parted to receive the brim.
"She has gone to Terra a couple of times. What makes it different this time around?"
Haggar smiled slightly. "The Captain of the Voltron Force will accompany her... without a chaperone."
I choked up abruptly, and the goblet twitched in my hand before I set it aside. I coughed to clear my throat and cocked an eyebrow at her as I struggled to find my voice. "A-alone with him?" I asked my heart suddenly in my throat.
"Yes."
I felt a rage rip through me at the mere thought of Keith touching her intimately. I knew that I until made Allura mine, I was extremely dangerous, not only to those Terrans but to my own kind as well. Before meeting the princess, I had never experienced such jealousy, possessiveness, or any other emotion remotely like it.
It couldn't be love, I thought mutinously. I was not in love with Allura. It was only lust.
So why, for the first time in my life, does the thought of conquering planets and enslaving innocent people bring me absolutely no pleasure? And why does the mere thought of living out the rest of my life without seeing a certain smile, hearing a certain laugh, having the right to watch out for a certain princess leave the taste of ashes in my mouth?
As if I just burned down the only bridge that ever mattered- or ever will?
The future suddenly seemed to stretch before me like a barren wasteland.
Just like my heart.
At that moment I knew that somehow, some way, no matter what it took, Allura would be mine.
"Isn't that romantic?" Haggar cackled.
The urge to wring her neck beat at my head until I rubbed my temples in protest. Then I sighed, shook my head, and even attempted to smile. "Let them enjoy themselves, old witch. It won't last."
I leaned back and watched her smile in a way that told me she knew I was afraid of what could happen between them. She wasn't the type you trusted with your secrets or your intentions, but I knew I would get my money's worth. She would finish what I had started, but it was wise to remember that I always had more than one iron glowing in the fire. Having been burned once by my impulsive behavior, I have no desire to feel the flame again.
The movement at the door brought my head around in a leisurely loll; it wasn't one of my slaves ready to warm my bed.
My insides seized up, the liquor roiling in an uneasy tide.
"Father, you shouldn't be up."
Knowing my concern was as false as my smile, he ignored both to wheeze. Turning to Haggar, I said, "Keep me posted."
"Yes, my Prince," she replied, gazing at father. "And how are you feeling, sire?"
"Like hell, thanks to you!" His eyes told her, and she looked away to hide a smile of satisfaction. She then shook out her skirts, and quickly dissolved into nothingness.
"Lotor, what schemes are you involved now?"
"No schemes, father-"
His scepter struck the desk. At the sound, I leapt from my indolent slouch in the chair to a defensive stance.
"Don't lie to me, Lotor. I can always tell when you're lying. What are you planning?"
"Father, I'm just seeing to our best interests, as always."
He made a disgusted sound. "You better quit playing and get down to business. This empire will be yours someday, may the evil gods help our people."
My expression never altered from its fixed glaze of caution. But I couldn't help thinking, when?
"I'm taking care of things just fine, my dear father. You can trust me-"
"Trust you?" he snarled. "I got my eye on you, boy, and you won't betray me like your mother did, you hear?"
Father leaned against his scepter, struggling for air and with his loathing for me, the one he depended upon.
"You better start forgetting about that insipid princess or you'll have to learn how to make a living off your own misbegotten talents."
"Father!"
"Lotor, I was a fool for listening to Haggar. I should have killed you when I had the chance!"
I waited for the sound of my father's halting steps to carry his wasted figure back into his quarters, for the scent of sickness and hatred to abate before I took a deep, cleansing breath.
You bastard... you got no idea what I'm capable of. But you'll find out, and won't you be surprised? Everyone will be surprised!
THE END.
02/18/2004
Revised 03/08/2015
"There is a diabolical trio existing in the natural man, implacable, inextinguishable, cooperative and consentaneous: pride, envy and hate; pride that makes us fancy we deserve all the goods that others possess; envy that some should be admired while we are overlooked; and hate, because all that is bestowed on others, diminishes the sum we think due to ourselves." ~C.C. Colton
I found myself in my study sitting with my feet propped up on my mahogany desk, sprawled back into a leather chair with a goblet of red wine in my right hand. Cossack was on the computer giving me the latest from our cells on Arus, when Haggar suddenly appeared.
"My Prince."
"Haggar, you've come sooner than I expected. You have had a good hunting then, I assume?"
"Yes, Lotor, I have." Her gray face wore a lazy smile. She's still angry with father for letting a Drule scientist, on the advice of Viceroy Throk, create the perfect robeast for the attack at Planet Acura. With our defeat, the witch and I rekindled our business dealings, and she had the old crud all to herself once again.
I couldn't help smiling at the thought, because unfortunately for father, Haggar's love and devotion has turned into hatred. She hasn't prepared him more of the potions of Lyra flowers that had kept him strong and fit all these years, and his mind and body are starting to show their true age, much to my delight.
I turned to Cossack. "Continue with the plan," I commanded him. "And keep me posted on their activity."
"Yes, milord," he replied, hurrying off.
"So, Haggar, what have you seen in your old crystal ball?" I smiled, lifting the glass for another sip of wine.
"Princess Allura has been invited to attend a peace summit on Planet Terra. She, along with her advisor and the Voltron Force were discussing her travel arrangements."
My arm paused, and I looked up at her, my lips parted to receive the brim.
"She has gone to Terra a couple of times. What makes it different this time around?"
Haggar smiled slightly. "The Captain of the Voltron Force will accompany her... without a chaperone."
I choked up abruptly, and the goblet twitched in my hand before I set it aside. I coughed to clear my throat and cocked an eyebrow at her as I struggled to find my voice. "A-alone with him?" I asked my heart suddenly in my throat.
"Yes."
I felt a rage rip through me at the mere thought of Keith touching her intimately. I knew that I until made Allura mine, I was extremely dangerous, not only to those Terrans but to my own kind as well. Before meeting the princess, I had never experienced such jealousy, possessiveness, or any other emotion remotely like it.
It couldn't be love, I thought mutinously. I was not in love with Allura. It was only lust.
So why, for the first time in my life, does the thought of conquering planets and enslaving innocent people bring me absolutely no pleasure? And why does the mere thought of living out the rest of my life without seeing a certain smile, hearing a certain laugh, having the right to watch out for a certain princess leave the taste of ashes in my mouth?
As if I just burned down the only bridge that ever mattered- or ever will?
The future suddenly seemed to stretch before me like a barren wasteland.
Just like my heart.
At that moment I knew that somehow, some way, no matter what it took, Allura would be mine.
"Isn't that romantic?" Haggar cackled.
The urge to wring her neck beat at my head until I rubbed my temples in protest. Then I sighed, shook my head, and even attempted to smile. "Let them enjoy themselves, old witch. It won't last."
I leaned back and watched her smile in a way that told me she knew I was afraid of what could happen between them. She wasn't the type you trusted with your secrets or your intentions, but I knew I would get my money's worth. She would finish what I had started, but it was wise to remember that I always had more than one iron glowing in the fire. Having been burned once by my impulsive behavior, I have no desire to feel the flame again.
The movement at the door brought my head around in a leisurely loll; it wasn't one of my slaves ready to warm my bed.
My insides seized up, the liquor roiling in an uneasy tide.
"Father, you shouldn't be up."
Knowing my concern was as false as my smile, he ignored both to wheeze. Turning to Haggar, I said, "Keep me posted."
"Yes, my Prince," she replied, gazing at father. "And how are you feeling, sire?"
"Like hell, thanks to you!" His eyes told her, and she looked away to hide a smile of satisfaction. She then shook out her skirts, and quickly dissolved into nothingness.
"Lotor, what schemes are you involved now?"
"No schemes, father-"
His scepter struck the desk. At the sound, I leapt from my indolent slouch in the chair to a defensive stance.
"Don't lie to me, Lotor. I can always tell when you're lying. What are you planning?"
"Father, I'm just seeing to our best interests, as always."
He made a disgusted sound. "You better quit playing and get down to business. This empire will be yours someday, may the evil gods help our people."
My expression never altered from its fixed glaze of caution. But I couldn't help thinking, when?
"I'm taking care of things just fine, my dear father. You can trust me-"
"Trust you?" he snarled. "I got my eye on you, boy, and you won't betray me like your mother did, you hear?"
Father leaned against his scepter, struggling for air and with his loathing for me, the one he depended upon.
"You better start forgetting about that insipid princess or you'll have to learn how to make a living off your own misbegotten talents."
"Father!"
"Lotor, I was a fool for listening to Haggar. I should have killed you when I had the chance!"
I waited for the sound of my father's halting steps to carry his wasted figure back into his quarters, for the scent of sickness and hatred to abate before I took a deep, cleansing breath.
You bastard... you got no idea what I'm capable of. But you'll find out, and won't you be surprised? Everyone will be surprised!
THE END.
02/18/2004
Revised 03/08/2015
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