The Present, Bastille-12 Maximum Prison...
He walked along the hallways of Bastille-12, the Galaxy Garrison maximum security prison. His step was sure and confident. He walked like the statesman he was - regal, tall, a prescence to be dealt with.He was greeted with genuine greetings of welcome and respect. He amicably chatted with his escorts about their wives and families. Of course, he used to be a king - A king of many worlds. He ruled them all with an iron hand and they obeyed his every wish. He had the power of life and death over millions untold. Now he was a statesman, a diplomat, a great philantropist to the people of the Galaxy.
Instead of being the ruler of all, he was now a servant - fulfilling the needs of the people. He was respected, honored and he was of late, compared to the late ruler of Arus, King Alfor. This comparsion had amused him, although in public he was careful to maintain a sense of modesty and of humility about the whole affair.He often wondered what Princess Allura thought when she heard the comparsion.
His escorts took him to a large conference room. He sat down in one of the comfortable chairs and waited for the others to arrive. Who would have ever thought that he would be sitting at a table with two of his former enemies, a robot and a deformed son? He would have never imagined it years ago when he started on his long road of conquest. He heard sounds. Ah,they were arriving..
First though the door came the robot commander of the GG, Amalgamus. He was a tall android, the pinancle of technology. He nodded at Zarkon in his detached way and sat down at the end of the long table. Next came Commander Keith Akira, Commander of the Voltron Force and new Commander of the GG Enviromental Corps. He looked the same. The stamp of duty and honor was still upon his face. And last but certainly not least, Princess Allura of Arus. As she came in, he arose and greeted her. He bowed in his most courtly manner, placed her small soft hand in his and raised it to his lips to kiss. Zarkon said, "You look lovlier that ever, Princess Allura.." He could feel the shudder of revulsion that she tried to supress. He repressed a smile. Oh, he knew she hated him, though she covered it with a regal pose. She did not trust him. He rather admired her for that. He never could abide stupidity in anyone. Still he had to maintain his appearance, it would not do to have her offended. He said, "Forgive me, Princess Allura, I was merely paying a compliment.." Keith broke in and said, "That's enough compliments, Zarkon. We're here to interrogate Lotor, remember? Although how you pulled strings to get here is beyond me.." Zarkon looked affronted, "Why, Commander. should a man be condemed simply because he wants to see his son? You have a hard heart, Commander." He looked at Keith and thought ...one day I will see your tongue ripped out, insolent one....He turned to Allura, whose hand he had not released and said, "And you, Princess? Do you have the hard-heartedness of the Commander here? " He smiled ingratiatingly, "Surely not." He looked full into her face and thought how her beauty seemed to blaze like fire in the night. No wonder his son had been so enamored of her. Allura said quietly, "Please let go of my hand, Zarkon.." He apologized and said, "I am sorry, Princess..forgive a lonely man for taking pleasure in holding a hand as lovely as yours." He could see that she didn't buy that at all, even if it was true. He kept himself away from the pleasures of women - he had a reputation as a "good man" to maintain. He never indulged himself but served the people of the Galaxy to "atone" for both his and his son's evil.
He noticed that the Princess went to sit down. Zarkon gracefully pulled her chair for her. She frowned, but stiffly said, "Thank You." as she sat down. Zarkon smiled and sat down beside her. He saw that Keith Akira's face was angry, for he was on the other side of the princess. Zarkon saw Allura shiver again as he sat down beside her. Oh, he loved this! He glanced at her hair, glimmering like gold in the overhead lights and wondered what it would feel like under his hands. He shook his head to clear it. He had been alone too long. Amalgamus interrupted his thoughts. He said, "They're coming.."
The door opened, admitting two heavily armed guards and his son Lotor, manacled and strapped to a wheelchair. Zarkon noticed how truly changed his son was. His face was half-covered by metal, his long hair was dishelved and dirty, as if he hadn't washed it in a long time. It was ragged and uneven, as if someone had simply took hedge clippers to it. He wore the standard issue prison uniform of the Bastille 12 prisoner, but he was not ordinary. He was the most dangerous prisoner in the place. His uniform covered the myriad of bionic and metal parts of his body, but Zarkon knew that his son still carried some true flesh upon him, although it didn't matter any more. He was a freak, a monster. Zarkon glanced at Allura. He expected her face to be a mask of revulsion for his son, but to his suprise, she quietly got up despite Commander Keith's protests and went up to his son and knelt before him. The guards tried to warn her, but she would not listen. Stubborn girl.. Zarkon watched incredously as Allura held Lotor's hand in her own, unafraid, knowing that he could crush her hand.
Lotor sat there, angry, as he always was since that day his world exploded in light and flames. He remembered his last thought as his ship exploded around him was of Allura. He knew he was going to be interrogated again, for they had him restrained and had drugged him again. He didn't care. They could pump him full of drugs, but he would never tell. He did not want an "accident" to befall him in prison. He grimaced. He knew his father had something to do with all this. He didn't believe for a minute that his father had turned to "good." He didn't believe it when they had told him. He wondered if Allura had believed it. He hoped not. He lived so that someday he could wreak his vengance upon the robot Voltron and the men who manned him. It did not matter that Allura was part of that Force. He would not harm her - he could not. They wheeled him in and he could see them - Amalgamus, Commander Akira, his damnable father and her. Why was she here in this hellhole? He didn't want her to see him like this! He felt anger towards her for coming. Surely she knew. He expected to hear her gasp in horror at his appearance. Why not? So many others did. He closed his eyes, not wanting to see the revulsion on her face. A few moments later, he felt her take his hand in hers. To his amazement and shock, he felt her hand upon his face - the part where his real flesh remained. It was a sweet torment to feel her warm hand upon his face. He did not dare open his eyes. He heard her voice soft and low whisper, "You never deserved this.." Lotor could hear the compassion in her voice towards him. She had never spoke thusly towards him. Suddenly, he felt anger. He did not need her pity! If she had only returned his love, he would have never become this way! He wanted to push her away , but could not, for his hands were bound. He could hear Akira say, "Get away from him, princess!" and he heard her say with a snap, "No, I will not. He will not harm me..." she said, "What have they done? Why are they keeping you like this?" One of the guards replied, "He's dangerous, Princess.." She snapped, "That's no reason to treat him like an animal!" One of the guards said, "Begging your pardon, princess, but we're treating him better than he treated his slaves!" Lotor felt Allura's hand tighten upon his own. Her voice was full of fury as she addressed the guard, "And I thought we were above that!" He felt her hand upon his cheek again and winced. Why couldn't she have loved him? Had it been too much to ask? Now there was no chance. The only thing he would live for now was revenging himself upon Voltron - and his father.He heard her murmur, "I will see about this, Lotor. I swear.." Lotor said not a word. He could not bring himself to speak to her, but he had to see her - even if it hurt him. Lotor opened his eyes. He looked at her through his remaining eye, not wanting to see her out of his bionic one. He did not want her face to be seen through the cold eye of a machine but through the eye of a man . He saw her delicate oval face, her skin fair and beautiful as it had alway been. Her hair was up, the thick masses of gold gleaming under the harsh lighting. As always, tendrils of her hair escaped the confines of her combs, and gently framed her face, tempting a man to reach out and touch them. Her blue eyes held unshed tears and also held indignation and anger - not for him but for his situation. She looked at him and could see him looking at her. She did not turn away or protest. She just said, "I'm sorry.." His mouth tightened. He did not need her pity. He had wanted her love and he lost. Tears fell down her face. He could not stand to see her weep. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw his father get up and go towards Allura. He heard his father say, "Come, Princess, we must begin. this is too upsetting for you..." Lotor glared at his father in undisguised hatred as he helped Allura up, placing a steadying hand upon her waist. If he had not been restrained, he would have killed his father for daring to touch her thusly.
That was another thing he lived for now - to kill his father. Lotor knew he had something to do with all this. It was a game his father was playing with them all and sooner or later the game would end. He watched with fury as his father escorted Allura to her chair. Allura didn't seem to notice that his father still held his hand around her waist, although he saw Akira did. So Akira didn't trust his father either. Well, it was one of two things they held in common. He saw his father gently ease her into her chair and continued to glare as he sat down beside her. Allura covered her face with her hand overcome by her emotion. Lotor saw Akira glance worriedly at her and his father holding her hand and patting it in mock sympathy. Ah, if only he were free! He would wreak havoc upon the universe! He would destroy Voltron and his father. He would kill and destroy everything except her - he would keep her for his own. She was his!. If Hagar were around, perhaps she would heal him somehow, but she was not. If he could only gaze upon her face everyday, then he would be content. He would hide her away from all prying eyes. He closed his eyes in misery. He heard Amalgamus say, "Well, if we are all ready, let us begin..."
Zarkon had looked in shock as he saw the princess kneel before his deformed son. She actually touched him! Their was no fear or revulsion upon her face, only compassion and tenderness. Zarkon's eyes looked upon his son without pity. He deserved everything he got, but he did not deserve kindness.He watched his son's face - half -man, half - metal. He could see the torment upon it as she touched his face. Ah, he still loved her. He wanted to smile. She was torturing him quite well, even though she didn't know it. He knew his son would not tell the location of his fortress. He would not reveal where the weapon was hidden, but Zarkon knew. He knew three years ago when Voltron and the Alliance forces detroyed their Fleet. He knew, but he let Lotor take the fall. Zarkon was a survivor and he was a practical man. He never held any love for his son. He was only a tool which was serving his purpose very well now. He felt no pity, no sympathy for what was his own flesh and blood. Family had no signifigance to him except as connections to be manipulated.
He watched her as she started to weep. Tears had never affected him, for he had seen the tears of many, slave and free. What enraged him was her compassion for his son. She, who by all accounts had hated his son, refused him time and time again, only to weep at his feet. He did not like this at all. It displeased him greatly. He got up and walked over to where they were. He could feel the hatred flowing from his son as he spoke to the princess and gently helped her up. Zarkon placed his hand around her waist, knowing that Lotor would be furious and could do nothing about it. He had to admit, it was a pleasant sensation to have his hand upon her waist, and so he kept it there until he helped her into the chair beside his. He could feel anomosity from the Commander as well. He tried to resist smiling, for he felt such satisfaction in their anger. The princess sat there, her hand covering her face. He held his large hand over her small one and patted it comfortingly. He caressed it slightly with his fingertips as he did so. Zarkon could easily imagine the rest of her, soft and warm, inviting - a woman to intoxicate the senses. He had nearly found that out once when she was his slave so long ago. Gad, he had to quit that and concentrate on the matter at hand. He did not get where he was by letting himself become distracted.
He thought about the elaborate game he was playing. Soon it would be over. All bets would be off. He would rule again, this time there would be no opposing Alliance against him. He would be the Alliance! There would be no resistance when he took over. The people were already clamoring for him to run for political office. It would be an easy matter once everything was in place.Zarkon repressed a smile.
Actually in a way, he was back where he began as a young officer fresh out of the Academy. He was ambitious then, hungry for power. He used his skills then as he did now, to cajole, to give them what they wanted, then he struck, unmercifully. He remembered the first planet he had conquered and made his own, and he remembered the one planet that had appealed so much to his personality that he made it his home. It was a dark planet in the Denubian Galaxy - the planet Ch'aaron or as others were to call it - Planet Doom...