Doom Reborn - Four

Lotor flew towards Doom, his rage against his father growing. If his father had hurt her or tried to - ! It wouldn't matter! He would die either way. He would tear him apart with his hands and watch the horror in his eyes. He only hoped that Allura was not harmed. The whole universe could go to hell, but Allura was the only one he ever cared about or ever would.
He landed on Doom and was suprised his father did not try to shoot him down. But he knew that in all liklihood, his father had set a trap for him. Lotor would be wary and he would be triumphant against his father. He made his way towards the castle when suddenly he a saw a familar figure running from the castle, her long blonde hair streaming from her as she ran.
Lotor yelled, "Allura!" and came running towards her.
She saw him and she ran towards him. He caught her as she fell into his arms. Lotor anxiously looked down at her face and Allura opened her eyes.
She said breathlessly, "Your father - oh, Lotor, help me!"
He saw that she wore a sheer gown and that it had been ripped, baring her skin. Bruises covered her body, and marks of passion were on her neck and shoulders. Lotor's eyes narrowed in rage. He would personally geld his father for what he did to her!
He held her gently, closed his eyes to kiss her softly. When he did, suddenly he heard a familiar cackle and opened his eyes - Hagar! He should have known! Before he could use his cybernetic arms to crush the life out of her, she cast a spell and froze him in place. He could not move!
Hagar whirled out of his arms and said, "I am thankful you fell for my trick, Lotor. Your father will be pleased!"
She could see the anger blazing from his eyes. She chuckled, "Oh, it's not personal, Lotor - I just know to get on the winning side - and your father at the moment is.." With a gesture of her hand, she caused him to move forward. She said, "Come, we are going to meet your father for a little family reunion!"
Lotor cursed her in his mind since he could not speak. If he were free, he would kill the whole lot of them...

Allura was kneeling at Zarkon's feet at his throne. He was smiling broadly and was in a very good mood. From time to time, he would glance down at her and stroke her hair.
He said, "Before my son arrives, Allura, you will have the honor of viewing some entertainment." Zarkon bellowed, "Bring them in!"
Allura saw Alliance guards, plainly under the influence of some drug, haul in some high ranking Garrison generals. She recognized them as General Paulson Howell and General Gillermo Garcia - she had danced with them last night at the Ball. They had obviously been beaten and roughed up. When they were brought up to Zarkon, their eyes widened in shock as they saw Zarkon seated on his throne, with Allura kneeling by his side.
General Garcia was the first to speak. "What is the meaning of this, Zarkon? We were under the impression this was Lotor's doing!"
Zarkon signaled with his hand and one of the Alliance guards applied a subduer gun upon the General. Allura winced as he screamed in pain.
Garcia went to his knees upon the floor and Zarkon said, "General Garcia..you will show the proper respect to your master!" He glanced at General Howell, who was visibly shaken. "And you, General Howell, will you show the proper respect, or shall I have them do the same to you?"
Howell immediately went to his knees, afraid for his life. Zarkon smiled, "That's better, my friends. To answer your question, in a way my son was behind all this, but you see I simply used the opportunity to take over the Alliance - and Galaxy Garrison, I might add.."
General Garcia looked up, rage in his dark brown eyes. "You're not going to get away with this! I don't know what you did to our men but - aggghhhh!!!"
Zarkon's eyes narrowed, "Save me the theatrics, Garcia. They're not your men anymore but mine. Note the collars around their necks? It controls them - makes them obedient. I'll reward them from time to time - allowing them free rein over any conquered planets. But they are mine as are all the subjects of the universe!"
He turned towards Allura and played with the ends of her hair and said, "Isn't that right, my dear?" Allura didn't say anything. Zarkon merely smiled and said intimately, "Answer my question in the right way, Allura or I will order the guards to disembowel them - slowly."
Allura gasped and said, "Yes."
Zarkon yanked her hair and said, "Yes, what, my dear!"
She gasped in pain and said, "Yes, King Zarkon.."
He released her hair but put his hand on her bare shoulder, his fingers slightly caressing. He said, "Good, my dear.."
She saw General Garcia's mouth tighten and then he yelled, "You dare touch the princess in that manner, diable? You will pay for that!"
To Allura's horror, Garcia lunged up and ran up towards the throne. Zarkon merely sat there, smirking. Gesturing to a guard, the guard brought out a whip and caught Garcia on the ankle, tripping him. One of the other guards kicked him over on his back, ready to plunge a lasersword into his chest.
Zarkon said, "Stop. Don't kill him. " Zarkon looked down upon Garcia's angry face and said, "You are a brave one, General. I knew you would be. I give you an option, General Garcia - you can either work with me - enjoy a generous bounty - or you can be tortured before you die. I can't make you a slave, Garcia. You'd incite rebellion. But as an officer, you'd be of use to me..give me your answer - as you say..amigo.."
Garcia glared at Zarkon and said, "You'd think I'd join your army from Hell? There are other people out there like me who aren't under the influences of your drugs. If I die, it won't matter! The Voltron Force will fight you!"
Zarkon started to laugh heartily, "Oh! That again! Garcia..the Voltron Force is disbanded. Haven't you heard?" Then he frowned. "Well, you've given your answer then. A pity..."
He said to the guard holding the lasersword upon him, "I have changed my mind. He will fight in the roebeast games tomorrow.."
The guard dragged Garcia up. Garcia yelled, "I won't fight your roebeasts!"
Zarkon grinned and said, "I believe you have a wife and children, Garcia? I seem to remember that from your personnel file..."
Garcia blanched. Zarkon said, "Yes, you do..I know where they are. Perhaps they will live decent lives if you fight..you don't wish to cause them harm, do you?"
Garcia said, "You will pay, Zarkon!"
Zarkon suddenly looked bored. "I am tired of this conversation. You will fight my roebeasts tommorrow . Take him away!"
Garcia looked at the princess as he was dragged away.He said, "Princess..I will pray for you.."
Allura nodded in silence, knowing that she was seeing a brave man go to his death.
Zarkon turned his attention to General Howell, who was still kneeling. Zarkon frowned and said, "General Howell, raise your face.."
The grey-haired general did without hesitation. Zarkon said, "You swear alliegiance to me?"
Howell nodded, "Yes, King Zarkon."
Zarkon smiled benevolently and said, "You would follow my every command?"
Howell again said, "Yes, King Zarkon." Zarkon gestured at one of his many guards and the guard tossed an old fashioned sword upon the floor next to Howell. Allura saw the General's startled look.
Zarkon said, "Good, Howell. Here is your first order..fall upon the sword there.."
Howell's eyes widened. "Your - your Majesty! Surely you jest!"
Zarkon grimaced, "I don't "jest", Howell. You said you'd be obedient. Now fall upon the sword!"
Howell started to babble in fear. "Please, Zarkon! I can be of use to you. Surely you are joking! Yes! A joke! We were close friends! I helped you win the Alliance election! You had dinner at my home!"
Zarkon snorted derisively and said, "Yes, Howell..I did, didh't I..but that was then, this is now. Now obey me!"
Howell started to shake, "No..Zarkon! I can be of use!"
Zarkon's eyes narrowed in rage. "You're a back-stabblng coward, Howell. You would rob me blind and smile in my face...since you will not follow my order - " He motioned to another guard, "Kill him - slowly.."
Allura bit her lip as she heard Howell scream, "No! Don't do this! You can't mean this! Noooo!!"
Two guards lifted him up and held him as another guard with a small laser short sword ( a blade with almost surgical-like precision) started taking his fingers off his hand one by one. Allura couldn't block out his screams, so she shut her eyes.
She felt Zarkon yank her hair and pull her up on his lap. He roughly cupped her chin and said, "You will watch, my dear - all of it .."
To her disgust, Zarkon bent her head back and kissed her, parting her lips. Between Howell's screams and Zarkon's kiss, she felt as if she stepped into Hell itself. Zarkon broke away, looked into her agonized face and said, "It won't be long, my dear..I will show you delights.."
She shivered and he laughed again, letting her off his lap. She really felt like she would be sick! She went back to her kneeling position on the floor. By this time, Howell was sagging, his screams dying into moans. Blood was all over him, all over the guards who didn't seem to notice. She tried to pretend that the pieces on the floor weren't really parts of him. Allura could not believe that these fresh faced guards - little more than cadets were doing this, but evidently, Hagar's magic must have played some part in it.
The guards threw Howell upon the floor and the lead guard started to work at his arms. Allura shut her eyes again and shivered. Zarkon yanked her hair again, making her eyes fly open. Howell's body was well - dismembered by this time - yet despite the massive amount of blood upon the floor, Howell was still alive. He was in shock by this time, and by the time the guard beheaded him, he felt no pain. Allura shut her eyes and said a silent prayer for him - for all the good it did him.
Zarkon snarled at one of the guards, "Take his remains and feed it to the robeast in number 5 block - the Red Shell..it enjoys human flesh - no matter how cowardly it is.."
He turned towards Allura and stroked her hair, which seemed to calm him somewhat and smiled. Things were back to normal...

Doom Reborn - Five
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