The Chronicles of Doom

The Middle Kingdom - Three

The claxons reverberated throughout Castle Doom, waking Zarkon up. Instantly he was awake, a lifetime of military discipline not failing him now. Without a glance to the startled slave girl beside him, he arose and punched his comm system.
He barked, "What the hell is going on?"
A nameless guard came on, obviously nervous. "Sire, we have an escape - it is the five slaves that were processed earler! They have taken a slave ship.."
Zarkon roared, cutting him off. "They're on their way to Arus! Get me Yurak NOW!"
The guard complied quickly, and Yurak came on the screen. Zarkon yelled, "Commander Yurak, you will capture those men now, and you will attack Arus as well! Mske sure that there is unconditional surrender! if there is not, destroy everything!"
Yurak nodded and said, "It will be done, sire!" Zarkon growled, "See that it is, Yurak! I want no mistakes!"
He abruptly cut the transmission and quickly got dressed, ignoring the shaking girl upon the bed. Without another word, he stalked out the door and yelled at a guard to take the girl back to the slave pens....

Zarkon was in his throne room when he got the news. Voltron. They found the secret of Voltron. He glared at his witch Hagar and said ominously, "I thought you destroyed him, Hagar.."
Hagar winced. She knew he was ticked when he used that tone of voice. She would have to use her words carefully.
"I did, sire. Voltron was alive - I killed his lifeforce, but his pieces fell to Arus.."
"Well, old witch! His "pieces" are now together - thanks to those five damnable space explorers!"
Hagar cackled. Zarkon merely glared at her and said, "Have you gone mad, old witch!"
She said, "No, sire..but you see, you have made a point - five space explorers - five lions!"
"So? What is your point, Hagar? I'm not in the mood for games!"
Hagar nervously petted the blue cat that laid in her lap and said, "If we eliminate one of the pilots, then they cannot form Voltron!"
Zarkon looked at her and actually smiled, :"Hmm..that is a good idea, Hagar. You can carry it out.."
She cackled heartily and said, "It will be my pleasure, sire!"
Zarkon dismissed her without another word with a curt nod of his head. Hagar got up and hurried to her lab, her blue cat following her...

Yurak was on his knees before Zarkon in shame. His fleet had been defeated in battle by Voltron again, and this time he had to explain how in the world Voltron formed when there were only four pilots. Zarkon sat high upon nis throne waiting for an explanation.
He said, "Well, Yurak! Explain!"
Yurak raised his head and said, "Sire..they have another pilot for the Blue Lion.."
Zarkon yelled, "How in the seven hells could they get another pilot so soon!"
Yurak said, "Princess Allura flies the Blue Lion, Sire!"
To Yurak's relief, Zarkon's eyes glittered in amusement.
He said, "So the princess fights, does she?" He started to laugh, then he gestured his gold staff at Yurak and said, "Get up, Yurak! Your life is spared - for now. Get out of my sight before I change my mind!"
Yurak left quickly. Zarkon turned to Hagar and said, "Well, old witch - the Princess flies Blue Lion. She is their weakest link. I think we should concentrate our efforts upon her, don't you think?"
Hagar said, "Oh, yes sire, I agree!"
Zarkon mused for a moment and said, "I have been informed that her advisor has been looking over marriage proposals for her - yet she refuses..what if we provide what she desires?"
Hagar cackled and said, "I know her thoughts and dreams, sire. I can create a roebeast disgised as a handsome prince.."
Zarkon grinned evily and said, "Yes, and he can charm the princess and her friends. When the time is right, he will take the princess and Blue Lion here to Doom.." Zarkon laughed. "With the princess in my posession, Arus will fall and Voltron will no longer trouble me..an excellent plan.."

Zarkon stormed and raged for months. Defeat after defeat! He could not believe it. His forces beat back by that damnable robot! Years - years he had scraped and struggled to form his Empire, and that robot threatened all! He knew that with each defeat more talk would erupt about Zarkon losing his touch. He would not have that! He tighted his grip upon his planets and he forged new alliances, but still the defeats came, and his rage grew.
Soon his rage became focused upon one person - and that person was Yurak. He came when he was summoned. Yurak was quaking. He knew why Zarkon had summoned him. It was over unless Zarkon showed mercy. Yurak knew there was no mercy here. He felt such anger. It was that Voltron Force with their machine that defeated his forces time and time again! If only he had one more chance, he would defeat that infernal machine and show Zarkon that he was truly a Commander worthy of his Fleet.Yurak saw with dismay the tall handsome form of Crown Prince Lotor, standing by his father's side. One thing Yurak knew was that Lotor looked nothing like his father. He was handsome like a god, but he had the temper of a devil. Like father, like son.
Yurak remained on his knees, awaiting his fate. He knew that he could beg and plead, but it would only make it worse. Yurak was suprised a few moments later when the prince said, "Yurak, I have a plan in which you can redeem yourself and defeat Voltron. Are you interested?" And of course, Yurak was....

Crown Prince Lotor flew his fighter back from Arus. He was angry about his defeat. Damn Yurak! He should have known he would make an inferior roebeast..and that damnable Voltron leader! What was his name? Keith Akira? He should have made sure he had finished him off. He would have too, except for the pilot of Blue Lion shooting at him.
As he thought of that particular pilot, his feelings of anger disappeared. They were jumbled, confused. By the heavens, when he had seen her there through the viewing window of her castle, his breath had caught in his throat. She was the lovliest woman he had ever seen. But it wasn't just her beauty that caught him so, it was something else - but he didn't know what. He tried to dismiss his feelings as foolishness, but he had never felt such feelings before - awe, tenderness, passion, desire, protectiveness, all rolled into one. Her face kept coming before him. Even when she had made him mad, ordering him like she did, he had still been caught in her spell. What was she - a witch?He didn't know. All he knew was that he wanted her - and he would have her..
Later that night he dreamed of her. She was smiling and laughing with him. Pleasing him and letting him please her in return. She whispered the words "I love you" in his ear and in his dream he felt so alive and so loved - as he had never felt - at least not since he was a very small boy. When he awoke, it felt as she had been there with him. He turned and expected to feel her next to him, her gold hair fanned out upon his pillows. But when she was not, he felt such anger at her. How dare she affect him so? No other woman had ever done that! Lotor laid there thinking of her again. It didn't matter. He would quench his desire for her one way or the other. When he went to Arus next time, she would return to Doom with him and be his slave until he tired of her. Lotor smiled. Yes, that would work. Once she was his, he was sure his fascination with her would end quickly...

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