“I’m glad to see that you’re all present to watch my little show,” Haggar cackled over the monitor in Castle Control, her horrid blue crone’s face a formidable sight. “I’m sure you’ll all find it entertaining – in a fashion. I know I will.” She cackled again, the sound punctuated by the Castle’s shuddering under a barrage of laser fire. The Castle’s cannons fired back, taking down a couple of Cruisers, but the loss seemed to have no effect on the witch’s smug expression.
Hunk raised a clenched fist at her. “Where’s Lotor, you old hag?” he shouted up at her, shaking his fist. “What’s he doing hiding under your musty old skirt again? Too scared to face us like a man?”
Haggar’s grating laugh filled their ears. “I left him back at Planet Doom – I’m afraid my impatient and hot-headed prince would have ruined my plans considerably,” she said, blowing at her claw-like fingernails in a gesture of nonchalance. “That boy has no restraint,” she confided conversationally. “He would have destroyed the prize I had waited so painstakingly to capture.”
Allura gasped and stepped forward. “You have Keith, don’t you?” she accused. Although she tried, she couldn’t hide the flare of relief in her eyes. “I knew he wasn’t dead…” she added softly to herself.
Hagger evidently noticed and gave a snort of derision. “Don’t go thanking your luck yet, Princess,” she snarled. “Of course he isn’t dead – if I wanted him dead, I would have taken Lotor with me on this attack and that pretty little space explorer would be totally useless to me.” She grinned. “As it is… just watch and see, my pretties.” She laughed again. “Or, better yet, come out here and I promise you’re going to wish he had died.” With that the screen flickered, and a view of the attacking forces replaced the hag’s face.
Another blast shook the Castle, and it had, the team saw, come from a robeast that was now at the fore of all the Doom forces. It was the shape of ancient human medieval armor, all angles and lines, except for the domed helmet topping the human-shaped face. It wielded a blazing broadsword in its right hand, from where the last laser beam had emerged.
Pidge took one look at the robeast and let out a low whistle. “Oh wow,” he muttered, crossing himself. “We are in deep trouble. Deep, deep trouble.”
Lance shrugged carelessly. “Hey – we’ve beaten those hunks of junk before, haven’t we?” he said with a brash confidence he was far from feeling. “Let’s ship out and give it a taste of its own medicine.” He turned towards Coran. “Back us up, Coran.”
“For as long as I can,” the older man promised, eyes locking with Lance’s until he disappeared from view as the console rose to reveal the portals leading to the lions.
“What are you guys waiting for?” Lance asked,
his daredevil grin firmly in place. “Let’s get moving!” With that he rushed
into the number 1 portal, the rest of the team following suit even as yet
another blast shook the Castle.
The Worst Enemy -- Facing the Mirror
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