CHAPTER 7
Twisting the Knife..
"Gah-Damn, Lance! What's the matter with you! Sheesh!"
Hunk crawled out from the inside of yellow lion, mumbling something rather incoherent, and rubbing his newly aquired bruise, from hitting his forehead against the metalic lid.
Lance couldn't help but smile. Though, he didn't mean to bang on the lid that hard, but yet he needed to in order to get his friend's attention.
"Sorry big guy, Just that, since you didn't hear me first time around.. Anyway, the reason I came. Keith beckons your royal presence."
"What.. He still can't get the Black Lion's Motor to run past three minutes?"
"Nah, I don't think it has to do with the lions. Just come along, alright? You'll see when we get there."
"Better be worth the bruise you gave me."
Lance helped Hunk out of the lion. Once out, they started walking toward a horse-drawned cart that was waiting on the side of the road. Lance approached the large horse. It was a Belgian, one of the few that were imported from planet earth as an expierement by the equestrians of Galaxy Garrision. Everyone had appreciated the idea. Especially Dusty. She had once adopted a Clysdale as her own and named it "Lord". Lance would always remember how she looked when she galloped across the fields. Alas, those days, along with Dusty and Lord were now gone. Lance kneeled down, near the Belgian, who was busy eating some fresh new grass that had just sprouted from within the burnt landscape earlier this week.
"Come on Reo, Let's head back home."
Reo Lifted it's head as to aknowledge Lance's existance, snorted at him, and went back to it's meal.
"*Whispering* Reminds me of some one i know." Lance snickered.
"It's... It's Grass! The Horse is Eating Grass!"
"**Fakes a Gasp** NOOO... You don't say! And here, all this time, I thought it was Maccaroni!"
"Smart Ass! Don't you get it? This means that the soil is still fertile. Pretty soon the trees witll start growing back, and the place won't be so horrid looking."
"Yeah.. that is if Lotor doesn't decide to do one of his Drive-by Nuking on the rest of the Planet! He's bound to, someday.. He just seems to be taking his dear sweet time about it! Come'on, Keith's waiting!"
Hunk glares at Lance for a while, but then sighs and nods. It was true. It had now been more than a month since Lotor had officially been claimed victor and ruller of Planet Arus. Yet, lately, there had been an insignificant amount of Doominite Activity. People had speculated that it was Princess Allura's doing. She probably conviced Lotor to spare the planet in exchange for her hand in marriage.
"*Sigh* May Alfor Keep you Princess.."
"Did you say something, Hunk?"
"Huh? Oh.. no. Come'on.. Let's go."
They both get on the wooden cart. Lance then grabs the reins loosely, and clicks his tounge. Reo, after years of experience, knew what this meant: "Git Back to Work.!" He snorted in protest, but then decided that it t'was getting a tad dark. He shakes his mane and then begins trotting back down that familiar trail, back towards his cozy stall.
Durring the Journey back into town, Neither one said a word. Lance just stared blankly ahead, not paying much attention to the trail that laid ahead. Hunk didn't think much about it. Recently Lance had been acting a bit melancholy. No one blamed him, though, now they just wanted him to get it over with, as harsh as that was. Everyone knew he couldn't keep on acting this way, he wouldn't be able to focus at the matter at hand.
They arrived at the town, just before the sun set. Hunk noticed there was something very peculiar going on. Nothing. Not a soul around. Not a child playing, not a mother calling her child. Just as if it never was.
"Hey Lance, Where is everyone?"
"You'll see." He smirked, then jumped off the cart, and started walking towards Reo's side. He started Untying Reo's strap from the Cart, then he leads the horse into his stable. Upon returning, he saw Hunk, going into houses, calling for someone.
"Was there an Attack? No.. Not much signs of struggle. What's going on?"
Lance just grinned. He motioned for Hunk to enter the cabin to which the three were staying at. Hunk shrugged, and entered after. Upon entering, Hunk's jaw dropped. There, tied in a corner, were Lance and Keith!!
"MMPHH! NRPGH!"
Not thinking How or why, Hunk rushed to untie them, but was cut short when he felt a sharp blow on his head, then.. nothing.
"Tie him up!" Ordered a voice from within the darkness of a corner. The figure stepped out, It was Tammaya. Grinning wickedly at the limp body that layed sprawled on the floor.
A figure, that looked identical to Keith, nodded, and walked away from the wall from which he was leaning against. He stepped up toward the unconcious body, and began to do the tie up Hunk.
Tammaya grins, pleased with herself, she then croutches next to the tied up Keith. She runs a finger down the side his face, gently, admiringly.
"You like my new clones? They're top of the line! almost flawless, except for the fact, they're plastic, and one has to program the orders every once in a while! They look, feel, act, and if one wanted to, smell like the original! Of course it takes a little bit of homework doing. You were the hardest to research, cutie!" She laughed, then looks up at the clones. "Take them to the ship, after that, you know what to do.
Suddenly a figure emerged from the other room. He was to be Hunk's clone, Keith thought. He grabbed Keith and Lance under one arm, and Hunk over his other shoulder.
~What will become of us now?~ Thought Keith. His thoughts were rudely inturrupted as he was thrown harshly against the wall of the space ship. Shaking his head, he glances at the doorway, just in time to see Hunk, grinning wickedly, then slamming the iron door. Untill all was pitch black.
~~~~~*****~~~~~
Doom soldiers approached Prince Lotor, and kneeled before his presence.
"It is done, sire! Tammaya should be returning soon with the shipment."
"What shipment?"
Lotor spun around, and saw Allura standing there in the doorway of the throne room. Lotor stood there, gasping at her beauty, he couldn't help but drink up the sight of her. She was wearing a long, beige, sleeveless summer dress. The skirt seemed to flow down to the ground, like a light, spring rain. The bodice higlighted Allura's curvacious body, and seemed to compliment on the slightest of features. Those around here, would swear that her presence seemed to radiate the entire sunless planet. He smiled at her appearance in his throne room. She came willingly with a smile. This was what he wanted - besides his father's throne of course.
Lotor lifted one of her fair, delicate hands, and placed a soft kiss upon it. Allura couldn't help but blush. Two months ago, she would have slapped him, and ran as far away as physically possible. Who would have ever thought that by her running from him only brought them closer? She had only feared of being caught by him and in the end it had been a pleasure, not a torture. He had broken her resistance - not with the cruelty she had feared, but with the demonstrations of his total passion for her. She knew he loved her - his very touch said so. His actions towards her said so. She did not love him as he loved her, but in her month here, she learned to shed her girlish ways and become a woman at last.
Lotor just stood there, mezmerized by her crystaline blue eyes. He would keep her and he would keep his secret from her - his enemies would suffer and she would never know it. He would spare her feelings. What good would it do for her to know? She would only become angry at him. He wanted her to be happy with him, for it made him happy. He opened his arms to her and held her in his embrace, all the while thinking of his total triumph.
"My Dear, sweet Allura! I bring you the finest of Roses from your Planet! Now, you shall be able to grow your garden."
Allura's eyes sparkled, filled with tears of joy, she smilled.
"Thank you, Lotor! You have no Idea what this means to me!"
"For you, my Allura, Anything! Now! I have some business I must attend to! The roses shall be sent to your room, so that you may do whatever you wish. I will arrive shortly afterwards."
Lotor kissed her, softly on the lips, then let her go. She smiled, turned her heels, then walked out the room.
~My dear Allura. As I promised, I will not destroy your planet, nor enslave your people, but, these three are not your people, they are not of your planet, so they shall not recieve my mercy.~
He smirked, then turned again to face his soldiers.
"No one is to utter a single word about the captives to Allura, less you want to suffer a slow and torturous death! Just deliver her the flowers, then leave her be. Understood?"
"Yes your magesty."
~~~~~~******~~~~~~
Lotor stood waiting at the docking bay. With a mischevious grin, he ordered the soldiers to bring out the "slaves". His grin grew wider, as he saw the three former Voltron Force members walk out, tattered and bruised, from the trip over. The Rest of the soldiers came out carrying boquets of roses. They rushed the roses over to Allura's quarters, and placed them, and some seeds on her drawer.
~Allura will be too busy with her garden to worry about these Three! Those clones on Arus will do just nicely as replacements. They will keep my order in that planet! She will never have to Know!~ Lotor Thought, grinning to himself. He then walked up toward the three. All of them, glarring daggers at the dark prince. He looked down upon Keith, who wanted so badly to tear those ears off.
"So we meet again. But this time, It is not I who lost, but You! Princess Allura is Mine, Arus is mine, you all are mine! Nothing You can do to stop it! Though, I have no need for you three! It's a shame I cannot have you battling the Robeasts, for then my Allura will see. And that would not make her happy. I, on the other hand, have a better plan. TAMMAYA!!"
"Yes your magesty."
"Since it was you that came up with the plan to use one of our crystals, for your efforts, I shall reward you with one of these three! Choose Now!"
Trying to contain her excitement, she nodded. She paced around each of them, looking them over, as one would inspect a delicate piece of art.
"I choose the former Captain!"
"HMPH?!?! RGHRMPGHARMPH!!"
"Excelent Choice! Guards! Take these two slaves to the Dungeons! I want them ready to work at the slave pits!"
Several guards ganged up on the two former Voltron Force members, and dragged them away. Lotor spun his heels, and started walking towards the door.
"Now, I must attend to my Princess." And with that, he was out the door.
"Of course sire." Tammaya grinned, then glances over at Keith, who was fumming furiously at Tammaya. "Now, come, come! Twas best I chose you! Of course once I'm tired of you, Your friend with the jacket will be next! Tis the perks of being Head Mistress Slaver, you know!" With that, she throws a pinch of powder upon Keith's Face. Keith tried to shake it off, but as he breathed it in, he began to get a bit woozy. "Spells, are the perks of being Haggar's Assistant! Come Along!" Tammaya grinned, and heads out the door. Keith, though straining not to budge, finds himself following her.
They walked through many secret passageways, hidden tunnels until at last, they reach Tammaya's Den.
"You like? Sure, it needs some curtains here and there.. but what's the use, as if there's sun on this dead planet!"
Tammaya approaches Keith, who was trying, in vain, to get out of the spell.
"Sit! Relax! I won't bite, unless you want me to. ::giggling:: I see why Allura had always taken a liking to you." She runs her finger down his strong, trembling chest. Then, Tammaya's ears perked up, Haggar was summoning her. She started mumbling something rather vulgar. "I'll be right back. Don't Miss me too much!" She Kisses him gently on the lips. He jerks his head away in protest. Tammaya just laughs, then bolts out the door.
Keith found himself alone in the dark room. Sensing he could now move his libs freely, he began to slip away from the knots, which held him tied up. Once finished, he rushed over towards the door. Locked. He started ramming it with his shoulders, trying to knock it down. But to no avail. The door was at least 4 inches thick.
Sighing in dispair, his sits and huddles himself over at the corner. Just then, he heard the someone trying to unlock the door. He looked around to see what he could use as a weapon. Too late! He would now have to rely on brute force. He didn't take to kindly this idea, he was taught to never hit a lady, but this witch was the cause of so many deaths down in Arus! There! In the shelf was a bag of some grey powder.
~Maybe it's the paralysis powder! It's worth a try.~
He grabs a handfull and waits until Tammaya fully enters the door. Just as she enters, he throws the contents at her. Tammaya, shocked, starts coughing violently. Keith grinned, and starts running out the door.
"HALT!!"
Keith's legs instanly obeyed, much to the rest's disaproval. He stood there in the middle of the halway, like a posed statue.
"Why'dja do that for? **Cough**" She asked him, approaching him, yet still coughing up a storm.
"How can you be immune to the paralysis powder?"
"Immune? No one is immune to it!" Tammaya looks at the powder that Keith had thrusted upon her, and sniffed it. "You twit! It's Ienker'el powder! I was going to use it later! *Sighs*"
Forcing him, by magic, she motioned him to enter the room. This time he didn't bother to protest. What was the use now. He's failed again! He's stuck here, who knows for how long!
"Aww. It was a nice try anyway! Mmm.. I know a way to cheer you up." She grinned mischeviously.
"GET away from me! I would rather you send me to the Doom pits with Lance and Hunk!"
Tammaya just grinned, and pulled him closer to her.
"You all were worthy advisaries! Tis why I'll make you this deal! No harm will come to them, your friends, ever, As long as you are here with me!"
"No Deal!"
"Come come! Now, you remember what the pits did with your friend, what's his name, Sven! It drove him into Insanity! "Hell and Back" as you Terrans say! You Wouldn't want that same fate to be upon your other two companions, now would you?"
Keith closed his eyes for a moment. He remembered how Rommelle had described to him her first encounter with Sven. He shook his head, gritting his teeth, trying to remove that image from within his head. No. He would not want to wish that same fate to Lance nor Hunk, no matter what the cost!
"How do I know, You will keep your word?"
Tammaya smiled, running her fingers down his smooth, unruley, black hair.
"You will have freedom to roam around the tower. But no further. Lotor will not allow it. Your friends shall come and visit you time from time. They shall, if they wish, tell you for themselves if any harm has come upon them. Since you do not take my word, then perhaps theirs will be more to your liking."
Keith sat down on the bed, and sighed deeply.
"I'll take that as a yes." She smiled at him. She pushed him gently on his back. "Of course.. if you do cross me. I'll make sure that they suffer worse than what your friend experience, by a tenfold! And you, with them! Do I make myself clear? But, I have nothing to worry about, right? After all, this is the word of the most respected Captain! Even Lotor respected you, then he just begun to hate you."
Tammaya began unbuttoning Keith's shirt. She like the smell of him. He had a sweet, musky scent. She looked at him. He was busy, trying to distract himself with other things.
"I'm surprised at you, captain. It was a wonder to all of us, how you kept your urges hidden." She kissed him sweetly in the ear. He shuddered, not wanting to give in, though he knew nature wouldn't be on his side, on this one. She lifted his hands and placed them on her chest.
He closed his eyes. They felt so perfect, so round. NO!! Stop thinking that way! This was your enemy! Yet..
He found himself unbuttoning her shirt. The spell! Is this how it's going to be for now on? Being forced to pleasure her, against his will? He pulled her down closer. Her breasts rubbing smoothly against his chest. He felt a strange sensation running through him. He's had this same sensation a few times when he was just starting out his adolesence. He let out a small groan. Tammaya smilled. She let him kiss her neck, all the way to the center of her breasts. She too let out a small moan. Never had she felt so alive.
"You know I don't like to Share!"
Keith snapped out of his trance.. and blinked. Tammaya, shocked, glares at the figure in the doorway. The figure emerges from the dark Hallway. It was... Tammaya?
"Very clever Haggar! Setting me up across the castle, so that you can take my place?"
"A girl has to try!" The Tammaya on top of Keith, cackled. The Voice was not feminine, sweet, as he before heard, but rather a deep, raspy one. Keith's eyes went wide with disgust, as she saw the fair, smooth, young body that was upon him turn into a blue, squishy, wrinkly body.
Keith pushed Haggar off of him, and went onto a nearby corner to throw up.
"AW Geeze! Now you've traumatized the poor kid! Leave, you perverted old Hag!"
"How Dare you! I taught you the ways of Magic! How dare you treat your teacher this way?"
"You told me, yourself! Work only for yourself!"
With this, Haggar began cackling.
"So I did. I taught you well!" Haggar then smirks at Keith. "It was a shame you had to interuupt us.."
"Leave Witch, You're already making ME sick!"
Haggar mumbled, gave Keith a sickening wink, then strolled out the door. Tammaya just shook her head. She then went over to where Keith was.
"You're going to have to clean that up, You know."
Keith just looked up, and glared daggers at her.
"Hey! It's not my fault you.. eh let's skip it! I'm about to loose my lunch! Though.. I am surprised and flattered you were actually willing!"
"Willing?? She practically forced herself upon me! I wouldn't be surprised if you did the same."
"What do you take me as, Drule? Anyway.. I was thinking we can do it by Earthling standards, you know.. talk, have a few laughs, some beer, shoot some pool.. Then we get to the fun stuff!"
Keith just gave her a quizical stare.
"Or was it: talk, shoot some beer, some laughs, have a few pool, Then we get to the fun part? Oh well, I'll never understand you Terrens. Anyway, knowing Haggar, she probably did some sweet-talking. What did she offer you in exchange for your **Ahem** Services?"
Keith looked away, embarrased.
"She promised to not let any harm come to Lance nor Hunk."
"That's It? Then "Badda-boom" Then what's with the beer and junk?"
"You think it's just a game?"
"Game, no.. Research yes! You Terrens facinate me!"
Keith glared at the floor. Disgusted with all that has happened. Then, a thought struck him. What will happen to the people of Arus? As if Reading his thoughts, Tammaya yanked his hand, and started pulling him down the hallway. They passed several doorways, until they reached a dead end. Keith was about to address to his captor, when she kicked a random stone in the wall. The stone caved inward, and suddenly the wall began to raise into the ceiling. Tammaya yanked Keith again, and went down the secret passageway, until they came to a dark, lab-like room. She forced him to sit at one of the chairs, runs into another room, then exits, holding a crystal ball.
"As you already heard, Lotor has promised Allura that Arus would be safe, under his protection. See for yourself!"
She holds the crystal ball in front of Keith. Inside, seemed to be some sort of smokey cloud. But as one peers deeper, an image appears. It was the Castle of Lyons! Then, the scene changed. There stood Charlie, holding the crystal kitten in her hand. Around Charlie were the Castle Personel. Nanny, Koran, Gorma! They all had Survived! Yet, Why were they on their knees?
"Charlie Forrester now rules Arus Under Lotor's suppervision. Her job is to enforce the Laws upon the people. Those who disobey, will feel the wrath of the crystal. But it's only temporary, after all, Lotor has a promise to keep. Right now, she's enforcing the castle Personel to stay on their knees. She's made it a rule that she is to be the tallest in any room she enters. I think the Crystal took a bit of her Sanity, along with her soul."
Keith could not believe what he was seeing. He looks into the Crystal again, and see's that the image has changed yet again. It was the village. He saw the villagers, the people that had taken great care of them while they were injured, working at the Lions. This gave Keith hope, but it was all dashed away as he saw them removing parts, and throwing them into carts.
"Now, we wouldn't want any more rebellions, now would we. Lotor has ordered them to dismantle the Lions so that they'd be sent to Doom as Scrap metal. You see, Arus has nothing to fear. All they have to do, is listen to what thier Princess' husband wants them to do, and they will live quiet peaceful lives. Safer than before, if you notice, because now, they wouldn't have to worry about any more attacks from Doom!"
"Safe, but not Free."
"They were never free! Before they were rulled under your Princess. Before that, Her father, the King rulled over them. Before that, his Father, and even before that His father. So on! It's not so much different now, is it? Only Now, They have joined with a powerful Planet! They are better off than they were before!"
"Then it's all over."
"No, dear Captain, not over. Just a new begining, but save the beginings for tommorow! I'm tired of running around the castle, for nothing. And you, You must be tired from.. well. Anyway. I want to test out that pool, beer, and talk method that seems to be very popular with your planet! So, gather up your rest, Captain. For Tommorow, your new life begins!"
The End!