Six

The carnival atmosphere went on all day and late into the evening. Allura saw all manner of people pass by the throne of Zarkon. She saw lowly farmers and their families, frightened to death, facing the merciless king. She saw GG officers, statesmen, the rich and the poor. She saw families divided up - Wives forcefully taken from their husbands, children from their parents. Zarkon, seemingly on a whim would often point at certain individuals either to live or die.
Men he would pick for roebeast games. Women he would select for slaves, pleasure girls or he would randomly select one for a deserving soldier. Allura noticed that not only were there Alliance men under his influence but increasingly, as the evening wore on, more and more Drule soldiers and former officers, many still in Garrison prison garb were congregating on Castle Doom to pay their respects. She knew that many of Zarkon's officers and soldiers were imprisoned after the Fleet disaster and she surmised that Amalgamus had released them from the prisons.
Zarkon didn't have to handle all the administrative tasks of assigning his officers, for they seemed to know what their assignments were. More than likely, during Zarkon's period of "goodness" he had somehow kept in touch with them.
Most of the time he held her in his lap. Of course, he did allow her brief breaks for her needs, but for the most part, he seemed to glory in showing her off. Allura saw the looks of disbelief, anger and resentment on some of their faces. She was sure they probably thought she had given in to him willingly. Some faces that passed by were understanding, sympathetic. They saw the look of shame upon her face, the gold chains around her wrists, and knew she did not sit in this tyrant's lap willingly.
She hated the appraising looks the officers gave her. She knew that they probably hoped that Zarkon would give her to one of them. She always thought she knew how evil Zarkon's rule was, but now she knew firsthand. He was caprious, changable. Now she knew where Lotor changable moods came from.

She nearly died when they brought Coran in - beaten, his eyes nearly swollen shut, his clothes ripped and torn. He saw her in Zarkon's lap and she could feel the anger and despair in his face. Zarkon taunted him and insulted him. He touched Allura everywhere, humiliating her, shaming her. When Zarkon laughingly kissed her for what seemed to be the thousandth time that day, she could feel the rage from Coran. She knew that the gentle prime minister she had known would have cheerfully killed Zarkon had he been free. But he was shackled at his wrists, his feet.
To her suprise, Zarkon said to her, "You may ask him how things are going on Arus, dear.."
Allura hated that endearment from him. He had made sure Coran had heard it too. Zarkon motioned to the guards holding Coran, "Bring him up! Dear Allura wishes to speak with our guest!"
Coran was brought up, stumbling, his chains impeding him. Allura and Coran's eyes locked. They spoke volumes. It was almost like the bond of father and daughter - for that was what they had been since her father had been killed.
She said softly, Coran..Keith..the others?" Coran said sadly, "Keith lives, Allura, but he is still in a coma. As far as I know he is still on Arus. Pidge and Hunk's whereabouts are unknown, and Lance is missing as well..."
Allura gasped, "Then this is real.."
Coran said sadly, "Yes, princess. It is real. Arus is occupied by Alliance and Doom officers. The people have been herded together as slaves. I regret to say many former slaves have commited suicide rather than be taken again."
Allura said, "And what of Rommelle, Sven and Bandor?" ,br> The prime minister bit his lip. This would be difficult to say, but he would have to say it.
"Allura, Sven had an accident on Pollux the day of the Ball on Arus. He lived through it, but when Zarkon took over, Doom forces attacked Pollux and obliterated the medwing where he was. Rommelle was taken by officers and Bandor tried to fight them - to keep them from taking her.." He lowered his eyes. "Bandor was killed by one of the officers attacking Rommelle..."
He couldn't continue. She lowered her eyes then. Without speaking, she knew what he meant by his omission. Rommelle had suffered again and she had died horribly.
Coran sighed heavily and said, "Pollux is no more, Allura. After their raid, a nuclear warhead was detonated on the planet. It ignited the core and the planet exploded. Of course the Doom troops were off planet by then." Coran glared at Zarkon and said, "I heard that Pollux was to used as an example.."
Zarkon's eyes gleamed, and he said, "As shall you, prime minister, as shall you!!!"
Coran stood up straight and tall. He said with as much dignity as he could. "You may have cheated and bribed your way into ruling the Alliance and you may kill me and scores of others before you're through, but I promise you there will always be someone who will fight you Zarkon! We will prevail!"
Zarkon laughed, "Good speech, prime minister - and your last!" He said to the guards holding him, "Take him down below..I think he'll be entaining at my roebeast tournaments!"
Allura gasped, "No, please, don't!"
Coran said, "Allura, don't beg him for anything! I am not worth it!"
Tears sprang to her eyes. Zarkon gripped her chin in his hands and said evily to Coran, "She will beg me - and she will do so quite nicely, I'm sure. I will find out soon!"
Coran's face heated with rage. "You're a bastard from hell, Zarkon!"
Zarkon laughed, "Tell me something I don't know, prime minister! Say goodbye to Allura, Coran!"
Coran looked at Allura's tear-stained face and wished like hell she was anywhere in the universe but here. He would gladly suffer a thousand deaths for her and yet, he felt he had failed her, failed Arus, failed Alfor.The whole universe had turned asunder and all because of the fiend in front of him.
Coran said gently, "Allura - princess..no matter what - you must retain your honor.."
Zarkon smirked knowingly. Coran rushed through the rest before Zarkon could say some snide remark about that."I want you to know that you are the daughter I never had. I - lov - .."
He broke up and Allura said tearfully, "I know, Coran. I feel the same..don't give up.."
Zarkon interrupted them then. "How touching! Take him away!"
Allura watched as they led Coran away. Tears freely ran down her cheeks. She didn't care anymore. It wouldn't matter what she did, Zarkon would take advantage of it. And so the evening went on until she fell asleep in exhaustion....

Doom Reborn - Seven
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