The Middle Kingdom - Two
Zarkon was in his private offices when he received the word that new slaves from Arus were arriving. The news molified him somewhat, although he was not pleased with the way things were going there. It had been some months since his final battle with Alfor, and he had expected Princess Allura to give Arus to him, but she did not. Instead, she defied him and fought him, even though she had to know that she would lose in the end. He could not believe her stubborness! She was as foolish as her father. He thought about Alfor. He was a fool, but he had proven a formidable enemy in battle. He fought well but not well enough. When Zarkon had taunted him about his daughter's chasity, Alfor had expended the last of his energy to kill him - and that was his undoing. Zarkon knew it paid to know his enemy's weakness - and he had known Alfor's was his daughter. Zarkon was frustrated though. How could one girl stand up to him was beyond him. Surely she knew defeat was ineveitable. She knew what would happen once her Castle was taken, for he had told her so - many times. And now - now she had the gall to contact that damnable Galaxy Garrison for help. Well, he would cut that short quickly. He had ordered an attack on Arus - that was where his new slaves had come from. Zarkon smiled grimly. There would be many victims for his robeast games on the morrow!
His thoughts were interupted by his comm.
He barked, "Yes, what is it?"
A robotic voice said, "Sire, Battleship Tyerius reports that we have captured five Terran males near the planet of Arus.."
Zarkon said, "Really? Is their ship of Galaxy Garrison make?"
The voice said, "Yes, sire.Do you wish for their extermination now?"
"No..bring them here to Doom, process them as arena slaves - they will fight in the Games."
The voice said, "As you command, sire."
The comm went dead and Zarkon smiled with glee. The space explorers from Galaxy Garrison! Ah, now they were his! They would fight in his Games and would die horribly. When they were dead, he would send their body parts (what was left anyway) to the princess of Arus and send his fleet to demand her unconditional surrender. Oh, things were definitely looking up. Definitely....
Commander Yurak stood beside Zarkon, who was seated in his Royal Box in the amphitheather. He saw Zarkon's eyes glitter with evil delight as the robeasts and slaves fought in the arena. The crowds gathered there roared with enthusiasm as they all rooted for their favorite roebeasts. There was a lot of betting going on as well, which made the Games very popular. Yurak watched the Games impassively, although he did have a substantial bet on the Red Shell roebeast. He hoped he would win the final match - he had a month's credits riding on him.
Yurak was Zarkon's Commander of the Fleet. He had been leading the raids upon Arus since his superior officer, Xanthos, had unexpectedly died. Of course to Yurak, his death wasn't unexpected at all, since he did plan it. He didn't think Zarkon suspected, although if the truth be known he probably wouldn't care. Life held no sanctity for his King. Yurak had the ambition to be Commander of all of Zarkon's fleets. He knew that if Prince Lotor was ever called back, it would be more than likely he would be appointed to the postion. However, Yurak was determined not to let that happen. Once he defeated Arus, he knew that Zarkon would appoint him Commander of his fleet. Yurak supressed a smirk. Not bad for a poor widow's son from B'rill...
He wondered when the five Terran men would be up for the fighting. He just bet there would be heavy bets placed upon them, for they looked strong. They looked like they could fight too. Yurak scowled. Some of these slaves, when faced with a roebeast, simply laid down their arms, prayed briefly and knelt upon the ground. He supposed they thought their gods would save them, but the roebeast simply tore them apart like a child's toy. Their deaths were as messy as anyone's. He suppressed a yawn. It was not good to show any weakness in front of King Zarkon..
He saw Hagar on the other side of Zarkon. By the stars, she was a hideous one! Why Zarkon kept her around was beyond him. Of course, she was a powerful witch and she did make some fine roebeasts, but still - ! Yurak shivered. He had heard that once upon a time she was Zarkon's mistress, but he was sure that wasn't true. Any man that had to look at Hagar all day surely lost all desire for sex!
He thought about his next attack upon Arus. King Zarkon had ordered him to attack Arus within the next few days. His mission would be to obliterate the Castle of Lions and if possible, take Princess Allura and her court advisor alive. Yurak thought it would be just as easy to just blow up everything and be done with it, but orders were orders. Besides it would be a waste to destroy a female as striking as the princess was - even if she was a fool for resisting the enevitable. If he could, he would show her what happened to foolish stubborn females, but Zarkon had given orders that she not be harmed physically - at least not yet - for she was to be given to Prince Lotor.
Must be nice to be the prince...he thought. Ah well, he was a soldier, and a soldier followed his orders to the letter. He would be successful in his raid on Arus, and he would get the position he desired. He would not fail King Zarkon - if he did, may he be turned into a roebeast...
It was late in the Games, all the slaves that were scheduled to fight in the Games were dead now and their bodies littered the field. Credits had long since changed hands, and the frenzied betting of earlier gave way to isolated shouts of defeat or victory as bets were paid out. Zarkon leaned back in his chair, scowling.
He barked at a nearby guard and said, "Check on those five space explorers! If they are awake, send them out in the order I commanded! Go!"
Zarkon did not want to send out tired men. He relished a good fight and he anticipated one with these five men who dared to help planet Arus. The guard came back and informed him that the men were asleep. Zarkon was disappointed. Oh well. He would have them fight on the morrow. He smiled in anticipation. First he would send out the large one to fight - he looked like he could last awhile. Then he would send the lanky one - he looked fit enough. The little one would be for the comedy - the crowd would enjoy his antics. Next would be the tall dark haired one - the foriegn one. He looked deadly and he looked like he would give a good fight before dying. The last one would be the leader - the Commander of the group. Oh he would be the crowning touch. He would fight his strongest roebeast - Diamond. The bets would be heavy on this match up! Zarkon suppressed a smile and then he frowned. He rather wished Princess Allura would be here to see this. Her last hope torn apart in a river of blood upon his field. Oh, he would love to see the hope die in her eyes as they died one by one. After that, he would kill her last remaining connection to the Royal Court of Arus - her advisor, Coran. It would come soon enough. His victory was assured now. There was no hope for Arus now for there was no Voltron - and no space explorers. Zarkon arose and stretched. Without saying a single word to Hagar or Yurak, he departed. The Games had stirred him. He would seek out a comely slave this evening..perhaps one of the slaves from Arus would do....