CHAPTER 17

Zarkon and Lotor were in the throne room arguing about Arus. Zarkon was sitting on his throne and Lotor was standing beside him. “Father – I’m going to destroy Voltron – you can count on that!”. He glared at him. “Where have I heard that before?” he snarled. Lotor groaned. “Father – just give me another chance. I’ll conquer Arus for you, and I’ll keep Allura”. Hagar entered the room. “Sire – our guests have arrived” she said. “Guests? Who are they?” Lotor asked. “You’ll see” Zarkon replied with sarcasm. A royal guard came into the room. “Your majesty – his Royal Highness king Cova and his son…his Royal Highness prince Avok”.

Cova, Avok and their court bowed and then knelt down before him. “Sire – it’s so nice to see you again” Cova said. “Cova, I asked you to come because we need to do something about our common enemy, Planet Arus” he said. “Yes sire, we have a plan to submit that foolish niece of mine” he replied. Zarkon quirked an eyebrow and said, “Tell me more”. The Polluxian king smiled and said, “It’s very simple, Hagar will turn our greatest warrior, my son Avok into a powerful robeast”. Zarkon smiled weakly. “Cova – it’s not that simple. Have you forgotten Voltron? He’s the most powerful robot in the universe, isn’t he Lotor?”. Lotor nodded curtly. “Yes!”.

Cova lifted his head. “I’ve not forgotten him”. Zarkon narrowed his eyes at him. “Cova - your planet was very powerful once. I want to be sure about your son’s strength. He will fight in the arena with my best robeast” he said. Cova smiled. “We welcome that challenge – my son will slaughter that robeast”. Lotor leaped off the platform and landed in front of Avok. “Ha! I would like to see that! This weakling doesn’t have a chance” he sneered. “Calm down Lotor. Cova says he’s a great warrior, let him prove it”. Lotor smirked. “It’s going to be a short fight” he taunted. Avok stood up and glared at him. The Polluxian prince was a handsome twenty-six year old. He had red hair and freckles. He had powerful physique and a boyish face. But behind that façade, hid an evil man bent on revenge.

Later in the arena…

The duel began…the robeast rushed forward at Avok. The young prince repealed it with his sword. “He doesn’t have a chance against that robeast” Lotor said. Minutes later the fight ended, and the victor was Avok. “I can’t believe it! He’s a very lucky man” Lotor gasped. He then jumped the fence and entered the arena to face Avok. The Polluxian prince smirked and drew his sword. “Come on and fight a real man!” Lotor spat. Avok soon realized that Lotor was a great fighter. Lotor gloated over his rival’s failure. “Fool!” he sneered. He was about to finish him off when…

“Big brother – win for us” a female voice said. Lotor lifted his head and saw a beautiful girl with dark blue eyes and blond hair. She was wearing a sky blue dress with pink accents. She was with a teenager who looked exactly like Avok. “My brother is the greatest warrior in the universe” the young man said proudly. The young woman smiled. “And the bravest” she said. ~She looks like Allura~ Lotor thought. Avok noticed Lotor’s reaction and managed to win the fight. Lotor frowned and stepped back, but Avok pinned him with his sword. Zarkon growled. “Lotor is a damn fool! He got distracted by a wench!” he spat. “You were lucky. Could you give me another chance?” Lotor said while looking at the sword on his throat. Avok smiled wickedly and said, “Help me with my plan and you will live Lotor. I want to be turn into a robeast to destroy Voltron and submit my cousin”. Lotor raised and eyebrow. “Why are you angry at her?”.

“I asked her to marry me a few years ago. But she turned me down because of a Terran space explorer”. Lotor narrowed his eyes. ~He’s talking about Keith~. He then smiled devilishly and said, “Avok – I think we have a common enemy. We’ll join forces to bring down Arus and Voltron”. The Polluxian prince lowered his sword. “Very well – I think our fathers shouldn’t be involved in this, they’re so old” he said. “You’re right” he replied. He then turned to his left and said, “Here comes Hagar, she will prepare you for your transformation”.

“Come with me your highness” Hagar cackled. Avok turned to Lotor and a roguish smile appeared on his face. “I’ll see you later Lotor”. He nodded. he whispered to himself.

“Sis! He’s going to be turned into a robeast!” the teenager said with a wide smile on his face. “And then he will destroy Voltron” the young woman whispered.

Lotor walked up to the Polluxian princess. He knelt down before her and then stood back up. “Do you think your brother is the greatest warrior?” he asked. She smiled at him. “Of course your highness. My name is Romelle and this is my brother Bandor”. Lotor smiled and reached for her hand. “Romelle – please come with me. You look a lot like princess Allura” he said and took her away. King Cova saw what was happening and rose up from his seat. Bandor joined him seconds later. “My lord don’t worry - your son is in good hands” his assistant said. The king closed his eyes for brief moment and then opening them he looked on as Lotor courted Romelle. ~But I’m not sure about my daughter~.

CHAPTER 18
A few days later…

Zarkon, Lotor and Hagar were in the throne room discussing their evil plans. “Prince Avok is now a robeast. The moment he destroys Voltron – we’ll kill him” Zarkon said. “Yes sire – everything will be all right as long as prince Lotor does his part of the plan. King Cova is an old man and he will die soon. And Prince Bandor will remain as regent of Pollux”.

“I’ll do my part of the plan” Lotor said exasperated. “Princess Romelle isn’t important – or is she?” she said while gazing at the young prince. “She’s important to me – old witch!” he spat. Zarkon laughed. “You will have her when you finish with Voltron. Now take your robeast and go to Pollux” he ordered.

A few hours later a Doom fleet reached planet Pollux. A doom destroyer descended in front of the castle. Lotor, Romelle and her ladies in waiting came out of the ship. Lotor was welcomed as a hero. King Cova and Prince Bandor bowed to him. He was a powerful man, but Bandor concluded that his brother was even more powerful.

“King Cova – are you ready to see your son?” Lotor asked. He nodded. “Yes – I know he will destroy Voltron and then our planets will share Arus” he said.

Romelle forced herself to smile at her father and her little brother. She wasn’t happy about the prospect of destroying Voltron and hurting her cousin Allura, but she was afraid of Avok. He wasn’t that sweet young man from years ago.

“Very well – let the fun begin. Cossack get the robeast” Lotor ordered. Cossack nodded. “Yes sire”. He gave the signal and a casket carrying Avok came down.  “Hagar has done her greatest work with you son. He’s stronger and quicker that Voltron”. The king turned to his assistant. “Did you send the ultimatum to Arus?” he asked. “Yes my lord. We’re asking for unconditional surrender”.

Lotor smirked. “Very soon I will have Allura and Romelle all to myself” he whispered loudly.

Meanwhile back in Arus…

The VF and Coran were in the control room. “We’ve just received an ultimatum from Pollux. They want our total surrender” Coran said. “It reads, Zarkon is helping us. This is your first and only warning. Surrender – or your will die”.

Allura winced. “They don’t understand that Zarkon is just using them. I wish I could talk to Romelle” she said. “Princess maybe your cousin doesn’t feel that way” Hunk said. She turned to him and said, “Hunk – I’m sure she doesn’t like this situation. Avok has poisoned the hearts of my uncle and cousin Bandor. He’s as evil as Lotor”.

Keith frowned. “Coran – this feud has gone far enough, we must go to Pollux” he said. The royal advisor nodded approvingly. “I’ll go to Pollux with the VF and I’ll for an audience with King Cova” he replied. “No Coran – it’s my duty as princess of Arus to look for a peace treaty between our planets”.

“She’s right” Pidge said. “All right team, let’s go to the lions” Keith ordered.

CHAPTER 19

The VF arrived at Pollux in the early evening. They used the underground water system to gain access to the fortress. They soon discovered that Pollux and Doom had built a magnificent fleet to obliterate Arus. They had to act quickly and decided to look for Romelle. They used spikes to climb a window and managed to enter the castle undetected.

Meanwhile in the conference room, King Cova and his court were discussing their attack on Arus. “Zarkon and Lotor are very foolish to believe that we’re going to cooperate with them” Cova sneered.

“When prince Avok destroys Voltron, he will take care of them” a young man said. “We’ll conquer Arus and Doom…and then the universe!” the King exclaimed. “We have to destroy Voltron first” a portly man said. “Don’t worry, my son will take care of him”.

But they didn’t know that a certain blue cat with a transmission device was in the room. Coba was hidden in a lamp. Lotor was in his chambers with his harem and Hagar listening to that conversation. He reached for a goblet filled with red wine and gulped down the contents. “He thinks he’s very clever. He doesn’t know that we’re going to get rid of him the moment Avok destroys Voltron” he said.

Romelle and Bandor were in her chambers. “Romelle – I tried to talk to Avok, but he didn’t recognized me. When he destroys Voltron he will return to his old self again”. She sighed deeply and look through out the window. “Look – it’s Arus. Isn’t it beautiful?” she said. He shrugged. “Tomorrow we’ll conquer it. You should be happy”. She shook her head. “No Bandor, a war isn’t something to be happy about”.

“Of course it is! Lotor told me that I’m going to get a castle when this war ends”. She placed her hands on his shoulders. “Little brother – don’t believe everything Lotor tells you. He’s just using us”.

“Sis - that’s not true, he promised me…huh?” he trailed off, “I heard something”.

CHAPTER 20

The VF was in the hallway. Pidge bumped into someone. “Shit!” he whispered loudly and then turned around. He released a sigh of relief. ~Hehe…it’s only a statue~ he thought. “Keith – nobody has seen us, we can go on”. He stepped back and then felt a slight prick on his back and he raised his arms. He turned around and saw Bandor with a sword.

“I don’t know who you are. You better start talking” Bandor growled. “What’s the topic Jerry?” Pidge quipped. He narrowed his eyes at him. “Don’t play dumb with me. You must be a spy!”.

Allura and the rest were hiding in the corner. She walked up to Pidge. “Pidge – why did you stop?” she asked. Romelle walked up to her brother. “Bandor – what’s wrong?”.

The two cousins met and widened their eyes in disbelief…

“Allura!”.

“Romelle!”.

“Oh Romelle! It’s been so long!” she cried and wrapped her arms around her. Romelle closed her eyes. “Ally – I thought I would never see you again!” she gasped. Keith and the rest joined them. “Look! She’s like her twin sister!” Lance exclaimed. “They’re cousins, but the resemblance is amazing” Keith said. “I’m glad I have my glasses on” Pidge said.

Allura loosened her arms around her and took a step back. “Romelle – we have to do something to stop this war. We need your help”. Romelle winced slightly. “Allura – you don’t know how many times I’ve tried to convince them to stay away from Zarkon, but they didn’t listen. Avok is like a mad man, bent on revenge”. Bandor frowned. “Stop this! Allura - you’re evil! My brother has told me so. You and your planet are going to suffer!” he spat and launched at her with his sword. Romelle winced. “No Bandor! She’s our cousin!”. Hunk ran over Bandor and tossed his weapon away from him. “WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU’RE DOING?!” he yelled. Keith became enraged and grabbed Bandor’s arm. “Allura only wants to achieve peace between OUR planets!” he hissed.

All this commotion caught the attention of Coba…Hagar’s evil cat. It still had that transmitter around its neck, and the evil witch learned about this family reunion.

Pidge walked up to the window and gasped. “Guys - we’re surrounded!”. The gardens were filled with Doom guards. Hagar stood there, she had Coba in her arms. “Well done my blue pet. You deserve a reward”. {How about a last visit to the vet?}

Commander Cossack and some guards appeared in the hallway. “There they are! Fire!” he ordered. The laser shots began…the Voltron Force fired back at them, but they were greatly outnumbered. Bandor dragged Romelle into her chambers. Avok and Lotor were going to take care of the meddling Voltron Force. “Team! We need to form Voltron! Follow me!” Keith yelled. “Jump out from that window!” he ordered. Lance stayed behind while the rest escaped. But the guards were coming to close for comfort. He moved to the window and jumped out, doing a somersault. They used the underground water system once again to reach the mighty robot. “Stop them!” Hagar yelled at the guards. And the laser shots rang from everywhere. They wouldn’t get away this time…

To Part Six

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