Chapter Five

The ore that would be the hull and supports was a hybrid of the metals that her robots and ships were made out of and the metals that were found in Arus' core. It barely reflected the bright light of the docking bay, which was what she'd wanted. The thin streak of romanticism in her imagined a Voltron that was a negative of the original, as dark and shadowed as the original was shining and gleaming. There were definite similarities but her Voltron looked more like a younger cousin with its smoother and rounder lines. And unlike the original, this Voltron would remain in one piece. There would be no five dark Lions battling the rainbow colored ones, simply a black knight to do the biding of its mistress. As careful as her design was and how thorough her research, Merla knew her robot was missing the most important part of Voltron, the blood that flowed through its veins; that raw power she needed so badly to obtain. The Arusians themselves did not know what made Voltron tick besides the fact that the Lions needed to be in the elements they were found in in order to recharge and Merla had no clue, at least not without getting her hands on a Lion. So, the best she could do was guess...and create her own engine, as it were.

The skeleton of the robot was up, but they were still weeks away from completion. She had no compunction about pushing her soldiers to their limit and besides, there was plenty more where they came from. She could tell they were all exhausted as not only did she have them rotating into the docking bay, but also in the fighters and ground troops that kept the Arusians underground. They were as expendable to her as paper and she simply replaced the ones that had keeled over or fallen ill from exhaustion. They all knew what happened to the ones that disappeared so that only kept them going longer. Expendable, yes, but they all had a will to live. As far as she was concerned, that was the best kind of worker.

"Madam, your guest is here to see you," her assistant said from behind her.

"She can wait," Merla said, not taking her eyes off her beloved project. "Isn't he beautiful, Jakol? I never had children but I feel like this robot is my own child, borne from my loins. Every line, every bolt is mine and I created every inch of it."

"It is impressive, Madam," Jakol said. "I would quake in fear to face it in battle."

Merla smiled mirthlessly. "As would I. Alright, I suppose I should meet with that idiot woman before she gets more ideas into her small brain. Where did you put her, Jakol?"

"In your study."

"Excellent."

Leaving her assistant behind, Merla made her way to the study and she was not surprised to find Aguste Cital pacing the length of the room. Throwing the other woman a brief smile, Merla sat down on the couch, eschewing the desk and its uncomfortable straight-backed chair. She was sure the King found it more than adequate to his needs, but Merla was a woman who liked to sink into her seats rather than perch on them. And she knew her posture lulled her enemies into a false sense of relaxation for it amused her to watch them switch from relief to fear in the blink of an eye when she showed them that she was ruthless no matter the situation. However, studying Cital's tense shoulders and twitching facial muscles, it would not take much to bend this woman to her will. Merla could smell the desperation on her and wondered whether she should just get down to business or draw it out just to keep herself busy for a few more minutes.

"It is a pleasure to see you, Aguste," Merla said. "I was not expecting to hear from any Arusians during this time but I can't say that I wasn't pleased to learn of your desire to bring your people around my way."

"I am no traitor," Cital said shakily. "It's just that I think that the Queen made a mistake by giving in without asking her people. She's never been good for this planet and it's time that the people took things into their own hands."

"And you want to lead them."

"Just show them the way, that's all. They still hold the Queen and her family in such awe that most would not even consider turning on them, no matter the hardships, but there are those who agree with me. We know of each other and we are prepared to act cooperatively with you to meet our goals."

Merla thought that the speech sounded a little too rehearsed, given that Cital was an anchor on the Arusian News Network she should have had a better deliveyr, but no matter. She did not really need Arusians who weren't royalty on her side but it couldn't hurt. Giving the leaders a few more complications on top of what she had already brought to them could only help her and she did find a disproportionate amount of glee in thinking that this Cital would be the one who would be delivering the blow. She was aware of the feud between the Queen and this reporter and this would only weaken Allura further.

"What is your plan?" Merla asked.

Cital outlined a simple but crippling plan of attack, centering on the Voltronia refugees of whom she was a part.

"A good number of the refugees are unhappy with what has happened, mostly the richer and more prosperous ones who had plenty to lose. The only person standing between them and outright rebellion is..."

"Linkadriel Varun Branegan," Merla finished for her, crossing one leg over the other. "That does not surprise me and it should not surprise you. She can be dealt with easily."

"I can't have her killed."

"That's not what I meant. Killing her would turn her into a martyr and you'd have a bigger problem in your hands. Even the angrier refugees would turn their back on you if you have someone they respect more than the Queen killed. Weaken her instead and show them you are stronger; that way you will gain more power and more followers."

Cital regarded Merla, impressed. Merla tried not to flick at the woman with her power, to show her what it really meant to be impressed. Aguste was like a worm to her and she was suddenly irritated that someone who was so obviously weak and stupid could wield this kind of power. Merla could only hope that someone more cunning would take Cital's place as was the way of nature.

"This is your project, Aguste," Merla said. "When you have completed it, come back to me and we will agree upon a truce between your group and myself."

"I look forward to that day. "

Cital bowed slightly as she took her leave. Merla didn't turn her head to watch her go, just stared out the window at the still rolling green hills of Voltronia. She had no intention of dealing with any Arusians on any level above slavery, but Cital would rest easy until that day, thinking she was leading her people to freedom and democracy. Standing, she had the urge to watch her robot being built and she wondered idly what she would name it.

Allura had not slept in two days. It showed in her red-rimmed eyes and vacant gaze. She felt like a zombie and looked the part. Merla hadn't asked for her since their last conversation in which she had proposed they begin a partnership and Allura's refusal had culminated in a nightmare that haunted her now. There was a reality to it and the creation of another Voltron could be the reason why the castle shook the way it did. She tried to escape from her room to investigate, but she found that Merla had put a spell around the area and she had nearly choked to death when she crossed the unseen barrier that had been erected.

Nodding off, Allura quickly woke up when her nightmare started again. She did not want to watch Keith die for the hundredth time and she wished she knew how to end this spell. It was driving her mad faster than physical torture ever could. Her mind was her last stronghold and Merla was getting control of it. Even Allura's formidable will could not stand up to the continued attacks on her innermost fears and on top of her exhaustion, she was starting to cross the line between fantasy and reality.

No one was there to see her reach for a husband who was gone, to kick her legs as if she was running to a fallen Blue Lion to a son who had perished...but she was so sure that she was. Finally, a day later, she passed out where she sat, propped up against the headboard of her bed, but her eyes moved rapidly beneath their closed lids as she continued to dream.