Chapter Four

 

 

Lance had no intention of going home without first talking to Keith and Allura, but Allura turned on the telescreen just as they started to talk.  She had hourly updates about the reactions about her speech, and so far it was well-received, but there was one particular opinion she wanted to see for herself. 

 

“Are you missing your favorite show?” Lance inquired.

 

“Shut up.  I want to see what they’re saying about my speech.”

 

“You’ve been watching ANN all day and Skech is monitoring the other news media for you,” Keith said.  “They’re not saying anything new.  They just repeat the same thing over and over so that there isn’t one person left in the universe who doesn’t know their opinion.”

 

Allura put a hand up.  Her least favorite talking head was coming on ANN; Aguste Cital seemed to have a personal vendetta against the Queen while favoring Keith explicitly.  If the woman did not draw as much attention as she did, Allura would not have bothered with her, but her often inflammatory remarks tended to become discussion throughout Arus the next day.  As much as she hated to admit it, Allura also learned from Cital where the weak points of her policies were and where she could expect to be hit the hardest.  Allura was not so naïve as to believe that they were above reproach, but she did wish that it wasn’t Cital pointing out the problems. 

 

However, what really rankled Allura was that the younger woman had a tendency to flirt incessantly with the King, and at one infamous Press Banquet, Ethan as well and that earned her a permanent target for Allura’s ire.  Lance looked as if he wanted to say something about that, a fact well-known to their extended group, but Keith shook his head imperceptibly at him.  Wisely, Lance decided to stay quiet.

 

“Queen Allura’s announcement today surprised Arusians and other Alliance citizens with its pronouncement that Voltron is back.  While this reporter is more than happy to welcome back our robotic savior, the Queen’s arrogant pronouncement that Voltron, all on its own, will turn back the threat of the Lotorians is a disservice to the millions of men and women all over the Alliance, and the IAF in particular, who are preparing themselves for the worse.  We also must question why the Queen waited until now to inform the public that the Lions were once again active.  Who are the new pilots and are they worthy to bear the mantle of responsibility that she has placed on their shoulders?  And would Voltron stand up to the obvious technological superiority of the Lotorians?  With these questions in the air, it would do well for Her Majesty to respect the power of other Alliance worlds because above all else, Arus needs its friends by its side.  We should not consider facing the Lotorians alone, despite the resurrection of Voltron and the destructive conceit of its leader.  It remains to be seen what the Lotorians demand of the Alliance, but when we are informed, all eyes should be on Arus and its Queen.  This is Aguste Cital.  Have a good evening.”

 

Keith plucked the remote control from Allura’s hand just as she was winding up to throw it at the screen. 

 

“Don’t let her get to you,” Lance said.  “She’s full of hot air.”

 

“She’s also one of the most popular reporters on Arus and you can bet our detractors are going to be replaying that clip all over the Alliance.  Destructive conceit…no one ever said she wasn’t gregarious.”

 

“That pesky free speech sure gets in the way sometimes.”

 

“Lance, sometimes I wonder why I haven’t killed you yet.”

 

“Me, too.”

 

“Can we get back to business here?” Keith said with a quelling look at both of them.

 

“Sure thing, mon capitain, but make it good” Lance said as they settled into Keith’s study.  “If I’m gonna get an earful before a kiss from my wife because of you, it better be worth it.”

 

“I’m gonna drag you out of retirement,” Keith said, sitting behind his desk.  “How would you like to lead the Military Reconstruction Project?”

 

“What is it with me and reconstruction?” Lance sighed. 

 

“You can think on your feet and you don’t need much supervision to get it done.”

 

“Thank god for that,” Allura added, unable to resist. 

 

“This is not exactly the ideal situation to get started on this,” Keith said.  “But we don’t have much of a choice.  We might as well start fixing it up in the beginning so that we can efficiently use our resources when it gets really hairy.”

 

“I agree,” Lance said.  “Besides, it makes it easier for you to get the leaders behind you if you’ve got a crisis pressing in.”

 

“It sounds so much more cold-hearted when you say it,” Allura said distastefully.

 

“Sometimes you have to play the game,” Lance appeased her.

 

“I hate the game.”

 

“The game aside, will I have to go military again?”

 

“We would have to give you a rank,” Keith said.  “How does Colonel Lance Branegan sound?”

 

“Not too shabby.  Isn’t it a little low for someone with my job though?  I mean I’m going to have to stand up to Generals here.”

 

Keith hid a smile as Allura blew out a breath. 

 

“I don’t like how it’ll look if I bump you up that high when you’ve never served a day in the Arusian military,” she argued.

 

“I resent that.  I served with Arusian soldiers for the three years we spent on this planet beating back Zarkon and I would think flying the Red Lion, property of Arus, is serving in the Arusian military in a way.  What if I got re-commissioned in the IAF?”

 

“Consider this…who would be less welcome in the ARF:  An ARF colonel or an IAF commander?” Allura pointed out.

 

“I bet the Admiral here could give me a field promotion.”

 

“Not to admiral and as a commodore, you would still be underneath the ARF generals,” Keith scoffed. 

 

“Alright fine. Colonel it is, but I’m telling you right now I’m gonna get a promotion to General before this is over.”

 

“I don’t doubt it,” Allura said.  “So you up for it then?”

 

“The second I stepped out of the transport and into Metark base, I made this into my own personal project.  Bring it on.”

 

“Shouldn’t you talk to Link before you make this decision?” Allura pointed out.

 

“I have a feeling you already have.”

 

“Okay maybe…”

 

“Welcome back,” Keith said, tossing a small box at Lance.  “Try those on for size.”

 

Lance studied the black velvet box.  “Keith, this is all so sudden…”

 

“Just open it.”

 

The three silver bars that denoted the rank of colonel in the ARF winked up at him.  “It’ll do for now,” he said.  “So, where’s my office and my staff?”

 

“We leave that to you, Colonel,” Allura said.

 

“Great.  So, does anyone have any idea where these damn Lotorians came from?”

 

“It’s like they disappeared into a black hole,” Keith said.  “Romelle said the IAF has come up with nothing beyond what we already have.  A couple energy signatures and three dozen pods.”

 

“You thinking about sending out your own investigative team?” Lance asked.

 

“We’re a little light on the resources,” Allura said.  “I have a little more faith in the IAF than I used to and I think we’ll have to rely on them for now.”

 

“For now.  Alright, I’m outta here before I start getting sick of your faces—we’re gonna be spending a lot more time together and I don’t wanna use up your goodwill.”

 

“A wise choice,” Keith said, laughing.  “Lance?”

 

“Yeah?”

 

“Thanks.”

 

Lance grinned.  “Remember…royal stooge.”

 

When the doors slid shut behind Lance, Allura went around Keith’s desk and settled herself on his lap.  It was a position they often found themselves in and only in the most private of moments.  Even their children had not seen them sit like this.  She rested her head on his shoulder as he gathered her close, his cheek on the top of her head.

 

“Here we go again,” she said.

 

“Yeah, I know.”

 

“I think I might be too old for this, Keith.”

 

He kissed her.  “Maybe, but you’ll pull through.  You have the support of your people and Voltron.”

 

“We’ll see just how those people feel after those pods open up.  Riaru help us, I can’t take the waiting.”

 

“Fear is a powerful tool and they are using it well.”

 

“Don’t I know it.  I can’t sleep thinking about this.  I keep thinking of the last time I saw Lotor, how he helped me…it doesn’t match up to what’s happening now.”

 

 “You can’t doubt that he’s behind this.  We lost track of him when he left his father’s ship on that last battle,” Keith said incredulously.  “And look at what they want and their name.  Lotor’s enough of an egomaniac to have orchestrated this; he’s about as subtle as a punch in the face.”

 

“He looked so contrite, Keith.  He didn’t want to follow in Zarkon’s footsteps, I could see it on his face.”

 

Keith had heard this before and no matter how many times Allura described those last few moments with Lotor, he still didn’t believe it.  He’d seen the pure hatred in Lotor’s eyes and regardless of how cathartic Zarkon’s confession had been, it was impossible to simply turn a new leaf just like that.  He didn’t believe it and Allura knew he didn’t; but she seemed to have a strange hope that Lotor had a change of heart—one that battled with her more realistic opinion that he was rotting in his own hatred.  He could see that battle being waged in her head now.

 

“Yeah, he didn’t want to be a failure like his father,” Keith said.  “With or without Hagar, he’s definitely got a full-proof plan to defeat us all.”

 

“I wouldn’t call it full-proof.”

 

He only snorted in response.

 

“It’s close, I’ll give him that,” she admitted.  “Getting the rest of the Alliance to turn on us so that we’ve got problems on two fronts.  I thought we were done bumping heads with the Alliance, but it looks like the hatchet hasn’t quite been buried yet.”

 

“That doesn’t surprise me in the least.  Politicians have long memories.  We’re going to have to trust Romelle with this and prioritize the state of Arus above political maneuvering.”

 

Allura fiddled with the zipper on Keith’s chest.  “I am not sure whether I should have a talk with her.”

 

“What about…?”  Keith knew before he could finish his question and his hands tightened on her.  “Has she mentioned anything to you?  How is she?”

 

“She is overworked and I don’t think she’s had time to really consider this.  She hasn’t said a thing about Lotor.”

 

“Knowing her, she’s doing all she can to keep it on the backburner.”

 

Allura’s eyebrows knitted with concern for her cousin.  “Knowing her, she’s not going to be able to do that for much longer.”

 

 

 

 

Romelle wearily kicked her shoes off and sat on the edge of the bed.  For the last week, she’d gone to bed alone and woken up with an exhausted, and fully dressed husband holding her tight.  Tonight was no different.  It was nearly midnight and Sven was still nowhere to be seen.  She missed him and wanted to pick his brain about what was happening on the Senate floor, but he was embroiled in his own problems as he worked with the IAF to secure the pods as best as they could.  When they managed to run into each other at lunchtime at Galaxy Garrison, he’d mentioned that he was offered his old job back.  She knew he would not make the decision without her, but she saw the temptation on his face.  Next time she saw him, she would be sure to tell him that she trusted him to make the right choice.  His position in the IAF would be a boon to her anyway and a powerful tool she could use on the Senate floor.  He wouldn’t like it, but Romelle had learned the hard way that if she did not use her options to their fullest, she would be in for a long uphill battle.

 

She went to get her customary cup of tea, passing by Christian’s closed bedroom door.  He had taken to spending the weekends at home, mostly to keep her and Sven company since they rarely saw each other.  Through Christian, she was kept abreast of all Sven was doing as well as Jordan and the other pilots.  When she spoke to Allura, they were busy planning a strategy for the political attack that Romelle was going to exact on her Senate enemies.  Woltran V was gaining more support as fear spread across the Alliance like an epidemic and Senators could not help but hear the frantic voices of their constituents.  Romelle was getting a good number of concerns from Arus, but most of her messages told her to stay strong because Voltron was back.

 

She would stay strong but it was not because of Voltron.  Arus could not let itself look weak before this new enemy…or was it old enemy?  The thought of Lotor made the blood drain from her face as she recalled her time as his slave.  It was the first time all week that she didn’t pass out in bed and she had time to think about how his return would affect her.  She had not told the twins and it went without saying that her past on Planet Doom was not to be discussed by anyone in the presence of any of the children.  Though why it would ever come up in conversation was beyond her.  It was an aspect of her background that her official biography omitted and she had done all she could to make sure no one found out about it.  Allura and Keith did their part in making sure no one ever dug deep enough.  Romelle thought she had been able to put it behind her but goosebumps rose on her arms as she could not help but remember Lotor’s hands against her skin.  She had to sit down at the kitchen table to calm herself down. 

 

To her surprise, she heard the front door open and she was already in the hallway as Sven came in.  She launched herself into his arms and he caught her, a tired smile on his face.

 

“How are you, my Love?” he asked. 

 

Time had dulled his accent to practically nothing and she had to admit that she missed it

 

“Tired,” she said, looking up at his face.  “Should I be calling you Admiral Van Voorst now?”

 

“Not yet,” he said.  “And that’s not what I meant when I asked how you were.”

 

Romelle shook her head and buried her face in his chest.  “How do you think?”

 

He picked her up in his arms and carried her back to their room.  Depositing her gently onto the bed, he undressed and climbed in after her.  She went to his side as he reached for her and they held each other.

 

“I’m sorry I was not here earlier,” he said.  “I was so busy with…”

 

“You don’t have to make excuses,” she said.  “It didn’t really hit me until now.  You seem to have the uncanny ability to know when I need you.”

 

“Do you want to talk about it?”

 

“No,” she sighed.  “Just hold me tight so that I dream about you and not have nightmares about him.”

 

Sven kissed the top of her head.  “You are a strong woman.  He could have never broken you.”

 

Despite her best intentions, a single, solitary tear rolled down her cheek.