Prince Lotor fastened the heavy black cape around his neck and strode into
the hall. His black boots made a sharp sound on the metal floor. It was
time, yet again, to see to the punishment of unruly slaves. He could not
understand why they did not simply accept their low position and do as they
were told, but as always, there were a few among them that were stirring up
trouble. He would merely have to crush them with an iron fist. Then the rest
would fall back into line. The enormous steel doors to the dungeon slid
silently open and he entered. Several of his guards were already there, and
the unruly slaves cowered in their heavy shackles.
"So these are the rebels," he roared.
"Yes, your highness," the nearest guard said. "We have singled these five out
as the main troublemakers. We await your command as to what we should do with
them."
"What should you do?" the dark prince wondered aloud. "I have an excellent
idea. Take them to the arena. Hagar has discovered a new breed of incredibly
vicious creatures living in the dirt of our nearest satellite." An evil
twinkle flashed in the prince's eyes. "They are also very hungry creatures,"
he laughed. "Take the rebels and bind them tightly. Make sure their comrades
are present. We will release the creatures and watch them gorge on the flesh
of these insignificant fools!" Lotor growled through clenched teeth. " I
have had enough of these disturbances. Perhaps this will waken the others to
the true nature of their situation."
"Yes, my lord prince. It will be done at once." The guard bowed deeply and
turned to carry out his master's commands.
"Wait! I believe my father might enjoy this spectacle. I will make him aware
of it," the prince declared. Then he walked toward the slaves who cringed on
the floor and spoke to them in a low, threatening tone. The prince's angry
words were alien to the listeners, but filled them with terror. The evil
prince then turned on his heel and left the dungeon. One of the captives
managed his voice and asked his guard. "What did the prince say?"
The guard shook his head in frightened awe and claimed. "I don't know. It is
a language foreign to me, but I think he curses you!"
The mighty King Zarkon sat high on his golden throne surveying his planet
through an enormous window. Planet Kyldare, better known as Planet Doom in
the later years by anyone who dared speak of it, was an ugly wasteland. There
was nothing green that could manage to survive on this barren planet. Doom
was all jagged rock and hard planes. The air was acrid and heavy gray clouds
veiled the stars of the night sky from view. The native citizens of the planet
lived within bubbled cities and all food was imported from slave planets.
Nothing grew here but evil. Doom was a planet of living shadows. Zarkon was
pleased with the rotting appearance of his dead planet. He thought it suited
him quite well. He wanted to go down in history as the most tyrannical ruler
of all time and felt it to be most fitting that he ride into history on the
back of the hulking beast called Doom.
Zarkon pressed a button hidden on the arm of the great throne and was soon
facing his court. Kneeling at the base of the stairs that led to his throne
was his old witch, Hagar.
"Hagar, what are you going to do about the destruction of that horrible little
planet called Arus?" he questioned loudly.
"Sire, I am working ever faithfully on a plan to bring it to you," cackled
the old crone.
"You're always working on a plan. I'm tired of plans. I want results!"
Zarkon roared.
"All in good time your Majesty. Even MY dark magic is limited."
"Very well, but make it soon. If Arus were to fall the rest of this galaxy
would bow to me! Where is my son? Likely, copulating with some slave girl
again," Zarkon stated. "I really don't see his interest in all these women.
They are only good for producing heirs, and since he is not interested in
siring one with anyone but that rebellious princess on Arus, I can't see why
he wastes his time," Zarkon muttered perplexed.
"Perhaps he has a normal carnal appetite unlike some demented king I know,"
Hagar mumbled under her breath.
"What?"
"Oh, nothing your majesty. I believe Prince Lotor is actually dealing with
some unruly slaves," Hagar claimed.
"Good! Perhaps my foolish son has learned something from me after all!"
Zarkon laughed.
One of the king's royal guards cleared his throat and announced. "Your
Majesty, his Royal Highness, Prince Lotor, request audience with you!"
"Of course, bid him enter," the evil king commanded.
"Well my BELOVED son," the king said, his voice dripping sarcasm. "Do you
have ANYTHING of interest to tell me, or are you going to tell me how you've
failed, yet again, to secure Arus and bring it into the empire. You're never
going to have that silly little princess at the rate you're going, and it's
probably just as well. She'd never love you!" The evil king knew these words
stung his son as much as any blow could. "I may not let you have her anyway.
I may give her to a guard for a playtoy, or perhaps I'll tear that little twit
to pieces with my own hands!"
Prince Lotor sprung from his kneeling position. Hate burned behind his eyes
and he cried loudly, "Father, she is mine! You will NOT harm her!"
Zarkon rose from his throne and rushed down the stairs to where his son
stood. Lotor took a step back, but it was too late. Zarkon raise his fist
and struck his son soundly. A thin line of blood trickled from Lotor's mouth.
"Don't you EVER raise your voice to me, my son. I will do anything I please.
I am ruler here. Perhaps I have been too lenient with you. You have
forgotten yourself!" With that, Zarkon grabbed his son by the back of the
neck and forced his forehead to the floor. "Stay there like that until I say
otherwise. A little humility would do you good." Zarkon placed the point of
his boot on Lotor's upper back and pushed HARD. An evil grin spread across
his face. "Oh, yes. What did you want to see me about, my son?" Zarkon
asked.
The dark prince kept his head to the floor and said "I have arranged
entertainment for you in the arena, father." Lotor longed to rise up and
strike down his father, but it was not yet time.
"Very good! Hagar and I will view this entertainment. You will stay here and
think on your poor behavior today. I believe you will come to the conclusion
that I was correct in punishing you. Do not move or I will know. Perhaps
later I will allow you to retire to your apartments, or perhaps you will stay
in that subservient position all night!" Zarkon laughed maniacally. With
that Zarkon, Hagar, and the rest of the attending court left to watch the
events in the arena. Lotor stayed on his hands and knees with his forehead to
the cold floor. Oh, how he HATED his wretched father. He wished his
beautiful mother was still alive to comfort him. He longed for the days when
she would take him in her arms, stroke his long hair, and whisper loving words
to him in her native tongue. His heart ached with the pain of losing her. He
needed to be free of his father and soon. He had a plan, and it was only a
little time before it would come to fruition. The one thing that would make
it perfect is if the beautiful Princess Allura was at his side as Queen. He
knew she loved him, and it would only be a matter of time before she came to
accept it.
Prince Lotor woke with a start. "Where am I? What happened?" he wondered.
The dark prince began to rise and then stopped. His head pounded with a dull
pain and his body was sore and stiff. NOW, he remembered what had transpired!
Curse his detestable father! He slowly lifted himself off of the floor of
his bedchamber and stumbled to the bed. There he lay among the rumpled,
silken sheets and feather pillows.
His father had finally allowed him, after several hours of kneeling on the
floor in that uncomfortable position, to return to his apartments. Once he
had reached his apartments he had been unable to contain the murderous
violence that had been building within him. His fury had grown until he was
blinded by it, and he had lashed out at everything and anyone that had been
within reach. He believed now that at least two slaves were dead and one
guard as well. Everywhere there was broken glass and blood. Once he had
managed to pacify himself, he had ordered Altuerian crystal and Teroc wine
brought to his chambers by his favorite slave. D'Lera was beautiful and a
princess of an enslaved planet. She looked just enough like the Princess
Allura that he could believe she was her if he was drunk enough. D'Lera
lacked the innocence and purity that attracted him so strongly to Allura, but
what she lacked there she made up with experience and imagination. D'Lera had
shown up very shortly after he called with refreshments at hand. She had
taken little notice of the room's destruction. She was well aware of the
prince's rages. She had only been surprised that it had occurred before he
taken of the intoxicating drink and the strong narcotic of the crystal.
The Teroc wine she had brought was sweet and cooled the prince's burning
throat. The amber Altuerian crystals were bitter to the taste but soon he had
felt a pleasant sensation fill his body. The crystals also fueled his lust.
D'Lera was always a most willing partner for he was a very skilled lover.
After he had taken her, she had slipped away back to his harem through a
secret door in the recess of one wall. He had shown it to her once when he
was sober and had suggested she use it when he had taken of the crystals. He
had no desire to lose his favorite slave to his temper. The prince had been
in the process of searching for the last bottle of wine when he had been
overcome by a wave of dizziness. He had lost his balance, and fallen to the
floor knocking himself unconscious. That's where he had found himself when he
had awoke.
Now Lotor lay in his bed contemplating his next move. He would have to avoid
his father for a while. It wouldn't do to lose his temper again, not now when
he was so close to seizing the throne. He had spent so much time hoarding
planets throughout the neighboring galaxies and building his forces to an
undefeatable level to risk losing his life now with a hasty word or action.
There was still much to do before his overthrow of his father was ready, but
the day of reckoning was closer than Zarkon could imagine. Lotor would seize
his father's empire and assimilate it into his own. Then he would crush his
father's bones into dust with his boot.
A slow smile spread over the prince's face as he imagined his father's
surprise and horror. His father really gave him far too little credit. He
was a mere 25 years old and he had managed to capture hundreds of planets,
some by reputation alone. He had also swayed many of his father's own planets
against Zarkon as well. Zarkon would never admit it, but Lotor was the most
feared ruler and ruthless conqueror in all the galaxy, not Zarkon. Zarkon had
grown old and lazy and that would be his downfall.
Lotor rolled over, and a small picture Ayli had painted for him caught his
eye. He took it off the wall and sat in an large overstuffed chair. He gazed
lovingly at the figure in the portrait and ran his fingers down the length of
the picture. It was of his love, Allura. Ayli had done it as a surprise for
him. It showed the Arusian princess standing in a meadow of violet and honey-
colored flowers. She was laughing, and her golden hair fanned around her in
the breeze. Lotor had never seen her as happy as she was in the picture, and
it saddened him. He wanted to be the one who made her smile and laugh. He
closed his saffron eyes and tried to transport himself into the portrait with
her. He wished he could touch her like he did this picture.
Lotor rose to go ask Ayli to use her Sight again, then though of a better,
more satisfying idea. He would go to the princess in her garden when she rose
the next morning.
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