Allura looked at Keith incredulously. He was still asleep despite her scream. Allura turned to Lotor and asked "Lotor, did you---?" Lotor was tempted to say yes, but he didn't. "Hagar must have put him in here when I was with you." Lotor did not like Keith Akira. He was handsome and he was always around Allura-which he definitely didn't like. Hagar knew he wouldn't take Akira with them if he knew, so she snuck him in. .......Bah! I hope Hagar and my father kill each other!T hey deserve it! he thought resentfully. What to do about Akira, though? Lotor didn't want him around! Maybe throw him out of the airlock when Allura wasn't looking? Nah, wouldn't work... He was angry when Allura smoothed back Keith's hair and looked him over worriedly, "What have they done to you, Keith?" she said, almost to herself. She turned towards Lotor again,and said quietly, "We must go to Arus, Lotor." Lotor became even more angrier. He reached over, grabbed her arm and brought her to him. "No! Allura, we won't go back to Arus! You're with me now, I won't let you go!" He kissed her roughly. She pushed him back and said, "You're just like your father, Lotor! You just want to use me for your pleasure! If you really love me as you say, you would take us back! Please, Lotor! I'm begging you! I must let Coran and everyone know we're all right! Please!" He looked at her, anger in his eyes and said spitefully, "Maybe you would rather be in the bed of my father, instead! You seemed willing enough last night!" She looked at him, hurt, tears forming in her eyes again. Lotor was immediately contrite, "I-I'm sorry, Allura, I didn't mean it, but I can't lose you again,I can't." She looked at him and said, "He needs medical attention, Lotor, please, I don't want him to die. Please, if you take him to Arus--" "Yes?" Lotor was suddenly alert, sensing a compromise in the making.He repeated, "Yes, go on..Allura." She looked at him intently, focusing her blue eyes on his face. "If you take him to Arus-and let me contact Coran, let them know I'm safe, I will---" Lotor came to her and placed his hands on her shoulders. "Yes, Allura?" he said quietly. She trembled as if unsure, then went on."I will go with you, Lotor-anywhere." Lotor's face lit up with joy. Yyyess!!!! he thought. Allura interrupted his thoughts."Well, do we have a deal, Lotor?" He gazed into her eyes, and on impulse, kissed her lightly on the mouth. "Do you promise you will stay with me, Allura?" She looked unsure. " I don't know, Lotor, but I will go with you." That's good enough for me-for now. She will love me, I'll make sure of it. He then looked down at her body, still in the sheer gown, By the heavens, she is beautiful! he thought. then said softly, "I will lay in a course for Arus, Allura e'ajhii (my beauty) -you'd had better get dressed.-before I do something I might regret later ,he thought. Lotor didn't want to blow this chance with her. He picked up her covering and placed it on her shoulders. Lotor turned and walked towards the cockpit,closing the door behind him. She turned to the storage closet behind her. Letting the sheet fall to the floor, she opened the closet and surveyed it's contents. Good, there is clothing in there-lets see what...she thought. Allura raked though the various articles of clothing. The majority of clothes were for a female, but they were sheer nightgowns of varying styles and colors. Allura frowned but continued to look, this time going to the back of the closet. She saw some clothes on a hanger, and pulled them out to get a better look at them. To her disappointment, it was some lounging clothes of black and silver. A red embroidered mark was on it's breast pocket. Z'aale --was wearing this...last night. An unbidden memory came to her of leaning on his chest and feeling the silk of the garment under her fingers. She looked though the closet again, but found nothing else. Its the only decent thing in here-I'll have to wear it. She glanced to see if the door was closed, which it was, so she shimied out of the gown, letting it fall into a pool at her feet.(Keith didn't see anything, he was still in a coma...) At that moment, unfortunately, the door slid open, admitting Lotor. Allura let out a scream, and grabbed the sheet from the floor to cover herself, but it was too late. By the look on Lotor's face-he had gotten a good glimpse of her before she covered herself. Allura yelled at him. "Don't you ever knock?!!" Lotor, embarrased said, "You should have locked the door, Allura, but actually I'm glad you didn't." He smirked, irritating her. I bet you are! Allura thought clutching the sheet around her. To her horror, instead of leaving, he walked towards her. Nervous, Allura started backing away until she could go no further, her body flat against the wall. Still, he came closer, finally blocking her way. Allura said nervously, "Lotor, please..." Lotor looked down into her face, and reached over and caressed her cheek. Before she knew it he had gathered her in his arms, and kissed her, murmuring, "Allura, you are truly beautiful...." Allura couldn't struggle too much, for fear of losing her sheet, so she said,"Lotor, please...do'nt..pl-" Her words were cut off by his kiss. Allura felt a feeling of deja'vu come over her, as if this had happened before. .NO!!" Allura struggled in his arms,trying her best to keep her sheet from falling off. Lotor still held his grip on her. trying to keep her from struggling. His grip is too strong, she thought, .......maybe I could stomp on his foot - no wouldn't work, I'm barefoot! I'll have to talk to him..if he'll just let me!.......Lotor, sensing her stuggles weaken, kissed her again, enjoying the closeness of her. Knowing that all she had was a sheet over her body excited him to no end. He broke the kiss finally, and looked into her eyes. Allura finally said, "Lotor, please let me go..." Lotor smiled at her and replied softly. "Do you really want me to, e'ajahiia (beautiful) Allura?" She looked into his eyes-......so like Z'aal-his father's.......she shuddered in memory. Lotor continued to hold her close, not wanting to let her go. "Please, Lotor, I can't, please...don't force me..." Lotor frowned slightly, .......she thinks I will treat her like I did Romelle... He backed away slightly, still holding her waist. "Allura, I won't force you-I just...I'll go,Allura." he let go of her waist and gazed at her again. This trip is not going to be easy...He turned and walked away, closing the door behind him. Lotor remembered how she looked when he walked in, and thought, something tells me I'm not going to get any sleep tonight....
*(Author's note:Interlude goes after chapter 4 of "The Tempest")
Radar Scans indicating incoming vessel. R5 sector 0300hrs/Arus time: Drule make: Daar'lann class Vessel: D'onee'ah - "Swift Killer"('glish trans) Weapons systems online. Three lifeforms-Male/human, female/human, Drule/male. Ship is on hailing frequency 2.70niner...................check,Delta "Castle Control, Castle Control..Priority One! Delta Squad reportsDoom ship has been sighted in the R5 sector. Check your data onscreen now for scanner info "Roger that, Delta. . Prime Minister Coran is expecting them. Lead them in, Delta." "Roger, Castle Control. Doom ship is approaching lauchpad 52 Omega. "Castle Control - this is 52 Omega, "D'onee'ah" is approaching landing area. Security forces on alert. Pilot informs us Akira is injured. Pilot informs us Akira will be lowered via 'reslift at rear airlock. "Roger that, 52. Dr Gorma has been notified. Medical team is standing by. They're here! Coran thought..Hagar kept her word!! "Castle Control, 52 here, D'onee'ah has landed. Rear airlock is now opening...'reslift being lowered now...medics onscene..we have Akira sir! Waiting for Princess Allura, sir...oh sh--!" "Watch the language, 52, what's going on there? Copy?" "52 here, D'onee'ah' is taking off!.....damn it to he--! sorry, castle." "52! 52! Do you have the princess? Copy?" "No sir, negative. negative...Castle Control...receiving transmission from D'onee'ah. It is for Prime Minister Coran only...sir, it is Prince Lotor." ......I'm getting too old for this crap! .......Coran thought as he raked a nervous hand though his hair. He punched the comm. "Castle Control, this is Prime Minister Coran, patch him though this frequency immediately...using Alfor's Code 1 ! "Roger that, Prime Minister. stand by - Alfor's Code.....engaged...he's ready!." "Minister Coran, this is Prince Lotor Lessat of Doom. Princess Allura is with me. She is safe and will not be harmed. However, she will be travelling with me." "Prince Lotor, I demand to see Princess Allura myself!" "Certainly, Minister Coran, she wishes to speak to you. Stand by." What in the world is that girl wearing--pajamas? Oh dear...she's still wearing that choker around her neck.... "Coran! Coran! Did you get Keith? What about Pidge and Hunk-they ok??" "Yes, Princess, Dr. Gorma has him. Pidge and Hunk are doing much better." "Coran, what about my people?" "Queens,Bishops,Knights, (citizens evacuated) They're fine, Princess. Please explain why you are not returning to Arus? Is Lotor holding you captive?" "No, Coran, in exchange for Keith's return, I have agreed to go with Prince Lotor for a time. I will let you know when I will be back. Has she gone mad? Coran, Prince Lotor helped me get away from Z'aal-I mean, Zarkon. I know he will not harm me." ......That's not what I'm worried about. .....Coran thought ruefully. "Where will you be going, Princess?" " We're going to Aden.." .......Aden? That's clear on the other side of the galaxy!Great! Nanny's going to have a cow!...and people wonder why I'm going gray! "Coran, in my absence, you will run the affairs of Arus as you see fit. Please make sure this is entered in the official logs. Damn, Alfor--that daughter of yours.... "Coran, please let Nanny know I will be all right. If the guys wake up, tell them that too. Tell them not to come after me, I'll be fine. I made a promise, and I will keep it." "Understood, Princess. Allura...." "Yes, Coran?" "Please...be careful." "Coran, you know I will. I 'm going to transmit the code where I can be reached, ok? It's heavily encyrpted-it's in *Alfor's Code 5. Coran, I need to go.....I will contact you later.....goodbye.... Princess Allura out." (*Alfor's Code-frequency code developed by Allura's father, King Alfor. An uncrackable code-used to prevent anyone from retrieving or evesdropping information from all Arus communications incoming or outgoing.) ......"Coran, this is Castle Control. Transmission complete. D'onee'ah is in a holding pattern. Advise?" "Castle Control, Inform security to stand down-allow D'onee'ah to pass." "Roger that, Coran. Stand down. D'onee'ah has cleared Arus space . Anything else, Prime Minister?" "No, thanks, Castle. Coran out." What am I going to tell Nanny? Allura,I hope you know what you're doing......'cause I sure as hell don't.... Rommelle paced the floor of Castle Pollux upon hearing what happened from Coran.......she went with him! That little bitch! And that dog...call out her name, will he? Now he has her......happily ever after! Well.....maybe it won't be that way after all...........she smiled......and her eyes were the cold madness of her father King Avian...............