Allies?

[neverseenhimbefore]

Galran Emperor Lotor's sitting in a library. No, he still hasn't read everything Nexus has to offer, many very interesting and potentially beneficial to him, materials. His jaw set, he's looking at his PINPoint communicator intensely. A young man, whom some may recognise as Hiroki Shirogane, comes up to Lotor and makes to sit near him. Lotor gives Hiroki a scathing look.

"I've told you already," Lotor says. His hand goes to the hilt of his sword.

Heeding this lack of invitation, Shirogane doesn't sit down. Instead, he comes very close to Lotor, anyway, and whispers in his ear,

"You really don't want to? Think of it. All the secrets. All the knowledge. In your reach, right here. Or, are you, perhaps, afraid?"

Lotor smirks, and says, "You should be quiet now. What makes you think I need your help, in any way? And I won't be as merciful with you as I was with a friend of mine. Seeing as you are no friend of mine. Only a false ally, it's turned out."

"You mean Narti."

Lotor's eyes widen, and he asks, after almost gasping a little, "How do you know that name?"

"Lotor, please. I know everything. That's what I've been telling you all this morning."

"Fine. But you seem different."

"In what way?"

"Are you yourself?" Lotor asks.

"And would I be here, making this alliance, were I not?" the clone counters.

"Fair point. You may be right."

"I'm always right. So. You want it, don't you, Lotor?"

"Yes. Tell me everything. And we'll defeat the witch and get her Quintessence, together."

"Yeah! That's more like it. That's the Emperor Lotor I know," Hiroki says, smiling pleasantly.

Lotor smirks, and utters, "Indeed. And since you're my subject now, I'll show you mercy and, well, amnesty for your previous crimes as the witch's former puppet."

"Thank you," Shiro's clone replies, putting his hand on Lotor's shoulder, "I appreciate it."

"Who else is with us?" Lotor asks.

"Naturally," the clone answers, "Princess Allura and Antheans."

"Who are Antheans? I've never heard of them," Lotor says, puzzled. "And Allura's back in Nexus?" he asks, hopeful.

"Your new allies, Your Majesty. And indeed she is. She can't wait to see you again."

"Hm. I like the sound of it. However, those Antheans of yours, what are they good for?"

Lotor and the clone are in the library, still, and minding their manners, trying not to talk too loudly. However, as it is a library, feel free to scold them if they're disturbing you.

Or feel free to join the conversation if you get what they're talking about, or even if not.

Comments

[sordiddetails]

"We are a different species. I'm not sure I could train you in anything." She explains. "Visions are definitely not trained but a skill that is part of a person's genetics."

At least among the Antheans it was something inherent in the genetics. Tommy has been watching Lotor very closely and feeling out the scraps of emotions coming through.

While the other two are apparitions, Ziggy is definitely solid where he lays on the ground beside Hiroki. There's blood on his face from coughing up blood and the nose bleed. The impacts in the spirit realm have broken a couple ribs but he's still alive and breathing.

"He needs to rest." Aletayria tells Hiroki while trying to soothe his worry. "We are not made for battles."

Aletayria also has blood on her, staining the front of her dress.

1/2

[somekindofspaceuncle]

"It's... it's all on me. I had let Honerva possess me," Hiroki says, slowly.

Blinking slowly. Glowing a little.

When the glow's over, he has both of his arms. He doesn't seem to have noticed that, yet. He reaches to Ziggy.

"It's all my fault," he repeats. "I'm so sorry. I... she wasn't supposed to touch Ziggy! It's all my fault."

He turns to Aletayria, "Mother, I... what should I do? Please, tell me. I'll do anything. Just tell me. Anything. What can I do for Ziggy? If I can help... listen, I don't care what happens to me. Anything."

2/2

[neverseenhimbefore]

Lotor's marks glow, sharply, amost angrily, it may seem.

"Honerva?" he asks, his voice a bit pitched. He's smiling, but his eyes narrow.

No emotions leak through the mental shield. Absolutely not. In fact, it's tightened a bit, as if to make sure.

[sordiddetails]

Tommy speaks up when Hiroki starts blaming himself. "She bribed him."

Tommy hated the witch and his neutral presence falters a bit. Neither of them are surprised that she didn't keep her word. The regrow arm is a bit startling though.

"You can take a few breaths." Aletayria nods and touches him on the shoulder gently. There is no weight to the touch, only warmth because she's at a distance. "Ziggy will be fine with some rest and medication...but you should care what happens to you because he cares what happens to you."

There's no need for empathy to read Lotor's emotions. They are there in his expression. Tommy nods. "We have fought her before." Then Tommy says to Aletayria. "Perhaps we should enact the old techniques?"

That comment opens Aletayria's eyes wide. Tommy was talking about torture.

[neverseenhimbefore]

"You fought Haggar," Lotor corrects, adamant.

"Honerva called herself 'Haggar' for many years," Hiroki explains, tiredly. "A stolen name, from a guard, a Druid, maybe. Just another stolen name. Her true name is Honerva, as always. That witch-"

Lotor interrupts, "If you offend my mother, Honerva, again, you shall meet the fate you deserve. Honerva is my late mother, a brilliant Altean alchemist, with alchemy and magic far exceeding Honerva's. Haggar is some old Altean witch!!"

Antheans may notice, even with shields, that in reality, Lotor knows.

He might cut Shiro's clone's throat in a minute from now if nobody says or does anything, true, but, he knows. That Haggar is Honerva. Knows well, really, just. Does not agree with the fact.

[ziggyplayedguitar]

"Then keep your mother out of his mind." Ziggy is forcing himself off the ground, forehead glowing harshly golden and his eyes bright blue with the slit pupils wide.

It is when he feels the intentions that he breaks. His mind clamps down on Lotor's the same way he tried to crush the entities.

"Ziggy, no." Aletayria's voice is high and worried.

"You can try, but you won't survive to get your knife out." Ziggy's voice has lost all the charm and cheer it usually has. He's raging like the Antheans once did when they were killers at war. Tommy pulls back his facial expression finally showing something; fear.

[neverseenhimbefore]

A Dark Entity suddenly appears, outside, between Lotor and Ziggy, like a wall.

Lotor takes a step back from Ziggy, terrified. Angry and terrified.

[ziggyplayedguitar]

Ziggy relents his grasp as he gets to his feet. The nosebleed he's having and the pain from his ribs completely ignored.

"You're like her. Taken by the dark?" Ziggy's voice is strange; airy almost. His eyes have fixed on Lotor, unmoving and unblinking.

"You, nor your horrid mother, with touch him again without regret." Ziggy meant it. He was exhausted now and didn't push the issue. Lotor is probably lucky that Ziggy is so tired or things might be much worse than a bit of flexing of powers for show.

[neverseenhimbefore]

Lotor looks at the entity curiously. Then touches it. It flows right back into him. There's no disturbance, no pain.

He yawns.

"I don't understand, and don't care to, right now," he mutters.

Hiroki, meanwhile, is staring, and even shouts, "Don't touch a Dark Entity! You might die!" when Lotor touches it.

But. Lotor doesn't seem perturbed.

"Fine, I won't touch your probably soulless husband," Lotor says and turns away.

[ziggyplayedguitar]

"Make sure your mother doesn't either." Ziggy's voice is wavering strangely because of the exhaustion. "He's not soulless. Can't you see it there?"

Aletayria is watching and unsure what to do, but Ziggy's calm is slowly returning now that the immediate threat has recoiled. It is Tommy that turns to Lotor with a disappointed gaze. "I thought you were a diplomat. Was that a lie?"

This seems like the worst of bad diplomacy.

[neverseenhimbefore]

Lotor seems lost in thought. Finally, he asks, "What was that thing? That dark creature? It knew me. I don't know it."

"Strange. It had powers, I think. Almost... strange. It made me think of my mother, you know?"

[sordiddetails]

Now that the threat has passed Ziggy just slumps. If someone doesn't catch him more bones are going to get broken when he hits the ground. Unfortunately, the Antheans can't intervene because they are still only astral projections.

"I don't know what they are." Aletayria admits. "I think Honerva controls them."

Tommy is staring into the distance blankly. "I think she possesses people with them. They were going to stay behind in Hiroki."

[somekindofspaceuncle]

Standing up takes a lot from Hiroki right now, but he manages, and he catches Ziggy. He's got two arms now, so it's easy. The right arm is scarred, almost the whole way. Plenty of glaring scars. Impossible to miss. And also, apart from scars, the arm's very pale.

He sways a little, but from his own weight mostly, not Ziggy's, actually.

"There, now," Hiroki mutters. "Please rest, my Love. Or I'll make you rest. Hm?"

Lotor, meanwhile, is busy looking at Aletayria's apparition. His jaw set.

"I don't know what came into me, but the witch doesn't control me, and she is NOT Honerva. I'm telling you. Honerva was my father's wife. Then she gave birth to me... she died shortly after, because of her experiments. Her lab, the Dark Entities- oh!"

"This thing," Lotor continues, "it's a Dark Entity. It all makes sense now. And, as I've said, Haggar is not Honerva."

And everything makes perfect sense.

[sordiddetails]

Ziggy is completely unconscious, breath and pulse shallow. Tommy reaches out and whispers in Hiroki's mind. "He needs time. Our people haven't behaved that way in thousands of years."


"Lotor, the witch says she is your mother." Aletayria clarifies. "The witch, Honerva, came her to find you... her son."

She looks to Tommy who gives a slight nod of agreement.

[neverseenhimbefore]

"Yes, she came to find me. And she lied to you. I don't remember my mother, but I know of her. It wasn't easy, as my father's denied me all knowledge. But I've found people who's met her. I've found accounts. I know of Honerva. And Haggar can't lie to me as she does to all of you."

2/2

[somekindofspaceuncle]

Hiroki holds on to Ziggy.

"I'm sorry," he whispers, "I'm so sorry. All because of me..."

"Listen," Hiroki says, "I-- I can share my Quintessence with him. Energy."

[sordiddetails]

Aletayria sympathizes but shakes her head. "We are all telepaths and Empaths. You can't lie to us without our knowledge. Even with all your barriers in place to hold us out it would be near impossible."

Tommy sighs and rolls his eyes at Lotor. "I was there. She was not lying to us."

Ziggy is barely away but a weak voice comes to Hiroki. "For you, not because of.

Tommy is done with the man who is obviously an idiot and turns his attention to helping the children. He has children, even if he wasn't much of a father. "He will regain his energy with time."

[somekindofspaceuncle]

"But... Ziggy's not dying, is he? If he is. If he was. I can give him my Quintessence. It's easy," Hiroki says, desperate.

Lotor turns to Hiroki and says: "I think he'll manage. Maybe you can give some to me? It's quite the potent Quintessence. I've been searching for such."

At that, Hiroki looks clearly disgusted, and says, "No, 'Your Highness", you won't be getting my life today, from me, for your quiznaking greater good. No. And how many Alteans did you get Quintessence from, again? How many shrivelled up Altean bodies are there? Keith didn't count. He wouldn't. He wouldn't do that. If I was there, I'd probably count. Just to know. Because I'm not a good person, and I-- nevermind."

Lotor winces a little.

[sordiddetails]

"He is strong." Tommy tells him. He's looking at the human/spirit and concerned about his drain. There isn't enough energy there.

Ziggy's eyes flash open at the request from Lotor but he's too weak to move.

The Antheans are listening now, though Aletayria is slightly distracted. She can hear the sound of a, now, very familiar car outside the library.

"You feed on spirit?" Her question is sharp as a razor. Her hand comes to Hiroki's shoulder in comfort because he is a good person as far as she's seen. However, Lotor may be on the way to making an entire species his enemies. Soul draining was ghastly to think about.

[neverseenhimbefore]

"I don't. I don't eat Quintessence, nobody does that. That'd be truly barbaric. Even the witch wouldn't do that, I'm certain. I need Quintessence to - ah, to make something. Something like Voltron. Something that'll let me save everyone, you see. I'm trying to save my whole Empire - and all the Alteans left alive, too. I and the Paladins are on the same side. Though if the clone continues to slander me, that might not remain so, which would be bad for all the Realities."

"Listen," Lotor adds after a few ticks of time. "I truly admire all the strength and courage and I mean no one any harm. Honestly."

No feelings get through his barrier, right now.

[sordiddetails]

The Antheans both listen with perplexed expressions before Aletayria frowns. "You're draining people to create a weapon?"

That might be worse somehow, at least to this species. She doesn't need to get through the barrier to know.

"You're lying. You do mean harm if you are stealing people's spirits. You have a great skill at deluding yourself."

[neverseenhimbefore]

"Yes, a weapon. Voltron is also a weapon and this man here"

Lotor points at Hiroki

"would gladly die to defend Voltron, just ask him if I'm lying."

"Weapons," Lotor adds, "can be very important. Especially if they're allmighty people. Like Voltron. You can ask your Hiroki."

"I'm not deluding myself. I'm trying to do what is right for all the Realities in existence."

2/2

[somekindofspaceuncle]

Hiroki Shirogane nods at the prince's statement about Voltron, it's true... but...

"Shut up," he tells Lotor, now. "Shut up. Atlas hasn't murdered anyone to get born. Nor has Voltron. Your methods are -- yes, that can be done, but.. your methods are wrong."

[sordiddetails]

Tommy turns to look at Aletayria just before she speaks. There's venom in her words despite the quiet calm. "There is a differentlce between willingly risking yourself for something you believe in and being murdered for someone else's agenda and benefit."

Her presencr darkens again. "You aren't doing what is best for our reality where we're working for peace and don't want any weapons."

1/2

[neverseenhimbefore]

Lotor raises his arms in surrender.

"Fine, there are things I don't know about. I can learn. Do not paint me as a villain, for I'm not my father. I've been trying to follow the notes my late mother's left."

"She had found the infinite source of energy. Without hurting anyone. The infinite Quintessense, flowing free, in the Space between the Realities. An uninhabited space - ah, except Dark Entities, that is, but they're not people. And can be defeated by the Voltron Lions easily."

"A weapon I'm making is like another Voltron. Can go to the space between and bring Quintessence. Quintessence that is fought over in all the Realities I know. But when an infinite source is there, there'll be no more war. Shi--Hiroki, you know it. I've explained this and more to Voltron team. Tell them, please, my friend."