Chapter Text
“Hello Father.” Lotor greeted the comatose body of the worst enemy the universe had ever faced. It was strange, how small and harmless his father looked at that moment. How… peaceful.
“I’ll give you a moment alone.” Haggar announced. He might have thought her to having a moment of humanity, if Lotor truly believed he was alone. The witch had no doubt set up dozens of cameras to watch the fallen emperor’s condition. Still, he was glad for the moment of faux privacy. He hadn’t intended to say anything, really, but facing the man that had been such a horrifying influence in his life he… he found he had a lot to say.
“I suppose you’d expect me to apologize.” Lotor mumbled after Haggar had left. He felt the itch under his skin to change back. A ridiculous desire really because this was his original form. There was no changing back form this. Still he wanted his human appearance. He wanted to cry. He wanted to pull apart whatever system was keeping his father alive. He wanted the man to wake up and face him.
Lotor looked calm but inside Lance was a mess.
“I suppose you want me to assure you I will rule your empire as you ruled it, to make up for my transgressions.” He muttered, trying to remain as calm as he could. It wasn’t easy. “I won’t do it.” He told Zarkon’s body bitterly. “I’m not here for you. I am here to rule for my own gain, that’s how I always do things isn’t it Father? I suppose that’s the one thing you taught me in the end.” He scoffed. His knees were shaking. How many times had he imagined how this would go? Remeeting his father when he was called back, or on the battlefield protecting the home Earth had become, or in space as Voltron.
In that final battle he’d imagined standing before his father’s grave.
He had never thought it would go like this.
“But I guess I should thank you.” He mumbled, talking to hold back the sobs. He was slipping, he wasn’t meant to speak so commonly just in case there were hidden microphones. “I’ve never been happier than I was in my exile. I got this thing called a family, do you remember what that was like? Probably not, right? I doubt you even remember my mother’s name.” Lotor bit his lip. He needed to stop before he tarnished the act he was preforming.
“Well.” He said, tone chirper and more fitting of the Lotor that once was. “It doesn’t matter now, does it? She’s dead, and you’re half dead yourself. I suppose you’ll be incredibly angered to find me on your throne when you wake up but I’ll have you know it was all Haggar’s idea. Goodbye Father.” He turned on hell and left the room before his chaotic emotions could grip him again.
For Shiro, he reminded himself. I have to do this for Shiro.
“Where are we even going to find other pilots?” Hunk huffed as he tinkered. “Coran can’t pilot a lion, and we need Allura on the ship.”
“I don’t know Hunk.” Pidge mumbled, sitting back to back with Hunk as she reviewed the footage of her brother’s escape once more. Maybe it was for comfort, she’d lost four people but this was the only footage she had of any of them. “I guess we’ll check with our allies, see if they can pilot the lions.”
“I don’t think Keith should pilot Black.” The yellow pilot huffed. “I mean, he’s just… he’s too much of a loner! He isn’t going to know how to lead and I just don’t know him that well!”
“Shiro wanted him to lead.” The younger reminded him. They were silent a moment.
“Lance would’ve made a better Black Paladin.” Hunk eventually mumbled.
“I know.” Pidge sighed. “Maybe we could still find him. He only weakened the tracking signal too much for the castle to find him, if I could just… if I could just strength the signal we could find him.”
“Tell me what I can do to help.”
“Lord Lotor.” Commander Irck greeted him with a bow. Lotor looked him over with bored eyes, claws tapping against the arm rest of his father’s too-big throne.
“What is it Commander Irck?” He asked, making his distaste at the visit obvious. Since taking up his fathers mantel all he’d done was sit on his throne and listen to Commanders like Irck talk about how great they were and suck up to him. He’d barely had a chance to eat let alone start his search for Shiro.
God he’d forgotten how much being royalty could suck.
“I’m sure this is a stressful and busy time for you sire.” The galran began. “I only sought to suggest something that may ease your stress. There is a gladiator match tonight, I believe the current champion is to be involved.”
“And you intend to ask me to it Commander Irck? I do not appreciate being courted at such a time, and by someone so beneath me.” Lotor smirked, watching the way galran’s eyes narrowed for a moment. He was having more fun than he’d care to admit acting like a spoilt brat again. It was certainly the only enjoyment he was getting during these conversations with Commanders he wasn’t dumb enough to trust.
“That was not the intention my lord.” The older looking galran frowned. “It was simply a gesture of good will.”
“I suppose I can spare the time to watch a gladiator match.” Lotor hummed after a moment of nothing but tapping.
“Sire, you have more pressing matters to attend to.” Haggar frowned. “We must discus what further moves to make against Voltron and to secure your fathers recovering.”
“Silence Haggar.” That was a fun thing to say. “I have no interest in your plans against Voltron, they have proven to do nothing but fail. As for my father, you are already using too many of our resources to ensure his health and yet nothing has changed.”
“I only need more.” Haggar frowned
“I will attend this gladiator match and perhaps then I will decide what to do about what you need Haggar.” Lotor announced, standing from his father’s throne for the first time in what felt like days.
How could he have ever enjoyed these things? Lotor focused on examining his nails rather than watching as the prisoners sliced and diced each other and for what? To breathe another second? All because they commanded it. It was terrible.
“Are you not entertained sire?” Commander Irck and he had been joined by the Commander’s second in command, a shorter than average but broad galran named Zulin.
“No.” Lotor said, mentally proud of himself for how even he managed to keep his voice.
“Shall we have more prisoners added to the fray?” Commander Irck suggested, watching the bloodbath with gleaming eyes. Lotor decided he truly hated this guy.
“No, there is no point.” Lotor sighed. “It’s simply not entertaining to watch people fight for their lives.”
“How can you not enjoy this?” Irck asked, gesturing to the display before them. Lotor let his eyes flick over and tried not to gag at the sight.
“It would be more entertaining if they were truly fighting for something.” The prince commented.
“They are fighting for their lives, what could be more true than that!” Irck countered.
“Hope.” Lotor hummed. “It is always more entertain than hope.” He let a smirk slip onto his face, hoped it looked as horrifying as used to. “We will have them fight for their freedom.” He decided.
“Excuse me?” Irck frowned.
“Should the prisoners win enough matches they will be freed.” He clarified. “Able to return to their homes if they so please. It will be much more entertaining to watch them fight when they have a prize in mind.” He rose from his chair before Irck could say another word, announcing the news.
It wasn’t taken well at first, but a few matches in as prisoners fought with a drive they hadn’t had before, the crowds accepted the decree. Lance forced himself to watch with a grin as aliens slaughtered one another. He hated it. They didn’t deserve this but he knew better than to think he could truly end the fighting. His leadership was too fragile to risk the riot that might cause and he couldn’t lose his leadership right now, he needed to find Shiro.
Shiro wasn’t the current champion. He hadn’t expected it to be that easy either but god how he’d wished it was.
“What do you mean you can’t tell us?!” Hunk demanded of the small salesman, hoisting the being up by its shirt collar.
“I was paid very well for my silence.” The alien smirked, not intimidated despite Hunk’s size. “Unless you can pay me more I cannot tell you a thing.”
“How much were you paid?” Pidge demanded from beside Hunk.
“15 hundred credits.” The answer made the humans tense. They didn’t have that kind of money; Lance shouldn’t’ve had that kind of money.
“Hunk! Pidge!” Coran was panting as he ran towards the two, once more dressed like a space pirate. “Good thing I found you!”
“Coran, what are you doing here?” Hunk frowned, still holding the salesman.
“I came to see what you’re both doing here!” He announced. “Who’s this chap? A pirate?” He asked.
“We managed to track Lance’s ship to here, in that garage.” Pidge explained. “This guy won’t tell us how he got it.”
“Hm…” Coran hummed and rested his chin in his fingers. “How you tried to bribe him?”
“We don’t have any money.” Hunk frowned.
“Bah! Waste of my time then!” The salesman exclaimed, kicking out of Hunk’s hold and heading into a nearby building.
“Hey!” Hunk called as the guy vanished from sight.
“Never fear Hunk, Coran is on the job! I have access to the royal treasuries after all.” Coran announced, quickly following after the small alien.
“Is that a good idea?” Pidge asked, watching Coran leave.
“I don’t care if he gets us answers.” Hunk decided.
Coran returned a good half hour later. “I’ve got good news and bad news!” He told the two as they jumped to attention. “The good news is, I managed to bribe him! The bad news is it cost me quite a bit and we best not mention this to Allura.”
“What’d he tell you? Where’s Lance?” Hunk asked, panicked but hopeful. Coran frowned slightly.
“That’s some more bad news I’m afraid. While he’s sure it was Lance that paid for his silence, he isn’t sure where Lance went. He brought a ship, asked to keep his old one here and off the record, and then left.” Coran frowned.
“So… this is, this is a dead end?” Hunk asked, feeling his heart sinking in his chest.
“I’m afraid so.” Coran sighed, looking just as defeated as Hunk.
“But where did Lance get that kind of money?” Pidge frowned. “Did he take it from the treasury?”
“I doubt it, I would have noticed if there was money unaccounted for.” The elder shook his head. “Come, we must get back before the princess begins to think we’ve lost even more Paladins.” He turned, heading back towards the ships that had come in. Numbly, Pidge and Hunk followed.