These are the times that try men's souls...

~Thomas Paine

Chapter Two

Lotor stood in Castle Control using up all his energy trying not to look too pleased with himself. His plan had gone off without a hitch. Most of the Alliance leadership was dead and whoever was left would soon follow. The Voltron Force was destroyed and the Lions were his for the taking. There was no mistaking the desperation in the Princess Allura's eyes. All he had to do was ask for one and it was his.

The sound of machinery met his ears and he turned to see Porterfield and Branegan enter the room. He smiled at them, amused at their situation. He remembered when they stood before him, high and mighty as they accused him of all sorts of chicanery.

Now look at them--nothing more than cripples, he sneered inwardly.

Keith was surprised to see the Doom Prince standing in the middle of Castle Control as if he owned the place. His eyes narrowed slightly and his hands clenched. He hadn't noticed it before with all the commotion

"Why aren't you sick?" he demanded.

"Like Allura, Romelle, and Bandor, I have the same magic in my blood," Lotor replied smoothly. "It is darker, to be sure, but it can fight Hagar's poison just the same." And the antidote helped too...

Keith nodded, but he didn't look convinced. Lance merely gave Lotor a brief glance and went on to the command console where Coran sat. The older man was wrapped in a thick quilt, but refused to go to the medwing. He was needed at Castle Control and no one could tell him otherwise.

"How is it, Coran?" Lance asked.

"Alliance Forces have been dispatched and they're on their way. They'll be here in an hour or so," Coran replied, sounding stronger than he looked. "Pidge has reconfigured the planetary shields to cover everyone."

"Doesn't that drain the power supply? It's too big..." Keith said.

"He split up the shield into three parts," Lotor explained. "He had the two other shields powered by two other generators. It's as good as putting a big steel dome up."

Keith eyed Lotor, a question in his face.

"I helped him," Lotor said with a shrug.

"I see. Coran, where's Allura?" Keith asked.

"She's in her study," Coran replied. "I believe she's with Nanny and her cousins."

"I have to see her."

"They're not to be disturbed."

Keith blew out a breath. "Why not?"

"Commander, they are not to be disturbed," Coran said firmly. "Are you here to help or not?"

Keith and Lance exchanged surprised looks. They'd never heard Coran speak with that tone of voice. He caught their look and sighed.

"I apologize," Coran said. "It's been a tough morning..."

"Coran, why don't you go to the medwing and get checked out," Lance said. "You look like you're about to keel over. You don't have to stay there, but just get checked out and then on the way back, get some breakfast."

Keith stood on wobbly knees. "Take my hoverchair."

Coran nodded. He stood, surrendering his seat to Keith as he took the hoverchair.

"I'll be back," he said to them.

Keith and Lance nodded, then turned to the command console. Lotor tried to look over their shoulders without being obvious, but it didn't work. They successfully blocked him out. He knew that with them there, he would find nothing out.

"I will be on my ship if you need me," he told them.

"Thank you," Lance said without even looking at him.

He glared at their ungrateful backs and left the room. Lance glanced over his shoulder to make sure he was gone before turning to Keith.

"He's part of this, I know it," Lance said.

"Yeah, but if we call him on it he'll attack and he's under the shield."

"What the hell are we going to do?"

"Damned if..." Keith stopped speaking for he was interrupted by a racking cough that shook his body.

Lance put a hand on his back. "Whatever Allura's doing, she better do it quick," he said. "We're not going to make it."

Keith looked at him with mournful eyes. "I know."

On the bridge of the Alliance's Flagship, aptly named The Alliance, Space Marshall Graham sat with his chin cupped in his hand, the picture of a serenity that he did not feel. Glanced at the clock ticking above the viewscreen, he willed the ship to move just a little faster.

The Senate's order that he take control of the Alliance once again did not surprise him. He knew that he was the most qualified man for the job. He only hoped that he could save what they had worked so hard to build. Even he had not realized just how much responsibility that the leadership bore on its shoulders. So much responsibility that their deaths would bring the Alliance's downfall.

No, he told himself, The Alliance will not fall. Not on my watch.

"Are we at maximum speed?" he asked an ensign.

"In five minutes, Sir."

"Pedal to the metal, son. A lot of people are counting on us."

Allura's flightsuit was soaked with sweat, but she didn't feel the least bit tired from her exertions. She felt anything but. Raw power flowed through her veins, and her eyes were unusually bright. Her cousins weren't much different. They'd been sitting with Nanny, learning to control their power, for almost an hour.

"Nanny, we're running out of time," Romelle said, standing. "I think you've taught us what we need. We don't have time for more than the basics if we're going to help these people."

"Princess, de consequences of your actions vill be great. You can do much harm to yourself as vell as oders..."

"They'll die, Nanny," Allura exclaimed. "We have to do this now."

Nanny sighed and nodded. "I know. I vill go vid you to make sure you know vat to do."

"But we'd get to more people if we split up," Bandor protested. "Who are you going to stay with?"

"NO! You cannot split up," Nanny said vehemently. "Togeder you can control de pover, but apart...I dare not even tink auf eet."

Allura and Romelle exchanged a look. They knew that the older woman was right, so together they left the room and headed straight for the medwing. They entered the first room which was where Hunk and Gwen were. Romelle held back a cry as she saw how blue Hunk's skin tone was.

"What are you doing here?" Gwen asked weakly.

"We're going to heal you," Bandor replied.

The three cousins stepped up to Hunk's bed and they linked hands, Bandor in between the two women. Allura and Romelle held out their free hands over Hunk's body, and they closed their eyes.

In a matter of seconds, the room got considerably warmer. Gwen watched in silent awe as Hunk's body was engulfed in a white light that lasted for several minutes. When it faded, he looked as if he was only sleeping when minutes before he'd been on the brink of death. Slowly, he opened his eyes and smiled up at the three standing over him.

"What did you guys do?" he asked. "I feel great."

"Just a little hocus pocus," Bandor replied with an answering smile. He turned to his sister and his cousin who were beaming. "Let's do this..."

Suddenly, they heard laser blasts coming from outside. Allura rushed to the intercom at the door.

"Castle Control, this is Princess Allura...what the hell is going on?"

"We're being attacked," Keith replied, his voice tight with panic. "Looks like they're here a little early..."

"Nanny, I don't care what you say," Romelle said fiercely. "We have to split up. We have no time."

Her lips white, Nanny nodded. "Go...GO!"

"Battle stations!" Lance yelled into the intercom. "All hands to battle stations! Arus is under attack! Castle Control to Explorer..."

"We're on it, Branegan," Hawkins said curtly. "Providing cover."

Keith's fingers flew over the console. "Reroute auxiliary power to the shields," he called out to the scrambling soldiers behind him. "Put the castle on Emergency status and put existing power to the laser cannons."

"When is the Alliance Fleet going to get here?" Lance asked.

"Thirty-five minutes..."

"This battle could be over in ten!"

"We just have to hold them off..."

"With what?"

Keith stood slowly. "With the Lions...let's go."

Lance nodded, his expression grim. Keith activated the chute and the command console rose with excruciating slowness. They were about to step in when fast approaching footsteps made them turn.

"WAIT!" Allura yelled.

"We have to go, Allura," Lance said. "Tell Link..."

"Shut up," she hissed and put her hands on his chest.

Lance's eyes widened as a warmth spread through his body. Allura's eyes took on a eerie glow and he watched her, feeling stronger. Finally, she removed her hands.

"What did you do to me?" he asked breathlessly.

Allura looked at the two men, Lance looking as healthy as the day he was born, Keith with Death at his back. She went to her lover and took his face in her hands.

"Allura..." he began.

"Shh...."

She could feel his life slipping away, but forced it to stay. She strengthened it with her own, imagining her power filling him and ridding him of the poison Hagar had put inside. When she was finished, his cheeks were ruddy and his eyes bright, but he looked as good as Lance did. Relieved, Allura put her arms around him, relishing the feel of him against her.

"Now you can go out and play with death again," she whispered in his ear. "But don't let him win--I just found you."

He kissed her, a taste of desperation in his touch, as shocked Lance looking on.

"I'll be back. Take care of the rest of them," he said to her. "We need them in the air."

"I'm here, Cap..." Hunk said, running in and stopping dead in his tracks when he saw Allura in Keith's arms. He looked at Lance who only shrugged.

Keith released the Princess and looked to his friends. "Let's go."