The New Prince

Chapter 9

Inside the Control Room, Keith looked over a report he had to turn into Admiral Graham. Never having a hard time concentrating on anything that dealt with the Garrison, he sighed heavily as he thought back to his last encounter with the princess, instead of the words in front of him.

"Damn it! This is all Lance's fault!" He shook his head with frustration. "No…it's my own. I should've known better. She's the Princess of Arus for God's sake, Keith!" He told himself. "What the hell were you thinking?" He raised his voice as he slammed the data pad he held in his hand onto the console.

Earlier, when he had walked in, he dismissed the crew and told them to join in on the last few hours of the festivities. Their excitement, brought on by their commander's act of consideration toward them, overshadowed any questions they could have had as to why the commander would take the shift alone.

What an idiot I am! He inwardly thought. Why the hell did I fall for a princess? As if my life wasn't complicated enough.

About to continue the mental torture, he saw the vidscreen suddenly light up; informing him of an incoming transmission. Keith pressed the button. His eyes furrowed, surprised by the person looking back at him on screen. "General Hawkins? Good evening sir. Is everything all right?"

"Keith..." Hawkins began, his tone showed marks of agitation. "It's Erin..."

VVVVVVVVVV

Keith listened to General Hawkins as he related the latest news to him.

"Zarkon?" Keith asked wondrously. "I don't understand why Zarkon would take Erin. I just don't see a connection." He shook his head, concentrating on trying to pinpoint any link between Erin and the King of Doom.

"At first I thought the bastard discovered a secret project the Garrison is working on. But the more I thought about it, the more it made sense that, maybe, the connection was you." Hawkins answered in a most spiteful tone.

Keith inwardly shuddered. He knew a small part of the general blamed him for the kidnapping. He also knew it wasn't on purpose. His daughter, his baby, had fallen in the hands of raging lunatics.

"Our relationship ended two years ago, General. I don't understand why he would do something like this. It doesn't make sense."

"Keith, I don't know what's going on either. It could be another of Zarkon's plans to destroy Voltron; but all I know, for now, is that you have to help her. You have to help me, she's my only daughter."

The commander's heart sank. Keith saw a look in the general's eyes and prayed that he'd never go through something like that when it came to his children. "You have my word, General. I'll bring Erin home."

Hawkins nodded, "Thank you." he replied in a barely audible voice.

"I'll contact you tomorrow with a plan of action, sir."

"I look forward to it." The general answered, "I'm in transit to Arus. I should be there tomorrow morning. See you then." He finished as he cut transmission.

Keith slammed his head on the back of the seat. This night kept getting longer and longer by the second.

VVVVVVVVVV

Lance and Sven walked through the hallways of the castle; their destination, Keith's office. Hoping to have a clearer picture of the events that happened earlier, Lance suddenly fell quiet when he finished telling Sven his plan of putting the commander and the Princess of Arus together. He concentrated on how he would begin the conversation with his best friend, his pal, and the man who, no doubt, would murder him tonight.