Breathe Deep

Stasis

"When I was very young, my mother was gravely ill."

Allura had taken several long moments to gather her thoughts and words before finally starting.

As Keith and his stowaway returned to Vartex, what she had described had come to pass. They reached the planet in time to see the ion cannon fire and hit the command ship with the full force of its power. The Lions and remaining Vartesian forces took out the rest of the Galran fighters that had suddenly lost their vigor to fight.

Afterward, Coran had broadcast that Halvok hailed the castle, offering a truce for a time, and requested a meeting between his leader and Princess Allura. The Lions docked in their hangars and the group waited patiently for Halvok and Haie Ghessa to arrive. Keith's passenger - Ngarah, he learned was her name - stood before the group at the door acting as an impromptu herald. As the door opened, Ngarah straightened her posture, arms at her sides, and, as Hair Ghessa entered, she pulled her hood back and removed her mask. It was the same gesture the Vartesians had made when she entered the room they held Lance in.

They gathered in the main lounge, giving Haie Ghessa a seat all her own, her two-person entourage standing behind the couch at attention and attentive to her whims, though she asked for very little. The rest gathered on seats opposite to the Vartesian Matriarch.

"I remember taking long trips with my mother and father to a distant planet. It was always in hopes of healing her ailments. I was much too young to understand, then, the purpose of these visits." Allura explained. There was a soft expression on her face, but it was colored by the sadness in her eyes. "I only remember the beauty of the planet, stepping off the ship each time I was allowed to accompany my parents. I loved the inherent serenity that washed over me as I looked out to the horizon."

Coran had become pensive as Allura recounted her experiences on this unnamed planet. His arm folded across his chest, holding up his other arm that allowed him to stroke his chin in thought.

"I..." he spoke up, "I remember King Alfor taking Her Majesty and the young princess on trips into space. But I had always thought that they were simply to allow some time exploring the galaxies. Just a chance to get away from home for a little while. To think that it was intended to aid in the Queen's failing health... I had no idea."

There was a disappointment in Coran's tone that punctuated his last few words and Allura gave him an apologetic smile.

"This is true." Haie Ghessa added, with a gentle smile along her delicate lips, " Vartex, even then, was not a widely known place. But it had once been a place of healing. My people are exceptionally attuned to the ebb and flow of Quintessence, you see.

And, as I am sure you are aware, Quintessence is the root of all things life-giving. We feel it, we eat it, we breathe it, we are it. Vartex has long had an exceptionally developed ability to manipulate Quintessence. And for many generations, we were healers to royal families across the galaxies. Trusted allies would have one or two resident Vartesian healers to care for their people that were in dire need of it. But in the case of Phaal Allura's mother, it was believed she was best helped on our home world."

"They did the best they could." Coran offered with a heavy sigh, "But even that couldn't save Her Majesty."

"How is it," Pidge asked cautiously, "That your planet has come to have such an odd amalgamation of technology? And why haven't you kept it up-to-date?"

Nghara's eyes lit up to the posed query. She had spoken up before Haie Ghessa had a chance to utter.

"When the other royal visitors came to Vartex, they sometimes came with gifts and offerings. They would grace our people with advanced knowledge and ways of thought. The Olkari were always very charitable in this way."