Burning Bright Eyes

Thirteen

        On the other side of the galaxy, Haggar was at a shallow pool filled with refined liquid Quintessence. Floating crystals cast refracted purple light over the room, only contrasted by her glowing yellow eyes. None of the other Druids were with her, at her orders and their loyal obedience.

        In her clawed hands was a jar of dark blue liquid veined with purple. An energy she and the Druids came across, which their allies in the cults of Mierome call Decessence. The veins swirling in the container twisted in a double helix, a spiral ladder with gray strings of Miero blood as rungs. It was collected from a very particular prisoner. The only one who was compatible with Galra cybernetic limbs.

        Stepping into the pool, Haggar silently went to the center of the pool. She poured the liquid over the liquid Quintessence. The pale purple Quintessence washed out almost instantly, consumed by the deep blue liquid. The liquid's effect shot through her in blazing hot sparks, sending her mind to a realm of black.

        Haggar waited for the memories of her desired target to appear. She looked around at hearing the coo of an infant. An image of a silver-skinned Miero woman with green tendrils and eyes appeared, holding a small parcel in her arms. The image of another prisoner, back then a young and strong soldier, appeared next to the woman.

        "She's beautiful, Ajhura," he remarked, his finger dangling over the parcel. "She has my face, and your eyes."

        "Indeed she does, Zerax," agreed the woman. "Our little Ayiko. Come on, sweetheart. Say goodbye to Papa before he leaves." Haggar watched as a tiny Miero arm and some small, blue tendrils reached up, the tendrils twining around Zerax's hand with a small coo.

        "I know, my child," Zerax said with a sigh. "I wish I could stay as well. To watch you grow big and strong. But alas, I mustn't put you or your mother in danger. May we meet again someday." He gently pulled his hand from the bundled infant, and with a kiss to Ajhura, he left.

        "Mama, no!!" the young voice made Haggar spin around to look at who must've been the infant. A purple-skinned Miero girl, dark blue tendrils held tense and glowing blue eyes slitted with horror. Her mother, with a greenish-yellow smoldering wound in her back, lay dead at her feet. The girl looked up before turning and running away. The Altean began to run after the child, the same way she did after the younger image of her son.

        When Haggar had finally caught up to the girl, the girl's image was much older, more recent; she was even standing beside her son. Their backs were towards the witch, and strange wrist cuffs were each on one of their gauntlets. A swarm of familiar dark purple creatures gathered in front of them in a scrawny humanoid form. Two pale yellow lights appeared as eyes as the the two pivoted around, eyes hidden. Their eyes opened in unison, glowing respectively bright blue and yellow.

        Haggar jolted back to her senses, backing out of the pool. The liquid Decessence gave off pinpricks of blue and purple light, subtly swirling at the center. Haggar was about to turn and leave when the liquid started glowing brighter, and a ghostly form began to appear floating above the pool. The Altean nearly startled when she realized it looked eerily similar to the Miero girl she saw: Ayiko. However, there was a strange, red-purple starburst at the form's chest, and its eyes glowed that color as they opened.

        You should've died millenia ago, a warped female voice came from the specter. Why haven't you died yet?

        Haggar's eyes narrowed at the cold gaze. "I was brought back to life in the Quintessence field. I must know the secrets and the true power of Quintessence and its counterpart. Only then can I take control of Voltron, and avenge my late husband. And return to the same rift that was created ten thousand years ago."