Dark Angel-Discovery, Part 2

by Sandy

WARNING: Rated NC-17 for graphic scenes of m/m sex, rape, violence and language.

Voltron is the property of World Events Productions, but Keith and Lance like to play with me. (Naughty boys)


Celebrations started sporadically at first. People were torn between happiness that they won and sadness for those who have died. The need to celebrate soon prevailed, and the Alliance temporary base camp was soon alive with impromptu festivities. Some danced around or broke into songs, others sat quietly in contemplation and still others walked around with a stunned look on their faces. Allura watched it all with quiet amusement. Soon the whole galaxy would be celebrating. She walked through the camp, smiling at the many people who greeted her. She accepted their praise and the looks of adoration, even though the attention made her a little uncomfortable. After all, the Voltron force wasn't the only factor that defeated Zarkon yet, if you talk to anyone in the camp, you'd think they killed Zarkon personally. Even though she wanted to take that old tyrant's head herself, Zarkon took that satisfaction away from her by killing himself.

He was a cowered, she thought, and he took a coward's way out.

Still, a victory was a victory no matter how bitter sweet it was. Allura began to think of all the people that didn't make it to see this day. One person in particular made her heart ache a little more. No! She promised herself that she wouldn't do this. That for just this night, she would enjoy this day and relax. She would mourn tomorrow, today she would celebrate.

"Princess!" Her smile widened as she saw Pidge waving at her. She walked to her friends. They were all there, looking tired, but happy. Allura has been through a lot with these three men, and she was thankful that they all made it alive. She greeted Hunk and Sven warmly, hugging them tightly. Pidge pulled up a chair for her. She hugged him and gave him a sisterly kiss on his cheek, then laughed as his face turned red. She sat down, groaning softly at the aches in her legs and back. A hot mug of coffee was instantly in her hands. She thanked Hunk and sipped the dark liquid. She tasted the sharp bite of alcohol mixed in the coffee and raised a pale eyebrow at Hunk. He just shrugged and looked sheepish.

"Hey, it's a celebration." Allura laughed and took another sip.

"I don't know why we're celebrating," Sven said. He was slouched in his chair, glaring at a group of laughing soldiers.

"Come on Sven, don't start." Sven ignored Pidge's plea.

"Lotor is still out there and as long as he's alive, no one is safe."

"Lotor is running with his tail between his legs. Most of his army is destroyed, the cruiser that he was on was practically crippled." Hunk spread his hands. "He'll be captured in a couple of hours." Sven didn't look convince, so Hunk gave up, draining whatever drink he had in his mug, and got up to get more. Personally, Allura wished she had Hunk's confidence. She learned early that a person like Lotor's always had one ace in his sleeve. She had a sinking feeling that he was going slip through their fingers. She pushed that feeling aside and listened to Pidge excitedly describe how he single-handedly destroyed a Doom battle cruiser. Allura couldn't help but smile. Pidge had grown into a nice mature young man and yet there were times when she could still see that eager child genius that first came to her planet.

"Well, well, well. I don't believe it." Hunk suddenly dropped his mug. Allura turned to where he was staring. She couldn't believe it either. He was the last person she thought to see again. She saw Lance walking towards them, his eyes scanning the small groups that had formed around the camp. When he spotted them, he seemed to hesitate, but then a determined look set in his eyes and he walked over.

"He's not looking for us is he," Pidge asked. His question was answered when Lance stopped at their table.

"Hey guys."

"Did you hear anything? I thought I heard some bug buzzing in my ear." Lance ignored Hunk's comment and turned to Allura. She stared evenly at the man who had once been her friend. What could she say to him? She had always thought she was a forgiving person, but that all changed when Lance deserted them three days after Keith's death. She had thought they were a team, that they cared for each other. Lance abandoned them when the team was at their weakest and most vulnerable. Lotor took full advantage of that vulnerability. A part of her knew that even if Lance had stayed, they wouldn't have been able to stop the ro-beasts from devastating her world. But that didn't stop the pain and betrayal she felt every time she thought of him.

"I need to talk to you."

"I'm surprised you showed your face here, Coward." Sven took Lance's leaving especially hard. He was usually the calm rational one of the group, except when it came to Lance. It was the only time that Allura saw honest hatred in his eyes.

"Hell, I'm surprised he's here at all." Hunk mumbled into his mug. "I thought he would be on some backwater planet hiding under the bed. What are you doing here Lance? Come to pick the dead clean of their valuables?"

"Will you back off a minute." Lance's voice was low, but there was no mistaking the intensity in it. Hunk stood, flexing his massive frame in anger.

"Why should I listen to a piece of dirt like you?"

"Enough." Allura broke in before it went any further. Hunk backed off, but he stood there and glared a hole in the back of Lance's head.

"What do you want." There was ice in her voice, ice that wasn't there four years ago. It frightened her when she first heard it, now she was use to it.

"I need your help." There was a second of silence. No one at the table believed what they just heard. Then Pidge snorted a laugh.

"You got to be kidding me."

"Get out of here Harway. You're bringing down our mood." Hunk sat back down and returned to his beer.

"I know you guys don't like me, but this isn't about me."

"What is it then?" Allura pushed her now undrinkable coffee away.

"It's..." Lance then looked around, suddenly noticing the people near them. "Look, I can't tell you, not here. You have to come with me." Before anyone could object, he continued.

"Do you think I would be here if it wasn't important. I know perfectly well that you want to have anything to do with me. I'm not asking you to trust me, just come with me and see for yourself. It's very, very important." Allura didn't want to trust him, and a part of her felt bad about that. She owed her life to him on more than one occasion. She could see something in his eyes that cut through all the bitterness and anger. Her instincts were telling her to go with him. She stood.

"All right Lance. I'll go."

"Princess, you can't." Hunk stood between Allura and Lance.

"What the hell do you think I'm going to do, knock her out and sell her to slavers?"

"I wouldn't put it past you."

"Stop it both of you." She touched Hunk's arm. "I'll be fine."

"Well, I'm going with you. Let's see what's so important."

"I'm going too" Pidge jumped up. A second later Sven stood.

"Might as well make it a party." The new red lion pilot's eyes never left Lance. Without another word, Lance led them out into the chilled night. Even this late in the evening, Allura could feel the excited activity around her. Technically, the war wasn't over. There were still small pockets of soldiers that were hiding in the dark bowels of the city. But at the camp the atmosphere was relaxed and boisterous. She wished she could feel the same. They quickly headed toward the refugee area. Unlike the rest of the camp this area was subdued, filled with the servants, slaves and prisoners that were liberated in the battle. But there wasn't any freedom for these poor people yet. The Alliance had caught a few dangerous generals, posing as prisoners or slaves. So anyone that was found or surrendered had to be detained until they were processed. It was just another prison, with the fence that surrounded it and the guards. She felt bad for these people, freedom was within their reach and they have to wait. They entered one of the tents. There was a hushed silence the minute they entered. There was no joy here, no celebration, just an anxious silence.

"Over here." Lance led them to the last bed right in the corner of the large tent. People watched them with a mixture of hope and trepidation and awe. Allura ignored them for now, focused on the huddled figure on the cot. It was shrouded in a large black robe. For one terrifying moment, Allura thought it was that witch, Hagar. But this person was a lot bigger than the withered old hag, besides she died along side King Zarkon. Who ever it was frightened. He was curled up into a tight ball and looked like he was trying desperately to disappear under his robe. Lance knelt beside the shaking figure.

"Hey buddy, it's O.K. I told you I'll be back." Instantly the shaking stopped and the person uncurled. Lance hesitated for a moment then gently pulled him up to a sitting position and pulled back the hood.

"Oh my God."

"It can't be!"

Allura couldn't speak, she couldn't even breath. It felt like the floor gave way right under her and she would have fallen if Sven hadn't grabbed her.

It was Keith! After all that hoping and wishing, he was here, alive. Sven sat her down at the foot of the bed. She didn't want to take her eyes off of him, fearing that he would disappear.

"How can this be?" Allura could here the shocked wonder in Pidge's voice. It wasn't everyday that they saw someone rise back from the dead.

"I found him in the castle. He was a prisoner for God knows how long." Once the shock slowly wore off, Allura was able to really look at him. He looked paler, his hair was longer, well past his shoulders, and his eyes had lost that confident sparkle, but it was him. He looked at them like he didn't recognize them. Allura reached out with shaking hands to touch him only to have him pull away.

"I don't know what they did to him, but it wasn't good. I just want to get him out of here before anyone else finds out about him. Maybe you guys could vouch for him."

"Why all the secrecy." Hunk knelt down to touch Keith's knee. Keith scrambled away putting Lance between him and the others.

"Because he crashed on Eden. That planet is under level 4 quarantine and you know what they do to people who violated a level 4 quarantine." Allura suddenly felt cold. Level 4 quarantine was used for the most deadliest of viruses. Anyone caught violating the quarantine was immediately executed.

"Come on, if he really was on Eden, then all of Planet Doom should be affected by the virus. We'd all be dead by now." Sven said. A virus that warranted a level 4 quarantine would be fast spreading and incurable. Death would be quick and painful. The strange thing about Eden was that only a few people knew what kind of virus was there. The only thing the public knew was that even Zarkon was afraid of the planet, and that there was an impenetrable security grid surrounding the planet. Any ship trying to and was instantly turned to space dust.

"And you know that they kill people even if they only suspect them for violating a level 4 quarantine." Lance touched Keith's shoulder, letting the other lean against him. "The official reports said that he went down on Eden. That's all they need. That is why I didn't tell them who he was and that's why I can't let them process him. If you vouch for him they will release into your custody."

"He's right." Allura looked at the others. "Keith needs our help right now and he can't get that in here. Once he's out we'll be able to find out what's going on." And hopefully she would get her Keith back.

*****

It didn't take long to get him out. They were the heroes of the war, no one would give them any trouble. They took him to Allura's personal tent. She was still in a daze when they finally led Keith out of the refugee area. All she wanted to do was run into his arms and hold him for all eternity. But he barely tolerated them near him and would only let Lance touch him. Looking at him, she felt a frustrated anger. This man once defended her from Lotor's advances; had been the answer to her planet's prayer. He was the only man she ever truly loved. The man before her didn't even recognize her, jumping at every shadow. He didn't seem to be at ease unless Lance was with him. For some reason that bothered her a lot. She wanted to find Lotor and tare out his rotten heart for breaking such a beautiful human being. She was never a violent person, but looking at the broken shell that was Keith Rawlings made her want to hurt someone.

Keith was dozing on her cot. Lance sat at the foot of the bed and held his hand. She couldn't help feeling annoyed about that. Hunk and Pidge went to get him some clothes and Sven was digging up some information on Keith's captivity. All Allura could do was wait until morning, organize a transport and get Keith off this planet.

"I don't know whether to feel happy or not. I've always dreamed of this moment. That one day I would find him alive. I imagined him like he always was, strong, confident. I wasn't expecting this."

"He's been here for four years. There's no way he could live through that without any scars."

"Don't you think I know that." She took a quick calming breath. "I love him, and when they said that he died a part of me died to. God, I here people say that all the time, but I never really experienced it until I lost Keith, not even my parents' death effected me that way. Now he's alive and I'm waiting for that part of me to come alive too. So far, It's not happening." Tears blinded her for a second; she angrily wiped them away. "You don't know how he makes me feel."

"Like your the most important thing in the galaxy. Whenever you're around him you feel like you could do anything. When he smiles at you, you feel like your body is on fire. You look into those dark eyes and your soul is suck into him. You think that if you look in those eyes long enough your soul will touch his and it would be like touching the Gods Themselves." There was a long, stunned silence. Allura wasn't expecting to hear her deepest feelings being put to words. She didn't think anyone understood how she felt. She shivered slightly, then felt a sudden jealous rage.

"Why are you telling me this." She closed her mouth in surprise. She didn't know where that came from. She wished she could take it back, but it was too late. She saw Lance shake himself, like he was coming out of a dream, his face reddened and his eyes grew dark.

"No reason, Princess. Just that you're not the only one who missed him." Suddenly, it became too oppressive in the tent. Suddenly, the sight of Lance holding Keith's hand was too much to bear. She had to get out of there and get some air. Without saying a word she left, letting the cool air calm her temper. What was he expecting from telling her that? He practically admitted that he loved the man she loved. Did he want her to feel jealous or was it his excuse for abandoning them? Or was he asking for forgiveness.

Forgiveness. Four years ago she would have forgiven him. She wouldn't have said that spiteful comment. She wouldn't have been feeling this awful bitterness. He wasn't the only one that felt that soul wrenching pain. She felt that pain and then some. But she kept going, she didn't run away. She had a world to run; she had her people. If it wasn't for her people she'd... The realization came to her like a punch to the stomach. Her people were her anchor, the only thing that held her together. Without them, she would have run and kept running until she dropped. Exactly like Lance. She looked up into the overcast sky, looking for that kind, caring, loving person that she use to be. She knew she wouldn't find her, that person was the empty space she felt in her heart.

*****

The flaps to the tent opened and Hunk and Pidge walked in. Keith was instantly awake. A gentle hand on his shoulder kept him from leaping from the cot.

"We've found something for you Keith." Hunk placed the bundle of clothes on the bed. "It might be a little big, but still..." His voice trailed off as he watched those silent eyes stare at him. Lance knew what he was feeling. He was hoping to catch a glimpse of the old Keith in there, at least some recognition. The eyes that looked at him were that of a familiar stranger. Keith glanced at the pile of clothes then over at Lance. Lance began to see a pattern. Keith would be given a choice and he would look to Lance for the answer. He wondered when was the last time Keith was even allowed to make a decision.

"How about we wait till morning. You just get some sleep." Keith didn't respond for a second. Lance would have thought he was hesitant, if not for the blank expression on his face. He then laid back down with a sigh and closed his eyes. It was about then that Sven walked in.

Lance felt his stomach tighten every time he saw Sven. He knew it was going to be hard facing him, but he didn't know how hard. The last time they saw each other heated words were exchanged. Next to Keith, Sven had been his most trusted friend. He also had been his lover. It was an off and on affair. Lance had told him from the beginning that his heart belonged to another. When Sven moved to Pollux they occasionally saw each other. Then he got involved with some girl and Lance thought that was the end of it. He realized he was wrong when he went to see Sven to tell him goodbye. Lance could still hear the anger in Sven voice, still see the hatred in his eyes. Lance was just as mad. What did Sven except, that he would wait for him while he got married and had kids? To be his secret mistress that was at his beck and call? The things they said the Last time severed whatever bond they had, but a part of him still mourned his companionship. Sven eyes darkened when he saw him.

"I need to talk to you guys outside." Obviously, that invitation didn't extend to Lance, but he followed them out. Sven just gave him an annoyed look.

"What did you find out?" Hunk said. Sven shook his head and glanced at the closed entrance of the tent.

"It's not good. From what I got out of the other slaves and servants, he'd been Lotor's personal slave since his capture." He looked away from the others, suddenly embarrassed. "He took a...special liking to Keith it seems. His torture was both physical and sexual." The others were stunned. It only confirmed what Lance already saw, Keith lying naked on Lotor's bed, the closet full of perverted sex toys.

"He...he must have tried to escape." Pidge's voice suddenly sounded much younger than he was.

"He did at first. After a while he just stopped fighting. And that's not the worst of it guys. I can't believe it, but I've asked just about every slave at the refugee area and they confirmed it. Keith is the Dark Angel"

"What!"

"No way!!" The Dark Angel, those words sent a chill down the spine of any citizen of the Alliance. It was the god of the Obsidian Brotherhood, a cult, or an ultra fanatic branch of Zarkon's army. They were also Lotor's personal dogs. These soldiers were virtually unstoppable. They went into a kind of berserker rage that nothing, absolutely nothing, could stop. They'd destroyed whole worlds, killed countless of innocents and took no prisoners. They were rarely defeated. Part of Zarkon's success was due to Lotor and theses monsters. Their symbol was a black winged angel with ebony hair...

Oh my God.

No. Lance didn't believe it. Keith wasn't this....this demon that was feared and hated all over the galaxy. His friend was not a monster.

"You got to be wrong. He was a simple slave, not a godhead for those Obsidian freaks." Sven looked at him darkly and Lance could see him try to keep the sneer off his face.

"People change."

"I can't believe you think Keith willingly participated in that. He is your friend. Look at him dammit!"

"All I see is a used up sex slave." Lance clenched his hands, using all his willpower not to knock the arrogant bastard on his ass. Hunk looked like he was ready to pry Lance off his teammate, but that wasn't going to happen. If he started trouble now they would only send him away and he wouldn't of any use to Keith.

"Are you gong to stand there and let him talk about Keith that way." There was a heavy moment of silence. He looked from Hunk to Pidge and back again, his anger built as he saw the guilt in his eyes.

"He was your Captain, your friend."

"Four years is a long time." The big man said.

"Bullshit! I don't believe I hearing this. He would have done anything for you, he put his life on the line for you and this is how you repay him."

"Just shut up. You don't know --"

"I know that you are abandoning him. Gods, where is you loyalty--" Hunk suddenly grabbed his shirt and shook him silent.

"Don't you dare talk to us about loyalty! You? You're the one that ran out on us, remember. You're the one that left us when we needed you!" He knew this was going to happen eventually. Might as well get it out now. He pulled out of Hunk's grip, but didn't back down.

"That's right, I left and you have every right to hold a grudge. Hell, you can beat the crap for all I care. But my mistakes have nothing to do with Keith. You may hate me, but you have no reason to hate Keith."

"We don't hate Keith,"

"But you agree with what Sven said don't you?" Silence. "Don't you!"

"Look at him Keith," Hunk said, his anger now under control. "That's not Keith in there. It may be his body, but look in his eyes. What was Keith Rawlings is long gone."

"So you're going to give up on him?" He shook his head in disgust. "You three are acting like it was his fault for being captured and tortured." There was that look again. Lance felt a sudden urge to slug the big oaf even though it would have been as effective as punching a brick wall. They weren't the same people he fought beside four years ago.

"Keith didn't just let himself get captured, he didn't want to get raped!" He saw all three of them flinch at the word. "He had no way out."

"There's always a way out," Sven said. Lance made a choking sound. His throat closed up and his words were stuck. This was not his friend, his ex-lover. The Sven he knew would had never said such arrogant, self-righteous things. It was the same Death Before Dishonor bullshit he'd heard from every rich Alliance brat he'd met. He thought they were different, he thought believe that holier-than-thou dribble. He looked into the faces of the men he had considered friends and saw strangers.

"So death is better." Hunk didn't answer, but one look in his eyes told him everything. Sven got in his face again and the urge to slug him returned. But really, what was the point of fighting. Beating their brains in wasn't going to change their minds.

"He's already dead. There's nothing there but a shell."

"Hmm, well I'm glad you pointed that out to me, pal. I was a little confused. Tell you what, why don't you explain it to Allura. She's been confused about this too. I'm sure she would find what you say interesting. In fact, why don't you take your gun and put that thing in there out of its misery." He pushed Sven away from him. His former friend stumbled back then charged him, only to be restrained by Hunk.

"That's what I expect to here from someone like you. You don't know one thing about honor you stinking little migrant." Sven finally shrugged Hunk off and walked off.

"Yeah, I'm deeply hurt," Lance said. Hunk turned on him, but instead of anger, Lance just saw deep weariness.

"You just don't understand."

"You're right. I don't." Hunk turned and went in the direction Sven went. Pidge hesitated, then followed the big man. Lance just stared at the spot were the three of them had been. How could he have been so wrong about them? A twinge of pain pricked his heart. He went back into the tent, grateful that Keith didn't wake up by the commotion out front. He sat next to the cot and lightly brushed Keith's straight black hair away from his face. A slight tingle swept up his fingers. Keith moaned slightly, but didn't wake.

"God, what are we going to do now? I thought these guys would help you. I guess I was wrong." Maybe Allura would help them, maybe the others would snap out of whatever funk the were in. Until then, he couldn't count on them, not when it was Keith's sanity on the line. He was glad he didn't tell them about Keith's physical changes. He didn't think they would be able to handle it. I'll be there for you, he thought, you've made it this far and I'll help you the rest of the way.

Just as long as you don't rape him again.

Shut up, just shut up! It was not the time to be consumed with guilt. He needed to find out what was done to him and get him help. Then he could deal with what he had done.

"No one is going to hurt you again. I won't let them." It was a stupid promise to make, impossible to keep, but he couldn't help it. The need to protect his friend was overwhelming. He may not be able to keep the promise, but it won't be from a lack of trying. With his own secret pact made, he rested his head on Keith's chest and went to sleep.

*****

When Lance woke, he felt a sharp pain in his stomach. Cursing himself for sleeping on an empty stomach, he groaned and sat up, making the pain worst. The pain was momentarily forgotten when he saw the empty cot.

"Keith!" A terrible mewling sound answered him. He was up in an instant, and spotted a huddled figure in the corner. There was hardly any light, but he could see that something was wrong.

"Keith?" He knelt beside Keith, gently rubbing his back. "Hey buddy, why--"

There was a sharp cry and suddenly he was on the floor, staring up into the wild, frantic eyes of his best friend.

"Easy Keith! It's me, Lance."

"Where is it! I...I need it!" It was the first words Lance heard him say. Keith scrambled off the bewildered man and rummaged through the tent.

"Keith." Lance approached the young man who was frantically looking through Allura's small travel trunk. He was making small, whimpering sounds as he threw her belongings on the floor.

"Keith, calm down." He grabbed Keith's arm and was shocked by the heat radiating from him. There was a sheen of sweat covering his body. Keith struggled against his grip.

"No...I've got to have it." His eyes wouldn't focus on him, darting around the room.

"Have what? What do you need." Keith didn't answer, his struggling became more and more frantic. Lance wrapped his arms around him and held him tight.

"Please, I'll do anything....just...just give it to me," Keith screamed. Lance lost his balance and they fell to the floor. The minute he hit the floor, the pain struck him again. It felt like something was trying to tare out of his stomach. Fire ran up his spine and borrowed into his brain.

"Please...Oh God it hurts!" Lance cried out in pain, rolling into a tight ball. For what seemed like an eternity, he lay there paralyzed. When the pain finally abated, he let go a gasping breath. A sharp cry made him open his eyes. Keith was beside him clutching his head like it was about to explode. He was even paler than before, his lips were blue and there were dark rings around his eyes. His breathing was coming out in short gasps. Lance watched helplessly as his friend let out another pain filled scream. Lance tried to go to him when another wave of pain hit him. What the hell was wrong? He was fine last night. Now he could barely breath. He was about to yell for help....

Level 4 contamination. Keith crash landed on a planet with a level 4 virus. Could it be? Could it be that the virus really did effect Keith?

"Oh God." Suddenly, the tent flaps opened and Allura ran in.

"Get back! Get out of here now!" He could see more people at the entrance. Allura froze at the tone of his voice.

"Lance what--"

"Put a...level 4 containment grid...around this tent. Call D.I.D.... Now" Allura hesitated when Keith let out a wailing scream.

"Keith."

"Allura go!" A look of pure anguish crossed her face, but she did leave, giving orders as she left. Alone in the dark tent, he could hear people running in a frenzy outside. The pain was getting worst, but he managed to crawl to the moaning Keith and hold onto the shaking man.

"Please...please..." Keith chanted over and over. Lance just hugged him to his chest, rocking him gently.

"It's all right, just hang on. Help is coming." Soon the pain stole the words away. He could barely breathe. If this is it, he thought, at least we're not dying alone. He kissed Keith's sweaty brow and held him tighter as he felt consciousness slip from him.


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