Chapter Text
It has been almost a movement and the nightmares were driving Keith crazy.
Cries and screams filling his head for quintants from that locked down hallway. Some galra simply told him it was an Altean’s curse set upon younger galra kits... but Keith didn’t believe in those stories.
The galra has kept a lot of secrets from Keith and was banned from several areas. They repeated the same thing every time. You will know when you are older. One thing Keith knew, was it was for Zarkon, their emperor. Whenever the emperor was nearby, Keith would run and hide or ground himself in place till he passes. Something about the emperor seemed to scorch his every nerve and his mind would instantly click to a ‘ flight or fight ’ response.
Keith kept the information to himself because he didn’t want to disappoint the galra anymore than he already has. He was a half breed, thus weaker and smaller. He’s had to hide from the others' sneers and remarks of disapproval. It was obvious that half breeds had no place in the Empire. That’s why Keith kept to himself when he woke up from his sixth nightmare in the last movement. His heart beat rapidly in his chest as those screams flipped through his head. He couldn’t hold in the tears but tried to soften his sobs.
Like most nights, Keith felt utterly alone. Curling in on himself and begging the dreams to stop.
He sat on the edge of his bed for a couple more dobashes before he felt the scorching fire on the end of his nerves again. He whimpered at the familiar sensation and hid his face deeper in his arms. He begged the emperor was leaving. He begged the emperor didn’t enter his room, even though he had no business coming to Keith in the first place.
He swore that he saw a red glimmer beneath his eyelids and looked over his pale arms at the door. His heart rate increased by the second. It took him a moment to realize; whoever was at the door had no intention of coming in.
Keith kept his gaze on the door for a tick longer before he noticed the searing in his veins was more calming. Almost like someone was trying to soothe him. Keith wiped at the stray tear in the corner of his eye and looked around the room. No one was there; as usual. Then why did he feel like someone was looking at him?
He scanned the room one more time, but only heard his own pulsing heartbeat and a strange ringing in the back of his head. The ringing gave him a headache. Keith cautiously slid out of bed, wondering if maybe the galra might help him with the pain. He shuffled across his bedroom and the door opened up for him.
His heart momentarily stopped. The dark, silent hallways always scared him. He gulped past the anxiety in his throat and walked down the halls. He looked skeptically through dark, open rooms and shook from the occasional creak in the metal of the cruiser. He stifled another sob as the fire in his veins started to screech, engulfing him. The ringing became louder in his ears and for a moment, Keith thought he felt blood dripping from his ears.
He snuck to the corner of the hallway, away from the hot fire. Away from the sting in his ears. He curled up against the wall and silently begged it to stop. As if coming to a realization, the ringing stopped. It was silent except for the creak of metal and the windy sound of space behind glass windows. He glanced up and saw that he was still alone. He blinked the tears from his eyes and looked around himself. Maybe he could go back to bed and forget this ever happened. Just sleep and wish he doesn’t get another nightmare. Before he made it to his feet, a soft sound sent a shiver through his body. It sounded almost like a purr.
He looked back down the hallway and walked past the large window. Stars glistened in his peripheral vision.
He walked for a couple of dobashes before the purr was loud enough to feel the vibration. The hot flames seemed to be consuming him. He was in front of a large door. He knew he wasn’t allowed to enter this room but curiosity was eating him up inside.
With shaking hands, he walked toward the hand scanner and laid his hand against the cold glass. The door made a boom of acceptance and opened up. Part of Keith expected to see a lab. A lab full of various chemicals that were dangerous to inhale so that was why the galra kept him out. What he didn’t expect to see was... a ship. It seemed to be a ship in a foreign form. Triangular ears at the top of its head, a large white jaw, and dark yellow eyes staring down at him. Something in Keith felt like the thing shouldn’t look so blank. He stepped toward the spacecraft and stopped. A red particle barrier separates him from the mechanical beast.
It could’ve been the reflection of the barrier, but Keith swore he saw the ship’s eyes light up for a tick.
He laid his hand on the barrier. It was warm, but not too warm, “A-are you stuck in there?” Keith whispered to the ship. Talking to a ship was probably the craziest thing Keith could do. Especially since nothing but silence followed. Until Keith’s world seemed to crumble around him and all he could see was the red ship. But only the outline of its metal. I’m stuck in here , It was a thought that wasn’t Keith’s own. It made him fall to his knees, but his hand didn’t leave the barrier. He gasped as the surge of energy left him.
He looked back up at the ship. It stared right back at him, “Can I get you out?” It made an untrustworthy growl. It vibrated through the floor and walls. It made Keith’s bones rattle. He closed his eyes as a shudder rolled through his body. It felt like he was in Zarkon’s presence again. But stronger.
When he opened his eyes again, he observed the room. He couldn’t find a way to let the barrier fall. Only one control system was there but that was meant to open the doors of the airlock. He looked back at the ship and took his hand from the barrier. He looked down at his hand and his heart stopped for the second time that night. His palm was red. As he slowly ran his other thumb along his hand, it burnt like fire.
Tears pooled in his eyes as the pain grew up his arm. He clutched his hand close to his chest and tried to hold back the sobs. He heard a confused growl erupt through the room. What’s wrong with me? The ship was asking him this. His eyes drew back to the ship and he slowly extended his hand, keeping a far distance from the barrier. He fell back in surprise as the red ship’s eyes lit up. A bright yellow that seemed to burn into his eyes. The barrier faded with a soft glimmer and the ship touched the ground with a boom .
Keith scrambled back as the ship leaned down toward him. Keith hugged his arms as he backed up against the control box. “ Pl-please don’t hurt me ,” he mumbled, holding himself tighter. The ship layed there, a purr vibrating through his body. It calmed him down but also made him feel tired. Keith closed his eyes for a tick and relished in the calm. That was rare around the cruiser. His eyes fluttered open again and he faced the intense stare of the red ship. He gulped and weakly stood on his feet. He held out his hand to the jaw of the beast. Before he touched the metal, his hand pulled back. “D-don’t hurt me?” he asked, looking at what he could see of its eyes.
It gave an encouraging purr and Keith leaned his hand closer to the metal. He ran his hand down the metal jaw of the ship and was surprised to feel it was quite soft. Like fur turned to metal.
A small smile pulled onto his face and he let go of the ship. He looked at his hand and sighed in relief. It wasn’t burnt. He sat back down in front of the ship and stroked across the metal. It was the friendliest moment he has had with anyone or anything before. A couple of ticks passed before the ship sprung to its paws. Keith jumped back, his heart racing frantically. The barrier shot up and the yellow eyes faded to dark again.
He stayed there in silence for a while. Taking in deep breaths before he heard the footsteps. He hopped to his feet and looked around the open room. There was no place to hide. The doors opened up and a couple of sentries stood there. In front of them stood the commander of the ship. Sendak. Keith instantly remembered the words the ship has whispered to him.
I’m stuck in here.
It’s been six decophoebs since he ran away from the Empire.
Ever since he was found in the pod by Lotor, he swore to never return to the galra. But when Lotor gave him an important once in a lifetime solo mission, he had to prove his worth. The objective was to spy on the Empire. So basically, a suicide mission. And on further inspection of the knife he had for as long as he could remember, they found out about the Blade of Marmora. Another piece of this dangerous mission. It was his responsibility to join both organizations.
Keith didn’t understand the full ‘genius’ in this plan, but he’s come to learn to never question Lotor. But seeing most of the universe was against the reign of Zarkon, they had their fair amount of paranoia. They didn’t trust Keith when he came with the request to join the Empire. He was wearing a ghoulish mask that hid his face and green armor. It was a cover so that they didn’t know he worked for Lotor. The galra didn’t trust him and before he could blink, he was knocked out and shoved into a dark room.
Keith had to suppress his groan when he woke up in the dark room; his mask had been taken off. He was seated in an uncomfortable chair with his hands harshly tied to his back. A soft, pink glow reflected the dark floor at his feet.
The room was unnecessarily large. But that could’ve been the dark’s illusion.
He sat there for several dobashes, his head hanging limply. He stared at his boots bordly, suppressing the need to struggle. The galra might trust him better if he didn’t wrestle. As the ticks passed by, Keith’s eyes started to adjust to the light. He noticed the walls and where the floors ended; and he was right. The room wasunnecessarily large.
After more agonizingly uncomfortable moments of silence, the door opened. Purple light burned his eyes as it poured into the room. He blinked frantically, getting his eyes to adjust to the new lighting. He squinted up at the figure that stepped into the room a tick later. He clenched his teeth when he noticed the Commander. Those large purple ears, the large clawed hand, and metal orange eye could only belong to one person.
Sendak.
He tried not to show his displeasure at the sight of his old Commander.
“Keith,” Sendak grinned down at him. His hideous fangs seemed to glint under the purple light. “It’s been decophoebs.” He stepped closer and Keith averted his gaze. He might do something irrational if he looked up at the galra any longer. Like, try to fight him. He twitched uncomfortably as Sendak tapped at his chest plate. “Now, where have you been lately. Coming back with the new armor.” Keith forced his head up to look into Sendak’s disfigured eyes. “Asking to join the Empire.”
“What’s in it for your interest?” Keith hissed. “This has nothing to do with you.”
Sendak’s grin evaporated, narrowing his eye at him. “I am well known second in command. You’ve disappeared with one of the pods in the middle of the night. We haven’t seen you since.” He waved back at the armor. “Who did you get involved with?”
Keith bared his teeth, “That’s none of your business, Commander. My intention is to join the Empire. I don’t have to discuss that with you. I wish to talk to Emperor Zarkon.”
Sendak glared down at him, “Brave of you to want to talk to the Emperor head on. He might not be too glad to see you.”
Keith couldn’t help the smirk that crossed his face, “I am no longer afraid of the Emperor, Commander. I am not saying another word unless it’s to Zarkon’s face. Do not bother with more questions.” He looked away from Sendak sharply, studying the creases in his boots. He heard the Commander’s irritated huff from above him. Darkness consumed him once the doors closed again. Keith let out a steady breath. It was a surprise that Commander Sendak didn’t kill him for his back talk.
He stared down at the floor again.
He waited there for maybe five Vargas before he felt a familiar heat wash through his nerves. He closed his eyes and took steady breaths, trying to ignore the sensation. A sharp tug in his gut pulled him out of the warm trance. If he wasn’t tied to the chair, he might’ve fallen to the ground. He clenched his eyes shut till the sensation ended. It was familiar and frankly, Keith understood what had caused it. Hyperspeed. The cruiser had been moving faster than a beam of light. Something that both amazed and terrified him.
They were cruising along silently for the next few moments. Keith looked back up where the door was when he heard pounding footsteps in the hallway. The door opened and poured the harsh purple light in from outside. A galra soldier walked in with keys in their hand. They seemed a bit nervous but covered it up with a confident stare. They glared at him, trying to intimidate Keith. But Keith’s been through enough shit not to be intimidated. The soldier gulped rather visibly and unlocked the chains that tied him to the hard metal chair.
Keith let out an audible sigh as the pain in his back subsided.
The soldier, clearly newly recruited, thrust him out of his seat and pulled him into the hallway. Keith winced at the harsh light. He blinked a couple of times to adjust his eyes to the new lightning. He noticed the soldier seemed close to a teenager, much like himself, and was eyeing him wearily. Keith grinned at him, making sure to bare his fangs in the process.
The teen soldier turned his attention back to the hallway, avoiding eye contact. Keith rolled his eyes at the galra. He was clearly older than Keith was, who was only fourteen decophoebs. A strange genetic they noticed about him being half breed. He aged faster than the average galra. Much like Axca.
He allowed himself to be steered through the hallways and stopped himself from flinching when his eyes fell on the door he found that oddly shaped ship. He visibly gulped at the sight and averted his gaze. He tried to ignore the fire sparking through his veins. That strong energy calling out to him.
After a couple more turns, they stopped in front of a larger door. When it opened up, it opened into a large purple room. Sentries stood in perfectly lined rows, their guns at the ready.
Running would be Keith’s worst mistake. Sendak waited at the far end of the room, his hands hidden behind his back. Keith could still see the glow of his prosthetic. “Commander Sendak, sir! I got the prisoner, as requested.” A smirk pulled at Keith’s lips.
“Prisoner, am I now?”
Sendak glowered down at him and grabbed his arm with much more force than needed. “Vrepit Sa, Druv. I will take it from here.”
The galra nodded and pounded his fist to his chest. “Vrepit Sa, sir!”
Sendak waved over a couple of sentries and walked through the door. They walked down more hallways. There were a lot more sentries and galra there than in any cruiser Keith has ever been on. A chill rolled down his spine when he realized this was Zarkon’s ship. It seemed Sendak has believed him after all. Galra stopped and stared as they walked through the hallways, staring at the Commander and his ‘prisoner’. Some whispered in curiosity to their colleagues.
After entering an elevator and walking through a large hallway, they stopped in front of the main doors. Sendak raised his large prosthetic and knocked against the metal. Keith heard distant mumbling inside the room. Almost like an argument.
Finally, a raspy voice of a woman called out, “ Enter .”
Sendak pressed his hand to a sensor and the doors opened. Keith shifted uncomfortably in Sendak’s harsh grip as he took in the room. A long bridge reaching to a higher platform. Steps led up to a large, purple throne. Seated there was the Emperor himself. His eyes still glowed that malicious pink Keith remembered from his younger days. His face was set in a permanent scowl. The burning in his veins was duller than they were back then but his ‘ flight or fight ’ responses were still strong. This time, Keith chose to fight easily and walked alongside Commander Sendak.
A couple of steps into the room, he noticed the other figure present. A galra woman hidden under a dark cloak. Her white hair hung over her shoulders and her purple eyes stood vibrantly under the shadow of her hood.
Haggar. Lotor has mentioned her enough times for Keith to recognize her.
Keith was thrust to the floor. He fell hard on his knee and hissed in pain. He held position, slightly cringing at the thought to bow down. Sendak knelt next to him, hand to his chest and gaze set on the floor.
“Emperor, we found the half breed that ran away decophoebs ago,” Sendak explained. “He claims that he wants to join the Empire.”
Zarkon’s gruff hum echoed through the room, “I’ve been informed of this. Though he refuses to speak.” Keith felt the burning feeling grow stronger in his veins as Zarkon turned his gaze on him.
Sendak looked up to the Emperor, “A veracious concept, my lord. He noted that further information would be given to you in person, sire.”
“And we can trust you?” Zarkon asked. His voice seemed to draw closer when he turned on him. Keith looked up at the Emperor when he was recognized.
“I believe you can, Emperor,” Keith replied, unmoving from his position. “I have survived well on my own out in the universe and expanded the Empire’s loyalties as far as the eye can see. Those against us were…” A smirk overcame Keith’s face. “Taken care of, shall we say.” His face turned serious again. The generals have worked hard to make this a mission success and he was not about to disappoint them. “Doubt me if you must, but I guarantee you - I am reliable to the Empire.”
“If I may, Lord Zarkon,” Sendak intervened. Keith glowered at the Commander. “He departed from the Empire for decophoebs. I don’t think he is trustworthy to galra information.”
“May I remind you, Commander,” Keith shot up at the galra. “That that happened six decophoebs ago, and I left the Empire because of false care. I was younger and weaker back then. I became stronger over those decophoebs and I promise to pledge my allegiance to the Empire and its Emperor.” He was lying of course. The words tasted like bile in his throat, but he was not gonna let Sendak have his way.
The commander turned to the Emperor, “By the end of the quintant it is not up to the opinion of me or the boy. What is your standpoint on this, sir?”
Silence gathered in the room. Not a word was spoken. Tension hung in the air as Zarkon considered Keith. Haggar was the one to break the silence. “I feel we have to at least consider his offer, my Lord. He seems valid enough with the information he gives, and a part of me believes it isn’t untrue. We could send him through the Gladiator Ring next movement and let him prove his worth.”
As the high priestess spoke, Zarkon didn’t take his eyes off Keith. Keith stared back with a confident glare. The Emperor turned to a couple of sentries and spoke, “Take him down to a cell. Be certain he is unarmed. By the course of the next movement, we shall see his worth to the Empire.”
“Galra representatives of the Galactic Wide Empire,” the archivist spoke, voice booming through the room. “The Gladiator Arena was hosted in honor of our Emperor, Lord Zarkon, and his discovery of quintessence. For decophoebs we have retained enough quintessence to power the Empire, and will go strong for centuries to come!” Cheers erupted from the high stands. The archivist rose his hands, silencing the crowd almost immediately. “We hosted the Gladiator Ring in celebration of our strength! Souls from over the universe, fighting our most fearsome warriors! But today, we will watch as a half breed proves his worth to the Empire. Pledge his Allegiance to the Emperor and if he is accepted, he will become... one of us!” The galra erupted in cheers and chants of ‘ Vrepit Sa ’.
As the crowd calmed again, the archivist spoke once more. “Before we bring forth our brave contestant, we will proceed as general. For our first fearsome warrior…!”
Keith heard the other sobbing prisoners pass by his cell. He ignored them and focused on stretching out his arms and legs. The cell was small and often left Keith’s limbs cramped. The bed was hard and rough. Keith thanked his armor or else he would’ve gotten an allergic reaction.
After a couple of dobashes of stretching, he sat down against the doors and tried to overhear the battle. He prefers to stand in the crowd rather than sitting in this cooped up cell. After several attempts, he gave up on trying to hear the fight. He focused more on adjusting his armor and moping over being unarmed. He felt bad for the prisoners. Coming here every two movements to battle fearsome warriors, becoming malnutritioned and frankly; being bored out of their minds .
Keith despised the thought that he lived on the same cruiser as hundreds of prisoners and couldn’t do anything to help them. Just like now. He was on a large ship with thousands of innocent souls, and he had to sit back and let them die.
After two Vargas of stretching, adjusting his armor and laying around the cell, the door opened.
A galra soldier stood there. She was much more confident than the other one. Drav? Something like that. She walked forward and grabbed him by the arm. “Time to prove yourself ,” she said the words like it was acid on her tongue.
“Do I detect bigotry?” Keith smirked back at her.
She glowered back at him, “Don’t be snarky, kit . If you were really raised on Sendak’s cruiser, I would expect more respect from you.” She pulled him out of the cell and down the hallway. “Especially for someone of a higher rank.” She eyed him in disgust. “And purer blood.”
Keith shrugged, “People are always disappointed in their expectations of me.” He put more of a skip to his step and continued in a smug manner. “I’ll make it up to you on the battlefield.”
She ignored him the rest of the way. As they got closer, Keith could hear distant cheers and a raspy voice over a mic:
“ Now! The moment you all awaited -” - they stopped in front of a set of doors - “ a half breed -” the doors opened by one press of the censor - “proves his worth to the Galran Empire!” The booming voice made Keith’s ears ring, and the crowd was even worse. They’re shouts and cheers echoing through his head. He was thrust forward by the soldier behind him and stumbled onto the steps that would lead him into the Gladiator Ring. He glared back at her and walked up the steps. Four large pillars surrounded a galra in the middle of a sandpit. Keith walked over to the galra spokesman. Lotor has updated that the galra was the archivist.
Keith looked up at the stands and noticed the billions of galra sitting there. All with glowing yellow eyes. Too much quintessence. The cause of their gruesome behavior and obsession over quintessence was sitting on a large throne. Big enough for anyone to see.
Zarkon. Next to him was the High Priestess, Haggar.
Keith stopped near the archivist and looked around the rest of the room. There was nothing really crazy about the place. Just stands and a large sandy battlefield. You got your four damaged pillars that, if thrown hard enough against, could be the occasional party popper.
The archivist retreated from the Ring and Zarkon stood from his throne. The room went instantly quiet.
The Emperor didn’t need a microphone to be heard in every corner of the room. “It has come to my attention that a half breed has decided to join our ranks. He sought himself worthy of the galra empire. He will prove his worth to me by fighting with his own weapon-” he waved at a galra in the corner of the room. “Against the most powerful fighters I have to offer.” The galra kneeled before him and held up his sword. The one Sendak has taken from him once he was captured. Keith grabbed the hilt and lifted it from the galra's hands. The soldier hurried back to the stands. “If I approve,” Zarkon continued. “He will be accepted as one of our own. If not, the consequences will be… gory.” He sat back down. “Let the trials begin.”
A galra's voice boomed through the room. Keith couldn’t determine where the voice came from but raised his sword. “The first competitive!” A rattling of chains was heard from somewhere in the air. Keith looked up to see a cage being lowered only ten feet away from him. He stepped back and raised his sword. The cage dropped with a clang! “The Ocra !”
The galra erupted in chants of ‘Ocra’ as the black panels dropped. At first, Keith saw a yellow lump in the center of the cage. The door sped up with another sharp clang. The so-called Ocra woke up. It stood up on its large cat-like paws. Its nails clinked against the metal cage as it turned around. There were fourteen eyes staring down at him. All green and violet. They were embedded into its forehead and neck. The cage was rolled back into the ceiling as the creature emerged. It stretched out its wings. Roughly ‘a whiplash’ and a ‘no chance of surviving’ long. Its screech highly reminded Keith of the moment when Ezor was bitten in the ass by a yelmor. Loud, painful and traumatizing.
He raised his sword and watched the Ocra carefully.
It raised it’s spiked, lizard-like tail and brought it down to him. Keith rolled away from the blow but still felt the sand and wind whip through his hair. He easily climbed back to his feet and waited for the creature’s next attack. It used its tail again. Using its body’s momentum to swing it toward Keith. He rolled under the attack and jumped to his feet.
Lotor has taught him many times to be aware of his opponents' techniques. Animal or galra. Each has its own built-in habit.
From what Keith could learn, the Ocra was more prone to using its tail. This was an easy beat. He held his sword at the ready and waited for its tail to come back to him. He had to move quickly.
He rolled away as the tail smashed down on the ground and jumped up hastily. He impaled the sword into the tip of its tail and it screeched. He held on tight as he was tossed up into the air and yanked it out when he hovered above the creature’s head. He spun around in the air and impaled the blade into the Ocra. It yelped and smashed it’s injured tail into the ground.
Thick, green blood stained onto his armor.
He pulled on the hilt and slid down the creature’s long neck onto the hump of its back. It screeched again and Keith slid back down to the ground, leaving a deep gash in the creature’s wing. It seemed to do the job. He watched it scream in misery for a while before it collapsed in an unconscious heap.
Even though the galra cheered. Even though he raised his sword in triumph. He felt bad for murdering the Ocra. Zethrid was often annoyed by that trait of Keith. He had too much empathy. Felt guilty too quick. But he hid the guilt from his face and waited for the next competition.
“I sense deep energy within the half breed,” Zarkon spoke up while Keith was fighting the Zelai.
Haggar looked at the Emperor in confusion, “Sire?”
Zarkon didn’t avert his gaze as Keith, yet again, killed the fourth competitor. “His quintessence is strong. Stronger than I ever known possible.”
Haggar returned her attention to the half breed, who raised their sword in triumph again. “The last competitive!” the galra spoke over the comms. “The final beast! The Nulner!” She returned her gaze to Zarkon. “I must admit, his quintessence is strong. But there is something else…” she looked back as the boy made his first roll for cover. “A link, almost. Something… ancient .”
The Nulner was more of a challenge. It had thicker skin and charged more often than the others.
Keith used the pillars as cover for most of the time. He understood why they were so damaged now. He nearly collapsed from exhaustion before his eyes fell back on Zarkon. He was still watching him. The generals have worked their hardest to make this mission a success.
He stared down at the sword in his hand and risked a look around the pillar.
The creature has lost sight of him. It was snuffling around the other pillars with its back turned. He saw numerous galra trying to find him on the field. The excitement in their eyes disgusted him. He raised his sword and made his way toward the Nulner. He ducked away from its line of sight as soon as it turned. He looked at the weak spot he discovered at the beginning of the battle. Its heart visibly pumping in its larger paw. He took a deep breath and ran for the shot.
He held tighter onto the hilt as the Nulner turned its attention back on him. The large blue eye caught on his approaching figure a tick later. Letting out a large bellow, it crashed its head toward him. Keith took advantage of the movement and grabbed the creature by the horn. He swung his body in the momentum of its paw and turned his sword. The blade impaled through its heart and the Nulner bellowed. Only a dobash of it stammering and yelping; it fell to the ground. Sand blew up from underneath it.
Keith turned to the silenced crowd and raised his sword. A series of applause erupted in the stands. Keith grinned and turned his attention to the Emperor. He looked mildly impressed.
Zarkon rose from his throne, silencing his followers. “You have done well for a half breed. But you haven’t fully gained my approval. Now for the final test.” Keith lowered his sword and didn’t hear any galra over the comms.
“ Move ,” Keith heard from across the room. He turned his attention to the door and saw a galra soldier holding a prisoner in chains. From the looks of it, it was an Olkari.
“Prove your worth,” Zarkon continued as they thrust the Olkari to their knees in the middle of the field. “By eliminating those lesser than the Empire.” The galra soldier scurried away, leaving the chained prisoner in the middle of the field. Keith felt like he was stuck in tunnel vision.
He could only stare at the Olkari in the middle of the field. She was sobbing. Her chained hands pressed against her face. Keith wanted nothing more but to help the prisoners not to... kill them.
‘This might be our only chance to put an end to this savagery, ’ Keith heard Lotor’s voice fill his head. His legs worked on their own accord, moving toward the frightened woman. ‘We have worked so hard and done so much to make this mission a success.’ Keith stopped in front of the Olkari. She looked up at him with teary eyes. “ P-please. I need to get back to my family. Please,” she begged silently. It tore more at Keith’s heart. He closed his eyes and raised his blade to her chest. ‘Make us proud.’
Keith thanked the ancients he didn’t see his sword dive into her chest. The strangled yelp of surprise and the thump of her body as it fell to the floor.
The galra cheered once more. No one seemed to notice his hesitancy. Keith looked down at the Olkari he killed and looked up at Zarkon. Like all the other battles, he raised his sword in triumph. Zarkon rose from his chair and pounded a fist to his chest. “Vrepit Sa.”
Keith mimicked the salute. “Vrepit Sa.”
He still wore the green armor. He got the mask back and made sure to wear it. There was only one thing left of his mission. Finding a spy from the Blade of Marmora. It was a lot easier than joining the Empire. His face was hidden from the other galra as he walked down the halls. He was on Commander Nev’s ship. Emperor Zarkon found it a ‘fitting’ start.
Keith walked past an open door and stopped. He turned back and saw the glinting of metal under the bed. He entered the room and crouched down. He grabbed the source of the metal and his heart jumped into his throat. It looked like his blade. Luxite, a gleaming blue symbol. He stood back up and studied it carefully. It looked almost exactly like his.
He heard a gasp from behind him and spun around. Druv stood there. His ears perked up in bewilderment.
“What are you doing with that?” he demanded, glowering down at Keith. “Give it back .”
He made a swipe for it but Keith spun it away from him, “Where did you get this?” Keith asked, looking back at the blade.
“It doesn’t matter,” Druv glared. “It’s mine ! Give it back.”
“ Where did you get this,” Keith repeated. This time it was more of a demand.
Druv glowered, “I don’t have to explain myself to you. Give it -”
“WHERE DID YOU GET THIS!”
Druv yelped in surprise at Keith’s tone of voice. Because of the mask, it sounded raspier and deeper. He stumbled against the closed doors and held his hands in front of his face. “The Blade of Marmora. It's... its a blade from the Blade of Marmora.”
Keith nodded, soothing his anger. He stepped forward and dangled the blade in front of Druv’s face. “Are you acquaintanced with the ‘ Blade of Marmora ’?”
Druv weakly nodded, “P-please, don’t report me! I can leave and I won’t -”
“ Quiet !” Keith demanded. “You're rambling.”
The galra blinked at Keith in horror, “What…” he gulped. “What are you gonna do with me?”
Keith grinned at him, even though he couldn’t see it. “Nothing really. I just need a little favor .”