The hum of the Galran ship's engines vibrates through my bound wrists as I slowly regain consciousness. My head throbs with every heartbeat, and my vision swims when I try to focus. The last thing I remember is the searing pain of that energy pulse, Blue's scream of distress, and then nothingness.

Now I'm in some kind of metallic cell, cold air biting at my exposed skin. My armor is gone—stripped away while I was unconscious. Only my undersuit remains, torn and bloodied in places I can't see but can feel throbbing with pain.

The door slides open with a hydraulic hiss, and my breath catches in my throat. Lotor steps inside, his white hair flowing behind him, golden eyes glinting with amusement as he takes in my prone form. He moves with the grace of a predator approaching its wounded prey, each step deliberate and full of menace.

"Ah, our guest awakens," he purrs, circling me like I'm an interesting specimen in a cage. "I was beginning to worry you might miss our... appointment."

I try to speak, to demand he let me go, but my voice comes out as little more than a ragged whisper. Fear coils in my stomach, hot and heavy, as I realize just how vulnerable I am.

Lotor kneels beside me, his face suddenly very close to mine. I can smell something sharp and alien on his skin as he reaches out a long-fingered hand to brush a strand of hair from my forehead.

"You're even more beautiful up close," he murmurs, his touch sending revulsion crawling across my skin. "But you're missing something, aren't you? Something that would make you truly... perfect."

A small, cruel smile tugs at his lips as he reveals a wickedly sharp blade in his other hand, the metal glinting in the dim light.

My pulse pounds in my ears as realization hits me like a punch to the gut. This isn't just about capturing an enemy Paladin. This is about something far more personal—and far more terrifying.