Medjai

Chapter 1

Goten awoke to the sounds of the forest. The cold snow had begun to burn his face. He felt weak and short of breath. He got up slowly; he was still a little dazed. Suddenly, images of last night rushed into his head. He scanned the ground frantically for Trunks. Nothing.

"Trunks!" Goten shouted. "Trunks!"

"Goten? Trunks?" Familiar voices called from the woods. Goten dropped to his knees. His body felt heavy and his lungs felt constricted, too small for everything he was feeling. His mother rushed quickly towards him and hugged him.

"Oh my baby. My baby...I was so worried, you were gone for an entire day...I didn't know..."

Goten paid no attention to his mother's frantic talk. He had a splitting headache and his mouth was completely dry. He looked at Bulma.

Maybe it was the headache that hadn't let him understand the situation, but as he looked into Bulma's eyes everything came rushing towards him in a hard wave of realization. He felt the same hot deep sensation in his lungs and tight knot in his throat. He stared at the red stain on the snow and finally understood the gravity of the situation.

"Goten. Where's Trunks?" Bulma asked.

Goten opened his mouth but nothing came out. He felt the world spinning around him.

"Goten?" Bulma asked again. Her voice was a bare whisper. She fell on her knees as a soul-shattering sob escaped her lungs.

Goku placed a reassuring hand on Goten's shoulder.

"We were all in CC and we felt Trunks and your energy levels banish. We looked for you everywhere. Only until a couple of minutes ago did we pick up your energy signal..." Goku stopped briefly and looked at Bulma. Chi Chi nodded slightly. She was doing her best to comfort Bulma.

Goten didn't' know what to say. He stared at the red stain. His eyes wide and wet. Goten felt weak again. He felt his knees give way but Goku held him. Bulma sobbed violently and Goten could only look at his best friend's mother's pain. He could no longer hold back the flow of tears.

One year later...

Two dark robed men carried an unconscious Trunks through a long corridor with prison cells on both sides. They reached a small cell at the end of the hall, opened it and tossed Trunks inside. He landed with a loud thud.

"You've got company." One of the men said before slamming the door shut. Two dark robed figures emerged from the corner of the cell. One was slightly taller than the other.

"He's sick." The shorter of the two boys said.

He had deep blue eyes and light brown hair that slightly covered his eyes. He looked about ten.

"I can see that. And you know what kind of illness that is Kalele?" The taller boy asked. He had short black hair and dark green eyes. "It's Krebbian fever. It's best if we don't touch him. That kind of fever is very contagious."

"He needs help." Kalele grabbed on of Trunks' wrists and looked at the small green numbers. "K-249. He's a sacrificial Medjai. He's the one Lady Kacil is going to sacrifice to one of Lord Kraden's Medjai."

"Well he's as good as dead." The other boy said. He kicked a small rock with the heel of his foot. "Don't touch him Kalele! If the fever doesn't kill him Lord Kraden's Medjai will."

"He deserves a chance to fight for his life Kray." Kalele said.

"Don't tell me you want to help him." Kray looked at Kalele in disbelief. "What are you insane? You'll be infected by the virus."

"Water helps kill the virus." Kalele said filling a small cup with water.

"You're going to exhaust our rations. And you have a battle tomorrow. If you catch the virus you'll be too weak to fight. Don't be foolish Kalele!"

"Can I have your rations of water?"

"You dig your own grave Kalele because I won't help a sacrificial." Kray said.

The sun peaked through a small opening in the dark cell. Kray woke up to find Trunks still unconscious on the ground. Kalele sat next to him trying to drain the last few drops in the bottle.

"We've run out of water." Kalele said.

"How long were you up?" Kray asked.

"The entire night." Kalele smiled weakly. "I think he'll be alright." He dropped the clay pitcher on the floor.

"You've caught the virus haven't you?" Kray asked angrily. "I told you..."

"Don't worry Kray." He tried to stand up but fell back down. Kray rushed over to him but Kalele pushed him back. "No. It's contagious and we don't have any water. I've already drunk your entire rations. That'll do the job, but you can't go on and catch the virus because we won't have water to cure you." Kalele said firmly.

"C-137 battle in an hour. C-124 you'll be accompanying." Someone outside shouted.

"That's us." Kalele said. He picked up his sword and walked outside.

Both Kray and Kalele were transported to a circular arena. The arena was large with two dark pointed spires at opposite ends. Kalele sat pale-faced on a stone bench as Kray readied his sword. A beautiful grown woman dressed in fine white robes entered the room where Kray and Kalele were. They both kneeled down. As Medjai they could not look into his eyes of their masters.

"I expect to be triumphant." The woman said haughtily.

"Yes my lady." Kalele added.

"As you were." The woman turned around and left.

"Someday we won't be slaves anymore. We'll be free." Kalele added as he wiped dirt from his face.

"You and your dreams of freedom Kalele. We are slaves we've been so since before we were born. That will never change."

A loud voice boomed through the shattered room where Kalele and Kray stood.

"C-134 FIGHTING UNDER LADY KACIL'S RULING WILL FACE A-39 FIGHTING UNDER LORD KAFLETORT'S RULING. FIGHTERS TAKE YOUR PLACES. BATTLE STARTS AT THE HALF HOUR GLASS..."

"That's me." Kalele said. He stood up slowly and shakily. His face was ghostly pale and his breathing had grown heavy. Kray watched his friend but said nothing.

The arena was a large circular type ring with rows upon rows of cheering spectators of all types. Demons, human, Monsters, Nameks, Cyborgs and many more were just some of the faces in the crowd. Lady Kacil sat in one of the lower rows next to a serious faced man with gray hair and a neatly trimmed beard.

Kray took a seat in the Ashes as Kalele entered the center of the ring to face a young boy about ten as well. The boy looked thin but every one of his features showed signs of great strength. His long crooked nose made him look like a warlock. A short plump man sat on top of a long tower, his booming voice echoed through the ring as he commentated the battle's happenings.

"And on one side C-134...We've known this boy for great things for his defeat of the once great Titanus and the great Prince Silus of the Krebb Empire. He is truly one of the best Medjai warriors of his time, and the cause for Lord Kraden's gray head..." The crowd broke out in laughter but the man next to Lady Kacil clenched his fists in anger as his neatly trimmed mustache twitched furiously. "And on the other side we have Lord Kafletort's best Medjai warrior C-275. Although he's new to these battles, we've come to expect great things from him as we do now. So let the battle begin and let the best triumph and the weak DIE and UNMERCIFUL DEATH!"

At these words both Kalele and the other boy unsheathed their swords and brought them in front of them. They looked at each other intently.

"And so the battle begins...no fighting yet, both Medjai highly trained, both are currently scanning each other's stance and trying to predict each other's movements so that- wait C-275 attacks first- a sateid movement-but-wow C-134 makes a stupendous block- that's a boy c-134...and so c-134 aims for c-275's sword but-wait- no C-275 does not strike. C-134 has stopped the other Medjai's sword. That's it and now...C-134 is on the offense. Liven up your defense C-275- WOW! WOW! Tremendous attack from C-134 a mitsai technique- a direct hit! A direct hit at C-275's lower leg. Beautiful! Beautiful! But wait C-275 stands up- barely- what wait wait! Was that a hit? Was C-134 hit?"

The crowd looked on in silence as Kalele fell on his knees. Kalele had made a direct hit, but now he was on his knees breathing heavily with thick drops of sweat running down his face.

"Looks like your top Medjai is under the weather Lady Kacil." Kraden smirked. "He seems ill. Have you been feeding the boy right?"

"I wouldn't laugh Kraden. Not after you paid me to have a sacrificial Medjai fight your best warrior just to make the cut. Imagine the great Lord Kraden paying his way into the quarterfinals. I may just change my mind tomorrow."

Kraden's laughter ceased immediately. He glared at Lady Kacil and resumed watching the match.

"Well folks. I'm as stumped as all of you. Did C-275 strike a direct hit that we all missed? Why is C-134 struggling on the ground- Wait! Wait! He's standing up. He's up. He's up. So is C-275. The battle is back on. Wow! C-134 you gave us quite a scare. Both Medjai are back on their feet. This could get ugly. Look C-275 has readied his stance for a final blow- a terminal one. This could be it folks. Tension is flying high. And with a sudden flash and a clink of swords, both C-134 and C-275 head straight for each other but...wait C-134 stops short. He's grabbing his side. C-275 is not wasting this opportunity. Wow! A Hiten Tai Tsu. What an escape by C-134. If not for C-134's quick reflexes that arm would have been long gone! Oh my- C-275 strikes. He's completely paralyzed C-134's sword arm. With no sword what can C-134 do? But wait C-275 is not done. That's right the final blow people. The final one. C-134 you've lived many battles it's time you finally die..."

"KILL HIM! KILL HIM! KILL HIM!" The crowd roared as C-275 approached Kalele.

Kalele looked at his opponent, too weak to even move.

"Get up...get up..." Both Kacil and Kray were murmuring beneath their breaths. "Get up!"

"Well this is the end...KILL HIM! KILL HIM!"

A flash of red blinding light sprang from the arena as C-275 swerved his sword down. Everyone was silent for the span of thirty seconds. The light finally cleared. Everyone gasped in horror.

"Oh my. C-134 strikes C-275, fatal blow, fatal blow, fatal blow. C-275 falls. C-275 falls...C-134 wins- but, but wait, C-134 is holding his side; C-275 has also delivered a fatal blow. C-134 falls on his knees. He falls. He falls. He's gone!"

The entire stadium was silent. A man in a white robe entered the arena. He walked over to C-275, kneeled down and checked his pulse. He lifted a red flat at the crowd.

"C-275 is gone..." The commentator roared.

The man in white walked towards Kalele. He checked his pulse and raised the red flag again. Once again silence spread over the stadium.

"Kalele..." Kray whispered.

"C-134 is gone! Battle over! Never in the history of Medjai battles have we had such a battle. Both warriors are dead. Both dead! Let me refer to some rules...yes...yes...it...it seems...It says here that the first Medjai to die loses. So since C-275 was the first...yes...yes...C-134 Wins. Lady Kacil is victorious! Victory for Lady Kacil...Wow folks more battles should be like this. Wasn't this exciting? Both Medjai dead what a treat...what a treat...and so ends this great battle. Lady Kacil earns a victory point!"

Kray watched in horror as two men in dark robes carried Kalele's limp body of the ring along with the other boy's body. They tossed the two bodies into a large truck. He had watched his friend die...'What a treat...' was what the commentator had said. Kalele the only friend he'd ever had was dead. His body was on its way to the inferno were it would be burned and the ashes would be tossed into the ASHES. That was the life and death of a Medjai. Serve a lifetime and at death tossed like a piece of trash. That was it. You lived, you fought, you served and you died. Nothing more.