Vegeta wasn't the only prisoner still trapped in his cell. It seemed others hadn't made the cut and had been left to die. They screamed and pounded against the shielded glass, watching just as helplessly as he as the battle raged outside. It was no wonder the guards weren't paying anymore mind to him as he shouted at them.

"You have to listen to me!" Vegeta screamed, leaning as close to the glass as he could, "You're dealing with a force none of you have the strength to contend with! You must release me, right now!"

He gritted his teeth as a blur of red and black tumbled past. So this is what battles looked like to low-class warriors and weaklings. More red blurs shot around in front of his cell, his eyes darting to try to keep up with them, squinting against the blinding light of an energy blast that sent the red blurs flying. A black blur became a muscular figure with blue skin and hair, the shoulders of his armor marked with two white stripes to show rank.

Vegeta recognized him. "Hey you!" he called out to the Master Guardian and standing Warden.

Hameus glanced briefly over his shoulder. "What do you want?" he flatly demanded.

"You have to let me fight," stated Vegeta, trying to hold back his frustration and temper, "Release me and I can help you."

"Not on your life," Hameus returned. A red blur flew and he punched it out of the air, turning back again. "The last thing I need right now is another prisoner out of their cell."

"Then you're a fool," Vegeta growled, his brow twitching, "There is a creature out there that claims to have Kakarot's power. That is power beyond your reckoning – strength that only I can even comprehend!"

"A creature, huh?" His eyes shifted back to him again. "Where'd you hear that?"

"It doesn't matter," Vegeta snarled, "The point is unless you release me you're all going to die."

"Not happening," he shot back. Another red blur came at him and he disappeared for a moment, the air shaking as blows were exchanged and he landed again. "Care to tell me what this 'creature' looks like?"

Vegeta ground his teeth, almost tempted to refuse out of spite. "It's masquerading as your Justiciar Nettelish," he finally answered.

"I find that a little hard to believe…" Hameus returned. His jaw set and his eyes shifted, taking in the battlefield before him. "…But noted. If your tip turns out to be right, I'll let the Grand Warden know you helped us out."

"Idiot!" Vegeta snapped, planting a boot against the transparent wall, "What part of my warning didn't you understand?! If this creature really has Kakarot's strength, none of you stand a chance in hell against it!" His teeth set on edge. "But I do."

"Your ass stays where it is, Prince," Hameus answered, tightening his glove, "Excuse me." He leapt into the air and vanished in a blur of speed.

Vegeta growled, lowering his foot again. "Fool."

A guard stumbled, clutching his arm as smoke rose from his damaged armor. An energy blast charged inches from his face. His heart raced and he shut his eyes, accepting death. But it didn't come. A fist drove across the face of his attacker, turning the prisoner into a crater in the wall, the vessel's energy shielding rippling with the impact. The guard grunted out a gasp, opening his eyes.

Hameus held out his hand down to him. "Half the battle's in your head, soldier," he told him as he helped the injured guard up, "Don't give in so easily. Not while your limbs are still working."

"Guardian!" Hameus turned to see several of his men coming to join him. "We got one hell of a mess on our hands, sir."

"I can see that," Hameus assured, glancing to the side as the light of an explosion lit his face, "What's our status?"

"We can't explain how it happened," the guard rattled out, "But over half the prisoners in every compound have been released. Pacification system's been completely inert and communications are down. Computer isn't even responding."

"Well then," said Hameus, cracking his knuckles against his palm, "I guess we'll just have to do this the old-fashion way." He turned. "And spread the warning…Justiciar Nettelish may be a bogey."

"What?" said several of them.

"I got tip from one of the prisoners," Hameus explained, his brow lowered as he looked ahead, "I don't know if it's true or not…but it's better to be safe than sorry. Tell our boys and girls to approach the justiciar with extreme caution and prejudice."

"Right, sir," one nodded, "What's our plan of attack?"

Hameus rubbed his finger under his nose, itching his light blue mustache, and pointed. "I want at least fifty bodies in the air. Kite the prisoners and keep them on the ground. The rest I want herding them against the east cell block." He turned his head. "Any word from the big guns?"

They all shook their heads. "No, sir."

Hameus sighed. "Then maybe it is true…it would explain how this mess happened." He faced them again. "Never mind that, though. Spread the word and bust some heads."

"Right!" They shot off in all directions under plumes of energy, leaving Hameus standing alone.

For a moment, despite himself, Vegeta's words rang in his head. This is power beyond your reckoning! Only I have the strength… He snorted softly. "Saiyans." His energy blazed like a flame around him and he took to the air as well.

As Hameus's commands spread, a sense of order began to return to the guardians. Nettelish looked up, squinting as guards began to zip through the air above, zigzagging and taking shots at her minions in the air. "Well," she remarked, "Looks like someone with a brain finally showed up."

"Justiciar!" She turned with a brow raised as several guards approached…and noticed the balls of energy tucked away in their hands.

"Aw, poo, looks like someone spoiled the surprise," she hummed, pressing her cheek into her palm. Her brow tightened and she turned with a scream of exertion, unleashing a violent barrage of dark purple energy from both hands. She laughed as they bolted to flee, others trying to block as her attack swept across the entire chamber. Bodies began to fall.

Hameus cried out as he was nearly caught in the deadly spray, pressing his back against the wall as he hung in the air, clenching his teeth. "Creature or not, the prince was right – she is dirty." He looked down at the fallen bodies of his comrades. His fist clenched. "Curse you!" He waited for another barrage to pass and then leapt out from his cover, reeling back and hurling a powerful blue beam down at her.

Nettelish's eyes jerked in its direction and she fiercely swatted an arm, knocking the blast aside. She looked up at her attacker and laughed. "Well, look who's come to play! Hameus."

The Master Guardian floated down, his legs spreading as his boots planted against the deck. "Tell me," he harshly spoke, "Are you responsible for this?"

"Ha! Do I really have to answer that?" she teasingly scoffed, flicking up her hood from her eyes.

His expression didn't change as she laughed. His foot slid back. "I don't care who you are or why you're doing this. But people under my guardianship are dead and prisoners under my custody are unleashed. So…we can do this the easy way or the hard way."

"Oh please, do go on," she chirped, her glowing eyes sparkling, "It's just so cute!"

His brow lowered. Is it true? Is this not the real Nettelish but some creature wearing her as a mask? How is that even possible? It seems just like her. His eyes wandered warily over the black garbed monk as she continued to laugh at him. Maybe I should have stayed and listened to the prince a little longer…but no point in worrying about it now.

"You're really planning to fight me, aren't you?" she giggled, hugging herself, "Well that will make for a short but sweet affair." She lifted up a fist, tittering as she flexed it. "I've got enough power right now that I expect I won't even be bothering with fusion for quite some time. Oh! But look at me, carrying on so while you've got a duty to carry out. Still…I suppose I have time to mess around a little with you." She raised her hands aside her head and clapped twice. Instantly, several prisoners landed around her. "Lacor!"

The grey skinned mutant stepped up, grinning, red stains on his teeth and hands. "You called, Mistress?"

"Yes, that's a good boy," she praised, patting his tussled white hair. She pointed at Hameus. "Sick 'em."

Hameus's stance strengthened as they came at him, Lacor leading the assault. One jumped ahead of the pack. Stupid move. Hameus swiveled, driving a fist up their chin, the impact sending a shockwave that caused some of the attackers to hesitate. Before his opponent could fall, Hameus bludgeoned their entire torso and finally drove them into the ground with the back of his boot.

Hameus flexed his fingers and took another stance. "Who's next?" he asked, motioning them forward.

"Heheheheh…" Lacor chuckled, deciding to hang back with his arms crossed as the rest of his troop went at the warrior.

This time, Hameus didn't even let them reach him. He reared back, letting out a scream of exertion as a white flame of energy lit around him, wrapping and bubbling out in a great plume that slammed against their hapless bodies. Lacor put up a hand, grunting as the light, aftershock, and fellow prisoners flew past him. Hameus straightened up, his energy blazing around him, giving Lacor and Nettelish a flat, unamused look.

"I'm not interested in playing around," he told them, "I'm here to end this."

"La-cor," Nettelish sang, eying him, "I'm wai-ting."

"Easy, Mistress," Lacor assured, watching Hameus with an excited smile. He spread his arms and flexed his thick, powerful hands. "I've been fish in a bowl for six long years. I almost forgot what it was like to be this strong. And old Hameus here is a little stronger than I had imagined. Ah…what I'd do for a scouter right now." He snapped up his tongue behind his rows of sharp teeth. "Point being, I'm not rushing up against him like these other fools. No…let's get a refresher in first, shall we?" Lacor stooped, his jaw clenched and veins bulging. A whiff of energy danced around him, growing and exploding around him in a dark red blaze, the floor cracking under his feet. Hameus cocked a brow. Lacor laughed. "Yes, that's it! Now I remember…"

"Heh," Hameus snorted, actually cracking a smile, "Somehow I always knew I'd one day come to blows with you, Lacor."

"Back in the old days," Lacor grinned, "My power level ranked over six thousand. How about you, Guardian?"

"Never checked and don't really care," Hameus retorted, "I left the PTO long before they ever had a chance to clock me."

"You were a PTO?" Lacor gasped a smile, "Now that is interesting!"

"Not like you, Lacor," Hameus flatly glared, "I didn't sign up for it. I was drafted under a peace treaty my planet made with Frieza. Went AWOL first chance I had."

"Well that wasn't very smart," Lacor chided, seeming to try to taste the energy around him, "You must have been hunted like a spring goose for it. And think of all the money and fun you missed out on."

"Maybe," Hameus returned, smiling a little again, "But at the end of the day, look who's wearing the red shirt and who's wearing the black."

"You're the one who's going to be wearing red by the time I'm done with you," Lacor cackled, clenching a fist and flashing him his teeth.

"Well then stop talking and get on with it," Hameus stated, losing his smile, "Like I said, I'm here to end this and I haven't got all day."

Lacor growled and sneered. "Don't be so eager to die!" He thrust two pointed fingers forward, unleashing a blast at the Master Guardian. Hameus returned with his own blast from his palm, the two energies colliding and being redirected up into the high ceiling, exploding against the shielded panels. Their feet left the ground, Hameus darting left and Lacor right. Nettelish raised her gaze as her new minion and the guardian fought, exchanging blows and bouncing off each other, the air shaking as they clashed.

"Ha!" said Vegeta, his eyes jerking in that direction, a faint flicker of powering making it through his dampened senses, "Someone out there's getting serious."

Lacor cried out as one of Hameus's blows got through his defenses, his back colliding with one of the upper cell block's railing, knocking it loose and partially crushing the gangway.

"You're a dead man, Lacor," said Hameus, floating in front of him, "You know that, right? One way or another, there's no walking away from this. Either you'll die here or you'll die once your sentence has been repealed. Personally, I don't care which method you choose."

Lacor coughed a laugh which slowly grew in power, squinting a half-shut eye at him. "You're so certain this is going to work out in your favor, are you? Look around you, Guardian. One of your own Justiciars is one of us now. She's been planning this insurrection longer than you can imagine…we've all just been patiently waiting for it…letting you justice folks think you was safe."

Hameus put a hand forward, a ball of energy charging in it. "Thanks for letting me know. I'll make sure to tell the big guns when they get here."

Lacor threw back his head and cackled. "They ain't coming." He wrenched himself free of the debris and threw a fist, sending Hameus for a spin. The blue man's arms flew out, bringing him to a halt, Lacor floating in the air again. "The boss already tucked them out of the way before this began. Nobody's coming. It's just me and you, blue boy."

"Let's dance," Hameus growled. White burning balls lit clenched in his fists and he hurled them at him one at a time. Lacor evaded one and was forced to block the second, grunting as he was knocked backwards by the impact. Hameus didn't give him a chance to recover, coming at him full tilt with punches and kicks, rearing both arms over his head and bringing them down like a hammer on Lacor's shoulder. The floor cracked as the mutant thudded against it. "So much for being one of the smart ones," Hameus dryly mocked, folding his arms, "Didn't it occur to you that you might be a little out of practice for this?"

"It did," Lacor answered, sitting up and rubbing his wrist over his chin, "But what can I say? This is my job audition and I didn't pick the time or place."

"Too bad for you then." He pressed both his hands together, his fingers curled in as he charged a powerful energy ball. "This is it, Lacor! Time to choose how you're gonna die."

"Yes," Lacor smiled, catching his breath, "But isn't it only fair you make some choices as well?" He thrust out an arm to the side, sending out a giant wave of energy at an unsuspecting cluster of guards. Hameus's eyes widened, losing his charge and zipping in that direction. His arms spread and he cried out in exertion as he deflected the attack, the waves battering against his body.

Powerful limbs locked around his body from behind. "Surprise!" Lacor shouted, sinking his teeth deep into the crook of Hameus's neck.

"AAAAAAH!" Hameus screamed, struggling as violet blood ran down his arm.

"Huh!" Vegeta gasped, spotting them clearly for the first time, "Damn it, Lacor! That monster's just as strong as Nappa was!" His teeth clenched and he seethed with disgust. "How dare he? Using a dirty trick like that?!"

Hameus continued to scream as Lacor dug into the tender muscles of his neck and shoulder, his muscles bulging as he struggled against the hold. His face twitched as his teeth clenched, an energy orb appearing in his hand. The light flashed around them and Lacor and Hameus were finally blown apart. Lacor flipped through the air, landing on his feet. Hameus's boots planted more harshly, clutching his shoulder as the blood continued to seep into his armor.

"Mmmm…" Lacor hummed, running his tongue over his bloodied teeth, "Why Guardian…you ain't looking so good."

Hameus took a step back, hissing through his teeth as he mentally assessed the damage. From the confines of his cell, Vegeta was doing the same thing. "With that kind of wound he'll be losing strength fast," he growled, "Damn him! The fool should have released me when he had the chance! Now…it may already be too late."

Lacor didn't give him any further time to recuperate. Roaring with bloodlust, he came at him, Hameus bounding about as he worked to dodge and deflect his blows. Hameus twisted past the punches, pain shooting through his body with each turn. He had to finish this fight fast, otherwise he was in bigger trouble than he had bargained for. He ducked under an attack and drove his foot hard into the mutant's stomach, making Lacor's jaws gape wide as spit flew. Hameus planted the foot, gritting his teeth and driving the opposing knee into his gut in a follow-up strike.

Lacor stumbled back. "Well…it seems you've still got a lot of fight left in you." His brow lowered and his teeth gritted. "Now you're making me angry."

Hameus leapt forward, planting his fist into his stomach this time. "Stop talking," he barked. He swung his leg up, clocking the side of his head. Lacor tumbled through the air, landing on his feet again. "You think you're special…you're shit, Lacor. A mad dog out for blood. I used to have to put down three of your kind every morning before breakfast."

"So you did still manage to have fun," Lacor remarked, cackling at him as he caught his breath, "Or maybe you're just a glutton for punishment…I hear ol' Frieza didn't take too kindly to traitors." He looked back at the nearby cell and laughed. "Ain't the right, Vegeta?"

"Idiot," Vegeta returned.

By the time he'd began to wonder what he meant, he got clocked in the head again, this time by a fist. Lacor slide back, laughing as Hameus charged an energy blast. "What was that?!" he mocked, rubbing the side of his head, "You caught me with my guard down and that's the best you can do?"

Hameus's teeth clenched, energy sparking around him as he charged, blood dripping down his armor. The blazing orb in his hands grew in size. Lacor laughed and then sneered, jabbing two fingers forward, his own attack lighting up his fingertips. The two attacks grew larger and brighter still, the energy waves dancing around them and clashing against each other.

I got him! thought Lacor, grinning still, If I can defeat this attack he's finished!

This is it, Hameus coached himself, I have to finish him with this attack. Otherwise…we both know how this is going to end.

Vegeta's teeth gritted, his brow lowered. Even without his energy sense, he could tell how this battle would conclude. "He's lost," he growled.

"YEAAAAAH!" Hameus screamed, unleashing the blast. The two attacks rocketed against each other, the light of them drawing the attention of the entire battlefield. Lacor squinted, the shockwaves making his white mane dance. Hameus continued to howl, his whole body shaking as he fed everything he had left into that blast. Lacor roared, his muscles swelling as he pushed back just as hard. Hameus's boots dug in and he screamed even louder. There was a terrible flash.

Vegeta hissed as Hameus's form thudded against his cell, smoke rising from his armor and violet blood splattered against the glass. "Well…look at that," Lacor chuckled, marching towards him, "Looks like I did change your hue after all…not to red, sadly, but close enough."

"Erh…eh…rrnn…" Hameus grunted and hissed, twitching as he stirred to life. He turned his head, eying Vegeta as he gritted against the pain. He gasped several times, struggling as he reached up and touched the panel on Vegeta's cell. "Computer," he heaved, "Recognition… Standing-Warden…Hameus. Grant…" He coughed up blood. "Grant full access privileges to…Prisoner Triple-Zero—"

His neck snapped as it connected with Lacor's boot. Vegeta's face twitched with fury as Hameus's body slid down the front of his cell, flopping over on the deck with wet, violet smear. "Krrr!" Vegeta snarled, his eyes snapping up to Lacor.

"Haaaa…" Lacor grinned a contented sigh. He looked at Vegeta and chuckled. "What's the matter, fishy? You almost look sorry for him."

Vegeta spat on the glass. "He was a warrior. You are not."

"So sentimental!" Lacor admonished, "Long as I live, I will never understand you, Saiyans. Oh, speaking of which, did I hear correct that today is the day your kind finally goes extinct? Took damn well long enough."

Vegeta roared, pain shooting up his spine from his imprisoned tail as he jerked.

"Very good, Lacor," Nettelish praised, appearing to assess the corpse, "You almost had me worried for a moment." Her eyes shifted. "Oh. Vegeta." She giggled as he glared. "Look at you, about choking yourself on those restraints. It makes for a fine last sight of you." She turned, folding her arms and looking out across the cell blocks. "Now, with that little nuisance gone, let's finish clean up duty here. Then we make for the Hammer."

"Right," Lacor purred, shooting off with her.

Vegeta snarled but forced himself to relax, relieving the tension on his tail. He looked down at the body slumped in front of his cell and hissed. "Yes, you fought bravely, but for what?" he snapped at the lifeless form, "You accomplished nothing but your own death. And I'm still trapped and useless!" He slammed his foot against the glass with an angry grunt, hissing as pain shot through his injured leg. "Damn you, you've doomed us all!"

Vegeta backed away from the glass, allowing himself to rest on his bench for the moment. He glared at the floor, his brow twitching in helpless rage. This situation was impossible! What was he to do now? He refused to give up, but he was lost for answers. And what nonsense had that guardian been babbling before his death? Vegeta knew full well from what he'd overheard that the computer wasn't answering anyone. So why was he making such an effort to communicate with it?

Just as he had this thought, it hit him. He understood what Hameus had been trying to do. Vegeta raised his head. "Computer!"

There was a hum. "Recognized, Prisoner Triple-Zero-One."

(**Scene Break**)

Laswe's eyes snapped open, leaping out from the comfort of Horkion's smooth, stone arm. "I got it!" he shouted, drawing the attention of the others, "Why don't we just use fusion?! I mean, I know we designed the doors to survive just about any attack, but if we all activate and do a combined blast, I mean, there's got to be a strong chance that would be more than the shielding could handle!"

Nevrrest's head lifted, her arms crossed and tail flicking angstily. "No," she growled, "As much as I'd like to agree with you, we can't do that."

"Why not?" Horkion pressed, "It sounds like a good plan to me!"

"The energy would likely be sufficient, yes," Nevrrest pronounced, "But you all too easily forget that the energy we get from fusion is borrowed from the rest of the fleet. And we have no idea what's going on out there. We could doom them all by taking that energy from them, defeating the very purpose of escaping."

Laswe squeaked angrily and pointed. "We know people are dying out there, what more do we need to know?!" His wings buzzed loudly. "And I'm tired of just sitting around here while Misado cops of a feel at the door!"

Horkion looked at the avatar, which had indeed been sitting in front of the door for quite some time now, moving very slowly as its vines seemed to caress the blast doors.

"Misado understands a virtue the rest of us lack," Oom'Bagu spoke, his eyes closed in meditation as he continually sensed all that was happening outside, "Patience."

"Patience?!" Laswe piped, "This isn't the time for patience, guys!"

"Clear your mind, Laswe," Oom'Bagu advised, his eyes still shut, "You'll think better that way. Because of its patience, Misado has a strength far beyond our own, like an ancient groove whose roots have dug deep."

Horkion perked up. "Oh I get it!" He looked at the avatar. "He's slowly growing into the cracks! Even though the power is great, the system won't detect anything that gradual."

"Correct," Nevrrest stated, though impatience was written all over her face, "It's the best chance we have right now…maybe our only chance."

Laswe sighed, sitting down again. "Still wish we could do something to make a difference out there."

Just then, the room's interface came to life. "Friends! Friends!"

"Sepis?!" they all said at once, stirring.

"How are you contacting us?" Oom'Bagu pressed, eyes open at last, "Has the communications system been repaired?"

"I-it was never broken!" Sepis cried, rattling as he hugged himself.

They gathered around the screen. "Sepis," Nevrrest sternly spoke, "What's going on out there?"

"It's a disaster, Friend Nevrrest," he answered anxiously, "Nothing's broken! There is no system failure! This whole thing was pre-programmed and hidden away in the system! That's why I never caught it, it's not a virus!"

Nevrrest's eyes narrowed. "Nettelish."

"How are you contacting us, Sepis?" Oom'Bagu reiterated.

"Well it turns out the main comm. system has been shut down," he explained, "But the prisoner network hasn't! It's a totally separate system. That's how I'm reaching you. I'm currently working from one of the Hammer's holding cells. The Council Chamber has backwards access to the prisoners, so I had to rig it a bit to get through to you, but yeah."

"Sepis," Laswe chirped, "You're a genius. Can you fix…can you undo the changes?"

"I can, but it's gonna take hours of work," Sepis sighed, his antenna flattening, "It's been set up so that only Nettelish can repeal it. So I'll have to hack it."

"Something tells me we don't have that long," Nevrrest stated, cupping her chin, her brow narrowed, "Unless we find a way to slow our enemies down."

"Any ideas?" Horkion hopefully asked.

Her eyes shifted. "No."

"Sepis?" Laswe prompted.

The Arlian rubbed at his head. "I…I don't…wait."

"Yes?" Oom'Bagu pressed.

Sepis leaned closer to the screen. "Someone's adamantly trying to access the prisoner comm. system." His eyes widened. "It…it's Vegeta."

"Vegeta?" Horkion said with surprise.

"What the hell does he want?" Nevrrest sneered, "I didn't think he even had communication privileges."

"He doesn't," Oom'Bagu stated.

"I don't get why he's still in his cell," Sepis breathed, "There's been a major break out on Prison Ship 7 and I was sure he'd be one of the one's released…"

"Answer it, Sepis," Oom'Bagu ordered. Nevrrest eyed him. "Answer it now."

Sepis shivered, but nodded. "Right." He tapped some keys.