Goku had to do a double take, "Your father?!" He looked over at Tien, feeling sick to his stomach. Goku nodded and wrapped his arms around the both of them again, lifting a hand to gently cover the marks on Sabriena's lips. They would be able to heal her once they got out of this salt mine. Jenny's demonstration still fresh in his mind about the barrier that salt presented.

Tien looked furious. He'd never met his father-in-law, but he considered it exceptionally low that Tao would drag Sabriena's father into all of this mess. "Are you telling me Tao made you cook for him?!" he snarled.

"Tao? He kept making me call him Sir," Sabriena answered. "It doesn't matter. We have to find my dad! Please! He's the only family I have left! We don't have time to argue! Now come on!"

Goku nodded and he looked around, well, we came from that way. He nodded down the hallway at the path they had just come from. The bullet hole in the ceiling and Launch's body and blood could be a marker that they had been here before. "Luckily, we won't need to find our way out. I'll just transport us out of here once we find your dad and deal with Tao. So, should we just keep going forward?"

The static that had been a constant hum in the background suddenly flared to life and Tao's unfiltered, nasally voice came through above them, "Well done gentlemen, I must say that I am impressed. I would never have thought brawn would triumph over brains in this matter. Though I am sure that Bulma did most of the heavy lifting, so to speak. Surely your heads were too thick to figure this out on your own. However, I'm sure you've all realized that I still have a bargaining chip. You can come find him if you dare, but there will be consequences. I've set up a series of… let's call them tests. Pass them all and you can have the girl's father back. Don't and you die, it's as simple as that. We are still underground, it will save your friends from having to bury you all later, isn't that thoughtful of me?"

"The only one who's going to die here today is you, Tao," Tien growled in a low voice and started forward down the hallway, trying not to favor his leg as he walked. He was grateful for Goku's help; he didn't know if he would've been able to continue on if Sabriena had to walk on her own and that pain consumed them both. "I never could stand to listen to his voice," he muttered as they walked down the long corridors.

Goku nodded in agreement as he looked at the doors they passed, most of them led to more cell rooms and he was beginning to wonder if this was going anywhere, when he spotted the hallway ending in to heavy double doors. "That has to be it," he said.

Tao's voice laughed over head, "Very good, Goku. I am pleased to see that your brain seems to be functioning at a higher level than normal. It's a good thing you all didn't figure out that I was the one who "stole" my own companies research. So hard to come up with a believable story for you to mindlessly follow. Though I have to admit, I thought we would have at least a good month of fun before you realized what was going on. This past week really flew by."

Goku growled, "Shut up or come out and face us instead of being the coward you are!" He bit his lip and to try and yank the door open. He paused, shifting Sabriena to hold her with one arm, it was heavier than the others. "I'm getting sick of this..." He gave a small smile as he got it to open and walked through into another hallway.

Tao laughed, "Oh Sabriena." He said as if it were a caress, "Your father is begging me to let you go. I'm half tempted to take him up on his offer. Leave him behind with me and you can all go free. Here, listen to his screams."

Sabriena clung to Goku's neck, fighting the angry tears in her eyes. She couldn't bear the sound of her dad's voice begging her to get out. She wouldn't leave him.

"This is infuriating," Tien growled as they rounded another corner. A large door stood before them, but he couldn't see the doorknob. Instead there was a strange panel on it with two rounded holes and a digital screen. "Looks like a dead end," Tien sighed and turned around to face Goku and Sabriena. "Let's go back, see if we can find another way." There was a rumbling sound and the wall behind them closed, trapping them. Tien ran at the wall, slamming his fists against it, but it was unmovable.

"Ahh, I see you have finally found your first challenge. Those doors are incredibly thick and have been in my prototype department for sometime. I've been busy since I've first met you, Goku. Try and blast your way out and you will just end up killing yourselves as the energy rebounds. The metal has been fused together with a metal fusion technique I have been perfecting for years. Go on, try to punch your way out. I could use a good laugh." Tao's nasally voice rang over the speakers. "In order to pass through the door, a payment must be made. To the left of the door, you will see a table. On this table are the implements required for making your payment. The panel is programmed to only accept payment from one human and one nonhuman. There is no other way out."

The line went silent. "What do you mean, payment?" Tien demanded, but there was no answer. His eyes fell upon a small metal table in the corner of the room, draped with a white cloth. He cast a nervous glance at Sabriena and Goku before he walked over to it, his hand hesitating above the cloth. His heart seemed to race. Who knew what the hell could be under that cloth? He exhaled slowly and carefully lifted it. "Oh hell," he whispered. On a gleaming tray sat two packaged needles, alcohol swabs, and a length of rubber intended for a tourniquet. He knew he could do it, he wasn't about to let Sabriena do it in her weakened condition, but Goku was another matter. Tien knew how terrified Goku was of needles. They were never getting out of here.

"Tien?" Sabriena asked, trying to look over his shoulder as Goku held her. "What is it?"

"We have to pay in blood," Tien answered grimly.

"What?" Goku asked as he peered around Tien. It took him a moment to realize what he was looking at, but as soon as his eyes landed on the sharp pointed needle gleaming on the tray he found himself backing up, "No… no no no no." He clutched at Sabriena tightly, scrambling to get away, his back pressed flat against the wall, "Not a needle... please anything but that!"

Terrible, horrible memories of being in a hospital, the staff holding him down, all alone. Chichi calling him pathetic and walking away when he needed her the most. He couldn't stop the whimper that passed his lips.

Tien shook his head, disbelief all over his face. "He did this on purpose," he growled. "He did this just to mess with you, Goku." Tien turned and punched the metal door with all his strength, but all it managed to do was send a pain zinging up his arm. "Damn."

Goku's lips were trembling and he swallowed harshly. He looked away from the little table, clenching his eyes shut as he slid to the ground, still holding Sabriena tightly. He felt anger rushing through his system along with his fear. It was just for him. Tao didn't think he could do it. If he was being honest, he didn't know if he COULD do it, but he had new motivations now. Pass this and they would be one step closer to home. "I'll do it," he whispered, "But you might have... have to hold me down." A strangled whimper left his lips as he thought about it more, it was different than removing needles from someone's skin.

"I'll do it," Sabriena offered, "I'll take your place." She couldn't bear to see him like this. That bastard, setting up a challenge to mess with Goku's head. She was livid. "You shouldn't have to do this. Let me."

Tien shook his head sadly. "I wish you could, Sabriena, but it won't work. He said the door requires nonhuman blood." He swallowed and picked up the tourniquet and awkwardly tried to tie it around his own arm.

"Let me help," Sabriena offered and she got up from Goku's lap, placing a quick kiss on his cheek, and hobbled over to Tien. "I don't really know what I'm doing," she admitted. She wrapped the piece of rubber tightly around his bicep and picked up one of the wrapped alcohol swabs. "Can't believe he was decent enough to give us sterile equipment. Nothing in this place is clean," she muttered.

"Just stick me here," he pointed at a vein that was bulging in the crook of his elbow. He sounded calm, unaffected by the whole process. He looked over at Goku who wasn't watching. Poor guy. He looked sick, his face turning a shade of green.

With shaking hands, Sabriena unwrapped the needle and drew a deep breath. Truth be told, she didn't deal well with this type of stuff either, but she didn't have a choice. "I'm sorry," she whispered to Tien as she stuck his arm and removed the tourniquet. The syringe filled quickly with dark red blood and Sabriena felt the urge to cry. This wasn't right. She withdrew it from his arm and turned to the door as Tien ripped the cloth that had covered the table and pressed it to his arm.

He walked over to Goku and sat on the floor next to him, placing an arm around his shoulders. "See? That wasn't so bad. You can do it, Goku. I have faith in you."

Goku couldn't bring himself to watch. He felt sick to his stomach; his breathing grew rough and uneven as he saw Sabriena get closer to them, carrying the unopened needle in her hand. He couldn't stop the cry that wrenched from his throat as he scrambled against the wall trying to get away from her. He calmed only when Tien reached out to place a hand on his arm. He looked to Tien then, swallowing and breathing hard as he forced himself to look over at Sabriena. Kind, beautiful Sabriena. She had been forced to have her lips sewn shut and Tien was still alive. "Okay... okay..." He offered his arm out to her, but lost his nerve when she uncapped the needle and he hugged his arm back to his chest, shaking terribly.

Sabriena frowned sadly. She reached out and threaded her fingers through his silky dark hair. She loved the way he looked in that warpaint. "I'm sorry, Goku," she whispered. She could feel him shaking. She hated this, hated herself for having to do this to him. "Please, forgive me."

Tien pulled the rag away from his arm; it had stopped bleeding. He positioned himself in the corner. "C'mere, Goku," he said and reached for the trembling Saiyan. He pulled Goku's back against his chest, sliding his arm around the other man's waist to hold him there. He felt sick with himself, like he was forcing Goku to do something he didn't want to do. "Shhhh," Tien whispered. "I've got you."

A small smile pulled at Sabriena's lips as she watched her husband. Tien could be so compassionate and understanding when he wanted to be. It reminded her of the first night they were together, the way he had soothed Goku's nervousness. Now he was doing the same for Goku's greatest fear. She carefully wrapped the tourniquet around Goku's arm, cringing as he flinched and pulled his arm back to his chest once more.

Tien drew a deep breath, keeping his patience. He knew this was hard for him. With his free hand he grabbed Goku's wrist firmly, trying to pull his arm out towards Sabriena. "You can do this," Tien whispered. "You're stronger than this. Don't let Tao beat you. Do it for her, Goku. Do it for Sabriena." His grip tightened on his lover's wrist as he tried to hold his arm steady. "You have to hold still, okay?"

Goku swallowed, turning his head, leaning as far away from his arm and the needle as possible, before he nodded his head. He was secured, held safely by Tien. Like last night when they had fallen asleep on the couch together. He tried to imagine himself there now, throwing his mind into that night. He closed his eyes and buried his face against Tien's neck, as much as he could, trying to focus on the feeling of Tien's broad chest against his back, the strong arm that curled around his own chest. He could do this for Sabriena. If she could put up with having her lips sewn together, he could do this for her. He knew that if he could have taken her place, he would have. Goku was grateful that he had the two of them there with him and not some psycho crazed person out for revenge against him, "Don't leave me, don't leave me, don't leave me..." He muttered over and over, shaking violently as he felt the tourniquet snap on around his arm, Sabriena's hand guiding his to make a fist. He let out a sob as Tien held his arm tighter and it took every ounce of control he had to not get up and run away from them. "I changed my mind! I don't want to do this!" he sobbed.

Sabriena quickly wiped his arm with the swab, tears in her eyes, hating herself even more. "It's okay, baby," she soothed. "We're here."

"We're not leaving you," Tien assured him, hugging him tighter. "We'll never leave you. Not now. Not ever."

Sabriena hesitated for a moment before she quickly stuck Goku's arm; he tried to jump, but Tien held his arm in place, letting Goku squirm as much as he wanted, but not moving that arm. It took all of Tien's strength to hold him steady. He felt tears sting his eyes as he held his lover, a sick feeling coiled in his stomach for doing this.

"Almost done, almost done," Sabriena said frantically, watching the syringe fill as she pulled the tourniquet away. "Good job, baby. You're okay."

Tien couldn't stand the way Goku shook and protested. It was killing him. "We're here, Goku, we've got you," he tried to soothe.

"Got it," Sabriena said and pulled the needle from Goku's arm and pressed the rag against the puncture mark. "I'm so proud of you," she said softly to Goku.

Goku wilted against Tien and he blinked over at Sabriena, disbelief evident in his voice, "That...thats it?" He looked at the syringe filled with his blood. He swallowed, giving Tien's hand a squeeze. "That... that wasn't... as bad as I remembered it being..." He dragged a hand through his hair, letting out a shaky sigh as he did and he moved to roll out of Tien's lap. He still kept a wary eye on the syringe in Sabriena's hand. "Let's get the hell out of here." He swallowed hard, looking at them both with a new admiration in his eyes. Where Chichi had walked away, they stayed with him, holding him, talking him through it. By the gods, where the hell had they been his entire life? He slipped an arm around Tien's waist as they walked back over to the door. His nerves were still shot and his legs felt like jelly. He didn't know what he would do if more needles were in store for them.

Sabriena placed the syringe into the door and watched as it emptied. The control panel beeped and the door slid open, revealing more passageways beyond. Her shoulders slumped. "Greeeeeat," she drawled. She let Goku pick her up again and she hugged his neck tightly. "I love you," she whispered to him. "You're so amazing. You wait until we get home. I'm going to cook you a huge dinner with all your favorites, okay?"

Tien clapped a hand to Goku's shoulder, "I knew you could do it."

Tao was seething as he watched the monitor. He was certain Goku would have resisted them harder than that. He'd half expected Goku to attack Tien when faced with the needle. In fact, he'd been hoping for it. Nothing would please him more than to watch those two rip each other apart. "Well done, Goku," Tao's voice rang over the speaker. "But the next challenge you face might not prove to be so easy."

Goku ignored the voice, turning to press his lips to Tien's and then back against Sabriena's. "Thanks, you guys. I love you, both of you. Let's find this bastard and get the hell out of here." He turned and started walking down the hallway, calling out loud, "It's going to be over soon Tao. You know how strong we are and we are coming for you. Your tests won't stop us and when we find you, YOU ARE DEAD!"

Tien couldn't stop the eerie feeling flooding through his system as they wandered through the tunnels, dead end after dead end, backtracking, trying to find the way to Tao and Sabriena's father. They finally found themselves in a long corridor with a big door at the end, but something wasn't right. There appeared to be someone standing guard in front of it. Tien raised his arms defensively, prepared to attack, but the man didn't move. "Throw down your weapon and come forward!" Tien barked. The guard didn't respond. Tien took a few cautious steps forward, "Didn't you hear me? I said come forward!"

Tao's voice once again rang over the loudspeaker. "I'm afraid he cannot do that," he said. "You see, he is the key to opening the door."

Goku stepped up behind Tien carefully as he looked around for any more needles, but couldn't see any. The lights blinked on around them, illuminating the man, bound hanging from a hook by chains around his wrists. There was a ball gag in his mouth and his face was red from the strain of standing on his tiptoes. Behind him there was a big door with no visible handle. In front of the man on the floor, there was an enormous electrical switch. "How is he the key?" he asked suspiciously. He didn't like this at all. He carefully shifted Sabriena around in his arms, nuzzling against her skin a moment when he felt her tense, he shushed against her, "What's wrong, love?"

She shook her head, pressing her lips together, memories of that guard and the people he tortured, his hand upon her breast as he tried to have his way with her. She buried her face in Goku's neck.

Tien spared a glance at Sabriena for a moment before Tao's voice drew his attention again. "The only way to open the door is to complete the circuit. You see the indention in the door behind him? He fits it perfectly, don't you think? Inside that indention are dozens of electrical connections, programmed to open the door once the circuit is complete. All you have to do is lift the switch."

Tien eyed the switch once more, a sickening feeling churning in his stomach. The heavy metal switch was as tall as the door. There was a large X of metal across the switch with a huge, rusty spike sticking straight up. "You mean for me to kill him?!" Tien cried. He couldn't do it. He didn't know this man, dressed in street clothes, shackled mere inches from the door. Lifting the switch would press him back into that groove and the spike would pierce him completely through. "There has to be another way!"

Goku felt sick looking at the contraption. "This isn't fair!" He looked at the groove in the door, the sharp spike. He wasn't sure how the door would open with the large switch blocking the path, "Who is he?! Why does he deserve to die?" The man was squirming and making noises as he tried to get out of his predicament. There was a fear in his eyes when he looked to Goku and Tien, but Sabriena. It could be his imagination, but he really didn't like the way this man looked at Sabriena. He narrowed his eyes and set Sabriena on the floor, moving to stand protectively in front of her. "Stand behind me. I don't like the way he's looking at you, and you shouldn't have to see this."

Tien felt desperate. He didn't want to kill anyone, but he wasn't about to be trapped here forever, either. He was about to suggest that they go back, but then he remember Sabriena's father. No, he couldn't leave that man behind. He heard Goku speak. "What was that?" Tien asked, turning and glancing at them before he looked at the man again.

"I want to watch," Sabriena said. There was a malicious gleam in her eyes. "How's it feel to be on the other end?" she asked Larry. She caught Tien's questioning gaze. "He deserves it, Tien. Do it. Kill him."

Larry shook his head, struggling against the shackles that bound him, his screams muffled by the gag in his mouth.

"That's funny, Larry," Sabriena said, "I don't remember you being so upset when you made me watch you torture those people locked in that room! Or when you put your hands on me!"

Goku's eyes widened. "Sabriena, did he..?" His eyes snapped up and narrowed on the man, "You touched her?!" He stalked over to the hanging man and grabbing the ball gag, ripping it away from his mouth, "DID YOU TOUCH HER!?" Those people in that locked room, all of those needles. The mouths sewn shut, the blood, the scared faces. Even the dead girl hanging from the wall. "Tien, he helped Launch torture those people. He's responsible for that dead woman in that cell. It could have been Sabriena... IT COULD HAVE BEEN YOU! How many more have you tortured and killed?! How dare you touch her. How dare you harm her!"

"No! It wasn't me! Launch did that! I... I only..." Larry protested frantically.

"Only whipped that poor girl until she bled to death!" Sabriena screamed. "And you helped Launch with all of that. You ARE responsible for them! You tried to rape that woman and you meant to do the same to me if Launch hadn't shocked the shit out of your dick with that cattle prod!"

Tien was shaking all over, rage flooding through his system. "You put your hands on my wife," he snarled. He grabbed the man's face, staring into his eyes. "Now you'll pay the price." He let go of the man harshly and stepped back, grabbing rubber-covered handles at the top of the switch. "Care to give me a hand, Goku?"

"Gladly," he said. Goku didn't feel anything for this man. He had no pity for him as he turned and grabbed hold of the other side and nodded at Tien when he was ready, tugging on the switch. It was heavier than he was expecting. "Tao didn't think either of us would have it in us to do this and if one of us did, he didn't think the other would go for it." He growled and both men pulled with all their might. He closed his eyes as they moved the switch, the man was screaming behind them as the spike pushed into him, as he was pushed into the indent in the wall completing the circuit. The man continued screaming, his flesh smoking, his eyeballs bursting as the electricity ran through his body.

Tien stepped back, staring wide-eyed. He hadn't expected it to be so gruesome. He had to look away. Sabriena stared at him with her hands on her hips, a sick satisfaction coursing through her. The man jerked and screamed, blood spattering from his chest as his flesh began to char. Sabriena was reminded of Loki, how she'd killed him in battle with her spear of electricity. This wasn't much different. The man finally stilled and the door fell forward, making them jump back.

"Don't touch the door," Tien ordered and rose a bit off the floor to fly through the doorway.

"Bastard," Sabriena growled and spit on the door.

Goku scooped Sabriena up as he shook his head and followed Tien into the hallway past the door. His voice was low and dangerous, "Sabriena, did he do anything else to you. Did Sir ever do anything to you? I know he is the reason why you are here, he is going to pay for that, slowly, painfully, but what we do to him depends."

Sabriena frowned. "That guard tried to have his way with me, but he didn't," she answered, swallowing harshly. "Launch stopped him."

Tien stopped walking and turned to Sabriena, taking her face in his hands. "Where did he touch you? If they did something to you, you don't have to hide it. We will make every single one of them pay."

"He grabbed my breast," she answered, her face going hot with embarrassment and humiliation. "He pinched me. But that's as far as he got before Launch shocked him." She looked down at her knees, the wounded one was staining her jeans slowly. She'd tried to walk on it too much. She was humiliated at what Launch had done to her. "Sir never touched me."

Goku shook his head, "Maybe not, but he's the reason you're here. The reason we're all here. We will do whatever you want us to Sabriena. Just tell us."

"I wanna go home," she whimpered. "I want to find my dad and go home." She was so tired, hurting all over, emotionally worn out. She hated this place and all she wanted was to crawl into the warm, soft bed back at the cabin and curl up with Tien and Goku.

Tien pressed his lips to a thin line and nodded. "We'll find him, Sabriena. I swear it." He threw his arm around Goku's shoulders as they walked down the hall, Tien fighting the urge to limp. He could see the bit of blood soaking through Sabriena's jeans. "You want me to carry her for a bit? Give your arms a rest."

Goku let Tien lean on him. "You can if you want to, but I am fine. Really. Besides, your leg is hurting, too. You'll be able to move faster if he decides to ambush us." He narrowed his eyes and looked ahead, wondering what the next challenge would be. "I think I might like to tear out his intestines and strangle him with them." He wanted to be back home too. He was exhausted and finally with Sabriena back, it would be good to just sleep for a week.

Tien was getting sick of this place. The things that had been done to his wife were bad enough, but now Goku had had to face his greatest fear and both of them had been forced to kill a man just to continue this sick game. Although, Tien didn't feel sorry about that. That man deserved it and that made him sick at his stomach, too, to think that he agreed with Tao on something. "Oh what the hell is this?" he groaned as they turned the corner and found themselves in a new room with an odd looking machine in the middle. He crept closer to it, looking it over. It looked like a hospital bed, but above the head of the bed was a sort of mechanical arm with three needles attached to it. "Oh gods," Tien groaned. More fucking needles. He stood between Goku and the machine, trying to block his view of the needles. Tien could see the locked door. "Alright, Tao, what's this one?" he asked loudly in a bored tone, even though his heart was starting to hammer against his ribs.

Goku came around the corner and froze as he saw the needles, though Tien had tried to block them from his view. His heart pounded and he backed up until his back hit the wall. "Not again, not again." He shook his head as he held Sabriena tighter as he looked away from the sharp objects.

Tao's voice echoed overhead, "Ah, I had truly hoped you would get this far. The machine you see before you has three needles that can detect when they are inserted into a person's eyeball. It is a modified instrument that normally detects the pressure one has in their eye for surgical purposes. To unlock the door in this room, that machine must be engaged for a full minute. Don't worry though, the needles don't usually cause permanent damage."

Sabriena wrapped her arms tighter around Goku's neck, pulling his head down to her chest to try to comfort him and hide his view. "That sick fuck," Sabriena gasped, looking at the three needles. "Tien, he made this trap just for you! Just to screw with you!" She was furious. Tao would pay for this, for fucking with her husband. A needle in Goku's arm had been horrifying enough, but now needles in Tien's eyes? "What is it with you sick bastards and needles?" she cried out.

"Shush," Tien said quietly. He cringed on the inside as he looked at the machine. If he'd known that Tao would come back to haunt him like this after that match at the tournament all those years ago, Tien would've just killed him right then. He didn't know what those needles would do to his eyes. Would it blind him? He squeezed his eyes shut and bit his lips together, breathing hard through his nose. 'I can do this. I can do this,' he thought to himself over and over.

"Tien, don't-"

"Sabriena, I have to do this," he interrupted her. "We haven't come this far to turn around now. Your father is still here. And I'm not leaving this place until Tao pays for what he's done."

Goku watched in horror as Tien moved to get on the machine. He swallowed down his fear and walked closer, forcing himself to look at the needles. He never felt so helpless in all his life, forced to watch his loves torture themselves was worse than having to be stuck with a needle. He reached out and grasped Tien's hand, holding it tightly as he leaned down and kissed him fiercely, as if it were his last time. "I love you," he said in a choked voice and looked over at Sabriena, knowing that if Tien died or went blind, so did she, "And I love you." He swallowed the hard lump that formed in his throat.

Tao's voice laughed at him, "Oh Goku, you always were the sentimentalist. Though, I never figured you to enjoy the company of men. I suppose with a wife like Chichi, it was only a matter of time before she turned you gay."

Goku growled. Chichi was many things and she had hurt him, but she wasn't there to defend herself. "Don't you dare talk about her like that!"

Tien grasped Goku's hand. "Don't listen to him," he said.

Sabriena's heart fluttered in her chest, hearing Goku tell Tien that he loved him. Did Tien feel the same? She didn't have long to wonder because Tien swallowed harshly and said quietly, "I love you, too."

Despite the situation they were in, Sabriena felt fresh tears welling up in her eyes, but this time they were from happiness. She carefully wiggled from Goku's arms and cupped Tien's face in her hands. "I love you," she whispered to him and kissed him, slow and deep as she tried to keep her hands from shaking.

"Love you, too," he answered and laid back, gripping the edges of the bed. "Get back, guys," he said. "Don't watch. If something goes wrong, I don't want you to see it."

Goku shook his head and took a hold of Tien's wrist. "No," he said firmly, "Nothing is going to go wrong and I am not going anywhere." He laced their fingers together. "Not after everything we've been through." He looked up at the machine, a sick and twisted idea forming in his mind. When Tien unlocked the door, he was going to rip this thing from its holder and take it with them. Tao loved being integrated with technology; it would be a shame if he didn't have this piece with him.

Tien twisted his fingers into Goku's as the machine started to move. Sabriena grabbed Goku's other hand, gently placing her free hand on Tien's shoulder. "Shhh," she soothed, trying to keep him calm. "You're going to be okay. We'll be back home before you know it."

Tien swallowed nervously again and answered, "Yeah." He stared straight up at the triangle of needles descending towards his face. He forced his head to remain still, trying not to blink his eyes. He gripped Goku's hand tighter, the anticipation killing him. He didn't know if he wanted that thing to speed up and get it over with or slow down to give him more time to prepare himself. He couldn't move, he had to keep staring straight at it. It drew closer and closer to his eyes, the needles a mere inch above him. He felt sick. He hadn't even been able to watch Sabriena take her old contacts out. And now he had to do this. He could feel the sweat pouring down his face, his neck. He gritted his teeth and let out a strangled cry as the needles lowered more and more. They were nearly touching his opened eyes now. He tried to separate his mind from his body, to go somewhere else in his head, but then the fear of losing control of his eyes overcame him and he snapped himself back to the reality in front of him. His hand shook violently in Goku's as the tips of the needles pricked his eyes. A strangled scream wrenched through his clenched teeth as the needles slowly sank into his eyes and he had to force himself to keep his eyes open.

Goku felt absolutely sick. He forced himself to watch as the needles pierced all three eyes. He knew the third eye had to be extremely painful. He reached up, cupping the back of Tien's head and cried as he saw the tears escape down Tien's face, the small trickles of blood looked like ruby droplets. He leaned down pressing a kiss to Tien's hand, before he looked over at Sabriena and wondered how she was holding up, but didn't dare speak for fear of ruining Tien's concentration.

Tao, on the other hand, didn't shut up, "Oh wow, look at that Tien. I didn't think you could take it in so deep. Just imagine it as if Goku were fucking your eyes, wouldn't that be better?"

Tien was breathing hard, his teeth still clenched tightly together, unable to move his head or his eyes even a fraction of an inch. But he raised his free hand and extended his middle finger to the room.

Sabriena's eyes burned like crazy and made her want to scream or cry out as she stared at the needles piercing her husband's eyes. She refused to give in. She gripped Goku's hand even tighter

The pain was horrid, all three of his eyes burning and stinging, his eyes streaming, his vision turning slightly red as the little bit of blood trickled from his eyes. He didn't know what was worse - the pain of the needles in his eyes or the horrifying viewpoint Tien had staring up at the needles protruding from his eyes. How much longer did he have to do this? Wasn't a minute up already?! He should've been counting the seconds.

Goku let out a breath of relief as he heard the door click open and the machine retracted from Tien's eyes, more blood pouring out as they exited his body. Goku moved in a flash, pulling the machine away from Tien's face and very easily pulled the arm holding the needles from its holder. He held it up to the camera. "This is going on your face Tao, but you don't have three eyes, so I guess that third needle is going right into your brain. What do the kids call that these days? Lobotomy?" he growled as he tucked the machine under his arm and turned back to Tien and Sabriena. He knelt next to him and looked at Tien's closed eyes. "Do you think you will still be able to see?"

Tien nodded, squeezing his eyes together tightly. That was one of the worst things he'd ever had to endure. "Yeah," he answered, blinking rapidly. "Yeah, I think I'll be okay." He shook his head and rubbed at his eyes, the pressure somehow making them feel a bit better. He finally stood, his balance wavering for a second. "Goku, gimme that. I'll carry it, you carry Sabriena."

Sabriena looked up at him, his face held the slightest tinge of green. "You okay?" she asked.

Tien shook his head slowly. "I think I might get sick. Let Goku carry you and let's get this over with," he said.

Goku handed over the machine before he moved to pick up Sabriena. "You hear that?" he commented, "Tao finally shut up. I think he is afraid. Tao, if you even think about running away from this, then as soon as we get out of here, we will be able to track you. There's nowhere to hide."

Tao just laughed, "Oh on the contrary Goku, I'm still watching the tapes. To think, such a simple thing could make the great Tien Shinhan sick. The worst is yet to come. You won't get the chance to make good on your threats."

It wasn't long before they found their next challenge. There was a long, narrow corridor with no light, save for what appeared to be a tiny nightlight at the very end. Tien could see a valve like a water spigot illuminated by the light. Goku started to step into the darkness, but Tien grabbed his arm. "Wait a second, Goku. I don't like this. Even I can't see what's there."

"Maybe it's just dark?" Sabriena asked.

Tien shook his head. This was another trap, he was sure of it.

"So you managed to make it through the last challenge," Tao's voice spoke. "Impressive. I didn't think you had it in you to murder an innocent man or to withstand those needles in your eyes."

"He wasn't innocent!" Tien shouted. "And I'm stronger than you think."

Tao tsk'ed. "No need to shout, Tien Shinhan. This challenge is very simple. All you must do is get to the end of the passage. You can go together or one of you can choose to sacrifice yourself and save the others from the excruciating pain that awaits. To save them, all you have to do is get to the shut-off valve at the end. Oh, and Goku, don't get any ideas. I can see you on my surveillance cameras, even in the dark. If you try your little disappearing trick, I will kill Sabriena's father. Have fun."

Tien seethed, "I'm getting really sick of these games."

Goku looked into the darkness. "Enough games Tao! Show yourself so we can get this over with! You know you don't stand a chance against us!" He carefully sat Sabriena down. There was something wrong here. He carefully he stepped forward and put his hand out into the darkness and waved it around. Something immediately activated and Goku suddenly screamed and yanked his hand back, scrambling back falling down as he grasped at his hand and looking at the burned flesh there. "What... What is this?!"

Tao's voice chuckled, "That would be an extremely concentrated form of hydrofluoric acid. It can eat through a person's flesh in under a minute. That should be just enough time for one of you to make it to the other end of the chamber and turn the valve off before you drop dead. I just wouldn't trip if I were you."

Goku shuddered as Tao explained what was going to happen. He set Sabriena down and sank down onto the ground as he looked into the darkness. It was painfully clear to him what had to happen next. "Guys..." He swallowed as he imagined what was about to happen, tears ran down his face as he realized, "I have to go in there. It has to be me."

"NO!" Sabriena protested, dropping down next to Goku, her bad leg stuck out at an odd angle. "Oh gods, baby," she whimpered, seeing the little blisters appear on his hand. "No, you've suffered enough today. I'll do it."

"ARE YOU INSANE?!" Tien roared. "You can barely walk, how are you going to get through that?!"

Sabriena glared up at him, "I don't want either of you to hurt anymore! I'll do it!"

Tien could appreciate what she wanted to do, but she wasn't thinking. He crouched down next to them. "You silly girl. If you do it, I'm still going to hurt anyway. You know I'll feel it. But then if I go..." the realization dawned on him. He slowly closed his eyes, hating himself again. "Goku... I..." How could he ask his best friend, his lover, to make such a sacrifice?

Goku's lip trembled and he closed his eyes, giving Tien a nod. He looked at them both, his eyes now glassy with unshed tears. "See? It has to be me." He looked down the hallway and then back at his two lovers. His mates. His heart was breaking as he realized that this was the last time. He reached up to cup Sabriena's cheek with his good hand. "At least I got to see you one last time before, well..." He leaned up and pressed his lips to hers as he slipped his tongue into her mouth, kissing her passionately. He drank her in, wrapping his arms around her tightly, burning the kiss into his memory.

Sabriena kissed him just as passionately and wrapped her arms around his neck, not wanting the kiss to end. This wasn't right. He shouldn't have to endure this. She finally pulled back and stared into his eyes. "You're going to be okay," she promised. "We'll get out of here and Dende will heal you. And if he can't, Jenny can. Baby, I love you. You're going to make it through this. I love you!" she sobbed the last word and hugged him as tightly as she could.

Tien stood and closed his eyes and concentrated. If only they could find Tao and sense his energy, they could instant transmission to wherever he was. It was no use. Something about the mine was still blocking Tao's energy signal. It was only when they were very close to someone, like those people on the other side of the door in the torture chamber, that they could sense their energy. "This isn't right." He swallowed harshly. He didn't want to think about what Goku would look like by the time he got to the end of that hall. Just the brief second he'd stuck his hand into the darkness and already his skin was bubbling and peeling, blisters and little holes appearing on his flesh.

Sabriena stood and held Goku's good hand as he got up. She didn't want to let go of him and she trembled, squeezing his hand tighter.

"Try to keep your eyes closed," Tien said softly, "and try not to breathe in any of that stuff if you can help it. Put the pain out of your mind, just like when we fight. It's only temporary. We'll get you healed as soon as we can, I promise." He stopped and turned to Goku, gripping his shoulder. "You're not going to die in there." He pressed a firm, quick kiss to Goku's lips. "Go fast."

Goku was breathing hard when Tien pressed a kiss to his lips, it was too fast. He grabbed Tien's face and kissed him with as much passion as he had kissed Sabriena moments before. He pulled back and looked at him for a moment, stroking his cheek before he sighed, turning to face the hallway. His heart pounded in his chest. He trusted in Tien's words, he could do this. He prayed to the Goddess he was going to make it. He didn't want to go; he didn't want to leave them. One more day, he wanted one more day with them. But if he didn't do this, they would die. He would rather them have each other, than to be alone. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath and dashed into the corridor.

The pain was incredible. He wanted to scream, but he held his breath. Tien had said not to, if it got inside of him it would only make it worse. The pain steadily ran down his face, splashed onto his clothes. His mind was starting to go dark when he ran into the wall at the end and he fell to the ground. He screamed as he hit the floor, the pain blossoming in the areas where he had been burned. "Get up, get up, get up!" He heard over and over, he had to shut off the valve. He pushed himself up and nearly slipped on something wet, it smelled like his own blood. He cracked his eyes open, closing them as soon as he found the valve and twisted it shut, sobbing out as he did before he fell to the ground, the pain in his body growing, throbbing as the air hit his now open wounds.

It couldn't have taken more than a matter of seconds for Goku to dash down that hallway, but to Tien and Sabriena it seemed like an eternity. Everything went silent, save for the panting and pained groaning coming from Goku at the end. "Did... Did he do it?" Sabriena whispered.

Tien felt sick. He should've sent Sabriena home with Goku and done it himself. The salt would've blocked their connection. He stepped forward and threw his hand into the darkness. There was nothing. He grabbed Sabriena up and ran to Goku as fast as he could.

"Oh gods!" Sabriena sobbed when she saw Goku's arms. He was looking down at the floor, but his arms were bleeding, parts of his skin and muscle burned away. "Let me see your face," she said softly, her voice shaking. She was terrified. She ever so gently reached out and touched his chin, "Let me see." She gasped as Goku turned his face to her. "You... You're okay!" she gasped in shock. She peered at him in the darkness as Tien leaned over, looking at Goku.

"Looks like that warpaint worked after all," he smiled.

Goku smiled tiredly up at Tien, wincing at the pain, it seemed to seep down into his bones. He sighed happily. "I love you...I love you both so much." He leaned into Sabriena's touch, he was so glad they were both alright. "Let's get him." He moved to push himself up and cried out as the nerve exposed flesh gave out and he fell forward onto the concrete. "I really hate it here."