Chapter Thirty-One: Plans for Planet Calmag
Frieza was preparing to dismiss the Top Elite officers, much to
everyone's relief when an emergency light flashed in the middle of the control
panel centered in the middle of the meeting table. Frieza pressed a red button
and purred, "Yes? Lord Frieza speaking."
"Sire!" Reccor's excited voice echoed through the intercom from his
scouter. "We have left Astoria on a ship headed towards planet Calmag.
Princess Tayla and her grandmother are on it. They are intending to form an
alliance against you with the Calmagian people."
"Good," Frieza said happily. "Now we have a legitimate reason to
head off to Calmag. I have wanted that planet cleared for some time. You are
dismissed for now, Reccor. Keep me informed later on little Princess Tayla."
"But sire, there's-" Reccor tried to speak, but Frieza cut the
control panel off before Reccor could finish. Frieza was too jubilant to care.
He clapped his hands gleefully, like a little boy. "Wonderful
news!" he cried joyously. "All of you have a new assignment. The entire Top
Elite and some selected Mid-Elite officers will now be going to Calmag to clear
that planet and capture Princess Tayla! I have decided that she is ready to
come work for me!" The Top Elite stared at him in stunned disbelief, since half
of them had been promised downtime for the next week. Frieza ignored the
anticipated groans, as he continued, "The rewards for completing this assignment
successfully will more than make up for your lost vacation time. Whoever
captures Princess Tayla and brings her to me first will receive-"
He named an amount and a benefit package so generous and munificent
that all of the Top Elite members were amazed. They were much happier now.
"I'll have my hands on that little royal brat before you guys have a
chance to glimpse at her!" Balair boasted.
"Dream on, gas-bag!" Diamonique roared. "The brat is mine!"
"So you say," Dodoria purred, "I'll capture her before any of you
get near her! And I'll eliminate her granny as well!"
Jaden snorted derisively. "Well, let's hope you have better luck
getting rid of Shalila Chloe than you did twenty-two years ago when we attacked
Chloe that one time! If some low-level runts hadn't intervened, you wouldn't be
alive today because Shalila Chloe nearly killed you! Face it, Dodoria, your
power level is nowhere near as strong as the Astorians, especially Shalila's."
Dodoria shot Jaden a fatal glare, but Jaden only smirked. She
didn't fear anyone in Frieza's forces, except for Frieza himself.
Dodoria managed to retort back nastily, "Well, at least I managed to
kill some Astorians off before that happened. You were lucky that you killed
those three you had!"
Chestra and Diamonique did not comment, because they had only been
small children at the time Chloe was invaded. Chestra was still a slave on her
first planet, and Diamonique had been growing up as nobility on Gemstar. They
were the two youngest fighters of Frieza's Top Elite.
Balair, who had not been with a woman in three weeks, asked
salaciously, "Is she pretty? Is she old enough for mating yet?"
Frieza glowered at Balair. "I want her brought back as one of my
fighters, you lust-crazed fool! She is not to become your personal whore! You
can use the Ginyu Girls for that business. She is to brought to me alive and
unharmed." He narrowed his eyes, looking directly at Balair. "And she is to be
brought to me unmolested and untouched. No one uses her as his or her
plaything; just keep her alive and well until she is brought to me. If I hear
that anything else happened, the officer or officers involved will be
eliminated." Again, he looked at Balair, who had a reputation for raping and
torturing female victims and prisoners.
Jaden and Chestra glared at Balair with disgust. Neither one of
them cared for the Astorians, but they did not feel that rape was right under
any circumstances or on any species. Chestra used to have to dodge the unwanted
advances of men until she became Zarbon's mate, and Jaden had wanted no man to
touch her after what Sagash had tried on her. Balair ignored both women's
glares.
At that moment, Prince Vegeta strolled into Frieza's meeting room,
followed by the ever-faithful, ever-loyal Nappa, his right-hand man and partner.
Vegeta was sixteen years old now and already as tall as he was going to get at
five feet, two-inches tall. He walked tall and proud for his short height, and
it was only the Top Elite officers that dared to tease him about his height;
anyone else who had taunted him about his shortness never lived to tell the
tale-literally. Vegeta, Nappa, Raditz and Journa were now all Mid-Elite
officers, and Vegeta was being considered for promotion into Top Elite.
"Any new assignments available, sire?" he purred. Vegeta still
despised Frieza for taking him and Journa away from their father, but Vegeta
never showed it. He was still determined to overthrow Frieza one day, but until
he knew that he was strong enough, he willingly followed Frieza's commands and
insisted that his sister and Nappa and Raditz do the same.
Frieza grinned appreciatively at his favorite Mid-Elite officer.
"As a matter of fact, yes," he boasted. "Vegeta, I want you and your fellow
Saiyans to accompany my Top Elite officers to planet Calmag to help clear it-and
to capture Princess Tayla." He named the large reward for capturing Tayla and
bringing her to him alive.
"Gladly," Vegeta told him with a smirk. "I've been wanting to get
revenge on that brat for some time now. She will pay for humiliating me back on
that piece of rock, Chloe!" he hissed in fury.
"Temper, temper, Vegeta," Frieza told him easily. "I don't want her
harmed, only captured. Make sure Nappa and Raditz understand that. I insist
that she be brought to me alive, unharmed, and unmolested, so don't take your
Saiyan lust out on her. I know the Saiyan appetite for Astorian females, but
Princess Tayla is off limits."
Vegeta narrowed his eyes at Frieza. He was one of the few people
who dared to do so. "I have no interest in touching the girl. I do not wish to
plant my Saiyan seed in an Astorian garden. I'll save my seed and plow for
choicer soil, thank you." He smirked. "I can't speak for Raditz or Nappa,
however."
"Save your seed and plow for choicer soil, eh?" Balair sneered.
"You mean choicer soil-like Diamonique?" Diamonique shot him a vicious look,
and started to aim one of her poisonous nails at him until Frieza stopped her
with a look. He didn't want his Top Elite officers trying to kill each other
off-not at this time anyway.
The entire Elite, Top, Mid, and Lower levels, were all snickering
about Vegeta and Diamonique. Neither Vegeta nor Diamonique would confirm
whether or not they were having an affair, but they secretly were. Neither one
loved the other; they were only using each other for physical pleasure. There
was only sex between them. Diamonique had initiated Vegeta into manhood a year
ago, and the promiscuous Gemstarian noblewoman had taught Vegeta many things in
bed. Vegeta could care less whether Diamonique lived or died, but she gave him
pleasure whenever he demanded it. Diamonique had no feelings towards Vegeta
except for lust and desire. If one of them died, the other one would be blasé
about it; there was no bond between them. Diamonique liked having a young lover
eight years her junior, and Vegeta liked having someone he could go to whenever
he felt a physical need.
Raditz and Journa had been sleeping together without anyone's
knowledge, including Vegeta's, for two years now, and they were happy whenever
they were together. They were faithful to each other, truly bonded mates.
Nappa had never had a steady mate, although he had used many low-level women for
his physical pleasures, both Saiyan and non-Saiyan.
Nappa especially loved being with the Ginyu Girls, the group of
cheerleaders and groupies from all different species and races that regularly
hung around Captain Ginyu and his men. They were talented young girls and women
who could dance, sing and chant exceptionally well. Ginyu taught the girls many
poses and dances, which they used to cheer on the Ginyu Force and promote them
among Frieza's forces. Most of the Ginyu Girls also gave their bodies willingly
to any Elite male who would satisfy them or reward them with money, clothing, or
nice trinkets. Many of the Ginyu Girls were courtesans, but that was of their
own choice; no one forced them, and the Ginyu Girls could refuse anyone that
they deemed unworthy of their attentions. Captain Ginyu selected the Ginyu
Girls himself, choosing them based on class, breeding, looks, agility, talent
and gracefulness. He wanted young ladies who could represent his Force well.
Frieza thought at times that the Ginyu Girls were an unnecessary expense, but he
liked them as well as any Elite male, so he allowed them to remain among his
Forces and paid their expenses.
Eclipse, a young humanoid woman who was half-Calmagian and
half-Gemstarian, was the Squad Leader of the Ginyu Girls. Eclipse was
Diamonique's first cousin who was five-feet, six inches tall and had long, soft
turquoise hair and eyes and the same peaches-and-ice skin as her cousin. She
had the Calmagian pointed elfin ears and the deadly blue diamond nails of the
Gemstarians, although she never had used them on anyone. She and Diamonique
were friendly, but not close. Eclipse was no fighter, but she was an excellent
dancer and singer, and unlike the girls under her command, she was selective
about whom she slept with. Eclipse was no saint, but she was not entirely evil;
she looked out for and protected her girls from those who would try to abuse
them. She was a sort of madam, one could say. Eclipse was twenty-five years
old, a year older than Diamonique, and she was Frieza's favorite Ginyu Girl,
even though he was not mating-compatible with her. They had never slept
together, but Eclipse kept Frieza entertained in other ways, massaging him,
kissing him, singing, dancing or reciting poetry to him; she was a good
lyricist. Eclipse occasionally entertained Captain Ginyu even though she was
not mating-compatible with him either, but she held a small affection for Nappa
that seemed to be growing every day. Nappa seemed to like her too, and he had
started spending more time with her and less time with the other Ginyu Girls.
Eclipse was also a good friend of Chestra and Jaden's, although she
was not as close to them as they were to each other. Eclipse often served as a
double spy for the two female fighters, alerting them to some of Frieza's plans
and even warning them when then was an occasional plan to assassinate them.
Chestra and Jaden liked her tremendously, but they never confided their secrets
to her the same way they did with each other because Eclipse was too close to
Frieza and Captain Ginyu to be safely trusted that intimately.
Eclipse had followed Nappa and Vegeta to the meeting room, hoping to
spend some extra time with Nappa. Vegeta paid her no attention, although she
was considered to be one of the beauties among Frieza's forces. Nappa noticed
her finally, and he crept away from Vegeta in order to talk to her. He and
Eclipse snuck into a dark corner.
Nappa grinned widely at her. "Whatcha been up to, gorgeous?"
Eclipse smiled broadly, running her slender blue diamond nail
fingers along his broad, muscular chest. "Not much. Believe it or not, I've
been sort of bored lately whenever you're not around," she purred.
Nappa grinned wider. "If Frieza and Captain Ginyu lets you come,
would you like to go with us to planet Calmag? We're set to clear it and
capture little Princess Tayla, if we can." He wrapped his large, well-developed
arms around Eclipse's tiny waist and embraced her tightly, tickling her and
making her giggle. He lifted her off of the floor, past his six feet, ten
inches frame until her face was on the same level as his. Eclipse nipped him
playfully on his nose, the way Saiyan men liked it.
"What do you mean, you fool, if we can?" Vegeta had found Nappa and
Eclipse getting cozy. "We will capture Princess Tayla and clear that pathetic
planet! No, correct that, I will capture Princess Tayla, and I will make her
pay for defeating me! I will one day prove to her, the Astorians, and everyone
here my true worth as a warrior! No Astorian is more powerful than a Saiyan,
especially me the strongest Saiyan warrior in the universe! I am the Prince of
all Saiyans, destined to become the first Legendary Super-Saiyan in a long time!
And when I achieve that goal, the universe and everyone in it, will be mine,
subject to the great Prince Vegeta!" And with that, he stalked off proudly,
with his tail, which was normally wrapped around his waist, swishing
triumphantly in the air.
Eclipse giggled in a whisper, "He's so full of himself, isn't he?
The only one whose ego is bigger than his is Frieza himself!"
Nappa chuckled after making sure that neither Vegeta nor Frieza were
within earshot. He nibbled on Eclipse's ear and whispered, his voice becoming
deep and serious, "Don't underestimate the Prince though, Eclipse. He's the
strongest Saiyan fighter I have seen in years; not even his father could compare
to him. He may wind up ruling this universe after all, so be sure to stay on
his good side."
Eclipse nodded. "I'll be sure to do that," she told him truthfully,
for she and Nappa knew that Vegeta was the strongest warrior in Frieza's Mid and
Lower Elite forces, possibly even the Top Elite itself. Prince Vegeta's powers
and fighting abilities were phenomenal, even for a Saiyan warrior; he had become
five times stronger than he had been five years ago. Other than the battles
with Princess Tayla and her family, he had never lost a fight yet. Frieza had
finally forgiven him and his fellow Saiyans that one loss, and Frieza was
considering giving Vegeta another chance to clear Astoria.
Nappa forgot about Vegeta for the moment, as Eclipse started
nuzzling his wide neck. "So," he purred. "Are you game?'
"I'm game; I'm sure Captain Ginyu will expect me to come anyway and
bring the entire troop. You men will need something to keep you warm during
those cold Calmagian nights," she cooed, nipping his chin lightly. Nappa
chuckled again.
"Have you ever been to planet Calmag?" he asked her, while nibbling
on her ear again.
Eclipse sighed wistfully, "No, I haven't. My people, the
Gemstarians captured a Calmagian ship that was headed towards Astoria. This
band of Calmagians was descended from the weakest tribe of Calmagians, at least
that is what my mother has told me, so they had no real chance against the
Gemstarians. Only my Calmagian mother and her sisters were spared, and my
Gemstarian father took my Calmagian mother as his concubine. They fell in love
with each other and married, and then I came along. I have never seen Calmag;
what I know about it is from what my mother has told me." Eclipse became
saddened then, for both her parents and Diamonique's parents had died five years
ago from a terrible plague that had wiped out much of the Gemstarian nobility.
Diamonique, in a rare act of generosity, had helped Eclipse get a job as a Ginyu
Girl, and Eclipse had eventually taken over the troop.
Nappa patted Eclipse's bottom playfully. "Don't worry," he told her
with his characteristic grin. "You'll get your chance soon enough. Just don't
go leaving me for some Calmagian stud!" They both laughed then.
Balair, Dodoria, Zarbon, Jaden, Chestra and Diamonique left Frieza's
meeting room after Frieza gave them more information about Princess Tayla and
planet Calmag, and they went downstairs to the Elite Lounge and Bar for drinks,
and all six members settled themselves comfortably into a booth. Chestra and
Zarbon were nestled together contentedly, Zarbon's arm around her slender waist
and Chestra's head on his shoulder. Balair was already working on his second
vodka, and Dodoria on his first beer. Jaden had put herself in a trance and was
meditating like she often did, and Diamonique was filing her deadly nails.
A pretty waitress who resembled a white cat with a pink parakeet's
crest and tail feathers strolled by and offered them more drinks. Balair
accepted immediately and pulled the frightened waitress onto his lap,
immediately fondling her and licking her neck with his extra-long tongue. The
waitress struggled vainly to get away from Balair while Balair and Dodoria began
to laugh and mock her.
"You can wait on me tonight, sweet thing," Balair purred into the
frightened girl's ear.
Dodoria, who was bisexual like many of his people, laughed wickedly and asked
Balair to save him a piece of her.
"Let me go! Please!" the waitress cried. She looked pleadingly at
the other patrons, hoping for help. Finally Chestra spoke up firmly:
"C'mon, Balair, that's enough. You've had your fun with her, now
let her go back to work."
Balair laughed raucously. "I haven't had all of my fun yet; the
night's still young! And so is she! I haven't had a woman in three weeks!"
Chestra nudged Zarbon in his ribs, and Zarbon finally intervened.
"Release her, Balair. You'll have plenty of women in the Ginyu Girls to keep
you entertained on our way to Calmag."
Dodoria chuckled. "This little waitress here ought to join the
Ginyu Girls herself; she'd certainly qualify!"
Balair refused to release the waitress at first until Zarbon
deliberately stepped on his toe. "Release her, Balair!"
Balair growled. "Fine." He shoved the girl off of his lap onto the
floor, where she fell and bumped her head. The girl scuttled to her feet and
ran away, sobbing.
Balair ignored Chestra's fatal glare of disgust, as he gulped down
the third vodka that the waitress had left for him. He had wanted Chestra for
himself a long time ago, but the one time that he had tried to make a pass at
her had landed him in the rejuvenation tanks for a week, and even he had never
bothered her again. And Zarbon, her mate, was still stronger than he was.
Zarbon allowed no one to touch Chestra.
Jaden finally woke from her meditating trance. "What in the
universe was that about?"
Chestra snorted with disgust. "Balair not keeping his hands to himself, as
usual."
Zarbon sighed. "Balair, one of these days you're going to make
advances on the wrong woman, and it may cost you your life."
Balair snorted derisively. "That'll happen alright-when the
universe freezes over, and Frieza joins the Ginyu Girls! He'll also marry
Shalila Chloe!" He and Dodoria both laughed over that remark. Jaden shook her
head in disgust; she and Balair had never been friends, and the Rybanese and the
Sistrai races had been archenemies, and for the most part, still were.
Diamonique, in a rare act of discretion, wisely changed the subject.
"Speaking of our Lord Frieza, does he even have a love life? I've never seen
him with anyone but my cousin, Eclipse, and I know they can't mate."
Zarbon smiled indulgently. "Lord Frieza has a few playmates that he
visits throughout the universe from time to time. He keeps his love life very
discreet and quiet. I don't think he even mates with any of the Ginyu Girls,
although he has sent for them from time to time."
Jaden grinned, temporarily forgetting about Balair and his debauchery. "He's
nothing like his father, King Cold, that's for sure!" They all laughed then,
even Balair, for they all knew that King Cold had three wives and a harem of
pretties with the same qualities as the Ginyu Girls. They also knew, although
none of them dared to mention it, that Frieza often had his father's playmates
and wives killed off from time to time when Frieza thought that the women
involved might give his father an heir stronger than he was. Frieza also
frequently had his half-siblings murdered that were produced from his father's
frequent liaisons.
"Do you think Lord Frieza would ever marry?" Diamonique asked.
Zarbon became thoughtful then. "Maybe, but I doubt it. I don't
think Lord Frieza would willingly marry and produce an heir unless he was ready
to die soon. There is always the danger of him producing an heir more powerful
than he is, and Lord Frieza is not ready to go anytime soon. An heir could rise
up against him."
"I'm looking forward to the mission to Calmag," Dodoria spoke up.
"We haven't had any real excitement in a long time. I'll roast every living
thing there!"
"That's fine, Dodoria, but don't forget that we have to spare
Princess Tayla and bring her to Lord Frieza alive, unharmed, and-"-Zarbon looked
meaningfully at Balair-"unmolested."
"Should we each separately try to capture Princess Tayla ourselves?"
Diamonique asked, drumming her perfect, fatal diamond nails on the worn
tabletop. "Or should we spilt up into teams and try to capture her that way?"
"It shouldn't be that hard to capture a twelve-year-old girl,
Diamonique, even if she is an elite-class Astorian royal," Dodoria told her.
"She is just a child."
"But a powerful child," Chestra reminded him, "Remember that she was
able to defeat Prince Vegeta, and how many people do you know can do that
besides us?"
"And her powerful granny, Shalila Chloe, will be with her, and we
all know that she and Tayla's other family members won't let Tayla go without a
fight-a nasty fight too. The Astorians mean business when they try to protect
their own. They don't show mercy to anyone harming their own people," Jaden
added. "So we have the others to contend with too. And Shalila Chloe has
married that Namek warrior, Dirkan, so we will have to watch out for him too."
Zarbon added, "And don't forget that Frieza has allowed Prince
Vegeta and the other Saiyans to accompany us to planet Calmag. They will be
trying to clear Calmag before we will, and the Saiyans will definitely want
revenge on Princess Tayla. We have to ensure that Prince Vegeta does not try to
kill Princess Tayla for her defeating him five years ago. Princess Tayla is
only valuable to us alive and unharmed and-"-everyone looked at
Balair-"unmolested." Balair glared darkly at everyone, but said nothing.
Dodoria asked, "Will the Ginyu Girls be coming with us?"
Zarbon nodded. "Possibly, for it will be a long voyage."
Balair grinned. "Good, for I'll finally have something to keep me
warm at night."
Jaden said snappily, "Have you ever heard of a blanket?" Everyone at
the table, except for Balair laughed.
Balair retorted, "At least I can get a warm body at night. You,
Jaden, couldn't pay a man to even look at you!"
Jaden was unfazed, and she put pressure on Chestra's arm to prevent
her from speaking up for her; she didn't want any additional trouble. "I have
better and more important things to do than to worry about ridiculous things
such as mating. Things like that are a distraction-one I can easily do
without."
Dodoria sneered nastily, for he disliked Jaden as much as Balair
did, "You'll definitely do without that distraction alright, for you killed the
one man who did actually want to jump your bones! How was it with Sagash,
Jaden, before you killed him?" He and Balair broke out into malicious laughter.
A look of extreme pain and hurt flashed across Jaden's face,
something that rarely happened to her characteristic unfeeling mask. Then the
pained look hardened into a look of pure anger and rage. She shoved her drink
aside and rose up angrily. Everyone was stunned, for Jaden usually knew how to
hold her temper and remain calm. She seized Dodoria by his collar and held him
up in the air, as she leapt on top of the table with his collar in her meaty
hand. Everyone stopped eating and stared in shock at Dodoria and Jaden. The
room was now so quiet that a feather dropping to the floor could be heard.
"You bastard!" she hissed in fury. "If you ever mention that
bastard's name or that time to me again, I will pound all of your spikes into
your skull! Got it?"
Dodoria normally didn't fear Jaden, but he did now. He knew that
Jaden could be as dangerous as any of them when her temper was ignited. "Fine,"
he scoffed, "I don't care one way or the other."
Jaden threw him back into the booth, and Dodoria dusted himself off
with as much as dignity as he could. Jaden excused herself and pushed past
Zarbon and Chestra, storming out of the Elite Lounge and Bar. Chestra followed
behind her quickly after excusing her from Zarbon; she was the only one besides
Frieza who dared to come near Jaden whenever Jaden was angry like this.
Jaden went off to train in the gravity room that was reserved
exclusively for the Elites, but before she entered the room, Chestra stopped her
by gently grabbing her arm.
"Are you okay?" she asked softly, touching Jaden's shoulder.
Jaden suppressed her temper; she did not like to be bothered after
losing her temper, but Chestra was her closest friend, so Jaden did not throw
her into a wall like she would have done anyone else.
"I'm fine," she grunted, but a small quiver in her voice betrayed
the truth. Realizing that she was too upset to train, she sat down on the floor
in the corridor to calm down. Chestra sat down next to her and put her arm
around the older fighter's shoulder. Jaden permitted it, although she normally
didn't allow anyone to touch her.
"Pay Balair and Dodoria no mind, those leather apes aren't worth
it," Chestra told her firmly.
Jaden only nodded and closed her eyes, carefully hiding potential
tears.
Chestra then used her rare, wry sense of humor to try to cheer her
friend up. "The only reason they get anywhere into the Ginyu Girl's pants is
because Frieza pays the girls himself! The only way Balair and Dodoria can get
it up is if they puts their little peters on ice!"
A small chuckle emerged from Jaden then. "Does Dodoria even have a
peter?"
Chestra shuddered. "Ugh! I'm not sure that I want to find out!"
She and Jaden both gagged like a couple of schoolgirls, and then like
schoolgirls, they fell against each other and roared with laughter. Jaden, who
was normally so serious, was more relaxed and humorous whenever Chestra was
around. Jaden admired Chestra for not letting her past life as a slave bring
her down.
"We could always ask Eclipse, or any of the other Ginyu Girls,"
Jaden quipped.
Chestra gagged again. "Do we really need to know that much about
what's under Dodoria's armor? I don't know about the other Ginyu Girls, but I
would hope that Eclipse would have better taste than Dodoria."
Jaden laughed. She felt much better now. Chestra was twelve years
younger than she was, and yet Jaden felt that she could trust her with anything,
including her own life. Finding someone that you could trust was difficult
under Frieza.
"Hey, what do you say you and me and Zarbon team up and find this
Princess Tayla and see if she's as tough as they claim she is?" Chestra told her
merrily.
Jaden smirked. "Sure, why not? I'd like to beat those leather apes
to her." She patted Chestra's shoulder, and that was all that was needed to reveal
how strong a bond she and Chestra had.
"And don't forget the real apes-those kids that you trained! We're
competing against them too!"
Jaden smiled. She had respect for the Saiyans, but she was still
determined to show her former students that she was still superior. She could
still show her prize pupil, Prince Vegeta, a thing or two about fighting and
taking captives.
"Time to train," she told Chestra gruffly. "We've got work to do."
She and Chestra went into the gravity room, set it at one hundred times normal
gravity, and they began to spar.
Frieza was preparing to dismiss the Top Elite officers, much to
everyone's relief when an emergency light flashed in the middle of the control
panel centered in the middle of the meeting table. Frieza pressed a red button
and purred, "Yes? Lord Frieza speaking."
"Sire!" Reccor's excited voice echoed through the intercom from his
scouter. "We have left Astoria on a ship headed towards planet Calmag.
Princess Tayla and her grandmother are on it. They are intending to form an
alliance against you with the Calmagian people."
"Good," Frieza said happily. "Now we have a legitimate reason to
head off to Calmag. I have wanted that planet cleared for some time. You are
dismissed for now, Reccor. Keep me informed later on little Princess Tayla."
"But sire, there's-" Reccor tried to speak, but Frieza cut the
control panel off before Reccor could finish. Frieza was too jubilant to care.
He clapped his hands gleefully, like a little boy. "Wonderful
news!" he cried joyously. "All of you have a new assignment. The entire Top
Elite and some selected Mid-Elite officers will now be going to Calmag to clear
that planet and capture Princess Tayla! I have decided that she is ready to
come work for me!" The Top Elite stared at him in stunned disbelief, since half
of them had been promised downtime for the next week. Frieza ignored the
anticipated groans, as he continued, "The rewards for completing this assignment
successfully will more than make up for your lost vacation time. Whoever
captures Princess Tayla and brings her to me first will receive-"
He named an amount and a benefit package so generous and munificent
that all of the Top Elite members were amazed. They were much happier now.
"I'll have my hands on that little royal brat before you guys have a
chance to glimpse at her!" Balair boasted.
"Dream on, gas-bag!" Diamonique roared. "The brat is mine!"
"So you say," Dodoria purred, "I'll capture her before any of you
get near her! And I'll eliminate her granny as well!"
Jaden snorted derisively. "Well, let's hope you have better luck
getting rid of Shalila Chloe than you did twenty-two years ago when we attacked
Chloe that one time! If some low-level runts hadn't intervened, you wouldn't be
alive today because Shalila Chloe nearly killed you! Face it, Dodoria, your
power level is nowhere near as strong as the Astorians, especially Shalila's."
Dodoria shot Jaden a fatal glare, but Jaden only smirked. She
didn't fear anyone in Frieza's forces, except for Frieza himself.
Dodoria managed to retort back nastily, "Well, at least I managed to
kill some Astorians off before that happened. You were lucky that you killed
those three you had!"
Chestra and Diamonique did not comment, because they had only been
small children at the time Chloe was invaded. Chestra was still a slave on her
first planet, and Diamonique had been growing up as nobility on Gemstar. They
were the two youngest fighters of Frieza's Top Elite.
Balair, who had not been with a woman in three weeks, asked
salaciously, "Is she pretty? Is she old enough for mating yet?"
Frieza glowered at Balair. "I want her brought back as one of my
fighters, you lust-crazed fool! She is not to become your personal whore! You
can use the Ginyu Girls for that business. She is to brought to me alive and
unharmed." He narrowed his eyes, looking directly at Balair. "And she is to be
brought to me unmolested and untouched. No one uses her as his or her
plaything; just keep her alive and well until she is brought to me. If I hear
that anything else happened, the officer or officers involved will be
eliminated." Again, he looked at Balair, who had a reputation for raping and
torturing female victims and prisoners.
Jaden and Chestra glared at Balair with disgust. Neither one of
them cared for the Astorians, but they did not feel that rape was right under
any circumstances or on any species. Chestra used to have to dodge the unwanted
advances of men until she became Zarbon's mate, and Jaden had wanted no man to
touch her after what Sagash had tried on her. Balair ignored both women's
glares.
At that moment, Prince Vegeta strolled into Frieza's meeting room,
followed by the ever-faithful, ever-loyal Nappa, his right-hand man and partner.
Vegeta was sixteen years old now and already as tall as he was going to get at
five feet, two-inches tall. He walked tall and proud for his short height, and
it was only the Top Elite officers that dared to tease him about his height;
anyone else who had taunted him about his shortness never lived to tell the
tale-literally. Vegeta, Nappa, Raditz and Journa were now all Mid-Elite
officers, and Vegeta was being considered for promotion into Top Elite.
"Any new assignments available, sire?" he purred. Vegeta still
despised Frieza for taking him and Journa away from their father, but Vegeta
never showed it. He was still determined to overthrow Frieza one day, but until
he knew that he was strong enough, he willingly followed Frieza's commands and
insisted that his sister and Nappa and Raditz do the same.
Frieza grinned appreciatively at his favorite Mid-Elite officer.
"As a matter of fact, yes," he boasted. "Vegeta, I want you and your fellow
Saiyans to accompany my Top Elite officers to planet Calmag to help clear it-and
to capture Princess Tayla." He named the large reward for capturing Tayla and
bringing her to him alive.
"Gladly," Vegeta told him with a smirk. "I've been wanting to get
revenge on that brat for some time now. She will pay for humiliating me back on
that piece of rock, Chloe!" he hissed in fury.
"Temper, temper, Vegeta," Frieza told him easily. "I don't want her
harmed, only captured. Make sure Nappa and Raditz understand that. I insist
that she be brought to me alive, unharmed, and unmolested, so don't take your
Saiyan lust out on her. I know the Saiyan appetite for Astorian females, but
Princess Tayla is off limits."
Vegeta narrowed his eyes at Frieza. He was one of the few people
who dared to do so. "I have no interest in touching the girl. I do not wish to
plant my Saiyan seed in an Astorian garden. I'll save my seed and plow for
choicer soil, thank you." He smirked. "I can't speak for Raditz or Nappa,
however."
"Save your seed and plow for choicer soil, eh?" Balair sneered.
"You mean choicer soil-like Diamonique?" Diamonique shot him a vicious look,
and started to aim one of her poisonous nails at him until Frieza stopped her
with a look. He didn't want his Top Elite officers trying to kill each other
off-not at this time anyway.
The entire Elite, Top, Mid, and Lower levels, were all snickering
about Vegeta and Diamonique. Neither Vegeta nor Diamonique would confirm
whether or not they were having an affair, but they secretly were. Neither one
loved the other; they were only using each other for physical pleasure. There
was only sex between them. Diamonique had initiated Vegeta into manhood a year
ago, and the promiscuous Gemstarian noblewoman had taught Vegeta many things in
bed. Vegeta could care less whether Diamonique lived or died, but she gave him
pleasure whenever he demanded it. Diamonique had no feelings towards Vegeta
except for lust and desire. If one of them died, the other one would be blasé
about it; there was no bond between them. Diamonique liked having a young lover
eight years her junior, and Vegeta liked having someone he could go to whenever
he felt a physical need.
Raditz and Journa had been sleeping together without anyone's
knowledge, including Vegeta's, for two years now, and they were happy whenever
they were together. They were faithful to each other, truly bonded mates.
Nappa had never had a steady mate, although he had used many low-level women for
his physical pleasures, both Saiyan and non-Saiyan.
Nappa especially loved being with the Ginyu Girls, the group of
cheerleaders and groupies from all different species and races that regularly
hung around Captain Ginyu and his men. They were talented young girls and women
who could dance, sing and chant exceptionally well. Ginyu taught the girls many
poses and dances, which they used to cheer on the Ginyu Force and promote them
among Frieza's forces. Most of the Ginyu Girls also gave their bodies willingly
to any Elite male who would satisfy them or reward them with money, clothing, or
nice trinkets. Many of the Ginyu Girls were courtesans, but that was of their
own choice; no one forced them, and the Ginyu Girls could refuse anyone that
they deemed unworthy of their attentions. Captain Ginyu selected the Ginyu
Girls himself, choosing them based on class, breeding, looks, agility, talent
and gracefulness. He wanted young ladies who could represent his Force well.
Frieza thought at times that the Ginyu Girls were an unnecessary expense, but he
liked them as well as any Elite male, so he allowed them to remain among his
Forces and paid their expenses.
Eclipse, a young humanoid woman who was half-Calmagian and
half-Gemstarian, was the Squad Leader of the Ginyu Girls. Eclipse was
Diamonique's first cousin who was five-feet, six inches tall and had long, soft
turquoise hair and eyes and the same peaches-and-ice skin as her cousin. She
had the Calmagian pointed elfin ears and the deadly blue diamond nails of the
Gemstarians, although she never had used them on anyone. She and Diamonique
were friendly, but not close. Eclipse was no fighter, but she was an excellent
dancer and singer, and unlike the girls under her command, she was selective
about whom she slept with. Eclipse was no saint, but she was not entirely evil;
she looked out for and protected her girls from those who would try to abuse
them. She was a sort of madam, one could say. Eclipse was twenty-five years
old, a year older than Diamonique, and she was Frieza's favorite Ginyu Girl,
even though he was not mating-compatible with her. They had never slept
together, but Eclipse kept Frieza entertained in other ways, massaging him,
kissing him, singing, dancing or reciting poetry to him; she was a good
lyricist. Eclipse occasionally entertained Captain Ginyu even though she was
not mating-compatible with him either, but she held a small affection for Nappa
that seemed to be growing every day. Nappa seemed to like her too, and he had
started spending more time with her and less time with the other Ginyu Girls.
Eclipse was also a good friend of Chestra and Jaden's, although she
was not as close to them as they were to each other. Eclipse often served as a
double spy for the two female fighters, alerting them to some of Frieza's plans
and even warning them when then was an occasional plan to assassinate them.
Chestra and Jaden liked her tremendously, but they never confided their secrets
to her the same way they did with each other because Eclipse was too close to
Frieza and Captain Ginyu to be safely trusted that intimately.
Eclipse had followed Nappa and Vegeta to the meeting room, hoping to
spend some extra time with Nappa. Vegeta paid her no attention, although she
was considered to be one of the beauties among Frieza's forces. Nappa noticed
her finally, and he crept away from Vegeta in order to talk to her. He and
Eclipse snuck into a dark corner.
Nappa grinned widely at her. "Whatcha been up to, gorgeous?"
Eclipse smiled broadly, running her slender blue diamond nail
fingers along his broad, muscular chest. "Not much. Believe it or not, I've
been sort of bored lately whenever you're not around," she purred.
Nappa grinned wider. "If Frieza and Captain Ginyu lets you come,
would you like to go with us to planet Calmag? We're set to clear it and
capture little Princess Tayla, if we can." He wrapped his large, well-developed
arms around Eclipse's tiny waist and embraced her tightly, tickling her and
making her giggle. He lifted her off of the floor, past his six feet, ten
inches frame until her face was on the same level as his. Eclipse nipped him
playfully on his nose, the way Saiyan men liked it.
"What do you mean, you fool, if we can?" Vegeta had found Nappa and
Eclipse getting cozy. "We will capture Princess Tayla and clear that pathetic
planet! No, correct that, I will capture Princess Tayla, and I will make her
pay for defeating me! I will one day prove to her, the Astorians, and everyone
here my true worth as a warrior! No Astorian is more powerful than a Saiyan,
especially me the strongest Saiyan warrior in the universe! I am the Prince of
all Saiyans, destined to become the first Legendary Super-Saiyan in a long time!
And when I achieve that goal, the universe and everyone in it, will be mine,
subject to the great Prince Vegeta!" And with that, he stalked off proudly,
with his tail, which was normally wrapped around his waist, swishing
triumphantly in the air.
Eclipse giggled in a whisper, "He's so full of himself, isn't he?
The only one whose ego is bigger than his is Frieza himself!"
Nappa chuckled after making sure that neither Vegeta nor Frieza were
within earshot. He nibbled on Eclipse's ear and whispered, his voice becoming
deep and serious, "Don't underestimate the Prince though, Eclipse. He's the
strongest Saiyan fighter I have seen in years; not even his father could compare
to him. He may wind up ruling this universe after all, so be sure to stay on
his good side."
Eclipse nodded. "I'll be sure to do that," she told him truthfully,
for she and Nappa knew that Vegeta was the strongest warrior in Frieza's Mid and
Lower Elite forces, possibly even the Top Elite itself. Prince Vegeta's powers
and fighting abilities were phenomenal, even for a Saiyan warrior; he had become
five times stronger than he had been five years ago. Other than the battles
with Princess Tayla and her family, he had never lost a fight yet. Frieza had
finally forgiven him and his fellow Saiyans that one loss, and Frieza was
considering giving Vegeta another chance to clear Astoria.
Nappa forgot about Vegeta for the moment, as Eclipse started
nuzzling his wide neck. "So," he purred. "Are you game?'
"I'm game; I'm sure Captain Ginyu will expect me to come anyway and
bring the entire troop. You men will need something to keep you warm during
those cold Calmagian nights," she cooed, nipping his chin lightly. Nappa
chuckled again.
"Have you ever been to planet Calmag?" he asked her, while nibbling
on her ear again.
Eclipse sighed wistfully, "No, I haven't. My people, the
Gemstarians captured a Calmagian ship that was headed towards Astoria. This
band of Calmagians was descended from the weakest tribe of Calmagians, at least
that is what my mother has told me, so they had no real chance against the
Gemstarians. Only my Calmagian mother and her sisters were spared, and my
Gemstarian father took my Calmagian mother as his concubine. They fell in love
with each other and married, and then I came along. I have never seen Calmag;
what I know about it is from what my mother has told me." Eclipse became
saddened then, for both her parents and Diamonique's parents had died five years
ago from a terrible plague that had wiped out much of the Gemstarian nobility.
Diamonique, in a rare act of generosity, had helped Eclipse get a job as a Ginyu
Girl, and Eclipse had eventually taken over the troop.
Nappa patted Eclipse's bottom playfully. "Don't worry," he told her
with his characteristic grin. "You'll get your chance soon enough. Just don't
go leaving me for some Calmagian stud!" They both laughed then.
Balair, Dodoria, Zarbon, Jaden, Chestra and Diamonique left Frieza's
meeting room after Frieza gave them more information about Princess Tayla and
planet Calmag, and they went downstairs to the Elite Lounge and Bar for drinks,
and all six members settled themselves comfortably into a booth. Chestra and
Zarbon were nestled together contentedly, Zarbon's arm around her slender waist
and Chestra's head on his shoulder. Balair was already working on his second
vodka, and Dodoria on his first beer. Jaden had put herself in a trance and was
meditating like she often did, and Diamonique was filing her deadly nails.
A pretty waitress who resembled a white cat with a pink parakeet's
crest and tail feathers strolled by and offered them more drinks. Balair
accepted immediately and pulled the frightened waitress onto his lap,
immediately fondling her and licking her neck with his extra-long tongue. The
waitress struggled vainly to get away from Balair while Balair and Dodoria began
to laugh and mock her.
"You can wait on me tonight, sweet thing," Balair purred into the
frightened girl's ear.
Dodoria, who was bisexual like many of his people, laughed wickedly and asked
Balair to save him a piece of her.
"Let me go! Please!" the waitress cried. She looked pleadingly at
the other patrons, hoping for help. Finally Chestra spoke up firmly:
"C'mon, Balair, that's enough. You've had your fun with her, now
let her go back to work."
Balair laughed raucously. "I haven't had all of my fun yet; the
night's still young! And so is she! I haven't had a woman in three weeks!"
Chestra nudged Zarbon in his ribs, and Zarbon finally intervened.
"Release her, Balair. You'll have plenty of women in the Ginyu Girls to keep
you entertained on our way to Calmag."
Dodoria chuckled. "This little waitress here ought to join the
Ginyu Girls herself; she'd certainly qualify!"
Balair refused to release the waitress at first until Zarbon
deliberately stepped on his toe. "Release her, Balair!"
Balair growled. "Fine." He shoved the girl off of his lap onto the
floor, where she fell and bumped her head. The girl scuttled to her feet and
ran away, sobbing.
Balair ignored Chestra's fatal glare of disgust, as he gulped down
the third vodka that the waitress had left for him. He had wanted Chestra for
himself a long time ago, but the one time that he had tried to make a pass at
her had landed him in the rejuvenation tanks for a week, and even he had never
bothered her again. And Zarbon, her mate, was still stronger than he was.
Zarbon allowed no one to touch Chestra.
Jaden finally woke from her meditating trance. "What in the
universe was that about?"
Chestra snorted with disgust. "Balair not keeping his hands to himself, as
usual."
Zarbon sighed. "Balair, one of these days you're going to make
advances on the wrong woman, and it may cost you your life."
Balair snorted derisively. "That'll happen alright-when the
universe freezes over, and Frieza joins the Ginyu Girls! He'll also marry
Shalila Chloe!" He and Dodoria both laughed over that remark. Jaden shook her
head in disgust; she and Balair had never been friends, and the Rybanese and the
Sistrai races had been archenemies, and for the most part, still were.
Diamonique, in a rare act of discretion, wisely changed the subject.
"Speaking of our Lord Frieza, does he even have a love life? I've never seen
him with anyone but my cousin, Eclipse, and I know they can't mate."
Zarbon smiled indulgently. "Lord Frieza has a few playmates that he
visits throughout the universe from time to time. He keeps his love life very
discreet and quiet. I don't think he even mates with any of the Ginyu Girls,
although he has sent for them from time to time."
Jaden grinned, temporarily forgetting about Balair and his debauchery. "He's
nothing like his father, King Cold, that's for sure!" They all laughed then,
even Balair, for they all knew that King Cold had three wives and a harem of
pretties with the same qualities as the Ginyu Girls. They also knew, although
none of them dared to mention it, that Frieza often had his father's playmates
and wives killed off from time to time when Frieza thought that the women
involved might give his father an heir stronger than he was. Frieza also
frequently had his half-siblings murdered that were produced from his father's
frequent liaisons.
"Do you think Lord Frieza would ever marry?" Diamonique asked.
Zarbon became thoughtful then. "Maybe, but I doubt it. I don't
think Lord Frieza would willingly marry and produce an heir unless he was ready
to die soon. There is always the danger of him producing an heir more powerful
than he is, and Lord Frieza is not ready to go anytime soon. An heir could rise
up against him."
"I'm looking forward to the mission to Calmag," Dodoria spoke up.
"We haven't had any real excitement in a long time. I'll roast every living
thing there!"
"That's fine, Dodoria, but don't forget that we have to spare
Princess Tayla and bring her to Lord Frieza alive, unharmed, and-"-Zarbon looked
meaningfully at Balair-"unmolested."
"Should we each separately try to capture Princess Tayla ourselves?"
Diamonique asked, drumming her perfect, fatal diamond nails on the worn
tabletop. "Or should we spilt up into teams and try to capture her that way?"
"It shouldn't be that hard to capture a twelve-year-old girl,
Diamonique, even if she is an elite-class Astorian royal," Dodoria told her.
"She is just a child."
"But a powerful child," Chestra reminded him, "Remember that she was
able to defeat Prince Vegeta, and how many people do you know can do that
besides us?"
"And her powerful granny, Shalila Chloe, will be with her, and we
all know that she and Tayla's other family members won't let Tayla go without a
fight-a nasty fight too. The Astorians mean business when they try to protect
their own. They don't show mercy to anyone harming their own people," Jaden
added. "So we have the others to contend with too. And Shalila Chloe has
married that Namek warrior, Dirkan, so we will have to watch out for him too."
Zarbon added, "And don't forget that Frieza has allowed Prince
Vegeta and the other Saiyans to accompany us to planet Calmag. They will be
trying to clear Calmag before we will, and the Saiyans will definitely want
revenge on Princess Tayla. We have to ensure that Prince Vegeta does not try to
kill Princess Tayla for her defeating him five years ago. Princess Tayla is
only valuable to us alive and unharmed and-"-everyone looked at
Balair-"unmolested." Balair glared darkly at everyone, but said nothing.
Dodoria asked, "Will the Ginyu Girls be coming with us?"
Zarbon nodded. "Possibly, for it will be a long voyage."
Balair grinned. "Good, for I'll finally have something to keep me
warm at night."
Jaden said snappily, "Have you ever heard of a blanket?" Everyone at
the table, except for Balair laughed.
Balair retorted, "At least I can get a warm body at night. You,
Jaden, couldn't pay a man to even look at you!"
Jaden was unfazed, and she put pressure on Chestra's arm to prevent
her from speaking up for her; she didn't want any additional trouble. "I have
better and more important things to do than to worry about ridiculous things
such as mating. Things like that are a distraction-one I can easily do
without."
Dodoria sneered nastily, for he disliked Jaden as much as Balair
did, "You'll definitely do without that distraction alright, for you killed the
one man who did actually want to jump your bones! How was it with Sagash,
Jaden, before you killed him?" He and Balair broke out into malicious laughter.
A look of extreme pain and hurt flashed across Jaden's face,
something that rarely happened to her characteristic unfeeling mask. Then the
pained look hardened into a look of pure anger and rage. She shoved her drink
aside and rose up angrily. Everyone was stunned, for Jaden usually knew how to
hold her temper and remain calm. She seized Dodoria by his collar and held him
up in the air, as she leapt on top of the table with his collar in her meaty
hand. Everyone stopped eating and stared in shock at Dodoria and Jaden. The
room was now so quiet that a feather dropping to the floor could be heard.
"You bastard!" she hissed in fury. "If you ever mention that
bastard's name or that time to me again, I will pound all of your spikes into
your skull! Got it?"
Dodoria normally didn't fear Jaden, but he did now. He knew that
Jaden could be as dangerous as any of them when her temper was ignited. "Fine,"
he scoffed, "I don't care one way or the other."
Jaden threw him back into the booth, and Dodoria dusted himself off
with as much as dignity as he could. Jaden excused herself and pushed past
Zarbon and Chestra, storming out of the Elite Lounge and Bar. Chestra followed
behind her quickly after excusing her from Zarbon; she was the only one besides
Frieza who dared to come near Jaden whenever Jaden was angry like this.
Jaden went off to train in the gravity room that was reserved
exclusively for the Elites, but before she entered the room, Chestra stopped her
by gently grabbing her arm.
"Are you okay?" she asked softly, touching Jaden's shoulder.
Jaden suppressed her temper; she did not like to be bothered after
losing her temper, but Chestra was her closest friend, so Jaden did not throw
her into a wall like she would have done anyone else.
"I'm fine," she grunted, but a small quiver in her voice betrayed
the truth. Realizing that she was too upset to train, she sat down on the floor
in the corridor to calm down. Chestra sat down next to her and put her arm
around the older fighter's shoulder. Jaden permitted it, although she normally
didn't allow anyone to touch her.
"Pay Balair and Dodoria no mind, those leather apes aren't worth
it," Chestra told her firmly.
Jaden only nodded and closed her eyes, carefully hiding potential
tears.
Chestra then used her rare, wry sense of humor to try to cheer her
friend up. "The only reason they get anywhere into the Ginyu Girl's pants is
because Frieza pays the girls himself! The only way Balair and Dodoria can get
it up is if they puts their little peters on ice!"
A small chuckle emerged from Jaden then. "Does Dodoria even have a
peter?"
Chestra shuddered. "Ugh! I'm not sure that I want to find out!"
She and Jaden both gagged like a couple of schoolgirls, and then like
schoolgirls, they fell against each other and roared with laughter. Jaden, who
was normally so serious, was more relaxed and humorous whenever Chestra was
around. Jaden admired Chestra for not letting her past life as a slave bring
her down.
"We could always ask Eclipse, or any of the other Ginyu Girls,"
Jaden quipped.
Chestra gagged again. "Do we really need to know that much about
what's under Dodoria's armor? I don't know about the other Ginyu Girls, but I
would hope that Eclipse would have better taste than Dodoria."
Jaden laughed. She felt much better now. Chestra was twelve years
younger than she was, and yet Jaden felt that she could trust her with anything,
including her own life. Finding someone that you could trust was difficult
under Frieza.
"Hey, what do you say you and me and Zarbon team up and find this
Princess Tayla and see if she's as tough as they claim she is?" Chestra told her
merrily.
Jaden smirked. "Sure, why not? I'd like to beat those leather apes
to her." She patted Chestra's shoulder, and that was all that was needed to reveal
how strong a bond she and Chestra had.
"And don't forget the real apes-those kids that you trained! We're
competing against them too!"
Jaden smiled. She had respect for the Saiyans, but she was still
determined to show her former students that she was still superior. She could
still show her prize pupil, Prince Vegeta, a thing or two about fighting and
taking captives.
"Time to train," she told Chestra gruffly. "We've got work to do."
She and Chestra went into the gravity room, set it at one hundred times normal
gravity, and they began to spar.
