Chapter Thirty-Three: The Astorian Captives
Frieza's mother ship, 1AM, (Frieza Stellar Time), 3AM (Astorian Galactic Time)
Vegeta had been training in the Elite gravity room for twelve hours
straight. He would have continued, but his growling stomach bothered him too
much for him to keep going. Finally, he decided to stop for an hour and get an
early morning breakfast He turned off the gravity, bringing it back to normal
gravity for the room. He went into the shower room, which was adjacent to the
gravity room, and quickly showered. After drying himself off and dressing into
his armor and bodysuit once more, he left for the Elite Lounge and Bar to get
something to eat.
Vegeta would just eat and have some water; he never imbibed in
alcohol because he believed that it would inhibit his training, power and
judgment. His father had taught him that only foolish warriors allowed
themselves to become prey to alcohol, and Vegeta believed this to be true. He
had seen how idiotic Dodoria and Balair acted when they were drunk, and he
limited how much alcohol Journa, Raditz and Nappa were allowed to consume.
Vegeta chuckled to himself over a memory of a drunken Balair making
a pass at Zarbon when he had, in a drunken haze, mistaken Zarbon for one of the
Ginyu Girls. Zarbon had nearly killed Balair that night, and he had actually
transformed into that hideous creature resembling a green Oozaru with earrings
and no fur. Vegeta chuckled more, thinking that Zarbon was indeed a pretty
boy-when he wasn't transformed. He couldn't entirely blame Balair for thinking
that Zarbon was female. He didn't care for either Zarbon or Balair, but he
brought that memory up whenever he needed a laugh, or whenever Zarbon or Balair
acted as if they were better than he was.
He decided to check on his sister before going for breakfast.
Vegeta did not care much for anyone, but he held a small affection and respect for
his sister. He didn't often treat her any better than he did anyone else, but
he knew that Journa never held it against him. Oh sure, she was defiant and
stubborn and didn't hesitate to tell him off when she thought that he needed it;
she was the only person who could get away with talking back to Vegeta and live.
She infuriated Vegeta often, but Vegeta admired her for facing him with no
fear. It was not often that she was scared of him. He also knew that Journa
would never betray him or turn against him, no matter what.
He was in a rare good mood, so he decided to see if Journa wanted to
join him for breakfast. He went to the Mid-Elite rooms to find his sister. The
Top Elite officers had their own private rooms, the Mid-Elite and Lower-Elite
officers shared their rooms with a partner, and the low-levels and recruits
slept in barracks, shared by as many as twenty people at a time. Vegeta himself
reluctantly shared a room with his bodyguard and partner, Nappa; he would have
preferred his own room, but rules were rules.
He found Journa's roommate, Crystalis, casually filing her five-inch
green nails, as she stood outside in the corridors. Crystalis was six-feet
tall, and she resembled a brown giraffe with human hands and feet and an
extraordinarily long neck. She had dark green spots and neon green eyes, and
Vegeta thought that she was more ugly than his former trainer, Jaden. He didn't
understand how Journa could stand to look at her everyday, but Journa and
Crystalis were friendly with each other.
Crystalis shrank back when she saw Prince Vegeta approach her; even
though Vegeta was shorter and smaller than she was, he still intimidated her.
Vegeta ignored her backing away from him.
"Is my sister awake?" he asked her curtly.
Crystalis trembled then; she didn't want to answer, for if Prince
Vegeta found out what his sister was up to at that moment-
"Well?" Vegeta prompted. "Are you going to answer me, woman, or am
I going to have to wring it out of you?"
"She-she can't be disturbed right now," Crystalis stammered. She
was a Lower-Elite officer, but she was in awe of all of the Saiyan fighters.
She didn't want to get on Vegeta's bad side, no matter what.
"And why not?" Vegeta asked her sharply, hating her cowardice. He
wondered how Crystalis was ever able to make it into the Elite. "I am her
brother, Prince Vegeta of the Saiyans. I may disturb whomever I wish. Now go
see what she is up to, or I will!"
Crystalis hesitantly walked to her bedroom door and knocked softly.
Vegeta watched her suspiciously, for why would someone knock on her own bedroom
door?
He heard a lusty chuckle emit from the room.
Raditz.
Vegeta gnashed his teeth in fury. He now had the answer to his own
question.
His sister was no better than a low-level tramp, no better than one
of the Ginyu Girls!
He pushed past Crystalis, and blasted the door open with a small ki
blast.
Raditz and Journa were in bed together, both nude under the
bedcovers. Journa cowered when she saw her angry brother. Even the normally
bold Raditz paled when he realized that the Prince had now caught him in bed
with his sister.
Raditz wondered how long he had to live.
Journa wondered if she and Raditz would live at all.
Vegeta shoved Crystalis into the walls of the corridors, and he flew
onto the bed where Journa and Raditz were. Before Raditz could intervene,
Vegeta had seized his naked sister and flung her small body against the wall of
her and Crystalis room. Journa cried out when her head hit a shelf on the wall.
He then grabbed Raditz's tail and squeezed it hard, making Raditz
scream in horrendous pain. Raditz cowered and cried, as Vegeta cruelly twisted
and squeezed his tail. Vegeta, standing on the bed, used his other hand to
seize Raditz's throat. He pulled Raditz's head to his face. Raditz continued
to scream in terror, as Vegeta twisted his tail further.
"Give me one good reason why you shouldn't die, Raditz!" Vegeta
roared.
"Vegeta, don't hurt him, please!" Journa cried.
"Quiet, tramp!" Vegeta hissed at his frightened sister. "Who do you
think you are, bedding a low-class Saiyan warrior?"
"He's not low-class!" Journa screamed. "Don't you remember that our
father gave him Elite-class status for trying to save me from Frieza and Zarbon?
Nappa witnessed it! Let him go!
"It doesn't matter!" Vegeta roared. "What if this bastard
impregnated you? How am I supposed to explain that to Frieza, who's paranoid
enough about us producing brats?" He squeezed Raditz's tail harder.
Raditz was desperate; there was only one thing he could do, and he
did it, deciding to worry about the consequences later. He used what little
strength he had left and seized Vegeta's tail. Vegeta didn't cry out in pain at
all; instead he grinned evilly at Raditz.
Raditz's face paled further when he realized that Vegeta was feeling no pain.
Journa was stunned; why wasn't her brother crying out?
Vegeta laughed maliciously. "Nice try, Raditz, but I have managed
to overcome that small deficiency in my tail. Squeezing my tail might have
harmed me years ago, but I have now overcome that problem. So has Nappa, as you
will soon learn when I turn you over to him for a further beating." He shoved
his fist hard into Raditz's stomach and shoved the longhaired Saiyan off the bed
and onto the floor. Vegeta then leapt onto the floor and kicked Raditz in
between his legs, causing Raditz to scream out in further pain. "And that was
for committing treason against me when you squeezed my tail! You ought to die
for that alone. You are not good enough to be my sister's mate. You are too
weak and cowardly to be an elite-class Saiyan Princess's mate."
He then spat on Raditz and left him on the floor, where he was still
writhing in pain. Vegeta flew over to Journa and picked her up by her hair. He
thrust his face into hers.
"And as for you, you little royal tramp, if I ever hear of you
mating with him again without my permission, I will rip out your tail to where
it can never grow back again. And he will die!" He pushed Journa into the wall
and threw her back onto the bed. "You, as an elite-class Saiyan Princess, ought
to have better taste than that Saiyan weakling! You should be thankful that I
let you off easier than I did your lover!"
He turned to Raditz and shouted, "Get out of this room now, and do
not ever touch my sister again!" Raditz scrambled to his feet and tried to
gather his clothes together. He hated himself for being such a coward with the
Prince. Vegeta was right; maybe he didn't deserve Journa, if he couldn't even
stand up to her brother.
Journa sobbed into her bedcovers, as Vegeta looked on at her with no
pity, but plenty of disgust. He stormed out of the room, past a cowering
Crystalis, who was crouched down near the wall. Vegeta decided to go back to
train some more, for he had just lost his appetite. He left, and when he did,
Crystalis scurried back into her and Journa's room and lay next to Journa on
Journa's bed. Crystalis patted her back and tried to calm her, but Journa was
inconsolable.
Chestra's Bedroom, 5AM (Frieza Stellar Time), 7AM (Astorian Galactic Time)
Chestra was meditating, her perfectly shaped legs crossed in a lotus
position on a purple velvet cushion. Chestra's room was decorated in purple and
gold, and being a Top Elite officer, she had it to herself-except on the nights
Zarbon came to visit her. The room was luxurious, well suited to the status of
one of Frieza's Top Elite officers. There was a large, queen-sized bed, two
nightstands, three dressers and a private bathroom, also decorated in purple and
gold. The carpet was four inches of lavender velvet.
Chestra thought that it was the most luxurious quarters that she
ever had in her life. She had been a slave all of her life until Frieza had
bought her from the Triumvirate of Planet Egimari. Frieza had never formally
freed her, but he nor did anyone else treat her as a slave. The only time that
she had life this good was when she had become the adopted child of King Muro
and Queen Taba of planet Ghetti. The king and queen had adopted her as one of
their own children after they had bought her from her second masters, the
Mybooians. They had given her a small estate and her own servants, and all she
had to do was take care of their children, whom she loved. The Ghettians had
been purple cat-creatures with pink rabbit ears and sunny yellow eyes. Queen
Taba had arranged for Chestra, who had been eleven at the time, to marry her
nephew, Haven, and King Muro had trained her, greatly enhancing her warrior
abilities. On Chestra's twelfth birthday, her happy years ended when an enemy
race invaded the castle and killed the entire royal Ghettian family, including
Haven. After that, Chestra had been sold to various masters who either tried to
rape her or made her fight for them until Frieza had bought her from the
Egimarians. Chestra, who had been eighteen at the time, was twenty-four years
old now. She had been a Top Elite officer for four years.
Chestra knew how evil Frieza was, and yet she would always be
grateful to him for saving her life from the Triumvirate of Egimari, who had
sentenced her to death for resisting the advances of one of the Triumvirate
members. For if it had not been for Frieza, she would not
d her beloved mate, Zarbon. She didn't like the way Frieza had treated her
friend, Jaden, when Frieza had killed Jaden's family, but Jaden told her not to
worry about it and to just stay on Frieza's good side.
Chestra thought about all of this during her meditation, and then
someone knocked on her bedroom door. Chestra awoke from her self-induced trance
and turned on her scouter.
"Who is it?" she called.
"Diamonique."
Chestra put up her guard and became wary. She had learned to do
that, having to live and work with Diamonique. Diamonique could be sweet one
minute and then nasty the next. She and Diamonique had once been roommates when
they had been both recruits, and Diamonique had tried to kill her twice.
She opened the door telekinetically, with her mind, and the door
rose automatically. Diamonique entered, already dressed in Elite armor and
garb.
"Frieza wants all the fighters going to Calmag to meet him for
breakfast this morning in his private dining room. He has something to show
us." Diamonique's black gem eyes swept Chestra's room, as she spoke. She
envied Chestra's quarters, where Zarbon had paid for half of the furnishings.
She strolled around the room casually, as if it belonged to her, and then she
gracefully sat down on Chestra's bed.
"And what would that be?" Chestra asked cautiously.
Diamonique grinned, showing perfect crystal blue teeth, typical of
her race. She laughed merrily, and the sound of her harsh laughter grated on
Chestra's nerves. "We have managed to capture four Astorians. From the Clan of
Chloe, too, Shalila's grandchildren."
"And they have been allowed to live?" Chestra asked, carefully
hiding her amazement.
"For now," Diamonique purred, settling herself comfortably on
Chestra's bed, reveling in the velvety bedspread. Chestra glared at her; who
did Diamonique think she was, acting as if this room was her own? She bit her
tongue however; early morning was no time to be starting petty arguments. She
arose from her cushion and went to her teak wardrobe to pull out her uniform and
armor, but she did not change her clothes just yet. She did not wish to undress
in front of Diamonique.
"It seems that the Astorian captives are a family, a mother, a
father and two children. Balair seems to have taken a liking to the mother. He
even went as far as to lick her neck." Diamonique giggled, and Chestra shook her
red and green head in disgust. Diamonique happily continued, "The father tried
to attack him, but Dodoria punched him in the stomach, making him spit blood.
The Astorian male claims to be a warrior, but he sure was a poor one. No wonder
they left their planet; who would want them around?"
"Are there any children?" Chestra asked, stepping into her private
bathroom. She locked the door and telekinetically changed her clothing. It was
nice to be able to do things hands-free.
"Two brats, a boy and a girl, but it is not likely Frieza would let
them live. He doesn't care much for children," Diamonique declared, stretching
her lithe, curvy body on Chestra's bed.
"Those poor children," Chestra murmured, as she brushed her red and
green hair.
"What did you say?" Diamonique asked.
"Never mind," Chestra said abruptly. "Let's just go. I'm ready."
Frieza's Dining Room, 9AM (Frieza Stellar Time), 11AM (Astorian Galactic Time)
Frieza's dining room was decorated luxuriously in navy blue and
silver, all for a male's taste. All of the Top Elite officers and the Saiyans
had finally arrived, and Frieza called to Zarbon, "Bring out the prisoners."
Zarbon ordered three low-level minions to escort the Astorian
captives into the dining room. Balair followed behind them, openly caressing
the woman's bottom until Zarbon ordered him to stop.
"Frieza said that they weren't to be touched, Balair," Zarbon
reminded him. "Not yet, anyway."
"Sit down, all of you," Frieza told the prisoners courteously. The
minions forced the Astorian family into chairs at the same table as the Top
Elites and the Saiyans. Vegeta looked contemptuously at the Astorians, and
Nappa recognized the Astorian male warrior. He leaned down towards Vegeta and
whispered, "Isn't that one of Tayla's relatives? He fought against us five
years ago."
Vegeta glanced at the strange Astorian warrior, who was still
dressed in his red and white costume and under armor. The costume was typical
of Clan of Chloe warriors. The woman, who had white-blond hair and turquoise
eyes, was dressed nicely in a slightly torn white silk caftan that hugged her
curves.
"Pretty thing," Nappa whispered to Vegeta, "Wouldn't mind getting to
know her better."
Vegeta scowled. "Why would you want to plant your seed in an
Astorian garden, Nappa? She's lovely, but not worth it. You'll have to fight
Balair for her, anyhow."
"That doesn't bother me a bit," Nappa declared arrogantly, for he
disliked Balair as much as Vegeta did.
Raditz had just come out of the rejuvenation tanks. He avoided
Vegeta's eyes. Vegeta had not yet forgiven him for bedding Vegeta's sister.
Nappa and Vegeta both ignored him.
Frieza's eyes swept over the Astorian captives. The woman was
cradling her little boy, who resembled her. The little girl, who also looked
like their mother, cowered near her. Neither of the children had their father's
features.
"Give me your and your family's names," he ordered the man sharply.
The Astorian warrior stammered. "J-Jaypros. P-Prince Jaypros
Mantros Bajal Mantros Arbon Chloe, and this is my w-wife, Princess Farla, and
these are our children, Princess Kaydra and-and Prince Darcos."
"Ages?" Frieza prompted.
"I am thirty-two, my wife is thirty-four, and Kaydra and Darcos are
five and three."
Balair looked lustfully upon Farla, who cowered beneath his intense
stare. Balair wanted her and he wanted her to know it. He was seriously
thinking about asking Frieza to give him Farla in lieu of his bonus pay. He was
reptilian and a Sistrai and she was humanoid and an Astorian, but he was sure
that they were mating-compatible. He stared at her lustily, wondering what that
white caftan of hers was concealing. He licked his lips lasciviously. She had
tasted sweet when he had licked her neck earlier, much to her husband's anger.
Farla looked at Balair fearfully, recognizing his look of desire.
She cowered closer to Jaypros, who put his arm around her protectively.
"F-Frieza," Jaypros began nervously.
"That's Lord Frieza to you," Dodoria snapped.
"L-Lord Frieza," Jaypros began again, watching the evil warlord
stare at him intensely. "If you will return us to our grandmother, I'm sure
that she would reward you if you gave us back to her and treated us well."
"Hold you for ransom, you mean?" Frieza purred silkily. "Sounds
like an interesting idea, but there is nothing that I want from your
grandmother. Shalila Chloe is her name, isn't it?"
"Y-yes, Lord Frieza." Jaypros was sweating intensively, his golden
blond head bobbing up and down like a cork.
Frieza smiled then, contemplating his next words. "Actually, there
is one thing I would like to have from your grandmother."
"And what would that be?" Jaypros asked, shaking in his chair.
"A relative of yours, Princess Tayla Chloe."
Jaypros and Farla paled. "Not her, Lord Frieza, please. She is my
sister-"
Frieza grinned then. "Oh, really? So you're Princess Tayla's
brother, eh? Hmm, this should make things interesting."
Farla spoke up quickly. "Lord Frieza, my cousin Tayla is but a
child; what would you want with her?"
Frieza laughed then. "I want her to become one of my warriors. She
is a strong girl, a girl who was strong enough to defeat Prince Vegeta and put
him in his place." Frieza laughed louder, and everyone laughed along with him
because they knew that it was expected of them. Vegeta didn't laugh, however;
he glared darkly at Frieza, but dared not do anything else. Frieza ignored
Vegeta's evil look.
Vegeta spoke up then, carefully controlling his temper. "Sire, why
would Shalila Chloe want to trade her darling granddaughter, who is very strong,
for a bunch of pathetic weaklings who weren't smart enough to stay at home?
That man there is no true warrior."
Jaypros blanched and Farla anxiously looked away from Vegeta,
watching her pale husband hang her head down in shame. Jaypros was deeply
embarrassed to have a Saiyan, one of his mortal enemies, witness his defeat and
humiliation. He had never been one of the strongest Clan of Chloe warriors, why
even his own little sister, Tayla, had surpassed him, and he was ashamed that he
could not even protect his family. He was just thankful that they didn't know
yet that he and Farla weren't married to each other; in fact, they didn't even
know if Cletos had finally divorced Farla.
"Holding them for ransom might not be such a bad idea, sire,"
Dodoria piped up. "Why you may even get more from the Astorians than little
Tayla Chloe."
"But they're absolutely worthless," Zarbon pointed out. "Tayla
Chloe must be a great asset to Shalila Chloe and her people, or why else would
they have fought Prince Vegeta and the others to get her back? These Astorians
here hardly put up a fight, and the children themselves are too young to be of
use to anyone. Tayla Chloe has to be worth more to Shalila Chloe than these
weaklings."
"I'd say execute them then," Balair said. He took a quick look at
Farla, and then he added, "Except for the woman though. I'll be more than happy
to take her off of everyone's hands." He licked his lips lustily. Zarbon
glared at Balair.
"Balair, do you ever think of anything else besides satisfying your
lusts?" Zarbon snapped. "Besides, it's unlikely you are mating-compatible with
her anyhow."
"Oh, we are. I actually had the Medical people check that out for
me," Balair slurred, and Zarbon shook his head in disgust. He admired Balair as
a fine warrior, but Zarbon thought that Balair could spend less time worrying
about whose skirts he could get under.
"What do you intend to do with us?" Jaypros asked nervously to
Frieza.
Frieza became thoughtful. Everyone grew quiet then.
Farla spoke up, "L-Lord Frieza, may I please take my daughter to any
restrooms that you may have? She needs to relieve herself." Kaydra squirmed on
Farla's lap, trying to control her bursting bladder.
Frieza's eyes swept over her, making Farla shiver. He turned his
eyes towards Chestra. "Chestra, take the little girl to the restroom."
Chestra nodded. "Yes, sire." She walked over to where Farla and
the squirming, anxious Kaydra were sitting. "Give me your daughter," she
ordered Farla. Farla looked at her hesitantly, unsure as what to do. "Do you
want your child to wet herself on you?" Chestra asked her impatiently, noticing
Kaydra's discomfort. Farla shook her white-gold head and softly told her
daughter to go with Chestra.
The little girl loudly protested, having never seen a creature like
Chestra before. "No!" she wailed, "I'd rather stay here with you, Mamma!"
Chestra spoke kindly to Kaydra, for she had a soft spot for children
of any species, "I am not going to hurt you, my dear. You need to pee, right?"
Kaydra tearfully nodded. "Then you will need to come with me, and I will bring
you right back to your Mamma, okay?"
Kaydra stepped off of her mother's lap and went willingly with
Chestra out of the dining room. Farla watched her go with an anxious, worried
look on her face. Jaden noticed and said to her curtly, "Stop fretting, woman.
Chestra likes children; she won't eat your daughter. She'll return her to you."
Darcos cowered closer to his mother, as Farla leaned closer to
Jaypros, who whispered, "Are you sure that you should have let Kaydra go off
with that strange girl?"
Farla trembled helplessly near her husband and began to cry.
"Stand up!" Frieza ordered all three Astorians. He told Balair and
Dodoria, "Take them to the prison wards until I decide what to do with them!"
"Yes, sire!" both officers chorused. Dodoria grabbed both of
Jaypros' wrists roughly and dragged him to his feet. "Fight me, and your family
dies," he hissed in Jaypros' ear.
Frieza told Dodoria, "Do you have the cuffing gun?"
Dodoria nodded his pink, spiky head, "Yes, sire." He pulled a
silver gun out from a small sack that he had been carrying, and he shot two
golden lasers, one onto each of Jaypros' wrists. The lasers hardened into
strong metal restraining cuffs. Jaypros felt himself begin to weaken, all of
his ki reduced to nothing, so that he was no stronger than a Human.
Frieza told Jaypros, "Those are special cuffs, cuffs that will
restrain your ki, preventing you from being of any harm to me. Dodoria, put
those cuffs on the woman as well."
"It's not necessary for her!" Jaypros insisted. "She is not a warrior!"
"But she is an Astorian," Dodoria said, with an evil grin. "And all
Astorians are dangerous, no matter who or what they are." Balair had a
terrified Farla held by both of her wrists, and Dodoria triumphantly shot the
cuffs onto Farla's small wrists. Farla herself began to weaken now.
"No!" she moaned weakly.
Balair chose that moment to lick Farla's ear and caress her thigh,
angering Jaypros. Farla screamed at Balair to leave her alone, but Balair only
laughed. Jaypros, without thinking, bit Dodoria hard on his hand, and Dodoria
was so surprised that he unintentionally released Jaypros, who flung himself at
Balair. Dodoria was furious when he saw that Jaypros had caused him to bleed
red blood.
Balair shoved the tip of his powerful tail into Jaypros' stomach,
with the impact of a powerful fist. Jaypros fell to the ground, clutching his
stomach, as he spat out blue blood. Farla screamed, struggling to free herself
from Balair's tight grip.
Dodoria slammed his fist hard into the back of Jaypros' head, knocking Jaypros
unconscious. Farla screamed, as Dodoria used his massive booted foot to step on
Jaypros' back, effectively crushing his spine. Dodoria grinned maliciously
then, and then he crushed Jaypros' neck under his foot, killing the Astorian
warrior.
Farla screamed loudly, her cries reverberating throughout the entire
room. Dodoria slapped her face and told her to shut up, or she'd suffer the
same fate. Farla stopped screaming, but she broke into sobs and began to mourn
her lost mate.
"Dodoria," Frieza spoke up, trying to control his temper, "Was that
really necessary?"
"Of course it was, sire," Dodoria insisted boldly. "What if he had
tried to attack you? Plus, he's worthless anyway, like Zarbon said."
"We could have used him to gain valuable information about his
sister or her grandmother. Now what am I supposed to do, Dodoria?" Frieza
asked, annoyed.
"We've got the woman," Balair said, "She can give you all the
information you need. I can get it out of her." He grinned evilly at the
sobbing Farla, as he licked his lips.
Frieza narrowed his eyes at Balair. "I understand exactly how you
intend to do that, Balair."
"Sire," Zarbon said, looking dispassionately at the dead Jaypros,
"What can the woman know about Tayla or their grandmother? She has told us
before she was brought here that she and her family have been away from Astoria
for five years. It seems that Shalila Chloe had not approved of their being
together, so they eloped. Any information that she would have would be already
outdated."
"They were living on planet Dijon when Balair, Dodoria and I
conquered and cleared it. There are no Dijonese alive, sire, for there were
none worth sparing for your forces; they were a weak race. If you need a
hostage, sire, you can always keep the children for hostages."
"But why bother, Zarbon?" Balair asked. "Those brats are worthless
compared to Tayla Chloe. If I had a valuable brat like her, I wouldn't trade
her for a couple of weakling kids. If those children were close to inheriting
Astoria's throne, I could see keeping them alive for hostages, but King Cold has
a better chance of turning gay than these brats do of ruling Astoria. Shalila
Chloe isn't going to risk her and her people's lives to fight you for a few
weaklings."
Frieza smiled thoughtfully, "I see your point, Balair. Very well,
you and Dodoria eliminate all of the Astoria family."
Jaden hid her pity of the Astorian family; even though they were
Frieza's enemies, they still did not deserve such a horrible fate.
Unfortunately, she had no good reason (in Frieza's eyes, anyway) to speak up for
the family's lives. They probably were better off, especially if she and her
comrades managed to destroy all the Calmagians and the visiting Astorians with
them. If Shalila Chloe were dead, there would have been no protection for them
anyhow.
However, she was about to say, "Lord Frieza, have you thought about
sparing the brats and raising them yourself? They are Astorian, and they could
grow up to be useful to you. They are still young enough to forget about their
Astorian origins and become loyal to you."
But before she could speak, Dodoria stepped over Jaypros' body to
come after a terrified Darcos, who started to run away.
"Leave my son alone, please!" Farla screamed in terror.
But it was too late, for at that moment, Dodoria heartlessly opened
his mouth and released a fiery mouth blast, roasting poor little Darcos into a
tiny, charred skeleton.
Jaden was horrified, although she hid it well. The other Elite
officers looked on indifferently at the horrifying death of Darcos. If they
felt sorry for the little boy, they didn't show it. Jaden turned away from the
scene, trying to repress the bile surging up in her throat.
How could she have allowed that to happen? That brat didn't deserve
to die the way he did, but there was nothing more that she could do. So, she
swallowed the bile, and she once again put on her unfeeling mask.
Farla let out one horrible scream and then she fainted in Balair's
arms. Balair spoke then, completely ignoring the skeleton of Darcos on the
polished dining room floor. "Sire, since you were going to have all the
Astorians here die anyway, could I keep this one alive for myself? She's
worthless to you, anyway." He looked at the unconscious Farla with pure lust
burning in his black, fathomless eyes.
Frieza looked at Balair and sighed, "Oh, I do not care! You may do
as you wish with her; just see that she does not cause me any trouble. Keep her
out of my sight!"
Balair nodded and said respectfully, "Yes, sire. And thank you very
much."
Frieza allowed himself to grin then. "You don't have to thank me,
Balair. I certainly have to reward you for your endeavors for me sooner or
later. You too, Dodoria; I will see that you also receive something. Enjoy
her, Balair, but don't hurt her too much, hmm?"
Balair grinned then. "Whatever you say, sire." He flung Farla over
his shoulders and carried her out of the dining room. Frieza said nothing to
stop him, and he let Balair go. Jaden shook her head in strong disapproval.
Frieza's mother ship, 1AM, (Frieza Stellar Time), 3AM (Astorian Galactic Time)
Vegeta had been training in the Elite gravity room for twelve hours
straight. He would have continued, but his growling stomach bothered him too
much for him to keep going. Finally, he decided to stop for an hour and get an
early morning breakfast He turned off the gravity, bringing it back to normal
gravity for the room. He went into the shower room, which was adjacent to the
gravity room, and quickly showered. After drying himself off and dressing into
his armor and bodysuit once more, he left for the Elite Lounge and Bar to get
something to eat.
Vegeta would just eat and have some water; he never imbibed in
alcohol because he believed that it would inhibit his training, power and
judgment. His father had taught him that only foolish warriors allowed
themselves to become prey to alcohol, and Vegeta believed this to be true. He
had seen how idiotic Dodoria and Balair acted when they were drunk, and he
limited how much alcohol Journa, Raditz and Nappa were allowed to consume.
Vegeta chuckled to himself over a memory of a drunken Balair making
a pass at Zarbon when he had, in a drunken haze, mistaken Zarbon for one of the
Ginyu Girls. Zarbon had nearly killed Balair that night, and he had actually
transformed into that hideous creature resembling a green Oozaru with earrings
and no fur. Vegeta chuckled more, thinking that Zarbon was indeed a pretty
boy-when he wasn't transformed. He couldn't entirely blame Balair for thinking
that Zarbon was female. He didn't care for either Zarbon or Balair, but he
brought that memory up whenever he needed a laugh, or whenever Zarbon or Balair
acted as if they were better than he was.
He decided to check on his sister before going for breakfast.
Vegeta did not care much for anyone, but he held a small affection and respect for
his sister. He didn't often treat her any better than he did anyone else, but
he knew that Journa never held it against him. Oh sure, she was defiant and
stubborn and didn't hesitate to tell him off when she thought that he needed it;
she was the only person who could get away with talking back to Vegeta and live.
She infuriated Vegeta often, but Vegeta admired her for facing him with no
fear. It was not often that she was scared of him. He also knew that Journa
would never betray him or turn against him, no matter what.
He was in a rare good mood, so he decided to see if Journa wanted to
join him for breakfast. He went to the Mid-Elite rooms to find his sister. The
Top Elite officers had their own private rooms, the Mid-Elite and Lower-Elite
officers shared their rooms with a partner, and the low-levels and recruits
slept in barracks, shared by as many as twenty people at a time. Vegeta himself
reluctantly shared a room with his bodyguard and partner, Nappa; he would have
preferred his own room, but rules were rules.
He found Journa's roommate, Crystalis, casually filing her five-inch
green nails, as she stood outside in the corridors. Crystalis was six-feet
tall, and she resembled a brown giraffe with human hands and feet and an
extraordinarily long neck. She had dark green spots and neon green eyes, and
Vegeta thought that she was more ugly than his former trainer, Jaden. He didn't
understand how Journa could stand to look at her everyday, but Journa and
Crystalis were friendly with each other.
Crystalis shrank back when she saw Prince Vegeta approach her; even
though Vegeta was shorter and smaller than she was, he still intimidated her.
Vegeta ignored her backing away from him.
"Is my sister awake?" he asked her curtly.
Crystalis trembled then; she didn't want to answer, for if Prince
Vegeta found out what his sister was up to at that moment-
"Well?" Vegeta prompted. "Are you going to answer me, woman, or am
I going to have to wring it out of you?"
"She-she can't be disturbed right now," Crystalis stammered. She
was a Lower-Elite officer, but she was in awe of all of the Saiyan fighters.
She didn't want to get on Vegeta's bad side, no matter what.
"And why not?" Vegeta asked her sharply, hating her cowardice. He
wondered how Crystalis was ever able to make it into the Elite. "I am her
brother, Prince Vegeta of the Saiyans. I may disturb whomever I wish. Now go
see what she is up to, or I will!"
Crystalis hesitantly walked to her bedroom door and knocked softly.
Vegeta watched her suspiciously, for why would someone knock on her own bedroom
door?
He heard a lusty chuckle emit from the room.
Raditz.
Vegeta gnashed his teeth in fury. He now had the answer to his own
question.
His sister was no better than a low-level tramp, no better than one
of the Ginyu Girls!
He pushed past Crystalis, and blasted the door open with a small ki
blast.
Raditz and Journa were in bed together, both nude under the
bedcovers. Journa cowered when she saw her angry brother. Even the normally
bold Raditz paled when he realized that the Prince had now caught him in bed
with his sister.
Raditz wondered how long he had to live.
Journa wondered if she and Raditz would live at all.
Vegeta shoved Crystalis into the walls of the corridors, and he flew
onto the bed where Journa and Raditz were. Before Raditz could intervene,
Vegeta had seized his naked sister and flung her small body against the wall of
her and Crystalis room. Journa cried out when her head hit a shelf on the wall.
He then grabbed Raditz's tail and squeezed it hard, making Raditz
scream in horrendous pain. Raditz cowered and cried, as Vegeta cruelly twisted
and squeezed his tail. Vegeta, standing on the bed, used his other hand to
seize Raditz's throat. He pulled Raditz's head to his face. Raditz continued
to scream in terror, as Vegeta twisted his tail further.
"Give me one good reason why you shouldn't die, Raditz!" Vegeta
roared.
"Vegeta, don't hurt him, please!" Journa cried.
"Quiet, tramp!" Vegeta hissed at his frightened sister. "Who do you
think you are, bedding a low-class Saiyan warrior?"
"He's not low-class!" Journa screamed. "Don't you remember that our
father gave him Elite-class status for trying to save me from Frieza and Zarbon?
Nappa witnessed it! Let him go!
"It doesn't matter!" Vegeta roared. "What if this bastard
impregnated you? How am I supposed to explain that to Frieza, who's paranoid
enough about us producing brats?" He squeezed Raditz's tail harder.
Raditz was desperate; there was only one thing he could do, and he
did it, deciding to worry about the consequences later. He used what little
strength he had left and seized Vegeta's tail. Vegeta didn't cry out in pain at
all; instead he grinned evilly at Raditz.
Raditz's face paled further when he realized that Vegeta was feeling no pain.
Journa was stunned; why wasn't her brother crying out?
Vegeta laughed maliciously. "Nice try, Raditz, but I have managed
to overcome that small deficiency in my tail. Squeezing my tail might have
harmed me years ago, but I have now overcome that problem. So has Nappa, as you
will soon learn when I turn you over to him for a further beating." He shoved
his fist hard into Raditz's stomach and shoved the longhaired Saiyan off the bed
and onto the floor. Vegeta then leapt onto the floor and kicked Raditz in
between his legs, causing Raditz to scream out in further pain. "And that was
for committing treason against me when you squeezed my tail! You ought to die
for that alone. You are not good enough to be my sister's mate. You are too
weak and cowardly to be an elite-class Saiyan Princess's mate."
He then spat on Raditz and left him on the floor, where he was still
writhing in pain. Vegeta flew over to Journa and picked her up by her hair. He
thrust his face into hers.
"And as for you, you little royal tramp, if I ever hear of you
mating with him again without my permission, I will rip out your tail to where
it can never grow back again. And he will die!" He pushed Journa into the wall
and threw her back onto the bed. "You, as an elite-class Saiyan Princess, ought
to have better taste than that Saiyan weakling! You should be thankful that I
let you off easier than I did your lover!"
He turned to Raditz and shouted, "Get out of this room now, and do
not ever touch my sister again!" Raditz scrambled to his feet and tried to
gather his clothes together. He hated himself for being such a coward with the
Prince. Vegeta was right; maybe he didn't deserve Journa, if he couldn't even
stand up to her brother.
Journa sobbed into her bedcovers, as Vegeta looked on at her with no
pity, but plenty of disgust. He stormed out of the room, past a cowering
Crystalis, who was crouched down near the wall. Vegeta decided to go back to
train some more, for he had just lost his appetite. He left, and when he did,
Crystalis scurried back into her and Journa's room and lay next to Journa on
Journa's bed. Crystalis patted her back and tried to calm her, but Journa was
inconsolable.
Chestra's Bedroom, 5AM (Frieza Stellar Time), 7AM (Astorian Galactic Time)
Chestra was meditating, her perfectly shaped legs crossed in a lotus
position on a purple velvet cushion. Chestra's room was decorated in purple and
gold, and being a Top Elite officer, she had it to herself-except on the nights
Zarbon came to visit her. The room was luxurious, well suited to the status of
one of Frieza's Top Elite officers. There was a large, queen-sized bed, two
nightstands, three dressers and a private bathroom, also decorated in purple and
gold. The carpet was four inches of lavender velvet.
Chestra thought that it was the most luxurious quarters that she
ever had in her life. She had been a slave all of her life until Frieza had
bought her from the Triumvirate of Planet Egimari. Frieza had never formally
freed her, but he nor did anyone else treat her as a slave. The only time that
she had life this good was when she had become the adopted child of King Muro
and Queen Taba of planet Ghetti. The king and queen had adopted her as one of
their own children after they had bought her from her second masters, the
Mybooians. They had given her a small estate and her own servants, and all she
had to do was take care of their children, whom she loved. The Ghettians had
been purple cat-creatures with pink rabbit ears and sunny yellow eyes. Queen
Taba had arranged for Chestra, who had been eleven at the time, to marry her
nephew, Haven, and King Muro had trained her, greatly enhancing her warrior
abilities. On Chestra's twelfth birthday, her happy years ended when an enemy
race invaded the castle and killed the entire royal Ghettian family, including
Haven. After that, Chestra had been sold to various masters who either tried to
rape her or made her fight for them until Frieza had bought her from the
Egimarians. Chestra, who had been eighteen at the time, was twenty-four years
old now. She had been a Top Elite officer for four years.
Chestra knew how evil Frieza was, and yet she would always be
grateful to him for saving her life from the Triumvirate of Egimari, who had
sentenced her to death for resisting the advances of one of the Triumvirate
members. For if it had not been for Frieza, she would not
d her beloved mate, Zarbon. She didn't like the way Frieza had treated her
friend, Jaden, when Frieza had killed Jaden's family, but Jaden told her not to
worry about it and to just stay on Frieza's good side.
Chestra thought about all of this during her meditation, and then
someone knocked on her bedroom door. Chestra awoke from her self-induced trance
and turned on her scouter.
"Who is it?" she called.
"Diamonique."
Chestra put up her guard and became wary. She had learned to do
that, having to live and work with Diamonique. Diamonique could be sweet one
minute and then nasty the next. She and Diamonique had once been roommates when
they had been both recruits, and Diamonique had tried to kill her twice.
She opened the door telekinetically, with her mind, and the door
rose automatically. Diamonique entered, already dressed in Elite armor and
garb.
"Frieza wants all the fighters going to Calmag to meet him for
breakfast this morning in his private dining room. He has something to show
us." Diamonique's black gem eyes swept Chestra's room, as she spoke. She
envied Chestra's quarters, where Zarbon had paid for half of the furnishings.
She strolled around the room casually, as if it belonged to her, and then she
gracefully sat down on Chestra's bed.
"And what would that be?" Chestra asked cautiously.
Diamonique grinned, showing perfect crystal blue teeth, typical of
her race. She laughed merrily, and the sound of her harsh laughter grated on
Chestra's nerves. "We have managed to capture four Astorians. From the Clan of
Chloe, too, Shalila's grandchildren."
"And they have been allowed to live?" Chestra asked, carefully
hiding her amazement.
"For now," Diamonique purred, settling herself comfortably on
Chestra's bed, reveling in the velvety bedspread. Chestra glared at her; who
did Diamonique think she was, acting as if this room was her own? She bit her
tongue however; early morning was no time to be starting petty arguments. She
arose from her cushion and went to her teak wardrobe to pull out her uniform and
armor, but she did not change her clothes just yet. She did not wish to undress
in front of Diamonique.
"It seems that the Astorian captives are a family, a mother, a
father and two children. Balair seems to have taken a liking to the mother. He
even went as far as to lick her neck." Diamonique giggled, and Chestra shook her
red and green head in disgust. Diamonique happily continued, "The father tried
to attack him, but Dodoria punched him in the stomach, making him spit blood.
The Astorian male claims to be a warrior, but he sure was a poor one. No wonder
they left their planet; who would want them around?"
"Are there any children?" Chestra asked, stepping into her private
bathroom. She locked the door and telekinetically changed her clothing. It was
nice to be able to do things hands-free.
"Two brats, a boy and a girl, but it is not likely Frieza would let
them live. He doesn't care much for children," Diamonique declared, stretching
her lithe, curvy body on Chestra's bed.
"Those poor children," Chestra murmured, as she brushed her red and
green hair.
"What did you say?" Diamonique asked.
"Never mind," Chestra said abruptly. "Let's just go. I'm ready."
Frieza's Dining Room, 9AM (Frieza Stellar Time), 11AM (Astorian Galactic Time)
Frieza's dining room was decorated luxuriously in navy blue and
silver, all for a male's taste. All of the Top Elite officers and the Saiyans
had finally arrived, and Frieza called to Zarbon, "Bring out the prisoners."
Zarbon ordered three low-level minions to escort the Astorian
captives into the dining room. Balair followed behind them, openly caressing
the woman's bottom until Zarbon ordered him to stop.
"Frieza said that they weren't to be touched, Balair," Zarbon
reminded him. "Not yet, anyway."
"Sit down, all of you," Frieza told the prisoners courteously. The
minions forced the Astorian family into chairs at the same table as the Top
Elites and the Saiyans. Vegeta looked contemptuously at the Astorians, and
Nappa recognized the Astorian male warrior. He leaned down towards Vegeta and
whispered, "Isn't that one of Tayla's relatives? He fought against us five
years ago."
Vegeta glanced at the strange Astorian warrior, who was still
dressed in his red and white costume and under armor. The costume was typical
of Clan of Chloe warriors. The woman, who had white-blond hair and turquoise
eyes, was dressed nicely in a slightly torn white silk caftan that hugged her
curves.
"Pretty thing," Nappa whispered to Vegeta, "Wouldn't mind getting to
know her better."
Vegeta scowled. "Why would you want to plant your seed in an
Astorian garden, Nappa? She's lovely, but not worth it. You'll have to fight
Balair for her, anyhow."
"That doesn't bother me a bit," Nappa declared arrogantly, for he
disliked Balair as much as Vegeta did.
Raditz had just come out of the rejuvenation tanks. He avoided
Vegeta's eyes. Vegeta had not yet forgiven him for bedding Vegeta's sister.
Nappa and Vegeta both ignored him.
Frieza's eyes swept over the Astorian captives. The woman was
cradling her little boy, who resembled her. The little girl, who also looked
like their mother, cowered near her. Neither of the children had their father's
features.
"Give me your and your family's names," he ordered the man sharply.
The Astorian warrior stammered. "J-Jaypros. P-Prince Jaypros
Mantros Bajal Mantros Arbon Chloe, and this is my w-wife, Princess Farla, and
these are our children, Princess Kaydra and-and Prince Darcos."
"Ages?" Frieza prompted.
"I am thirty-two, my wife is thirty-four, and Kaydra and Darcos are
five and three."
Balair looked lustfully upon Farla, who cowered beneath his intense
stare. Balair wanted her and he wanted her to know it. He was seriously
thinking about asking Frieza to give him Farla in lieu of his bonus pay. He was
reptilian and a Sistrai and she was humanoid and an Astorian, but he was sure
that they were mating-compatible. He stared at her lustily, wondering what that
white caftan of hers was concealing. He licked his lips lasciviously. She had
tasted sweet when he had licked her neck earlier, much to her husband's anger.
Farla looked at Balair fearfully, recognizing his look of desire.
She cowered closer to Jaypros, who put his arm around her protectively.
"F-Frieza," Jaypros began nervously.
"That's Lord Frieza to you," Dodoria snapped.
"L-Lord Frieza," Jaypros began again, watching the evil warlord
stare at him intensely. "If you will return us to our grandmother, I'm sure
that she would reward you if you gave us back to her and treated us well."
"Hold you for ransom, you mean?" Frieza purred silkily. "Sounds
like an interesting idea, but there is nothing that I want from your
grandmother. Shalila Chloe is her name, isn't it?"
"Y-yes, Lord Frieza." Jaypros was sweating intensively, his golden
blond head bobbing up and down like a cork.
Frieza smiled then, contemplating his next words. "Actually, there
is one thing I would like to have from your grandmother."
"And what would that be?" Jaypros asked, shaking in his chair.
"A relative of yours, Princess Tayla Chloe."
Jaypros and Farla paled. "Not her, Lord Frieza, please. She is my
sister-"
Frieza grinned then. "Oh, really? So you're Princess Tayla's
brother, eh? Hmm, this should make things interesting."
Farla spoke up quickly. "Lord Frieza, my cousin Tayla is but a
child; what would you want with her?"
Frieza laughed then. "I want her to become one of my warriors. She
is a strong girl, a girl who was strong enough to defeat Prince Vegeta and put
him in his place." Frieza laughed louder, and everyone laughed along with him
because they knew that it was expected of them. Vegeta didn't laugh, however;
he glared darkly at Frieza, but dared not do anything else. Frieza ignored
Vegeta's evil look.
Vegeta spoke up then, carefully controlling his temper. "Sire, why
would Shalila Chloe want to trade her darling granddaughter, who is very strong,
for a bunch of pathetic weaklings who weren't smart enough to stay at home?
That man there is no true warrior."
Jaypros blanched and Farla anxiously looked away from Vegeta,
watching her pale husband hang her head down in shame. Jaypros was deeply
embarrassed to have a Saiyan, one of his mortal enemies, witness his defeat and
humiliation. He had never been one of the strongest Clan of Chloe warriors, why
even his own little sister, Tayla, had surpassed him, and he was ashamed that he
could not even protect his family. He was just thankful that they didn't know
yet that he and Farla weren't married to each other; in fact, they didn't even
know if Cletos had finally divorced Farla.
"Holding them for ransom might not be such a bad idea, sire,"
Dodoria piped up. "Why you may even get more from the Astorians than little
Tayla Chloe."
"But they're absolutely worthless," Zarbon pointed out. "Tayla
Chloe must be a great asset to Shalila Chloe and her people, or why else would
they have fought Prince Vegeta and the others to get her back? These Astorians
here hardly put up a fight, and the children themselves are too young to be of
use to anyone. Tayla Chloe has to be worth more to Shalila Chloe than these
weaklings."
"I'd say execute them then," Balair said. He took a quick look at
Farla, and then he added, "Except for the woman though. I'll be more than happy
to take her off of everyone's hands." He licked his lips lustily. Zarbon
glared at Balair.
"Balair, do you ever think of anything else besides satisfying your
lusts?" Zarbon snapped. "Besides, it's unlikely you are mating-compatible with
her anyhow."
"Oh, we are. I actually had the Medical people check that out for
me," Balair slurred, and Zarbon shook his head in disgust. He admired Balair as
a fine warrior, but Zarbon thought that Balair could spend less time worrying
about whose skirts he could get under.
"What do you intend to do with us?" Jaypros asked nervously to
Frieza.
Frieza became thoughtful. Everyone grew quiet then.
Farla spoke up, "L-Lord Frieza, may I please take my daughter to any
restrooms that you may have? She needs to relieve herself." Kaydra squirmed on
Farla's lap, trying to control her bursting bladder.
Frieza's eyes swept over her, making Farla shiver. He turned his
eyes towards Chestra. "Chestra, take the little girl to the restroom."
Chestra nodded. "Yes, sire." She walked over to where Farla and
the squirming, anxious Kaydra were sitting. "Give me your daughter," she
ordered Farla. Farla looked at her hesitantly, unsure as what to do. "Do you
want your child to wet herself on you?" Chestra asked her impatiently, noticing
Kaydra's discomfort. Farla shook her white-gold head and softly told her
daughter to go with Chestra.
The little girl loudly protested, having never seen a creature like
Chestra before. "No!" she wailed, "I'd rather stay here with you, Mamma!"
Chestra spoke kindly to Kaydra, for she had a soft spot for children
of any species, "I am not going to hurt you, my dear. You need to pee, right?"
Kaydra tearfully nodded. "Then you will need to come with me, and I will bring
you right back to your Mamma, okay?"
Kaydra stepped off of her mother's lap and went willingly with
Chestra out of the dining room. Farla watched her go with an anxious, worried
look on her face. Jaden noticed and said to her curtly, "Stop fretting, woman.
Chestra likes children; she won't eat your daughter. She'll return her to you."
Darcos cowered closer to his mother, as Farla leaned closer to
Jaypros, who whispered, "Are you sure that you should have let Kaydra go off
with that strange girl?"
Farla trembled helplessly near her husband and began to cry.
"Stand up!" Frieza ordered all three Astorians. He told Balair and
Dodoria, "Take them to the prison wards until I decide what to do with them!"
"Yes, sire!" both officers chorused. Dodoria grabbed both of
Jaypros' wrists roughly and dragged him to his feet. "Fight me, and your family
dies," he hissed in Jaypros' ear.
Frieza told Dodoria, "Do you have the cuffing gun?"
Dodoria nodded his pink, spiky head, "Yes, sire." He pulled a
silver gun out from a small sack that he had been carrying, and he shot two
golden lasers, one onto each of Jaypros' wrists. The lasers hardened into
strong metal restraining cuffs. Jaypros felt himself begin to weaken, all of
his ki reduced to nothing, so that he was no stronger than a Human.
Frieza told Jaypros, "Those are special cuffs, cuffs that will
restrain your ki, preventing you from being of any harm to me. Dodoria, put
those cuffs on the woman as well."
"It's not necessary for her!" Jaypros insisted. "She is not a warrior!"
"But she is an Astorian," Dodoria said, with an evil grin. "And all
Astorians are dangerous, no matter who or what they are." Balair had a
terrified Farla held by both of her wrists, and Dodoria triumphantly shot the
cuffs onto Farla's small wrists. Farla herself began to weaken now.
"No!" she moaned weakly.
Balair chose that moment to lick Farla's ear and caress her thigh,
angering Jaypros. Farla screamed at Balair to leave her alone, but Balair only
laughed. Jaypros, without thinking, bit Dodoria hard on his hand, and Dodoria
was so surprised that he unintentionally released Jaypros, who flung himself at
Balair. Dodoria was furious when he saw that Jaypros had caused him to bleed
red blood.
Balair shoved the tip of his powerful tail into Jaypros' stomach,
with the impact of a powerful fist. Jaypros fell to the ground, clutching his
stomach, as he spat out blue blood. Farla screamed, struggling to free herself
from Balair's tight grip.
Dodoria slammed his fist hard into the back of Jaypros' head, knocking Jaypros
unconscious. Farla screamed, as Dodoria used his massive booted foot to step on
Jaypros' back, effectively crushing his spine. Dodoria grinned maliciously
then, and then he crushed Jaypros' neck under his foot, killing the Astorian
warrior.
Farla screamed loudly, her cries reverberating throughout the entire
room. Dodoria slapped her face and told her to shut up, or she'd suffer the
same fate. Farla stopped screaming, but she broke into sobs and began to mourn
her lost mate.
"Dodoria," Frieza spoke up, trying to control his temper, "Was that
really necessary?"
"Of course it was, sire," Dodoria insisted boldly. "What if he had
tried to attack you? Plus, he's worthless anyway, like Zarbon said."
"We could have used him to gain valuable information about his
sister or her grandmother. Now what am I supposed to do, Dodoria?" Frieza
asked, annoyed.
"We've got the woman," Balair said, "She can give you all the
information you need. I can get it out of her." He grinned evilly at the
sobbing Farla, as he licked his lips.
Frieza narrowed his eyes at Balair. "I understand exactly how you
intend to do that, Balair."
"Sire," Zarbon said, looking dispassionately at the dead Jaypros,
"What can the woman know about Tayla or their grandmother? She has told us
before she was brought here that she and her family have been away from Astoria
for five years. It seems that Shalila Chloe had not approved of their being
together, so they eloped. Any information that she would have would be already
outdated."
"They were living on planet Dijon when Balair, Dodoria and I
conquered and cleared it. There are no Dijonese alive, sire, for there were
none worth sparing for your forces; they were a weak race. If you need a
hostage, sire, you can always keep the children for hostages."
"But why bother, Zarbon?" Balair asked. "Those brats are worthless
compared to Tayla Chloe. If I had a valuable brat like her, I wouldn't trade
her for a couple of weakling kids. If those children were close to inheriting
Astoria's throne, I could see keeping them alive for hostages, but King Cold has
a better chance of turning gay than these brats do of ruling Astoria. Shalila
Chloe isn't going to risk her and her people's lives to fight you for a few
weaklings."
Frieza smiled thoughtfully, "I see your point, Balair. Very well,
you and Dodoria eliminate all of the Astoria family."
Jaden hid her pity of the Astorian family; even though they were
Frieza's enemies, they still did not deserve such a horrible fate.
Unfortunately, she had no good reason (in Frieza's eyes, anyway) to speak up for
the family's lives. They probably were better off, especially if she and her
comrades managed to destroy all the Calmagians and the visiting Astorians with
them. If Shalila Chloe were dead, there would have been no protection for them
anyhow.
However, she was about to say, "Lord Frieza, have you thought about
sparing the brats and raising them yourself? They are Astorian, and they could
grow up to be useful to you. They are still young enough to forget about their
Astorian origins and become loyal to you."
But before she could speak, Dodoria stepped over Jaypros' body to
come after a terrified Darcos, who started to run away.
"Leave my son alone, please!" Farla screamed in terror.
But it was too late, for at that moment, Dodoria heartlessly opened
his mouth and released a fiery mouth blast, roasting poor little Darcos into a
tiny, charred skeleton.
Jaden was horrified, although she hid it well. The other Elite
officers looked on indifferently at the horrifying death of Darcos. If they
felt sorry for the little boy, they didn't show it. Jaden turned away from the
scene, trying to repress the bile surging up in her throat.
How could she have allowed that to happen? That brat didn't deserve
to die the way he did, but there was nothing more that she could do. So, she
swallowed the bile, and she once again put on her unfeeling mask.
Farla let out one horrible scream and then she fainted in Balair's
arms. Balair spoke then, completely ignoring the skeleton of Darcos on the
polished dining room floor. "Sire, since you were going to have all the
Astorians here die anyway, could I keep this one alive for myself? She's
worthless to you, anyway." He looked at the unconscious Farla with pure lust
burning in his black, fathomless eyes.
Frieza looked at Balair and sighed, "Oh, I do not care! You may do
as you wish with her; just see that she does not cause me any trouble. Keep her
out of my sight!"
Balair nodded and said respectfully, "Yes, sire. And thank you very
much."
Frieza allowed himself to grin then. "You don't have to thank me,
Balair. I certainly have to reward you for your endeavors for me sooner or
later. You too, Dodoria; I will see that you also receive something. Enjoy
her, Balair, but don't hurt her too much, hmm?"
Balair grinned then. "Whatever you say, sire." He flung Farla over
his shoulders and carried her out of the dining room. Frieza said nothing to
stop him, and he let Balair go. Jaden shook her head in strong disapproval.
