Chapter Eighty-Seven: Guardian Angel

Nighttime in the City of Magan, Angori Hotel just above Magan Park...

Toria's slender aged hands trembled, as she paced anxiously through the hotel room that she was sharing with Arlina and Veal. She prayed for Marya, who was still inside the castle with the other hostages. Marya had opted to stay behind to comfort and be there for those who had been unfortunate enough to be left behind.

Marya, Natala, Hazel, Steak and Ham were the only ones left out of the travelers from Astoria that were still in the castle. Toria felt for certain that Natala and Hazel were safer now than they had been for days, but she felt uneasy about the safety of Steak and Ham.

She had seen in her visions that Steak was reunited with his youngest son, Pork, who had been forced to work for Frieza, and then she saw a rather strange brown creature with green spots and long neck. Such a girl with strange powers, and yet she was so timid, too afraid to use them against her enemies. Toria felt for this strange brown creature that had been a friend and sister to young Pork.

She then stepped out into the ornate hallway of the once-best hotel in all of Magan. Much of the hotel still remained intact, but the Saibamen had damaged the courtyards and ballroom. The servants were downstairs in those wrecked areas, trying to clean up the damage the best that they could.

The High Priestess of Astoria was about to ask a passing maid for a pitcher of water when she noticed a young man stepping out into the hallway with a battered faded blue suitcase. He wore a large elegant sword on his back, and the priestess could see that the hilt was sculpted out of a green stone similar to jade and shaped into the three moons of Calmag in crescent stage. Toria guessed him to be about five feet and five inches tall, and she saw that he was of slight build, with somewhat spiky hair and purplish-blue eyes. Her sorceress's instincts told her that he was no ordinary young man.

The young man then observed her watching him, and he smiled and looked towards the older woman's direction. Casually, he walked towards her, as she stood out in the hall, watching him out of one eye.

"Greetiens," she said kindly to the young lad.

"Er...Greetiens. I take that to mean 'hello' right?" the lad asked.

"Yasi, I mean yes," Toria told him.

"You are one of the Astorians, aren't you, a Princess of Chloe, and am I correct? All of Calmag knows about the Astorians' arrival and the planned alliance between Astoria and Calmag."

"Yes," Toria told him serenely. "I am Princess Toria Chloe, High Priestess of Astoria. And what is your name?"

"Cirono. I just came from the other side of Calmag after winning one of the royal martial arts tournaments. My family is very poor, and I won the first prize money. It will help us get a brand new start, open a business and make a decent life for ourselves. I learned about Calmag being invaded weeks ago, and I know that it is risky to come here, but my family needs that money. The King of Calmag was supposed to send me the money days ago, but the war seems to have interfered with the transference. My family cannot wait much longer; they have many mouths to feed and huge debts yet to pay. There was supposed to be a special banquet and ceremony for me too, but I will just be satisfied with the money. Also, I thought that maybe I could offer my assistance to the CRP officers and the Astorians. Fighting in the martial arts tournaments gives me a refresher from my actual career."

Toria looked at him strangely. "And what career is that?"

Cirono flushed uncomfortably. His current life career was a profitable one, and it financed his parents and numerous siblings. However, his family and his fiancée did not entirely approve of what he did for a living. "I am a mercenary of sorts. My job is not entirely legal, but it pays well and supports my large family. Men hire me mostly to get rid of "pests", those who try to interfere with their businesses or bother them excessively. A few of my comrades have suggested that I might be good enough to join up with Frieza's Elite forces, but I want nothing to do with those bastards, especially when they're destroying my family and my people. While I'm here, I figure maybe I could help fight those insects and squash them once and for all!"

Toria gasped; she was a bit disturbed by the young man's career and vehemence, but she sensed something about him, something that could make him an ideal ally. "I have heard rumors of a hostage situation at the royal Calmagian castle, something about an Elite minion named Zarbon holding everyone in their prisoner to force the Astorians to give up a little girl. What is so special about her that Frieza is going through all of this trouble?"

Toria replied quietly, "She is one of our most powerful and intelligent fighters, and she is only twelve years old. The deity of our planet, Kami Orchida, considers her to be one of Astoria's last hopes against the deadly Frieza. Her future is still clouded, not written in stone, but we have great expectations for her. Twice, she has defeated the most powerful living Saiyan in the universe, a boy not much older than her named Prince Vegeta. And she has defeated other warriors, as well, and put them in their place. It is her fighting abilities and power potential that has drawn Frieza to her, making him want to induct her into his forces. She is opposed to Frieza's dastardly plans, but Frieza and his minions are persistent. If Frieza were to have his way, she would be on her way to becoming one of his strongest fighters. The Clan of Chloe and our allies are fighting to prevent that from happening. Had Frieza been able to have her when she was a younger child and bend her to his ways, she would have been a deadly threat to the entire Rosetta Galaxy next to Vegeta. But she is good of heart, strong of spirit, although a bit stubborn occasionally, with a very sharp tongue and temper at times. She grows stronger and wiser with each passing years, and many of the Clan of Chloe's hopes fall upon her."

"She sounds like something else, but that's so many hopes and expectations on one young girl…imagine the pressure she must be under at times to live up to everyone's ideals," Cirono noted.

"We do our best to allow her to lead a normal life, as normal as possible for someone like her," Toria told him quietly. "However, she is not destined for an ordinary existence."

"It sounds like she isn't. Well, I wish you and your family the best of luck in defending her. I wish her the best as well. Well, anyway, I have to leave now, perhaps find one of the CRP leaders and see if I can join them temporarily in the war against Frieza. Maybe I can get my prize money when this bloody mess is over, assuming that there is still a planet left."

"Good luck to you, Cirono," Toria told him sincerely. "May you return to your family and your fiancée safely. May you wish for that is good come true for you. May the ancestors, good spirits, and the Supreme Kai watch over you and keep you safe."

Cirono nodded. "Thank you…Princess Toria. May I ask you a question?"

"Of…course."

"You know telepathy, don't you?"

Toria tried to remain calm, although she was mildly surprised that Cirono knew of one of her many mind talents. She closed her eyes briefly, and she could read some of Cirono's thoughts. Cirono quietly sent her a telepathic message:

*May the good souls of centuries past keep watch over you until you can become one of them. *

Toria nodded. "Thank you," she whispered. She sensed that while Cirono was able to send telepathic messages, he was unable to receive them. "Farewell, and the same to you," she said softly.

Cirono nodded, and he quietly left the hall, carrying his blue suitcase.









Magan Park, thirty minutes later…

Cirono was now walking quietly through the disheveled park, hoping to find a CRP officer, any CRP officer, but the park and the streets surrounding it were deserted. He walked slowly through the night, feeling the cool wind brush against his young skin. He was lost in his thoughts, in fact so lost in his thoughts that he could not prevent himself from falling through a weakened area of the battered city streets of Magan. The blacktop and concrete collapsed under his feet, and he began to plummet through the street. He screamed in horror when he continued falling through the crumbling pavement and metal deep down into the labyrinths below.

He just barely landed on his agile feet, now standing on the cold, wet, cracked stone floor of the labyrinths. He landed right outside of the entrance to a larger corridor of the labyrinths, and he heard voices on the other side of the door at the end of the corridor that he was in.

He was a bit unnerved by the voices and the nearness of the people speaking, so he find a pole that helped to hold up the labyrinth ceiling and hid behind the large pillar.
He noticed a man, a short corpulent man with black hair and piercing green eyes so dark that they were almost as black as his hair. The plump man had just entered this corridor of the labyrinths through the aforementioned door, and he was looking around, as if scouting for trouble. The man, who seemed to be an official and important CRP officer, a high ranking one, was talking on a strange device that was now resting upon his ear and in front of his eye. Cirono stayed hidden behind the pillar and listened to the man's conversation with the strange device, as the CRP officer moved closer to the pillar without noticing Cirono.

"Don't worry, Commander Zarbon, everything is going according to plan now. You've changed your plans! Seductia and Flirtius are to come along with Splitz? So now you will have three Mid-Elite officers attacking the Clan of Chloe instead of two? I can completely understand your reasoning. Rest assured, Commander, all you have to do is have Splitz, Seductia and Flirtius come down and have their fun! Haha, and to think that no one ever even suspects that I, General Narvo Norbrook, head general of the CRP, is a spy for Frieza! Don't worry, Commander, I've been fighting for many years, and I know how to keep mum, believe me. No, no, Commander Zarbon, everything is under control, and in a few minutes, the Astorians will be ready to meet your new protégés!"

Cirono gasped in horror when he heard General Narvo Norbrook, a man whose fighting and battling reputation was well known and well renowned throughout all of Calmag, say that he was a spy for the monster, Frieza! Cirono had heard of Norbrook and had admired him before, and he, Cirono, had been hoping to meet him when he had planned to join the CRP. And now he knew that Norbrook was a spy for Frieza!

"My Kami!" he whispered. "I have to warn the Astorians of this! How many more in the CRP could be working for that tyrant? Are there any more of them like General Norbrook?"

Norbrook continued, as he was unaware of Cirono's presence. The reason for this was that the ki-sensing aspect of his scouter was damaged, and he could only use his scouter as a communication device, so he had no way of knowing that someone was watching him.

"I promise you, Commander Zarbon, that I won't fail. Don't worry; I am sure that your three attackers will keep the Astorians distracted long enough for me to take Princess Tayla Chloe to you. So Flirtius is bringing me a cuffing gun? I thought that only the Saiyans had the cuffing guns, but I was wrong. Yes, I can cuff Princess Tayla easily and take her away; I am a fine shot, I can assure you. I can simply cuff her then strike a blow to her head to put her out for a bit. Works out quite well, actually. I wish that I could take Princess Caline with me as well, but it would be hard for even me to abduct two girls."

"Is there any way that you can assure that your three assassins won't harm Princess Caline? Thanks, I appreciate that, Commander. We've known each other for many years, haven't we, always been good friends, you and I. No, no, you really don't have to thank me at all, Commander! Serving Frieza and helping you is a pleasure! That enough is a reward, along with Princess Caline as my bride of course! I've had it with King Kitchator and his family and his reign! Calmag is turning into a garbage dump, and the king is just making things worse! We've had to live with pollution, both water and air, for years, and I'm sick of it! King Kitchator and his wretched heirs deserve what they get! All I ask is that Princess Caline be spared; I don't care what happens to the rest of the royal family! Oh, someone is coming! I must go now, Commander. Signing off." And with that, General Norbrook cut off communication.

Before a horrified Cirono could hear anymore, a petite, yet majestic Astorian older woman with reddish-gold hair, charcoal-gray eyes, and a regal air passed through the door. She was wearing a battered red and gold fighting gi, and she was disheveled, but she still seemed to be strong enough to fight. Cirono had heard that the Astorians had allowed their women to fight, and this was surely one of their female warriors.

"Norbrook?" she inquired softly. "Is everything all right?"

General Norbrook as replied cheerfully as possible, "Yes, Superior Gran Shalila, everything is fine, everything is well. It is safe for your people to pass through this corridor. I guarantee you that this shortcut will lead us to Zarbon and his subordinates much quicker than the passageway that Princess Caline had chosen earlier. I myself have spent quite a bit of time in these labyrinths when I was first a mere private in the CRP, and like Princess Caline, I know quite a bit about these tunnels."

Cirono gasped aloud. He knew from what he had been told about the Astorians, that "Superior Gran" was the equivalent of queen on planet Astoria. This older woman was the ruler of Astoria! He closed his lavender-turquoise eyes and concentrated hard. He had just started learning telepathy from one of Kami Ankor's temples which housed a school for young men who wanted to become telepaths, and so far, he could only send messages, not receive them.
He had to warn the Superior Gran of Astoria somehow of what Norbrook was planning.

*Superior Gran Shalila, I am Cirono. We've never met, but I must tell you that you and your people are in danger! General Norbrook is a spy for Frieza! He is leading you into a trap! The one he calls Commander Zarbon is sending two of his soldiers down to attack you and your people! Norbrook is planning to abduct Princess Tayla using a cuffing gun that one of the attackers will bring him! He is also after the Princess Caline of Calmag-he wants the girl for himself, as a bride. *

A shocked Shalila could barely restrain her horror, as the unexpected telepathic message continued:

*I wish that you were able to send me a response, Superior Gran, but I can only send messages, not receive them. The minions' names are Seductia, Flirtius, and Splitz, and they will be coming soon. Can you scratch your nose to let me know that you received this message? *
Shalila did just that, her gray eyes now fixated upon Norbrook.

*Thank you, Superior Gran. I wish you and your people luck, and I will try to help you fight these foes, if I can. I am an expert swordsman, but I have never fought against any of Frieza's soldiers, Elite or otherwise before, so I don't know how good I would be. But I will be glad to offer my assistance in any way that I can. *

Shalila nodded briefly, hoping that this Cirono could see her. She felt in her heart that this young man was telling the truth; she didn't know how she knew, but she did. She turned around and said to Dirkan, and she decided to practice her telepathy then, sending a message to him, the exact same message that Cirono had sent her. Dirkan nodded briefly, and then he turned to Gracina, who did not know telepathy, and whispered an urgent message to her. A horrified Gracina's aqua eyes widened in fear and worry, but she managed to remain calm. She then drew Gorna aside and whispered the same message hastily to her, repeating the exact same words that Cirono had told Shalila, who told Dirkan, who just now told Gracina. Gorna's eyes too widened, and she spoke quietly to Bajal and Alora, urging them to pass the message along. Bajal and Alora carefully passed the message along, and amazingly enough; none of the receivers garbled the message or confused it in anyway, as they passed it on to others.

Gorna then beckoned Tayla and Caline to her and warned the two girls of what was coming. Caline grew paler than usual, and Tayla tried to calm her, assuring her that Tayla's family would not allow General Norbrook to get her into his clutches. Caline was appalled that General Norbrook, a man who had once been one of her father's closest friends and a man old enough to be her grandfather, was now among her unwanted suitors. She now had a new fear of the once trusted CRP general. She had figured that General Norbrook's dastardly deeds would be something that Filcor Sedemeyer would pull, but not Norbrook, a respected and renowned CRP officer.

When Lieutenant Balboun and Filcor Sedemeyer heard the message, they were shocked at what their beloved general had been up to and then angered. They both wanted to attack Norbrook at once, even though he was their commander, but Ridikar, who had now learned of the message, ordered the two men to remain put for now. They had no choice, but to obey him, for Ridikar was now second-in-command on Calmag next to his grandfather, King Kitchator. Ridikar himself wanted to kill Norbrook for even thinking of bothering Tayla or Caline, but he managed to hold his temper, although it wasn't easy. The Calmagian heir to the throne vowed that Norbrook would suffer horribly before he died, and he would die, if Ridikar had his way.

Joined by Bendros, he went over to both Tayla and Caline, as the message about General Norbrook spread faster through the rescuers than a cold virus. "Are you girls okay?" he asked them.

"We will be fine," Tayla assured him, holding Caline to her. A shaky Caline nodded as astutely as possible.

"We won't let anything happen to you two," Bendros assured them, but looking directly at Tayla. He felt that he owed her thanks for helping him get his Oozaru powers under control. He had not forgotten the little Princess of Chloe's trust, even when he had been a ravaging, raging "giant monkey".

"Thank you," Tayla told him softly, and Caline noticed a tinge of blush on Tayla's cheeks. Was Tayla interested in Bendros Sahara as well as her brother? She then saw Tayla favor Bendros with an appreciative smile, a smile that seemed to be only for him.

Ridikar noticed the blush on Tayla's cheeks as well and that smile, and he didn't like either action. He had thought that he was making progress with winning her over again, and now she was interested in someone who was part-Saiyan and not even royalty? He looked at Bendros critically, and now a bit jealously, out of his eye. Was this Bendros now a rival?

Tayla felt her cheeks grow warm, and then she realized that she had been responding to Bendros the same way that she had responded to him in the past before she had fallen for Ridikar. She liked Ridikar again, but Bendros still had somewhat a hold on her. What was she to do? She was technically too young to really have a suitor, and she was already debating between two men.
She shook her head; she was being silly. Bendros was an adult, and she was still surely a child in his eyes. He would definitely be interested in someone closer to his age, a woman who was grown, able to marry and give him children immediately. She on the other hand, was only twelve years old, and she barely had breasts yet (oh, dear Orchida, why was she thinking about her chest at a time like this?). Would Bendros want a girl with no real breasts yet to speak of?

Before they had left for Calmag, Rojal (who learned from Dedron about Tayla's sensitivity about her almost nonexistent breasts) had once taunted her about her chest, saying that she'd have a better chance of becoming Frieza's whore than of getting a suitor because no one would want a girl with a flat chest. The then snotty Astorian heir to the throne had also had gone as far to say that Frieza wouldn't have wanted her either because no male would even consider courting or screwing a girl with no breasts. An angry Tayla had been brought to tears, and she had almost slapped his face, but Bendros, who had heard everything as he was passing them, had caught her hand before she could do so.

"He's not worth it, Tayla," Bendros had said that day. He then had Tayla leave before she could give Rojal what he deserved, and Tayla had went into the hallway outside of the lounge where Rojal had been giving her a hard time. Bendros had defended Tayla that day, telling Rojal that his harsh words were not true, and that if he or Dedron ever gave Tayla a hard time about her chest again, he would deal with them personally. Rojal had a few nasty words with Bendros then, telling him that if he even thought about attacking him, Bendros would be banished.

Bendros laughed at him contemptuously and said that Rojal was not Superior Granden yet. Tayla, who had been listening, had never forgotten the way that Bendros had taken her part against the Astorian royal heir, warning him that he and Dedron better leave Tayla alone, or he would go to the Superior Gran himself. Bendros, a normally calm, rational warrior who rarely made physical threats unless he meant them, had told Rojal that if he ever heard of them bothering Tayla again, he would give them what they deserved physically. Rojal had grudgingly acquiesced, for Bendros was stronger than him because Bendros had his Awakening and Rojal hadn't, plus Bendros's Saiyan genes gave him an advantage over many members of Clan of Chloe.

Bendros had left Rojal then to go out into the hallway to see if Tayla was okay. He had taken the distraught, but amazed favorite of the Superior Gran aside and talked to her, telling her gently that Rojal's words were not true, that not all men went by physical appearance only, and that the right man would love her no matter what her chest size was. Tayla had smiled then and thanked him, and she had wanted to tell him then and there that he was the right man for her.

She shook her head wildly again, mentally scolding herself for losing track of what was going on. Now was not a time to think about suitors, men, boys, or otherwise. She straightened herself up as much as possible for her short height, and leaving an anxious Caline in the care of Ridikar for now, she hastily pushed past others, excusing herself quickly as she went, to catch up to her grandmother and Namek guardian. She had her sword, which she had managed to find again after battling Vegeta, in her hot little hand.

Meanwhile, Shalila was staying close to Dirkan, not only for the comfort of his presence, but to keep him from murdering Norbrook prematurely. She kept a firm grip on her husband's arm to keep him from doing anything rash, as they both anxiously sensed about for unknown ki signatures. Tayla had joined them by then, and when Shalila saw her, she ordered the girl to stay behind her until given further instructions. Tayla obeyed, keeping a stiff, upright stance, as she too sensed about for unfamiliar ki signatures.

Finally, Tayla was able to pick up a faint ki signature that growing stronger, and she cringed when she felt the maliciousness of it. She remembered her Great-Aunt Toria's lessons on determining emotions in ki signature, and she could feel slightly the wicked intent in this one that she had picked up. The ki signal was growing closer by the minute, as she beckoned both Shalila and Dirkan down to her.

"Can you feel it?" she asked them.

"Yes," Dirkan told her; he and Shalila had picked up on it at about the same time as she had.

"Is it anyone that you fought against before?" Tayla wanted to know.

Shalila said solemnly, "I'm afraid not, dandelion."

"What do we do now, Nama?" Gorna asked, who had picked up on the ki signature too.

"We wait," Shalila replied. "It is all that we can do."

Just then two more ki signatures joined the one that they had first sensed, and these signatures too were strong. Shalila kept one wary eye on General Norbrook, as he calmly stood about, waiting for the enemies to arrive. She, like, Dirkan, wanted to strangle the treacherous CRP general, but she did not want to expose him just yet.

She was thankful that she had managed to convince Dirkan to see things her way before her Namek mate had a chance to decimate the Calmagian pedophiliac bastard. Shalila shivered in revulsion when she thought of Norbrook desiring poor Caline and wanting to kidnap Tayla. Sure, Norbrook had wanted to abduct Tayla to turn her over to Zarbon and his comrades, but how was her family supposed to know that Norbrook wouldn't try anything else on her? Shalila clenched her right fist, seething inwardly. What was it about many Calmagian men that they couldn't find females close to their own age to take as wives or mates? Shalila pitied Caline; the Superior Gran was amazed that the innocent child had not gone insane by now. She vowed then and there not to have her family leave Calmag until she could get King Kitchator to let Caline come home with them, or at least to make him do something to ensure Caline's peace and happiness.

She then noticed a thin, masculine arm peeking from behind the pillar not too far from General Norbrook. The hand attached to the arm waved slowly at her when Norbrook's back was turned, and Shalila was certain that this hand belonged to Cirono, their guardian angel.

Cirono's face then peeked out from behind the pillar, to show the Superior Gran that he was still there. Shalila mouthed a thank you, hoping that he would see and understand. And it seemed that Cirono did, for he smiled briefly at her before hiding himself again, as Norbrook turned around back towards Cirono's direction.

*Superior Gran, don't worry too much. The Astorians' reputation for fighting well, particularly that of Clan of Chloe, has spread to my side of this planet. I know that you and your family can defeat these menaces, and I will do all that I can to help you, for as long as I can. *

Shalila nodded briskly, a silent thank you to the young man that she now deemed as a savior. She tried to look for him again, but she could not see him, which was just as well for now. Norbrook was nearing the pillar, pretending to be searching about the room. Her family and friends waited behind her with bated breath, watching, sensing, and waiting. The suspense in the air was so thick that only the sharpest swords (Shalila's Sword of Chloe and Dirkan's Light Blade) could cut it.

Private Gauze was behind Tayla, and he squeezed past her and Gorna to come up near Shalila and Dirkan. Dirkan whirled about onto him and snapped sharply:

"What in the East Kai's name are you doing up here? Get back behind us until we say otherwise!"

"I just wanted to see what you all were watching for," Gauze protested, shrinking back under Dirkan's warning glare. Gauze didn't leave right away, and his slowness and curiosity would become a huge mistake.

For at that moment, a small red spiky ball shot down from the roof and embedded itself quickly into Gauze's pale neck. Gauze screamed, as the spiked ball, the size of an Earth golf ball, dug itself in further into the nape of his neck until only half of the object was sticking out of the surface.

Gauze's eyes became glazed and blank, and a silly, happy grin fell over his plain features. He was now like a lovesick schoolboy.

Dirkan and Shalila rushed to his aid, but Gauze shoved himself away from them, crying out anxiously, "I must find her-the woman of my dreams!"

He was not talking about Caline.

He was talking about an extremely beautiful woman, with long, waist-length, wavy pale pink hair, a perfect creamy face and body, large pouty lips and large emerald-green eyes framed by long lashes. She was now floating serenely in the air above them, right above Norbrook. She had an hourglass figure with ample breasts that were almost visible through the sheer peach, low-cut, gossamer dress that seemed to be made from a cloud. A lavender belt hung loosely about her trim waist. Tiny clear crystal shoes adorned her even tinier feet.

"I love you!" Gauze cried out to the strange newcomer suddenly. "Say that you'll be mine forever!" The woman laughed sweetly when he had declared this.

"Has he lost his mind?" Gorna asked.

Shalila said worriedly, "He may lose more than his mind; he may lose his life as well. And if we are not careful, we may lose ours."

Dirkan wasted no time in calling out to the floating beauty, "Let me guess: you're the one called Seductia, am I right?"

The angelic-appearing lady laughed softly. "You're correct, tall, green, and handsome!" And with that, she opened her palm, creating a red ki ball that solidified into another spiky ball, the same ball that was now implanted in Gauze's neck.

Before Dirkan could dodge it, or someone could intervene, Seductia aimed the spiky ball into the strong trunk of Dirkan's neck, quickly digging itself into the side.

"NO!" Dirkan screamed, trying to yank the ball out of his neck with no success.

"DIRKAN!" Shalila screamed, running to him.

But it was too late already. Dirkan's eyes were now glazed and blank, as he looked up at Seductia with the same mindless devotion that Gauze had quickly developed.