Chapter Eighty-Nine: Getting Things In Order…

At the same time in the castle ballroom…

"Where in the hell are Bhodie and Balair?" Ginyu wanted to know. "He was supposed to be back hours ago. Did some Astorie or Calmagie kill him or somethin'?"

"Wouldn't be that great of a loss, Cap'n," Jeice muttered. He and Balair had never been the best of friends, and Jeice only tolerated Bhodie.

"You've got that right," Baata agreed with his best friend. "Bhodie's a whiny little Human weakling, and Balair is the king of all pedophiles. Sick pervert, wantin' to screw little girls, and Bhodie, I don't think is much better."

"I don't know if it'd be that great if Bali died," Guido grumbled. "He owes me money, and it'd be just like him to die before repaying me."

"It'd be just like Bali to die just to get out of paying me or you back," Jeice said loudly over a sleeping Reccoom's snoring. Reccoom was curled up on the edge of a dais, snoozing peacefully without a care in the world.

"He owes me money too, you guys," Baata said. "If he'd stay away from the casinos on planet Algor, he wouldn't owe anyone money."

"He owes everyone in Top Elite money, 'cept for Jaden and Chestra," Ginyu huffed. "They're the only ones who had the good sense not to lend Bali a space cent."

"Yeah, well, I wish that those two ladies had lent some of their good sense to me," Jeice sighed. "I could really use that money that Bali owes me."

"Yeah, that's just like Bali-okay, men, shut up! Dodoria and Bali's bro, Samsonite, are headin' our way. Keep your comments to yourselves," Ginyu ordered.

The other Ginyu Force members reluctantly agreed, as Dodoria and Samsonite joined them. Samsonite was Balair's youngest brother, and he was a dark pine green color, but built exactly like his worshipped older brother. In other words, he was just like a green Balair, and he shared all of Balair's vulgar tastes in women and alcohol, only unlike his brother, Samsonite was smart enough not to gamble.

"Has anyone heard from Balair?" Dodoria wanted to know.

"Have you all seen my brother?" Samsonite asked. He was a definite potential for Top Elite, and Dodoria had trained him himself; Samsonite was one of Dodoria's prize pupils. Balair had helped some with training Samsonite, but since Samsonite was Balair's brother, Balair had not been allowed to be his main trainer. Samsonite had just shot himself into Mid-Elite three months ago.

Before anyone could reply, Zarbon finally arrived. He looked around at the men and he said somberly, "Gentlemen, I have some good news and some bad news."

"This bad news doesn't involve Lord Frieza, does it?" Ginyu asked worriedly.

"Not this time, Ginyu. He's not planning any of our deaths yet that I know of. I'm afraid it's just as bad, however. I traced Balair's scouter to the outside of this castle, and I…found…the remains of his body. Samsonite, Dodoria, I am sorry to tell you both this, but Balair is…dead," Zarbon said with finality.

All of the men were quiet, just then, and Samsonite held his green head down. Dodoria patted him on his back, as he too was slowly realizing that his best friend would never come back.

Samsonite suddenly raised his head up and demanded angrily, "Who killed my brother? Who?"

Zarbon sighed, "I don't know, Samsonite, I wish I did. Unfortunately, from what I've seen of Balair's remains, his end was not a pleasant one."

Guido whispered to Jeice, "There goes the money he owes us."

Jeice whispered back, "What'd I tell you, Guido, what'd I tell you? Well, that means one less competitor for the ladies."

"Yeah, that's true," Guido admitted.

"Jaden will likely be celebrating, that's for sure," Jeice whispered again, and Guido nodded in agreement.

Not hearing any of Guido's or Jeice's whispers, Dodoria asked Zarbon quietly, "How did Bali die? Any ideas on how he died and who killed him?"

"He was destroyed by a powerful ki attack, possibly one involving electricity. No doubt an Astorian was involved."

"Blasted Astories!" Dodoria fumed. "I'll destroy every last one on this wretched planet! I'll send them to join those Astories that I killed before we came here! They'll pay for Bali's death!"

"Cursed Astories! I hate all Astories!" Samsonite yelled, even though he had never met an Astorian in his life. "It had to have been them, for there was no way that a Calmagie could have killed my brother! I can't believe an Astorie killed him; nothing or no one could touch my brother! I'm not going to rest until I find out who killed my brother!"

"Easy, you two," Zarbon said as steadily as possible. "You'll get your chance to avenge Bali's death soon enough, I'm sure. We all will."

"Not soon enough for me," Dodoria grumbled, staying near Samsonite to make sure that he was okay.









In the office of Enma Daiou in the other dimension, the world of the dead…

The line to Enma Daiou's desk was long, so long that it stretched all along Snake Way. Finally, Alberm, Amitar, Redusa, Arachnor, Knightmare, the Terror Triplets, and Balair were almost near Enma Daiou's desk. Enma Daiou sighed when he saw all of these men, all minions of Frieza except for Prince Amitar of Calmag. Processing these foes was going to take him forever, especially with the long rap sheets that Balair had by himself. In fact, almost an entire filing cabinet shelf was filled with the nasty deeds of Balair.

Well, at least that Sistrai monster wasn't first, much to Enma Daiou's thankfulness. Enma Daiou had already taken care of most of the poor victims of Calmag, sending some to heaven, and some to hell, mostly the men, because not many of them were any better than Alberm or Amitar.
Alberm was the first of Frieza's minions that Enma Daiou would have to review. Enma Daiou had Alberm's Book Of Deeds ready, and he cringed in disgust when he recited how Alberm Dunlop of Rendor had treated his own wife, the Princess Caline:

"Over fifty counts of beating or assaulting your child bride…at least over thirty counts of raping her, or forcing her to perform sexual acts against her will…trying to murder her…kidnapping her…threatening her…you are one very sick man, Alberm Dunlop!" Enma Daiou boomed loudly. "Are most of you Calmagian men that way?"

Alberm Dunlop couldn't hold his head up. He knew that he was going to hell, and the worst part of it was that he would be spending it with the rest of Frieza's minions, who would likely torture him for allowing his wife to live and expose Frieza's plans. He cursed under his breath, not yet feeling regret for his dirty deeds, only regret that he would have to pay for his crimes for all eternity.

He just hoped that Jaden wouldn't die any time soon. Alberm was not eager to meet the deadly Rybanese warrior again for a long time. He never forgot the pain of her ki blast entering his heart, causing it to self-destruct.

Curse that Caline! This was her fault, Jaden's fault, and of course, Princess Tayla Chloe's! If Tayla Chloe hadn't prevented him from murdering Caline, if he had succeeded in killing both girls, he wouldn't be in this mess right now! Frieza's plans wouldn't have been exposed until it was too late for the Astorians to stop his evil schemes.

He knew, should have known better, than to marry that tiny, blond-haired wench. Why couldn't Tayla Chloe have minded her own business and stayed out of his and Caline's lives? Why did Caline have to go crying to Tayla about him disciplining her?

Maybe it was just as well that he was dead now. If he had been alive, and Frieza had found out that Alberm had so carelessly allowed himself to be exposed, any torture that Frieza would have ordered for him would be ten times worst than death.

Sometimes death could be a blessing.









"Amitar…short record sheet, but not good, nevertheless…verbally abusing your wife, beating your child, Caline…forcing her to marry a fat pig like Alberm…what did you two sick men have against a little girl? Explain, tell me!"

"I-I never wanted her," Amitar shamefacedly admitted. "I told Shydine that I didn't want another daughter, that five children were enough. Enma Daiou, you don't understand, the girl was difficult, disobedient, completely troublesome…"

"Oh, spare me your excuses! I'm done with you, be gone! Down you go with your pathetic son-in-law!"

And to the horror of both Amitar and Alberm, a solid black hole opened up beneath them, and both men plummeted through the dark, cold hole down to hell, their screams echoing throughout Enma Daiou's office.

"NO!" both men screamed in eternal agony, their cries fading further and further away.
Balair and the Lower-Elite officers of Frieza shivered with terror, as they heard yet the frightened screams of Amitar and Alberm. And all six villains knew that they too would surely join the two Calmagian men in hell, for their criminal records were three to five times longer than those of Amitar and Alberm.

Balair was on tenterhooks, as he watched Enma Daiou quickly review the lives of all five Lower Elite officers. After an hour of hearing of her bad deeds, Redusa foolishly tried to seduce him, sitting on his desk and cooing, "I know that I have been a bad girl! But surely you would give a lovely thing such as myself a second chance, wouldn't you? Beauty like mine must not be wasted, wouldn't you agree?"

A disgusted Enma Daiou shoved Redusa off of his desk and she fell down into the same black hole that Amitar and Alberm had descended into.

"HELP ME, SOMEONE, PLEASE! HELP! I'M TOO YOUNG AND BEAUTIFUL TO HAVE MY LIFE END LIKE THIS! HELP ME!"

But it was too late for the cold beauty that enjoyed shrinking people with a wink of her eye. The Terror Triplets all cowered near Knightmare, clinging to his cloak. They shivered fearfully, as Enma Daiou recited all of their sins to them for what seemed to be many hours.
Knightmare was trembling, as Enma Daiou said disgustedly to him, "Over thousands of lives have been ruined or destroyed thanks to your cruelty, Knightmare! Your Terror Triplets helped make things worse, such vampire-like vile creatures. So off all of you go as well!" And Knightmare and the Terror Triplets were sent to join Redusa, Amitar, and Alberm in hell.

Arachnor was on all of his eight knees, begging Enma Daiou for mercy, but Enma Daiou wouldn't have it. "It would take me forever to tell you of the lives that you have taken…planets that you have helped clear…" And Enma Daiou went on and on for an hour about Arachnor's foul deeds, and then Arachnor was sent to join his companions in hell as well. Arachnor's pleas of mercy had only served to irritate Enma Daiou more.

Enma Daiou sighed heavily when it was finally Balair's turn; Balair had a stack of pages listing all of his heinous crimes that was almost as tall as Balair himself. Enma Daiou had saved Balair for last because he had the longest record of foul acts. Balair looked at him and said:

"I already know that I'm going to hell, so just send me there and get it over with!"

"Quiet, you perverted, sickening monster! I give the orders here, not you! As much as I would just like to send you straight to hell, I have to read to you all of your deeds; that's the law and protocol, as much as I hate it. Cursed bureaucracy…anyway, sit down, Balair, this is going to take a while."

Balair sighed, as he sat down. He clenched his fists and silently cursed Raakon Chloe. Raakon should be the one standing before Enma Daiou now, not him. Of course in Raakon Chloe's case, Enma Daiou would probably hand him a golden crown and a thousand medals and ship him straight to heaven, allowing him to keep his body! The nefarious Sistrai warrior cursed Raakon Chloe and his entire family, including Natala and the boy named Kekron.

And he never even got to screw Natala, or Caline, or Ebrona, or any of the other females that Balair had planned to sleep with! There was an old Sistrai legend that all of the good-looking women who were sent to hell automatically lost their good looks and became ugly in appearance. Balair didn't know how much of that legend was true, but he knew that it would be a long time before he got to bed a woman again.

He thought of Natala Cornsilk-Chloe, and how he could have made her his, if it had not been for Raakon Chloe! Raakon had told Balair during the Battle of Chloe that if they ever crossed paths again, and Balair had continued his evil, Raakon would give him a one-way ticket to Enma Daiou.

Balair sighed; he should have listened.

He really should have listened.

"…Seventeen counts of rape on planet Lolo…three-thousand, seven-hundred-and-twenty-four sexual assaults against women…twenty counts of rape on planet Osmar…not to mention over twenty-thousand deaths on the planet caused by you alone…Balair, the number of your victims go up to millions! Frieza is among the minority who has exceeded your record in the Rosetta Galaxy. And that's only the crimes you committed in the western quarter of the Rosetta Galaxy. And now for the eastern quarter…"

Balair crossed his arms and mumbled something unintelligible as Enma Daiou's voice rambled on. Enma Daiou did not need to send him to hell; he was already in it.










Back in the ballroom…

Marya Chloe was on her knees praying; she had been praying for hours. Steak and Ham were sitting near her; all of the hostages were sitting down or lying down. Some were asleep. Crystalis and Pork were standing nearby, looking anxious and saddened.

Marya had shivered in horror earlier when she had seen Tayla in her visions being abducted by their brother, Bajal. She had nearly cried out when she felt the pain of Seductia's attacking balls possess Dirkan and Bajal. The High Priestess of Chloe wept for her little sister, Tayla, whom her family had fought so hard to protect. She said a special prayer for Tayla, Dirkan, and Bajal.

She tried to feel about for Tayla's ki signature, and although it was faint, she could feel it close by. She saw in her visions Tayla being held captive in an upstairs conservatory, with her wrists bound and tied. The possessed Dirkan and Bajal were guarding her on Seductia's orders, and the ice maiden, Diamonique was with them, congratulating Seductia on a job well done.

Marya stopped her praying for a bit, and she arose, needing to stretch her long, slender legs. She walked over to both Pork and Crystalis, who were nervously watching the hostages, and she approached them. Both teenagers looked at her in confusion.

She smiled gently at them, saying softly, "Do not worry; Enma Daiou and the Kais have forgiven you. Do not give up hope yet."

"We are sorry for all we have done to your people," Crystalis whispered hoarsely.

"You were forced," Marya told her consolingly. "You and Pork are trying to make amends for the things that you two have done, and the good spirits and ancestors see that." She then turned to Pork and said, "Pork, your family loves you very much, and they do not begrudge you for the things that you did under Frieza. Yes, you have done wrong in the past, but it was not entirely your fault. Pork, your family just wants you to come home with them. They have already forgiven you, even Veal, who is not among us at this moment."

Pork looked at her, amazed and humbled, as Marya turned back to Crystalis. She beckoned Crystalis to bend down, so that she could whisper into the Espican girl's leaf-like ear,
"Crystalis, you are braver than you think that you are. It is partially because of you that Pork has survived for as long as he has; in fact, much of the credit goes to you. Listen to me, we need your help, my dear."

"How can I help?" Crystalis gasped. "I can't fight Frieza's Top Elite officers. They'll kill me, if I touch them."

Marya said quietly, "Not necessarily, my dear. See, I have thought of a plan, but I will need you personally to help me carry it out. I, being a Priestess, have taken vows not to strike out physically against others, and I cannot break my Seven Moons Oath. You, however, are not held by such bonds, and you have the power to absorb any powers of anyone that you touch, right?"

"Yes, of course."

"Listen to me, my dear. I sense the ki of Raakon Chloe, my brother, very close by. If we can get to him, I want you to touch him and gain his fighting ability. Before that, I want you to touch me to get my psychic visions; you will find they come in handy. And I also want you to touch Pork for his hearing ability. You are going to be a collector, my dear, collecting as many special abilities as you can from as many people as you can. You can gain the Calmagian paralysis attack, the Meatian hearing abilities, my power to see things, and all of Raakon's fighting techniques and powers. You must overcome your fears for now, my dear, for you have a special gift that fate feels it was time that you put to good use."

"I am so afraid, Miki (miss in Espican) Marya. I am more likely to be a burden than a help."

"You are no burden, my dear. It is only your fears that are holding you back now. I believe in you, Crystalis, and I am certain that Pork here does too, am I right, Pork?"

"Definitely!" Pork crowed. "Crysti, I know that you can help them. I wish I was able to do what you could do. Please help us, Crysti, for my family's sakes, for the Astorians and the Calmagians' sakes, and for ours!"

Crystalis nodded; she was still scared, but she knew that she had to find some way to make up for the things that she had done. "I'll-I'll do it then," she whispered affirmatively.

"Good, my dear, I know that you can do this," Marya told her encouragingly. "Now come with me…"








An hour later, in the conservatory upstairs above the ballroom…

Diamonique stared at the unconscious Tayla in disgust and anger. She had just alerted Zarbon of Tayla's capture, and Zarbon had told her beforehand of Balair's demise (like she really cared that much about the perverted, sexist Sistrai bastard).

Tayla was now lying on a leatherette emerald green couch that was the same shade as Dirkan's skin. The Astorian princess was lying facedown with her hands bound tightly behind her back, should she awaken. She had also been gagged with a red cloth in her mouth. Diamonique would have cuffed Tayla with a cuffing gun, but Flirtius had the only cuffing gun left, and all Diamonique could do was have the girl bound as tightly as possible.

Dirkan and Bajal were standing in front of her, as still as statues, stiff and rigid as British soldiers on planet Earth guarding Buckingham Palace. Their faces were solemn now, staring blankly into space, but ready to attack anyone should Seductia order them to.
Diamonique and Seductia were now sitting in chairs across from the three Clan of Chloe members. Seductia was smiling happily, as her eyes roved over Dirkan's muscular body, admiring every bulging muscle. "Isn't Dirkan just the handsomest thing that you've ever seen?" she asked Diamonique in her sugar-sappy voice.

Diamonique said in a bored tone, "I suppose, if you like slug-like green men who can't even get a woman pregnant."

Seductia was not to be discouraged. "You have to admit though, my plan was very clever."

Diamonique smiled then. "Indeed it was, Seductia, indeed it was. Zarbon told me how brilliant you were in suggesting it. Who ever thought we would ever capture this brat? You have done your teacher proud. I see fine things in the future for you, Seductia."
Seductia, who was about two years younger than her trainer, said sweetly, "Thank you, Diamonique. It has been a pleasure training under you."

"It is a pity that Redusa, my other student, couldn't have done as well as you have. 'Tis a shame that she had to go the way she did, foolish girl!"

"What is to be done with Tayla Chloe now?"

"Oh, we will keep her here until all of the Astorians are destroyed. She must be guarded at all times. Dirkan and this Bajal make excellent guards for her. That girl is so troublesome, especially for a mere child." Diamonique's icy-sweet voice then suddenly turned to anger. "I wish that I was allowed to kill that bratty girl lying there behind them! Oh, how I hate her! I hate her, I hate her, I hate her! I wish that I were allowed to beat her, to give her the whipping that Shalila Chloe should have given her! Scrawny brat almost killed me! Ugh! She's lucky that Lord Frieza insisted that she not be harmed in any way!"

"Shhh, please, my teacher," Seductia urged her trainer. "Listen, look. She's awakening!"

"What?" Diamonique exclaimed.

At that very moment, Tayla Chloe awoke, with her brown saucer eyes looking straight ahead at the two heinous women.

The child would have screamed, had it not been for the gag in her mouth.










The hallways of the royal castle…

Raakon Chloe could sense the ki signature of Tayla; he did not have Marya's gift of psychic visions, but he could feel in his heart that Tayla was in danger. Raakon Chloe was going downstairs to go the ballroom, but when he had sensed Tayla's ki, he changed directions and headed back upstairs away from the ballroom. He followed his little sister's ki signal, as he neared a castle conservatory-the very same room that Tayla was being held in. Raakon concealed his ki signature fully before he went any further.

He then arrived at the conservatory, and he peeked in the crack of the slightly open door, and he had to keep himself from crying out in fear. Diamonique was taunting Tayla about her capture, and Tayla could not respond to her because she was bound and gagged. Raakon was further horrified to discover that Dirkan and Bajal were standing in front of Tayla, doing nothing to help her, just standing there. The Astorian prince was even further shocked to see Dirkan in a passionate embrace and kiss with a strange woman with pink hair and green eyes.
Raakon felt as if he were looking in another dimension altogether.

He shook his head free of the shock; he had no time to figure out what was going on with Bajal and Dirkan. Tayla needed him, but how was he going to save her?

Raakon leaned back against the wall, hiding his ki still, pondering on how he was going to save Tayla before it was too late.