Chapter Ninety-Two: Hell Starts To Break Loose
Down in the labyrinths…
Marya had been hurrying hostages along the corridors, and she was thankful to see Caline again. Caline had beckoned the newly freed hostages to follow her, and everyone followed the little girl through the corridors, fleeing as fast as they could.
Queen Kildara was in the front of the fleeing hostages, and she swept up Caline into her arms and kissed her fervently on her forehead. "You are a brave child! You have helped to save so many of us! Thank you from the bottom of my heart!" Caline blushed and shyly nodded.
King Kitchator was amazed that it took little Caline, a child that he had never paid much attention to, to help free his people. Perhaps he had underestimated the girl, after all. He then briefly touched Caline's cheek, as he guided his wife past the child. "Your parents would be proud of you, Caline, especially your father."
*My mother would be proud*, Caline thought. *But Father would not care. He would merely nod and then plan my wedding to Filcor, had he been alive. *
"Caline," Kildara told her step-granddaughter, "your mother would be so especially proud of you. She has told me many a time that you were her favorite."
*Oh, Mother, I miss you so much! You have been looking after me, after all, haven't you? You never forgot me after all, just like you promised! For a long time, I had wanted you to take me with you to heaven, and you kept saying before you died that I could not come with you there! After Father turned nastier and made Ridikar become like him, I did want to die! Many nights I had prayed for you to take me away, but now I see why you didn't! You had always thought that I was special, but I never truly believed it until this war started. Thank you, mother, for it must have been you who sent the Astorians to come help our people! They had to have come for a reason, and I believe that you are it! You said that before you died, that you would see even in heaven that I would be taken care of! You knew that Father never wanted me, and you shielded me from him as much as you could. You fought for me and kept me safe while you were alive. I am so sorry that you had died from that terminal illness; I wish that I could have saved you.
It was Julien, my bastard brother (Mother, I am sorry for that awful word; I supposed that I learned it from Tayla, who uses it occasionally from time to time. But you and Carie would still like Tayla, really you would. She saved my life, and I love her.)…anyway, it was Julien who had told me that Father had wanted you, Mother, to abort me, but you stood your ground and refused. I loved you for that alone, Mother, for you could have given in to Father and did what he wanted.
But you refused to obey him, and because of you, I am alive. I only wish that I could say the same for my best friend, Carie. You would have liked Carie, I know you would have, Mother.
I remember that when you were dying, I had asked you what I could do to make things better for you. You told me to help others as you have helped me, and I promised to do so. I hope that I have kept that promise, Mother. For a long time, I thought that I had failed to do so.
I remember when I had hid my best friend, Carie, from that awful Filcor Sedemeyer, that same Filcor that Father was going to force me to marry. I had hidden her for three months until Julien had discovered her. And then Filcor came and took my best friend away, and I never saw her again. I had truly begun to hate myself then, and I wondered what good was I, especially after she drowned herself on purpose.
But I know now what you would have said to me: you would have wanted me to go on and honor Carie's memory by still helping more like her. For a long time, I gave up, Mother, yes, I did, 'cause I figured that I would just make things worse for other people instead of better. Now I know that I was wrong. I hope that what I did to help my people will fulfill my promise to you, but even if it does, I still intend to go on, like you would have wanted me to. I hope that I had made you proud, Mother, and I hope that wherever you are in heaven, that you are happy. I love you so much.
One last thing: if you ever meet Carie there, will you let her know that I love her, and I am sorry for not being able to do more for her while she was alive?
Thank you, Mother. *
Caline's thoughts then turned to Carie, as she continued to guide her people through the corridors…
*Carie, if you are in heaven, and I know that you are, please forgive me for not being able to do more for you. I loved you more than I did my own sisters; you were always there for me, like an older sister. My heart broke for both of us when Filcor took you away and forbade you ever to see me again. I cried more for your unhappiness than for the beating that my father gave me for hiding you. I know why you felt you had to throw yourself off of that cliff, knowing that your body would hit the rapids before it would hit the water, but I wish you hadn't done it. I wish that you had been able to have a reason to live, to fight.
But I understand how you feel, 'cause for a long time, I felt like you did, wanting nothing more than death, especially after I had been brought home to Father after I had run away from home to get out of marrying Alberm. I don't know if you know this, but Father beat me almost to the point of death. I had begged him that day to kill me rather than force me to marry Alberm, but you know what he said? He told me that he wasn't going to give me the pleasure of dying, and he also said that my marriage to Alberm would serve as proper punishment for being such a burden and nuisance to him. What did I ever do to my father to deserve his abuse other than being born?
Anyway, Carie, I wish you happiness wherever you are, and I hope that life is good for you in the other world. I know that one day we will meet again and be together forever. I promise after this war is over to start writing my memoirs, so I can tell you everything when I get there. But I won't be seeing you for a long time yet, for I plan to live for many, many years. I want to live.
And don't worry, Carie, I am not alone now. I have Tayla, or I will soon, I hope. I love her more than any other girl with the exception of you. You will always be my first best friend, the first girl that I could ever consider a real sister to me. I think you would have liked Tayla, Carie, I really think that you would, although you might have been shocked by the things she sometimes says and does. She surprised me at first when I had first learned about her; I had never met a girl who was a warrior before. She's really special, Carie; I hope that she's okay.
I hope that you don't mind if I ask you and Mother for a small favor. If you two are looking down from heaven, could you watch over Tayla until she's safe with her family again? If she comes back to us safely, then I will know that you are still watching, and I believe that she will come back.
In fact, I don't believe she will…I know she will… *
In the conservatory…
Zarbon had finally arrived, and Raakon had been forced to hide behind a giant potted plant, as he masked his ki from Zarbon's scouter. Zarbon entered the conservatory, and his jaw dropped when he saw the nasty gash on the Princess Tayla's face. He glared darkly at Diamonique and frowned.
"Diamonique," he said edgily. "You know that Lord Frieza said that the girl was not to be harmed. I know that you clawed her like that; why did you do it?"
"She deserved it," Diamonique snarled. "The brat shouldn't have ignored me."
"It doesn't matter," Zarbon told her in a steely tone. "Lord Frieza said that the girl was to be brought to be him unharmed. He is not going to be pleased when he sees that mark on her face. We have to get it treated before he sees it…speaking of treatment, Diamonique, I've noticed that you appear to be unusually healthy, why is that?"
Diamonique smiled. "I met an old herbalist on the way here, and I forced him to treat me. He treated my wounds with some strange tonic made of some strange flowers. That tonic healed me instantly, completely."
"Do you have any more of it? We will need to use some on the girl's gashes. Lord Frieza will have you beaten, if he finds out that you marked her like that."
"I did, but I used the last bit of what the old man gave me on the way here."
"You didn't think of anyone else, Diamonique? Why didn't you bring enough for all of us to use? Don't you ever think of anyone besides yourself?"
"Of course I do, darling," Diamonique purred. "It's just I was in such a hurry to get here that I didn't think. I wish that I had at least brought enough for you, my dear."
"Did the herbalist tell you what that tonic was made out of?" Zarbon asked her evenly, ignoring Diamonique's sentiments. He had despised her ever since she had tried twice to kill Chestra over him, and these days he only tolerated her. He knew that if he gave her the slightest kindness or encouragement, she would fall all over him, and he did not want that. Despite Diamonique's brief affairs with men such as Vegeta or Bhodie, deep down a part of her still wanted Zarbon, and Zarbon knew it.
He had no intention of indulging her. Chestra was the only one for him.
"Oh some sort of flower, either a rose or something…but anyway, Zarbon, how have you been?"
Zarbon sighed. "Diamonique, just find some ointments or something to treat the girl's injuries. And do not mark her again, no matter what she does."
"Why don't you come with me?" Diamonique purred.
"No, I will stay with the child until you return. Wake up Seductia."
Seductia was sleeping peacefully on a divan behind Diamonique, with Dirkan and Bajal standing nearby. They had standing orders to kill anyone who tried to attack their mistress.
"Seductia, WAKE UP!" Diamonique screamed.
Seductia murmured in her sleep, "Oh, Dirkan, Diamonique was wrong about Nameks…you certainly know how to please a woman…oh, do that again! Ride me, lover!"
Tayla nearly gagged at Seductia's words, suddenly feeling sick to her stomach. Zarbon saw her disgusted expression, and he couldn't help but agree with her.
"SEDUCTIA!" Zarbon growled. "Wake up!"
Finally, an irritated Seductia awoke. "Yes?" she grumbled.
"Seductia, you are to come downstairs and help guard the hostages. Take those two that you have under your spell with you; they will make excellent guards. And also…wait a minute, let me answer my scouter. Dodoria, what is this about? WHAT? Shalila Chloe WAS FAKING HER CAPTURE THE ENTIRE TIME? But Flirtius told me that she had cuffs on her wrists! What the hell happened? Yes, I want you and the others to stop her! If you can avoid killing her, do so; Lord Frieza wants her taken alive. Yes, I know that you would rather see her burned to a crisp, Dodoria, but the order is to cripple her, not kill her! Stop her before she helps the hostages escape! WHAT? THE HOSTAGES HAVE ALREADY ESCAPED? Send some of the Ginyu Force down into the labyrinths after them, along with Samsonite! WHAT? She killed Samsonite? Oh, fine, you deal with Shalila and send the entire Ginyu Force down after those hostages. Have them kill as many people underground as they can; we are no longer sparing anyone but Princess Tayla. I am sending Seductia and a couple of unexpected allies downstairs now. Diamonique will be with them. We have got to stop Shalila Chloe before she comes upstairs! I will be there as soon as I can, but first, I am going to secure Princess Tayla. I will take the girl out of here with me, and then I will be back. We've got what we came for. Don't fail, Dodoria."
Tayla's soft brown eyes were glowing with hope, and a relieved, happy expression settled onto her scarred face. Nama had been faking her capture the entire time!
"I knew Nama wouldn't let us down!" she screamed out joyously before she thought.
"Shut up, brat!" Diamonique hissed.
"You're going to be sorry," Tayla told her defiantly. "'Cause when she sees what you did to my face, your heart's going to meet her blade!"
"Great, just great," Zarbon muttered. "I should have known that Shalila Chloe would pull something like this! Seductia, take Bajal and Dirkan downstairs with you immediately."
"Yes, Commander," Seductia told him serenely. "Dirkan, my love, and Bajal, my darling, come with me at once."
"Whatever you say, my heart!" Dirkan enthused. "I would allow myself to be torn apart by Frieza for you, my sweet cherry!"
"Your wish is my command, my strawberry!" Bajal gushed. "I would dance on the sun for you!"
Tayla felt another sudden urge to vomit. She felt sorry for Bajal and Dirkan, and she was thankful that no one was recording their voices. If Bajal and Dirkan knew what they were truly saying, they both would volunteer to send themselves to Enma Daiou! The Bajal and Dirkan she knew would never say those things, not even to their own wives.
*Nama, she thought. Please come soon. I need you. Bajal and Dirkan need you. We all need you.*
Ten minutes later…
Diamonique herself felt ill, and she decided to step out into the hallway briefly for fresh air before she left to help stop Shalila Chloe. Seductia had already taken teleported Bajal and Dirkan downstairs with her. She wiped her peachy-blue brow, as she looked around the hallway.
She looked at a gigantic, ferny potted plant briefly before turning away. Two minutes later, a large fist crashed into the back of her silvery-blue head. Her black gem eyes wide and her pouty mouth open, Diamonique fell down face forward into the carpeted floor of the hallway. Her head turned to the left, as her eyes fell shut…
…Zarbon felt his scouter go off, and he dashed into the hallway where a familiar Astorian that he fought against many years ago held a sword in front of to Zarbon's chest.
Zarbon gasped, as he recognized the opponent, "Raa…kon…Chloe?"
Raakon said boldly, "That's right, Zarbon. Nice meeting you again. Now, I am going to give you only one warning one time: let my sister go, or suffer the fate of your friend, Diamonique."
"Tayla Chloe is your…sister?" Zarbon asked, trying to conceal how much this Prince of Chloe unnerved him after all these years. His pale green face faded to white, for he had remembered the young Astorian's power all those years ago. He had seen Raakon's Awakening himself, not knowing the astonishing transformation that the Prince of Chloe had been going through. Raakon had not been able to defeat Zarbon (in fact, it had been Dirkan who had defeated Zarbon after Raakon had put up a good fight), but Zarbon had never forgotten how much damage Raakon had been able to cause him.
"That's right," Raakon said coldly. "Release my sister immediately."
"You heard him!" Tayla shouted. "Let me go!"
"Quiet, girl!" Zarbon hissed at her. Zarbon then allowed himself to smile briefly, as he stepped back away from Raakon. He inched closer to Tayla and threw the girl upon his shoulders. He then also placed a hand to Tayla's slender back, and said coolly to Raakon:
"Take another step closer, and she dies."
In the ballroom…
"Gained about another ton since the last time we met, eh, Dodo?"
"Don't you dare that call me that, wench!"
"Whatever you say…Dodo," Shalila told the fat, puffy minion sweetly. "Shall we continue, or is hauling your extra tonnage around getting to be too much for you? You can end this anytime you like."
"You've got that right, Astorie!" Dodoria opened his mouth to fire a mouth blast at Shalila, but Shalila was ready for him. She crossed her arms in proper Mirror Shield position and cried out, "MIRROR SHIELD!"
Dodoria's mouth blast backfired onto him, sending him crashing into a closet. The ceiling above him collapsed around him, the rubble of the wall and the ceiling falling down upon him. Dodoria finally climbed out of the wreckage in no time and growled:
"That's the last freebie I'm giving you, old hag! This time, I won't be playing!"
"I've stopped playing a long time ago, Dodoria, but if you wish to up the ante, I will be more than glad to oblige you," Shalila said coolly.
"Fine with me!" And Dodoria lunged at her with his fist flying out in front of him.
Shalila raised her sword, and her blade sliced through Dodoria's wrist that held his fist, cutting it off. A stunned Dodoria looked at his bleeding stump in horror; he knew that the doctors in Frieza's forces could easily use artificial regeneration to make the hand grow back, but until then, he only had one hand to fight Shalila with. He listened as his maimed fist fell to the floor with a sickening plunk.
Shalila told him coldly, "Now, do you wish to lose your other hand, Dodoria, or have you considered the wisdom of leaving Calmag at once?"
Dodoria wheezed, "You're going to lose your head before this war is over, woman! I'll see to it personally!"
"Just try it, you walking sack of lard!" Shalila declared. "I take your reply to mean that we should continue." And this time she raised her hand, intending to use a Rings of Saturn Attack to drain Dodoria of all of his energy, but before she could do so, she felt the presence of Dirkan and Bajal. She shivered, as she began to launch her ki-draining attack on Dodoria. She could feel the new evil in each of their ki levels, but she would not pay them any mind now.
Or should she?
Seductia, who had emerged from behind Dirkan and Bajal, was now standing beside Bajal. "Bajal, Dirkan, go attack Shalila Chloe and destroy her at once!"
"Yes, my queen of hearts!"
"Whatever you say, sweet melon of my dreams!"
Shalila knew then that she had to forget about draining Dodoria of his ki for now. She abruptly halted her Rings of Saturn attack before she had a chance to capture Dodoria in it. She then launched a ki blast into the air, blowing a large hole in the ceiling of the ballroom. She blasted herself into the air like a rocket and left the ballroom through the hole in the ceiling.
"After her!" Seductia ordered.
After they themselves blew holes in the ceiling, Bajal and Dirkan followed through the ceiling after Shalila with lightening speed.
In the labyrinths…
Meanwhile, while the escaping hostages were following Caline, the Astorian and Calmagian fighters were pushing past the escapees through the corridors in order to get to the surface of the ballroom. Gorna led the charge, with her family members and the remaining CRP officers behind her. Only Sergeant Baraki had remained behind to guard General Norbrook, whose scouter had been taken as evidence of Norbrook's crimes.
They were nearing the entrance to the drinking bar of the ballroom when suddenly the Ginyu Force confronted them. All of the Astorians drew their swords, and the CRP officers whipped out their laser guns. Gorna was at the first, with Cletos, Gracina, Bendros, and Lektron nearby her. Arlon and Lukan stood behind them, accompanied by Riccan. Rojal, Dedron, Julien and Ridikar were behind Arlon, and the CRP officers were behind the two Calmagian princes.
Captain Ginyu grinned when he saw Gorna. The cocky captain knew that it had been Gorna who had defeated him all of those years ago in the Battle of Chloe, but he had become stronger since then.
Gorna told Ginyu coolly, "I'll tell you what, Ginyu." (She refused to address him as captain, ever.) "Why don't you and I fight alone above ground? Perhaps you would like a chance for a rematch, not you'll win, but I would rather not risk the lives of my family and friends any more than necessary. Also, my grandmother is up there fighting now."
(Shalila had finally apprised her family and allies of her true intentions just before Flirtius had taken her above ground.)
Ginyu grinned again. "Fine with me. You and me on the roof in ten minutes."
"Cap'n, are you sure that's a good idea?" Baata wanted to know. "She's pretty fierce."
"I can more than handle an Astorie woman, Baata. Now you and the others take care of the others down here while this old dame and I go duke it out! But before we go, battle poses, men!"
"Oh, not that again!" Gorna grumbled. "Your men can do their clown acts now, Ginyu, but I don't care to waste time seeing you do it here! When we get to the roof, then you can do your ridiculous display up there!"
Ginyu grunted. "Fine then. Men, show 'em what ya got!"
"Yes, Cap'n!" the Ginyu Force chorused.
"Let's just go," Gorna muttered.
Rojal pushed past his other family members to whisper urgently to his mother, "Mother, are you sure that you know what you're doing?"
Gorna growled under her breath, "Of course I do, son. Now you get ready to fight the rest of Ginyu's clowns. I've got a score to settle with Ginny."
"Jeicey, you're in charge 'til I get back!" Ginyu ordered.
Reccoom complained, "Why does he always get to be in charge?"
"Yeah," Guido declared. "I'd like to be in charge once in a while."
Baata was debating whether to support Jeice and Ginyu or moan with the others. Finally, he just chose to remain silent.
Captain Ginyu then did an elaborate goodbye pose before leaving the labyrinths again for the ballroom. Gorna followed after him.
Jeice called out, "Okay, men, let's show 'em what we got!" He then did his elaborate spread-eagle pose and cried, "Jeice!"
"BAATA!"
"RECCOOM!"
"GUIDO!"
"WE ARE THE GINYU FORCE!"
"Sweet Kami, help us," Cletos mumbled. "I think at this point, I'd sooner go with Gorna and deal with Ginyu."
"I just hope that Gorna remembers that Ginyu's capable of switching bodies," Gracina said worriedly.
"Okay, men, let's split who we're going to fight, using rock, paper, and scissors," Jeice ordered.
Lektron whispered to the others, "While they're doing their circus show, why don't we attack them then right away?"
"Good idea," Gracina agreed. "If I have to live through another of their performances, I'll ship myself off to Enma Daiou before they have the chance to try to do so."
Down in the labyrinths…
Marya had been hurrying hostages along the corridors, and she was thankful to see Caline again. Caline had beckoned the newly freed hostages to follow her, and everyone followed the little girl through the corridors, fleeing as fast as they could.
Queen Kildara was in the front of the fleeing hostages, and she swept up Caline into her arms and kissed her fervently on her forehead. "You are a brave child! You have helped to save so many of us! Thank you from the bottom of my heart!" Caline blushed and shyly nodded.
King Kitchator was amazed that it took little Caline, a child that he had never paid much attention to, to help free his people. Perhaps he had underestimated the girl, after all. He then briefly touched Caline's cheek, as he guided his wife past the child. "Your parents would be proud of you, Caline, especially your father."
*My mother would be proud*, Caline thought. *But Father would not care. He would merely nod and then plan my wedding to Filcor, had he been alive. *
"Caline," Kildara told her step-granddaughter, "your mother would be so especially proud of you. She has told me many a time that you were her favorite."
*Oh, Mother, I miss you so much! You have been looking after me, after all, haven't you? You never forgot me after all, just like you promised! For a long time, I had wanted you to take me with you to heaven, and you kept saying before you died that I could not come with you there! After Father turned nastier and made Ridikar become like him, I did want to die! Many nights I had prayed for you to take me away, but now I see why you didn't! You had always thought that I was special, but I never truly believed it until this war started. Thank you, mother, for it must have been you who sent the Astorians to come help our people! They had to have come for a reason, and I believe that you are it! You said that before you died, that you would see even in heaven that I would be taken care of! You knew that Father never wanted me, and you shielded me from him as much as you could. You fought for me and kept me safe while you were alive. I am so sorry that you had died from that terminal illness; I wish that I could have saved you.
It was Julien, my bastard brother (Mother, I am sorry for that awful word; I supposed that I learned it from Tayla, who uses it occasionally from time to time. But you and Carie would still like Tayla, really you would. She saved my life, and I love her.)…anyway, it was Julien who had told me that Father had wanted you, Mother, to abort me, but you stood your ground and refused. I loved you for that alone, Mother, for you could have given in to Father and did what he wanted.
But you refused to obey him, and because of you, I am alive. I only wish that I could say the same for my best friend, Carie. You would have liked Carie, I know you would have, Mother.
I remember that when you were dying, I had asked you what I could do to make things better for you. You told me to help others as you have helped me, and I promised to do so. I hope that I have kept that promise, Mother. For a long time, I thought that I had failed to do so.
I remember when I had hid my best friend, Carie, from that awful Filcor Sedemeyer, that same Filcor that Father was going to force me to marry. I had hidden her for three months until Julien had discovered her. And then Filcor came and took my best friend away, and I never saw her again. I had truly begun to hate myself then, and I wondered what good was I, especially after she drowned herself on purpose.
But I know now what you would have said to me: you would have wanted me to go on and honor Carie's memory by still helping more like her. For a long time, I gave up, Mother, yes, I did, 'cause I figured that I would just make things worse for other people instead of better. Now I know that I was wrong. I hope that what I did to help my people will fulfill my promise to you, but even if it does, I still intend to go on, like you would have wanted me to. I hope that I had made you proud, Mother, and I hope that wherever you are in heaven, that you are happy. I love you so much.
One last thing: if you ever meet Carie there, will you let her know that I love her, and I am sorry for not being able to do more for her while she was alive?
Thank you, Mother. *
Caline's thoughts then turned to Carie, as she continued to guide her people through the corridors…
*Carie, if you are in heaven, and I know that you are, please forgive me for not being able to do more for you. I loved you more than I did my own sisters; you were always there for me, like an older sister. My heart broke for both of us when Filcor took you away and forbade you ever to see me again. I cried more for your unhappiness than for the beating that my father gave me for hiding you. I know why you felt you had to throw yourself off of that cliff, knowing that your body would hit the rapids before it would hit the water, but I wish you hadn't done it. I wish that you had been able to have a reason to live, to fight.
But I understand how you feel, 'cause for a long time, I felt like you did, wanting nothing more than death, especially after I had been brought home to Father after I had run away from home to get out of marrying Alberm. I don't know if you know this, but Father beat me almost to the point of death. I had begged him that day to kill me rather than force me to marry Alberm, but you know what he said? He told me that he wasn't going to give me the pleasure of dying, and he also said that my marriage to Alberm would serve as proper punishment for being such a burden and nuisance to him. What did I ever do to my father to deserve his abuse other than being born?
Anyway, Carie, I wish you happiness wherever you are, and I hope that life is good for you in the other world. I know that one day we will meet again and be together forever. I promise after this war is over to start writing my memoirs, so I can tell you everything when I get there. But I won't be seeing you for a long time yet, for I plan to live for many, many years. I want to live.
And don't worry, Carie, I am not alone now. I have Tayla, or I will soon, I hope. I love her more than any other girl with the exception of you. You will always be my first best friend, the first girl that I could ever consider a real sister to me. I think you would have liked Tayla, Carie, I really think that you would, although you might have been shocked by the things she sometimes says and does. She surprised me at first when I had first learned about her; I had never met a girl who was a warrior before. She's really special, Carie; I hope that she's okay.
I hope that you don't mind if I ask you and Mother for a small favor. If you two are looking down from heaven, could you watch over Tayla until she's safe with her family again? If she comes back to us safely, then I will know that you are still watching, and I believe that she will come back.
In fact, I don't believe she will…I know she will… *
In the conservatory…
Zarbon had finally arrived, and Raakon had been forced to hide behind a giant potted plant, as he masked his ki from Zarbon's scouter. Zarbon entered the conservatory, and his jaw dropped when he saw the nasty gash on the Princess Tayla's face. He glared darkly at Diamonique and frowned.
"Diamonique," he said edgily. "You know that Lord Frieza said that the girl was not to be harmed. I know that you clawed her like that; why did you do it?"
"She deserved it," Diamonique snarled. "The brat shouldn't have ignored me."
"It doesn't matter," Zarbon told her in a steely tone. "Lord Frieza said that the girl was to be brought to be him unharmed. He is not going to be pleased when he sees that mark on her face. We have to get it treated before he sees it…speaking of treatment, Diamonique, I've noticed that you appear to be unusually healthy, why is that?"
Diamonique smiled. "I met an old herbalist on the way here, and I forced him to treat me. He treated my wounds with some strange tonic made of some strange flowers. That tonic healed me instantly, completely."
"Do you have any more of it? We will need to use some on the girl's gashes. Lord Frieza will have you beaten, if he finds out that you marked her like that."
"I did, but I used the last bit of what the old man gave me on the way here."
"You didn't think of anyone else, Diamonique? Why didn't you bring enough for all of us to use? Don't you ever think of anyone besides yourself?"
"Of course I do, darling," Diamonique purred. "It's just I was in such a hurry to get here that I didn't think. I wish that I had at least brought enough for you, my dear."
"Did the herbalist tell you what that tonic was made out of?" Zarbon asked her evenly, ignoring Diamonique's sentiments. He had despised her ever since she had tried twice to kill Chestra over him, and these days he only tolerated her. He knew that if he gave her the slightest kindness or encouragement, she would fall all over him, and he did not want that. Despite Diamonique's brief affairs with men such as Vegeta or Bhodie, deep down a part of her still wanted Zarbon, and Zarbon knew it.
He had no intention of indulging her. Chestra was the only one for him.
"Oh some sort of flower, either a rose or something…but anyway, Zarbon, how have you been?"
Zarbon sighed. "Diamonique, just find some ointments or something to treat the girl's injuries. And do not mark her again, no matter what she does."
"Why don't you come with me?" Diamonique purred.
"No, I will stay with the child until you return. Wake up Seductia."
Seductia was sleeping peacefully on a divan behind Diamonique, with Dirkan and Bajal standing nearby. They had standing orders to kill anyone who tried to attack their mistress.
"Seductia, WAKE UP!" Diamonique screamed.
Seductia murmured in her sleep, "Oh, Dirkan, Diamonique was wrong about Nameks…you certainly know how to please a woman…oh, do that again! Ride me, lover!"
Tayla nearly gagged at Seductia's words, suddenly feeling sick to her stomach. Zarbon saw her disgusted expression, and he couldn't help but agree with her.
"SEDUCTIA!" Zarbon growled. "Wake up!"
Finally, an irritated Seductia awoke. "Yes?" she grumbled.
"Seductia, you are to come downstairs and help guard the hostages. Take those two that you have under your spell with you; they will make excellent guards. And also…wait a minute, let me answer my scouter. Dodoria, what is this about? WHAT? Shalila Chloe WAS FAKING HER CAPTURE THE ENTIRE TIME? But Flirtius told me that she had cuffs on her wrists! What the hell happened? Yes, I want you and the others to stop her! If you can avoid killing her, do so; Lord Frieza wants her taken alive. Yes, I know that you would rather see her burned to a crisp, Dodoria, but the order is to cripple her, not kill her! Stop her before she helps the hostages escape! WHAT? THE HOSTAGES HAVE ALREADY ESCAPED? Send some of the Ginyu Force down into the labyrinths after them, along with Samsonite! WHAT? She killed Samsonite? Oh, fine, you deal with Shalila and send the entire Ginyu Force down after those hostages. Have them kill as many people underground as they can; we are no longer sparing anyone but Princess Tayla. I am sending Seductia and a couple of unexpected allies downstairs now. Diamonique will be with them. We have got to stop Shalila Chloe before she comes upstairs! I will be there as soon as I can, but first, I am going to secure Princess Tayla. I will take the girl out of here with me, and then I will be back. We've got what we came for. Don't fail, Dodoria."
Tayla's soft brown eyes were glowing with hope, and a relieved, happy expression settled onto her scarred face. Nama had been faking her capture the entire time!
"I knew Nama wouldn't let us down!" she screamed out joyously before she thought.
"Shut up, brat!" Diamonique hissed.
"You're going to be sorry," Tayla told her defiantly. "'Cause when she sees what you did to my face, your heart's going to meet her blade!"
"Great, just great," Zarbon muttered. "I should have known that Shalila Chloe would pull something like this! Seductia, take Bajal and Dirkan downstairs with you immediately."
"Yes, Commander," Seductia told him serenely. "Dirkan, my love, and Bajal, my darling, come with me at once."
"Whatever you say, my heart!" Dirkan enthused. "I would allow myself to be torn apart by Frieza for you, my sweet cherry!"
"Your wish is my command, my strawberry!" Bajal gushed. "I would dance on the sun for you!"
Tayla felt another sudden urge to vomit. She felt sorry for Bajal and Dirkan, and she was thankful that no one was recording their voices. If Bajal and Dirkan knew what they were truly saying, they both would volunteer to send themselves to Enma Daiou! The Bajal and Dirkan she knew would never say those things, not even to their own wives.
*Nama, she thought. Please come soon. I need you. Bajal and Dirkan need you. We all need you.*
Ten minutes later…
Diamonique herself felt ill, and she decided to step out into the hallway briefly for fresh air before she left to help stop Shalila Chloe. Seductia had already taken teleported Bajal and Dirkan downstairs with her. She wiped her peachy-blue brow, as she looked around the hallway.
She looked at a gigantic, ferny potted plant briefly before turning away. Two minutes later, a large fist crashed into the back of her silvery-blue head. Her black gem eyes wide and her pouty mouth open, Diamonique fell down face forward into the carpeted floor of the hallway. Her head turned to the left, as her eyes fell shut…
…Zarbon felt his scouter go off, and he dashed into the hallway where a familiar Astorian that he fought against many years ago held a sword in front of to Zarbon's chest.
Zarbon gasped, as he recognized the opponent, "Raa…kon…Chloe?"
Raakon said boldly, "That's right, Zarbon. Nice meeting you again. Now, I am going to give you only one warning one time: let my sister go, or suffer the fate of your friend, Diamonique."
"Tayla Chloe is your…sister?" Zarbon asked, trying to conceal how much this Prince of Chloe unnerved him after all these years. His pale green face faded to white, for he had remembered the young Astorian's power all those years ago. He had seen Raakon's Awakening himself, not knowing the astonishing transformation that the Prince of Chloe had been going through. Raakon had not been able to defeat Zarbon (in fact, it had been Dirkan who had defeated Zarbon after Raakon had put up a good fight), but Zarbon had never forgotten how much damage Raakon had been able to cause him.
"That's right," Raakon said coldly. "Release my sister immediately."
"You heard him!" Tayla shouted. "Let me go!"
"Quiet, girl!" Zarbon hissed at her. Zarbon then allowed himself to smile briefly, as he stepped back away from Raakon. He inched closer to Tayla and threw the girl upon his shoulders. He then also placed a hand to Tayla's slender back, and said coolly to Raakon:
"Take another step closer, and she dies."
In the ballroom…
"Gained about another ton since the last time we met, eh, Dodo?"
"Don't you dare that call me that, wench!"
"Whatever you say…Dodo," Shalila told the fat, puffy minion sweetly. "Shall we continue, or is hauling your extra tonnage around getting to be too much for you? You can end this anytime you like."
"You've got that right, Astorie!" Dodoria opened his mouth to fire a mouth blast at Shalila, but Shalila was ready for him. She crossed her arms in proper Mirror Shield position and cried out, "MIRROR SHIELD!"
Dodoria's mouth blast backfired onto him, sending him crashing into a closet. The ceiling above him collapsed around him, the rubble of the wall and the ceiling falling down upon him. Dodoria finally climbed out of the wreckage in no time and growled:
"That's the last freebie I'm giving you, old hag! This time, I won't be playing!"
"I've stopped playing a long time ago, Dodoria, but if you wish to up the ante, I will be more than glad to oblige you," Shalila said coolly.
"Fine with me!" And Dodoria lunged at her with his fist flying out in front of him.
Shalila raised her sword, and her blade sliced through Dodoria's wrist that held his fist, cutting it off. A stunned Dodoria looked at his bleeding stump in horror; he knew that the doctors in Frieza's forces could easily use artificial regeneration to make the hand grow back, but until then, he only had one hand to fight Shalila with. He listened as his maimed fist fell to the floor with a sickening plunk.
Shalila told him coldly, "Now, do you wish to lose your other hand, Dodoria, or have you considered the wisdom of leaving Calmag at once?"
Dodoria wheezed, "You're going to lose your head before this war is over, woman! I'll see to it personally!"
"Just try it, you walking sack of lard!" Shalila declared. "I take your reply to mean that we should continue." And this time she raised her hand, intending to use a Rings of Saturn Attack to drain Dodoria of all of his energy, but before she could do so, she felt the presence of Dirkan and Bajal. She shivered, as she began to launch her ki-draining attack on Dodoria. She could feel the new evil in each of their ki levels, but she would not pay them any mind now.
Or should she?
Seductia, who had emerged from behind Dirkan and Bajal, was now standing beside Bajal. "Bajal, Dirkan, go attack Shalila Chloe and destroy her at once!"
"Yes, my queen of hearts!"
"Whatever you say, sweet melon of my dreams!"
Shalila knew then that she had to forget about draining Dodoria of his ki for now. She abruptly halted her Rings of Saturn attack before she had a chance to capture Dodoria in it. She then launched a ki blast into the air, blowing a large hole in the ceiling of the ballroom. She blasted herself into the air like a rocket and left the ballroom through the hole in the ceiling.
"After her!" Seductia ordered.
After they themselves blew holes in the ceiling, Bajal and Dirkan followed through the ceiling after Shalila with lightening speed.
In the labyrinths…
Meanwhile, while the escaping hostages were following Caline, the Astorian and Calmagian fighters were pushing past the escapees through the corridors in order to get to the surface of the ballroom. Gorna led the charge, with her family members and the remaining CRP officers behind her. Only Sergeant Baraki had remained behind to guard General Norbrook, whose scouter had been taken as evidence of Norbrook's crimes.
They were nearing the entrance to the drinking bar of the ballroom when suddenly the Ginyu Force confronted them. All of the Astorians drew their swords, and the CRP officers whipped out their laser guns. Gorna was at the first, with Cletos, Gracina, Bendros, and Lektron nearby her. Arlon and Lukan stood behind them, accompanied by Riccan. Rojal, Dedron, Julien and Ridikar were behind Arlon, and the CRP officers were behind the two Calmagian princes.
Captain Ginyu grinned when he saw Gorna. The cocky captain knew that it had been Gorna who had defeated him all of those years ago in the Battle of Chloe, but he had become stronger since then.
Gorna told Ginyu coolly, "I'll tell you what, Ginyu." (She refused to address him as captain, ever.) "Why don't you and I fight alone above ground? Perhaps you would like a chance for a rematch, not you'll win, but I would rather not risk the lives of my family and friends any more than necessary. Also, my grandmother is up there fighting now."
(Shalila had finally apprised her family and allies of her true intentions just before Flirtius had taken her above ground.)
Ginyu grinned again. "Fine with me. You and me on the roof in ten minutes."
"Cap'n, are you sure that's a good idea?" Baata wanted to know. "She's pretty fierce."
"I can more than handle an Astorie woman, Baata. Now you and the others take care of the others down here while this old dame and I go duke it out! But before we go, battle poses, men!"
"Oh, not that again!" Gorna grumbled. "Your men can do their clown acts now, Ginyu, but I don't care to waste time seeing you do it here! When we get to the roof, then you can do your ridiculous display up there!"
Ginyu grunted. "Fine then. Men, show 'em what ya got!"
"Yes, Cap'n!" the Ginyu Force chorused.
"Let's just go," Gorna muttered.
Rojal pushed past his other family members to whisper urgently to his mother, "Mother, are you sure that you know what you're doing?"
Gorna growled under her breath, "Of course I do, son. Now you get ready to fight the rest of Ginyu's clowns. I've got a score to settle with Ginny."
"Jeicey, you're in charge 'til I get back!" Ginyu ordered.
Reccoom complained, "Why does he always get to be in charge?"
"Yeah," Guido declared. "I'd like to be in charge once in a while."
Baata was debating whether to support Jeice and Ginyu or moan with the others. Finally, he just chose to remain silent.
Captain Ginyu then did an elaborate goodbye pose before leaving the labyrinths again for the ballroom. Gorna followed after him.
Jeice called out, "Okay, men, let's show 'em what we got!" He then did his elaborate spread-eagle pose and cried, "Jeice!"
"BAATA!"
"RECCOOM!"
"GUIDO!"
"WE ARE THE GINYU FORCE!"
"Sweet Kami, help us," Cletos mumbled. "I think at this point, I'd sooner go with Gorna and deal with Ginyu."
"I just hope that Gorna remembers that Ginyu's capable of switching bodies," Gracina said worriedly.
"Okay, men, let's split who we're going to fight, using rock, paper, and scissors," Jeice ordered.
Lektron whispered to the others, "While they're doing their circus show, why don't we attack them then right away?"
"Good idea," Gracina agreed. "If I have to live through another of their performances, I'll ship myself off to Enma Daiou before they have the chance to try to do so."
