Chapter Ninety-Six: Too Late For Roses Now
At the same time while in the labyrinths…
Most of the hostages had reached the surface and were on their way to the hotel in Magan. Caline was now searching the labyrinths for any stragglers, or anyone who had gotten themselves lost in the confusing corridors and intricate passageways. She called out several times, but she found no one, and after twenty minutes, Caline had to finally conclude that all of the former captives had left the tunnels. She hoped and prayed that was so, and she went to find Sergeant Baraki, who was still guarding General Norbrook.
Lieutenant Balboun had become concerned when neither Baraki nor Norbrook had made it to the surface. Baraki was supposed to have escorted Norbrook to the surface in order to have him imprisoned above in Magan's only standing jail, but neither men had showed. Caline had told Balboun that she would go see what was taking Baraki so long, and Balboun, having to help organize the ex-hostages and get them to safety, allowed her to go alone. If he had not been distracted, he would have thought twice before letting a young girl like Caline go back down there by herself, knowing that Frieza's minions could come back into the labyrinths at any time. But by the time this thought had occurred to the harried lieutenant, Caline had already left.
Caline had found the labyrinth corridor where Baraki had been holding Norbrook prisoner and where Superior Gran Shalila Chloe had "surrendered" to Frieza's forces. She dashed into the corridors and called out softly for Baraki. She could not hear anything, and she could not even sense anyone's presence in the corridor.
She stepped further into the corridor, and it was when she ventured a little further that she noticed a small stream of thick, honey-tinted blood flow by her tiny feet. Anxiously, she followed the tiny river of blood to a pole that was helping to hold up the labyrinth ceiling, where she found Sergeant Baraki leaning against the pole, as if he were asleep.
Caline worriedly took Baraki's arm and tried to shake him awake, but the sergeant would not budge. Instead his head lolled to the side of the poll, and Caline nearly cried out when she saw that his eyes and his mouth were staring wide open. His eyes seemed to be staring off into a trance.
"B-Baraki? Sergeant Baraki?" she asked fearfully.
But Baraki would not answer her, nor would he ever would again. His body fell towards Caline, and Caline shrieked, as she ran out of its path. Baraki fell facedown to the floor, and it was then that Caline discovered the source of the path of blood-a round, smoking hole in Baraki's head.
"No!" she cried. "Sergeant?"
She then suddenly felt a poke, a sharp, firm poke in the back of her cornsilk head, the poke from a round, cylindrical object. The object burrowed deeper into her hair, and a thick, husky voice hovered above her ear, breathing heavily.
"What?" she gasped, as a meaty hand clamped over her small rosebud mouth. The object dug deeper into her head, and Caline realized that she was being held at gunpoint.
"Not enough word, Princess Caline," that same thick voice said in a deadly calm. "Unless, you wish to share Baraki's fate, I suggest that you come with me."
Caline's whole body trembled, as her captor pulled her tiny body against his. No, he couldn't have escaped, no he couldn't have…
…"I didn't expect you to come back here, my little princess, but that's alright, my dear. I've wanted you for some time; I've offered for you, but your cursed father had to promise you to Sedemeyer instead! Never did like Sedemeyer or Dunlop, and now neither one will have you. Can't go back to Commander Zarbon now; he'll surely have me killed now that I've been exposed, so I'm leaving, little one, and you're coming with me. Need some female company anyway, and don't worry, I promise to be a better husband than Dunlop ever was. Only you're not going to refuse me every night the way that you did him, hmm? No protests or fighting now, my little Caline, or you'll end up sharing a grave with Baraki. Hate to have to kill a pretty little thing like you; I've liked you for about three years now. You won't find Princess Caline Norbrook to be such a bad name; it's much better than Princess Caline Dunlop, or even your birth name Princess Caline Alisine Famalie de Tamilieu." Tamilieu (pronounced "tam-a-loo") was the official name of Kitchator's family and "Chateau de Tamilieu" was the official name of the royal castle, although everyone in Calmag usually knew it better by simply as the royal castle, or the king's castle.
Tears streamed down Caline's cheeks for herself and for poor Baraki. It wasn't fair! Would she always be doomed to become someone's sex slave or toy? She couldn't hide her sobs, as General Narvo Norbrook led her out of the corridor at gunpoint.
Bendros and Tayla had both ripped off the top parts of their individual fighting gi outfits, and Tayla's chest was covered only with an undershirt. They were trying to stop the bleeding, but all they could do was slow it down, not enough to help Ridikar.
Diamonique leaned back against the wall, watching the tears flow down Tayla's scarred cheeks, as fast as the blood flowed down Ridikar's body. She was observing with pure pleasure and not a trace of remorse with a cold, malicious smile on her flawless face.
"Ridikar, don't give up," Tayla whispered hoarsely, as she tried to hold down her blood-soaked shirt, hoping to stop Ridikar's bleeding altogether.
"Too late for me now," Ridikar whispered.
"No! Don't you dare say that! Don't you dare!" Tayla cried. "It is not too late! It is not! Tell him it's not too late, Bendros, please!"
Bendros looked at Tayla sadly, and he himself felt tears in his eyes. He knew in his heart that none of Tayla's words would be able to save Ridikar from his impending fate. He looked down at Ridikar, and Bendros sighed in frustration. He had seen some of his fellow officers die while he had been working for Intergalacticpol, and he had been by the side of two of them, as they lay there dying, with Bendros unable to save them. Ridikar was losing too much blood, despite his and Tayla's best attempts to stop the bleeding. They were doing all they could, but without proper medical treatment nearby, it was unlikely that Ridikar was going to live for much longer.
Tayla was holding Ridikar's hand in hers, kissing it fervently and holding it to her chest. "Hold on, Ridikar, it will be all right, I promise. I can go find some of Caline's roses, I can…"
Ridikar wanted to tell her that she was right, that he would live on to be with her, but he couldn't. He knew that his time was near an end, and not even Caline's roses would save him now, not that there were any available at the moment to help him. The Bright Healer roses could not restore all the blood that Ridikar had already lost, and Diamonique's nails had cut two main arteries.
"Tayla…I'm sorry," he whispered. "I'm so sorry…nothing more I can do…too late for roses now…sorry to leave you behind."
"You're not going to die!" Tayla screamed. "I won't allow it!"
Ridikar managed a weak smile. He brought her hand holding his to his lips and kissed it lightly. "You can control a lot things, Tayla, but not even you can stop death."
"Stop talking about death!" Tayla cried. She looked frantically at Bendros and choked out, "Bendros, tell him he's going to live!"
Bendros stammered softly, "T-Tayla, I-I think that I'm with Ridikar on this one." He felt his tears fall down his cheeks, as he his heart was hurting for both her and Ridikar. He fervently wished that he could make Tayla happy by saving Ridikar's life, but he knew now that it was out of his hands. Soon Ridikar would be meeting Enma Daiou.
"T-Tayla…I'm sorry that I hurt you so much before…want to make it up to you…always wanted to make things up to you…promised myself I would…now I can't."
"You already have!" Tayla cried out. "You already have! But if you really want to make things up to me, you will fight this and live!"
"Wish…I could…can't. GASP! HACK! HACK!" Ridikar began to choke, as tears were now streaming down his handsome face. With his free hand, he struggled to wipe his mouth of the saliva gushing up; he was trying to prevent himself from throwing up blood.
Ridikar's face grew paler, and his flesh began to cool considerably. He was fighting to stay alive for just a little longer, and Tayla broke down into a sob when she realized that Bendros and Ridikar were right-Ridikar would soon pass on to the next dimension.
"T-Tayla, would you kiss me one last time-please?" he asked in a fierce whisper. "Just…one…last…kiss." He hoped that Bendros wouldn't grudge him this final request for Tayla.
Bendros didn't, and he backed away, allowing them to have this time alone together.
Tayla nodded quickly, and she kissed him gently, yet thoroughly on his cooling lips. She stroked his hair lightly, and then she gave him a second kiss, only this time, much more firmly, a stronger kiss full of things that would never be.
"Th-thank you, T-Tayla," he whispered, as Tayla moved her face away from his slightly, only an inch away. "Best…goodbye present…you could have given…me."
"Aw…how sweet," Diamonique mocked. "Very touching end. How adorable. A goodbye kiss."
If Ridikar hadn't been lying there, on the border of life and death, Tayla would have leapt up from the floor and given Diamonique a well-deserved punch in her face. She clenched her free fist, but did not confront her enemy just yet. Diamonique's turn would come soon enough.
Tayla would see to it…personally.
But for now…
"Ridikar, I am sorry," she sobbed. "Sorry that I didn't forgive you sooner."
"'Tis I who should say I'm sorry…Tayla…felt awful for what I did to you weeks ago…never thought that…I could get…you…to…like me…again. You…don't know…how happy…I was…day…you…forgave…me. Tell…truth…Tayla….do you think…that…you…could have ever…loved me…someday?"
"I-I believe so," Tayla choked out. "You've…redeemed yourself, Ridikar. You have…you have."
"T-Tayla, c-can…you…promise me…something…by your Seven Moons?"
"Su-sure."
"Look after…Caline…for me…would you? Take…my place…help her be happy…please…succeed…where I failed. Wanted to make things…up to her too…can't anymore…too late. Tell her…I love her…will you? Take…care…of her…protect her…please?"
Tayla nodded quickly and held up seven fingers. "I…I will," she whispered.
"Thank you," Ridikar said as steadily as possible. He weakly kissed her hand again.
"Sorry…Tayla…that I couldn't…have done more for you two…love you, princess…always will…always loved you, I think. I…know…I'm…asking so much of you…right now…but one last request, please…"
"What is it?"
"Get Diamonique…and her…com…rades…for me…please. Don't…let them…hurt…anyone…else."
"That will happen," Tayla assured him as confidently as possible. "You needn't worry about either promise, Ridikar, both will fulfilled. They won't get away with their crimes…especially Diamonique. I'll see that Caline is taken care of too…don't worry about her anymore."
Bendros watched them, his heart breaking for them both. He was sad for them and angry with Diamonique for causing so much unnecessary pain and suffering. He looked out the corner of his eye at the cold-hearted, unremorseful Gemstarian woman who was smugly watching the painfully tender scene between two young people whose budding love would never be realized.
"Is he going to die already?" Diamonique asked impatiently. "I do have better things to do than stand around and watch some Calmagian weakling croak." Bendros threw an icy look that was so unlike him in her direction.
"Then why don't you go and leave them in peace?" Bendros roared with uncharacteristic harshness. "Even someone as cruel as you can do that much!"
"Hmmph!" Diamonique snorted, and she turned her back away from them.
Ridikar's eyes felt heavy, and his head turned and gently hit the floor. His brown eyes, even darker than Tayla's, looked deeply into her brown eyes, as he spoke again,
"Tayla…please…don't worry…he loves you too…you won't be left alone."
"He?" Tayla asked, puzzled. "Whom are you talking about?"
"Why…it's…" But Ridikar could no longer answer her.
He would never answer her again. Tayla shook and nudged him, and then a cold feeling sank deep into her heart, and the coldness engulfed her heart, making her shiver on the inside. It took her a few seconds to realize that Ridikar was no longer in the same dimension as her.
His eyes were locked in an eternal trance, but a peaceful expression was resting on his features, with his mouth closed in a gentle smile. However his calm features in death were not enough to soothe Tayla's soul, and the icy realization that he would never speak again flowed throughout her body, causing it to shake and shiver.
And with her entire body trembling violently, Tayla shakily used her hand to close Ridikar's eyes, and throwing her head back, she emitted a loud piercing scream that would be heard throughout the floor. Bendros dashed to her and tried to hold her, but she was at that point, beyond consoling. Rage, grief, and deep hurt invaded her heart and spread throughout her entire body.
Her body shook harder than before, and several startling things occurred…electric currents danced about her small, slim body, and the entire floor shook as if an earthquake. Pictures began to fall off the wall, and the statues of past ancestors of King Kitchator toppled over, with one statue's head breaking off. Cracks ran along the floor, and several windows shattered as if rocks or balls had hit them. The ceiling above began to crumble slowly, with pieces breaking off and hitting the floor.
"What's happening?" Diamonique shrieked, as she felt the shaking of the entire floor.
But that floor was not the only thing shaking…
In the ballroom…
The Astorians and Calmagians, along with Crystalis and the Meatian men, who were battling Dodoria and the Ginyu Force were now starting to lose their battle downstairs, and Dodoria and the Ginyu Force had been celebrating their imminent victory in advance. Dodoria's fist had been in Lektron's stomach when they and everyone else felt the full force of the tremendous power occurring upstairs. Crystalis had been helping Pork, Steak and Ham against Guido until Guido had stopped time in the corner of the room where they had been at and paralyzed them. Guido abruptly unstopped time (he had been about to cause the ceiling to collapse on top of the hapless fighters) when he felt the tremors. The four fighting against him wasted no time in escaping him before he could entrap them again.
"What the hell is going here?" Dodoria demanded to know, as the ceiling began to shake and crumble, with large pieces falling down upon him and everyone else.
Guido jumped into Jeice's arms when large cracks began to break along the walls and the marble floor. Baata and Reccoom huddled near each other, forgetting about the men and women that they were fighting at that moment. Flirtius crawled under a heavy buffet table while Reccor, who was on the other side of the ballroom was smart enough to start crawling to the entrance behind the bar into the labyrinths on the opposite side. He had no intention of staying and getting himself killed.
"What's going on here?" Alora asked worriedly. "I heard that it was rare for this planet ever to have quakes! We really came here at a bad time!"
But in a few minutes, she and the others would realize that it was no planet quake, but some explosion or power source that was causing the building to shake so violently.
Lektron abandoned his fight with Dodoria, trying to stay on his feet as the ground shook and trembled harder. He was trying to reach Gracina before anything happened to her. Gracina was still leaning against the wall, unconscious, as Lektron flew across the ballroom to reach her. A huge pole was falling near her, about to crush her and take her life once and for all.
Fortunately, Lektron managed to reach her in time, and he gathered her into his arms and pulled her out of the way of the falling pole, which fell to the marble floor and crashed, breaking the pole and cracking the floor worse than ever.
Two more poles fell down and crashed into thousands of large pieces, as the dais broke into three pieces. The musical instruments in one corner of the ballroom fell all on each other, making loud clamorous noises. Everyone, good and evil began to run for cover, and
Dodoria, being the main one in charge right now, shouted, "Men, let's get out of here! We'll finish this fight with these fools outside!"
The Ginyu Force didn't hesitate. All four remaining Ginyu Force members fled with Dodoria out of the ballroom, trying to find the quickest way of the castle.
The Astorians and Calmagians who were fighting wisely decided to take the cue from their foes and flee out of the castle as well. "To the labyrinths!" Lektron ordered everyone, as he held his wife in his arms. No one, not even the CRP officers, hesitated as they followed Lektron to the labyrinth entrance behind the bar.
But Lektron then decided that he wasn't leaving just yet. He found Arlon and shoved his wife into her brother's arms. "Take my wife and get out of here! I'm going back to find Tayla and the others!"
"What about you?" Arlon asked him worriedly, taking Gracina from him.
"I can take care of myself," Lektron told him.
Alora had joined them, after just dodging a giant piece of falling ceiling that would have crushed her, had she not jumped out of the way. She had just heard Lektron's previous sentences and declared, "I'm coming with you."
"No," Lektron insisted. "Go with the others!"
"I am coming!" Alora shouted furiously. "My husband's up there too, and you know what happens when that dear lout of mine is left to his own devices! And if that slut, Sedusa, or whatever the hell her name is, even thinks of bedding my man, I'm going to rip out all of that freakishly pink hair of hers slowly and painfully! No one gets to order my man about, but me! Where does he get off calling that weird whorici 'sweet goddess', 'pink pearl of perfection' and other ridiculous nonsense? Why doesn't he ever call me pet names like that?"
Lektron managed to laugh, even as the entire ballroom continued to fall apart, "'Cause he knows that you'd belt him one, if he ever spouted silliness like that to you!"
"Yeah, that's true," Alora agreed. "He better be lucky that he's under that woman's spell 'cause if he were saying those things for real…well, he knows what I would do. Anyway, it's time to go find him and the others. I can't wait to give that man-stealing and child-stealing whorici a piece of my mind!"
"Same here!" Lektron told her. "But I think that I should go alone."
"Well, you're not and that's that."
Lektron sighed; he knew that it was no use to argue with his best friend's wife when she was like the way she was. He wondered how she and Bajal were able to get along so well-most of the time. Anyway, Alora was as strong as he was, if not stronger.
"Very well," he sighed. "Just be careful."
"I always am," Alora retorted. "Out of Bajal and I, one of us has to be." And Lektron chuckled slightly.
"Wait!" Julien cried, following behind them. "I need to find my brother!"
"We'll find your brother," Alora promised him. "Now go with the others!"
"But…"
"Do as I said, Calmagie! We don't have time to mess around anymore!"
Julien grumbled a few nasty phrases about bossy women, but Alora's deadly glare prevented him from disobeying her. Grudgingly, he left with the others downstairs into the labyrinths once more.
Lukan was carrying Cletos on his back, as he was fleeing the ballroom for the labyrinths. Rojal, Dedron, and Riccan were following behind their uncles, and Riccan ran up to his father, panting excitedly, "Wait for me, I want to come too!"
"No!" Lektron told his son sharply. "You're to leave with the others!"
"I want to help find Tayla! Why can't I go and help?"
"Because I said so!" Lektron growled at his son. "I don't want you hurt!" Riccan flinched, and his startled expression nearly broke his father's hurt.
"But, Pappa, I want to be brave and strong like you!" Riccan was near tears. "And I'm worried 'bout Tayla and the others, but 'specially Tayla. I want to help!"
Lektron softened slightly. "Look, son, you've already helped us a lot and proven yourself to be a fine fighter, but this is something that your Aunt Alora and I have to handle, okay? You can help by getting the others to safety, but you can't go with us this time. You're already becoming a fine warrior, and you've made your mother and me proud. Now go!"
"Really, Pappa?"
"Really, son. Now get out of here!"
"Yes, Pappa! Make sure they don't hurt Tayla or anyone else!"
"We won't, kid," Alora promised him. "Now do as your pappy says."
"Yes, Aunt Alora!" And Riccan was finally content to leave for the entrance behind the bar to the labyrinths. Dedron followed quickly behind him, figuring that Lektron and Alora could handle things; he had nothing against Bajal and Dirkan, but Shalila and Tayla were not enormous concerns to him.
Rojal remained behind and asked if he could come, but both Lektron and Alora declined. "You've done enough for now, Rojal, but it's time for you to go. Alora and I can handle things from here." And Rojal reluctantly left. By that time, all of the Astorians and Calmagians had fled the ballroom and were now in the labyrinths once more.
The ballroom continued to shake and collapse, as Alora and Lektron made their way out of the room to head upstairs. Flirtius managed to reach the labyrinth entrance to escape, but Reccor wasn't so lucky. He was the last one to reach the labyrinths, but he would not make it out.
At that moment, a huge pillar fell over towards the labyrinth entrance and came crashing down on Reccor's head, bashing his skull in. He was killed instantly, never knowing what hit him.
Upstairs in Shalila and Dirkan's bedroom…
Seductia had been performing a striptease for Dirkan, Bajal, and Raakon, whom she had ordered to watch her dance. She now had her perfect breasts bared, and she had been doing a lap dance on the bewitched Dirkan, who was smiling stupidly at her, when she felt the entire building shake. The bed where Shalila and Dirkan had been using for the past few weeks fell down with two of the legs breaking, and Bajal and Raakon fell over on each other, trying not to fall down.
The castle shaking jolted Shalila out of her unconsciousness, and she was now fully awake. Seductia had ordered Bajal and Raakon to hang Shalila from a ceiling lamp by her wrists, with those wrists tightly bound to restrain Shalila's ki. The ceiling lamp that had been holding her by her wrists suddenly broke free from the ceiling, and poor Shalila fell to the ground, with her wrists still bound. She struggled vainly and weakly against the wretched fan that her wrists were tied to.
Seductia clung to Dirkan as the ceiling began to crumble around them. "What's going on?" she cried in uncharacteristic fear.
Shalila knew; she could feel Tayla's ki, and it was three times as strong as before.
"Tayla…" she whispered hoarsely. "What's happened to you? Why are you doing this?"
The entire room shook harder, as if trying to bring itself down.
"Tayla!" Shalila cried, sensing that her favorite was in great pain. "My little poor dandelion…"
On the edge of the city of Magan…
Norbrook and Caline were already out of the labyrinths, with Norbrook holding Caline at gunpoint when they had felt the ground shaking throughout the city of Magan. They could see the Chateau de Tamilieu shake severely, as if an invisible hand was shaking it. But the city near the castle was trembling violently as well. Norbrook and Caline could see the trees falling down and several small buildings collapse. Caline cried out with fright, both in fear of the quake and in hopes that someone would hear her and come save her. No one came to her aid; Caline's friends and family were not nearby enough to hear her.
At first, before the shaking had begun, Caline had felt a sudden, heavy hurt in her heart, as if a piece of it had been torn away. She could not identify the feeling, but she felt as if she had lost something or someone very important. Why was she feeling this way? Where had this ache, this sudden burst of emotional pain come from? She then suddenly screamed out for that reason alone, as if she were mourning for this loss that she could not explain.
"Stop screaming!" Norbrook ordered Caline, poking the gun deeper into her back. The general was terrified of the quaking himself, but he was not about to lose his "prize". It had taken him forever to get Princess Caline, and he intended to keep her, planet quake or no planet quake.
Caline, feeling as if she nothing left to lose, decided to chance Norbrook's gun and scream anyway. "SOMEONE HELP ME PLEASE! SOMEONE SAVE ME! GENERAL NORBROOK'S ABDUCTED ME! HELP, PLEASE! I'M BEING ABDUCTED!"
"Shut up, I said!" Norbrook growled, as he noticed a skycar. He poked Caline with his laser gun again and roared, "Let's go! We're getting out of here, you and I! I don't want to hurt you, Princess, but if you try to escape or resist me…well, I don't want to even describe the consequences. Remember the connections I have, little one, and I can easily turn you over to one of Frieza's men, should you anger me enough. I don't want to give you up, so let's go!"
Norbrook seized Caline by her hair, taking her by gunpoint to the skycar, the same skycar where the Saiyans had forced Dollan to bring them to Magan in. The doors were unlocked, and Norbrook shoved Caline into the driver-side seat, and then he forced her over to the other side, keeping his gun on her.
"You keep your mouth shut," Norbrook growled at his intended bride. "We're leaving this side of Calmag to go to my summer home on the other side. We're going to wait the war out there and hide there. I'm keeping you with me, even if we wind up having to leave Calmag. Don't do anything stupid, and you won't get hurt."
Caline's face was paler-than-pale, and she cowered near the passenger-side door. If only she knew how to fly! She could have escaped through that door, if she had known! But because she couldn't, all she could do was cry. Finally Norbrook ordered her to put her head in his lap, still holding his gun on her. Caline reluctantly did so, still crying in terror, as she tried to turn onto her stomach. Norbrook, however insisted that she lie on her back, and she had no choice, but to obey him. He used his hand that was holding the gun to drive, still holding his weapon. He used his free hand to smooth Caline's hair, and then his hand slid down towards her small chest. He massaged one of Caline's small breasts gently, and then he rubbed her arm, enjoying the soft, white skin. She cringed and tried to pull away from him, but his hand held her down firmly.
Norbrook said in what he considered to be a soothing voice, "Now, princess, I don't mean you any harm. I just had wanted you for myself for a while, and unlike Dunlop, I'm not going to beat you for every little thing that you do wrong. I just want you as my bride, that's all. I'm sure you'd prefer me over Sedemeyer. Now just relax, little one; if you're nice and obedient, I won't hurt you."
"I want to leave," Caline sobbed, tears running down her white face.
Norbrook continued to run his hand along her small body. "You'll like it with me, I promise. Now stop fretting, and be a good girl now. I'm going to take care of you, just as long as you please me." His hand lightly patted her bottom. "You're a cute little thing, princess, liked you for a long time."
Caline froze in pure terror, as she huddled into herself.
At the Angori Hotel in Magan…
Toria, Kekron, and Veal had been helping hostages into the hotel when the whole city of Magan had started to shake. Several unstable buildings had crumbled; thankfully no one had been in them, and some CRP officers and firemen were scattered throughout the city, checking to see if anything caught on fire. Toria was now standing on the sidewalk right outside the entrance to the hotel, anxiously watching the shaking castle farther away.
The High Priestess of Astoria could feel Tayla's ki, and it was so strong now that it was causing the city to shake. Toria could sense the grief and anguish in Tayla's ki signature, and she could feel that Ridikar was no alive. Toria pitied both Tayla and Ridikar, a young man who would never be able to make up fully for the things that he had done in the past.
Toria was now debating if she should leave to go back to the castle, even though none of her magic would work well enough there to help Tayla and her family fight. However, she was leaning towards going anyway to see what she could do when little Tila came running up to her.
"Great-Aunt Toria!"
Toria bent down to a frantic, panting Tila. "What is it, little one?"
"Kekron and Veal left! Veal heard Caline screaming, and Kekron could hear it too 'cause Veal had accidentally coughed in his ear earlier, so he can hear as good as she does! Kekron left right away, and Veal went with him even though a CRP officer told them not to go! Nikon, Tayka, and I wanted to go too, but Kekron said no, stay here."
Toria didn't reply at first; instead she sensed the ki signatures of Kekron and Veal, and then she could sense Caline's ki, along with the ki of Norbrook, Caline's abductor. She meditated for a few moments, and then she turned back to Tila.
"Little Tila," she told her great-niece. "Let them go for now. I want you to go back with the others."
"But aren't you going to help them, Great-Aunt Toria?"
"I am going to ask Captain Qatar of the CRP to follow them. I am going back to the castle to help the others."
"But you're not a warrior, so won't that be dangerous?"
"Yes, little one, it will be, but I must do what I have to do. Now go back and get yourself to safety!"
"But what's making the shaking?"
Toria said quietly, "It is your Aunt Tayla, little one."
"Make her stop! Shaking's scaring me! Why is she doing it?"
Toria said with tears glistening in her eyes, "She just lost someone that she cared for. She's not doing this to hurt anyone, my dear; she doesn't know what she's doing."
"If you go, can you make her stop the shaking?"
"I'll try, darling, I'll try. Your Aunt Tayla is hurting very much right now, so we must be patient."
"Will you see if my parents are okay?"
"Yes, little one, if I can get in the-" Toria's words were abruptly interrupted, as she suddenly fell to her knees, holding her head, as if she had been given a sudden headache. It happened occasionally whenever she had a strong, painful vision that she was being forced to witness in her mind.
"Great-Aunt Toria! Are you okay?" Tila shrieked.
Toria could not answer her, as her head suddenly felt, as if it were going to explode. She was now seeing what was happening to Tayla so clearly in her mind, it was as if she were there with Tayla herself…
Back at the castle…
Tayla's body shook and gave out sparks and electric currents for several more minutes, but then the shaking that she had been causing started to slow down. The currents dancing about her body disappeared, and her ki level toned down closer to normal for her. Tears continued to flow steadily down her face, however, as she finally allowed Bendros to take her into his arms. She buried her face into his arm and sobbed, as the violent shaking and quaking that her power had been causing earlier started to cease. Within minutes of Bendros holding her, the shakes and tremors stopped entirely, but Tayla continued to cry steadily.
Diamonique had been clinging to an black metal statue in the hallway, wrapping her entire body around it. She had never been so unnerved by a child in her entire life. For the first time in a long time since Tayla had caused that mountain to crumble down upon her, Diamonique felt true fear. She looked frightfully at the strange Astorie girl who had caused this catastrophe just now, and she was in awe of Tayla's power. For the first time since she had met Tayla Chloe, Diamonique wondered if she had finally met her match outside of Frieza's Elite. And for the first time, she wondered, if now would be a good time to retreat.
*My Kami, * Diamonique wondered. *That isn't a girl, or even a princess, that's a monster! *
Tayla's loud sobbing had quieted down to a soft weeping, as Bendros rocked her back and forth gently in his strong, muscular arms. She finally opened her walnut-colored eyes, rubbing them as she did, and she looked at Ridikar, sleeping for all eternity.
Gently, she partially wriggled her way out of Bendros's arms, and she inched closer to Ridikar's body with Bendros hovering nearby. She brushed the matted hair back from Ridikar's forehead gently and kissed his forehead softly, yet deeply.
She could hear Ridikar's words still:
* Sorry…Tayla…that I couldn't…have done more for you two…love you, princess…always will…always loved you. You…don't know…how happy…I was…day…you…forgave…me. *
Tayla took Ridikar's cold hand and clasped it to her, kissing it gently.
"I'm glad that I forgave you," she whispered. "You can rest in peace about that."
* Look after…Caline…for me… *
"Caline will be taken care of; she'll be happy. I'll look after her."
*Get Diamonique…and her…com…rades…for me…please. Don't…let them…hurt…anyone…else. *
When those words of Ridikar's passed through Tayla's mind, she gave his hand one last kiss and said in a new, stronger voice, "I won't, Ridikar; I won't let her and those like her hurt anyone else. They won't get away with their crimes, and they will pay, they will pay for their sins. I swear that to you Seven Moons." She held up seven fingers to seal her promise.
Then solemnly, she eased herself out of Bendros's arms and arose. Before Bendros could prevent her, she steadily and bravely walked away from him and Ridikar's body towards Diamonique's direction.
"Tayla!" Bendros cried out. "Come back! You are in no condition to be fighting her right now!"
Tayla looked back at him, smiling sadly, with the smile not of a child, but of a new, young woman. Tayla's childhood was almost near its end, and Ridikar's death had started the death knell for it. After today, Tayla the child would no longer exist.
She looked into Diamonique's eyes and saucer brown eyes stared off against beady black eyes for the beginning of the end-for both of them.
The end of Diamonique's reign of terror.
And again, the end of Tayla's childhood.
Tayla said in a soft voice that was its normal dulcet tone, but was laden with deadly threat:
"Ridikar will be your last victim, ever. You better start planning your greeting to Enma Daiou because you'll be meeting him long before I will."
Diamonique climbed down off of the statue and said frostily with her nerve coming back to her, "Is that a threat, little girl?"
"It's not a threat; it's a promise."
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
A/N: I can hear Ridikar fans cursing me now; poor Tayla and Caline. For those of you (those of you who are still reading this far anyway), Diamonique won't get away unscathed for her crimes. And neither will Seductia. What will these two cruel beauties do when a very angry young girl goes all out on them? I guarantee one thing: I can't whether she wins against them or not, but she won't be showing them any mercy. You hurt anyone that Tayla cares about and you hurt her, and Diamonique and Seductia are about to learn that the hard way.
And of Caline? She has the worse luck, worser than even Tayla's. Will Kekron and Veal find her in time before Norbrook does anything to her? Where is Norbrook taking Caline, and what does he plan to do with her? All I can say is that Norbrook fully intends to follow in the footsteps of Alberm, and if Kekron and Veal don't find him and Caline soon, Caline may be reliving her worst nightmare all over again.
And of Tayla's family and allies fighting Dodoria and the Ginyu Force? Well, both sides have retreated for right now, but for how long? Can Toria help, or will her family be able to solve their problems before she gets there?
And what about Shalila and the men under Seductia's spell? Can Tayla end Seductia's evil (and those awful lines that Seductia's victims keep spouting such as "dab of pink pearl cream") once and for all?
Find out the answer to some of these questions next time in Chapter 97: Comeuppance For Diamonique and Seductia
A/N 2: I know some of you are wondering "where in the &*%$# is that last Chestra chapter?" To tell you the truth, I don't know still how I am going to end it! I know some people have been urging me to have Chestra's paternity and heritage revealed, but I doubt that I will let it be known to Chestra's comrades in that story. They will find out eventually, but it won't be until I come out with the sequel to TOA, called "Hope Never Dies".
If any of you have any ideas (other than revealing Chestra's heritage), please let me know. Thank you for your patience.
Sawnya
At the same time while in the labyrinths…
Most of the hostages had reached the surface and were on their way to the hotel in Magan. Caline was now searching the labyrinths for any stragglers, or anyone who had gotten themselves lost in the confusing corridors and intricate passageways. She called out several times, but she found no one, and after twenty minutes, Caline had to finally conclude that all of the former captives had left the tunnels. She hoped and prayed that was so, and she went to find Sergeant Baraki, who was still guarding General Norbrook.
Lieutenant Balboun had become concerned when neither Baraki nor Norbrook had made it to the surface. Baraki was supposed to have escorted Norbrook to the surface in order to have him imprisoned above in Magan's only standing jail, but neither men had showed. Caline had told Balboun that she would go see what was taking Baraki so long, and Balboun, having to help organize the ex-hostages and get them to safety, allowed her to go alone. If he had not been distracted, he would have thought twice before letting a young girl like Caline go back down there by herself, knowing that Frieza's minions could come back into the labyrinths at any time. But by the time this thought had occurred to the harried lieutenant, Caline had already left.
Caline had found the labyrinth corridor where Baraki had been holding Norbrook prisoner and where Superior Gran Shalila Chloe had "surrendered" to Frieza's forces. She dashed into the corridors and called out softly for Baraki. She could not hear anything, and she could not even sense anyone's presence in the corridor.
She stepped further into the corridor, and it was when she ventured a little further that she noticed a small stream of thick, honey-tinted blood flow by her tiny feet. Anxiously, she followed the tiny river of blood to a pole that was helping to hold up the labyrinth ceiling, where she found Sergeant Baraki leaning against the pole, as if he were asleep.
Caline worriedly took Baraki's arm and tried to shake him awake, but the sergeant would not budge. Instead his head lolled to the side of the poll, and Caline nearly cried out when she saw that his eyes and his mouth were staring wide open. His eyes seemed to be staring off into a trance.
"B-Baraki? Sergeant Baraki?" she asked fearfully.
But Baraki would not answer her, nor would he ever would again. His body fell towards Caline, and Caline shrieked, as she ran out of its path. Baraki fell facedown to the floor, and it was then that Caline discovered the source of the path of blood-a round, smoking hole in Baraki's head.
"No!" she cried. "Sergeant?"
She then suddenly felt a poke, a sharp, firm poke in the back of her cornsilk head, the poke from a round, cylindrical object. The object burrowed deeper into her hair, and a thick, husky voice hovered above her ear, breathing heavily.
"What?" she gasped, as a meaty hand clamped over her small rosebud mouth. The object dug deeper into her head, and Caline realized that she was being held at gunpoint.
"Not enough word, Princess Caline," that same thick voice said in a deadly calm. "Unless, you wish to share Baraki's fate, I suggest that you come with me."
Caline's whole body trembled, as her captor pulled her tiny body against his. No, he couldn't have escaped, no he couldn't have…
…"I didn't expect you to come back here, my little princess, but that's alright, my dear. I've wanted you for some time; I've offered for you, but your cursed father had to promise you to Sedemeyer instead! Never did like Sedemeyer or Dunlop, and now neither one will have you. Can't go back to Commander Zarbon now; he'll surely have me killed now that I've been exposed, so I'm leaving, little one, and you're coming with me. Need some female company anyway, and don't worry, I promise to be a better husband than Dunlop ever was. Only you're not going to refuse me every night the way that you did him, hmm? No protests or fighting now, my little Caline, or you'll end up sharing a grave with Baraki. Hate to have to kill a pretty little thing like you; I've liked you for about three years now. You won't find Princess Caline Norbrook to be such a bad name; it's much better than Princess Caline Dunlop, or even your birth name Princess Caline Alisine Famalie de Tamilieu." Tamilieu (pronounced "tam-a-loo") was the official name of Kitchator's family and "Chateau de Tamilieu" was the official name of the royal castle, although everyone in Calmag usually knew it better by simply as the royal castle, or the king's castle.
Tears streamed down Caline's cheeks for herself and for poor Baraki. It wasn't fair! Would she always be doomed to become someone's sex slave or toy? She couldn't hide her sobs, as General Narvo Norbrook led her out of the corridor at gunpoint.
Bendros and Tayla had both ripped off the top parts of their individual fighting gi outfits, and Tayla's chest was covered only with an undershirt. They were trying to stop the bleeding, but all they could do was slow it down, not enough to help Ridikar.
Diamonique leaned back against the wall, watching the tears flow down Tayla's scarred cheeks, as fast as the blood flowed down Ridikar's body. She was observing with pure pleasure and not a trace of remorse with a cold, malicious smile on her flawless face.
"Ridikar, don't give up," Tayla whispered hoarsely, as she tried to hold down her blood-soaked shirt, hoping to stop Ridikar's bleeding altogether.
"Too late for me now," Ridikar whispered.
"No! Don't you dare say that! Don't you dare!" Tayla cried. "It is not too late! It is not! Tell him it's not too late, Bendros, please!"
Bendros looked at Tayla sadly, and he himself felt tears in his eyes. He knew in his heart that none of Tayla's words would be able to save Ridikar from his impending fate. He looked down at Ridikar, and Bendros sighed in frustration. He had seen some of his fellow officers die while he had been working for Intergalacticpol, and he had been by the side of two of them, as they lay there dying, with Bendros unable to save them. Ridikar was losing too much blood, despite his and Tayla's best attempts to stop the bleeding. They were doing all they could, but without proper medical treatment nearby, it was unlikely that Ridikar was going to live for much longer.
Tayla was holding Ridikar's hand in hers, kissing it fervently and holding it to her chest. "Hold on, Ridikar, it will be all right, I promise. I can go find some of Caline's roses, I can…"
Ridikar wanted to tell her that she was right, that he would live on to be with her, but he couldn't. He knew that his time was near an end, and not even Caline's roses would save him now, not that there were any available at the moment to help him. The Bright Healer roses could not restore all the blood that Ridikar had already lost, and Diamonique's nails had cut two main arteries.
"Tayla…I'm sorry," he whispered. "I'm so sorry…nothing more I can do…too late for roses now…sorry to leave you behind."
"You're not going to die!" Tayla screamed. "I won't allow it!"
Ridikar managed a weak smile. He brought her hand holding his to his lips and kissed it lightly. "You can control a lot things, Tayla, but not even you can stop death."
"Stop talking about death!" Tayla cried. She looked frantically at Bendros and choked out, "Bendros, tell him he's going to live!"
Bendros stammered softly, "T-Tayla, I-I think that I'm with Ridikar on this one." He felt his tears fall down his cheeks, as he his heart was hurting for both her and Ridikar. He fervently wished that he could make Tayla happy by saving Ridikar's life, but he knew now that it was out of his hands. Soon Ridikar would be meeting Enma Daiou.
"T-Tayla…I'm sorry that I hurt you so much before…want to make it up to you…always wanted to make things up to you…promised myself I would…now I can't."
"You already have!" Tayla cried out. "You already have! But if you really want to make things up to me, you will fight this and live!"
"Wish…I could…can't. GASP! HACK! HACK!" Ridikar began to choke, as tears were now streaming down his handsome face. With his free hand, he struggled to wipe his mouth of the saliva gushing up; he was trying to prevent himself from throwing up blood.
Ridikar's face grew paler, and his flesh began to cool considerably. He was fighting to stay alive for just a little longer, and Tayla broke down into a sob when she realized that Bendros and Ridikar were right-Ridikar would soon pass on to the next dimension.
"T-Tayla, would you kiss me one last time-please?" he asked in a fierce whisper. "Just…one…last…kiss." He hoped that Bendros wouldn't grudge him this final request for Tayla.
Bendros didn't, and he backed away, allowing them to have this time alone together.
Tayla nodded quickly, and she kissed him gently, yet thoroughly on his cooling lips. She stroked his hair lightly, and then she gave him a second kiss, only this time, much more firmly, a stronger kiss full of things that would never be.
"Th-thank you, T-Tayla," he whispered, as Tayla moved her face away from his slightly, only an inch away. "Best…goodbye present…you could have given…me."
"Aw…how sweet," Diamonique mocked. "Very touching end. How adorable. A goodbye kiss."
If Ridikar hadn't been lying there, on the border of life and death, Tayla would have leapt up from the floor and given Diamonique a well-deserved punch in her face. She clenched her free fist, but did not confront her enemy just yet. Diamonique's turn would come soon enough.
Tayla would see to it…personally.
But for now…
"Ridikar, I am sorry," she sobbed. "Sorry that I didn't forgive you sooner."
"'Tis I who should say I'm sorry…Tayla…felt awful for what I did to you weeks ago…never thought that…I could get…you…to…like me…again. You…don't know…how happy…I was…day…you…forgave…me. Tell…truth…Tayla….do you think…that…you…could have ever…loved me…someday?"
"I-I believe so," Tayla choked out. "You've…redeemed yourself, Ridikar. You have…you have."
"T-Tayla, c-can…you…promise me…something…by your Seven Moons?"
"Su-sure."
"Look after…Caline…for me…would you? Take…my place…help her be happy…please…succeed…where I failed. Wanted to make things…up to her too…can't anymore…too late. Tell her…I love her…will you? Take…care…of her…protect her…please?"
Tayla nodded quickly and held up seven fingers. "I…I will," she whispered.
"Thank you," Ridikar said as steadily as possible. He weakly kissed her hand again.
"Sorry…Tayla…that I couldn't…have done more for you two…love you, princess…always will…always loved you, I think. I…know…I'm…asking so much of you…right now…but one last request, please…"
"What is it?"
"Get Diamonique…and her…com…rades…for me…please. Don't…let them…hurt…anyone…else."
"That will happen," Tayla assured him as confidently as possible. "You needn't worry about either promise, Ridikar, both will fulfilled. They won't get away with their crimes…especially Diamonique. I'll see that Caline is taken care of too…don't worry about her anymore."
Bendros watched them, his heart breaking for them both. He was sad for them and angry with Diamonique for causing so much unnecessary pain and suffering. He looked out the corner of his eye at the cold-hearted, unremorseful Gemstarian woman who was smugly watching the painfully tender scene between two young people whose budding love would never be realized.
"Is he going to die already?" Diamonique asked impatiently. "I do have better things to do than stand around and watch some Calmagian weakling croak." Bendros threw an icy look that was so unlike him in her direction.
"Then why don't you go and leave them in peace?" Bendros roared with uncharacteristic harshness. "Even someone as cruel as you can do that much!"
"Hmmph!" Diamonique snorted, and she turned her back away from them.
Ridikar's eyes felt heavy, and his head turned and gently hit the floor. His brown eyes, even darker than Tayla's, looked deeply into her brown eyes, as he spoke again,
"Tayla…please…don't worry…he loves you too…you won't be left alone."
"He?" Tayla asked, puzzled. "Whom are you talking about?"
"Why…it's…" But Ridikar could no longer answer her.
He would never answer her again. Tayla shook and nudged him, and then a cold feeling sank deep into her heart, and the coldness engulfed her heart, making her shiver on the inside. It took her a few seconds to realize that Ridikar was no longer in the same dimension as her.
His eyes were locked in an eternal trance, but a peaceful expression was resting on his features, with his mouth closed in a gentle smile. However his calm features in death were not enough to soothe Tayla's soul, and the icy realization that he would never speak again flowed throughout her body, causing it to shake and shiver.
And with her entire body trembling violently, Tayla shakily used her hand to close Ridikar's eyes, and throwing her head back, she emitted a loud piercing scream that would be heard throughout the floor. Bendros dashed to her and tried to hold her, but she was at that point, beyond consoling. Rage, grief, and deep hurt invaded her heart and spread throughout her entire body.
Her body shook harder than before, and several startling things occurred…electric currents danced about her small, slim body, and the entire floor shook as if an earthquake. Pictures began to fall off the wall, and the statues of past ancestors of King Kitchator toppled over, with one statue's head breaking off. Cracks ran along the floor, and several windows shattered as if rocks or balls had hit them. The ceiling above began to crumble slowly, with pieces breaking off and hitting the floor.
"What's happening?" Diamonique shrieked, as she felt the shaking of the entire floor.
But that floor was not the only thing shaking…
In the ballroom…
The Astorians and Calmagians, along with Crystalis and the Meatian men, who were battling Dodoria and the Ginyu Force were now starting to lose their battle downstairs, and Dodoria and the Ginyu Force had been celebrating their imminent victory in advance. Dodoria's fist had been in Lektron's stomach when they and everyone else felt the full force of the tremendous power occurring upstairs. Crystalis had been helping Pork, Steak and Ham against Guido until Guido had stopped time in the corner of the room where they had been at and paralyzed them. Guido abruptly unstopped time (he had been about to cause the ceiling to collapse on top of the hapless fighters) when he felt the tremors. The four fighting against him wasted no time in escaping him before he could entrap them again.
"What the hell is going here?" Dodoria demanded to know, as the ceiling began to shake and crumble, with large pieces falling down upon him and everyone else.
Guido jumped into Jeice's arms when large cracks began to break along the walls and the marble floor. Baata and Reccoom huddled near each other, forgetting about the men and women that they were fighting at that moment. Flirtius crawled under a heavy buffet table while Reccor, who was on the other side of the ballroom was smart enough to start crawling to the entrance behind the bar into the labyrinths on the opposite side. He had no intention of staying and getting himself killed.
"What's going on here?" Alora asked worriedly. "I heard that it was rare for this planet ever to have quakes! We really came here at a bad time!"
But in a few minutes, she and the others would realize that it was no planet quake, but some explosion or power source that was causing the building to shake so violently.
Lektron abandoned his fight with Dodoria, trying to stay on his feet as the ground shook and trembled harder. He was trying to reach Gracina before anything happened to her. Gracina was still leaning against the wall, unconscious, as Lektron flew across the ballroom to reach her. A huge pole was falling near her, about to crush her and take her life once and for all.
Fortunately, Lektron managed to reach her in time, and he gathered her into his arms and pulled her out of the way of the falling pole, which fell to the marble floor and crashed, breaking the pole and cracking the floor worse than ever.
Two more poles fell down and crashed into thousands of large pieces, as the dais broke into three pieces. The musical instruments in one corner of the ballroom fell all on each other, making loud clamorous noises. Everyone, good and evil began to run for cover, and
Dodoria, being the main one in charge right now, shouted, "Men, let's get out of here! We'll finish this fight with these fools outside!"
The Ginyu Force didn't hesitate. All four remaining Ginyu Force members fled with Dodoria out of the ballroom, trying to find the quickest way of the castle.
The Astorians and Calmagians who were fighting wisely decided to take the cue from their foes and flee out of the castle as well. "To the labyrinths!" Lektron ordered everyone, as he held his wife in his arms. No one, not even the CRP officers, hesitated as they followed Lektron to the labyrinth entrance behind the bar.
But Lektron then decided that he wasn't leaving just yet. He found Arlon and shoved his wife into her brother's arms. "Take my wife and get out of here! I'm going back to find Tayla and the others!"
"What about you?" Arlon asked him worriedly, taking Gracina from him.
"I can take care of myself," Lektron told him.
Alora had joined them, after just dodging a giant piece of falling ceiling that would have crushed her, had she not jumped out of the way. She had just heard Lektron's previous sentences and declared, "I'm coming with you."
"No," Lektron insisted. "Go with the others!"
"I am coming!" Alora shouted furiously. "My husband's up there too, and you know what happens when that dear lout of mine is left to his own devices! And if that slut, Sedusa, or whatever the hell her name is, even thinks of bedding my man, I'm going to rip out all of that freakishly pink hair of hers slowly and painfully! No one gets to order my man about, but me! Where does he get off calling that weird whorici 'sweet goddess', 'pink pearl of perfection' and other ridiculous nonsense? Why doesn't he ever call me pet names like that?"
Lektron managed to laugh, even as the entire ballroom continued to fall apart, "'Cause he knows that you'd belt him one, if he ever spouted silliness like that to you!"
"Yeah, that's true," Alora agreed. "He better be lucky that he's under that woman's spell 'cause if he were saying those things for real…well, he knows what I would do. Anyway, it's time to go find him and the others. I can't wait to give that man-stealing and child-stealing whorici a piece of my mind!"
"Same here!" Lektron told her. "But I think that I should go alone."
"Well, you're not and that's that."
Lektron sighed; he knew that it was no use to argue with his best friend's wife when she was like the way she was. He wondered how she and Bajal were able to get along so well-most of the time. Anyway, Alora was as strong as he was, if not stronger.
"Very well," he sighed. "Just be careful."
"I always am," Alora retorted. "Out of Bajal and I, one of us has to be." And Lektron chuckled slightly.
"Wait!" Julien cried, following behind them. "I need to find my brother!"
"We'll find your brother," Alora promised him. "Now go with the others!"
"But…"
"Do as I said, Calmagie! We don't have time to mess around anymore!"
Julien grumbled a few nasty phrases about bossy women, but Alora's deadly glare prevented him from disobeying her. Grudgingly, he left with the others downstairs into the labyrinths once more.
Lukan was carrying Cletos on his back, as he was fleeing the ballroom for the labyrinths. Rojal, Dedron, and Riccan were following behind their uncles, and Riccan ran up to his father, panting excitedly, "Wait for me, I want to come too!"
"No!" Lektron told his son sharply. "You're to leave with the others!"
"I want to help find Tayla! Why can't I go and help?"
"Because I said so!" Lektron growled at his son. "I don't want you hurt!" Riccan flinched, and his startled expression nearly broke his father's hurt.
"But, Pappa, I want to be brave and strong like you!" Riccan was near tears. "And I'm worried 'bout Tayla and the others, but 'specially Tayla. I want to help!"
Lektron softened slightly. "Look, son, you've already helped us a lot and proven yourself to be a fine fighter, but this is something that your Aunt Alora and I have to handle, okay? You can help by getting the others to safety, but you can't go with us this time. You're already becoming a fine warrior, and you've made your mother and me proud. Now go!"
"Really, Pappa?"
"Really, son. Now get out of here!"
"Yes, Pappa! Make sure they don't hurt Tayla or anyone else!"
"We won't, kid," Alora promised him. "Now do as your pappy says."
"Yes, Aunt Alora!" And Riccan was finally content to leave for the entrance behind the bar to the labyrinths. Dedron followed quickly behind him, figuring that Lektron and Alora could handle things; he had nothing against Bajal and Dirkan, but Shalila and Tayla were not enormous concerns to him.
Rojal remained behind and asked if he could come, but both Lektron and Alora declined. "You've done enough for now, Rojal, but it's time for you to go. Alora and I can handle things from here." And Rojal reluctantly left. By that time, all of the Astorians and Calmagians had fled the ballroom and were now in the labyrinths once more.
The ballroom continued to shake and collapse, as Alora and Lektron made their way out of the room to head upstairs. Flirtius managed to reach the labyrinth entrance to escape, but Reccor wasn't so lucky. He was the last one to reach the labyrinths, but he would not make it out.
At that moment, a huge pillar fell over towards the labyrinth entrance and came crashing down on Reccor's head, bashing his skull in. He was killed instantly, never knowing what hit him.
Upstairs in Shalila and Dirkan's bedroom…
Seductia had been performing a striptease for Dirkan, Bajal, and Raakon, whom she had ordered to watch her dance. She now had her perfect breasts bared, and she had been doing a lap dance on the bewitched Dirkan, who was smiling stupidly at her, when she felt the entire building shake. The bed where Shalila and Dirkan had been using for the past few weeks fell down with two of the legs breaking, and Bajal and Raakon fell over on each other, trying not to fall down.
The castle shaking jolted Shalila out of her unconsciousness, and she was now fully awake. Seductia had ordered Bajal and Raakon to hang Shalila from a ceiling lamp by her wrists, with those wrists tightly bound to restrain Shalila's ki. The ceiling lamp that had been holding her by her wrists suddenly broke free from the ceiling, and poor Shalila fell to the ground, with her wrists still bound. She struggled vainly and weakly against the wretched fan that her wrists were tied to.
Seductia clung to Dirkan as the ceiling began to crumble around them. "What's going on?" she cried in uncharacteristic fear.
Shalila knew; she could feel Tayla's ki, and it was three times as strong as before.
"Tayla…" she whispered hoarsely. "What's happened to you? Why are you doing this?"
The entire room shook harder, as if trying to bring itself down.
"Tayla!" Shalila cried, sensing that her favorite was in great pain. "My little poor dandelion…"
On the edge of the city of Magan…
Norbrook and Caline were already out of the labyrinths, with Norbrook holding Caline at gunpoint when they had felt the ground shaking throughout the city of Magan. They could see the Chateau de Tamilieu shake severely, as if an invisible hand was shaking it. But the city near the castle was trembling violently as well. Norbrook and Caline could see the trees falling down and several small buildings collapse. Caline cried out with fright, both in fear of the quake and in hopes that someone would hear her and come save her. No one came to her aid; Caline's friends and family were not nearby enough to hear her.
At first, before the shaking had begun, Caline had felt a sudden, heavy hurt in her heart, as if a piece of it had been torn away. She could not identify the feeling, but she felt as if she had lost something or someone very important. Why was she feeling this way? Where had this ache, this sudden burst of emotional pain come from? She then suddenly screamed out for that reason alone, as if she were mourning for this loss that she could not explain.
"Stop screaming!" Norbrook ordered Caline, poking the gun deeper into her back. The general was terrified of the quaking himself, but he was not about to lose his "prize". It had taken him forever to get Princess Caline, and he intended to keep her, planet quake or no planet quake.
Caline, feeling as if she nothing left to lose, decided to chance Norbrook's gun and scream anyway. "SOMEONE HELP ME PLEASE! SOMEONE SAVE ME! GENERAL NORBROOK'S ABDUCTED ME! HELP, PLEASE! I'M BEING ABDUCTED!"
"Shut up, I said!" Norbrook growled, as he noticed a skycar. He poked Caline with his laser gun again and roared, "Let's go! We're getting out of here, you and I! I don't want to hurt you, Princess, but if you try to escape or resist me…well, I don't want to even describe the consequences. Remember the connections I have, little one, and I can easily turn you over to one of Frieza's men, should you anger me enough. I don't want to give you up, so let's go!"
Norbrook seized Caline by her hair, taking her by gunpoint to the skycar, the same skycar where the Saiyans had forced Dollan to bring them to Magan in. The doors were unlocked, and Norbrook shoved Caline into the driver-side seat, and then he forced her over to the other side, keeping his gun on her.
"You keep your mouth shut," Norbrook growled at his intended bride. "We're leaving this side of Calmag to go to my summer home on the other side. We're going to wait the war out there and hide there. I'm keeping you with me, even if we wind up having to leave Calmag. Don't do anything stupid, and you won't get hurt."
Caline's face was paler-than-pale, and she cowered near the passenger-side door. If only she knew how to fly! She could have escaped through that door, if she had known! But because she couldn't, all she could do was cry. Finally Norbrook ordered her to put her head in his lap, still holding his gun on her. Caline reluctantly did so, still crying in terror, as she tried to turn onto her stomach. Norbrook, however insisted that she lie on her back, and she had no choice, but to obey him. He used his hand that was holding the gun to drive, still holding his weapon. He used his free hand to smooth Caline's hair, and then his hand slid down towards her small chest. He massaged one of Caline's small breasts gently, and then he rubbed her arm, enjoying the soft, white skin. She cringed and tried to pull away from him, but his hand held her down firmly.
Norbrook said in what he considered to be a soothing voice, "Now, princess, I don't mean you any harm. I just had wanted you for myself for a while, and unlike Dunlop, I'm not going to beat you for every little thing that you do wrong. I just want you as my bride, that's all. I'm sure you'd prefer me over Sedemeyer. Now just relax, little one; if you're nice and obedient, I won't hurt you."
"I want to leave," Caline sobbed, tears running down her white face.
Norbrook continued to run his hand along her small body. "You'll like it with me, I promise. Now stop fretting, and be a good girl now. I'm going to take care of you, just as long as you please me." His hand lightly patted her bottom. "You're a cute little thing, princess, liked you for a long time."
Caline froze in pure terror, as she huddled into herself.
At the Angori Hotel in Magan…
Toria, Kekron, and Veal had been helping hostages into the hotel when the whole city of Magan had started to shake. Several unstable buildings had crumbled; thankfully no one had been in them, and some CRP officers and firemen were scattered throughout the city, checking to see if anything caught on fire. Toria was now standing on the sidewalk right outside the entrance to the hotel, anxiously watching the shaking castle farther away.
The High Priestess of Astoria could feel Tayla's ki, and it was so strong now that it was causing the city to shake. Toria could sense the grief and anguish in Tayla's ki signature, and she could feel that Ridikar was no alive. Toria pitied both Tayla and Ridikar, a young man who would never be able to make up fully for the things that he had done in the past.
Toria was now debating if she should leave to go back to the castle, even though none of her magic would work well enough there to help Tayla and her family fight. However, she was leaning towards going anyway to see what she could do when little Tila came running up to her.
"Great-Aunt Toria!"
Toria bent down to a frantic, panting Tila. "What is it, little one?"
"Kekron and Veal left! Veal heard Caline screaming, and Kekron could hear it too 'cause Veal had accidentally coughed in his ear earlier, so he can hear as good as she does! Kekron left right away, and Veal went with him even though a CRP officer told them not to go! Nikon, Tayka, and I wanted to go too, but Kekron said no, stay here."
Toria didn't reply at first; instead she sensed the ki signatures of Kekron and Veal, and then she could sense Caline's ki, along with the ki of Norbrook, Caline's abductor. She meditated for a few moments, and then she turned back to Tila.
"Little Tila," she told her great-niece. "Let them go for now. I want you to go back with the others."
"But aren't you going to help them, Great-Aunt Toria?"
"I am going to ask Captain Qatar of the CRP to follow them. I am going back to the castle to help the others."
"But you're not a warrior, so won't that be dangerous?"
"Yes, little one, it will be, but I must do what I have to do. Now go back and get yourself to safety!"
"But what's making the shaking?"
Toria said quietly, "It is your Aunt Tayla, little one."
"Make her stop! Shaking's scaring me! Why is she doing it?"
Toria said with tears glistening in her eyes, "She just lost someone that she cared for. She's not doing this to hurt anyone, my dear; she doesn't know what she's doing."
"If you go, can you make her stop the shaking?"
"I'll try, darling, I'll try. Your Aunt Tayla is hurting very much right now, so we must be patient."
"Will you see if my parents are okay?"
"Yes, little one, if I can get in the-" Toria's words were abruptly interrupted, as she suddenly fell to her knees, holding her head, as if she had been given a sudden headache. It happened occasionally whenever she had a strong, painful vision that she was being forced to witness in her mind.
"Great-Aunt Toria! Are you okay?" Tila shrieked.
Toria could not answer her, as her head suddenly felt, as if it were going to explode. She was now seeing what was happening to Tayla so clearly in her mind, it was as if she were there with Tayla herself…
Back at the castle…
Tayla's body shook and gave out sparks and electric currents for several more minutes, but then the shaking that she had been causing started to slow down. The currents dancing about her body disappeared, and her ki level toned down closer to normal for her. Tears continued to flow steadily down her face, however, as she finally allowed Bendros to take her into his arms. She buried her face into his arm and sobbed, as the violent shaking and quaking that her power had been causing earlier started to cease. Within minutes of Bendros holding her, the shakes and tremors stopped entirely, but Tayla continued to cry steadily.
Diamonique had been clinging to an black metal statue in the hallway, wrapping her entire body around it. She had never been so unnerved by a child in her entire life. For the first time in a long time since Tayla had caused that mountain to crumble down upon her, Diamonique felt true fear. She looked frightfully at the strange Astorie girl who had caused this catastrophe just now, and she was in awe of Tayla's power. For the first time since she had met Tayla Chloe, Diamonique wondered if she had finally met her match outside of Frieza's Elite. And for the first time, she wondered, if now would be a good time to retreat.
*My Kami, * Diamonique wondered. *That isn't a girl, or even a princess, that's a monster! *
Tayla's loud sobbing had quieted down to a soft weeping, as Bendros rocked her back and forth gently in his strong, muscular arms. She finally opened her walnut-colored eyes, rubbing them as she did, and she looked at Ridikar, sleeping for all eternity.
Gently, she partially wriggled her way out of Bendros's arms, and she inched closer to Ridikar's body with Bendros hovering nearby. She brushed the matted hair back from Ridikar's forehead gently and kissed his forehead softly, yet deeply.
She could hear Ridikar's words still:
* Sorry…Tayla…that I couldn't…have done more for you two…love you, princess…always will…always loved you. You…don't know…how happy…I was…day…you…forgave…me. *
Tayla took Ridikar's cold hand and clasped it to her, kissing it gently.
"I'm glad that I forgave you," she whispered. "You can rest in peace about that."
* Look after…Caline…for me… *
"Caline will be taken care of; she'll be happy. I'll look after her."
*Get Diamonique…and her…com…rades…for me…please. Don't…let them…hurt…anyone…else. *
When those words of Ridikar's passed through Tayla's mind, she gave his hand one last kiss and said in a new, stronger voice, "I won't, Ridikar; I won't let her and those like her hurt anyone else. They won't get away with their crimes, and they will pay, they will pay for their sins. I swear that to you Seven Moons." She held up seven fingers to seal her promise.
Then solemnly, she eased herself out of Bendros's arms and arose. Before Bendros could prevent her, she steadily and bravely walked away from him and Ridikar's body towards Diamonique's direction.
"Tayla!" Bendros cried out. "Come back! You are in no condition to be fighting her right now!"
Tayla looked back at him, smiling sadly, with the smile not of a child, but of a new, young woman. Tayla's childhood was almost near its end, and Ridikar's death had started the death knell for it. After today, Tayla the child would no longer exist.
She looked into Diamonique's eyes and saucer brown eyes stared off against beady black eyes for the beginning of the end-for both of them.
The end of Diamonique's reign of terror.
And again, the end of Tayla's childhood.
Tayla said in a soft voice that was its normal dulcet tone, but was laden with deadly threat:
"Ridikar will be your last victim, ever. You better start planning your greeting to Enma Daiou because you'll be meeting him long before I will."
Diamonique climbed down off of the statue and said frostily with her nerve coming back to her, "Is that a threat, little girl?"
"It's not a threat; it's a promise."
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A/N: I can hear Ridikar fans cursing me now; poor Tayla and Caline. For those of you (those of you who are still reading this far anyway), Diamonique won't get away unscathed for her crimes. And neither will Seductia. What will these two cruel beauties do when a very angry young girl goes all out on them? I guarantee one thing: I can't whether she wins against them or not, but she won't be showing them any mercy. You hurt anyone that Tayla cares about and you hurt her, and Diamonique and Seductia are about to learn that the hard way.
And of Caline? She has the worse luck, worser than even Tayla's. Will Kekron and Veal find her in time before Norbrook does anything to her? Where is Norbrook taking Caline, and what does he plan to do with her? All I can say is that Norbrook fully intends to follow in the footsteps of Alberm, and if Kekron and Veal don't find him and Caline soon, Caline may be reliving her worst nightmare all over again.
And of Tayla's family and allies fighting Dodoria and the Ginyu Force? Well, both sides have retreated for right now, but for how long? Can Toria help, or will her family be able to solve their problems before she gets there?
And what about Shalila and the men under Seductia's spell? Can Tayla end Seductia's evil (and those awful lines that Seductia's victims keep spouting such as "dab of pink pearl cream") once and for all?
Find out the answer to some of these questions next time in Chapter 97: Comeuppance For Diamonique and Seductia
A/N 2: I know some of you are wondering "where in the &*%$# is that last Chestra chapter?" To tell you the truth, I don't know still how I am going to end it! I know some people have been urging me to have Chestra's paternity and heritage revealed, but I doubt that I will let it be known to Chestra's comrades in that story. They will find out eventually, but it won't be until I come out with the sequel to TOA, called "Hope Never Dies".
If any of you have any ideas (other than revealing Chestra's heritage), please let me know. Thank you for your patience.
Sawnya
