Chapter Ninety-Eight: Rescue Caline!
Norbrook had taken Caline and rushed her deeper into the cave. "We must go for cover," he ordered his victim. Caline wished she knew what was going on, as Norbrook picked her up and threw her over his shoulder, running deeper into the caverns below with her. Her wrists were still bound, and she was all cried out. She just felt extremely depressed and hopeless.
She had to find a way to escape him, but how?
Norbrook finally found an alcove in one of the lower caves, and he carried Caline inside. The alcove was hollowed out completely, a secure burrow just large enough for the two of them. The molesting general lay her down, and he lay down beside her.
"I'm going to take care of you, little princess," he whispered. "We're going to wait here until the war is over. I'm no longer concerned at this point whether Frieza's forces or our people or the Astorians win or not."
"Why don't you just let me go?" Caline pleaded. "You can go wherever you want, and I won't expose you. I just want to leave."
"We're leaving together," Norbrook assured her, stroking her hair. Caline cringed and tried to pull as far away from him as possible, but Norbrook just pulled her small, soft body back against his. Caline's terror increased, especially after the poor child felt his arousal harden against her stomach.
She had to get away from him, but how?
"Please let me go," she whispered. "You said that you weren't going to hurt me. Please let me leave, and I won't tell anyone where you went."
"I'm sorry, but I can't," he told her softly. "I'm about to lose everything that I have, and you are all that I have left."
"What about your children?" Caline asked.
"They can do without me. They have for a long time. If Frieza learns that I am still alive, he will kill me for my failure."
"He'll never have to find out!" Caline protested. "I won't tell anyone! Please let me leave!"
Norbrook only pulled her closer to him. "I'm not letting you go; you were meant to be mine, princess."
"You can't marry me without the permission of Ridikar or my grandfather," Caline insisted. "The marriage won't be legal." She decided on one last tactic. "If you wish to marry me that badly, why don't we find Ridikar, or our grandfather, and they can decide? Surely they-"
"They'll have me killed for treason!" Norbrook's voice suddenly took a hard edge that sent a chill down Caline's spine. "I'm not concerned with legalities, princess, just having you for myself. I'm not freeing you. You'll learn to be happy with me, I promise. Let me show you…" He then pulled her down beneath his body. Caline began to writhe and kick at him, but with no success.
"Let me go!" she screamed. "I don't want to do this with you! NO! Let me go!"
Norbrook raised his body up slightly, but only long enough to shove her dress up to her armpits again. Caline squirmed and thrashed about, but she could not prevent him from tearing off what undergarments she had left. He fondled and kissed the girl's body gently for a few minutes, but when Norbrook tried to touch her again, but before he could do so, his scouter (which he had taken back from Baraki) beeped. Norbrook growled in frustration, and he rolled over to his side, taking Caline with him.
"Keep quiet," he ordered her. He pressed a button on the device, and Zarbon's voice came through:
"Narvo Norbrook? Where have you been?"
"Um…just been finding a safe place to hide 'til that quake was over, Commander."
"I need you to do something for me immediately. We have some serious problems; Tayla's family still needs to be destroyed, and I cannot reach either Diamonique or Seductia. And now we don't know where Tayla Chloe went to; I need you to go find the girl. Capture her, if you can, but if you cannot, at least contact Dodoria or myself, and we will come get her."
"May I ask where you and Commander Dodoria are at now?"
"We are hiding in some underground caverns, but we are about to leave. We still can't figure out what caused that tremendous planet quake, but we can't let Tayla's family escape. And Calmag must still be cleared and conquered. We still have two-thirds of this planet to clear, and the Astorians have been stalling us forever. I am still trying to contact Diamonique and Seductia, but with no success. Norbrook, I need you to locate the girl immediately. We must go now and destroy what's left of Tayla's family; Lord Frieza will have our skins if we allow Shalila Chloe and her kin to live this time. His reaction in the aftermath of the Battle of Chloe is not one that I wish to endure again."
"Yes, Commander, consider it done."
"I am sending Dodoria to find you; he will help you search for Princess Tayla and recapture her."
"Yes, Commander."
And when they cut off communication, Norbrook pulled Caline's dress down again and picked her up, putting her on his shoulder again. "We have to go, princess. I have to get back to work. Apparently, they know that I'm still alive, and they're not plotting my demise yet. Perhaps, if I capture your friend and get that huge reward Frieza promised, they will let me live, hmm?" he said softly, turning her small head towards his and kissing her roughly on her rosebud lips. Caline fought down the bile rising up in her throat; his touching her was bad enough, but his kissing her was far worse. He had kissed her several times earlier, and each time he did, she wanted to vomit. His kisses were just as revolting as Alberm's.
She was very, very tired; she had not slept for a while except for those few hours down in the labyrinths just before Shalila Chloe had faked her surrender to Frieza's forces with Flirtius's help. Those hours of rest were the last ones before Shalila's family had left to attack Frieza's soldiers above. Caline was now too afraid to go to sleep; she was in Norbrook's clutches, and who knew if she would wake up again?
Keeping his gun on her once more, Norbrook carried Caline out of the alcove into the main caverns.
On the way back to the castle…
Tayla was about to return to face down Seductia when she sensed the ki signatures of Kekron and Veal nearby. She then saw them flying in the opposite direction away from her, and she sped towards them with the speed of an eagle on Earth. Within minutes, she had caught up with the two wanderers, concerned for their safety.
Kekron and Veal were shocked to see Tayla again, even though they both had sensed her ki coming. "Tayla?" Kekron gasped.
"Kekron? Veal? What are you two doing here? It's too dangerous for you two to be out here!" Tayla exclaimed. "You two need to go back!"
"We can't, Tayla," Kekron insisted to his young aunt. "Caline's in trouble. Norbrook has kidnapped her."
"What?" Tayla shrieked. "But how?"
"We're not exactly sure," Veal admitted. "All we know is now that General Norbrook has taken her, and from what we've heard, wants her for himself as well."
Tayla paled. She had known before Kekron and Veal of Norbrook's interest in Caline, but she never believed until now that Norbrook would be able to act on it.
"Veal," she began softly. "Would you breathe in my ears?"
"Sure," Veal told her, and she did what Tayla asked. Tayla's hearing increased dramatically, and while she could not hear the voices of either Caline or Norbrook, she could hear Zarbon's voice, and a rough, deep voice that she did not recognize from far off where she was. From many miles away, she could hear Zarbon address the owner of the deep voice as Dodoria.
And from the castle twenty miles away from her, she could hear the veiled voices (the castle was mostly soundproof) of her Nama, Dirkan, Raakon, and Bajal! She could then hear a window open up, and the voices of her family members now came through loud and clear. Dirkan was reassuring Nama that they would find Tayla in time to keep her out of the clutches of Frieza's soldiers, and Bajal was ribbing Raakon about calling Seductia his "sweet apple". Raakon gave it back to Bajal, saying at least that he didn't say anything as ridiculous as "dab of pink pearl cream" or "honey lover". The two brothers allowed themselves to laugh, and Tayla herself couldn't help but chuckle. Her beloved Nama was safe, and her dear guardian and brothers were back to their old selves.
*Thank Kami* she thought. *No more mushy lines…ugh! *
She then heard Bendros talk to himself, saying that at least Seductia wouldn't hurt anyone anymore. That meant that Seductia had been defeated! Bendros must have done it! Tayla's heart swelled with tremendous pride for her crush.
She then threw her arms around Veal and squeezed her tightly. Then before the astonished Veal could respond or speak, Tayla flew over to Kekron and hugged him tightly as well.
Surprised, Kekron hugged her back. "What was that about?"
"Just because! Now come on!" she cried. "Let's go find Caline!"
"Speaking of Caline, how's her brother, Ridikar?" Kekron asked. "Is he still okay?"
Tayla's face crumbled, and her voice trembled, as she told them very briefly what happened to Ridikar. She also told them about Norbrook working for Frieza. After hearing the news about Ridikar, Kekron patted Tayla's back and pitied her and Caline.
"Poor Tayla…and poor Caline. As if she didn't have enough to endure."
"If we find her," Veal spoke, "it's not going to be a happy homecoming for her."
The others agreed, and all three of them were now trying to figure out how to break the sad news to their friend.
Near the caverns where Caline and Norbrook are located at…
Dodoria had parted ways with Zarbon and the remaining Ginyu Force members; he was to go find General Narvo Norbrook and meet with him. Zarbon and the Ginyu Force members were on their way back to the castle to destroy the remaining Astorians and the Calmagians that had dared to challenge them.
Dodoria didn't think much of anyone he considered weaker than him, and any Calmagian, including Norbrook and Alberm Dunlop, just happened to be under that category. He thought that he could have found Tayla Chloe and recaptured her himself; he didn't need that weakling Calmagian spy's help. He had committed Zarbon's description of Tayla (which Zarbon had received from Vegeta) to memory; the girl was of small build, skinny, long black hair, brown eyes, and according to one of Diamonique's earlier reports, also a bratty child with a smart mouth and no respect for her superiors.
The girl was reported to have an enormous power level equivalent to a Saiyan's (after all she had defeated Vegeta, the strongest known of all of the "monkeys"). Dodoria, who held especial contempt for the Saiyan quartet, had actually laughed when he heard that Vegeta, the mightiest and most arrogant of the Saiyan warriors, had "his tail kicked by a scrawny Astorie brat" (Zarbon's words). The fat, pink warrior had heard earlier from Frieza that Vegeta had made death threats to nearly everyone who had dared to taunt him about that last defeat.
Within twenty minutes, Dodoria had located Norbrook's location on his scouter, and he contacted the CRP general through his scouter: "Nelvin Norbrook?"
Norbrook's voice came through as steady as possible: "Yes, Commander Dodoria? And that's Narvo Norbrook."
"Yeah, whatever. Now stay where you are. I am coming to you. Have you located Princess Tayla yet?"
"Not yet, Commander, but I'm working on it."
"You better be," Dodoria growled. That Calmagie general better not be wasting his time.
Ten minutes later…
Norbrook decided to wait for Dodoria, and the fat, pink Top Elite officer finally showed up on the top of Ryer's Cliff, the cavern-laden cliff where Norbrook had taken Caline. Dodoria landed on the ground near Norbrook and Caline as gracefully as possible for a huge, bulky warrior like himself.
"Any luck finding the brat?" Dodoria demanded to know.
"Cannot even locate her, unfortunately," Norbrook admitted.
Dodoria recognized Caline on Norbrook's shoulder. "So, I see that you and Bali have the same taste in girls. What are you doing with her though? You don't have time right now to be screwing around." Caline turned her cornsilk head around to look at Dodoria, and her entire body shook. She had not forgotten Dodoria's cruelty or brutality towards his victims.
"I intend to marry her," Norbrook stated firmly. "That's why I brought her with me."
"Well, as long as she doesn't run her mouth or get in our way, I don't care," Dodoria grumbled. "C'mon, let's go find that brat, Tayla Chloe."
He looked up into the sky, and although his scouter did not go off; he saw the silhouettes of three people hovering in the air. Dodoria only had average vision, so he demanded Norbrook's binoculars from him. The corpulent Elite fighter then used the binoculars to view the visitors. He then grinned and shoved the binoculars at Norbrook, who had laid Caline down on a flat rock for several minutes.
Norbrook peered through the binoculars. "Commander, that little girl with the black hair is Tayla Chloe!"
Dodoria grinned wider then. "Good, the prey has come to the hunters, instead of the other way around. Wait here, Nervo, I'll be back to fetch our quarry! I'm getting that reward for her! After all the grief I've been through, I deserve it!"
"Good luck, Commander," Norbrook said, a bit nervously. He was always unnerved around any of Frieza's Top Elite officers, even Zarbon.
"No!" Caline dared to cry against her better judgment. Dodoria turned around to address the girl.
"No little girlie orders me!" he snarled at her.
"Don't hurt Tayla, please!" Caline cried. "She's done nothing to you! Why do you and your friends have to take her away?"
"Shut up, brat," Dodoria growled. "Tayla Chloe's not going to die; Frieza wants her brought to him alive."
"Please leave her alone," Caline begged. "She doesn't want to work for Frieza! She-"
She stopped protesting when Dodoria fired a small hand blast at her. It came within inches of her head.
"Don't shoot at her!" Norbrook commanded.
"Then keep her quiet!" Dodoria growled. "I hate a whiny female! Gag her! It's going to be enough to put up with that Astorie brat, Tayla Chloe, and I don't need two annoying girls blabbing their mouths. Stuff something in her mouth, now!"
Norbrook had no choice, but to obey. He pulled a handkerchief out from his pocket and gagged Caline with it. She could barely breathe now. "She can't hurt anyone, Commander," Norbrook told him, as he picked up Caline into his arms.
"Just keep her quiet," Dodoria ordered him, as he boosted himself off of the ground. Within seconds, he had gone to meet Tayla Chloe and her friends in the air.
The three rescuers knew that Dodoria was coming; they had heard the voices of Dodoria, Caline, and Norbrook. Tayla turned to Veal and Kekron and said:
"You two get out of here! I'll deal with Dodo, as Nama calls him."
"What about Caline? We can't leave her behind!" Veal protested.
"You both told me that Norbrook has a gun," Tayla told her. "He could shoot at either one of you."
"I know a few fighting techniques," Kekron pointed out. "And Norbrook isn't any stronger than I am, otherwise why would he need a weapon? I can fire some ki blasts and electrocute, thanks to Father, although fighting is not something that I like to do often. I can deal with Norbrook, Tayla, I can, but you're right in that Veal should leave."
"But where should I go?" Veal asked. "I don't feel right about leaving you two."
"Don't worry about that," Tayla told her. "If Kekron can deal with Norbrook, I can concentrate on fighting Dodo. From what I can sense, he's stronger than Diamonique and Vegeta, although he doesn't have a wide range of fighting techniques like they do. At least that is what I have been told. Dirkan told me long time ago that most of Dodoria's abilities lie in his brute strength and mouth blasts, but he lacks speed. Veal, you have to leave now, I am sorry, but this is too dangerous a place now for you to be in."
"Then I'll go," Veal told her. "But you and Kekron be careful."
"We will," Tayla promised her. "And you do the same. Just go back to the others. Kekron and I can hear as well as you at the moment, so we can make do."
Veal said a quick goodbye and fled, as Dodoria finally met up with Tayla and Kekron. He then recognized Kekron from among the Astorian hostages, and he decided to eliminate the boy quickly. But before he could open his mouth to fire a ki blast at Kekron, Tayla flew at his stomach with her fist and landed a hard punch, forcing Dodoria's pudgy abdomen to cave in considerably. Dodoria bit his lip to keep from screaming.
"Go, Kekron!" she shrieked. "Now!"
Kekron flew off to find Norbrook and Caline. Within seconds, it was just Tayla and Dodoria.
Dodoria snarled, "That's going to cost you, brat! So you're Tayla Chloe, eh? Not a bad punch coming from a scrawny thing like you, but not great! Hell, I heard that you defeated Vegeta, and Veggie must be losing his touch if an itty-bitty thing can defeat him. I'm curious as to why a tiny girl like you was able to beat him up."
"'Cause I had to," Tayla told him simply. "Why don't you just go away and leave me and my family alone? I don't want to work for Frieza."
"It doesn't matter what you want, brat. Frieza wants you for his army, and I intend to bring you to him and gain more favor from him. Make it easier and both of us and surrender."
"Sorry, but I can't do that," Tayla said firmly. "I don't want to work for him, and he's just going to have to understand that."
"You don't have a choice, girlie!" Dodoria snarled. "I'm amazed that you're actually the girl we've been searchin' for. What makes a tiny toothpick like you that special?"
"Want to find out?" Tayla asked, realizing that mere threats and refusals would get her nowhere. Well, at least she tried talking things out.
Dodoria grinned. He turned on his scouter, and Tayla's power level reading only came up at two thousand. He chuckled.
"Hell, your ki level's not as high as it's been reported. I'll crush you in no time, and then you'll be beggin' for me to take you to Lord Frieza! I'm gonna catch you, little girlie. My scouter tells me that you're no stronger than the strongest Human, and that's not very strong. And to think that you defeated Vegeta; he must have been having an off day."
"Whatever," Tayla said flippantly. She then turned her face away from Dodoria slightly and grinned secretly to herself. Nama was right when she said Dodoria had more blubber than brains; Dodoria should have known by now that Astorians could hide or repress their ki and fool those stupid scouters!
But Nama had also warned her long ago that Dodoria had twice the brute strength of an adult Astorian, and probably three times that of a child Astorian. Dodoria was no genius, but who needed brains when you had more than enough brawn to take its place? He was considered to be among the deadliest of Frieza's Top Elite officers, and he was fourth on Intergalacticpol's Most Wanted List. Like, Frieza and other powerful Elite officers, he had the power to blow up a single planet easily! He had also been reported to be bisexual with an obsession for Frieza and Balair's appetite for young women. And Dodoria was known to only pick on those he considered to be weaker than he was; he was a grown-up bully who enjoyed using and abusing his immense powers. Tayla remembered from the Battle of Chloe stories that it had been Dirkan who had squashed the giant and put him in his place.
"Okay, brat," Dodoria told Tayla. "I'm gonna make it easy for you; you surrender to me now, and I won't hurt you. Whaddya say?"
"I say…if you want me badly enough, you're going to have to come get me first 'cause I'm not going to that nasty lizard-man, Frieza, without a fight. And you can tell him I said so."
"How dare you insult my beloved liege?" Dodoria roared. "You ought to be grateful that he has chosen you! I'm gonna teach you a lesson for puttin' him down alone!"
"Go ahead," Tayla said coolly. She then looked over at a tall mountain not too far from the cliff where Kekron had gone to confront Norbrook. "Let's fight over there, away from innocent people."
"I could care less about the people of this wretched planet," Dodoria snorted. "But that's fine with me; gives me more room to maneuver."
Tayla wisely decided not to speak her first thought upon that comment: that someone as fat as Dodoria would need all the room that he could get. Both warriors left for the mountain where they had chosen for their fight, and within ten minutes, they had arrived.
The mountain was level on top, but plain with very few trees and shrubs. Tall, red grasses blanketed most of the mountaintop. There were no cliffs or plateaus or caves or even large rocks to get in their way; it was the perfect place for a fight.
And Dodoria wasn't about to waste his time. He was ready to deal with the brat now.
He flew at her, and Tayla put up her guard. Despite her brave words, she knew that taking down Dodoria would be harder than fighting Vegeta and Diamonique had been. Well, at least, he couldn't go Oozaru.
Tayla flew at him, rising to meet his challenge.
Kekron found Norbrook and Caline in no time, and he landed ten feet away from Norbrook. Norbrook was startled to see Prince Kekron Chloe here; why would he trouble himself to come here?
Kekron decided to try to talk to Norbrook first before fighting him. The CRP general had a gun on Caline, and if Kekron attacked without a plan, Caline could wind up hurt or dead. Maybe he could just talk him into releasing her without any violence between them. "Let her go, Norbrook," Kekron told him firmly. "You leave Caline be; she does not want to be with you. You can easily find someone else."
Norbrook narrowed his eyes at the defiant Astorian boy. No lad was going to order him about, prince or not. "She's mine, boy! Zarbon promised her to me, when we win this war; she's part of my spoils and I intend to keep her. I'm not planning to harm her, just make her my bride, my woman-"
"But that's just it," Kekron argued. "Caline is a little girl, not yet a woman, and she's far too young for you. I'm sure that someone of your position and rank can find a woman closer to your own age; you don't need to take a frightened child who just wants to be left in peace. Many a woman your age would surely have you." Kekron was angry with Norbrook for terrorizing Caline and taking her away, but he had to keep calm. He remembered Father's lectures about diplomacy being able to go places where violence couldn't. Sometimes it was better to talk things over than throw a punch or a ki blast. He hoped that he could make Norbrook see reason before it was too late for Caline.
Kekron continued, keeping his inner rage out of his voice, keeping his voice calm and steady, "General Norbrook, Caline is a very beautiful and sweet girl, but she's still a child. If she was closer to your age, then maybe your attraction to her would be understandable, but in this case, it's not. She's scared of you, Norbrook; can't you see that? See how frightened she is? Your actions towards her remind her too much of what her husband had done to her when he was alive. You're going to make her afraid of men for the rest of her life, if you had not done so already. You don't want her hurt and scared for the rest of her life, do you? Do you really want to touch or force yourself upon a terrified young girl? If you truly care about her, Norbrook, you'll let her go. Caring about someone means knowing when to let go and let the ones you care for be free."
"Let me put it to you this way, Norbrook: which would you rather have: a grown woman close to your age who would love and desire you the way that you wish her to, or a little girl that you made too afraid of you to even want you near her? Do you want her to be as miserable with you, as she was with Alberm Dunlop? You know that Alberm Dunlop didn't treat her very well; do you want to become an Alberm clone?"
"I hated Dunlop!" Norbrook growled, still holding Caline. "I offered for this girl, along with Sedemeyer, and Prince Amitar turned us both down in favor of Dunlop! And he tried to kill her!"
"Exactly," Kekron reasoned. "And you don't want to become anything like Alberm Dunlop, do you?"
"Hell no!"
"Then you'll let Caline go. If you hold her captive and force her to become your mate against you will, you'll be no better than Alberm was. Do you want Caline to be happy?"
"I can make her happy."
"I don't think so, Norbrook, and you know it as well as I do. Caline doesn't want a husband right now, and we can't blame her. She needs time to heal from the things that Alberm did to her; she needs to be allowed to be free and to grow up. If she's scared and miserable with you right now, imagine what it would be like for you both if you forced her to become yours. She may even become so desperate to escape that she might try to kill herself, and you don't want her to do that, do you?"
Norbrook hedged. "Well…"
"Let me put it to you this way: would you want someone to hold you captive against you will, force you to do things that you didn't want to do, keep you as his or her prisoner, never allowing you to make your own choices or come and go as you please?"
"Well, no, Prince, but…"
"That's the situation that Caline is in now, the situation that you put her in. You would be unhappy, if you were in Caline's position right now, wouldn't you? She needs to feel safe, and she wants to be free to make her own choices in life. Keeping Caline, as a captive bride, would be unfair to you both: unfair to Caline because you would be keeping her against her will, and unfair to you because Caline is not in interested in you as a mate or a spouse. Wouldn't you rather be with someone who came to you of her own free will, rather than being forced? There are many women out there that would surely have you, General, women that would come to you, an important CRP officer and strong fighter, of their own free will. Let Caline go, and you will be free to find someone who shares your feelings in return; it's not too late, General."
"I don't know, if I can, Prince," Norbrook said, a bit shakily. "If I go back, I'll be executed for treason on Calmag, and if I go to Frieza, anything that he'll give me will be worse than death."
"You don't have to go back to the royal family or Frieza," Kekron insisted. "Just free Caline, hand her over to me, and you can go wherever you want alone. No one will know, and you can start your life anew somewhere else, somewhere where you won't be recognized. If you take Caline on the run with you, you'll be putting her life in danger, and you don't want her hurt, do you?"
"No, no…but I don't want to give her up."
"Take that gag out of Caline's mouth and the gun away from her, and ask her what she truly wants. If she says she wants to go with you, I won't say another word, but if she says that she wants to leave you, you must release her. Sound fair?"
Norbrook sulked for a moment, considering Kekron's suggestion; he was an obsessed man, but he wasn't entirely unreasonable. Reluctantly he took the gag out of Caline's mouth and put the gun in his pocket. "Do you want to leave, Princess Caline? Do you really want to leave?" he asked worriedly.
"Yes," Caline whispered softly. "I'm sorry, but I want to leave. Please let me go."
Norbrook sighed sadly, realizing that Kekron Chloe was right. Taking Caline away with him would only endanger her life; Frieza's forces and King Kitchator would surely be after him. He had to go somewhere and hide for the rest of his life. He had to cut all ties to his past, and that now included Caline. It was time to free her, to say goodbye.
With a heavier sigh, he walked over to Kekron and placed Caline directly into his arms. Caline trembled, as Kekron took her into his arms. She shook with fear, but Kekron spoke to her softly, promising not to hurt her. Norbrook stepped away, as Kekron began to untie Caline's wrists.
"I think you better go now," Kekron told him firmly.
"Yes, yes, I think I better," Norbrook said wearily. "G-Goodbye, both of you. You won't tell Dodoria or Zarbon where I went, will you?"
"No, we won't," Kekron promised him. "We won't tell anyone." Caline nodded her little head in agreement against Kekron's chest.
Norbrook decided not to say another word; he decided that it would be wisest to go now. Without looking back at Caline (it would have been too painful for him) he climbed into the parked skycar that had been nearby, and he quietly drove away. Within seconds, he was out of sight, and Kekron hoped, out of Caline's mind forever.
Turning towards the sky, a trembling Caline looked after Norbrook's skycar becoming a dot in the sky. She then sank to her knees, and her tears returned, as she sobbed in both relief and fear. Kekron sat down beside her. He was about to embrace her, but he then he stopped himself, not wanting to scare her.
"Would you like me to hold you?" he asked her gently.
Caline huddled into herself, wanting to trust him, but then she remembered her resolve not to go back home, or back to the Astorians. "I-I have to leave," she whimpered, tears freely flowing. "I have to get out of here. I have to go where no one can find me, no one can hurt me, and no one can touch me."
"Caline, I'm not going to hurt you," Kekron reminded her kindly. "I won't let anyone hurt you, and neither will Tayla. We came here to rescue you, Caline, to save you. Why do you want to leave us? We won't make you do anything that you don't want to do, but why do you want to leave? Where will you go? How will you survive?"
"I'll figure out something," she whispered. "Your family is very nice, Kekron, but I don't want to have to worry about any of the men turning out to be like Norbrook or Alberm."
"Caline!" Kekron exclaimed, shocked, taken aback by her thinking that the men in his family would harm her. Caline shrank back away from him, and he immediately regretted his tone. He said in a softer voice, "Caline, I'm sorry that I frightened you just now, but I am surprised that you think that we would hurt you like Alberm did. Or maybe I shouldn't be too surprised after what men like Alberm and Balair and Norbrook have done to you. But Caline, even you know that not all men are like those three."
"At one time, I-I thought so too," Caline sobbed. "But Norbrook, my father's friend, had never hurt me before. But when we-we were in that car and in those caves, he lifted up my dress and kept kissing and touching me, even though I didn't want him to. I was too scared to fight him. I'm not very brave or strong, and if I couldn't prevent him, how I am going to prevent some other men from fondling me. I can't take that chance, Kekron, I can't! I can't risk another man hurting me or touching me when I don't want him to! That's why I have to get away from everyone, so that it doesn't happen! I have to go someplace where no male can hurt me or rape me again! I have to leave!" Crying harder, she huddled into herself further into a ball, hoping to hide herself from everyone and everything, including Kekron.
Her defeated, frightened position and devastating expression broke Kekron's heart. He wished that he could find some way to help her, to start her healing before it was too late. What could he do to convince her that he and his family, at least, could be trusted? He finally decided to put his next words more practically, in hopes that some good sense could reach Caline until she was willing to accept sympathy and comfort again.
"Caline," he began softly. "Have I ever hurt you? Has any of the men in my family ever hurt you or tried to touch you? If we have, it's okay to tell. I just want the truth."
Caline looked up from her huddle into Kekron's face. She tried to meet his eyes, but it took great effort; a proper Calmagian female was not supposed to look directly into a male's eyes. "No," she whispered finally.
"And do you think that we would hurt you now?"
"I-I don't know."
"Caline," Kekron told her gently. "If me or any of my male relatives would have wanted to hurt you or molest you, we would have done so by now, don't you think? There were plenty of times that you were alone with me, or Lektron, or the other men or boys in my family, and we never laid an improper hand on you, have we?"
"No."
"And we would never do so. We don't hurt the people that we love like that, and most of the men in my family believe in treating females of all ages with the utmost love and respect." He carefully avoided any mention of Dedron and his growing bitter attitude against females; he knew that Dedron would likely and unreasonably give Caline a hard time in the future, although as of now, he had barely spoken more than a sentence to her. He would not worry about Dedron for now, the time for that would come soon enough. If he could get through to Caline, he would warn her about Dedron eventually.
He shoved Dedron out of his thoughts for now, as he continued, "Caline, not all men are like the men that you've known. We don't tolerate abuse of women or girls in our family, and we consider them to be equals. I understand that it's not decided yet that you will come back to Astoria with us; if you still want to, we will do everything that we can to ensure that happens, and if you don't, then we will keep in touch with you and think of you fondly. You've come to mean a great deal to all of us, Caline, and we all love you. Love doesn't hurt, Caline, it feels good."
"This goes a bit off the subject, but your family did not appreciate you, or show you enough love, but that was not your fault. Nor was what Alberm or Balair or Norbrook did to you your fault. I am sorry that Norbrook molested you before we were able to reach you; I wish that we had been able to prevent it. Did he do anything else to you beyond that?"
"He-he didn't rape me, if that's what you're asking," Caline whispered in reply. "But I am glad that he's gone away. I don't ever want to see him again!" Her usual soft, whispery tone rose to a passionate shriek.
"You won't," Kekron assured her softly. "And he won't come near you again, I promise you Seven Moons. And neither will Filcor Sedemeyer, if he's still planning to come after you. My family and I won't allow you to be forced into another arranged marriage, no matter what. We'll protect you, Caline, and keep you safe, all of us."
"You too?" Caline asked hesitantly, allowing herself to sit up finally. She looked steadily into Kekron's eyes; it was one of the rare times in her life that she had ever made eye contact with a male. She was studying him intently with bated breath. She was tremendously relieved when she saw Kekron favor her with a kind smile. He held out his arms slowly to her, hoping that she would find the courage to come to him. He was rewarded with a small, feminine lavender-and-gold-and-white bundle suddenly thrust into his embrace. She clung to her rescuer tightly, her arms wrapped firmly around his body. Kekron closed the embrace and hugged her back, as if shielding her from the outside world.
"Of course, me too," he said with a small laugh. "In fact, me most of all, besides Tayla!" He relaxed considerably when Caline looked up at him and smiled for the first time in a long time. But then the smile faded, and she buried her face into his chest, as if burrowing herself into him for protection.
Caline murmured into his chest, "Is Tayla going to be okay? Dodoria's awfully strong and mean and tough. I don't want Tayla to be killed."
"I don't want her to be killed either, but Tayla's very strong, very brave. I wish I was strong enough to go help her."
"I wish I was brave and strong like her," Caline whispered wistfully.
"Oh, but I think you are," Kekron said smilingly, still holding her firmly. "You may not be able to fight like Tayla does, but you're much stronger and braver than you give yourself credit for. You've helped save all of our lives, Caline; don't you know that? You braved Alberm's wrath to go to Tayla to warn her about Frieza's forces coming to Calmag, and your knowledge of the labyrinths helped many people to escape from Frieza's soldiers. Caline, we might not be here now with a fair chance of winning, had it not been for you. You have helped to save my people and yours just as much as the warriors and healiors in my family have."
"You really think so?" Caline asked in a trembling voice.
"No," Kekron said seriously.
A shocked Caline's face fell, and Kekron then smiled.
"I know so."
Caline then hugged him so tightly that Kekron almost thought that she was going to squeeze the air out of him. He laughed softly and hugged her back tighter in return, being careful not to crush the fragile girl.
"Thank you for saving me," she whispered. "Twice."
Kekron said with a laugh, "No problem, and it was my pleasure to save such a pretty little thing like yourself!"
Caline didn't know why she did what she just did next, but she couldn't help it: a strange, melodious sound like wind chimes came forth from her mouth. The sound was so odd and so unfamiliar, that it took her a minute to recognize it. Kekron smiled wider when he heard it, for it was a pleasant sound.
"Why, Caline, you're laughing!" he declared. "You're really laughing!"
Caline blushed slightly, as her laughter ebbed, and her smile remained. Tears, happy tears came to her electric-blue eyes then; she could not remember the last time she had laughed. She could not believe the laughter was coming from her own mouth.
"It's-it's been over a year since I've laughed," she whispered. "I've forgotten until now what my own laughter sounded like. I haven't laughed since-since before my best friend, Carie-she's in heaven now-had to go back to her husband. I can remember now when I laughed last, Kekron, I can-it was when Carie was telling me a joke last time we were together. That was before she died and after Father declared my engagement to Alberm. I haven't laughed since, not since then; it was on the last day that we were together before we parted ways forever."
"I am sorry about your friend," Kekron told her gently.
"So am I, but she's in a happier place now," Caline said bravely in such a conclusive tone that Kekron wisely decided not to press further at this time. She lay her head against his chest and closed her eyes, feeling safer than she had been in weeks.
"May I touch your hair?" Kekron asked her softly.
Caline nodded, and Kekron gently stroked her hair, as he lifted her up. He told he was going to return her to the others in Magan, and then he was going for reinforcements to help Tayla. And no, Tayla would not die, he again reassured her, as he carried her away into the sky.
The sun was starting to set over Magan, and the pastel colors glowed iridescently off of both Kekron and Caline. Caline rested peacefully in Kekron's arms, and Kekron looked down at her with deep, sharp sadness and regret. Suddenly, he remembered that he had not told Caline the truth about Ridikar!
He, or someone else was going to have to eventually tell her that Ridikar was dead, and he didn't know how it was going to be done. She was feeling tentatively safe and calm, despite Tayla being in a fight with Dodoria, and he didn't want to shatter her peace just yet. Kekron gulped; how was he going to break the news to her about Ridikar?
And what would happen to her now that Ridikar was gone? Would that mean that fourteen-year-old Julien would be in charge of her? Veal had confided to Kekron on their way to rescue Caline that she had heard Julien make some cruel remarks about and to Caline (she had also heard Julien and Ridikar's fight about Ridikar breaking Caline's engagement to Filcor). Or would King Kitchator be in charge of her? Now that Ridikar, who had once again become Caline's protector, was dead, what would become of her? Would she be forced into another awful marriage? Would Filcor Sedemeyer take advantage of Ridikar's untimely demise and try to get Caline for himself again? From what little he knew of Prince Julien, Kekron was certain that Caline's nasty brother would try to force her to marry Sedemeyer or someone else. What if King Kitchator tried to do the same thing?
Kekron made himself a silent Seven Moons Oath, as he carried Caline in the air: he was not going to let anyone hurt the girl again, or force her into another unwanted marriage. He'd protect her any way that he could, even if it meant smuggling her off of Calmag. He wasn't sure how well that last part would go with his parents or his grandmother, but he'd risk their disapproval at this point. He had now made himself Caline's unofficial protector.
But he was going to have to tell her the truth about her brother's death first, and he'd have to prepare her for it. But he would save the grave news for when they were safely settled. He stroked Caline's hair again, as it streamed in the wind, and he began to pray to both Orchida and the East Kai.
He also prayed for Tayla, for what he had seen of Dodoria's power, she was going to need all the prayers and help that she could get. He did not envy his young aunt her battle with the cruel, pink monster.
*Don't let him win, Tayla, please. We're all depending on you now.*
Tayla was strong, but was even she strong enough to battle a beast like Dodoria?
Norbrook had taken Caline and rushed her deeper into the cave. "We must go for cover," he ordered his victim. Caline wished she knew what was going on, as Norbrook picked her up and threw her over his shoulder, running deeper into the caverns below with her. Her wrists were still bound, and she was all cried out. She just felt extremely depressed and hopeless.
She had to find a way to escape him, but how?
Norbrook finally found an alcove in one of the lower caves, and he carried Caline inside. The alcove was hollowed out completely, a secure burrow just large enough for the two of them. The molesting general lay her down, and he lay down beside her.
"I'm going to take care of you, little princess," he whispered. "We're going to wait here until the war is over. I'm no longer concerned at this point whether Frieza's forces or our people or the Astorians win or not."
"Why don't you just let me go?" Caline pleaded. "You can go wherever you want, and I won't expose you. I just want to leave."
"We're leaving together," Norbrook assured her, stroking her hair. Caline cringed and tried to pull as far away from him as possible, but Norbrook just pulled her small, soft body back against his. Caline's terror increased, especially after the poor child felt his arousal harden against her stomach.
She had to get away from him, but how?
"Please let me go," she whispered. "You said that you weren't going to hurt me. Please let me leave, and I won't tell anyone where you went."
"I'm sorry, but I can't," he told her softly. "I'm about to lose everything that I have, and you are all that I have left."
"What about your children?" Caline asked.
"They can do without me. They have for a long time. If Frieza learns that I am still alive, he will kill me for my failure."
"He'll never have to find out!" Caline protested. "I won't tell anyone! Please let me leave!"
Norbrook only pulled her closer to him. "I'm not letting you go; you were meant to be mine, princess."
"You can't marry me without the permission of Ridikar or my grandfather," Caline insisted. "The marriage won't be legal." She decided on one last tactic. "If you wish to marry me that badly, why don't we find Ridikar, or our grandfather, and they can decide? Surely they-"
"They'll have me killed for treason!" Norbrook's voice suddenly took a hard edge that sent a chill down Caline's spine. "I'm not concerned with legalities, princess, just having you for myself. I'm not freeing you. You'll learn to be happy with me, I promise. Let me show you…" He then pulled her down beneath his body. Caline began to writhe and kick at him, but with no success.
"Let me go!" she screamed. "I don't want to do this with you! NO! Let me go!"
Norbrook raised his body up slightly, but only long enough to shove her dress up to her armpits again. Caline squirmed and thrashed about, but she could not prevent him from tearing off what undergarments she had left. He fondled and kissed the girl's body gently for a few minutes, but when Norbrook tried to touch her again, but before he could do so, his scouter (which he had taken back from Baraki) beeped. Norbrook growled in frustration, and he rolled over to his side, taking Caline with him.
"Keep quiet," he ordered her. He pressed a button on the device, and Zarbon's voice came through:
"Narvo Norbrook? Where have you been?"
"Um…just been finding a safe place to hide 'til that quake was over, Commander."
"I need you to do something for me immediately. We have some serious problems; Tayla's family still needs to be destroyed, and I cannot reach either Diamonique or Seductia. And now we don't know where Tayla Chloe went to; I need you to go find the girl. Capture her, if you can, but if you cannot, at least contact Dodoria or myself, and we will come get her."
"May I ask where you and Commander Dodoria are at now?"
"We are hiding in some underground caverns, but we are about to leave. We still can't figure out what caused that tremendous planet quake, but we can't let Tayla's family escape. And Calmag must still be cleared and conquered. We still have two-thirds of this planet to clear, and the Astorians have been stalling us forever. I am still trying to contact Diamonique and Seductia, but with no success. Norbrook, I need you to locate the girl immediately. We must go now and destroy what's left of Tayla's family; Lord Frieza will have our skins if we allow Shalila Chloe and her kin to live this time. His reaction in the aftermath of the Battle of Chloe is not one that I wish to endure again."
"Yes, Commander, consider it done."
"I am sending Dodoria to find you; he will help you search for Princess Tayla and recapture her."
"Yes, Commander."
And when they cut off communication, Norbrook pulled Caline's dress down again and picked her up, putting her on his shoulder again. "We have to go, princess. I have to get back to work. Apparently, they know that I'm still alive, and they're not plotting my demise yet. Perhaps, if I capture your friend and get that huge reward Frieza promised, they will let me live, hmm?" he said softly, turning her small head towards his and kissing her roughly on her rosebud lips. Caline fought down the bile rising up in her throat; his touching her was bad enough, but his kissing her was far worse. He had kissed her several times earlier, and each time he did, she wanted to vomit. His kisses were just as revolting as Alberm's.
She was very, very tired; she had not slept for a while except for those few hours down in the labyrinths just before Shalila Chloe had faked her surrender to Frieza's forces with Flirtius's help. Those hours of rest were the last ones before Shalila's family had left to attack Frieza's soldiers above. Caline was now too afraid to go to sleep; she was in Norbrook's clutches, and who knew if she would wake up again?
Keeping his gun on her once more, Norbrook carried Caline out of the alcove into the main caverns.
On the way back to the castle…
Tayla was about to return to face down Seductia when she sensed the ki signatures of Kekron and Veal nearby. She then saw them flying in the opposite direction away from her, and she sped towards them with the speed of an eagle on Earth. Within minutes, she had caught up with the two wanderers, concerned for their safety.
Kekron and Veal were shocked to see Tayla again, even though they both had sensed her ki coming. "Tayla?" Kekron gasped.
"Kekron? Veal? What are you two doing here? It's too dangerous for you two to be out here!" Tayla exclaimed. "You two need to go back!"
"We can't, Tayla," Kekron insisted to his young aunt. "Caline's in trouble. Norbrook has kidnapped her."
"What?" Tayla shrieked. "But how?"
"We're not exactly sure," Veal admitted. "All we know is now that General Norbrook has taken her, and from what we've heard, wants her for himself as well."
Tayla paled. She had known before Kekron and Veal of Norbrook's interest in Caline, but she never believed until now that Norbrook would be able to act on it.
"Veal," she began softly. "Would you breathe in my ears?"
"Sure," Veal told her, and she did what Tayla asked. Tayla's hearing increased dramatically, and while she could not hear the voices of either Caline or Norbrook, she could hear Zarbon's voice, and a rough, deep voice that she did not recognize from far off where she was. From many miles away, she could hear Zarbon address the owner of the deep voice as Dodoria.
And from the castle twenty miles away from her, she could hear the veiled voices (the castle was mostly soundproof) of her Nama, Dirkan, Raakon, and Bajal! She could then hear a window open up, and the voices of her family members now came through loud and clear. Dirkan was reassuring Nama that they would find Tayla in time to keep her out of the clutches of Frieza's soldiers, and Bajal was ribbing Raakon about calling Seductia his "sweet apple". Raakon gave it back to Bajal, saying at least that he didn't say anything as ridiculous as "dab of pink pearl cream" or "honey lover". The two brothers allowed themselves to laugh, and Tayla herself couldn't help but chuckle. Her beloved Nama was safe, and her dear guardian and brothers were back to their old selves.
*Thank Kami* she thought. *No more mushy lines…ugh! *
She then heard Bendros talk to himself, saying that at least Seductia wouldn't hurt anyone anymore. That meant that Seductia had been defeated! Bendros must have done it! Tayla's heart swelled with tremendous pride for her crush.
She then threw her arms around Veal and squeezed her tightly. Then before the astonished Veal could respond or speak, Tayla flew over to Kekron and hugged him tightly as well.
Surprised, Kekron hugged her back. "What was that about?"
"Just because! Now come on!" she cried. "Let's go find Caline!"
"Speaking of Caline, how's her brother, Ridikar?" Kekron asked. "Is he still okay?"
Tayla's face crumbled, and her voice trembled, as she told them very briefly what happened to Ridikar. She also told them about Norbrook working for Frieza. After hearing the news about Ridikar, Kekron patted Tayla's back and pitied her and Caline.
"Poor Tayla…and poor Caline. As if she didn't have enough to endure."
"If we find her," Veal spoke, "it's not going to be a happy homecoming for her."
The others agreed, and all three of them were now trying to figure out how to break the sad news to their friend.
Near the caverns where Caline and Norbrook are located at…
Dodoria had parted ways with Zarbon and the remaining Ginyu Force members; he was to go find General Narvo Norbrook and meet with him. Zarbon and the Ginyu Force members were on their way back to the castle to destroy the remaining Astorians and the Calmagians that had dared to challenge them.
Dodoria didn't think much of anyone he considered weaker than him, and any Calmagian, including Norbrook and Alberm Dunlop, just happened to be under that category. He thought that he could have found Tayla Chloe and recaptured her himself; he didn't need that weakling Calmagian spy's help. He had committed Zarbon's description of Tayla (which Zarbon had received from Vegeta) to memory; the girl was of small build, skinny, long black hair, brown eyes, and according to one of Diamonique's earlier reports, also a bratty child with a smart mouth and no respect for her superiors.
The girl was reported to have an enormous power level equivalent to a Saiyan's (after all she had defeated Vegeta, the strongest known of all of the "monkeys"). Dodoria, who held especial contempt for the Saiyan quartet, had actually laughed when he heard that Vegeta, the mightiest and most arrogant of the Saiyan warriors, had "his tail kicked by a scrawny Astorie brat" (Zarbon's words). The fat, pink warrior had heard earlier from Frieza that Vegeta had made death threats to nearly everyone who had dared to taunt him about that last defeat.
Within twenty minutes, Dodoria had located Norbrook's location on his scouter, and he contacted the CRP general through his scouter: "Nelvin Norbrook?"
Norbrook's voice came through as steady as possible: "Yes, Commander Dodoria? And that's Narvo Norbrook."
"Yeah, whatever. Now stay where you are. I am coming to you. Have you located Princess Tayla yet?"
"Not yet, Commander, but I'm working on it."
"You better be," Dodoria growled. That Calmagie general better not be wasting his time.
Ten minutes later…
Norbrook decided to wait for Dodoria, and the fat, pink Top Elite officer finally showed up on the top of Ryer's Cliff, the cavern-laden cliff where Norbrook had taken Caline. Dodoria landed on the ground near Norbrook and Caline as gracefully as possible for a huge, bulky warrior like himself.
"Any luck finding the brat?" Dodoria demanded to know.
"Cannot even locate her, unfortunately," Norbrook admitted.
Dodoria recognized Caline on Norbrook's shoulder. "So, I see that you and Bali have the same taste in girls. What are you doing with her though? You don't have time right now to be screwing around." Caline turned her cornsilk head around to look at Dodoria, and her entire body shook. She had not forgotten Dodoria's cruelty or brutality towards his victims.
"I intend to marry her," Norbrook stated firmly. "That's why I brought her with me."
"Well, as long as she doesn't run her mouth or get in our way, I don't care," Dodoria grumbled. "C'mon, let's go find that brat, Tayla Chloe."
He looked up into the sky, and although his scouter did not go off; he saw the silhouettes of three people hovering in the air. Dodoria only had average vision, so he demanded Norbrook's binoculars from him. The corpulent Elite fighter then used the binoculars to view the visitors. He then grinned and shoved the binoculars at Norbrook, who had laid Caline down on a flat rock for several minutes.
Norbrook peered through the binoculars. "Commander, that little girl with the black hair is Tayla Chloe!"
Dodoria grinned wider then. "Good, the prey has come to the hunters, instead of the other way around. Wait here, Nervo, I'll be back to fetch our quarry! I'm getting that reward for her! After all the grief I've been through, I deserve it!"
"Good luck, Commander," Norbrook said, a bit nervously. He was always unnerved around any of Frieza's Top Elite officers, even Zarbon.
"No!" Caline dared to cry against her better judgment. Dodoria turned around to address the girl.
"No little girlie orders me!" he snarled at her.
"Don't hurt Tayla, please!" Caline cried. "She's done nothing to you! Why do you and your friends have to take her away?"
"Shut up, brat," Dodoria growled. "Tayla Chloe's not going to die; Frieza wants her brought to him alive."
"Please leave her alone," Caline begged. "She doesn't want to work for Frieza! She-"
She stopped protesting when Dodoria fired a small hand blast at her. It came within inches of her head.
"Don't shoot at her!" Norbrook commanded.
"Then keep her quiet!" Dodoria growled. "I hate a whiny female! Gag her! It's going to be enough to put up with that Astorie brat, Tayla Chloe, and I don't need two annoying girls blabbing their mouths. Stuff something in her mouth, now!"
Norbrook had no choice, but to obey. He pulled a handkerchief out from his pocket and gagged Caline with it. She could barely breathe now. "She can't hurt anyone, Commander," Norbrook told him, as he picked up Caline into his arms.
"Just keep her quiet," Dodoria ordered him, as he boosted himself off of the ground. Within seconds, he had gone to meet Tayla Chloe and her friends in the air.
The three rescuers knew that Dodoria was coming; they had heard the voices of Dodoria, Caline, and Norbrook. Tayla turned to Veal and Kekron and said:
"You two get out of here! I'll deal with Dodo, as Nama calls him."
"What about Caline? We can't leave her behind!" Veal protested.
"You both told me that Norbrook has a gun," Tayla told her. "He could shoot at either one of you."
"I know a few fighting techniques," Kekron pointed out. "And Norbrook isn't any stronger than I am, otherwise why would he need a weapon? I can fire some ki blasts and electrocute, thanks to Father, although fighting is not something that I like to do often. I can deal with Norbrook, Tayla, I can, but you're right in that Veal should leave."
"But where should I go?" Veal asked. "I don't feel right about leaving you two."
"Don't worry about that," Tayla told her. "If Kekron can deal with Norbrook, I can concentrate on fighting Dodo. From what I can sense, he's stronger than Diamonique and Vegeta, although he doesn't have a wide range of fighting techniques like they do. At least that is what I have been told. Dirkan told me long time ago that most of Dodoria's abilities lie in his brute strength and mouth blasts, but he lacks speed. Veal, you have to leave now, I am sorry, but this is too dangerous a place now for you to be in."
"Then I'll go," Veal told her. "But you and Kekron be careful."
"We will," Tayla promised her. "And you do the same. Just go back to the others. Kekron and I can hear as well as you at the moment, so we can make do."
Veal said a quick goodbye and fled, as Dodoria finally met up with Tayla and Kekron. He then recognized Kekron from among the Astorian hostages, and he decided to eliminate the boy quickly. But before he could open his mouth to fire a ki blast at Kekron, Tayla flew at his stomach with her fist and landed a hard punch, forcing Dodoria's pudgy abdomen to cave in considerably. Dodoria bit his lip to keep from screaming.
"Go, Kekron!" she shrieked. "Now!"
Kekron flew off to find Norbrook and Caline. Within seconds, it was just Tayla and Dodoria.
Dodoria snarled, "That's going to cost you, brat! So you're Tayla Chloe, eh? Not a bad punch coming from a scrawny thing like you, but not great! Hell, I heard that you defeated Vegeta, and Veggie must be losing his touch if an itty-bitty thing can defeat him. I'm curious as to why a tiny girl like you was able to beat him up."
"'Cause I had to," Tayla told him simply. "Why don't you just go away and leave me and my family alone? I don't want to work for Frieza."
"It doesn't matter what you want, brat. Frieza wants you for his army, and I intend to bring you to him and gain more favor from him. Make it easier and both of us and surrender."
"Sorry, but I can't do that," Tayla said firmly. "I don't want to work for him, and he's just going to have to understand that."
"You don't have a choice, girlie!" Dodoria snarled. "I'm amazed that you're actually the girl we've been searchin' for. What makes a tiny toothpick like you that special?"
"Want to find out?" Tayla asked, realizing that mere threats and refusals would get her nowhere. Well, at least she tried talking things out.
Dodoria grinned. He turned on his scouter, and Tayla's power level reading only came up at two thousand. He chuckled.
"Hell, your ki level's not as high as it's been reported. I'll crush you in no time, and then you'll be beggin' for me to take you to Lord Frieza! I'm gonna catch you, little girlie. My scouter tells me that you're no stronger than the strongest Human, and that's not very strong. And to think that you defeated Vegeta; he must have been having an off day."
"Whatever," Tayla said flippantly. She then turned her face away from Dodoria slightly and grinned secretly to herself. Nama was right when she said Dodoria had more blubber than brains; Dodoria should have known by now that Astorians could hide or repress their ki and fool those stupid scouters!
But Nama had also warned her long ago that Dodoria had twice the brute strength of an adult Astorian, and probably three times that of a child Astorian. Dodoria was no genius, but who needed brains when you had more than enough brawn to take its place? He was considered to be among the deadliest of Frieza's Top Elite officers, and he was fourth on Intergalacticpol's Most Wanted List. Like, Frieza and other powerful Elite officers, he had the power to blow up a single planet easily! He had also been reported to be bisexual with an obsession for Frieza and Balair's appetite for young women. And Dodoria was known to only pick on those he considered to be weaker than he was; he was a grown-up bully who enjoyed using and abusing his immense powers. Tayla remembered from the Battle of Chloe stories that it had been Dirkan who had squashed the giant and put him in his place.
"Okay, brat," Dodoria told Tayla. "I'm gonna make it easy for you; you surrender to me now, and I won't hurt you. Whaddya say?"
"I say…if you want me badly enough, you're going to have to come get me first 'cause I'm not going to that nasty lizard-man, Frieza, without a fight. And you can tell him I said so."
"How dare you insult my beloved liege?" Dodoria roared. "You ought to be grateful that he has chosen you! I'm gonna teach you a lesson for puttin' him down alone!"
"Go ahead," Tayla said coolly. She then looked over at a tall mountain not too far from the cliff where Kekron had gone to confront Norbrook. "Let's fight over there, away from innocent people."
"I could care less about the people of this wretched planet," Dodoria snorted. "But that's fine with me; gives me more room to maneuver."
Tayla wisely decided not to speak her first thought upon that comment: that someone as fat as Dodoria would need all the room that he could get. Both warriors left for the mountain where they had chosen for their fight, and within ten minutes, they had arrived.
The mountain was level on top, but plain with very few trees and shrubs. Tall, red grasses blanketed most of the mountaintop. There were no cliffs or plateaus or caves or even large rocks to get in their way; it was the perfect place for a fight.
And Dodoria wasn't about to waste his time. He was ready to deal with the brat now.
He flew at her, and Tayla put up her guard. Despite her brave words, she knew that taking down Dodoria would be harder than fighting Vegeta and Diamonique had been. Well, at least, he couldn't go Oozaru.
Tayla flew at him, rising to meet his challenge.
Kekron found Norbrook and Caline in no time, and he landed ten feet away from Norbrook. Norbrook was startled to see Prince Kekron Chloe here; why would he trouble himself to come here?
Kekron decided to try to talk to Norbrook first before fighting him. The CRP general had a gun on Caline, and if Kekron attacked without a plan, Caline could wind up hurt or dead. Maybe he could just talk him into releasing her without any violence between them. "Let her go, Norbrook," Kekron told him firmly. "You leave Caline be; she does not want to be with you. You can easily find someone else."
Norbrook narrowed his eyes at the defiant Astorian boy. No lad was going to order him about, prince or not. "She's mine, boy! Zarbon promised her to me, when we win this war; she's part of my spoils and I intend to keep her. I'm not planning to harm her, just make her my bride, my woman-"
"But that's just it," Kekron argued. "Caline is a little girl, not yet a woman, and she's far too young for you. I'm sure that someone of your position and rank can find a woman closer to your own age; you don't need to take a frightened child who just wants to be left in peace. Many a woman your age would surely have you." Kekron was angry with Norbrook for terrorizing Caline and taking her away, but he had to keep calm. He remembered Father's lectures about diplomacy being able to go places where violence couldn't. Sometimes it was better to talk things over than throw a punch or a ki blast. He hoped that he could make Norbrook see reason before it was too late for Caline.
Kekron continued, keeping his inner rage out of his voice, keeping his voice calm and steady, "General Norbrook, Caline is a very beautiful and sweet girl, but she's still a child. If she was closer to your age, then maybe your attraction to her would be understandable, but in this case, it's not. She's scared of you, Norbrook; can't you see that? See how frightened she is? Your actions towards her remind her too much of what her husband had done to her when he was alive. You're going to make her afraid of men for the rest of her life, if you had not done so already. You don't want her hurt and scared for the rest of her life, do you? Do you really want to touch or force yourself upon a terrified young girl? If you truly care about her, Norbrook, you'll let her go. Caring about someone means knowing when to let go and let the ones you care for be free."
"Let me put it to you this way, Norbrook: which would you rather have: a grown woman close to your age who would love and desire you the way that you wish her to, or a little girl that you made too afraid of you to even want you near her? Do you want her to be as miserable with you, as she was with Alberm Dunlop? You know that Alberm Dunlop didn't treat her very well; do you want to become an Alberm clone?"
"I hated Dunlop!" Norbrook growled, still holding Caline. "I offered for this girl, along with Sedemeyer, and Prince Amitar turned us both down in favor of Dunlop! And he tried to kill her!"
"Exactly," Kekron reasoned. "And you don't want to become anything like Alberm Dunlop, do you?"
"Hell no!"
"Then you'll let Caline go. If you hold her captive and force her to become your mate against you will, you'll be no better than Alberm was. Do you want Caline to be happy?"
"I can make her happy."
"I don't think so, Norbrook, and you know it as well as I do. Caline doesn't want a husband right now, and we can't blame her. She needs time to heal from the things that Alberm did to her; she needs to be allowed to be free and to grow up. If she's scared and miserable with you right now, imagine what it would be like for you both if you forced her to become yours. She may even become so desperate to escape that she might try to kill herself, and you don't want her to do that, do you?"
Norbrook hedged. "Well…"
"Let me put it to you this way: would you want someone to hold you captive against you will, force you to do things that you didn't want to do, keep you as his or her prisoner, never allowing you to make your own choices or come and go as you please?"
"Well, no, Prince, but…"
"That's the situation that Caline is in now, the situation that you put her in. You would be unhappy, if you were in Caline's position right now, wouldn't you? She needs to feel safe, and she wants to be free to make her own choices in life. Keeping Caline, as a captive bride, would be unfair to you both: unfair to Caline because you would be keeping her against her will, and unfair to you because Caline is not in interested in you as a mate or a spouse. Wouldn't you rather be with someone who came to you of her own free will, rather than being forced? There are many women out there that would surely have you, General, women that would come to you, an important CRP officer and strong fighter, of their own free will. Let Caline go, and you will be free to find someone who shares your feelings in return; it's not too late, General."
"I don't know, if I can, Prince," Norbrook said, a bit shakily. "If I go back, I'll be executed for treason on Calmag, and if I go to Frieza, anything that he'll give me will be worse than death."
"You don't have to go back to the royal family or Frieza," Kekron insisted. "Just free Caline, hand her over to me, and you can go wherever you want alone. No one will know, and you can start your life anew somewhere else, somewhere where you won't be recognized. If you take Caline on the run with you, you'll be putting her life in danger, and you don't want her hurt, do you?"
"No, no…but I don't want to give her up."
"Take that gag out of Caline's mouth and the gun away from her, and ask her what she truly wants. If she says she wants to go with you, I won't say another word, but if she says that she wants to leave you, you must release her. Sound fair?"
Norbrook sulked for a moment, considering Kekron's suggestion; he was an obsessed man, but he wasn't entirely unreasonable. Reluctantly he took the gag out of Caline's mouth and put the gun in his pocket. "Do you want to leave, Princess Caline? Do you really want to leave?" he asked worriedly.
"Yes," Caline whispered softly. "I'm sorry, but I want to leave. Please let me go."
Norbrook sighed sadly, realizing that Kekron Chloe was right. Taking Caline away with him would only endanger her life; Frieza's forces and King Kitchator would surely be after him. He had to go somewhere and hide for the rest of his life. He had to cut all ties to his past, and that now included Caline. It was time to free her, to say goodbye.
With a heavier sigh, he walked over to Kekron and placed Caline directly into his arms. Caline trembled, as Kekron took her into his arms. She shook with fear, but Kekron spoke to her softly, promising not to hurt her. Norbrook stepped away, as Kekron began to untie Caline's wrists.
"I think you better go now," Kekron told him firmly.
"Yes, yes, I think I better," Norbrook said wearily. "G-Goodbye, both of you. You won't tell Dodoria or Zarbon where I went, will you?"
"No, we won't," Kekron promised him. "We won't tell anyone." Caline nodded her little head in agreement against Kekron's chest.
Norbrook decided not to say another word; he decided that it would be wisest to go now. Without looking back at Caline (it would have been too painful for him) he climbed into the parked skycar that had been nearby, and he quietly drove away. Within seconds, he was out of sight, and Kekron hoped, out of Caline's mind forever.
Turning towards the sky, a trembling Caline looked after Norbrook's skycar becoming a dot in the sky. She then sank to her knees, and her tears returned, as she sobbed in both relief and fear. Kekron sat down beside her. He was about to embrace her, but he then he stopped himself, not wanting to scare her.
"Would you like me to hold you?" he asked her gently.
Caline huddled into herself, wanting to trust him, but then she remembered her resolve not to go back home, or back to the Astorians. "I-I have to leave," she whimpered, tears freely flowing. "I have to get out of here. I have to go where no one can find me, no one can hurt me, and no one can touch me."
"Caline, I'm not going to hurt you," Kekron reminded her kindly. "I won't let anyone hurt you, and neither will Tayla. We came here to rescue you, Caline, to save you. Why do you want to leave us? We won't make you do anything that you don't want to do, but why do you want to leave? Where will you go? How will you survive?"
"I'll figure out something," she whispered. "Your family is very nice, Kekron, but I don't want to have to worry about any of the men turning out to be like Norbrook or Alberm."
"Caline!" Kekron exclaimed, shocked, taken aback by her thinking that the men in his family would harm her. Caline shrank back away from him, and he immediately regretted his tone. He said in a softer voice, "Caline, I'm sorry that I frightened you just now, but I am surprised that you think that we would hurt you like Alberm did. Or maybe I shouldn't be too surprised after what men like Alberm and Balair and Norbrook have done to you. But Caline, even you know that not all men are like those three."
"At one time, I-I thought so too," Caline sobbed. "But Norbrook, my father's friend, had never hurt me before. But when we-we were in that car and in those caves, he lifted up my dress and kept kissing and touching me, even though I didn't want him to. I was too scared to fight him. I'm not very brave or strong, and if I couldn't prevent him, how I am going to prevent some other men from fondling me. I can't take that chance, Kekron, I can't! I can't risk another man hurting me or touching me when I don't want him to! That's why I have to get away from everyone, so that it doesn't happen! I have to go someplace where no male can hurt me or rape me again! I have to leave!" Crying harder, she huddled into herself further into a ball, hoping to hide herself from everyone and everything, including Kekron.
Her defeated, frightened position and devastating expression broke Kekron's heart. He wished that he could find some way to help her, to start her healing before it was too late. What could he do to convince her that he and his family, at least, could be trusted? He finally decided to put his next words more practically, in hopes that some good sense could reach Caline until she was willing to accept sympathy and comfort again.
"Caline," he began softly. "Have I ever hurt you? Has any of the men in my family ever hurt you or tried to touch you? If we have, it's okay to tell. I just want the truth."
Caline looked up from her huddle into Kekron's face. She tried to meet his eyes, but it took great effort; a proper Calmagian female was not supposed to look directly into a male's eyes. "No," she whispered finally.
"And do you think that we would hurt you now?"
"I-I don't know."
"Caline," Kekron told her gently. "If me or any of my male relatives would have wanted to hurt you or molest you, we would have done so by now, don't you think? There were plenty of times that you were alone with me, or Lektron, or the other men or boys in my family, and we never laid an improper hand on you, have we?"
"No."
"And we would never do so. We don't hurt the people that we love like that, and most of the men in my family believe in treating females of all ages with the utmost love and respect." He carefully avoided any mention of Dedron and his growing bitter attitude against females; he knew that Dedron would likely and unreasonably give Caline a hard time in the future, although as of now, he had barely spoken more than a sentence to her. He would not worry about Dedron for now, the time for that would come soon enough. If he could get through to Caline, he would warn her about Dedron eventually.
He shoved Dedron out of his thoughts for now, as he continued, "Caline, not all men are like the men that you've known. We don't tolerate abuse of women or girls in our family, and we consider them to be equals. I understand that it's not decided yet that you will come back to Astoria with us; if you still want to, we will do everything that we can to ensure that happens, and if you don't, then we will keep in touch with you and think of you fondly. You've come to mean a great deal to all of us, Caline, and we all love you. Love doesn't hurt, Caline, it feels good."
"This goes a bit off the subject, but your family did not appreciate you, or show you enough love, but that was not your fault. Nor was what Alberm or Balair or Norbrook did to you your fault. I am sorry that Norbrook molested you before we were able to reach you; I wish that we had been able to prevent it. Did he do anything else to you beyond that?"
"He-he didn't rape me, if that's what you're asking," Caline whispered in reply. "But I am glad that he's gone away. I don't ever want to see him again!" Her usual soft, whispery tone rose to a passionate shriek.
"You won't," Kekron assured her softly. "And he won't come near you again, I promise you Seven Moons. And neither will Filcor Sedemeyer, if he's still planning to come after you. My family and I won't allow you to be forced into another arranged marriage, no matter what. We'll protect you, Caline, and keep you safe, all of us."
"You too?" Caline asked hesitantly, allowing herself to sit up finally. She looked steadily into Kekron's eyes; it was one of the rare times in her life that she had ever made eye contact with a male. She was studying him intently with bated breath. She was tremendously relieved when she saw Kekron favor her with a kind smile. He held out his arms slowly to her, hoping that she would find the courage to come to him. He was rewarded with a small, feminine lavender-and-gold-and-white bundle suddenly thrust into his embrace. She clung to her rescuer tightly, her arms wrapped firmly around his body. Kekron closed the embrace and hugged her back, as if shielding her from the outside world.
"Of course, me too," he said with a small laugh. "In fact, me most of all, besides Tayla!" He relaxed considerably when Caline looked up at him and smiled for the first time in a long time. But then the smile faded, and she buried her face into his chest, as if burrowing herself into him for protection.
Caline murmured into his chest, "Is Tayla going to be okay? Dodoria's awfully strong and mean and tough. I don't want Tayla to be killed."
"I don't want her to be killed either, but Tayla's very strong, very brave. I wish I was strong enough to go help her."
"I wish I was brave and strong like her," Caline whispered wistfully.
"Oh, but I think you are," Kekron said smilingly, still holding her firmly. "You may not be able to fight like Tayla does, but you're much stronger and braver than you give yourself credit for. You've helped save all of our lives, Caline; don't you know that? You braved Alberm's wrath to go to Tayla to warn her about Frieza's forces coming to Calmag, and your knowledge of the labyrinths helped many people to escape from Frieza's soldiers. Caline, we might not be here now with a fair chance of winning, had it not been for you. You have helped to save my people and yours just as much as the warriors and healiors in my family have."
"You really think so?" Caline asked in a trembling voice.
"No," Kekron said seriously.
A shocked Caline's face fell, and Kekron then smiled.
"I know so."
Caline then hugged him so tightly that Kekron almost thought that she was going to squeeze the air out of him. He laughed softly and hugged her back tighter in return, being careful not to crush the fragile girl.
"Thank you for saving me," she whispered. "Twice."
Kekron said with a laugh, "No problem, and it was my pleasure to save such a pretty little thing like yourself!"
Caline didn't know why she did what she just did next, but she couldn't help it: a strange, melodious sound like wind chimes came forth from her mouth. The sound was so odd and so unfamiliar, that it took her a minute to recognize it. Kekron smiled wider when he heard it, for it was a pleasant sound.
"Why, Caline, you're laughing!" he declared. "You're really laughing!"
Caline blushed slightly, as her laughter ebbed, and her smile remained. Tears, happy tears came to her electric-blue eyes then; she could not remember the last time she had laughed. She could not believe the laughter was coming from her own mouth.
"It's-it's been over a year since I've laughed," she whispered. "I've forgotten until now what my own laughter sounded like. I haven't laughed since-since before my best friend, Carie-she's in heaven now-had to go back to her husband. I can remember now when I laughed last, Kekron, I can-it was when Carie was telling me a joke last time we were together. That was before she died and after Father declared my engagement to Alberm. I haven't laughed since, not since then; it was on the last day that we were together before we parted ways forever."
"I am sorry about your friend," Kekron told her gently.
"So am I, but she's in a happier place now," Caline said bravely in such a conclusive tone that Kekron wisely decided not to press further at this time. She lay her head against his chest and closed her eyes, feeling safer than she had been in weeks.
"May I touch your hair?" Kekron asked her softly.
Caline nodded, and Kekron gently stroked her hair, as he lifted her up. He told he was going to return her to the others in Magan, and then he was going for reinforcements to help Tayla. And no, Tayla would not die, he again reassured her, as he carried her away into the sky.
The sun was starting to set over Magan, and the pastel colors glowed iridescently off of both Kekron and Caline. Caline rested peacefully in Kekron's arms, and Kekron looked down at her with deep, sharp sadness and regret. Suddenly, he remembered that he had not told Caline the truth about Ridikar!
He, or someone else was going to have to eventually tell her that Ridikar was dead, and he didn't know how it was going to be done. She was feeling tentatively safe and calm, despite Tayla being in a fight with Dodoria, and he didn't want to shatter her peace just yet. Kekron gulped; how was he going to break the news to her about Ridikar?
And what would happen to her now that Ridikar was gone? Would that mean that fourteen-year-old Julien would be in charge of her? Veal had confided to Kekron on their way to rescue Caline that she had heard Julien make some cruel remarks about and to Caline (she had also heard Julien and Ridikar's fight about Ridikar breaking Caline's engagement to Filcor). Or would King Kitchator be in charge of her? Now that Ridikar, who had once again become Caline's protector, was dead, what would become of her? Would she be forced into another awful marriage? Would Filcor Sedemeyer take advantage of Ridikar's untimely demise and try to get Caline for himself again? From what little he knew of Prince Julien, Kekron was certain that Caline's nasty brother would try to force her to marry Sedemeyer or someone else. What if King Kitchator tried to do the same thing?
Kekron made himself a silent Seven Moons Oath, as he carried Caline in the air: he was not going to let anyone hurt the girl again, or force her into another unwanted marriage. He'd protect her any way that he could, even if it meant smuggling her off of Calmag. He wasn't sure how well that last part would go with his parents or his grandmother, but he'd risk their disapproval at this point. He had now made himself Caline's unofficial protector.
But he was going to have to tell her the truth about her brother's death first, and he'd have to prepare her for it. But he would save the grave news for when they were safely settled. He stroked Caline's hair again, as it streamed in the wind, and he began to pray to both Orchida and the East Kai.
He also prayed for Tayla, for what he had seen of Dodoria's power, she was going to need all the prayers and help that she could get. He did not envy his young aunt her battle with the cruel, pink monster.
*Don't let him win, Tayla, please. We're all depending on you now.*
Tayla was strong, but was even she strong enough to battle a beast like Dodoria?
