The next chapter is up! Enjoy :)

Just as Aimee requested, Frieza had sent some men to raid the mansion that she was just rescued from. Of course, the young women that were still present there were weary of them when they came. Even after the men told them they were there to simply retrieve them and not harm them. Once they mentioned they were part of the Frieza Force, that's when the youngest girl spoke.

Geeta asked if they knew what happened to Aimee after their Lord came for her. They told the young girl that she was on the ship in serious condition. Worried about the woman that saved her, Geeta was willing to go with the men. The older women were albeit still reluctant. But at the same time, they figured it was better than sticking around the mansion. Especially, now that their Master/Jailer was dead.

So all the women within the residence finally accompanied the men onto the small handful of cruisers. The ride back to the ship was in awkward silence for the most part. With most of the women still hesitant to talk with any of the soldiers. Geeta only ever asked a handful of questions on the way. Like if Aimee was being given good medical treatment. And despite her fears, she asked what they intended to do with her and the rest of the girls.

One of the Elites simply told her that Frieza just asked them to retrieve her and the others and to bring them all aboard the Main Ship. Anything beyond that he says he is unsure of. Other then they were under strict orders not to touch or harm any of the girls on the way back. This news came as a huge relief for Geeta and some of the others. Yet, they could only speculate what the outcome will be for them afterwards.

She can only fathom that some of their unanswered questions will be answered once they reach Frieza's Main Ship. Some of the other women thought that maybe they were simply going from one hell to another. Forced to become servants or slaves to Frieza and his Force. But for some reason, Geeta has a feeling that may not be the case.

Fifteen minutes later, and the cruisers had made it back to the main ship. Once they exited the smaller ships they were greeted by a small alien woman who called herself; Berryblue. She instructed the girls to follow her to quarters a couple floors up. On the way up, she told them that they will be given food, and clothing. One of the older women managed to ask the one question they all dreaded getting an answer to. But they felt they needed to know.

"And then what? What is to become of us?" The woman asked.

Berryblue stopped and turned to face the small group of women.

"That will be brought up in discussion at a later time. Rest assure, that despite the circumstances, you are all in good hands. No harm will come to any of you while aboard the ship." Frieza's highest subordinate stated.

The women accepted her answer. But that didn't mean they trusted her or anyone else on this ship for that matter. And for good reason, they were aboard the notorious Galactic Emperor's Ship and among his vast force of soldiers.

All of them were led into a fairly large dorm room. One that fit all of them. At least, now they didn't have to worry about being separated. Despite their past circumstances at the mansion, they all still felt obligated to look after one another. Some of them sat on the bunk beds while a couple others inspected their new surroundings.

"Well, what is your take on this?" One of them asked the others.

A few of them looked to each other. Before a couple decided to speak up and give their own opinion on the matter.

"Hard to say, though I still don't believe that it maybe anything good for us." One girl replied.

"Yeah, who's to say that woman who led us here wasn't lying. It could be a ploy to get us comfortable enough to let our guards down. Then next thing you know, we will once again become indentured servants again. What's worse, we will most likely have to serve the Evil Emperor himself. Let's face it, he's most likely a thousand times worse than Master Ajax." Another said.

Another stood up from one of the bunk beds and began talking.

"What I'd like to know, is why they even bothered coming back for us in the first place. It just doesn't make any sense. Why come back for some lowly servant girls?" She exclaimed.

"I think Aimee had something to do with that. Before everything went down, she talked about not only getting herself out; but getting us all out as well. It's the only reasonable explanation to why we're here." Geeta, said. Finally chiming in.

They all looked at her in surprised astonishment.

"She told you this, Geeta?" The eldest one asked.

The teen nodded, "Yes, Cylia she did. She told me this when I first escorted her up to her quarters and helped her get ready. She was very determined in doing so too. It's because of this, I'm almost certain that is why we are here to begin with."

After a few more minutes of chatter, a couple female soldiers entered the dorm with arms full of clothing for the women. They were quite relieved to receive more appropriate clothing after wearing nothing but skimpy scraps of fabric for so long. Finally, clothing that actually fit and covered everything.

Before the female soldiers left, Geeta asked them about any updates to Aimee's condition. Unfortunately, they were unsure of the human woman's status. Only that they knew she was in one of the regeneration tanks down in Med Bay. The teen then asked where it was located. Turns out it was just one floor up and down the hall to the left. She thanked them before they left.

Up in Med Bay...

Anuk was still monitoring Aimee's progress while she was in the tank. Luckily, there has been improvement to her condition since being brought in. Frieza stuck around for as long as he could. Though he couldn't get the images of her badly injured and bloody body out of his mind. At some point, he started blaming himself for not getting to her sooner.

When he could no longer bare looking at her unconscious and battered form in the tank, the tyrant eventually excused himself from the room. On the way out, he told Anuk to keep him updated on her condition.

Several minutes later, the doors to the Med Bay slid open. Though no one paid any mind to whoever walked in.

The head doctor still had his back to the doors as he alternated between tending to the few soldiers in the room and keeping an eye on Aimee's condition. As he headed over to the tank to check on her and the screen next to the tank that posted her vitals, he heard someone speak behind him.

"Excuse me, but will she be ok?" Came a young girl's voice.

Anuk turned around to face them. He noticed a young teen in a knee length purple spandex dress standing before him. She grasped her arm and fidgeted awkwardly on her feet as she addressed him.

"So far, she is stabilized, and seems to be making progress. For the most part, she is out of the woods." He relied.

A brief look of relief filled the young teen's face, followed by a small smile.

"That's good to hear." She said, before making her way over to the tank.

Geeta looked Aimee over. She could tell the human woman looked worse for wear. But she could also tell that she was healing. After a minute, she turned her attention back to Anuk. A look of hesitance now graced her face.

"Umm, where is Lord Frieza? I figured since he brought her in that he'd be here with her." Geeta inquired.

Anuk was rather surprised that the young girl wanted to know where his Lord currently was at the moment. The out of place question certainly caught him off guard. Still, he figured he'd answer her question anyway.

"He's currently up in the Main Room. My Lord was in here earlier. He has still requested I keep him updated on her condition for the time being. But if I may, why do you ask?" Anuk asked her.

Geeta bit her lip and directed her gaze to the floor. It still felt so strange to her to be able to speak more freely now. She still worried about saying the wrong thing though, in fear she may be struck for speaking out of turn. But she also really wanted some answers.

"I...I would like permission to speak to him. If...that is alright." She said, while still looking down at her feet.

Before he could answer, the doors slid open again; making Geeta jump slightly. Anuk noticed it was Berryblue who came floating in. She eyed the teen briefly before turning her attention to the head doctor.

"Anuk, how does she fare?" She asks.

"Thankfully, she is doing a lot better. It's only a matter of time now, before we take her out of the tank." He informed her.

Anuk paused for a moment, before speaking again.

"This young lady here has requested an audience with Lord Frieza." He announced to Berryblue.

The squat blue alien woman turned back to Geeta. She was unsure if Frieza was privy to seeing anyone at the moment. Since he informed her back in the Main Room that he didn't want to be bothered. But her curiosity peaked about what this young girl had to say to the tyrant. It is a pretty bold and brave move too. Especially, for one so young.

"Of course, follow me, My Dear." Berryblue told her.

Geeta followed the older alien woman out of the Med Bay shortly afterwards. The other girls stayed behind in the dorm, while the teen took it upon herself to leave and seek more answers. Plus, she wanted to see how Aimee was doing. Hopefully, she can gain the answers she is looking for from the Galactic Emperor.

In the Main Room...

Frieza sat in his high rise chair staring absentmindedly out the large port window in front of him. He was having a hard time with warring emotions. This was something he never had to deal with before in the past. It was strange and alien to him. It's like he was having a hard time with coming to terms about how he feels about Aimee. Here he was; worrying about how she's faring. All while trying to think of reasons why he shouldn't care so much for some feeble human woman.

He closes his eyes with a sigh and starts massaging his temples with his fingers. All this harping on thoughts and emotions were giving him a headache.

The silence in the room was broken, when he heard the doors slid open to the room. Not a couple moments later, Frieza heard Berryblue.

"My Lord, there is a guest here who wishes to speak with you." She stated.

The tyrant sighs in frustration.

"Berryblue, I told you I didn't want to be bothered with anyone right now. Whatever it is, it can wait." He replied.

Before his subordinate could reply, Geeta beat her to it. Though the teen herself has surprised herself again with her own new found boldness.

"Please, it's important." She said.

Frieza turned around to face them. He was surprised to see who Berryblue brought in. Which was certainly the last person he expected to see. His subordinate smirked at the girl's gutsiness. And just like Berryblue, it peaked the tyrant's curiosity on what this girl wants. A few seconds of silence followed, before he finally nodded in approval, and motioned for his subordinate to leave.

Once the two of them were alone, Frieza gestured for her to come closer, and spoke again.

"Go on." He said.

Geeta shuffled closer to his seat and now stood near the bottom step.

"I...I umm, just needed to know something." The anxious girl muttered.

Frieza quirked an eye ridge, "Yes?"

She pressed her hands to her sides and started fiddling with her dress.

"Why were we really brought back here? Myself and the others?" Geeta asked.

He was a bit taken aback by her question. Yet, at the same time he knew it was to be expected. Though Frieza is a little unsure on how to answer it.

He turned his attention back to the view in front of them.

"Because, it's what she wanted." He answered.

Geeta was glad to get actual confirmation to her assumption on why they were here. But it also opened more doors to other questions.

"Why are you up here? And not down there with her? After going through all the trouble to get her back, I thought you would still at least be there. Making sure she pulls through and being there for when she wakes up. Instead, it seems like you were in here by yourself; sulking when we came in here." She said.

Frieza gave her a pointed look. Which made Geeta shrink away from his withering stare. 'Quite the nosy yet inquisitive little thing she is.' He thought to himself.

"I don't really see how that is any of you're concern, girl. Just be thankful you weren't left behind. And leave it as is." He replied.

But Geeta wasn't ready to give in yet. She could tell he was hiding something. Or better yet, fighting something, and losing. A part of her had a pretty good idea of what he was fighting against. Though the idea seemed rather farfetched. Especially, for the likes of the notorious Evil Emperor.

"Why did you really go through all the trouble of getting Aimee back? What is she to you? And don't say she is merely just a servant. There is more to it than that. Otherwise you wouldn't have gone through such lengths nor abide by her requests. Like sending someone back for us." Geeta pushed.

The tyrant still wasn't ready to face the truth though. So he did what he does best; Lie.

"She wasn't a servant. She was my plaything. And a very entertaining one at that. I just don't like it when something of mine is pilfered from right under me. So of course, I had to make the one that took her pay. For stealing her from me. But then, Shar had it coming. Since it wasn't the first time he tried to weasel his way around dealings with me. Either way, it has nothing to do with you." Frieza retorted.

As he says this, on the inside it tears at him to sell it like that. When deep down, he knew Aimee was so much more to him than that. He hates that it pains him to still even refer to her as some mere 'Plaything' still.

"You're lying." Geeta said.

Frieza narrowed his crimson eyes at the young girl.

"What was that?" He snapped.

She didn't shrink back again though. No, instead this time she held her ground. Geeta may have been young. But she wasn't stupid. He was the Universe's most powerful Galactic Emperor. He bends to no one. Yet, here he was traversing through the Universe to save a woman he claimed was nothing more than a plaything. Not only that, but fulfilling requests by this human. Someone of a race the tyrant deemed as lesser beings.

"I said, you're lying. You're lying to me and about Aimee. But most of all; you're lying to yourself. We both know if that was all she was to you that you wouldn't have bothered going through great lengths to get her back." The teen countered.

The tyrant jumped down from his seat and came to stand before Geeta.

"Don't presume you know anything about me, child. I do anything and everything that benefits me and my Empire. And I don't have to justify anything to you. Least of all an explanation behind my actions." He grounded out.

"Why? Why can't you just admit to yourself that you care for her? Why must you feel you need to fight against you're feelings? Is it really that awful to admit that you actually feel for someone other than yourself?" She fired off.

Frieza clenched his fists. He was getting angry with this girl's incessant line of questioning. But most of all, he was angry that she called him out on something that was true, and he didn't want to face it.

He sharply looked down at the floor slightly to his right. A couple moments past by before he answered her.

"Because in the end...it will only cause more pain. And I no longer wish to put her through anymore pain than she has already endured." The tyrant said.

Though it sounded like he said it more to himself than answering Geeta. She can see the pain too. Clear as day in his eyes. But she still doesn't believe by trying to shut out the feelings will make the pain go away. It will only continue to fester. She took a step closer to Frieza.

"The only pain your causing right now; is keeping everything you feel locked up inside. And the sooner you realize this; the better." Geeta replied.

She then turned around and without looking back, left the room. Frieza was once again left alone to deal with his raging emotions. He turned and walked up to the large viewing window in front of him. He could tell he was losing the fight within himself. But did he truly care at this point? He knew what Geeta said was true. So, why was he fighting so hard to deny it? Why was he pushing so hard to keep Aimee from anchoring herself within his black heart?

Was it really all that complicated? Or was he simply the one making it that way?

Go, Geeta! Even she could tell how Frieza really feels about Aimee. Now he needs to stop being stubborn and aloof about it. Until Next Time ;)