Oom'Bagu had to admire Goku's concentration. He'd been having a staring contest with the door for at least a full hour now, never once faltering. He hoped Goku was starting to get some ideas because he still lacked any himself. He tried to devise a way they could escape. He tried to imagine what Nevrrest would do with Vegeta if she didn't intend to execute him in the gas chamber. But none of his ideas were encouraging. Even if they managed to get through that door, the obstacles that they faced would be nigh impossible to overcome. And he felt he could no longer predict Nevrrest's actions. She was clearly too far gone from the woman he'd once known.

Goku hummed a little and leaned a little closer to the prison door, his brow lowered. Suddenly, his narrowed eyes snapped open. "I got it!" he cried, jumping to his feet.

"You do?" Oom'Bagu asked with interest.

"Yep!" Goku nodded, his fists on his hips, "I mean, it's not a sure thing, but I think there's a pretty good chance it might work." Oom'Bagu watched with further interest as Goku planted one green boot from the other, taking a slightly spread stance. Drawing in a deep breath, he then raised both hands high above his hand, palms upward as though he were holding up a log. "I call out to the Universe and all living things!" he spoke in a firm voice, "Please, lend me your energy!"

Oom'Bagu's expression fell like a brick. "Goku," he groaned, "What are you doing?"

"Hmm?" his eyes flicked back at him, arms still raised.

"While I appreciate piety," Oom'Bagu heavily sighed, "And perhaps agree this situation is worthy of prayer, I was honestly hoping you had come up with a more…concrete solution."

"I don't know what you mean," Goku answered, looking at the door again, "But if you don't mind, I kinda gotta concentrate. There's not a lot nearby to reach out to."

Oom'Bagu gave another pitiful moan rested his chin in his palm. "As you wish."

"Thanks," Goku nodded and closed his eyes.

Oom'Bagu sighed again, picking as his boot idly as he waited for Goku to finish his strange ritual. At least, perhaps in doing so one of them would gain some inspiration. Though, that seemed increasingly unlikely. Just as unlikely as all of this. But he had chosen to trust Goku, no matter how absurd it seemed. At last finding some peace in this, Oom'Bagu brushed down his ruffled fur. It was then he noticed a dim glint of blue light shining off it. Oom'Bagu's eyes widened and he looked up to see the impossible – a tiny orb made up of ki floating over Goku's head.

Oom'Bagu was terrified. He watched dumbstruck as the orb slowly grew in size until it was about the size of a pair of fists. Goku finally relaxed, lowering his arms and loosening his stance. The impossible orb followed his hands down and floated over them.

"There," Goku sighed with a smile, "It's not much, but I think it should be enough." He giggled mischievously.

Oom'Bagu remained on the floor, braced back against the wall, his eyes wide. "Who are you that the very Universe heeds your call?" he breathed.

"Huh?" Goku blinked. He held out the brilliant sphere as though it were a sandwich. "It's called the Spirit Bomb," he explained, "Normally, I can make ones a lot bigger than this, but I've never done it in space before."

"The Spirit Bomb?" Oom'Bagu whispered, like the very words were sacred.

"Mm," Goku nodded, "I had a feeling it might work because it doesn't actually use my own energy. And as long as I don't absorb it into my own body, the energy chip shouldn't be able to stop it."

"But how?" Oom'Bagu hushed, "I don't…" He stopped, deciding that such a wondrous thing was likely something he couldn't understand. So, he just accepted it. "That's brilliant, Goku," he praised, "Absolutely brilliant."

"Ehehehe!" Goku gave the biggest grin. He turned to the side, studying the miniature Spirit Bomb. "Now, the question is what to do with it? I don't think I'll have a chance to make more than one of these, so we only got one shot…" He pondered for a moment and seemed to make up his mind. "Alright, Oom'Bagu," he turned, "Hold still. I'm going to use this to break your collar."

"My collar?" Oom'Bagu asked.

Goku nodded. "You helped create this fleet, so you know it best. So, I think you'd have a better chance than I do." He held up a finger. "Besides, once you're free, you could probably just break my collar off. And then you could break through the door!"

"Mmm…" Oom'Bagu pondered, standing and touching his own chin, "I think that's a kinder plan than a wiser one." He looked off to where he knew the room's camera was likely located. "Knowing Nevrrest, after our last attempt against her, she'll have Sepis on high alert. If we destroy one of the collars, he'll know immediately and send the entire area into complete lock down. After that, even at our full strength, escaping this room will be impossible. Of course, he'll immediately be alerted to the destruction to the door as well, but I think our progress will be less impeded if we can at the very least escape solitary."

Goku rubbed at his head. "I guess we'll just have to find some other way to get the collars off."

"Indeed," Oom'Bagu agreed. He paused for a moment and sighed. "There is only one way I can consider even possible…though, you're not going to like it."

"Huh? Why not?" Goku curiously asked.

Oom'Bagu hummed with reservation. "There is the shackling equipment in the infirmary…but only someone with the proper accesses could operate one. A doctor or a high ranked guard or marshal." He gave Goku a slightly dark look. "We'd have to capture someone and force them to remove them."

Goku was a little taken back. "Force them? You don't mean…hurt them, do you?"

"Yes," he honestly answered.

The Saiyan's expression hardened. "Sorry, Oom'Bagu, but we can't do that. We'll just have to find some other way."

"Goku, please," Oom'Bagu begged, "You have to understand what it is we're about to do. I'm an officer being detained under suspicion of mutiny and you're an actual prisoner of the Justice. As wrongful as it all is, that is the official stance and we shall be treated as such." He gripped Goku's shoulder and pointed ahead. "The moment that door comes down a hell of opposition the likes of which you've never seen will come down on our heads. The chances of our success are all but none. I have seen you fight endlessly for Vegeta's life. What now will you do for your cause?"

To Oom'Bagu's dismay, Goku didn't flinch. "I know it looks practically hopeless, Oom'Bagu," he firmly answered, "But I don't care. Even if it means I might fail…I won't hurt innocent people!"

These words hit Oom'Bagu in the chest and he backed off. "I…again you shame me, Goku. Why do supposed heroes like I and my friends lack your resolve?"

This time, it was Goku's turn to grip Oom'Bagu's shoulder. "We don't have time to worry about that right now," he told him, "Right now, all that matters is stopping Nevrrest before she hurts anyone else." He took a step towards the door, brow locked. "But I'm not going to do it the way she's taught you." He held up the Spirit Bomb back by his ear. "I'm going to show you all…there's a better way."

(**Scene Break**)

Waking up from a kelga induced stupor wasn't like ones caused by other common forms of alcohol. It was more like coming back from the dead. And to that, Laswe could testify. Kelga dreams were a whole different realm where madness and non-existence colors dwelled. Waking up from that, you had to take a moment to remember what it was like to be alive.

After getting used to having fingers, Laswe gripped the carpet and slowly pushed himself up, his transparent wings drooped against his back. His tail lay all stretched out before him like it had melted, the squishy flesh rippling as it contracted back into a tight ball, his many, short legs wobbling around it.

"Where…am…I?" he groaned, rubbing at one of the fuzzy white puffs that was his ear. He blinked slowly, each one clearing his vision slightly more. "My office…" he determined, noting the neatly arranged furniture. He reached up, gripping his desk and hauling to his feet. "Wait…my office…?" He blinked again, his mind flashing to the trashed room before he'd passed out and the pristine work area now before him. He glanced the door number. Same office. "Wha…?"

It was then he saw a piece of paper and a small bowl. The paper had something written on it and the bowl contained a strange green glob. He still couldn't see clear enough to read the paper, but he vaguely recognized the mush. It brought a nasty taste to his mouth and he remembered that party on Ursalies after they'd saved the planet from PTO Remnant forces. It was probably then that Nevrrest and Oom'Bagu's disdain for his 'drinking habits' had started. Well, he had made himself a bit sick. But then Sepis had made him some kind of remedy, saying that it had been used back on Arlia.

The green stuff.

Laswe's face crinkled. "Sepis?" He picked up the piece of paper, finally making out the single word written upon it in simple, sincere handwriting.

'Sorry.'

At first all Laswe could do was stare at the note, confused and dumbfounded. But slowly it all added up in his mind and all he could feel was rage. The rage brewed hot inside him and manifested as white energy that billowed like an inferno around him. It burned bright and fast, the note catching flame as it crumpled in his fist, eventually turning to dust. The ashes scattered through his fingers and he headed out the door, wings buzzing like an uncontrollable thunderstorm.

(**Scene Break**)

The probe was still and silent as it waited for instructions, the Minarite reflected in its optical lens. Horkion could feel his hardened insides creaking and groaning with anxiety, the stub of his missing arm aching with old pain. He could feel the entire universe threatening to shift in its balance around him and it frightened him. Unlike Lawse, he was certain Nevrrest was still alive. He was also certain that Vegeta's death hadn't been the end of it. The evil that had possessed their one-time ally still festered and its work wasn't done. So there was no time to be idle.

Horkion drew a breath. "Begin recording." A light lit up on the probe. "To the son and allies of Goku, this is Justiciar Horkion, Grand Guardian of the Justice. While I'm ashamed to be saying this, our fleet has been betrayed and compromised. Our leader and founder, Justiciar Nevrrest, has…" The words got stuck in his throat. He shivered with the memory of the last time he'd seen her, terrible and murderous one moment and then bleeding and helpless the next. "She has turned against us all. I…I have tried to stop her, but my allies have turned against me and…I'm sorry. I have failed. The people you care about…Goku and Vegeta…I couldn't save them. Vegeta died because I was too foolish to see I was being lead right into a trap and…I have been told Goku's only been imprisoned, but there's no way for me to confirm this. I'm surrounded by lies…"

Horkion gripped his chest painfully, silent for a long moment, and then looked directly at the recorder. "I know I have no right to ask this of you, but if there is any way you can help us, please! Please help me stop more innocent people from being hurt. Before it's too—"

A blue beam struck the probe dead on and it exploded into dust. Horkion spun around to see the Ponachi darkly hovering there, his finger still pointed. "Laswe!" Horkion cried. His jaw clenched and he readied himself, sliding a foot back. Giving a battle cry, he charged right at the other Grand Guardian, striking with a fist. Laswe's arms rapidly whipped about, blocking each strike till he spun with a kick. Horkion hit the ground and slid, tearing a divot through the flooring and striking the far wall of the storage room.

Laswe lowered his fist, crackling with blue energy. "Asshole."

Debris fell off his shoulder as Horkion got to his feet. "Twice my strength," he grunted, "Twice my speed."

Laswe eyed him sharply. "Stand down, Horkion."

White energy sparked around Horkion and he grew slightly in size. "Don't you tell me what to do…you gutless COWARD!"

Horkion flew at him again, storage containers blown off the shelves as their two energies buffeted against each other. Laswe bent and ducked past Horkion's strike, moving into Horkion's guard and striking him in the chest. "You can fight me all you want, you idiot, but I'm gonna make you shut up and listen to me."

"Rrrr!" Horkion pushed off Laswe's shoulder and seized one of his papery wings. "No, I won't," he barked as Laswe squeaked with pain, "Last time I listened to you you used me to kill a man."

Laswe's pupils shrunk to dots and he seethed. "Oh to hell with this." He clenched his fists and screamed, his aura of power blazing around him so all the shelves were bent back and Horkion lost his grip, tumbling through the air and landing on his feet as his fingers caught the floor. "Naaah!" Laswe flew at him, pummeling him back with endless strikes until he had the rock man pinned against the far wall, slamming his palm against his forehead.

"Now," he hissed, "What do I have to do to keep you in line? Tie you up? Take your legs off?"

Horkion's tiny black eyes dulled. "So…you too, Laswe?" he quietly asked.

"I will do whatever it takes to protect this fleet!" Laswe shouted at him, "And that includes whatever it takes to save your stupid-ass hide!" His wings buzzed loudly and he breathed hard. "Do you really think any of your stunts will work? Do you think it's a good idea to get those poor Earth folk further involved?! You want someone else to die?!"

Horkion rumbled with deep bitterness. "You're just looking for excuses cause you're scared. You don't care about them, so don't pretend."

"Actually, I do," Laswe snarked, glaring, "And you're an idiot if you think one of Sepis's probes will be of any use to them."

Horkion grew quiet. "What do you mean?"

Laswe shivered, removing his hand from Horkion's forehead. "I mean…nobody's seen him since that incident in the control room. I don't think he ever left."

"What?"

"His bots were in my room last night. And he knew exactly what I'd been up to." His eyes narrowed. "He's watching us."

Horkion straightened up. "Well what are we going to do about it?!"

"Nothing," Laswe turned.

A harsh grinding noise came from the Minarite. "I should have known…"

"Hey!" Laswe grabbed him, "Don't you get it?! This fleet isn't an oligarchy anymore…it's a dictatorship."

(**Scene Break**)

Even though he knew she was going to be alright for certain now, Sepis hadn't been able to close the security feed on Nevrrest. She looked so fragile, curled up in a healing chamber like that, her eyes closed and a breathing apparatus over her beak. According to the computer, she had made to the Hammer's infirmary just in time.

Of course, that wasn't his primary occupation. Nevrrest was counting on him and he was doing his part. He'd worked for hours to repair the damage to the control room and now had it running at full capacity. He felt like he himself had become a machine – a fully integrated part of the system. He could do practically anything from here. He had complete remote access to all the systems on every vessel. He could see everything and do anything he needed to from here…within reason of course.

He was happy to see how well the fleet's repairs were going. The tech department was clean-sweeping the system for every last trace on Un, leaving no digital stone unturned. The mechanical department was working tirelessly to repair all the physical damage. It wouldn't be long now before the Quantum Fusion Core was back online.

In all this he buried his deep sorrow for the choice he'd been forced to make. To choose whether to betray one friend or another – he had never imagined such a wretched thing would come to be. But he was firm in his choice. He loved Goku, but he was not like him. He didn't belong standing next to someone who was so blameless and without shame. Nevrrest and he had always been kin of the soul.

After all she had done for him, it was a little thing to become evil for her.

Sepis paused in his thoughts as he saw Nevrrest quake in her tank. His antenna perked with concern, zooming the camera in on her. He didn't like her expression. It was distressed, like she was having a terrible nightmare.

He didn't have long to think on it, though, cause it was then that the alarms went off. "Security breach on Prison Ship 7," the computer announced.

"What?" Sepis gasped with a rapid blink, "A breach on Seven?!" His hands danced over the interface. "But how is that possible? All the cells have been deadlocked for the clean-up, who possibly could…"

But before the security footage could show him the answer, he already knew who it was. There was only one person on board that ship that could possibly have that kind of determination.

The air whistled like a ghost through Sepis's mouthpiece. "Friend…Go…ku…"

(**Scene Break**)

The door swung open on half-bent hinges as the smoke and debris cleared. Goku turned to give Oom'Bagu a small, determined smile, but it was interrupted as the Gregorik tackled him through the doorway. Goku stared with large, blinking eyes into the mass of white fur that filled his face, finally shifting past it to see the energy field that had erected and the hissing gas fill the room.

"Whoa," Goku remarked, "Thanks."

Oom'Bagu crouched defensively over the Saiyan, glaring intently at the corridor ahead.

"What do we do now?" Goku asked.

Oom'Bagu seized his arm. "We run!"

(**Scene Break**)

"Shit! You gotta be kidding me!" Laswe squawked as the alarm sounded, "More trouble on Seven?!"

"I can't believe it," Horkion agreed, cupping the flashing ybora gem at the base of his neck, "I thought the reds would have already had their fill of trouble."

"Yeah, no kidding." His wings buzzed as he lifted into the air and looked back at Horkion. "You think we can put aside our…issue for the moment and deal with this? Like it or not, we still have a job to do."

Horkion rumbled but nodded. "Yeah. For duty." He shouldered past Laswe. "But don't think this means I've forgotten what you've done."

Laswe sighed as he watched him go ahead. "Believe me…I don't."

Together, they moved quickly through the transit tube from the Hammer to Prison Ship 7 where security teams were already storming. Every single one of them was filled with preparatory anger and a twinge of panic. After what had already happened on Seven, none of them had any patience left. But as the two guardians and their underlings flooded the central access point, they found the vessel as chillingly quiet as they had left it – apart from the blaring alarms.

"Status!" Laswe snapped.

The guards immediately spread out, several of them looking to their wrist bands. "According to the sensors, the breach took place on Deck 3."

"Deck 3?" Laswe scowled, glancing at Horkion, "But there's nothing down there but storage and…" His body turned completely colorless. "…Oh shit…"

After experiencing a full two days of living hell, Laswe could feel when a nightmare was coming. Luckily, Horkion's brain had never worked as fast as Laswe's.

"Okay, listen up!" Laswe spoke, buzzing forward with his hands behind him, "This breach is going to involve anywhere from one to three targets of a very sensitive nature. I'm sure you all heard the fleet-wide announcement following the recent break-out." Horkion's jaw snapped open, but Laswe was on a roll. "As you were informed, Justiciar Oom'Bagu is being detained under suspicion of a severe breach of Justice conduct. For reasons of fleet safety, you were not informed of the identity his suspected accomplice." He turned, eying them all sharply. "I'm going to tell you now. The suspect in question is who many of you refer to as the Legendary Super Saiyan, Son Goku."

A stirring hush fell over the guards.

"Now," Laswe turned, moving down the line, "I am not looking for your personal opinion of the on-going investigation of these two figures. What I expect of you the same for any other person in our custody. You are to contain this breach of security and return the subjects to proper containments." At last, he landed next to Horkion and grabbed his arm. To the viewing guards, it would seem the gesture was an act affirmation between the two guardians. But Laswe knew Horkion would be able to feel in that grasp the promise of severe consequences should he try to act up again. Horkion didn't move. "And if any of you think you aren't capable of handling that, I suggest you walk out right now."

A handful of the guards seemed to shiver with hesitation, but none of them turned away.

Laswe nodded. "Good. Alright, let's move!"

(**Scene Break**)

Goku wasn't accustom to being held by the arm while running places, but Oom'Bagu seemed very intent on holding onto him, so he didn't question it. "We have to gain as much ground as possible before security reaches us!" Oom'Bagu shouted as they bolted down a long, narrow hall.

They had finally made it into a fresh corridor when a probe dropped out of the ceiling, blocking their path. "Warning, Prisoner 4747," said the computer's pretty, female voice.

"Huh?" Goku replied and then looked at the glowing numbers on his shoulder. "Oh, it's talking to me!" he said, pointing to himself.

"You are outside your designated confinement," the probe continued, "Please assume a submissive position by dropping to your knees and putting your hands behind your head. A security team will soon arrive to escort you a holding area."

"But I—" Goku protested.

"If you do not comply, you run the risk of enduring severe penalties and/or bodily harm."

Goku's brow lowered. "I understand that but—"

"Please assume a submissive position…"

Oom'Bagu's grip on Goku's arm tightened. "Tell it you wish to log a plea."

"Huh?" Goku looked at him.

"Just do it."

"Um," Goku looked back at the probe, "I would like to log a plea?"

"Acknowledged," the probe answered, "You may begin logging your plea when I say 'now'. Please be aware, anything you say will be added to official Justice records and may be referenced by a Justice representative at any time. Would you still like to log a plea?"

"Tell it yes," Oom'Bagu instructed.

"Yes," obeyed Goku.

"Acknowledged," the probe replied, "You may begin recording your plea now." The color of the probe's lens changed from red to white.

Oom'Bagu tugged Goku around the probe. "Now start talking to it."

"Uh, but what do I say?" Goku blinked helplessly as the probe followed him.

"Anything, it doesn't matter," Oom'Bagu answered as he got them running again, "Just keep talking to it and don't stop. As long as you do that, the computer should keep recording. It'll buy us some time."

Goku looked at the probe as it tagged along next to him. "I um—well I'm kinda hungry right now!" he stated, touching his stomach, "I can't remember the last time I had a meal other than those ration bars Sepis gave me. So um…yeah! It'd be really great if I could get some rice or something…"

The probe listened attentively as Goku continued to rattle things off the top of his head – which happened to be about food mostly. But the distraction didn't last nearly as long as either of them hoped. The floor thundered with heavy boots and Oom'Bagu's arm shot out in front of Goku's chest, cutting him off in the middle of explaining his favorite way to eat sausages.

The probe beeped. "Plea logged."

Goku's legs tensed. "What now?"

"Now?" Oom'Bagu eyed him. "We make miracles happen."

AUTHOR NOTE:

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