.Chapter five.

It's been a week since Cloak and Sleeg were released from the prison and I think I've adjusted well. I still miss them, but Zimmer's trying to make up for that by spending all of his free time with me. I've been separated from the other inmates completely now so Zimmer usually brings me my meals; he also usually eats his meals with me.

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I was busy making my bed when Zimmer walked in with our breakfast in his hands.

"Morning Zimmer," I said, as I looked up at him.

"Hey; sleep well?" he asked, as he sat down on my neatly made bed.

"Yes."

"Here; mom said she added a few vitamin supplements for you." He handed me a bowl of porridge; his mother was quite a good cook and he used to bring me whatever she had made him.

"Thanks," I said, as I sat down next to him.

"So-o what are your plans for today?" he asked, as he handed me a spoon and started to eat his porridge.

"Well once we're done with breakfast I think I'm gonna remake my bed." I started to eat my porridge.

"Oh, did I…"

"Oh yeah." I don't like people sitting on my bed when I've just made it.

"Sorry babe."

"Babe?"

"My new nickname for you; like it?"

"Don't know; we'll have to see if it gets on my nerves."

Zimmer just smiled and continued to eat his breakfast.

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Later that day, after lunchtime, Zimmer came back to visit me.

"Hey babe, I'm back," he said, as he walked into my cell.

"So I see," I replied.

"So what have you been up to since lunch?" Zimmer sat down next to me on my bunk.

"Not much."

"I hope you don't mind, but Scooter got the guys and I some good seats at the arena so I won't be coming to see you for a few helates after this visit."

"I don't mind; it'll be good for you boys to get out for a bit."

"Thanks; I would have asked if you could come with, but the guys are already all over my case for just spending so much time with you."

"It's okay; you need sometime away from me so that you and the guys can have some serious 'guy time'."

"Thanks."
"No prob."

"Lieutenant Narzor will be coming 'round to see you though."

"You mean just opening the slot in the door to check that I'm not up to any mischief."
"No, he said he wanted to talk to you face to face for some reason or other."

"Oh, do you know what the reason is?"

"No, I would have told you if I knew."
"Okay. Well, we'll see soon enough; won't we?"

"Yeah."

There was a bit of silence between Zimmer and I.

"We finally discovered what caused that fire a week ago," said Zimmer, as he broke the silence.

"Really? What was it?" I asked; trying to sound interested.

"It was apparently faulty wiring in one of the walls; we've brought in a technician to fix that."

"Right." Zimmer looked down at his watch.

"It's nearly time for the guys and I to head off to the arena." Zimmer stood up.

"Enjoy yourself, Zimmer."

"I'll try; the arena can sometimes be really bland."

"Well, try to have fun then."

"I will." He turned and walked out of my cell.

"I'll see you later at dinner," he said, as he readied his key card by the cell's lock.

"Right," I replied, as he waved goodbye and pulled his key card down in the lock to close the cell door.

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About two hours later, Lt. Narzor came into my cell.

"Good afternoon, Lt. Narzor; how can I help you?" I asked, as I stood at attention and saluted.

"Good afternoon, Cal; at ease," replied Lt. Narzor; he was a tall Triceraton, but not as tall as Zimmer and Cloak. He was quite an ordinary looking Triceraton; his skin colour was orange and he had the typical red marking on his eye. He was dressed in a dark green suit, which had a lieutenant's badge on each shoulder and on the front pocket. He also had an army hat on; his horns stuck through it, but it looked good.

"What brings you here, Lieutenant?" I asked, as he sat down on my bunk.

"Come sit next to me," he said, as he patted a space next to him. I complied and sat down in the designated spot.

"What would you say to a job here on the home world?" he asked, as he looked at me.

"Uh, sure; what did you have in mind, sir?" I asked.
"Monza Ram and the All-stars need a towel person; apparently their old one couldn't stand being bossed about by them and left."

"What does the job entail?"

"Mainly janitorial and servant work."

"You mean I would be their maid."

"In a word, yes."

"Sure; how hard could it be?"

"That's what their last towel boy said."

"Well, I'm a girl; I might be able to handle it better."

"I suppose; so are you 'game'?"

"Sure; when do I start?"

"Immediately; I'll drive you down there now." The Lieutenant stood up and pulled out his key card. He pushed a few buttons and my laser cuffs and tattoo fell off. He opened the door and walked out with me close behind him.

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Lt. Narzor led me onto a transport shuttle, which took us through to the arena. Once there he led me out of the shuttle and down to the All-stars' training area. I now know why the All-stars have such strong legs; climbing up and down seven flights of stairs with twenty steps each everyday really helps build leg muscle. The arena was quiet because the games had finished for the day and everyone had gone home except the gladiators and the All-stars. It was then that I remembered Zimmer; he was going to be in for a shock when he found me missing from my cell.

"Lt. Narzor," I said.

"Yes," he replied.

"Could you please tell a friend of mine in the prison where I've been sent? I think it would help ease his mind."

"Very well. His name?"

"Zimmer."

"That's one of our guards."

"Yes, he's a friend of mine."

Narzor just nodded.

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Eventually we reached the All-stars' training area.

"Boys, you in?" called Narzor from the door.

"Yes, just hold on a minute, sir," replied a voice from inside the training area.

Suddenly a very familiar figure blocked the doorway.

"Monza Ram," said Narzor.

"Lt. Narzor," said Monza.

"This is your new towel girl, Cal." Narzor pushed me towards Monza Ram.

Monza just nodded and walked back into the training area. Narzor pushed me to walk into the training area. I walked in and was met by three pairs of eyes looking at me.

"All-stars," announced Monza Ram. The other three Triceratons looked at Monza.

"This is our new towel girl, Cal," he said, as he gestured to me. Suddenly the three pairs of eyes were back on me. Narzor pushed me to walk forward a bit. One of the other three Triceratons, who was closest to me, got up and walked over to me. He circled around me once and then took hold of my arm.

"She's a bit scrawny; ain't she?" he asked, as he looked at Narzor. I was a bit surprised that he had called me 'scrawny'; on Earth I'm big boned.

"She'll do," interjected Monza before Narzor could reply.

The other Triceratons gave him a look.

"We can train her to be able to cope with the work," he explained.

The other Triceratons just shrugged and returned their gaze to me.

"I'll leave you in the capable hands of the All-stars now," said Narzor, as he patted my shoulder and walked out of the training area. I was officially on my own now; Monza walked up to me, put a hand on my back and pushed me towards the middle of the room. I got pushed around a lot that day.

"So, your name's Cal; is it?" he asked.

I just nodded.

"Can you speak our language?"

"Yes," I replied, quietly.

"Good, then telling you what we need done won't be a problem."

I nodded again.

"Now, allow me to introduce my team-mates to you," said Monza.

I nodded and looked at the other three Triceratons.

"On my left we have Mixx and Xiote; and on my right we have Daz," said Monza, as he gestured to each Triceraton and they nodded in recognition.

"A pleasure to meet you guys," I said, shyly. They replied by a nod and then went back to what they had been doing before Narzor and I came in.

"Come, I'll show you to your room," said Monza, as he started to walk towards a room on the far side of the training area. He opened the door and walked in.

"This is where you'll be staying. You'll receive free room and board as well as five blecks a week," said Monza.

"Right," I replied.

"I had your chores list written up by a translator because I was told that you couldn't read Triceratonese."

"Thanks."

Monza just nodded.

"You are to start working immediately. Good luck," said Monza, as he left my room to return to his team.

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The work wasn't too bad actually; I mean doing laundry, washing floors, doing the dishes, bringing them their towels and water after training and events, and maintaining the training area wasn't as hard as I had originally thought. The All-stars were a bit stuffy, but I learnt to live with them. Mixx was a bit different from the others; he was the newest member and so wasn't as close as the other three who had been together for a few years more. When Daz, Xiote and Monza were out of the training area he would usually talk to me, but as soon as one of them came in he would be quiet. I still missed my old prison buddies; Cloak in particular. He was the first really close friend I had made on the Triceraton home world, but I discovered that I was missing him and the others less and less as the weeks wore on.

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Author's notes:

Daz, Xiote, and Mixx are not names I made up; they are the official names given to the Triceraton All-stars by Peter Laird and Kevin Eastman.