Chapter 18

Prison Camp

"Bring him over to the stocks." A guard would speak firmly as the two hauled the cage down from the cart and the slave was drug out. They shared no feeling, but only that they dealt with property, not a living, breathing creature. Vegeta was too stunned to fight at the moment as the slave was drug to the stocks and there his wrists and head were locked in a steel device.

No sooner than he was locked down in this than that of a muzzle was placed on and two crossties would clip to either side from five feet further in front and low to the ground. The back of his neck would be fully exposed as one guard gripped the thick black hair and clipped it haphazardly. Vegeta was by now regaining feeling, but no matter how much he struggled, he couldn't move to protect himself. Then a blade was taken to his scalp and as he stood, bent over in the stocks and crossties, his black hair was shorn completely off.

A pen came next and four numbers were drawn upon the nape of the neck. 9889 would be the number he would now be called as the guards selected his new identity. Then came the pain as the needles were brought against flesh, putting ink to his flesh in a tattoo. He fought against his bindings, but the guards simply waited until the slave exhausted himself and then proceeded to finish the tattoo upon the back of his neck.

When it was finished, they would callously begin to take him to a waiting cell. Already there were others within, crammed to a space a foot smaller than a jail cell. The window was exposed to the elements and the walls were of solid construct of stone and cemented brick. Lodged firmly with anchors were chains upon the gray walls and it was at this time the guards shoved him in the cell before locking a chain to the collar. When the door was closed, the heavy clang was met with the stare of ten other people.

Vegeta couldn't believe what he seen. They were Saiyans, all of them and he nodded lightly seeing them all looking back at him. One of them came forth and knelt down at the end of his chain before the others followed suit, leaving him the only one standing. For a moment no one moved before the Prince turned toward the barred window. "How many are here?"

The first spoke up cautiously. "There are 250 of us here Sire. All of us have been given a power shot so our ki is useless, we can't even power up enough to escape."

There was again a momentary silence before the Saiyan Prince turned around and then nodded. It was his people's lives on the line here at this prison camp. Now he knew there was no choice again on his part, he had to stand and fight, even if it meant his life. With heavy thought, he spoke once more. "Let me study this place, then when the time is right, we'll make our break for freedom again. We're Saiyans, Universal Warriors. We've brought down entire planets and left them in bits of rubble. The only thing we have to wait for is the full moon, then let those latent abilities come forth and we'll crush them all for holding us prisoner for their own greed."

It wouldn't be too long before he would come to find the guards opening cells and with them rushing out the prisoners to a large area outside. As Vegeta and the others were herded out to the grounds, they looked at the Saiyans before them. One of the Saiyans stepped out of line by perhaps only a couple inches and yet it was enough reason for one of the guards to shoot him with an arrow through the heart. Vegeta's gaze widened in shocked surprise. This place was not to be underestimated as his gaze soon narrowed back to a cold hatred.

As guards kept circling about them looking for any thing out of place, they were forced to stand there. "9845." A number was called out, and a guard would hunt for the number given. When that prisoner was found, they drug him forward and then forced him to kneel. The guard again spoke. "You are all here for our whim. Your powers have been nulled, and escape will not be successful. If you go within twenty feet of the fence without express permission, you will be killed. If you step out of line, or do not line up on command, you will be killed. If you do not work, or do not do as told the first time, you will be killed."

Vegeta listened intently to what was being stated. They were outlining how to not get shot on sight, however he knew it would be harder than just this crazed list of rules to follow. Another guard would come forward and then to the prisoner they held up front, they would take a rope and loop it around the Saiyan's throat. Cinching it up, they would hang him from a beam. They remained as the prisoner was hung until the last reflexive flinch was quieted with the silence of death. The Prince knew his people were in trouble, question was, how did they escape?

As they stood in the open area, the guards would further count the slaves. The one they had hung was his father. The others took this as it was meant to be taken, as a warning of the power the guards had over them now. Finally they called yet another number. "9889" Vegeta's heart skipped a beat as he was drug from the lines and brought up front to the other guards. There he was held until the others were dismissed. Then the guards circled around him trying to unnerve this Saiyan and when they couldn't another would whisper in the head guard's ear.

This raised a brow as he looked closer to the Saiyan before them. "So you're a prince to these people. In other words they would be looking to you for direction, so I'll tell you right now. Don't do as told, or you miss work, or whatever else we put to you, five of your people will be killed. I have no remorse for shooting animals. However be glad, your people have been chosen to serve as guinea pigs on how to slaughter or control slaves."

With the laughter in his ears, he watched as the head guard moved away, Vegeta took a deep breath. Then a guard would take him to the pits where the others were working and with a barbed whip, would lash it upon the slave's back. They were to dig a trench for their own food in which it would be brought in like a huge trough. As the Saiyans worked the guards would bring to them the stinging bite of the whip, or the burning sensation of poisonous disinfectant. The last measure though was unnecessary torment as the Saiyans hardly if ever carried any sort of illness.

After a long day at work, they would be again lined up and counted. No one moved but the guards when they again paused momentarily. The head guard would then call a number once more. "9889, step forth "

Vegeta looked to briefly to the ones beside him and he moved toward the front as he looked to the guards. One would circle him and then nod as the head guard spoke once more, then they would bind him between two pillars where he would be kept for now as the head guard again spoke. "9889, or as you know him as your Prince, is now under harsh watch. Any mistakes from any of you will end with him being punished for your defiances."

With that the others were taken to their cells but Vegeta would come to face what was to be a painful night. With the first crack of a whip upon his back, they would then whip him through the night. Come morning, he was exhausted and they grinned releasing him from the shackles. "Allow him one day rest, then tomorrow he works. We have things to make and test on these wretched beasts."

With that they would leave him alone as they left. The slave though would not remain long. Though he'd been granted a day of rest, he drug himself to his feet, staggering a couple steps. He was not one to be underestimated as well. Grabbing up a shovel, he would come to his fellow comrades and began to dig along side of them. He was their Prince and he couldn't rest if they were not allowed to.

A couple guards later came out, expecting to see the Saiyan still upon the ground, perhaps dead from his wounds, but instead was shocked when they seen the prisoner up and working along side his people once more. Zorn, Tora, and a couple others glanced upward to notify the Prince that there was a guard behind him. Turning around Vegeta looked up to the guard. "What do you want?" Vegeta spoke harshly back at the guard.

"You have a day of rest, why do you work 9889?" The guard spoke with attitude back. It was reprehensible to the guard to speak to one of the creatures before him. The disgust in his gaze was comparible to Vegeta's own disgusted gaze.

"These are my people. If they do not rest, then neither do I. We may be prisoners here, but you will not take our pride nor honor from us. It seems to be something many are lacking these days, yourself included." The Saiyan Prince spat out tersely with every bit of disgust he cared to show. However for it, five others were shot and killed with arrows.

The guard chuckled. "You will learn to bite back that temper beast. Remember, you step out of line or don't do our bid, and five of your people will be killed. That was the first five. You even think of burying them and we'll kill more."

There was left little choice but to let them lay in the heat of the day as the Saiyans looked at each other in disgusted rage toward the guards. They needed a full moon, but every time there seemed to be such a moon, they were kept locked up underneath crowded into a room like cattle. It was insufferably suffocating. There seemed no room to move and it was here that they spent the night with the full moon. These guards had thought of everything it seemed.