Chapter 19

Prices Paid

It was grueling the months spent in the camp. Each day a bitter struggle to survive and now it was down to half of what had been here. Their dwindling numbers were pushing the Saiyan race closer and closer to the brink of extinction. Then came that fateful day as they were again rounded up into the large empty area. This time though, something was different as they were locked into this pen and a steel cable net was thrown over the top and lashed down to keep them fully contained.

Then they began to open fire. As they turned to fight their captors, Vegeta raged in with all the strength he could muster with his fellow warriors. For a while it looked as if they would win when a couple arrows were fired, one landing in his back, the other in his leg making it difficult to rise again. He though refused to go out lying down and so he would struggle to his feet as the arrows continued to fly. "NOW!" Was all that was heard as the Saiyans rose up in full combat and at the forefront was the Prince of Saiyans.

A group would escape the confines and all but one on the departing party would be shot with arrows through the heart. They would not make it far but the others that were behind would soon be pressed back. Vegeta's collar was activated, stunning him long enough to be captured and shackled to a post. When he started coming around, the guards would then again put arrows in to his body. As he lay, struggling to rise once more, he found a club to the temple and his world went suddenly black.

It was minutes later that he woke up again, and he struggled against the chains to help his people. The cries of his race pierced through him deeper than any other wound as he fought to rejoin the conflict. His people were being slaughtered and all he could do was fight the chain that kept him from the battle. He wanted to join them, and if he had to, he would die to save them, but the collar at his throat was the only thing holding him back. He fought valiantly against that shackle as he watched the last group fall to the ground dead. Vegeta bit his tongue sharply and his head bowed. Again another shot was drawn upon his own back once more and he fell to the dirt, his sides heaving as arrows protruded from him in every seeming direction.

He lay there for what seemed like hours, perhaps even days on that chain but death again would not come to claim him to join his people once more. Vegeta instead would wake up and he gazed around the place. It was deserted but on the ground lay the broken bodies of the brave warriors that had fought for their freedom, only to find their deaths being shot like they were common beasts. Vegeta quietly looked around and on the ground was the key to his chain. Unlocking it, he would break the arrows and carefully get them out. Once his strength was regained, he would grab a shovel and began digging. It was not the trench he worked on, It was individual graves as he began the process of burial

Vegeta would work straight through the week digging and burying, each soldier getting a proper burial as he pressed on. At one point, he knelt down, his hands upon the top of the shovel. He'd watched his race being slaughtered and now the scent of their death, the frozen expressions of glassed gazes and the torment gazed in their eyes, he had to pause briefly as echos of their screams penetrated into his thoughts as if they were still fighting. His grip tightened on the handle and he refused tears, he wasn't allowed.

The cruel twist of fate now had left two Saiyans alive, him and Tora. After the graves were finished, he looked over the even rows and took a moment. In his mind, he would allow the thoughts to his mind and instead spoke them outloud to the silent observers. "You and your battle will not be forgotten, so long as I live, I vow to remember the honor and sacrifice witnessed under their cruel hands. You were Saiyans, true warriors, and you shall be remembered at such."

Only when it was finished would he wander to the forest, but he instead took to the Lair once more. His gaze lowered in thought as he went inside. There he would seal it up and allow time to get over much of the hurt for the next week.

Jeremy would come back in with a hamburger, some fries, a juice, and salad as he entered the room. Vegeta looked up, but his gaze soon lowered down. There was only one meal in his arms and so he took to the back wall once more, knowing to take food often meant there had to be a price paid. Gerald grinned lightly as he took the food and instead of eating it, he would look toward the Saiyan in their midst. Then he would offer it to Vegeta as he too smiled gently. "Eat up."

Vegeta took the meal more timidly than would have been thought but he quietly began to eat. Jeremy would nod over toward Gerald and then while the Saiyan ate, they would then reach over to try to take some back, but the Saiyan with survival skills settled in, would guard over it. It was only then that the two knew how much work was ahead. The slave in front of them may seem docile but this was the first sign of any pending aggression within the collared Saiyan in their midst. The conclusion was drawn; they would have to get someone else in to do further analysis.

When they left the Saiyan that night, Jeremy would make some phone calls and then cleared it with the Supreme Court. One of the Justices would be looking toward that of Officer Vanders. "How is he doing?"

Jeremy spun around and the seasoned cop shook his head. "He has food guarding issues that we found out about tonight, but if it's alright we wouldn't mind having his behavior modificatons to begin soon. He's still in survival mode."

The Justice then nodded and moved to look into the window of the cell that contained the slave. He seemed docile indeed. "He looks like he's doing alright."

Jeremy though leaned back against the wall. "He seems like he is, but I don't know yet. Sure he does as told, but listening to his story that I've been gathering, it's amazing he's not trying to kill eveyrthing in sight. Perhaps its that collar that keeps him in check. However either way I would recommend getting him some psychological help to work through what was a cruel past."

Looking in at the Saiyan, the Justice shook his head. "Does he have anyone for any support other than himself? I would like to get him some company instead of being in solitary confinement."

Jeremy shook his head. "He only knows me, and that's because I pulled him out of that dungeon. I could take him home, and see how he does there, but that's up to you since you all are his Owners."

It was then that the Justice turned and then would consult the other six before coming back with the approval and then he would reach for the cuffs. Going in he would be stopped by Jeremy. "Sir, really, I don't think I'll need those. He follows easily enough. That collar must have some sort of control on him, not to mention that the Saiyan would not have really anywhere to go other than with me or to here."

The Justice turned then nodded once more. "Very well. Take them though just in case he decides to act up."

Jeremy agreed and took the cuffs in hand and then looked to Vegeta. "Come on, you're coming home with me tonight."

Vegeta nodded and would rise up, taking the trash with him. Whomever had him trained had done it to such a degree as to make him know to keep tidy, perhps to keep him from being further beaten. Soon the Dark Prince would stand up fully, but his gaze was lowered so as not to make eye contact. It wasn't long before the Saiyan was in the cruiser and they were headed to another building where the cruiser would be parked.

They would get into yet another vehicle. Finally they went to the outskirts and then finally into the home. It was another grand home and Vegeta immediately felt ill once more as he looked around. He remembered, but he was Owned by them, and this cop was his handler. His head tucked sharply, though the queasiness mounted.

Jeremy turned around and then seen the deeply submissive tuck. "Don't worry, it's a safe place. My wife and three kids are inside and it smells like dinner is cooking. Come on in and I'll show you your room and let you get settled in."

Vegeta knew only one thing about large homes and that was the more grand, the more cruel they seemed. He didn't see how this place could be safe, but he was commanded to go in, and his collar would not allow him to back away, no matter how he felt. Hesitantly, he would then enter within and the three kids would run to their father. A dull ache resurfaced enough to make him turn away and gaze out to the stars above.