(CHAPTER SEVENTEEN!!!! After this Chapter I will fast-forward a bit. Keep on following the story, I will introduce the Five I did not mention, how they formed, and I will do something to Ping. Also, I will alter Tai Lung's famous Escape a bit. I might alter a few more stuff. I forgot to copyright to Kung Fu Panda and Dreamworks. Everything that belongs to Kung Fu Panda belongs to them)

Chapter Seventeen: Chor Ghom Prison; Zhang Liao and Tai Lung

Zhang Liao saw no trouble and no longer got side tracked on his way to Chor Ghom Prison. He had stopped by for a day at the village where his friend Great Master Viper resided. He had made friends with the Mrs. /Missis and young Viper during his one-day stay. He would meet Viper and Tigress again although not the way he had planned or expected.

His arrival at the prison spurred attention and raised spirits from the personnel. Commander Vachir, however, did not have high expectations for Zhang Liao due to his late arrival.

"Sir, Zhang Liao reporting for duty," Zhang Liao reported right away to the Commander with a salute.
"At least you've got respect for your superiors… I shall tell you what you do here then I'll have one of the guards show you your quarters and your post," Vachir grunted.
"Quarters, sir?" Zhang Liao was curious. Was he to stay at this prison?
"We are currently holding possibly one of the worst of them all, Tai Lung. Although I'm sure he won't get out, no one is to leave the prison while he is here," Vachir signaled a guard to come and to show him where he was to be.
"Sir!" The guard named Roc saluted.
"Show this one to his quarters then to his post and be quick about it!" Vachir ordered.
"Yes sir! Come with me, sir Liao!" Roc saluted Vachir and left with Liao saluting Vachir as well and following him.

"He's in a good mood," Zhang Liao told Roc as he looked around the prison that had tight security.
"Sorry about him sir, he's in a bad mood today. One of the cooks apparently put too little salt in his soup," Roc admitted as he led Liao through a few rock-like corridors to the sleeping quarters.
"Please don't call me sir, I'm really not into formality," Liao said. He seemed to have switched back to Shu Ai's mindset but it was hard to tell as he always kept that mask on.

"Here is where you'll be sleeping. We're neighbors, so feel free to come to my quarters if you need anything, sir. My name is Roc, by the way," Roc showed Liao to his room which was next to his.
"Thank you. And don't call me sir. It's not like Vachir or the higher-ranked officers are within earshot," Liao thanked Roc and to not be so formal.
"Actually truth be told everything here is within earshot, except if you go down to the lower levels… Where… he's held…" Roc seemed to have fear for their prisoner, Tai Lung.
"Where is my post, Roc?" Liao asked his co-worker and soon-to-be friend.
"Actually… You probably got the job I hate and glad I never got… You get to be Tai Lung's guard and assistant. You make sure he doesn't try anything, bring him his food, that kind of thing," Roc told him.
"Perfect," Zhang Liao thought as he smiled beneath his mask.

Roc and Liao proceeded to thelifts that would transport them to the various floors. The lift they took however would lead them straight down to Tai Lung.

"How long have you been in service here?" Zhang Liao asked as they used the main lift and were going down.
"Five years, sir," Roc replied honestly.
"How's the food here?" Liao asked.
"Awful, sir," Roc told him.
"Do we get to keep in contact with the outside?" Liao asked him.
"Only through letters, sir. The main mailroom is one floor above our quarters," Roc replied.
"Ah, I see," Liao replied.

During their trip down Liao and Roc became friends. Roc explained the layout of the Chor GHom Prison to Zhang Liao. There were various ledges and spirals. Liao guessed that this was the long way out. He noticed that they were not short on weapons and pointed this out. Roc said each guard has to be skilled in both long-range and close-quarter combat.

"Speaking of weapons, sir, what do you prefer?" Roc asked as they were nearing Tai Lung's cell.
"I did prefer the Tri-section Staff," Liao told him what he used when he was at the Valley with Meng and Li.
"Ooh, a Tri-Section Staff? Sorry sir, we don't have that," Roc shocked Zhang Liao as he thought the weaponry would be complete.
"Well, um… Do you have spears? There's one in particular I've been looking for. The blade is designed in a different way," Zhang Liao went for his second option; a spear with a specially-designed blade.
"Oh, I know that. We have one, but no one uses that. When we go back up, I'll look for it for you, sir," Roc nodded at Liao. Liao was glad to hear that his second option was available.

"Sir, this is Master Zhang Liao. He will be taking your place," Roc told a guard as soon as they reached Tai Lung's cell.
"Understood," The three of them saluted each other as the guard departed.
"Go right in, sir, I'll be right here if you need me," Roc was given the keys to his cell and he gave it to Liao.
"You're not coming with me?" Liao asked Roc.
"I'm too much of a wimp to go with you, sir," Roc admitted.

Zhang Liao opened the cell that led to the great warrior, Tai Lung. Some of the guard up at the ledges that were able to see him watched him yet didn't show fear. They were confident that nothing was going to happen.
Zhang Liao didn't believe what he saw but did not show his shock. If he did anyway no one would notice. There at the center of the cell was the great Tai Lung, tied and clamped from neck to paws. Zhang Liao could not identify what tied him, but he concluded that it was uncomfortable. Tai Lung looked like he was asleep as his eyes were closed and his entire body was relaxed.

"The Great Warrior, Tai Lung… The only one worthy to be compared to Lu Bu… Trapped in this forsaken place… Even he does not deserve to be in his current situation…" Zhang Liao thought as he walked to Tai Lung. Roc was watching from the 'safety' of the door.

"So, who is it that they have sent this time?" Tai Lung's voice sounded. He still had the mighty voice Zhang Liao remembered.
"I, Zhang Liao, answer," Zhang Liao answered to the warrior.
"Zhang Liao… I know you, the guards wouldn't shut up about you," Tai Lung replied.
Zhang Liao had circled Tai Lung to get a better understanding of his situation while they talked.
Now Zhang Liao faced Tai Lung who was looking down, his eyes were now open. They were calm yet showed strength and confidence.
"What is your tale, mighty warrior?" Zhang Liao sat down dangerously close to Tai Lung. Roc was becoming very anxious as Liao was dangerously close. Some personnel merely glanced at them from above but did not care as they continued with their work.
"I originally thought that I was put here with great unjust, brave warrior. I was denied my right, yet I can see my errors. I…" Tai Lung was reminiscing through the old days.
"Tell me what is troubling you," Liao asked him to continue.
"Why does the tale of a prisoner interest you? What am I, to someone like you?" Tai Lung looked up at the masked guard.
"It is simple. I just wanted to see if you were still the show-off I grew to respect and love," Zhang Liao teased as me moved his face close to Tai Lung.

"Those eyes… Shu, You live…!" Tai Lung seemed surprised by this.

Liao retracted his face.
"Why surprised, my friend? I knew that there was good in you and still recognize that good," Liao replied.
"Ah, I see… Shu… Thank you for coming, it's been lonely here…
"I'm Zhang Liao to the rest of these guards…
"Ah, I see… Arrogant fools they are…
"Show off you are,"