Chapter 8
The two Saiyan warriors made their way down the dimly lit corridor. From the outside this building certainly looked like a stadium, but the inside seemed more like the home of someone affluent. Marble floors and pieces of art decorated the walls. Goku was focused on entering the arena which he could see ahead as the only light source in the corridor, but Vegeta observed the photos on the walls that were not art. Mostly family photos of Snow and an older man that was the same species as Snow, Vegeta could only assume that was Snow's father.
They exited the corridor and entered the arena standing on a platform with a green jewel-like surface. Both men expected spectators given how the Ampheta Organization were supposedly a fighting promotion, but the arena was eerily empty. Not a single fan could be found in the seats of what appeared to be a stadium that could hold tens of thousands of people. For whatever reason the arena was vacant, all that could be seen was the ring in the middle which was illuminated from an unseen light source above. The ring of the arena seemed to be based off of the Budokai ring, stone tiles and all. The four corners however had thick stone pillars at each corner extending high up into the ceiling. The outside of the ring seemed foreboding. Instead of grass like the Budokai arena, a strange obsidian material separated the ring from the stands of seats where the spectators should be.
A painfully familiar, shrill voice suddenly cut through the silence. "Ah, I knew MY Saiyan pure bloods would show up!"
The mysterious light from above cast light upon an open skybox. The luxurious suite was about a floor or two above the ring and appeared designed to be the best seats in the house, so naturally Mr. Snow gave himself such a suite. At the moment, only the spoiled owner of the Ampheta Organization could be seen in the booth sitting on an opulent throne. The throne seemed a bit oversized for the scrawny Mr. Snow. A few other figures were in the darkness near him but neither Goku nor Vegeta could make out who they were.
"I haven't slept a single day since you two Saiyans denied me." Snow practically growled, his demeanor changing from boisterous to feral. "I have been looking forward to this day! How will the two of you fare with ZERO ki? Oh, you're both SO dependent on using your little energy attacks and your transformations, but the Ampheta Arena sits atop the Nil Cluster, black holes! And my family made our fortune harnessing the power of black holes. I have learned how to focus the immense siphoning power to drain the ki out of cheating fighters such as yourselves! My BRILLIANT machines are designed lock onto your ki signatures and perpetually drain your energy, but don't worry I will let you have enough to stay alive. For the time being, I'd prefer you two remain alive. My roster will take care of bringing your energy down to zero, otherwise known as DEATH. It's time you fought like men! Not cheaters! No more stupid energy attacks for EITHER of you!"
Goku clenched his fist as his anger began to rise. Out of all the foes he had faced over his life, none had gone after this family to this level kidnapping both his wife and son for unknown purposes. This confrontation felt extra personal.
"Hmph, even if you take away our ki I highly doubt that will pose a challenge to us." Vegeta sneered as he crossed his arms. "We are still a threat to you, otherwise you wouldn't be hiding up there."
For once, Goku was happy to hear Vegeta taunting an opponent. A cocky grin spread across Snow's face.
"Of course, I'm only here to watch my fighters destroy the two of you. You had your chance to sign lucrative deals with me and fight for the Ampheta Organization, but you both BLEW IT!" Snow shrieked, his voice cracking. He collected himself and reclined back into the leather cushion of his throne. "You think you're too good for me! I can see why Frieza wiped your kind out, you Saiyans are such a smug, brainless, barbaric race!"
Goku stepped forward, staring up at Snow in his perch. "We still don't have to fight." He reasoned. "Let our wives and sons go and we'll leave."
Snow began to giggle. "Ha! Not happening! I got big plans for your wives and sons. Would you like to know? Actually, I don't care, you're going to die today here so you should both die knowing what future lies in store for your families."
Goku and Vegeta remained silent.
Snow leaned forward on his leather chair with a grin. "Your sons are in storage, in stasis. They're hybrids, I want to see what makes human/Saiyan hybrids so powerful. Right now, they're both sedated for research into their genetic codes. Perhaps I'll harvest their genes for my fighters so we can possess Saiyan powers. Or perhaps I'll offer your sons spots fighting for me. I doubt they'll make the same mistake their egomaniac fathers have made by denying me!"
Vegeta scowled. "The nerve... this fool seems to think he can just take the abilities of others. Just like everything else in his life, he thinks he can just take something if he wants it badly enough..."
Goku stayed still, fixated on Snow. He began to grit his teeth. Knowing exactly what fate that their sons faced only raised the stakes.
"And as for your wives, I was going to just dispose of them, but I found them both to be so... beautiful." Snow said, his voice sounding more lecherous as he finished his sentence. "And so much more lovely in person... It would be such a crime to dispose of these two exquisite goddesses, let alone allow them to continue wasting away with their arrogant, moronic deadbeat Saiyan husbands, who don't appreciate them by the way! Not like I do! Yes, you are both arrogant and NEGLECTFUL, I would never abandon these two to do some bonehead activity like train while we're together. How could you both be so stupid and so selfish? I would NEVER do what you did to your former wives. No, I'll never let them leave my side. The two of you both failed these goddesses as husbands, therefore I have decided they will both be mine now!"
Snow had been eagerly waiting for this moment as he lit up the suite allowing the two Saiyans to get a glimpse of their wives and the new attires or more so, lack of attire they were dressed in. It was unclear what their exact purpose was to Snow besides being living decorations or more so trophies. Sitting at the seat of Snow's throne on ruby colored mattress among equally opulent pillows both women wore variations of the same outfit; gold metallic looking top sand matching gold bottoms. That was all they had for modesty in terms of clothing. Snow seemed to take great pleasure in decorating the two women as several gold and jewel studded bracelets adorned their arms. Both women had been growing their hair out and it appeared as though Snow took great pleasure in having them both have the same hair style of one single long braid. Lastly, the two wore gold collars with a chain extending into Snow's throne. The two women had expressions that could only be seen as humiliation as their husbands saw them in such an exposed state.
Vegeta finally began to lose his composure as Goku stepped forward, his anger growing more. "If you lay a hand on Chi Chi, you'll pay you bastard!" He shouted at Snow. "And don't try anything with Bulma either!"
Chi-Chi felt a small bit of comfort hearing Goku's voice. His presence brought her some much-needed hope.
"Why would I hurt MY future wives?" Snow asked mockingly as he tugged on their chains. "That's right, as soon as you both are dead these two fine human female specimens will be bound to me in another way besides these chains, bound by marriage! You both may be arrogant and cowards, but I will at least respect you enough to save wedding these two exotic beauties until you Saiyans are both DEAD. I would have never imagined that I would inherit the wives of the two greatest warriors in the universe. I am just that great! I will be the husband they both DESERVE."
Bulma also felt relief in her husband's appearance, enough relief to give her the confidence to speak up.
"Vegeta!" she cried, her voice ripe with fear and desperation. "Get me out of here!"
Her unexpected defiance earned her a harsh chain yank from Snow. Vegeta's scowl grew as he watched her fall back on her cushion. He noticed Uma was also in the booth attending to Snow. "If you want a wife so badly, why don't you marry that horse faced abomination back there?"
Snow began to frown and pulled Bulma's chain back fiercely as soon as she sat back up, causing her to whimper and wince. That would get Vegeta to simmer down. "Because she is an android! I had her built to be my assistant! I am not a loser; I am not going to marry a robot!" Snow sulked in his throne for a moment.
"Enough talk! It's time for the main event!" Snow suddenly exclaimed, his demeanor changing back to his usual hyperactive mood. "The two of you will fight against the entire roster of fighters from The Ampheta Organization! If you defeat them all, which I doubt, you will get to face me!"
"Finally, some good news..." Goku thought, his glare at Snow not breaking.
"There are rules! One of you will fight one of my fighters at a time. One stands on the outside platform, the other in the ring. You may both tag in and out of fights. I will surround the resting fighter in a barrier, so you don't get any funny ideas and try to double team my guys! Only the fighter 'tagging out' can deactivate the barrier, the resting fighter will stay put! If a fighter is knocked out via ten count, thrown out of the ring or killed then they are defeated. Much like world tournament rules only with the thrill of potential death! Oh, and no weapons allowed!"
"Hmph... when someone is killed, they're defeated... who could have guessed?" Vegeta thought, opting to keep his mouth shut this time and spare Bulma more punishment for his words.
"If either of you try to get smart and fail to follow my rules, I will have both of your sons dropped into the nearest black hole... or worse... Don't test me..."
"I am also giving the two of you the option of forfeit." Snow smirked. "You can willingly let me have your wives and sons as well as take me up on the offer to fight for me. I will give you that opportunity one more time. Wouldn't it be nice to fight alongside your FORMER wives and sons?"
"We will not even consider it!" Goku fired back immediately. Bulma and Chi-Chi both smiled weakly as Snow frowned.
"That's ok!" Snow replied sarcastically. "Either way I win. I get to have the last two Saiyans fight in my ring and DIE in my ring. And no matter what I walk away with two new wives. It will be hard to focus on the fights when I can see myself consummating the marriages the moment all of this is over! Ah yes, I might as well enjoy it while it lasts. I can't lose!"
"We'll see about that!" Goku shouted, nearly trembling with rage. He could not stop looking over at Chi-Chi. Every time he saw her by Snow in her chained-up state, his temper boiled.
"Kakarot..." Vegeta started as Goku turned to look at him. "I hate the situation with our women as much as you do. To attempt steal a Saiyan's mate is a transgression worthy of death. But I see what he's doing. He's trying to distract us with them in that... state of undress. Their lives as well as our sons' lives are on the line, we need to focus for their sake. This is going to be very difficult for both of us and there's no doubt that weakling will continue to use more dirty tricks against us."
"You're right..." Goku said, looking down. He had practiced remaining calm in battle so long but seeing his loved ones get hurt would never fail to enrage him. "We need to win all of these fights and rescue them. Then that bastard will pay for what he's done!"
Goku looked up and tried to make eye contact with Chi-Chi. She was far but he wanted her to know that losing was not an option and she would not be married to Snow by the time the night was over. He could sense her fear and desperately wanted to give her even a sliver of reassurance.
"Then let's get on with it, shall we use the tried-and-true method to determine who fights first?" Vegeta asked, placing his fist in the palm of his white gloved hand. The tried-and-true method in question was a game of rock/paper/scissors, evoking memories of the fights in Babidi's spaceship. Snow quickly caught on to the game.
"No, no, NO!" he yelled. "Remember the part where I said that I make the rules? I book the fights and Goku is going first."
Vegeta shook his head and walked over to the waiting platform as Goku stood in the ring. Vegeta crossed his arms as he stood on the green tiled platform. Goku breathed in deep and started to stretch his legs in the center of the ring in anticipation of the first fight.
"No matter what, I gotta be locked in." Goku thought as he took once last glance at Chi-Chi. "For her, for Goten. Let's do this, time to fight..."