~J.J

The cells were all the same.

They blended in with one another until they became one giant black prison, their bars mingling in the darkness like skeletal arms raised upwards in plea. Koru had not known what cell Jona would have been put in, but Bulma had insisted that they would find her and give her a proper burial.

It was strange, really. No one had actually said it, but in breaking into Jona’s cell and burying her, Koru’s freedom was ensured. She had not wanted to leave The Dungeons because she felt she would be betraying her sister in some way. Bulma had found it surprising that Vegeta had not made any of his usual cutting comments, but had instead actually expressed understanding, and had agreed to the request.

Now, Vegeta stopped in front of a cell, his sharp eyesight picking out a form much smaller than the others. He felt stupid when he almost called out, knowing she was dead. Beside him Bulma, Spider and Ghost came to a halt. Ghost slipped through the bars and tentatively approached the unmoving form. There was a shuffling, a startled chirp, and then a collapsing of brittle bones. Years of untouched layers of dust exploded up in huge clouds and Vegeta and Bulma coughed, holding their hands over their mouths. The dust settled almost instantly.

"This is her…I’m assuming." Vegeta said. "The skeleton is very small."

Bulma nodded. "Are you sure you’ll be able to break through these bars?" she asked, finally getting the question out of the way. She was afraid it might have insulted him.

"Yes." He said after a pause. "Of course I can." He stepped up to them, and, grasping two of them in his gloved hands, he set his feet apart and ground his heels into the floor. Beads of sweat appeared on his brow as he growled low in his throat, struggling to force the thick bars of iron apart. Bulma watched the massive cords of muscle clenching and flexing beneath his skin before two of them pushed apart with just enough space for a small person to fit through. He let go, breathing slightly harder than normal and stepped back. "The Storkrin’s knew what they were doing." He said. "Those are strong bars." He looked over at her. "You’re the only one who will be able to fit through this space." He said.

"Couldn’t you pull them apart more?"

"See how tightly spaced together these bars are? Look, don’t make any more trouble for me. Just do it."

"All right." She glared. "If it’s too hard for you, I guess I’ll just have to do it for you."

"I’d take that back if I were you, woman."

Bulma ignored him and, summoning courage, she slipped through the bars. The floor was thick with moss, dust, and overgrown vines. She approached the small skeleton, which now lay curled up in a pile in the corner. There were vines entwined around the arms and some that were growing through the eyesockets of the skull. Bulma supposed it was not that bad; the vines could have been snakes. Carefully, she kneeled down beside the skeleton and surveyed it from where she sat. She was absolutely astounded that she had not yet screamed or fainted, what with being beside a skeleton and all. She felt a swell of pride in her chest.

"It’s in pieces." She called over her shoulder, not taking her eyes off the skeleton. "I’ll need to carry it out in…pieces." She swallowed and felt the first wave of unease wash over her gut. She tried to calm it.

Pieces?

"I told you this was a waste of time." Vegeta said. "Like Koru said, with her being released back into R’haksin, it will cause a whole world of problems." He paused meaningfully. "Maybe even a war."

"Look, she doesn’t need to be down here!" Bulma said with a deep frown. She reached forward and gently cradled the skeletons skull, taking it gingerly into her arms. It was so very tiny…

"Lot’s of things don’t need to happen." Vegeta said. "The point is, they do."

"Look, could you just shut up and help me?" the skeleton was easily small enough to carry between the two of them. She scooped up the arms and legs and stood. She walked over to Vegeta and gently passed them to his waiting arms. "I feel like we’re…defiling her…or something." She said miserably. "Are we doing the right thing?"

As usual, Vegeta gave her no answer. He shrugged and waited for her to collect the rest of the tiny bones. When she did, she turned sideways and slipped through the bars, handing them to him.

"Look…Vegeta…" Bulma brushed her hands on her pants and stared sadly at the little skeleton, "I want to talk to Koru for a second before we go. You know, to calm her down…or…set her mind at peace. She said she didn’t want to be there when we buried her…so…would you mind doing it yourself? I’ll wait for you down here."

Scowling, he shrugged. His mind was in other places, such as the promise he had made to Bulma. Looking down at the skeleton, his desensitized Sayajin mind only allowed him to think blandly of the burial. He would say what Koru had asked, because he had honor as well, and then the job would be done. He could forget about dead sisters, and start worrying about what would happen once he freed Koru. He was angry with himself because even though it was an insane, dangerous idea, he knew deep down that it was the right thing to do, and so he was going to do it. They could get hurt…get a war on R’haksin started. They could possibly wipe out all the women left. There weren’t many. He looked at Bulma’s expression and nodded his assurance.

"Go. Talk to her then." He said gruffly.

"Are you sure?" Bulma asked him. He nodded and turned down the corridor, carefully cradling the small skeleton to his chest. Spider walked beside him at an easy trot, leaving Bulma in the hall beside the cell, Ghost at her feet.

"Well," she looked down at the little Cheribulum and sighed, "I guess we go talk to Koru now."

* * *

Arden yawned loudly, his mouth opening wide to accommodate a mouthful of massive fangs. Exhaling with pleasure, he shifted around atop his post in the concealment of the tree he sat in and resumed enjoying the heat.

Arden was the largest Storkrin on R’haksin. The Storkrin doctors had confirmed that something had gone very wrong with his genes to produce such a monstrosity. He was larger than even Treskor, but did not hold the standing Treskor did. Arden respected Treskor as a Leader, and in turn Treskor respected him as a great Storkrin warrior and guard. He had been fighting and defending R’haksin for many years alongside his lifelong friend Tajil, who sat perched in the tree next to him. Both the Storkrins had been guards for 20 years. Now, they were keeping watch over the entrance to The Dungeons, as Psoria, another Guard, had mentioned suspicious activity concerning the area. Arden and Tajil had offered to keep watch.

Now, Arden noticed a rustling noise to the sides of the entrance. He leaned over the edge of the tree and peered curiously downwards. The trees were too high up for any intruder to notice them, but Arden’s eyesight was good enough to count the hairs on their face from where he sat.

"Hey…Tajil." Arden called quietly over his shoulder. The rustling ceased as the intruder seemed to know they were being watched. Arden quieted himself, leaning every so gently back into the concealment of the leaves. He watched the entrance with keen eyes and a minute or so passed. Then, the intruder swept practically wraith-like through the bushes and onto the path, a movement so swift Arden had hardly a moment to catch any detail. He caught enough to recognize it was the Prince of Vegetasei. He remembered seeing the human female accompanying him at the festival. He frowned.

"Tajil." He said softly. "What do you sssuppossse the Prince wasss doing?"

Tajil shrugged back, the massive cords of muscle flexing in his arms as he did so. Tajil had a hard, cold face due to his rather tough nature. Tajil was the posterchild of Storkrins; he had every quality that an average Storkrin was supposed to have. He was ruthless, excessively violent, and had little respect for women. In many ways he was as Vegeta was, except for the fact that the Prince could rip him to shreds within seconds. Tajil had learned this from experience; he had a rather nasty scar slicing across his lower abdomen that was, unfortunately for him, the Prince’s doing from many years ago. This was why he had little to no interest in deciding whether or not Vegeta’s actions were suspicious or not. A tangle with the feisty Sayajin, no matter how much smaller, was not on his ‘to-do’ list for today.

Arden was different from Tajil in many ways. Arden was respectful; he had honor, and was one of the very few Storkrin males who had not agreed with Treskor’s ideas of The Dungeons. But somehow, the two remained friends. Arden now ignored Tajil’s obvious disgust and decided for the both of them that Vegeta’s actions were worth investigating.

"He ssseemed to be holding sssomething…" Arden said. Pulling his cloak tightly around him, he left his post and began the quick, headfirst descent down the tree in the strange, animal-like way that Storkrin’s climbed and descended trees. He landed at the bottom quickly, and, surveying the ground, stood back to call an order to Tajil. He found himself instead looking him straight on.

"Ssstay here." Tajil said coolly. "I will invessstigate. Ssshall you ssscout?"

Arden was surprised. He had not expected his friend to so readily go forth into The Dungeons. No Storkrin had been in their depths for three years. He shrugged and, trying to ignore the nagging feeling that something was wrong clasped his friend on the shoulder. "I ssshall." He paused. "Are you sssure?"

Tajil nodded. There was something strange about his demeanor all of a sudden. Tajil was not the type to want to do something like this. Arden briefly reconsidered, but in the end decided to let his fellow warrior be. Tajil turned and vanished into the inky blackness. Arden sighed and leaned vigil against the stone entrance.

* * *

Bulma froze as she heard the footsteps. She looked briefly at Koru and then back at the stairs. "Vegeta?" she called. There was no answer. Within her arms, Ghost growled nervously, a sound she had never heard him make. Her heart skipped a beat.

She looked at Koru. Her face was ashen, if it could have been any less red, and her eyes had gone wide. Her nostrils inhaled heavily the scent that was approaching them, and she turned to Bulma with a frightened look.

"Run!" she hissed. She crawled back nosily into the darkness of her cell. Bulma clutched Ghost to her chest and stood, paling. Her heart hammered wildly in her chest. What was happening? Something was wrong.

Ducking, she ran as quickly as she could around the corner and searched for an open cell. Behind her, the footsteps stopped as they neared the last step. Whoever or whatever it was, they would be standing directly in front of Koru right now. Bulma raced toward Jona’s cell. As quietly as she could, she ran into it, and lay down where the little girl’s skeleton had been. With her breath in her throat and her heart pounding against her chest, she covered her head with one hand and held Ghost with the other. Then, she waited.

Meanwhile, Tajil had discovered Koru.

"You live." He said cruelly, his blunt muzzle transforming into a hideous grin of malicious glee. Koru crawled further back into her cell, glaring daggers at him.

"I live, but touch me, and you shall not." She said as firmly as she could.

"You make no difference to me." Tajil replied casually, his face still grinning. "I want to know where the human isss."

"There is no human down here." Koru said, trying to keep her voice from shaking. "You are being stupid."

Tajil remained silent and unmoving for the shortest of seconds before he suddenly lunged at Koru’s cell, slamming his full weight against the bars. It was enough to make them rattle. Koru whimpered and turned her head, expecting, for some reason, a blow. When she opened her eyes Tajil was laughing sadistically. It had been an intimidation move.

"Do not make me kill you, Koru." Tajil said calmly. "Where isss the human?"

Koru said nothing.

Tajil reared back and slammed the bars with his fists, glowering at her. He seemed to recover and smiled over his rage. "It makesss no differnece." He said. "I will find your little friend, there isss no point in trying to hide her from me."

"What do you want with her?" Koru cried. Inside, she could feel her anger boiling.

Tajil merely smiled and turned down the hall, his cold red eyes searching the corners for any suspicious form. "There are many of you that ssstill live." He remarked.

"Don’t touch them." Koru said. "They have done nothing."

"I have no time to waste for them." he looked over his shoulder at her as he began walking down the hall. "I will find your little friend. You ssshall hear me when I do."

* * *

Vegeta stepped back from the small mound of red earth and nodded to himself. He had done a reasonable job. He thought it odd to feel a brief sensation of happiness. She would rest well here.

He had positioned the grave directly under a tree, as Koru had instructed him to. He seemed to remember Koru saying that Jona had loved the huge R’haksin trees. He brushed his hands on his pants and sighed. It was time to get back to Bulma. He turned to call for Spider, and was surprised to find that he was not there. He frowned. It was quite a ways back. Why would he have left? He shrugged, and turned to begin the walk back.

He supposed he would find out.

* * *

Spider, meanwhile, had experienced the sudden and brief sensation that all devoted animal’s experience in their lifetime of their master being in grave danger, and had reacted with quick instinct.

He was running quickly now, his tongue hanging out of his mouth as he panted, trying quickly to reach the graying area that he had seen her descend into. He had paused only to suffer through a painful but quick transformation. Spider, as all young Roctorns did, had submitted to the strange gene in his blood that forced his body to change and strengthen when critical danger was near. It was not been drastic. His bulk had widened and become considerably more muscled, and his senses had been raised sharply. There is no way to describe this. It is simply a phenomenon.

He kept on running.

* * *

Bulma held her breath as she heard the scraping of feet upon the concrete. She prayed, with all of her might, that Ghost would remain silent. The footsteps paused in front of her cell, then stopped with obvious intent. She squeezed her eyes shut and struggled against the burning sensation in her lungs. She needed to breathe.

Tajil stared down at the quivering form that lay on the cold cement of Jona’s cell floor, the very same cell that he had brought the small girl into. He remembered how Arden had refused to be a part of the official opening of The Dungeons. He smiled at this. So fragile, he was. Now he kneeled down and watched the human as she struggled to try and appear oblivious. What strange creatures the Humans were. Didn’t she realize how obvious she was being?

"Breathe." He said. It was one word, cold and cruel.

Realizing she was helpless, Bulma released her breath in a painful ‘whoosh’ of air. She scrambled into a sitting position and faced the giant creature. It was a male Storkrin, as she had suspected it to be. Mustering courage, she glared at him.

"Did you hurt Koru?" she cried. Thankfully, she watched Ghost as he scampered away, obviously sensing the danger he was in. He vanished into a hole tiny enough for him. She was glad that he had escaped. Now, what of her?

Tajil shook his head, enjoying the human’s fear. "And what if I had?"

"If you touch me, Vegeta will beat the living shit out of you." She said slowly.

Tajil cocked his head, suddenly reminding Bulma of a big, ugly bird. "Vegeta?" he hissed. "Arden will not allow his passage."

"Arden?" Bulma frowned, trying not to show her fear. There were more?

Tajil suddenly stood and walked toward her. "The Prince will not be interfering." He said calmly.

"What are you planning to do to me?" she whispered.

"You are not welcome here. No one is." Tajil explained.

"That’s no reason to kill me." Bulma’s instincts were beginning to kick in. What good would it do if she just sat back and let him beat the crap out of her? Vegeta would get here soon…wouldn’t he?

Then, suddenly, she had an idea. She remembered Vegeta saying that the bars were nearly impossible to get through. If she closed them now, she may very well hold him off until Vegeta came back. He couldn’t have gone far, could he? She looked at the bars. All she had to do was slid them into place…and…

Tajil followed her gaze to the bars. He realized what she was doing. Lifting a finger, he waggled it back and forth. "Ah ah ah…female…" he hissed. "Do not be ssstupid." He reached out with deadly speed and grabbed the bars, holding them firmly. "Now…" he motioned her toward him. "Come here."

* * *

Outside, Arden stared ahead at the red and black blur that was speeding toward him at breakneck speed. It was moving so fast he could hardly tell what it was. He confirmed that whatever it was, it was very big, appeared to be in a great hurry, and had lot’s of tails. The closer it got, the more features he picked out. Then it clicked. It was a Roctorn. He frowned. But what was one so young doing out here?

Spider’s giant paws thudded across the ground, tearing up dirt as he hurdled toward the opening of the entrance. Something stood in his way. He skidded to a halt and glared the unwanted person down, panting hard. Arden regarded him carefully.

"What do you want, boy?" he asked in a calm voice. Spider lowered his head and growled. "Now, no reassson to be violent." Arden said, backing up bit. Whatever had angered this animal, it was definitely going to get a good thrashing. He saw no reason to let it go down into The Dungeons, and also saw no reason why he should get a number of nasty scars for no reason at all. It wouldn’t look good on his record. Stepping aside, he gestured to the opening.

"Go on, then."

Spider obliged.

* * *

Bulma cried out in pain as she was slammed against the wall, one meaty clawed hand holding her in place. Tajil leaned his face into her own and grinned gleefully, looking quite the sadist.

"We do not appreciate your kind, or any kind, down here." He said. Bulma fought to stay conscious. Her head throbbed, and pain shot through her back and lower limbs. Her legs wavered and buckled, but the hand held her up around her neck. Bruises covered her arms and stomach where Tajil had hit her when she had spit in his face. She supposed it hadn’t been a good idea, but she never was one for putting up with male bullshit.

She spit out blood and stared at him through a rapidly swelling eye. The other was already shut.

"Leave me…alone…"

Tajil chuckled. "Why ssshould I?" he hissed.

"I’m…infected…" she rasped. "With Fortricres."

Tajil visibly pulled back, the fear of Fortricres that existed in all Storkrin’s making him uneasy. "You are bluffing." He hissed, warily. "Do not lie to me."

"I’m not…lying…" Bulma trailed off when she heard the growling. It was low, and guttural, and full of a very, very intense rage. And it was directly behind her attacker. She smiled weakly.

It was Spider.

Tajil whirled around. Spider’s now much larger body tensed the muscles in his calves quivering as he anticipated the Storkrin’s next move. His head lowered to the ground and he stared up at Tajil with orange slits of hate. His tails puffed out behind him, and his lips quivered as he snarled.

Tajil had seconds to react as Spider lunged for him, his jaws snapping and going directly for the Storkrin’s throat. An arm lashed out and caught the Roctorn with a glancing blow, but Spider recovered quickly and was back on his feet, this time closing his great jaws around Tajil’s ankle. He set his jaw firmly and did not let go, even when the much larger opponent began to kick him viciously with his free leg. Spider loosened his grip for a second and then moved up, clamping down harder. This time he thrashed his head from side to side as he quite literally dug his fangs deep into the bone. Tajil cried out but did not cease his kicking. Spider winced again and again as the foot slammed into his unprotected side.

Bulma reacted. She jumped forward and punched Tajil as hard as she could in the side of his face. There was a sharp cracking noise, and she knew she had broken her hand. She had bough enough time for Spider, however, who took advantage of Tajil’s surprise and directed his fangs at a much more vulnerable target.

His crotch.

This time Tajil screamed with enough force to hurt Bulma’s ears. Spider hung on and tore his head from side to side, blood dribbling down his chin and matting in his fur. Tajil managed to compose himself, and swung down with a great fist, driving his extended claws deep into Spider’s back. The Roctorn cried out around his mouthful and his legs buckled beneath him. He refused to let go, and Tajil drew back once more, driving his claws, this time, into Spiders side. This time Spider let go and slumped silently to the ground. He whimpered piteously at Bulma, who stared horrified into his already fading eyes, and covered her mouth with her hands. Tajil whirled, and struck out against her face.

She knew only darkness.

* * *

Vegeta glared suspiciously at Arden as the two neared each other. Both nodded their heads in greeting.

"What’s going on?" Vegeta scowled. Already, his head was alive with thoughts of Bulma being in danger. He advanced quickly toward the entrance but Arden held him back with one arm. He shook his head, even under the wilting glare of the Prince.

"I wasss told to keep an eye on The Dungeonsss. Tressskor has reported sssuspicious activity." He said. "Pleassse, do not make trouble for usss."

"Us?" Vegeta repeated. "Who’s down there?"

"My friend, Tajil." Arden said. "Would you have anything to do with thisss activity?"

Vegeta pushed him back with ease. "Look, just shut the hell up and come with me. I’ll explain in a second." He scowled deeply at the guard. "Look, you really don’t want to fuck with me right now."

Arden shrugged and the two started down the steps.

* * *

Clutching his wounded manhood, Tajil stumbled alongside the hallway walls, bleeding profusely, and rapidly loosing large amounts of blood. Through his haze of anger and pain, he could make out two forms approaching him. The first was Arden, he assumed, and the second was much smaller, but appeared to be much angrier. It slammed into him with startling force and threw him against a wall. He could not defend himself as two hands wrapped around his neck and squeezed.

"Tajil, what hasss happened?" Arden cried as he ran up beside the two. He made no move to remove Vegeta’s hands.

"WHERE IS SHE!?" Vegeta roared. "If you hurt her, I swear…"

Tajil collapsed. Weakly, he pointed over his shoulder. Vegeta was off in a second. Arden knelt beside him.

"Tajil!" he shook him gently. "What…" he looked down at his friends wounds and winced. "Wasss it…" he remembered the Roctorn. He glared and stood. He would kill the creature for doing this to his friend.

"Don’t worry, Tajil." Arden said firmly. "I will kill him for you." He started off without another word. He rounded the corner and nearly bumped into the Prince, who was cradling a small. Bloody form to his chest. Arden stared. The Roctorn lay at the Prince’s feet, also very badly wounded, and breathing with very shallow breaths. Suddenly, he realized.

"Prince…" he trailed off. The form the Prince was holding was the human. He looked down at the Roctorn, then back at the human. He thought of Tajil.

"He did not do this." Vegeta managed through clenched teeth. "He is a friend." He nodded to Spider. Against him, Bulma moaned, her head slumping to one side. Vegeta’s eyes wavered.

"Let me by." He said with trembling anger. "I’m going to kill him."

Arden stared sadly. "Prince…pleassse…"

"Take her to Strifelon." Vegeta said. "And then come back for the Roctorn. Do as I say, or you will die."

Arden nodded. He understood.

Vegeta stalked out of the room and approached the bleeding form of Tajil, who was slumped over, his leg and crotch mangled beyond recognition. Vegeta grabbed him roughly by the chin and yanked his face upwards. Tajil’s eyes opened uncertainly, and he blinked, confused, at the Prince’s face that was contorted with rage.

"Smile while I do this." Vegeta said through clenched teeth.

He drew back his fist.