Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Time & Tide ❯ Trapped ( Chapter 8 )

Chapter Eight

Frieza stared out into space through the monitors with an expression mixed with horror and fury. "How did they know we were coming? They must have been planning this the entire time!"
The servants next to him shook with fear. "M...My lord...The ship can not move any farther. Should we deploy the troops?"
Frieza didn't seem to hear them. He was too busy seething with rage. Just then, Zarbon stepped up to his master's side.
"Lord Frieza, I suggest we send the troops to fight...I have an idea that will most certainly kill two birds with one stone."
Frieza glanced at Zarbon. Then he nodded. "Very well. If a war is what the Saiyans want, then a war is what they will get."
Zarbon smiled. Perfect.

~*~
The army of Saiyans shot towards Frieza's immense ship which was just outside their atmosphere. Suddenly, doors in the sides of the ship opened and thousands of soldiers poured into space, charging for the Saiyans.
"Lead them back to the ground! We'll have the advantage!" Sdhoirm cried. He and Vegeta were at the front of the lines, riding on Cassinian and Warfrost. The Emeras were pawing the air in anticipation. Cassinian was used to the heat of intense battle and was prepared for the onslaught, but Warfrost, although trained to be a palace pet, was still a puppy by Emera lifespans, and couldn't wait to have some fun.
Zafira and Vaya flew up to the men. They had been giving the troops a last pep talk. "Where should we lead them, Dad?" Vaya asked.
Sdhoirm seemed to consider this. "To the deserts. There's more room there, and Frieza's men won't know what to do if a sandstorm blows up. Come on," he motioned for Zafira to climb onto Cassinian's back behind him, and for Vaya to do the same on Warfrost. "We'll give them a race for it."
He and Vegeta looked at each other and grinned. Then Zafira gasped and Vaya cheered as Cassinian and Warfrost shot away after the Saiyan warriors at top speed, with Frieza's fighters closing in behind them.

~*~
"Are you sure this is going to work?" Frieza asked.
"Positive, sire," Zarbon said slyly. "It seems those four bear a particularly strong attachment to each other...and with Sdhoirm out of the way neither the troops nor Zafira will know where to turn. They will surrender easily."
"Good. Make it happen."
Zarbon nodded, and motioned for Dodoria to follow him. Timing would be everything.

~*~
On the Saiyan planet, both armies had touched down and had wasted no time in charging each other head on. The bloodshed was thick, but the Saiyans had prepared for so long that they were doing extremely well. Sdhoirm and Vegeta had circled for awhile, searching for the best place to add their assistance.
Sdhoirm turned to Vegeta. I want you to stay with Vaya. If anything happens to her, contact me immediately. Understand?
Vegeta nodded solemnly. You have my word that she'll be safe. Then he grinned. Take care of my mother, all right?
Sdhoirm smirked. Count on it.
Then Warfrost and Cassinian swooped downwards, slashing at the enemy soldiers in their way. The Saiyans cleared out as the Emeras landed, and their riders leaped down from their backs.
"Vegeta and Vaya, stay together. Fight well and make us proud, but stay alive, too. Okay?" Zafira said to them.
"We promise. Stay safe," Vaya replied as she and Vegeta flew into battle.
Sdhoirm waved to Cassinian, who was looking around tensely, aching to fight. "Go on, have fun. If I need you, I'll whistle, okay?" Sdhoirm said.
Cassinian nodded, and with a roar, he pounced on the enemies. Zafira and Sdhoirm, too, began to fight.
The Saiyans were doing extraordinarily well. However, all of the intense movement had unnerved the desert balance, and in almost no time at all a sandstorm was brewing. Clouds of dust and strong winds blew the sand into the faces of the warriors. The Saiyans were prepared, but the storm was unusually strong--the warriors were forced to fight on instinct instead of relying on sight.
In the middle of the storm Zarbon and Dodoria made their move. They were provided with radar, allowing them to see straight through the blinding sheets of sand. They searched for two certain Saiyans...
...And found them. Vegeta and Vaya were fighting side by side, far away from the protection of their mother and father. Sdhoirm and Zafira were on the other side of the battlefield. Zarbon motioned to Dodoria, and they dove downward.

~*~
"Let go, you stupid bastard! DAAAD! HELP ME!"
Sdhoirm looked up as a familiar cry pierced the sounds of battle. He strained to see through the swirling sand.
"Get your filthy hands off me! How dare you! MOTHER! SDHOIRM! HELP!"
This time, Zafira's head shot to the sky as well. All she could see was dust and sand and clouds, but she had heard the cry for help...she and Sdhoirm looked at each other, fear in their eyes.
Suddenly, out of the clouds swooped two figures...Zarbon and Dodoria. But they were not alone. They had taken two captives, and were triumphantly flying them back to Frieza's ship. Struggling frantically, frightened and furious in their iron grips were Vegeta and Vaya.
"DAD! ZAFIRA!" Vaya screamed as they passed overhead.
"GET US OUT OF HERE!" Vegeta roared, trying to break free of Zarbon. But the green alien only laughed and disappeared into the sky with Dodoria and Vaya right behind him.
"VEGETA!" Zafira cried.
"No...!" Sdhoirm gasped. He shot into the air and blew an ear-piercing whistle. Suddenly Cassinian and Warfrost appeared from opposite directions. The call had been meant for them both.
"Zafira! Fly with Warfrost! We're going to get them back!" Sdhoirm yelled, swinging onto Cassinian, who reared in the air and plunged ahead.
Clenching her teeth with absolute fury, Zafira urged the huge Emera as fast as he could go.

~*~
"Get in that cell, and stay in there!" Dodoria sneered as he and Zarbon tossed Vegeta and Vaya ruthlessly into a four-walled, plain cell.
As soon as he had hit the floor, Vegeta jumped up again and leaped for Frieza's generals with a snarl. But Zarbon merely chuckled and slammed the door in the prince's face.
"Keep quiet in there and maybe no harm will come to you," he said with a heartless laugh. "Or at least, not yet anyway."
And with that, their footsteps faded away down the hall, along with their echoing laughter.
Vegeta's shoulders were heaving with anger. He stared hatefully at the door for a moment, then turned back to Vaya, who was rubbing her arm where it had slammed into the floor. Dodoria was less than gentle.
"Are you all right?" he asked softly, going over to her and stroking her arm gently.
Vaya shrugged. "I don't know. Why are they doing this?"
Vegeta's eyes grew dark again, and they burned. But he had no answer to give. "But don't worry. Mother and Sdhoirm will get us out of here. And then they'll get rid of those two fools for good. All we can do is wait."
Vaya nodded and pressed close to him for reassurance. Vegeta put his arms around her, hoping that the waiting would not be long.

~*~
Sdhoirm and Zafira had gotten in through a secret entrance that the queen had remembered from her days served as Frieza's general. Cassinian and Warfrost waited outside in the atmosphere, with just enough air to breathe by, for the chance to help their masters escape.
Zafira and Sdhoirm followed a quiet hallway down to the bowels of the ship, where captives were kept. Most of Frieza's fighters were out battling the Saiyans, so they met no interference along the way. After much searching, they found the cell that contained their children.
Zafira tapped on the door. Instantly, Vegeta's face appeared at the small barred window.
"Mother! Am I glad to see you!" he gasped, looking extremely tense. "You've got to get us out of here. I think Zarbon and Dodoria are up to something."
"Relax, it'll only take a sec--" Zafira stopped short at that last comment. "What are they up to?"
Vaya's face popped up next to Vegeta's. "We don't know, but Zarbon said if we kept quiet, we wouldn't get hurt, at least not yet."
Zafira started to reply, but Sdhoirm stepped in. "We have no time to figure this out right now. Zafira, can you break the lock?"
Zafira narrowed her eyes. Then she pulled back her fist and slammed it into the door. The lock fell to dust and the iron door almost snapped in two. Vegeta and Vaya instantly jumped out of their prison. Vaya ran to her father and Zafira hugged her son.
But there was still no time to waste. Just as the happy parents were feeling relief at getting their children back, an alarm started to sound and the lights began flashing red.
"We have to go now," Zafira said, letting go of Vegeta, who immediately attached himself to Vaya. "Frieza probably still has soldiers on the ship. They'll be here any second."
Sdhoirm hesitated. Then he looked at Zafira. "Can you get them out the way we came in?"
Zafira nodded, looking suspicious. "Yes..."
Sdhoirm nodded as well. "Good. Then take them and go. I'll distract the guards and meet you at the battlefield as soon as I can."
Zafira looked shocked. "But--"
Sdhoirm gave her a look. "Listen, remember what I said once? You have to trust me. I know what I'm doing," he added with a tiny smile.
Zafira sighed. She looked into his eyes. "Do what you must. But be careful."
Sdhoirm smirked. "Aren't I always?"
Vaya hugged him. "Please, Dad."
Sdhoirm returned the gesture, more solemnly this time.
Vegeta said nothing. But when he caught Sdhoirm's eye, he gave his soul-father the smallest of smiles. Sdhoirm nodded, and without another word took off down the corridor.
Zafira stared after him for a moment...then she motioned to Vegeta and Vaya. "This way. Hurry!"

~*~
After turning several corners and running down several hallways, Sdhoirm met up with Frieza's guards. There were fewer of them than there would have been, but they were fully armed with all sorts of weapons. Sdhoirm pulled out his sword.
One by one they rushed at him. The sword flashed and danced...and one by one they fell to the floor, dead.
Sdhoirm slipped the sword back into its sheath. He was pleased by how easy the fight had been...but at the same time he was suspicious. Frieza's guards should not have been that weak. He turned to go.
Suddenly, an iron wall came down in front of him.
Sdhoirm froze. He turned around again, faster this time.
Another wall slammed to the floor.
He was trapped.
He ran to one wall and started slamming his fist into it, but it was too thick. It would not break. He backed away, panic growing inside him.
Just then, he heard a hissing sound. Gas was leaking from a tiny vent in the floor. Before Sdhoirm even had a chance to hold his breath, he fell to his knees, and blacked out on the floor.

~*~
He woke up much later in a cell even smaller than the one Vegeta and Vaya had been in. He was lying on the floor. When he tried to move his arms and legs, he couldn't. They were chained together, and his arms were behind his back so that he couldn't escape. The metal was special, and seemed to be steadily sapping his strength. He couldn't break them.
Then he noticed that his sword was missing.
Just then, the door to Sdhoirm's cell creaked open. Sdhoirm looked up to see Zarbon framed in the doorway.
"YOU!" he hissed angrily, struggling to get up.
Zarbon saw this and smirked. "Don't bother. I'm here to take you to Lord Frieza. He wishes to have a chat with you."
Sdhoirm's eyes narrowed. Zarbon reached down and hauled him to his feet by his black collar.
"Oh, and I wouldn't try any funny business if I were you," Zarbon snickered. "You see, I am within easy reach of that nuisance tail of yours. One squeeze is all it'll take."
Sdhoirm's expression darkened, but he said nothing as Zarbon led him through the halls once more.

~*~
"So this is the famous Sdhoirm."
Sdhoirm was in Frieza's chambers, in front of the evil tyrant himself. Zarbon had forced him to his knees, and the green general was now standing off to one side with Dodoria. Frieza chuckled.
"I've heard a lot about you, Saiyan. They say that you are quite the expert when it comes to swordplay. But really...one might wonder if this little beauty really did all the work for you." Frieza snapped his fingers.
Sdhoirm turned his head and saw Zarbon reach behind Frieza's chair...and pull out his sword. Zarbon smirked as he twirled it around.
"This is quite an impressive weapon," he murmured. "Pity it was wasted on you."
Sdhoirm didn't let them see the fury in his eyes.
Frieza smiled again, and he left his chair to circle Sdhoirm slowly. "That was quite an interesting stunt you pulled with this sword...my informants tell me that it was you who stopped my death ball before it reached the planet, even before Zafira destroyed it."
Sdhoirm kept his eyes down.
Frieza's expression darkened. "I suppose you think you're brave, don't you," he said softly, dangerously.
"Only compared to some," Sdhoirm replied just as soft.
Suddenly, Frieza's hand shot out and snatched Sdhoirm's tail. Pain exploded inside every part of Sdhoirm's body, but he refused to cry out. He didn't want to give Frieza the satisfaction.
Frieza increased his pressure, and Sdhoirm bit down on his lip so hard he drew blood, still refusing to make a sound. Finally, Frieza let go off his tail, and Sdhoirm collapsed to the ground, breathing heavily. He was too weak to even move anymore.
Frieza scowled down at him. "Get him out of here, Zarbon. His mere presence sickens me."
Zarbon's face twisted into an evil and sadistic smile. "Yes, my lord."

~*~
Zafira had returned to the war with Vegeta and Vaya. The battle was going well, but Frieza's soldiers drastically outnumbered the Saiyans, so the outcome was still anyone's guess. The sandstorm had passed, leaving the soldiers free to fight with clear senses.
Just then, half the fighters were distracted when a side hatch opened in Frieza's ship. The newer vessel was small compared to Frieza's, but still larger than a space pod. It hovered for a moment, then zoomed off into space.
The other soldiers were not unnerved, but Zafira watched the ship leave. I've got a bad feeling about this...