"Good morning, I'm Cynthia McFadin with late breaking news for Z-TV." Announced a well-dressed woman, gold hoop earrings bouncing against her neck as she spoke.
"We're here live in front of the Presidential Complex in Capital City with Bulma Briefs, daughter of the renowned scientist and inventor of Capsule Corporation.
"Miss Briefs, you're friends with one of the captured Saiyajin, Son Goku?" Cynthia asked, turning her head to the blue-haired beauty beside her.
"Yes, childhood friends." Bulma answered, the only of their group with the nerve to speak in front of a camera.
"We've just received word that he hasn't been eating or speaking and is being held in a dungeon beneath the complex. How does that make you feel?"
"Son-kun isn't eating?" Bulma asked, more to herself, tears springing to her eyes, "That’s horrible! There's no need to treat him like some kind of rabid animal! He's a person, just like everyone else."
"Many are agreeing, Miss Briefs. Whose idea was it for the petition?" Cynthia asked, changing subjects quickly.
"All of us really. Myself, Krillin, Yamcha, Chi-Chi… We've all been best friends with Goku for years, nearly all our lives. We had to do something." Bulma said, gesturing to the trio standing back behind her.
The camera zoomed out enough to take in the group before zooming back in to just Cynthia and Bulma, "And how many signatures do you have now?"
"Twenty-one hundred. We're still working in East City, but just yesterday we received several signatures in the mail from other cites. It won't be long before-"
"Yes, wonderful," Cynthia interrupted, her camera man signaling that it was time for a break, "I'm Cynthia McFadin with Z-TV. Stay tuned for more Live in Capital City."
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"Somebody's leaking information!" The president boomed, rising and switching off the large television in his office.
"Sir, I'm afraid it's going to happen." His assistant said calmly, shrugging.
"We could move them. Myself and others have been working vigorously to create inescapable living quarters in the southeast section of the lab. I'm proud to say it's completed and it would be quite the opportunity to study them." Announced an excited little man dressed in white like all the other scientists.
After receiving a questioning look from the president, he went on, "I'm Dr. Kofun and moving the younger one may even calm the reporters. Listening to the people gains you lots of votes."
"Hmm… Not a bad idea," the president said, rubbing his chin, then looking to his assistant, "What do you think?"
"You won't be able to move just the one. Son Goku doesn't seem able to survive without the prince. Is the… Er, Quarters as inescapable as you say they are?"
"Oh, yes, quite. It's four by four meters in the center of our largest lab. The walls are two decimeters of unbreakable, high visibility glass with invisible barriers built into them. Inescapable." Dr. Kofun said, a grin on his clean-shaven face.
"Hmm… Very well."
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Vejita watched as the boy just lie there on the floor, "How can you stand to let so much of you touch that filth?" he asked through a look of disgust.
"At this point, I couldn’t care less," Goku said, slowly sitting up, wincing at the pain he felt inside, "Why does it still hurt?"
"These damn bands make us weak. Our healing abilities are probably as slow as Human's." Vejita said through a hiss of pure hatred for the cunning creatures.
"You think this is how Humans feel?" Goku asked, curious, scooting over to the wall and leaning against it.
Vejita merely shrugged in reply.
"No wonder they're so scared of us." Goku mumbled, wincing as he repositioned.
Vejita watched as the boy pulled his tattered shirt to the side to inspect his wounds. Something had to be broken. His pale skin was dark with large bruises ranging from blue-black to violet-gray.
"Why did you just let them beat you like that?" the prince asked, honestly curious.
Goku shrugged, "I didn't care." He answered simply, using his fingertips to lightly rub up and down his sides from his armpits to his hips, along his chest and over his biceps. He was so sore, it felt good to just move, to be touched.
"Well, at least the one on your face is smaller."
Goku looked up, a hand going to his face, "Where?"
Vejita moved closer, lightly tracing the bruise with his index finger, "I… I don't know why, but… You look really good all banged up." He whispered, pulling his hand back.
Goku smiled lightly, but it quickly faded at the sound of the door opening.
The four guards and two scientists entered, approaching their cage. "We're moving you up a level. If you would be so kind as to cooperate, we'll have you in better living conditions momentarily." Said a small, skinny man, who seemed far too happy about something.
Vejita and Goku were quickly at their feet, glancing at one another in suspicion. Moments later the guards were grabbing them, holding them tightly, fearfully.
Goku winced at the tight grip on his aching arm but kept quiet, instead concentrating on where they were going. Once out of the dark dungeon, they stepped into a large elevator, which opened up to the sparkling white tiled floors of the lab.
Their shoes all tapped against the floor as they moved quickly to a large room filled with computers and desks. In the center was a small glass room. In a corner of the huge room was what appeared to be wall-less showering facilities.
"Yes, thank you, we'll be fine here on out." Said Dr. Kofun, gesturing for the guards to leave. Other than him, there were about five other scientists in the room, all their eyes on them.
"Very well, if the two of you would undress and wash up, we have new clothing for you-"
Kofun was interrupted, however, "What is all this?" Vejita asked in a gruff voice, his eyes narrowed.
"I'm afraid it would be inappropriate to explain what's going on. Now please, if you would… " he answered happily, gesturing to the showers.
Goku waited until Vejita nodded before lifting his feet to remove his boots followed quickly by his tattered shirt. Their audience seemed to be surprised by the display of bruises that continued as the boy removed his pants. The backs of his thighs and his calves littered with the dark injuries, although, none of them were as severe as the ones on his sides.
Vejita shook his head, trying not to think about his hatred for the puny Humans as he began removing his boots and gloves. As he did so, the candle toppled out into his palm.
Kofun narrowed his eyes, trying to get a better look, "What's that?"
Vejita handed the clump of wax to Kakarotto, continuing with his undressing. Before long the stretchy spandex was removed and they both stood naked.
"What is that?" Kofun repeated, taking a step closer.
"It's a candle." Goku answered simply, turning the object over and over in his hand, waiting patiently for Vejita to finish his shower.
The prince took a while adjusting the water to warm, the strange controls new to him. He then proceeded to use exactly half of the liquid soap they'd provided. It didn't take long for him to be satisfied, rinsing off and stepping aside for Kakarotto to take his turn.
Kofun wondered at their behavior. There were three showers. Why were they going one at a time? And why on Earth did the prince carry a used candle?
Soon Goku was finished and used the same towel as his fellow Saiyajin to dry off.
Shaking his head, Dr. Kofun decided it wouldn't hurt to let them keep their strange possession, "If you would just come this way… This is your new quarters. Inside are your clothes."
Vejita was suspicious of the strange-looking room, but they didn't have much of a choice. So, the two of them stepped inside, the large sliding door shutting behind them before locking automatically. They stood still for a few minutes as if waiting for something to happen. Strangely enough, they could see and hear through the thick walls quite well, as if they weren't even there.
Their new clothing was simply enough a T-shirt, loose fitting, button closure, cotton pants, and a pair of boxers, which they didn't bother with. All of it was white and thin and actually very comfortable.
Their new cage didn't have much walking space, what with a small cot-like bed against two walls and a toilet in a corner. However, they both appreciated the simple furnishings for their needs. Before they'd been forced to both sleep and use the bathroom on the floor.
They both looked up as a slot in the door was opened and a young man in white offered two plates filled with decent looking food.
"This is pretty good, ne, Jita?" Goku said as he gobbled up the warm food.
Vejita only nodded. When they were finished, they pushed the metal plates back out the slot, surprising the few remaining occupants of the large room as they clattered to the floor.
"Very good, then. We'll be going for the night. There are four guards standing just outside that door, and the walls of your room contain barrier blockers, which won't allow you to pass wearing those restraints. So, no funny business, okay?" Dr. Kofun said through a smile. He was the last one to leave and switched off the lights on his way out, the large door closing behind him, remaining unlocked.
Though it was dark, they were still able to see quite well, "What do you think they're gonna do with us?" Goku questioned.
"I don't know, but I don't like it. I'd rather be alone in that Hellhole than up here with constant eyes on us."
Goku nodded in agreement, "Guess we should get some sleep."
Vejita nodded, both of them moving to scoot their beds together against one wall without a thought. Moments later they were under the covers, warm bodies pressed together. It didn't take long for them to fall asleep.
