Vegeta glares at one of the patrons that had looked at the four Saiyans a little too long, with a little too much mirth in his eyes. The PTO wisely looks away, but little can be done about more subtle looks from other tables. Not even an angry Saiyan teen with a nasty reputation is enough to divert attention from two drunks making this much… noise.

We're a laughing stock!

They will be the talk of the base by tomorrow. Hell, before the night is through soldiers all over the planet will be ridiculing them.

Some celebration this is.

Raditz had been set free; finally out of the tanks after what still must have been a nasty workover. A good reason to celebrate. Nobody ever heard of a soldier going AWOL and returning without having his head put on a pike. And considering what had happened before Raditz went off on his own...

Vegeta idly wonders if the older teen knows how lucky he is to have gotten out at all, or what it took to buy that 'luck'. He certainly hopes not. The one thing the two old ex-generals in front of them had going for them was their thick and oblivious skulls. Even when sober.

Right now the two are deep within their cups. Both Nappa and Papple are clueless at the best of times. Drunk, however, their stupidity knows no bounds. Stacks of glasses and rows of bottles nearly shield the two ex-generals from Vegeta's icy glare. Today, it is Vegeta and Raditz that have taken up the role of guardians. The two teens are looking after their elders; straight-backed and frowning.

Nappa starts into the third verse of his song raising his pitch with uneven cadence; almost defiantly.

"But a warrior will fight and the fighting won't stop

Till his heart has bled dry, to that last darkened drop."

Vegeta winces as the old man butchers the melody, his voice not meant for singing at the best of times.

To Nappa's left Papple has finally - mercifully - passed out. He is draped over his forearms, shielding his eyes from view. Something to be thankful for; Vegeta was almosts certain the old warrior had been crying.

The crown prince of all Saiyans- all four of them- digs his nails into his biceps until he can feel moist running down to his elbows, arms crossed tightly in a useless attempt to shield himself from this public humiliation.

Only Raditz, to his left, could be counted on at times like this; his gaze waverring front and right apologetically; obviously aware he was supposed to do something, but unable to figure out exactly what without orders.

What a spectacle we are making off ourselves.

Nappa continues unapologetically:

"On that doomed sinking ship, lead the charge; hold your crown

And they fought till they died, till the last man went down."

Nappa pauses mid-song, eyes glazed over until they latch on to Vegeta.

"Captain goes down with the ship, Vegeta! What are we doing here?"

For Freeza's sake, not this again.

"You know why we are here, Nappa. We've been over this."

And he certainly was not about to go over it again in public.

Prying eyes, listening ears.

This was exactly why Vegeta had insisted on going with the old generals in the first place. Not that he enjoyed drinking. Didn't even condone it. Vegeta preferred to stay sober and sharp. But the old men would have found a means to sneak away, so it was better to tag along. As damage control; shut the old geezer's mouths forcibly if need be.

Vegeta was almost certain it was Nappa's loose drunken tongue that had put Freeza's intelligence on their trail in the first place. Their little half-formed coup had blown up in their face over a year ago now. Two of their number executed for it and a third, the tattle-tale, dead by Vegeta's own hand.

It had been necessary; once broken, not even a Saiyan would stand up to Freeza again. But Unna had been loyal to a fault, and Vegeta hadn't really blamed him for caving under questioning. Unna had been Low-class, and with few friends to call on. He had no chance to bargain himself free. Not like Vegeta had...

No; that had been necessity. Perhaps He should have tried for more, and protected his troops as well. Like he had for Raditz, just now. But Vegeta was only beginning to realize how important… good help was.

Freeza always said one Saiyan was enough. The lizard likes to have just one of each near- extinct species. LIke trophies, or an exotic collection. Obviously; it also made it impossible to rebel when there was no one of your kind left; no one left to trust.

Not that the Saiyans left were worthy of trust.

Except Raditz, really…

But Vegeta would manage somehow. He just needed to bide his time. He had always been crazy strong, even as a babe. He was at a level with the best adults already, and he had not even hit is growth spurt yet. All he had to do waskee fighting on the front lines, get stronger, and not warranting any suspicion ever again.

Pretend at loyalty, gracefully; like it didn't chave at all. Likely Vegeta would have to play that game for many more years now their coup lay in shambles.

And a shambled mess it was. His most trusted men dead, the ones left to him damaged in ways that would not heal...Papple especially did not look like he was going to make it. Raditz had gone missing for months- presumed dead at one point. The only one that had stayed the same was Nappa. Pity really; He and his loose tongue could have used some modification. Vegeta is inclined to have it removed surgically if this continued.

The big idiot had continued his song but grabs onto Vegeta's arm roughly now.

"Prince dies with the palace, 'geta! Why didn't you burn with the palace?"

Prudence be damned; Vegeta can stand no more.

"Because I wasn't there. There was no battle on Planet Vegeta, remember? A comet hit. While we were here, so we could depose Freeza as my father commanded."

Dear Freeza. Now Nappa's eyes are brimming. Vegeta has to remind himself killing everyone here will not hide any evidence with so many soldiers wearing their scouters even now, recording every word out of the mouth of this broken record of a Saiyan.

"The king went down… What are we going to do?"

Trying to keep this info private, Vegeta hisses: "We stick to the plan. I will ascend and we slay the monster."

Nappa laughs at him; laughs. Though not a sound born of mirth. "When will that happen? It's been - how many years? and you haven't even surpassed me yet. For Freeza's sake!"

Next to him, Papple stirs, echoing "Freeza" in the voice of a kicked dog, then proceeds to barf over the side of the table. Continuously, loudly, and pathetically.

"Don't swear in his name", Raditz cuts over the retching, "he is not our God."

Vegeta grunts, agreeing with that much. As for Nappa.. tomorrow will be the day Vegeta turns catching up into surpassing and the old oaf can forget about him going easy on him just because he has a little sad hangover. Idiot seems to think he can talk back to his Prince just because he was two decades ahead of him, does he…?

Nappa sniffs, makes a dismissive gesture, and starts humming. The tune is hardly recognisable as the continuation of his song. As Nappa shifts through the glasses looking for a filled one, Raditz lowers his tone to address his prince.

"This is why we need my brother. Both of them are too cowed. Too long in… its service. They will roll over the moment Freeza looks their way. Or worse, stick a knife in our backs. But I have another lead. This time I am almost certain I have found the right planet."

Vegeta groans. Perhaps he has been hasty in assuming Raditz mentally fit; that his little trip after their failed coup attempt had been enough for the older teen to piece his mind back together.

"Not this again, Raditz. Kakarot is almost certainly dead. And the only reason you survived your punishment for going AWOL last time is because I… Anyway, even if he lived he'll be a useless weakling. He was a lower level third rate than you…"

Raditz latches on to the last part; which had been a goad; a red herring. But the undoubtable truth. "Kakarot is strong. Bardock told me so."

-"What?"

"Bardock, my father. He told me Kakarot is alive and really strong. He will help us."

For Freeza's ...- ugh!

"I know who Bardock is -was! Damnit, Raditz. He died, remember?"

Not you too!

"I know," Raditz states calmly, crossing his arms to mirror Vegeta's pose, "he told me so. Freeza killed him."

Vegeta rubs at his forehead, dropping his other arm to the table. "No, the meteor got him. Remember?"

"That is just what Freeza wants us to believe. But father came to me in my dreams. It was that freek lizard. But Kakarot will help us."

"No third class will make any difference against Freeza," Vegeta turns up his nose at the older teen, "not even you."

"That is what I told Bardock, but he said Kakarot is different," Raditz shuffles in his seat, the straight-backed arms-crossed pose turning to something like.. hugging himself. "Father said you would know, because Kakarot is your friend…"

This time it was Vegeta's turn to laugh. An eerie reminder of the sound Nappa had made before. "I don't have any friends - and I don't need any! I just need to ascend!"

Raditz nods, more to himself than in answer. "When I find him.."

-"Don't…"

Vegeta sighs. Was this how it started? Was pretending to comply already turning into actual obedience? Just over -what? 7 years here? In another ten, would he, the prince of Saiyans, be as pathetic and sad a husk as Papple? A shaking, retching creature at the sound of his master's name?

No; he has his purpose. As delusional as Nappa had made it sound, Vegeta believes in the legendary Super Saiyan.

But Raditz needs something to believe in too. Something that he can channel his defiance in. Something to at least have him pretend at sanity. Freeza would probably not kill the third class over it. Not as long as Vegeta would… offer something more amusing in its stead.

"Don't tell him about the plan, will you Raditz? If you do find him."

Maybe Raditz would find his brother; even if he were a weakling, a Saiyan with some backbone left in him would prove useful in many ways.

Although to stand up to Freeza, the lout would either have to be very brave, or very stupid.

Probably both.

"You don't want to scare him off."

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Special thanks to Mr Me2 for proofreading.

There is actually an in-canon thing I was working on that this could be considered a prologue for. Leaving me a review will help getting it out faster. Words of praise and critical feedback are both welcome.

cheers!