After a month's time, the three Saiyans settled into a small domicile on Frieza Planet 79. They began taking on more missions and searching for survivors. Unfortunately, the reports that Planet Vegeta and all who inhabited it had been destroyed were true.
It appeared that Raditz, Vegeta, and Nappa were the only remaining Saiyans. The trio would need to stick together if they were going to survive, but little did they know of the struggles that lie ahead.
Raditz had always hated the community showers, but he didn't have much of a choice. The three comrades received an allotment of water that was not sufficient for Raditz' needs; his hair would take everything they had and then some.
While the long haired Saiyan began to rinse himself, he heard whispers from deeper within the tiled catacombs. He turned the spray off, wrung his hair out, and then grabbed his towel. While he wrapped it around his frame he slowly began to wander towards the disembodied voices.
As he crept further into the foggy maze, the voices became clearer and it became obvious whom they belonged to. It was General Zarbon and Captain Ginyu, and it sounded like they were speaking about Lord Frieza.
Raditz peered around the corner, his curiosity piqued, but when he did so he caught sight of the two showering. His face lit up in embarrassment and he nearly slipped. The Saiyan pulled back out of sight and held his right hand over his chest in a panic, as if trying to calm his heart.
Zarbon stood with his back to Captain Ginyu and spoke, while he rinsed his long and glorious locks. "I honestly couldn't say, things have been so stressful as of late… Lord Frieza just wants to have a bit of fun, but you didn't hear me say that!"
"Heh, typical of Lord Frieza- Hm? Seems we've company, Zarbon." Ginyu glanced in Raditz' direction while he spoke. Although he couldn't see the young Saiyan, he could hear him.
The youth's heart nearly stopped as he heard Ginyu speak up; he wanted to run away, but his legs froze. It felt as if there were a cold ball of steel in his throat that he couldn't quite swallow. Raditz peered back around the corner and attempted to see if it was, in fact, him that they were referring to.
Just as Zabron turned back, he caught sight of Raditz and grinned. The teal warrior sighed then waved the Saiyan into the room. "Come come, child. Don't be shy, we don't bite… much." The General's grin widened and a cold laugh followed, which caused Raditz to shudder in response.
"Ah! Apologies. I-I heard voices and I got curious because I hadn't realized anyone else was in here. Forgive my intrusion, Captain Ginyu, General Zarbon." Raditz bowed to the two older men and placed his right hand, which curled into a fist, upon his chest and over his heart.
"No need to apologize, my good boy. There is no intrusion. The Captain was just taking his leave, as a matter of fact." Zarbon eyed Ginyu and the two seemed to have a full conversation with just a simple look.
With a quick glance towards Raditz, the Captain took his leave, not making a big show of it. Once he was gone, General Zarbon continued to rinse himself before he turned the water off and reached for his towel.
Raditz tensed; it felt as if he were choking on the rolling steam that seemed to grow thicker by the second. He half wondered if he were generating it himself. When several moments of silence passed, he started to twitch and grow impatient with his teal superior. "Gen-"
"At ease, Monkey. Or do you not like to be called that? I always forget which one of you is the sensitive type. Or is that all three of you? I know I should keep better track of it, but I'm just too busy. You understand, don't you?" Again, a grin played upon Zarbon's lips.
"We Saiyans typically don't appreciate being called that, despite there only being three of us left." Raditz shuffled his feet, as he wasn't certain how to feel or what to do for the moment.
Zarbon began to idly dry himself off while he eyed Raditz. The teal General patted his green locks in a gentle manner before he moved to wrap the towel around his waist, covering himself at last. "Raditz, isn't it? You look older than your records say."
"I'm an adult on my planet," Raditz quipped and scrunched up his nose.
The General arched a brow at the comment before he grabbed his bottle of lotion and opened it, squirting some of the contents into one finely manicured hand. "Be that as it may, your planet is dead and gone. You're living within the PTO now, my boy. We have rules and regulations here. You are no adult, and you would be wise to remember that."
Raditz could feel his anger rising, but he kept himself calm for the time being. He didn't know much about the teal General yet, but the man had both status and power. He was not someone to mouth off to and Raditz was no fool. "Those rules are stupid!"
Just as Zarbon began to smooth the cream over his forearm, he paused to look at the adolescent before him. "Those stupid rules, as you so classily put it, are in place for a reason."
"Yeah, but aren't rules meant to be broken?" The youth watched his superior closely for his reaction.
"In order to break them, Raditz, you have to know what they are and I don't think that you do. Or else, you think that they don't apply to you." Zarbon broke his gaze from the young man and moved to spread the lotion upon his legs. "You Saiyans always think that the rules don't apply to you."
The General sighed. "Well, just look what happened to you," he mumbled.
"What was that last part?" Raditz leaned forward, as if that would help after the fact. He could have sworn he heard the other say something more.
"Never you mind, boy." By this point Zarbon had finished spreading the thick cream over his muscled calves, then moved to his thighs. "You're awfully curious, aren't you? Or is that a Saiyan trait that I just don't know about?"
Raditz nearly rolled his eyes. Instead, he folded his arms across his chest. "I don't know… Maybe. Say, why are you in here anyways?"
"Hah, you really are nosey. I could ask you the same thing." Zarbon rolled his eyes, and then flicked his hair over one shoulder so that he could get a better view of the adolescent.
"I'm here because we have a water allotment, and I have a lot of hair. Nappa tells me that the Prince needs to shower in the apartment, so I have to bathe here."
Raditz shifted as he watched Zarbon, but when his superior's eyes landed on him the youth pulled his folded arms tighter against his chest.
"That's tough luck, boy. Why not buy more water?" Zarbon gave an amused smirk.
"I can't afford it," The longhaired youth quipped, an unamused expression upon his features.
The teal General paused to look at Raditz once again. He pursed his lips and narrowed his eyes. "Hm, perhaps I can help. I could use a strapping young lad such as yourself as some hired help, you know, simple work."
That look gave Raditz pause for concern. He stared at his superior officer, who had already gone back to his preening. "What exactly would I be doing?" He arched his brows while he leaned forward, arms still crossed at his chest.
Without skipping a beat, Zarbon slid his hands over to his other thigh before he casually shrugged his shoulders. "Moving heavy objects, arranging furniture, busing tables, holding trays, serving drinks, things of that nature. Nothing too taxing." He winked at Raditz.
Raditz scoffed, despite his reddening cheeks. "I'm a warrior though, should I really be doing those things?"
The General gave a light chuckle, one that was not even audible, the kind where one's chest simply bounces once and a smile graces their lips. "Well, why not my boy? You need extra credits and I need helping hands. This works out for the both of us."
Raditz hated to admit it, but he rather enjoyed the after-shower, slightly disheveled looking Zarbon. Almost so much, that he nearly forgot their conversation. "Uh, yeah, but wouldn't Lord Frieza be upset about me no longer running missions?"
Zarbon tossed his bottle of lotion into a bag nearby, and then grabbed a spare towel. He then began to lightly pat his green locks dry, once again, while he walked towards the lockers. "Oh my dear boy, I wouldn't take you away from your missions! You would do this on your down time. Oh, and perhaps I should take over your training as well, you're looking a little flabby."
When Zarbon passed Raditz, he lightly poked the Saiyan youth's pectoral muscle, before he continued on his way.
Raditz' mouth fell open at the comment and he turned to hastily follow after the General. "Flabby? Boy would Nappa be upset to hear you say that…"
"Well, what do you say? Do we have a deal? I will train you how to act amongst high society beings and how to be a true warrior." Zarbon stopped in front of his locker, pressed his thumb to the pad and the door popped open with a click. While he waited for a response from Raditz, he reached into the metal container to retrieve his clean armor and remaining grooming supplies.
"I guess…" Raditz didn't seem too impressed yet, but wasn't sure telling the right-hand to Frieza 'no' would be the best idea. So instead, he leaned against the lockers next to his superior and watched him.
Zarbon pulled out a black box, which contained various brushes, combs, sprays, creams, and other odd implements. He began to carefully work on his hair while he turned to face Raditz. "Good! I will speak with your guardian, but from now on, you will refer to me as Master Zarbon."
"All right." The youth shrugged nonchalantly.
Zarbon glared and paused his preening to get his point across to the other. "Ahem."
It took a moment for Raditz to catch on, but when he did, his cheeks turned red and he nodded. "I mean… yes, Master Zarbon."
The teal General smiled and continued to run the finely toothed comb through his hair. "Very well, you're dismissed." He shooed him with his free hand.
With a small nod, Raditz took his leave, but before he could get very far, the General cleared his throat once again. "Hm?"
"Aren't you forgetting something, boy?" Zarbon arched one brow and gave Raditz a serious expression.
The Saiyan youth's mind raced as he wondered what he could have possibly forgotten. His eyes quickly flitted around the locker room, but he didn't see any evidence that he had left anything. "I'm sorry?"
With a heavy sigh, Zarbon placed two fingers against the bridge of his nose and gave it a light pinch, all while he shook his head. "Oh dear, I see I have a lot of work to do with you."
The General approached Raditz and grabbed the youth's right arm by the wrist. Zarbon then twisted and pushed the limb against the other's chest so that the fist was over the Saiyan's heart. "You forgot to salute, boy! You must salute whenever you approach or depart a superior officer's presence. Is that understood?"
Of course! Raditz felt so stupid that his cheeks lit up. His whole face and even his neck burned with embarrassment. They had such a calm conversation that for a moment he had forgotten whom he was conversing with.
"Ah! S-sorry, G-… Master Zarbon." Without hesitation, Raditz corrected his salute and gave a slight bow to his new master. "Please forgive my slip up."
"Very good. Next time, we'll talk about your posture. I have your number, so I'll be contacting you. Oh, and when I do, you must come right away. Is that understood?" Zarbon had turned to walk away, but paused to point a single finger at the youth behind him.
"Yes, Master Zarbon." The words still felt foreign on Raditz' tongue and he wondered how long they would.