Prolog 1
A cacophony of Sayian voices echoed through the main market square of Vegetasia's capital as the gray haired regent, Bergthor, made his way back to the government and palace with his tiny nephew in tow. The small prince had become a regular companion to the market since the child could barely speak.
He remembered well the day his brother the king and he had entered the sitting room of the palace to find the year old, fire haired cherub stumbling toward them. First hugging the king's leg with a deep purr and then turning to him and gabbing his leg in turn. Dark eyes peered upward as a questioning voice cooed, "Maaa-kit?" Nodding his head he watched as the tiny face changed into a deep expression of conviction, tiny legs began to stop, and a deep brown tail began sweeping wildly. Queen Melkorka laughed quietly as a diminutive voice chirped repeatedly "makit, makit, makit." The Prince of all Sayians was not to be denied, and so the young royal and been by his uncle's side.
Now, as then, it was no exception. The elder took his time today, enjoying his nephew's company and the warm sun the marked a sense of renewed security in him. There was good reason to be happy. He and his brother had continued the father's work and had finally managed to turn their people back from the ignoble business of planet acquisition. On top of that, they had almost sealed a treaty with the interplanetary defense force in their quadrant. After centuries of slavery and then stumbling from the path of honor, the Sayian race was about to reclaim their nobility. The future would be a good one for his prince and all the tiny sovereign's future subjects.
A small hand held his tail lightly as the toddler struggled to keep up with him. Reminded of how small his companion was he slowed. A few month's and over a dozen trips ago the child prince had insisted on walking rather than being carried. The boy had over heard his father praising a fighter for his determination and how he carried his own weight. Now the child was determined to be autonomous and win his father's respect.
The child had a passionate disposition. Of that there was not doubt. At present this stubbornness was quickly becoming obsessive. The boy was exhausted. Bergthor could feel the rubbery shaking of his nephews legs as they walked slowly down the tree lined avenue. A yawn from beneath him was the last straw he had to carry the child or they would never get back. "Styrkar, come let me carry you the rest of the way."
"No. I want to walk," came sharply back.
The old man smirked knowing the answer to his next question. "Why?"
Prince Styrkar Vegeta's head cocked back and to the side and he squared his shoulders. "Father says a strong man stands on his feet."
"And your father says that it takes an even stronger one to ask for help." He softly retorted. "Anyway, I wish to carry you and you won't stay small enough to carry for much longer. Let me enjoy it while I still can."
He had given the child a way out, now was he smart enough to take it. The wise regent didn't have to wait long. The prince raised his arms. "Since it would please you uncle, you may carry me."
The remaining distance closed quickly. The hall of the palace and adjoining parliament building sounded with running feet and anxious voices. Bergthor sensed the tension in the air and quickened his pace toward the royals' living area. The boy in his arms had also caught the change in their surroundings and was growing concerned. "What's wrong Uncle, where's father?"
"I'm not sure little one. We will see him soon. Don't worry; I'm sure he's fine." Turning the corner toward the back area of the palace found the King and several advisors walking in great haste toward the offices. "Valgard, what is going on?"
Prince Vegeta was shaken by the tone of his Uncles voice. He looked to his father and saw the confusion and taint of fear that lingered around him. The Sayian King turned to one of his lower advisors. "Grim, would you take my son to his mother. We have a great many things we must do."
The regent began to hand his nephew to the waiting man when the prince decided that it was time to speak up and find out what was going on. "No, put me down. I am a prince and I demand to know what is going on around here!"
Spinning from his uncle's arms the child landed ungracefully to the ground. His outburst had left a dozen eyes staring down at him with varying emotions. His tail flicked from side to side, but his face had become like stone. "Thank you Grim, but your assistance will not be needed. I can walk 50 feet on my own. However I will not be moving until someone tells me what has happened."
King Vegeta knew there was only one way to get the child on his way. The boy was so stubborn. "Like his father." He thought.
"The group we have been building a treaty with has been attacked, other than that we know nothing." King Vegeta sighed as he bent down to his son. Bergthor gasped at the statement. The prince merely nodded to his father.
"Then I will go to mother and let you finish dealing with this." The boy bowed to his father and then turned down the hall leaving the elder men looking on stunned by his actions.
The king watched as his son left the group. His calm expression gave way to worry as the boy disappeared beyond a doorway. The future he had wanted for him was thrown to the stars and he didn't understand. Why now, when they were so close. As he turned back to his council a messenger approached. He didn't bother waiting for the usual display of respect. "Tell me what you know at once."
The soldier shook at the kings quick demands and then started to stammer. "Their all dead sire. Completely wiped out. A new force in the planet trade. We don't know who, but the group seems to have taken over everything. We received an encrypted message. The planet trade may not know about our relations with the defense force. That's all I know your majesty."
"No good can come of this" Bergthor thought as the group made their way to the parliament to assess the grave news.
A cacophony of Sayian voices echoed through the main market square of Vegetasia's capital as the gray haired regent, Bergthor, made his way back to the government and palace with his tiny nephew in tow. The small prince had become a regular companion to the market since the child could barely speak.
He remembered well the day his brother the king and he had entered the sitting room of the palace to find the year old, fire haired cherub stumbling toward them. First hugging the king's leg with a deep purr and then turning to him and gabbing his leg in turn. Dark eyes peered upward as a questioning voice cooed, "Maaa-kit?" Nodding his head he watched as the tiny face changed into a deep expression of conviction, tiny legs began to stop, and a deep brown tail began sweeping wildly. Queen Melkorka laughed quietly as a diminutive voice chirped repeatedly "makit, makit, makit." The Prince of all Sayians was not to be denied, and so the young royal and been by his uncle's side.
Now, as then, it was no exception. The elder took his time today, enjoying his nephew's company and the warm sun the marked a sense of renewed security in him. There was good reason to be happy. He and his brother had continued the father's work and had finally managed to turn their people back from the ignoble business of planet acquisition. On top of that, they had almost sealed a treaty with the interplanetary defense force in their quadrant. After centuries of slavery and then stumbling from the path of honor, the Sayian race was about to reclaim their nobility. The future would be a good one for his prince and all the tiny sovereign's future subjects.
A small hand held his tail lightly as the toddler struggled to keep up with him. Reminded of how small his companion was he slowed. A few month's and over a dozen trips ago the child prince had insisted on walking rather than being carried. The boy had over heard his father praising a fighter for his determination and how he carried his own weight. Now the child was determined to be autonomous and win his father's respect.
The child had a passionate disposition. Of that there was not doubt. At present this stubbornness was quickly becoming obsessive. The boy was exhausted. Bergthor could feel the rubbery shaking of his nephews legs as they walked slowly down the tree lined avenue. A yawn from beneath him was the last straw he had to carry the child or they would never get back. "Styrkar, come let me carry you the rest of the way."
"No. I want to walk," came sharply back.
The old man smirked knowing the answer to his next question. "Why?"
Prince Styrkar Vegeta's head cocked back and to the side and he squared his shoulders. "Father says a strong man stands on his feet."
"And your father says that it takes an even stronger one to ask for help." He softly retorted. "Anyway, I wish to carry you and you won't stay small enough to carry for much longer. Let me enjoy it while I still can."
He had given the child a way out, now was he smart enough to take it. The wise regent didn't have to wait long. The prince raised his arms. "Since it would please you uncle, you may carry me."
The remaining distance closed quickly. The hall of the palace and adjoining parliament building sounded with running feet and anxious voices. Bergthor sensed the tension in the air and quickened his pace toward the royals' living area. The boy in his arms had also caught the change in their surroundings and was growing concerned. "What's wrong Uncle, where's father?"
"I'm not sure little one. We will see him soon. Don't worry; I'm sure he's fine." Turning the corner toward the back area of the palace found the King and several advisors walking in great haste toward the offices. "Valgard, what is going on?"
Prince Vegeta was shaken by the tone of his Uncles voice. He looked to his father and saw the confusion and taint of fear that lingered around him. The Sayian King turned to one of his lower advisors. "Grim, would you take my son to his mother. We have a great many things we must do."
The regent began to hand his nephew to the waiting man when the prince decided that it was time to speak up and find out what was going on. "No, put me down. I am a prince and I demand to know what is going on around here!"
Spinning from his uncle's arms the child landed ungracefully to the ground. His outburst had left a dozen eyes staring down at him with varying emotions. His tail flicked from side to side, but his face had become like stone. "Thank you Grim, but your assistance will not be needed. I can walk 50 feet on my own. However I will not be moving until someone tells me what has happened."
King Vegeta knew there was only one way to get the child on his way. The boy was so stubborn. "Like his father." He thought.
"The group we have been building a treaty with has been attacked, other than that we know nothing." King Vegeta sighed as he bent down to his son. Bergthor gasped at the statement. The prince merely nodded to his father.
"Then I will go to mother and let you finish dealing with this." The boy bowed to his father and then turned down the hall leaving the elder men looking on stunned by his actions.
The king watched as his son left the group. His calm expression gave way to worry as the boy disappeared beyond a doorway. The future he had wanted for him was thrown to the stars and he didn't understand. Why now, when they were so close. As he turned back to his council a messenger approached. He didn't bother waiting for the usual display of respect. "Tell me what you know at once."
The soldier shook at the kings quick demands and then started to stammer. "Their all dead sire. Completely wiped out. A new force in the planet trade. We don't know who, but the group seems to have taken over everything. We received an encrypted message. The planet trade may not know about our relations with the defense force. That's all I know your majesty."
"No good can come of this" Bergthor thought as the group made their way to the parliament to assess the grave news.