Author's Notes: This is just the prologue, chapters will be a better length.

Prologue

He knew nothing in that moment save for an image. An image of a woman's face, blood trailing down her forehead, her black hair unbound and trailing listlessly on the ground, her gaze sightless. And in the woman's arms lay a boy, unmoving.

And when that moment passed there was nothing left to him. Nothing but the anger which exploded in waves of yellow energy around him and an emptiness that could never be filled.

There would be payment. There would be payment in full for each and every person who had died that day.

But most of all, there would be payment for her and for the boy.

Kakarrotto woke with a start, sweat pouring off of him. For a moment he lay in his bed, consumed by memories of a life that was no longer his and, as always, of the day that saw it taken from him.

Five years, it had been five years ago and still the nightmares haunted him. With a groan the Saiyan launched himself out of bed. There would be no more sleep for him that night.

"Prince Vegeta?" The voice at his side was so quiet that he almost didn't hear it. Vegeta, Crown Prince of the Saiyan race, turned slightly to take in the servant who was bowing so low it was a wonder that she didn't fall over.

"Yes?" he asked, doing his best to mask his irritation. It wasn't this woman's fault that she had been chosen to relay whatever message it was she had come with. Not that he really cared, but things went faster if people weren't cowering in fear.

"His majesty, King Vegeta, requests your presence in his quarters." Her eyes stayed plastered to the floor. She's shaking, Vegeta noted with some disgust. Too bad, she'd almost be pretty otherwise.

"Does he now?" Vegeta muttered, this time failing to keep his displeasure from his voice. It figured that his father would chose to call upon him during Vegeta's very limited free time.

Actual fear had crept into the servant's scent at his words. Vegeta rolled his eyes; what did she think he was going to do, ignore his King? "Fine. You're dismissed."

She bowed even lower - how that was anatomically possible Vegeta had no idea - and made a quick exit.

Vegeta was far slower to get moving, his gaze resting on the sunrise. It was the red of blood on steel, he noted idly. He smirked slightly.

"Well now, isn't that interesting?"