A/N: I am a Vegeta fan by about ten million percentage points over any other character in the anime.
The sounds of footsteps stomping down the steep passageway to the Hive startled Celere. She had been peering at the faded, chipped computer screen in the central meeting room, looking at antiquated star charts from some fifty years before. Her nose sniffed delicately in the cool subterranean lair.
She knew that scent.
A shot of adrenaline rocketed through her veins as her heart pounded uncomfortably hard in her chest, aching in its intensity. For all of her eighty years, her eyes barely had wrinkles around the edges, her face still as smooth as it had been when she had been given to wife so many long years ago. She feebly reached for the dagger on her waist in case of trouble, strength gone, stripped from her as her ki had been in child birth with each fluttering beat of her weakened heart.
Strong, gentle hands grasped her fingertips, pulling them away from the dagger and into a room down the nearest hallway.
"Celere," a deep, male voice murmured, two gloved fingers reaching up to touch the pulse point in her neck. The man in front of her frowned, his spiky black hair bobbing as he listened to the rapid pace of her overtaxed cardiovascular system, "You must rest."
"Bardock, Zarbon is coming," Celere protested, weakly. Her spikey, ravens-black hair tickled her shoulders as her physician and friend tugged her away from the wall, wrapping her into a thick pelt and lifting her into his arms.
"Your son will take care of the visitor, milady," Bardock replied companionably, "Zarbon is collared, he will be of little or no threat to Vegeta-no-Ouji."
"Can you be sure?" she asked, coldness seeping into her voice, "The last time you claimed someone would be of little or no threat, I do seem to recall our planet being blown up."
"Stop making mountains out of molehills," her companion scoffed, "I have my orders, and I must follow them."
"Vegeta is still his mother's son, and I am the Queen," she snarled, her Saiyan temper erupting, tail swinging out of the fur wrapped around her to smack against his broad, bare arm.
"And yet he is the one with direct blood ties to the throne, not you milady," another male voice interjected firmly. Celere glared at the warrior who had interrupted her. Nappa's bald head shone in the faint light of the Hive. She pouted, most unbecoming of a Queen, at her long time friend and body guard, the Saiyan who had watched her as she grew, and had guarded her son during his early years as well. Nappa was unflinchingly loyal, his advice was not to be disregarded.
She felt the familiar brush of her son's ki against her own as the prince swept into the chamber, his upswept hair as dark as her own. His white, ceremonial armor was topped by one of his fallen father's hand-me-down capes, trimmed with the pelt of a now extinct docat's fur. He was followed closely by the only Saiyan come into his strength who remained even remotely close to him in age, Radditz, Bardock's eldest.
Celere watched the pride that erupted on Nappa's face at the sight of Vegeta, the most powerful son of the royal house in over a thousand years. The legendary reborn.
"Mother," Vegeta rumbled, kneeling in homage to his Queen and regent, his dark eyes locking onto her own. His father's eyes, black and calculating, with fire burning in their depths. With one glance Vegeta directed Radditz to the conference room to greet their guest.
"Well met, my son," she said with a smile. Properly welcomed, Vegeta gently stepped towards her, his white gloved hand pressing gently to her cheek.
"You are well?" he asked stoically, worry barely evident in his gaze. Her son kept his emotions on a tight leash. He had to, but she could feel the tentative psychic tendrils that brushed against her mind gently, appraising her well being.
"Yes, Bardock has been most attentive," she replied, shooting an angry glance at the older Saiyan, "I would like my dagger back, by the way."
Vegeta glanced at his mother's angrily whipping tail and smirked. Bardock had followed his orders to keep Celere calm to the best of his abilities. He couldn't blame his mother for being wary of the lizard that awaited them outside their doorstep. His tail swept out and batted his mother's playfully, and he grinned at the angry snarl that erupted from her lips. This was not a time for play however. He tucked his tail tightly against his waist, not wanting it to betray his agitation during his meeting with Zarbon.
Stepping into the chill of the meeting room, he noted Radditz nonchalantly leaning against the computer console. The nearly seven foot tall Saiyan towered over Zarbon. The androgynous reptilian's green hair was loose, hanging down around his face. Vegeta noted its strategic placement almost concealed the ki-dampener strapped around Zarbon's thin, elegant neck.
"Vegeta-no-Ouji," Zarbon spoke without being acknowledged. Vegeta bristled in response, but was placated by the smarmy lizard's use of his given title with respect, not scorn, "I have news."
"Very well then, Lord Zarbon, speak freely," Vegeta said, returning the courtesy given. He glanced towards Radditz, who leaned back casually to hit the record button on the computer's console. He knew the action did not go unnoticed by Zarbon, but treachery must be suspected at every turn. Any physical evidence against the reptile would be good enough to damn him in Frieza's eyes, binding him even tighter to their cause.
"Frieza is planning to attend the Intergalactic Trade Conference taking place in three days on Emeralhd, he will be requiring our presence, as well as that of your warriors to present a strong front to his father and brother," he paused, gauging Vegeta's reaction. The temperamental prince was narrowing his eyebrows incrementally as Zarbon spoke, "Whether he likes us or not, you are one of his strongest elites, and I am also of elite quality. I am sure my collar will be removed for the duration of the event."
"And what is so important about this event that makes it pertinent to our cause, other than your collar being removed, of course," Vegeta replied, scathingly, "Do you expect us to rise up and overthrow him in front of millions at the Arena of Souls? Although I am much stronger than our great Lord believes me to be, I am nowhere near strong enough to take on Frieza and his family, even in oozaru form."
"If you would let me finish, Ouji-sama?" Zarbon interjected, standing up quickly, ignoring Radditz' warning growl that echoed across the room. Saiyans did not care for sudden bursts of movement. He noted that the prince remained calmly in his chair, unmoved by his change of position. Unthreatened by his fellow warrior. Completely unconcerned.
Damn. He needed Vegeta to be interested in this!
"Continue," the prince hissed, his fingers waving towards Zarbon.
"At the conference, all of the major trading partners with the Cold Empire will be present. I am sure you have heard of the House of Chikyuu?"
Vegeta stared at Zarbon contemplatively. He knew of the House of Chikyuu, an empire in its infancy. The trade based powerhouse had little in way of military might, using technology instead of warriors to defend their borders in the Gamma quadrant. The ruled over the southern part of their spiral galaxy, having peacefully collected some forty odd planets through merger coalitions that were mutually beneficial to both home world and satellite worlds.
"The Chikyuu-jin royalty will be in attendance, and the Chikyuu-no-hime is bringing her personal guard detail with her, which is headed by a man known only as Goku."
"The same Goku who destroyed the former head of the Ginyu Force on Raidyan?" Radditz spoke up unintentionally.
Vegeta shot a glare at him that could have melted an Ice-jin polar cap. The room fell eerily silent, "And why, Zarbon," he postulated, "Would this Goku be interested in helping us?"
"He owes me a favor," Zarbon replied, simply.
"And you suppose that such a powerful man would deign to fulfill a favor of one of Frieza's slaves, much less grant an audience to a rag-tag group of Saiyans attempting to overthrow the Ice-jin Empire?" Vegeta scoffed, "He has nothing to lose, while we on the other hand have everything to lose."
"Vegeta," Zarbon implored, dropping to his knees in front of the seated warrior prince, "Just this once I am asking you to trust me implicitly, this will work."
Vegeta stared in astonishment at Zarbon, who had just sacrificed his only remaining possession, pride, to plead his cause. He narrowed his eyes until it looked as if his brows would touch, thinking fiercely.
"Very well, Zarbon," Vegeta grumbled, "But if this backfires I will sow Frieza's gardens with your entrails."
"Duly noted, Ouji," Zarbon said, sighing in relief, "The flagship will depart for Emerahld in two days."
"Report to me again on our arrival," Vegeta commanded. With a bow, Zarbon left the Hive as quickly as he had arrived, leaving Vegeta alone with only Radditz for council.
"It is not wise to trust him, Ouji-sama," Radditz rumbled, touching the off button on the recorder.
"It is unfortunate that we must," Vegeta replied, fingers resting on the tip of his chin, "Radditz, bring me Nappa and Bardock, our people must be moved."
A/N: And so the plot thickens…
