His Past


"Done." I say in exasperation to my one person audience. For the last thirty minutes my short, dangerous guest has been staring at me while I fixed the dragonball tracker I broke. I stood up, placed one hand on my hip and the other outstretched with the prized tracker in my hand. "Now are you going to leave?" I tried to stay strong and unafraid. I've been told that wild animals can smell fear.

He ripped the device from my hand and pressed the top button once. I stood on my tip toes and looked at the display. Four of the dragonballs were gathered together and moving towards a fifth. I reflexively took a quick breath, stepped closer and absently said, "Who has all those?"

When I looked up at Vegeta his eyes were dark and angry. They had once again developed into hard coals. I felt like cowering under his glare, but I remained strong. As I stared into his eyes imploringly, I realized that the man could mask emotion completely from his face, but failed utterly with his eyes. I wonder if no one ever got close enough to realize that before.

"Frieza," he said with barely restrained fury. His hands are balled tightly into fists. I look at them and wonder why he always wore gloves. Does he not want to get his hands dirty? I questioned comically and then when the implication of that question dawned on me, I felt sick. Blood probably is hard to wash off.

I looked at him with eyebrows raised, "right." And then turning away from him, I sat on my work chair pulled on some socks. He was still staring intently at the tracker. It looked as if he were hatching a devious plot that I wanted no part of, "well, you've got your work cut out for yourself." His eyes snapped to me as I finished my sentence with disjointed words, "don't ya?"

"You're coming with me." His words were void of emotion. They were commanding. He was standing in front of me with his chest pushed out and head held high. He looked as if he had never been denied anything, and that he wasn't going to start now.

"What?" I held my palms up in defense. "No, no, you're confused. I'm no warrior."

He humphed at me as if that statement was completely obvious. "You're a pilot." He stated matter-of-factly. And stepping forward he continued, "You pathetic earthlings aren't leaving this planet with one of my dragonballs."

"Our ship was destroyed," I say desperately. He clearly doesn't believe me. I sag in defeat and all air leaves my lungs. I am like a bull in a china shop. I can't stop myself from getting into trouble. I try to be casual as I pulled on my boots. In as convincing of a voice as possible I said, "We would never steal your dragonballs, Vegeta." As his name left my lips, a chill ran through my body. Like a child who says a bad word in front of their parents. I looked down at my boots.

"There are other ways to assure that from happening." His tone was both threatening and mischievous. He looks like he would love to act out his statement.

I looked up at him pleadingly. It didn't work.


At first I just screamed. Yeah, Yamcha had flown me around before. Cradled in his warm grasp I had enjoyed the adventure of the speed. I had loved the feeling of air whipping through my hair and stinging my eyes. This was completely different. Thrown over this oaf's hard armor covered shoulder while traveling at neck breaking speeds was awful!

I squirmed while trying to find a position where these shoulder pads on steroids didn't poke me incessantly. What the hell is the use of these things anyway, surely it wasn't just for style's sake.

He yelled at me with an annoyed tone, "I'll drop you if you don't stop." I rolled my eyes and attempted to find the impossible: a comfortable position.

Suddenly, I was free falling. I waved my hands and feet through the air frantically. I screamed louder than I had ever screamed before. And yet, the ground approached faster and faster. Absently I wonder if I had reached terminal velocity and if terminal velocity was the same on Namek as on Earth. I shook my head, closed my eyes tightly and braced myself for the impact that would surely kill me. Just as I could almost smell the scent of the grass I was to be flattened against, he plucked me from my descent.

For a split second, I feel like he had saved me. He was a hero! I was clinging to him like a baby monkey. I reveled in the heat radiating from his body through the hard armor; I rejoiced in his firm arms. Then I heard his demonstrative laugh. He swung me up over his shoulder again, and I was once again being poked by his stupid armor. This time I didn't try and find a better position. I didn't want to be dropped again, but even more, I didn't want to be saved by him again. It was disturbing.


Abruptly, we came to a screeching halt. The stop was so fast I felt like I had hit a brick wall. He barked, "silence" at me and then descended slowly. As I was unceremoniously dropped on my feet, I looked around curiously. Nothing. I saw nothing but deserted terrain with beautiful lakes separating jutting mountains and little islands. A nice vacation spot if you liked complete isolation. I looked at my companion. I guess some girls wouldn't mind being isolated with this guy. I shook the thought from my head and reminded myself, he killed your boyfriend! Sort of.

While I corrected myself, Vegeta strutted to the edge of the water and shot a beam of energy towards a space in the sky above him. I looked up and saw a pink monstrosity falling to the water. Ok, it wasn't going to be hard to side with Vegeta on this one. He was hideous. Not that I always judge on appearances, but really. This guy was not only a girlish color, but he was disgustingly fat with little pustules all over. There was no way he could be good! I doubt Vegeta has any upstanding citizens as acquaintances anyway. I blocked out the thought that I was now an acquaintance of the Saiyan. The pink blob fell into the water and then emerged a few seconds later. I darted behind a boulder as he pulled himself onto the shore and stood to address his attacker.

Vegeta spoke before the pink one had a chance. "Long time no see, Dodoria." Vegeta stood with his arms crossed in front of his chest showing his complete mastery of the situation, while Dodoria stood undignified and dripping from his recent swim.

"So, you're the one who attacked me." His voice sounded affected; similar to mine when around the marauding Saiyan. He was trying a little too hard to sounds in control. I knew the blob was scared and judging from the excitement dancing in Vegeta's eyes, he had every right to be frightened. I ducked down behind the boulder even further and tried to blend with the Namek environment, but I could still here their tense conversation.

"I've been waiting for you to separate yourself from Frieza and Zarbon." Vegeta said with supreme confidence. He then gave a wicked smile. "I'll tear you limb from limb," he added with a little too much anticipatory pleasure in his voice for my comfort.

"Did you forget that you are just a weak Saiyan?" Dodoria scowled and gave a pitiful laugh that I imagine he wanted to sound threatening. "Just give me your scouter," he reached out his palm and continued, "and I'll let you live."

Vegeta removed the scouter from his face and looked at it with feigned interest. "That explains why you weren't able to detect me," his confidence seemed to grow even larger, if that were even possible. "Fine, take it." He released it from his hand and it landed with a dull thud.

Dodoria's face relaxed slightly as he took a step forward. "So you're finally learning to be obedient," he gave a small chuckle. "I was thinking I would have to teach you another lesson. But your fear kicked in, eh?"

I turned to look at Vegeta's reaction and was reminded of his tiny stature as he stood next to the pink man. The two men seemed to know each other well enough to hate each other thoroughly. A small part of me feared that the Saiyan would lose as had obviously happened in the past. I wonder what type of lessons the fat man taught Vegeta. I imagine they were painful and embarrassing memories for the smaller man.

Then Vegeta's white boot came down upon the scouter with a satisfying crunch. Dodoria's mouth flew open to object, but Vegeta spoke first. "I don't need it," his eyebrow shot up as he continued; "I learn to locate and measure kis without a scouter." That's how he found me, I cursed to myself. I knew that Krillin and Gohan had no idea Vegeta could track kis. I bit my lip in fear of my friends and continued to watch the two mercenaries. The Saiyan threw his head back in a satisfied chuckle and added, "You could never master such a technique, and with this advantage I'll pick you off one by one." He looked absolutely thrilled while taunting the larger man. It reminded me that he truly was evil. "Why don't you attack me?" Vegeta said in mock innocence and then leaned in a little and said, "ah, You saw how I got rid of Cui and now you're afraid?" I was glad I didn't see how Vegeta handled the man named Cui.

Dodoria looked absolutely enraged. He threw his arms up and slammed them down like a petulant child. He released a gigantic blast while screaming at Vegeta, "Don't mock me!" The light temporary blinded me and once my eyes corrected I saw Dodoria puffing from his exertion. The blob then smiled in satisfaction and began to chuckle in victory. I felt panic escalate inside me as I failed to locate the Saiyan. Being lugged around by Vegeta was one thing, but I definitely didn't want to be at the whim of Dodoria. Somehow it was different, I didn't have time to think of why. I crunched down even smaller behind the boulder and began to pray that I wouldn't be seen. But with morbid fascination I couldn't take my eyes off the scene.

Suddenly, Vegeta appeared behind the man. "That won't work anymore, you've underestimated me." Joy shot through me as I realized he was okay, but then I squished the feeling instantly. He's your enemy, idiot. Vegeta grabbed one of the pink guy's wrists and then grabbed the other as Dodoria swung it around frantically. Pulling his arms behind him at an awkward angle, I heard cracking noises that made my stomach flip. "I nearly died on Earth," Vegeta said too confidently. I began to wonder how that would be threatening at this moment, but then he continued. "And when a Saiyan almost dies his strength increases immensely." Well, that statement explains his confidence. Saiyans really were bred to fight and kill. Revolted, I turned away and shut my eyes. "Now, you need to Die," I heard Vegeta say flatly.

I never was disturbed when Goku and Yamcha fought, but Vegeta displayed a certain amount of cruelty I couldn't stomach. I just tried to block out the torturous noises being emitted by the larger man. I don't know why Vegeta felt it necessary to toy with his victims, but I understood shortly.

The man called Dodoria began in a constrained and pleading voice, "Please Vegeta, I can tell you a secret about Planet Vegeta." This egomaniac has a planet? I thought to myself in disbelief. I heard panicked breathing and turned to look at the suffering man. Vegeta had released him and was staring at him in bored expectation. One of his pink arms fell limply to his side; his shoulder protruded from its normal position to jut out in front of his chest. Blood was running down the arm in thick, fleshy driblets. I put a hand over my mouth in horror as he continued, "Frieza, he destroyed your planet." He paused to spit a mouthful of blood onto the ground. The blood seeped into Namek and became indistinguishable on the bright blue grass. "It wasn't a meteor. It was clear that in time you would lead your people to revolt against Frieza."

I'm not sure why Dodoria thought this was his ticket away from death. It seemed like a way to enrage the smaller man. I looked at Vegeta closely and although I was absolutely shocked by what I had just learned, Vegeta looked unmoved. Dodoria began to hover and back away from his would be murderer while saying, "Since you're a combative genius, Frieza didn't want to waste you, so he did it while you were away." Flattery will get you nowhere, I thought to myself. I am also pretty sure Vegeta doesn't need any more reasons to think he is god's gift to mankind or uh, Saiyankind.

Vegeta raised a lip in revulsion and responded coldly, "I don't care about that." Stepping towards the now retreating man he angrily yelled, "I only regret being a slave all my life!" Then with a quick movement of his arm, Vegeta sent a blast at the man who then practically dissolved into dust.

As he basked in the glory of his victory, I sat on the ground and thought about what I had learned. Yeah, so I already knew he was a Prince, but I didn't know he had been enslaved his whole life. How horrible, no wonder he's damaged goods! And his entire planet and race had been destroyed, but then he didn't seem to care about that. I wonder if he actually doesn't care, no one is that cruel, right? But then again he is still working for the man that destroyed it all or maybe he's collecting the dragonballs for himself. I snuck a peak at the Saiyan, who to my surprise was now staring right back at me. I shot him a weary smile.

On his approach he authoritatively said, "Any dragonballs your friends find are mine." He pointed an index finger at his chest. Then in a more teasing tone he continued, "They wouldn't risks the life of their faithful captain now would they?" He smirked evilly and then bent down to pick me up.

"No, wait!" I attempted to delay the inevitable. Then standing with an equally arrogant stance I demanded, "Why do you want the dragonballs?" He looked at me as if he had no incentive to answer. He was right, what would answering my question do for him. I am sure my face got the expression of a spoiled child as I continued to probe for the answer. "Are you collecting them for Frieza?"

His eyes narrowed. Vegeta stood up straight and proud before answering. In confident arrogance he began, "I will become immortal and defeat that lizard tyrant!"

Immortal, I thought to myself. What an awful wish. "Everyone you know would die," I blurt out before I could stop myself. "Why don't you wish for your race and planet to be resurrected?" I would have heard his animalistic growling if I was standing closer to him. But all I saw was an absolutely pissed off and dangerous man. I bit the side of my cheek and looked at the dirt next to my feet. Why do I care about his wish? Suddenly, I was hauled up and thrown over his shoulder. I made an oomph noise and then mustered the courage to ask him another question his prospective wish produced. "Do you really not care about your planet and all?"

His grip tightened on the back of my knee to the point of pain. I grimaced as he flatly responded, "No."

There was no doubt in his voice, but I wish I could have seen his eyes for better judgment. Giving up, I pulled out the dragonball tracker from the inside of my vest and clicked the top and only button. Although I wasn't physically comfortable in this position, I was becoming more mentally accustomed to it. Staring at the screen I saw that the four dragonballs had met up with the fifth one and were now traveling to some distant location. I cleared my throat and said, "Frieza has five now." In dismay I mumbled, "I'll never get Yamcha back." Between Frieza and Vegeta, it would be practically impossible to get one wish for myself.

"They can't track the Namekian's ki now." He chuckled deeply and I felt the vibrations through his armor, "They're dead in the water."

It shouldn't have comforted me, but I felt more at ease after he spoke. "Okay," I sighed, "but they still have five." Apparently, Vegeta had to pick off the other group one by one. This scared me, because in my mind he was on par with Goku. Who was the strongest guy alive, ever! But, I still wasn't sure if Goku could have defended Earth from his Saiyan counterpart alone. And given what Vegeta said about Saiyans growing stronger after near death experiences, that would mean him and Goku would be a lot stronger. I wish I had gotten in contact with my father to see if Goku was coming to help us, we could really use his help here. But still Vegeta wouldn't face the group head on, so maybe Goku would only give us a slight edge. Not enough to defeat both Frieza and Vegeta. I looked at the small of Vegeta's back while continuing my musing. But now Vegeta couldn't transform into that gigantic monkey because he had lost his tail. I absently wondered if that threw off his balance.

My daydreaming was interrupted. "Stop pouting and point me in direction of one of the two I can find," he barked at me.

That really did make me pout. I twisted my waist a little and stuffed the tracker back into my vest. Pointing to my left, I said, "that way." Before I could retract my arm, we were zooming through the air at an impossible speed. I had come to learn that it was either all or nothing with Vegeta.


AN: Yep, I decided to continue the story! Thanks for reading. I would love to hear from you, yes you!