Vegeta moved so quickly that to many lesser races, it would have seemed as though he hadn't moved at all. His eyes flashed open, took in the scene. Even as Kha-Mur's hand extended, flickering bands of lightning dancing along one finger, Vegeta's own hand flashed into position.
There was a blast of light; a sudden heavy thud as a body was thrown back against the wall. Kha-Mur realised belatedly that he had been hit. Blood pooled at his feet now, and he felt himself slowly sliding down the wall; a red trail marked his descent.
He was so fast.
His hand felt heavy, slumping down to the ground; there was no pain. There had been no time for pain. Just numbing cold, the realisation that he had been hit. His rich red blood pumping from the gaping wound blown into his chest.
Before him, the Saiyan rose. Smoke still twisted around his extended palm; there was a smirk on his features, and Kha-Mur could see he was clad in the blue body glove that was typically worn under Saiyan style armour. The Saiyan looked down at him; a cold gaze. Relentless and unmoved by his plight. He tried to speak, but his lungs were filling with blood. His vision was going dark at the edges.
How could this be? I was promised power… power enough to be able to kill him. Why can't I move? Why can't I fight?
Vegeta stood next to him now; sweeping a gaze along his body. He gave a note of disapproval.
"I wondered if your coward of a king was going to send someone to kill me. But if you are that person then he has underestimated me greatly. However, I don't think that's the case, is it? Such a pathetic assassin. He'd do much better. He wasn't stupid, just a coward. Who sent you?"
Kha-Mur could still feel the sparking power lodged in his soul; could still taste the acrid current rising in his throat, exploding through his veins. Yet, even as he tried desperately, he could not grasp it. It was as though his fingers were numb, and he could not hold onto the hilt of his blade. The world felt heavy, and he was falling into darkness.
He didn't want to die. More than that, he didn't want to die having failed. Mo-Fai has chosen him from all of his disciplines. He was the best, the very best! He couldn't fail like this! He had to fight, had to gather more power. Had to force through the numbing cold, the siren call of death.
"Answer me, damn it." He felt Vegeta's hand at his throat, hoisting him up so that his feet dangled in the air, and slamming him against the wall again. Fire erupted from his back, and he groaned.
"You think you're hurt now? You think you're dying? Well my friend, you are dying. But not fast, and believe me, I can make that passage a lot more painful if you don't answer my questions. I'm a Saiyan, you know I don't care about you or any petty law of your people. Answer me and die fast, or refuse me and die slowly."
The door opened, and a large figure barrled into the room.
"Prince Vegeta, I-"
"Enough, Nappa. There was an attack. A sad attempt at assassination. I've dealt with it. Your presence is not required."
"I see..." The bald Saiyan moved to the side of his prince, and Kha-Mur felt the prickling stirring hatred as he saw them side by side. The hulking bald one and his demonic prince. Two true monsters; the last of their kind.
His head slumped down, and darkness threatened to take him. All the while the Saiyans talked, as though he didn't matter. As though he'd never even had a chance!
"Do you recognise him, Nappa?"
"No. I don't know this one. They all look alike anyway."
"Hmmp. I'll bring his body to the King later. See what we can find. I wish he'd been a bit stronger. I could have used a challenge."
A challenge… he wasn't even a challenge to them. Not even a diversion. Had he ever really had a chance? Kha-Mur felt a shameful helplessness, and the last of his strength fled.
"Do you really have such little faith?" A voice spoke. A voice he knew well. He perked up a little, a slight new strength filling his trembling limbs.
"Mo-Fai..." He moaned.
"What was that?" Vegeta snapped. "A name? Mo-Fai. Nappe, who is that?"
"Sounds familiar." The big Saiyan muttered. "We've heard it before."
"Yes, we have."
Kha-Mur didn't care about what hey were saying; they were a distraction. Mo-Fai's voice filled him; powerful, demanding. Refusing to accept weakness or failure, and filled with confidence and such raw strength that Kha-Mur could not resist it.
"I have given you power, Kha-Mur, and this is how you use it?"
"My lord, the Saiyans are too strong… Too fast. I had no chance."
"Self-deception. You had your chance and you failed to use it. You know this to be true. Your pathetic excuse holds no water. Redeem yourself. Rise and fight."
"I...I cannot. I am hurt. Dying. My lord, forgive me."
"Forgiveness is for those who desert it, Kha-Mur. Are you worthy of such a gift? Prove it to me."
"What can I do…? I am so weak. I have lost the power."
"No. Power I have granted is not so easily taken. You have felt the strength of the Circle, but you did not realise what it was. You thought that the surface was all that existed. Shall I show you true strength? Shall I plunge you into the depths? It will destroy you, Kha-Mur. But you are dying regardless. Shall I give you one last chance to be worthy?"
"Yes."
Vegeta barely had time to brace himself before the room exploded into a torrent of baleful fire. It swept up, like a living thing and lashed out at him. Tendrils of the inferno catching on the floor and the walls. The heat was staggering; and he immediately felt the sweat beading his brow. A tongue of flame flashed towards him. He raised his power, and lashed out with a blast of energy. The flame was broken, and he kicked off into the air.
The heat was still growing. Sweltering. It was becoming harder to breath. He wished he had his scouter on so could find the foe. The roof and walls were on fire as well. The room was burning, twisting and distorting. Nappa was somewhere to his left, the heat had forced him back, and he was blazing with a powerful aura.
"Prince Vegeta!" He shouted. "Come on, let's go!"
Go? Not a chance. He was a Prince of the Saiyan race, and he'd run from no pathetic trick like this. A ball of energy appeared in his palm, and he hurled it towards where the assassin. The detonation shook the room; brought the roof crashing down, and the walls shuddered. The fire faltered for a moment, and Vegeta thought he'd done it.
Then, something climbed from the wreckage. Smoke poured from its body, and its body was singed black. Pulsing red veins, like lave, flowed along its charred flesh. Its chest was cratered from the blow he had landed before.
"So you have a few more tricks after all." Vegeta said. "Maybe you could prove amusing in spite of your earlier failure. let's see how you match this."
He thrust his hand forwards, unleashing a series of blasts, but the figure dodged them, hurling itself to the side. Its own hand spun towards him, and a tongue of flame leapt out to intercept his course. Vegeta dodged to the left; the heat making every hair on his tail stand on end.
Strong, but not strong enough to kill me.
"You'll need to do better than that."
It looked at him, twin eyes burning in pain and madness. Its mouth opened and it spoke a single word. As soon as it was uttered, Vegeta felt his body freeze. Agony ripped through his veins, and he cried out. It was as though every cell of his body was burning; whips of fury lashed into his naked back. His blood boiled, and his muscles were melting away. Venom poured through his mind, and fire surged along his flesh.
The creature leapt at him, and he dodged left. Mistake. As soon as he moved, the agony tripled, the sudden fury seared through him, throwing him off. The creature's fist took him in the chest, shock rippled through his body, and he felt pain. As though a naked flame had been shoved against his unguarded skin.
The creature attacked, landing blow after blow. Each hit was like the strike of a comet, his body recoiled from the pain within and without.
What was happening? He didn't understand, but nor did he have time to try. The creature that had once been the assassin struck him again and again, locked in a frenzy of blows. It caught him a punch that snapped his head to the side, his own blood rained upon the sizzling fire. It fought with no strategy, with brute force and raw power, no thought but to kill. He felt his skin begin to bruise, and in fury lashed out. A kick caught the thing in the chest, but as he made contact with the flickering fire that covered it, the impact seemed to melt away. It wasn't harmed at all, and came at him all the harder for it.
"Prince Vegeta!"
"Stay out of this, Nappa!" He snarled, back-peddling furiously under the storm of blows. "I don't need your help and I don't want it! This fool will die by my hand alone."
The creature came at him again, this time lightning crackled along with fire, and even blocking was dangerous. He turned aside a blow only to feel his arm go numb as electriciy raced along it; a spike of pain surged through him and he lashed out again. The creature didn't defend itself, but it didn't need to. Once more, as soon as his blow touched the nimbus of flame around it, the momentum just seemed to vanish.
I've never seen this sort of power before. I'm much stronger, and I should be able to win easily. Yet every blow I land is turned aside. Very well then, let's see how it does against another sort of attack.
His aura burned cleanly around him; shifting in hue to purple as he brought his arms together. The internal fire which ravaged his body was eclipsed for a brief moment as he felt the surging, singing energy that he could command.
"Gallick Gun!"
The energy wave burst free from his hands, eagerly rushing forwards towards the fire-creature. It stood for a moment, outlined by the light. The attack washed over it and Vegeta felt the impact shuddering through his attack. The monster tried to hold its ground, digging burning feet intro charring ground. But that same ground crumbled as Vegeta fed more power into the attack. It exploded; the room was obliterated, replacing by searing light. The building shook; somewhere, someone was screaming. Nappa had dodged away, knowing better than to be caught in his prince's attack. Energy seared past him, exploding the outer wall of the palace. Smoke and flame belched from this new opening.
Then, the light cleared. The smoke started to lift. Vegeta waited, measuring his energy reserves. Still plenty left, but it had been a significant attack. Even as he thought this, he dodged back again, more power flowed to his hands.
The monster was still standing.
The foundations of the palace were shaking. King Era-Sha gripped desperately for the nearest wall, almost thrown from his feet. Around him, the court was in turmoil.
"What's going on?" He demanded. "Someone give me a report!"
"It's the guest quarters, sire!" One of the guards shouted, having reached the wall, and the computer monitor set therein. "The system isn't sure what's happening, but there are a lot of explosions..."
"It's the Saiyans." Era-Sha said, feeling a spike of dread punch through his chest. "They've grown tired of waiting. Send Roran, send as many guards as you can find!"
At his words, panic erupted, the various nobles rushing to gather their enterouges, the captain of the guard shouting for his best soldiers; Roran was nowhere to be found, and runners were sent to look for him. Through it all, Era-Sha stood numbed. Knowing that he was facing the death of his species and everything that he held dear.
I was hoping I could buy more time than this. Was I a fool to think that I could hold out against the Saiyans? Against Frieza? All I wanted was for my people to be free. Is that really so bad?
"My lord?" The captain of the guard said. "The soldiers are dispatched, we should move. There's a safehouse at the in the basement of the palace. You'll be harder to find there."
Harder to find. Era-Sha felt a deep bitterness welling up within him. Not safe. Nowhere is safe now. The Saiyans will kill us all.
"Sire? My king?" The captain nudged him gently. "Please, we don't have much time. The Saiyans will be coming for you..."
"What does it matter?" Era-Sha snapped. "It's the end anyway."
The captain recoiled.
"Sire, please don't speak like that! You are beloved, and if the people knew that you had died or given up hope, it would reflect poorly on us all! So long as you live, there is a chance. The Saiyans have been repelled before. We have prepared. We can still do this, but we need you to lead us. Don't surrender sire, for all our sakes."
Era-Sha blinked, feeling as though he had been plunged head-first into cold water. He'd been so close to giving up! He felt a horrified realisation. He'd almost surrendered. Almost become his father, the thing he had sworn never to do.
Perhaps we die, but we die fighting.
"You're right." He said. "Thank you captain, you're absolutely right. Come with me, we can command the defence from the bunker. Mo-Fai! You're with us as well! And bring six guards, the most elite."
The old adviser in his long cloak and mechanical breather stepped over, gesturing several guards with him as well.
"There's a hidden elevator on the next level." The captain said. "We can ride it to the bunker. Let's move."
Move they did; as quickly as they could. The tower shook around them; whining and groaning like a thousand tones of stone suddenly in terrible pain. From somewhere above, smoke bellowed, and alarms were wailing. They rushed through corridors containing tapestries depicting a thousand years of history, and he wondered if it was all going to be wiped away now.
The captain was to his left, wielding a blaster in one hand. His armour was burnished gold, rather useless but for display. Nevertless, he moved like a veteran, and he had spoken enough sense to snap Era-Sha out of his daze. To his right, Mo-Fai. Silent and implacable as ever. A source of fierce strength despite his aged form. He was timeless, had stood with king after king. It was as though so long as Mo-Fai was with him, so stood every lord he had served.
And Roran was out there too…
Yes, they weren't done yet. Not even nearly.
Together they reached the elevator and hurried within. The metal doors closed swiftly. It was a roomy elevator, and they all had space. The Captain keyed in their destination, but only once they started to move did Era-Sha ponder on the potential folly of using an elevator when the building itself was under so much strain.
Seeking partially to disteact himself, the King started to talk.
"Once we reach the bunker, we'll power up the defences." He said. "The siege-towers set in the city can be manned and ordered to target the palace. Between the four of them, there is enough fire power to obliterate the entire building. If the Saiyans survive that, we'll have the army meet them, they'll be winding and confused. We need to overwhelm them before they can get their heads together."
"My lord." The captain said. "If you destroy the palace… the bunker will endure, but everyone else will die."
Era-Sha's fists clenched tightly.
"I know." He snapped. "But with the Saiyans here, they're dead either way. I pray their spirits will forgive me, but if the Saiyans realise our plan, they'll be ready for it and we won't have a chance. Find Roran. If he's not in the palace, put him in charge of the military attack. If he is in the palace… tell him to get out if he can."
"And if he can't?"
"Tell him….Tell him I'm sorry it had to end like this, and ask him if he can distract the Saiyans for a little bit. Tell him also I will understand if he chooses to flee. We are not his people."
"He will not flee." Mo-Fai said. "He will fight. For Roran, death has no fear for he has died already. He died long ago with his people. For the time since that, he has been but a walking corpse. He will welcome the chance to bring Vegeta to his doom."
"Are you sure?" The King asked. "I need to be positive. I'm asking him to die for us..."
"I know." Mo-Fai said. "Tell me, my lord, did I ever tell you of my own race?"
Despite the danger, despite the risk, and the terrible timing, Era-Sha was curious. To his knowledge, no king had ever learned Mo-Fai's race, nor where he ahd come from. Even the oldest books of history seemed simply to take his presence as a given.
"I don't believe that you have." Era-Sha said. "Did they fall victim to the Saiyans?"
"No." Mo-Fai gave a wizened chuckle. "Our time was long before the Saiyans ever learned how to claw their way free of the atmosphere of the mud-hole they call a world. There were never many of us, you know. Even at the start we were a race apart even from our own people. Only one in a thousand was like me. Like us.."
"What do you mean, Mo-Fai? Like you how?"
"Well, let me put it this way. There were those who were warriors, there were those who were farmers, and those who were magicians. But only a few transcended all these casts. These were the ones who learned to unlock their full power. We were conquerors, warlords amongst the stars. You think the Saiyans were bad? We were worse! Stronger! Immune to sickness! Slow to age! We soaked the stars in blood, Era-Sha. It still brings warmth to my heart…
"The rest of our race exiled us for our crimes. But we didn't care about them. Foolish. Weak. Unable to embrace their true potential. It was envy that forced their hand. They looked at us and knew fear, for we were all that they could not be. So to the stars we went, and waged our wars, forged our empires. Some of us became brothers, others enemies. But we were as gods. Even Frieza himself could not have stopped us all!"
"I've never heard you talk like this before, Mo-Fai." Era-Sha said. "Soaked the stars in blood? Conquerors? Forged empires? What is all of this madness, why do you bring it before me now?"
"It is the truth, my king." Era-Sha said. "It is important that you understand now while you have the chance. While I am still able to explain. You see, I said that we were gods, but there was one thing we could not defeat. Time itself. One by one, we fell. In battle, to age, to accident or to murder. Like a glorious nova, we lingered only for a little while. Until only a few of us were left. We were ancient by then, most of our power was gone, so we sought a way to survive. I do not know of the others. Perhaps they found a way. Perhaps they died and I am alone. But I do know what I found, oh mighty king."
Mo-Fai reached upwards, and there was a hiss as his breather was disconnected. It fell forwards, hanging around his scrawny neck. The King could see his face properly for the first time. He was truly ancient. Wrinkled and blotched. His skin was pale, but here or there existed hints of green. Mo-Fai took a deep, rasping breath. His lungs labouring heavily.
"I found a world… this world. So ripe for use. We were many things, as I said. Warrior, planner, magician. In magic I found my solution. My power to drink the lives of others, refined over centuries. But all of the lives I had available then could only sustain me. I lived, but could not recover. My powers faded slowly, ever so slowly… you do not know what it is like to be a god and fall from grace so thoroughly!"
He coughed, his whole frame shaking as his body vibrated painfully. He spat dark blood, and looked up.
"My time is nearly up." He said. "I cannot speak much longer, so I will cut short the tale. By ending the lives of others, I grow stronger. But the lives of weaklings are not worth so very much, and even those with potential are little in the end. I needed powerful lives. Lives that burned like a sun. So when I heard of the arrival of the Saiyans, you can imagine my glee. Lives such as those would be a feast that I have not enjoyed in hundreds of years. Lives strong enough not only to halt my decline, but to reverse it! With those three Saiyan lives, I will at last be strong enough to leave this world. With that strength, I will hunt others. I will regain all that I have lost!
"But of course, as I am now, I cannot stop one Saiyan never mind three. So I needed a plan. Fortunately, you provided one, I just had to change it a little bit. Stir the world into frenzy, blame the Saiyans. Let the blood spill, the bodycount rise. And each soul that falls within my domain leavers a little bit of itself to me. It's taken time, but I've spread my net across the whole palace. For everyone who dies, I will grow stronger. Temporary strength from weaklings, but long enough for me to capture the Saiyans. Those, I shall not kill. I shall hold them in my power, and draw every trace of energy from them.
"But for this to happen, you must die, Era-Sha. For this, I apologise, for I did not dislike you. But you see, as the captain told you, you are beloved, and your death will drive the killing frenzy from which I will feed. Your city will die. Your army will die. The Saiyans will die, and your planet will die. But I will be free. Rejoice in that you are serving a grander purpose."
"Do you really think I am going to let you do that?" Snapped Era-Sha, still reeling from the shock of betrayal. "Guards, kill him!"
"They cannot." Mo-Fai said. "I still have some power, particularly over the weak minded. You should not have allowed me to choose your escort, Era-Sha. They can't help you now."
"But I can."
The captain of the guard surged forwards, slamming the butt of his blaster into Mo-Fa's gut. The ancient alien doubled up in pain, and the captain back-handed up across the room. He hit the far wall with a cry. As soon as there was enough space, the captain raised his gun and took aim.
Twin beams of purple light flashed from Mo-Fai's eyes, striking him in the chest and bursting into flames. He staggered back, and then tried to sight again, but Mo-Fai threw forwards an arm, and it extended, gripping the blaster from across the room and hurling it aside. The captain of the guard had no time to be astounded; his lord was in danger. He surged forwards with a cry; tearing free the ceremonial blade he wore as a side-arm.
The next blast of purple beams from Mo-Fai tore through his chest. He doubled up in pain, and Mo-Fai smashed an elbow into the back of his head. Dazed and agonised, he went down. Mo-Fai stamped down hard and broke his neck. For a moment, he stood there. Breathing heavily, rasping.
"Damn." he snarled to himself. "That was far too close. Your captain was a good man, I did not think it would take such effort to overpower him like that. I have not had to use such energy in a very long time. But with his death, I grow stronger. Rejoice in that his strength is not wasted. His death served a purpose."
Era-Sha could not move. His muscles refused to obey even as Mo-Fai turned back towards him, his eyes glittering with energy.
"As will yours, mighty king. If it comforts you, I will tell them that you were defiant to your last breath."
Era-Sha bowed his head to wait for death.
And felt the most complete despair he'd ever experienced in his life.
Vegeta dodged under a swift blow and countered, once more feeling his attack negated. The agony burning inside him was getting stronger, and he kicked away as the creature tried to grab him. The former assassin was not tiring, he did not seem to slow, nor did he feel pain. His fiery aura absorbed all damage, and Vegeta was starting to run out of options quickly. He dodged back, nimbly evading another wild swipe, but the need to do so tore at his pride.
There must be some weakness I can exploit in this creature. It's galling that it has managed to last so very long. I am the Prince of all Saiyans, and I won't be made a fool of by such a clown.
The monster hissed, lava drooling from its open maw. Any trace of an intelligent being had long since been erased from it, and still it came on. Leaping and howling, fighting him, trying to pin him down. He struck back, hammering two blows into its gut with all his strength, and the fire flickered for a moment. There was an opening, and he spun a kick into its face. This time, it staggered back, but a moment later, the fire ignited again.
Vegeta felt a cruel smile twist his features.
"I know how to hurt you now, monster. I can break your shield."
It howled, and directed a whip of flame to lash out at his back. He ducked low, letting it fly over his head and unleashed a series of energy blasts which pushed the creature far into the guts of the building. Cement and stone cracked and broke around it, someone was screaming but he didn't care. This was what it meant to be a Saiyan and he loved it.
"Come on then, you sad excuse for an assassin. You're an even worse fighter than you were a hired killer."
It screamed, wings of fire erupted from its back and it joined him in the air. He ducked and dance, wove an elaborate pattern around it. It wasn't hard. The thing was clumsy and slow. But strong as well, as he learned anew when it caught him, and threw him into the far wall. This time, it was him who was showered in rubble, and then he was through the wall. Cold water poured over him as momentum carried him through one of the mid-air rivers that the Erashans liked to put everywhere. Instantly, the fire in him cooled to nothing, but he had no time to take that into account. The monster barrelled out after him. It opened its mouth and projected a torrent of flame; he dodged to the left, but it predicted him and the fire washed over him. He snarled in pain, and forced as much energy into a protective barrier as he could. Even so, he felt it crack and weaken, the heat projecting through it. His skin started to singe, his hair to turn.
"No!"
He detonated the barrier, filling the air with a rushing explosion of energy. In an instant, the flame was scattered, and he lanced forwards. His fist buried itself deep into the creature's chest, its nimbus dimmed but did not die. It cut a fiery wound across his cheek in return, and the two broke apart again.
He lashed out with an underhanded blast of Ko, the explosion rocked the monster, its aura flickered. A second blast cratered its chest, a third punctured its leg. Then, the protection was regained. He could see its body flowing and regenerating.
A healer.
He hated fighting healers.
He darted forwards, his image flickering with the speed of his attack. He smashed two more strikes into its back, one into its leg, and a final one to its throat. It showed no signs of pain and retaliated by driving a killing blow into his chest which forced the air from his lungs. Fire raced along his body, but he didn't let it settle, flushing energy into the air and lancing a beam at the monster. It side-stepped, and a portion of the palace behind it was obliterated in a flash of searing light.
Despite his focused rage, Vegeta was no simple berserker. He knew the creature's tactic now. It was wearing him down. He was stronger and faster, yes. But so long as he did not have a way to end the fight, it would eventually tire him. Thoughts of flight were quickly eliminated. He was a Saiyan, and would not run from such a being.
But he did need an alternate strategy.
His thoughts turned to how the water had quenched the fire raging within his body, and even as the monster threw itself at him again, he decided to take the chance. He dodged around, and lashed out with a kick to its back. There was no damage, but it was knocked back to the water fall. Vegeta surged forwards, the monster tried to guard, but he effortlessly flowed around the clumsy block and planted a fist in its gut. Suddenly, the around him exploded into flames, and he felt his skin begin to burn. Fuelled by pain and rage, his fist lashed out, closing around the monster's neck.
"I am Vegeta!"
Its hands lashed at him, burning him where they touched. He could smell the sickly scent of his own cooking flesh. His free hand smashed into its gut, but the pain wouldn't stop. The fire had gotten ahold of him, and it erupted along his back. Even then he refused to yield, driving the thing into the water. It shrieked, the first sign of pain that it had truly given. Smoke curled up around it. Around them both, and yet it was not yet dead. Its burning eyes met his, and there was hatred there.
He returned it.
"I am the Prince of all Saiyans!"
He smashed a blow into it, driving all his stretch into its gut. The water countered its shield, and he felt its flesh tear. The two of them were falling now, covered by flame and smoke and steam, fighting as they went. The creature's claws tore at him, his wounds throbbed, but he did not relent.
"I am an elite Saiyan Warrior!"
Together, they hit the ground; the water pouring in torrents around them, the two of them struggled to gain control. Each trying to rise to the top. There was no skill now; it was strength against strength, will against will. It clawed and tore at his skin, and he was bleeding, but its own shield was down. It was hurt and desperate.
"And you, monster?"
He managed to get to the top, and threw a savage punch which knocked its head back with such force that it dented the ceramic pound into which the river flowed.
"You!"
He hammered it again, driving all his strength into the blow, bone broke beneath it, but the monster still writhed.
"Are!"
A third hit, even stronger if that was possible. The ground below them cratered, the water poured and writhed, steam rose from where they fought. The monster kicked out and nearly unseated him, but he used that to fuel his rage.
"Nothing!"
The fourth hit, and the creature finally broke. Its ribs crumpled under his assault, his fist spearing through its chest, fingers rapping around its beating heart. With a roar Vegeta tore it free, ripping the organ from the monster's body with a savage cry of victory. It writhed for a moment more, and then went still. The body started to crumble away, like a fire which had burned down to nothing. Vegeta rose, dropping the heart.
Vegeta was bleeding. Wounded in several places, and winded from the battle. Yet even so, he wanted to laugh, for he had fought a powerful foe and triumphed. His Saiyan blood was afire. He looked back at where the beast had been.
"Not a bad fight, I suppose."
"Prince Vegeta!" Nappa landed at his side. "Are you all right? You're hurt, my prince!"
"Don't be a nanny, Nappa." Vegeta said. "Of course I'm hurt. I am a warrior. I have bled before, and will bleed again. This creature however will not."
Nappa grinned. "I apologise Prince Vegeta. Still, it was a good fight, wasn't it?"
"It wasn't too bad I suppose. More than I expected from this miserable planet."
Suddenly, a bright light broke the darkness. The palace guard had spilled from the broken building and were now taking up formation around the Saiyans. Idly, Vegeta guessed there were a hundred of them at least, with heavy weapons and vehicles as well. He gestured to Nappa to do nothing yet, and stepped forwards.
"Is this how you treat your honoured guests?" He snarled. "With weapons and assassins? Your king should be ashamed!"
"The King is dead!" The leader of the soldiers snarled. "And soon, you will be as well. Attack! Kill them both!"
Nappa and Vegeta just had time to share a single look before the position that they held was littered with clusters of explosions.
