Chapter 9

Planet Fayhen was hauntingly beautiful. Everything shone with a crystalline grace, even though the sky was an inky gray. Shafts of light pierced through thick clouds from a sun too far to produce much warmth. When Vegeta landed he took in the landscape and at first thought the inhabitants were few; but signs of a city loomed over a mountain ridge and he quickly took flight and headed in that direction.

Flying over the city was actually calming and for an instant Vegeta was alone with his thoughts, 'Why does everyone think this place is so dangerous? There is no one here, the land is barren…hmmm, I shouldn't be so foolish. Looks can be deceiving.'

He turned his head and saw movement below him. He smirked, "They aren't as cunning as they think. I know where you're hiding."

Vegeta flew down and landed in the centre of what looked to be there main city. He turned in the direction he had seen someone and tapped his scouter. The scouter barely registered any life, but after a moment of searching it finally settled on a group of low power levels. Vegeta hurried over and looked around. The city looked deserted, but Vegeta was not fooled.

"I know you're here. Someone better come out and face me or I'll decimate this city."

He smirked when he got no response, "Fine then."

A few yards away, hidden behind a pile of rubble, three figures stood watching the prince as he blasted building after building.

"He doesn't even care if people are in there. Monster, they may be hiding in the emergency holdings beneath their homes."

One nodded, "He is still a child himself though. We are not strong, but Frieza must know that we are still to be feared. Why send a boy to do this?"

The first looked at his companion, "Don't think that. Look," he pointed at the base of Vegeta's back, "See that wrapped around his waist? He is a saiyan. Frieza has three and if I'm guessing by age, that is their prince. He is very powerful."

The second scoffed, "They think that strength means everything. We will show him that he is nothing." He turned to the third in the group, "We must stop him Disden"

Disden looked up at his two younger companions, he had been silent and looked towards the destruction with sadness, "Frieza knows what we can do; he sent that boy to die here. I have heard of what it is like for those forced into Frieza's service. Saiyans are ruthless creatures, they live for battle, but this one has been twisted into something dark…I feel sorry for him."

"So we should not go after him? Frieza may have done him wrong, but he is destroying our home."

Disden nodded, "He knows right from wrong, he has made his choice."

Vegeta looked at the devastation he had caused, "This is ridiculous; are they all so afraid that they won't even fight to—"

His words were cut off when a blow to the head knocked him down.

"Quickly, he—"

Instantly Vegeta was on his feet; his face was a mask of anger at the audacity of the Fayhen and his own foolishness at letting his guard down. He turned to the man who had struck him and in an instant Vegeta had him by the throat. He threw him into a home he hadn't destroyed and laughed at the satisfying crunch of bone and the rubble that fell on the now lifeless body. He turned back to the other two who stood in shock at their fallen comrade.

"Now," Vegeta said calmly, "It would be a lot easier on all of you if you simply surrendered to me and show me to your king. I promise only some of you will die."

Disden looked disgusted, the young man beside him screamed in anger, "You have no right to come here and threaten our people. You piece of saiyan filth, you think you can conquer us so easily? There is a reason Frieza fears us."

Vegeta laughed, "Frieza may fear you, but I do not. Whatever reason he has to be afraid of you is his business. I could easily take this planet and destroy its inhabitants without trouble."

The man smirked, "Really?"

He leapt at Vegeta without warning; the young saiyan barely had time to react. Suddenly Vegeta found himself on the receiving end of dangerous and powerful attacks. He threw himself backward as a ki blast sailed past his head and blocked seconds before a fist rammed into his face. Where had this strength come from? He was certain that the scouter had sensed no abnormally high power levels; he was supposed to be the stronger. Was it possible that these people could hide their true power? As the y both took flight a twinge of uneasiness crept into his stomach as the Fayhen seemed to become faster, his blows more precise.

"Disden, hurry!"

Vegeta looked at the man he fought in confusion then turned to the elderly man who he had ignored. Disden fumbled with something in his arms that Vegeta couldn't quite make out.

"What—"

"Keep your eyes on me Saiyan." Vegeta was dealt a harsh blast into his back that sent his plummeting to the ground. He turned in time to see a dangerous amount of ki gathered in the hands of his opponent. In desperation Vegeta gathered as much energy as he could and created a rushed shield that barely protected him from the impact of the large ball of energy. He was thrown to the ground and in a stunned daze heard snippets of what the two Fayhens were saying to each other.

"…won't work.

"Try…"

"…not enough time."

"…get up soon."

"Just…"

"…don't have the strength."

Vegeta groaned, but pulled himself off the ground. Looking towards the two, the one he was fighting looking desperately at Disden then turn panicked eyes upon Vegeta.

"Damn it! Disden work faster."

He ran towards Vegeta and fought with more determination than before. Vegeta responded with equal fervor. As a powerful Galic Gun left his hands Vegeta knew he was winning. The man was tiring; his movements were getting sloppy. Whatever well of power he was dipping into was quickly running dry.

"You won't last long." Vegeta smirked, "I see you weakening. It's only a matter of time before you slip up and then friend I will snap your neck."

"Not this day you won't"

Both men looked towards Disden. He held a strange object in his hand, a smile on his face. The man Vegeta fought smiled and turned towards the saiyan prince, "You think you have strength."

Disden threw the object at Vegeta, the prince watched as it landed at his feet and peered at it as if it were some idiot's joke, "This is what is to harm me? A child's toy? You must have gone senile old man."

He moved to crush is under his feet, but felt the world sway as he stepped forward. What was this? His vision blurred and he looked up at Disden in disbelief.

"What have you done?"

"You will not be killing anyone today."

Vegeta stumbled forward; his mind couldn't seem to connect to the rest of his body. He fought against whatever was doing this to him and gathered his strength into a powerful blast in his palm. Disden threw two more of the objects in Vegeta's direction; these ones spun in the air and ropes of energy poured out and wrapped around the prince. Vegeta looked in bewilderment as he felt his strength leave him. He fell to the floor and looked up as Disden and the younger man stepped over him.

"You should not have come alone."

That was the last he heard, then darkness.

He heard voices and felt movement, but couldn't place where he was. A planet, a battle. Fayhen, that's where I am. What…wait, they…

His eyes shot open and looked at his surroundings. A cage, they had somehow caged him. He was being carried by four burly men and looked ahead at Disden and the young man who he had fought. They lead the small troupe and Vegeta had no idea where they were taking him. The man looked back and sneered.

"Well, look who has decided to awaken."

Vegeta growled, "Why am I in this? Is that how you deal with me? You don't have the power to defeat me so you use trickery? That's sad; if you all are so weak then maybe I'm doing you all a favour by wiping you from existence."

The man snarled and walked towards the cage before being stopped by Disden.

"Stop Kaylich, he means to bait you to do something foolish. Do not give him the satisfaction." Disden turned to Vegeta, "Do you even care that you have killed so many."

Vegeta laughed, "I wish I had gotten the chance. Unfortunately that city had no one and so I was denied that pleasure."

Disden scowled, "That city, boy, was inhabited. They saw you coming and went into hiding beneath the homes you leveled. When you destroyed those homes you killed thousands who hid from you in fear. Some were crushed; others burned or simply destroyed by your callousness. Don't you care?"

"I gave them fair warning," Vegeta smirked, "Next time tell your people to listen when someone gives them advice.

Disden looked astonished by Vegeta's cruelty. How had this boy been twisted in such a way?

"I wished you cared more. Now we might have to kill you for your evil."

"You think this cage can hold me?"

"Yes, yes I do."

Vegeta raised his palm, attempting to draw ki into his hands; as he did so he felt exhaustion hit him. He knelt on the floor and looked to Disden, "What is this?"

Disden merely turned away.

Vegeta couldn't believe it; he was a Saiyan, their prince and he had been captured by a ramshackle band of weaklings. For the first time in years he felt something that had been buried deep in his being…fear. They would not simply kill him, no. The Fayhen were horrifyingly vengeful for all their intelligence. He had murdered their kin, destroyed a whole city butchering thousands. He had been sent by their enemy to wipe them out; there would be no hope for him now. Nappa and Raditz were right, he would not return. He didn't deserve the title of prince; death by beings who should be nothing before him. The anger welled inside him; he turned to his captures.

"Where are you taking me? I demand you answer me!"

Silence, not even a glance in his direction. Vegeta lashed out at the bars of the cage they were carrying him in and recoiled back in pain. He felt his arm tingle as the pain receded. How could they make something that could hold a Saiyan?

"What is this? When I find my way out of this you will all be sorry. I will kill all of you, one slow death at a time."

Kaylich finally glanced at him, a ghost of a smirk splayed on his face, "You make your life so difficult. We will not be dying today prince; we know Frieza, he will not come for you—"

"I would never want Frieza's help. I will escape soon enough and you will regret this day."

The man gave a slight laugh, "I envy you prince, I would not have so much pride and confidence in the face of my captors. You are truly one of a kind."

"You dare mock me? I am the prince of all Saiyans and—"

"Enough!" Anger quickly replaced the smirk on Kaylich's face; he tapped the cage and laughed as Vegeta fell to his knees in agony.

What is this? What is going on? He couldn't understand where the pain was coming from and why it was so bad. "What are…what are you doing to me?"

"We are not as strong as you are, but we are still feared by your master, Frieza. We do not have strength, we have intelligence. This device is too complex for your feeble and primitive mind to understand, but in short we are using your very power against you. The manacles around your wrists draw on the very ki you would use to harm us and uses it to attack you." He laughed, "Your slowing being killed by the strength you pride yourself on."

"This is impossible—"

"We have captured you prince—"

"You will stop mocking me! I—", Vegeta was silenced as the fire raced through his veins. He fell to his knees, tears of shame and anger pooling in his eyes.

"We are taking you to our king; you are not the first Frieza has sent here, but you are by far the most intriguing. He will be very pleased; maybe he will spare you and have you for a pet."

Vegeta battled with his rage, the man's laughter battered his ears, but he could do nothing. How could he have let this happen? He now knew what was so feared about these people. Frieza had set many to conquer them and now some even said Frieza himself would have to come to destroy them. Vegeta had believed it had all been the ramblings of weaklings, those who cowered behind the mantle Frieza presented, but he had been wrong. Frieza knew the strength of this planet and now he had a way to rid himself of the saiyan pet he both hated and prized.

Vegeta sank into despair and barely noticed when they reached a giant fortress.

"This is where we call home saiyan."

Vegeta turned to Disden who had spoken; there was no laughter on his face unlike the other, but still Vegeta felt raw anger at being addressed, "What do I care for your home?"

"Well this is where you will be staying so…"

"You act as if I am a guest. Clearly your king will kill me, so leave me be."

Disden shrugged and kept silent the rest of the way. Vegeta paid no attention to anything else; he was jostled from his thoughts when the cage was lowered. Even though it was dark his keen eyes could make out his surroundings. The room was small, no windows or any other entrances except the door they had come through. Suddenly the door to the cage was opened and he was pulled forward by the chains that held his wrists. He struggled, if he was out of the cage then surely he could escape, but as he tried to free himself he felt his strength leave him. He could barely walk and was stunned when he was thrown to the floor.

"You think we would let you out if we didn't have a way to keep you tame?" The laughing Kaylich sneered, "I don't know why we aren't allowed to just slit your throat, but we have our orders. You are to stay here until the king sends for you."

Vegeta barely heard a word and was barely aware when they all turned and left, shutting the heavy door behind them. He pulled himself into a sitting position and sighed.

'I won't die like this...I am the greatest of a mighty race; my honour is all I have.'

How could you let this happen?

Vegeta's head snapped up, and with fear he looked into the cold disapproving face of his father.

A saiyan prince caged by those who should serve you.

"Father I...I...didn't mean for this to happen. I fought as hard as I could and still—"

You allowed yourself to be captured! You were to be a great king after me, but you gave into misery and now a coward's death is what awaits you.

"I am no coward! You are a dead thing who knows nothing of what I have suffered. It is more than any one person can bear yet I have every day of my life."

You looked to end it not long ago. Is that how the great prince of all saiyans would end his life? Not in the honour of battle, but holed up in a grimy room, his blood slipping through his fingers from an escape he provided? I am ashamed to call you my son.

"Ashamed? You are ashamed of me? What of you? You, the coward who so easily gave his son to the butcher of his people. You have no right to judge me, a ghost with no place. I had more strength than you when I was four and now the power I hold is more than you could ever have dreamed. You never had to endure what I had. At my age you were pampered and groomed for a throne you were promised. All I have is the scars I bear from countless beatings and abuse and the honour you say I threw away. If I want to end it you have no right to judge me."

Tears that had been pent up for years flowed freely down Vegeta's face, "You abandoned me. All I feel is pain, everyday. I feel my sanity slipping with every passing minute. You all haunt me and sometimes I feel there is no way out…except death."

King Vegeta leaned down and looked his son in the face; I did not raise a coward or a weakling. That you have survived this long shows your strength. These things here, they will try to make you a pet because you are too valuable to destroy if you can be controlled. Do not let them do this. My son is no one's slave.

"Frieza has enslaved me."

No, he sends you to do battle and kill for him, but he has not broken you. One day you will be free and become more powerful than even he could imagine. Show Frieza the strength of our bloodline.

Yay! Chapter 9! So what did you think? I can't really describe what they used to capture our poor Veggie; let's just say the Fayhens are like a group of Bulmas constantly inventing stuff that protects them from people who want to kill them lol. I worked really hard on this chapter so I really hope you guys liked it. Please let me know (see the button? What do you mean you can't see it? It's right there! Push it I say! =P). Vegeta's whole life is getting darker and I think something had to keep him going through his dark childhood. I chose the nagging voice of his daddy and fellow saiyans. Anywho, please tell me what you think. Oh, and also I was thinking of writing a story about Goku and Kakarot…I'll finish this first though. Would anyone read this? Let me know. Anyways, happy reading =D