Chapter Nine - Mecchan
It was just Ayaleia and Vegeta in the ship, heading down for Planet Moolah.
"So what are we doing today?" she enquired.
"Some cargo arrived the other day that was faulty. We're being sent down to negotiate another batch. So, I'm leaving this up to you. I don't do tactful."
"How am I supposed to know what to say?"
"I'm sure you'll think of something."
Ayaleia bit her lip. She wasn't very comfortable with something she had no idea how to do. Still, it was better than Vegeta's way.
"And don't think I don't know about you and Raditz." he said.
"Then you'll also know I turned him down." Ayaleia said indignantly. "And besides, it's got absolutely nothing to do with you."
She regretted saying the words as soon as they had come out. She expected a backlash, but instead, Vegeta just laughed.
"You've certainly changed form when you first arrived." he remarked.
Ayaleia sat silent. It was unlike her. The Saiyan side of her was rearing its head again. She looked out of the window, for a change of focus. They weren't far away now…
The air hit Ayaleia with force. The polluted air made her lungs feel heavy, making it an effort to breathe. She realised she was trying to take deep breaths to stop her from fainting.
"Of course." said their host. "You can't be used to our air. Use this."
He handed her an air necklace. Putting it on, she felt the air immediately purify around her. Her breathing eased.
"If you would please follow me, I will take you to President Moolah."
The two of them followed their odd guide through the buildings to the central tower. On their way, Ayaleia couldn't help noticing frightened faces at the doorways. At one point, they crossed over a bridge and she looked down to see turbid waters. Most of the buildings were factories, interspersed with small shanty huts. Thick smoke belched from chimneys and wastewater was pumped into the rivers. No doubt this had made Mecchan so polluted.
Their journey ended in a grand hall, dominated by portraits of the various Mecchan leaders. Underneath one at the far end of the hall was President Moolah, seated on an expensive looking throne.
Their guide stopped and gave a short bow to the President.
"The delegates from Lord Frieza have arrived." he announced.
"Ah yes." the President looked them over. "Please be seated."
They say down opposite each other. The President continued.
"I understand Lord Frieza has had problems with the last batch of cargo we sent him."
"The quality was not what he expected." Ayaleia said. "He was a little upset."
"Indeed. Please tell his Lordship that the person responsible has been dispensed with."
Ayaleia swallowed as her heart jumped.
"U-Uh, yes, I'm sure that is acceptable."
She looked to Vegeta for some support, but he returned her pleading look with a blank stare.
"Even as we speak, I have my best workers replacing the faulty goods – at no extra cost, of course. I hope Lord Frieza will find this more than adequate."
"Lord Frieza will be satisfied with this arrangement." Ayaleia replied.
She felt stupid talking the way she was. But apparently this was the way to discuss things in politics.
"However, my men will need a little more time to complete the order. Say, another day or two."
She nodded.
"So be it."
"Now please, you haven't touched your drinks, you must be thirsty."
Ayaleia nodded, and raised the glass to her lips, swallowing the liquid. Her eyes widened, and she spat out her drink. She threw herself across the table and knocked Vegeta's glass out of his hand.
"Ugh!" she cried. "It's poisoned!"
The Mecchans looked horrified.
"Who delivered the drinks?!" President Moolah demanded.
There was a scrabble for the doors, and everyone except the President and his two top advisors remained. Ayaleia wiped her sleeve over her lips.
"It tastes like seaned." she said thoughtfully.
"Did you swallow any?" the President asked.
"I didn't get a chance." Vegeta replied.
"Yes." Ayaleia answered.
The three Mecchans looked horrified.
"It is cyanide – just a few drops can kill." one of the advisors said.
"Then you'd better get some help fast." Vegeta threatened.
"It's nothing." Ayaleia said. "I think if anything was to happen, it would have done so already."
"That's true." the President concurred. "You must be very lucky."
Ayaleia smiled.
"I must have spat it out in time. Oh, I'm sorry, I made a mess on your table."
The President held up a hand.
"Think nothing of it. Be assured, I will find the traitor and he will be punished. But perhaps for now, you will rest. It must have been a tiring journey, and it is almost evening."
Ayaleia nodded, and she and Vegeta followed their hosts to their rooms.
Vegeta heard a soft knock on his door.
"Vegeta?" Ayaleia called quietly. "Are you awake?"
"It's open." he answered.
Ayaleia entered the room, and closed the door behind her.
"You couldn't sleep either?" she asked.
"It's too hot."
"The air conditioning's broken down. They've sent someone out to fix it." she paused. "You've been very quiet today."
"I have to explain myself to you?"
"N-No." she stammered. "I was just curious."
She paused, and tried a different subject.
"It seems we're not very popular here then."
"You mean the poison?"
"Yes. It was very strong seaned."
"So is it another Gaian trick? I saw you swallow two mouthfuls before you reacted."
"Oh that." Ayaleia waved her hand dismissively. "My Gaia filters out any poisons in my bloodstream. Anything it doesn't recognise as being natural, it will neutralise."
"My, aren't you lucky?" he said sarcastically.
"Yes." she retorted hotly. "Because we would have been in real trouble otherwise."
She crossed over to the window and opened it. The sparsely oxygenated air seeped in.
"I can't sleep breathing that in all night." Vegeta said.
"You'll get used to it after a while. Don't move around too much, and you'll get by on what little oxygen is in the air." she replied. "Were you expecting them to try to poison us?"
"Yes. I'm not as naïve as you are."
"What about this then?" Ayaleia asked, pulling a box out of her pocket. "One of them gave it to me."
"What is it supposed to be?"
"A music box… listen."
Ayaleia wound the little handle, and the box started to play a little tune.
"I think you should be alright." Vegeta said mockingly. "Although the number of reported deaths by music boxes is at an all time high of zero."
"Isn't it a nice melody?" Ayaleia asked, ignoring him. "Almost like a lullaby."
She placed the box on the bed and sat down next to it.
"I know you don't appreciate it." she stated, throwing him a look. "But I think it's nice."
She yawned.
"I'm getting tired." she said, and felt her eyes getting heavy.
Vegeta felt his own eyes closing. He shook his head to wake himself up. Ayaleia was suddenly fast asleep on the bed. Why was he so tired?
…Almost like a lullaby….
It was that music box!
But it was too late. He fell against a chair, as he too succumbed to the entrancing melody.
"Wake up Vegeta!"
He started into consciousness to see Ayaleia crouched next to him. A green glow lit her up. Ayaleia was obviously using her Gaia light again.
"What's going on?" he demanded.
"You're not going to like this…" Ayaleia said, standing up.
Vegeta followed suit. He looked around.
"So that's their game. Trying to get rid of us again?"
He examined the small cell. The walls were simply rock, and there was a grille at the end of the room. The ceiling he couldn't fathom.
"Ayaleia, you should know by now, it's going to take more than this to stop me."
"No, you don't understand!" she exclaimed shaking her head. "Try forming a Ki ball."
Vegeta stared at her for a minute and then complied. A small puff of smoke appeared from his glove. He glared at Ayaleia.
"What have you done?!"
"I haven't done anything! I think Frieza's friends are playing dirty. I knew there was something wrong with the air! The pollutants must sap people's strength. It's all fine in the city with the air conditioning, but sleep with a window open…"
She looked down at her hands.
"I only have my Gaia left."
"I thought you couldn't be poisoned?"
"This isn't poison. It's just the air that has to be breathed in. The pollutants are combined with the oxygen. If I didn't breathe it in, I'd suffocate."
"I won't believe we're trapped in here."
Vegeta walked up to the nearest wall, and drew back his fist.
"No, wait!"
She winced as Vegeta put the full force of his remaining power into the blow. There was a horrible cracking noise, and Vegeta gave a yell of pain. Ayaleia tried to grab his wrist.
"Get away from me!" Vegeta shouted.
"Don't be stupid!" she shouted back, and managed to catch his arm.
To Vegeta's astonishment, she overcame his efforts to free himself, and examined his hand.
"You've broken your knuckles and wrist." she said.
"Yes, thank you, I could have worked that one out for myself!" he snapped.
"Just hold still…!"
Ayaleia put her hand over the back of his and the little green sparkles Vegeta was becoming used to seeing danced on his hand. She took her hand away.
"Try it now."
"Hmm. Good as new." Vegeta said flexing his fingers. It still ached a little.
"But, you must of noticed," Ayaleia continued, trying to disguise the smile on her face. "That I'm now stronger than you."
"What?! You can't be serious!"
"Well, try and hit me."
Vegeta swung a fist out at her, but she dodged it easily, and caught his wrist.
"Watch." she said.
She flung him over her shoulder and he landed heavily on the floor. He looked up, ignoring the stars before his eyes. He gave her a cold look.
"You know how hot things cool down quicker than cold things?" she asked. "Same principal. You're far stronger than me, so you lose your power quicker. I know that may dent your pride a little, but at least it's something you can't help."
"So what then? They're just leaving us to rot down here?"
Ayaleia had been giving this some thought.
"I think…" she said walking over to the grille. "That they would come up with something much more imaginative than that."
She inspected the grille, and then peered through the bars. She came to a conclusion and picked up something from off the floor.
"You know where we are, don't you?" she asked Vegeta.
Vegeta got up and joined her at the grille. He looked out into the night.
"It's too dark to see." he said.
She put something in his hand.
"Sand?"
"Can't you hear it?" she asked. "We're near the sea."
"This place must be on the shore."
"Right."
"What's that got to do with anything?"
"Look at the moon." she said, pointing at the silvery crescent. "It's about three times as big as Gaia's."
"So?"
"That means the tide will come in three times as much as Gaia. Three times the height, three time as fast. I've been looking at the walls. The sea must have left behind the deposit on them. And…"
She lifted a hand and the green light lit up the top part of the room.
"…They don't stop. There's no tide mark."
"In other words, this room is going to flood."
"And with our energy slowly fading…"
"…We'll be too exhausted to swim."
"They're going to drown us."
"Well, that's just wonderful. And how are we supposed to get out?"
"We can't. I've looked everywhere."
"What about turning into an Oozaru?"
Ayaleia shook her head.
"The full moon was two days ago. There won't be one for another two and a half weeks. Face it, Vegeta, we're stuck."
"Then what are we supposed to do?"
"Try and last it out until someone realises we're missing."
"That could take days."
"Well, here's our chance to find out if it's as bad as I say."
Vegeta looked towards the grille.
"The water's here already?"
"I told you it would move fast."
They started backing towards the wall. They watched the water creeping up to them. Ayaleia did a few calculations in her head.
"Do you want the good news, or the bad news?" she asked.
"What's the bad news?"
"At the rate the water's flowing, I'd say there are about six tides a day – three high and three low. The three high tides will have different levels, following a pattern of low, medium, high, medium, low, and so on. I can't tell which this is until it starts going down again. By which time we might already have drowned."
"So what's the good news?"
Ayaleia reached down and put her hands in the water.
"The water's warm."
"Oh good, I don't like cold baths." Vegeta said sarcastically.
"I meant we might not get hypothermia quite so easily."
The water was already up to their ankles.
"Take your armour off." Ayaleia said, already in the process of removing hers.
"What for?"
"We're both getting weaker, I don't think keeping extra weight on is a good idea."
"I'm not taking it off."
"Don't be so stubborn. You keep your uniform on, but the armour comes off."
"I'm not taking it off!"
"Fine, then go ahead and drown! See if I care."
Vegeta folded his arms and turned his back on her.
The water had risen to their calves.
"This is not the time! Stop acting like a spoilt brat!" she snapped.
"Speak for yourself. Daddy's little Princess always got her own way, I'll bet."
"How dare you!? I was brought up without a lot of the things other children had to prove that I wasn't spoilt. You're the one who acts like he owns everything."
"Well, I ought to."
"Didn't your mother ever teach you any manners?"
Ayaleia neatly sidestepped the punch, and caught Vegeta's other arm and twisted behind his back.
"Damn it!" he shouted through clenched teeth.
"See, I told you you're getting weaker, and all these little outbursts are not going to help."
She thought for a minute and decided on a different course.
"Alright then, if you're not going to take your armour off, then I will."
"What?!"
"You heard, and I won't stop there, I'll strip you down to your underwear."
"You wouldn't dare!"
"Why not? You're so cute when you're angry."
It must have taken a full twenty seconds from when Ayaleia released her grip to when Vegeta's armour hit the water and sank to the stones below.
"See? That wasn't so bad, was it?"
Vegeta glared at her and backed up to the wall. The water was now at their waists.
"You weren't joking when you said the water would come up fast."
"Aren't you glad you've got that heavy armour off now?"
It was now shoulder height. The sea was starting to push them against the rocky wall.
"Swim out to the middle!" Ayaleia cried. "We'll be cut to ribbons against the wall!"
They swam out towards the middle of the flooding cell, and trod water. Ten minutes passed and the ceiling was just coming into view. It was about ten feet above them, illuminated only by the Gaia light.
"It's no good!" Ayaleia called. "We won't make it, Vegeta! Vegeta?"
She suddenly noticed an absence.
"Vegeta, where are you?"
Without warning, a sudden undercurrent pulled her below the water and dragged her down. As she sank, she searched for any sign of Vegeta. But she couldn't see very well through the murky water, and her Gaia light could not penetrate far. She kicked hard in order to free herself from the undercurrent and after what seemed like an eternity, she broke away from the tow. She swam to the surface and gasped down air. Vegeta was still nowhere to be seen. She took another deep breath and dived under the water, in hope for better luck. She saw a shape in the water below her, and on closer inspection, it turned out to be Vegeta. She grabbed him by the waist and towed him up towards the surface. Supporting him above the water, she shook him. He awoke with a start.
"A current most have got the better of you." Ayaleia said.
Vegeta didn't reply. Ayaleia looked around. The ceiling was only another foot above them.
"What are you doing? I can swim by myself." Vegeta said angrily.
"Oh sure, like last time." Ayaleia responded, not moving her grip.
"I said I can do it myself!"
"Who's stronger here? So who's giving the orders?"
Vegeta said nothing, but grit his teeth.
"How long can you hold your breath for?" she asked.
It ended up that they didn't have to resort to such drastic actions. After another few minutes, Ayaleia examined their surroundings again.
"I think the water's going down." she said.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, I'm positive. Look, there's a whole two feet to the ceiling now."
"You're right."
In reality it wasn't that long before they were back on the ground again, but it was long enough.
"Get off me." Vegeta snapped, pulling his arm away.
Ayaleia hadn't realised she still had her arms in a supporting position where she had been holding him.
"Sorry." she said, releasing him.
They both sat down on the ground, recovering what was left of their energy. The water had been warm, but now it was retreating, the cold night air was dropping their temperatures. Ayaleia stood up, and walked through the remaining water to the grille.
"It's going to be hours before dawn." she said aloud.
She walked back towards Vegeta.
"It's going to get cold; you ought to keep yourself warm."
She held her hands together and then slowly drew them apart. The Gaia between her hands formed a big thick sheet. She took it and offered it to Vegeta.
"Here."
Vegeta took a look at the blanket and then away again.
"Don't be like that, you must be freezing."
Silence.
"Vegeta, come on!"
Silence.
"Look, I'm sorry, alright?"
Silence.
"Last chance."
Ayaleia drew her hand back to dismiss the Gaia.
"Perhaps it wouldn't hurt to keep warm." Vegeta said.
Ayaleia smiled to herself and passed him the blanket. Vegeta took it and wrapped it around himself. It felt warm and soft. Ayaleia moved her hands, and another blanket appeared. She sat down near to, but not quite next to, Vegeta. They sat there in silence, until Ayaleia broke the stillness.
"What were your parents like?" she asked.
"What you want to get to know me? So that you might discover a nice Vegeta?"
"No, I just wanted to know what the rulers of the Saiyans were like. I'm trying to learn about what living there was like."
Vegeta thought for a minute
"My father was a great warrior. No Saiyan could match his fighting skills."
Ayaleia noted how Vegeta had said 'no Saiyan' instead of 'no-one'.
"He once single-handedly brought down an entire solar system in less than a week."
"That's quite something." Ayaleia concurred.
"He was a feared and respected leader. He ruled our planet and gave us prosperity. Through him, Saiyans were to be feared. No-one could stand in our path."
"So what went wrong?"
Vegeta's face hardened.
"Frieza. He just turned up out of the blue one day, and completely annihilated part of our army. He would have wiped us all out if it hadn't been for my father. He submitted to Frieza's wishes and doomed our people to servitude."
Ayaleia blinked and noticed Vegeta's fists were tightly clenched.
"That's better, isn't it?" Ayaleia asked. "Wasn't he just trying to protect his people?"
"He could have tried to fight a little harder! Instead of just losing once and surrendering without trying again. I watched as our people became fighters for Frieza. We were his lackeys, claiming planets in his name when it should have been ours!"
"So why did you join Frieza's army?"
"My father's idea. But frankly I was glad to be shot of my father. If he was too weak to fight back, then I didn't want to know him."
"Vegeta, that's an awful thing to say!"
"It's the truth. You asked me, I answered. If you don't like it, tough."
Ayaleia sat in silence for a minute.
"Raditz and Nappa told me that a comet destroyed the Saiyan planet."
"So it did. And everyone on it."
Ayaleia lapsed into silence again.
"I wonder what my parents were like?" she said at length.
"Probably didn't even make it in the Saiyan army, by the state of your power levels."
For some reason Ayaleia was not sure of, that comment put her back right up.
"Well, not all of us can have the Saiyan King and Queen as parents." she snapped. "What was your mother like?" she asked.
Vegeta looked directly at Ayaleia.
"She died when I was little. My only memories of her were her putting me to bed as a child. Other than that… There was one day… I must have been about four – it wasn't long before she became ill. I had escaped from the palace, and I remember being bored. I wandered about, and it wasn't long before I found something. It was one of the more ferocious beasts that roamed the outside. It saw me and thought it would try to make a meal out of me. I fought that one off, but it had attracted the attention of three others. I remember them surrounding me, and I honestly thought that was the end. Then, my mother dropped down in front of me, and began to attack the beasts. I'd never really seen her fight before. I was fascinated – I believe she was stronger than my father at that point. It was over quickly, and she picked me up and scolded me for running away. I was in awe of her – I couldn't believe how strong she was! I never ran away again, that's for sure."
"You say she was ill?"
"It was just coming up for my fifth birthday, when she fell ill. None of the doctors could seem to make her better. Even Frieza sent his doctors down. My father was in despair, I'd never seen him distressed like that. She got worse and worse. I wasn't allowed to see her that much, but I remember she was very swollen. It wasn't long after that, that she died suddenly overnight."
Ayaleia took all this in.
"What was her name?" she asked.
"Huh?"
"You never said what your mother's name was."
Vegeta glowered at the ground.
"My mother's name? Her name was… Ayaleia."
"What?!" Ayaleia jumped.
"Don't think it like that." Vegeta said hurriedly. "It's a very old Saiyan name. Not very common perhaps, but given to those whose parents wanted to acknowledge the past."
Ayaleia settled back down, and idly processed this information.
"Was she pretty?" she queried, not really knowing why.
"All I remember of her was her long black hair. It was soft." Vegeta replied.
"So that's why you're so strong." Ayaleia mused. "Because your mother and father were very strong. Like in paltax."
"Say what?"
"Paltax. They're, um, little dog-like creatures. Our scientists have noticed that two strong paltax will give birth to a stronger palta cub than those of an average strength."
"I'm not sure if I like the analogy, but that's pretty much it."
"On our planet." Ayaleia said. "It's the other way around. The kinder the parents are, the more gifted the child, um, will, uh…" she tailed off.
She was getting one of those Looks.
"I'm sorry, I'm rambling." she apologised, and drew the blanket around her tighter.
It was getting colder.
"I wonder when the second tide will come" she said, changing the subject. "It can't be long now…"
The second tide had flooded the cave and had risen all the way up to the ceiling. Thankfully, it had only been for a minute or so before the water level had started to fall again. Ayaleia had deduced that this was the mid-tide. Next time it was going to be high tide, and there would be no hope for the pair of them. They had struggled to keep afloat, and now they lay on the sand, panting for breath. Ayaleia raised herself to her knees and created another two Gaia blankets. She draped one over Vegeta and one over herself. They lay there, shivering.
"Didn't… think it would… be like this." Vegeta breathed.
"A little… different… to what I had… imagined." Ayaleia agreed.
She saw Vegeta's eyes begin to close.
"Don't!" she cried with all her energy, starting Vegeta back into consciousness. "Don't fall asleep."
But it was in vain. Vegeta slipped into unconsciousness. Ayaleia felt her eyelids getting heavy. The Gaia blankets were flickering in and out of existence.
Without warning, an explosion rocked the cell. Ayaleia raised herself on her elbows to see some things swarming towards them. Her vision was blurry, but she could make out they were people of some sort.
"Who are you?" she asked weakly.
The group didn't reply, but instead grabbed her under the arms and dragged her out onto the beach outside. Too weak to fight back, Ayaleia let them put her on some sort of stretcher and carry her off. She could see a blue shape being put onto another stretcher that she presumed, correctly, was Vegeta. She stared up into the sky and could make out the sky turning from inky black to the coppery-orange of day.
She didn't know how long they had travelled, and couldn't make out in which direction, either. They had climbed the beach and gone up into the hills. Past that, she could not guess.
Then, she felt the party come to a stop, and she was lowered to the ground. The people that had rescued her were muttering amongst themselves in a language that seemed familiar to her, but she couldn't quite place it. After a few more minutes of muttering she noticed that they were examining her and nodding to each other. The crowd then parted and someone else stood above her. Evidently they were a figure of respect as the crowd hushed into revered silence.
The figure was chanting something to her, and then produced what looked like a bowl of some description. She felt two of the people lift her into a sitting position and another took the bowl and put it to her lips, tilting it slightly so she could drink. Ayaleia sipped at the liquid. It tasted faintly of mint.
As she drank, she could feel her strength slowly returning. Her vision became more defined, and she could make out what they were saying around her.
One of them bent down and said something to her. Ayaleia blinked and then comprehension dawned on her. They were speaking Hi'ilemese.
"Who are you?" she asked them in their language.
"We are the tribe of Anu'eman." came the reply. "We have brought you here for a purpose…"
Ayaleia listened to what they had to say.
"What about my companion?" she asked.
"He is of no use to us."
Ayaleia came to a conclusion.
"Why don't we make a deal..?"
"Don't try and drink too fast. Just take sips."
Vegeta's hearing gradually sharpened, and his brain registered that it was Ayaleia who was speaking to him.
"What…?" he began.
"You'd better drink all of it." Ayaleia interrupted. "It's a medicine for the toxins we picked up."
Vegeta, for once, didn't argue, but did as he was told. When he had finished he swung his legs over the side of the bed he had been put on and looked up at Ayaleia.
"How did we get here?" he asked.
"Well, it seems that the slaves in the factories are sold to the Mecchans by the Hi'ilemese – that's who brought us here. They thought we'd make good slaves."
Ayaleia had decided not to tell Vegeta that in truth they thought him had been too weak to be of any use to them. It might have damaged his pride.
"Slaves?"
"They'd been watching us from the beach and decided that if we were strong enough to last two tides, then we could work if our health was re-instated. Not many people survive past the first tide, apparently."
"Fascinating." Vegeta said, sarcastically.
"Anyway, we're not being sold as slaves. I struck a deal with them."
"What kind of a deal?"
"Slaves are turning up thin on the ground, and the Mecchans aren't paying so well any more. They want to overthrow them. I'd said we'd help them. If we win, then they let us go. If we lose, we get to be slaves."
"If we lose?"
"Exactly, bringing down civilisations is your speciality."
Vegeta laughed.
"I'm at full strength again. Who says I have to follow something you agreed? I could just fly off and leave them to their petty squabbles."
Ayaleia placed her hands on her hips.
"I made a deal, and I'm going to follow it through."
"Then you stay here with your new friends."
He got up to leave.
"That's typical." Ayaleia said. "I should have known the Prince of Saiyans would turn tail and run."
"What did you say?!"
"You heard. Well, you go back to Frieza and the others. Just wait until I catch you up and tell everyone why you left me here on my own to fight. I imagine Raditz and Nappa will be disappointed to find their leader is a coward."
"How dare you say that!"
"Alright Vegeta, calm down. How about this then? You help me and the Hi'ilemese, and I won't tell anyone about how we got caught so easily."
Vegeta stood there fuming for a few minutes.
"And everyone says I'm manipulative." he seethed.
"Psychological blackmail. I don't normally hold with it, but it has its uses."
"Fine. I'll go along with your little rebellion. But this truce only lasts until we've reported to Frieza."
"As you wish, Vegeta."
"And believe me, you're going to be sorry." he threatened.
"Aren't I always?" she replied, smiling sweetly at him.
He pushed past her and exited the small hut he had been in. Outside he was greeted by a large assembly of the inhabitants. Ayaleia followed.
"We accept." she said to them.
There was a rousing cheer from the throng.
"Then we attack now." the Chief said. "Lazy Mecchans do not wake until the sun hits the plains of Mikkel."
"What did he say?" Vegeta asked.
"We're moving in as of now." she replied as feet started marching towards the city. "We'd better be ready."
Vegeta did not reply, but fell in line with Ayaleia and the Chief as they approached the Mecchan capital.
The Hi'ilemese stood slightly behind Vegeta, Ayaleia and Chief Ra'aekar.
"What are we waiting for?" Vegeta asked impatiently.
There was a brief interchange between Ayaleia and Chief Ra'aekar.
"He says the sun has not reached Mount Anu-Aben." Ayaleia answered, and pointed to a mountain in the distance. "He says once the sun hits the face of Anu-Aben, it will awaken Shijj-elan, the god of war. He will lend his blessing to the fight. And besides, the Mecchans will just be starting for work."
"What utter nonsense." Vegeta snapped.
Ayaleia shrugged.
"It's keeping them happy, so why should we worry?"
The Chief said something to her.
"It's not long now." she relayed.
The collection of people watched as one as the sunshine rolled lazily across the city, and approached the mountain. The mountain side shone with gold as the rays of dawn struck the mountain face.
"It's beautiful." Ayaleia breathed.
"Pa'akun Tyl!" the Chief shouted.
There was a cheer, and Ayaleia shouted:
"Now!"
The crowd surged forward, Ayaleia and Vegeta doing all they could to stay ahead of the throng. As they drew nearer, the sirens in the city started to sound.
"They've seen us!" Ayaleia yelled. "Lin riinsa ma'ak!"
It was however, too late for the Mecchans. The timing had worked – the Mecchans had not been prepared. It was a fairly short battle before the Mecchan soldiers were running away. Ayaleia met up with Vegeta.
"We won." she said.
The Hi'ilemese were cheering in the background.
"I wouldn't be so sure on that." he replied.
Ayaleia buckled as the ground shook. It continued in short bursts, as if it were…
"Footsteps?" she asked aloud.
She followed Vegeta's line of sight, and saw the beast lumbering towards them. It was almost as big as the city.
"What on Gaia is that?!" she cried.
"It's the Mecchans ace card." Vegeta replied. "I'm glad to see you did your homework before coming here."
The Hi'ilemese people were backing away slowly, leaving Ayaleia and Vegeta on their own.
"This shouldn't present any real problems." Vegeta said, not looking away. "In fact I'm so confident, I'll let you fight this battle."
Ayaleia gasped.
"Say what?!"
"You'd better at least try, because I won't lift a finger, and he's nearly on top of us."
Ayaleia swallowed.
"If you say so." she answered, not convinced.
The beast stopped and stared down at them. It roared. Ayaleia flew up until she was level with the beast's eyes.
"You're the puny thing I have to crush?" it said.
Ayaleia blinked, surprised it could talk.
"That's right." she answered, sounding braver than she was.
"I am Lopon, guardian of Mecchan. I will deal with you before obliterating your friends!"
Lopon lunged, but Ayaleia was not there – she had evaded the swing, and was perched on his shoulder.
She weighed up the monster in front of her. It had huge sharp fangs, and looked like a cross between a gorilla and a wolf.
"I'm sorry, but I can't let you do that." she said.
Lopon turned, and shook her off. He swung for her again, but this time Ayaleia caught his fist and stopped it dead. Then suddenly they were locked in a fight. Ayaleia was running rings around her opponent, letting the thrill of the fight carry her away. A feeling washed over her – one of intoxicating power. She saw red veiling her vision.
'Wait!' screamed a little voice inside of her. The redness washed away.
She looked down at the fallen Lopon, a Ki ball in her hand.
'Oh my Gaia.' she thought. 'Was I really going to kill him?'
She dropped down to the floor and looked at Vegeta. There was the slightest hint of approval.
"You're starting to fight like a proper Saiyan." he said to her.
Ayaleia didn't reply. She felt nauseous. She looked around. The Hi'ilemese were already overrunning the city in their celebrations. A few shouted congratulatory words to her as they passed.
"I want to go." she said.
"You mean you don't want to stay for the party?" Vegeta asked sarcastically.
Ayaleia watched the Hi'ilemese dancing over Lopon.
"I have an idea what they may be serving for supper." she said mirthlessly.
"Then we'll get the ship and leave."