Chapter 10

Disclaimer: I don't own any of DBZ; I only own my characters. I wish I was making money off of it, if I was I would be ballin'

He was exhausted, who wouldn't be after all that exertion. Vegeta willed himself to get up and again pulled on the shackles that bound him. He felt his muscles scream and, after another moment of struggle, fell panting to the ground.

"This is hopeless."

His eyes shifted to the door as he heard movement on the other side and suddenly his will was firmed. He looked around the room again, trying to find some weakness, some fault in the foundation that he could use to his advantage. He had searched the room countless times, looking for this salvation, but was never lucky.

Again, movement. He thought to get in a fighting stance, then thought the better of it and sat calmly on the floor. In seconds the door burst open and Disden walked through. Every time Vegeta saw this man he felt a strange mix of discomfort and fury. Disden always regarded him with sad and sympathetic eyes, as if he was some sick injured animal. Behind him stood Kaylich, who Vegeta barely paid any attention. A mocking smile appeared on Vegeta's face.

"Hello old man. To what do I owe this visit?"

Disden was silent for a moment and looked closely at Vegeta's wrists, they were red and raw under the cuffs. He turned back to Vegeta.

"You're very dangerous and Kaylich will be here to watch over you until our king wishes to see you."

"What makes you think I want to see him?"

"You killed many people and must answer for your crimes."

Kaylich stepped forward, a sneer on his face, "When our king sees you I hope he kills you for what you've done. I'll be glad to plan your execution."

Vegeta smirked, "What I've done is in my nature, I can't be blamed for that."

Kaylich stepped forward, his hands balled in to fists, when Disden stopped him, "You will not lay a hand on him. His fate is not for you to decide."

/\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\

"So you've finally given up."

Vegeta sat silent, eyes closed in meditation.

"You think ignoring me will make me disappear?" Kaylich laughed, "Your cockiness astounds me, prince."

Vegeta finally turned his head to him, "Your belief that I should bother to acknowledge you is astounding. Well, my noble jailer, what is it that you want?"

Kaylich's quick temper had an insult at his lips in seconds, but before he could speak the door to the cell opened and Disden stepped through.

"Kaylich."

Kaylich sneered then pushed passed Disden as he stomped out the door. Vegeta shrugged, "I suppose he didn't like my company."

Disden shook his head, "Our king is ready to see you."

"Perfect, I wanted to thank him for my wonderful accommodations."

A grin ghosted to Disden's face. The guards accompanying him walked towards Vegeta and roughly tugged him to his feet. The walk was long and silent; Disden was calm as always, but Vegeta could feel the tense loathing rolling off the two soldiers at his sides. Saiyans weren't loved in many worlds and he had done little to dissuade the stereotype.

Finally, they came upon a set of enormous double doors. Disden held his hand up to stop the group and gave two heavy, yet dignified knocks. Moments later the doors swung open leading into a throne room.

Vegeta looked around as every movement stopped. He felt the eyes boring into his back as they walked forward, their fear and hate battering him. He was pulled towards the throne that sat at the end of the room and looked up to meet the man who had captured the prince of all Saiyans.

Frankly, he was unimpressed.

"Brother, I have brought the Saiyan prince here for your judgment."

Brother? Vegeta turned to Disden and had to fight to hide his astonishment. If this was Disden's brother then something had gone horribly wrong with their gene pool. Disden was the luckier of the two and had inherited the height, the strength of face, and look of a leader that this 'king' so clearly lacked. A short, pudgy thing was what sat on the throne. As they approached the king got up, his short legs moving him slowly towards them.

Disden bowed low, the soldiers following. Vegeta was the only one who stood straight, regarding the king as he would any other low level life form.

"So Saiyan, you don't think you must bow to me?"

Good lord, even his voice was terrible; a nasally high pitch that grated on the ears.

"I don't make it a habit to bow to those who are beneath me", Vegeta said with a sneer.

"But here you stand as my prisoner."

"You used tricks to capture me. When I free myself I will show you what true power is."

And that's when he saw it, the small sliver of fear that glinted in the king's eyes. Vegeta watched as his gaze flashed over to Disden.

Disden shook his head, "He will not free himself Riga, I'm sure of this."

These seemed to be the words King Riga needed to hear and in an instant he looked calm again, but that glimmer of fear still hid in the background.

Vegeta laughed inwardly, 'He is a coward and relies too heavily on his brother for reassurance. I've found the weakness. Their king can't lead them.'

"Are you so sure I can't escape?"

"As sure as I am alive. Vegeta cannot and will not escape."

A smirk formed on Vegeta's face, 'When I kill you that will be a promise easily broken.'

"Saiyan, your life is a result of my good graces. I could have you executed at this moment for the lives you took."

"Then what has stopped you?' the smirk was still there, as defiant as ever, "I'm still alive and, for the most part, very well."

Riga scowled. Vegeta's lack of concern was irritating. This was a simple child and he dared to come and mock him?

"Listen 'prince', I am giving you a chance to redeem yourself. Fight for me. As you can see, our fighters are not as skilled as you. Our scientists are without equal, but even they cannot keep us safe forever."

Vegeta laughed, "Fight for you? What reason would I have to do that? I fight for myself alone."

"You fight for Frieza."

The smirk left Vegeta's face, "That is not my choice."

"And now, again, you have no choice. Either fight for me or die. What other options do you have?"

"I could kill you and destroy this planet, that is my third option."

"Ridiculous, you're nothing but a stupid monkey! You won't escape I can promise you that much. I'll give you a day to change your mind; make use of what little intelligence you have to see how valuable an opportunity this is. If you refuse I will have you killed, like all the other soldiers Frieza has sent here."

The young prince didn't even bother getting angry. The king's pudgy fists were clenched, his pale face turning a dull red. He looked more like a petulant child than royalty, "No matter how much time you give me I will never fight for you. It's laughable how you think you can make me your pet."

"Listen Saiyan, you'll watch your tone when you speak to my father."

Vegeta turned and again was hit with shock. Kaylich stood behind him, his usual scowl gracing his face. What the hell was this? How were any of these people related? He could see no obvious relation. Kaylich shared every feature with Disden. To even imagine that Riga was his father was ridiculous. He was about to say so, but thought the better of it. His life was in a precarious state at the moment and he had to play it safe for a while.

"Take him back to his cell. I want him out of my sight."

Vegeta was roughly dragged away. He wasn't as resistant as when he was brought before, the gears in his head were turning and he was silent in thought.

'Frieza is a fool; if he took the time to actually study these people he would know that they were lead by someone so weak. All I have to do is break their king and they will be lost…wait, no. The key is Disden…he is the true leader here, but how to get rid of him?'

/\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\

Vegeta's eyes snapped open as the cell doors unlocked. He hadn't realized he had fallen asleep and felt a slight twinge of anxiety; had a day passed already? To be killed here, by these lowly people, would be the ultimate humiliation. He prepared himself to fight with all he was worth when Disden again strode into the room.

"What do you want old man? If you keep visiting me like this I'm going to start getting the wrong idea. I hope you know that I am no one's plaything."

Disden grimaced, "To think that I would want something so vulgar from you is—"

"Why do you keep coming here?"

Disden sighed, frankly he was asking himself that same question.

"How did you come to be in Frieza's employ?"

"He butchered my people and destroyed my planet…is that the answer you want?"

"It's well known that you were with Frieza before this. Did your father so willingly give you away? King Vegeta was known for his ruthlessness, but no father could be so cruel."

"You know nothing of my father! He never gave me away! He—"

Vegeta looked away as the bitterness rose in his throat, "My father gave me to Frieza in exchange for our planets safety…it was necessary."

And why was he explaining this to this man? He wasn't obligated to provide any explanation to anyone.

"Vegeta—"

"I don't know what you plan to gain with this or what your aim is, but whatever it is it won't work."

"You're always looking over your shoulder for deception."

"You're holding me captive in a jail cell, that doesn't exactly garner trust now does it?"

"I feel pity for you."

"Save your pity," Vegeta sneered, "I need no sympathy from you. When I escape from here I will kill you and destroy this planet."

"I know Frieza is not a kind master, he has twisted you into a blood thirsty killer."

Vegeta laughed, "I am a Saiyan, we have a natural blood lust. What, you think deep down inside I'm a sensitive little boy that can be reached? That kind of foolishness will get you killed. I'm surprised no one has wiped you all out yet."

"My brother doesn't understand that this is not your choice. If you fought here we could protect you. You would be free with no one to answer to but Riga. He wouldn't harm you."

"You want me to run like a coward and hide with a planet of weaklings. I would never abandon my pride so easily."

"You would be escaping and fighting for an honourable cause. You would have your freedom."

"My—" Vegeta stopped himself. To stay alive was the objective and the only way to escape for now was to side with these fools. Disden was far too trusting and wanted too badly for Vegeta to accept his offer; he had to use this to his advantage. 'They know that Frieza is closing in. He'll come himself to destroy this planet for the amusement. No matter what their tricks and intelligence they can't even hope to defeat Frieza. And Disden thinks I can help them…but I will not trade one set of shackles for another.'

"Vegeta—"

"Release me, let me out of here and I will help you."

"It is not so simple, Riga will not trust you so easily."

"Then you have some work to do, don't you?"

"You have to show him that you'll be tame enough to be given your freedom."

Tame, Vegeta almost snapped at the word. Already they considered him a pet. But if he didn't get his temper in check he would never be freed. At the very least he had to look at the main power source of these restraints; if he saw it he may be able to find a way to destroy it.

"Riga has nothing to worry about."

Disden smiled, "It is not so simple, prince, but give it time."

/