Author's Note: Ambition IS still being worked on. It's just that inspiration for THIS fic has hit and hit hard.

The first few weeks were far different than Kale expected. Going to sleep in a room with an open archway-and no door-was unnerving, and it made her feel exposed.

But it, like everything else, got easier. There were very few demands on the womens' time, aside from the occasional planet to take care of or visit from King Cold, so they spent most of the time "helping" her figure out makeup and dressing in a fashionable manner. It helped to pass the time, they kept telling her. Oh, and something about looking more beautiful making her feel better about herself too.

Waking up and handling it all on her own was just an exercise in self-loathing, though. Getting out of bed and having a shower? No problem. But having to go through the things that he'd had them buy specifically for her? A nightmare. Every dress, every blouse, every compact was just another reminder that she was a kept woman now.

Just look at this...just look at this...

Look at the collection you've become a part of, you mean.

She ignored it, and was halfway through fixing her hair when Gavi came into the room.

"Kale, there's a call for you."

"Can't it wait?"

"It's Frieza. I really don't suggest that."

She sighed and headed over to the computer. After a deep breath and a minor self-pep talk, she started it up and waited.

His face appeared a few moments later.

"Lord Frieza."

Perhaps you should bow.

I don't need this right now.

"Well, it looks like living there has certainly...brightened you up. Have father's women been helpful?"

"Yes," she nodded, "Although...I feel a bit..."

"Short?"

"You...you could say that."

"Well, you'll get used to it. Now, on to business..."

Oh, yes, I'm certain he has plenty of that to...discuss...with you.

"I'm going to be making a visit in three days, and your company is required."

As if I'm some common whore-

Aren't you?

"Yes, Lord Frieza."

He seemed to glance over her momentarily, before smirking briefly and adding, "Wear the red one with the blue sash."

And just like that, he was gone. The screen went blank and she was left alone again.

Well? Your master's given you an order.

Just leave me alone, alright? I already have enough on my plate without worrying about YOU.

I'm only trying to remind you about what's important. Your pride used to be what it should, and now...

Kale just shook her head and left the room after she finished getting ready for the day. The rest of the women were already in the kitchen, gabbing over breakfast. Though her stomach turned at the thought, she headed on in anyway.

Don't they ever run out of things to talk about? It's like they never shut up...

"Hey, Kale?" Ardae looked up from the table, "Gavi was telling us that Frieza called. What'd he want?"

"He's visiting in three days," Kale shrugged, "Didn't say anything more than that."

"You don't seem too terribly excited," Ansul said.

"Give her a while to adjust," Gavi interrupted, "As I recall, you weren't exactly happy about being moved off soldiering detail at first, either."

Well? Do you feel like a common streetwalker yet?

Kale was standing in the landing bay wearing the dress Frieza had specified, and was trying desperately not to snap at the voice. It was difficult enough being summoned there to wait while the ship landed and was secured, without having to have that going off in her ear all the time.

I'm ignoring you right now. Just stop. It's not going to be any easier with you yelling at me.

If you would just do as I say, all this would be over.

Yes, it would be over. It would ALL be over. I plan to live past today, thank you.

Isn't death better than waiting for him to-

"Good to see you ready and waiting. At least someone around here is punctual."

Frieza's voice came as a surprise, but she turned around and tried to breathe normally as her heart thundered away.

"Of course," she replied, bowing briefly. "I presume you'll be staying a while?"

"My, aren't we eager..."

The longer you put it off, the more he's going to toy with you.

"No, I...I was only wondering..."

"Oh, stop pretending. Now, I believe the weather is fair, so while my quarters are being prepared, why don't we have a walk?" He went past her in the hoverchair, and silently, she followed.

You realize he's just...playing on your fear, don't you?

Leave me alone already!

"I presume that the others were welcoming?"

"Yes, very much so. I wasn't expecting the shopping trip, though, so it was...a bit of a shock." She looked away at that, feeling suddenly awkward.

"You'll get used to it," he laughed, "Do you honestly think I'm going to let my father's women outshine you?"

"You really didn't have to do that...the clothes, I mean."

"Oh, but I do. He has all of them, and all I have is you. I had to be sure that what was mine was better than what was his."

His prized pet, the envy of all the others...a trophy, for all to see. You make me SICK.

"I didn't think you cared so much for such things. Yourself, certainly, but-" She paused, briefly, and leaned against the hoverchair, as a wave of dizziness struck her.

"Something wrong?" he asked, in a sharp tone.

His property has just touched his other property. Gasp.

"I'm sorry, I just..." she shook her head, and kept walking alongside him, but the dizziness didn't subside. "Perhaps we could get something to eat?"

"Have you...not been eating?"

Is that suspicion I hear? Have I done something wrong?

You do nothing but wrong every second you stay here.

"I haven't been very hungry. It's nothing, really, it happens every time I'm on a new planet. Stress of a new atmosphere, I don't know."

"Fine, we can head back early, then," he replied. "But I expect a bit of gratitude."

Over and over, no doubt. He'll have you begging like a dog, and then leave you as miserable as you are now.

The lunch was only half-prepared, but they sat down to it anyway, and once her stomach started to fill, Kale felt much better.

"I'm sorry about that," she said, hoping to avoid angering him, "If you'd be kind enough to forgive me for the...the inconvenience."

"I might," Frieza said, smirking across the table at her. "It depends."

"An unwise person might, at this moment, ask, 'on what?' but I'm not quite that dim."

Oh, I don't know, you're having a meal with the man who killed your entire race and you're going to be-

Shut up. Just SHUT UP!

"I might consider it coy, but certainly not dim."

Alright...you can get through this...it'll be over quickly...he's not even done eating yet...

You're pathetic. You could stop it right now, you just won't.

It was only just then that she noticed the sound of the door going off as the last minion left. They were now completely alone.

"It took you a while to visit...is there something about the planet you'd rather avoid?"

"Father's women. Does that answer your question?"

"Yes. I'm...I'm sorry."

"Not yet, you aren't." And with that, he produced the silver coin.

And there it is.

One good thing had at least come of the visit-Kale was able to avoid the women after each day's...time...with Frieza, claiming it was tiring to deal with him. The giggling never seemed to cease when she had to trot out that excuse, but a few rooms was at least enough to mute the annoying sound.

A few days after he left she found herself waking early, and she yawned as she headed down the hallway to the dining area.

"Well, our little Kale is up early! What's the occasion?" Mila asked.

She just shook her head, and answered, "Thirsty. Not hungry though."

"You're never hungry anymore," Julis piped in, "Are you feeling okay?"

"I've had some congestion here and there, but nothing major."

Feverish whispering broke out when she went to get a bottle of water from the fridge.

"They sent us a diseased monkey! Is Cold trying to kill us?!"

"He wouldn't do that. Maybe Frieza is?"

"Look, just calm down, now," Gavi said, "She's probably just caught a bug, that's all."

Kale returned with the water and sat carefully down before finishing it off in just under a minute.

"Were you out training or something?"

"No, I just...I don't even know right now, I just feel overall rotten."

For some reason, they all seemed to sit up straight at that. Ardae leaned forward and queried, "Rotten?"

"Everything hurts when I wake up in the morning, everything tastes of metal, my appetite is shot all to hell, and...in the last week or two I've been getting dizzy."

"Maybe we should have the base doctor take a look at you? It wouldn't hurt," Gavi suggested delicately. "I've heard you saiyans are notoriously self-sufficient, but considering the appetite thing, well...we don't want you to end up seriously ill."

What was odd wasn't that the doctors had drawn blood. It wasn't that they had given her a battery of other tests.

It was that they wouldn't tell her what it was all for.

When a fifth doctor-a reptilian this time-appeared wheeling in a computer screen on a desk with what looked like a microphone next to the mouse, she finally snapped.

"Would you mind telling me what's going on? You idiots have poked and prodded me and taken blood to test for gods only know what, and you aren't even sure what's happening!"

"That is what the tests are for, you know. This should be the last one though-we just need to check this one last thing before we're sure of what it is."

"Alright, but make it quick." She was feeling that nagging thirst returning, and the dizziness seemed to get worse whenever she had to lay down.

The doctor just nodded and brought the microphone-looking-thing over. "Raise your shirt."

"What?! Why?"

"I just need to check your abdomen. No need to raise it too far."

Grumbling, Kale obeyed, raising her shirt up to just below her chest, and the doctor moved the microphone thing over her lower abdomen.

He seemed to keep his eyes on the screen and squinted a few times at it.

"Well?!"

He smiled over at her, before turning the table so she could see the screen. "I think somebody would like to meet you."

Kale looked up at the screen with a groan, but on doing so felt an icy chill go down her spine.

It was barely a few inches long but she knew a baby when she saw one. It was shifting and kicking delicately, as if just figuring out that it could do both.

No. No. Please tell me that's...that's not...that I'm not...

Another abomination to your people. Are you making a list yet? You should.