Chapter XI: Shock

One Week Later

Zarbon walked slowly down the halls of Frieza's ship. He hadn't seen Kariosa in an entire week. Not since the night she was called into Frieza's office after they had made love. She had never returned to her room that night. For the first time in some time, Zarbon slept alone. It was uncomfortable for him. He was so accustomed to sleeping besides Kariosa, holding onto her waist tightly, smelling her hair and feeling the softness of her skin. He sighed as he continued to walk with his cape flowing softly behind him.

"Aw, damnit! Someone actually got to her first! Just when I was gonna ask her on a date!" Zarbon heard Jeice moan.

He stopped at an open door and saw the entire Ginyu Force, Mankin and other officers surrounding a television screen. "What the hell are you whining about now, Jeice?" Zarbon asked as he stepped inside.

Mankin took one glance at Zarbon, and quickly moved to the other side of the room. Jeice looked up at Zarbon, "You mean you haven't heard? It's been all over the news!"

Zarbon sighed again, "Today is my first day off in two weeks. I haven't had time to watch the news. What is it?"

"Princess Kariosa, she's engaged!" Jeice shouted.

Zarbon's eyes widened. Kariosa was engaged? Could she have come out with their secret relationship? Did she announce they were engaged? Jeice moved aside to give Zarbon room to watch.

"Our top story tonight, the princess of Planet Vegeta has taken a husband" the reporter announced, and a shot of the Sayain Palace appeared on the screen. "Yes, Princess Kariosa, Princess of the Sayains is engaged to Commander of the Sayain Army, Commander Raditz."

Zarbon shoved everyone else out of the way to get a closer look at the screen, hoping here was something wrong with his eyes and ears and he misunderstood what he had heard. He saw a shot of Raditz and Kariosa together, standing on the balcony of the Sayaian Palace. Confetti dropped all around them as Raditz, with one hand wrapped tightly around Kariosa hand, waved his free hand to the people below him. He had a huge grin on his face. Kariosa, however, did not look as excited. She had on a very weak smile, and gave small waves to her people. But Zarbon saw in her eyes that she was not as excited as her fiancée.

"The couple is due to be married by the end of next month. With Kariosa's engagement, she is one step closer to becoming the next Queen on Planet Vegeta. However, King Vegeta's son, Prince Vegeta is still first in line to inherit the throne" the reporter finished.

But Zarbon couldn't take it anymore. He rushed out of the room and down the hall. He stopped at the end of the hall, and leaned against the wall, burying his face into his hands. His Kariosa? The only woman he loved was engaged to a… a bastard. How could it have happened? Why didn't she tell him? How long had she been engaged? It didn't matter to him anymore. She was gone.

"Zarbon!" a voice shouted to him from behind. He looked over his shoulder and saw Giana running over to him.

He lifted himself up, "Hi Giana…" he said softly.

"I know you're upset over what's happened. Believe me, I don't like it very much either. That Raditz guy is a total jerk" she said.

Zarbon turned all the way around, staring at her. "What… what are you talking about?" he asked, a bit uneasy.

She smiled and laughed, "C'mon Zarbon. I've known about you and Kariosa ever since you guys came back from Planet Vegeta" she whispered, so passers-by wouldn't hear.

He blushed a bit, "How did you find out?" he whispered back, putting his face up to hers.

She laughed again, "I've caught you sneaking to each other's room at night. But don't worry. No one else knows. Your secrets safe with me."

He sighed, "How could she have done this? Get engaged behind my back?" he cursed.

Giana shook her head, "She didn't do it. She had no part in it! She was called to Lord Frieza's office and Vegeta told her that Radtiz proposed, and he accepted the proposal for her. She had no say in the matter!"

Zarbon stared at her, "Vegeta planned this?" Giana nodded. He growled under his breath, "I need to see her. She's on Planet Vegeta right now." He started to run back down the hall, but Giana grabbed his arm.

"Don't think you can go without me! She's my best friend! I'm going with you." But she stopped herself for a minute. "Oh wait, but how? Arlo has training sessions lined up for me."

Zarbon smirked, "I can take care of that."

Sometime Later

Zarbon and Giana arrived at Frieza's office door, Arlo with them. Arlo glanced over at Zarbon, who just smiled, as he jabbed his finger into his back. Arlo turned back around and knocked on the door. It opened in front of them and they all stepped inside. They found Frieza sitting at his enormous desk. "Yes?" he asked without lifting his head from his paperwork.

"Lord Frieza, I humbly request two space pods to Planet Vegeta, please." Zarbon asked, "Myself and Miss Giana wish to go."

Frieza stopped writing and looked up at them from underneath his reading glasses. He closed his eyes and lifted his head and he took off his glasses. He smiled, "This would have nothing to do with the engagement of Princess Kariosa, would it?" he smirked.

Giana nodded, "Sire, we're two of the Princess's closest friends. We wish to go to see her and congratulate her on her… engagement."

Frieza looked over at Arlo, "Mr. Arlo, are you okay with this arrangement? I know you tow had had training sessions scheduled" he asked.

Zarbon smiled as he jabbed him in the back with his two fingers again. Both Arlo and Zarbon knew that Zarbon was the stronger of the two of them. Arlo knew that if he didn't allow Giana to go with Zarbon, he would pay for it. He swallowed and nodded, "Y-yes Sire. I am perfectly all right with Giana going with Zarbon. We can reschedule our sessions later."

Frieza nodded, "Very well, Zarbon, I'll arrange two pods for Planet Vegeta. You will leave in ten minutes."

All three of them bowed, "Thank you very much Sire" Zarbon said, as he guided Giana and Arlo out. One they were out of the office, Zarbon released Arlo, "Thanks again Arlo. We owe you."

He smiled weakly, "D-don't mention it Commander Zarbon. You two enjoy yourselves. Give the Princess my best." And with that, Arlo rushed off.

Zarbon and Giana smiled at each other and made their way to the pod loading and docking bay. By the time they reached the bay, their pods were ready. They crawled into their pods and launched off to Planet Vegeta.

About an hour later, they reached their destination. They emerged from their pods and ordered a limousine to take them to the Sayain Palace. Zarbon bit on his nails as they approached the palace. Giana glanced over at him. "It'll be okay. Just talk to her" she said, placing a hand on his shoulder. He nodded at her as the stopped in front of the Palace Gates.

They entered the Palace; as they walked in, some of the palace help recognized him, mostly the female help. He asked them where the Princess was, and a maid told him she could be found in her room. Giana asked if Prince Vegeta or Raditz were in the Palace and the maid said no. They were with the King at an important military meeting. The Princess chose to stay behind, saying she had a headache. They thanked the maid, and Zarbon led Giana to Kariosa's room. Zarbon was surprised that he remembered his way through the castle. They reached Kariosa's enormous doors. He knocked, and a soft voice answered him, "No Shasta, I don't need anything, thank you…" Kariosa said quietly.

Zarbon smiled and opened the door. He and Giana walked inside and Zarbon removed his cape, draped it over a nearby armchair, and walked up the stairs. He found Kariosa sitting cross-legged on her bed, clutching a pillow and staring out her enormous windows to her balcony. He smiled and rested on the railing of her staircase. "I don't think Shasta can give you anything that we can give you."

Kariosa looked over and saw Zarbon and Giana in her stair case. A small smile formed on her face, "Zarbon… Giana" she said, surprised and overwhelmed with joy as she put down her pillow.

Giana rushed over to the bed and jumped on and hugged her. "Oh Kari… it's so good to see you. I'd like to say congratulations, but, well, I know you're not happy about this engagement either."

Giana released her and kariosa sighed, "It's like Vegeta planned this entire thing." She looked over and saw Zarbon still standing in the stairway. "Oh, Zarbon, I'm so sorry. I wanted to call you, I really did, but I…"

"It's all right, love" he stopped her, and walked over to her bed. He sat on the other side of Kariosa. He embraced her tightly and kissed her forehead. She smiled at him, and blushed and looked over at Giana.

She smiled, "Don't worry. I know all about you two. And I'm the only one. You guys are safe."

Kariosa smiled, "Thanks Giana" she said as she sank into Zarbon's arms. He smelled her hair and glided his fingers up and down her bare arms. He missed so much her scent and her feel. "I don't know what I'm going to do. I can't marry Raditz" she sighed as she rested her back on Zarbon's chest. He rested his head on hers.

"Can't you just call it off? I mean, you're the Princess!" Giana said.

Kariosa shook her head, "This engagement was set up by my brother. I really have no say in it. There's nothing I can do about it."

"Just say you won't marry him" Zarbon suggested.

"I wish it were that easy. But if my brother set it up, it would be so much harder to back away from it" Kariosa said.

Zarbon shook his head, "Let's just change to subject. Let's talk about something else."

They talked about other things. They talked of old and new things and themselves. The sun set and soon night fell upon them. Kariosa invited Giana to stay in the guest suite downstairs. They all helped her get settled in, and bade her goodnight.

Zarbon and Kariosa sat on her bed. "Well, I guess maybe, I should set up in the other guest room. I wouldn't be right for me to share a room with an engaged woman." He stood up and started to leave, when Kariosa grabbed his hand.

He looked at her. She smiled as she stood up and wrapped her arms around his neck. He held her close. She moved her head slowly to his, and kissed him softly. She released her lips from his and smiled at him, "I may be engaged, but I don't love him. I much rather have you sleep here tonight, than Raditz" she said.

He smiled, but frowned suddenly, "You haven't… he hasn't… slept with you yet… has he?" he asked.

Kariosa shook her head, giggling. "He still thinks I'm a virgin. He has no idea." She kissed him again. He smiled and laughed in between kisses. She wrapped her legs around his torso as he walked over to the bed. He dropped her softly onto the bed. He crawled on top of her and kissed her again.

Nothing else mattered to him anymore. Not Kariosa's engagement, if Vegeta or Raditz found out, nothing mattered. He loved Kariosa, and would never let her go.