Chapter Twenty-Eight: Disasters and Intrigue

At approximately the same time on Frieza's mother ship, Frieza's office…

"Zarbon and Jaden are doing fine, my dear," Frieza assured an anxious Chestra, who had her adopted Astorian child, eight-year-old Princess Kaydra with her. "They have the whole situation under control. Has Zarbon contacted you lately."

"Not for two days," Chestra, who was standing in front of Frieza's expensive wooden desk, admitted. "So I was rather concerned. I have worried off and on for their safety, and so has Kaydra. We just came back to see if you heard anything else."

"No inquiries about Diamonique?" Frieza asked slyly.

"I assume, knowing Diamonique like I do, that she is taking care of herself," was all that Chestra could trust herself to say. She and Diamonique had never been the best of friends, ever since Diamonique had tried to kill her twice over Zarbon.

"I…see; well I am sure you are right then, my dear." Frieza looked at Chestra appreciatively. She was a lovely creature, this catlike young woman with her lustrous ruby-and-emerald-hair. He had originally bought her from the Triumvirate of Egimari for use as a fighter, but a while after she had been in his service, he had become infatuated with her, even going as far as wanting her to become his mate. It hadn't pleased him when he found out indirectly that Chestra preferred Zarbon instead, and Frieza was even more determined then to make Chestra his. He had even lured her to his office and tried to rape her, and the only reason he had not succeeded was because both Zarbon and Jaden dared to defy him and rescue Chestra from him. Then Zarbon deflowered Chestra on planet Kyui, which led to a nasty battle between Zarbon and Frieza.

As furious as Frieza had been with Zarbon and Jaden at that time for interfering with his plans for Chestra, he was thankful to both of them to this day for it, even though he would rather surrender to Intergalacticpol first before admitting it to his two headstrong Top Elite officers. Actually, it was really his father he owed that debt to, for King Cold, who had desired Chestra as well, had followed Frieza's ship to Kyui to give his son the most startling piece of news the tyrant had ever learned of in his life. This piece of information had abruptly brought Frieza's and King Cold's plans for Chestra to a halt, and neither powerful warlord would try to lay an improper hand on Chestra again.

And after recovering from the shock of that news, Frieza was secretly and extremely thankful that he had not succeeded in forcing himself upon Chestra. If he had raped her, he would have never forgiven himself.

For even in Frieza's family and race, there was no forgiveness for a father who raped his own daughter.

King Cold had learned of Frieza's paternity concerning Chestra through DNA tests when King Cold had wanted to determine if Chestra could give him any children. King Cold's scientists had learned that Chestra was not only half-Icein, thanks to Frieza, but also one-quarter Catzin (a race that no longer existed), and one-quarter Astorian, Clan of Chloe Astorian! Chestra was believed to have sprung from a union between Frieza and a half-Catzin, half-Astorian concubine that Frieza had forced himself upon.

Frieza wasn't happy to learn that Chestra was part Astorian, but he accepted her as his child nonetheless. After all, he had what his even more arrogant older brother, Coola still didn't-an heir! And if Coola were to be so nice as to die before his younger brother, Chestra herself would one day rule the Cold Empire after her sire had passed away. Frieza fervently hoped that would happen.

As cold and despotic as Frieza was, he had yearned deep down to openly acknowledge Chestra as his own flesh and blood and hear her address him as her father. But he couldn't, though at times it was hard for him. King Cold had long ago pointed out to Frieza that declaring Chestra's paternity would endanger her life. Coola would try to have the girl killed, and Chestra's fellow Top Elite officers would give her a hard time, believing any favors that Frieza granted to her to be out of nepotism. Plus, it would add to Chestra's pain about what Frieza had done to her years ago because Chestra would then know that her own father tried to rape her.

Frieza recognized that he already hurt his daughter enough, but he also knew, despite his father's warnings, that someday he would have to tell Chestra the truth. Until then, he could treat her no differently than he did his other soldiers and officers. He did long to grant her special favor and give her the perks and privileges worthy of a daughter of his, to treat her like the real princess she was. But again, he couldn't because he would give himself away. All he could do was ensure her safety and grant the few requests she made of him, like adopting the Astorian child. Frieza was proud of himself for that, even though he did worry every now and then about having a pureblooded Astorian in his army. But it made Chestra extraordinarily happy when he allowed her to keep little Kaydra.

He also felt that if he treated Chestra like everyone else, it would make her even stronger, more worthy of becoming a leader when it came time for Frieza to die. Even if Chestra never ruled the Cold Empire, she would still have all that Frieza held. And she would take Frieza's place. He wished he could give her special training or prepare her further, but he couldn't without drawing too much attention to it. Frieza tried whenever he could to groom his daughter to one day take his place, even if it was likely that Zarbon would be ruling by her side.

He sighed heavily, not trusting himself to look at his secret daughter any longer, for fear of revealing the longing in his eyes, the rare aching to take her into his embrace and call her his child.

"You and Kaydra better go," Frieza told Chestra quietly. "I have much work to do. Keep me updated on Kaydra's progress; she seems to be doing quite well."

"I will, sire, thank you," Chestra told him solemnly. She looked down at Kaydra and smiled. "Come, sweetheart, let's go get some lunch. Maybe your father will contact us later."

"I hope so," Kaydra told her adoptive mother wistfully. "I miss him and Commander Jaden, but I don't like Commander Diamonique very much. She's mean."

Chestra smiled at the remark, but she did not add to Kaydra's assessment of Diamonique. Frieza grinned before he could prevent himself, as Chestra said a polite goodbye to him and escorted her daughter out of his office.

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After Chestra and Kaydra left, there was a knock on his sliding metal door.

"Oh, sire!" Dodoria's new cloyingly sweet voice cooed sweetly. "There's something I have to show you!"

"What is it, Dodoria?" Frieza snapped impatiently from inside his office. He had been trying to avoid his Top Elite officer for days because Dodoria now openly and shamelessly pursued him, like a woman pursuing a man. He could have easily killed the fool, but Top Elite officers were harder to replace than anyone in his army suspected.

Even though Frieza often yelled at his Top Elites and ate more antacids when enemies they could have handled, such as the Astorians and Intergalacticpol, defeated them, he did appreciate them. Without his twelve powerful Top Elite officers, even Frieza would have a hard time keeping his enormous army in line. Without his dozen Top Elites, there would be many more foolish attempts on his life than there already were. His Top Elite officers served as his bodyguards, his right and left hand people, his escorts, his enforcers, his managers, and occasionally even his companions. True, some of them lacked in basic intelligence and common sense, such as his two current Sistrai officers, Hectar and Rectaurus, who were stronger than their deceased brother, Balair, but with less cunning and basic warring wisdom. Whenever those two fouled up, Frieza missed Balair; Balair was no genius either, but he had been loyal and reliable, despite his extravagant appetite for boozing, gambling, and whoring. Frieza wasn't as certain of Balair's brothers.

But then, to Frieza's relief, were reliable, responsible Top Elites such as Zarbon, Jaden, and even Dodoria and Ginyu. A hierarchy existed among the dozen Top Elites, and those four were at the top. Frieza unofficially gave those four aforementioned officers more authority and more responsibility than he did the other Top Elites. The others had the privileges and powers that came with being a Top Elite, but it was Zarbon, Jaden, Dodoria, and Ginyu who now held the true authority after Frieza, and everyone in Frieza's army knew it. They were the ones who often handled the negotiations between the worlds under Frieza's rule, resolved disputes between soldiers and disciplined or rewarded them, enforced Frieza's laws and rules whenever necessary, carried out executions on his orders, and also trained many of the more powerful recruits who were Top Elite or Mid-Elite potentials. Of course the other Top Elites also did those things, but Zarbon, Jaden, Dodoria, and Ginyu were the ones who were the most experienced at doing what really needed to be done as far as managing Frieza's army was concerned.

But at times like now, Frieza wondered, if perhaps he shouldn't "retire" some of his Top Elites, such as Dodoria, whose mad love for Frieza was nearly driving the dictator to suicide. How many more weeks would it take for that cognac extract to wear off? Three? Four?

"Come in, Dodoria," Frieza said reluctantly.

Frieza pressed the button on his desk to open the door, and his jaw dropped to the desk when Dodoria pranced (yes, pranced) into the room, squeezed into a low-cut, red satin evening gown decorated with gold glitter. Half of his unnaturally large bosom squeezed out of the bodice. On his head was a long, blonde wig of bouncy curls, and his fishlike lips were painted a blinding crimson. His eyelids were painted a glowing gold color, and two painted coins of maroon alighted his chubby cheeks.

Frieza didn't know whether to laugh, cry, disintegrate Dodoria on the spot, or consume the remaining cases of his antacids. His jaw was still hanging open, as Dodoria casually sauntered towards his master's desk.

"Hello, sire," Dodoria crooned. "I know that you're still hesitant about us, but I will do anything to prove my love and devotion to you. And I've composed another love song for you…Reccoom helped me compose it. Here, let me sing it to you…"

A horrified Frieza frantically wondered where he stashed his emergency case of antacids, as Dodoria croakily sang, "Oh my darling, oh my darling, oh my darling Lord Frieza…"

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"…I had held up well against Nappa for a while, but considering that I had not fought in seventeen years before that battle, Nappa eventually defeated me. He punched me hard, and before I could recover, he fired a powerful ki blast at me, which shoved me out of the sky! If little Tayla hadn't came along when she did and caught me before I fell, I might have perished on those jagged rocks below. Being a healior-in-training, she then examined me the best she could, considering that she didn't have her healior kit with her. And she was glowing-literally! And when she touched me, it nearly set me on fire. It was only then I learned that she had received her Awakening. She didn't even realize what it was-"

"I apologize for interrupting, Prince Raakon," Howles told him, "but can you explain to the court just as to what an Awakening is for an Astorian?"

"Yes, I can. An Awakening is something that all Astorian warriors and healiors try to obtain, but only less than half achieve. It is a permanent increase of power and strength, and it cannot come at will. It often happens when anyone with Astorian blood is going through intense emotions, such as extreme pain, or fear, or grief, or anger, or stress. If any of those emotions are intense enough, it can stir an Awakening inside anyone with Astorian blood, and that person becomes stronger, more powerful, and more sensitive to ki signatures. Often when someone goes through this stage, they need additional training afterwards to handle their greatly increased powers, otherwise they can be a danger even to themselves."

"And you say this happened to your sister, Tayla?"

"Yes. She experienced a sensation similar to the one I had endured when I was seventeen, fighting in the Battle of Chloe. When an Awakening occurs, it feels as if you are burning away; the pain is intense, but it does not last long. You may feel that you are dying, but you're actually getting stronger. Actually…it's a bit hard for anyone who's never experienced it to understand. And when it happened to Tayla, she was almost twice as strong as before, even though it took her a while to master her new powers and higher ki, which was one of the real reasons that Kami Orchida insisted on raising and training Tayla under her care for two years."

"Okay, then what happened after this Awakening?"

Raakon then told him of he and Tayla had contacted the other races on one of the hidden communicators around Chloe. Then he reiterated Gracina's story about Vegeta-Oozaru holding her captive, with Raakon and Tayla going to rescue her. After Raakon ended his story with how Tayla and Shalila managed to defeat Vegeta in the end, Howles asked a few more questions. Raakon wasn't able to tell much about Vegeta and Nappa's activities on Calmag; he hadn't been around them in battle, so Howles concluded his questioning, and Matis Squatt took over.

Matis began slyly, "Now Prince Raakon, you claimed that you at one time gave up fighting, right?"

"Yes, that's correct."

"Why didn't you join in the first battle when the Saiyans landed at the Temple? You had been retired from fighting, but still you could have lent a hand. Why didn't you, hmm?"

"Objection!" Howles shouted.

"On what grounds?" Oleander asked.

"He's harassing the witness!"

"I am not, Mr. Norr," Matis stated. "I am merely asking as to why Prince Raakon didn't join in the fighting on Chloe earlier."

"Objection overruled," Oleander concurred. "It is a legitimate question."

Raakon said with great shame, "I had withdrawn from fighting because I had wanted nothing more to do with the bloodshed and the taking of lives. I regret that I did not intervene earlier when the Saiyans first landed on Chloe. This guilt helped in my decision to join my siblings and grandmother and guardian, Dirkan, to go save my sister, Tayla. I couldn't let anyone harm her."

"But you allowed her to intervene with your fight with Nappa? And you let her go against an Oozaru, a little girl? Would you have done the same to the two children you had at that time, Prince Raakon?"

"My two oldest children are not warriors, Mr. Squatt. My son, Kekron, has some fighting skills that I taught him, but he is not interested in fighting as a career or a way of life, and I do not blame him for thinking such. As for allowing Tayla to fight, I didn't want her to risk her life, and I had wanted her to pull out, but she insisted on staying, and yes, I did let her-"

"And so you willingly endangered your little sister, even though you, an experienced warrior or healior or whatever, could have possibly taken on an Oozaru. Speaking of which, have you ever considered that if you and your family hadn't been so hostile towards my clients that Prince Vegeta and Nappa might not have thought they would have to go Oozaru?"

"Have you ever considered, Mr. Squatt, that if Prince Vegeta and Nappa had not attacked my family in the first place, but had come in peace, that my family might not have had cause to attack them?" Raakon asked Matis coolly.

"Did you and your family even try to find out if my clients came to Chloe on peaceful terms?" Matis asked, his voice condemning. "Did you even offer them peaceful gestures? Did you even consider that perhaps Prince Vegeta and Nappa feared for their lives at the hands of your family?"

"Not particularly. Considering that the Saiyans threatened both Marya and Tayla when they came, no, I don't believe they came in peace. I am sure that even you would agree, Mr. Squatt, that if someone deliberately threatened your family members, you would not believe they came to your family in peace."

"It depends on the circumstances, Prince Raakon. You were not there, you say, when the Saiyans first arrived at the Temple. Have you considered that perhaps Princess Marya and Princess Tayla may have indicated that they wanted to harm my clients or imply that they would have their more powerful relatives attack the Saiyans, if they did not leave at once?"

"No, Mr. Squatt, I didn't," Raakon replied serenely. "Because I know my sisters well. Marya would not have harm a flea, and as for Tayla, she would only attack someone, if she was provoked."

"Yes, I've heard of Princess Tayla's considerably dangerous temper. I have also heard that there are those on Chloe who fear it; is that not true?"

"Objection!" Howles shouted.

"On what grounds, Mr. Norr?" Oleander inquired.

"Mr. Squatt is bringing nonessential issues into this case. If Princess Tayla does have a temper, it has no significant meaning in this case."

"Actually, it could have, Mr. Norr," Matis replied confidently. "It's possible that Princess Tayla's lively temper could have instigated the Saiyans to attack her family, feeling they had to protect themselves-"

"Now wait just a minute!" Dirkan fumed, arising from his seat. "How dare you imply that a seven-year-old little girl could have caused Vegeta and Nappa to-"

"Order, Order!" Oleander insisted, rapping her gavel hard. She looked at Dirkan sternly. "Superior Granden Dirkan, you are out of line here. You will have your chance to speak soon enough. Now sit down."

Dirkan did so, not entirely pleased to be scolded by a girl younger than Tayla, even if that girl was the High Councilor. But then he calmed down enough to see Oleander's point. "I apologize, High Councilor," he said quietly. "It just infuriates me to hear Mr. Squatt blaming a child."

"And I object to that, High Councilor," Howles added firmly. "Matis is possibly slandering Princess Tayla by his implications alone."

"I will have to agree," Oleander consented. "Both objections sustained. Any proof of Princess Tayla's temper is not an issue at this time. She is not on trial here. Mr. Squatt, resume your questioning in another way."

Matis sighed; couldn't the High Councilor see that Princess Tayla could have inadvertently stirred her family to attack his clients, believing that the Saiyans had come looking for trouble when they could have come in peace? But he did put aside the matter of Tayla's temper for now and continued asking Raakon about the possibility of the Saiyans coming in peace.

He also tried to pick apart the rest of Raakon's testimony, trying to make it appear that Raakon and his family acted too hastily in reacting to the Saiyans. But Raakon stayed steady in his responses, not allowing himself to be undone by Matis's prying and judgmental questions. Finally Matis realized that further questioning would get him or his clients nowhere, so he concluded his interrogation of Raakon. Oleander allowed Raakon to step down.

As Raakon was headed back to his seat, he passed by two Calmagian men, two current Calmagian royal palace guards (most Calmagian palace guards were not members of the CRP), two men who had tried to defend the Chateau de Tamilieu against Vegeta, Nappa, and Journa had first attacked there. Out of the many palace guards who had challenged the Saiyans, only these two survived: Eltyn Murse, an older, stocky, dark-haired, dark-eyed guard in his late forties, and Shirvin Tosse, a freckle-faced, red-haired seventeen-year-old boy who had been fourteen when he had first fought against the Saiyans. Vegeta had broken both of his legs and threatened him into promising to lead him to some Astorians. If it hadn't been for Eltyn rescuing him and taking him to safety, Shirvin would not have survived. Raakon and his family had met them before on Calmag.

Shirvin caught hold of Raakon's arm and whispered with an awed expression, "Prince Raakon, you and your family are heroes to us and all the Calmagian people. We wouldn't have had a Calmag now, if it hadn't been for you and your family. Thank you. I wish I had one-quarter of your strength."

Raakon smiled benevolently and shook Shirvin's hand warmly. "Thank you, young man; I am glad that we're able to help save your planet."

"We are extremely grateful to you, you know, Prince Raakon," Shrivin praised. "It's not every day that we're fortunate enough to see and meet people who can stand up to foes like the Saiyans. I hope to be a hero, like you someday."

Raakon smiled again. "If you continue to fight for good, young man, no matter what, you will be a hero. Remember that. Now I must get to my wife."

"Of course, Prince Raakon. It was an honor meeting you."

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In the Top Elite section, Reccoom's room…

As gracefully as possible for a man of his size and bulk, Reccoom was penning a love poem to Vegeta using the smooth, elegant strokes of the fountain pen that one of the Ginyu Girls had loaned to him. He had been so proud of himself earlier when he had helped Dodoria and Jeice compose their love poems for Frieza and Tipsy, Jeice's new crush. Thanks to the "expert" tutoring of Ginyu in the past when Ginyu had assisted Reccoom in wooing an actress who was a Ginyu Girl potential, the red-haired Ginyu Force member now considered himself quite a poet. (Sadly, Ginyu, who was well known for his poorly written lyrics, had been Reccoom's only teacher.)

"Hey Reccoom, let us in, please! We need your help!" Baata's frantic voice, which now was unusually girlish, even with his normal hiss, cried.

"Comin'!" Reccoom cried out, as he took more ladylike steps to press the button to open his door. His large, wide jaw plummeted to his sternum when he saw that Baata's normally dark blue skin color was now a shade of incandescent neon yellow! Baata's skin glowed so brightly that it lit Reccoom's entire room, and poor Reccoom had to cover his eyes to avoid being blinded.

"Baata, what happened?" Reccoom exclaimed.

"It was my new body lotion! The dermatologist on this ship told me that it would make my skin soften and glow, but he didn't say it would change my skin color!" Baata said, now nearing an unusual case of tears. "I look like a walking lemon!"

"Too bad you don't smell like one!" Reccoom commented wrinkling his nose. "That stuff does smell!" For indeed there was a foul stench similar to that of rotting meat permeating the air around Baata.

"It's not me that's smelling, honey!" Baata cried in a squeaky feminine hiss. "It's Guido! Have you looked at HER yet?" Baata pointed to below his waist.

Reccoom looked down below the shining Baata's legs, trying to avoid looking directly at his bright skin. To his shock, he saw poor Guido wearing a caked, hardened mask of a bright Dodoria-pink, mud-like substance on his face. And Reccoom covered his nose in horror, for it was the mud mask that was emanating the rotten smell.

Guido said tearfully, "One of the Ginyu Girls recommended this mud cream to me to make my face less oily, but now Baata and I can't get it off! It's stuck worse than glue!" And then Guido buried his face into his hands and burst into tears. Baata covered his face with one hand and patted Guido on the back with the other.

"It's okay, Guido, we'll get it off, I promise, don't cry," Baata said in as soothing a voice as possible.

For the next hour, the three Ginyu Force members, worked desperately to get Baata's skin color back to normal and to remove Guido's pink mask, but with no success. Reccoom's small bathroom was now a mess with numerous, newly acquired creams, lotions, and oils lying around.

As Guido was soaking his face in a bowl of some strange concoction that Baata and Reccoom both hoped would dissolve the mud pack, Baata, having given up hope for now of regaining his blue skin tone, asked Reccoom to read his new poem to Vegeta. Reccoom sat on his toilet seat with a towel covering most of his face (to block out the stink of Guido's mud mask and the gleaming yellow of Baata's skin), read his poem out loud the best he could, avoiding looking at Baata as much as possible:

"Oh, my Prince Vegeta, you handsome Saiyan hunk,
Without your presence, I'm in a permanent funk!
I love the way your muscles play when you move!
Seeing your cute face puts me in a good groove!
I'd give up my life and liberty for you;
My love for you is real,
So if you love me back, my heart will squeal!"

"How's that?" Reccoom asked hopefully.

"Beautiful, just beautiful!" Baata gushed.

"If Vegeta doesn't appreciate such love and devotion from you, Reccoom, you're better off without him!" Guido declared, hoping that this new solution would free his face of that smelly mudpack.

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During the next two hours, both Howles and Matis questioned Raakon's brothers, Lukan and Cletos, and all of their testimony was similar to that of their relatives; their words basically reiterated what they siblings and cousin had said before. However, Lukan had fought against Vegeta on Calmag and was actually able to give him a decent fight before Vegeta defeated him. After that, Lukan had no more to tell because shortly after his last battle with Vegeta, Diamonique had turned him into a diamond statue.

Then Arlon was put on the stand, and after confirming his relative's stories about what happened on Chloe, he told of his battle with Vegeta on Calmag. Both Arlon and Lukan had fought against Vegeta at the same time before Vegeta defeated Lukan.

Arlon was chuckling as he spoke about the time when he and Tayla had played Vegeta and Diamonique against each other when the Saiyan prince and the Gemstarian noblewoman were fighting over who would capture Tayla. He laughed when he described the nasty innuendoes and insults Vegeta and Diamonique used against each other.

"I cheered on Vegeta, and Tayla encouraged Diamonique. Tayla insisted that Diamonique stand up to Vegeta and fight him for her, since Tayla said she'd rather go with Diamonique. I kept telling Vegeta that he was the one who deserved to take my sister as his prisoner. Then finally, things worked out as we hoped for Tayla and I escaped once Vegeta and Diamonique started fighting each other…" Arlon had little to tell after that, for shortly after he and Tayla had escaped, Diamonique had caught up with them and turned Arlon, and Gracina's oldest son, Riccan, into diamond statues.

Matis tried a tactic with Arlon that he had done with Lukan earlier: questioning him as to why they would attack someone who had saved their sister's life. Both Arlon and Lukan had admitted that Vegeta had attacked the deceased Balair, forcing him to release Tayla when Balair had captured her.

"And even then you two weren't willing to give my client a chance? Why would Prince Vegeta rescue Princess Tayla, if he wanted to hurt her?"

Arlon hissed, "Could it be because Vegeta wanted to take my sister to Frieza and get this big reward that all Frieza's soldiers claimed they would receive for capturing Tayla alive?"

"And what was this supposed reward?"

"I never heard it mentioned what it was."

"Then how can you be for certain?"

"Does it really matter?"

"Hmmm…" Matis said thoughtfully. "Perhaps it doesn't." He asked Arlon several more questions, and when Arlon had told him all he could, Matis declared that he was finished.

"Prince Arlon, you may step down," Oleander told him. As Arlon did, she rapped her gavel once and said, "There will be a two-hour recess. Everyone is dismissed for now."

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Frieza's mother ship, Chestra's suite…

"Jeice?" Chestra asked, puzzled to see her comrade. This was odd. No man other than Zarbon ever visited her suite on a casual basis, so she was a mite surprised to see Jeice drop by.

She was even more surprised to see Jeice's new hairdo-a shocking mane of stiff, white ringlets more tightly packed than the curls in a steel wool pad. "May I help you?" she asked, trying to recover from her shock.

"You must have noticed my new perm," Jeice told her in a soft, apologetic, curiously feminine voice. "I did it myself, and it didn't turn out so well, did it? Could you help me get it to look halfway decent again?"

"I'll…try," Chestra told him cautiously.

"Thanks, dear, I appreciate it. I also need for us to talk-woman-to-woman."

"Okay…"

During the next twenty minutes in Chestra's lavishly decorated bathroom, she stood beside Jeice, trying to fix and save his hair the best that she could, as Jeice wistfully talked to her continuously about how he was trying to get Tipsy to notice him and fall in love with him.

"He's awfully shy around women," Jeice moaned, as Chestra used a pair of shears to expertly trim the parts of his white tresses that couldn't be saved. "At least he is around me. I do all I can to get him to notice me, but he just runs the other way. What am I doing wrong, Chestra, what am I doing wrong?" He then slowly began to cry, with agonized tears streaming down his scarlet face.

Chestra tried to console him the best that she could, as if Jeice were actually the woman he believed himself to be. She told Jeice as kindly as she could that perhaps Tipsy just wanted to be friends, and that maybe Jeice should direct his amorous pursuits elsewhere.

"There's someone out there for you, Jeice," Chestra assured him. "But perhaps, you might want to give yourself some time…perhaps a few weeks…before you pursue someone else." She suggested this because she sincerely hoped that the extract that was affecting Jeice would wear off by then.

"Thanks, Chestra," Jeice sniffed. "But I can't get Tipsy off of my mind. I dream about him all through the night, and I can't concentrate on my tasks during the day. Why I couldn't even get right the new battle poses that the Cap'n was teaching us today because all I could see was Tipsy's handsome face."

"Surely there are others out there," Chestra told him soothingly, as she rubbed oil into his hair that was supposed to be a hair relaxing solution. "Tipsy's not the only one."

Jeice closed his eyes, as he sat still, waiting for the oil to take effect; in twenty minutes, he'd have to shower and wash it out. "You're right, Chestra, you're right. There are others…in fact, I have to confess that there's someone else that I've developed a minor crush on, but I was ashamed to pursue it because of my love for Tipsy!"

"Well, then maybe you should consider this new crush," Chestra suggested brightly before she thought. In horror, she covered her mouth, realizing her hasty words. Sweet Kami, who did Jeice want now?

"Whom else do you care for?" she asked worriedly.

Jeice said cheerily, feeling much better, "Why Cap'n Ginyu of course! I always did consider him to be rather gorgeous! He's quite a hunk, don't you think?"

Chestra suddenly felt faint. Before she knew it, her petite body had collapsed to the floor. The last thing she remembered before passing out was Jeice worriedly shaking her, calling her name.

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"Monique! There you are! I've been trying to find you all day!"

"Well, hello, Naykiar," she crooned to Naykiar de Tamilieu. "How've you been today?"

"Even better now that I've found you," Naykiar said happily. Naykiar had been sitting behind the Clan of Chloe family during the trial. He had happily asked Caline to come with him; he openly told Caline that he believed that he was in love, and he wanted her to meet his dream woman. Naykiar and Caline had left ahead of most of the other occupants in the RIC courtroom. They could hear the others leaving the courtroom, as they stood in the hall with Monique.

Naykiar had been pleased when Caline told him that she and Kekron Chloe were now together. So his little sister had found love like he hoped he did? Good! He was glad to see her so happy, so radiant. Her newfound love with Kekron had put a glow on her face and light in her cerulean eyes; she seemed more beautiful than ever, if that was possible. After his young sister had blissfully shared her joy, Naykiar had shyly told her about Monique, and he had taken Caline with him to find Monique and introduce two of his favorite females to each other.

"And how are you, dear?" Monique asked Caline. Caline smiled warmly at her.

"Naykiar has told me much about you."

"All good I hope?" Monique teased.

"Very. My brother seems quite taken with you."

"Caline!" Naykiar gasped, embarrassed. He nudged his sister urgently, silently pleading with her not to elaborate further.

"There's nothing to be embarrassed about, Naykiar," Monique cooed. "If you like me, you like me. And if I like you, I like you. No problem with that. I know that this is rather sudden, but I feel so close to you already."

Naykiar chuckled nervously and blushed.

"How are you adjusting here?" Caline wondered.

"Wonderfully. Your brother and his friends have been so helpful. But Naykiar hasn't told me much about his family yet, except for you, Princess Caline. Do you two have any other brothers and sisters?"

Both Naykiar and Caline saddened then, and they looked at each other in mutual misery and grief. Ridikar was still very much in their hearts. Finally Naykiar replied quietly, "We had two sisters and two brothers, now we only have two sisters and one brother. Our oldest brother, Ridikar, died during the Astorian-Calmagian War against Frieza's forces."

"Did you say Ridikar?" Monique inquired. Why did that name sound so familiar?

Caline whispered, "Yes. Our brother, Ridikar, would have been the next king of Calmag after our father, but now that position belongs to our other brother, Julien."

"Was this Ridikar once associated with Princess Tayla?" Monique asked.

Naykiar and Caline looked at her strangely. "Just how did you know?" Caline said worriedly. "Yes, he was engaged briefly to her, but it was broken off."

Monique was flustered. Quickly, she said, "Oh, I heard rumors abounding about your Ridikar and Princess Tayla…that's all. I am so sorry about your brother; may I ask how he died?"

"In battle against an evil wench known as Diamonique," Naykiar said hatefully. Monique fell back, and Naykiar softened his tone. "I am sorry, Monique; I am not angry with you. It just hurts knowing that my beloved brother was murdered by such a heartless, coldhearted whore."

"But at least Tayla defeated her and taught her a lesson," Caline added with hurt in her voice.

"It's a pity Tayla didn't kill her," Naykiar stated.

"At least this Diamonique didn't go totally unpunished," Caline said with some relief.

"It's a pity about your brother," Monique said softly, but if Caline and Naykiar had paid closer attention, they would have noticed the hint of sarcasm in her response.

"Thank you," Caline told her kindly. She cleared her throat and decided to change the subject. "Naykiar has told me some about the hard life you've endured. I can sympathize with you completely, for even though I was not technically a slave, I may as well have been with my last husband. But that is past now, and I am very, very happy, thanks to a certain Astorian prince." She smiled and blushed shyly.

"An Astorian prince?" Monique asked with interest.

"Why yes, Kekron Chloe!" Naykiar added. "I'm sure you've heard of him."

Monique smiled widely. "Why yes, I have! Maybe someday I'll be as lucky as your sister!
Well, I'm afraid I have to go now, but I believe I'll be seeing you soon." And she leaned over to kiss Naykiar lovingly on his cheek. Naykiar's face turned to a bright shade of peach.

"Goodbye, sweet prince," she whispered. "Goodbye, Princess Caline." And with a soft laugh, she abruptly left the de Tamilieu siblings and danced down the hall to the ladies' room.

*************************************************************************************************

As soon as she reached the inside of the ladies' room, Diamonique laughed wickedly to herself. So Caline was Kekron Chloe's little girlfriend! Interesting! Naykiar's darling sister was perfect hostage material! Wait until Zarbon and Jaden found this tidbit out! Finally, she'd be able to prove to those two her usefulness on this mission, especially to Jaden, who didn't seem to think that Diamonique would be of much help.

But Diamonique decided that she had worked enough for now. She wanted to play a little while, and Naykiar de Tamilieu would be the ideal playmate. An untouched virgin male…new territory for her to explore! She couldn't wait to run her slender fingers, lips, and mouth along his taut muscles, tousle his thick, brown hair. A fresh, untouched, young boy…a young, untried, lover, and one of Diamonique's personal mottos concerning seduction said "the younger, the better".

Diamonique smiled to herself. Yes, tonight, when the first day of the trial concluded, she would surreptitiously sneak into Naykiar's room and seduce him. She knew just the ideal ploy: that of a timid, sweet, frightened victim of sexual abuse who wanted to sleep with a man who cared for her and respected her. She'd tug on Naykiar's heartstrings. She'd make herself his first woman.

She wasn't disturbed at all by the fact that she had killed Naykiar and Caline's brother, Ridikar, three years ago. Ridikar had been a rather handsome young man, but he was such a pest who had the worst taste in females! He had wanted Tayla, and why anyone who wanted that scrawny little girl for a mate was beyond Diamonique's comprehension.

She knew that Tayla had been in the courtroom, but she had been unable to see her that well. She probably didn't look that much differently from the last time she and Diamonique had battled anyway. The Gemstarian beauty shrugged it off; she would have plenty of time to wreck vengeance on Tayla later.

But for now, it was time to plan her fun-with adorable, boyish Naykiar…

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As the rest of the spectators, witnesses, and court officials filed out of the RIC courtroom, Jaden, still in her ladybug form, stealthily followed the RIC Councilors into the private RIC Councilors' lounge. The lounge was a lavishly decorated white-and-gold room with a dining room table, sixteen chairs, and a snack area and sterile steel-and-tile kitchenette.

Jaden flew around above the heads of the ten Councilors, getting to know each member the best she could. In the corner of the kitchenette stood the one Astorian, Ocran Cornsilk, who was chatting intimately with Alto Note, the only Melodian on the RIC council. Ocran and Alto, a short, middle-aged, average-looking woman with strawberry-blond hair and pink eyes, were quietly holding hands and whispering about the possibilities of divorcing their individual spouses.

"I would leave Lira immediately to go to you, Alto, but Astorian divorce laws are so blasted difficult!" Ocran's voice was now a tad above a whisper. "Even though the Superior Gran has eased the restrictions on reasons to divorce your spouse somewhat, in order for me to get a divorce based on irreconcilable differences alone, I would have to be legally separated from Lira for eighteen months, and that's only if she didn't contest the divorce. If she did contest it, the legal separation would automatically go to three years before the divorce was legal! And if Lira finds out about us before I file for divorce and cries adultery beforehand, the divorce would be quick, if she filed, but then it's likely that my Clan would banish me from them. You know how my people are about adultery."

"Yes," Alto sighed sadly. "I remember you telling me about that enormous scandal that happened when Princess Farla Chloe ran away with her husband's brother, Prince Jaypros. I don't understand Astoria's divorce laws at all…why force two people to stay together, if they are unhappy with each other? On Melodia, we believe that it's far kinder and ethical for a married couple to break up and find partners whom they can truly be happy with. Our separation period there is only three months, and I plan to file for separation from my husband, Bass, when I return home. Bass will be crushed, but this will give him a chance to find someone who truly loves him."

"I do long to take you home to my family and raise any children that we have there. I know that you don't wish to remain on Melodia, if Melodia does decide to join with the Cold Empire. But, Alto, my love, I have to get this divorce first, and we have to keep our relationship a secret, or I won't have a home to provide you with."

"I wish we could openly see each other."

"As do I, but right now there's too much at risk. Plus, that cursed morality clause in the RIC Councilor handbook declares adultery to be enough reason to expel an RIC member. Neither one of us can afford to lose our positions, if this gets out before I divorce Lira."

Jaden the ladybug smirked. An Astorian RIC Councilor playing around on his wife? Potential blackmail material. Especially since two precious RIC positions were at stake, if the two adulterous lovers were exposed. Good…perhaps there were more dirty secrets that the RIC Councilors held that she could find out and use against them to force a "not guilty" verdict for Vegeta and Nappa.

Jaden now flew past Oleander Blossom, who was excitedly talking to Matisse Calligraphy, from the planet Font, about Oleander's beloved six-month-old son. Matisse was ten years older than her leader, and she was a tall, gracious lady with long, mahogany hair and shiny coal-black eyes. Many years ago, King Vegeta, the king's Elites, and Prince Vegeta, who had only been six at the time, had raided Matisse's home planet. Planet Font would have been purged of all life, had not Intergalacticpol intervened and drove the Saiyans away.

Jaden already knew about planet Font, but after a few minutes of listening to Matisse and Oleander, she learned several key things about both women. Neither woman supported the death penalty under any circumstances. Oleander valued her son more than life itself. And Matisse was a member of a kind, pacifist religion on her home planet that heavily espoused forgiveness of enemies and accepting overtures of peace from them. This religion was said to have started by Font's deity, Italic. Matisse had even said to Oleander that if the Saiyans had sincerely admitted their wrongdoing, apologized, and repented, the people of Font would be willing to forgive and forget. Her race did not believe in holding grudges against those who genuinely wanted to become good and leave behind their wicked ways.

Jaden found Matisse to be fascinating, but she was more concerned on how to blackmail Oleander. She figured the best way to force Oleander Blossom into convincing the others to declare Vegeta and Nappa not guilty was for her, Zarbon, or Diamonique to abduct Oleander's baby boy and hold him hostage until the verdict was decided. Deciding firmly on this, she left the two peaceful young women and flew over to the Tsurfin, whom Jaden had already heard was named Mango.

The corpulent Mango had silver-gray hair, mustache, and beard, and he had a huge, bloated belly that hung over his expensive leather belt. He was dressed in a burgundy, long-sleeved shirt, burnt orange suit jacket and pants with bell cuffs and sleeves. He was smoking a fat, green cigar that smelled oddly of wintergreen. An ostentatious air of arrogance and supremacy surrounded him like cheap cologne, an air that clearly let everyone else know that they were in the presence of someone who considered himself to be above others. His haughty, derisive laughter complemented his superiority complex.

Jaden disliked him instantly.

He reminded her too much of that pedophiliac, foolish spy, Alberm Dunlop. Jaden never liked Alberm either, even before she found out that he had an abused child bride to kick around and molest; to this day, she had no regrets killing him. While she doubted seriously that Mango was interested in little girls (to her, it seemed that even he was above that sort of thing), Mango's oily, conceited manner was similar to that of Alberm's.

Nevertheless, she had to find out what weaknesses that this Mango possessed that could be used against him. She needed more blackmail material, so she followed him into the private RIC Councilors' men's room.

Mango did enter a stall, but he did not use the toilet. Instead he leaned against the wall and pulled out from his pocket, a small, round, silver, radio-like device with a keypad. Mango entered a code into the device and spoke gruffly through it:

"Are you there? Yes, this is Councilor Mango. Are we set for our plans during the trial? Good! I am glad that you have agreed to do this for me; I know that it was a difficult decision for you to make. No, you won't get caught, I promise you that. You will be richly rewarded for doing this. Trust me when I say that your assassinating Prince Vegeta and Nappa will be worth it. Not even those two will survive what we have planned for them. They killed those of your race and mine; if I had my way, all those with Saiyan blood would be destroyed. There won't be a verdict reached for this trial because both Prince Vegeta and Nappa will be dead before the trial ends. Trust me, you are doing the right thing; you are helping to cure the Saiyan plague that should have been eradicated a long time ago. You will be a hero, even if only you and I both know it. You're doing a good thing, and I'm proud of you. Farewell and good luck."

A certain ladybug was breathing heavily and furiously after Mango ended communication with his hired assassin. She just barely resisted the urge to transform back into her natural form, confront Mango, and give him a painful death. But as much as she wanted to, she couldn't destroy him just yet. She had to find out just who this assassin Mango hired was. Plus, people would get suspicious, if an RIC member turned up missing, and Jaden couldn't disguise herself as Mango all the time, if she did kill him.

Reluctantly, she allowed Mango to leave the men's room with his worthless life intact. Jaden took that time to transform back into her normal shape and contact Zarbon on her scouter.

"Jaden, is that you?"

"Yeah, it's me, and Zarbon, we have a major problem…"

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Two tiny, silver robot mosquitoes.

Two electronic, robot mosquitoes each filled with an ounce of relliknayias poison. Relliknayias (in Standard language, spelled backwards, it translated to "Saiyan killer") was a toxic chemical created from two deadly herbs once native to planet Vegeta, poisonous herbs that could kill even a Saiyan or an Astorian. Back on planet Plant, the Tsurfins had tried to use the chemical through darts and sprays when their neighbors, the Saiyans, had all turned Oozaru, but it took a hundred times the amount to kill an Oozaru than it would a Saiyan in regular form, and the Tsurfin had not had enough to save most of their race from the Oozarus, so the survivors were forced to flee.

A handful of the Tsurfin scientists that had been given asylum on Astoria had recreated the relliknayias there, but Superior Gran Shalila Chloe, fearing that it could wind up being used against Sastorian and Astorian citizens, had forbidden the creation, use, distribution, possession, or sale of the product anywhere on Astoria or its moons. Relliknayias, however, continued to be sold on the intergalactic black market, in spite of the attempts of Astoria, RIC and Intergalacticpol's attempts to prevent it and capture and convict those who dealt in it. The chemical was also illegal on many planets in the Rosetta, since the product could also be used against those of other humanoid races similar to the Saiyans, but still that criminal cottage industry of it flourished.

But the possessor of the tainted mosquitoes calmly held the robotic insects in the medium-sized polished, airtight wood case resting in the possessor's hands. The currently inactive creatures were "sleeping" in a foam bed next to a small control box. Yes, these tiny killers would be all that was needed to destroy the Saiyans. An ounce of relliknayias could kill three adult Saiyans within hours. And the mosquitoes were already programmed to attack Prince Vegeta and Nappa without hitting anyone else. Once a mosquito hit its target and injected the poison, it would self-destruct and burn away, leaving no tangible evidence of its existence.

The assassin agreed with Mango, who provided the mosquitoes, courtesy of Mango's scientist cousin, Kumquat, that it would be better and safer for all concerned, if Vegeta and Nappa were to die before being convicted of their crimes. After all, the two accused Saiyans had personally attacked the assassin's home planet and taken lives. Yes, it was time that the two Saiyans got what they richly deserved.

Now the only question was when to release the mosquitoes to end the Saiyans' murderous lives. Should they be released during the trial, when the Saiyans were leaving or entering the courtroom, or in the Saiyans' cell? Killing the Saiyans in their cell would be discreet, and perhaps the best way to go, but then no one would get to see them suffer, and the Saiyans' humiliation in death would be greatly reduced. Plus, that solution would not be executable since the mosquitoes could fly no further than thirty feet away from their control box, otherwise they wouldn't work, and the assassin wouldn't be able to get that close to their cell because of all the security surrounding the Saiyan prisoners.

Yes, unfortunately, the Saiyans would have to be killed out in the open, but that would be all right. After all many of their victims had been killed by them out in the open. And best of all, Prince Vegeta and Nappa would die, surrounded by people who would be more overjoyed than distressed about their dying. They would die knowing that no one had ever truly cared for them.

Yes, Mango was right when he said that killing the Saiyans as soon as possible would save RIC and all the Saiyans' victims time, money, and grief. The Saiyans truly deserved what they were about to get.