31
Chapter Thirty One
" Honor is simply the morality of superior men."
H.L Mencken
Adalina flew through the air at top speeds as Zarbon had gotten quite the lead on her. She would have left right after him if Frieza hadn't decided to argue with her about it.
"If they would just listen to me, this could have all been avoided." she growled in frustration, "That insufferable man!" the wind stung her eyes as she picked up speed, her aura flaring a bit as she tapped into her power.
Zarbon was abruptly thrown to the ground as Vegeta unleashed the extent of his power. He didn't have time to block as the Saiyan kicked him across the rough ground, sending him soaring. How was this possible? How was he being defeated?
"You know Zarbon, I've never really had anything against you, not in recent years. Adalina seemed to have succeeded in softening you up as well, but, you're standing in the way of my plans. I will become immortal, before Frieza." Zarbon's eyes widened, "Oh? Was I not suppose to know that? You'd have to be a blind fool to not figure that one out."
He would tell Adalina, just for spite, and then where would that leave them? Adalina was strong and the only one capable of holding their own against her was Frieza, but then again, she probably wouldn't kill anyone but she certainly wouldn't help them if the situation called for it. Everything had been smooth sailing, there had been no causalities and it had all been because of Adalina's quick thinking. She was a kind and caring young woman who needed to revive a planet and the natives had been more than willing to comply. It made everything simple. She didn't need to know Frieza's true reasons.
But then the humans showed up.
And Vegeta.
And people were dropping like flies.
"If you come quietly, perhaps I can convince our Lord not to kill you." he ground out, "It's either you come with me or Adalina comes and gets you, and I'm sure you don't want her coming out here."
Vegeta cackled as if Zarbon had told him the funniest joke,
"You really think she scares me? She may have a higher power level, but she's weak. There is no difference between mercy and stupidity, no subtle nuance. She won't kill me, she won't even attempt to fight me. She'll give me a slap on the wrist and drag me back to base, but I won't let her." he smirked, "I'll kill her before she gets the chance."
"Would you truly be able to do so?" Zarbon questioned quietly.
"Of course." his words were hollow though, they held no meaning. He knew he would have a hard time, but Zarbon didn't need to know that, he would be dead soon after all.
Adalina had arrived at that point and had been quietly hiding behind a nearby cliff, her ears sensitive enough to hear every word. What had she done to deserve such treatment from him? She had cared for him for all those years, and for what? Perhaps Frieza was right.
She was distraught, but she knew that she needed to channel her feelings of despair into something useful.
Anger.
"Who says I won't fight you?" she shouted, coming to stand between Zarbon and Vegeta, "I have done nothing but help you all these years, and this is how you repay me? You ungrateful boy." she seethed, "I'll give you a fight and then I'll drag you back to head quarters. If anyone is naive, or stupid it's you. I know where I stand in this universe, do you?"
"Adalina." Zarbon stepped forward and placed a hand on her shoulder, "You don't have to do this."
She shrugged him off and took a fighting stance,
"Yes, I do. I'll even start off in my base form, I'm about as strong as Frieza's first form like this, let's see how you fair because if I do fail by some chance, you'll have to deal with him and I can guarantee you he won't show you any mercy."
Vegeta froze, he had put his foot in his mouth, could he really do this? Was this something he was prepared to deal with? He cleared his head and remembered why he was angry with her. She had betrayed him,
"You knew that Frieza destroyed my planet and you never said a word, you pretended you didn't know a damn thing!"
She furrowed her brows, her heart sinking a bit as the weight of his words hit her like a meteor. He probably felt betrayed by her, and knowing his pride he probably thought it was a snide inside joke that everyone knew, except for him.
"You were a child and I was trying my hardest to not get myself killed. You think if I had told you everything would have been fine? It would have caused problems for everyone and you know it. I did it in yours and my own best interest."
"You were only kissing up to Frieza in some futile attempt to garner his affection and you know it. You turn a blind eye to his doings- do you even know why you're here? It's not to resurrect a planet-"
"Vegeta shut your mouth." Zarbon mumbled through clenched teeth, trying to avoid any suspicion.
"Oh? Is she not suppose to know? Forgive me." he sardonically replied, "He's here for the same reason I am: immortality."
Adalina faltered, her raised fists dropping slightly as her heart pounded in her ears. She had known, she just didn't want to believe it. She had trusted him and-
No. She didn't have time for him, she had to deal with Vegeta.
"Then you're more alike than you think, Vegeta. I've tried so hard to keep you two within decent moral standards, and it would seem I haven't done enough. I know you peg Frieza as the bad guy, as the villain, and in some ways you're not wrong, but are you not the same?"
"Of course I'm not the same! How dare you, I'm nothing like that spineless lizard." he spat, growing more angry by the second. What he was doing wasn't wrong, it was for revenge, for his pride, his people.
"You behave in the same manner because someone else told you it was right, told you to cast aside your emotions. With Frieza it was Kold, and in turn, Frieza beat those same commandments into you. Everyone in this universe has a reason for the way they are, our job is to sit and listen to those reasons. Am I mad at him for lying to me? Absolutely furious. Will I let him go through with his plans? Over my dead body. But the same goes for you, Vegeta. I'm going to allow the humans to use the Dragon Balls to wish back the people you were responsible for killing. Neither you nor Frieza will get your heinous desires."
Vegeta's face had fallen slightly during her lecture, but as soon as she mentioned the humans, his countenance instantly returned to its normal condescending smirk,
"Do you honestly think he won't hunt them down and kill them? Do you think I am above such things? You really are a fool."
"Enough. I am not a child, I know how you both are, and damn it I'm trying! I will not let either of you get away with this." she had taken a stern fighting stance once more, "Now prepare yourself because I will not go easy on you, you've already pissed me off." and then when she was done with him, she would have a few words with Frieza.
She still couldn't believe she had trusted him, but she knew he was doing it out of fear. He was afraid of being over-thrown, meeting his match. Didn't he understand that he wasn't alone, that she would fight for his survival no matter what? Things had gotten tense with Lilith a year ago, yes, and things would continue to unravel, but they would fix it.
She had to deal with the problem at hand though.
"I'm going back to base to inform Lord Frieza of these new developments." Zarbon glared at the Saiyan, "Everything has gone to shit because of you, Vegeta."
"I'm glad he didn't keep me in the dark though," Adalina shot a pointed look at the green alien, "Make sure Frieza knows I am not happy with his lies."
Zarbon took off without another word, trembling at what punishment possibly awaited him,
"I heard all of that." Frieza calmly stated over his scouter, making him jump. He was furious, no, he was beyond the point of blind rage, his seemingly calm demeanor was proof of that, "Why did you not stop him?"
"With all due respect my Lord, what was I to do?"
"You should have been more than capable of killing that little runt but your vain nature prevents you from transforming!" he shouted, causing Zarbon to wince, "I will not lose her because of this, do you understand me?" after all the fighting, humiliation, and reluctant self realization he was going to lose her because of a misunderstanding. He was doing this for the both of them, he was doing this so that Lilith would never have a chance at ruling the universe.
"I apologize sir, but I thought Adalina would have handled him so I didn't bother after she had shown up. I'll fix this, I promise." he pleaded, hoping his boss would spare him.
Frieza was about to reply with a threat but a frantic voice interrupted him,
"Lord Frieza sir, this is planet 316, we're under attack! The enemy resembles the demon creatures we were told to keep an eye out for! They're damaging our numbers steadily, sir!" the alien on the other end of the comm. system reported.
Frieza's blood ran cold. She was making a move, and she was attacking the planet with all his reserve soldiers, something that would be quite damaging to his force. If she managed to kill them all, then he would be left with only his elites and a handful of foot soldiers, i.e. the ones that were on Namek with him. He couldn't leave just in case Vegeta was too strong for anyone but himself...but...,
He could send Adalina out after them. She was strong enough to handle Lilith's cronies, no doubt, and if she ran into trouble then he would intervene, and perhaps by then he would have his wish.
Adalina glared at Vegeta with the intensity of a super nova, a look he himself had never been on the receiving end of. It was the look she gave Frieza whenever the tyrant would kill one of his subordinates for no reason, or call her out for being weak. It was a look that she had worn near constantly when she had first arrived on the ship.
It was a look he hadn't seen in years.
Adalina growled, a low intimidating sound as she launched towards her opponent, the dirt beneath her shifting from the force of her push-off.
Vegeta barely had time to spin out of the way but was met with a swift kick as she phased behind him, sending him tumbling across the ground.
He looked up as she walked towards him, a purpose in her step.
He had made a terrible mistake.
And she was going to make sure he never made it again.
A/N: Dun dun dun. Alright, I apologize for the short chapter but it's been a hectic week, and I really wanted the fight between Vegeta and Adalina to be long, so you'll get it next week, so keep an eye out for it :) I turned 18 yesterday as well, so it's been a busy week.
A few of you said yes to the opening idea, so I may just try my hand at it.
Arthur101SueEllen also suggested I do a Q/A special when I hit 200 reviews and I thought that was a wonderful idea, so be looking for that as well.
I also uploaded an update on Daemon, Meredith, and Baphomet's character designs on dA: KuroKagamiImeji.
I will be working on new armor for Frieza since he'll be in his final form a lot after the Namek saga.