23

Bulma's equipment arrived right when she said it would. Vegeta had Toma fly the hovercraft with the radar over the Capital before sunrise the day before they were to attack. It works. 'Don't sound… …so surprised… When have… …I ever… …made something… …that didn't… …work?' His light chuckle rippled across the Bond, Plenty of times. But now the issue is how to deactivate these… Capsules? 'NO. Don't… …you dare… …call those… …things Capsules.' Why? 'Because I… …don't want… …our invention… …associated with… …Freeza's killing… …machines.' Well, do you have any better ideas on what to call these things? 'Pods?' I am not going out there in front of all these warriors and calling these things Pods. 'Well, you're… …not going… …to call… …them Capsules… …either.' Vegeta fell silent for a moment, causing Bulma to worry about him.

'Is everything… …ok, Vegeta?' No, Woman, it's not. I can feel myself slowly going insane from not being near you but I can't do anything about it. 'I'm sorry…' There's nothing you can do about it either, Bulma. I just wish I knew why it's happening right now instead of months ago like it really should've. 'Because you're… …desires shifted… …from killing… …Freeza to… …protecting me.' But that still… 'Shh… I don't… …understand it… …either. But… …that's the… …only explanation… …I've got.' The others are coming, I've got to go. 'See you…' I hope to see you soon as well, Woman.

The three main Region leaders filed into Vegeta's command tent, along with Bardock, Toma, and Nappa. "We march at dawn tomorrow. I'm planning on addressing the warriors tonight and bringing them up to speed." The teen stated after everybody had gotten settled. Turning towards the screen, he was a little surprised to see his Mate behind Tienshinhan, holding the child-like woman. "Is there anything we can do to shut down these… Pods?" Vegeta spat the last word out, causing Bulma to grin since he declared that he wouldn't call them that mere minutes ago.

Chiaotzu shook her head, "Your best bet is to avoid 'em, 'cause the only way to shut down the Pods is most likely in Freeza's mansion. I did manage to add a feature to the handheld radars." Bulma held up their prototype so the explosive engineer could show them. "Just flip this red switch here, say 'Deathberry' three times, and it'll blow anything within a ten-foot radius up with it."

"I thought that it'd be a good idea to have a fail-safe should something go wrong. Better that the device gets destroyed then for it to fall into Freeza's hands." Tien said, using his thumb to point back to his partner, "Besides, letting her put explosives in it was the only to get her to shut up for more than five minutes." "I made more boom-boom arrows!" The tiny painted woman yelled happily.

Glaring at Bulma, the bald man questioned, "Did you give her anything?" "No." Bulma shook her head, suddenly her face paled, "I left Chiaotzu with Mom for two minutes when I went to the bathroom. Don't tell me… Chiaotzu, did my Mom give you something to eat?" "Uh huh." She nodded, obviously thrumming with energy, "She gave me chocolate!" Quickly taking his leave, Tienshinhan apologized, "Sorry, I've got to go put Chiaotzu in an empty room for a few hours. Last time she had chocolate she blew up four labs, how in Ee-arth she didn't die is beyond me."

Even though he wasn't laughing out loud, Bulma glared at Vegeta through the screen because she could feel it. "Anyway, I'll make sure that your arrows are on the next transport that's leaving in an hour. Is there anything else you think you'll need, Vegeta?" Just you… Shaking his head, both as an answer and to clear his thoughts, the Saiyan Prince cleared his throat, "No, nothing that I can't do without." "Ok…" Bulma didn't sound convinced but she ended the transmission anyway.

Nappa scowled at Vegeta, "My question is how did Mrs. Briefs even get chocolate?" Shrugging, the flame-haired teen saw no need to hide his involvement, "I picked up her hidden stash of it the last time I was in 12. Kinda surprised that she's made it last this long, though." "So the last transport of supplies should arrive tonight, right?" Bardock asked, hoping to steer the other two back on track. "Yes. If my Mate's words are true, which they typically are." Vegeta nodded, focusing back on the map in front of him.

Carefully phrasing his question, Bardock asked, "Will you be addressing the men before or after the transport arrives?" "Before." Was Vegeta's simple answer, his eyes never lifting from the map littered with dots. Leaning on the table, the bald guardian was amazed, "There's so many of them. How are we going to get through them all?" Vegeta sighed, I was hoping no one would ask that… "We can't. Not without losing people. That's why I want at least six Saiyans on every squad, if possible. Not only are our people naturally stronger than the others, the closer to death we get, the bigger the power boost. And we'll send medics behind the main force to help both our men and the civilians should they get in the way."

"This is surprisingly well thought out for one so young." Master Roshi commended, a slight smile on his lips. A light chuckle escaped Vegeta, "Trust me, Nappa's been drilling this stuff into me ever since I was five; and my Dad was doing it before him. The fact that I know how to strategize is what makes me so dangerous in these Games." Taking only a short break for lunch, the small group of battle-hardened leaders finalized any and all plans.


Standing before the largest crowd of warriors he had ever seen, the Saiyan Prince stepped up to the microphone, Remember, be short, concise, and speak clearly… "I am Vegeta, Prince of All Saiyans. And I'm a warrior, just like each and every one of you. For the first time since the Cold family has been in power, all thirteen Regions are united against the common enemy; that right there means that we've already made history. But only victory will be celebrated. A victory that will come when Freeza is stripped of his power and brought to justice!"

The crowd cheered at his words. When they had quietened down, he continued on, "Freeza has pulled his Force back towards the heart of the Capital and has issued an order of evacuation for the outer blocks. This is important, do not target civilians. Medics will be following behind the front line to assist anyone in need of their help; Revolutionary and Capitalist alike." Several people started booing, causing Vegeta to power up. At the sight of his golden blonde hair and electric teal eyes, everyone became deathly silent. "I don't care whether you like it or not, but you will follow my orders. Because if I hear that someone did not… there is no place in Ee-arth that could hide you from me. We must show the Capitalists that we are not what Freeza has made us out to be.

"On the map behind me, all the orange dots represent devices called 'Pods'. They were designed by the Judges and past Game Masters to mock our deaths for Freeza's sick pleasure." Vegeta glanced behind him to make sure that the screen switched to Freeza's mansion. "We will all converge on Freeza's mansion, surrounding it on all sides so that slimy lizard has no chance at escape. Now I won't lie to you, many of us will die on the field of battle; but let our deaths be full of honor and purpose. Not for a sadistic man's entertainment. But, should we succeed, then Ee-arth will be free from this tyranny for generations to come. Yes, we've made history but the fight for our future starts tomorrow at dawn's first light. Because tomorrow, we march into the Capital!" The crowd cheered, eventually everyone joined in the Saiyans chanting of, "A'oo! A'oo! A'oo!"

Quickly abandoning the stage, Vegeta found his two comrades waiting for him. Clasping his charge's shoulder, Nappa congratulated him, "Great job, Vegeta. You always were the best speaker in your class." "And yet I always lost to the Woman when we were forced to hold debates." The teen lamented, just wishing to be left alone so he could rest and prepare himself.

Bardock smiled understandingly as he took his leave, "I've got to go make sure the captains understand how to work their handhelds. Plus there's something Raditz wanted them to know about the underground within the Freeza Force. Nappa, weren't you going to check on the transport that should be here any minute?" "I was?" The bald Saiyan sounded confused for a second before understanding dawned on him, "Oh, right. I was… I guess I just got so caught up in Vegeta's speech that I forgot." Shaking his head, Vegeta yelled at the backs of the retreating men, "You two are horrible liars!"