35

A cool hand on his arm caused the Prince to lash out, thinking it was an attacker. "Whoa. Easy there, 'Gete's!" A bubbly voice chuckled as Vegeta's arm hit a solid mass. Squinting at the harsh, early morning light as he rubbed the sleep from his eyes, the flame-haired teen grumbled, "Why are you here, Kakarot?" Goku beamed a smile that made the other Saiyan close his eyes in fear of being blinded, "Bulma asked me to get you. Paragus is having some kinda powwow in the dining room next door with all the Winners."

"Let's go," Vegeta grunted, rising from the couch that was his bed for the night. Not that I got much sleep anyway… And I still don't know what to do about Scar-Face…


Everybody turned to stare at the two Saiyans as they entered the room. Surprised to see the last remaining Winners from Region 2, Vegeta walked up to the older Saiyans dressed in burgundy; honestly expecting them to attack him. "Relax, Prince. We are friends now." Broly chuckled, flashing a wicked grin with his shark-like teeth. Pushing her long bangs out of the way, Kale gave the teen a shy smile, "Sorry about what happened… We were just following orders."

Before Vegeta could say anything, Paragus asked everyone to have a seat. Vegeta made note that Scar-Face was directly across from him with the others sitting in order, clockwise from Paragus; the twins' Seventeen and Eighteen, Gine, Chi-Chi, Goku, and Bulma on his right. While on his left was Piccolo, Kale, Broly, and Tienshinhan with Chiaotzu in his lap next to Paragus. Twelve Winners and one puppet occupied the thirteen chairs around the table.

Clearing his throat, the one-eyed Saiyan rested his closed fists on the table, "I'm sure you all are wondering why I called you all here this morning. Firstly, as Winners, I thought you all should be the first to know that I have decided to take on the burden of power by becoming the Interim President of Ee-arth." Nearly spitting his spiked coffee out, Piccolo coughed, asking, "Any idea how long your 'interim' Presidency is going to last?" "No, but it's obvious that the populous is too emotional and heated to think clearly right now. When the time is right, I will declare that an election is to be held." Paragus replied smoothly.

You've had that speech planned for months… Vegeta thought as everything started to click into place. Now wise to his puppet's true motives, the Saiyan Prince focused on schooling his face into an unreadable mask as the new President continued on. "But I did not call you here to only tell you that. We are going to have a symbolic vote on what to do next. Freeza will be executed this afternoon and hundreds of his lackeys will follow in the coming weeks. But," He held up a finger, "I propose another way."

"And what other way is that?" Gine wondered, she had no reason to trust this man and it was evident in her tone. Pride boosting his words, Paragus smirked, "A thirst for blood is hard to quench, especially for us Saiyans. So I propose that we have a symbolic Dragon Games. No one can abstain and a majority of seven will pass it." Scoffing at his words, Eighteen could barely contain her laughter, "You? You really want to have a Dragon Game with what's left of the Capital's children? You've got to be joking."

As calm as ever, Paragus's smirk stayed firmly in place as he replied, "On the contrary, I'm quite serious." "Is this one of Shenron's ideas?" Tien questioned suspiciously. Seemingly ready for these questions, the one-eyed Saiyan said, "It is mine. This will balance the people's desire for blood and death with the least loss of life. Cast your votes."

Being the first to speak, Gine nearly shouted, "No! This is exactly why we started this Revolution in the first place." "Well, I think it's perfectly reasonable. Most of my 'fans' had kids… I vote yes." The blonde Winner from Region 7 stated with her raven-haired twin chiming in, "I'm with ya, Sis. Yes." A nervous look in her coal-black eyes, Kale played with a strand of hair that had fallen out of her ponytail, whispering, "No." Slapping a beefy hand on his Region partner's shoulder, Broly chuckled, "You've got to learn to speak up, Kale. But I vote yes. Let them get a taste of their own medicine."

Chi-Chi shook her head, frowning, "No. I nearly drowned and I'm not about to subject another child to that experience." Patting his broad shoulder, Chiaotzu whispered into Tien's ear. "You're sure?" At her nod, the bald inventor announced, "Me and Chiaotzu vote no. We need to stop thinking of each other as enemies." Two pairs of coal-black eyes locked gazes, one smirking while the other was unreadable. "Three for, five against. All that's left is Goku, and the Winners from 12."

I can't vote yes… but if I vote no then he won't trust me enough to let his guard down for me to kill him. Vegeta struggled with what to do for a split second before coming to a decision. Glaring into those cold, dead eyes, the proud, stubborn Prince growled out, "I kill Freeza." A small grin appeared as Paragus bowed his head slightly, "As if I could stop you." "Then I vote yes. For my parents." Worried looks passed between the three remaining Winners, which Vegeta met with pleading eyes.

Still unsure as to why her Mate would vote yes, Bulma reached out to Vegeta through the Bond only to find him closed off to her. Shrugging, the blue-haired teen voted, "I'm with my Mate." "Same here. I vote with 'Gete's." Goku added, earning him an elbow to the gut from his Mate. Sighing, the Namekian shook his head, "I'm with the Prince. Don't ask me why." "That makes it seven for and five against. The vote carries." Paragus sounded positively giddy and was all but rubbing his hands together, "Wonderful. I'll announce both my Interim Presidency and the Dragon Games tonight after Freeza's execution. You're dismissed."


Quickly slipping away before anyone could ask any him questions, Vegeta knew he had a few hours to himself before Nail was to help him get ready for Freeza's execution ceremony. Locking himself in his room, he spent the time training and preparing himself mentally until someone knocked on his door.

"What?" He snarled, wrenching the door open to reveal a platinum-haired Namekian, his goatee freshly dyed purple and neon green and was wearing a dark purple shirt with a white collar and bright white pants. "It's good to see you too, Vegeta." Nail drawled, entering as the flame-haired Saiyan stepped aside. Slipping into his royal blue spandex battle suit, Vegeta sighed, "I miss Selypa…" "I know." Nail agreed, holding out his chest plate but this time is had two muted crimson shoulder guards. While the Prince put the chest plate on, the Designer pulled out something new to add to his suit.

Admiring his new armor, the Saiyan scowled, "Not that I hate it, but what's the deal with these things?" Nail affixed the last piece as he explained, "Selypa wanted her Prince to have a set of ceremonial armor for your eventual coronation… I thought it would be appropriate, given the circumstances. Oh, I almost forgot." Quickly hiding his unused deathberry pill under the collar of his suit before putting on his white gloves, Vegeta studied his new cape. It was royal blue on the outside but the inside, facing his body, was crimson.

Nail returned with his bow and a side quiver holding a single arrow, "Here. Tienshinhan made this. He said to tell you that he put a special flare on it last night." 'Special flare,' huh? "Thank you. You may go see to my Mate's preparations." Vegeta said, dismissing the Designer. Reminding the Namekian as he left, "Make sure the Woman looks like a Queen." "As if I would do anything else, Prince." The platinum-haired man smirked as he closed the door.

Quickly laying his weapon on the bed, the black, flame-haired teen emptied the quiver and began to inspect it. Turning it this way and that as he ran his calloused hands over every surface, Vegeta felt an odd bump on the outside of the quiver where it would rest against his leg. Very clever, Triclops. Very clever. I'll leave it hidden for now, in case I can't get it to go back… A sharp rap on his door let the Prince know that his bald guardian was waiting on him and that it was time to go. With no small amount of luck, I'll have killed two murderers on this day…