Hills of Namek
December 21, A762
"Here we go, Vegeta. Isn't this a nice spot for us to have a conversation?" Shive said, dropping Vegeta on the ground. Down below, they had a view of a Namekian staring down Freeza, having intercepted him on his way to the Earthlings. When Vegeta hit the ground, he tried to push himself back up, but it was of little use; Shive had already thoroughly thrashed him. Shive tsked at Vegeta, and sat him up against a rock.
"No napping. I want you to watch all this, Vegeta. All your failures, coming together," Shive said, gesturing to the battle still raging in the sky above them, "You couldn't stand up against the Ginyu Force, you couldn't stop Freeza. Hell, you couldn't even kill Kakarot and his friends. Gine killed more of them than you did, all you managed to do was kill one of the last remaining Saiyans in existence. If it weren't so sad, it'd be hilarious!"
Shive started to laugh. Vegeta looked down, watching the Namekian get thrashed around by Freeza. While it was clear the Namekian didn't stand much of a chance, he was still putting up a valiant fight, and refused to go down despite the power difference between them. His relief came when, just as Freeza had knocked him down again, Roshi appeared before Freeza. A well of hope filled in Vegeta.
"It's not...Done yet," Vegeta said, looking up to Shive, "You haven't won yet."
"You're right. Everything is still in process. But, it's gone pretty well. I'm just waiting for the next step. Not everything's been perfect, but it's been close enough so far," Shive said.
The sky turned dark, and in the distance, a glowing snake-like creature could be seen from their cliffside perch.
"I'm gonna guess that's the Dragon Balls. Consistent with what I've read, anyway," Shive said.
"Bardock...Bardock has a plan. He...Hasn't failed yet," Vegeta said, standing up, "He...Is still loyal...Unlike you."
"Bardock? What does Bardock have to do with anything?" Shive asked. Within a few moments, the sky returned to normal, and, down below, a second Namekian appeared. Vegeta could feel Freeza's power starting to rise rapidly; he was transforming into some new monstrosity.
"See that, Vegeta? The Namekians would rather put their faith in one of their own weak fighters than trust you. You're not even on their mind. You've finally become pathetic," Shive taunted.
"No...Bardock has a plan...It's not done yet," Vegeta said, stepping towards Shive.
"Vegeta, Bardock is dead. He's not involved at all, when did you become so delusional?" Shive asked.
"Bardock...Infiltrated my prison...Made sure I got released. I...Started a riot. Came to Namek...He gave me the instruction...to use the Dragon Balls to become the Super Saiyan," Vegeta held out the note. Shive took it. Vegeta pointed to the dreadnought above them.
"Bardock brought that. He's got plans...within plans. He's got one...for you. He's got one for me. And when I am...The Super Saiyan...He will be my Vizier...And you...Will be my fool," Vegeta snarled. Shive smiled at him, and crumpled the note, dropping it on the ground.
"Bardock didn't release you from your prison, Vegeta. He didn't leave you this note. I did."
"Wh-what?"
"You were so desperate to cling to your royalty that you put your hopes in a dead man, instead of thinking that maybe one of the people who needed you the most might have an interest in you becoming the Super Saiyan," Shive said.
"But...But you-"
"I arrested you to secure my spot in the Ginyu Force. But the whole plan was to get you to come to Namek, wish to become the Super Saiyan, and you would kill Freeza. We were supposed to kill the Ginyu Force together once you did. Instead, you get your ass kicked, fail to earn anyone's trust, and you prattle on about the accomplishments of some dead warrior you've never even met!" Shive snarled. He gestured to the dreadnought, "Now our best hope is for that ship to blow up the planet, with us on it! The Galaxy is lucky I thought ahead to have baited the ship to put down that revolt. You're the fool, Vegeta!"
He pointed to Vegeta.
"If you were half the Royal you thought you were, you'd have ignored the note anyway! You'd have stayed, led the rebellion, and you would have taken over that ship. I left enough technical schematics behind in the base's systems that they could have built one themselves!" Shive said, "I arranged for everything to go your way!"
Vegeta fell to his knees again.
"But you were always so obsessed with your own damn greatness, you never bothered to pay attention to what was really going on around you: King Cold's dreadnought. The Dragon Balls on Earth. The Demsu breeding program. I've been gathering intelligence for Nappa and Gine for years but you never even noticed. You never cared. You didn't even know that there were other Saiyan survivors," Shive said.
"No...No, it was just us! Us and Kakarot!" Vegeta insisted.
"Vegeta, they'd been kidnapping and killing Saiyan squads and children too far or too arrogant to listen to the General Recall for weeks before Freeza destroyed our homeworld. They had entire science programs dedicated to trying to discover the secret of the Super Saiyan! But it never occurred to you to even look for other survivors.
"It took over twenty years just for you to agree we should go and get Kakarot! But now they're dead, and their only legacy is Kikono's serum, which finally allowed me to surpass you. You never even bothered to look for your own brother, who, believe it or not, is still alive. You're no Prince. You're not even worth killing," Shive sneered.
Shive looked down at Vegeta, waiting for a reaction. Vegeta was just staring at the ground.
"Well? Have anything to say? Have I shredded what's left of your pride?" Shive asked. Vegeta looked up, tears streaming down his face.
"You're...You're right...I'm nothing...Not even good enough for the Ginyus to kill…"
Shive groaned, "You're not supposed to be crying!"
Shive kicked him, "You're supposed to be the Super Saiyan!"
Shive kicked him again. He let out a scream to the sky, and fell back, sitting down next to Vegeta, who was wiping his face.
"Well, dammit. That was my last shot," Shive said. He looked over to Vegeta, "Instead of clearing your mind and bringing out your rage, all I've managed to do is break you."
He laid back onto the blue Namekian grass, "Guess you're not the only failure."
"What are you talking about?" Vegeta asked. Shive shook his head.
"I mean, yeah, everything I said was true. There were other Saiyan survivors. We could have rescued them. Funnily enough, one of them, the only survivor, is Bardock's clone. He's the one commanding the ship. But everything I said...I hoped it would bring out the Super Saiyan. But it didn't work."
Shive sighed, "All we've got left are Gine's family, the Earthlings, and that planet-buster."
Vegeta looked up at it, "So if they can't kill Freeza...The ship will destroy Namek, and everything on it?"
"Yup. Last ditch effort. Hopefully, Turles doesn't get trigger-happy. Or he does. I just want the Galaxy to be rid of Freeza. That's all this was about, Vegeta. Capturing you. Tormenting you. The Ginyu Force. All of it."
"You really thought I had what it took to be the Super Saiyan?" Vegeta asked. Shive shrugged.
"Sure. Why not? You were the most powerful of us. Believe it or not, Vegeta, I really did believe in you. Just wish you'd have decided to be a better person when Freeza's men were kicking my ass, instead of letting Gine save my stupid face," Shive said.
"I...Should have trusted in my people. In my team," Vegeta said, "Maybe we could have done this together. We should have done this together."
"That's what I've been saying," Gine called out, floating down. Shive waved to her.
"Hi, Gine. Sorry, I kicked Vegeta's ass. Made him cry. I'm an asshole. Sorry…" Shive said.
"Why did you help Brussa and Meys? Why did you betray us to the Ginyu Force?" she asked. Shive shrugged.
"I guess I was trying to be smarter than I actually was. All I did was get everyone killed, though. Freeza's down there transforming from one freakish monster to another. The Dragon Balls are used. The Dreadnought will destroy Namek, along with everyone still on it," Shive said, "Just goes to show what I know."
Gine looked down at the battle below. Freeza had transformed into a third form, and now a third Namekian was fighting him. She could sense her children flying towards the battle, as well. Despite their advances, the real fight for Namek had just begun.
"We're not dead yet, Shive. We can still pull this off," Gine said. She knelt to Vegeta.
"Gine...I'm so sorry for not listening to you all these years," Vegeta said.
"We're here now. Please, eat this. Can't say it's anything like my cooking, but it'll help get you back on your feet," Gine fed him the Senzu Bean. Vegeta chewed on it, and felt his bruises and cuts heal over, and his energy was restored. He and Shive stood.
"What are you thinking, Gine?" Shive asked.
"That ship is commanded by a Saiyan named Turles. He says he's giving us a chance to kill Freeza before he destroys Namek. If we can pull it off, we'll save the planet. Make sure he doesn't fire that thing until it's absolutely the last moment and you're certain we've failed. Vegeta? I want you to defend the Dreadnought from the attacking fleet. Make sure they get the breathing room, and nothing interferes with the battle with Freeza," Gine instructed.
"What are you doing?" Vegeta asked.
"Win or lose, my family and I are going to fight Freeza," Gine saluted them, and flew off. Vegeta and Shive exchanged glances.
"What do you say, Vegeta? Think you can forgive me long enough to kick a little ass?" Shive asked.
"Theirs first. Then yours," Vegeta said. They smiled to each other, and flew up into the sky.
