Chapter 14: Plans
By: senzubean
I do not own Dragon Ball Z in any way. I make no profit from this story. I just wrote it for fun.
Frieza sat rolling his wine glass around his palm, as he had habit of doing when something bothered him. He was thinking about Zarbon's earlier report. A band of low-level saiyans had occupied a high rating planet. Kanassa would certainly be one of the finest specimens in Lord Frieza's unique collection. He was quite pleased at the fact it had been obtained for him. But low-level saiyans?
Frieza knew the particulars of that planet well. The Saiyan elite had been squabbling over the job for months. King Vegeta had been in no mood to make a decision, what with the loss of his mate and child. It was odd enough that a Saiyan would be crushed to the point of not being able to function by the loss of his family. But it was even odder that when he regained his senses he would choose low level soldiers over his favored elite warriors. Frieza thought there was a chance that the King of the saiyans had either not regained his senses at all, or he was keeping his elite warriors free for another purpose.
Frieza sat back in his hover throne and took a long sip of his red wine. He swirled the remainder of the blood red liquid around the bottom of the glass. He glanced over at Zarbon who was sitting in an armchair reading some novel. Undoubtedly some fluff romance. Zarbon had a taste for such literature. Yet despite his choice of second rate literature, he was quite informed about soldiers and battles. More importantly, about the saiyans. Zarbon was quite right in his opinion of them. It was disturbing that low-level saiyans had conquered Kanassa so quickly. They were getting stronger. The Prince was stronger than many of Frieza's adult soldiers at the age of five. He would be dangerous alone in a few years. What would happen if he were with a group of his elite. A few days before, he had witnessed saiyans in their full glory, transformed by the light of the moon.
They scared him.
"Where will you be sending Vegeta, Zarbon?" Frieza asked abruptly. Zarbon looked up from his book, "To Insectid."
Frieza did not respond as he was trying to visualize the Planet Insectid and where it was. It was a small one inhabited with savage bug men. "Is that all right?" Zarbon asked after the lack of response from Frieza. He assumed his master disapproved of his choice.
"Yes, that will be fine." Frieza replied and went back to his pondering. Insectid was far away from planet Vegeta. The boy would have no idea what would be going on. He could be safely stowed there.
"I wish to go back to Planet Vegeta. It should take about a day to go back, should it not?" Frieza announced.
"Yes sire." Zarbon replied with a hint of curiosity.
"But we were just there. What do you want to go back there for?" Dodoria demanded, leaving his hand-held video game to end itself.
"Because I want to." Frieza replied as he hovered his way out of the room, " But since you're not enthused about it, why don't you go take care of those low-level saiyans that got Kanassa for me? Teach them that it is not polite to covet the position of elite soldiers without the consent of their master."
Dodoria groaned, not enthused about having to get up and exert himself.
"You're going to occupy the planet that was first assigned to me, Nappa." Vegeta told his caretaker as they made their way to the launch pad. "Frieza has given me another mission." The prince was suspicious at that. Given his condition from the beating by the officials, he had expected to get an easy planet to occupy. Then, unexpectedly, Frieza changed his mind and gave him a hard one.
"By myself?" Nappa asked astonished. He was the Prince's servant, he did not expect Frieza to extend his affection towards the Prince to him as well..
"Apparently. Frieza didn't tell me otherwise." Vegeta responded.
Nappa smiled excitedly. "This is going to be great! A whole planet just for me."
Vegeta smiled at his caretaker's enthusiasm. "Just do a good job, and maybe he'll let you go on more lone missions."
"You bet I'll do a good job! There won't be so much as a mosquito left when I'm through with it." Nappa boasted as he opened the door to his ship.
Vegeta scowled at him "Didn't you read the instructions regarding that planet?" Vegeta asked and pointed at the file folder tucked under Nappa's arm.
"No, not yet." Nappa admitted nervously and he had no intention of doing so either.
"Well make sure you read it carefully." Vegeta said, putting extra emphasis on the word carefully. "The buyers for that planet want everything in perfect condition. All they want you to do is execute all the civilized life and dispose of the corpses."
Nappa growled like a frustrated child. "You mean I have to clean up the place too?"
"Yes, Nappa." Vegeta said exasperated. He had just told him that plain and clear.
"Forget it!" Nappa exclaimed angrily and threw the folder back to Vegeta who caught it against his chest with both hands. This did not please the Prince one bit.
Vegeta threw the folder into Nappa's open spaceship.
"Go!" Vegeta ordered in a tone laden with anger.
Nappa looked at him nervously. He realized that his behavior was completely unacceptable. He still hadn't gotten used to the idea that the little kid standing in front of him was his boss now and no longer his charge.
"I'm sorry , Prince, I don't know what came over me."
"That's O.K., Nappa." Vegeta replied. "I know it's not a very good job." Vegeta actually felt sorry for him, but he wasn't willing to switch. He desperately needed a challenge and he hoped the Savages of Insectid could provide it. It would be wonderful if he could raise his power level some more. On the other hand, he was worried that Nappa would screw up. He tended to forget instructions very quickly. Nappa was the only person King Vegeta yelled at more than his heir.
Nappa snorted in disgust and started to get in his ship.
"Look on the bright side Nappa. That mission won't take very long, and you'll have some free time until I return from my mission."
Nappa smiled, happy with that.
"All right then ." He said and sat down. "Don't have too much fun without me, O.K. Vegeta."
"O.K." Vegeta promised with a smile. It amused the little Prince to know that Nappa actually thought they were comrades. Little did he know, Vegeta didn't even care about him. He could be alone and not care. Vegeta stepped away from the ship as the door shut. Soon Nappa was gone and Vegeta went to his spacepod in order to depart for his mission.
His ship wasn't ready.
Vegeta closed his eyes and concentrated on keeping his temper under control, anger wouldn't help him in this situation. He calmly went to the launch pad tenant and politely asked for his ship. He wanted to start his mission immediately and was enraged that he was going to be made to wait.
"Well, it says here that you're not scheduled to leave until 10 PM tonight." The tenant replied while looking at his computer.
"What?" Vegeta asked annoyed. It was only 11 AM. He didn't want to wait that long to get started.
"The mother ship is passing by that system and you're scheduled to leave with the other teams. "
Vegeta was angered even more. Frieza promised me that I would occupy alone. Surely there's some mistake.
"Check again. Frieza said I had a lone mission." Vegeta ordered.
"That's right." The tenant replied. "You're the only ship assigned to EQ 4. All nine planets in that system are being occupied"
Vegeta calmed down. "Good." He replied and walked away.
" Hmph!" Vegeta scoffed and folded his arms as he exited the launch pad. "What am I gonna do all day on this stupid boring ship?"
"Vegeta" a familiar voice called out to the Prince. Vegeta scowled at the thought of its owner.
"Come with me." Zarbon ordered then turned and walked down the hall opposite to the one Vegeta was planning on going down.
Vegeta scrunched up his face in anger and obediently followed. He hated being told what to do.
Vegeta followed Zarbon into the elevator and watched as the green warrior pushed the button to the basement. Vegeta felt a chill surge down his spine.
"Why are we going down there?" he asked. Vegeta wondered if he was going to be punished for the incidences on the planet occupation 3 weeks ago. He'd been well for three whole days and Frieza asked him the day he'd been healed to travel with him in his spaceship. Vegeta had considered that a privilege. He wondered why Frieza would punish him now.
"Frieza wants you to rest until you leave for your mission tonight." Zarbon informed him. "You'll need all the energy you can get and you're not completely recovered yet."
"Yes I am." Vegeta disagreed.
Zarbon ignored him and stepped out of the elevator when it stopped. Vegeta reluctantly followed. There was only one guard down in the incarceration wing. He was leaning on the back of his chair reading a skin magazine and looked quite content. He didn't even move when he heard the newcomers walk past him.
"You'll have to excuse the untidiness, Vegeta." Zarbon said a she led the little warrior down the end of the row of cells. "We hardly ever use this incarceration wing."
"Why do I have to stay here? Why can't I stay in my quarters upstairs?" The angered Vegeta demanded sourly.
"Because, " Zarbon replied annoyed. "There's no one up there to watch you and make sure you do what you're told. Down here there's nothing for you to do besides sleep." Zarbon stopped at the last cell. "Now get in there."
Vegeta walked in the cell sluggishly and sat on the hard bed disgusted. There wasn't even a blanket or a pillow there for him and he was sure he'd seen a rat of some sort crawling around in the dark corner.
"What's your combat rating?" Zarbon asked. He was going to set the power gate that would lock Vegeta in.
"7, 050." Vegeta lied. His old power level before his beating had been around 6, 998. He added the extra points to make Zarbon think the beating had increased it, which of course it had, but much more than that.
"You see, that' why you have to be put down here! We can't trust you. I know that your new combat rating is 8,998."
Vegeta growled annoyed. He'd been caught lying, now they had a reason not to trust him. He didn't think Zarbon knew about his new combat rating.
Stupid Nappa, bragging to everybody about how strong I am. I've gotta figure out a way to get him to keep his big mouth shut!.
Zarbon set the gate and Vegeta sighed as he was locked in.
"Someone will be back for you later." Zarbon stated then walked away.
Vegeta growled loudly when he heard the elevator doors shut.
"How dare they treat me like this! I'm a Prince, you don't put Princes in damp ,filthy, rat infested cells!" Vegeta yelled as he kicked the bed.
"Hey, shut up back there! You're supposed to go to sleep!" The guard yelled from down the hall.
Vegeta trembled with rage. That stupid guard is lucky that there's a powergate separating us! Or else he'd be toast!
The Prince crawled back up on the bed and sat there annoyed. He wondered if anyone was going to bring him his meals.
"I put Vegeta in a cell, like you wanted, Lord Frieza." Zarbon said.
"Was he angry?" Frieza asked.
"Yes." Zarbon replied.
"I'll have to make it up to him later. I don't know what his Father could have to say to me. He's not overseeing any occupation this week."
"Why did you even agree to his meeting request." Zarbon asked curiously. "It can't b about anything important."
"I have an idea of what it's about." Frieza chuckled. "He's an idiot and I don't really like him. He probably hopes to see his son while he's here. Oh well, if I'm right about what he's planning, we won't be bothered with his presence anymore."
Zarbon, Dodoria and Frieza all chuckled menacingly at that.
"If we band together, we can win." Vegeta announced to his elite. Recely stood on the balcony of her old room and observed the large group of super elite gathered in the courtyard. Dozens of spacepods were set to launch from the planet to Frieza's ship. Surely Frieza would not stand a chance against so many elite at once. But Recely was far too wise to be confident, the saiyan elite were only mere mortals, subject to mortal instincts and emotions such as fear. She doubted the success of their mission, but hers would succeed.
It had to.
She stood back form the ledge in the shadows unnoticeable to the group below. She casually folded her arms as she listened to the King's speech unenthusiastically, understanding now how he'd remained King, despite being and idiot and a barbarian. He had a great talent for motivational speaking and was smarter than the average saiyan anyway. They were clinging on his words like leaches clinging to bare skin.
Humph! Recely scoffed at the display in front of her. Coward leading cowards. But that doesn't matter as long as they serve their purpose. All I need is a distraction.
The King made the official salute. They returned it, evil enthusiastic smiles on their bloodthirsty faces. Then they started yelling war cries as they ran to their spacepods. Recely watched until the last was in orbit and only her mate remained, staring up at her with a helpless expression on his face. His actions made Recely uncomfortable. She could see the fear in his eyes, but she had no intention of giving him reassurance. She was far too angry with him for allowing the situation to get out of hand in the first place. If only he had been more discreet with the training of his son, then Frieza would have never desired him.
Abruptly she turned away from him and headed back towards the confines of her bedroom. She couldn't even manage a farewell to that man.
"Recely." The King called out to her. Recely stopped but did not turn. "Don't come back to this planet when you get Vegeta." Recely turned to him slightly surprised with the order. " Don't ever bring him back." The King choked out and quickly got into his space pod and was off in the blink of an eye. Recely watched him go, knowing what he was thinking.
"He knows he will fail." She observed and sighed. "I'm sorry , my little Prince."
King Vegeta was two hours late.
Frieza sipped his wine leisurely and watched the stars pass by the viewscreen as his ship moved along through space. He was quite annoyed at the King's tardiness. He had absolutely nothing better to do besides sit around and drink but it was the principle of having to wait. Despite his utter annoyance, Frieza decided that he would forgive the lateness, considering that he was going to kill him anyway once he go there.
He casually looked at the time. It was almost nine o'clock. Should he retire and say 'to hell with King Vegeta and whatever stupid attack he had prepared' ? He'd much rather go down to planet Vegeta and destroy him in his palace, on his homeworld. Just to rub in the fact that Frieza had always been the lord and master of everyone on that infernal ball of dirt. The more he thought about it, the better he liked that plan.
"I think I'll retire after I finish this glass." Frieza announced to Dodoria and Zarbon.
Zarbon bowed in response. "I'll go to the landing strip and tell the guards to inform the King he should go home."
Frieza waved in response and continued his stargazing.
When Zarbon reached the landing strip he was surprised to see over twenty pods landed and twenty saiyans running towards him.
King Vegeta motioned for the rest to stop. He was annoyed at the delay, but it was Frieza he wanted, not Zarbon. They would take care of Frieza and his two minions at the same time. So, he reluctantly began to converse with Zarbon.
"What I have to report to Frieza is very important. It is of great concern to him."
"You are two hours late, Vegeta."
"I will not leave until I see Frieza." The King stated and crossed his arms stubbornly.
Zarbon glared at the Saiyan with contempt. Despite what he'd said to Dodoria earlier , he was afraid of all those Saiyans standing in front of him.
"I will inform, Lord Frieza." Zarbon stated in reluctance. King Vegeta smiled satisfied.