Hello, it's me J.yeah, productive little weekend here, and I really don't feel like working on web-pages, so,..
On with it!
(This totally mental person, although believe she does, does, indeed, NOT own DB or DBZ or any of those poorly representational action figures)
In the later years of the Roman Empire, it was hard to become Emperor, mostly because a lot of competitors had the habit of killing the opposition off.
One of the last true emperors, whose name at this time eludes me (In fact, probably the last that ruled well and right), was one that survived this 'selection' by pretending to be soft in the head.
The Hand that feeds me, chapter9
",..found beaten do death with a metal pipe. Now, you understand, Vegeta, I have to ask this to every one. Did you have anything to do with this?"
The boy fidgeted a moment. Kami, he hated lying about this; he wasn't ashamed of what he'd done.
Still, he had the feeling Freeza would not be rewarding him for murder.
"No."
He stated, staring straight ahead, trying to keep his black eye from closing.
Hoping the Thing wouldn't ask; possibly wouldn't notice.
It was a stupid thing to hope for, he knew; the little Saiyi-jin looked a complete mess.
Ray had not gone down easily.
Freeza smiled, glancing over to the ever-present Zarbon.
"I didn't think you did, really.
Still, there was this boy. He came by my quarters today, claiming that I'd sent for him. Just now, he told me it was you who sent him here. Further more, he had been with Ray at the time. What do you think of that?"
Cold sweat was running down Vegeta's back by now.
At least he'd been smart enough to clean off his armour before he'd left the cargo-hall.
At least he'd had the clarity of mind to take a shower and destroy his body suit- though stuffing the remains down the drainpipe had taken some time.
Vegeta cleared his throat:
"I think he's a liar."
Freeza humoured him with a coy smile.
"See, Zarbon. I told you so."
Then turned back to Vegeta, pretending only to notice the state of his face now.
"Oh, dear. But look at you. Don't tell me you've been fighting again."
-"No. no, I-" desperately, Vegeta blurted out the first thing that came to mind.
"I bumped into a door."
-"Numerous times?"
Alright. They had him. The Saiyi-jin prince was sick of this pretence anyway. Might as well confess.
-"Oh."
The little Tyrant cut him short.
"Wait. How insensitive of me. You must have been ever so upset after that talk with you father."
Vegeta's eyes widened with indignation.
"No, well. You see. I was- "
-"Ah, my little prince! I quite understand.
You Saiyi-jins are a lot more sensitive then you pretend to be, I know. And here I'm accusing you of brutal murder –a grave case in deed-, when you've just had something as awful as that to deal with."
The Saiyi-jin looked at Freeza; ruler of the universe. He narrowed his eyes, growing flushed with anger; IT knew all right.
It knew it had been him. But it was letting him off the hook.
He didn't want this.
Not a kindness from a monster.
On the other hand, what would it do to him if he admitted it?
Lock him up again?
Kill his father?
It might.
Freeza might.
Lowering his eyes, he managed to stammer "thank you."
And hated himself for it.
Freeza smirked at the boy's retreating back. He'd won this round all right.
But he supposed the little Saiyi-jin prince wasn't really fighting him yet anyway.
All the same, that didn't mean the little monkey wasn't loosing; he'd made a big mistake.
He'd assumed his juvenile enemies couldn't hurt him.
Abruptly, the smile dropped from his icy features.
"Zarbon." Snapped the master of the galaxy. "Stick with our prince. And watch over him closely tonight."
The green long-haired alien sketched a bow and hurried out the door, like a good little hound.
The King of Vegeta-sei was up late that night, studying his plans.
His attack-plans.
They seemed to be in order; everything looked good. Still, doubt nagged at the back of his mind.
He was pretty sure him and his elites would make it to Freeza. But would they be enough to kill it? True enough, his elite-squad was the strongest group of fighters in the galaxy. Adding him, the strongest Saiyi-jin alive.
Well, it just had to be enough!
"How is it coming along?"
The king's head snapped up as his mate strode into his sizable work-office.
"Good. Good."
He told her, masking his doubts as he bended over the papers again.
"We've figured out how to get a squad onto Freeza's flagship. And we should be more then able to overcome any resistance we come across there."
Every resistance. Except, perhaps Freeza himself.
"Good."
The Queen answered him in a cheery voice, making her way across the marble floors and tiles.
"Because I'm coming along."
Startled, he looked up at her. "You are what?"
"Coming along. You heard me. I want my son back too. Besides." And she smiled evilly. "I want to watch Freeza die."
The king blinked.
Once.
Twice.
Thrice.
The only sound to be heard was scurrying feet across the marble floors as soldiers made their way out the door before the inevitable began.
The queen just regarded him haughtily out of the corner of her eye.
"No you're not." He stated.
She sniffed. "Try and stop me."
That was the drop. Slamming his palm on the disk, he stood. "I'm leading the squad. I think I keep you off, don't you?"
Her eyes shifted momentarily, but soon enough she was back to her old, sure self.
"If you think I'm staying down here." She hissed at him. "Down her doing nothing like some third-rate housewife you've got another thing coming."
Well, he supposed that was to be expected; once a warrior, always a warrior.
"Fine then." He relented. "You can command the left flank."
It didn't work.
"The left flank!"
She planted both her palms on the desk, leaning across it menacingly.
The woman was quite a bit smaller still then her mate, but she still managed to look imposing.
"What kind of dumb bimbo do you take me for? The left flank isn't even likely to partake in the fighting. I have seen some of the plans, you know. I want the first strike force."
Imitating her stance, the king too put both his palms down, bringing his face inches from his mate's.
"The first strike force is Bardock's. It's the left flank or nothing."
The queen growled at him.
"Bardock? You give the trust the backbone of you plan to that upstart, but you stick your queen with a pitiful back-up post?"
Snarling, the woman raised a hand at him. He had seen it coming a mile away though. Grabbing her wrist, he fought to keep his temper.
"Look here, woman. It was the upstart that thought of this plan. The upstart is more suited than any elite I've got for this command.
Furthermore," –and he had to pause to grab her other wrist by now- "the upstart, as much as I like the guy, is expendable.
You are not."
Her expression softened a bit, until she caught that look in his eyes.
"You bastard! You mean to get killed and leave me behind?"
Damn. The woman had always been able to read him way too well for his liking.
She tried to pull loose, but he had a good grip on her wrists, digging in deeper in her skin. So she turned, and blasted him. The king stumbled back a pace, then countered, hitting the smirking queen straight in the face.
Head snapping to the side, she fell to the floor, looking a bit dazed as she held her cheek.
"I told you not to do that."
The king warned, shaking a finger at her as he tried to calm his breathing.
-"You hit me."
She seemed to be telling herself, as if not believing.
"Damned right I did, woman. And next time you-,..ouch!" caught straight in the chest by another blast, the king didn't have air to finish.
'oh yeah?' He thought, childishly.
And he shot a blast right back at her. She must have been expecting it, because she rolled out of the way, coming to her feet with a backward kick.
Fighting for real now, the king didn't have much trouble blocking either.
And, countering the next two attacks, he kneaded her deep in the guts.
That had her doubling over, so he stopped.
Suddenly aware that his tail was sweeping back and fourth, he tucked it away again before turning his attention back to his mate.
"That's what you get for blasting me. Now get the hell out of,..-"
-"hah!"
The woman gloated as the king blinked to regain his vision, his ears ringing from the sudden slap. Reaching his hand over his jaw, it came back bloody.
"You bitch! You scratched me."
-"Did not." She countered. "Just slapped you a little,.. whoops!" she smirked even wider.
"Guess I shoulda cut my nails."
Angrily, the king shot a big ki-blast at his wife, which she barely blocked. The explosion knocked her back a bit, but before he could rush her, she too opened fire.
Pretty soon, balls of lights were raining to and fro, interchanged with furies of fists and feet.
No one came to check on their king and queen, all no doubt hiding in a cellar somewhere.
Finally, both worn down, he managed to straddle her, pinning her arms over her.
"Woman! The hell you think you're doing. I should have your skin for this."
He was only half serious, really.
-"oh, shut up."
He looked her in the eye, surprised to find her at the brim of tears.
"You're gonna die out there. Aren't you?
You're gonna die and leave me alone and without my son to govern this stupid palace and the whole damned planet and you know I hate state affairs!"
He had to chuckle a bit at her.
"Maybe. I don't know. But that's why I have to keep my queen save. In case something goes wrong. To protect to future heir."
Whispering the last into her ear.
"What? But I'm not,. Oh, no! I'm got a son, you sicko, and I'm not coming up with a replacement."
Giving his most seductive grin, he lowered his tone a bit.
"Of course you're not. I wouldn't dream of it.
But let's be fair. If this thing goes wrong, it will go horribly wrong. Freeza just might decide to kill our boy; I know I'll be dead. We do have to ensure the monarchy, don't we?"
Thankfully, she stopped her sniffling: Saiyi-jin women really shouldn't cry.
"I guess. But if we get our brat back."
-"Than we'll raise him –or her- to know it will never rule. Deal?"
-"I guess. But that still leaves me governing this damned whole planet."
He chuckled at her again.
"That's what you get for marrying a king. Hey!" and he gave her a look, cocking his head.
"I think your nose is bleeding."
She growled again, attempting to kick him, but there was no anger in it.
"Fuck you, you bastard!"
-"hmm? Fuck you?" he grinned wickedly.
"What an absolutely wonderful idea!"
