…Someone keep Saiy-jin I'm a saint to complain about shot gun wedding and the stain on my shirt

Hello, it's me.. slowpoke, the devils own..

Well, sort of. I feel really bad for the time I took.. work and stuff. And my comic.. well, you know. Pesky and all.

Anyways, I finally got the first chapter looking like something I wanted it too,.. It aint perfect yet, but I decided to post it anyway. Just to get myself on track again.

---

 

Empty halls and empty corridors: a ship too big for even this voluminous crew.

Or it's voluminous king's court. It was seldom one ventured down the halls to her laboratory of their own free will. Even less now, with all stations heavily undermanned. That was all fine with her. The empty halls and her laboratories trembled softly with her purring song, and she enjoyed the feel of her native canyons.

Even if she was off key.

 

Who was gonna hear anyway? And if someone, by some strange chance did hear her, how were they going to know she was off key? They would not; just a forgotten lullaby from a forgotten world. The fact made her even sadder; though she had started singing just to stop feeling this way. Again, a whole planet wiped away. Again, a whole race doomed to oblivion. Even if it was not her people sent to their death this time, it did hurt. The whole thing just reminded her too much of what happened to her own kind.

Way too much.

Chesire stopped her purring song a moment so she could gobble up the rest of the bottle's content, then started off again as she moped around in the dark trying to find some more liquor. She had tried. Really tried this time. The hope that the little boy had given her, just by getting stronger was amazing. A little thing in itself, but she had seen the potential there, and for a little while, it had made her feel alive once again. Hope in vain, of course. She should have realized from the start. But, lord, the possibilities! How many times would it be possible to repeat the same process on the same individual? Would her regen-tank keep on doubling the occupant's power? Would it work for everyone?

Would it work on her?

Would she be marching an army of abused, overworked scientist through the bowels

of this ship and personally ring that little pink worms neck one day?

Kill Frieza himself, and all those others that had kept her small all these long

years?

 

The though had been wonderful, even if it was just a silly dream. But she no longer had the strength to do this. Not after what she'd seen, as she snooped across the halls that day, acquiring supplies. She'd only realized they were being boarded when ship shook. But when it had, she had done the smart thing, and hid. As indeed any intelligent creature would have. Or someone with her despicably low power level. And then, when she'd peered out from the crack in the door, she'd seen them march by.

 

The Saiyi-jins had done it, at last; had finally gone and done what everyone had been whispering about for months now. They had attacked. Strong, giant men, all grim-looking and well armored. They simply radiated their immense strength, taking down Frieza's crewmen like they were but bothersome flies. Chesire had felt a surge of happiness as she'd seen the man in charge, smaller then any of his giant elites, but more deadly then any of them. Though she'd never seen him before in her life, she knew who he was on sight; Even if the Bengaal hadn't heard stories about the Saiyi-jin king, she would have recognized his son in him. The stories that she had heard made her heart sing: The Saiyi-jin king and his invincible Saiyi-jin elites. In her naivety, she'd though she would not have to wait for her liberation after all. Delirious; happy beyond a care, she'd stayed in her hiding for over half an hour, heart racing as she awaited the outcome of this battle.

After that, though, reason had kicked in. If she wanted to survive this thing herself, her best chance would be the king's son. She'd been at his door to free him and tell him of the great news when that pink blob Dodoria had turned the corner. "And what are you doing here?" He had asked in that usual slimy voice of his. She had shrugged, panicking, and quietly thinking the same question about him. Was the giant blowfish abandoning ship maybe? He didn't seem to be in much of a hurry though. No, after searching her face for several seconds, he'd waved a dismissive hand. "Well, whatever. Go get to Frieza's anteroom. And take any surviving staff you can find. Oh, and bring a bucket and shovel. The place is a complete mess."

If that hadn't been enough to burst her bubble, scraping Saiyi-jin entrails off the antechamber's doors had been.

And she'd cursed herself, for thinking they could have done it.

 

Frieza was a god; He couldn't die. Her plan had no chance of success. She had no chance. And, again, a whole race had died trying. Like her own brave people. Well aware that they were not half the warriors they needed to be for the task, but not willing to live in slavery. Only she was left of the brave heritage: a little girl-scientist, too cowardly to die along with her people. So she'd gone back to her old ways, trying to escape the pain and shame the only way she knew how. What else was there to do? She didn't even have the courage to face the little prince, not after having a close look of what had been left of his father. The sheer thought of him asking her what she knew made her sick. Sick both at the memory and of herself.

 

Chesire started singing louder, finally finding a half-full bottle amongst her dirty den of a lab, and made her way back to her favorite workbench. She startled too late, senses clogged by the alcohol, at the figure standing stock-still atop the table. Hands crossed and stance wide, for once managing to glare down at her from his aloof position. The boy stared her down for several seconds, his tail twitching agitatedly behind him his only movement. Then, just as the Feline was about to burst into hysteric tears, he spoke. "Three days, cat. Three days you said. Not three weeks!"

 

It was too much for the scientist to take. With a high-pitched sob, she embraced the boy's stiff form. "Vegeta! I'm sooo sorry! I,..I" She couldn't go on. Sobbing, she held him tightly against herself. Only for about five seconds, though: Even in her intoxicated state, she realized something was decidedly wrong with his posture. Something she could not in any way associate with a grief-stricken youngster. Finally she shifted his un-giving form so she could peer into his face.

 

The shock on his face was quickly replaced with indignation. Then, he roughly fought himself free from her grasp.

 "What's your problem anyway, cat! Do you really think begging will help you now?" He seemed at a loss then, unnecessarily straightening out his training suit. "You were supposed to work on that regeneration tank, remember?" Odd would have been an understatement, as far as Chesire was concerned. She reached out again, but he jumped back, adding. "And you have no right to be touching a prince." Chesire stopped, hand still extended before finally adding two and two together.

"My Kami. You don't know, do you?"

 

--

 

Why it always had to be him in charge of the master's sick little operations still eluded him. Something to do with the creature's favor and trust, he figured. Whatever the reason, Zarbon knew he was supposed to see it as an honor.

 And he tried to see it that way. Tried to see this as an enjoyable hunt, as his companion did. He couldn't. At the end of the road, Zarbon was smart enough to see just what it was he was doing.

Genocide.

It might have struck him as ironic that the Saiyi-jins, that had themselves killed off many a race, now actually fell victim to their own holocaust. But not when it was him doing the killing. Patrolling around the empty quadrants of space, searching high and far for any bastard unlucky enough to have survived the death of his planet. He had a whole scout patrol helping him look for anyone that might have made it out alive. They never had a chance. Zarbon was pretty sure he'd got them all. He and Dodoria had hauled the view they'd found from their broken pods, and dealt them their mercy shot.

Well, he had.

Dodoria had 'played' some with his.

Great fun. Or so his companion thought. Then again, everything about Dodoria disgusted him.

He wasn't too happy when the fat pink blob came back from his mission. Even less pleased when it appeared Freeza couldn't think of any excuse to send him across the galaxy again. But putting this drooling sadist on a mission with Zarbon himself.  It was Freeza's way of making sure his 'right hand' suffered "as bad as himself" The tyrant no doubt felt.

 

Oh yes! Freeza was descending into one of his infamous depressions. As if the young warrior didn't have enough to worry about. The reason, of course was, again, the Saiyi-jins. Coming back to haunt them all from beyond the grave. The ruler of the universe had been ecstatic the day after killing his monkeys. He'd had a great time planning his grand 'asteroid' lie, changing the date of the planet's destruction three days late, getting himself and his ship far enough away not to be a suspect.

Planning the lid up on it all by killing any survivors.

 

But two days later, when Dodoria had finally caught up with them, the Ice-jin's initial high had worn off. And Zarbon had finally realized just how much the Saiyi-jins had meant for his master's mental health. The Saiyi-jins had been trouble: They had always been trouble. Loud and violent, full of threats, even to Freeza's face. But also so incredibly dense it was always easy to turn their anger onto someone else.

And that was just it.

Dealing with the Saiyi-jins had always been one of the tyrant's favorite pass-times. Add to the fact that his other current pass time was doing solitary, it shouldn't have surprised Zarbon how sour the changeling had suddenly turned. And, as always, when Freeza suffered, he made damned sure everyone around him suffered three times as much.

Zarbon had been doing just that for the last two weeks. Suffering.

That, and trying to figure on a way to lighten his master's mood.

 

Zarbon threw a quick glance at Dodoria's smooth, pink visage. Wondering quietly if he couldn't think of a way to make his long-time rival take the front if Freeza's displeasure. It would be two birds in one stone; Freeza would be endurable for a few days. And Dodoria would be… Dead. Smoothly, Zarbon's mind shot into gear, thinking of all the possible stupid things the creature might say, if prompted right. Of all the stupid things it might do.

 

Then, just as a plan began to emerge, a call came in. Well, it wasn't like such musings couldn't wait. Half repressing a sigh, the green haired warrior pressed the receive button. And was promptly rewarded with the smiling visage of his leading scout. She was one of his own kind, and an old friend, so it was no surprise that he, too felt a smile tug at his lips. Beautiful and slender and feminine, the looks of her always convinced him that those that mistook him for a woman on first glance where just plain dumb.

 

Dodoria was less pleased.

"What do you want, bitch?"

 

Zarbon growled softly, but the scout smoothed it over. "Greetings, my lords. We have found some Saiyi-jin survivors for you." She proclaimed happily. Dodoria tried shifting in the chair he was stuck in. Though any fool could have seen there was no room to. All the same the pink blob smiled. "Aah. Good. I was getting pretty bored out here. I'll enjoy snapping their necks."

The scout, however, made a displeased grunt.

"They were not on the planet at the time of the tragedy though. In fact, they have been briefed on the commit incident..."

Zarbon caught the speculative look her eyes, but Dodoria just pressed on, heedless. As always.

"Doesn't matter what they were told. Freeza said kill them all, and that's what I intend to do."

 

-"hmmm." The woman mused thoughtfully.

 

Zarbon smiled thinly. "But you have a different suggestion, my dear lady?"

-"Indeed." She answered his smile.

"I do believe our lord and ruler might be… more amused if he met these

Saiyi-jins in person."

 

 ---

Chesire sighed again, looking through the wiring of the regen tank.

"Maybe the scouter's busted. And you sure you don't feel any stronger?"

The Saiyi-jin prince scowled at her back, legs swinging as he sat on the medic-bench once again. "I don't think I could miss a thing as getting twice as strong, don't you?" he said in his most patronizing voice as he rubbed his hair dry on a drying-cloth.

Chesire thought it was kind of funny being patronized by a six-year-old, but she really didn't have the energy to get into it right now. Four hours of working on

this machine had left her painfully sober and with one killer of a hangover to boot.

 

Sighing, she got back to trying what had gone wrong this time, ignoring the

stares directed at her back.

"Maybe I wasn't in there long enough." Vegeta finally offered.

Of course, that didn't add up either. "Should have felt at least read some power increase, right?"

-"I guess."

She continued prodding the wires for a little while, thankful for the silence.

But then, she knew it was coming. She had only delayed the inevitable.

"Cat?"

-"What is it now, monkey."

-"Don't call me that." He retorted, and for a moment she'd thought she'd thrown him off. Only for a moment, though.

 "What did you mean, before?"

-"When?" she inquired innocently.

-"Before. What did you mean with, 'you really don't know?' "

 

Inevitable. Indeed. She should tell him. Fair is fair. After all, better to hear such a tragedy from a friend, right now, then later, from a stranger. Telling would be the honorable thing to do. Still.

"Never mind, little prince."

Chesire wasn't honorable.

She was just a coward.

"It 's just a girl thing. We get funny that way."

No honor.

But maybe she'd get to live a little longer for it.