Disclaimer: I do not own DBZ and I will never profit from this story. A few new characters will be introduced soon, and they, like Shani and Blaze, will be mine.
Notes: I used Earth designations for the upper classmen because I didn't feel like making up different ones.
Shadows of the Past: Chapter 9
At exactly 0700, Vegeta heard a knock at his door. At first he made no move to answer it, but then he remembered that his bodyguard had been borrowed for a mission while he was unconscious, and had not yet been returned to him. Vegeta had already completed a warm up workout and finished his morning meditation, and decided not to wear his cape this morning. He casually opened the door to see a rather sleepy looking Zarbon staring absently at the now open door.
" Good morning, Zarbon. " The prince said mischievously.
Zarbon growled at him and then sighed. " Well, I hope you're ready, there is a lot to see today. "
" I'm more ready than you are apparently. So where are we going first? "
Zarbon gave him a suspicious look, even when Frieza was in a bad mood the little Saiyan was never this docile. " Down to the great hall, for breakfast. Perhaps you might run into a few of your classmates. "
Vegeta was suddenly curious; he hadn't expected this at all. " Classmates? "
" Yes, of course, Frieza has a few hundred students at this particular school. Once it used to be in the other buildings we will visit later, but he got tired of tearing up his gardens to make room for more dormitories and moved the students into his palace. "
" What do you mean this school? "
" There are two others, both of them closer to his father's great empire, so naturally he favors this one. The others he has set up for those with no real fighting ability, but whose planets are valuable for other things. Those kids are unbelievably lucky; they almost never have to see… well, Lord Frieza, they don't take any classes in fighting, but still get to take strategy courses. Languages, arts, sciences, you name it they get it too, but they don't have to do any fighting, and they come here for the End of Term Ball, and they talk down to you, like you are some sort of an insect… "
" How long is a term, here? "
" Twenty years for most, fifteen in my case, but I REALLY worked for it. " Zarbon shook his head, looking quite awake now, Vegeta had a feeling he wasn't going to get any more honesty out of Zarbon for a while, but that certainly spoke volumes about what it was going to be like, around here. Vegeta followed Zarbon down the brightly lit halls pretending to listen as he pointed out the different halls for the different age groups. Vegeta almost laughed, Zarbon had almost called the little pink tyrant something other than Lord Frieza, that would've been interesting, but when Zarbon caught himself, he had awakened a bit more, and realized he wasn't supposed to say anything about Frieza's school that might make one of their young pupils unwilling to attend. Trouble with that was that Vegeta already had no interest in being here!
" So where is everyone else this morning? " As with the previous evening, he had noticed the long halls were utterly deserted. Except for the two of them.
" The seniors, who are close to graduation are on holiday, they are still on this planet, but they are in its major resort city, enjoying the beach. "
" The juniors and sophomores are out in the field, on war maneuvers, practicing, getting ready to compete for the war games trophy, this years juniors won as sophomores, they will win this year too. "
" How can you be so sure? "
" It's my brother that's leading them. "
" You have a brother? "
Zarbon laughed. " Why does that surprise you? "
Vegeta shrugged. " Why is he here? "
Zarbon sobered a little, and his amber eyes didn't shine as he smirked down at Vegeta. " Come on, the cooks are really bitchy if you're late for breakfast… or any other meal for that matter. "
Vegeta wasn't sure what was going on with Zarbon, and he still didn't trust him. He had treated him too coldly for too long. Still, one thing was obvious, he really wasn't happy with Frieza and it had something to do with his brother. He stepped up to the large window of the spotless kitchen and glanced inside. The cooks were a pair of large, glossy white-skinned creatures with absolutely no hair, and large violet eyes. They were dressed in blue uniforms and each of them had four arms carrying out several tasks with tremendous efficiency.
" Oh, look what the dog dragged in, what can we do for you Zarbon, you're up early this morning. So who was she? Did she kick you out of bed? " One of the creatures quipped mischievously.
" Nice to see you too, Elda. " Zarbon chuckled. " No, I'm in the middle of giving a tour this morning. "
" To who? That short little thing? " Elda giggled, leaning over the counter to see Vegeta, who glared at her and levitated to her eye level. "My, you're gonn'a be a cute one some day. Different than you, Zarbon, but damn fine all the same. "
" What are you? " Vegeta snorted indignantly.
" I am a White Harp, and the greatest cook in the known universe, and this is my daughter and protégé Alta. And let me guess, you would be the Saiyan Prince everyone's been talkin' about? Well, handsome, what would you like to eat this morning? And you too, Zarbon, honey? "
Zarbon just chuckled. " How about just two of your usual. "
" Commin' right up there honey. "
In just a few seconds, there were several large trays of food ready for them. Zarbon didn't stop at any of the tables in the huge great hall, though; he led Vegeta into a small, anti chamber that was decorated in the same style and colors as the elegant dinning hall, but at a much quieter size. " Normally you'll sit out there, but I wanted to continue our discussion… "
" That is the most obnoxious servant I have ever seen, how does Frieza put up with that thing? "
" Frieza never goes to the kitchen, so he doesn't know about her. You'll get used to her. "
" I'd rather not. "
" Then you haven't tried the food yet. "
Several hours later, they had finished the tour of the massive palace itself, and were heading outside to see the gardens and the other buildings in the compound. " You never finished telling me where the other students were. "
" That's right, by now the freshmen have finished two classes and are on their way to… Biology. Eighth graders are in… a language class, seventh grade should be on their way thorough these doors in about two minutes, they are changing before going to a physical training class, and I have no idea where the other six grades would be, I've been away for too long. But, your class is in a beginning language class, and from there they'll go to… a mathematics class.
" You put me into a class with… " Vegeta snorted, trying not to laugh. " Am I teaching? Or were you planning to have me kill the teacher when she talks to me in a little baby voice? You know I'll do it. "
Zarbon nodded, remembering all too clearly when the three-year-old prince had destroyed a tutor who had smacked him because the prince didn't follow instructions when the teacher didn't address him in adult fashion. With Frieza's instructors for the youngest children, it would almost certainly happen again…
" Oh my… KAMI! Damn it, VEGETA!! You better not be telling our children that you killed a teacher! " Bulma gasped, interrupting.
" Not since I was three, woman, what do you want me to say? "
" Couldn't you have left that part out? "
" I WARNED you before I started this that no I will not. And I am getting damn tired of these interruptions!! " Vegeta snarled, scaring the three little girls in front of him. " And don't you three dare cry! It happened a very long time ago, and he died quite painlessly, he was dead before he hit the ground and he never saw it coming. Besides, if I hadn't done it, Napa would have, and then he would've lingered for at least a week in pain. "
" How'd you kill him? " Gohan asked quietly.
Vegeta's midnight eyes turned mischievous and slightly cruel, but he just shrugged. " That's not relevant, but it was fast. Trust me. "
" Oh daddy, " Bra sighed finally, and smiled, her large blue eyes lit up sweetly. " Are you going to tell us about Radditz and Napa again, now? And how about the little princess? "
Napa stood on a lonely cliff overlooking the battlefield. The enemy was gone, utterly destroyed. When they realized that even their largest weapons weren't working, the tiny yellow-orange creatures tried to run, but Radditz cut off their escape from that direction. These creatures were not fighters; they didn't have a single power level of over 30 among the entire world of them. They had only their high tech weaponry to protect them, and it had been worse than a slaughter against two Saiyan warriors.
Napa glanced at Radditz, the young warrior was showing promise, that much was for sure, and he had reveled in the battle; and was ready even now to continue fighting if necessary. The creatures they had demolished were really harmless to Frieza and his regulars apart from their weaponry, and they had very few of these gadgets. They spoke no language that he could tell, and had no organizational skills, either their generals were already dead; or their world was just that peaceful.
Radditz ripped into another piece of meat from the leg bone of another creature he had killed, and glanced at Napa… The massive elite was a great fighter, and Radditz shivered at the thought of having to fight him, but at the same time, he knew that once he or Vegeta figured out the truth… No, he told himself, that wouldn't happen. He had wanted to see how his power measured up to that of an elite… and Vegeta was still his prince, the rightful ruler of the Saiyans, and had done nothing to deserve treachery. He would wait, and see. Radditz knew his father had been a fool, trying to stand against Frieza. The king and that ridiculous order to attack Frieza's ship had been no better. Radditz knew his choice of actions had lead to the deaths of his people, telling Frieza of the king's orders had been a bold move, one that could've cost him everything as well, but at least he was still alive. He hoped that the Prince wasn't as intelligent as Napa seemed to think he was.
Frieza also had warned him of the two remaining Saiyans, Napa he had said, was blindly loyal, he would follow his prince straight into hell, convinced that Vegeta alone could put out the fires… while Vegeta probably could too, a good sized chunk of them anyway… Thinking of his now lost race, he smirked, the old ways were dead, and it was time to move on, if only he could believe Vegeta and Napa would see it that way…
Shani squirmed in her chair as the teacher's monologue at the front of the classroom continued. Being in class after the month and a half she had spent playing with Vegeta on Frieza's ship was hard. When the order came to open his or her workbooks, Shani grumbled something unladylike and smirked as no one heard it. A flicker of movement caught her eye in the hall. Vegeta?!? He was with Zarbon… did she dare?
" Princess Silversong, will you please pay attention? "
" I'm sorry Mrs. Wendlin, may I please be excused, I'm not feeling well. "
" Class is almost over, young lady, can't you wait? "
" No. "
Being so tiny and delicate had definite advantages; she looked so frail if she played sick every day these oversized fools would buy it every time. Compared to most of those present at this school, she was hardly worth noticing, until someone looked at her face, she knew she was pretty, but this was insane. It was hard enough being sneaky without Blaze catching her, but being so much prettier than the rest of these creatures was bound to get her noticed by someone eventually.
Shani caught up to Vegeta and Zarbon easily, in absolute silence, but Vegeta still turned to face her a moment before she spoke.
" Mr. Zarbon, sir, may I please speak to Vegeta? "
" What class are you supposed to be in? "
" Oh, just a study hall, " she said brightly, knowing her cheerfulness was the best way to get rid of Dodoria, Zarbon, and Napa. " May I please? "
" Not now, we are on a tour right now. "
" A tour?!? Oh, please, let me! I really need the practice; after all, you don't want poor Dodoria to have to walk me to the little girl's room in the east wing of the science building again, do you? "
Zarbon gave her a dubious look but before he could say anything, his scouter flickered to life, and Dodoria summoned him to something called the 10th Vault.
" Not so loud you idiot! " Zarbon hissed at his fellow henchman, over the scouter. " Only Frieza's two favorites… I'll be there in a minute… if it's an emergency why isn't Captain Ginue helping you? Shut up, I'm on my way. "
" Something wrong? " Vegeta smirked. Zarbon glared at him, but controlled his temper due to the presence of Shani.
" Nothing either of you should be concerned with. Stay out of trouble, both of you. "
" We will. " Shani said sweetly, watching him stalk off down the wide hallway, when he was gone, she pounced on Vegeta, hugging him tightly. "Are you alright? Napa and I were worried. "
" Eeeww, get off of me, I'm fine. " He snapped, but her bright smile never faded. " How long have we been here? "
" Five days. They didn't tell you? "
" I didn't ask Zarbon, because I wasn't sure he'd tell the truth. "
" Mr. Zarbon's not that bad. Have you seen the science building yet? "
" I'm more interested in the coliseum, but no. "
" The coliseum's alright, but I like the art museum, the library and the atrium in the science building. "
" Don't tell me you like it here. "
" It's kind of scary at night, but in the day it's ok. The teachers are all really nice, and Zarbon and Dodoria have to be nice to us around the other kids. Some of the other kids were telling me about the school play that's going to be starting soon. I kinda wann'a be in it… "
" Do you know who Captain Ginue is? "
" I saw him once from down one of the hallways… he's huge! I'm sure he's bigger than Dodoria… well not fatter, but taller. He's purple and he's some kind of a really powerful warrior that works for Frieza. From what I've heard, he's not very nice. "
" What's he here for? "
" I don't know… " She paused, and looked around, seeing no one else, she took Vegeta's hand and led him into a shadowed corner. " Some of the pass codes in here are even too hard for me to break. I mean, I could do it if I had more time, but it seems like we're watched all the time. "
" That's because we are, then. It only makes sense, to Frieza; even one of us is worth what two, three times our weight in gold? Are there really a few hundred kids here? "
" We're separated into age categories, but yeah. They keep us apart so us little kids
won't get picked on, but I've seen some of the older ones. "
" Zarbon says that Frieza has two other schools even. This one is just for the kids with the potential to be fighters. "
" Really? It's no wonder that the War Games are such a big deal here, then. "
" What do you mean? "
" Come with me. But, we have to be kind of quiet, only juniors and seniors are supposed to come to this place. "
" Then why do you know about it? "
Shani gave him an innocent look and led him into an elegant one-story building to the left of the coliseum. " The seniors call this the Hall of Glory or something, this whole building is a trophy case, for the War Games and stuff. Wann'a see someone we know? "
He shrugged. And followed her to the very end of the hallway. There amid the War Games trophies, and class lists, was a picture of Zarbon and two trophies set apart from the others in the case. "So he really did get stuck here. Team Captain, and top honor graduate. Took him fifteen years… "
" Look over here. " Shani whispered from the other side of the hall.
" What? "
" These are Frieza's. "
" Frieza's? What're they doing here? "
" Yeah. When he took over this system, he moved the whole school here. His brother also went here, but I don't see anything of his, do you? "
" Nope. Frieza and his brother hate each other… You can't really be serious about liking it here, can you? "
" Well, I never had anyone to play with until now, and the classes aren't that hard, I don't mind it, I guess. When you meet some of the other kids maybe you'll… "
" I can't believe you, Shani! We're fucking prisoners here, and you want to stay? "
" There just isn't any way out. Frieza's ship is the only one to come or go. Face it, we're stuck, can't we just make the best of it, Vegeta? "
" For now, maybe. Come on, let's go. Are you really done for the day? "
" Yeah, I told my language teacher I was sick, why? "
" Liar. " Vegeta smirked, knowing Shani was dying to show him all the other stuff she'd found that she wasn't supposed to know about. " We're going to finish the rest of the tour. But what was that about making Dodoria take you to the bathroom? "
" I was just exploring the Science building and he caught me. I can't help it that he believed me when I said I was lost. "
Well, I just love my little tree-hugger (Shani); elves are so useful for getting into things… like locked doors, and trouble… To those of you out there who are Radditz fans and are cursing my name in every language you know, fear not, you will forgive me, but things have to get worse before they can get better. Frieza and all the bad stuff that'll eventually happen changes everybody, not just for the worse… in some cases. Hehe, the more reviews I get to read, the faster I'll post the next chapter… hint, hint!!!! J