CHAPTER THREE-SEEMING INNOCENCE

Planet Frieza April 741 A.D.

Her large eyes narrowed and her mouth twitched as she took in the coldness of space outside the window portal. Despite the promises and truths Frieza had said to her, she did not understand her surroundings anymore than she understood herself. She looked at her thin gloved hands and knitted her brows in deep thought. Frieza had special gloves made for her after an accident with one of her guards. She had hurt the guard almost beyond repair and it was all through touch, the touch of his hand gripping her arm when she distanced herself from him. She had many questions and knew Frieza had all the answers. He was the ruler of the universe, wasn't he? She removed the glove from her left hand and studied it. The pale snowy skin resembled a thin cover of snow, soft and white. Underneath were the visible blue veins and bones. Past her elbow was the beginning of her skin- tight blue leotard she wore under her tunic. She clenched her fist and then relaxed her muscles. Strangely, she felt some form of power emit from the tension of her muscles. Sometimes, most times, she saw a faint glow of blue surround her body when this happened. She sighed and blew her dark blonde hair out of her face. She lifted her eyes towards a familiar face and let a smile creep on her pale lips.

"Lord Cooler, I did not expect to see you," the girl stuttered in a light tone that apologized and demanded at the same time. Her voice took on double meanings as if she couldn't say what she meant to say or even ask.

"Peace, child. You are young but you will learn," replied Cooler in a flat monotone before he waved his hand for her to come forward. "Frieza demands you watch the botany unit and remain there for your own amusement."

"The gardens? I have been bored here in my room, listening to the disc you sent me to study," breathed the girl before putting on a sly grin and crossing her arms. "You will escort me there, won't you? Frieza would be disappointed if you didn't."

Cooler held back the urge to hit this child and the urge to laugh at her for being so brave as to request something of him. Something about her was odd, a little obscure, aside from her non-Saiyin looks. She reminded him of that silly legend of the Super Saiyin her people had. "Fine, lady Merilyn. Follow me."

With that, the bizarre child Merilyn followed the large purple monster in front of her. Her golden tail swayed behind her in amusement as the door shut behind her, unaware of the shadowed being in the corner. Merilyn looked in wonder at the sleek metal corridors and let out a gloved hand to touch the coldness of it. Too bad she could not really feel it. She continued to follow Cooler, glancing every which way at the wonders she witnessed. She had barely ventured past her room and the throne hall of Frieza during the span of the eight years she had lived. She gaped at the blinding fluorescent lights above her and squinted at it after awhile. She looked past it and at the wide-open entrance to the training gym the others were in. She had only seen two of her kind in the throne hall when Frieza was shrieking at them for their loss on a purge. One had long dark hair that ended in points and dark, grim features. He looked mad all the time, like he was plotting everyone's demise. The other was blonde with shorter spikier hair and deep ice blue eyes that held Merilyn's curiosity. She had watched them from behind Frieza's chair and smirked at the darker one. His grin was too evil.

Merilyn stopped by the gym entrance and watched the fighters. Different aliens and different gendered warriors fought each other fiercely. Her eyes finally found the Saiyins and calmly rested on the boys fighting. It seemed the blonde boy and the darker boy was pounding each other. The blonde boy powered up and blew a small wave of energy towards the other one. Merilyn smiled lightly before sensing Cooler's presence coming towards her. She held her hands behind her back and tilted her head back.

"Lord Cooler, I wish to watch these fighters spar," she spoke in a mysterious manner before glancing at his glaring face. "But not today. My gardens need to be watered. Come, let's go now."

Cooler's lips twitched before he took Merilyn by the arm and led her to the aorta of the 2nd floor.

The gigantic solarium was molded like a glass dome. Artificial light radiated from the sides of the dome and from above the sun's rays sparkled through the glass ceiling. From each cardinal direction corridors were connected to the room. The solarium formed the heart of the 2nd floor and it was Merilyn's own private lounge area. Merilyn escaped Cooler's clutches and skipped to the exotic Venus flytrap and petted it softly. With a contented expression, Merilyn made her way across a metal bridge that formed under her feet. Below a sparkling river spewed about and circled the dome in a figure eight. Merilyn entered a peristyle glass structure after pressing her palm on a keypad. A marble desk was situated in a dark corner. All her technological needs were there and updated. Frieza had arranged for her to study the art of war and other intense subjects that were required of her. There were also strange gifts from a people she didn't know such as a loveseat, a chaise, and a beautiful colored glass model of the galaxy she was born in. The gift bringer came in her dreams or at rare times appeared as an apparition in her gardens. The one gift she felt strangely familiar with was a ribbon choker with a vile on it. " Leave, Cooler. I want to be alone."

Merilyn sighed when she heard Cooler leave. She then lay back in her chaise. Somehow she felt like something was calling to her, a wordless voice much like a whisper was calling to her from faraway. The whisper often came with vivid images that seeped into her brain and sunk into her dreams. She couldn't explain the emotions she felt. They were so huge and exciting. She didn't understand the rare beings she saw on the ship. They were so dead in mind and spirit. They never questioned anything or tried to feel anything that would weaken them. She felt so many things and asked so many questions. At times Frieza grew angry and threatened to send her to the next dimension if she didn't shut it. Didn't Frieza understand that she just knew and felt things?

She gulped and felt a tear glide down her cheek. She wiped it off and walked over to the center of the dome. There she calmly lay back into the grass and sprawled out. Closing her eyes, she cleared her thoughts and sank into darkness. Soon the dreams would come and the images would appear.

From outside the dome, three boys huddled outside the entrance. Prince Vegeta sneered and crossed his arms while the other boys watched the girl inside with awe.

" Stupid weakling.I have never seen her before and I already dislike her. She can't be a Saiyin. She is too soft to be one of us," snorted one of the boys with longer darker hair. He was taller and larger than the others.

" Shut up, Radditz. I can't think with your voice rambling!" shouted the blond boy as he crouched lower and peered in again.

Prince Vegeta smirked deeply and chuckled darkly. "What is wrong, Shain? Do you like the little weakling? This is surprising coming from my best warrior."

Shain immediately froze and stood with a glare on his face. He began to clench his fists but relaxed all too quickly. " Don't even go there. I am just curious. I want to sniff this girl out and make sure she isn't one of Frieza's little toys."

The other two looked at each other then scowled. Vegeta waved his hand and began to leave with Radditz. Shain gave one last look at the girl and left. The girl was now hovering a foot above the air, quite asleep. ((

The next day Merilyn awoke to the sound of Cooler's footsteps by her bed. He threw some armor on her bed and crossed his arms. " You wanted to spar correct? Well, Frieza is letting you have your chance now. We are both amused by your persistence in the matter. We have a regeneration tank ready for you."

Merilyn smirked and swallowed her fear into her stomach. She wanted to sob for doing this but she wouldn't. Not now. She put on her armor and followed Cooler. In the gym, Merilyn saw the others sparring in a frenzy of flying fists and ki attacks. She grew nervous and froze in her footsteps. She watched the horror of the warriors being beaten and mutilated right there if they failed. She took a shaky breath and clenched her fists. Stepping forward, she froze again as Cooler laughed. " Unsure, are we? Child, this is no game here. This is reality. Kill or be killed. Conquer or be conquered. We live to fight and fight to live. Remember that. Having a heart or morals will not save you. Enjoy your activities today. I am sure your questions will be answered here if not anywhere else." He roughly pushed her forward. She stumbled and fell down in front of large man with a tail. Nappa. ((

The Supreme Kai focused his concentration on the young girl that had fell in front of the burly Saiyin warrior. Sweat beaded his brow and dribbled down his cheek. He sent out his energy in a warm wave as he sensed out her thoughts and emotions. He read everything he could and gasped. His eyes snapped open in horror. He had not expected this to happen so soon. He was not ready. He had tried to negotiate with Frieza and King Cold for the child Merilyn's life. No matter how hard he tried to bargain for her, Frieza held his ground and threatened to kill her if the Supreme Kai tried to take her. He sighed. He wouldn't be able to help her grow and use her uncanny senses for the better. Now he watched again in his mind the events that would happen to his beloved cousin. She wouldn't die, he knew this, but some part of her would and another would be born. He couldn't read what yet. ((

"Watch it, girl! So you have decided to join the men and spar! Come spar then!" Nappa spat in her face as he powered up.

Merilyn's eyes widened as she stepped back in fear. Nappa let out a yell as he began to shoot bolts of energy at her like lasers from a gun. She began to backpedal it quickly. The bolts were hot on her toes as she pushed her speed. She saw Nappa and other men freeze to glimpse at her abnormal speed. She didn't let this get to her head as she stopped and clenched her fists. Her breathing was hard and quick.

"Girl, stop moving! It is easier for me!!" screamed Nappa in frustration as he let out more bolts of energy.

Merliyn dodged one after the other. She did a back flip and twisted her body in such a grotesque way that she heard her bones twist and grind. She planted her foot on the wall and twisted upwards off it as a bolt hit it. She crouched low and lowered her brows in anger. This boy was really pissing her off! She had never felt so much hate and bloodlust before. She wanted to survive and win this. Maybe Frieza would give her answers she wanted. They couldn't be here.

Soon she felt another bolt lick her heel as she sprang like a panther upwards. Merilyn sprang high in the air and hovered for a few minutes. Whoa! I can fly! I didn't know I could do this! Wait.where is that boy? She felt an elbow smash into her back as she hit the ground fast. She knew her arm was slashed up from the fall but she watched in horror as the wound quickly healed itself. Only the dried blood was left behind.

Nappa landed behind her and gripped her arms behind her back. She was in a headlock and she couldn't breathe. " Yes gasp for air. Beg for mercy!" Merilyn gripped his hard arms and felt her eyes grow heavy. Her gloves were totally shredded up. That angered her even more.

Merilyn growled and flipped out of his grip, onto his shoulders. She flipped off quickly and out of Nappa's range. She couldn't believe her strength but she welcomed it greatly. She sneered at Nappa and felt herself grow heated up. " You stupid jerk! How can you just do what you do? Have you no conscience, don't you feel sorrow or pain at what you do to others? HUH?!"

Nappa frowned. "Why? Saiyins don't feel anything. It is unnatural. We destroy and kill to survive. But I will kill you for pleasure, little girl." Before he could move forward, he froze and paled. He lifted a trembling finger and gasped. " You.you are.it can't be.your aura.it's BLUE!!!!!"

Merilyn felt the energy crackle around her and in her. She knew all eyes were on her small frame now. She held up her arms and flexed, feeling the heat rise once more in increasing increments. The feeling washed over her like a wave of power. It felt good, this new feeling, this feeling of power and control. She felt like she knew everything and anything. She felt not so insignificant now. Suddenly, a current of electricity racked her body and surged through her nerves like darts. "AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!" she screamed in an abnormal high-pitched tone. The others screamed and covered their bleeding ears in pain. Merilyn dropped her head back and clenched her fists high above her head until she felt a wave of pure adrenaline rush into her. Her hair snapped in her face and began to change into a deep golden color. An aura of yellow surrounded her body. She sneered at Nappa and pointed a finger at him.

Before she could make a move, she felt a deep pain from behind and darkness enter her head. Shain had hit her from behind and knocked her out. She looked at him through swollen eyes, his face pale and twisted in shock, then fell on her knees hitting the floor. Nothing but darkness enveloped her mind and held her down. (( "WHAT!?" yelled Frieza in shock and horror. He couldn't believe his ears as Zarbon repeated to him of the incident in the gym. Somehow he knew it but it frightened him that that girl had that power. It had reached a power level of 26,000! Inconceivable but it was true. Frieza was scared of this child, of her power, and he had to do something about it. She was in the regeneration tank now and it would be a few weeks until her recovery. He had time to think about what to do. ( The Supreme Kai fainted in disbelief and felt a tear fall down his face.(