"We all want to be happy, and we're all going to die.. You might say those
are the only
two unchangeable true facts that apply
to every human being on this planet." - William Boyd
Frigid
There has never been any question as to my insignificance. I am insignificant, and I am weak, and it has always been this way. I am also ill, but this is no longer matters.
I have no multiple forms. What you see is all that I am; slim and thin boned, my tapered tail fully twice the length of my body. My pale skin is highlighted by a crown of luminous purple, and there are patches of the same color on my shoulders, ankles and chest. I have no great power; if I rallied myself I suppose I could destroy a small planet, and certainly I am better than millions of lesser species, but compared to what my family was this is worthlessness.
The boy ruled, because Papa loved him best and because his power was endless, and he was as mad and as foolish as Kold. I tried only to stay out of their way and not offend them in any of the little ways that would certainly mean death; Mama's long dead because Furiza lost patience with her. He terrified me more than any other -- I was glad when Furiza died. I thought it laughable that it had been at the end of a Saiyajin's blade. Koola I was never made to be so close to, but certainly he was of no great loss; I felt no need to morn any of them.
All the others of my race were worthless in my eyes, but Frost was something I needed, and I do not feel I am being deluded when I say he loved me. His blood wasn't so high as mine, but even for his family he was scandalously weak, yet this weakness seemed to endow him with a sense of calm that I was glad to feed off of; fully aware of his helplessness, instead of bemoaning it he took it as a source of personal strength, and accepting that nearly all those that surround him could kill him if so were their wills, and wouldn't give a second thought to it or suffer a shred of guilt afterwards, he moved on the flow of the emotions of others, anticipating the actions and thoughts and needs of his betters and lessers equally, as one may predict the tides, and having always looked death in the face, was never effected by fear and rarely by anger. That fact that he lived as long as he did is a surprise in it of itself; once he told me that his parents kept him alive because they loved him, but I barely believed it.
In nearly all things he was Balance, and this is what an Icejin aristocrat requires to remain sane. Yet to see, or even be aware of the existence of suffering hurt him very deeply, though he was more apt to turn pain inward, and to this day I find this both confusing and frustrating. It was his complete harmlessness that made me so willing to trust in him, and to wish to lessen the burden of guilt he took upon himself for all our race, and so it's a matter of personal pride that under my rule, with him at my ear, the hand of the Empire has been softer than my own. Of course it is an Empire, and the Planet Trade continues, for how else would one fund it, and though I've seen to it that these things are carried out very neatly and business like, with the least amount of discomfort to those races being purged. This was never enough for Frost -- he wouldn't feel right until all hurting everywhere had ended -- and every year he talked me back a little more, contracting the Empire. I could never tell him no, for he knew jut were my limits laid, and I was glad for every unlighted planet and savage race that survived, because he was glad.
If not for my own worthlessness I'd never have been allowed or willing to associate with him, and even still, for Frost's safety and my own I let nothing serious to bloom until all were certain of that Kold was good and forever and completely dead. With powerful Icejin these things can be hard to judge; one might be blown to a hundred pieces and still live for days or months or years. When the body isn't president one can never be certain, and so we did not trust the initial reports that Kold and his favorite son had been killed on a backwards little rock, by none other than the Super Saiyajin.
There was no such ambiguousness with Frost; I was not president at the exact moment of his passing, but I saw him on his death bed not an hour before, and had watch for months as he was consumed by the same illness that now eats away at me, paining my chest and locking off my throat. He clung to life up to the end, and would here of nothing otherwise, but I don't wish to suffer the way he did, nor to wait for death; I'm a coward and terrified and I can't stand to think on it. It's hard for Icejin to die; I can't imagine a way I could do it myself without great suffering and likely failure, and regardless, I lack the courage.
But recently the answer came to me; Three of the most powerful being to ever live, fit to subjugate the entire universe, have all found their deaths at the feet of a Saiyajin, one of those vile, stupid creatures. I think I can swallow my pride and bare that, if it means an easy death.
So I'll go to Earth, where I'll die, if only I don't lose my nerve between now and then.
Uragiru and Aiken are asleep in their quarters, or perhaps they are awake and only laying still. I told them they must rest tonight, but some orders are impossible to follow, I'm sure. Aiken is mine, and she is Inujin and so loyal, and so upon my passing her nature compels her to die regardless. Uragiru was Frost's servant before I'd ever met him, and I never associated with her before he died, but when offered a position else where within the Empire she asked to say with Aiken and myself. The truth of it is she reminds me too strongly of Frost, and I don't really like having her around. They both followed me here without complaint, though of course it was no choice of theirs. I suppose he'll kill them too, but then again maybe he won't. I can't understand the methods behind this Super Saiyajin's actions. I'll not lower myself to entertaining the notion that Kold, Furiza and Koola all lost because of some freak accident. This Saiyajin has incomprehensible power. It is of course possible that by now he's dead himself, or weakened from age. We'll see.
The ship will reach Earth in only a few hours, but I won't sleep tonight. I'm quite terrified, but it isn't really that; it's only that my lungs hurt a bit, and when I curl up to sleep it's as though I can't breathe.
Most times any cough, any small sound of pain will bring Aiken running, the dumb, loyal child. The fool loves me and I don't understand why. Sometimes, when I'm frightened, I like to have her near by, but I won't have any of it tonight.
She should be allowed to rest on her last night so she'll be at her in the morrow, and I don't need her tonight because I'm not at all nervous away. I'm calm and satisfied with my decision.
Not in the slightest bit scared.
I reached for the com and summon Aiken, struggling to keep my voice even.
Frigid
There has never been any question as to my insignificance. I am insignificant, and I am weak, and it has always been this way. I am also ill, but this is no longer matters.
I have no multiple forms. What you see is all that I am; slim and thin boned, my tapered tail fully twice the length of my body. My pale skin is highlighted by a crown of luminous purple, and there are patches of the same color on my shoulders, ankles and chest. I have no great power; if I rallied myself I suppose I could destroy a small planet, and certainly I am better than millions of lesser species, but compared to what my family was this is worthlessness.
The boy ruled, because Papa loved him best and because his power was endless, and he was as mad and as foolish as Kold. I tried only to stay out of their way and not offend them in any of the little ways that would certainly mean death; Mama's long dead because Furiza lost patience with her. He terrified me more than any other -- I was glad when Furiza died. I thought it laughable that it had been at the end of a Saiyajin's blade. Koola I was never made to be so close to, but certainly he was of no great loss; I felt no need to morn any of them.
All the others of my race were worthless in my eyes, but Frost was something I needed, and I do not feel I am being deluded when I say he loved me. His blood wasn't so high as mine, but even for his family he was scandalously weak, yet this weakness seemed to endow him with a sense of calm that I was glad to feed off of; fully aware of his helplessness, instead of bemoaning it he took it as a source of personal strength, and accepting that nearly all those that surround him could kill him if so were their wills, and wouldn't give a second thought to it or suffer a shred of guilt afterwards, he moved on the flow of the emotions of others, anticipating the actions and thoughts and needs of his betters and lessers equally, as one may predict the tides, and having always looked death in the face, was never effected by fear and rarely by anger. That fact that he lived as long as he did is a surprise in it of itself; once he told me that his parents kept him alive because they loved him, but I barely believed it.
In nearly all things he was Balance, and this is what an Icejin aristocrat requires to remain sane. Yet to see, or even be aware of the existence of suffering hurt him very deeply, though he was more apt to turn pain inward, and to this day I find this both confusing and frustrating. It was his complete harmlessness that made me so willing to trust in him, and to wish to lessen the burden of guilt he took upon himself for all our race, and so it's a matter of personal pride that under my rule, with him at my ear, the hand of the Empire has been softer than my own. Of course it is an Empire, and the Planet Trade continues, for how else would one fund it, and though I've seen to it that these things are carried out very neatly and business like, with the least amount of discomfort to those races being purged. This was never enough for Frost -- he wouldn't feel right until all hurting everywhere had ended -- and every year he talked me back a little more, contracting the Empire. I could never tell him no, for he knew jut were my limits laid, and I was glad for every unlighted planet and savage race that survived, because he was glad.
If not for my own worthlessness I'd never have been allowed or willing to associate with him, and even still, for Frost's safety and my own I let nothing serious to bloom until all were certain of that Kold was good and forever and completely dead. With powerful Icejin these things can be hard to judge; one might be blown to a hundred pieces and still live for days or months or years. When the body isn't president one can never be certain, and so we did not trust the initial reports that Kold and his favorite son had been killed on a backwards little rock, by none other than the Super Saiyajin.
There was no such ambiguousness with Frost; I was not president at the exact moment of his passing, but I saw him on his death bed not an hour before, and had watch for months as he was consumed by the same illness that now eats away at me, paining my chest and locking off my throat. He clung to life up to the end, and would here of nothing otherwise, but I don't wish to suffer the way he did, nor to wait for death; I'm a coward and terrified and I can't stand to think on it. It's hard for Icejin to die; I can't imagine a way I could do it myself without great suffering and likely failure, and regardless, I lack the courage.
But recently the answer came to me; Three of the most powerful being to ever live, fit to subjugate the entire universe, have all found their deaths at the feet of a Saiyajin, one of those vile, stupid creatures. I think I can swallow my pride and bare that, if it means an easy death.
So I'll go to Earth, where I'll die, if only I don't lose my nerve between now and then.
Uragiru and Aiken are asleep in their quarters, or perhaps they are awake and only laying still. I told them they must rest tonight, but some orders are impossible to follow, I'm sure. Aiken is mine, and she is Inujin and so loyal, and so upon my passing her nature compels her to die regardless. Uragiru was Frost's servant before I'd ever met him, and I never associated with her before he died, but when offered a position else where within the Empire she asked to say with Aiken and myself. The truth of it is she reminds me too strongly of Frost, and I don't really like having her around. They both followed me here without complaint, though of course it was no choice of theirs. I suppose he'll kill them too, but then again maybe he won't. I can't understand the methods behind this Super Saiyajin's actions. I'll not lower myself to entertaining the notion that Kold, Furiza and Koola all lost because of some freak accident. This Saiyajin has incomprehensible power. It is of course possible that by now he's dead himself, or weakened from age. We'll see.
The ship will reach Earth in only a few hours, but I won't sleep tonight. I'm quite terrified, but it isn't really that; it's only that my lungs hurt a bit, and when I curl up to sleep it's as though I can't breathe.
Most times any cough, any small sound of pain will bring Aiken running, the dumb, loyal child. The fool loves me and I don't understand why. Sometimes, when I'm frightened, I like to have her near by, but I won't have any of it tonight.
She should be allowed to rest on her last night so she'll be at her in the morrow, and I don't need her tonight because I'm not at all nervous away. I'm calm and satisfied with my decision.
Not in the slightest bit scared.
I reached for the com and summon Aiken, struggling to keep my voice even.