I'm so sorry that it took so long to get this out but my life has been
really crazy recently and I also tend to take my time when writing the battle
sequences to be sure that I have communicated exactly what is happening
clearly.
NOTE: Despite valiant searching
I could not find the name for quite a few of thealien species in DBZ. Apparently Toriyama didn't find naming all
of them important so I have tried to avoid naming as many as possible. I found it necessary to name the race that
Jeice (or Jitzu) belongs to. Since he
is described as orange (I think he look more red though) I have named them
Daidaiirojin (Orange People). Conversely the planet is called Daidaiirosei. I describe their skin color from orange-red to peach but they
always will have white/platinum hair.
WARNING: This chapter contains a lot of violence and I went into a
little more detail than usual on some of it. Still I don't think it's terribly gory.
Chapter 4: The Sealing of Fates
The Memorial Stadium was jammed to capacity with eager saiyajin watching the monthly blood sport. Once a month a tournament was scheduled wherein all those with vendettas, grudges and challenges to settle could do so without all hell breaking out on the planet. The ruling class had long ago discovered that the warriors, if left to their own devices, would pick fights and battles with each other at the most inconvenient times and places. After the crown was responsible for cleaning up after several knock-down-drag-out brawls a law was passed that stated battles could only take place once a month in the stadium for all to see. Now the Day of Blood was a highly treasured part of the saiyajin culture broadcast planet wide for the entertainment of the masses.
Freeza sat haughtily erect in his hover chair in the royal viewing box taking pleasure in the look of contempt the Saiyajin King gave him. He deliberately gazed at the empty throne next to King Vegeta before speaking.
"Your lovely mate isn't here to join us I see" the tyrant said sweetly. "I had thought she would want to see how the Prince fairs in battle. I take it she objects because I arranged it."
"Freeza-sama accept my apologies" the King replied. "She still does not trust you."
Freeza laughed. "Don't worry she'll come around" he said once again in a sweet voice that made the saiyajin uneasy.
There was a sound of horns and the voice of the announcer came through the speaker system in the large arena. "And now we have a special challenge match. It seems that you will be receiving the great honor watching our own Prince Vegeta square off with the Captain of Freeza's own body guard Dodoria. Unfortunately this is a match to be waged until only one of them is left standing and not to the death. Enter contestants."
A thunderous cacophony of cheers and shouts mixed with the sound of pounding fists erupted from the rowdy audience as Vegeta set foot out on the battlefield. King Vegeta looked over at the pasty tyrant as he directed his crimson gaze down at his son. His mate's words came to him and he wondered if Freeza's interest in his heir was hypocritical, as she suspected, or real. The lizard-like warrior had a satisfied sort of smirk as he leaned over to get a better look at the child in the center of the ring. His demeanor was almost affectionate, almost fatherly, as he watched the boy and King Vegeta was not sure if he liked it.
The saiyajin boy felt energized by the electrical atmosphere of the crowd. He sucked in their adoration through every pore using it to further bolster his strength. Vegeta was supremely confident, he had been on a self-imposed training retreat for the whole week, and he knew that he was ready. He was waiting with baited breath for his promised opponent to show himself. Vegeta felt his heart take a dive of disappointment and disbelief when he saw who entered the ring.
"You?" Vegeta asked incredulously. "You are my opponent?"
"That's right kid," Dodoria said with a grin spread across his black disgustingly cracked lips. "I'm the one who's going to teach you a little humility."
Vegeta stared wide-eyed at the pink alien before he suddenly busted out laughing hysterically. With every guffaw Dodoria was sent closer to the edge of loosing it. He silently told himself that his master wanted the boy alive and clenched his fists while the little monkey-tailed upstart wound down out of his outburst.
"Are you done?' Dodoria asked Vegeta.
"Yes I'm now ready to teach you a lesson in humility," Vegeta said brazenly throwing Dodoria's own words back in his face while carefully wrapping his tail around his waist.
Dodoria rushed at Vegeta with a growl. He slammed his fist down at the boy's head and found himself jamming it into the ground instead. He fell forward onto his face when he received a kick to his rear and sat up cursing and spitting out dirt shocked that the little saiyajin was as fast as he was.
"Come on pink-boy I know that even you can't be that pathetic," Vegeta taunted with a cruel air.
"YOU ASKED FOR IT YOU LITTLE MONKEY!" Dodoria screamed before shooting off a mouth ki attack where the child stood.
Vegeta darted away barely skirting its edge and it went off as it struck the domed protective ki shield that hung over the stands full of spectators.
"You're aim is a little off Do-Do breathe" Vegeta chided.
"Why don't you attack me?" Dodoria screamed.
"Because I know that you're holding out on me" the Price divulged "and I refuse to fight back until I see that you're giving it your all."
Dodoria laughed his enormous bulk quivering like a pink mound of jello. "Okay monkey I'll be happy to indulge you but just remember you asked for it."
Vegeta grinned at the alien and watched with anticipation as he prepared to power-up. The ground began to tremble as the first flames of energy became visible around Dodoria and the audience became silent. The ugly pink alien screamed as his ki flared and the little red veins in his eyes became visible with his strain. Vegeta watched his scouter and was surprised to see that his opponent's power level was indeed approaching his own. After a few moments it became clear that Dodoria's energy level was shooting past his own even in his most highly powered stage and the young saiyajin gapped in disbelief.
"HA! HA! HA!" Dodoria chortled. "You should see your face! Now you see what you are really up against! You can always forfeit so I don't have to mess up that cute little face of yours."
"Don't be ridiculous" Vegeta quickly retorted regaining his composure. "I never consign a battle. As for your power, you are impressive but not that impressive. You may be stronger than me, but not by much, and seeing as I have brains working for me as well as brawn that stacks the odds decidedly against you."
"How dare you insult my intelligence!" Dodoria fumed. "You are nowhere near my league."
"Think not?' the boy asked. "Don't count you chickens before they're hatched. Now its my turn to show you my true power."
Vegeta planted his feet. Breathing in deeply he unwound his tail and took a spread legged stance. He concentrated briefly before he slowly allowed his the energy to release and build. His aura glowed brightly at intervals and seemed to encircle him for a moment in almost a whirlwind. Vegeta glared evilly at Dodoria before gave a mighty battle cry and released his energy in a tremendous burst that nearly knocked the alien off his feet. His power level climbed rapidly to Dodoria's horror making him realize that he had made a mistake in underestimating the child's power. Freeza had been absolutely right that Vegeta's power level was near his own. The ugly alien glanced up at his master to see his reaction and was dismayed to see Freeza fairly grinning at the young boys display of power.
"There's no way you can be that strong! You're only a child!" Dodoria stated glancing back at the cocky boy. "How can you be almost as strong as me?"
"I'm a prodigy," Vegeta said with a lop-sided smirk "haven't you heard?"
"It doesn't matter" Dodoria spat. "I'll squash you Veggie-boy!"
"Don't ever call me that!" Vegeta snapped. "For that little crack I won't let you take the first move." Vegeta allowed some energy to gather in his hand. "I look forward to the challenge of defeating you. It's been a long time since I've had a good workout. Shall we start with a little game of catch?" With that he through the energy ball square at Dodoria who batted it away with his hand. With the fat alien occupied Vegeta targeted a stronger burst of energy at his chest. When it struck Dodoria he rushed forward and struck him in the groin. His opponent was so stunned and in such pain the saiyajin found it easy to knock him off his feet with a flying kick, which he followed with a ki infused kick to the alien's ribs. Vegeta was about to deliver another blow when Dodoria's aura suddenly exploded sending him sailing backwards through the air. Vegeta's flight was quickly abated when he found himself slamming into the stand shields and hitting the dirt floor of the arena with a painful thud.
"You'll pay for that little attack in spades monkey!" Dodoria laughed firing away several rounds of energy tracing up to the Prince.
Vegeta quickly shot up and out of the way sending his own blast at Dodoria's head. Dodoria blocked it and moved in on Vegeta quickly where he hung suspended in the air. He jabbed and kicked furiously at the child but found each and every one of his moves parried. Suddenly Vegeta dove under Dodoria's fist. Using his opponent's own weight against him Vegeta landed a right hook to his abdomen as Dodoria's own bulk, for the alien was unable to stop his forward motion quick enough, connected with it forcing all of the air from the bloated blob's lungs. Next Vegeta shot a close range ki blast to the same area piercing the man's armour. Vegeta then sent the alien sprawling with an uppercut to his jaw. The boy could hear and feel the cheers of his subjects as he carefully watched Dodoria pull himself to his feet.
Dodoria gave the child a glare betraying the fact that he no longer cared about his master's orders. From this point on the battle was to the death as far as he was concerned. This of course was no skin off of Vegeta's back and he signaled his understanding with a lopsided smirk.
Naoko listened the roar of the people as they cheered for her son. Part of her wanted to be there, to experience their ardor with him and pridefully watch as he fought with the skill that she knew he had but she knew she could not. She had to remain by her word and make her mate see the truth in the only way she lawfully could. She disagreed with the Alliance and they were already seeing protectorates withdrawing themselves from their influence. The boldest of these was an ultimatum from the queen of the Daidaiirojin who said they would be forced to go to war against them if they didn't disavow the Cold Empire.
Naoko started at the sound behind her and when she turned to investigate its source she found Nira standing there. "Nira" the Queen said in surprise "I thought that you would be there to watch the Prince fight."
"I cannot," she said nervously.
"Is something wrong Nira," she asked. "You look upset."
"I am sorry" Nira replied. "I'm sorry for what I'm about to do, My Lady."
"I don't understand" Naoko replied walking towards her.
"Come no closer" Nira stated waving her hands in front of herself in protest. "I don't deserve your concern. I'm not your friend or loyal servant. I never was. I'm not what I seem."
Naoko was at first puzzled by the girl's declaration but what happened next utterly shocked her. As she looked on Nira's features begin to melt away, her skin giving way to a pale blue and her hair and ears disappearing until a shelf of bone was all that remained around the back and sides of her head. Her tail paled as well and thickened into a whip-like reptilian one and her feet became a three-toed saurian sort. When the metamorphosis was complete Naoko doubted that what stood before her was Nira but the large, limpid violet eyes confirmed the fact against all other protests she might have.
"What are you?" Naoko asked still not wanting to believe what her eyes told her was reality. "Nira what does this mean?"
"My true name is Ice and I am tsirijin," the girl stated.
"Tsirjin?" Naoko replied bewildered. No one she had ever known had seen a female tsirijin just as no one had ever been to their home planet. The tsirijin liked to keep to themselves and thus no one really new much about them. The fact that they could possess such shape shifting abilities never crossed her mind.
"I am a spy for Lord Freeza" Ice continued "and I am here to kill you."
"A spy!" Naoko snapped her uncertainty overtaken by anger. "And to think I trusted you with my son, the heir to the throne of Vegetasei! Baka! You shall not kill me! You shall never touch my son again because it is you that shall die! Traitor!"
"I am sorry" Ice said sadly. "I promise to make this quick and painless as you deserve."
Dodoria got a hold of himself realizing that this was as much a test for him as it was for the boy. Freeza wanted to see if he could quell his temper long enough to win a battle. He'd started off the battle on the wrong foot and let the little monkey get to him so that he had been fighting sloppily. He normally out-classed his opponents by so much he didn't have to think much in battle but he couldn't do that now. He had to gain the upper hand and prove to Lord Freeza that he still deserved his position by killing the Saiyajin Prince. Grinning he fired off a rapid succession of Ki blasts trying to herd the boy towards the ki shield. He knew if he could somehow corner Vegeta he could use his size and weight to trap and overpower him. Unfortunately the kid seemed to figure out his little plan and, after dropping almost to the ground he extended out one of his arms palm-up, blocked his chi fire with a strong beam of energy. The attack was so powerful it forced him to counter with one of his own strongest attacks. He then noticed the resistance at the other end vanish and the boy appeared above him. Dodoria stopped the crushing blow heading toward his aorta with his hand and countered with an over-the shoulder punch at the boy's face that his opponent successfully dodged. Wheeling around Dodoria immediately took the offensive.
Vegeta slammed into Dodoria and the hulking fighter smashed a double axe handle onto the small saiyajin's back. Vegeta nearly collapsed under the blow but found enough will power to drop and duck away. Unfortunately Dodoria saw the weakness and assaulted Vegeta with a barrage of quick jabs and punches connecting with his face several times. Vegeta concentrated realizing he needed to go back on the offensive. Shooting a powerful blast of energy to his opponent's face Vegeta quickly moved to jab his elbow in the side of Dodoria's head. With satisfaction the boy felt the crunch of breaking bone and left off the assault when he heard a strange sort of cry come from the big alien.
Dodoria felt his shattered jaw fall open and hang merely suspended by the skin of his jowls. Quickly he brought his hands up closing his mouth with his hands and grew hot with range once more when he saw the twisted look of glee on the boy's face. He felt his blood pouring out of the corners of his mouth into his hands and knew that he had to end this battle quickly if he wished to save his jaw. A longer fight could shatter the bone more and send it beyond repair. Knowing this he decided what his attack plan should be. Charging the boy and phasing in and out he forced the saiyajin to go completely on the defensive in order to block his blows. Faking a punch, causing Vegeta to try and block it, he snatched Vegeta's tail, immobilizing the boy, and snapped one of the vertebrae in it.
Vegeta howled in pain as he felt the paralyzing pain that seemed to take over every muscle and sense in his body. He was scarcely aware of the beating he was now receiving, the agony of the pain radiating from his tail being so great that it eclipsed everything else. Vegeta was disgusted with himself. His tail had only been used against him once before and he had been carefully aware of it ever since. In a momentary lapse of his guard he had allowed Dodoria to render him helpless. "I must regain control," he told himself pushing the pain to the back of his mind. In his moment of forced clarity he acted quickly.
Dodoria was having a marvelous time pummeling the helpless Prince. He could hear the jeers and hisses of anger from the crowd and decided to prolong the little saiyajin's torture for their benefit before making the kill. Tossing the boy into the air he went to slam Vegeta into the ground and was shocked to find the boy instead grabbing onto his wrists and throwing him over. Dodoria hit the ground with so much force he sank several inches into the soil. He stared up in disbelief as the young saiyajin punted with his feet into his chest cracking several ribs. He opened his eyes to see a heavily breathing, beat-up Vegeta glaring down at him in pure hatred. He raised his right hand up to shoulder level and began gathering energy in it.
"And now" Vegeta gasped through the searing pain in his chest "any chance you had of winning is gone." Vegeta tossed the ball up and smirked down at Dodoria who had crossed his hands over his face expecting him to throw the ki ball at him. He then turned up his face to the orb and heard the shouts and murmurs of the spectators telling people 'not to look at it' and to 'close their eyes' once they began to feel the effects of fake moon. His eyes became mesmerized by the soft light of the orb and he slowly only became conscious of the own heartbeat and his breathing.
Dodoria peeked out from between his fingers when the blow he expected didn't come and saw a very puzzling sight. Vegeta was staring up at the sky. When Dodoria directed his gaze in the Prince's line of sight he saw an extra sun in the sky. He looked back at the prince and was struck with horror when he saw the boy's eyes were glowing with and unholy light and his features elongating. Although Dodoria had never actually seen the oozaro transformation before he was certain that must be what was happening. "Kuso!" he said leaping to his feet. He had no idea how to stop the metamorphosis now that saiyajin was now becoming more bestial and was growing in size and panic began to set in. He heard screams of people trying to leave the stadium and he remembered that the saiyajin were blindly destructive in this form and cursed again. He started to run but was struck from the sky with a massive tail.
"HA! HA! HA!" the oozaro boomed. "Poor little baka! There's no escape." Vegeta bent down and picked up the screaming alien. He brought him up to his enormous red eyes and laughed again. "I think turn about is fair play" he declared "and I'm going to slowly torture you to death like you intended to do to me."
"Please don't.." Dodoria began before his voice was cut-off by the gasp of pain as he felt his arm pulled out of its socket. He looked up at Freeza who was grinning from ear to ear and cried out in pain as another limb was rendered useless.
Freeza sighed. He was almost tempted to let the monkey finish off his minion but he still had use for him. He gathered a small amount of energy in his hand and allowed Vegeta to luxate the alien's other limbs before shooting the light ball disrupting its energy.
Vegeta prepared to snap the impertinent shrimp in half but suddenly felt the power leaving him. He dropped the warrior and felt his body begin to contort and shrink back to normal. The pain in his spine and body began to return when he reached normal size. Overwhelmed he collapsed to his knees and squeezed his eyes closed for a moment trying to collect himself despite the debilitating pain. When he opened his eyes he found a pair of three-toed boots were inches in front of him. Vegeta looked up into the smirking face of Freeza. "Damn you!" he gasped realizing it was the pasty tyrant who ruined his kill.
"This was to be a match to victory and not death monkey" Freeza said wrapping his tail around the boy's waist. "It is very dishonorable and ungentlemanly to break the rules young prince. I expected it from Dodoria but not from you. You will have to be taught better manners before your next challenge."
Vegeta gasped and looked up to the box wondering why his father was allowing Freeza to interrupt a match and treat him in such an undignified manner. Cold horror struck his heart when he saw his father wasn't there. "Where is my father you baka?" he hissed struggling as Freeza brought the young saiyajin to his eye level.
"I have no idea" the tsirijin told him. "He called your mother's name and rushed out of the stadium just before you transformed." He relished the look of worry on the child's face. "Don't worry I'm sure its nothing. I think we should get you two in too regeneration tanks. After all you are worth far more to me alive than dead." He callously tossed the child to the ground on top of his unconscious lackey. The moment Vegeta's head struck the ground he lost consciousness as well.
After calling for the medics Freeza left the ring and made his way toward the royal chamber with anticipation. He knew Ice would do her job well to win back his good graces.
Naoko ran at Ice with an indignant scream of rage kicking fiercely at the girl's head. The Queen found herself falling to the ground. She was surprised to find the cause was the tsirijin's tail that the reptile had wrapped around her ankle and thrown her off balance with a tug. Naoko had never seen another race use their tails in that manner. Quickly trying to recover she struck out behind herself towards Ice's exposed belly when the girl came up behind her.
Ice jumped back avoiding the saiyajin's flying elbow and whipped her tail around striking the Queen in the head. Using the woman's disorientation to her advantage she wrapped her tail around the saiyajin's neck and cut-off the woman's scream as she tightened her hold lifting her off the floor. Ice's heart clinched in her chest as the woman's hands desperately clutched at her prehensile appendage thankful that she was unable to see the panic and fear that was undoubtedly in Naoko's eyes. Pulling the woman towards her body Ice placed her hands at the sides of her head. Her heart hammered in her ears as she quickly gave the saiyajin's neck a twisting jerk. Ice could hear and feel the sickening snap of Naoko's neck under her fingers and tears filled her eyes as the saiyajin's body instantly went limp ceasing her desperate struggle for life.
"I am so sorry" Ice cried fighting back the tears "but at least you will not feel what I now have to do."
Ice held the body in one hand and brought the other one up before her. She concentrated forming it into a hand encased in a knifed gauntlet. Freeza had said to make it a violent and brutal death and she would make it look like a violent and brutal one. He would never know that the saiyajin's actual death was quick and painless and the mutilation had occurred post mortem. Ice tore the knives into the flesh at the woman's throat with clumsy precision that was worthy of an inexperienced killer, and not a professional assassin. She felt the warmth of blood spill onto her hand as she nearly severed the head completely from the body.
Ice dropped the body to the ground and began to sob staring in horror at her deed as the red liquid began to pool at her feet. Forgetting everything including her duty she cried for the slain woman as she had once cried for her brother when she had killed him for Freeza. She stared at her soiled hands and wished desperately in disgust for someplace to wash bodily fluids from her skin. Pounding at the door of the royal chamber snapped her back to reality.
"NAOKO!!" she could hear the King howl as he rammed the door.
Quickly Ice composed herself and took the form that she had carefully studied, that of the orange prince. With years of practice she buried her feelings for another time and swiftly went about her business. As the livid King tried to get through the door she broke out the window and created magnetic strips on palms of her hands and soles of her feet. She waited just until the saiyajin entourage burst through the door to slip out of the window to be certain she, or rather the prince, was seen. Quickly and expertly she scrambled up the wall to another window, which she entered. Once she found herself in the locked room she blasted the camera and used her chameleon-like abilities to vanish. Invisible and unseen she waited for the guards to burst into the room expecting to find their quarry and quietly slipped out.
Ice ran down the corridor and slipped into the hanger where they kept the space pods. After a quick check around she chose a pod and entered the memorized access code. Slipping inside she placed an artificial ki generator on the floor. She next turned on the ship and set the auto launch sequence. Knowing she had little time the tsirijin dashed for the door. Barely squeezing through she landed on the ground outside the pod just as the palace guards entered the room. She scrambled out of the way of their feet as they rushed to the control console. Out of the way she leaned up against the wall and closed her eyes listening as they scanned the out-going craft.
"There's a ki signature on board all right" one saiyajin declared.
"Is must be the baka that attacked the queen" another said. "Shoot it down!"
Having caught her breath Ice exited the room and found a quiet place. After she was certain that she was alone, and there were no cameras, she rematerialized. Ice sadly perused her face, her true face, in a mirror, which hung on the wall. She wondered how much longer she would be required to stay on Vegetasei and what other deeds she would be required to perform. Sighing she reassumed her disguise, that of a lowly servant girl, dreading the reality she had to return to. A reality where she had just killed a woman she had loved and admired and where she had to face the widowed King. How could she face him? How could she face the Prince that she had just robbed of his mother?
Freeza entered the room and found the scene satisfyingly pitiable and gruesome. Kneeling on the floor, in his mate's own blood, was the proud King trying hard not to betray the despair he felt. He cradled her body barking orders at the guards who suddenly froze when they saw him enter the room. He smiled coldly at them and then at the King when he turned to them.
"What the hell are you doing here" he demanded.
"I heard about this terrible incident and I came to see if I could be of any assistance" Freeza said almost warmly. "I could have my guards help in the search of the perpetrator."
Suddenly a guard burst in the room and stopped short when he saw the tyrant.
"Well" the King barked "What is it?"
"Your Majesty" the man began. "You should see this." He reached over and turned on the view screen in the room. The picture fuzzed in and revealed the Daidaiirojin queen. "By this time" she said "your beloved queen is dead. We warned you saiyajin that we would act if you went through with the Cold Accord and even gave you several days to rethink your position but you did not heed us. I am now officially making a declaration of war on Vegetsei and the Cold Empire."
The King screamed with rage and obliterated the view screen. "You will pay!" King Vegeta declared clinching his blood soaked blood. "I will revenge the death of my mate with life of every last daidaiirojin. Tell the people that their King will address them. We will answer their declaration with one of our own. All of you leave at once!"
The saiyajin scrambled from the room leaving the two rulers alone.
"Of course you have the Cold Empire's full backing" Freeza told the King once they were alone. "Perhaps I should join you for your announcement and declare war on her myself. Imagine the saiyajin and my vast armies squelching this uprising and everyone else who dares to defy us. We should use this opportunity show these fools just how solid our new alliance is."
"Very well Freeza-sama" King Vegeta said looking sad, tired and desperate all at once. "I will see you then but I must ask you to leave me now."
"Of course" he said with a courteous bow. Just before he left the room he stopped short. "By the way" Freeza said "your son won the match. I saw to it he was taken to the medical ward immediately for treatment."
"Thank you" the King uncharacteristically said in earnest. He watched as Freeza left and the door slid shut behind him. Every part of him was aching and the emptiness in his heart fairly overwhelmed him, but he could not grieve. He could not betray his weakness. He could not let anyone know that he actually cared for his mate. No one would ever know of their bond. The King bowed his head and closed his eyes squeezing out a single tear in tribute to his mate.
Yes now you know for certain that Nira really is Ice. I'm sure you've guessed it by now because of all the hints I was dropping but now its definitely clear. It would be kind of interested to know how many people knew it (I'm sure that's everyone!) and when they did. Speaking of Ice I hope to have a picture up of her, as both of her alter egos, next week.
I found this chapter extremely challenging to write but I really feel good about it. I really, really would like to hear from you on what you think. You don't need to review but I'd love it if you would.
Next time…
Vegeta awakens to find his mother dead and his Planet at war. How will he react? An assault on Daidaiirosei is planned, captain Ginyu moves some more pieces on his end of the game and notices a promising young warrior, and Ice and Zarbon get a new assignment…
Chapter 5: Upheaval
Please check out my new short story "Visitations: A
Warrior's Dream" and Chapter 4 of the Machine Planet Saga now playing on ffnet
and my homepage, The Songbird and the Dragon, at www.geocities.com/l_songbird.