Hi all ! Here's another
installment of Part 1 of the Vegeta Trilogy. I know that it's been awhile but now things will be underway again. I apologize for making those of you
following this wait, but life is unavoidable. LOL!
This chapter is kind of long but there is a lot of
action.
Gurdo leaned against the wall hyperventilating while trying desperately to stay unnoticed by the saiyaijin guard that circled the base.
"Why did I have to do this?" he wondered. "It's a damn shame I'm the only one who can stop time. Recoom gets to be the diversion of the phony meeting while I got to run around planting bombs and nearly passing out from exhaustion." He looked down at his chronometer. "Only 30 minutes to go and then all I have to do is sit back until the stupid Daidorijin Army makes its entrance."
"Here goes nothing," he gasped taking a deep breath and holding it. He took off running down the hall his chest burning from exertion not watching where he was going. Suddenly he slammed into something and fell backwards loosing his mouthful of air.
"What the?" growled the male looking down at the fallen Gurdo picking the short creature up by it's neck.
"Its hideous" the female hissed as Gurdo began to sweat in nervousness.
"The question is what should we do with it?" the male said suspiciously sniffing at it and wrinkling his nose.
"Do you suppose its edible?" the female asked seductively brushing her tail across the male warrior's thigh. "We could share it together," she purred.
His nostrils flaring with interest the male looked at Gurdo like the main course of a romantic dinner.
"Kuso!" the four-eyed warrior declared in panic before quickly holding his breathe again. He wiggled out of the grasp of the saiyaijin and high-tailed it to the next available room.
Expelling his breath he allowed himself to rest for a moment as his heart threatened to beat its way out of his chest. "That was close" he thought listening to the pair's muffled cursing in disbelief as they searched for him. "I don't care where they wanted this to go" he thought "I'm setting the last bomb here and join Recoom now. They may not be very friendly but at least the commander of this base won't try to eat me!"
With a sigh he set to work eager to get on with the next phase of the invasion of the base.
***
Zarbon strode into the command room smirking at the urgent sound of their voices signaling that everything was going according to plan. Quickening his pace he barged into the control room.
"What's going on?" he demanded. "I was just about to go to sleep when your call came through. This better be worth it!"
"It is sir," the soldier in charge babbled. "There are two large ships headed our way and they refuse to answer our hails."
"Really?" Zarbon asked. "Are these they on screen?"
"Yes Commander" he answered. "Should we sound the alarm?"
"How close are they?" the blue-skinned warrior asked.
"Only 20 kilos" the man at the console stated.
"Good" Zarbon answered forming ki in his hand and hurling it at the console causing it to explode flinging both soldier's to the ground.
"What are you doing?" the chief officer demanded surveying the head of his underling pierced by a piece of the flying metal in shock.
"Lord Freeza thanks you for giving the ultimate sacrifice in his service" Zarbon said grinning wickedly gathering more ki in his palm.
"D-Drop your ki," a shaky voice ordered accompanied by the familiar click of a cocked blaster.
Zarbon looked over his shoulder to find a young man quaking with fear training a blaster on him. The young man's eyes held disbelief and fear of a most dangerous kind. He had seen it many times before from those experiencing combat for the first time unused to the sight of death and destruction overwhelmed them and sent them into a spin. This kind of fear made even the most level headed person a loose cannon, unpredictable and dangerous. Knowing he had little choice but to comply if he wanted to stay alive Zarbon dropped his ki and slowly turned to face him. He'd have to wait for a moment when he was unguarded and disarm him.
"Good job cadet" the officer said rising cautiously noticing the young man's state. "Why don't you let me take the gun?" he said hobbling over to him. "Okay" he repeated receiving a shaky nod.
Recognizing an opening as the gun was passed Zarbon flung himself at the pair. Unfortunately the experienced commander tore the gun away and fired a shot grazing Zarbon's cheek bringing the warrior to a halt.
"On the ground now!" the officer ordered.
Carefully Zarbon did as he was asked cursing his luck as he felt the trickle of blood down his face begin. "Easy now there's no need to get pushy," he said hoping opening dialogue would help.
"Shut-up!" the officer yelled. "Go and get back up now and have the warning sounded cadet" he said to the boy now transfixed by the sight of the blood pooling around his fallen comrade's head. "Cadet now!" he barked.
"Yes…yes s-sir" the boy said running away.
Zarbon's golden eyes locked back onto his captor until a high-pitched scream startled them. They both looked over to see the young man hanging in thin air clutching at his throat desperately thrashing his legs. Suddenly a crack resounded through the room and the boy's body went limp as his head lolled to the side. The body was thrown at the commanding officer's feet as he stared in abject terror. Zarbon took the moment to tackle the man to the ground by latching onto his legs. Desperately the man grasped for the gun and reached it only to have his wrist snapped back by an unseen blow. He had no time to react as Zarbon smashed his head on the hard metal floor over and over until he stopped struggling.
Breathing heavily he looked up into guarded and dead violet eyes. "Eh, thanks Ice" he said wearily due to the change she seemed to have undergone.
"The bombs are set, all communications are down so we should get going before the attack comes" she replied unemotionally.
"Sure" he said disbelieving this was the same girl who had been so shy and withdrawn not 30 minutes ago.
"Make your way to the hanger I've prepared the ship" she replied quickly fading away as she spoke. "I will cover you if we meet anyone."
"Anything you say" Zarbon replied hurriedly exiting the room.
***
Raditz carefully assessed his opponent, a tricky task when not allowed the use of a scouter as the prince had decreed. Truth be told he didn't mind the challenge presented to him because it would only prove to further exonerate himself from the shame he suffered at the hands of those of higher rank despite his having a power level worthy of an elite. This chance the prince had given him was a golden opportunity to set saiyaijin society on its ear by becoming part of the prince's own military unit. All he had to do was win and he was confident that he could. The former High Commander of the Saiyaijin Army was formidable looking but he knew that such things were inconsequential. As soon as the prince decreed the match was to take place Raditz had immediately checked the saiyaijin commander's record and found many reprimands for 'rash decisions' and had concluded that the Commander had the distinct weakness of not being able to control his temper. The teenager planned to use this weakness against him.
"I'm going to make you wish you never set foot in here First Class!" the big saiyaijin blustered flexing his muscles to the cheers of the Elites that surrounded the field of battle. "I'm going to chew you up and spit you out weakling."
"We'll see who is the weakling" young Raditz said with a smirk.
Young Vegeta smirked as he watched the two warriors prepare for the face-off. He was looking forward to the battle and had little doubt that the son of Bardock would prove a worthy opponent for Nappa. Nappa was strong but he had the distinct suspicion that Raditz was quite powerful himself. The boy tapped his scouter and read the two warriors and, as he suspected, Raditz resting power level was only 200 below Nappa's resting power level. Raditz, like his father, was evidently one of the notorious "sleepers". Occasionally, a saiyaijin baby was born with a low power level only to blossom later on and become powerful. Unfortunately for these "sleepers" their power level determination at birth hindered them for the rest of their life. The class distinctions would only let them rise up one-rank above their determined birth class at their Warrior's Appointment despite however dramatic the increase was. Of course there always was leeway when it came to nobles whom were deigned with the rare honor of gaining a higher title by order of the King. Bardock and Raditz, being neither of them nobles, would never be given this honor thus remaining Third and First Class for the remainder of their lives.
"You will begin when I give the word," young Vegeta announced. The crowd responded by falling into an anticipated hush. Vegeta noted with pleasure how Raditz stood alert, the tip of his tail twitching while wrapped neatly around his waist, his muscles taut as a spring ready for release. He fervently hoped that that the teenager would win because Nappa had become far too confident for his own good. "BEGIN!" he shouted.
With the grace and agility of a jungle cat Raditz pounced on Nappa delivering a series of annoying little blows to the large man's face before ducking away from his grasp.
"Why you little" Nappa began to swear at the teenager before a swift kick to his rear caused him to growl.
"What's the matter?" Raditz laughed.
"I'm going to squash you like the annoying little bug you are!" the Commander hissed charging his opponent with his shoulder.
Seeing the Commander coming Raditz quickly stepped to the side receiving a glancing blow to his rib cage as he narrowly avoided the brunt of the attack. Leaping into the air he landed on the large saiyaijin's back putting him in a chokehold. Gagging Nappa clutched at Raditz hands. Unable to budge the teenagers grip he tensed giving a mighty shout raising his ki. Raditz valiantly tried to maintain his grip as his hands burned from the burst in energy but at last found himself unable to maintain his grip. Nappa pitched forward sending Raditz over his shoulder into the ground flat on his back. The increasingly angry Commander threw all of his momentum and bulk into the fist he drove into the younger saiyaijin's chest.
"I"LL TEACH YOU!" he cried catching Raditz in the back and throwing him up into his waiting axe-handle slamming the boy into the ground again to the cheers of the crowd.
Seeing the Commander's ugly mug near his face Raditz shot a close range ki blast into the man's eyes being rewarded with a roar as he stumbled backwards. Quickly sweeping the man's feet out from under him he took the opportunity to raise his power level as Nappa tried to push himself up.
"EEEYAA!" Raditz screamed sending an immense blast toward the shocked Nappa. Gazing intently into the raising dust from the crumbing wall of the arena the boy never saw the Commander come barreling down at his back. Narrowly escaping by a strange contortion of his body Raditz grasped for the giant's tail.
Nappa laughingly batted away his opponent's hand, smashing his knee into his jaw. Yanking him up by his hair the big saiyaijin prepared to use the boy as a punching bag, however, Raditz was not down yet. Gritting his teeth, the teenager ignored the burning pain in his scalp and swung forward slamming his knee in Nappa's face. Next the boy kicked the man in his groin. Nappa squeaked in pain and doubled over slightly releasing his hold on him. On his knees where he fell Raditz delivered a ki blast into the man's chest sending him over backwards.
Nappa flat on his back visibly seethed, gritting his teeth, resting his eyes on the burned skin through the hole in his armor. His eyes dared up resting on Raditz, who stood in a battle stance, his feet planted shoulder width apart and hands ready to defend. This was not so much what sent his blood boiling, but the self-satisfied smirk that graced the boy's lip was more than enough to send him over the edge.
"THAT"S IT YOU'RE DEAD!!!!" the man screamed leaping to his feet and making a murderous rush towards his opponent.
"NAPPA STOP!" Vegeta ordered the commander only to be ignored. The prince was ready to leap into the ring and stop his former teacher from exterminating a soldier that could be valuable in the coming war but was pleased to see Raditz, his aura raised, well prepared for the on-slaught.
Transferring his weight to the balls of his feet Raditz sprung up into a back flip avoiding Nappa's fist. His other arm came up instinctively blocking the next punch. The two warriors rose into the air trading blows. Nappa once again grabbed hold of the boy's hair as is flew past him and shot downwards toward the floor of the arena. Stopping his dive short he threw Raditz down into the floor of the arena. Grinning evilly at the clump of hair he now had clutched in his fingers the commander hurtled feet first towards Radditz back intend to break it.
Although he was face down, his lungs burning he could hear the commander closing in on him. Rolling to the side at the last moment he was rewarded with the commander's feet instead slamming into the ground next to his right arm. Snarling Nappa brought his foot up to stomp on his face. Catching the foot in his hands Radditz stopped the man short and shoved him off balance enough to allow him to rise up. As Nappa regained his footing the younger warrior ignored the searing pain in his chest and the feeling of his acrid bile coming up into his mouth. He was fading and he knew that the other saiyaijin could see it from the grin spreading across his face.
Nappa suddenly lashed out at the surprised Radditz who barely had enough time to block it. Nappa continued his barrage causing the young saiyaijin to fall back as he defended against him toward the wall of the arena. Nappa cackled in joy as he forced the boy towards the wall with each blow. "Your trapped like a hairball in a drain" he said condescendingly. "Now I'm going to kill you," he announced charging headfirst to ram the boy into the wall only to have the boy fling himself to the ground out of the way. Nappa's skull slammed into the wall and he slumped to his knees in a stupor as the hot-blood poured from the open gash in his head.
"Lights out" Radditz said wryly as he hit the man at the base of his skull rendering him unconscious. Breathing heavily the boy wiped the trickle of blood from the corner of his mouth as the audience looked on in quiet disbelief.
"Well done Son of Bardock," the prince's voice declared. "You have earned the right to be part of my squad. I suggest you take yourself and Nappa to the medical ward. I expect to see you both at sunrise with the rest of the squad."
"Yes Ouji-sama" he said giving the boy a sayaijin salute grinning.
"Prince Vegeta!" one of the royal guard called entering the room. "You are ordered to come to the throne room immediately by the King."
Vegeta scowled. "Very well" he said giving his tail an impatient swish as he slowly strode forward. "I had just concluded my business anyway."
"It is truly urgent My Prince," the guard said. "A saiyaijin military base has been attacked by the Dardorijin."
Hearing this grumbles and gasps rippled through the room, as the prince's feature grew darker at the mention of his enemy, the enemy responsible for the murder of his mother.
Quickening his pace Vegeta strode down the hallways toward his father's throne room.
***
Freeza sat alone in his chamber in his usual position, staring out the window into the nigh sky of Vegetsei. They had two moons that hung large in the sky both in separate phases.
He smirked at them knowing full well they would both be full in two more years but by then he would be rid of his monkey problem and needn't fear retaliation from the angry wereapes. He would have them well in hand by then with the life of their prince in his possession.
The silence was pierce by a paging tone and he swiveled his hover chair towards the view screen pressing the button that activated it.
"Ah Gurdo and Recoom what new do I have from you?" he asked sweetly.
"Its done sir" Recoom said. "All the bombs went off and the Daidorjin are now storming the place. No one knows our ship is out here with this cloaking. It's a great show from up here."
"Yes" Freeza hissed with a chuckle. "I'm sure it is. Wait until it dies down a bit and make sure there are no survivors on either side."
"We hear you loud and clear Captain," he said brightly with the prospect of more carnage.
After the screen had gone blank the warlord sighed. "I think its time to pay the King a little visit."
***
Zarbon watched Ice as she gazed out the window of the ship towards the burning remains of the base below. After they had entered the ship and ere safely away the strange unnatural coldness has melted away revealing the same deeply troubled girl. He could not understand how she could change so abruptly and quickly but he supposed it was her way of coping. She shut off her emotions and slipped into the role she had been programmed to do since birth, that of an efficient assassin.
Suddenly she sank to her knees, bowed her head and lips moved softly forming unknown words. He realized she speaking in her native tongue, a language he had rarely heard, since Freeza generally chose to speak in the universal basic when around others not of his race. Although not knowing the words he could somehow sense the meaning of them. She was praying for the unfortunate soldiers that she had helped kill and the reality of her actions sent a sympathetic ache through his chest. He could not turn away from the sight and stood mesmerized as her lips trembled and she brought a fist to her chest. All at once she slumped forward silent and he felt his heart cave in to the need to reach out to her that he had been fighting for quite a long time. Coming up behind her he placed a hand on her shoulder and felt it stiffen under his palm.
Ice turned toward him almost in alarm and looked up at him with great pain filled eyes. Kneeling down before her he took her small hand in his and brought it to his chest where he placed his other on top of it. Her look changed to a bewildered shy one and she opened her mouth to speak but couldn't. She didn't know how to react here as herself. As someone else perhaps she could but she had spent so little time as herself during her life the truth was she didn't know what she felt about anything.
"Are you okay?" Zarbon asked quietly.
"I am" she ventured "I just don't like to do this…" then remembering her duty not to speak against Freeza she began to falter only to have him silence her with a finger to her lips.
"You don't like to kill" Zarbon said locking eyes with her "and yet Freeza sends you time and again and you do. Why?"
"He is My Lord" she faltered, "I am bound to do so."
"You hold no loyalty to him, you fear him and even hate him," Zarbon whispered "so why?"
"For my clan" she admitted a tear falling from her eyes. "My serving him keeps them safe and me safe. He and his clan could destroy mine and the barging is the only thing that hold them at bay."
Zarbon reached up and wiped the tear away and Ice gasped at the gentleness of his touch. Her violet eyes locked with his golden and she saw his concern for her in their depths and she began to cry in earnest. Collapsing forward on his chest she let out the pent up emotions she had tried so hard to hide as he warped his arms around her. Zarbon rested his chin on the top of her head and enjoyed the feeling of being her solace. He closed his eyes and listened to her tears and felt how desperately she clung to him. This simple contact made him aware of how much he cared for her. Long after her tears had dried up she still clung to him just savoring the feeling of being held unaware of the feelings she was awakening in the warrior that held her.
"Ice" Zarbon said breaking the silence tilting her chin up to look at him. "I want you to know that you can always tell me anything. I'll always be here and you don't have to be alone."
"Why are you doing this?" she asked timidly. "Why do you care?"
"I don't know," he said softly caressing her cheek. "I have no idea why out of all the people I've seen Freeza destroy why I care about you. I don't know why you move me like this."
Ice leaned her head into his hand and gazed up at him only to feel lost in his golden gaze and the warmth she felt in her soul. She felt safe there with him a feeling that she had forgotten over the years. She gasped as his cool lips met hers and ignited a tingle that ran down her spine. She closed her eyes and found herself instinctively responding to his tender lips upon her own forgetting her troubles in his arms.
***
Entering the room he found the view screen full of fuzzy static and a large group gathered around it. Immediately his eyes locked on Freeza who smirked at him calmly amidst the bedlam around them. Turning from the tyrant his eyes fell on his father standing in front of the screen, his fist clenched and his tail twitching in irritation. Making his way towards father he walked past the cabinet members bickered and vying for his attention receiving none.
"You see what this has wrote My King" he heard Lady Endou shout at Hakka as he passed them. "We have already received 3 declarations of war from our former protectorates. I warned you this would happen! We must immediately break ties with Freeza."
"We are saiyaijin and we do not run from battles," Hakka declared. "We must strike back now and quickly if they are ever to fear us again."
"You should not be so eager to rush into battle!" the old advisor chastised as he at last reached his father.
The boy looked up into his father's face and saw a sight rarely seen by his young eyes. His brow lined, his eyes troubled he was clearly displaying emotion openly to all close enough to see. "Father?" he questioned. The King looked down at his son with a grave expression.
"There were 500 soldier and many had their families on base with them" he said quietly. "We cannot rouse anyone and I'm afraid we have lost a great deal of them."
"Yes its very unfortunate" Freeza said lightly coming up behind them. "I have some ships in the area of the base, if you wish I'd be happy to send them to see if any monkeys survived."
Young Vegeta clinched his teeth at the mention of the "m" word. He had grown to despise Freeza even more for it over the past few months. The warlord was very aware that it upset him and made it a particular point to use it when addressing him.
"That would be good of you Lord Freeza" King Vegeta replied not in the least bit fazed much to his son's displeasure.
"I could also be of assistance with the world's that have just declared war," the warlord continued smoothly. "I have bases very close to them and I could send them to capture the world quickly before they have a chance to move against you."
"Ou-sama" Lady Endou interrupted urgently "I must object. If we show more force now, especially using the Cold Empire's troops, more rebellion will ensue."
"As you know Vegeta I have a very large Empire," Freeza said carefully turning his gaze to see the young prince's negative reaction with pleasure "much larger than yours. I have found that quick decisive action is the only thing that the peons understand. If we were not to show a united front in response to this insurrection then our alliance would loose credibility."
"I agree with Lord Freeza on this" the King said with an air of finality. "If we put up a united front and squash the rebellion quickly then the other world's should fall in line."
Freeza smiled coldly in reply. "I will order it immediately then" he said inclining his head. Turning on his heels he stopped to give the frowning prince another glance before continuing on his way out the door.
"He is disgusting Father" Vegeta declared. "How can you let him treat us with such disrespect. He doesn't use your title, claims his empire greater than ours, and calls us monkeys."
"He is rather annoying" the King confessed. "They are just words however, and his actions have done nothing but help us. Remember that Vegeta."
"Ou-sama" Lady Endou said. "I am sorry but I cannot remain in my position when we are taking this foolish course."
"Are you calling your King foolish?" the prince snapped at her before his father silenced him with a hand on his head.
"Yes she is" King Vegeta answered. "Can I change you mind Lady? We are in great need of sound minds in the time of war."
"My opinion does not matter, nor has it mattered for some time" she replied. "Since you don't seem to care about my views I'm resigning. I cannot condone this."
"Your time spent off world has softened you Endou," the King rebuked. "You no longer speak words of a saiyaijin but of an alien. If you continue to speak against me I will have no choice but to silence you."
"I will save you the trouble," she declared. "I'm leaving Vegetasei until you see reason."
"If you leave you are never to set foot on Vegetasei again" King Vegeta said darkly.
"Then I am banished?" she asked.
"Yes" the King barked. "If you leave you are banishing yourself."
"Then that is unfortunate," she said sadly leaving the room her tail lashing behind.
"If she goes" the advisor declared, "I go as well."
"Does anyone else wish to turn traitor?" King Vegeta bellowed. "If you do I suggest you leave immediately with Lady Endou. I have no desire for cowards serving me and I will kill you myself come tomorrow morning."
After he said this the five cabinet members who had been speaking out against the alliance left and with them and taking the voice of reason with them.
"We will crush all those who defy us" King Vegeta declared "and vengeance will be ours."
Young Vegeta cheered with the others in room as they fell into plans for the coming war charged with fire of vengeance and anger. He looked up at his father and returned his smirk of pride.
"You will fight by my side my son," the King told him solemnly receiving a grin from the boy that he barely stifled.
"I will make you proud father," the boy said carefully setting his features into a proper scowl.
"I will hold you to your word brat" King Vegeta declared resting his hand upon his son's head and smirking at him before turning his attention to the others in the room again. "Now go and train I will need you strong for this fight."
"Yes Father" Vegeta answered bowing low before turning to leave with a practiced flourish of his cape.
The King stared after his son as he left the room his heart growing heavy as the words of the prophetess came back to haunt him as they had often done since the day of his Warrior's Appointment Ceremony. "You will survive everyone in this room…" she had said, "…You will never be king of Vegetasei." He hoped to the gods she had been wrong.
That's it for now. I hope you enjoyed it. I decide
to throw in the Zarbon/Ice romance as you could see. I thought it would really make the last part of this story make
more sense the stronger the connection they had. You'll see what I mean.
Next time we jump forward 1-½ years from this chapter at
the close of the war that's erupted in the Saiyaijin Empire.