As I said before this chapter takes place roughly 1-½ years after Chapter 7. Vegeta is now 7 years old and the war is about to end.
The previous Disclaimer still applies.
Chapter 8: Freeza
Plays His Hand
Young Vegeta stood at attention by his father's side on the bridge of Freeza's ship feeling his hatred grow towards the small planet they were approaching. It had been almost two years since the war began and at last they had arrived at the moment of truth, the moment when they would make the murderers of his mother pay. Daidaiirosei would fall on this day and with it the last of the rebels. The only thing that disturbed him was that they were using Freeza's ship as the flagship on the mission and the springboard for the assault on the capitol.
Suddenly a call for attention resounded around the bridge and the reason for the call made the boy's tail bristle. Unlike his father, who turned around, Vegeta remained facing the view port in insolent rejection of the tsirijin lord's power.
For the moment the prince's impertinence was unnoticed by King Vegeta as he gave his full attention to Freeza's approach to his position. The King was not surprised to see the lord's eye's turn toward where he knew his son stood but he was bemused at the look of annoyed fondness that crossed his face. King Vegeta looked down at his son to find, yet again, the boy in a total display of defiance towards Freeza. Prince Vegeta's continued animosity towards the powerful lord dismayed him to no end, especially in light of the strange way Freeza reacted to it. He almost seemed to welcome it and still held the boy in some strange fashion of twisted regard and affection.
"Brat you will welcome Lord Freeza at once" the King commanded the boy.
"Let him be Vegeta" Freeza countered. "He is only a spoiled child that will soon learn his place."
King Vegeta watch his son's eyes acknowledge the remark as he stubbornly refused to turn around. "I appreciate your lenience with the boy but I am his King and Father and he will obey me."
"Why should he when he is stronger than you" Freeza taunted. "He should only have to show respect to those more powerful than he is, like myself." The tyrant shifted his crimson orbs from father to son. "As your better I command you to turn around young monkey."
Vegeta clinched his fists and ground his teeth in hatred at Freeza turning his display of disrespect to him into a mockery of his father. To turn around now would be a slap in the face to his father's pride, his own pride and a nod to Freeza.
"I respect no one," he said remaining in his position, crossing his arms over his chest, trying to save face.
"Lord Freeza, I trust that all is ready for the assault?" King Vegeta queried holding back his anger at both the boy and the changeling.
Freeza shifted his blood-red gaze to the monarch. He was little disappointed in the change of subject but he was in a good mood and decided to let it pass. He would have plenty of time to continue such games after this battle.
"Yes" the warlord continued "Your Elite force is ready as is the prince's own squadron. I won't be taking any of my troops for my portion of the attack and have deployed them along with the others for the general assault."
"You can't mean you plan to do it by yourself?" the Saiyaijin King asked.
"Oh no" the tsirijin chuckled "I intend to take Dordoria, Zarbon, another and Prince Vegeta."
"What!" the boy shouted whipping around in fury. "I have my own men and I am fighting alongside my father Freeza!"
"I require your services young monkey and I'm sure your father agrees with me," the changeling said almost sweetly.
The King looked at Freeza's unreadable expression not at all liking this turn of events. For the entire battle it was well known he intended his son to fight along side him in the capital as he had for all the other battles in this war. "The only problem I can see" he thought "is that it will indulge this penchant Freeza seems to have in undermining my authority toward the boy. In allowing this, however, it will force the brat to treat Freeza with some respect. If I refuse the blasted lizard will definitely make it into a scene and I can't afford to loose his support for this assault. After this war is over then we won't have to deal with him that closely so it won't hurt anything to allow it."
"I don't see why the boy cannot join you," he stated.
"Father I refuse to go anywhere with that repulsive lizard!" the boy protested his tail lashing about.
"You will be coming with me if I have to humiliate you in front of your men and people to do it" Freeza insisted harshly.
"Vegeta go with him!" King Vegeta said sternly. "Do not dishonor me or our house by refusing this."
The boy looked up at his father's face and realized even if he hated Freeza he needed to do this or Freeza would turn it into another mockery of the proud king. "I will go" the boy sighed "but only for my father."
"Excellent" the tyrant hissed. "I expect you to meet me in front of the saucer as soon as we land."
"Yes Freeza-sama" he spat out bowing, as he should.
"Now that's a good little monkey," Freeza laughed patting the grimacing child on the head leaving father and son to their own thoughts.
Vegeta braced himself for the lecture he knew he would now receive but was surprised to instead find his father actually smiling at him.
"My son" the King told him "remember that after today we won't have to deal with Freeza this closely any longer. I know how you despise him but you must try to put up with it for now."
"I'll try Father," the Prince promised wrapping his tail around his waist.
"Vegeta perhaps I have failed to communicate this to you" the King began "but we cannot always have everything to be the way we like it. As a King it is important to make concessions and sometimes take losses for the greater good. Although Freeza is not as respectful as he should be it is in Vegetasei's best interests to maintain a good relationship with he and the Cold Empire. You know he is the most powerful being in the universe it would be foolish to loose our good standing with him. Do you understand boy?"
"Yes Father" Vegeta answered resignedly.
"Now go and do your duty" King Vegeta ordered. He smirked with pride watching his son leaving trying hard to erase the dread he felt every time that Freeza showed marked interest in the boy. "I know I should feel pleased and honored that a great warrior like Freeza is impressed with him but somehow I dislike it. Naoko, I wonder what you would say about this? Would you still believe there was something sinister behind his favor?" he thought.
Shaking the unpleasant thoughts from his head the Sayaijin no Ou turned and made his way towards the hanger where his troops, and now his son's troops, would be waiting for him.
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Zarbon stood at attention trying not to look as bored as he felt. The troops were rushing out into the field ready to do "battle" with the pitiful daidaiirojin. This race was not a producer of great warriors to begin with, but with Ginyu sending all of the troops off world this would be more of a slaughter than a fight. In a matter of moments Freeza would arrive to take he and his two companions to wherever this target was.
"Zarbon what do you suppose is taking Freeza so long?" Dodoria questioned.
"I haven't the slightest idea," he answered allowing his eyes to fall on the third member of the party. Today she was disguised to resemble a member of the same species as Freeza's be-horned, current captain of the guard. Her back was to him as she sat on a rock carefully observing everything around her, ever alert to danger. He knew she could feel his gaze as she sifted uncomfortably and tried to avoid temptation not to meet his eyes with her violet orbs. It was comical to see the tilt to her head as she attempted to peek at him through peripheral vision to understand why he was staring.
"Zarbon!" Dodoria chided glaring at the blue-skinned man as he suddenly blinked his golden eyes and regarded him. "You haven't heard a word I've said have you?"
"Uh," Zarbon faltered, "I guess I didn't."
"No you were too busy staring at your girlfriend over there" Dodoria chuckled.
Hearing this statement made him immediately look over at the girl in question noting the color that had come up into her cheeks as she turned completely away.
"She's not my girlfriend" Zarbon asserted nervously hoping no one was around to hear.
"Oh come on," the pink slob continued. "You've spent the last two years almost exclusively on missions with her. You can't tell me nothing happened during all that time alone knowing your way with the ladies. HA!"
"Look Dodoria" Zarbon snapped noticing the slump to her shoulders as the pink being laughed. "Keep your assumptions to yourself" he stated leaving him to laugh by himself and standing beside her.
"Are you okay?" Zarbon asked without looking down at her.
"Yes I'm fine" she said the worry in her voice undisguised.
"I'll make sure he keeps quiet love" Zarbon assured her. "You don't have to worry."
A gentle smile graced her lips at his reassurance. She couldn't help but live in fear that Freeza would discover what had happened between she and Zarbon knowing he'd find someway to twist it and forge it into a weapon. She knew that Freeza was capable of destroying this one shred of happiness she had managed to obtain and he would delight in doing so. This was doubly the case because of tsirijin creed and the creed of the sisterhood. Eventually she would have to give him up and return to tsirisei to become part of some warrior's harem and when that time came she would do so but she wanted to hold onto the love she had until that day and not have it torn from her as everything else had.
"Ah I see my little band of loyal minions is all assembled" Freeza's voice announced smoothly.
"It's a pleasure to be of service" Zarbon responded turning gracefully with a gentlemanly bow.
Ice's head shot up as the chill of his presence struck her to meet his gaze. It had been a long while since she had been in his presence and she now found it twice as suffocating due to the added weight of her clandestine relationship.
"Zarbon" Freeza stated after a quick scan of the three before him "its good to have you back at my side. I knew I could count on you to be sure things turned out as they should in the war but there were many times I missed having a dependable second."
Dodoria huffed with displeasure at the clear dig at his ability.
"Ah, Ice my dear" Freeza next said smoothly to the young woman fairly hiding behind Zarbon. "I'm very pleased with your success in our missions with Zarbon. Although I know you are accustomed to work in the field I know that you won't begrudge me your assistance in an important endeavor during your last few years of your service to me."
"Of course not My Lord" she said mildly averting her eyes.
"Now all we have to do is wait for one other," he said with a mysterious smirk and a pointed glance at Ice.
"Lord Freeza" Zarbon ventured not liking the implications the tsirijin lord's behavior toward Ice implied. "Who will be joining us for this mission?"
"Here he comes now," Freeza said dismissively to the reptilian warrior.
Three pairs of curious eyes looked toward the direction in which Freeza was looking intently. It took a moment for them each to register and react to the realization of just who was joining them.
"Prince Vegeta!" Ice whispered in distress. All at once the incredible guilt of her injury to him flooded her mind overshadowing every other fear she had. How could she bear to be around him?
Zarbon looked at Ice in concern and then up at Freeza's crimson eyes that sparked with interest. The changeling still seemed to particularly delight in torturing her sensitive nature and there was nothing he could do about it but feed his impotent anger and magnify his empathetic pain while she suffered.
"Why is that little monkey coming?" Dodoria bellowed with all the vehemence of his grudge.
"Are you questioning my judgment Mr. Dodoria?" Freeza asked in a threatening tone.
"Oh course not sir" Dodoria recovered beads of sweat beginning to form on his brow.
Freeza took a moment to glance at the unusually quiet Zarbon who normally wouldn't have passed up a chance to chide Dodoria with interest. He was obviously preoccupied with something and his instinct told him that something was Ice. Zarbon had always been a little partial to the girl cut now he seemed doubly distressed at her mental state and was being far too careful not to look at her. He would have to investigate this further at another moment for now he had his newest pet that required his attention.
"My young friend" Freeza greeted the boy "I'm so happy you had no trouble in finding us."
"Whatever" the boy stated. "I'm here now let's get this over with."
"Patience is a virtue young monkey," Freeza counseled. "Besides I think some introductions are in order. You know my personal guards but I don't believe you've had the pleasure of meeting the lovely lady of the group." Freeza paused and gestured at the clearly flustered young woman before continuing. "Prince Vegeta, I'd like you to meet Ice."
Vegeta noted the shock on everyone's faces when her name was uttered in confusion. Why the use of the name should bother them was not quite clear to him but he appearance he found puzzling. She appeared to be a Selarian but her face was dominated by two large violet eyes, the kind of eyes he hadn't seen since his caretaker had disappeared and her name was not selarian either.
"Ice?" Vegeta questioned noting how nervous she was under his gaze. "Isn't that a tsirijin name?"
"Astute as usual Vegeta" Freeza stated in approbation. "It is a tsirijin name. She may not appear tsirijin, but I assure you she is one at heart."
"Lord Freeza" Zarbon said trying to push the conversation toward a subject other than Ice "I haven't heard exactly what we are going to be doing."
Freeza turned his attention to the green-haired man narrowing his eyes in thought. "Yes" he began as he scanned the man carefully "I wished to keep our little mission a secret because of its sensitive nature. I have gained reliable information regarding a rather powerful weapon being built in a secret laboratory near here. This weapon was said to disrupt the body's own ki killing even the most powerful warrior instantly. They intended to use it on both the Saiyaijin King and myself. Needless to say we need to find it and destroy it before they have a chance to use it."
"You needed me to help destroy some gun?" Vegeta declared nastily " I thought at least I'd be fighting in a battle."
"Have no fear young monkey they'll be plenty of guards at this facility," Freeza stated. "You should be honored I'm taking you at all."
In answer the young saiyaijin crossed his arms over his chest and 'humphed'.
"Now if there are no more idiotic comments we should be on our way" Freeza said sternly. "Follow me and we will be there shortly."
The warlord blasted-off without a glance behind, his minions quickly in tow, before Vegeta joined them in the sky
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Ginyu laughed at the queen writhing in the grasp of Bata and Recoome. He flexed his arms and frowned as he noted the sorry state of his once muscular physic. Of course after two years languishing in a prison while housing a spoiled aristocrat what else could he expect?
"Thank you for lending me your body" he chuckled "and you'll notice its in perfect shape as I promised."
"Now that I am loose they will know of your treachery!" the woman screamed. "You will never make it out of here alive!"
Giving her a snide little smirk he stretched his arms apart displaying the chains on his wrists. "Your personal bodyguards will just be conducting another prisoner through the palace. No one will ever think anything about it and they'll be too busy fending off the invading army to really care. As for you, you'll be trapped in here until its too late."
"You'll never get away with this," the women declared.
The door to the throne room opened as Jeice slipped inside.
"Young man!" the queen shouted at him. "Hurry and get my guard these men are dangerous!"
"Dangerous?" Jeice questioned observing her flailing in the two large warrior's hold.
"I thought they were your bodyguards."
"It was all a clever ruse!" she cried. "The ugly purple one stole my body and I was in his languishing in the cell below!"
"What?" he asked confused.
"She's telling the truth," Ginyu told him with a smile. "For the last few months you've been serving under me. I am Captain Ginyu and these men are the soldiers of the Ginyu Squad. We are an elite commando unit serving Lord Freeza."
"You mean to tell me I've been helping Freeza?" Jeice cried in shock.
"Yes!" the queen shouted impatiently. "You must run and get help!"
"If you did that would be useless" Ginyu told him. "No one will listen to you while a full-scale battle is going on. In a few moments this palace itself will be attacked by King Vegeta himself seeking the blood of queenie here."
"King Vegeta!" she gasped wide-eyed. "Young man you must protect me and get me to safety. I can find some way of reaching the king and explaining all of this."
"You and I both know you are no match for him or any of his Super Elite Royal Guard." Ginyu told him. "Trying to protect her will mean your death. Lucky for you, I've always hated to see talent like yours wasted so I'm giving you the opportunity to join my little force and I. If you leave here with me you'll live like a king as a member of my squad. If you stay here you'll either die or become a slave."
"Don't listen to him!" she called. "It is better to die defending your home world than to live as a traitor!"
"Well what will it be?" Ginyu asked.
Jeice looked sadly at the men he had come to think of as his friends over the past two years trying to muddle though his confused conscious. He didn't like the prospect of dying but the pleading eyes of the woman restrained before him sent a pain of conscious into his heart. "I'm staying with my queen."
"Have it your way for now kid" Ginyu laughed tossing something at him. 'Catch" he called out.
Jeice examined the same remote device in his hand and then looked questioningly at the purple creature before him. "When you come to your senses find a good place to hide and press the button and we'll come for you."
"Here" called Bata pitching the woman towards the youth who barely caught her without falling over.
"I really hope you change your mind" Ginyu said with a winning smile. "Let's get out of here men before things really start to heat up."
As if on cue the palace alarms signaled an attack while the three men began to exit.
"And I'm going to make sure you can't do anything until we're good and ready" Gurdo laughed as he mentally pulled the daidaiirojin pair into a time pocket. "I t was nice knowing you kid" he said scurrying out and locking the door behind himself.
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"Look at the wonderful little fortress my friends. Isn't it quaint?" Freeza chuckled as he hovered above the island facility.
"It looks well protected enough" Zarbon commented.
"It's an anti-ki shield and its electrified to touch," Vegeta stated reading the display on his scouter "the same kind we use on Vegetsei. It's impossible to breach."
"You think so young monkey?" Freeza said with a touch of amusement in his voice. "Ice show him how impregnable it is."
"Yes My Lord" she stated. She pulled a large black ball from the satchel about her waist and flung it at the shield. Upon contact it exploded releasing a ripple that voided the shield around it.
"Hurry before it closes" Freeza ordered leading the small group through the opening. He looked over at Vegeta who was incredulously staring at the closing shield. "Vegeta would you like to do the honors of blasting our entrance to the compound?"
"Whatever" the boy stated with disinterest charging a ki ball in his fist and pitching it towards the wall in front of them. As soon as the smoke cleared the 3 experienced warriors swooped down upon the guards below like vultures with Vegeta and Freeza slowly following. Evidently Freeza had decided to sit this battle out merely landing just outside of the battle zone and Vegeta decided if the fight was too unimportant for Freeza to engage in then it was too unimportant for a prince, therefore he landed right next to the lizard.
"Sitting this one out monkey?" Freeza laughed. "I imagine this isn't enough of a challenge for you?"
The boy rolled his eyes with distain and stared straight ahead at the fights intending on learning what he could from the other warriors. Dodoria, as usual, was unimaginative relying on his brute strength to power his way through a large group of guards. While the pink alien's messy rush caused more terror than accomplished anything Zarbon took out a few much neater and quicker with ki lances to the heart. However, what Vegeta found the most intriguing was the female's skill. She downed five men without a single ki blast using her own energy merely to deflect and defend. Her hits were precise and deadly first disarming, disabling and then snapping their necks.
Ever alert the young warrior detected an approach from behind and turned to face it. The tsirijin lord turned his chair to face them detecting their approach as well.
"My, my I think I'm trembling in my boots" Freeza chuckled noting the look of terror descend upon them as his identity sunk in "such an impressive regiment. I think you must have the combined power level of an ant."
Vegeta smirked in spite of himself. Freeza could be witty, if nothing else, and he was correct in his assessment of these yaros indicated by their low power ratings.
"You won't stop us Freeza," an obviously high-ranking officer declared.
"No I won't" Freeza said icily gesturing towards the saiyaijin boy "but my young friend here will."
The man took one look at the boy and smiled as he saw the surprise flicker across the boy's face. The child had spiky, black hair that stood straight up and wore fancy armor with a cape that fell over his shoulders. He could tell by his tail he obviously was a saiyaijin youth but he evidently lacked any interest in fighting from his expression. Besides he was too young to be much of a threat. He knew for a fact that children never participated in important attacks until they were at least in their teens.
"What hiding behind children now are we?" the man taunted. "I won't even acknowledge your obviously twisted sense of humor. Even a saiyaijin child can't stand up to a whole battalion of the queen's best soldiers."
"I think that is the last mistake you'll ever make" Freeza said seeing Venetia's agitated reaction. "Prince Vegeta doesn't take kindly to questions of his ability. Do you Vegeta?"
Vegeta noted the surprise and fear his name seemed to strike in the man and his troops with satisfaction. Obviously his reputation from the last two years of battle had preceded him. He smirked evilly at the man wrapping his tail around his waist. Freeza's indulgent look of almost pure content was lost on him as the child sprang into action. The boy was so quick the unfortunate guard never knew what hit him as he was impaled with his own rifle. Several men bolted and were easily dispatched by lances of ki from the child's fingertip.
"Should we assist him?" Zarbon asked Freeza as he, Ice and Dodoria joined the changeling on the sidelines.
"No Zarbon" Freeza said darkly "I want them to know he's fully capable of dispatching them all on his own."
Ice looked at her master's face remembering his dark scheme with regard to the boy. He had already begun his plans involving his 'living weapon'. She shuddered to think about Vegeta under Freeza's control and what it would be like for him. She looked back up at the boy as he toyed and vanquished the soldiers with ease and for once cursed his skill as she realized Freeza's fascination with the boy stemmed partly from it.
Vegeta soon found himself under fire from the remaining guards and raised his ki to adequately protect himself setting off the beepers on the scouters of his assailants and worry in their eyes. One man suddenly found himself careening into the others bowling them over and into the wall with a metallic clang.
"Goodbye" the boy said with an evil smirk before sending a volley of energy instantly incinerating them.
"Excellent work my boy" Freeza said.
"I am not your boy Freeza!" Vegeta snapped. "I am Prince of Vegetasei, not your bootlicking lackey!"
"You may be a prince monkey" Freeza retorted "but you belong to me more than you know." The changeling lord watched the boy's face falter a bit before quickly changing the subject. "Come let's hurry along to the laboratory room, shall we?"
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"Oh no, no. This can't be happening" the once proud queen moan slumping into her throne. "Gods boy what did that abomination do in my name to cause this?"
"Well you…that is he, seceded from Vegetasei's influence and declared war on them first by having the queen murdered. He even got half of the protectorates to go along with it."
"Gods" the woman moaned again.
Jeice stared blankly at his queen, slumped down into her throne in defeat. With the silence that now permeated the room he could hear the battle from outside the palace. It seemed closer than before and inevitable it would reach them and when it did he shuttered to think what would happen. For all the bravado he put on in truth he was a coward terrified of the prospect of being forced to give up his life. He wasn't noble or honorable as someone who had been blessed with the natural ability to fight so well should be; rather he desired nothing more than to preserve himself alive.
Suddenly a large explosion rocked the palace and gunfire, shouts and screams of terror soon followed closer than ever.
"Damn!" the queen said in a shaky whisper. "They're here!" She turned to the young man clearly in a state of panic for she too when it came down to it was afraid to die. "You must protect me! I order you to help me escape!"
Her words were unheard now by the young soldier. With each passing moment he could hear the commotion approaching ever closer allowing the icy fingers of fear to gain a tighter grip on his heart.
Her own fear feed by her lone companion the queen at last felt helpless and alone. It all seemed like a dream, some terrible dream, to have your kingdom slowly destroyed around you and to have the emissary of your death closing in on you for nothing you have done.
An explosion shocked them back to reality by an explosion much too close to ignore. An incessant banging on the door next resounded throughout the room.
"Majesty!" a muffled voice called. "You must come with me quickly! The saiyaijin are in the palace we haven't much time."
Her beautiful face now reflected the small glimmer of hope in her heart as she bolted to the door. Feverishly she undid the latches and locks that she had engaged not long before. Her fumbling hands and her hurried panic made it a difficult task. Suddenly at her elbow was Jeice, the young man, and his nimble fingers quickly finishing the job.
The soldier on the other end snatched the ruler's wrist and pulled her along with him through the large anteroom. Perhaps if the man had been thinking, he would have taken her through the shattered window in the back of the throne room and they would have escaped. Perhaps if Jeice had been thinking he would have noted the folly. Perhaps if the queen hadn't been a sheltered and spoiled royal she would have recognized the error but it wasn't to be. Her fate was sealed the moment they ran back towards the palace and their path was blocked the sudden appearance of two members of the saiyaijin royal guard. The soldier to his credit drew his weapon and fired but was immediately cut down with the guard's quick actions.
The scream of the queen echoed in his ears as the cold eyes of the pair sent Jeice into a tailspin. His instinct for self-preservation his only prayer he dropped to his knees in a display of surrender trying to avoid the accusing eyes of the monarch he had declared would die for not long before.
"How does it feel" the stern voice of the Saiyaijin no Ou resounded in room announcing his presence "to know you are about to die?"
"King Vegeta!" she whispered.
"Yes" he said proudly standing tall in the half shadow of the room.
The two monarchs perused each other in silence for a moment. He looked every inch the King to her though his cape was torn, his armor chipped and his bronze skin was spattered with blood of those slain. His eyes shown with and intense hate leaving no doubt as to her fate. There would be no reprieve this day and the best thing she could do was to receive her execution as gracefully as possible. She could only die like a queen and not like the sniveling coward at her feet.
"I know you probably won't believe this" she stated calmly "but it wasn't me who had your mate killed or started this war."
"You think to save yourself with lies" the King accused.
"No" she stated. "I only wish to save you the pain of going through what I am. To see your people and kingdom destroyed before your eyes."
"And what do you mean by that?" he asked her.
"Only that the true orchestrator of this war is Freeza and his aim to destroy your empire" she told him looking him straight in the eye.
For a spit second the honesty in her eyes almost moved him to accept the truth but his rage soon squashed it.
"You are a coward" he spat.
"No" she said proudly. "I am the Queen of Daidaiirojin and I wish to die with my people and I'd rather die at your hands than Freeza's" she stated holding her arms out from her body. "I only tell you the truth in the hopes you haven't already become Freeza's pawn."
"I am no one's pawn!" the King shouted in rage sending a blast straight through her heart. The woman crumpled to the ground, instantly dead from the wound.
Jeice looked up at King Vegeta in shock feeling his heart pounding in his chest as one of the guards spoke trying to erase the image of the queen's dead staring eyes.
"Should we kill him Ou-sama?" the man gruffly asked with a cruel grin at the prostrate youth.
The King's dark eyes, looking more haunted by personal demons than before, traveled across the boy's face. Fortunately for Jeice his bloodlust that consumed him before was replaced by the troubling last words of the queen.
"No" the king stated sternly "let the baka live and remember his cowardice this day. Take him to the slave encampment."
Jeice smiled as he was yanked to his feet and forced down the hallway away from the scene. He was alive and he had the passport out of slavery firmly trucked into his armor. He would live to fight another day.
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Vegeta watched the scene before him in partial revulsion. The lab technicians cowered shaking in their boots refusing to comply with the clumsy threats and beatings of Dordoria. He'd never seen such a pitiful display on either the winning or the loosing end of a battle. They had taken the facility with ease and found heart of the lab with little trouble. Now that they had found what they were looking for he didn't see why it had to be stretched out with this inane display. Why Freeza allowed and seemed to enjoy the sniveling and groveling of the daidaiirojin or Dodoria's fruitless pounding of the unfortunate head technician was beyond his comprehension.
If this had been a saiyaijin operation these people would have been rounded up already and the messy and rather dishonorable task of torture would be handled by those whose job it was to do so. Of course he understood Freeza had need of information from these cowards but he had a rather distasteful way of going about it.
"You disapprove of my methods?" Freeza inquired of the boy. "You seem rather fond of inflicting pain on your enemies."
"Only if they are disrespectful," Vegeta replied.
"You don't think their refusal to tell me where the weapon is disrespectful?"
"No I think it is foolish."
"Ah" Freeza said. "So tell me young monkey in what way do you think these people should be treated?"
"I just don't see why it is necessary for them to be tortured right here" the prince stated.
"It is better to capture all of them and determine the ones who have the knowledge you need and have them tortured. The others can be sent to work if they can be useful."
"Your twisted moral sense is refreshing" the Lord chuckled. "As a saiyaijin you live by the creed of might being right and those who are not strong, as long as they recognize your dominance can be spared. You miss the finer points of destruction and mayhem in the staid platitudes of tradition."
"You unnecessarily drag out a situation because you get some pleasure from watching weaklings suffer" Vegeta snapped. "What good does that accomplish?"
"It accomplishes much in the way of fear young prince" Freeza declared. "The kind of fear you saiyaijin inspire is nothing to that which I command. They are afraid of your power but not of your mind. Physical violence can only get you so far unless coupled with mental. The sadist is always more feared than the executioner."
"I know you enjoy fear in the faces of your opponents and underlings, I have seen it" Freeza continued "and they would fear you so much more if you were to slowly wear away their mind with small acts of cruelty. Think of it Vegeta, you know how all, even your own father tremble at my name. You cannot tell me you wouldn't enjoy the same reaction to your name. I have seen your envy of the power I command."
"I do not envy you," Vegeta spat out.
"You know I am far superior to you and it eats away at you pride" Freeza goaded. "You think you are so cold and unaffected yet you bubble forth with passion and sentiment which you try to hide."
Vegeta clinched his teeth in hate trying to keep back his epitaph from escaping. "You know nothing about me!" he hissed allowing some of the build-up to release.
"See that is what I mean the explosive temper you have will only do you good if it is controlled instead of barely contained."
"Lord Freeza he's passed out" Dordoria informed the lord picking the head technician up by the collar.
"Wake him" Freeza stated focusing his attention on the man as Dordoria shook and slapped him awake. "Leave him be now Dordoria and I will handle this." Freeza floated out of his chair and landed before the man giving him an icy smile. The tyrant glanced back over his shoulder at the young prince. "Now young monkey watch and learn," he said smirking at the boy.
"Ah now Mr. Naran, isn't it?" Freeza stated looking down at the man. "You think that you can withstand any amount of physical punishment and I'm inclined to agree with you. I wonder if that child over there could withstand as much?"
The changeling dematerialized and appeared before the girl viciously clamping his pale hand around her neck ripping her from her mother's grip. The woman screamed as if her own heart were torn from her chest causing Freeza to smile in glee.
"What's wrong?" Freeza asked the woman sweetly. "Oh this girl means something to you doesn't she?"
Vegeta's eye grew wide at this display. There was something about Freeza's manner that made it especially chilling to him. His eyes were glossed over with a kind of euphoria at seeing his victims suffer. The object was clear; the tyrant already had the man writhing in mental agony. This was the kind of fear Freeza felt was most satisfying, the kind of fear he believed that he himself craved.
With a strangled cry the woman flung herself in blind fury at the man that held her small child aloft. Freeza struck her with his tail causing her to loose consciousness and the child in his grasp to release frightened tears.
"Meala, no!" the man whimpered. "Don't hurt her! Please let my daughter go! Don't harm either one of them! Please!"
"I won't, not if you tell me where the weapon is," Freeza stated calmly rolling the woman over with his foot. With a wicked smirk her kicked the woman at the man. "Just to show you I'm a man of my word you can have one back now. It's up to you whether your daughter lives or dies." The changeling coolly shifted his grip making the child gasp and whimper.
"Let them go and I'll tell you," the man pleaded.
"I'll let her go after you tell me what I want to know" Freeza stated tightening his grip choking off the girl's air completely. "My patience is wearing thin," he hissed tightening his grip as the child's face began to turn blue.
"It's in the east wing of the lab behind a locked door," the man blurted out.
"And how am supposed to get past the lock?" he said squeezing harder.
"I'll open it just please release her!"
"I'll release her when the door is open" he said coolly letting up just slightly on the child's trachea allowing her one intake of breath.
The man scrambled to his feet and produced a card from his pocket. He swiped it across the eye at the door opening a keypad on which he punched a series of numbers. When it was finished the door fell open.
"Excellent" Freeza crooned dropping the child on the ground. The father rushed over and clutched the coughing girl to his chest muttering sweet words of comfort to her. "What a touching reunion" the tyrant said with a cold air. "Zarbon won't you make sure they get their full reward. No one leaves alive." The changeling exited the room with a laugh.
Vegeta watched as the horrified man watched the wholesale slaughter was unleashed. He had no time to react as the girl was torn from his arms by Dordoria and he turned away unwilling to watch more. Of course he knew that was what happened on kill-all missions and purges but he had never actually witnessed this kind of slaughter. He had been in battles yes, but they had been nothing like this. He enjoyed the battles and the way it made his saiyaijin blood sing out to fight one of equal or greater skill but somehow just going on a killing spree did not hold any kind of satisfaction to him. Was it weak of him to feel this way?
"Come Vegeta let's destroy this weapon together" Freeza said to him carefully observing the boy's face.
Vegeta looked up at the creature with new eyes of understanding. At last he understood why everyone was afraid of him. "Very well" he said gathering himself up and meeting the creature's eyes.
Freeza smirked with satisfaction knowing now for sure this child was everything he had hoped for. The fact he had not shrunk back after witnessing his merciless torture of the man and his calm despite the slaughter around him he knew this boy was perfect.
************************************************************************
King Vegeta stood on the balcony of the royal palace and watched the flickering fires of his men and Freeza's men stretch out as far as he could see. They were celebrating the successful battle on this conquered world their voices wafting over to him on the wind. He did not share their mood, however, but was filled with a strange dread. The queen's last words haunted him because they had echoed every internal fear he had entertained over the past two years. These thoughts had never crossed his mind despite his people voicing them frequently until his mate's death. He had blindly grabbed the help offered by Freeza and slowly he began to wonder if it was a mistake.
"Is Freeza truly responsible for all of this?" he asked himself in sotto voice.
In the shadows the tyrant smirked knowing this was the moment of truth. The king would make this all the more easier by his frame of mind.
"And for what do you think I am responsible?' Freeza asked shattering the King's solitude.
"Lord Freeza" he commented in surprise as the hover chair proceeded onto the balcony. He gathered his composure as the tyrant cast him an appraising glace in the half shadow of the night. He could try to hide his doubts and his questions but he knew that would be pointless and worst of all cowardly. "I was thinking about something the daidaiirojin queen said before she died."
"Really?" Freeza questioned. "And just what did she accuse me of?"
"She claimed you were behind this war" he stated firmly "and your aim was to destroy my empire."
Freeza laughed in amusement. "And do you believe her?" he asked.
"I don't know," he stated truthfully.
"Think about it Vegeta" Freeza began. "Every single one of your holding now has a small force of my men containing it. Half of the worlds you allowed to be purged and turned over to me for sale. I have half of my troops occupying your home world. Your men carry out my orders, as do you. I could kill you right now with moving a muscle if you defied me. Is that not proof enough that I am in control?"
"You are not my master!" Vegeta shouted.
"Oh really?" Freeza asked. "Tell where is the great Saiyaijin Empire now? At my word all the soldiers here would turn on your people wiping out almost your entire army. At my word your home world would be captured. Your once mighty kingdom is lying in pieces at your feet after your glorious victory. All of it done in memory of your dear mate."
"You were behind her death then?" the King questioned angrily.
"Yes" Freeza chuckled. "Don't look so glum my dear friend, all is not lost. You can continue on as you always have as long as you obey me. Your people will go on fighting glorious battles and I will continue sharing the profit with you. As long as you do not defy me I don't see why our profitable alliance can go on."
King Vegeta stared at Freeza in shock. He had been so blinded by his own vendetta he had not noticed Freeza's slow and insidious take over. The trap had been set and at last sprung and he could do nothing about it. "If I agree to accept this you will allow me to continue ruling as before?" he asked.
"As long as you accepted me as the ultimate authority, yes" Freeza commented.
"If I accept this for now I'm sure there is some way I can regain control again and overthrow him," the King thought. "Right now my duty is to protect my people."
"Very well, I accept" the King replied.
"Excellent choice" Freeza replied. "However, I must say that I don't completely trust you not to rebel against me later on. It is for this reason I'm going to require a gift of good will on your part to ensure your continued loyalty."
"What is it that you want?" the King asked nervously as a contented smile spread across the changeling's lips.
"We have a custom on my home world that when a dispute between two clans is settled the ruling families each exchange one of their children. They are adopted into the rival clan and treated as the ruling family's true child thus creating a buffer to any continued animosity."
"What are you saying?" the King asked as the realization of the changeling price struck him.
"I'm saying" Freeza said meeting the Kings obsidian gaze "I want your son."
"No you cannot have him!" the King said darkly.
"Never-the-less he is my price for the survival of your entire race" Freeza said sternly. "If you don't hand him over to me I will kill you where you stand and have my troops crush your people wherever they are."
"You think your troops stand a chance against saiyaijin warriors?" the King declared.
"I have warriors at my command far stronger that yours" Freeza told him. "I would succeed. You would be signing the death warrant of your entire race."
"You cannot have the prince he is my heir and to rule in my place" the King protested.
"He still could" Freeza stated. "My aim is not to destroy his birthright but to expand his horizons. I could teach him so much and offer him far more than you ever could. I would help him reach his full potential."
The tyrant smirked with satisfaction at the desperate look of panic in the monarch's eyes.
"I won't make you decide right away," Freeza said sweetly. "I'll give you time to think it over. I think 3 months should be sufficient."
King Vegeta merely nodded in response too destitute in spirit to do anything more.
"I will see you in 3 months then" Freeza said turning his hover chair. "I'll accept your surrender at that time."
Freeza's retreat was as silent as his arrival. King Vegeta closed his eyes at last allowing the strange emotions coursing through his heart to surface. An overwhelming wave of despair struck him.
"I won't let him have him! There has to be some way," he stated to the cold night air. "I won't let him steal my son from me! He's already taken my mate and my kingdom but he will not take my son!"
Well that was a long chapter and a dark one too with a
lot of killing and angst going on. I can promise a lot more death and carnage
to come too and I hope you're enjoying it.
What can you expect in the next chapter?
Freeza arrives on Vegetasei and receives a surprise visit
from someone. Vegeta's father breaks
the news of Freeza's demand to him and Vegeta is handed over and into the care
of Ice.
Chapter 9: The Pawn Prince