The Deception-Ch 3
By Elbereth in April
"On with our mission," Vegeta said.
"Right. Purge the planet," Kakkarot mumbled.
They flew on until they found a city full of Parmelians. Vegeta destroyed most of the inhabitants while Kakkarot hesitated. Vegeta turned to him. "Aren't you going to do any of the work?"
Kakkarot gave a guilty grin. "You just seemed to be enjoying it so much, I didn't want to interrupt you," he lied clumsily.
"Hn. I don't mind sharing the joy with you, brother. Why don't you try your hand at it?"
Kakkarot sweated a little but raised his hand. "Ummm. . ."
"You're letting your emotions rule you, Kakkarot. That makes you weak."
The derision in his voice was clear. Kakkarot swallowed hard and released his energy wave. The homes in its path collapsed into rubble. The ground underneath them split open. The people it touched screamed and died.
"One more pass should clear this city. Try not to damage the planet itself too much."
Kakkarot fired again, and the rest of the Parmelians there died.
"It was easier the second time, yes?"
Kakkarot nodded slowly. Vegeta watched him as they flew on. He looked like he was in pain. Vegeta hardened his heart. Kakkarot had to get used to this. What good would he be against Frieza if he couldn't even fight?
It didn't take too many more hours until they were done. Kakkarot was starting to look nauseous by then, even though Vegeta had done most of the purging himself.
"You'd better get used to it," Vegeta told him, not nearly as disgusted with him as he wanted to be. "Frieza will keep sending us."
Kakkarot knew he'd made a poor showing of himself. But he really didn't like this. Maybe he wasn't cut out to be a warrior.
They got in their ships and went back to base.
____________ _____________
They ate a late dinner with Vanyar, Nappa, and Kwil, who'd just gotten back from a mission of their own.
Vanyar and Vegeta were still getting their food; the other three had sat down. "I think we need to introduce Kakkarot fully into Saiyan culture," Vegeta said to Van as they put their drinks on their trays.
"If he's forgotten that, as well, then he most definitely needs to relearn it," Van agreed.
"I forgot my drink," Vegeta heard Kakkarot say from where he'd sat down ten feet away.
Vegeta threw him one without missing a beat, barely glancing his way. "He needs to feel pride in what it means to be a Saiyan," Vegeta continued to Van.
Startled, Kakkarot caught the bottle and looked over to where Van and Vegeta were picking up their trays. The other two looked as well.
"Interesting," Nappa muttered to Kwil. "He's actually looking out for him."
Kakkarot felt a warm glow spreading inside him. Maybe he hadn't made Vegeta despise him today, after all. He vowed to do better next time. As Vegeta said, there would be a next time. He didn't have any choice about that.
Once everyone was sitting down and eating, Van and Vegeta started describing Vegeta-sei to Kakkarot. He was fascinated. Nappa explained all about the Royal family and the missing prince. Vegeta paid close attention. He'd been right-Nappa was a closet Royalist. Kwil talked about the full moon and what it was like to turn into a giant ape. "Although I guess you'll never experience that yourself." They looked at their tail-less comrade with pity. Kakkarot flushed a little.
"Most importantly, though, is the legend of the Super Saiyan," Van said with excitement. "Some Saiyans have the genetic potential to transform this way. Their power, strength, speed. . . everything is magnified tremendously. No one has been able to do it for a thousand years. But there's always the chance. . ."
'Yes,' Vegeta thought. 'Vanyar wants to see Frieza destroyed, too.'
"Do you have the gene?" Kakkarot asked, eyes wide.
Van frowned. "I don't know. But Frieza does. He's tested all of us."
Vegeta looked at Kakkarot and spoke mind to mind. "He doesn't. But we both have the gene, brother."
Kakkarot stared back, looking deep into Vegeta's eyes, where fierce determination and ambition burned. So that was how his brother was planning on beating Frieza. He nodded.
"Dodoria's coming," Kwil whispered.
Kakkarot looked at his fellow Saiyans, who were suddenly tense and radiating a subtle defiant arrogance. Or maybe Vegeta was projecting so much of it that it spilled over to the others.
Kakkarot and Vegeta broke eye contact, both smirking.
Dodoria stood in front of their table. "Frieza wants to talk to Kakkarot about how his mission went," he reported, obviously in a hurry. "Then he's gonna give him a little training."
The others averted their eyes from Kakkarot's glance. Ah. This wasn't going to be pleasant then.
"Tell him you loved it. Tell him it went great. Do you understand?"
"Yes."
"Hold back some of your power. He'll beat you either way and he doesn't need to know."
"OK."
"Are you coming?" Dodoria demanded impatiently.
Kakkarot shoved his tray aside and stood up.
"Call me when it's over if- -if you need help." Nobody had helped him. He had never helped anybody else. But he had to continue this brotherly charade. That was surely the reason he'd offered.
Kakkarot followed Dodoria from the room.
Frieza was in the antechamber of his throne room. It wasn't a very big space- -about 1000 square feet. Dodoria left them alone there.
"Well, my dear boy. What did you think of your first purging mission? How did it go?" Frieza was sitting on a couch along one wall. Kakkarot stood before him.
"Fine. Everything was fine. Invigorating."
Frieza smiled. "I wasn't aware you knew any big words. Invigorating. My, my."
Kakkarot tried to give nothing away in his expression but he hadn't had the practice. He knew Frieza could read him.
Frieza stood up and faced him. "I feel I've been somewhat neglectful of my new acquisition. I should have been training you before I sent you out, I suppose. But we'll correct that now."
Frieza adopted a fighting stance.
Kakkarot followed suit. He liked a challenge. He liked to fight. He didn't believe in giving up. And despite all that, he knew he was about to get thoroughly trashed.
____________ ____________
The worst part, Kakkarot reflected as he was lying on the ground, was not the physical pain, but all the insults Frieza heaped on him as he was pummeling him into a broken, bloodied heap.
And when he was done, Frieza just kicked him out into the hallway to fend for himself. He made it to within a few yards of the Saiyan Quarters before he collapsed and couldn't get up again.
"Vegeta."
There was a pause that seemed to drag on forever. Then, "Yeah, I'm coming."
Kakkarot smiled and passed out.
____________ ____________
When he got out of the rejuvenation tank, Jeice was waiting for him, grinning. "Feel better, monkey?"
Kakkarot nodded cautiously.
"Good. Cause now it's my turn to play with you. Course, you're not nearly as much fun without a tail."
"What's this fascination with tails everybody seems to have?" Kakkarot frowned, tensing warily and watching Jeice's every move.
"It's just a fun way to make a monkey scream."
"I don't think I like you." They circled each other.
"Too bad. Cause I like you, monkey boy." It suddenly hit Kakkarot how Jeice was looking at him and what his intentions were. He went pale.
Jeice laughed and licked his lips. . .
"Frieza wants you."
They both whirled around to see Vegeta standing in the doorway, with Vanyar, Nappa, and two other Saiyans at his back.
Jeice sneered. "You're lying."
"And you're not here on an authorized visit. You know Frieza doesn't like that."
At that Jeice looked worried. "You went and tattled on me?"
Vegeta smirked. The guys behind him flexed their muscles.
"Later, Kakkarot," Jeice hissed, and slunk past them out the door.
The group in the doorway gave each other triumphant smiles. Kakkarot just looked at Vegeta. "Authorized?"
"You know that talk we had about Saiyan pride? Well, Vanyar really took it to heart. I met up with him in the corridor on the way back from 'tattling,' and we grabbed up the others to 'protect one of our own.' That doesn't usually happen, you understand."
"You knew Jeice was after me?"
"I figured it out. Went and told Frieza. Frieza doesn't allow any major damage to be done without his prior approval. Rape constitutes major damage."
Van and Nappa came strutting into the room. "How are you feeling? Glad to see us?"
"Great. Yes!"
"Who wants to spar?"
Everyone, of course. So they adjourned. The other two Saiyans, Kakkarot learned, were Traigo and Ryok.
They went to the larger of the "group" sparring rooms that the Saiyans favored. It was already occupied-and Kakkarot got his first good glimpse of Sekot.
He was probably six feet tall, thin, but all muscle. He had shoulder length, wavy black hair that stuck out at the sides. He was wearing a black short-sleeve body suit but he'd left off the armor. It was just a spar.
He was fighting Dom and three other Saiyans: Rabin, Karock, and Thenesen. They were all laughing (except Dom). When Vegeta's group walked in, they turned to look. The groups stared each other down.
"Vegeta."
"Sekot."
"How's your brother doing today? I heard he took quite a beating."
"Always listening in the wrong places, aren't you, Sekot?"
"What are you doing with them, Ryok?" Sekot asked, head tilted to the side, ignoring Vegeta's last comment.
"Making Jeice mad," Ryok replied with a grin.
"Shall we spar?" Sekot invited, looking over Vegeta and his cohorts.
"Of course."
"It's 6 people against 5 in your favor."
"Oh well, why don't you take Ryok?"
"Oh no, you keep him."
Vegeta smirked. "I insist."
"Very well."
"Begin."
"Vegeta?"
"Let em have it, Kakkarot."
"On with our mission," Vegeta said.
"Right. Purge the planet," Kakkarot mumbled.
They flew on until they found a city full of Parmelians. Vegeta destroyed most of the inhabitants while Kakkarot hesitated. Vegeta turned to him. "Aren't you going to do any of the work?"
Kakkarot gave a guilty grin. "You just seemed to be enjoying it so much, I didn't want to interrupt you," he lied clumsily.
"Hn. I don't mind sharing the joy with you, brother. Why don't you try your hand at it?"
Kakkarot sweated a little but raised his hand. "Ummm. . ."
"You're letting your emotions rule you, Kakkarot. That makes you weak."
The derision in his voice was clear. Kakkarot swallowed hard and released his energy wave. The homes in its path collapsed into rubble. The ground underneath them split open. The people it touched screamed and died.
"One more pass should clear this city. Try not to damage the planet itself too much."
Kakkarot fired again, and the rest of the Parmelians there died.
"It was easier the second time, yes?"
Kakkarot nodded slowly. Vegeta watched him as they flew on. He looked like he was in pain. Vegeta hardened his heart. Kakkarot had to get used to this. What good would he be against Frieza if he couldn't even fight?
It didn't take too many more hours until they were done. Kakkarot was starting to look nauseous by then, even though Vegeta had done most of the purging himself.
"You'd better get used to it," Vegeta told him, not nearly as disgusted with him as he wanted to be. "Frieza will keep sending us."
Kakkarot knew he'd made a poor showing of himself. But he really didn't like this. Maybe he wasn't cut out to be a warrior.
They got in their ships and went back to base.
____________ _____________
They ate a late dinner with Vanyar, Nappa, and Kwil, who'd just gotten back from a mission of their own.
Vanyar and Vegeta were still getting their food; the other three had sat down. "I think we need to introduce Kakkarot fully into Saiyan culture," Vegeta said to Van as they put their drinks on their trays.
"If he's forgotten that, as well, then he most definitely needs to relearn it," Van agreed.
"I forgot my drink," Vegeta heard Kakkarot say from where he'd sat down ten feet away.
Vegeta threw him one without missing a beat, barely glancing his way. "He needs to feel pride in what it means to be a Saiyan," Vegeta continued to Van.
Startled, Kakkarot caught the bottle and looked over to where Van and Vegeta were picking up their trays. The other two looked as well.
"Interesting," Nappa muttered to Kwil. "He's actually looking out for him."
Kakkarot felt a warm glow spreading inside him. Maybe he hadn't made Vegeta despise him today, after all. He vowed to do better next time. As Vegeta said, there would be a next time. He didn't have any choice about that.
Once everyone was sitting down and eating, Van and Vegeta started describing Vegeta-sei to Kakkarot. He was fascinated. Nappa explained all about the Royal family and the missing prince. Vegeta paid close attention. He'd been right-Nappa was a closet Royalist. Kwil talked about the full moon and what it was like to turn into a giant ape. "Although I guess you'll never experience that yourself." They looked at their tail-less comrade with pity. Kakkarot flushed a little.
"Most importantly, though, is the legend of the Super Saiyan," Van said with excitement. "Some Saiyans have the genetic potential to transform this way. Their power, strength, speed. . . everything is magnified tremendously. No one has been able to do it for a thousand years. But there's always the chance. . ."
'Yes,' Vegeta thought. 'Vanyar wants to see Frieza destroyed, too.'
"Do you have the gene?" Kakkarot asked, eyes wide.
Van frowned. "I don't know. But Frieza does. He's tested all of us."
Vegeta looked at Kakkarot and spoke mind to mind. "He doesn't. But we both have the gene, brother."
Kakkarot stared back, looking deep into Vegeta's eyes, where fierce determination and ambition burned. So that was how his brother was planning on beating Frieza. He nodded.
"Dodoria's coming," Kwil whispered.
Kakkarot looked at his fellow Saiyans, who were suddenly tense and radiating a subtle defiant arrogance. Or maybe Vegeta was projecting so much of it that it spilled over to the others.
Kakkarot and Vegeta broke eye contact, both smirking.
Dodoria stood in front of their table. "Frieza wants to talk to Kakkarot about how his mission went," he reported, obviously in a hurry. "Then he's gonna give him a little training."
The others averted their eyes from Kakkarot's glance. Ah. This wasn't going to be pleasant then.
"Tell him you loved it. Tell him it went great. Do you understand?"
"Yes."
"Hold back some of your power. He'll beat you either way and he doesn't need to know."
"OK."
"Are you coming?" Dodoria demanded impatiently.
Kakkarot shoved his tray aside and stood up.
"Call me when it's over if- -if you need help." Nobody had helped him. He had never helped anybody else. But he had to continue this brotherly charade. That was surely the reason he'd offered.
Kakkarot followed Dodoria from the room.
Frieza was in the antechamber of his throne room. It wasn't a very big space- -about 1000 square feet. Dodoria left them alone there.
"Well, my dear boy. What did you think of your first purging mission? How did it go?" Frieza was sitting on a couch along one wall. Kakkarot stood before him.
"Fine. Everything was fine. Invigorating."
Frieza smiled. "I wasn't aware you knew any big words. Invigorating. My, my."
Kakkarot tried to give nothing away in his expression but he hadn't had the practice. He knew Frieza could read him.
Frieza stood up and faced him. "I feel I've been somewhat neglectful of my new acquisition. I should have been training you before I sent you out, I suppose. But we'll correct that now."
Frieza adopted a fighting stance.
Kakkarot followed suit. He liked a challenge. He liked to fight. He didn't believe in giving up. And despite all that, he knew he was about to get thoroughly trashed.
____________ ____________
The worst part, Kakkarot reflected as he was lying on the ground, was not the physical pain, but all the insults Frieza heaped on him as he was pummeling him into a broken, bloodied heap.
And when he was done, Frieza just kicked him out into the hallway to fend for himself. He made it to within a few yards of the Saiyan Quarters before he collapsed and couldn't get up again.
"Vegeta."
There was a pause that seemed to drag on forever. Then, "Yeah, I'm coming."
Kakkarot smiled and passed out.
____________ ____________
When he got out of the rejuvenation tank, Jeice was waiting for him, grinning. "Feel better, monkey?"
Kakkarot nodded cautiously.
"Good. Cause now it's my turn to play with you. Course, you're not nearly as much fun without a tail."
"What's this fascination with tails everybody seems to have?" Kakkarot frowned, tensing warily and watching Jeice's every move.
"It's just a fun way to make a monkey scream."
"I don't think I like you." They circled each other.
"Too bad. Cause I like you, monkey boy." It suddenly hit Kakkarot how Jeice was looking at him and what his intentions were. He went pale.
Jeice laughed and licked his lips. . .
"Frieza wants you."
They both whirled around to see Vegeta standing in the doorway, with Vanyar, Nappa, and two other Saiyans at his back.
Jeice sneered. "You're lying."
"And you're not here on an authorized visit. You know Frieza doesn't like that."
At that Jeice looked worried. "You went and tattled on me?"
Vegeta smirked. The guys behind him flexed their muscles.
"Later, Kakkarot," Jeice hissed, and slunk past them out the door.
The group in the doorway gave each other triumphant smiles. Kakkarot just looked at Vegeta. "Authorized?"
"You know that talk we had about Saiyan pride? Well, Vanyar really took it to heart. I met up with him in the corridor on the way back from 'tattling,' and we grabbed up the others to 'protect one of our own.' That doesn't usually happen, you understand."
"You knew Jeice was after me?"
"I figured it out. Went and told Frieza. Frieza doesn't allow any major damage to be done without his prior approval. Rape constitutes major damage."
Van and Nappa came strutting into the room. "How are you feeling? Glad to see us?"
"Great. Yes!"
"Who wants to spar?"
Everyone, of course. So they adjourned. The other two Saiyans, Kakkarot learned, were Traigo and Ryok.
They went to the larger of the "group" sparring rooms that the Saiyans favored. It was already occupied-and Kakkarot got his first good glimpse of Sekot.
He was probably six feet tall, thin, but all muscle. He had shoulder length, wavy black hair that stuck out at the sides. He was wearing a black short-sleeve body suit but he'd left off the armor. It was just a spar.
He was fighting Dom and three other Saiyans: Rabin, Karock, and Thenesen. They were all laughing (except Dom). When Vegeta's group walked in, they turned to look. The groups stared each other down.
"Vegeta."
"Sekot."
"How's your brother doing today? I heard he took quite a beating."
"Always listening in the wrong places, aren't you, Sekot?"
"What are you doing with them, Ryok?" Sekot asked, head tilted to the side, ignoring Vegeta's last comment.
"Making Jeice mad," Ryok replied with a grin.
"Shall we spar?" Sekot invited, looking over Vegeta and his cohorts.
"Of course."
"It's 6 people against 5 in your favor."
"Oh well, why don't you take Ryok?"
"Oh no, you keep him."
Vegeta smirked. "I insist."
"Very well."
"Begin."
"Vegeta?"
"Let em have it, Kakkarot."