The Deception--Chapter 8
By Elbereth in April
A/N: Thanks for the reviews!
By the time Kakkarot healed, it was dinner. He joined the rest of the Saiyans. They were about halfway through, chattering away, when Dodoria stood up from his customary table and got the attention of everyone in the hall by shooting a laser at the ceiling.
It got quiet immediately. "Just a small announcement while everybody's here," he said. "Frieza has decided his Saiyan corps needs someone amongst them in command. He has appointed Kakkarot to the position because of his recent defeat of Jeice. That's all." He sat down again.
The aliens basically shrugged and got back to eating. The Saiyans all began talking at Kakkarot excitedly. Except for Vegeta.
Vegeta felt his face flush. This just wasn't fair! Sure, he had planned it all, but he had just wanted to save both their lives. He hadn't meant for Kakkarot to get all this glory. 'I am better than Kakkarot! I am the Prince!'
Kakkarot was happy Jeice was dead, but he wished none of this had ever happened. He didn't like all this attention. And he had the feeling Vegeta was probably going to be mad.
As soon as supper was over, Vegeta went off to train. He didn't invite Kakkarot along. 'I better not talk to him until he's not so mad,' Kakkarot decided reluctantly, and went and hid in his room.
Vegeta locked himself into the private training room and turned the gravity machine up to 400. The strain was punishing, but he was determined to surpass Kakkarot. Then everyone would know who was the best Saiyan fighter.
The next morning Vegeta awoke to Kakkarot banging on his door. "What?" he snapped, disliking being woken up.
"We've got a purge job," Kakkarot told him. "You and me."
The last person Vegeta wanted to be around all day was his "brother." But apparently he didn't have a choice. "Details?"
"Planet Gorzola."
Vegeta frowned. "It's barely inhabited. It's mostly machines."
"Apparently we have rich, low-tech buyers who want their computers and robots. We're supposed to destroy the people and leave the tech. But first we're supposed to make a copy of their main computer's files for our records." He held up a round, flat disk about the size of his thumb. "Goes on this."
"OK, whatever. Let me get charged."
Kakkarot followed him into his room.
"Don't I get any privacy here? Get out."
"But, Vegeta. . ."
"In fact, don't talk to me at all. I have a headache. I was up most of the night training. So just leave me alone."
"I. . .OK." Kakkarot went out to wait in the hall.
________ __________
They landed on the planet after eating breakfast with Murdin and Rabin. They hadn't said much in front of Frieza and Sekot's lackeys.
They looked around. Everything was steel and concrete. They stood in front of a high-rise office building. "In there."
The main computer was on the 32nd floor. They flew rather than take the stairs. They looked the computer over. Kakkarot stuck the disk in the appropriate slot.
"What now?" he asked Vegeta.
"Now? Before we copy anything for Frieza, we take a look and see what sort of information they've got in here," he replied. He started scanning through the files. Weather reports, robotic schematics, historical and genealogical files, population info, trade statistics, records of foreign diplomatic contacts--'oh no. . .' He stopped.
"What is it, Vegeta? You're looking awfully pale and funny."
"They have a trade and neutrality arrangement with--with the Queen. We have to erase this. Frieza might be able to use some of this information to find her!"
Kakkarot drew in a swift intake of breath. He watched Vegeta fumble with the keyboard, deleting and trying to cover up his tracks. "There," he hissed finally. "Taken care of."
Kakkarot smiled weakly. "Good."
Vegeta wiped his hands surreptiously on the chair; he was sweating lightly. If Frieza had happened to send somebody else to this planet. . .
"So, copy the rest so we can go."
Vegeta finished scanning the files, then made the copy. "Now we just go purge."
"Should we? If they're allies. . ."
"Neutrality is not the same as alliance. We purge. And we have to hurry. It shouldn't take us that long to clear this planet. If we don't return soon, Frieza might get suspicious."
They went outside via the window this time and searched for lifeforms. To their shock, they picked up one enormous ki reading.
They looked at each other. "What in the--?"
"Let's check it out." They followed the reading to its source: an alien, with pale blue-grey skin that shone like metal, and pointy cat-like ears.
"Who are you?" it asked them. It stood very still. It had watched them approach with wary orange eyes.
"We've come to send you to the next dimension."
"Who are you?" Kakkarot asked.
"I am the guardian of this planet. I am Gorz. And it is you who will die."
Vegeta smirked. "I don't think so."
It continued to stand unmoving, eyes flicking back and forth between the two of them. Then there was a blinding flash of light, a loud crack as of thunder, and Vegeta was lying on his back, wondering if his spine was broken. And the creature had Kakkarot by the throat, dangling with his feet off the ground.
Kakkarot tried to kick it but couldn't connect. Its fingers were too strong to move. Choking, the world started to turn dark.
Vegeta pried himself up off the ground in spite of the pain and threw himself at the alien, knocking it over and getting it to release its hold on Kakkarot, who lay there gasping. Vegeta punched it hard in the stomach as it tried to get back up, grabbed its head, and slammed it into the ground a few times.
Then he had to let go as Gorz lit up as though on fire, coursing with electricity that threw Vegeta backward, momentarily stunning him.
Kakkarot stood back up and fired energy blasts at it repeatedly. There was a small explosion. Kakkarot shielded his eyes. When the smoke cleared, Gorz was standing, holding its arm, growling. It launched itself at Kakkarot, grabbing him around the waist, suddenly crackling with lightning again. Kakkarot screamed.
Vegeta picked up a large piece of concrete that had cracked from the street during the explosion. He threw it at Gorz, knocking the alien away from Kakkarot. Then he pelted it with energy blasts of his own. Again there was an explosion, bigger this time. They were both thrown back by the force of it.
Vegeta didn't wait for the smoke to clear this time. He had seen the lightning fade from the creature's body and jumped it, pinning it to the ground. He put his hand on its chest and let loose with a large charge of ki.
The alien screamed and disintegrated.
The two Saiyans looked at each other, panting from exertion. "Vegeta, can they all do that?"
"I didn't know even * one * of them could do that!"
Kakkarot suddenly grinned fiercely. "This should make things more challenging."
Vegeta raised his eyebrows. Kakkarot hadn't hesitated to attack the thing at all. Maybe some good had come out of this whole situation after all. "Now you're acting like a real Saiyan."
Kakkarot blushed and looked sheepish. "Oh, well, you know. These people don't really seem like people. They're more like robots. It hardly feels like killing."
Vegeta thought about this and nodded. "Still, you * feel * more Saiyan, don't you?"
"After killing Jeice. . . yeah. A lot is different."
Vegeta's expression tightened. Yes. A lot was.
"Well, come on," he snapped.
Kakkarot took a step to follow him and almost fell over. "Woah. Must have been hit harder than I thought."
Vegeta snarled impatiently. "Let's go!" He flew off to find more people to purge. Kakkarot shook his head to clear it, then hurried to catch up.
The other aliens were smaller and not nearly as powerful. When they were touched, there was no real shock, just a strange tingling sensation. But by the time they were done, Kakkarot's head was buzzing and he felt really funny. He didn't mention it, though; he didn't want to appear weak. They flew back to base.
When they landed, Zarbon barely let them exit their ships before he demanded the disk and ordered Kakkarot to accompany him to the throne room.
_________ _________
Kakkarot waited in front of Frieza, who was sitting on his throne. "Zarbon, enter the new records," Frieza instructed. Zarbon put the disk into the base's main computer there in the throne room.
"How did it go?" Frieza then asked Kakkarot.
"Fine." He forced a smile. 'My whole brain hurts,' he thought, half- dazedly.
"Um, Lord Frieza," Zarbon interrupted. "This disk is nearly fried."
Frieza frowned dangerously. "What do you mean?"
"Well, parts of it are clear, some files have gaps missing, and parts seem to be wiped out. Like it was de-magnetized or something."
"Oh," Kakkarot said with a sinking feeling. "The aliens. . . that one guy had a powerful electrical attack with a really strange aura. . . it must have damaged the disk. It was in my pocket when he attacked me."
Frieza stood up, power radiating off him menacingly. "Have you failed in your mission then?"
Kakkarot sighed. He could live through being beaten up again. Still, he was getting tired of this. "No," he said defensively. "We purged the planet. We can always go back and download it again."
Zarbon swallowed. Frieza wasn't going to like his next statement either. "There's no file labeled Treaties, sir."
Frieza's power swelled even more. "Kakkarot, did you see that particular file?"
His head seemed to be throbbing all the way to his fingertips and toes. If he'd been thinking properly, he never would have said what he did.
"No, I didn't do the downloading. But Vegeta can tell you about the files. He looked at them all first."
There was a sudden, tense silence. "Did he now?"
And it only then occurred to Kakkarot that a) that might not have been the best thing to reveal b) that was the exact file Vegeta had deleted.
"Actually, the main computer may have been damaged as well," he said hurriedly, trying not to babble. "We were fighting awfully close to it, and it was a very powerful attack."
"Were you watching Vegeta while he downloaded?" Zarbon asked.
"Yes."
"Why did you not do it yourself?" Frieza asked quietly--too quietly.
"I don't know how. I don't understand computers," he answered truthfully.
"Zarbon, send our computer expert, Comer, to the planet to finish this mission. And send Vegeta to me."
"He didn't do anything," Kakkarot protested. "The lightning damaged the disk but we can redownload so the problem is repairable. End of story."
Frieza looked at him, eyes narrowed, gauging his words. But Kakkarot always registered a basic honesty and innocence.
"Vegeta shouldn't have been looking at * my * records. I told you I don't trust him," Frieza said at last, still in that dangerous tone. "But I'll let your part in this slide." Although he really wanted to blast the fool to oblivion. "Next time, stop him. And if we have to send someone to the same planet twice, your mission was a failure. If you hadn't at least purged the place I wouldn't let you out of this room still able to walk. Next time you won't be so lucky. I can't tolerate incompetence. This is a bad beginning for you, my little spy. Don't fail me again."
Kakkarot gave him that half-bow again and left quickly. Zarbon came out with him. He was looking at Kakkarot with a very funny expression. They almost ran into Sekot just outside the door. "Get out of the way, baka!" Zarbon yelled at him.
Sekot gave them both a hate-filled glare and walked away.
Zarbon shoved past Kakkarot on his errands for Frieza. Kakkarot lost his balance and fell against the wall. He needed to warn Vegeta, but his head was spinning. He tried to contact him mentally anyway, but got no answer. He figured he was too out of it to even be calling properly. He pushed himself upright again and trailed after Zarbon.
But Vegeta wasn't in his room. They were both staring at the empty room when Capran wandered by, munching on a chicken leg. "Vegeta's with the medic, if you're looking for him," he informed them with his mouth full.
"Quit following me!" Zarbon ordered, turning on Kakkarot.
"But Zarbon," Kakkarot whined, holding his head, "I need the medic, too."
"Hmmm." He nodded, then walked away.
Kakkarot followed dizzily.
__________ ____________
Zarbon pushed open the door of the doctor's lab, and threw Kakkarot from off his shoulder on to the table. "He passed out in the hall. What's wrong with him and Vegeta?"
The doctor looked Kakkarot over. "Some electrical impulse damage to the brain. Almost magnetic, very strange. Nothing that can't be fixed with the tech upgrades that new scientist sent us. I'll put him in a tank. Vegeta's already in one. They'll both be fine in an hour or so."
"Well, as soon as Vegeta gets out, he's to report to Frieza." __________ __________
By Elbereth in April
A/N: Thanks for the reviews!
By the time Kakkarot healed, it was dinner. He joined the rest of the Saiyans. They were about halfway through, chattering away, when Dodoria stood up from his customary table and got the attention of everyone in the hall by shooting a laser at the ceiling.
It got quiet immediately. "Just a small announcement while everybody's here," he said. "Frieza has decided his Saiyan corps needs someone amongst them in command. He has appointed Kakkarot to the position because of his recent defeat of Jeice. That's all." He sat down again.
The aliens basically shrugged and got back to eating. The Saiyans all began talking at Kakkarot excitedly. Except for Vegeta.
Vegeta felt his face flush. This just wasn't fair! Sure, he had planned it all, but he had just wanted to save both their lives. He hadn't meant for Kakkarot to get all this glory. 'I am better than Kakkarot! I am the Prince!'
Kakkarot was happy Jeice was dead, but he wished none of this had ever happened. He didn't like all this attention. And he had the feeling Vegeta was probably going to be mad.
As soon as supper was over, Vegeta went off to train. He didn't invite Kakkarot along. 'I better not talk to him until he's not so mad,' Kakkarot decided reluctantly, and went and hid in his room.
Vegeta locked himself into the private training room and turned the gravity machine up to 400. The strain was punishing, but he was determined to surpass Kakkarot. Then everyone would know who was the best Saiyan fighter.
The next morning Vegeta awoke to Kakkarot banging on his door. "What?" he snapped, disliking being woken up.
"We've got a purge job," Kakkarot told him. "You and me."
The last person Vegeta wanted to be around all day was his "brother." But apparently he didn't have a choice. "Details?"
"Planet Gorzola."
Vegeta frowned. "It's barely inhabited. It's mostly machines."
"Apparently we have rich, low-tech buyers who want their computers and robots. We're supposed to destroy the people and leave the tech. But first we're supposed to make a copy of their main computer's files for our records." He held up a round, flat disk about the size of his thumb. "Goes on this."
"OK, whatever. Let me get charged."
Kakkarot followed him into his room.
"Don't I get any privacy here? Get out."
"But, Vegeta. . ."
"In fact, don't talk to me at all. I have a headache. I was up most of the night training. So just leave me alone."
"I. . .OK." Kakkarot went out to wait in the hall.
________ __________
They landed on the planet after eating breakfast with Murdin and Rabin. They hadn't said much in front of Frieza and Sekot's lackeys.
They looked around. Everything was steel and concrete. They stood in front of a high-rise office building. "In there."
The main computer was on the 32nd floor. They flew rather than take the stairs. They looked the computer over. Kakkarot stuck the disk in the appropriate slot.
"What now?" he asked Vegeta.
"Now? Before we copy anything for Frieza, we take a look and see what sort of information they've got in here," he replied. He started scanning through the files. Weather reports, robotic schematics, historical and genealogical files, population info, trade statistics, records of foreign diplomatic contacts--'oh no. . .' He stopped.
"What is it, Vegeta? You're looking awfully pale and funny."
"They have a trade and neutrality arrangement with--with the Queen. We have to erase this. Frieza might be able to use some of this information to find her!"
Kakkarot drew in a swift intake of breath. He watched Vegeta fumble with the keyboard, deleting and trying to cover up his tracks. "There," he hissed finally. "Taken care of."
Kakkarot smiled weakly. "Good."
Vegeta wiped his hands surreptiously on the chair; he was sweating lightly. If Frieza had happened to send somebody else to this planet. . .
"So, copy the rest so we can go."
Vegeta finished scanning the files, then made the copy. "Now we just go purge."
"Should we? If they're allies. . ."
"Neutrality is not the same as alliance. We purge. And we have to hurry. It shouldn't take us that long to clear this planet. If we don't return soon, Frieza might get suspicious."
They went outside via the window this time and searched for lifeforms. To their shock, they picked up one enormous ki reading.
They looked at each other. "What in the--?"
"Let's check it out." They followed the reading to its source: an alien, with pale blue-grey skin that shone like metal, and pointy cat-like ears.
"Who are you?" it asked them. It stood very still. It had watched them approach with wary orange eyes.
"We've come to send you to the next dimension."
"Who are you?" Kakkarot asked.
"I am the guardian of this planet. I am Gorz. And it is you who will die."
Vegeta smirked. "I don't think so."
It continued to stand unmoving, eyes flicking back and forth between the two of them. Then there was a blinding flash of light, a loud crack as of thunder, and Vegeta was lying on his back, wondering if his spine was broken. And the creature had Kakkarot by the throat, dangling with his feet off the ground.
Kakkarot tried to kick it but couldn't connect. Its fingers were too strong to move. Choking, the world started to turn dark.
Vegeta pried himself up off the ground in spite of the pain and threw himself at the alien, knocking it over and getting it to release its hold on Kakkarot, who lay there gasping. Vegeta punched it hard in the stomach as it tried to get back up, grabbed its head, and slammed it into the ground a few times.
Then he had to let go as Gorz lit up as though on fire, coursing with electricity that threw Vegeta backward, momentarily stunning him.
Kakkarot stood back up and fired energy blasts at it repeatedly. There was a small explosion. Kakkarot shielded his eyes. When the smoke cleared, Gorz was standing, holding its arm, growling. It launched itself at Kakkarot, grabbing him around the waist, suddenly crackling with lightning again. Kakkarot screamed.
Vegeta picked up a large piece of concrete that had cracked from the street during the explosion. He threw it at Gorz, knocking the alien away from Kakkarot. Then he pelted it with energy blasts of his own. Again there was an explosion, bigger this time. They were both thrown back by the force of it.
Vegeta didn't wait for the smoke to clear this time. He had seen the lightning fade from the creature's body and jumped it, pinning it to the ground. He put his hand on its chest and let loose with a large charge of ki.
The alien screamed and disintegrated.
The two Saiyans looked at each other, panting from exertion. "Vegeta, can they all do that?"
"I didn't know even * one * of them could do that!"
Kakkarot suddenly grinned fiercely. "This should make things more challenging."
Vegeta raised his eyebrows. Kakkarot hadn't hesitated to attack the thing at all. Maybe some good had come out of this whole situation after all. "Now you're acting like a real Saiyan."
Kakkarot blushed and looked sheepish. "Oh, well, you know. These people don't really seem like people. They're more like robots. It hardly feels like killing."
Vegeta thought about this and nodded. "Still, you * feel * more Saiyan, don't you?"
"After killing Jeice. . . yeah. A lot is different."
Vegeta's expression tightened. Yes. A lot was.
"Well, come on," he snapped.
Kakkarot took a step to follow him and almost fell over. "Woah. Must have been hit harder than I thought."
Vegeta snarled impatiently. "Let's go!" He flew off to find more people to purge. Kakkarot shook his head to clear it, then hurried to catch up.
The other aliens were smaller and not nearly as powerful. When they were touched, there was no real shock, just a strange tingling sensation. But by the time they were done, Kakkarot's head was buzzing and he felt really funny. He didn't mention it, though; he didn't want to appear weak. They flew back to base.
When they landed, Zarbon barely let them exit their ships before he demanded the disk and ordered Kakkarot to accompany him to the throne room.
_________ _________
Kakkarot waited in front of Frieza, who was sitting on his throne. "Zarbon, enter the new records," Frieza instructed. Zarbon put the disk into the base's main computer there in the throne room.
"How did it go?" Frieza then asked Kakkarot.
"Fine." He forced a smile. 'My whole brain hurts,' he thought, half- dazedly.
"Um, Lord Frieza," Zarbon interrupted. "This disk is nearly fried."
Frieza frowned dangerously. "What do you mean?"
"Well, parts of it are clear, some files have gaps missing, and parts seem to be wiped out. Like it was de-magnetized or something."
"Oh," Kakkarot said with a sinking feeling. "The aliens. . . that one guy had a powerful electrical attack with a really strange aura. . . it must have damaged the disk. It was in my pocket when he attacked me."
Frieza stood up, power radiating off him menacingly. "Have you failed in your mission then?"
Kakkarot sighed. He could live through being beaten up again. Still, he was getting tired of this. "No," he said defensively. "We purged the planet. We can always go back and download it again."
Zarbon swallowed. Frieza wasn't going to like his next statement either. "There's no file labeled Treaties, sir."
Frieza's power swelled even more. "Kakkarot, did you see that particular file?"
His head seemed to be throbbing all the way to his fingertips and toes. If he'd been thinking properly, he never would have said what he did.
"No, I didn't do the downloading. But Vegeta can tell you about the files. He looked at them all first."
There was a sudden, tense silence. "Did he now?"
And it only then occurred to Kakkarot that a) that might not have been the best thing to reveal b) that was the exact file Vegeta had deleted.
"Actually, the main computer may have been damaged as well," he said hurriedly, trying not to babble. "We were fighting awfully close to it, and it was a very powerful attack."
"Were you watching Vegeta while he downloaded?" Zarbon asked.
"Yes."
"Why did you not do it yourself?" Frieza asked quietly--too quietly.
"I don't know how. I don't understand computers," he answered truthfully.
"Zarbon, send our computer expert, Comer, to the planet to finish this mission. And send Vegeta to me."
"He didn't do anything," Kakkarot protested. "The lightning damaged the disk but we can redownload so the problem is repairable. End of story."
Frieza looked at him, eyes narrowed, gauging his words. But Kakkarot always registered a basic honesty and innocence.
"Vegeta shouldn't have been looking at * my * records. I told you I don't trust him," Frieza said at last, still in that dangerous tone. "But I'll let your part in this slide." Although he really wanted to blast the fool to oblivion. "Next time, stop him. And if we have to send someone to the same planet twice, your mission was a failure. If you hadn't at least purged the place I wouldn't let you out of this room still able to walk. Next time you won't be so lucky. I can't tolerate incompetence. This is a bad beginning for you, my little spy. Don't fail me again."
Kakkarot gave him that half-bow again and left quickly. Zarbon came out with him. He was looking at Kakkarot with a very funny expression. They almost ran into Sekot just outside the door. "Get out of the way, baka!" Zarbon yelled at him.
Sekot gave them both a hate-filled glare and walked away.
Zarbon shoved past Kakkarot on his errands for Frieza. Kakkarot lost his balance and fell against the wall. He needed to warn Vegeta, but his head was spinning. He tried to contact him mentally anyway, but got no answer. He figured he was too out of it to even be calling properly. He pushed himself upright again and trailed after Zarbon.
But Vegeta wasn't in his room. They were both staring at the empty room when Capran wandered by, munching on a chicken leg. "Vegeta's with the medic, if you're looking for him," he informed them with his mouth full.
"Quit following me!" Zarbon ordered, turning on Kakkarot.
"But Zarbon," Kakkarot whined, holding his head, "I need the medic, too."
"Hmmm." He nodded, then walked away.
Kakkarot followed dizzily.
__________ ____________
Zarbon pushed open the door of the doctor's lab, and threw Kakkarot from off his shoulder on to the table. "He passed out in the hall. What's wrong with him and Vegeta?"
The doctor looked Kakkarot over. "Some electrical impulse damage to the brain. Almost magnetic, very strange. Nothing that can't be fixed with the tech upgrades that new scientist sent us. I'll put him in a tank. Vegeta's already in one. They'll both be fine in an hour or so."
"Well, as soon as Vegeta gets out, he's to report to Frieza." __________ __________