The Deception--Chapter 14
By Elbereth in April
Captain Ginyu, Burter, and Recoome sat around a table drinking kwalan juice mixed with what looked suspiciously like alcohol.
"We have a mission," Capt. Ginyu reported with a smile. "Tomorrow, we are being sent to 'persuade' the Emperess of Tillogine to place herself under Frieza's rule."
"Good. You've been getting fat," Burter told Recoome. "You need the exercise."
Recoome scowled. "You're the one who keeps eating all the candy bars."
"But *I'm* not fat. I can."
Ginyu wearily cut them off. "Boys! This mission is our chance to get back in Frieza's good graces and to humiliate Zarbon."
"How?" Recoome asked eagerly.
"Well, Zarbon has to do something stupid, and the three of us can fix it and save the day. If Zarbon should happen to die, so much the better."
"How are you going to make Zarbon do something stupid?" Burter asked.
"First it occurred to me to manipulate him. But that takes a lot of work. Then I realized, hey, I can switch bodies. I can literally *make* him do something wrong, switch back, and he can't do anything but protest."
"Which, if he's dead, he'll have trouble doing."
"Exactly." Ginyu smiled.
________ _________
The Saiyans were closeted in Valkan's room. It was a little cramped for space, but they overlooked that.
". . .so when Frieza saw the file we created, he decided to send the Ginyu Force on a mission to planet Tillogine," Vegeta was explaining. "They're supposed to lean on the Emperess until she signs her world over to Frieza. Frieza intends this to be their last chance, to see if they play him false. Zarbon is supposed to watch and report back. If they prove to be traitors, Frieza is going to execute them."
"So we're just going to let Zarbon say they're disloyal when he gets back?"
"Ah, I was. But while I was sparring earlier, I was thinking." He smirked. "We're going to raise the stakes a little bit."
________ ______
Zarbon and the three remaining Ginyu Force members stood in front of the Emperess and her council.
The Emperess knew all about Frieza. She'd seen his battle fleet in the sky above her planet. And she'd read the ki's of the warriors in front of her, stronger than all her warriors put together. She knew what she had to do, but she wasn't happy.
"Don't say a word," she greeted them. "We are prepared to join with the Lord Frieza. But you must allow us to maintain our honor. If you threaten us, we will be forced to resist you to the last person."
Ginyu couldn't believe his luck. This would be too easy! He turned to look at Zarbon. Zarbon caught his eyes. Light flashed briefly out of Ginyu's mouth, and the switch of bodies was made. Normally this was a very flashy affair, but he could do it discreetly too.
Zarbon heard himself speak. "But our whole purpose in coming here was to threaten you! You're a weak coward like your whole race! On the other hand, you're a pretty good-looking woman, so if you sleep with Frieza, maybe he'd let you keep your 'honor.'"
The council members screamed in rage as the Emperess turned a darker shade of her normal purple. She stood up. "Kill them!" she shouted.
Zarbon gaped, then grinned. He couldn't believe his luck. This would be too easy! He flew straight up, top speed, catching the others completely by surprise. His real body might get a little damaged, but Ginyu would have to keep it safe until he could get his own back. And before he could do that, Zarbon had a little tick of his own, inspired by some of Vegeta's suggestions.
Ginyu moved to follow him, but was delayed by a surge of dozens of warriors running into the room and throwing themselves on him, Recoome, and Burter. They shot blasts after Zarbon, but the aliens couldn't fly, so Zarbon got away for the moment.
He made it outside to Capt. Ginyu's ship, which he immediately entered, flicking on the video phone, direct link to Frieza.
Frieza's face appeared on screen. "This had better be worth my time, Ginyu."
Zarbon/Ginyu laughed evilly. "We're revolting, you lame-brained lizard. Or rather, *you're* revolting, so we quit! This planet is just the first that has agreed to join with us instead of you. Your days are numbered, you freak!"
Frieza hissed. "You disappoint me. But as you shall soon see, *no one* turns against me and lives!"
Zarbon/Ginyu broke the connection and ran. Time to get his own body back before Frieza got there.
_______ ______
Meanwhile, Dodoria was still stuck on planet Ponah, but his malfunctioning space pod was nearly fixed. Still, his time on-planet hadn't been a complete waste. He'd talked to the natives, eaten interesting foods, got caught up on interstellar news and music videos (his secret passion), and decrypted the government's secret code, hacked into their mainframe, and downloaded very interesting computer files for Frieza's perusal. Oh yes. Very interesting indeed.
_________ _________
Ginyu met Zarbon half-way back to the castle. Recoome and Burter were still inside, wiping up the last of the resistance.
Ginyu tackled Zarbon to the ground, performed his special trick, and reclaimed his own body. Then he cuffed Zarbon on the side of the head and went back to help his team members. He would kill Zarbon when he was done.
Zarbon glared after him, stuck out his tongue, and grinned. What incredible luck! All he had to do now was get back into his space pod, report, and make his escape off-planet. And he even looked sufficiently scratched and dirtied to make his excuse of a fight believable!
He climber into his pod and clicked on the phone. "Lord Frieza!"
Frieza appeared. "Ah, there you are, Zarbon."
"Sir, the Ginyu Force are definitely traitors, sir. They've taken over the planet, but I got away to report. What do you want me to do?"
"Come back to the ship, Zarbon. I will take care of this personally."
"Yes, my lord." Frieza hung up. Zarbon gloated briefly, then closed the ship door and blasted off. That had gone just perfectly.
________ _______
The Saiyans were stationed at various places throughout Frieza's ship. Kakkarot was waiting for Zarbon at the landing bay. Vanyar was hiding near the throne room. Vegeta was with the Woman and Lorimaya, listening to Frieza's bugged conversations. Traigo was hiding near Ginyu's room. Vegan was casually inspecting technical aspects of the engines in the ship's control room. Wherever there was a chance for action or information, they had tried to put someone.
"Hey, Kakkarot. Frieza just told the mechanic to ready his personal plane. He's going down there."
"What would happen if we blew up the planet with all of them on it?"
"Unfortunately, Frieza would live. Our attack wouldn't be strong enough to destroy him unless we were Super Saiyan. And he can breathe in space."
There was a pause while they both bitterly regretted their lack of ability to transform. 'There must be a secret to it,' Kakkarot thought. 'What could it be?'
"Well, you set them up for a fight instead of an execution. Do you think Frieza might get damaged a little bit?"
"Maybe." But Vegeta's hopes weren't too high.
"Let's both try to transform again."
"OK."
Kakkarot hid in the shadows behind a column and powered up. It was hard to do silently, but he was trying to be inconspicuous. Luckily, everyone was rushing around preparing Frieza's ship and ignoring everything else.
Vegeta stood away from the girls and the computer in Bulma's room. "Keep listening," he told them. "I'm just gonna try something." Lori obeyed but Bulma only half listened. She turned around in her seat to watch Vegeta.
He clenched his fists and started powering up. Bulma's furniture began to shake. The muscles and veins on his body started to bulge and the air crackled around him. Bulma's eyes were wide and fascinated. She wished she was wearing a scouter so she could read his power level.
The power of both Saiyans climbed steadily as they concentrated. Kakkarot's peaked after a moment--no good. Vegeta kept trying, thinking hard.
'I have to take Frieza down. I have to kill him. For my mother, for Vegeta- sei, for me. Let me make this. Let me do it!' His power rose and rose but he always seemed to reach a barrier he could not break. He beat himself against it with a scream of frustration. The girls jumped. His power soared just a little more, then dropped in exhaustion. 'I just can't do it! Why can't I do it?'
He stood a moment with his head bowed, then looked up to find Bulma standing in front of him. "Why can't I do it?" he asked her.
"There's no information on how it works that I can find. The only thing in the computer files is the story of your Legendary Super Saiyan of a thousand years ago."
"It's in my DNA. The potential. I was born for it. But I can't break through the barrier!"
"Hmmm. I'll examine the medical records and your gene structure. And Kakkarot's. I'll see if I can find anything."
He nodded. She set up her laptop to do just that while Lori continued to monitor transmissions from the other computer. Vegeta spoke again to Kakkarot. "Nothing?"
A sigh. "Nothing."
"So we sit tight and wait."
________ _________
Frieza landed on the planet. The Ginyu Force was just exiting the castle to look for Zarbon as he got out of his ship. "Boys."
"Frieza," Ginyu said in surprise. "What are you doing here?"
"I think you know." Frieza was smiling with wicked glee. "I just wanted to say my goodbyes." He held up his finger. The Ginyu Force watched in dismay and terror as a huge ball of ki formed above it. He laughed and pointed at Burter, who backed up. Then he fired.
Burter vanished in the explosion, as did the castle behind him. Rock and dust flew up everywhere. The shockwaves thrust Recoome and Ginyu to the ground.
They looked up in horror and confusion. "Lord Frieza! What are you doing?" Ginyu cried.
"Did you think I wouldn't put a stop to your treachery?" Frieza hissed, now growing truly furious. "This is the way you repay me after all the time and energy I invested in you! I gave you room and board and food! I guided you and counseled you! And this is what I get!"
Recoome tried to run, but Frieza blasted him away.
Capt. Ginyu knew pleading innocence wouldn't do him any good. So he fired a ki blast of his own at Frieza. Frieza laughed and batted it away.
All that was left was his secret weapon--which of course was no secret to Frieza. But he had to try it. "Change now!" he shouted. Light streamed out of his mouth.
"Let's put that mind of yours in a better place," Frieza smiled. "How about the next dimension?"
Ginyu was disintegrated in another huge ball of energy and fire. "Oh, too bad. You don't get to take your body with you."
Kakkarot met Zarbon in the landing bay. "Well, what happened?"
Zarbon looked exultant. "Ha! We were standing in front of their Emperess, and Ginyu--I guess in an attempt to discredit me--switches bodies with me, and insults the Emperess. This got her so mad she declared war on us and everybody started fighting. So I just took off in Ginyu's body, called up Frieza, insulted him, and told him the Ginyu Force quit."
Kakkarot grinned. "Oh man!"
"Yeah! So then Frieza says he's going to come kill us, and I go off and get my body back. Then I report in to Frieza again, and tell him Ginyu is a traitor. And he tells me to come back here while he takes care of them. Piece of cake!"
"I wish I'd been there! I'm surprised Ginyu didn't try to kill you, though."
"He was enjoying himself fighting the natives. I wish I could see his face when Frieza gets there."
"Ginyu had no idea what he was getting into when he went up against you," Kakkarot congratulated.
Zarbon smiled. "Actually, it was mainly Vegeta's idea. It was one of his contingency plans. He got me aside before we left and said, if this happens, do this. If that happens, do that. This was one of the easiest plans to pull off, though. I didn't think Ginyu would actually try switching bodies with me. Your brother has a very devious mind."
Kakkarot smiled. "Yeah. Well, we have people posted in case something goes wrong, but we don't expect anybody to have to do anything this time. It's mainly just practice for--when we finally have the power to destroy Frieza."
Zarbon sobered and nodded. "He'll be done with the Ginyu Force soon, back here, and awfully mad. Who do you think he'll replace them with?"
They looked at each other, a horrible premonition striking them. "You don't think it'll be the two of us, do you?"
______ _______
Sekot was watching Vanyar watch the throne room. Obviously, something was going on, but he didn't know what. Sekot didn't like that. He wanted to be informed and in control of things.
"Where are you, Vegeta? It's you I want. I'll see you ruined yet. And you, Kakkarot. See if I don't."
_________ _________
What do you think? Could I get 100 reviews? I've got 65 now. Do you know how happy that would make me?
By Elbereth in April
Captain Ginyu, Burter, and Recoome sat around a table drinking kwalan juice mixed with what looked suspiciously like alcohol.
"We have a mission," Capt. Ginyu reported with a smile. "Tomorrow, we are being sent to 'persuade' the Emperess of Tillogine to place herself under Frieza's rule."
"Good. You've been getting fat," Burter told Recoome. "You need the exercise."
Recoome scowled. "You're the one who keeps eating all the candy bars."
"But *I'm* not fat. I can."
Ginyu wearily cut them off. "Boys! This mission is our chance to get back in Frieza's good graces and to humiliate Zarbon."
"How?" Recoome asked eagerly.
"Well, Zarbon has to do something stupid, and the three of us can fix it and save the day. If Zarbon should happen to die, so much the better."
"How are you going to make Zarbon do something stupid?" Burter asked.
"First it occurred to me to manipulate him. But that takes a lot of work. Then I realized, hey, I can switch bodies. I can literally *make* him do something wrong, switch back, and he can't do anything but protest."
"Which, if he's dead, he'll have trouble doing."
"Exactly." Ginyu smiled.
________ _________
The Saiyans were closeted in Valkan's room. It was a little cramped for space, but they overlooked that.
". . .so when Frieza saw the file we created, he decided to send the Ginyu Force on a mission to planet Tillogine," Vegeta was explaining. "They're supposed to lean on the Emperess until she signs her world over to Frieza. Frieza intends this to be their last chance, to see if they play him false. Zarbon is supposed to watch and report back. If they prove to be traitors, Frieza is going to execute them."
"So we're just going to let Zarbon say they're disloyal when he gets back?"
"Ah, I was. But while I was sparring earlier, I was thinking." He smirked. "We're going to raise the stakes a little bit."
________ ______
Zarbon and the three remaining Ginyu Force members stood in front of the Emperess and her council.
The Emperess knew all about Frieza. She'd seen his battle fleet in the sky above her planet. And she'd read the ki's of the warriors in front of her, stronger than all her warriors put together. She knew what she had to do, but she wasn't happy.
"Don't say a word," she greeted them. "We are prepared to join with the Lord Frieza. But you must allow us to maintain our honor. If you threaten us, we will be forced to resist you to the last person."
Ginyu couldn't believe his luck. This would be too easy! He turned to look at Zarbon. Zarbon caught his eyes. Light flashed briefly out of Ginyu's mouth, and the switch of bodies was made. Normally this was a very flashy affair, but he could do it discreetly too.
Zarbon heard himself speak. "But our whole purpose in coming here was to threaten you! You're a weak coward like your whole race! On the other hand, you're a pretty good-looking woman, so if you sleep with Frieza, maybe he'd let you keep your 'honor.'"
The council members screamed in rage as the Emperess turned a darker shade of her normal purple. She stood up. "Kill them!" she shouted.
Zarbon gaped, then grinned. He couldn't believe his luck. This would be too easy! He flew straight up, top speed, catching the others completely by surprise. His real body might get a little damaged, but Ginyu would have to keep it safe until he could get his own back. And before he could do that, Zarbon had a little tick of his own, inspired by some of Vegeta's suggestions.
Ginyu moved to follow him, but was delayed by a surge of dozens of warriors running into the room and throwing themselves on him, Recoome, and Burter. They shot blasts after Zarbon, but the aliens couldn't fly, so Zarbon got away for the moment.
He made it outside to Capt. Ginyu's ship, which he immediately entered, flicking on the video phone, direct link to Frieza.
Frieza's face appeared on screen. "This had better be worth my time, Ginyu."
Zarbon/Ginyu laughed evilly. "We're revolting, you lame-brained lizard. Or rather, *you're* revolting, so we quit! This planet is just the first that has agreed to join with us instead of you. Your days are numbered, you freak!"
Frieza hissed. "You disappoint me. But as you shall soon see, *no one* turns against me and lives!"
Zarbon/Ginyu broke the connection and ran. Time to get his own body back before Frieza got there.
_______ ______
Meanwhile, Dodoria was still stuck on planet Ponah, but his malfunctioning space pod was nearly fixed. Still, his time on-planet hadn't been a complete waste. He'd talked to the natives, eaten interesting foods, got caught up on interstellar news and music videos (his secret passion), and decrypted the government's secret code, hacked into their mainframe, and downloaded very interesting computer files for Frieza's perusal. Oh yes. Very interesting indeed.
_________ _________
Ginyu met Zarbon half-way back to the castle. Recoome and Burter were still inside, wiping up the last of the resistance.
Ginyu tackled Zarbon to the ground, performed his special trick, and reclaimed his own body. Then he cuffed Zarbon on the side of the head and went back to help his team members. He would kill Zarbon when he was done.
Zarbon glared after him, stuck out his tongue, and grinned. What incredible luck! All he had to do now was get back into his space pod, report, and make his escape off-planet. And he even looked sufficiently scratched and dirtied to make his excuse of a fight believable!
He climber into his pod and clicked on the phone. "Lord Frieza!"
Frieza appeared. "Ah, there you are, Zarbon."
"Sir, the Ginyu Force are definitely traitors, sir. They've taken over the planet, but I got away to report. What do you want me to do?"
"Come back to the ship, Zarbon. I will take care of this personally."
"Yes, my lord." Frieza hung up. Zarbon gloated briefly, then closed the ship door and blasted off. That had gone just perfectly.
________ _______
The Saiyans were stationed at various places throughout Frieza's ship. Kakkarot was waiting for Zarbon at the landing bay. Vanyar was hiding near the throne room. Vegeta was with the Woman and Lorimaya, listening to Frieza's bugged conversations. Traigo was hiding near Ginyu's room. Vegan was casually inspecting technical aspects of the engines in the ship's control room. Wherever there was a chance for action or information, they had tried to put someone.
"Hey, Kakkarot. Frieza just told the mechanic to ready his personal plane. He's going down there."
"What would happen if we blew up the planet with all of them on it?"
"Unfortunately, Frieza would live. Our attack wouldn't be strong enough to destroy him unless we were Super Saiyan. And he can breathe in space."
There was a pause while they both bitterly regretted their lack of ability to transform. 'There must be a secret to it,' Kakkarot thought. 'What could it be?'
"Well, you set them up for a fight instead of an execution. Do you think Frieza might get damaged a little bit?"
"Maybe." But Vegeta's hopes weren't too high.
"Let's both try to transform again."
"OK."
Kakkarot hid in the shadows behind a column and powered up. It was hard to do silently, but he was trying to be inconspicuous. Luckily, everyone was rushing around preparing Frieza's ship and ignoring everything else.
Vegeta stood away from the girls and the computer in Bulma's room. "Keep listening," he told them. "I'm just gonna try something." Lori obeyed but Bulma only half listened. She turned around in her seat to watch Vegeta.
He clenched his fists and started powering up. Bulma's furniture began to shake. The muscles and veins on his body started to bulge and the air crackled around him. Bulma's eyes were wide and fascinated. She wished she was wearing a scouter so she could read his power level.
The power of both Saiyans climbed steadily as they concentrated. Kakkarot's peaked after a moment--no good. Vegeta kept trying, thinking hard.
'I have to take Frieza down. I have to kill him. For my mother, for Vegeta- sei, for me. Let me make this. Let me do it!' His power rose and rose but he always seemed to reach a barrier he could not break. He beat himself against it with a scream of frustration. The girls jumped. His power soared just a little more, then dropped in exhaustion. 'I just can't do it! Why can't I do it?'
He stood a moment with his head bowed, then looked up to find Bulma standing in front of him. "Why can't I do it?" he asked her.
"There's no information on how it works that I can find. The only thing in the computer files is the story of your Legendary Super Saiyan of a thousand years ago."
"It's in my DNA. The potential. I was born for it. But I can't break through the barrier!"
"Hmmm. I'll examine the medical records and your gene structure. And Kakkarot's. I'll see if I can find anything."
He nodded. She set up her laptop to do just that while Lori continued to monitor transmissions from the other computer. Vegeta spoke again to Kakkarot. "Nothing?"
A sigh. "Nothing."
"So we sit tight and wait."
________ _________
Frieza landed on the planet. The Ginyu Force was just exiting the castle to look for Zarbon as he got out of his ship. "Boys."
"Frieza," Ginyu said in surprise. "What are you doing here?"
"I think you know." Frieza was smiling with wicked glee. "I just wanted to say my goodbyes." He held up his finger. The Ginyu Force watched in dismay and terror as a huge ball of ki formed above it. He laughed and pointed at Burter, who backed up. Then he fired.
Burter vanished in the explosion, as did the castle behind him. Rock and dust flew up everywhere. The shockwaves thrust Recoome and Ginyu to the ground.
They looked up in horror and confusion. "Lord Frieza! What are you doing?" Ginyu cried.
"Did you think I wouldn't put a stop to your treachery?" Frieza hissed, now growing truly furious. "This is the way you repay me after all the time and energy I invested in you! I gave you room and board and food! I guided you and counseled you! And this is what I get!"
Recoome tried to run, but Frieza blasted him away.
Capt. Ginyu knew pleading innocence wouldn't do him any good. So he fired a ki blast of his own at Frieza. Frieza laughed and batted it away.
All that was left was his secret weapon--which of course was no secret to Frieza. But he had to try it. "Change now!" he shouted. Light streamed out of his mouth.
"Let's put that mind of yours in a better place," Frieza smiled. "How about the next dimension?"
Ginyu was disintegrated in another huge ball of energy and fire. "Oh, too bad. You don't get to take your body with you."
Kakkarot met Zarbon in the landing bay. "Well, what happened?"
Zarbon looked exultant. "Ha! We were standing in front of their Emperess, and Ginyu--I guess in an attempt to discredit me--switches bodies with me, and insults the Emperess. This got her so mad she declared war on us and everybody started fighting. So I just took off in Ginyu's body, called up Frieza, insulted him, and told him the Ginyu Force quit."
Kakkarot grinned. "Oh man!"
"Yeah! So then Frieza says he's going to come kill us, and I go off and get my body back. Then I report in to Frieza again, and tell him Ginyu is a traitor. And he tells me to come back here while he takes care of them. Piece of cake!"
"I wish I'd been there! I'm surprised Ginyu didn't try to kill you, though."
"He was enjoying himself fighting the natives. I wish I could see his face when Frieza gets there."
"Ginyu had no idea what he was getting into when he went up against you," Kakkarot congratulated.
Zarbon smiled. "Actually, it was mainly Vegeta's idea. It was one of his contingency plans. He got me aside before we left and said, if this happens, do this. If that happens, do that. This was one of the easiest plans to pull off, though. I didn't think Ginyu would actually try switching bodies with me. Your brother has a very devious mind."
Kakkarot smiled. "Yeah. Well, we have people posted in case something goes wrong, but we don't expect anybody to have to do anything this time. It's mainly just practice for--when we finally have the power to destroy Frieza."
Zarbon sobered and nodded. "He'll be done with the Ginyu Force soon, back here, and awfully mad. Who do you think he'll replace them with?"
They looked at each other, a horrible premonition striking them. "You don't think it'll be the two of us, do you?"
______ _______
Sekot was watching Vanyar watch the throne room. Obviously, something was going on, but he didn't know what. Sekot didn't like that. He wanted to be informed and in control of things.
"Where are you, Vegeta? It's you I want. I'll see you ruined yet. And you, Kakkarot. See if I don't."
_________ _________
What do you think? Could I get 100 reviews? I've got 65 now. Do you know how happy that would make me?