The Deception--Ch. 27
By Elbereth in April
Vegeta had had enough of waiting. His goal was in his grasp and he meant to take it, now.
Kakkarot was smirking. He was sure that together he and Vegeta could take this butcher. And they'd better do it quickly, for Bulma's sake.
Frieza felt himself sweating. He wasn't nervous, he told himself. They were still just stupid monkeys. He would win easily. He'd prove it.
Frieza and Vegeta moved towards each other at the same time. Frieza aimed a blow at Vegeta's head, which he caught easily. He squeezed down on Frieza's fist, until he heard bones break. Frieza yelled.
Vegeta let go and punched him, stomach, face, ribs, in quick succession. Then he kicked him in the chest hard enough to send him crashing to the ground, cracking it. Water spilled up from somewhere underground and trickled through the crack.
Meanwhile, Kakkarot had been gathering his newfound power in his hands, and released it against Frieza with a shout. He watched it wash over the prone icejin. It had barely faded when Vegeta exclaimed, "Final Flash!" and hit Frieza with a blast of his own.
Panting and squinting, Frieza struggled to his feet. His knees wobbled and his hands shook. He snarled. "I am the greatest fighter in the universe! I can't be defeated!"
"You're weak, and you're stupid," Vegeta replied.
He and Kakkarot closed in again. Frieza swiveled and kicked Kakkarot in the hip. Vegeta grabbed him by the throat as Kakkarot laughed at him, unfazed. Frieza gurgled and tried to break Vegeta's hold. He whipped Vegeta in the abdomen with his tail, so Vegeta let go with one hand and pointed his finger like a gun. It began glowing with energy. A thin stream of ki shot out and sliced through Frieza's tail like a laser. The tail fell to the ground as Frieza screamed in agony. Blood spurted out of the stump, making Vegeta wish he were wearing his gloves.
In his pained throes, Frieza pulled free and backed away several yards.
"Frieza, it's time for you to say goodbye," Kakkarot taunted. "I wish I could say I've enjoyed your company, but since you're a sadistic psycho, I'll just say good riddance instead."
Frieza's eyes went a little wild. "I'll see you all die yet," he hissed. "It's not over. Your suffering is just beginning. Let's see how smug you are when this planet is nothing but rubble!" He raised both hands and a smoldering ball of energy began forming rapidly.
Vegeta felt his heart pounding, suddenly very loud in his head. He couldn't fail his people. This was the last and final test. Was he a Prince or just Frieza's worthless slave?
The ball of energy above Frieza's hands was now a huge green-black crackling disk. He started to move his arms in preparation to bring it down against the planet's surface.
Vegeta's eyes narrowed. "You-Will- Not."
He moved so fast even his fellow Saiyans didn't see it. He was just there all at once, in front of Frieza. He grabbed hold of his wrists and prevented him from throwing the disk. Frieza gritted his teeth and used all his remaining energy to fight back.
Vegeta kneed him in the stomach and he gasped. Then Vegeta slapped him across the face. "You're not invincible after all. Have you figured that out yet?"
"You are nothing!" Frieza screamed.
"I am Prince Vegeta of Vegeta-sei."
He pulled Frieza's arms out to the sides. The disk continued to hover over his head. "Kakkarot," Vegeta said, and tossed Frieza over to him. As the disk started to fall, he clasped both fists together and batted it away, hard, up into space. It exploded eventually, thousands of miles up.
Kakkarot caught Frieza and pinned his arms against his body, then started crushing him in a wrestler's hug. When he felt Frieza start to slump, he threw him back to Vegeta. Vegeta turned him upside down and rushed with him toward the ground, letting go and pulling up just before impact. Frieza crashed down through several trees, then hit the rocky ground. Vegeta slammed down onto his spine with both feet, grinding him into the dirt for a moment, then jumped off. He kicked him in the head just for good measure, then stepped away.
Kakkarot landed beside him.
"For the betterment of the whole universe, I kill you," Vegeta murmured, raising one hand straight out, level with his chest, palm pointing toward Frieza. Then louder, "And don't you dare threaten my planet."
Frieza just gaped at him, still unable to believe he could actually be beaten. "What are you. . ." he began, but was cut off as Vegeta's energy beam struck him.
Vegeta kept pouring more and more power into it.
"Vegeta," Kakkarot said quietly, "would you mind? I have a planet to avenge, too."
Vegeta looked over at him, caught his eye. Then he smiled. "Feel free." Because it had proved true, after all. What mattered to him was not who killed Frieza. Just that he would be dead.
"Kame. . . hame. . ."
"Big Bang. . ."
"Ha/Attack!"
An overwhelming crescendo of energy poured from both their hands. The light dazzled everyone's eyes. Overhead, thunder cracked again.
And Frieza's body disintegrated in the light. A few particles of his ashes floated away with the dust on the wind.
Kakkarot paused to savor the moment. But Vegeta immediately dropped his hand and hurried over to where the doctors had the unconscious Bulma.
"There's a hospital in the palace," Vegeta told them. "Take her there at once. She'll--she'll be OK then, right?"
"I think so, after the surgery. I hope so," the woman responded. "Come on," she instructed the other doctor, Gunther, and Prowlr.
"These capsules are amazing," the second doctor marveled as Gunther pressed one and then tossed it. A floating skid appeared.
"Load the rejuv tank on it," Prowlr said. "Carefully."
They did so. "I'll show you where it is," Capran volunteered. They began to head off for the palace, the skid moving beside them.
"Wait!" Nyl's voice shouted. "That's *my* palace!"
"Are you crazy?" Valkan scoffed at him. "You have standing in front of you the rightful heir to the throne by blood. He just killed the most powerful tyrant in the galaxy. And he's the legendary Super Saiyan. You think you can stop him?"
Nyl began stuttering. His bodyguards backed away and left him alone.
Vegeta strode forward until he was only a few inches away from Nyl. "Do you step down or do I kill you?"
"But. . . but. . . but. . ."
Vegeta shrugged. He pulled back his arm, then brought it forward in a powerful punch to Nyl's head, breaking his neck instantly.
"Anybody else want to debate my authority?"
Silence. Then, "Long live King Vegeta!" someone called from the crowd. Suddenly everyone was cheering.
"We'll have the formal crowning ceremony at the palace as soon as the future Saiyan Queen is stabilized," Siane declared.
"Now move," Vegeta ordered the doctors again. They did so.
"Bring the pretender's body," he commanded the dead man's former guards. "Tory, do some mind sifting for plots against me, OK? Find out if there's any traitors."
"Will do."
"Everyone, welcome to Vegeta-sei. Come along and I'll show you Saiyan hospitality."
Then you couldn't hear yourself think because all of their allies from Frieza's ship were celebrating their freedom so loudly.
_________ __________
Vegeta wanted to be in the hospital, but instead he was standing on a balcony overlooking the courtyard. Certain things had to be settled at once or he could end up with a civil war on his hands.
Queen Siane stood at his right hand, and Kakkarot on his left. His own particular group of Saiyans were clustered at his back, along with Tory and Zarbon. The rest of the 28 Saiyans and the aliens off Frieza's ship were sitting down in the room behind him, watching the assembled crowd below. He'd already told them that anyone who wanted could stay, or he'd provide transportation to some other world.
Now he was addressing the other Saiyans in the capital city and the surrounding area who'd turned up, and was being broadcast to the rest of the planet. "The rightful Saiyan King has returned. The dog Nyl and his keeper Frieza have been overthrown. I will be formally inducted in 3 hours. In the meantime, everyone holding political office or living in the palace will come to swear allegiance to me. Expect to see some changes. However, I'm sure this transition to my leadership will go smoothly.
"For those of you who are wondering, yes, I can transform into the legendary Super Saiyan. Now. Are there any challenges to my reign?"
Nobody in the crowd dared move for fear it might be mistaken as a yes. Then someone knelt. Then the whole crowd was kneeling. He nodded decisively. "Good." They let out their breaths again.
"OK, rise. All those mentioned, form a line outside the throne room. I'm delighted with your support." He turned and left the balcony, with the rest following. The crowd was cheering him again as he went. Most were happy with this new turn of events, and totally awed to have seen a Super Saiyan at last. Their legends were finally vindicated. It seemed like a sign of great prosperity to come.
___________ ___________
They approached him one at a time, with Tory and Siane whispering to him, "He was one of my supporters, he's been a Royalist all his life," or "That one wants to see you die, he was one of Nyl's most trusted men." And some Vegeta smiled at or rewarded and some he had arrested or removed from office. He put his friends and loyal followers in their places.
After about 2 hours, Lori came running in and said, "She's OK! Bulma's gonna be OK!" Then everyone who was a friend of the Woman turned and hugged one of her other friends. And for Saiyans, that's saying something.
__________ ___________
Three days later, a group of people was sitting around eating dinner. There was the Queen Mother and the current King and Queen of the Saiyans. There was the Head of the People's Concerns, Prince Kakkarot, who had had the unprecedented honor of being officially adopted into the Vegeta Royal Family, and was proclaimed Heir until the King and Queen had children. There was the General of the Saiyan Army, Vanyar. The Head of Government Administration, Zarbon, and his wife, Councilwoman Lorimaya. Two of his top scientists, Gunther and Prowlr. The Queen's Chief Bodyguard, Colyte, and the King's Chief Bodyguard, Nappa. His Head of Intelligence, Tory. And some of his Councilmen, Vegan, Traigo, Valkan, Kwil, Capran, and Dom.
Oi, don't look now, Kakkarot, but that waitress has been eyeing you ever since we started eating," Tory sent to him and Vegeta with a smile.
Vegeta smirked and Kakkarot blushed and looked around. He caught the waitress's eye, and she shamelessly winked. He blushed harder and stared at his plate.
"You should have known he'd look," Vegeta told Tory.
Tory grinned.
"So," Vegeta said out loud, "how's everybody doing? Getting settled in?"
The general consensus was that everything was going fine, they liked their new jobs, and the populace was happy.
"I think we should do more testing on Bulma's Super Saiyan pill," Prowlr announced. "It should have done more for Kakkarot. We could improve its potency. It may even be possible to create the Super Saiyan gene."
The Saiyans looked at each other uncomfortably for a long moment. "Um. We'll have to give that a lot of thought," Kakkarot said hesitantly. The rest nodded.
"Well, how's this sound?" Gunther asked. "We can create a globe of artificial light to simulate moonlight so you can change into Oozaru form even without the moon."
They perked up at that. "That sounds interesting," Nappa admitted.
Kakkarot frowned. "Don't you work on anything peaceful?"
"Better communications. Faster space ships. Weather control," Prowlr offered.
"I've been researching an old Earth legend," Bulma cut in, smiling enigmatically. "And I think we should send a peace emissary to a planet called Namek."
"What are you up to now?" Vegeta asked his wife suspiciously.
She just shrugged and kept smiling. "You'll see."
The waitress stood in front of Kakkarot again, with a large plate of ribs. "More food, Prince?"
He took more meat without looking at her too directly.
"He's shy," Traigo laughed.
"I'm not," said Kwil. Vegan hit him. The girl smiled and walked away to the kitchen.
"It sure is nice to be home," Capran sighed.
"Yes," Vegeta murmured. Bulma took his hand under the table. He looked at Kakkarot and smiled. "Don't worry about the weapons, little brother. We'll only use them in defense. You'll teach us all nobility soon enough."
Kakkarot blinked, then looked up at him and smiled back. "I'm not worried. After all, we're Saiyans."
Really, what more needed to be said?
_______________________ ______________________
A/N: That's the end. I had fun writing this. Who knows, maybe I'll do a sequel someday. Cooler's still out there, and Namek. But anyway, I hope you liked it. Review!
By Elbereth in April
Vegeta had had enough of waiting. His goal was in his grasp and he meant to take it, now.
Kakkarot was smirking. He was sure that together he and Vegeta could take this butcher. And they'd better do it quickly, for Bulma's sake.
Frieza felt himself sweating. He wasn't nervous, he told himself. They were still just stupid monkeys. He would win easily. He'd prove it.
Frieza and Vegeta moved towards each other at the same time. Frieza aimed a blow at Vegeta's head, which he caught easily. He squeezed down on Frieza's fist, until he heard bones break. Frieza yelled.
Vegeta let go and punched him, stomach, face, ribs, in quick succession. Then he kicked him in the chest hard enough to send him crashing to the ground, cracking it. Water spilled up from somewhere underground and trickled through the crack.
Meanwhile, Kakkarot had been gathering his newfound power in his hands, and released it against Frieza with a shout. He watched it wash over the prone icejin. It had barely faded when Vegeta exclaimed, "Final Flash!" and hit Frieza with a blast of his own.
Panting and squinting, Frieza struggled to his feet. His knees wobbled and his hands shook. He snarled. "I am the greatest fighter in the universe! I can't be defeated!"
"You're weak, and you're stupid," Vegeta replied.
He and Kakkarot closed in again. Frieza swiveled and kicked Kakkarot in the hip. Vegeta grabbed him by the throat as Kakkarot laughed at him, unfazed. Frieza gurgled and tried to break Vegeta's hold. He whipped Vegeta in the abdomen with his tail, so Vegeta let go with one hand and pointed his finger like a gun. It began glowing with energy. A thin stream of ki shot out and sliced through Frieza's tail like a laser. The tail fell to the ground as Frieza screamed in agony. Blood spurted out of the stump, making Vegeta wish he were wearing his gloves.
In his pained throes, Frieza pulled free and backed away several yards.
"Frieza, it's time for you to say goodbye," Kakkarot taunted. "I wish I could say I've enjoyed your company, but since you're a sadistic psycho, I'll just say good riddance instead."
Frieza's eyes went a little wild. "I'll see you all die yet," he hissed. "It's not over. Your suffering is just beginning. Let's see how smug you are when this planet is nothing but rubble!" He raised both hands and a smoldering ball of energy began forming rapidly.
Vegeta felt his heart pounding, suddenly very loud in his head. He couldn't fail his people. This was the last and final test. Was he a Prince or just Frieza's worthless slave?
The ball of energy above Frieza's hands was now a huge green-black crackling disk. He started to move his arms in preparation to bring it down against the planet's surface.
Vegeta's eyes narrowed. "You-Will- Not."
He moved so fast even his fellow Saiyans didn't see it. He was just there all at once, in front of Frieza. He grabbed hold of his wrists and prevented him from throwing the disk. Frieza gritted his teeth and used all his remaining energy to fight back.
Vegeta kneed him in the stomach and he gasped. Then Vegeta slapped him across the face. "You're not invincible after all. Have you figured that out yet?"
"You are nothing!" Frieza screamed.
"I am Prince Vegeta of Vegeta-sei."
He pulled Frieza's arms out to the sides. The disk continued to hover over his head. "Kakkarot," Vegeta said, and tossed Frieza over to him. As the disk started to fall, he clasped both fists together and batted it away, hard, up into space. It exploded eventually, thousands of miles up.
Kakkarot caught Frieza and pinned his arms against his body, then started crushing him in a wrestler's hug. When he felt Frieza start to slump, he threw him back to Vegeta. Vegeta turned him upside down and rushed with him toward the ground, letting go and pulling up just before impact. Frieza crashed down through several trees, then hit the rocky ground. Vegeta slammed down onto his spine with both feet, grinding him into the dirt for a moment, then jumped off. He kicked him in the head just for good measure, then stepped away.
Kakkarot landed beside him.
"For the betterment of the whole universe, I kill you," Vegeta murmured, raising one hand straight out, level with his chest, palm pointing toward Frieza. Then louder, "And don't you dare threaten my planet."
Frieza just gaped at him, still unable to believe he could actually be beaten. "What are you. . ." he began, but was cut off as Vegeta's energy beam struck him.
Vegeta kept pouring more and more power into it.
"Vegeta," Kakkarot said quietly, "would you mind? I have a planet to avenge, too."
Vegeta looked over at him, caught his eye. Then he smiled. "Feel free." Because it had proved true, after all. What mattered to him was not who killed Frieza. Just that he would be dead.
"Kame. . . hame. . ."
"Big Bang. . ."
"Ha/Attack!"
An overwhelming crescendo of energy poured from both their hands. The light dazzled everyone's eyes. Overhead, thunder cracked again.
And Frieza's body disintegrated in the light. A few particles of his ashes floated away with the dust on the wind.
Kakkarot paused to savor the moment. But Vegeta immediately dropped his hand and hurried over to where the doctors had the unconscious Bulma.
"There's a hospital in the palace," Vegeta told them. "Take her there at once. She'll--she'll be OK then, right?"
"I think so, after the surgery. I hope so," the woman responded. "Come on," she instructed the other doctor, Gunther, and Prowlr.
"These capsules are amazing," the second doctor marveled as Gunther pressed one and then tossed it. A floating skid appeared.
"Load the rejuv tank on it," Prowlr said. "Carefully."
They did so. "I'll show you where it is," Capran volunteered. They began to head off for the palace, the skid moving beside them.
"Wait!" Nyl's voice shouted. "That's *my* palace!"
"Are you crazy?" Valkan scoffed at him. "You have standing in front of you the rightful heir to the throne by blood. He just killed the most powerful tyrant in the galaxy. And he's the legendary Super Saiyan. You think you can stop him?"
Nyl began stuttering. His bodyguards backed away and left him alone.
Vegeta strode forward until he was only a few inches away from Nyl. "Do you step down or do I kill you?"
"But. . . but. . . but. . ."
Vegeta shrugged. He pulled back his arm, then brought it forward in a powerful punch to Nyl's head, breaking his neck instantly.
"Anybody else want to debate my authority?"
Silence. Then, "Long live King Vegeta!" someone called from the crowd. Suddenly everyone was cheering.
"We'll have the formal crowning ceremony at the palace as soon as the future Saiyan Queen is stabilized," Siane declared.
"Now move," Vegeta ordered the doctors again. They did so.
"Bring the pretender's body," he commanded the dead man's former guards. "Tory, do some mind sifting for plots against me, OK? Find out if there's any traitors."
"Will do."
"Everyone, welcome to Vegeta-sei. Come along and I'll show you Saiyan hospitality."
Then you couldn't hear yourself think because all of their allies from Frieza's ship were celebrating their freedom so loudly.
_________ __________
Vegeta wanted to be in the hospital, but instead he was standing on a balcony overlooking the courtyard. Certain things had to be settled at once or he could end up with a civil war on his hands.
Queen Siane stood at his right hand, and Kakkarot on his left. His own particular group of Saiyans were clustered at his back, along with Tory and Zarbon. The rest of the 28 Saiyans and the aliens off Frieza's ship were sitting down in the room behind him, watching the assembled crowd below. He'd already told them that anyone who wanted could stay, or he'd provide transportation to some other world.
Now he was addressing the other Saiyans in the capital city and the surrounding area who'd turned up, and was being broadcast to the rest of the planet. "The rightful Saiyan King has returned. The dog Nyl and his keeper Frieza have been overthrown. I will be formally inducted in 3 hours. In the meantime, everyone holding political office or living in the palace will come to swear allegiance to me. Expect to see some changes. However, I'm sure this transition to my leadership will go smoothly.
"For those of you who are wondering, yes, I can transform into the legendary Super Saiyan. Now. Are there any challenges to my reign?"
Nobody in the crowd dared move for fear it might be mistaken as a yes. Then someone knelt. Then the whole crowd was kneeling. He nodded decisively. "Good." They let out their breaths again.
"OK, rise. All those mentioned, form a line outside the throne room. I'm delighted with your support." He turned and left the balcony, with the rest following. The crowd was cheering him again as he went. Most were happy with this new turn of events, and totally awed to have seen a Super Saiyan at last. Their legends were finally vindicated. It seemed like a sign of great prosperity to come.
___________ ___________
They approached him one at a time, with Tory and Siane whispering to him, "He was one of my supporters, he's been a Royalist all his life," or "That one wants to see you die, he was one of Nyl's most trusted men." And some Vegeta smiled at or rewarded and some he had arrested or removed from office. He put his friends and loyal followers in their places.
After about 2 hours, Lori came running in and said, "She's OK! Bulma's gonna be OK!" Then everyone who was a friend of the Woman turned and hugged one of her other friends. And for Saiyans, that's saying something.
__________ ___________
Three days later, a group of people was sitting around eating dinner. There was the Queen Mother and the current King and Queen of the Saiyans. There was the Head of the People's Concerns, Prince Kakkarot, who had had the unprecedented honor of being officially adopted into the Vegeta Royal Family, and was proclaimed Heir until the King and Queen had children. There was the General of the Saiyan Army, Vanyar. The Head of Government Administration, Zarbon, and his wife, Councilwoman Lorimaya. Two of his top scientists, Gunther and Prowlr. The Queen's Chief Bodyguard, Colyte, and the King's Chief Bodyguard, Nappa. His Head of Intelligence, Tory. And some of his Councilmen, Vegan, Traigo, Valkan, Kwil, Capran, and Dom.
Oi, don't look now, Kakkarot, but that waitress has been eyeing you ever since we started eating," Tory sent to him and Vegeta with a smile.
Vegeta smirked and Kakkarot blushed and looked around. He caught the waitress's eye, and she shamelessly winked. He blushed harder and stared at his plate.
"You should have known he'd look," Vegeta told Tory.
Tory grinned.
"So," Vegeta said out loud, "how's everybody doing? Getting settled in?"
The general consensus was that everything was going fine, they liked their new jobs, and the populace was happy.
"I think we should do more testing on Bulma's Super Saiyan pill," Prowlr announced. "It should have done more for Kakkarot. We could improve its potency. It may even be possible to create the Super Saiyan gene."
The Saiyans looked at each other uncomfortably for a long moment. "Um. We'll have to give that a lot of thought," Kakkarot said hesitantly. The rest nodded.
"Well, how's this sound?" Gunther asked. "We can create a globe of artificial light to simulate moonlight so you can change into Oozaru form even without the moon."
They perked up at that. "That sounds interesting," Nappa admitted.
Kakkarot frowned. "Don't you work on anything peaceful?"
"Better communications. Faster space ships. Weather control," Prowlr offered.
"I've been researching an old Earth legend," Bulma cut in, smiling enigmatically. "And I think we should send a peace emissary to a planet called Namek."
"What are you up to now?" Vegeta asked his wife suspiciously.
She just shrugged and kept smiling. "You'll see."
The waitress stood in front of Kakkarot again, with a large plate of ribs. "More food, Prince?"
He took more meat without looking at her too directly.
"He's shy," Traigo laughed.
"I'm not," said Kwil. Vegan hit him. The girl smiled and walked away to the kitchen.
"It sure is nice to be home," Capran sighed.
"Yes," Vegeta murmured. Bulma took his hand under the table. He looked at Kakkarot and smiled. "Don't worry about the weapons, little brother. We'll only use them in defense. You'll teach us all nobility soon enough."
Kakkarot blinked, then looked up at him and smiled back. "I'm not worried. After all, we're Saiyans."
Really, what more needed to be said?
_______________________ ______________________
A/N: That's the end. I had fun writing this. Who knows, maybe I'll do a sequel someday. Cooler's still out there, and Namek. But anyway, I hope you liked it. Review!