This story is a sequel to "The Vegeta Redemption" and will probably not make much sense unless you've read it first. I do not own DBZ or any of the original DBZ characters.

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"Peace is a double headed axe." Vegeta thought as he sat in on yet another trade commission meeting. Eight years had passed since the Saiyans were resurrected and Cordell was destroyed.

Peace comes at a price for Saiyans though. That is interminable boredom. Vegeta thoughts drifted back to a more exciting day.

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After Gerald and Jessica scared the hell out of the Icejins, Coldar's father, Frigidtor sent a challenge to Vegeta that they would not comply with Vegeta's demands.

Vegeta had expected this.

Vegeta made good on Gerald's promise and sent Gerald, Jessica, Roger, and Yambia to the planet Kleeft, a planet in the eastern quadrant that Frigidtor was using as a base, in a cloaked ship. The kids went Super Saiyan Two, which blew out every scouter on the planet.

A minute later, Roger and Yambia went Super Saiyan Four, which blew up every scouter and ki detector in half the quadrant.

Yambia grabbed Frigidtor by his horns and tossed him off of his throne where Gerald and Jessica played catch with him for a bit.

Frigidtor powered up to level four Icejin, but at a power level of only 11,500,000, he was helpless against the kids. His ki blasts were just slapped away, sometimes right back at him.

Gerald, who had just turned four, teased the tyrant. "Wow Uncle Fridgitor, you play catch great!"

Fridgitor, looking decidedly scorched, only growled at the boy.

Coldar himself grew wide eyed and sat cringing in a corner of the Palace.

Roger spied him and took him up by the scruff of the neck and through him in for playtime.

"What the hell is going on in here?" Came a strong feminine voice from everyone's right.

Fridgitor's daughter Icia floated in a doorway.

Roger stood forward. "We have come as envoys of King Vegeta of the Royal House Vegeta, King of all the Saiyans to reiterate demands previously delivered to your brother three months ago." Roger made a point of bringing attention to the cowering mass of Coldar who had been thrown through a wall.

"Dirty monkey! You dare made demands here?" Icia said.

"Icejin. Don't try to bluff us. We know that our power levels are many times yours. We have the means to enforce our demands." Yambia said.

Icia turned to ask what the Saiyan's power levels were only to notice that the console was a burned out wreck with two technicians nursing their wounds."

"You! What are their power levels?" Icia demanded.

"The main ki detection array is rated at 50,000,000. They blew it up with ease." An orange skinned alien answered pointing at the two adult Saiyans in the room.

"Our ki is several times that Icejin." Roger indicated himself and Yambia.

"Bullshit!" Icia suddenly launched a flurry of punches and kicks that would have devastated most beings. Yambia took the attack and started to yawn.

"Impossible!" The female Icejin screamed redoubling her efforts.

Yambia smiled enduring almost a full minute of Icia's assault before turning and slapping Icia with her tail hard enough to embed her into the far wall just over the throne. Icia groaned once but did not move.

Fridgitor's eyes went wide. "S-She defeated Icia without effort!" "Listen to me!" Roger started facing Fridgitor. "Your days as the most powerful beings in the universe is over! Done! Fini!! Got it? Frieza tried to destroy us, and it was a Saiyan that first defeated, then destroyed both him and his father. We have discovered the secret to levels far beyond Super Saiyan. You WILL comply with King Vegeta's demands. This is your last warning before we physically drive you out! Coldar has the demands. We suggest you follow them to the letter or face the wrath of the Saiyan King!"

With that, Yambia, Roger, Gerald, and Jessica teleported back to the ship.

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Vegeta was later surprised to learn that this scared the Icejins so badly, that they did indeed comply with Vegeta's demands.

Slowly, over the next few years, the very planets that the Icejins fled and left free approached Planet Vegeta. It seems that, in the eastern quadrant at least, the Saiyans had taken on a quasi-hero status. The races and planets that had approached the Saiyans did so cautiously, to be sure, but they all wanted the same thing at first. Protection.

King Vegeta was amazed at how many planets were willing to trade for a protection pact, including their own sovereignty.

It came as quite an amazement to them that the Saiyans only wished to live in peace now and refused to accept their sovereignty choosing instead to trade food, textiles, and other basic needs for protection pacts. Many of the planets were will to accept mutual protection pacts, and free trade agreements.

This all has had a profound effect on the Saiyan economy. It seemed like over-night a Saiyan merchant class evolved. Saiyan merchants became legendary, dealing business with the same singular purpose and determination as they once entered battle. Fair, but oh so vicious!

In the meantime, King Vegeta had led his people into a strong Republic form of government. His place and title is little more than figurehead now, except that he handled off planet diplomatic relations.

There was one clause that Vegeta always insisted on in any diplomatic contract. That is that the planet Earth is included in all protection pacts.

Vegeta wanted to make Earth a trading partner as well, but Bulma wasn't sure if Earth was socially advanced enough for the presence of aliens. Besides, Trunks had enough problems with the news hounds as it was.

Vegeta tended to agree.

Over the years, word got out from the east quadrant that the Saiyans had gotten rid of the Icejin threat, and had become a peaceful people. Species of people of all types, shapes, and sizes regularly visited Vegetasei's trade ports, and a healthy tourist industry was developing. People became hotly interested in Saiyan training styles.

Local legend was that Saiyans trained with God himself. But, of course, that was just a myth.

Gravity chamber training facilities sprung up all over Vegetasei.

Naturally though, if you wanted the ultimate training experience then one really had to go through training under Gohan the Wise. Gohan wasn't really sure how, or when, people started calling him that, but he didn't object.

Gohan and Kirillin stared a martial arts and physical training academy in a medium sized town known as Radlish T'Kroth (Warrior's Pass). It was Gohan's way of helping to educate young Saiyans. In the mix of martial arts and physical training, Gohan required classes in the sciences, math, and other topics that Saiyans normally didn't get. He approached Vegeta about starting a public school system and Vegeta was for the idea, but cautioned to take it one step at a time. So far, Gohan's efforts have been very successful. He even has Goku coming into class to teach the students about a part of Saiyan history. The class is called, "The Defeat of Frieza." Gohan's hope was that the parents of his students, and the students themselves, would begin to see the value in such knowledge.

Vegeta and Goku still meet for their weekly sparing matches, but have had to take it into the Nexus. People were starting to lodge complaints concerning broken windows, cracked plaster, and an occasional building toppling over. They can really let loose in the Nexus.

Physically, both men were still in their late 50's. Goku hadn't aged due to having been turned into a kid again, and Vegeta due to having been wished back into his prime. In terms of years, however, both men were well over 100 years old. An unfortunate side effect to this was that in terms of mental maturity, neither man related to anyone but their close friends, wives, and especially, each other. Vegeta often marveled at the changes in his life, but the greatest change was that the man before him, his most hated enemy, a man he considered a traitor to the Saiyan race, was now his closest friend and confidant. Vegeta has never expressed this in words, of course, but he couldn't deny it either.

"Kakkarot!" Vegeta yelled as he dodged a roundhouse punch then drove his own into Goku's stomach.

"Oof! What is it Vegeta?" Goku panted.

"Well, How is it that Chi-Chi let's you out every Friday night? I thought you made a promise to stick around with her?" Vegeta teased with a big smirk on his face. "I mean, wasn't you supposed to be henpecked for life or something?"

Vegeta was desperately trying to distract Goku from the spar. Over the years of training with each other, Goku had caught up with the Saiyan King once again. They were both about equal now.

Goku was quite aware of what Vegeta was doing.

"Well, you know Vegeta, Chi-Chi didn't mean that I couldn't have some fun now and then." Goku smiled and swept Vegeta's legs out from underneath him then caught him with a side kick that sent Vegeta flying for a couple hundred yards. Vegeta recovered and teleported behind Goku.

"Really? Are you saying that this is the only fun you have?" Vegeta continued to needle. "I must say that I'm flattered!" Vegeta fired a Big Bang Attack right at Goku's back.

"No, that's not what I meant." Goku said as he also teleported in front out of the way of the ki aimed at his back and in front of Vegeta. "I have lots of fun with Chi-Chi and Gotarm, this is a different kind of fun."

"I see. I was afraid that after the new brat came along, she wouldn't let you spar anymore. " Vegeta said. Deep down, this had been a mortal fear of Vegeta's. These Friday evening sparring sessions was Vegeta's favorite time of the week. Spending this time with Kakkarot who understood him on levels that his wife could not fully know, or understand.

Goku seen this in Vegeta's eyes, he smiled and nodded. "Don't worry Vegeta, it would take more than my wife to keep me away." "Who the hell said I was worried you big doofus!" Vegeta punched Goku on the cheek hard sending him careening into a small asteroid.

Vegeta smiled. "I'm still just a hair stronger."

Goku was by Vegeta's side in an instant. "We'd better call it a day Vegeta."

Vegeta agreed. It was hard to tell the passage of time in the Nexus, and neither one wore a watch. Watches would last very long during one of their sparing sessions any ways, but it felt like it had been several hours since they started. Both men's stomachs were growling to beat the band.

The best form of Saiyan alarm clock. Time to eat?

"Same time next week Kakkarot?" Vegeta has asked this same question for almost a decade; always with as stoic a voice and face as possible, but Goku has detected that same small amount of concern is Vegeta's voice every time.

"I wouldn't miss it for the world Vegeta." Was Goku's standard answer as he waited for the usual jibe.

"Good, I hate to think you'd become to much of a coward to face me after all these years." Vegeta smirked.

Goku smiled. "I'm a Saiyan. There are no cowards here." Goku found that addressing Vegeta's sense of Saiyan Pride, nationalism of sorts, was the best way to respond.

Vegeta smirked.

Goku smiled.

Both men put two fingers to their foreheads and after a minute of concentration, vanished.

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The following Monday morning, Vegeta was preparing for yet another meeting to hammer out a trade agreement. This time it was with the planet Creve. Vegeta kept trying to shove this duty off on the Saiyan Congress, but it was the planets themselves that kept requesting Vegeta's presence. After all, it was Vegeta's name and title that Roger and the others invoked while demanding the Icejins leave. It was Vegeta whose name became legend in the eastern quadrant.

Vegeta entered the newly constructed Hall of Warriors, named by Nappa, and received a standing ovation from the entire assembly.

"Bakas" Vegeta said under his breath and casually waved to the crowd.

Roger smiled from across the room; Roger had worked with deaf children for a time as an internship in college. He had learned to read lips quite well.

Vegeta sat down at his usual chair and tried to smile. He wondered again why he was there at all. His knowledge of interplanetary trade was, on a good day, abysmal. Over the years he had managed to pick up some things, when he was actually listening, but no one could accuse him of actually contributing to the debate. Vegeta was a figurehead here, and he hated it. Worst of all it was his own fault.

Vegeta felt a hand gently grasp his shoulder which startled him a bit. He hadn't realized how close he was to falling asleep.

"Having a bad day my liege?" Roger said.

"This trade talks are damned boring!" Vegeta blurted out a bit louder than he intended.

Roger suppressed a laugh. "Yes sir, they most certainly are. But they are necessary."

"I know! But I think that they could be conducted with out my presence!" Vegeta quieted his voice.

"Sure, they could. But the fact is that even though you've changed the Saiyan government, the people both on this planet and everywhere else still recognizes you as the King of the Saiyans. You're presence here is more diplomatic, than functional." Roger smiled knowing how Vegeta would take that.

"Damned it I know that! It's the only reason I suffer through them at all!" Vegeta said.

"Well, I remember something you said about Hercule once. You might try one of his tricks." Roger winked.

"Hercule's tricks? What do you mean?" Vegeta thought for a second or two. "You mean fake a stomach ache or something and leave?"

"Well, I suppose that would be sort of underhanded, now that you've said it, wouldn't it?" Roger smiled.

Vegeta smirked back. "You'd better get back to the bargaining table with Bulma."

"Yes sir." Roger smiled, bowed, and went and took his seat.

Roger and Bulma have made up the core of the bargaining team. Roger for his college education and Bulma for her practical business experience. Several other Saiyans has since joined their team as they learned the ins and outs of interplanetary trade.

Roger looked back at Vegeta one time and rolled his eyes a bit.

After a few minutes Vegeta turned to Nappa, said a few words and left the building. Nappa came to the bargaining table to inform the delegation that Vegeta sends his apologies and regrets, but he is feeling a bit under the weather today.

The delegation assured Nappa that they understood, and the hammering out of the trade agreement went on without a hitch.

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Kirillin woke up feeling better than he has felt in his entire life. It seemed that Saiyan life agreed with the ex-monk more than he'd care to admit. The only problem he and 18 had was that they missed Marron terribly. Last they heard Trunks took the girl under his wing and helped her complete her education and gave her a fine job at Capsule Corporation, United States branch in Southgate, Michigan.

Kirillin made a mental note to ask Goku if he would take them back to Earth for a visit.

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Vegeta casually flew back to the royal palace and walked in the front double doors past his royal guard. In the old days his father wouldn't have given them a glance, but Vegeta would give them a smirk and a nod.

"Good morning your highness!" The four of them said in unison.

The Captain of the Guard cleared his throat.

"Yes captain? You have something to say?" Vegeta smirked knowing what was on the man's mind.

"Sir, I know we've talked about this before, but I really would be remiss in my job if I didn't point this out again." The Captain began nervously.

"Point what out?" Vegeta's smirk grew larger.

"That you should inform me when you leave the palace. You should have an honor guard whenever you leave here!" The Captain stated, admonishing the King.

"I will take that under advisement, is there anything else?" Vegeta said.

"No your highness." The Captain was looking at his feet.

Vegeta continued on. "Honor guard indeed!" he mumbled under his breath. He walked the long hall back towards the royal bedchambers. Something tingled at the back of Vegeta's neck; he quickly extended his ki in an effort to sense those around him. The Palace was completely empty except for himself and the guards. Bulma was still at the trade meeting, and what domestic help that Bulma hired had been given the day off. After all, it was Resurrection Day. Most of the planet was closed down on this holiday. If it weren't for the trade meeting, congress would be out as well.

Vegeta decided to go to the gravity room and train for a while. Nothing like a working up a good sweat to start the day right. Vegeta went to change into his training togs when that slight tingle bothered him again. Again Vegeta extended his ki and found nothing out of the ordinary.

Vegeta relaxed a bit and went about changing his clothes. He walked out of the locker room and something shiny flashed in the corner of his eye.

Then everything went black.

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Almost two thousand miles away, Goku had just finished chopping a month's worth of wood and sat down to breakfast. Chi-Chi had prepared the usual Goku style meal, enough food to feed a small third world nation on Earth. Suddenly Goku dropped his knife and fork; his eyes went wide, he screamed in mortal pain while clutching at his back.

Vaguely, Goku heard Chi-Chi scream.

Then everything went black.