Bulma, Roger, Gerald, Raditz, Gohan, Kirillin, Jessica, and Bardock watched the ki indicators on the dual rejuvenation tanks worriedly. It was quite obvious now that the poison was killing Vegeta, indeed would have already killed him if not for the fact that Goku was slowly feeding his ki to the King to sustain his life.

But in the process, Goku was also dying.

Bulma turned back to her analysis of the poison, holding back her tears.

"I just don't know. I've never seen this compound before. It reminds me of a poison you would find in a sea snake on Earth, but it's not quite the same." Bulma said.

"How long can my son keep Vegeta alive like that?" Bardock looked at his son with deep concern; Gohan was standing next to him.

"About 48 hours more, if my estimates of Goku's strength is accurate, perhaps a bit more or less." Bulma said over her shoulder while looking into a microscope. "The strain must be immense!"

"That doesn't give us much time to find an antidote." Bardock's eyes dropped a bit.

"These two people are the most stubborn people I know!" Kirillin said. "They're not about to let some poison kill them!"

Bardock's eyes brightened at Kirillin's words. "You're right. They'll fight this some how."

Bulma got up and took the slide with Vegeta's blood sample over to an elaborate looking machine in the corner of the room. After a minute of knob turning and switch flicking a read out could be seen on the screen.

"This poison attacks the central nervous system, but it also destroys white blood cells." Bulma murmured mostly to herself.

Everyone else was deathly quiet, giving Bulma time to think.

"Never seen anything quite like this." Bulma said after a few minutes. "Well, I suppose there is only one thing to do and that's see how the poison reacts to some anti-toxins. We'll start with anti-toxins for snake venom, since that's what this poison most resembles. You guys help me get them out of the tanks."

Everyone set about getting to work. Vegeta's physical wound had healed a while ago due to the restorative properties of the DNA solution in the tank, but the poison was still raging through his body. Vegeta and Goku was carried over to two hospital type beds and Bulma inserted an I. V. Into Vegeta's arm, just above the Sword of the Saiyan's symbol on his right inner arm. Then she got a notebook and a pen to record each experiment with the anti-toxins.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

A round and horribly familiar ship settles into a low orbit around Planet Vegeta. Its occupants contact the main spaceport in the capital city and ask for clearance to land. They declare themselves an envoy from King Fridgitor.

The Captain of the Port Authority contacts Nappa for instructions. Nappa quickly flies to the port office.

"You can't be serious?!?!" Nappa exclaims into the communicator. "Why would Icejins want to negotiate for peace with us? If you haven't noticed yet, we hate you!"

Nappa is a man of directness after all.

"You Saiyans have asked the rest of the Universe to let bygones-be-bygones, we are just asking the same." The Icejin said. "Are only Saiyans to be forgiven?"

"Ohhhh... This guy is oily!" Nappa thought to himself.

"Besides, it has come to Fridgitor's attention that your little trade alliance seems to be quite profitable for all concerned. Our King is a man with a keen eye for profits." The Icejin smiled widely.

"Okay, stand by." Nappa cut communications off.

"Get me through to King Vegeta." Nappa demanded.

"One minute." The Port Authority said. After a few minutes of being transferred, the man was finally connected to the queen.

"Roger here, go ahead Nappa." Roger said.

"Where is the King?" Nappa asked.

"He and his queen are indisposed at the moment. I have been given authority in this matter." Roger said as professionally as he knew how.

"I see. The Captain here explained the situation. We have an Icejin envoy that wishes to land. What are your instructions?"

Roger started thinking. "What do they really want here now? Is it just a coincidence that they are here right after the king is almost assassinated? If not, what do they know about it?"

"Nappa, please allow them to land, show them to some quarters suitable for diplomats. They are to be under heavy guard at all times. Given their past relationship with the Saiyans I'm sure they will understand. At no time are they to venture out of their quarters without specific authorization." Roger said.

"You're going to let them land here?" Nappa said incredulously.

"I will make my reasons clear after you have secured the Icejins. After you've done that, please come to the medical labs for a briefing." Roger asked.

"Very well, but I don't like this!" Nappa exclaimed.

"Neither do I." Roger affirmed. "Roger out."

Nappa turned to the Captain. "I don't like it at all. Hail the Icejin ship."

Two and half-hours later, Nappa finished quartering and securing the Icejins and arrived at the medical lab. After several minutes of explanation, Nappa agreed that the arrival of the Icejins was probably not a mere coincidence.

"They are asking for an audience with the King." Nappa said. "They say they want to discuss peaceful trading agreements with us."

"I've never known an Icejin to want to trade for anything." Bardock said.

Nappa was looking at King Vegeta with sorrow in his eyes.

"What's wrong?" Gohan said. "I am the General of the Royal Guard. I should have been there, I should have been there to protect him!" Nappa looked down cast.

"C'mon Nappa, you know as well as I that he was too stubborn to allow a constant guard with him. I rarely told anyone where he was going. He ordered most of the guards, including you, to stay away from him. How were you supposed to protect him?" Raditz said.

"I..... I just was." Nappa stammered.

Bardock reached up and placed a hand on the big man's shoulder. "It wasn't your fault."

"Well, now we have to work together and see if we can get any information from these Icejins." Roger reminded. "The assassin said that the poison was provided by the ones that hired him. If that's true, then the ones that hired him may have an antidote." Roger reasoned.

"You think the Icejins hired the Eshosh S'Krith?" Bardock asked.

"It's a strong possibility, and one that we cannot afford to overlook." Roger answered.

"I hate this spy-vs-Spy crap!" Nappa said. "Give me the good old days when we just pounded the snot out of the ones that bothered us!"

"Now, now Nappa, it's that kind of thinking that made you a playmate for Piccolo, remember?" Roger smiled.

Nappa winced with the memory. "Yeah, I remember."

Bardock and Raditz also looked uncomfortable.

"Alright then. If we are going to do this, then let's do it right. Nappa, how many Icejins are here, and how many rooms are they occupying?" Roger asked.

"There are six of them, in three rooms." Nappa said.

"Bulma, do we have anything that would serve as transmitters, so we can hear what they are saying?" Roger asked.

"You mean you want to plant a bug?" No, but it wouldn't take no time for me to build a few of them.

"Good, please do that. Nappa, you will need to plant the bugs in an inconspicuous place when she gets them put together, then stick around and try to monitor their movements as much as possible." Roger said.

"Will do." Nappa answered.

"Everyone listen, the trade alliance has been hammered out over the years due to King Vegeta's name and reputation. It's possible that the Icejins have come here to verify that Vegeta has died, and to spread as much dissention as possible among the trade members. Therefore, the knowledge of the attack on Vegeta, and his current condition, doesn't go beyond this room for now. Understand?" Roger asked.

Everyone swore secrecy.

"The Icejins have requested an audience with the king, what should we say." Nappa asked.

"They arrived her unannounced and have no right to demand anything from the King. The King will see them at his convenience. Tell them that if they don't like that, then they are perfectly welcomed to board their craft and return home and tell Fridgitor that their stated mission was a failure." Roger smiled.

"Sounds good." Nappa said. "Okay, any questions, comments, or new ideas?" Roger asked.

No one spoke up.

"Okay, let's do our jobs." Roger smiled

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Turles exhausted every lead he had trying to find Caroot. He had been searching for almost seven hours and was about starved. He passed over the Tourist section of town and smelled cooking from several of the restaurants and decided to stop off and eat. Turles entered a likely establishment named simply, lots-o-meat. Business names in the area didn't exactly take much imagination. But that was fine, Turles was in the mood for lots of meat anyway.

Turles had no sooner sat down and started studying a menu when a tall lanky Saiyan with a very strong ki sat down across from him.

"I hear you've been looking for me." The man started.

"Caroot, I presume?" Turles answered.

"Yeah, that's me. Now why have you been looking for me." Caroot demanded. "I'm not wanted for anything."

"This morning someone attempted to assassinate King Vegeta." Turles was studying the man's expression carefully. Caroot's face was that of a great poker player however.

"What's that got to do with me?" Caroot asked stoically.

"Does this look familiar?" Turles took out the dagger used to stab King Vegeta.

"Yes, it was made by the Eshosh S'Krith. Except for that poison container here in the hilt." Caroot said. "The Eshosh S'Krith never used poison."

"Well it appears that they do now." Turles said "Rumor has it that you've reformed the Eshosh S'Krith."

Caroot chuckled. "Me? Not on your life! I admit to having no love for the Vegeta House, and especially not for that baka father of King Vegeta. But take my word for it, the Eshosh S'Krith is dead and gone and I say good riddance! Do you happen to know how popular King Vegeta has become among the Saiyan people? Hell, even if I wanted to revive the Eshosh S'Krith, I doubt highly that I could find more than two or three disgruntled Saiyans to join! The political climate is just not right for that any more.

"Then how do you explain this dagger?" Turles said a bit confused.

"Is it possible that someone just wants you to think the Eshosh S'Krith has been revived?" Caroot asked seriously.

"The assassin admitted to being part of the guild!" Turles stated.

"Did he?" Caroot asked.

Thinking about it, Turles had to admit that the assassin never claimed to be a member of the guild, only to knowledge of it.

"Someone wants you to think that there is a group of Saiyans out here that hates Vegeta and what he stands for. It's an old political trick. If you haven't got enough people to push an agenda, you create a group. Whether the supposed members of that group exist or not is irrelevant in the minds of the people.

"The people doesn't know." Turles said.

"No, not yet. But eventually this will all come out. Those that put this into effect were probably counting on Vegeta being dead right away. You did say it was an attempt, so Vegeta is still alive. People usually come around to check on their handiwork. Did you know about our new visitors?" Caroot asked.

"What new visitors?" Turles queried.

"My cousin on my father's side works out at the space docks. He told me an hour ago that an Icejin spaceship landed a few minutes before that with a supposed peace envoy from the Icejin King. I certainly hope I'm not the only one on the planet that thinks the two events are more than mere coincidence." Caroot smirked.

Icejins? Peace envoy? These terms simply would not mix in Turles's head. "What the hell are they thinking letting them land here?" Turles said out loud without really meaning to.

"My guess would be that someone figures that the Icejins have information about the assassination attempt, and wants that information badly enough to risk them being here." Caroot said.

Turles looked at Caroot suspiciously. "You seem to be very forthcoming with the things you know. If you hate the Vegeta lineage so much, then why are you being so cooperative?"

"Years ago, my father, and numerous others that I won't mention, started the Eshosh S'Krith. It was started because the then King Vegeta sold our heritage, our sovereignty, and our people down the river for a few moments of safety. He even sold his own son, the rightful heir, just to appease a tyrant. The previous king's assassination was scheduled for two days after that tyrant blew up our world. He blew it up even though the king did everything he asked. From what I understand, it wasn't until the very end that the then King Vegeta showed any backbone whatsoever. I almost decided not to leave Hell when we were offered the chance. Almost 1,000 Saiyans stayed behind rather than go with the current King's father, whom they still considered a traitor. Many of them were Eshosh S'Krith members before Frieza blew up the planet, as was I. I have watched the new king carefully over the past 11 years since our redemption and resurrection and have seen him fight for us, begin to include us in this new government, act with mercy towards us, and I have been grudgingly forced to admit some admiration for him. I have not yet claimed my family name at the great hall, nor joined in what they are calling a congress yet, but I am the head of my family. I'm thinking seriously of doing that soon." Caroot smiled. "Take my word for it Turles, the Eshosh S'Krith no longer exists, I believe your answers lie with our new visitors."

Turles studied Caroot for a while. Caroot's face was impassive; not even the man's ki so much as flickered as he was talking.

Turles stood up and started to leave after throwing some credits down for a tip, even though he hadn't eaten yet.

"Wait!" Caroot called.

"What is it?" Turles answered.

"Since you are asking about the Eshosh S'Krith I assume that the assassin is, or was, a Saiyan?" Caroot smiled slyly.

"Yes, he was." Turles admitted.

"Are you sure?" Caroot asked.

"He looked Saiyan." Turles thought a while.

"Did you do an autopsy?" Caroot asked.

"No." Turles admitted.

"Lots of doctors out there that can change a man's appearance, even down to the fingerprints. If you haven't vaporized him, you should check that out." Caroot smiled.

Turles turned, left the restaurant and headed straight for the Palace.

Turles flew along deep in thought. He was mad at himself. Sure, hire an assassin that now only strikes his target, but sets down false evidence to lead the investigators on a wild goose chase. Turles found it suspicious that the Eshosh S'Krith assassin would leave such a valuable weapon behind but had thought that Roger and Bulma had surprised the assassin when they suddenly teleported in.

The dagger was a plant.

Turles doubled his pace, he wanted to see if the body was still intact, and if so, is it really a Saiyan.

Turles landed at the front doors of the Palace, several guards were stationed near it. Turles recognized the Captain from earlier.

"What did you do with the body of the assassin?" Turles asked.

"I had it taken out back and vaporized about an hour ago." The Captain answered.

Turles growled and flew through the palace until he reached the rear courtyard. In the back corner Turles spied an area that looked like it been recently ki blasted. Turles looked around for anything he might get some DNA from, a patch of skin, a bit of hair, or anything else. He didn't find anything until he looked up on the back wall of the courtyard. About half way up was a place that had a splash of blood. Apparently who ever was assigned this duty had thrown the body against the wall before vaporizing it. Turles took out a bandana he kept in his armor and dabbed the bloodstain with it. He folded the cloth up and flew quickly back to Bulma's lab.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Bulma had completed the three bugs that Nappa would plant. "They're small, not much power. Their range will only be about 100 yards or so." Bulma was explaining. "You can monitor them with these.

Bulma held out three objects that looked like hearing aids.

"These will pick up what the bugs are transmitting." Bulma explained.

Nappa took one of the devices and put it in his ear. Bulma talked into the appropriate bug. "Each one is on a slightly different frequency."

Nappa nodded his head. "Understood."

Nappa took the devices and left. Bulma turned back to her work with the anti-toxins. She had tried six different snakebite remedies with no apparent result. Vegeta was just getting weaker and dragging Goku along for the ride.

"I suppose I should be thankful." Bulma thought to herself. If it weren't for Goku she would have already lost her husband. But the prospect of loosing her husband and her best friend wasn't an attractive alternative. "Alright then, now we start with anti-toxins for poisonous plants. Something has got to make this poison react!"

Bulma injected Vegeta once again.