DISCLAIMER:  Imbecile:  HAHAHA You don't own DBZ and this chapter is so crap I'm putting it in my hall of shame, and you will be shunned from the Fan Fiction world      because I know the right people in the right places and you'll be forever in FFN purgatory!!!!!  Bwahahaha!!!
                        Me: *shrugs* OK OK, you got me on the owning DBZ thing sure…  but as for the rest of your inane nattering, say, you got 20 cents?
                        Imbecile:  Uh… yeah, but what has that got to do with your foul craptastic chapter?
                        Me:  *deadpan expression*  Nothing really, but you can use that 20 cents to go phone someone who gives a shit what you think!!!! -_-

Authory writey bit:  Long time no see, my faithful(!?) readers.  After writing and rewriting and revising this chapter, I am as happy about it as I can get.  It's hard when you come up against a character such as the one in this chapter, who isn't around in DBZ a lot, well not enough to get a decent fix on his character and mannerisms, hardly any detail… so I sorta added a bit of flesh, and kept him in char as much as I can (using a LOT of guess-work of course). I hope this is believable enough for all yous out in FanFiction land, if it sounds way too far fetched, open your mind a little, then you might see.  Some other news, good and bad.  Bad – is that I have a job now, so will be writing less often, and good because I am STILL writing when I can, and I nearly have that gap closed and onto a further nine chapters, which include some more out-of-it stuff, and the occasional goodness of a sour yellow citrus fruit, so patience!  (not that you've been complaining too much anyways…. -_-)

Author thing 2:  What USED to be lovely, simple italics, is now :: These little dot things ::  and they mean the bits where I use thought speech in conversation or just musing to myself so you can read what I'm thinking at the time.  Mind-candy kinda visualising stuff. -_o ß spazz.  ~ These squiggly things are when my character speaks to me with her mind ~!!!!   "These are normal speech dialogue thingys!!!"  And normal text are my characters thoughts and she thinks a lot!!!

Voices (In One's Head by `InSaNe`/Schizophrenic Eggplant

Part 3.  Chapter 12:  Stubborn Stains and Hard-to-Reach Places.

~ I was absolutely certain it was here!   Damn these people!!!  Can't they keep still? ~

::That's a negative. :: 

~ I say we don't bother with it.  It would be a waste of time to go on a wild goose chase. ~

::You could always go and meditate… ::

~ I don't think I'd be able to concentrate.  I've got this uneasy feeling I can't seem to shed. ~

:: Go with your instincts then.. what do they tell you? ::

~ They tell me to find the source of that presence… It felt so… haunted. ~

:: Haunted?  Hmm.. I can think of a couple of candidates straight away, but I'm not going to name names until we see them.  And you're sure they're not in this part of the castle any more? ::

~ Very sure. ~

:: Keep your senses sharp then, and see if you can pick it up. ::

Taking a short cut out a window at the very edge of the level, I shoot straight up the length of the main spire, coming to rest at the very top, where I had come when I first saw it.

:: Ack.. I hate heights… but this is OK because you can fly.  You think you'll be able to track it better from here? ::

~ I think so.  Plus, I like it up here.  Maybe I will meditate.  I feel a little better now I'm not cooped up in that labyrinthine place. ~

The top of the spire is rounded, and quite broad, so I am able to sit upon it, and my cloak blends in with the red/purple-tinged dusky sky as it flaps behind me.  I close my eyes and still see everything that is in front of me.  Lights from dwellings, the occasional flare up of ki, and streaks of light like small comets power across the skies.  Above all that, not looking at all like a star, hovers a stationary circle-shape, with small pinpoints of light ringed around its circumference.

Frieza's.. ship…  A very sleepy voice drawls faintly in my mind, and for the moment I am left alone.  In my vision, I have no control of time as it speeds up in front of me.  The sky goes from red to black rapidly, the lights in the houses go on and off, and the streaks turn into flickers, faster and faster, days passing like seconds, strobing between night and day.   Once it reaches a peak the speed decreases, until it seems like it never happened.  I look up at the ship again.  Around it, the sky is littered by a crowd of tiny figures in the armour denoting they are under Frieza's service, and they are not Saiyajin.   A Very uneasy feeling knocks my concentration, and I see the vision waver just as I zoom in.  My subconscious is bombarded by a shock of concentrated anger and frustration coming from below my position.  My eyes flick open and out of my meditative state and I leap to my feet in a fighting stance.  For a second there I thought I had become visible and someone had spotted me.  I feel very disoriented time-wise because that vision was so vivid, giving me the impression of years passing without me being able to monitor it.  I re-assure myself it was just a mare of some sort.  But a time-mare?  And why was it interrupted so abruptly?  I interrogate my number one suspect.

~ Did You happen to do that? ~

:: No, but I did feel it.  Is it the same type of vibe you got earlier? ::

~ Yes and no, it definitely wasn't haunted this time.  That was a violent burst of rage.  And this time I think I'm on to it. ~

:: Where is the location? ::

~ In the upper levels. ~

:: Still… I can think of a couple of candidates… maybe narrow it down to one, possibly.  But I wouldn't want to make it easy for you.. ::

~ I had a vision too.  Vivid as anything.  A whole lot of Frieza's men gathered around the 'front' of his ship. ~

:: Oh my… I must've been…  ::

~ What?  You know, don't you!  What that was all about! ~

:: I cannot say.  You have things to do, you said so yourself…  ::

~ We will discuss it later then. ~

:: Maybe. ::

I become a nothing, as I slip beneath the sleek surface material of the castle and the reinforcing structures, then some tiles I meet some resistance with, like they're made of a very dense composite.   I squeeze myself through them and land with a thud on those same tiles, also part of the floor.   Its lucky I landed there, for about a foot next to me is one of the many resistance training machines, and I wouldn't have liked to land on that particular one.  It looks more like a torture device than training equipment.

~ It's VERY close. ~

:: On this level? ::

~ Yes. ~

Part of me is glad that as the spire goes up, it narrows, so this level has a lot less area to cover than the Treatment and Physical Science level.

A rumbling shakes the whole top level, and the ones below it, no doubt. 

:: EARTHQUAKE!!! ::

~ I don't think it was. ~

Earthquakes don't produce light, and a large quantity of dust in one spot, and they most definitely don't roar in a male voice.  Cautiously I move to the arched doorway and peer into the next room.  I can't see anything for the dust, but I hear a small cough, and follow the noise with my eyes, to see a silhouette in the thick of it.  It is huge, well over 6 ft in height.

:: That HAS to be a trick of the light.  Oh well, that's narrowed the candidates down to one.  The other was under half as tall. ::

~ So, with the process of elimination, what is your conclusion?  Hang on don't tell me.   You thought it was Frieza?  And the other?  So obvious!  Who else would be in this part of the castle!  It doesn't take a scientist to figure out who it is.  Hmmm could it be.. King Vegeta?! ~

"Who's there!  Show yourself!!!"  A deep authoritative voice commands.

:: Hmm could it be… that you spoke his name out loud?  It's a good thing there's dust about and you're invisible!!! ::

I can't think of anything to say.  And I certainly am not going to show myself, not when I have the advantage of being unseen, not when the dust is settling.

"Kapsikaa?  Is that you?" Then as an afterthought, "It has to be, Frieza would never address me as King."

I cannot answer.  But I know I have to at some stage.

:: I'll do it. ::

~ No you won't!!  I will do it. ~

"Kapsikaa, I am not in the mood for games!!  Shouldn't you be squeezing out the brat by now instead of sneaking around my private chambers!?"  His voice now booms with impatience.

"Um… I-I'm neither Kapsikaa or Frieza…" I begin.

:: I am the fusion between the two, the terrible Kapsieza!!  Or is that Frisikaa? ::

~ SHUT UP!!!! ~   Damn her.  I think I said that out loud too.

"DON'T TELL ME TO SHUT UP YOU IMPOSING WENCH!!" Now a roar, and another blast fired in the direction where he thought the voice had come from, and that blast had whizzed by TOO close.

"Next shot won't be a warning!"  The King bellows.

:: THAT was a warning shot?? ::

~ Shh!!  I have to come up with something… ~

"I am… a.. a.. mess..enger.  Yes, a messenger."  The last part of that sentence is said firmly.

"Well then, 'messenger', why can't I see you?"  Asks the gruff King of the Saiyajin.

"Maybe because it's a little dusty.." I answer truthfully, with no hint of jest.

"SILENCE!!!" King Vegeta uses his ki to blow the remainder of the debris away, revealing him in his glory.

:: The silhouette was NOT distorted as I had thought, he really IS that tall.  His eyes carry a spark of intelligence, his back is ramrod straight, and his chin is held upwards, decorated with a well-trimmed goatee and a moustache.  The armour of his station adorns him – armour of the design of Frieza's employees – but  with the Vegeta coat-of arms on the left breast-plate – and a red cape flows behind him like a blood red sail.  Auburn hair rages in a flame above a steep widow's peak.  This man could send a whole army forth with a flick of his hand, and kill an army with the very same action.  This is the individual who had led the Saiyajin against the Tsufurujin those 2 years ago – a true warrior and leader.  

A permanent frown creases his brow, and he looks quite vexed.

He's under a lot of stress.  And now the prince has been born it's going to get steadily worse. ::

"The dust has settled.  I do not see you.  Have you left?  A wise move, if you have done so already."

"No, Lord King.  I am still here."  Highly alert, the king shifts his head quickly this way and that, and sniffs the air, flaring his nostrils.

"Are you playing tricks on me?  You cannot be invisible." He snorts the last word out as if it was completely unbelievable, not just to him, but to his whole race.

"I will not lie to you, I am invisible."  I plainly say.  King Vegeta expels a dry "HA!", devoid of any humour.  That's it!  He's not the only one stuck up and aloof.  I can do the very same, I should not be frightened of him;  he's taller, so what.  I can always levitate.  Sometimes stuck in this body, with another split side of me who isn't really me, but I am a part of, I occasionally forget what I truly am.  Maybe I WON'T stay invisible after all.  We'll just have to see.

"I am a Special messenger, Vegeta.  One who brings tidings of death.  The queen's death to be precise."   I hope that reaches through that skull of his.

"I already know.  Don't play me for a fool.  If anything you must be one of Frieza's spies, considering he took pleasure in informing me of that recent incident.  Now be gone!!"  Who is he to order me about?  My own patience is wearing thin, and the amicable respect I am forcing out from every pore is starting to wane.

"No.  I am NOT a spy for that detestable parasite Frieza!  Did he tell you HOW Kapsikaa died?  Did he?  Was he there?  No, he was not, most likely he heard it on a gossip circuit.  And where were you, exactly?  I didn't see You there."  The king crosses his arms across his broad chest.

"Hmph.  I had more pressing matters to attend to.  None of which concern you.  And do not speak of Frieza that way.  Who knows who he's got sneaking around here, and I do not wish to be out of his favour."  Oh, he's pushing me.

"I can call Frieza what the hells I want to! I can call him a.. a…"

:: A croaky old grandma? ::

"A croaky old grandma if I want!"  King Vegeta's eye's bulge out of his sockets at that, and his face turns red.

"You dare speak of Frieza that way?  Oh of course, being invisible and hiding away would be an advantage, where you could call him whatever you want.  I call it cowardice.  Just what you're showing now, to me.  You're afraid."   POW!!  That knocks me for a six.  I've had enough.  Still unseen, I face him, and then appear slowly, controlling my materialisation, to prove to him that it is not a trick.  Black/purple hair wavers atop my head as if pushed from an updraft.  My expression mirrors the kings – anger and outrage.

"No, I am not afraid.  I had decided you didn't need to know what I look like, but you are too pigheaded to just let it lie.  You had to push me, and you probably enjoyed it too.  I am not here for any purpose concerning you.  Your son, however is a different story.  He is what brought me here, for reasons that are my own.  Did you know it was he who killed the queen?  Too impatient to come out the normal way so he blasted her insides to the ends of the universe.   You better watch it Kingy, I don't doubt that at some stage he'll be wanting to kill off his old man too, before his time." 

The king pauses.   A small inkling of a smile graces his dark features.

"My son did that?  Impressive.  It's a shame about Kapsikaa, but these things happen.  I'll schedule her funeral in with the boy's Ceremony of Recognition next week." 

:: He's so offhand!  No crying and wailing or anything to that effect!  If only my people could handle things so efficiently!  The Saiyajin truly are an enigma. ::

King Vegeta looks at me properly, now that he can see me.  I meet his gaze and do not break eye-contact.

"My guards mentioned something about an old bitch wearing a cloak similar to yours.  What did you do, fight her for it?"

"Perha-"

"I am still deciding whether I should kill her for lying and using a ruse involving my name to gain entrance, but managing to convince my guards isn't an easy task, considering our kill first ask questions later policy we are all renowned for.  They also mentioned her name was Future.. something."

"Future Diviner."  I confirm the name I had made up earlier, and then realise my mistake.

"And how do you know this, hmmm?"  He gives me an expectant look, like he's piecing a puzzle together.  I do not hesitate.  I want him to know, once and for all, that he isn't dealing with just any ordinary thing that he can blast away with his hand when he tires of them.   I move my gloved hands over my face from chin to forehead, and once again I wear the visage of the ancient female with wispy silver hair.  

"This, is how I know." I rasp.  The king becomes a little flabbergasted.

"Sorcery!!  Magic!!!"  He points at me with accusation in his voice.  "Disgusting!!!  Get rid of it immediately!!" I comply, satisfied that he knows just that extra about me.  Now, should I or should I not reveal all?

:: Could I talk to him just for a bit..? ::

I sigh in a resigned fashion.

~ You think you can get through to him? ~

:: No harm in trying new tactics. ::

I groan.  One never knows what she's got up her sleeve.  Sometimes it's cunning, sometimes it's plain bizarre.

~ You can only speak though, I have full use of my body still. ~

:: I can live with that, but you'll have to play along. ::

"Whew!!!  Is it me or has the air conditioner broken?"  I am instructed by my inner voice to fan a hand in front of my face dramatically, before removing my cloak that I casually drape over a piece of training equipment, and wait for the whole visual effect to work.  I'm somewhat uncomfortable under his roving eyes, and I do my best not to flinch, or punch his lights out.

:: A lot of what I am wearing is made from black leather, except for my armour and body cover.  My gloves reach halfway up my forearms, and taper out from the wrist.  On my feet are steel-capped boots similar to the Doc Marten's I normally posses, 20 hole jobs, only differing slightly in that they are not 1 ½  sizes too big for me, and they are a lot more manoeuvrable.  The rest of my body is encased in a thin but very durable rubber-like material, that holds everything in place, and allows optimum movement.  The downside is it squeaks a bit when I move  – that's another reason why I often wear the heavy cloak. 

I don't wear the rubber getup when training (preferring good old spandex for that), but I do for every other occasion, for it appears a little intimidating, outlandish, and just plain distracting. In the right amount of light, this material shows contrast between the deepest black and light grey sheen, which accentuates every detail on my well-muscled frame down to the slightly corded fibres, especially those on my shoulders, biceps, quads, hamstrings, and to a lesser extent my buttocks and calves. 

The protective armour plate I wear out of habit is made of many layers tightly compacted with a fibrous compound that is stronger than any metal or alloy found on the planet I inhabit.  It protects my chest, stomach and back from injury, plus it looks pretty stylish when polished to a sheen.  Rather than being modelled on the typical 'Saiyajin and Frieza-type' armour, it has a very 'Roman Centurion' look to it, as it moulds itself to my torso. ::

~ Just what are you trying to - ~

:: Relax, I'm not trying to seduce him, if that's what you think.  That would be ummm… wrong.  I'm just trying to ease the tension. ::

~ Why don't I believe you? ~

I take lazy strides to a switch, which I curiously flick.  A screen made to look like part of the outside wall slides up, revealing a tinted window, through which I can survey  what I could see beforehand from my little perch.  The night sky, the flickering ones from the dwellings in the distance, and the ki-trails across the sky, and the larger ones that I assume are the spherical pods used to transport individuals to unsuspecting planets.  I cannot see Frieza's ship, though, not at this angle.

"You're Saiyajin?" I turn my head at the question.  Ahh.. he must have spied my animate furry belt.

"I commend your observation skills, my King."  I smile. 

:: This doesn't guarantee immunity.  Vegeta is known to kill those of his own species. ::

I return from the window and seat myself on one of the cushioned training machines, next to one which has a padded bench, and motion for the proud king to sit.  He declines.

"I will not lower myself to sit with traitorous filth." He states firmly.  "It is plain to see that you are not like us, you wear the armour of some sort of renegade!"

"Look, don't you know how to relax!?!  I am not a traitor I'm not here to kill you, I am here to offer you counsel, although, judging by your character, you would refuse that too."

"Now who's using their skills of observation.  You would be correct."  Damn, he's so smarmy, not to mention edgy.  The queen is better off dead rather than have to deal with him, but, I have to admit, it's going to be a challenge to convince him to listen.

I get up off the seat and go to walk out of the room, looking straight ahead.  The rubber squeaks audibly in the silence with every shift my legs and body make stepping over the debris.

"Well, I can see I wasted my time.  Seems my instinct was somewhere off when I felt those incredibly haunted vibes.  Are you SURE nothings weighing on your mind, Vegeta?"  I deliberately pause at the exit.  My ears pick up some grumbling, as if the mighty king is fighting some internal battle.

"No.  Nothing at all." Is his final answer.

"So be it." I continue on my path out the door. 

~ You forgot the.. ~

About 20 paces down from the centre chute I hear something that stops me in my tracks.

"Hey!!" And some strange grunts.  "Get this moth-eaten.. Nggg.. Thing out of… Rrrrgh!  My sight!" 

~..cloak ~

:: I know. ::

I quickly about-face, and re-enter the room, where a fuming, red-faced King is struggling to pick up my cloak from where I had left it.  I assume a charade of apology for my temporary absentmindedness. 

"Ah.. heh heh.  I thought I'd forgotten something!  What's wrong?  Are you having trouble with it?"  I ask, trying to suppress the mother of all smirks.

"No.. no… I don't…. nkkkgh.. need help." A flame of white starts to surround his body.  "Nearly..rgggk… got it!.. AHA!" Triumphantly, the king wrests the stubborn cloak from its resting place, but the pulling motion he had utilised on it carries him backwards, and I patiently fold my arms as he fights for balance.  He does a great job of holding his own, but not for long as the cloak becomes too much and lands on top of him, pinning him on the ground.  I look down at him nonchalantly.

"Alright down there?"  A growl is his reply, and my instant vaporisation if looks could kill.  That's one nasty glare.

"You look comfortable, should I send for a pillow?"  A vein pulses on his sweaty forehead, and his next growl increases in volume.   It's also clear to me that he's powering up to try and rid himself of the weighty load on top of him.  He just might succeed.  He's managed to move it a few millimetres, but not quite enough for him to breathe properly.

"You reeeeeeally want to kill me now, don't you?" He nods as vigorously as he can.  "Thought so.  But, here's a reality check.  You can't kill me.  Oh, you can try, but it won't work."  I wink as I kneel down by the king's head and begin to massage his temples. 

"I didn't want to humiliate you like this, but, I only wanted you to listen, and you're such a stubborn bastard that I had exhausted my normal means, and resorted to using force.  I take it you aren't a stranger to also using this tactic."  His face grows a deeper shade of burgundy, almost purple.

"I wouldn't be here if I hadn't felt such strong pangs of.. worry from you.  You cover it up nicely too.  Lets see here, it's something concerning Frieza.. and your br… son.   Am I right?" I don't wait for any sign of response while I continue my tirade.

"Frieza has a great interest in him.  Otherwise, why would he be hanging around a bunch of 'monkey's as he likes to call us.  Ultimately, there is no cause trying to reason with an insane little warlord such as he.  I assume you've already tried, yes?"  I feel the kings head nod beneath my hands.

"It's a good opportunity for him to join the ranks of Frieza's soldiers.  It'll keep him out of trouble, as well as satisfying the lust for fighting that all Saiyajin share.  I have a small feeling that you don't trust Frieza, so how about sending Nappa or Kumara along with him, just to keep an eye on things?  See? Everything can be ironed out, it's not as bad as it sounds, really.  Plus, you'll still be in favour with Frieza, which will no doubt ease the squirming in your guts.  So don't stress so much, Kingy!  I'm picking that if you make the deal with Frieza, he'll be out of your hair for a few years, off in space somewhere, doing what he.. um.. does, until the prince is old enough to train."  Having said my piece, I pick the cloak up with ease, and draw it around me.  The king gulps in air like a fish, restoring a normal pallor to his face.  I feel my own face contort into a forced grin, and my voice transformed into a sickly sweet tone, as King Vegeta gets to his feet.

"So, I'll be seeing you at the Ceremony next week!  Wouldn't miss it for the world, since I'll be playing a part in it, and if you or your men dare interrupt, I'll throw this.."  I motion to the safe, warm, but potentially deadly item of clothing, "and what would all your elites and councillors and well-wishers think if they saw their powerful king defeated by a simple garment?  If I were you I'd keep an eye out on Frieza, rather than be concerned with my role.  I'll be certain to add pomp and grandeur, and nothing but the utmost respect during this time, and I will have my old-lady face hidden.  I assure you I will make it brief, and then disappear, so to speak.  Everything's sorted then!  Great!!  I'll be seeing you!"  I briskly go to take my leave.

"Wait!  I didn't give you permission to leave."  I sigh, I guess I'll let him have this one.  I obey his 'order'.

"You wanted something, my King?"  I turn around and casually lean on the arched doorway.

"What did you have in that cloak, lead bricks?  It was very heavy, whatever it was." I shake my head.

"Not lead, katcheen.   It's only the strongest and most dense metal in the universe.  My cloak is made of fabric with fibres like tiny wires of katcheen woven into it.   Effective don't you think?  Good for resistance training on the move, weighted clothing.  Also good as a weapon, unless the opponent can bear such a weight, but that hasn't happened as yet.  Now, I'd better be on my way."  Again, I don't wait until he grants me permission to leave, I don't even give him time to speak.  I just vanish and leap upwards, onto my perch again. 

:: I don't think we made a friend there… ::

~ That wasn't the plan was it? ~

:: Not to worry, he'll only see us one more time in his life…  Ooh you want to hear the little future poem thing I thought up for our kingly 'acquaintance'? ::

~ Alright… and THEN it's time for a little break.  I'm sitting up here for a week, uninterrupted! ~

:: I'm sure I'd find that terribly exciting.. not.  I've got some stuff to do, but  I'll be here to read the princes future.. in a cryptic little verse of course, so tangled up and misconstrued that no one will pick it up!  The one I have for the King is a tad more decipherable.  Here goes:


~* The reign of flame
smothered by ice,
Won't be the same
no matter the price.
In quarter score,
You'll hit the floor,
And know no more. *~ ::

Next Chapter:  Five years have passed and my character looks back on some of the things that happened.  The time is nigh for YOU KNOW WHAT that happens to YOU KNOW WHERE courtesy of YOU KNOW WHO (an no its not Voldemort) :P