Chapter Eleven: Down To Five
"Journa, we don't have time for this! Wake up!"
Journa was leaning against the cracked tiles, as she sat on the floor with her legs spread out. She was mumbling incoherently, "No, Father, I don't want to go train today! That skinny white lizard with the horns, that fat pink puffball, and that green, cross-dressing pretty boy always make fun of me!"
Cypress's palm smacked Journa's unmoving cheeks several times. She couldn't believe that Journa had fainted! Sure, her secret and her real reasons as to why she was here on Frieza's ship and in his beauty contest would have been hard for even a Kami to take, but still! Ah, well, at least she had managed to tell Journa about Karilyn's conspiring with Coola, so that she could win the beauty contest, before Journa had passed out.
"JOURNA! GET UP!" And Cypress slapped Journa's face again, with her strong palms nearly breaking Journa's left cheekbone.
"OW!" Journa screamed in pain and anger, as she awoke abruptly. She then slowly touched her aching cheeks. "What'd you do to me? It was bad enough what you showed me earlier! How's my brother going to react?"
"Probably about the same Frieza will when he finds out what I've been hiding. But, come on, we've got to figure out a way to stop Karilyn!"
"Can't we just tell Frieza? I'm sure he'd love to have a new reason to make his brother's life hell."
"I agree with that, but we've still got to do this quietly, Journa, so that once Coola finds out he and his little paramour have been busted, it won't trace back to us."
"Do you have a plan to pull this off, so we, or Raditz and Nappa, don't wind up Coola's next candidates for target practice?"
Cypress was quiet. Finally, she said wearily, "To be honest with you, Journa, not yet. Unfortunately, we're going to have to make this up, as we go along. No matter how we pull this off, exposing Coola isn't going to be easy without us ending up in the morgue. After we drop out of the contest, it'll be easier to bring him and Karilyn down. Actually, now, I may have a tentative plan on how to reveal Coola's scheme, but it'll have to wait until we're out of that contest. Fortunately, we're likely to get disqualified anyway."
"Good," Journa agreed. "I was getting tired of those pervs in the audience anyway."
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Half an hour passed before things returned to normal…well, as normal as it could be, considering all that happened. Hickey had called an intermission, to give everyone time to calm down (and for Zarbon to obtain more antacids for Frieza). The intoxicated contestants were all immediately disqualified on Frieza and Hickey's orders, and Journa and Cypress had been missing the entire time during the swimsuit session, so they had to be declared ineligible to participate further as well. Which left only three contestants: Karilyn, Eclipse, and Reccoom.
Of course, the fact that only three contestants remained for the talent and the interview sessions did not go well with Frieza. Backstage, he didn't hesitate to let poor Hickey, who cowered in fear against the wall, know how displeased he was.
"I can't believe, Hickey, that you allowed Dodoria to make a fool out of all of us! What will you thinking allowing him to do a striptease?" Frieza glared menacingly at Hickey, as his ridged tail swished back and forth.
With large tears in his eyes, Hickey sobbed, clasping his hands, and looking at Frieza beseechingly. "P-Please, sire, I didn't know that Commander Dodoria was going to do what he did. He only told me th-that he was going to-to sing; he didn't tell me about undress-dressing himself! Please, forgive me, Lord Frieza! If I had known, I would have certainly tried to stop him!" His loud voice shook the walls of the backstage room, and his powerful tone was enough to shake the furniture and topple the refreshment table, spilling cakes, meats, breads, dishes and utensils all over the floor. Light bulbs and ballasts exploded and shattered at the strength of Hickey's terrified voice.
Frieza felt himself panic at the way the room he and Hickey were in was rapidly collapsing. Hurriedly, he clamped his hand over Hickey's mouth. "All right, all right! Enough! Don't say another word, or you're likely to wreck this entire auditorium-and possibly my whole ship! Take a deep breath and calm down!"
Hickey nodded, still in shock, and after Frieza released his mouth, he took a couple of breaths. His giant, square ears were still trembling, but he was slowly calming down, seeing that Frieza wasn't going to end his life at this time.
Frieza sighed, as he paced the floor relentlessly in front of Hickey, who was still panting. "Three contestants left…how can we have a beauty contest, a good one, with only three contestants. I saw Journa and Cypress among the contestants earlier, Hickey, but they weren't in the swimsuit session. What happened to them?"
"I-I wish I knew, Lord Frieza," Hickey whispered as low as he could. "But I don't. They disappeared shortly after they and the other ladies went backstage for refreshments. I don't understand how they became drunk from that champagne punch, sire; they shouldn't have. The alcohol content in the punch couldn't even get Eyelet drunk; Tipsy told me so himself when he made it for the contestants. This makes no sense, sire."
"It is suspect," Frieza agreed, as he ran his ribbed tail through his long, thin fingers.
"Someone had to have spiked the punch, and if that's the case, the culprit or culprits involved will be severely punished. Who was allowed backstage besides Dodoria and the contestants?"
Hickey tried to think, but he couldn't come up with anyone except for stage crewmembers. As he rattled off names to Frieza, a purple speck with neon-green wings zipped into the room, coming to an abrupt stop in front of Frieza and Hickey.
"Eyelet?" Frieza asked.
"Si-sire, Tipsy and I think we can figure out how those poor ladies became drunk so easily. He told me that someone stole a bottle of Dezarc from his liquor supplies. One shot of Dezarc is equivalent to drinking twelve Crystal Blue Persuasions or five glasses of champagne. Now we may be wrong on this, sire, but those ladies behaved, as if they each had two or three shots of Dezarc. Dezarc can make people act really crazy."
Frieza sighed wearily. Some birthday this was turning out to be. Did any other great ruler ever have the problems he had endured on what should have been the most special day of the Icein year?
Shaking his head, he thanked Eyelet and told her to go back to Tipsy. He then entered Jaden's scouter code on his scouter to contact her. Jaden was among the minority of soldiers not attending the beauty contest, and so Frieza could make use of her at this moment. He decided to have Jaden order bedroom inspections immediately and take along Diamonique, who too had abstained from seeing the contest, to search for an empty bottle of Dezarc. If such a bottle was discovered, Jaden and Diamonique were to arrest anyone involved immediately.
"Jaden, Jaden, are you there?"
No answer.
"Jaden! Answer me!"
No response still.
"JADEN!"
Frustrated, Frieza finally gave up and decided to contact Diamonique instead. She would lead the bedroom inspections.
"I am going to turn Jaden into matching luggage the next time I see her!" Frieza fumed, as he entered Diamonique's scouter code.
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Resting on Jaden's nightstand was her scouter, something that she never left behind under normal circumstances. All was silent in her frugally decorated suite, which contained little more than furniture, giant pillows on the floor, a fully stocked refrigerator, and two pictures on the walls. The bathroom was as plain as the rest of the suite, again with only basic necessities.
Jaden was nowhere to be found.
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"Of course, sire, consider it done," Diamonique told Frieza sweetly, as she stood in the back next to the double doors of the auditorium.
She chuckled after she and Frieza broke off communication. Even the great Frieza could be fooled at times! And she was actually one step ahead of everyone! She had already poured the remaining Dezarc into her toilet and flushed it away. Now, she just had to dispose of the bottle, and no one would be able to trace the stolen Dezarc back to her.
Her painted, silvery-blue lips curved into a bigger smile, and she lifted her chin in delight. She knew just how to get rid of the bottle of Dezarc…oh, she would find it all right, but someone else would take the credit for spiking the champagne punch.
Framing someone else for her little transgression…perfect! And she had several "candidates" in mind for just who should blamed for the stolen Dezarc and tainted punch.
It had not made her day when she discovered that, among the gaggle of intoxicated women being led to the detoxification room in Medical, neither Cypress nor Reccoom had been present. She had heard it announced over the intercom that only Reccoom, Eclipse, and some whore of Coola's named Karilyn were the only women eligible to remain in the contest. But Cypress had not been among the drunken women, so where was she?
Well, it didn't really matter. Cypress was obviously out of the contest, so there was little point in seeking further revenge against the fox-tailed beauty. But Cypress did lead Vegeta on and play him like a fool. She managed to get Cypress in trouble with Vegeta, so why not with Frieza? That red-haired wench would be taught a lesson that she'd never forget…if, Frieza didn't have her executed for her actions.
Sometimes, justice did exist, after all. Framing Cypress would be so easy! That whore deserved what she was about to get.
So, sweetly, Diamonique snuck out of the auditorium, so that she could reenter backstage without being caught.
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"What the hell do you mean you're dropping out?" Frieza demanded to know of Cypress, Eclipse, and Journa. Normally, Frieza didn't curse, but he had not been in the best mood to begin with when Cypress quietly announced that she and Journa were withdrawing as contestants. Eclipse then added that she was withdrawing, as well, and that had really annoyed Frieza, for Eclipse had been a Miss Frieza herself once.
"Do you three ladies realize that there will only be TWO contestants left in the contest?" he fumed.
Cypress had quipped, "Well, look it at this way: Nappa and Raditz will have an easier and quicker job, and you'll get to eat your birthday cake much sooner."
"May as well skip to the final judging," Journa agreed.
"I'm sure that either Karilyn or Reccoom will make a fine Miss Frieza…or in Reccoom's case, Mr. Miss Frieza," Eclipse added serenely.
Frieza narrowed his eyes at them, and his facial features contorted. "You three are not dropping out, do you understand me? There is no point in having a contest with only two contestants!"
"So cancel the contest," Journa suggested casually, hoping for Raditz and Nappa's sakes that Frieza would do just that.
"I AM NOT CANCELING THE CONTEST!" Frieza fumed, as his ki arose with his anger. Crackles of energy radiated from his body, and the room started shaking. The floor quaked beneath everyone's feet.
He continued yelling, "YOU THREE WOMEN ARE NOT DROPPING OUT! I WILL NOT HAVE MY BEAUTY CONTEST MADE A LAUGHINGSTOCK!"
Cypress was about to quip that the contest had already come to be just that-a laughingstock, but she wisely kept her mouth shut. Journa's intense worry for her mate and comrade was written on her face, and unshed tears hung in Eclipse's black gem eyes. The three unfortunate women looked at each other and then back at Frieza; they knew they had no choice, but to remain in the contest.
"Now, are you three women remaining?" Frieza asked coolly.
Three reluctant voices consented.
"Good. As for me, I am going to try to enjoy the rest of my birthday. Hickey, announce Cypress and Journa as being eligible," Frieza ordered.
Hickey, not trusting himself to speak, for fear that his answer would be too loud, only nodded nervously. He, and the women watched Frieza step back into his personal traveling pod and leave. Reluctantly, Hickey began to follow behind his liege, casting back one sympathetic look upon the three unwilling contestants.
After Frieza and Hickey left, Journa sighed. "Now what are we going to do?"
"We'll have to see this through to the end," Eclipse replied mournfully. "And not take it personally when our mates have to pick other women to be Miss Frieza."
Cypress was cursing under her breath. Great! Just great! How would they expose Karilyn, now that they would be forced to remain in the contest?
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Twenty minutes later…
"I'm chained to you with love, chained to you with love, chained to you with LUUUUUVE!"
Karilyn was screeching, as she swiveled her curvy hips on stage, singing a love song to Coola, for her act in the talent session. Normally, she would have been doing a striptease for Coola at the same time, but she knew that Coola wouldn't like it, if she were to do it in front of the men in the audience. Coola on the VIP platform was applauding softly and smiling.
"With yoouuu, I never want to be freeeee!"
Unfortunately, Coola was the only one smiling during Karilyn's performance. No one else in the auditorium shared his high opinion of Karilyn's high-pitched, cacophonous singing voice.
"I am BOUND to YOU, my luuuuuuve!"
Vegeta, still sitting next to Zarbon, quipped, "Dodoria with a sore throat sings better than that wench of Coola's does."
Against his will, Zarbon laughed softly, and Chestra tried not to smile, as Karilyn finally finished her performance:
"You kept me chained to you with chaaaaains of luuuuuuve!"
Everyone clapped, whistled, and cheered, and Karilyn bowed graciously with a triumphant smile. She didn't know that they were applauding her because she had finally finished her torturous assault upon everyone's ears.
Nappa and Raditz were frowning, as they made marks on their scorecards. It had already been announced that the entire swimsuit session would be left out of the judging this year, much to the angry disappointment of the males in the audience. So, the Saiyan judges only had to include the results of the eveningwear, talent, and interview sessions.
Other than Karilyn's pitiful musical attempts, the talent portion had gone fairly well. Cypress had been dressed a glittering black, low-cut bodysuit, and her act had included her becoming a "humanoid pretzel" with her stretching out her limbs at impossible lengths, and even more impossible positions. She had tied her body into different kinds of knots, earning her applause from the audience. Vegeta was still angry with her over the Frieza incident, but even he admitted that not everyone could do what she could, and he had applauded with everyone else when Cypress had finished.
Journa had demonstrated an ancient Saiyan dance that she combined with her fighting techniques, and the men had rooted and cheered, a few members even suggesting that she demonstrate further with them in the bedroom. Unfortunately, after Vegeta had heard their remarks, he had fired small ki blasts at them, and the soldiers, being Low-Levels, were now on the way to the infirmary. The Saiyan prince wasn't happy that his sister had entered the beauty contest, but that didn't mean he'd let anyone insult her. Only he had that right.
Eclipse had done a combined dance-and-song routine, singing a love ballad. She had been a silvery butterfly fluttering about the stage, streaming colorful scarves behind her in shades of rose, plum, lilac, emerald, and sapphire. And her performance had been met with great enthusiasm from the audience as well.
As Raditz made the last mark on his scorecard for Karilyn, Reccoom bounded onto the stage happily. Vegeta grinned, as he lay back in his seat. He said to Zarbon triumphantly, "Now, watch a real performer in action!"
"Hmmph!" Zarbon snorted. "Hopefully, whatever act he's planned will be more original than his poses."
"Oh, you'll see, Zarbon, and then you'll want to go root through Chestra's closet the instant Reccoom finishes. Had to get a little help from Ginyu, but even you will be amazed at the results."
Zarbon yawned, bored. "Sure, Vegeta, but let's see if Reccoom can put his performance where your mouth is."
"Of course he will, and then you'll put your foot where your mouth is."
"I'll do that on your and Diamonique's wedding day."
Vegeta growled, "You're asking for me to be your executioner, aren't you?" He clenched his fists, but Zarbon laughingly waved him off.
Hickey then announced as softly as possible for him, "And now for Reccoom's act for the talent session-unfortunately, he has insisted on keeping what he's up to as a surprise, so…presenting…whatever he's doing."
Mild cheers and some booing greeted Hickey's words, as Reccoom strutted to the front of the stage, dressed happily in more masculine clothing, something that Vegeta had managed to have allowed, thanks to Jaden's earlier intervention for him with Frieza today. Reccoom was dragging a cart behind him that contained a giant, red rubber ball, tied down with twine. In Reccoom's hand was a plastic bag, and steam was escaping from it. Those in the front rows could smell cooked hamburger, chili, and cheese. Reccoom grinned, ignoring the strange looks (and hungry expressions) that he was witnessing.
Joyously, he freed the red ball from its confines and rolled it onto the stage. He steadied it until it remained still, and then he levitated into the air. When he was suspended above his huge ball, he emptied the plastic sack of cooked mini chili cheeseburgers into his arms. Then he lowered himself as gracefully as he could for a man his size onto the ball's surface.
As the ball started rolling, Reccoom started jogging on the ball's surface, driving the ball around the stage without slipping off of it. As soon as he was adjusted to staying on the ball, he began to juggle his cheeseburgers. Fully concentrated, he began rolling around the stage in a circle, staying on the ball and juggling his cheeseburgers rapidly.
Even the most doubtful people in the audience began to cheer Reccoom on. Hoots, hollers, and whistles of genuine appreciation welcomed the bulky Ginyu Force member, as he continued riding the ball and juggling his sandwiches. Nappa and Raditz themselves couldn't help but grin, as they watched Reccoom.
But Reccoom's act wasn't over yet, for as he came around the stage another time, he juggled the mini cheeseburgers higher, and as they landed towards his huge jaw, Reccoom gobbled them down, one-by-one, without losing his balance on the ball. Once he had consumed the final sandwich, he stylishly leapt off of the ball and landed on his feet onto the stage with a flourish.
"Ta-da!" he announced happily.
"YEAH, GO RECCOOM!" everyone cheered, either clapping their hands or pumping their fists up and down.
Vegeta smiled at his contestant, and then he shot Zarbon a victorious smirk. Zarbon looked considerably pained at this point, and his anxiety only increased Vegeta's pleasure. He caught Chestra look at Zarbon sympathetically, but he favored her with his smirk as well.
But as Reccoom, was standing onstage, the crimson ball spun towards him…
"Look out!" everyone shouted, but it was already too late, for the ball bumped into Reccoom, rolled under his body, and forced him to nearly tumble off the stage. He barely caught himself in mid-air just in time.
But that last disaster didn't matter, for Nappa and Raditz had concededly gave him the highest marks for the talent session.
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Vegeta continued basking in Reccoom's glory, and he kept rubbing his and Reccoom's success in Zarbon's face. "Hope you already picked out your nightgown to wear," he told Zarbon. It had taken all of Zarbon's remaining dignity to prevent him from flicking Vegeta off.
Vegeta decided to get up and leave to actually congratulate Reccoom for a job well done so far. As he left Zarbon and Chestra, he casually strolled towards the backstage, as if he himself belonged there.
As he headed backstage, he saw Diamonique with her rash-ravaged face leave towards the exit door-and carrying Cypress's evening gown! Vegeta, suspicious, decided to shadow her. What was she up to?
Diamonique whispered in a purr, as she quietly pressed a button to raise the exit door, "I must thank you, dear Cypress. I apologize that you'll be blamed for the spiked punch and those drunken women, but I, being a Top Elite Officer, can't very well get in trouble with Frieza, now can I? Once Frieza finds that bottle of Dezarc on you in your dress, instead of me, well…I'll be there to comfort Vegeta after you're gone."
"You really think so, my dear Diamonique?"
Diamonique whipped around, and her jaw dropped. Her peachy-blue skin drained of all color when she saw the deadly expression on Vegeta's face.
"V-Vegeta? When did you get here?" she blubbered. But she quickly came up with a good excuse. She just hoped Vegeta would buy it.
"You must have heard me speaking…but, that's all right, really. You see; I'm taking revenge for you on Cypress. I did mean to get Cypress drunk, but apparently that didn't work, so I'm framing her instead. You will be avenged, and Cypress will receive what she richly deserves for betraying you the way that she did." She strolled towards Vegeta and ran her slim fingers along his cheek.
"Think about it, Vegeta. Don't you think that a player like Cypress has earned this?"
Vegeta leaned in closer to Diamonique's ear, and he smiled slyly, as he whispered, "Oh, I agree that players deserve what they get, Diamonique."
Diamonique giggled, as she pressed herself against Vegeta's body and wrapped one slender arm around his neck. She continued caressing his face, and she drew her face down towards his with her lips slightly parted.
"I knew you'd come to your senses," she purred.
"Oh, I have, my dear," Vegeta replied. He didn't pull away from her, as she leaned into him. He asked serenely, "So, you spiked some punch with Dezarc, just to get revenge on Cypress for me?"
"Absolutely, my prince. Unfortunately, it seems that she didn't drink any of it, so I had to resort to more drastic measures. Once Cypress is exposed as the one who spiked the punch, well…you'll finally be avenged for how she treated you."
"I'm sure that if Cypress is caught, Frieza would do her great harm, wouldn't he?" Vegeta asked easily.
"Yes, he would, Vegeta. I would do anything for you by now, don't you realize that?"
Vegeta continued smiling. "I agree that there are no limits as to what you would do."
"You're right about that, my prince. In fact, I'm thinking seriously about going beyond my limits right now. We have a little time, you and me, before I contact Frieza and turn Cypress in." Diamonique licked her pale blue lips seductively, as she smiled and rubbed herself against Vegeta.
"I may have a rash on my face, handsome, but all you have to do is close your eyes and remember how I normally am." And after that, Diamonique guided her puckered lips towards Vegeta's and closed her eyes, breathlessly awaiting his response.
Vegeta slowly glided his hands onto her shoulders and pulled her closer to him, slightly batting at her thigh with his tail. Diamonique wrapped one leg gently around his legs, as her lips came within millimeters of Vegeta's. Her hand continued to stroke his cheek lovingly. Vegeta favored her with his sexy smirk.
"Journa, we don't have time for this! Wake up!"
Journa was leaning against the cracked tiles, as she sat on the floor with her legs spread out. She was mumbling incoherently, "No, Father, I don't want to go train today! That skinny white lizard with the horns, that fat pink puffball, and that green, cross-dressing pretty boy always make fun of me!"
Cypress's palm smacked Journa's unmoving cheeks several times. She couldn't believe that Journa had fainted! Sure, her secret and her real reasons as to why she was here on Frieza's ship and in his beauty contest would have been hard for even a Kami to take, but still! Ah, well, at least she had managed to tell Journa about Karilyn's conspiring with Coola, so that she could win the beauty contest, before Journa had passed out.
"JOURNA! GET UP!" And Cypress slapped Journa's face again, with her strong palms nearly breaking Journa's left cheekbone.
"OW!" Journa screamed in pain and anger, as she awoke abruptly. She then slowly touched her aching cheeks. "What'd you do to me? It was bad enough what you showed me earlier! How's my brother going to react?"
"Probably about the same Frieza will when he finds out what I've been hiding. But, come on, we've got to figure out a way to stop Karilyn!"
"Can't we just tell Frieza? I'm sure he'd love to have a new reason to make his brother's life hell."
"I agree with that, but we've still got to do this quietly, Journa, so that once Coola finds out he and his little paramour have been busted, it won't trace back to us."
"Do you have a plan to pull this off, so we, or Raditz and Nappa, don't wind up Coola's next candidates for target practice?"
Cypress was quiet. Finally, she said wearily, "To be honest with you, Journa, not yet. Unfortunately, we're going to have to make this up, as we go along. No matter how we pull this off, exposing Coola isn't going to be easy without us ending up in the morgue. After we drop out of the contest, it'll be easier to bring him and Karilyn down. Actually, now, I may have a tentative plan on how to reveal Coola's scheme, but it'll have to wait until we're out of that contest. Fortunately, we're likely to get disqualified anyway."
"Good," Journa agreed. "I was getting tired of those pervs in the audience anyway."
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Half an hour passed before things returned to normal…well, as normal as it could be, considering all that happened. Hickey had called an intermission, to give everyone time to calm down (and for Zarbon to obtain more antacids for Frieza). The intoxicated contestants were all immediately disqualified on Frieza and Hickey's orders, and Journa and Cypress had been missing the entire time during the swimsuit session, so they had to be declared ineligible to participate further as well. Which left only three contestants: Karilyn, Eclipse, and Reccoom.
Of course, the fact that only three contestants remained for the talent and the interview sessions did not go well with Frieza. Backstage, he didn't hesitate to let poor Hickey, who cowered in fear against the wall, know how displeased he was.
"I can't believe, Hickey, that you allowed Dodoria to make a fool out of all of us! What will you thinking allowing him to do a striptease?" Frieza glared menacingly at Hickey, as his ridged tail swished back and forth.
With large tears in his eyes, Hickey sobbed, clasping his hands, and looking at Frieza beseechingly. "P-Please, sire, I didn't know that Commander Dodoria was going to do what he did. He only told me th-that he was going to-to sing; he didn't tell me about undress-dressing himself! Please, forgive me, Lord Frieza! If I had known, I would have certainly tried to stop him!" His loud voice shook the walls of the backstage room, and his powerful tone was enough to shake the furniture and topple the refreshment table, spilling cakes, meats, breads, dishes and utensils all over the floor. Light bulbs and ballasts exploded and shattered at the strength of Hickey's terrified voice.
Frieza felt himself panic at the way the room he and Hickey were in was rapidly collapsing. Hurriedly, he clamped his hand over Hickey's mouth. "All right, all right! Enough! Don't say another word, or you're likely to wreck this entire auditorium-and possibly my whole ship! Take a deep breath and calm down!"
Hickey nodded, still in shock, and after Frieza released his mouth, he took a couple of breaths. His giant, square ears were still trembling, but he was slowly calming down, seeing that Frieza wasn't going to end his life at this time.
Frieza sighed, as he paced the floor relentlessly in front of Hickey, who was still panting. "Three contestants left…how can we have a beauty contest, a good one, with only three contestants. I saw Journa and Cypress among the contestants earlier, Hickey, but they weren't in the swimsuit session. What happened to them?"
"I-I wish I knew, Lord Frieza," Hickey whispered as low as he could. "But I don't. They disappeared shortly after they and the other ladies went backstage for refreshments. I don't understand how they became drunk from that champagne punch, sire; they shouldn't have. The alcohol content in the punch couldn't even get Eyelet drunk; Tipsy told me so himself when he made it for the contestants. This makes no sense, sire."
"It is suspect," Frieza agreed, as he ran his ribbed tail through his long, thin fingers.
"Someone had to have spiked the punch, and if that's the case, the culprit or culprits involved will be severely punished. Who was allowed backstage besides Dodoria and the contestants?"
Hickey tried to think, but he couldn't come up with anyone except for stage crewmembers. As he rattled off names to Frieza, a purple speck with neon-green wings zipped into the room, coming to an abrupt stop in front of Frieza and Hickey.
"Eyelet?" Frieza asked.
"Si-sire, Tipsy and I think we can figure out how those poor ladies became drunk so easily. He told me that someone stole a bottle of Dezarc from his liquor supplies. One shot of Dezarc is equivalent to drinking twelve Crystal Blue Persuasions or five glasses of champagne. Now we may be wrong on this, sire, but those ladies behaved, as if they each had two or three shots of Dezarc. Dezarc can make people act really crazy."
Frieza sighed wearily. Some birthday this was turning out to be. Did any other great ruler ever have the problems he had endured on what should have been the most special day of the Icein year?
Shaking his head, he thanked Eyelet and told her to go back to Tipsy. He then entered Jaden's scouter code on his scouter to contact her. Jaden was among the minority of soldiers not attending the beauty contest, and so Frieza could make use of her at this moment. He decided to have Jaden order bedroom inspections immediately and take along Diamonique, who too had abstained from seeing the contest, to search for an empty bottle of Dezarc. If such a bottle was discovered, Jaden and Diamonique were to arrest anyone involved immediately.
"Jaden, Jaden, are you there?"
No answer.
"Jaden! Answer me!"
No response still.
"JADEN!"
Frustrated, Frieza finally gave up and decided to contact Diamonique instead. She would lead the bedroom inspections.
"I am going to turn Jaden into matching luggage the next time I see her!" Frieza fumed, as he entered Diamonique's scouter code.
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Resting on Jaden's nightstand was her scouter, something that she never left behind under normal circumstances. All was silent in her frugally decorated suite, which contained little more than furniture, giant pillows on the floor, a fully stocked refrigerator, and two pictures on the walls. The bathroom was as plain as the rest of the suite, again with only basic necessities.
Jaden was nowhere to be found.
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"Of course, sire, consider it done," Diamonique told Frieza sweetly, as she stood in the back next to the double doors of the auditorium.
She chuckled after she and Frieza broke off communication. Even the great Frieza could be fooled at times! And she was actually one step ahead of everyone! She had already poured the remaining Dezarc into her toilet and flushed it away. Now, she just had to dispose of the bottle, and no one would be able to trace the stolen Dezarc back to her.
Her painted, silvery-blue lips curved into a bigger smile, and she lifted her chin in delight. She knew just how to get rid of the bottle of Dezarc…oh, she would find it all right, but someone else would take the credit for spiking the champagne punch.
Framing someone else for her little transgression…perfect! And she had several "candidates" in mind for just who should blamed for the stolen Dezarc and tainted punch.
It had not made her day when she discovered that, among the gaggle of intoxicated women being led to the detoxification room in Medical, neither Cypress nor Reccoom had been present. She had heard it announced over the intercom that only Reccoom, Eclipse, and some whore of Coola's named Karilyn were the only women eligible to remain in the contest. But Cypress had not been among the drunken women, so where was she?
Well, it didn't really matter. Cypress was obviously out of the contest, so there was little point in seeking further revenge against the fox-tailed beauty. But Cypress did lead Vegeta on and play him like a fool. She managed to get Cypress in trouble with Vegeta, so why not with Frieza? That red-haired wench would be taught a lesson that she'd never forget…if, Frieza didn't have her executed for her actions.
Sometimes, justice did exist, after all. Framing Cypress would be so easy! That whore deserved what she was about to get.
So, sweetly, Diamonique snuck out of the auditorium, so that she could reenter backstage without being caught.
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"What the hell do you mean you're dropping out?" Frieza demanded to know of Cypress, Eclipse, and Journa. Normally, Frieza didn't curse, but he had not been in the best mood to begin with when Cypress quietly announced that she and Journa were withdrawing as contestants. Eclipse then added that she was withdrawing, as well, and that had really annoyed Frieza, for Eclipse had been a Miss Frieza herself once.
"Do you three ladies realize that there will only be TWO contestants left in the contest?" he fumed.
Cypress had quipped, "Well, look it at this way: Nappa and Raditz will have an easier and quicker job, and you'll get to eat your birthday cake much sooner."
"May as well skip to the final judging," Journa agreed.
"I'm sure that either Karilyn or Reccoom will make a fine Miss Frieza…or in Reccoom's case, Mr. Miss Frieza," Eclipse added serenely.
Frieza narrowed his eyes at them, and his facial features contorted. "You three are not dropping out, do you understand me? There is no point in having a contest with only two contestants!"
"So cancel the contest," Journa suggested casually, hoping for Raditz and Nappa's sakes that Frieza would do just that.
"I AM NOT CANCELING THE CONTEST!" Frieza fumed, as his ki arose with his anger. Crackles of energy radiated from his body, and the room started shaking. The floor quaked beneath everyone's feet.
He continued yelling, "YOU THREE WOMEN ARE NOT DROPPING OUT! I WILL NOT HAVE MY BEAUTY CONTEST MADE A LAUGHINGSTOCK!"
Cypress was about to quip that the contest had already come to be just that-a laughingstock, but she wisely kept her mouth shut. Journa's intense worry for her mate and comrade was written on her face, and unshed tears hung in Eclipse's black gem eyes. The three unfortunate women looked at each other and then back at Frieza; they knew they had no choice, but to remain in the contest.
"Now, are you three women remaining?" Frieza asked coolly.
Three reluctant voices consented.
"Good. As for me, I am going to try to enjoy the rest of my birthday. Hickey, announce Cypress and Journa as being eligible," Frieza ordered.
Hickey, not trusting himself to speak, for fear that his answer would be too loud, only nodded nervously. He, and the women watched Frieza step back into his personal traveling pod and leave. Reluctantly, Hickey began to follow behind his liege, casting back one sympathetic look upon the three unwilling contestants.
After Frieza and Hickey left, Journa sighed. "Now what are we going to do?"
"We'll have to see this through to the end," Eclipse replied mournfully. "And not take it personally when our mates have to pick other women to be Miss Frieza."
Cypress was cursing under her breath. Great! Just great! How would they expose Karilyn, now that they would be forced to remain in the contest?
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Twenty minutes later…
"I'm chained to you with love, chained to you with love, chained to you with LUUUUUVE!"
Karilyn was screeching, as she swiveled her curvy hips on stage, singing a love song to Coola, for her act in the talent session. Normally, she would have been doing a striptease for Coola at the same time, but she knew that Coola wouldn't like it, if she were to do it in front of the men in the audience. Coola on the VIP platform was applauding softly and smiling.
"With yoouuu, I never want to be freeeee!"
Unfortunately, Coola was the only one smiling during Karilyn's performance. No one else in the auditorium shared his high opinion of Karilyn's high-pitched, cacophonous singing voice.
"I am BOUND to YOU, my luuuuuuve!"
Vegeta, still sitting next to Zarbon, quipped, "Dodoria with a sore throat sings better than that wench of Coola's does."
Against his will, Zarbon laughed softly, and Chestra tried not to smile, as Karilyn finally finished her performance:
"You kept me chained to you with chaaaaains of luuuuuuve!"
Everyone clapped, whistled, and cheered, and Karilyn bowed graciously with a triumphant smile. She didn't know that they were applauding her because she had finally finished her torturous assault upon everyone's ears.
Nappa and Raditz were frowning, as they made marks on their scorecards. It had already been announced that the entire swimsuit session would be left out of the judging this year, much to the angry disappointment of the males in the audience. So, the Saiyan judges only had to include the results of the eveningwear, talent, and interview sessions.
Other than Karilyn's pitiful musical attempts, the talent portion had gone fairly well. Cypress had been dressed a glittering black, low-cut bodysuit, and her act had included her becoming a "humanoid pretzel" with her stretching out her limbs at impossible lengths, and even more impossible positions. She had tied her body into different kinds of knots, earning her applause from the audience. Vegeta was still angry with her over the Frieza incident, but even he admitted that not everyone could do what she could, and he had applauded with everyone else when Cypress had finished.
Journa had demonstrated an ancient Saiyan dance that she combined with her fighting techniques, and the men had rooted and cheered, a few members even suggesting that she demonstrate further with them in the bedroom. Unfortunately, after Vegeta had heard their remarks, he had fired small ki blasts at them, and the soldiers, being Low-Levels, were now on the way to the infirmary. The Saiyan prince wasn't happy that his sister had entered the beauty contest, but that didn't mean he'd let anyone insult her. Only he had that right.
Eclipse had done a combined dance-and-song routine, singing a love ballad. She had been a silvery butterfly fluttering about the stage, streaming colorful scarves behind her in shades of rose, plum, lilac, emerald, and sapphire. And her performance had been met with great enthusiasm from the audience as well.
As Raditz made the last mark on his scorecard for Karilyn, Reccoom bounded onto the stage happily. Vegeta grinned, as he lay back in his seat. He said to Zarbon triumphantly, "Now, watch a real performer in action!"
"Hmmph!" Zarbon snorted. "Hopefully, whatever act he's planned will be more original than his poses."
"Oh, you'll see, Zarbon, and then you'll want to go root through Chestra's closet the instant Reccoom finishes. Had to get a little help from Ginyu, but even you will be amazed at the results."
Zarbon yawned, bored. "Sure, Vegeta, but let's see if Reccoom can put his performance where your mouth is."
"Of course he will, and then you'll put your foot where your mouth is."
"I'll do that on your and Diamonique's wedding day."
Vegeta growled, "You're asking for me to be your executioner, aren't you?" He clenched his fists, but Zarbon laughingly waved him off.
Hickey then announced as softly as possible for him, "And now for Reccoom's act for the talent session-unfortunately, he has insisted on keeping what he's up to as a surprise, so…presenting…whatever he's doing."
Mild cheers and some booing greeted Hickey's words, as Reccoom strutted to the front of the stage, dressed happily in more masculine clothing, something that Vegeta had managed to have allowed, thanks to Jaden's earlier intervention for him with Frieza today. Reccoom was dragging a cart behind him that contained a giant, red rubber ball, tied down with twine. In Reccoom's hand was a plastic bag, and steam was escaping from it. Those in the front rows could smell cooked hamburger, chili, and cheese. Reccoom grinned, ignoring the strange looks (and hungry expressions) that he was witnessing.
Joyously, he freed the red ball from its confines and rolled it onto the stage. He steadied it until it remained still, and then he levitated into the air. When he was suspended above his huge ball, he emptied the plastic sack of cooked mini chili cheeseburgers into his arms. Then he lowered himself as gracefully as he could for a man his size onto the ball's surface.
As the ball started rolling, Reccoom started jogging on the ball's surface, driving the ball around the stage without slipping off of it. As soon as he was adjusted to staying on the ball, he began to juggle his cheeseburgers. Fully concentrated, he began rolling around the stage in a circle, staying on the ball and juggling his cheeseburgers rapidly.
Even the most doubtful people in the audience began to cheer Reccoom on. Hoots, hollers, and whistles of genuine appreciation welcomed the bulky Ginyu Force member, as he continued riding the ball and juggling his sandwiches. Nappa and Raditz themselves couldn't help but grin, as they watched Reccoom.
But Reccoom's act wasn't over yet, for as he came around the stage another time, he juggled the mini cheeseburgers higher, and as they landed towards his huge jaw, Reccoom gobbled them down, one-by-one, without losing his balance on the ball. Once he had consumed the final sandwich, he stylishly leapt off of the ball and landed on his feet onto the stage with a flourish.
"Ta-da!" he announced happily.
"YEAH, GO RECCOOM!" everyone cheered, either clapping their hands or pumping their fists up and down.
Vegeta smiled at his contestant, and then he shot Zarbon a victorious smirk. Zarbon looked considerably pained at this point, and his anxiety only increased Vegeta's pleasure. He caught Chestra look at Zarbon sympathetically, but he favored her with his smirk as well.
But as Reccoom, was standing onstage, the crimson ball spun towards him…
"Look out!" everyone shouted, but it was already too late, for the ball bumped into Reccoom, rolled under his body, and forced him to nearly tumble off the stage. He barely caught himself in mid-air just in time.
But that last disaster didn't matter, for Nappa and Raditz had concededly gave him the highest marks for the talent session.
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Vegeta continued basking in Reccoom's glory, and he kept rubbing his and Reccoom's success in Zarbon's face. "Hope you already picked out your nightgown to wear," he told Zarbon. It had taken all of Zarbon's remaining dignity to prevent him from flicking Vegeta off.
Vegeta decided to get up and leave to actually congratulate Reccoom for a job well done so far. As he left Zarbon and Chestra, he casually strolled towards the backstage, as if he himself belonged there.
As he headed backstage, he saw Diamonique with her rash-ravaged face leave towards the exit door-and carrying Cypress's evening gown! Vegeta, suspicious, decided to shadow her. What was she up to?
Diamonique whispered in a purr, as she quietly pressed a button to raise the exit door, "I must thank you, dear Cypress. I apologize that you'll be blamed for the spiked punch and those drunken women, but I, being a Top Elite Officer, can't very well get in trouble with Frieza, now can I? Once Frieza finds that bottle of Dezarc on you in your dress, instead of me, well…I'll be there to comfort Vegeta after you're gone."
"You really think so, my dear Diamonique?"
Diamonique whipped around, and her jaw dropped. Her peachy-blue skin drained of all color when she saw the deadly expression on Vegeta's face.
"V-Vegeta? When did you get here?" she blubbered. But she quickly came up with a good excuse. She just hoped Vegeta would buy it.
"You must have heard me speaking…but, that's all right, really. You see; I'm taking revenge for you on Cypress. I did mean to get Cypress drunk, but apparently that didn't work, so I'm framing her instead. You will be avenged, and Cypress will receive what she richly deserves for betraying you the way that she did." She strolled towards Vegeta and ran her slim fingers along his cheek.
"Think about it, Vegeta. Don't you think that a player like Cypress has earned this?"
Vegeta leaned in closer to Diamonique's ear, and he smiled slyly, as he whispered, "Oh, I agree that players deserve what they get, Diamonique."
Diamonique giggled, as she pressed herself against Vegeta's body and wrapped one slender arm around his neck. She continued caressing his face, and she drew her face down towards his with her lips slightly parted.
"I knew you'd come to your senses," she purred.
"Oh, I have, my dear," Vegeta replied. He didn't pull away from her, as she leaned into him. He asked serenely, "So, you spiked some punch with Dezarc, just to get revenge on Cypress for me?"
"Absolutely, my prince. Unfortunately, it seems that she didn't drink any of it, so I had to resort to more drastic measures. Once Cypress is exposed as the one who spiked the punch, well…you'll finally be avenged for how she treated you."
"I'm sure that if Cypress is caught, Frieza would do her great harm, wouldn't he?" Vegeta asked easily.
"Yes, he would, Vegeta. I would do anything for you by now, don't you realize that?"
Vegeta continued smiling. "I agree that there are no limits as to what you would do."
"You're right about that, my prince. In fact, I'm thinking seriously about going beyond my limits right now. We have a little time, you and me, before I contact Frieza and turn Cypress in." Diamonique licked her pale blue lips seductively, as she smiled and rubbed herself against Vegeta.
"I may have a rash on my face, handsome, but all you have to do is close your eyes and remember how I normally am." And after that, Diamonique guided her puckered lips towards Vegeta's and closed her eyes, breathlessly awaiting his response.
Vegeta slowly glided his hands onto her shoulders and pulled her closer to him, slightly batting at her thigh with his tail. Diamonique wrapped one leg gently around his legs, as her lips came within millimeters of Vegeta's. Her hand continued to stroke his cheek lovingly. Vegeta favored her with his sexy smirk.