Chapter four - Traitor

Raditz laid with his stomach pressed against the rafters, his hair hanging down to one side. Below him were four of the tournaments competitors, ones who had already lost. They'd shown up an hour ago and still hadn't left, and had said nothing interesting the whole time they'd been there, just kept going on about how they couldn't wait to see Malice get his ass beat by Prince Vegeta in the finals. Apparently they'd all been beaten by him.

Suddenly a noise from across the room caught his attention and he turned to look, moving his hair out of the way to see. Apparently someone had been knocked through the wall. A moment later the one who had done the knocking stepped through the opening. He was a tall and very muscular Sai-jin, and completely bald. /Is that... Nappa? What's the Prince's body guard doing here? And who did he attack?/

Raditz watched as the four who had been below him went over to where Nappa stood, arms crossed staring at someone hidden from his vision. There was a sudden flash of light that caused Nappa to stumble backward, an energy attack obviously, and then the other Sai-jin stood.

/WHAT!!! Prince Vegeta!/ Raditz stared in shock as Vegeta charged in at Nappa who swatted him away with one large hand and through a series of lockers. It was then Nappa saw the other four and turned toward them. The large man opened his mouth and the four before him turned to run, but they were to slow and the energy blast engulfed them and incinerated them. /I don't believe it... the traitor's not a competitor, it's Nappa!/

"How dare you!" Vegeta roared as he threw a locker at Nappa. The large Sai-jin just stood there as the locker slammed into him and crashed to the floor. "I'm the Prince of all Sai-jins!"

Nappa laughed. "Not for long little man, I can't let you tell daddy that I work for Frieza, no can I?" Suddenly he charged in and with one large fist he slammed Vegeta down through the floor and into the basement. The sounds of battle still echoed up from below as Raditz regained his composure.

/There's nothing I can do to help Vegeta myself, I'd be killed in an instant by that big oaf. No, I've got to get to the king, quickly!/ He slid off the rafter he clung to and hovered for a moment before taking off down the halls as fast as he could. He blew past a number of surprised Sai-jins before coming to the exit and emerging into the waning daylight. A quick glance around told him he'd come out the west side of the building so he turned north toward the palace and sped off.

As he flew he reached down into his pouch he carried like his father did and removed his scouter and donned it. A few quick button pushes and he was patched through to Bardock. "How close are you to King Vegeta?" he asked quickly.

"I'm in the palace, but the king is in a meeting at the moment. What's up Raditz?"

"The Prince is under attack! It's Nappa, the traitor is Nappa! He's fighting with Vegeta in the Battle Hall right now! I'm on my way to the palace."

"Shit, are you sure?"

"Positive. I saw some of the battle."

"Get here as fast as you can, the King will want to talk to you, I'll try and get into the throne room." With that Bardock turned down the hall and ran at full speed toward the throne room. He sped around a corner nearly running into a couple of First Class Elites who swore at him as he made his way toward the large doors a few yards away. As he neared a large orange alien stepped in front of him. "Out of the way Yang, I need to speak with King Vegeta, it's urgent."

"Sorry Bardock but he's still in his meeting. No one is allowed in."

"Just tell him it's me, and I've got word from Raditz, he'll let me in."

"Look..."

"Damn you, I'll be sure he finds out you interfered with getting aid to the Prince."

"What? What are you..."

"Just let me in!" Bardock roared.

"I know you think this is important, but no one is allowed in. Lord Vegeta would have my head if I let you..."

The alien was cut off by sudden knee below the belt. "Sorry Yang, no time to argue." Bardock said stepping past him and yanking open the doors to the throne room. Bardock could see King Vegeta at the other end of the room on his throne with two aliens before him that he recognized. One of them was Zarbon, one of Frieza's ambassadors. The other was Vashon.

"Lord Vegeta!" Bardock called flying quickly to where they were. When Vashon saw him he glared, and Bardock noticed the restraints which were probably all that held the former king from attacking him.

"Sorry Lord Vegeta." Yang said landing behind Bardock and grabbing his shoulder to drag him out. "He attacked me outside and..."

"Quiet Yang." K. Vegeta demanded. "Bardock would not be here if it weren't important." Yang cringed as he let go of Bardock. "What's the matter?"

"Raditz contacted me sir. He's found the traitor." As he said this Bardock noticed a slight change in Zarbon's normally calm and collected appearance. "It's Nappa sir, and he's attacking the Prince as we speak." Behind him he heard Yang swallow as King Vegeta's face contorted.

"Where are they?!" he demanded.

"The Battle Hall sir. That's where Raditz saw them last."

K. Vegeta stood and walked behind his throne placing a hand on the wall there it split open revealing a doorway. Outside the sky was tinged pink by the setting sun and Bardock could just make out a white orb of energy flying their way. "I'll meet up with Raditz and have him lead me there. Bardock, Yang, keep an eye on these two." he glanced at Zarbon, whose composure had recovered some, before vanishing out the door.

Raditz saw the flash and streak of blue light surging his way and realized that it was King Vegeta himself, who stopped a moment later right in front of him. "Grab onto my cape and hold tight." he ordered. "You'll have to show me where those two are at."

Raditz led K. Vegeta through the halls to the locker room where Raditz had seen Nappa and Vegeta fighting. The room was trashed and through the hole in the floor Raditz could see Nappa holding Vegeta up to his face. The Prince wasn't in very good shape either, his armor was cracked and covered in blood. K. Vegeta roared down the hole "Nappa!"

The large man jerked his head up and spied K. Vegeta standing just beside Raditz and smirked before pitching the unconscious Vegeta at his father. "I've been waiting for a chance to fight with you Vegeta!" he smiled cracking his knuckles and floating back up to ground level.

"Then come and get me." K. Vegeta said sliding into a fighting stance.

"My pleasure!" Nappa screamed charging in.