2. Looking On

Vegeta was almost there. He saw Leone had turned to face him, in
fighting stance. Obviously he fancied his chances – obviously he had a
death wish. Oh well, considered Vegeta, perhaps he should toy with
Leone, allow him to think he had the upper hand. He would see. He really
didn't plan on spending more than half an hour with this nuisance of an
invader – he had training to do. He came to a stop within reaching
distance of Leone.

'So, you're here to take over this planet, hmm?'

Leone's reply came in the form of flick of his forked tongue; no doubt
some sort of insult on the dustball he originated from, thought Vegeta.
He toyed with the idea of giving his own version of an insult - his
Gallic Gun – but he thought better of it.
Kakarott's influence was affecting him. Not good. He attempted again:

'Tried. It's not worth it. They have better defence that you can
imagine. I advise you to leave. Now.'

Leone looked away, towards the inferno below.

Such disrespect in front of a Prince! Why he didn't just smite this
cretin with one energy ball – perhaps even Krillan's destructo disc was
up to it – Vegeta didn't know, but still he humoured him.

'What's wrong, are you deaf?'

Leone turned his head.

'I heard what you said, Son Goku.'

Vegeta reeled for a moment, then powered forward, moving till he and
Leone were nose to nose.

'Be advised. Do not make that mistake twice. You will not live to tell
of your error. I am not, nor do I want to be, anything like Kakarott. He
is everything I despise in my race.'

Leone moved to turn away again, but hesitated.

'So, you are of the same race, yet not alike?'

Vegeta had a feeling of deja-vu – this idea seemed to be on everyone's
mind recently. Why couldn't they understand that Kakarott was nothing
more than a low level Saiya-jinn, completely separate from Vegeta's pure
bloodline? He felt the rage inside of him flare up – and there was only
Leone to exact it upon.

'You dare question the Prince of Saiya-jinns? For that you will most
certainly die a slow and painful death!'

Vegeta moved to attack, anticipating which blocks Leone was most likely
to use. As he opted for his best line of attack, he realised that Leone
was moving away.

'Where are you going? We must fight! What are you doing?'

Leone turned, but did not stop his motion in the opposite direction.

'I am going to find the one they call Goku. You are not he, so I must go
and find him.'

Vegeta almost choked at this response.

'I can tell you where he is, but you want to fight me, not hi-'

'Where is he.' Leone, interrupting showed a new fierceness Vegeta had
not seen. Perhaps Kakarott would have his work cut out. Maybe there
might be enough of both of them left over to have two good fights,
perhaps not. Whatever the case, he knew Kakarott would be the victor,
which left him for Vegeta. One on one.

'He is over that ridge, dealing with your incompetent army, if he is
that important.'

'Thank you. I shall return to dispose of you when he is defeated.'

Vegeta snorted as Leone sped off in Goku's direction.

'I hardly think so.'

Following Leone's path with his eyes, Vegeta looked ahead to where Goku
was. Or at least, should have been. He couldn't see the blazing yellow
hair, nor hear the popping noise of low power kai blasts. Then he saw
Goku. He hung limply in the air, as if suspended on strings, face
covered in blood, desperately fighting of what was easily two thousand
shock troops – all at once. He was losing. They swarmed around him, in a
great ball of moving bodies, all kicking and punching, yearning for a
piece of the legendary warrior's flesh. Any moment now, a great blast,
maybe a kamehameha would send them all packing. Any moment now, Vegeta
reassured himself.

But the moment wasn't coming.

And as more and more bodies entered the fray, and as Leone got closer,
it occurred to Vegeta that Kakarott might be in trouble. As Leone
reached where Goku was, Vegeta made to follow, but hesitated. He was
curious to see what Leone had in store for Kakarott. He eased back, and
waited.

As Leone arrived at the swirling mass of bodies, he sent a coded message
to all involved over his comlink. Immediately, his men began to
dissipate and continue with their mission of carnage. What was left
surprised him. A battered humanoid, in orange clothing hanging wilted,
swaying in the wind, blood dripping from his fresh wounds. Leone almost
pitied this Goku. Almost.