I'm not dead!

Disclaimer: I don't own DBZ

Chapter 6

Ketriana was right. Freiza didn't buy Vegeta's story about a malfunctioning pod and the prince spent a week in a rejuvenation tank because of it. Luckily this allowed him to sleep through all the worst symptoms of withdrawal but the warrior still awoke on the eighth day craving a capsule. He carefully opened his eyes, the medicinal liquid making them sting. Vegeta could barely make out a figure watching him from behind the glass. One of the numerous machines beeped, informing the doctor that the subject was awake and the liquid slowly began to drain.

Vegeta felt sick to begin with and an intense wave of nausea washed over him as his vision cleared to reveal Ilya smiling and offering him a towel. He ignored her and walked immediately over to a shelf filled with body suits and armor and began to dress.

"Well hello to you too." Ilya smirked.

"Can I never be rid of you?" Vegeta replied pulling a chest plate over his head. The ice-jin sauntered over to him and grabbed his hand. He was about to bat it away when the warrior felt a small bottle being pressed into his palm.

"Let's go someplace private," she whispered, discreetly leaving the bottle in his hand. Vegeta burned with rage but agreed if only because he had a few choice words for the woman.

When they were safely in Vegeta's room Ilya began to speak but Vegeta interrupted her.

"Whatever it is you're going say, forget it! I should have known this whole thing was a set-up. Freiza could have killed me if he had found that chip."

"Vegeta, calm down, Freiza would never kill you."

"This is a scam." Vegeta replied after regarding the woman for a moment, "What's wrong Ilya, you low on cash? The drug market isn't what it used to be?"

"You have your reasons for wanting Freiza dead, and I have mine. You think you're the only one who's tired of taking orders from that megalomaniac?"

The young prince sighed and rubbed his forehead "If I were to help you, and trust me I'm not, what exactly is it you want me to do?"

"I want you to be my second in command."

"Ha!" Vegeta scoffed.

"I mean it! You've been in this army for twelve years, you know Freiza better than most. Not to mention, you are more well-known in the galaxy then you care to recognize. People would listen to you." She paused to let her words sink in.

"Just think about it, yes?" she crooned and then turned to leave, softly humming to herself as she opened the door where Pika was standing. The two exchanged glances and Vegeta could have sworn Ilya slipped something into Pika's fist.

Pika laughed good-heartedly as he approached Vegeta and slapped him on the back as if they hadn't tried to kill each other the week before.

"Geta, good to see you up and around again!" the blonde warrior said with practiced and perfected artificial enthusiasm.

"He wants something…" Vegeta thought to himself. "Get the fuck out of my room Pika."

"Come on don't be like that! I was just drunk last week. Look…" Pika pointed to a large scar staring behind his left ear and continuing down to his chest. "That's from our little battle, now we both have scars from each other huh?"

Vegeta rolled his eyes. "It's confirmed, he definitely wants something."

Pika leaned against the wall and crossed his arms, "So I ah, hear your pod malfunctioned and you had to make an emergency landing on Dowaijon." he said in a concerned voice.

Vegeta looked at other warrior sharply, a look which was returned.

"I just hate when that happens." Pika sneered almost sarcastically.

Pika grinned and leaned towards the prince. "I know what you were up too." He mouthed. Still grinning he backed towards the door. "It's your move," he said aloud before turning to exit.

"You have no proof!" Vegeta shot back.

Pika faced the prince smirking. "Geta, my dear friend, I don't need proof. Freiza's as paranoid as they get. All I'd have to do is whisper the word rebellion and no amount of time in a rejuvenation tank would bring you back to where he'd send you.

Vegeta barked out a laugh. "I don't think so Pika. You forget that I'm not you. I don't fuck up constantly so Freiza isn't begging to a reason to kill me."

This seemed to hit home and the spark of mirth vanished from Pika's face.

"Hrm, yes perhaps you're right. You are Freiza's favorite warrior after all. I would need something. You told him you landed on Rygon and the data in your pod confirmed that. But you know, I bet it'd be easier than you think to have Mahlah hack into your pod and see where it really landed. And then you'd have the joy of explaining to Freiza the amazing coincidence that you just happened to crash land within five miles of Benzain."

"What is it exactly you want Pika?" Vegeta snapped, the anger steadily building inside him.

"It's quite easy… I want you to take Ilya up on her offer."

"You aren't actually taking this suicidal rebellion plan of Ilya's seriously are you?"

"Why not? It's better then sitting around here waiting for Freiza to send us to your deaths!"

"Dammit, Pika! Do you ever think? You'd just be trading one tyrant for another! Do you really believe that once Ilya has a hold on Freiza's armies she's just going to disband them, step down and free the galaxy?"

"WE can take care of Ilya when the time is right! Hell, we might not even have too! Ilya's nowhere near Freiza's strength and she has a lot of enemies. The only reason she hasn't been killed or arrested yet is because she's Freiza's niece! Everyone's afraid to touch her. But with him gone…"

"We?"

"…and Ketriana."

Vegeta threw his head back and laughed. "Yes, I can see it now. The three of us will be the new wise council of the galaxy. Let's get one thing straight, when I kill Freiza, I'll do it myself and then I will take his place as ruler of the galaxy."

"Oh god, Geta, are you still going on about the stupid legend! There is no such thing as a super saiyan, it's just some stupid story your father told you to make you feel better when he sold you out to Freiza!"

In an instant Pika was on the ground with a swelling jaw. Vegeta towered over him shaking with rage.

"My father…" he started.

"…was a foolish coward!" Pika finished, lifting himself off the ground, "But so was mine! They were both stupid enough to believe that giving us up would stop Freiza from destroying our home planets. Didn't happen, and now we're left here paying for they're mistakes. This may be our only chance to escape Freiza. Benzain's been building up an army ever since the last rebellion failed. Ilya's close enough to Freiza to know his every move. We can do this!"

"Getting desperate aren't we, Pika?" Vegeta smirked "I really hope I'm around when Freiza finally decides to finish you off. Which I can assure you, will be very soon."

Pika finally snapped, his ki flaring up around him. "You think I don't know that! You think I don't know that my days are numbered! That the next time I screw-up Freiza's gonna kill me? I know that, Vegeta! It's so easy for you! You can do whatever you want. This could be the only chance I get! Listen, we're not friends. I know you despise me, and trust me the feeling is mutual, but we can't do this without you, and whether you want to admit it or not, you can't do it alone."

Pika's energy dropped and he turned to leave but stopped at the door.

"You should know, Ketriana tried to cover for you and ended up spending a few days in the tank beside you. Do you think Freiza will finish her off someday too?"

For some reason this comment made Vegeta burn and he had to force his ki down as Pika pressed the door panel to leave.

OK. This chapter was kinda boring but necessary for plot set-up. The next chapter will be up soon and be much more exciting.