Zarbon thumps his fingers on his upper left arm while cradling his right arm with the other hand. He stands next to a landing station, grimacing at the sky. His foot starts to tap until two dots appear in the atmosphere.
Spherical pods come crashing down on giant trampoline pads for absorbing and diffusing the force of impact. Zarbon waits for the bouncing surfaces to stabilize so the occupants can step out. However, no one moves behind the red glass of the crafts.
"What the hell are those two waiting for?" says Zarbon.
"They're probably too afraid to face your wrath sir," says a subordinate.
Zarbon looks down atop the orange mohawk haired underling.
The brown skinned lizard man averts his gaze.
"Go see what's keeping them, Malaka."
"Oh, yes, of course sir."
The reptilian man scurries across the trampoline surface. The medical robes hanging from the shoulder pads of his standardized armor flow behind him. After checking the first, he scampers over to the second. He looks back at Zarbon in shock.
"Both of them are using the life support systems of their ships," he says. "They appear to be in critical condition."
Zarbon grunts.
"Unbelievable. I knew we shouldn't have trusted these monkeys with something so important. And where's the third one?"
Malaka checks a device in his hand.
"There is no one else on the radar. Vegeta and Raditz seem to be the only two registered for arrival."
"They lost another one, huh? That's no surprise I suppose. They've been whittling their own numbers down with their brutish love of battle. Always carelessly rushing into a fight. Honestly, I'm amazed they've lasted as long as they have."
"Sir, your orders?"
"Rush them to the Medical Machines immediately. They have a lot to answer for."
###
"This had better be good Malaka," says Zarbon following him down a hall. "I was in the middle of a well deserved health and beauty treatment."
"It is sire. It's baffling, confounding, miraculous even…"
Zarbon growls as they enter a door. Humming machines line both sides of the room. Glass tanks large enough to hold an occupant fill their center. Soft, rounded panels cover the tanks and circuitry in pristine white.
They stop at two of them. Vegeta and Raditz float in an aquamarine liquid. They wear nothing except for a breathing mouthpiece and some electrodes connected to wires patched to their foreheads and torsos. Malaka steps up to a control panel disjointed from the Machine.
"Raditz is showing a power level around 2,000. An increase from his last measurement—"
"But nothing unusual for a Saiyan," says Zarbon. "So what?"
"Right. Now take a look at Vegeta's power level."
Malaka taps some buttons. Zarbon's face squishes itself into an expression of astonishment and disbelief. The screen flashes a number. 24,000.
"This, this can't be right," says Zarbon. "A Saiyan has never recorded an increase in power level this dramatic. The reader must be malfunctioning. 24,000 is, is…"
"Higher than yours."
Zarbon glares at Malaka.
"Oh, and General Dodoria's."
A green light flashes over the door of both Medical Machines. A chime sounds and the liquid drains from the tanks. As it lowers, the brain activity for both Saiyans increases. Vegeta's eyes open, and the incredible power level on the display lowers to 19,500.
Zarbon sneers.
"I knew it had to be a fluke."
The liquid finishes draining. The doors to the pods open. Vegeta and Raditz pull off their electrodes and mouthpieces before stepping out of the tanks.
"Welcome back from the dead boys," says Zarbon. "Sorry you lost your arm Raditz, but at least nothing happened to that gorgeous hair of yours."
Raditz ignores the comment as he examines and flexes a robotic arm in place of his old one. The muscle and joint replacements are a bright yellow while the material around them is a sleek black. He winces in pain with every movement. Hundreds of microscopic needles prick each nerve where flesh meets synthetic.
"The pain should clear up in a few weeks," says Malaka. "Your arm contains many specialized capacitors which allow you to channel your energy through it. It might take a little getting used to, but you'll be punching and firing blasts in no time."
Vegeta stares at his reflection in the glass of the Medical Machine. A dull ache bores into his left elbow. He grimaces at the grievous spiderwebbing scar stretching from his right pectoral to his shoulder.
His right eye blinks, and a tiny mechanical whirring sound bothers his ear. He fixates his gaze on the eye. It blinks a few more times. He watches the pupil shrink and enlarge like the lense of a camera with each one. He watches the unnatural addition to his body swivel in its socket.
Vegeta slams the door of the machine shut. The loud bang silences everyone. They watch his back muscles twitch.
"I hate this fucking eye!" he says. "Who told you to remove my old one?"
"Apologies Prince Vegeta," says Malaka. "But your other eye was too damaged to save. It needed to be replaced."
Vegeta stomps over to Malaka and yanks him off the ground by the collar of his armor. He pulls him to eye level.
"A true Saiyan wears his battle scars with honor. They do not hide them with fake prosthetics!"
"I am sorry sir. Our orders are to keep all soldiers in peak physical condition."
"Remove it at once!"
"I'm not allowed to do that. I'd have to get approval for another surgery. And besides, your eye is a top of the line replacement. It even has some basic scouter technology integrated into it. It can read power levels if your regular scouter should malfunction."
Vegeta drops him on his butt and moves for the door.
"And what are you looking at!"
Raditz twists his head down and to the side.
"Are you going to ask for a fake tail as well?"
Vegeta crashes their shoulders together and pushes through. He storms for the exit.
"Oh Vegeta, before you go," says Zarbon.
"What the hell do you want?"
"Lord Freeza has been waiting very patiently for you to regain consciousness. You'd best get dressed and meet with him at once."
Vegeta's eyes widen as his jaw separates from his face. A cold knife stabs his heart. The hair on the back of his neck stiffens as his tail bristles.
Zarbon smiles.
"Free … Freeza is here? Why … why is he here? Why does he want to meet with me?"
"Not just you, Raditz too."
Raditz stands stone still as Zarbon gives him a look. His chest does not dare take a breath.
"As for why, well, he has decided to take a more active role in the situation regarding the Dragon Balls. Perhaps he has finally decided what his wish will be. I hope you have useful intel for him."
Vegeta stares at the floor.
"Tick tock, Vegeta," says Zarbon moving past him and exiting the room. "I'll see you two there."
Vegeta and Raditz remain where they are.
"You'll find new suits and armor on that cart," says Malaka.
The voice shakes them to attention. Vegeta shakily steps towards the cart with cases on it. Raditz wobbles after him. After dressing, they shamble towards an uncertain fate.
The dread of a predator stalking them fills their every step. Each second brings them closer to its den and inevitable death. They could run, but that would only entice the beast to chase and lead to a more vicious end. And so they march to the den to prolong what little time they have left in the hopes they receive a lesser punishment.
After an anxious eternity, they reach the final door. A mechanical whoosh reveals the entrance to the den. Vegeta and Raditz step inside. They tread to the center of the room as if every tile may have a pressure sensitive mine beneath it.
Zarbon snickers as they approach. Vegeta and Raditz disregard him as they stare at the predator lurking above.
The horned conqueror gazes out a blood stained glass covering most of the back wall. In the night sky sits his vast empire matched in scope only by his overwhelming and legendary power level.
The supreme ruler's left arm rests casually behind his back. The pale, lavender hand of the other cups a goblet and swirls the red wine within. The pink, segmented rings of the upper arm contract to lift the rim of the goblet to his plush, purple lips.
He closes his beady red eyes as the taste washes over his tongue. He spins in place while sipping the rest of the wine. His long, powerful tail coils around his legs as he descends.
Vegeta and Raditz take a knee and bow their heads. They strain their eyes to the tops of their sockets so as not to let the monster escape their sight.
A tiny smile sits on Freeza's face. His eyes slowly open. Fuchsia irises rise to the center of the whites. He locks stares with the Saiyans.
Vegeta and Raditz's breathes catch in their throats. Their lungs tighten and constrict the air within. It strangles out of them as their chests collapse. Seconds pass. Their lungs burn.
Vegeta and Raditz's eyes plead with Freeza's for release. They try to break the stare by following the upward slant of his horns, but they cannot pull free of his irises. Their mouths gasp for a vital meal to feed their starving lungs.
Their hearts beat faster, pumping oxygen deficient blood through their useless lungs. Their chests feel like they will implode. Their vision darkens. Conscious thought fades.
Freeza blinks.
Vegeta and Raditz gasp and cough as their hands hit the ground for support. They heave and keep their eyes tightly shut.
"So sorry about that," says Freeza. "I was still deep in thought when you walked in. My ruminations can be quite intense at times."
The Saiyans' breathing slows to deep inhalations. Freeza's pompous pitch scratches their ears.
"Oh my, I just noticed there are only two of you. What happened to the big, loud one?"
Vegeta grits his teeth while continuing to suck air through them.
"That one's dimwittedness finally got him killed," says Zarbon.
Vegeta's tongue pushes through his teeth, but he bites down on it.
"I see. So not only did you fail to acquire my Dragon Balls, but you were also beaten by a low class Saiyan and his insignificant friends, and managed to lose your second in command."
Vegeta's jaw clenches while his fingers tighten into fists.
"Tsk-tsk, Vegeta. I don't know if you were just sloppy or you're losing your edge, but you know I don't stand for such incompetence."
Freeza's words rise in anger as he speaks. Vegeta closes his eyes as fear of death chokes him again.
"Oh, what am I saying?"
Vegeta slits his eyes open, daring to go no further. He watches Freeza's feet lift from the ground and glide to him. The three elongated toes of the foot hang down ready to grasp anything that moves beneath them. They clap the floor before his chin.
Cold hands grab Vegeta's cheeks and lift his face. He cannot avoid direct eye contact with him. This close, he can see Freeza's breaths chill the air in puffs of mist.
"You must feel terrible enough as it is. Take solace in this. If a low class Saiyan like the one you fought can rise to your elite level, just imagine what you, the Prince of Saiyans, can achieve.
"Wasn't there some kind of legend amongst your people? Some kind of … Super Saiyan was it? Perhaps that is your destiny after all. No, your birthright."
Freeza watches Vegeta's tight, fearful expression soften just a little. He drops his hands and turns around.
"It's fortunate the two of you managed enough competence to uncover the Namekians as the source of the Dragon Balls. I will give you two a chance to redeem yourselves from your mistake. You will be overseen by Zarbon and Dodoria during our next mission to search for them. You may return to your quarters until further notice."
The Saiyans bow and leave the room.
"Honestly my Lord, you're too cruel to the boy," says Zarbon. "You shouldn't fill his head with such nonsense as Super Saiyans."
"I know, but I just can't stand to see my pet in such a glower mood."
###
Vegeta and Raditz stand aside in a circular room coated in metal framing. A group of grunts line the other.
Two Namekians kneel in chains before Freeza, and Zarbon. Dodoria holds both of them in a headlock. Discolored bruises mark their faces and bodies. One of them is missing an antenna.
"Excellent work Dodoria," says Freeza.
He sits in a black hover chair that surrounds his entire lower body. His tail hangs over the side from the circular opening. Its purple tip thumps against the metal above a humming exhaust port.
Dodoria lets go of the victims' necks and places a hand across his chest to give a bow. Raditz cannot help but stare at the hideous scar across the left side of his head. The stubs of what used to be spikes and the shriveled ear leave him wondering who could have inflicted such a wound on the general.
"These two put up more of a fight than I thought they could," Dodoria says. "I can see how our lesser troops struggled to capture some Namekians for interrogation."
He catches Raditz staring.
"What are you looking at? You Saiyan scum shouldn't even be allowed on this mission any longer."
Vegeta squints while Raditz averts his gaze. Dodoria turns back to Freeza.
"They wouldn't tell me anything useful no matter how much I tortured them."
"Yes," says Freeza. "I've heard they are a loyal and resilient bunch. That's why I called in someone with more subtle methods of extracting information."
The Namekian with both antennae intact spits an angry retort.
"We will never betray the location of the other clans."
Freeza rolls his eyes.
"We Namekians use our abilities to help others unlike you and your underlings."
Freeza lifts a single finger beside his cheek.
"I have seen the horrors your empire inflicts upon the galaxy."
Freeze moves the tip of his finger towards his nose.
"You poison and destroy everything your greedy hands touch."
Freeza's finger enters his nostril and rummages up and down.
"You're a monster, and…"
The Namekian trails off at the sight of the notorious tyrant picking his nose.
"Oh no," says Freeza, pulling his finger free of his nose. "Don't stop your bluster on my account."
A glistening booger sits atop Freeza's nail. He rolls it between the pads of his thumb and index finger.
"What was that you were saying again?"
The Namekian opens his mouth to speak. Freeza frowns and flicks the booger. It streaks straight into the Namekian's mouth. The back of his head rips open as the booger blasts out. It and the insides of the victim's head spatter on the wall.
Freeza's scowl falls on the remaining Namekian with a single antenna.
"I have developed a severe disdain for defiant speeches."
The Namekian chokes and coughs as he looks Freeza in the eye. The door to the room splits open and retracts into the frame. Freeza looks to the door allowing the Namekian to gasp for air.
Everyone present but Freeza immediately cross an arm over their chests and bow their heads. As a purple skinned man enters, the two black horns protruding from the sides of his head almost scrape the edges of the doorway. Inflated veins atop his head pulse with every beat of his heart. There are so many of them, they could be mistaken for the folds of his brain.
The sleek black of his armor atop his skin gives him a regal appearance. A special insignia adorns the left breastplate. A yellow circle with an upside down white triangle in the center displays unique status. The sides of the triangle extend beyond the yellow circle to form a V-shape while the bottom point dips below it.
The man strides into the center of the room on powerful legs, dwarfing everyone he passes.
"Ah, Captain Ginyu," says Freeza. "So glad you could join us."
What's he doing here? thinks Vegeta. He's Freeza's strongest soldier. If Dodoria can't beat the information out of them, doing it harder won't work. What's he up to?
Dodoria tromps over next to Raditz and taps him on the shoulder with a huge fist. Raditz hisses with pain as the tender nerves of the severed arm scream. He limps away as Dodoria steps in beside him.
"So this is a fabled Namekian?" says Captain Ginyu.
"It certainly is. And do be quick. I'm very much in a hurry."
"Understood."
Captain Ginyu grabs the remaining prisoner by the throat and lifts him from the ground. He carries him over to a side room and throws the Namekian against the back wall. He steps in and closes the door behind him.
A bright light streams from the tinted window. The Namekian screams. The light fades. The door opens.
The Namekian stands proudly in the opening, a smile on his face. Captain Ginyu sits slumped over in a corner at the back of the room. The Namekian looks over his tan pants and straightens the red vest that hangs open on his naked chest. He blows at the single antenna hanging down over one eye.
"I have to say, green really isn't my color, but it'll do for now."
He looks over his shoulder.
"Somebody grab my body and make sure it's well taken care of. I want it in top condition when I come back."
What the hell happened in there? thinks Raditz. Did he change bodies or something?
"It shall be done, Captain Ginyu," says Freeza.
Two soldiers move in to perform the request.
"Now go find out what I want to know."
Captain Ginyu places a palm across his chest and bows his head.
"Of course Lord Freeza. Leave it to me."