Hello there! Figured it was time to write, or in this case rewrite something to shake of some rust. And after giving it some thought, I decided to work on possibly my favorite short story, Vegeta's accomplishments told form the perspective of an old Freeza Force officer who faced him while he was out in space looking for Goku. The story was inspired by Android Orchestra's fantastic Hell's Bells/ Final Flash Remix, which I highly recommend you check out. For further context, this story takes place a few days before the Dragon Ball Super Broly movie.
It was one of the hot months on FP-235. Many of the soldiers that were on leave after their newest conquest were celebrating and cooling off in the cantina reserved for them, much to the irritation of their commanding officers. The Freeza Force had gotten sloppy in these last years because of the power vacuum and had splintered of even further after their leader's second death, but after their ruler had just been resurrected in strange circumstances, the reconquering of the galaxy had been progressing steadily. Planets were being subdued far faster than in the past now, and while the new recruits where nothing too special for the old standards, they were getting a few new powerful warriors, with powers in the four digit mark. And for planet conquest, not destruction, that was plenty enough. So eventually some of the officers joined them too. After all, they could afford to have fun from time to time.
Aliens of all kind sat by the tables drinking, eating, or just enjoying each others antics. Just by looking at their demeanor and taking in the atmosphere one could almost forget these were part of the army of a genocidal maniac, most of them with body counts high in the thousands, that could fly, shoot literal island eradicating beams of energy and tended to back-stab each other just to have a chance for a higher rank. But today it was party time, so no one would die today. Maybe some fistfights, a broken bone or two, or even a missing eye. Nothing too serious.
It wasn't long before the alcohol started affecting them, so some of the ones who could still speak clearly started to tell stories of their achievements. The other soldiers, keen to out do them, soon started telling their own stories of conquest and battle, which soon spiraled into arguments over who had done the greatest feats
"I once *hic* fought a planet defense force o-on my own!" a new recruit yelled, barely managing to keep himself standing.
"Oh sure, but they were *hic* still using metal rounds for their weapons, not even those mean *hic* bolter shots! I blew up an entire city BEFORE they even had a chance!" another boasted, leaning on the first soldier to prevent himself from falling over.
"You aren't supposed to do that idiot! We want them to join us! Next time that happens you're- *hic* you're cleaning the entire base, you... dimwit!" a sergeant slurred, making him recoil sheepishly and causing a round of loud laughter to erupt from the entire cantina.
Another recruit then turned and waved to a veteran officer that sipped his drink in silence.
"Hey Lieutenant Plumm, You've been in battle many times, haven't ya?. You were almost a Ginyu force member. Tell us about the strongest guy you've ever met". Ever soldier hushed and turned to the old soldier. Plumm kept staring at his space beer. He was an alien with humanoid features, except for his dark blue skin and greenish beard that showed a few strands of grey. He was in fact much older than he looked, as he was nearing his 80's now, but thanks to his race's long life span, he still had anther 200 years in him. He had been around when the Cold Force was in it's prime, and had watched many events in the Galaxy unfold. And their was only one person who came to mind when asked that question.
He met the gaze of the expectant soldiers under his command and smiled. "Oh? The strongest you say? That depends. Do you want to hear about the most powerful one , the one most skilled or the one with most amazing feats?" The other soldiers gave him a puzzled look before one asked "Whats the difference? Just the strongest one." The lieutenant gave him a short laugh "What's the difference, you ask. Its fairly obvious that this Empire has fallen even lower than I thought" the soldier's flinched. Thank the Kami above that he was the highest ranked member among them or they would all face the Emperor tomorrow.
Plumm chuckled and composed himself. "I'm sure you think that I'm going to say Lord Freeza is the strongest, right?" The other soldier nodded, some muttering among themselves "Who else could it be, its Lord Freeza we are talking about."
Plumm slammed his fist right through the table, sending it's contents flying all over the place and making the metal plating fold like cheap paper, becoming a crumpled mess on the floor. The soldiers looked back at him stunned. Plumm pulled back his fist and stood to his full, not all to impressive height. "Well you are wrong. All of you are terribly wrong. There is one person out there far more incredible than Lord Freeza and anyone else in this galaxy, hell, this universe even." His underlings stared silently, questioning if Plumm had had to much to drink. However, their curiosity won over their concern, and huddled closer to Plumm to listen to his tale. One of them wrenched a nearby table to replace the one that ha been destroyed, much to the dismay of the cantina owner who dared not raise his voice against these walking Armageddons.
Plumm cleared his throat and began his tale.
"Deep within North Galaxy, in a unassuming cluster of planets that orbit around a measly sun, there is a blue ball of water and dirt. The inhabitants are, for the most part, weak and feeble, with a power level of 5 meaning any soldier from our ranks could squash them all in less than 4 days. And I mean any" a couple laughs and confident smirks rose in the crowd. "What kind of strong being lives among such weaklings?" one questioned. The look that Plumm shot him shut him up instantly. "Let. Me. Finish."
"But that planet is also the home of possibly the most extraordinary man ever conceived by any race. He is so strong, even the Gods consider him a threat." Total silence fell upon the listening soldiers "He is one of the last of his kind, a prideful warrior of royal blood born from one of the most powerful races in the entire universe, the Saiyans. Most of the strongest in our army where actually Saiyans, except a few anomalies like the Ginyu Force, Cui, Zarbon and Dodoria, and me." Another soldier interrupted him, much to his dismay.
"About that, how strong are you?"
"I clock in about 65.000 today, now shut the fuck up, will ya?" the soldier shrunk at the mention of his commanding officers power, and a few amazed whispers rose among the crowd. "Yeah yeah, I get it, 'So big!' Well, it really isn't all that much, so please, all of you shut up or I'm discharging you with a report." No further comment came from the crowd so Plumm began again.
"First an elite, he became a survivor after the destruction of his home planet, and began working directly under Lord Freeza's command. With his two fellow Saiyan's, he purged countless planets with utmost efficiency, sometimes even those considered hard for his fellow elites. But the true turning point came after his first visit from Earth. Not sure about all the details, but when he came back form there he had started somewhat of a rebellion on this other planet called Namek." More discussing arose, and this time Plumm waited for them to finish.
"Isn't that-" the sergeant from earlier began, before bringing his voice down to a whisper "Isn't that where Lord Freeza... died?"
"Nah, it's not. Lord Freeza died on Earth, but he was defeated pretty bad here. I read the report, or what ever wasn't covered in black, and it ain't pretty. He killed Dodoria, Zarbon, all of the Ginyu Force, and was even participant in taking Freeza down." Plumm leaned back and gestured for a drink, which was quickly served and brought to him by the terrified bartender.
"Anyway, after that he became a mayor player, if not the main reason, for taking down the Frost Demon Empire after Freeza's untimely end. He crippled us so much, we are still recovering to this day and why you are all here right now. During that time, I faced him in combat. And I am one of the last people left alive who ever face him." Amazed whispers went through the crowd, while Plumm took a long sip of his drink remembering his pitiful display against his enemy over seventeen years ago:
The base was in ruins. The bodies of his unfortunate comrades were sprawled all over the place, charred or mangled from the ferocity of their attacker. Plumm stumbled forward, his armor together by some miracle. On all fours, and looked up to the man in front of him.
"So it seems none of you useless pawns know anything useful" the man groaned, not even bothering to look at him.
Tears started streaming down his cheeks "Why are you doing this? I know we weren't the best to you, but I thought we were pals" Plumm whined, snot nosed and shaking all over.
A vein popped on his forehead, and he reached down and grabbed the blue alien from the collar "You were never my "pals"! You put me through constant humiliation, clawed at my pride as a Saiyan warrior! But now that Freeza is dead, you are like lost toddlers, not knowing where to go. You are pathetic!"
"Lord Freeza is... dead? No, that's... nooooo!" he shrieked, cuddling into a ball.
"Shut it, you wailing oaf! At least put up a fight!" his enemy demanded, letting go of his collar and preparing an energy blast. But then the smell reached his nose. The prince yelled something, but at this point he wasn't listening. Fear and tears was all his mind was capable of processing at that time. he was dead anyway, his pants wouldn't be full in the afterlife.
But the blast never came. Plumm slowly opened his eyes, only to realise the prince had left him alone and was flying away with a disgusted look upon his face.
'I can keep the details to myself' he thought, taking another sip before setting down the cup.
"Sometime later, he attained the status of living legend and became one of the strongest in the Universe by awakening a power within him of golden light and death, the legendary power of the Super Saiyan, the same one that caused Lord Freeza downfall in the first place. With this power unleashed, he kept rising to the call of battle and challenging beings that could wipe an entire solar system, including the legendary Majin Buu". Incredulous whispers started again.
"Majin Buu, as in, THE Majin Buu from the old tales? But that's-" began a recruit before he was interrupted by the lieutenant.
"Impossible?" Plumm questioned, leaning towards his audience. "To him, there is nothing impossible. Every time people have said that something was impossible , he has proven them wrong."
Plumm climbed onto the table, everyone in the cantina intently looking up to him. "Whether it was his pride or his unshakable will, he has done nothing but break through the limits. He has pushed himself ever higher, and now it's said that he has even reached the realm of the Gods, beyond anything we simple soldiers can even begin to imagine." He is not without failures though, but all of them have pushed him further, never to give up. His pride has only served for him to grow even more, to rise to the occasion and defeat every obstacle in his way!"
He stopped, realising that in his haze, he had flown up towards the ceiling and that everyone was looking at him like some sort of prophet. He began to think about the consequences of what he was saying today, and a pang of guilt hit him. If word of this got out, they would all be in deeeeep shit. He hovered down and sat down back on the table.
"Listen, if I'm going to finish this tale , you must promise me you will not say a word of this to anyone else. What happens in the cantina stays stays in the cantina, you understand?" Everyone, now nearly sobered up, simply nodded. No words were needed now.
"He is absolutely incredible, and is still at war with Lord Freeza to this day. In fact, he was one of the two guys that killed Lord Freeza when he came back to life the second time and trained to take his revenge. Not even Lord Freeza's new power could stand against him. And frankly, it is likely that we will soon face him because of the great hatred our Emperor holds for him." The soldiers trembled in fear. What chance could they have against this living god?
"If you do face him in battle, you must at least know his name" Plumm stopped, drinking the remainder of his drink and steeling himself to say his name. He opened his eyes and stared at the soldiers under him.
"He is Vegeta the 4th, Prince of the Saiyan Race, the Super Saiyan God."