As these three spoke, a Blecha's talons dug grooves into the tabletop of her station, her beak clenched and magenta eyes quivering in an explosion of mixed emotion and rage. Laswe saw off the last of the guards as order continued to be restored to the courtroom, hearing the hushed murmurs rippling through the stands. Laswe buzzed into the air, flying over the central platform. He paused, noticing the concealed expression on Nevrrest's face and little looks and occasional tiny smiles passed between the two Saiyans. His jelly skin took on a brighter hue and he tittered as he returned to the judicial booth, giving soft, squeaky laughs as he landed in his chair.

Oom'Bagu gave him a weary, questioning look. "You find something in all this amusing, Justiciar Laswe?" he asked pointedly.

"Not amusing so much as baffling, Oom'Bagu." He eyed Goku and tittered again. "That crazy ape…"

"What do you mean, Laswe?" Horkion prompted curiously.

"What?" he gave them both a look, "You mean you don't have a clue what he just pulled?"

"Explain," Oom'Bagu stated.

"All right, fine." He hovered out of his chair and pointed firmly down at Goku. "That amazing, crazy, oblivious monkey just completely rewrote the purpose of this trial without even trying. When everyone came here today, it was to see the retribution of the galaxy's greatest criminal. But now, the Legendary Super Saiyan himself has just declared before the known universe that Prince Vegeta is here today to clear his name. And they were damn well listening." He rested his chin on his hands, leaning over the side of the booth. "And he doesn't have a clue what he's just pulled…and boooy is Nevrrest pissed."

"You're right about that last part for certain," Oom'Bagu agreed, eying Nevrrest warily.

Horkion's jaw creaked as he rubbed it about. "You know I hate to press an issue…but why are we letting her do this? I don't want to see her getting hurt."

"Don't you worry about her, boulder-head," Laswe assured, lifting a corner of his mouth and crossing his arms, "She's a tough old bird. And she needs this. You'll see. Soon as this trial's over, one way or another, she'll be back to her old self in no time."

Vegeta's visage darkened as the courtroom started to quiet again, feeling the judge's eyes weigh heavily upon him, her authority resonating like an aura from her podium. "Well then…if there is to be no further interruptions…let us continue." She pressed her fingertips together. "Of course, the Accused may have his uniform replaced first, if he wishes."

"Hmph…do what you like," Vegeta coldly returned.

"Very well," she almost cheerfully hummed back, "Let us proceed then without further delay." She swiftly raised her gaze. "Computer! Present charges."

A gigantic holographic screen lit up the air, bringing up Vegeta's prisoner profile. "Prisoner 0001, Vegeta, Prince of All Saiyans. The following charges have been substantiated by evidence and judicially approved: 39 accounts of theft, 112 accounts of unlawful harmful force, 458 accounts of destruction of property, 11 accounts of torture, 2,299 accounts of murder, 24 accounts of planetary theft, 18 accounts of unlicensed planetary destruction, 19 accounts of genocide, and 10 accounts of xenocide."

Goku stared up at that screen, trying to wrap his mind around the reality of those numbers. It was no real surprise, though. Vegeta had been working for Frieza since he was a small child, after all. He looked to his old friend, wondering what those numbers meant to him. But Vegeta's face was dark and unreadable. He knew what was coming next. Misado had told him all the detail over the past few days. He wish he knew how Vegeta would handle it. It had to be hard for him. Vegeta rarely spoke of his past and neither Goku or any of his friends had pressed the issue. For them, it had been fine that way. Goku had never been one to hold a grudge and he encouraged the same in others.

But now wasn't the time for that. Now was the time to remember – for Vegeta to face all that he had done.

"Computer," Nettelish spoke again, lifting a palm into the air, "Distinguish these charges."

Again, the display changed, bringing up a list. The white text began to rain down like a plague on Vegeta's bent head. "Distinguished among these charges: the destruction of the Planet Balaci, her people, and all the life there on, the destruction of the Planet Lao, her people, and all the life there on, the destruction of the Planet Trigout, her people, and all the life there on…"

Here, at last, Vegeta felt it hit him – he had wondered if it would – a dark, empty feeling as these names were listed before him and all who gathered to see him damned. The number given in the charges had meant little to him. As a Planet Trade soldier, all those acts he and his associates had committed had been nothing but mere numbers to any of them. Monthly quotas met. Credits exchanged. Body counts. Power levels on a scouter. Cold, unfeeling numbers. And he had locked those things away as such.

"…xenocide of the Kajiba people, the xenocide of the Max'de people, the murder of notable philanthropist Alcarnac Grotz…"

Did he even remember all these? It had been another time – another life even. Literally, in some aspects. After all, he had died on Namek, a hole blown through his chest, begging Kakarot to avenge him and their people. He couldn't recall if he'd said it or not, but his last thoughts had been how not a single moment of his life had been of his own making, but shaped, molded, and controlled by his master. His greatest regret: having not died as a warrior but as dog – a disobedient dog being put down, having outlived his usefulness.

Frieza…he thought of him so often lately. He and that life were supposed to be a past far behind him and for many years it had been. But now it had found him again. That grieved him far more than Nevrrest's torture ever could – that even in death, even after all this time, Frieza still had his leash on him. How could he have ever thought that he could just make a life of his own on Earth? He'd killed, he'd destroyed, and he'd been rewarded: all in Lord Frieza's name. And once this court was done with him, he'd be returned to his master's side in Hell.

Nevrrest watched Vegeta intently as his charges were distinguished. He hadn't lifted his head once the whole time. What was that look on his face? Was it humiliation? It seemed a little early for it. She knew him. He was a Saiyan warrior and held every droplet of blood in his hands as a trophy. It was strange though…he almost looked sad. Self-pity, perhaps. All the same, she had expected him to be more warmed by the remindance of his glory days of slaughter. She smiled a little. Perhaps she had been mistaken earlier. Perhaps Kakarot hadn't managed to somehow undo her scathing work upon him after all.

A hush passed over the courtroom as the distinguishing ended and Nettelish stood. "Prince Vegeta." He didn't move. "You have been made aware of the charges against you. What have you to say of them? Do you protest?" All eyes were on the saiyan prince as he stared downward, his brow heavy and chains still. There was a long, long moment of silence and still he made no motion. Nettelish's glowing gaze narrowed. "Silence is not within your rights, prisoner. You will speak or you will be held in contempt of this court. I'll ask again. What say you?!"

There was a soft clinking as he stirred, his head slowly coming up, black eyes lifting to meet the gaze of his accusers. His mouth barely moved. "…I deny nothing…"

Murmurs of approval rippled through the assembly and Nettelish leaned back. "Very well. The Accused protests none of the chargers and as such is declared guilty. From this moment forth, the Accused shall be referred to as the Convicted. I declare this trial resolved and the sentencing hearing may now begin."

Goku's hand grasped Vegeta's shoulder, urging him to take a seat. "You did good, Vegeta," Goku softly smiled.

"Don't," Vegeta harshly returned. His eyes shifted to him. "I did nothing, Kakarot. So save your praise." He at last seated himself, though he honestly felt standing would have been just as well.

Nettelish also sat down, the control orbs glowing before her. "The prosecution has the floor. Both sides will present and then the Justiciars will adjourn to make the final judgment."

Goku moved to the side in his chair, deciding to give Vegeta a little space – he seemed to need it. As he did so, he watched Nevrrest rise to her towering height, her hands folded behind her. Her head turned and for a moment their eyes met. She cracked a tiny, threatening grin. Goku just returned it with a determined smile. She scowled a little at this and approached the front of the courtroom, her long tail weaving behind her. The courtroom was quiet again, all attention on the powerful Blecha.

Her eyes narrowed. "The Prosecution…calls forth…" She turned swiftly, casting a finger Vegeta's way. "The Convicted for examination."

"Gahr!" Vegeta clenched his teeth, his heart skipping a beat. What is this? I already admitted to my crimes, isn't that enough?! I have nothing else to say to this…this…! He couldn't even go on in his mind.

Goku looked at Misado with surprise. "Can she do that?" he whispered.

"Yes," Misado shuddered, "Having admitted to the charges, Vegeta is considered a witness to his own crimes. It is within her full rights to examine him."

"Very well," Nettelish affirmed. She touched a control orb and a light focused on Vegeta. "The Convicted with rise for examination."

Vegeta's brow twitched as he stood once again. This is a joke! he seethed to himself, What could Kakarot possibly be hoping to accomplish in this? The odds are so highly stacked against me…there is no winning this. His eyes lifted, hard and heavy as Nevrrest approached him. If only I'd fought against her with my full strength from the beginning on Earth…but what chance do I have against her here? We're warriors, Kakarot. This is not the place for us.

She looked down at him pitilessly, resting a hand on the surface before him. "Prince Vegeta…I'm going to run some information past you concerning your criminal activities. I want you in return to tell me what you can about them. Think you can handle that?" He glared up at her and she held his gaze, resisting the urge to smirk. "Fourteen years ago, sector twenty-nine, Nirnve System. Can you tell me what occurred with you and your associates there?"

Vegeta's eyes shifted, loathing to participate in this mockery. But he had no choice. "…No," he finally answered, "Though I can easily venture a guess."

"But you don't remember," she pressed.

He looked up at her again. "…No."

She paused, the courtroom silent. "…Sector fifty-three, Gedidi System, Planet Ve, seventeen years ago."

His eyes shifted again. "I'd assume I was sent there to clear the planet of its population."

"You assume," she repeated, "But you don't recall?"

His brow lowered further. "No."

She held him in another long gaze. "Sector two-hundred, twelve years ago…"

It went on like this for what seemed an unbearably long time, Nevrrest shoving data Vegeta's way and he returning as best he could. Again and again, he could remember little about the locations or what might have happened there. But every once in a while, a memory would spark. Goku rested his cheek deeply into his hand, wondering what Nevrrest was trying to accomplish in all this. But eventually, a pattern in the responses Vegeta was able to give began to immerge.

"It was a highly well-defended planet, as I recall," Vegeta answered to the latest query, "Much like Planet Tsano was. They didn't make it easy. Had to fight through the entire armada. And that was even before we reached the planet's surface. We faced even greater resistance there. We miscalculated the moon cycle and I had to generate and artificial one to finish the job." His mouth flattened as he finished and he glared at Nevrrest once more. "Was there anything else you wanted to know?"

"I'll be asking the questions here," she sharply reminded. Plume rising, she turned from him, glancing slowly between the judicial platform and the gathered assembly. "So…it seems the only crimes you have a memory for are the ones where your victims managed to present a challenge. Would you say this is a…Saiyan characteristic?"

"Of course," he scowled, "I cared little for meaningless slaughter, as any true Saiyan would."

"Meaningless?" she emphasized, giving him a look of utter disgust, "You call the deaths of billions of innocent people meaningless?"

"Ergh!" Vegeta clenched his teeth, "I meant it that it had no meaning to me at the time, yes."

"Oh but it clearly has meaning to you now!" she continued to verbally pound him, "You don't even remember them! You only care about the victims that managed to 'challenge your strength'!"

"That's not fair!" Goku whispered to Misado. To be honest, he wanted to shout this out, but Misado had warned him in the days before that speaking out of turn in the trial would be unacceptable. "That's not what Vegeta meant!"

"Nevrrest's goal is the execution of Prince Vegeta," Misado softly whistled back, "To accomplish this, she seeks to lead Vegeta to portray himself as an utterly selfish and unfeeling being. Would we have been given the time, we would have prepared him for this attack. But we were not. Unless Judge Nettelish rules Nevrrest's actions injustice, there is nothing to be done."

Goku looked to Nettelish hopefully, but she gave no sign of moving to stop Nevrrest.

"You seem begrudging to answer my questions," Nevrrest viciously stated, "Is it because you happen to be the son of a dead king? Do you consider the sanctity of this court beneath you?"

Vegeta could only grind his teeth and hiss. Now Oom'Bagu was looking at Nettelish. She at last reached forward and touched an orb. "Prosecutor, please keep your questions relevant to the Convicted's crimes, not his lineage or present position."

Nevrrest gave a little smile and backed off, having accomplished what she intended, but the smile soon faded. The next part of her strategy would be tricky. Had it not been for that morning's broadcast, matters would be otherwise. Still, she had to try. She looked up at Nettelish. "Permission to examine the Convicted concerning the destruction of Balici."

An angry murmur ran through the assembly. Nettelish pressed her hands together and at last nodded. "Permission granted. You may continue."

"Thank you, Grand Judge," Nevrrest bowed her head. She let her gaze fall on Vegeta once more. "I trust that that you recall that particular event? At the very least, recent events should have jogged your memory of it."

Vegeta's face tightened, his eyes narrowing, and at last his gaze fell. Nevrrest frowned slightly. There was that expression again, what was it? What in the worlds was going through his head? His jaw shifted. "Yes, I remember it very well," he finally answered.

"I should hope," she sneered, "It has, after all, been deemed by judicial rule to be the greatest and most heinous of your crimes, not only for the sheer amount of death and loss it brought about, but the maliciousness of how the deed was done. But I'm curious…" She leaned forward. "You were quite young as far as soldiers go when you destroyed Balici. And it was a civilization that was once believed destined to topple Frieza and the Planet Trade Organization. So it comes as no surprise that Frieza had it destroyed once the galactic government there was discovered. My question is…why was it you who was sent to destroy it?" Vegeta's face darkened. "Surely there were many qualified high ranking officers who could have done the job much better."

"I…" His face twitched a little. "…demanded the right to be the one to destroy it."

"Demanded?" Nevrrest admonished, her feathers pricking, "Demanded of whom?"

He glared at her. "Who do you think?"

"The Convicted will answer the question," Nettelish sharply commanded.

Vegeta grunted angrily as Nevrrest waited patiently for him to obey. "Frieza. I went to Frieza and demanded he allow me to be the one to destroy it."

"I wasn't aware that Lord Frieza accepted demands from his pet monkey," Nevrrest remarked.

Vegeta jerked. "What?"

"Oh I'm sorry, common vernacular," she mildly explained, "That is how the common man knows you as now – Lord Frieza's pet monkey."

"Justiciar Nevrrest, relevance," Nettelish reminded.

"But I digress," she smoothly continued, "Why was it you 'demanded' of Lord Frieza that you be the one to destroy Balici?"

Vegeta growled softly, looking down again. This would be difficult enough to explain to Bulma! But having to explain it to this courtroom…? His throat throbbed, trying to find a way to spit the words out. He heard the Judge's voice booming above him again and he shut his eyes. "I…wanted to…prove myself."

"To whom?"

Vegeta's mind flashed. He saw himself as a child as Zarbon grabbed him and Dodoria ripped off his cape, Nappa lying bleeding on the floor. He saw himself sitting in a dark corner as PTO officers walked past, whispering, muttering, and laughing. The veins in his forehead swelled. "To…everyone. I wanted to prove that I was the strongest warrior in the universe. That day…I made myself the youngest being to ever destroy a planet. I also became the youngest officer in Frieza's organization because of it." His eyes opened. "Pathetic as it was…it was everything to me." That last part he immediately regretted, seeing the fire it put in Nevrrest's eyes.

She rose up and stretched out an arm. "People of the galaxy…fellow Justiciars…I give you the price of Prince Vegeta's pride – or should I say his arrogance: twenty billion people and their entire magnificent civilization, lost horrifically." She turned back, looking at Vegeta with a contained smile. "Examination of Convicted closed."

Vegeta's heart throbbed in his chest. How had he walked right into that? Damn woman! She knew his weakness and he'd let her exploit it! His heart beat pounded in his ear and suddenly his rage and determination gushed. "I wish to make a statement!" he called up at the judge. Nevrrest froze and the crowd murmured loudly. "This is my trial, surely I am allowed that?"

Goku watched as Nettelish raised a brow, curious to see what Vegeta was planning.

Nevrrest had to swallow a laugh. As if Nettelish would entertain—

"Permission granted."

What?! Nevrrest's plum shot up, looking at the judge. What the hell kind of game are you playing, Nettelish?!

"Good," Vegeta answered, his brow lowering intensely. He took a moment to himself before raising his voice again. "Listen well, all of you! It's true, my pride has and always will mean everything to me. I accept all your condemnation, but for that I will not!" He ground his teeth, a fire burning in his black eyes. "You want the truth of it? I may be the Prince of All Saiyans, but I was born to a nameless consort – for the sole purpose of being given to Frieza as his ward. To my own father, I was nothing but a prize to be used as collateral in a peace treaty!" He looked down again, his brow twitching. "You cannot know the humiliation of that, to know that I was bred into existence like some race horse. Every act I committed was in revulsion of this, every moment spent in the effort to prove my strength. And yet…for all my effort, still I was reduced to nothing but a meer pawn."

Every vein on his body bulged as his heart raced faster and faster still. "Do what you like to me for what I've done, but I will not let go of my pride! I am a warrior! And I have earned that title not with the blood of innocents, but with every drop of my own I have shed! So let your 'common man' remember me as this: Vegeta, the Prince of All Saiyans, Patriarch to the New Saiyan Race…and Guardian to the Planet Earth."

"Excuse me?" Nevrrest accidentally said aloud, her head tilted heavily to the side.

The assembly was murmuring so loudly that Nettelish had to send out a pulse of light to quiet them. Laswe cocked a wing, blinking as Vegeta was made to sit again. "Well…that was an interesting turn." He looked at the Gregorik next to him. "What do you make of that, Oom'Bagu?"

Oom'Bagu gave a deep, long hum. "Assuredly, he meant every word," he finally stated.

"Not really sure what it says for his case…" Horkion remarked, rubbing at his head.

"Well that's what's delicious about it," Laswe returned, waving a hand, "You realize he has yet to once say anything to suggest he deserves anything less than what Nevrrest is gonna push for him? Guy hasn't so much as squirmed."

"Guilt," Oom'Bagu rumbled, "He has truly embraced his guilt. And yes…clearly his fate doesn't concern him as much as his namesake."

"Still doesn't mean he doesn't deserve our heaviest penalties," Laswe added, "But yeah…he's an interesting one for sure."

"He…called himself a guardian," Horkion blinked his rocky lids, "That doesn't sound like something the Vegeta Nevrrest always spoke of would say."

"No," Oom'Bagu admitted, gaze intent on both Nevrrest and Vegeta, "It does not."

"Your statement has been added to the record, Prince Vegeta," Nettelish stated. She folded her hands. "The Prosecution may continue onto the next examination."

Heart still racing and brow twitching, Vegeta watched Nevrrest continue to stare at him. Normally her befuddled expression would amuse him, but he just wasn't in the mood. Hopefully that did something, he thought with frustration as murmurs continued to ring around him, Probably not what Kakarot had in mind, but I'll be damned if I leave this up to him.

Nevrrest's jaw clenched, finally getting a hold of herself again. Cute, Vegeta…cute. I don't know what the hell is wrong with you or what you're playing at, but whatever it is, it won't be enough. She growled quietly and finally forced herself to calm. "The Prosecution calls forth Dreeke for examination."

"Huh?" blinked Goku, "I think I've heard that name somewhere before."

A door opened and orange man with yellow spots and an elongated head climbed the steps to the central platform. Goku noticed the man's white uniform and the numbers glowing on his shoulder.

"Hey, I do know him!" he whispered, leaning over to Vegeta, "He's a prisoner on Prison Ship 1. I wonder what he's doing here?"

Vegeta grunted, eyeing the man as well. "He's a Velex. They were very common among Frieza's minions…though he's no soldier."

Nevrrest watched the white-clad prisoner as he came to stand in the center of the platform, the light focusing on him. It was no difficult matter from here on out. She'd already cornered Vegeta – despite his little speech – now it was time to cut him down witness by witness. She couldn't wait to see how the defense would try to salvage what was left of him by the end of it. She looked down at the spotted alien. "Dreeke."

"Yes?" he answered nervously.

"For the sake of the courtroom, please tell me some basic information about yourself."

"Well I…I'm a former member of the Planet Trade Organization," he answered, his eyes shifted about at the many onlookers, "After the PTO broke up into factions, I stayed on with one of the larger groups as a data manager. That went on for a few years until I was arrested about a year ago and sent to Prison Ship 2. But I've…I've really tried to turn my life around since then. I was transferred to Prison Ship 1 six months ago – nearly seven now – and…I've made a lot of progress."

"Have you ever killed anyone, Dreeke?"

"No, no," he assured, "I spent a lot of years working with killers but I never hurt anyone directly. I'm…well to be honest I don't think I was ever a bad person really. I just…liked money. And being on the safe side of dangerous people."

Nevrrest nodded. "All right, thank you, Dreeke. Now moving onto the reason why you're here. You're official public record is very vague as to what your position in the Planet Trade Organization was. Could you tell me why that is?"

Dreeke wrung his hands, looking down. He took a short breath. "Well, it was for my own safety. If the other prisoners knew what I did while working for Frieza, it could put my life in danger…or at the very least in danger of abuse or bodily harm." He looked up, gaining determination. "But today, I've decided to come out completely."

"And why is that?"

Dreeke looked at Vegeta. "Cause I was part of a system that enabled horrible people to do unthinkable things." He swallowed and steeled himself again, pointing at the chained Saiyan. "And I want to make sure he gets the justice he deserves! And that's coming from someone who's had to pay for his own crimes. It's true I might be getting early parole for testifying…but I'd do it even if I wasn't."

"Thank you, Dreeke." She leaned down a bit. "Now, what was it, exactly, that you did while in Lord Frieza's service?"

He looked up at her. "Well I…I was a tracker."

"And what did that job entitle?"

"Well we reported directly to Lord Frieza himself. No subchannels. No higher ups. Not even the other members of the Kold family knew about us." He drew a breath. "Our job was simple. We…tracked the entire organization." He cleared his throat, gaining a little confidence. "You see, nearly every member was equipped with a scouter. To them, it was just used for communications and scanning for energy, but the truth was the scouters did a lot more than that. They recorded everything. And my job as a tracker was to sort through and catalog that data."

"And what sort of data was that?"

Dreeke scratched at his wrist. "Well…everything. What they did. What they ate. When they slept. Who their friends were. Who their enemies were…basically we were to keep a look out for anything that would indicate that…" He eyed Vegeta for a moment. "The truth is…as powerful as Lord Frieza was, he was a very cautious man. He was always afraid that someone would find a way to become a threat to him. He kept everyone on a very tight leash. If any of the members showed any sign of becoming…ambitious, we reported it to him and someone was sent to clear up the problem. Usually the Ginyu Force."

Nevrrest gave a long pause, coming close now. "Do your recall any of the personnel you were charged with tracking?"

"I'd say I remember all of them clearly," Dreeke confidently replied, "I have a very good memory and organizational skills."

"Is one of those men in this courtroom right now?"

"Yes."

"Can you point to him for me?"

Dreeke looked directly at Vegeta and pointed. "That man right there, Justiciar. I collected enormous amounts of data on him in Lord Frieza's service. He was very interested in his activities."

"Well that explains everything," Vegeta muttered, smirking a little.

"What?" Goku asked curiously.

"I'm not sure if I ever told you this," Vegeta replied, glancing at him briefly, "But Frieza learned of the dragon balls on Namek through me. I had always assumed someone had simply overheard their mention while trying to contact me, as I did the Earth dragon balls through Raditz." His mouth flattened, looking intently at Dreeke. "But no. It seems I was being spied on all along. And if he was as extensive as he claims, then Frieza knew about my plans to betray him long before I enacted them… looking back, it makes sense. I suppose he was hoping I'd eventually come to heel. Despite his disdain of our race, he had a certain fondness for me."

Goku's brow lowered a little. "Till you showed him you weren't going to obey him anymore."

Vegeta chuckled. "I don't think it was even so much as that as he was insulted that I thought I could actually defeat him. Frieza too had his pride."

Nevrrest gave a long pause, allowing her audience to take in this information before continuing. "Now Dreeke…would you say, in your opinion, that you are an expert on Prince Vegeta's activities as a PTO soldier?"

"Closest there could be to an expert, at the very least," Dreeke nodded, "To be honest, I probably know more about his activities under Frieza than he does."

"And you said that he wasn't the only one you were tracking."

"No, I had about a dozen other soldiers and personnel that I kept records on."

"In your professional opinion, then, how did Prince Vegeta rate among the others you observed? Specifically, in his performance of criminal activities?"

Dreeke's mouth twisted, giving Vegeta a hard look. "He was cruel," he finally decided, nodding twice, "By far the most vicious of the soldiers I tracked. He had a very…punishing attitude about him."

"Could you define what you mean by 'punishing'?" Nevrrest pressed, her brow lowering.

"Well…I wasn't tracking him for the entirety of his career—"

"How long were you tracking him?"

"Ten years about," he swiftly replied, "I was assigned to him after he was promoted to officer status when he was fifteen."

"That was directly after the destruction of Balici, if I am not mistaken."

"Correct."

"Now about this 'punishing' attitude you mentioned…"

"Yes." Dreeke swallowed and refocused on Vegeta. "He was always punishing everyone he came into contact with. If I were to say one thing separated him from the other soldiers, it'd be that he had a vengeful nature. If his victims bored him, he punished them for it. If he was opposed, he punished them. I observed him to be a man who tolerated absolutely nothing that didn't please him. And he certainly held grudges when it came to his fellow soldiers."

Nevrrest listened carefully, her arms crossed. "And this punishing of his involved what exactly?"

"Physical and emotional torment usually," Dreeke replied, "He wasn't the most violent – especially in the later years, he tended to let his subordinates do the work for him – but when he did take action, it was completely without mercy."

Nevrrest gave another pause and slowly leaned in close, as if about to disclose a secret. "And what level of pleasure did he take in this, would you say?"

Dreeke drew a breath. "Immense. Most the time, he was very cold and detached from his work, but whenever something displeased or anger him, he was nothing short of malicious. And it pleasured him greatly to sate those feelings."

As Dreeke's examination continued on, Goku couldn't help but admit to himself that Dreeke was exactly right. It definitely fit with everything he saw when Vegeta first came to Earth – he hadn't even considered getting involved in the fighting until Nappa had been disabled. At first, Vegeta's fighting style had been disinterested and direct. But once Goku had shown him that he wasn't going to be crushed so easily…things had changed. Vegeta's fury had been as unforgiving as a rampaging lion, and once he had Goku in a place where all his options had run out, he'd done his best to make him suffer.

The examination of Dreeke was much longer than the one of Vegeta as all the nitty, gritty details of Vegeta's dirty laundry were laid bare. As he had the most the trial, Vegeta moved and responded little to any of it. Though, Goku could tell he was hating every moment.

"There's one last thing I would like you speak to the court on," Nevrrest stated, walking a turn around Dreeke, "Something that during an earlier conversation you said you were…" She grasped a tablet off the table and squinted at it. "'Loath to speak of for the sheer revulsion it brought about in your memory.'"

A visible shiver ran across Dreeke's spotted skin. "Ah, that…yes, I know what you're referring to."

"And you are prepared to speak on it?"

This time, he truly looked to be in need of preparing himself. He was silent for a long moment, drawing several breaths, and finally nodded. "Yes, Justiciar, I am."

She smiled thinly. "Then please, tell us." Her brow lowered. "What was this atrocious act that you witnessed?"

Vegeta pressed his brow together as he watched his fellow prisoner gather his thoughts. What in the worlds could he possibly have left to reveal? He'd already described every personal, visceral aspect of Vegeta's past activities. What was there left to say? Vegeta dug with frustration at his memory banks, trying to anticipate where this oncoming blow would strike.

"It was a…Saiyan tradition, I think," Dreeke spoke, "I honestly tried not to pay much attention during it, it disgusted me so."

"Go on," she encouraged.

"It was usually planetary defenders. Whenever Vegeta and his subordinates encountered an opponent that was able to put up a fight, they'd…" He folded his hands over each other and grimaced. "They'd eat his or her corpse."

Gasps and murmurs ran through the assembly. Laswe's jaw dropped. "Oh by all the…I thought that was a myth! I didn't think Saiyans actually did that!"

Horkion looked at Laswe curiously. "My people don't eat, so I feel like I'm missing something."

"Keep listening and you'll understand," Laswe assured.

Oom'Bagu said nothing. He was watching Vegeta.

"Cannibalism," Nevrrest pronounced darkly, "I think the entire court can understand your disgust. And how did they usually go about this forbidden practice?"

Dreeke looked down, suddenly a bit green. "Usually? They ah…they'd break the corpse up into pieces and roast it. There was rarely any further preparation than that."

Vegeta stared down at his shackled arms, feeling Goku looking at him but refusing to return the gaze. He didn't want to try to explain it to him. It wasn't something he'd even considered doing since Nappa was alive. He'd never believed in that old Saiyan superstition – that by eating the corpse of someone you'd fought you could absorb some of their strength – but Nappa and Raditz had. So once the meat was roasted, why the hell not? He was usually hungry after a battle anyhow. That was how it was back then – if it didn't involve furthering his ambitions he cared little either way.

"You said they did this to defenders usually?" Nevrrest pressed, eyes intent on Dreeke.

"Yes. It was only ever to people they'd fought. I guess they didn't consider anyone else worthy of…consumption."

"So…" Nevrrest turned now, putting her heavy, condemning gaze straight on Vegeta, "What you're saying is not only did Prince Vegeta slaughter countless innocents, but he desecrated the corpses of the heroes who'd tried to protect them!"

Dreeke nodded. "I think that's an entirely fair synopsis, yes."

"Did you ever hear or witness anyone else under Frieza commit this act other than Vegeta and his associates?"

Now Dreeke's dark gaze was on Vegeta. "…No," he strongly pronounced.

Again, Nevrrest gave the chained prince a wicked little smile. "Examination of Dreeke closed."

Again, the courtroom broke into hushed conversations as Dreeke headed off the platform. He paused, however, as he passed by where Vegeta's defenders sat and gave a polite smile. "Son Goku. Good to see you again. Apologizes for not greeting you better before, I didn't realize who you were."

"It's okay," Goku assured in a friendly tone, "It's good to see you again too. Maybe we can talk sometime."

"Under better circumstances, I hope." Dreeke bowed and headed off the platform.

Vegeta glared at Goku out of the corner of his eye as the Velex left. "Well aren't you the charmer."

"Hold not bitterness in your heart against him, Prince Vegeta," Misado advised, "Every word he spoke was true." Vegeta growled. "We are not here to spread lies about your past. We are here to tell the truth of your present."

"Don't worry, Vegeta," Goku encouraged with a confident little smile, "I don't care what you've done, once we get our turn to speak, none of that will matter."

Vegeta couldn't help but give him a look of curiosity. He was so sure of himself. What had Kakarot accomplished in the last few days that he didn't know about? Did he really have a plan that would overcome Nevrrest's attacks? His eyes shifted again as another witness was brought before the court. It seemed he'd just have to wait and see. Nevrrest was far from done making her move.