I fitted the stolen armour over my chest, noting that it was slightly too tight, not being one of the types that expanded to adjust to its wearer's form. It would have to do – the armour Mom had made would stand out too much for what we were attempting.

"I really hope these guys weren't important, or the others will notice," Goku said as he stepped back in from dealing with the last unconscious soldier.

It was just he and I present. In order to remain stealthy, the other three members of our group had stayed aboard our ship. We were at a trade port, the nearest one we could find, and had ambushed the first PTO soldiers we'd come across. After investigating their scouters to get an idea of their occupations within the organization and where they were going, I'd chosen to impersonate the one who'd suit our purposes best. This was the moment where we'd be parting ways for a while, as I went forward with our plan: infiltrating the PTO to find Saiyan survivors, as quietly as possible until we agreed it was fine to show ourselves. While one of the Sons alone might avoid suspicion, a group of dark-haired and muscular humanoids – tails or not – were too coincidentally like Saiyans.

Gohan and I had already contacted Earth, and he'd been kind enough not to reveal my lie to Mom. However, we'd had to disclose some of the truth to Tarble to explain our reasoning for what we'd asked him. He'd been very generous with giving us access codes to the credits we needed, also revealing (to my surprise) that my father had in fact stored money off-world as well. Specifically, it had been for me, set up years ago so that if or when Frieza took me into his service, I wouldn't be left starting with absolutely nothing in a hostile environment. A similar security had been left for my sister, thus Tarble had been entrusted with knowledge of both.

According to him, since my father had been slowly adding credits to the stockpile since I was very young, it was at least enough to buy a small planet. And as the account also couldn't be traced directly to us, it would still be active even in our current situation. Yet this had brought another concern to light: Gure, my uncle's wife, could be in danger.

Most people who knew of the Saiyans were aware that Tarble had been banished. Eventually he'd wound up on Tech-Tech, Gure's home world, and his presence there was also known to some people. Though my uncle and his wife had moved to a different planet after adopting Bulla, Gure still went there to visit her family. The loose thread of loyalty between the Saiyans and her people meant the PTO could now be targeting them too. The Sons would going to Tech-Tech to ensure Gure and the rest of her race were safe, while I went another way.

The soldier I was impersonating was named Lucuma, and he was currently on his way to a larger station for deployment. Despite having to work with an organization that was now my enemy, I was going to find out who had destroyed my planet in the process. If it was indeed Frieza, then I would kill him and whatever family of his that tried to stop me.

I didn't doubt that somewhere along the way, I'd find out what had become of my father.

"You're sure you're up for this?" Goku asked one last time.

"Yes," I replied. "Don't forget than Gohan and I can contact each other. We're only an Instant Transmission away, so even if you lose sight of my energy there's still a way for me to tell you where I am. It should only be a couple of weeks for me to reach the station."

"It shouldn't take us too much longer than that to get to Tech-Tech, but who knows. I'm not good with that kinda thing," he said. He then put his fingers to his forehead, pausing to look at me again. "Good luck, Trunks. I wish I could go with you, but I guess I'll have to wait to learn more about Frieza. I hope everything's not as bad as it seems."

"I hope so too. Good luck."

He smiled at me, and then he was gone.

I was alone at the trade port, inside a stolen PTO ship that I wasn't sure I knew how to pilot properly.

The spacecraft was the smallest I'd seen yet, other than an attack pod, with only a few rooms. Though once I reached the cockpit, I realized that I wouldn't have as much trouble steering as I'd thought – the coordinates to the station were already set up, so the ship would effectively be driving itself.

I settled into the seat, firing up the vehicle. There was no need for me to wait around any longer; and besides, I was eager to get moving and pursue information. I just had to stick out being sequestered in a little spacecraft alone for a couple weeks.

I spent the journey all but undisturbed by anything or anyone outside my ship, feeling much like I was in some sort of metal cocoon. I'd spoken to Gohan only once, just to check in, but nothing else happened of note until a beeping noise alerted me that I'd reached the station.

It'd woken me from sleep, but like before, it had sounded ahead of time so that I could prepare. Despite my grogginess I felt relieved, having spent my days restricted to eating, sleeping, and what training I could manage in the space I had. True, I'd spent two months alone training before, but long-term isolation wasn't something I enjoyed at the best of times.

Readying myself, I moved to the control room, gently toying with the capsule resting below the hollow of my throat in what had become a habit. I doubted the accessory would be noticed by any soldiers; I was thankful for its inconspicuousness because I needed the weapon, but didn't want to carry it openly as it could be used to identify me. (I wondered, briefly, if my old swordmaster was alive. I hadn't spared much time to think about him, or any other individual Saiyans I'd known growing up.) I still didn't think I'd be recognized as the Prince of Saiyans by anyone, but it wouldn't hurt to be careful.

Although, I was supposed to be dead.

Refocusing my attention, I was treated to the sight of the station out the window as its traction system began to set in. This facility was, somehow, larger than the one I'd been to with my father, and was orbiting a sun instead of a planet. But the view of said star was almost completely blocked by the imposing mass of the station.

As I drew closer and closer, I was suddenly thrust into a brief second where my 'sixth sense' – my ability to sense ki – vanished. Then, as quickly as it'd disappeared, it was back, and I was able to feel the gigantic horde of people aboard the craft ahead of me.

Remembering that I wanted to maintain a low profile, I made a note to keep my own energy lowered to what I thought was a moderate enough level so that I wouldn't alert anyone's scouter. Or other potential ki detectors, though I wasn't likely to meet any.

It was then that I sensed it.

There. Among the hive of life forms. It can't be.

For a split second, I thought it was him: Frieza.

Adrenaline quickly swept through my body. I clenched my hands on the dashboard, my mind racing though I was frozen in place. How could he possibly be here? What are the chances?

But no. It couldn't be him. This energy – it was...

It was more powerful than Frieza's.

Granted, I'd only gauged his ki when he'd been at rest, but this person wasn't at full strength now either. And though I wasn't as sensitive with this technique as Goku, the aura I could feel ahead of me didn't seem so heavy. Indeed, it was a blight compared to the surrounding population, but wasn't as completely aphotic as Frieza's.

I quelled my own energy once more, which had risen by instinct. Just in time, too, as my ship was settling into the station and I would soon have to get moving and report in as 'Lucuma.' If I acted suspicious, someone could try to verify my identity more thoroughly and that wouldn't go over well.

Minutes later, I found myself again in the vast space of a docking bay, surrounded by everything from tiny attack pods to gigantic, colourful aliens stalking by. The sudden mix of sounds and smells – and the mass of ki I was now inside – daunted me a little, but I began walking, the tap of my boots on the metal floor lost amidst the din.

Last time I'd been to such a place, I'd strode alongside my father, sporting the royal insignia for everyone to see. Now that I lacked any such marker of importance, I was all but ignored by the many beings going by.

Then again, even if I had still been acting as a prince, Saiyans were just one of many species. Our royalty had only been more respected than another race's because of Frieza, and perhaps Vegeta's past association as one of his officers. But that didn't matter now. The Ice Demons wanted us dead.

I wondered if the new energy I'd sensed could possibly be someone in Frieza's family.

Though I knew where I had to report in order to keep my cover, my own impulsiveness kept me moving in a different direction – towards the energy. Towards what I hoped would be another Ice Demon.

Towards someone complicit in the destruction of my planet.

I moved like I knew exactly what I was doing, hoping inwardly that my target wouldn't be somewhere I couldn't access without breaking in, as much as I would have loved to tear the station apart and give the PTO their due. Thankfully, the owner of the ki wasn't all the way on the other side of the place, and they seemed to be on the same floor.

The crowds of soldiers began to lessen a little as I got closer, and most of them were going in the opposite direction of me. The presence of the unknown ki was growing with each step I took, dwarfing most of the others around it.

Suddenly, something large and foul-scented was blocking my path.

"You," its thick and hissing voice interrupted. "Wheeeere do you think you're going?"

I looked up at it. Beyond the armour it wore, the being was hairless and slimy, looking a lot like one of Earth's sea creatures – complete with tentacles and organic suction cups on the underside. It also had several pairs of eyes, all of which were fixed on me, above an equally tentacled mouth from where its gargled speech erupted.

"None of your business," I managed to retort, not sure what else to say. I tried to keep walking, but the creature moved back in front of me closer than before. I took a discreet step back to avoid the worst of its marshy odour.

"I've never ssseeen you before... You mussst be neeew fodder. But you'reee going the wrong direction, sssoldier... Bottom feeeedersss mussst report to Sssection Nine," it said.

You're the one who looks like a bottom feeder here. Get the fuck out of the way! "I know that. But I have business to attend to," I replied curtly, but in as polite a tone as I could manage so as not to perturb the thing.

"Businesssss, hm? Me thinksss a little creature like you doesss what I tell it." The being shifted closer again.

"I think you should really get out of my way," I hissed, prepared to just keep going until I heard it take a deep breath.

"You sssmeeell like... mammal," it gurgled then, now within a foot or two of space. My heart started to beat a little faster. "A mammal that huntsss... huntsss by moonlight with hot blood. Deliciousss mammal flesssh, where have I sssmelled that before?"

There was no way this thing would recognize my smell as Saiyan. Unless this creature had an extraordinarily good nose, there was no way –

"Ssssss," it sounded, its eyes widening. "I know it. From sssomewhere... Yesss, from -"

The thing abruptly cut itself off. At the same time, a quiet but insistent beeping could be heard through the now silent corridor, and I realize with an icy jolt that the ki I'd been seeking was right here, right now.

"What are you fools doing? Get out of the way!" a small voice quavered from behind me.

The tentacled creature I'd been confronting was already moving back, though I ignored it now along with the fourth new presence, turning to face the person I'd been after.

I had to look up, and when I did, an eerily familiar shade of crimson met my gaze in return.

Saurian features stared back at me, piercing eyes contrasted with violet skin and paler markings descending down the cheekbones. He tilted his head in my direction, the dark navy bio-gem on his head catching the light between the frame of his horns and the bone-like apparatus encasing his skull. He was enormous – I stood lower than his chest, feeling spatially overwhelmed even though he was several feet away.

"What's this?" the being enquired, deep voice resonating. His powerful tail swished audibly through the air behind him. "Have you something to say to me?"

I clenched my fists, holding my ground, heart beating in my ears.

"Who are you?"

Laughter echoed through the hallway while I stood in surprise, trying to make sense of the man's reaction.

"Judging by the fact that you're still standing there, it's obvious that you really don't know who I am, child," he said finally. "Then again, there are many who have still heard only whispers."

Child? I let the term slide, about to repeat my question when the same attendant who'd told me to move seconds ago was yapping again. He, or she, was a tiny alien creature of some sort, covered in dull red and yellow spots, her large eyes fixed on me behind a scouter and two large fins where her ears ought to have been.

"You outworld mongrel! How dare you speak to our lord so candidly! Get out of the way and perhaps you'll get half the beating you deserve!" she shrieked.

"Now now, Goda," the man said, "clearly he means no harm. A new recruit, no doubt." He then turned to look at me again. "What is your name, soldier?"

"Lucuma," I replied, thankfully remembering the name I was supposed to use.

"Well then, Lucuma, since you have not yet had the honour..." The man swept a hand out beside him as he dipped into a shallow bow, impressive bulk taking up a large amount of space in the corridor. "I am Lord Cold, king of the galaxy and the unknown universe beyond. Welcome to the Organization."

I frowned, trying to analyze the man before me. I knew that the PTO had started a long time ago, founded by space pirates who'd simply become too powerful and too wealthy for anyone to stop. Presumably, these predecessors were also Frieza's ancestors – or maybe it had happened in a single generation of his species, and I was looking at the very person that had started it all.

It was then that I remembered something Frieza himself had told me.

'My father is also a king, I followed in his footsteps. That makes me a prince as well, though of course, I'm of a vastly different sort than you.'

"You're Frieza's father, aren't you?" I blurted as I took a step closer. His composed tone, tinted with an edge of hauteur, reminded me of how Frieza spoke (though lacking any of the PTO leader's feminine mien). Though oddly enough their facial features didn't look alike, besides colouring. Without a doubt, Cold really was part of Frieza's 'family,' as twisted as the concept of family seemed held up against the likes of him.

"You are a brash one, I see. You've caught me in a good mood, so I'll humour your intrepid curiosity – indeed, Frieza is my son. However, if you think you can further yourself by trying to impress me you're sorely mistaken. He manages his own affairs, and you're not the first soldier to walk in here so brazenly. I suggest you run along now before I change my mind about letting you off easy."

"I was told to come here if I wanted to kill Saiyans," I said, testing my luck. This King, as he called himself – his ki was definitely not greater than my own. I doubted that even with whatever potential strength he had he could defeat me. "I mean no disrespect, Your Highness, but speaking to you is my best chance to use all this brashness of mine to get to them."

Cold laughed again. "My, my! You don't even flinch, do you? I'll tell you what – you want to kill Saiyans? Some sort of vendetta against their race?"

"You could say that."

"Then perhaps I can give you what you wish for," he replied, a smirk creeping onto his features. "Goda here can take you where you need to go."

"M – me?" the formerly silent attendant squeaked, the fins on her head opening in surprise. "But My Lord, I – I mean, very well. Yes, of course. Right this way."

After a bow to her master, Goda strutted past him with curt steps of her short legs, shooting me a glare when I didn't immediately follow.

I looked once more at King Cold. Maybe he wasn't involved with the planet being destroyed. Maybe, if it's Frieza running the PTO, that he's the only one to blame here. But why is Cold here, then? He could still be dangerous...

Making up my mind, I swallowed my pride a bit and bowed. "Thank you, Your Highness," I said, feeling a bit odd to be on the giving end of such a title. "Please excuse my rudeness."

Confident but measured steps led me past the man as I trailed after Goda, meeting Cold's eyes one last time as I went by. I was reminded of how, seemingly forever ago, I'd struggled to hold the gaze of his son.

The alien neither moved nor spoke. I kept myself attuned to his presence until, after rounding several corners, we were well out of earshot.

"Listen here, you little shit," Goda began suddenly, stopping and whirling around to face me.

We'd come a short way through the spacecraft, passing still more people that for the most part ignored me, but several had acknowledged my companion. It had only been a few minutes since my conversation with King Cold, but clearly the alien leading me was still seething about it.

Fins flaring out again, she took an angered breath. "I don't care if you're the emperor of whatever mud pit you came from or the lowest slave. I was just promoted to lieutenant-captain and if you had half a brain under that flowery fur of yours, you wouldn't dare humiliate me again. If you weren't already leaping to put yourself under the axe, I would make your life very difficult."

I said nothing. She wasn't particularly intimidating, nor did she have a large ki, so I took the comments in stride.

"Nothing to say, huh? You wouldn't, with a power level of... what, five hundred tops? If I were you, I would keep my damned mouth shut from now on, unless you're lucky enough for one of those apish Saiyan brutes to kill you and spare the rest of us the trouble," she hissed.

"Is everyone here this charming or am I just lucky?" I retorted against my better judgment. (Clearly, Goten had rubbed off on me over the years.)

The alien's features twisted for a moment.

"Lucuma, was it? This way, please," she abruptly said, turning back to continue forward.

Frowning a little at her change, I pursued.

After no small number of more corners, doorways, and strides, Goda finally halted again before a large, combined pair of metal bulkheads.

When she made no motion to open them, I moved forward to do it myself, mentally preparing to face whatever was on the other side.

Burning spray in my eyes and nose smacked me in a literal blow before I could take another step. My hands were instantly over my face, trying to both protect it and wipe away whatever godsforsaken substance had just been launched on me as I stumbled into the bulkheads, blind as an idiot who'd let his guard down.

"I guess you are just lucky," Goda's voice drifted over my own surprised shouts of pain. The organic toxin, or whatever the hell it was, seared right through my acute senses, even to the point where I could taste it.

I couldn't see, couldn't smell anything but the poison, couldn't concentrate. I really was a fucking idiot. How often had it been drilled into me not to underestimate my opponent, especially when it came to physical advantages?

The doors gave way and I hit the floor back first until a boot struck my ribs, which in my disoriented state was enough to roll me the rest of the way into the threshold. I could hear voices, movement, feel auras, but could pick nothing out individually.

"Soldiers! Listen up!" Goda's voice carried over the room, despite her small size. "There's been a change of plans! It looks like we have more of you bottom feeder shits than we know what to do with. There's no sense in wasting resources on weaklings, so here is my proposal for you: in ten minutes, if any more than the seven strongest of you are left standing in here, you'll all be thrown out the airlock! The winners will be chosen for an elite-level assignment and paid handsomely upon their success!"

The room was dead quiet.

"Ten minutes!" Goda repeated before the distinctive sound of the bulkheads locking shut graced my ears.

"Fuck," I muttered under my breath as pulled myself up against the wall, managing to open my eyes to a blurry vision of the floor as the first cries of violence began.

Considering my entrance must have gathered some attention, I wasn't surprised to hear a heavy set of footsteps already charging my way – probably someone looking to pick off the injured first.

I propped my back against the wall, trying to shake away the fact that the room seemed to be spinning. The burning had subsided, but I now found myself unable to keep my balance or focus on the opponent barrelling at me from only a few feet of distance now, arm cocked back and ready to strike.

Thinking as quickly as I could, I let my weight drop and then thrust it forward with my elbow into the enemy's solar plexus at the moment of their impact, hearing and feeling their bones crack in several places. But thanks to my condition, I'd been sloppy and when they fell backwards I fell with them.

I couldn't get myself to my feet. My attacker was raining down fists on my upper body, trying to throw me off even though I hadn't retaliated yet. The blows were actually more annoying than painful, so I managed to roll sideways to my knees, intending to fire off a ki blast large enough to incapacitate the opponent – but instead the energy ball expanded bigger than it should have and exploded in several directions, knocking me right back over along with a few people nearby.

Gritting my teeth in frustration, I succeeded in getting on all fours and staying there. My concentration kept slipping and my energy wouldn't remain stable, fluctuating up one moment and down the next. Even in my base form, I was far stronger than anyone here, meaning I probably wouldn't die but I could still get hurt like this. A bigger issue was me accidentally killing someone trying to defend myself.

I didn't have the wherewithal to stop the chaos or the killing going on around me. Could hardly distinguish what was what, colours and shapes mixing together and sounds either numbed or piercing. I hoped the toxin would pass through my system quickly enough for me to do something.

A gangly figure tripped over me with a shriek of fear. Someone else in pursuit stood before me, probably intending to vaporize both me and the fallen idiot, so with what I could muster I darted up, grabbing the opponent's torso as leverage to smash my head into their jaw. Once again I felt bone shatter but to make sure they were knocked out, I cuffed them sloppily in the temple and we both dropped to the ground in opposite directions. I landed back on the person who'd tripped over me, which was a better cushion than the floor but I heard the air leave their lungs with the impact.

"You saved me," they wheezed out. I rotated, trying to get a fix on their face – or whatever served as one.

Round, bug-like eyes and feathered antennae was all I could get. Its skin pigment fluctuated between green and blue, or maybe that was the poison. Couldn't be sure.

The thing suddenly kneed me in the chest, knocking me to the side just in time to avoid a stray blast of energy. It was shrieking again.

"You're hurting my ears," I mumbled stupidly, trying to come up with a plan. Gods, I felt so fucking sluggish. Trying to raise my battle power, let alone become a Super Saiyan, seemed impossible right now.

The thing was scrambling to its feet, presumably to run away when it suddenly scooped me up with it, the movement almost fast enough to make me nauseous.

"There's more, there's more! Do something!" the insect cried, supporting me with my back against it and one arm around my chest. There were several soldiers running at us from the blur of chaos beyond.

"Shut up and don't let me fall!" I demanded back. I didn't mind so much being used as a shield, as long as it kept me standing.