Without further ado:

Chapter 8: Closer.

~With Our "Anti-Hero"~

Once the ball was hidden within a part of the ocean Vegeta flew about, not in any particular direction, he was simply scanning the area for any ki's yet felt nothing. A growl worked its way out his throat with his onyx eyes sweep the area. His frustration was growing with every passing second.

And then he felt a surge of energy coming from behind him but heading in a different direction. He could only guess that a significant power like that could only belong to Zarbon, it was a little more intense than Dodoria, and from when he'd been using the scouter there had only been three considerably strong power signatures, and he had already taken out Dodoria, so this had to be Zarbon.

Smirking he switched directions and pushed forward towards that strong ki. 'It just has to be Zarbon! I've been waiting to beat in that pretty face of his! And now that he's alone it's the perfect time to show my growth in power!'

And just like before, with Dodoria, he spotted his opponent who was utterly unaware of his presence. This new ability of his was amazing.

But curse his luck for the beauty-obsessed alien had to look up and spotted him. "Vegeta!?"

Both fighters came to halt mid-air in front of one another. Zarbon was looking surprised as he uttered another soft "Vegeta," trying to process that the saiyan was indeed in front of him.

"Well hello Zarbon, it's been such a long time," Vegeta laughed with his trademark wicked grin, playing the sadistic prince once more, or had he simply began to accept what he had become? "Now it's time for me to kill you just as I had Dodoria, but I think you'll be much easier to defeat,"

"What?" growled Zarbon. "That's impossible you couldn't have! You're not strong enough!"

He laughed. "It was far too easy,"

"I don't believe you!"

"Then come at me pretty boy and see for yourself how strong I really am!"

"Why must you rebel against Frieza? It'd be a lot easier on everyone if you would just behave!" he growled out.

"Simple, I am a proud saiyan who will never bow down to the likes of him. We have never been too keen on taking orders why do you think my planet rebled?" Zarbon's eyes widened his mouth opening to speak, but Vegeta continued. "I will avenge my mate and my people. And once I am powerful enough I'll never have to bow down to anyone ever again!" he roared.

"Idiot!" Zarbon spit with a laugh, his golden eyes gleaming with mirth. "You'll never beat him, then again you were always the ignorant one. Your powers are nothing to Frieza so give up on 'avenging' anyone,"

"Give me a break! Dodoria told me of Frieza's fear! And I will show you that same power that he feared so much!"

"You truly are an idiot! He feared the collected strength and had killed them; you are nothing!"

"We'll see!" Vegeta flash stepped in front of Zarbon, and their fight continued. Catching his fist, Vegeta threw him into the air, moving quickly Zarbon fired a ki beam back down at him and with a growl of determination Vegeta backhanded the beam away with a smirk.

The ground exploded sending fire rock into the air.

~o.O~O.o~

A large explosion that grabbed both Krillin and Dende's attention. It lit the horizon in bright light and made the air vibrate, and the ground was probably shaking too.

"That must be one of Frieza's men! I hope those monster's kill each other,"

Dende's visible shook unable to move from the look of it.

"Let's get going while their busy," Krillin gestured with his chin.

"I can't move," His voice even trembled.

"Hold on tight then," Krillin grabbed ahold of Dende and flew away as fast as possible. With those monsters distracted they would be able to fly as quickly as possible without being tracked. They'd be able to make it to the Grand Elder a lot faster now.

~o.O~O.o~

The two warriors continued back and forth for several long minutes.

It started with Vegeta being the stronger, but Zarbon refused to be defeated when he still had so much more power he had at his disposal. Sadly he'd have to transform to use it.

"Done already?"

Zarbon laughed, golden eyes turned wild as he looked back at his opponent. "You really have become more powerful, but you are still not powerful enough to beat me," he continued to laugh as the power around him vibrated.

"What are you talking about now pretty boy?"

"I have more power within,"

Vegeta threw his head back and laughed.

"Before you die I will tell you why I don't use this power; my real power,"

Vegeta snickered.

"To bring it forth I have to transform; my body takes on the form of this hideous beast. I love all things that are beautiful, but I will take this form for I prefer to live than die,"

Vegeta kept laughing. "Transform? Like saiyans? Ha! People say crazy things when about to die,"

"I may not become huge like you, but my power does,"

"Let me see," he dared him, he was sick of all this talk.

With a roar, Zarbon threw his arms back as his body expanded. Armor stretched under the strain of his growing body, he'd been tall and well muscular before, but now he was double the size. Smooth, perfect, mint colored skin became wrinkled as scales sprouted forth, and bone pushed against skin as it took on more animalistic facial features. Fangs spilled over his bottom lips as giant claws took the place of once beautiful pristine nails.

And then in another second, the beast charged at Vegeta. Grabbing his head, he continued to beat his head into his. Zarbon would teach Vegeta a lesson in obeying those who are more powerful. He threw the smaller male high into the air and then followed after him into the air. Vegeta just barely got away.

"The truth can sometimes be hard to swallow, but I will tell you something interesting," long pause for dramatic effect. "Frieza can transform too,"

"What!?"

They continued again, back and forth with Zarbon being the clear winner. But it was only when he sent him into the water that the damned saiyan stayed down.

Hovering in the air, Zarbon decided to wait for him to float up dead or swimming to confirm the kill. Frieza would have his head if he didn't. It seemed luck was on his side as the saiyan floated up barely alive, so being the good henchmen he was he picked up the monkey and took him back to the ship so that Frieza could decide what to do with him.

And it seemed he made the right choice as it seemed that the other soldiers had found an abandoned village which after being searched showed it had housed a Dragonball, but that ball was missing.

Even so, Lord Frieza looked less than pleased, a dead soldier being carted off the ship. The mangled body showing clear signs that it had been Frieza who'd inflected the torture to his mangled person before killing him. Such punishment could only indicate the soldier had interrupted Frieza when with Kagome.

Zarbon stared on worriedly for the precious girl when dismissed he'd need t check her condition — dreed clouding his mind currently.

Frieza, on the other hand, glowered, staring hard at the half-dead saiyan prince currently being ushered into the control room. Red eyes searing into the battered body thrown at his feet. Tanned body covered in tattered armor and clothing, his blood pooled around him from his place on the floor. The monkey was on the verge of death and as much as that pleased him, he needed him alive until he could get the dragon ball, or balls, he'd hidden.

Kagome would have to be locked up in her room until the monkey healed, and then was executed. If she saw him or even knew that he was on this planet, let alone this ship, she would begin her fight to get away from him anew. He couldn't allow that to happen; she was his; his to control and rule over. She would never be free of him, death would be the only thing that would take her away from him, and even then she wouldn't escape him that easily.

"Put him in one of the tanks so we can interrogate him later," he ordered. "And keep Kagome away from him, she mustn't know he's here,"