(Individual Lies here with an important message! Broly's only a baby at this point. End of line.)

Chapter Forty-One: For Whom to Bell Tolls (Part III)
"Crack of dawn, all is gone
Except the will to be
Now they will see what will be
Blinded eyes to see
For whom the bell tolls
Time marches on
For whom the bell tolls…"
For Whom the Bell Tolls-Metallica

DBZ

Cold's holographic eyes were unblinking as he regarded Frieza in mild reproach, his massive arms folded across his broad chest. "You left your post, I see."

Frieza smiled thinly and shrugged. "What can I say, Father? I got bored and wanted to see some fireworks. You know how the inhabited ones always produce the best show, and life happens to be sparse in the Omega Quadrant."

Cold sighed and shook his head in exasperation. "Will you never learn? Or will you continue this foolishness until the day of your untimely demise?"

"Oh, I'm finished Father. I was just about to order the return to our original position before we received your transmission." He dipped his head slightly in a show of respect.

One of Cold's massive brows shifted upwards curiously. "Is that so? What oddly convenient timing, then," he said quietly, almost absently. He tapped a finger against his bicep as he regarded his son suspiciously. Finally he growled. "I believe that you are up to something, but I do not have the time to play your games. I have contacted you now to inform you that you and Coola will be on your own for a time. I must travel to the Western Quadrant to deal with some pests. In the meantime you are to withdraw from the Omega Territory and assist your brother in dealing with this pesky Galactic Band/Flazerian Alliance. They have caused quintillions worth of damage to our properties and I do not desire to see them do any more. You and Coola hunt down Zarbon and Maseselyo and destroy them."

"Oh? But what about the Super Saiyans?" Frieza asked coyly. "I thought they were our number one priority?"

Cold's eyes narrowed dangerously. "You are treading thin ice as it is, Frieza. Do not start in with your sarcasm."

Frieza grinned. "My apologies, Father. It just seems rather hypocritical to reprioritize our targets based solely on repair costs." He shrugged. "I mean, it is not like a couple of quintillion credits sacrificed here or there will really bankrupt us. We can quite simply recoup the cost by selling five or six planets. At our current rate of two planets in a Standard month we can regain our losses well within a Standard year."

Cold's brow lifted appreciatively. "Well, it is nice to see you using your head for a change. Though you are acting rather suspiciously…"

"How so, Father?" Frieza asked his amusement readily apparent. He casually folded his hands behind his back as he regarded his father in curious innocence.

Cold frowned in annoyance. "Cease whatever game it is that you are playing here today."

Frieza chuckled and shook his head. "I do not know what you are talking about, Father. If I seem to be acting suspicious, I do apologize. It could be that my mood is just greatly improved after venting my frustrations out on a few unsuspecting populaces. It is such a glorious feeling, after all. And then to watch the planet implode and explode…" He grinned, his eyes narrowing as his cheeks stretched and pulled his lips tight against his jagged reptilian teeth. "It is a definite soothing experience, though for me…it is a bit spiritual." He closed his eyes and dipped his head slightly, almost humbly.

Cold blinked at his son, his eyes wide as he looked on in dumbfounded surprise. "Spiritual? Why Frieza, I did not know you were even religious."

"How can I not be, Father? Who else could grant us such extraordinary power but gods?" Frieza scoffed at the idea of it not being true and looked at Cold again. "The ancient legends regarding the Madoshi Gods say that they created god-like beings in the mortal realm. Who is to say that it was not our race that they created?"

His father frowned again. "I see your point, but I disagree. Our Trade has no place for fairy tales and myths, so I advise you to rethink your beliefs."

Frieza folded his arms and shifted his stance a bit as he pouted at his father. "Why must I do such a thing?"

Cold shook his head and rolled his eyes. "Frieza, such stories suit children, but not you. I will not indulge this naïve fantasy of yours. Follow through with the orders I have given you, and fulfil your mission. I should be back within six months."

Frieza's eyes widened and he took on a look of awe. "That long, Father?"

"Unfortunately, yes. It is a four-month roundtrip at maximum velocity. But I have faith in you and Coola; just…try not to kill one another," he added as an afterthought.

Frieza dipped his forward and saluted Cold. "As you command, Father. I shall obey."

Cold regarded him in silence as Frieza held his stance. Finally he sighed and his image vanished from view.

Frieza's whole body tensed and he straightened up, his red reptilian eyes narrowed to slits as he glowered murderously. He turned slowly to his Communications Officer, a short, pink-furred alien with large ears, massive compound eyes that took up most of the space on his head, and long spindly pincers that served as his hands. The alien gave a visible start upon becoming the target of Frieza's dangerous gaze.

"Now, tell me again. And for your sake, I do hope I misunderstood you," the tyrant quietly hissed, his eyes narrowing even further so that his eyes were almost closed.

The alien made an agitated buzzing sound as it trembled from head to toe. "Zzzzzzz-Ginyu Forzzzze not rezzzzponding, zzzzire. A-and…we detect no lifezzzzignzzzz from C-captain Ginyu."

"I see." Frieza slid his arms behind his back, his fists tightly clenched. He slowly turned in place to look at the image of the Earth on the forefront main screen. "Captain Ginyu fails me once again." He offered a quiet sigh of regret and slowly shook his head. "What a waste. All those spent credits…all that devoted time." He paused. He let the silence stretch for a moment before continuing thoughtfully, "Though I suppose it is for the best that they were killed. For their sakes, anyway." His tail whipped through the air with a crack, the whole of the bridge jumping in fright.

"They are spared my wrath for their failures. And it also gives me less to deal with. I can focus on destroying this little mud ball and finishing what I began with Vegeta." He fell silent, his crew warily watching his back.

The Communications Officer buzzed quietly in relief as he relaxed. He turned to walk away—

"Ah-ah. Where do you think you are going?" Frieza turned around as the alien jumped and spun around.

"Zzzzire, p-pleazzzze…!" the C.O. pleaded, slowly backing away in fear

"Oh. That sealed it," Frieza crooned dangerously, his unblinking gaze locked on the fluffy pink alien. "I do so loathe begging."

"Zzzzz-No, Lord Friezzzza!" the alien cried as the Ice-jin tyrant's eyes flashed with a red light.

And the C.O. was gone; in his place a pile of smoldering ashes.

"Pilot," Frieza said distantly, turning to face the screen once more while a flat-faced green alien with black spots on its head cringed low in his chair.

"Y-yes, s-sire?" he stammered, his eyes tightly closed in his fear.

"Seek out this planet's world leader and take us to their location immediately."

"Yes, Sire!" the alien cried in relief as he sat bolt upright and attacked his console viciously, his fingers blurring across the keypad.

DBZ

"AAARRRGGGHHHH!" Turles roared into the cramped space of his commandeered space pod, tendons stretching the limits of his skin's dexterity as he gripped the edges of his seat. His eyes were closed tight, veins pulsing against his flesh as his face flushed with red (that wasn't smeared blood, that is,) while tears mixed with the blood caking his blackened and bruised cheeks. Every emotion that had been briefly dulled by his ascension flooded through every fiber of his being, polluting his psyche as the inevitable truth of Etapa's fate slammed him with supernova force.

She was gone and she was never coming back. He would never be able to see her smile or hear her laugh again; he'd never be able to touch her face or caress her skin; never would he kiss her lips or tell her he loved her ever again. And it was all thanks to Frieza's goons. Or, more specifically, the bastard he'd left alive.

Rage and anguish; pain and torment; guilt and turmoil; waves of emotion crashed over him, his body lurching violently as he doubled over in his seat. He let it all go; vicious sobs wracking and torturing his injured body. But he didn't care. He couldn't care. He had no reason to care. She was gone, his one light in a dark era. He had nothing, nobody, to live for anymore.

What was he to do now? He had no direction, no purpose, no idea where to go from here. He hung his head, burying his face in his hands as he struggled to wrap his mind around these new truths. He could sit and wallow in his misery for the rest of his days…but it'd never bring Etapa back. It'd never change the facts that now haunted him, no matter how many tears he shed.

He shook his head slowly from side to side as his sobs slowly began to subside. After a few minutes all he felt was an aching numbness that accompanied the hollowness he was now aware of, while an overwhelming sense of exhaustion weighed heavily on him. His previous injuries, though still relevant, were a nonissue at this point. He'd dock at a space station eventually and get his wounds treated, even if he had to do it by force.

He couldn't explain why he'd left Earth the way he had. All he'd known at the time was that he had to get away, far away, from that planet. Hell, he had to get away from the entire system. He didn't want to be anywhere in it or even near it. He just had to go…where?

That, he didn't know.

He sighed, which quickly turned into a hiccup. He hiccupped again and sat up in exasperation, his eyes opening in time to see a red planet, half the size of the Earth, flash by the tinted porthole.

What would he do now? What had he done before?

He frowned. Aside from Purging he'd never really done anything before. He'd spent most of his youth training for the day he'd eventually join a Purge Squad. What else had there been for any Saiyan? Aside from fighting there really weren't any options available to him. Sure he could've joined the Technicians…but then his father would have disowned him a nanosecond later. His dim-witted father. Turles grimaced in disgust, his memories of his father flooding his mind. He hadn't thought of the oaf much since he'd killed him back on Entide.

At the time he'd felt completely justified in disposing of his weakling father, as well as the rest of their Squad. They'd all been a bunch of dense weaklings themselves, though his father had been the clear King of Idiots among their joke of a group.

Turles remembered his childhood days of looking up to his father, believing him to be a powerful warrior helping to lead the mythical Frieza's army across the galaxies. Imagine his surprise after specificallyrequesting to be a member of his father's Squad when the Recruiter laughed in his face.

"Geez, Kid. Talk about settin' the bar extra low…Like under the barrel! BAHAHAHA!"

He closed his eyes and shook his head to dispel that grating voice. Before that day he never understood why he never saw his brother Bardock around his father's house. It finally made sense, though. His brother, the infamous Bardock, a man that had made a name for himself as the craziest son of a bitch on Vegeta, was ashamed of his father.

Turles felt that shame, too. His father had been a joke among the other Squads, a nobody that was only known for his constantly-ludicrous ineptitude and pathetic weakness. He'd once lost a fight to a two year old! With a power reading of 101!

For three years he was shunned and ridiculed by his peers. Even his instructors openly mocked him, taunting him and shaming him anytime he fell short compared to the other recruits. Which, as it turned out, wasn't as often as his peers and instructors would've liked. Even so they dismissed his accomplishments, claiming them to be flukes.

But Turles worked all the harder, pushing beyond his limits, desperate to set himself apart from his parody of a father. He did all of this to make a name for himself. And yet no matter what he did, he was still cast aside. Even when it was found that his power had surpassed his father's and the rest of their team's combined. It seemed no one would take a chance on him because of his "bad blood."

No one except Etapa, that was. Without her around he knew he was destined to be ignored again. Once more he'd have nothing and no one. He'd be alone in the entire universe, known only as 'Bardock's brother.'

He sighed and rubbed his eyes in aggravation. In hindsight he somewhat regretted leaving that Akatian alive. The vengeance would've been nice. But he wasn't going back now. Looking back he'd been lucky to slip past Frieza's radar. He might not be so lucky on a second attempt.

Plus he wasn't sure he could use that insane power again if he needed to. It was intense and incredible, but he didn't know where it had come from. He'd told Hani that he'd become a Super Saiyan, but now he wasn't so sure. The stories he'd heard had always told of something way more destructive. Sure he'd had incredible power, but it wasn't the awesome planet-busting power that had always been described. Given all he'd heard about Frieza and Coola in recent months, he couldn't see himself being able to take either of them on with what he'd acquired. Not without some sort of a boost at any rate.

A slow smile crept into place and his eyes widened into a look of stunned realization.

"Entide," he whispered aloud, his voice hoarse from his animalistic roaring. Why hadn't it occurred to him before? He could go back to Entide and gain as much strength as he could possibly want. All he needed was the fruit from the Shinseiju tree, the Tree of Godly Might. There was no one there to resist him so it'd be more than easy to retrieve. With such access to great strength in hand, the possibilities were limitless. But most importantly he could finally leave Bardock's shadow and become more than just the son of a dolt.

Nothing was stopping him now. His brother was light-years away; he'd never be able to stop him in time. Hell, he probably wouldn't even be able to find him by the time all was said and done. And even if he ever did catch up to him by that point Turles would have the power to handle even the Ice-jins, let alone his brother.

It was his last option, the only opportunity left to him. If he didn't take it now then he would never get another chance.

With Etapa gone this was his last chance at some sort of happiness. But first things first: he needed to find the closest space station.

DBZ

Leta stood at the forefront of the gathered councilmembers, her eyes glued to the ship that was slowly descending onto the lawn of the People's Palace. Jeice's Squad encircled her, their bodies taut and tense as they watched the arachnoid landing supports sprout from the belly of the ominous craft. A throng of people stood with bated breath as everyone inside the People's Palace and surrounding areas had gathered to watch.

She quickly glanced around at the multitude of scattered Earth tanks training their guns on the ship, the Earth soldiers, hundreds of them, also keeping their weapons pointed at the fearsome-looking craft. No one made a sound and no one moved a muscle as it slowly, ever-so gently, touched down on the lawn of the People's Palace. Trigger fingers trembled in uncertain dread, all unblinking eyes watching as a hatch opened in the side and slid out of sight, a paneled ramp appearing and bridging the leap of faith from the hatch to the ground.

Still no one made a move or sound. In fact the only sound that could be heard was the faint humming drone of the ship's engines.

Without warning a half dozen aliens shot out of the hatch. They immediately spread out and charged the rows of tanks faster than the Earthlings could hope to track, explosions marking their high speed passes. Debris rained down as guns and cannons blazed, shells exploding in the air but not hitting any of their targets. Voices on the verge of panic yelled orders while others keened in death-wails, dozens of the Earth military ranks falling in a matter of seconds.

Lerayo, Jeice's Second-in-Command, reacted impressively quickly. "Intercept and defend!" She took to the air with her Squad following suit. They all blurred out of sight and blasts lit the air. Within moments the chaos was under control and all six instigators of Frieza's "First Wave" had been dispatched by the Super-Elites.

Leta wanted to breathe a sigh of relief as Lerayo signaled her squad to land, but she knew that wasn't even a taste of the hell to come.

"You must forgive my little indulgences…" All eyes snapped to the ship to find a glistening silver and purple figure hanging suspended above the top of the ramp. "I do so love to stir the fire. Hm." A sinisterly smug smile thinned his dark lips, his reptilian eyes narrowing in twisted pleasure. He hovered forward then, moving down the ramp as his piercing red eyes raked dismissively over the assembled crowd.

He hovered close to where Leta stood gathered with the other members of the council and she knew without a doubt that this was Frieza. He looked so different…A new body to fit the new power. He had become a horrifyingly fearsome, yet fluidly beautiful creature. It was hard to believe that this otherworldly being could be the same diminutive tyrant from Jynn-jin 13.

"So this is how you killed Tettuce…" She clapped a hand to her mouth as Frieza paused and he looked at her. The words had just slipped out.

His smile vanished and he turned to face her fully. "Impossible…!" He hovered closer and peered in astonishment at her. "So it is true that you survived!"

Leta blinked in confusion, obviously startled by his declaration. "Wh-what are you talking about?"

Frieza didn't immediately answer, preferring instead to curiously peer at her in silence. After a moment he smiled thinly. "My tenacious female…You are downright indestructible in nature. I believe I will extend my offer of recruitment once more. It is not too late to join the winning team."

Leta frowned as the councilmembers began to murmur around her. "I think you have me confused for someone else."

Frieza blinked. "Oh? Are you not Seripa?" he asked, almost as if they were old friends.

"No, I'm not. My name is Le-Princess Leta."

"Oh my." The tyrant dipped his head apologetically. "Do forgive me, but you Saiyans all look remarkably alike."

"Don't flatter yourself with a racist remark," Leta said as she straightened her shoulders, his insult bolstering her courage. "Seripa happens to be my sister, so of course we'd look alike." She smirked and stepped away from the trembling throng of Earthlings and Surah, her knees shaking tremulously. "So what brings you to this little mudball in the middle of nowhere?"

Frieza grinned as he regarded her. "My, my. Does this ferocious tenacity run through your entire bloodline?"

"I'd like to think so. Hell, I'd like to think this is the true nature of all Saiyans."

"I knew it!" a boisterous voice declared as General Carrigan shoved his way through the crowd. "You're in on it with this Freezer character!"

Frieza's cold eyes cut towards the human in disdain. "Shush, daddy's talking."

Leta scowled in nervous irritation as she looked at Carrigan angrily. "That's an excellent way to get killed! Just keep your mouth shut!"

The stuffy human faltered and rounded on the Saiyan princess. "How dar-!"

"Carrigan, shut it!" the King ordered angrily as he stepped forward. "Do not make the situation any worse than it already is!"

"Oh," said Frieza, a hint of feigned regret to his tone. "I'm afraid it is far too late for that. You see, someone on this pitiful little speck of a dirtball is responsible for the complete annihilation of my Ginyu Force." He smiled thinly as he looked squarely at Carrigan. "Someone has to pay for it." He chuckled and floated closer to the confused, and quite obviously frightened, General.

"Wh-what are you talking about?" he stammered as he took a fearful step backward.

Frieza grinned. "Insignificant and stupid." His eyes flashed and Carrigan vanished in a blinding purple light. "Quite a pitiful planet, this Earth," he said jovially, as if he hadn't just vaporized someone before their very eyes.

A fearful murmur swept through the crowd, along with several angry protests.

"Who the hell do you think you are?"

"He was defenseless!"

"What the hell just happened…?"

"What's your problem?!"

Leta grimaced and glanced around as Frieza eyed the crowd with a predatory gleam in his eyes.

"Ahem. Excuse me, Mr. Frieza?"

Leta blinked and looked around to see the King of Earth moving to stand before the intimidating tyrant, the crowd of frightened Earthlings falling silent in deference to their leader. Frieza's eyes cut to the anthropomorphic leader of the Earthlings, a crease appearing in his otherwise smooth forehead as he arched his hairless brow.

"That would be Lord Frieza, actually."

"My apologies," the King said as he dipped his head.

"It's quite alright," Frieza replied, amused. "I would never expect a rural planet such as this to have heard of me. But everyone learns of Lord Frieza eventually. Who exactly are you to approach me so?"

"I am King Koku Furry, Leader of Nations here on Earth. I represent the Allied Nations of the Global Majority," the King said, rather humbly considering the weight of his responsibilities.

"Ah, a unified world government?" Frieza queried in what appeared to be sincere interest.

King Furry offered a small smile as he replied, "We're working on it. We are a small people in a big world."

Frieza chuckled and folded his arms as he turned to fully face the King of Earth. "You are not small people. You are insignificant insects crawling along the surface of a rock. You are all pathetic."

"Pathetically outmatched perhaps," King Furry retorted, apparently unperturbed by the jib. He glanced at the spot Carrigan had previously occupied and grimaced. "We have been informed that all our military might will be hilariously ineffective against you and you alone, and that no weapon we possess will have any sort of effect on you. As if you were some indestructible god." He paused and looked at the smirking tyrant slowly. "A vengeful god full of self-righteous fury and indiscriminate wrath, traversing the stars and expanding a vast and growing empire."

Frieza grinned and shrugged his shoulders. "What can I say?"

Leta met King Furry's gaze as he shot her a pointed glance."Hm. Do you plan to assimilate our planet into your empire, as well?" he asked as he returned his gaze to Frieza.

"Oh, no. I fully intend to destroy this world." Hushed voices and frightened murmurs swept through the silent crowd. Grips visibly tightened on weapons as many soldiers looked to their closest superior officer questioningly, the officers in turn watching their king and anxiously awaiting a signal to be given.

"Then why not just destroy it?" Koku questioned, his tone surprisingly even considering the overall situation. "What's the point in putting it off? Why the need to show yourself to us first? According to Princess Leta and Princess Surah it would be a simple thing for you to do from beyond our atmosphere." The king frowned as he regarded the alien before him. "Was that really necessary?" he asked with a tilt of his head towards where Carrigan once stood.

"Fear, Earthling," Frieza replied. He chuckled, the sound rich with malice. "All who cross me shall know the sheer terror of my power."

Leta frowned. "In what way did the Earthlings ever cross you?"

"Is it not obvious?" Frieza asked as he tilted his head and looked at her. "Harboring enemies of the Empire."

The Saiyan Princess grimaced and glanced at the King of Earth, but his eyes were still on Frieza.

"It is true that we offered refuge to the Saiyans and Gylderians when they landed here." Frieza's gaze cut smoothly back to Koku and he gave him a somewhat appraising look. "However, that is no reason to declare war on Earth. I am sure we can work this out, Lord Frieza. A little diplomacy can go a long way."

"Oh the time for diplomacy is long past," Frieza said with an air of finality.

The King shook his head slowly. "Any good leader knows that there is always time for diplomacy. We do, after all, have a responsibility to our people. They look to us to guide them, provide for them, and to protect them." He held his hands up and offered a tiny shrug. "Can we not afford the people an alternative to annihilation? Do we not owe them that much?"

Frieza tilted his head back and laughed loudly, his eyes closing in his sudden mirth. The King of Earth stared at him in astonished confusion.

"Ahem. I admittedly fail to see the humor of the situation, Lord Frieza," he said calmly as the Ice-jin continued laughing. "Might I ask what it is that you find so funny here?"

Frieza looked at King Furry with a snake-like grin, his rows of jagged teeth showing menacingly. "Do you really believe that I care what the people want or need? I rule this galaxy, Earthling. I owe nothing to anyone." He raised one hand and waggled a finger at him disparagingly. "It is you little maggots that owe me your very lives," he said, his voice lowering and growing cold as he lowered his arm and clasped his hands behind his back. "You lot should be thankful that you have been allowed to live this long. I decide who lives and who dies. I am Death."

King Furry's whiskers twitched as he met Frieza's gaze. Leta couldn't help but be impressed with the Earthling's iron resolve.

"Rather presumptuous, don't you think…Lord Frieza?"

Frieza's eyes narrowed sinisterly. "Are you mocking me, Earthling?"

"Not at all. I do, however, realize that you truly believe yourself a god. And if what the Princesses say about your terrible power is true, then you are indeed some sort of god by our standards. A vengeful, violently wrathful, god that is…" King Furry finished quietly as he tilted his head forward a bit to peer at Frieza over the rim of his glasses.

"Lord Frieza!" a voice cried as the tyrant opened his mouth to respond.

All eyes turned skyward, even Frieza's though he scowled as he turned his gaze up.

Jeice swooped in over the crowd and landed lightly in front of Lareyo and her squad, his green eyes on a small golden orb in his right hand. Leta couldn't help but to frown as she eyed the curious gem glinting in the light between his fingers.

"Well, well," Frieza mock-crooned, his tone ice cold as he looked at the former Ginyu Force member. "If it is not the treacherous little Akatian, Jeice. I would like to say it is a pleasure to see you. But then, I would be lying," the tyrant finished, his tone hardening as his eyes narrowed. "You have courage to show your face before me, Traitor. I really should kill you where you stand."

Jeice snapped his gaze up to the Ice-jin and he smiled thinly. "And miss out on the ultimate opportunity? I don't think so," He said as he held the orb up for him to see. "You kill me and you'll never know the possibilities I hold in my hand right now."

Leta arched an eyebrow and looked at Jeice in confusion, wondering what he was doing.

"What in the gods' names are you talking about?" Frieza demanded, rolling his eyes in obvious exasperation.

"How would you like to be immortal?" Jeice asked with a strained grin, an enigmatic look in his eyes.

What the hell…? Leta thought to herself, at a loss to what game Jeice was playing with Frieza. Was he trying to help the tyrant in some way? She blinked as she noticed the slight twitch in the set of his gaze and she realized that he was actually terrified. Was he trying to bluff Frieza?

Frieza gave the Akatian a curious glance. "Well spit it out already. What are you going on about?"

"I'm talking about seven magical artifacts called Dragonballs," It didn't escape Leta's notice when the King looked at Jeice in sudden surprise, his eyes wide. She couldn't help but to frown; there was something odd in the way he regarded the peculiar gem. "Which is what this little bauble is," Jeice continued, oblivious to the odd looks he was receiving. "Legend says that when they're brought together they'll grant you anything you could ever desire." The former Ginyu smirked. "What do ya think about THAT?"

The Ice-jin blinked slowly. "I do believe you have lost your sanity, to be perfectly honest. The knowledge of what I will do to you has obviously scattered your senses; fear has broken you. It is the only possible explanation for why you would seriously think that I would buy into such nonsense." He shook his head and waved a dismissive hand. "If anything you are merely wasting my precious time."

Jeice shook his head firmly, violent ripples running through his thick mane of hair. "If you hold it for yourself you can feel the magic within it. When I first heard the story I was skeptical, too. But then I held the orb for myself…It is faint, to be true. But you CAN feel something is there." He tossed the ball towards Frieza.

The tyrant eyed it as he effortlessly caught the Dragonball. He held it up to his eyes and gave it a slight frown. "Four little stars. What do these mean?"

"Apparently there are a set number in each ball, numbering from one to seven."

Frieza snorted derisively and looked at Jeice. "That is supposed to convince me of their authenticity? I certainly do not 'feel the magic' as you said, nor do I see six more of these lying around here."

Jeice shrugged stiffly. "They're scattered across the planet. You find all seven and you get to make your wish as a reward."

Frieza scoffed and disdainfully tossed the ball to the ground. It bounced once and rolled to a stop near the assembled crowd. "You really expect me to buy into something so ridiculous?"

"I have one with two stars in its core," a thoughtfully absent voice said.

Leta glanced around until she saw the liaison between the Galactic Band Scientific Exchange Department and the Earth Force Engineering Division, Dr. Briefs, standing over the four-star ball, his hands in his pockets and a smoldering cigarette between his lips. While most were focused on Frieza, some in the assembled crowd were eyeing him in disbelief as they attempted to edge away from him, lest they become targets on the diabolical alien that had invaded their soil.

Frieza looked at the bespectacled man curiously as he removed a hand from his pocket and stooped to scoop it up. He held it up to the sun and squinted at it. "Hm, there does seem to be some sort of resonance emanating from it. How curious. It is almost as if it's static-charged. I wonder…Hm."

Leta looked between the scientist, who seemed remarkably oblivious to the current situation, and Frieza as he eyed the man with a sudden predatory gleam in his eyes. She could guess at what the tyrant must be thinking at this point, but she couldn't speak for the absent-minded professor. She didn't know much about the man, having never met him personally, but she'd heard how eccentric the man was. And now of all times she was finally seeing his quirks in person. She grimaced.

"Are you suggesting that they really are magical," Frieza demanded suddenly.

Dr. Briefs gave a start and looked at the alien curiously. "Magical? My goodness, no. I mean, I don't know to be honest. I would have to run some tests, but they really do have an odd feel to them." He looked at the ball in his hand again. "It really is quite peculiar that in all my years this is only the second one I have ever seen."

"You have one yourself?" the tyrant queried further. The fact that Dr. Briefs was still alive was a testament to how intrigued Frieza really was.

"Somewhere," Dr. Briefs said, looking up suddenly. "Huh. I haven't seen it in ages. I imagine it's in the attic, though."

Leta glanced at Jeice as he gave her a look of utter disbelief. She had no answer for him, though. She looked at Frieza again to see him eyeing the ball curiously.

"So what do you say?" Jeice suddenly asked, his gaze snapping to Frieza. "If there was a way to prove it, would you allow time for that opportunity?" Frieza looked at him again, his expression unreadable. "Especially given the possibility of it benefitting you so greatly? Imagine the possibilities that would be available to you. Surely there's something you can wish for that you desperately want, right?" The tyrant was silent as he regarded the former Ginyu with a cold gaze.

Leta frowned. She wasn't sure, but it looked like he was considering something. Maybe he was going over the possibilities of the Dragonballs being legitimately magical?

A crease marred Frieza's brow and he looked back at Dr. Briefs who was poking at the Dragonball absently and mumbling to himself.

"You there. How long would these 'tests' take?" he demanded.

Leta blinked as Dr. Briefs looked at the tyrant. The scientist removed his cigarette and dropped it to the ground, tamping it out as he appeared thoughtful for a moment.

"I'm not sure, to be honest. A day or two maybe, I think." He shrugged and held the orb to the sun again. "It really depends on whether or not my equipment can yield any relevant results. But if I do find evidence of some sort of resonance, then I may be able to isolate the signal and determine the true nature of the energy." He grinned suddenly, an eager look in his gaze. "This thing is something else, that's for sure."

He chuckled and glanced at Frieza. "You know, I've always thought there was something odd about my two-star ball. I never could quite put my finger on it, though. But it was always as if there was something magnetic about it, constantly drawing my gaze to it even in the middle of the most important tasks. I'm sure there's a logically scientific explanation, but it is almost mystical in a way."

Frieza's eyes were locked on the Dragonball. Leta could almost see the gears turning in Frieza's mind. If he allowed Dr. Briefs a few days to run tests, and the tests came back positive, then it'd take even more time for Frieza to actually find the Dragonballs…Maybe it'd be enough to figure out a way out of their current situation? Or maybe Seripa and the others would show up?

She grimaced. Even if they did show up to fight Frieza, what good would it do against the power she felt from the tyrant? It was bad enough that the highest power level she'd ever felt before this day had been Frieza's on Jynn-jin 13, but his current power made it seem like he was just constantly taunting anyone that would dare step up to face him.

"Hm. I believe that I will take that," Frieza said abruptly. Dr. Briefs gave a start as the ball suddenly levitated out of his hand and zipped into the silver tyrant's. "If you have one yourself, do your tests on that one. This one will remain in my possession until then." He smirked and folded one arm against his chest, while the other held the Dragonball aloft for him to admire closely. "You have two of your Earth days. If you have discovered nothing in that time, your planet will be destroyed. Simple as that."

Dr. Briefs blinked. "Two days…to what, exactly?"

"To perform your tests, of course," Frieza responded semi-amiably, though his eyes narrowed warningly.

Leta and King Furry both gave Dr. Briefs exasperated looks, but he seemed oblivious to the both of them. He coolly produced a new cigarette from seemingly nowhere and regarded Frieza curiously as he lit it. He gave it a long draw and casually tapped the ashes from the tip as he exhaled a large plume of smoke.

"Hm. Yes, I believe two days will be more than enough. It's just a simple matter of scanning the ball for any traces of energy. I wonder if these are evidence of ancient technology…? Ah, these things could be like ornamental batteries! Wouldn't that be something!"

Jeice flinched and looked at Dr. Briefs sharply. "For all our sakes let's hope they really are magical!"

Frieza chuckled and shook his head slowly. "A bluff is a bluff, after all…" He tore his gaze from the Dragonball and looked dead at Jeice. "Either way I should really kill you…" He trailed off, his piercing gaze locked on Jeice. "Then again," he continued abruptly, "you did think to tell me of these Dragonballs…I suppose I could spare you a few more days of life. Let it not be said that I, Lord Frieza, am incapable of mercy."

Jeice didn't even blink as he watched Frieza turn and float leisurely towards his ship. Only when the tyrant had hovered over the ramp, into the hatch, and out of sight did Jeice let out a sharp breath and look towards Leta. He gave her a shaky smile, his shoulders and knees trembling.

"M-maybe the others w-will make it in time…?" he suggested hopefully.

King Furry glanced at Jeice curiously, before turning his questioning gaze to Leta. "'Others,' Princess Leta?" he asked sternly.

Leta grimaced and glanced at him. "Well…I've called in some help, Your Majesty."

"What kind of help?"

"My sister and her mate," she said simply. "It was either that or ask the Flazerians for help. Unfortunately their strongest warrior was killed by Frieza a few months ago, so they really don't have anyone that would be able to fight now."

Koku frowned. "You plan to fight? I'm not sure I understand. How exactly do you intend to fight against someone that can singlehandedly destroy planets?"

Leta grinned. "If it's any consolation at all, Seripa and her mate have already gone head to head with Frieza once. And they faired decently, too. Up until he tried to kill them, of course."

"And you believe that they will be able to challenge Frieza?" Koku asked incredulously. "Granted I am still trying to grasp how your powers work, I've been lead to believe that this Frieza has god-like destructive power. How exactly do you intend to challenge a being like that?"

"Before Frieza destroyed my people's homeworld, we served under him as members of various Purge Squads. Well, whenever there was a particular planet his most elite warriors couldn't handle, he had a tendency to call in his Saiyan squads." She laughed quietly and looked up to the sky. "The squad that did the best in this regard just so happened to be my sister's squad, led by her mate Bardock."

She looked at the king again to see him regarding her warily. She laughed again, though she couldn't keep from sounding grim. "I understand it's not something to really be proud of, and I'm not proud of it. We Saiyans are not exactly saints, but that's not the point. The point is that they're the only ones who stand a chance at this point." She shrugged and glanced around at the crowd of despondent onlookers. "Bardock and his squad were infamous for their suicidal charges into overwhelming odds. But they always rose above and conquered. Always. So…I feel we should have faith they can continue to overcome adverse situations.

She sighed and looked down. "We have to have faith in something."

DBZ

(This will be the last three-part chapter…until the next one. I promise. Anyway I hope y'all enjoyed this chapter! As always reviews are appreciated and encouraged. Feedback is awesome! Until next time! I.L.)