Chapter 4: Unstable

Grey eyes stared into black, wondering what the darker ones were plotting. Vegeta's eyes shimmered with wickedness, like no matter what Chester's answer was, he was planning to do it anyway. Chester wanted so desperately to have the man out of his life, so he blocked out any thoughts doubting that his friend's unspoken idea was a bad one. "What are you planning, Vegeta?"

The look of curiosity in Chester's sight was all Vegeta needed to see. He quickly rose with Chester copying his movements, and asked, "Where do you think he'd be at the moment?"

Chester thought for a moment, then answered, "He's at his house. Well, that's where he was when he called like half an hour ago."

"Lead the way."

Chester stared at Vegeta like he had just grown a second head. "You're kidding right?" he questioned, "It's like, 1 in the morning and you're plotting to go harass him? Firstly, he will probably call my mom after we left and I'd get grounded even more than I already am! Secondly, I really don't-"

"Shut up and start walking, Chester," Vegeta interrupted. He knew Chester was beginning to doubt him, and wasn't about to let him back down. Vegeta felt his desire for bloodshed rise up as Chester snapped his mouth shut and started to walk towards the outskirts of town.

As they walked, Vegeta started to wonder just how big Chester's hatred actually was. Would the blonde let him attack the older man, let alone destroy him? Maybe he would just give the guy an ass-kicking since he knew Chester would not leave him alone once they arrived. Yes, he'd land a few hits on the male, and then allow a little time for Chester to have a few rounds. They would then leave with a threat of child abuse so he wouldn't talk, Vegeta would be happy from having a fight and Chester would be able to feel some power over his mutilator. It was the perfect plan.

Within half an hour, the duo was standing in front of a Cape Cod styled house with only the moon beams through the clouds as a light. Vegeta skimmed the surroundings for anything that could reveal their identities, and found the house was pretty much on an isolated street with a forest to the side. Chester nervously glanced from the house to Vegeta, then back at the darkened building. He swallowed the lump forming in his throat and whispered, "What now?"

Vegeta faced Chester after his scouting and replied with a smirk, "We have fun."

He walked up to the windows and motioned for Chester to try the door. As the blonde was reaching for the doorknob, he felt Vegeta's gaze burn into the side of his head. Looking to his friend, he noticed Vegeta had pulled his sleeves over his hands and held them up for Chester to see. "Right, no fingerprints," he mumbled. Wiggling the knob a few times, he wasn't surprised to find it locked. While his hand was still on the knob, he heard a click like someone was unlocking it. Fearing it was his step-father, he backed away as the door opened to reveal Vegeta on the other side.

"You… Arg!" he hissed. Walking past Vegeta's form, he landed a small punch on the dark-haired boy's left shoulder. "You scared the crap out of me," he explained.

Chester stopped dead when he realized that he had been looking at Vegeta two seconds before he heard him unlocking the door. How does he move so fast? He was jolted to movement when Vegeta gave him a little push. "You better not chicken out on me," Vegeta muttered.

The pair wondered through the darkened house with Chester occasionally bumping into a table or two. ("Would you like me to carry you?" Vegeta asked sarcastically, hinting to Chester's klutziness. His response was Chester's middle finger in his direction.) They finally reached the man's sleeping form in his bedroom. Chester looked to Vegeta expectantly, hoping they were not walking into this blind. Vegeta whispered, "Is he a really heavy sleeper?"

Chester recalled the man sleeping over at his house a few times. "An earthquake couldn't wake him," he replied with confidence, "And that I know from experience."

Vegeta nodded. "Well then, you grab his feet while I get the arms." Vegeta moved into the room towards the head rest, but turned back to find Chester still in the doorway. He sighed. "We're taking him out to the woods," he answered the unspoken question.

Thoughts of his step-father waking up in the middle of the forest filled Chester's mind, and he chuckled while moving to the end of the bed, completely unaware of his friend's intentions. Vegeta rolled his eyes as the two heaved the older man out of the house. "Now remember where the tables are, Ches," said Vegeta. Chester glared at the other boy while struggling to hold his step-father up.

Within a few long minutes, the duo was able to drag their victim far into the trees, far enough so neither the house nor the road was visible. Throwing him on the ground, the older man didn't even wake to a tree stump prodding into his back. The dark green t-shirt and plaid pants matched perfectly with the undergrowth. Vegeta could picture the man blending in with the ground completely until he disappeared without a trace.

Shortly after dumping him on the ground, Vegeta exclaimed, "So, do you want to wake him and fight him first, or want me to weaken him a little bit for you?"

Chester looked puzzled from Vegeta's strategy. "That's your plan? To beat him up?" Vegeta nodded. "We're 14, Vegeta! We can't overpower this guy!"

"Maybe you can't, but now you have me around," he said maliciously. Chester inhaled deeply, not knowing whether to call Vegeta crazy or trust him.

Vegeta booted the older man in the stomach causing him to awake with a jerk. He quickly stood up, well as upwards as you can get after being kicked in the gut, and looked around with panic. Once he spotted the boys, his panic subsided.

" Chester, what the hell are you doing up here, and at this hour!" The man reached forward to grab Chester's shirt, but Vegeta swatted his hand away. Chester took half a step back behind Vegeta, knowing he wouldn't get hurt with the other boy in the way.

"Fredrick, meet Vegeta."

His step-father, known as Fredrick, gave a small snicker. Vegeta continued to stare emotionlessly, and after a minute of a staring contest Fredrick looked away. "What are you doing, boy? Get home right now, and bring your friend with you." Fredrick turned to stroll home but was halted from a hook punch to the side of his head. He stumbled, but then reacted with a fist towards Vegeta, who easily dodged it.

The two began to throw more and more hits at each other, but Fredrick's never seemed to land. He backed away a minute later to wipe the blood dripping down his chin. Vegeta cracked his neck by tilting his head to the sides and watched Fredrick's panic-stricken eyes. "What's wrong, not used to them fighting back, Freddy?" Vegeta asked spitefully.

Fredrick growled and lunged at the other fighter. Vegeta quickly pinned him to the ground with a hand on his throat. Chester, who had been watching in a state of shock, noticed the look in Vegeta's eyes and the hand on his neck. "Vegeta, stop!" He leapt to Vegeta's side and easily pried his hand off, only because Vegeta let him.

"Would you like a turn? Because you don't have to be so dramatic over it," Vegeta said as he stood up.

"No, I think he got the point," Chester sighed, "You are pretty freakin' str-" He yelped as he was pulled to the ground by Fredrick. Chester tried to claw away as the older man was pulling his fist into the air. Vegeta reacted instantly with a swipe to his head. Fredrick backed away immediately with a cry of his own. Chester leapt to his feet and exclaimed, "Your hand just glowed, Vegeta! How'd you do that?!"

The pair looked up as Fredrick staggered to his feet with a burn mark implanted on the left side of his face. He was absolutely furious.

"Don't you dare lay another hand on him," Vegeta hissed. Fredrick disregarded Vegeta's threat and attacked. Vegeta concentrated on his right hand again and slowly a blue glow began to form, causing Chester to back away. As the older man neared the two, Vegeta launched his glowing hand forward and landed it on Fredrick's chest.

With a scream, Fredrick landed limply on the ground, the smell of burnt flesh filling the air. Blood started gushing out of his wound, which ended up being twice the size of Vegeta's fist. He started to gargle as the crimson substance climbed out of his mouth and dripped down his face. Within a few moments, he stopped moving altogether.

From his spot across from Vegeta, Chester whispered, "You killed him."

Vegeta was breathing heavily from the energy he released, still wondering how it was even possible. Chester's words registered in his mind, and he knew he needed to destroy the corpse. " Chester, back away please," he said softly. Chester obeyed and took a few steps back, obviously flabbergasted. Vegeta focused on the energy again and set the remains of Fredrick on fire. "Let's go," Vegeta said and started to jog away from the fire, with Chester right behind him.

The duo walked home in silence. "You killed Yamcha too, didn't you?" Chester asked suddenly. Vegeta contemplated whether to lie or not, but decided to tell Chester the truth. Chester nodded as if it somewhat made sense now and continued to walk quietly. Once they came to the fork where their houses lay on other sides, the pair paused for a second.

"Look, Chester, I'll explain everything tomorrow, okay? I just need to sort a few things out myself," Vegeta said quietly. Chester silently agreed and waved good-bye. Vegeta watched him walk for a few minutes, and then uttered, "I really fucked it up this time."

-----

A late news report flicked on the screen and a seated man paused to listen. "Tonight, another fire was started, only a week after the last arson murder. A body was found on the outskirts of town after fire trucks were called to the scene. There is no confirmation on who it is, or any traces of witnesses."

The man muted the television and called his partner into the room. "I've found the Saiyan," he said with assurance, "We should tell the Lord of this news."

"Are you sure it's him this time?" the other asked in an Australian accent, recalling the unreliability of his partner's intuition.

"Yes, positive. I can feel it."

The second man took out his communicator and said, "Inform Frieza that we have located his target and are changing course to get to it." A confirmation was received, the two men started to watch the television again.

And the plot thickens... Dun dun daa!!!