Author: I just finished this chapter today. It's not the longest thing in the world, but just wait until we get farther into the plot. Next chapter will be coming to you from Motcn, so enjoy. By the way, this was written in the course of a few hours when I finally sat down and started working on it.

--

01_Everything's Broken

"O son, what grief is mine. But you sleep softly, little child,Sunk deep in rest within your cheerless home."[Edith Hamilton's Mythology]

--

It was dark.

Not that he noticed, with his eyes already closed in thought. He didn't know how long he had been in the dark, and slightly damp, room aboard the ship. He'd like to think that it didn't matter, but he was already starting to get annoyed at being left alone for so long. It wasn't the solitude that bothered him, however. It was the thoughts that came along with the silence that he'd rather not have.

He really wished that his father would come for him soon.

–-

Nappa was trying to keep a straight face as he followed one of Frieza's chosen henchmen. Zarbon looked smug as he walked down the hallway, keeping his silence. He was leading one of the buffoons to their 'sayain prince'. A lofty title, of course, for a child who was no more than four years old.

The burly saiyan warrior looked around as they neared the end of the cramped corridor. There was a single door, with not even a window, stationed at the end. Nappa started to walk around Zarbon, because now that he knew his destination, he didn't need help. Then, of course, there was the problem of a code that needed to be entered to unlock the door.

Nappa stopped, turning to look at Zarbon. The superior look was still on his face as he stepped past the saiyan, taking his time to key in the seven digit code. Nappa wasn't paying attention, though. Instead, he was running his fingers through the tuft of hair on his head as he stared intently at the door, waiting for it to open.

He did have a job, after all.

Zarbon stood in front of the door as it slid open. Even though his frame blocked most of the light, a few rays managed to get past him, illuminating the young prince that was sitting in the darkness.

Prince Vegeta turned his head, his eyes sharp when they opened. His small, red cape was wrapped around his body, warding off as much as the chill as it could. The young saiyan didn't even notice Nappa. He only had eyes for the man blocking the door.

"I want my father," he stated, his voice echoing as he narrowed his onyx eyes. Zarbon only offered a condescending smile to the young prince before he stepped back. He didn't need to be here anymore. The saiyan could handle it.

Nappa watched Zarbon's back for a moment before he turned toward the doorway. Prince Vegeta was still staring, but he didn't look as cold. His features were relaxed for a moment as he stared at Nappa. It made the bigger man feel a little uncomfortable, having the Prince in his care... not that the Prince needed someone to watch after him.

"We have a mission, Prince Vegeta."

It was just the first of many missions that Vegeta would accompany Nappa on until he was old enough to lead.

--

Prince Vegeta's training was rough.

His usually took on hordes of Saibamen for hours upon end within one of the training rooms. They were no match for him after a few missions, but Frieza continued to force the training upon the young prince. Nappa thought it was ridiculous, but kept his comments to himself as he watched Vegeta on the screen. The boy kicked some ass, even at his age.

When the Saibamen became useless against the Prince, Frieza enlisted traitors that they had captured from other planets. Most of them proved to be too strong for Vegeta, throttling the young Prince around the training room. He was nothing, however, if not resilient. Eventually, even most of the men sent against him left the training room in pieces, if they even left at all.

Nappa found it interesting, that the young prince happened to be so cold.

– -

He was shuffled from planet to planet for months on end. Nappa was always at his side, keeping an eye on the young prince. In the six months that he was shuffled around, he never once got to see his father. He didn't even get to go back to Planet Vegeta. If they had a chance for a rest, it happened upon Frieza's ship, and even then it never lasted more than two or three days.

Even if the Prince did resent the treatment, he kept it all to himself, because he was going to get to see his father. He was.

–-

His first mission alone was to a small planet inhabited with a resistant group. It was his choice to leave Nappa behind, with the approval of Lord Frieza, of course. He wanted to prove himself, because he was sure that once he showed how strong he was, he would be able to see his father again.

Prince Vegeta managed to decimate the enemy within five days by himself.

He was proud, and cocky. When he finally got to see his father again, he would be able to tell him just how strong he was. Vegeta was looking forward to the day.

He was still on the planet, getting ready to head back to Frieza's ship when he received the news that forever changed everything. He had been taking a small break, eating a snack to keep up his energy when the transmission came over his scouter.

His father was dead.

"And, you're sure?" the prince asked, staring off into the fire, hesitating in his eating.

"Affirmative, sir. Lord Frieza sends his condolences and his regrets."

"Oh, really?"

He tried to sound indifferent to his circumstance. He wasn't going to get to see his father, after all.

"Would you like to send a reply, sir?" the voice came in over his scouter.

The boy hesitated for a moment, staring into the fire as he finished the last of his snack. The dead bodies of his enemies surrounded him, and he was utterly alone.

He wondered if Nappa was still out on his mission.

"No, no reply."