Chapter 5

Freeza twirled his drink delicately as the young Hibian girl sat in front of him, dressed in the robes of her people while she played her instrument. It was a traditional song, no doubt, as it sounded strange to Freeza's ears and probably was beautiful music in her eyes. Still, she was talented, though useless.

He had taken an interest in the young girl because he could not figure out just why that stubborn monkey prince had insisted all these years that she remain alive. Aelia of Hibi had never been a fighter, she was completely useless aside from being that bratty fiancée of his' attendant. So why did Vegeta insist on her survival? Maybe it was because he wanted to please his fiancée in some way thanks to Freeza's orders of them not joining as husband and wife formally. But that didn't seem right. There had to be something else going on, because keeping the girl alive simply didn't make sense.

So, Freeza had invited the girl to dance for him. The bells that adorned her ankle were incredibly hypnotizing when she danced, but that wasn't anything special. There were plenty of slave girls who could dance, and their dances were far more erotic than this girl's modest versions. He had no interest in tribal dances. Once the dance ended, he asked her of her other talents. She could recite poetry from memory even though she didn't know how to read. Whatever, there were bards on her planet, that was certain. Now she was playing this instrument, and he still couldn't figure out just why in all hell Vegeta insisted she remain alive! Or, even, avoiding the destruction of her planet.

There was only one other reason he could think of as to why that stubborn Saiya-jin would insist she survive and avoid destroying her home planet. And there was only one way to find out.

As Aelia continued to play, Zarbon approached and whispered in his ears, "Vegeta has left the meeting with Raditz and Nappa, earlier than expected. He's heading this direction, but maybe not here."

"Excellent," Freeza smirked, speaking softly. "Right on time; I can't stand listening to this dribble anymore. Excuse yourself Zarbon."

"But sir-"

"I said excuse yourself."

As Zarbon left, gunfire sounded outside. The situation was getting even better; Vegeta was certain to come to investigate. Aelia didn't hear, probably too involved in her music as the song was at a point of crescendo.

Freeza smirked, then used his ki to transport himself, incredibly fast, to right in front of the Hibian girl. Aelia gasped, stopping the music.

"You should be honored; I've never been interested in a woman before," Freeza said with a sadistic grin.

Aelia screamed, throwing her instrument aside as she ran for the doors. It was no use. Freeza was suddenly on top of her, pushing her to the ground. Her right hand free, she tried to strike him, the picks still attached to her fingertips but that too was futile. She was far too slow for Freeza. Far, far too slow.

Alright, little damsel in distress, Freeza thought as he forced himself to kiss her, pressing his hips hard against her own and laughing as she wriggled beneath him, still screaming. Your prince should surely come to rescue you from the big, bad monster!

Aelia kept screaming and screaming; panic was flowing throughout Freeza's body. There was no way he was interested in her enough to even do what she thought he was going to do, and if Vegeta didn't come, then this all would have been for nothing! Curse that monkey, he had better show!

Just when Freeza was fumbling for something else to try and do to stall time, the doors blew off their hinges in a massive explosion, debris flying everywhere. The numbers on Freeza's scouter were climbing; fourteen thousand, fifteen thousand…

The scouter exploded as Freeza was sent flying off of Aelia's still screaming form. A satisfied smirk formed on his face even as he crashed on the ground, skidding across the room. Zarbon was suddenly inside, shouting for the guards that would never come. And standing in the doorway was an enraged Saiya-jin Prince with one hand extended from a vicious ki blast.

"Vegeta!" Zarbon shouted. "How dare you attack Lord Freeza! You should be killed for treason!"

"Did I give you permission to return, Zarbon?" Freeza barked. "I said, excuse yourself!"

Bewildered and sputtering, Zarbon left.

Aelia was curled on the ground, sobbing, covering her face.

There was a deadly calm as Vegeta approached her weeping form. He knelt down on one knee, holding out his hand to help her up. "Take my hand, woman!" he barked.

Instead of taking his hand, Aelia pushed herself up by herself and sprang to her feet, running out of the room, not looking back.

Freeza watched Vegeta's hand fall to his side, almost limp. Chuckling, Freeza stood and laughed, almost hysterical. "You're so completely stupid, Vegeta," he sneered. "You really think I was going to rape her? You're fully aware of my preferences; you cracked enough jokes about Zarbon that you'd think you'd be smart enough to realize it was a ploy."

Vegeta said nothing, only stared him down with a dull expression.

"Now I know your little secret, monkey, and don't you worry, I won't tell anyone. I'll just use it to my… advantage," Freeza chuckled. "You're lucky only Zarbon saw this happen; I won't try you for treason. No one will know but me. However, rest assured, Vegeta: if you don't destroy Hibi in the next twenty-four hours your secret will get out. Imagine, will Nappa and Raditz be so eager to follow in your footsteps knowing that you're in love with a woman? In love enough to actually not destroy a planet? You poor excuse for a Saiya-jin! And to think… you're their prince!"

"LIAR!" Vegeta burst out, enraged.

Freeza cackled as Vegeta turned around briskly and ran out of the room. It would be only a matter of time before one of the two things would win: Vegeta's pride or his love for this stupid girl.

It was a pity he had to keep it a secret for now. He would have loved to take a bet.

Rage fueled him. He didn't know what had gotten into him. Never before in his life had he felt such pure, cold rage as when he heard Aelia's screams of terror. He hadn't even thought about what was going on, or taken the situation logically at all. Of course Freeza wouldn't touch her! He didn't like women! Besides, what the hell did it matter to him if Aelia got raped or not? She was still fully capable of teaching him to read or write, even if she had to have a bandage in between her legs for a few days!

What in all hell had gotten into him? He had actually struck Freeza! What the hell was wrong with him? Did he want to die? No one ever struck Freeza and lived, ever. He should've been killed on the spot! But instead he was taunted by Freeza and presented with the most ridiculous claim he'd ever heard in his entire life.

"In love", Vegeta muttered with hate. Hah! What a pathetic joke! There was not a chance in hell that he was in love with that stupid woman, and he would prove it, he would fucking prove it!

Freeza wanted Hibi? He'd get Hibi. He'd burn it all. Destroy the whole thing. Kill each and every single one of its inhabitants. He'd crush them all personally. In fact, he'd take on the entire planet by himself!

You poor excuse for a Saiya-jin! Freeza's voice echoed in his ears, taunting him.

No. No. He was NOT a poor excuse! He was the best there ever was!

Vegeta kept running until he reached the training center. Raditz and Nappa were arguing; he didn't know what about and he didn't care. "Raditz! Nappa!" he barked. "We're leaving. Go get your armor; we're going to Hibi."

"Hibi?" Raditz echoed. "What's on Hibi?"

"It's one of the two last planets Lord Freeza wants on his precious little list!" Vegeta snapped. "C'mon! Get going! We don't have all day and I'm dying for a full-scale slaughter!"

With the sounds of Raditz and Nappa cheering in his ears, Vegeta turned around and ran out of the room and straight to his quarters, ready to put on his scouter and leave. The paper with the co-ordinates to Earth sat on the table. Muttering, Vegeta grabbed it and tucked it in. He'd tell Raditz later.

The sound of bells down the corridor caught his attention. His heart began to pound. Emotions, conflicting, battled inside of him. He wanted to kill her. No, he didn't. He wanted something else. NO. He wanted to kill her!

No. He didn't.

Yes, he did!

He turned around and found himself facing Aelia.

Her eyes, as usual, were downcast.