Anecdote 2
One hundred years ago, the Saiyans began their rebellion against Frieza.
It was not the grand, universe-wide assault the warrior race craved. At least, not yet. One day, however, one day they would rise against the Cold Empire and face Frieza head-long. The King planned that all able-bodied Saiyans, no matter how low their power level, would serve a purpose in the future battle, even if it was as humble a role as cannon fodder.
The King knew he had to start small otherwise he risked the lizard tyrant's notice. He started in the shift of customs and the altering of his people's practices, a slow creep into the consciousness and beliefs of planet Vegeta's populace. Infant purging missions were stopped. Squad loyalty and interaction between the warrior ranks was not only encouraged but enforced.
The changes went unnoticed by Frieza, so long as the Saiyans continued to purge and conquer worlds at his command, what the monkeys chose to do with their offspring was of no concern to him.
Of course, despite these being the King's decrees, the changes did not sit well with every Saiyan warrior. The Elites in particular resented the practice, believing it to be coddling the weak at the expense of the strong. And when a handful of low ranked warriors, granted the opportunity to live and realize their potential, demonstrated that not only were they in the same league but even surpassed the Elites the resentment deepened and festered.
Kakkarot started life as a weakling by Saiyan standards. If he'd been born the century prior, the measure of his power level would have him sent off on an infant purging mission, written off as a loss until he proved he could survive the alien world.
A fact that amused Prince Vegeta and something Nappa brought up every chance he could since their journey to Earth. Of the brothers it was Radditz who seemed visibly bothered by the Elites' condescending treatment of the younger Saiyan these past months. The long-maned warrior, however, could do nothing about it. Kakkarot remained ever cheerful. He openly acknowledged his weakness and promised to one day prove himself useful to the Saiyan empire.
This only further amused the Prince. So much so that whenever they made planet-fall and spent more than a day in dealing with the indigenous life-forms, the Prince invited the youngest Saiyan to serve as a warm up before properly training against Nappa and Radditz.
It was an honor for Kakkarot. And while initially apprehensive of getting the absolute shit beaten out of him when there were no regen tanks available, he gradually learned to keep up. And it was around this time that Nappa began acting testy with him.
Normally he could understand why Nappa drove a fist or a knee into him, followed by an indignant growl of "How dare you question a Saiyan Elite!" or something to that effect. Except, Kakkarot noticed that these punishments were being doled out almost exclusively to him and for the smallest of things, like offering the choice portions of their hunted game to the Prince.
The young Saiyan didn't really understand why the older man was so irritable with him specifically. Radditz only ever acknowledged Nappa's treatment of Kakkarot whenever the brothers were alone, usually during reconnaissance.
"You've been on a few missions with Mr. Nappa before, right?" Kakkarot asked as he quietly followed after his brother up a large, tall tree.
Radditz nodded, settling in the center of one of the round, bubble-like leaf clusters high atop the tree.
Equally hidden in a lower cluster, Kakkarot continued, "Is he always this... um..."
"Big of an asshole?" Radditz supplied.
"I was going to say strict," Kakkarot said under his breath. "But your word works too."
There was a soft chuckle and then Radditz's answer, "He is to anyone who isn't an Elite."
"This is that politics thing again, isn't it?"
"Among other things," the long-maned Saiyan said with a smirk. "But he gets particularly nasty with anyone he thinks is a threat."
"But I wouldn't hurt Mr. Nappa! I don't think I could. I mean, you've seen me against Prince Vegeta during our spars. All I could do is block and dodge a little."
Radditz was about to say something before whispering for Kakkarot to be quiet as their scouters suddenly picked up approaching life forms. Peering down from their vantage point, the brothers watched as a group of bipedal insect-like aliens who were carrying woven baskets arrived. They chattered among themselves in a clicking language for a few moments before the scouters managed to translate their conversation about which fruit was best for carapace grooming, the amount of trouble their larva could get into, and other mundane topics. The aliens' power levels displayed on the scouter's eyepiece were near negligible but this could simply mean that these aliens weren't the warriors of the specie.
No words were exchanged between the brothers at this point. Kakkarot simply jumped down with a friendly smile as the scouter translated his chipper "Hey there!"
Some of the insectoids dropped their baskets in alarm while others had the shells on their backs lifting to reveal gossamer wings.
"I don't mean you any harm," Kakkarot said, "Honest, I just wanted to know where-" the rest of his words couldn't be heard above the loud humming of the aliens' vibrating wings.
"You have to listen to me! If you don't, you're going to ha-"
The hum only grew louder and the sky darkened as a swarm of the aliens armed to the mandible with all sorts of blasters and bladed weapons appeared. The alien at the lead charged forward, swung its blade, and came to an abrupt halt. But not by choice.
Kakkarot had the tip of the sword pinched between his fingers. "If you don't surrender, my brother's going to take his turn. And you don't want that."
When the rest of the swarm surrounded him and aimed the muzzles of their blasters at him, Kakkarot couldn't help but sigh in disappointment. He planted his feet and braced himself. He knew what was going to happen next.
A wave of Ki crashed into the swarm, knocking most of the thin insectoids either off their feet or outright unconscious.
"Last chance. All of you. Stand down," Kakkarot ordered, glaring at the alien. The gravity of the situation was somewhat lessened when he added a "Please?"
There was a shrill cry of rage, "No one in their right mind will negotiate with you vile Saiyans!"
Another wave of Ki, stronger than the first, quickly followed. The last of the aliens thudded to the ground.
"I tried to reason with them," Kakkarot murmured.
"That you did. And it's more than what they would have normally gotten," Radditz said before sending a report to Nappa of the encounter.
"Are we going to have to kill them?"
"Not this again, Kakkarot," Radditz groaned and rolled his eyes, "You know that that's up to the Prince."
"Yeah but given their power level and the state of their technology, they're probably gonna get purged. Can't we just leave them alone? I mean, maybe the empire can find a different use for-"
Radditz silenced Kakkarot with a fist to the stomach. The older Saiyan growled, "We're Saiyans, Kakkarot. Fighting's in our blood."
"Fighting. Sure. N-not. Slaughtering." Kakkarot wheezed out while he clutched his gut.
Radditz lifted him up by the front of his armor.
"Don't ever talk like that within earshot of Nappa or the Prince or any of the Elites if you don't want to be branded a traitor," the heat in Radditz's low warning was underscored with dread. "You are a Saiyan. You are loyal to the Royal Family and do as ordered. You live and die by their command. Understand?"
No, Kakkarot didn't understand. He didn't understand why being a Saiyan automatically meant you were a killer. Maybe it was because of the blow to the head he suffered when he was a child. Maybe he took after his mother more than his father. He didn't know.
When he didn't answer fast enough for his brother's liking, Radditz shook him hard enough his vision doubled.
"I said do you understand?" Radditz repeated.
He still didn't. But what he did understand was Raddtiz's unspoken sentiment of I won't always be there to protect you.
Slowly, wordlessly, Kakkarot nodded and the tension left the older Saiyan's stance. Radditz dropped him just in time for Nappa to bark out Vegeta's decision to "Purge the indigenous race. The planet's going to be used for resource harvesting."
"Understood," Radditz said, eyeing his brother warily.
Kakkarot said nothing but he nodded all the same. He was a Saiyan. He was loyal to the Royal Family. And he will live and die by their command. He just wished there was a way for him to have a say in missions and said as much to his brother.
Radditz wouldn't look him in the eye when he spoke, "Get stronger so you can rise in the ranks. If we become Elites, our words and decisions will have more weight."
Again, Kakkarot said nothing and nodded. But now there was a fierce determination in his eyes that he didn't have earlier.
A/N: My hand slipped and this came out. I figured we could do with a quick look at what the Saiyans were up to in the story. Got the next few chapters outlined. Here's hoping I can stick to an actual schedule this time. As always, reviews are appreciated and loved!