He had suspected that Radditz had – surprisingly - perished when the older Saiyan had failed to report after several weeks. It had disturbed him only because instead of adding a warrior to his cause, he had lost one.

It baffled him, then, when months later, Radditz's scouter had reactivated. Every Soldier in Freeza's army knew that, upon the moment of their death, their scouter would self-destruct. No matter that each scouter had an activation code triggered by its owner's own DNA. No matter that a scouter would remain in idle mode if not activated, refusing to work unless the proper DNA sequence was provided. The threat of stolen technology was enough to make the ice-jin nervous, and so scouters suffered death when their owners did.

So when he saw that Radditz's scouter was being used, he had believed Radditz may have somehow lived. In which case, why would the Saiyan not contact his Prince?

Vegeta had toyed with the idea that someone had indeed stolen the scouter, but dismissed the notion as improbable. The only way a scouter could be removed and still function is if the Soldier removed it themselves, disabling the genetic code requirement for the thing to work while separated from its owner. Radditz could have done so, but would not have done so under duress – he'd have simply kept the contraption on and let it be destroyed upon his death.

That meant Radditz removed it on purpose, permanently disabled the genetic activation code, and gave it to someone. Handing over technology was a dire sin in Freeza's army. For Radditz to do so must have meant he had either found an ally he could trust – which Vegeta found impossible since the only beings Radditz had trusted included only himself and Nappa – or if he had been desperate. For Radditz to feel desperate, he must have known he was about to die. But then – wouldn't the knowledge of his impending death only solidify his resolve to wear the thing as he died to ensure its destruction?

No. Radditz must have been wearing the scouter when he died. He would not allow the scouter to survive him – not for any feeling of loyalty to Freeza, but rather to protect the secret encrypted communications frequency the Saiyans used.

But then how did the damn thing get reactivated? Unless Radditz was still alive -?

It had been an infuriating, catch-22, contradiction of theories – until he saw the scouter at the feet of a frail human woman and grudgingly read her thoughts to - finally! - solve the puzzle.

He supposed he shouldn't have been surprised; intelligence was a sign of mental focus, and if she had been able to understand and modify scouter technology, she certainly had mental focus. One would have to be brilliant to transform such technology…

Yet he had been surprised when her mind had revealed so much. Most species didn't have the mental discipline for such a focused relay of information. To his utter shock, her focus had been more impressive than he could have imagined. She had not given vague impressions or images. Instead, there had been a torrent of precise memories. He had almost lost himself in the blizzard of emotion – those of Radditz as he had flooded her mind with a desperate need for her to understand who.. what.. was coming – as well as her own paltry emotions. But, the depth of her perception was frightening. That she had been able to capture Rattiz's memories and feelings from his perspective was something Vegeta had believed only Saiyans had the ability to do. Her terror was understandable. For a being so adverse to violence - as the little human was - to suddenly experience full Saiyan Blood Lust, - something some Saiyans couldn't master – and still retain a semblance of sanity, was remarkable.

Even if her mind was impressively controlled, able to separate Saiyan from Human, her emotions were a flurry of scattered, unfocused contradictions. He understood the heart of Raddtiz; during his last moments, despite knowing that he was living his last minutes, the Saiyan had felt only rage and regret. When he had seen that the human was not only sensitive to, but receptive to telepathy, he had lashed out and had given her the tools needed to continue the fight in his place. It was a gift, really. To honor someone and entrust them to finish what they could not themselves finish, it was a rare thing even between Saiyans. But to give such a thing to an alien? Preposterous. Unless Radditz had somehow known that Vegeta would find this bizarre little human. And then presume to assume his Prince would initiate a telepathic link. What an asinine idea.. but Bardok had been able to see the future. Had his spawn developed the same talent and was using it to infuriate him? So like Rattidtz. The imbicile. He probably did this on purpose.

Vegeta had spit a wide-spread telepathic curse in every direction he could and hoped that wherever Radditz was, he was able to hear it. He almost snorted when he thought he could hear Radditz guffawing deep in his head.

Vegeta had sighed and resigned himself.

And…when Vegeta had finally touched her mind with his own, she had not reacted as she had when Radditz had used her.

Her reaction had confused him. How could someone be open and curious by the same facilitator that made them feel distress and panic? He hadn't had to fight to access her mind. Maybe she hadn't realized that. He certainly hadn't expected it. He hadn't expected much resistance, true, but not because he thought her incapable. Rather, he thought he would need to focus her thoughts in order to gain intelligible information from her. When he learned that not only could she do so without his help – but that she could resist yet chose not to despite the pain it must have caused her, he had pulled back. But not before he had already put more force into invading her thoughts than he had needed.

He shuddered and tried to shake off his musings – likely instigated from the proximity with the human's mind. He had gone in much deeper than intended and it had affected him more than he was comfortable with. Idly, he wondered if he would suffer from human tainted dreams and then grinned. Human nightmares. Ha. What a joke.

His grin faded. Feh. Humans. Better to be Saiyan with Saiyan dreams and Saiyan emotions that were focused and intense. Emotions that made sense and served a purpose rather than linger for no other reason than to make one doubt their own resolve or become so conflicted they were at war with themselves.

All Vegeta needed was rage to inflame his blood. When no such outlet could be found, he supposed he could tolerate his blood lust simmering down to plain lust - the natural result from unresolved anger – if he hadn't been conditioned to loathe the usual means by which he was made to give up his preferred frenzy for the other.

Vegeta sneered. Zarbon had often been used in a game to amuse Freeza and his audiences. Invoking a Saiyan's wrath had been all too easy for Zarbon, and the Saiyans had all had been happy to comply. At first. But Zarbon's species had unique traits that made them a favorite across many species, as well as numerous sexes, as pleasure companions. The creepy green lizard found pleasure in pain. If that weren't enough by itself, he had specialized glands that produced very powerful, agonizing-to-resist sex pheromones. And he loved using it on Saiyans; a race, so Zarbon loved to boast, that had such a naturally powerful libido anyway that it was all too easy to push one from being merely sexually aggressive to one that would wreathe in a blinding, excruciating, unfulfillable desire.

The Saiyans had learned quickly to resist getting angry when Zarbon was near. If they weren't angry, they couldn't be made to feel painfully aroused. Not that they needed to be angry first, but forcing a Saiyan to transition from wrath to arousal was most of the appeal for Zarbon. Refraining from getting angry had helped, but as with any resistance, it had then become a challenge for Zarbon to make it more difficult to resist. Eventually, the game had become less amusing when Zarbon had taken it too far; it was learned at that moment that Vegeta lost control of his Ki when sexually provoked.

Despite his superior strength, Zarbon had been in a regeneration tank for days. If that hadn't been enough of a deterrent for the lizard, Vegeta had simply stopped responding to the pheromone. His body still reacted the same, but somehow, he was able to repel the effects and retain control.

Vegeta's lips pealed back in disgust. It had been several years since that lesson, but Vegeta had never forgotten. Even so, he still believed it better to be angry, aroused, or both than to fade into a worthless, confused haze of scattered emotions.

He pushed his thoughts to the back of his mind when he heard a commotion from below a fog of haze, ash, and smoke. Interested, he banked left and fell through the clouds to investigate.

Landing a block away, he quickly made his way to the sounds, ensuring that he was cloaked in shadows. It was difficult to ignore the stinging in his nose and the burning in his eyes from the smoke. Why had he removed his helmet? Now he was without the built in scouter as well as an easy way to breathe or a way to see through obstacles like this stupid blanket of smog. He rolled his eyes at himself. When he had seen the little female with Rattiz's scouter, he had allowed himself to give in to his curiosity. Who was she that Radditz had trusted her with such a thing? He hadn't been able to see properly with his helmet on; it regulated light waves so that they remained constant. Perpetual day planets with three stars or dark planets with no star at all appeared the same to him. But colors and details were washed out. He didn't think he would miss the helmet. And it was no big thing to leave it behind – the female already had Radditz's scouter. What was one more?

And he had wanted to see her. Why was she so special? Why had Radditz noticed her before he entered her mind?

So, he removed his helmet and looked at her.

Her colors had been... unique... but she was so covered in grime, blood, and soot, that he couldn't get a true impression of her. She was clearly fragile. That was no odd thing; most beings were drastically weak compared to himself. Yet even under the mud he could tell that she was finely made. Somehow she made being delicate not so deplorable. He had found himself responding to her gently, as if breaking her was something to be avoided. It had been a curious sensation. He had allowed it for a moment, just to experience it.

Her most exceptional features though, were those weirdly shaped crystalline-colored eyes. Her irises were small compared to his own, but the depth of expression within them made them seem large and all-seeing. Later, as he debated forming a telepathic link - and only because he was certain she hadn't realized it –he had watched her as she had stared at him. Being able to clearly see her emotions as they flickered on her face had left him feeling bizarrely exposed. Like she could read his heart and was responding to what she saw. And that was before the link! But during the link…. she felt too much. So much it made him feel.

That sensation had been entirely distasteful. He had broken the link and backed away before she could infect him with any other human nonsense.

He reminded himself that he was safely inside his own skull again. When nothing popped up or argued, he continued his train of thought. Being able to see her had been a mild curiosity. Mostly, he had wanted to smell her. Saiyan vision was spectacular, but a Saiyan's sense of smell could determine what other beings were feeling. Pheromones couldn't lie. Had something in her scent told Radditz to trust her before he reached out with his mind? He wanted to know.

His brows pinched. And now he did.

He dropped his head and bit off a growl. He hadn't realized it before now, but he could still smell her. He considered the scent. It wasn't compelling him to react in any way, but with the smoke in his nose, it wasn't particularly strong, either. In fact, if he hadn't been focused on it, he may have not even noticed it. Except now that he had, something caught his attention.

When directly in front of her, she had mostly smelled of fear. He was used to this and could easily ignore it. After all, the stench of a terrified female wasn't overly outrageous considering what was currently happening on her planet. But now that he had noticed something different, he couldn't stop noticing. The undertone was… peculiar. Not unpleasant, just…He cocked his head and subconsciously opened his lips to breathe in, allowing the glands on the roof of his mouth to taste her pheromones.

She was not in heat. So why did her scent pull at his attention -?

He blinked. What did her smell – or anyone's smell – matter to him? He wasn't here to dwell on the inhabitants. He was here to find -

His head snapped up and all of his senses narrowed into focus. A crazed, animalistic snarl tore from his throat, past bared and glistening teeth.

Finally, his chance to settle a score.

Zarbon.