Chapter 6: Life After Namek

Disclaimer: I DO NOT own Dragon Ball Z or any of its characters.

WARNING: This story contains strong language, murder, and adult situations. Reader's discretion is advised.

Welcome back, everyone! Hope you're enjoying the story so far. I did have this chapter up last night but for some reason a lot of the edits I had made weren't saved and so I had to take it down, fix the issues, and repost. Anyway with all that out of the way, here you go. Enjoy!

It has been almost a year since Nonica and I fled from Planet Frost. We have spent most of that time traveling around the galaxy. We have no real destination. When we tire of being on the ship, we find refuge on merchant planets. Small planets that have various vendors for many different things and serve as a rest stop of sorts for space travelers. We have also taken to volunteering our services as mercenaries for hire. The clients pay handsomely so we are able to survive quite comfortably and stay under the radar of any lingering soldiers of Frieza's army. We found out shortly after leaving the wreckage that had once been Planet Namek that Planet Frost was not the only planet that got the order of execution for Nonica and me. We had landed on one of Frieza's training planets to gather supplies and refuel the ship when the men there tried to arrest us. Let's just say Nonica got to enjoy another night of killing an entire planet's worth of Frieza's men. I got to join in on the fun this time, though. We made a little game of it. She won. I've never been in battle with Nonica. I'd always known that she was fierce, powerful, and strong, but it's nothing like seeing her in action. Her focus and drive are unparalleled. For the sake of transparency, I found it extremely sexy. We got our supplies. Nonica then proceeded to talk me into changing up my attire.

One month after Namek

"Zarbon, you've been wearing the same damn thing for as long as I can remember. It's time for a change." They were in the armory and Nonica had been searching through the uniforms. Her uniform had been damaged and blood-stained during their "game". After everything was said and done, the two had showered, gotten something to eat, and gone to the armory to get what they would need for their journey. Nonica was wearing a white tank top and gray shorts. Zarbon was wearing a white T-shirt and black lounge pants. Zarbon stood behind her with his arms crossed over his chest and watched as his tiny companion rummaged through the clothes. She soon came to a crate. She opened it and inside were branded new armored vests. It was all black and very cool. She hadn't seen any of the other guys wearing it. Maybe it was the newest design. "We should take these." Nonica said, "Maybe we won't stick so much."

Zarbon walked over and took the vest from her. "Fine." He spoke. Admittedly he wasn't as excited at the idea of new clothes as Nonica was.

She smirked at him, "I know it's not leg warmers, but they are pretty cool and, as I said, you have been wearing that same style for far too long. You're getting something different. Think of it as a new beginning." She grabbed dark blue pants and a pair of black boots and handed them to Zarbon. "Pants. Not briefs. And no capes." Zarbon made a face. Nonica giggled, "Don't look at me that way." She waved her hand at him in a shooing motion, "Go. Change." Zarbon took the clothes and went to put them on. Nonica turned back to her foraging, quite pleased with herself. She had also taken a black armored vest for herself and soon found a blue, long-sleeved jumpsuit, white gloves, and white boots, and too went to change. Her boots went up to her just below her thighs and had a little bit of a heel on them. Her gloves only went up to her wrists. She checked her reflection in a mirror. She was very satisfied with her new outfit.

Nonica went back out to meet up with Zarbon. He was wearing the black armored vest, nothing under it so that his arms were out. He had on the pants and the boots. It was a decided improvement. "I like it," Nonica said. Zarbon turned his head trying to hide the slight blush he got on his cheek at her compliment. Her eyes went up to Zarbon's forehead. "But can we talk about that thing you wear on your forehead?"

Zarbon touched his fingers to his headpiece. "What about it?"

"It's a tiara, Zarbon. I'm supposed to be the princess here, not you."

Zarbon chuckled, "I take it that you think I should do away with it?"

Nonica nodded, "A new beginning."

He reached up and removed the headpiece and held it in his hand for a moment. He looked at it, then looked at Nonica, and had an idea. Walking over to Nonica, he reached over and placed it on her forehead, secured it, and pulled her hair around it, sweeping her hair off her face. "There. A princess needs a tiara." He said.

Nonica shyly smiled, a little blush of her own covering her cheeks. "Thank you."

They packed up extra clothes, food, and other supplies, and started to head back to their ship to load up. They saw a ship that was bigger than the one they had been traveling in and decided to investigate. "This is fucking sweet." Said Nonica. There was a living area with a bigger kitchen off to the side as you entered the ship. In the middle was a ladder that led up to the cockpit, as well as down leading to a bathroom and two bedrooms. "Yeah, we're taking this baby for a spin."

They fueled up, loaded their supplies, and left the planet.

When I think about Frieza and all I'd done for that bastard only to be met with such betrayal as an order of execution for simply disappointing him once, it boils my blood. I know now what a waste it all had been. Nonica was honestly the only good thing that came from my time in Frieza's company. Things between us have actually been great. We have formed a friendship through our time spent together, though the want for more still plagues me. I have held on to the promise I made. I don't try to persuade her to change her mind. The truth is her friendship is all I have. I'll take it. We have also been trying to piece together what happened that day on Namek by asking people that might know something on some of the planets we land on. That has proven to be fruitless, though Nonica remains hopeful that her brother is still alive out there somewhere. I still hate him, but I hope, for her sake, that he is and that they are reunited someday. I only care about keeping us alive. That's what these past six months have been about. Surviving and not going completely insane. We've done well. Our reputation has been building. We rarely use real names and never let on to who we were under Frieza. We are thriving. I feel more alive now than I have in a long time. I feel like I can do anything.

Nonica woke up in her bed on the spacecraft she and Zarbon commandeered from one of Frieza's planets. They had been traveling to their next job for about a week now. This one promised to be fun. While, over time, many of Frieza's armies have disbanded, a few have been settling on other planets. They have been invading them, taking them over, killing off entire populations, and causing most of the people living there to flee. When Nonica and Zarbon found this out, they were all too happy to come to their aide. For a fee, of course. They had accepted plenty of jobs. Many had come to them seeking help with one thing or the other. But these were their favorites. These were personal. Nonica stretched and got out of bed. She walked out of her room and climbed the ladder up to the living area. She didn't see Zarbon. She walked over to the kitchen and began to make some breakfast. Zarbon descended the ladder then. He had been making sure they were still on track. "Good morning." He said.

"Is it?" Nonica retorted.

Zarbon chuckled and took a seat at the counter. Nonica was not really a morning person. She would be fine once she had some food in her belly. She placed a plate in front of Zarbon when she was done cooking. She then came around with her own plate and sat down beside him and began eating. This was their routine when they were traveling. Zarbon wasn't a very good cook, so Nonica volunteered to do it for the both of them. "We should be arriving in the next few hours." He said as he dug into his food.

"Good. I'm ready to get this over with. "

"We can head back to Targa once we've finished and reported back to the clients." Targa was a merchant planet where travelers from all over the galaxy come to rest, refuel their ships, get supplies, and have some fun. It had become Nonica and Zarbon's favorite planet to rest on. They had even made friends with some of the locals, and it had even been where they found most of their clients. They even had an impressive training facility that the two warriors have been taking advantage of. Nonica has become stronger. At times Zarbon believed she was stronger than one of the Ginyus. He was finding it difficult to keep up with her.

"We're taking some time off after this one. We've been busy for months now. I'm tired."

"Agreed." They finished their meal and Nonica went to shower and get ready for their arrival and the upcoming fight.

They got the alert from the ship's computer that they would be landing in five minutes. They were ready. Suddenly, a shockwave rocked their ship. They began hitting buttons trying to steady their craft. Something came up on their radar. There seemed to be some commotion happening on the planet. They were picking up several power levels and it appeared as though there was already a battle raging. "Looks like the party started with us, Nonica."

"Well, let's land this thing and see who got here before us."

They landed in the middle of a war zone and exited the ship. They flew into the sky to assess the situation better. Fighters with laser guns were opening fire on some assailant that Nonica and Zarbon couldn't quite see. "Looks like Frieza's fighters have them outnumbered," Nonica said, the fighters were too busy with whoever they were firing at to notice them hovering in the sky.

"Perhaps we should assist them."

Nonica smirked. She raised her arms up above her head, gathered her energy, and brought them down, raining energy blasts down on the warriors below. "Hellfire!" she cried. Her attack decimated the battlefield, and the men below were wiped out. The ones that were standing away from the blasts stopped firing and just stood there watching in awe.

The battlefield was covered by clouds of dust and smoke. Zarbon flew closer to the remaining men and prepared an attack of his own. Just as he was about to release it, "Big bang!"

A massive ball of energy shot out from the smoke cloud where the men had previously been firing. It barely missed hitting Zarbon before colliding into the stunned fighters. In a flash what remained of the soldiers was completely gone.

Nonica hovered above and stared into the smoke screen. She had heard the battle call but couldn't believe it. As the smoke and kicked-up dust settled, she could see the outline of a man beginning to form. She began to smile and lowered herself to touch down on the ground. Zarbon watched on, still a little in shock from almost being hit with the blast. He couldn't see the man that had thrown it yet, but he already knew. "Fuck." He muttered.

Nonica walked up to stand in front of the man, "It's good to see you, Vegeta."

The smoke began to clear, and the dust began to settle around them. "Likewise. I have a question, though." He pointed to Zarbon, who was still hovering in the sky. "Why is he still alive?"

Zarbon regained his composure and lowered himself to the ground. "Nonica was gracious enough to spare my life."

"And why would she do something as stupid as that?"

Nonica chimed in, "I spared him because he helped me when Frieza was interrogating me about you and things we'd done on Namek. Frieza would have killed me if not for Zarbon vouching for me."

Vegeta hmphed, "And I'm sure he did that out of the goodness of his heart and not just as an attempt to sway you back into his bed chambers. Pathetic."

Zarbon's anger seethed. He'd covered for Nonica because he didn't want to see her killed. He wanted her safe. It was Vegeta's fault she had been put in that position to begin with. Nonica retorted, "Well, you will be happy to know that I've not been back in anyone's bed chambers other than my own. Not that that is any of your business."

"Not for lack of trying, I'm sure."

"Look, Zarbon and I have an alliance. Like it, don't like it. I really could not give less of a damn. But what you will do is respect it and keep your hands, and your opinions, to yourself." She looked over at Zarbon, who was all but beaming at Nonica defending him against Vegeta for a change. "That goes for the both of you." Zarbon gave an amused nod. She looked back at her brother, "What are you even doing here anyway?"

"I'm looking for Kakarot. Have been for months now. I'd heard rumors about a Saiyan out there killing the remainder of Frieza's army. Imagine my surprise when I find out it's my own baby sister. I had to see this for myself. I found out where you were heading next, arrived here before you, and got attacked." Vegeta smirked. "Then you arrived and took out most of them all on your own. You have really come into your own. You've certainly gotten stronger since last we saw each other. I have to say that I'm impressed."

Nonica smirked back. It really was a family trait. They looked so similar when they did it. "Thank you. Why don't we go back to you my ship and you can tell me all about what happened after we parted ways on Namek. I have been dying to know."

Everyone went back to the spacecraft. Nonica prepared food for everyone. Zarbon took his plate to his room. He wanted to let Nonica enjoy her reunion with her brother. He also didn't want to be near Vegeta for longer than he needed to be. Vegeta snorted, "You cook for him? And is that Zarbon's tiara you're wearing on your forehead?"

"Remember what I said about your opinions? And yes. It was a gift." Nonica answered as she took a seat in front of Vegeta. The two ate the way two Saiyans do which meant they didn't get much talking done. Once they finished eating, Vegeta began to recant the events that played out on Namek. He told her about The Ginyu Force and teaming up with the bald guy and Kakarot's son to battle them. How they all almost died in the battle when Kakarot appeared and finished them off. About when Captain Ginyu switched bodies with Kakarot. How Vegeta had defeated Jeice and fought Ginyu in Kakarot's body. When Vegeta defeated Ginyu, then tried to snatch Vegeta's body and instead got put inside a frog's body. Nonica laughed out loud at that one. Served him right. He then got to the part about the battle with Frieza. About his forms and how each was stronger than the last. That he made the bald man blast him through the stomach so that he could be healed by a little Namekian child with healing abilities. That he got the boost of power that comes to Saiyans when they come back from the blink of death. Even then though, it wasn't enough, and Vegeta had been killed by Frieza. Nonica was floored at that revelation. Frieza murdered her brother. The very thought sent Nonica into a rage. She once again celebrated the knowledge that Frieza was dead. "You died." She gasped. Vegeta nodded. "I have to ask. What was that like?"

Vegeta shrugged, "I was only gone for a few hours. Brought back to life by a wish maybe using Earth's dragon balls. I really don't remember anything after I died. Just waking up under the Earth. I suppose Kakarot buried me." He sat back in his chair, folded his arms, and continued, "When I climbed out of my grave, the sky was black, and a battle was still raging on. I flew to the scene of the fight and saw that the dragon had returned. Frieza had tried to make his wish, but the dragon only spoke Namekian." Nonica laughed again at Frieza's misfortune. "I saw Kakarot. He was different. His hair was blonde, and his eyes were green. He was incredibly strong. He'd done it, Nonica. He'd become a Super Saiyan."

"What?" she was shocked. A small part of her had always believed that the Super Saiyan was just a legend, but if anyone could achieve it, it would be Vegeta. He was powerful and a royal. How had Kakarot been the one to actually achieve it?

"It's true. I saw it for myself. Next thing I know we had all been transported to Earth by a wish using the dragon balls on Namek. After that, Frieza blew up the core of the planet so it would explode. He and Kakarot continued to battle. Eventually, Kakarot defeated him, and the planet exploded."

Nonica's head was spinning. This had been quite the story. A part of her wished she'd stuck around. "So, you were magically sent to Earth and now you're out, traveling the cosmos, looking for Kakarot?"

"Yes. After the fight with Frieza, we all believed that Kakarot had perished when the planet exploded. The Earthlings were going to use the Namekian dragon balls to wish him back. But it turned out that Kakarot had somehow survived. He ended up on some planet and told the Earthlings that he would be back soon. I decided that I needed to know how he'd done and that he must be out there undergoing some kind of special training. I stole a ship from the Earth woman and started looking for him."

"This is so much information to process all at once. Do you really think there's a way to achieve it yourself?"

Vegeta scoffed, "If that low-level clown, Kakarot, can do it then so can I."

Nonica sat back in her chair, crossed her legs, and then her arms. "Well, I'm sorry, but I haven't heard anything. We had been going from planet to planet asking whoever we could if they knew anything. No one does."

"I'm starting to have my doubts that I will find him. I was about to give up and head back to Earth to see if perhaps he's returned home. Then I heard about you and decided to drop in."

Nonica smiled, "Well, aren't you a sweet big brother? I'm glad you do. I went back to Namek to try and find out what was happening, but the planet had exploded before we arrived." Nonica's face dropped, "I was worried about you. It's been hell not knowing what became of you. I've missed you terribly."

"I was worried for you as well. I am glad that you weren't there. I am proud of you for all you've done for yourself. Even if I dislike the company you keep."

Nonica shrugged. "It's not been a bad journey. Zarbon isn't like he was before. He doesn't beat me. He's not even tried anything with me since we've begun this crazy trip. I dare say that I consider him a friend."

"All of that is fine, sister. Just never forget where you came from and what he was. You just never know." Nonica nodded. She knew that her brother just wanted her safe. "Well, while it has been wonderful catching up with you, I think I'll take my leave. It's a long trip back to Earth."

"Okay," Nonica replied, she stood up, her eyes tearing up, and extended her hand. Vegeta took her hand and then snatched her to him. He embraced his sister as he did the last time they had parted ways. He truly was proud of her and would miss her deeply. He knew that she needed to continue on whatever path she was traveling. Nonica wanted her freedom, whatever that meant to her. She had found it. When they released each other Nonica placed her hand on his cheek. "Take care of yourself and achieve your birthright. We'll see each other again."

Vegeta smiled and nodded. He then exited the ship and began making his way back to his own ship. Nonica wiped her eyes, straightened her shoulders, and climbed up the ladder into the cockpit to report to her clients that the threat was gone, and they would be able to return to their planet.

Vegeta was flying back to his when he felt a power level coming up behind him. He stopped and hovered there in the air. Zarbon was flying towards and stopped just a few feet from Vegeta. "What do you want, Zarbon."

"I could never harm her. I just wanted to ease your mind. For what it's worth, I do still love Nonica very much. She doesn't feel the same about me and that is fine. Her friendship is enough for me."

"I should hope not. I think you've harmed her enough for ten lifetimes." Vegeta replied. His words cut deep. Zarbon had been a monster. He knew it, but he vowed to never be that monster ever again. Vegeta turned to face Zarbon. He said, "I'm not worried about Nonica. I can tell that her power has improved so much that she could easily dispatch you if need be. And I honestly don't care what you feel for her as long as it encourages you to make sure she's safe." Vegeta floated over to Zarbon so that they were face to face. "But know this, if any harm does come to her and I am able to find out, I will hunt you down and finish what I started on Namek."

"I would expect no less. I would welcome it." Zarbon said. Vegeta scoffed at him. He then turned his back to Zarbon and continued flying to his spaceship. Zarbon went back to his ship as well. He and Nonica would head to Planet Targa and have a well-deserved and much-needed vacation.

Nonica now knows that her brother survived the battle on Namek. I am happy to know that that burden has been lifted off her shoulders. Nonica had often worried that Vegeta had died and often tortured herself with the thought that, had she stayed, perhaps the outcome would have been different. I believe that, had she stayed, she would have been killed at Frieza's hand or even one of the members of the Ginyu Force. I believe that things worked out just the way they needed to. She is free and she is happy. And what better outcome could there have been? Now that we have completed our latest job, the Princess and I will be taking some time off. We had been doing back-to-back jobs for months. I, for one, am looking forward to a break.

Meanwhile, on a planet many light-years away, Nova was walking into a throne. She had some information and was going to share it with her mistress. She flung open the large double doors and sauntered up to a throne where her mistress was sitting legs crossed, with the side of her cheek resting on one hand, and a glass of wine in the other. "They just left the planet, Lady Winter."

"Thank you, Nova. Where are they heading now?" she asked.

"Not exactly certain, but our best guess is they're on their way to Planet Targa. Our intel is that that's where they like to dock."

"Hmm...very well. Ready the troops to head out."

"Yes, Mistress." Nova bowed and left to do as she had been instructed.

Lady Winter turned to look at her second in command, a woman with tanned skin, brown eyes, and long, black, wavy hair that she wore in a high ponytail. "Astraea, ready my ship. I want to be en route to Targa by the end of the day. We're going to visit a friend of yours."

Astraea smirked, "Yes, Lady Winter, as you wish."

With the knowledge that Vegeta, Nonica can rest easier. She and Zarbon are now making their way to Targa with the hope of some rest and relaxation, unaware of what is about to be heading their way. Who is this Lady Winter? What could she want with Nonica and Zarbon? Tune in next time to find out!

Well, there you have it guys and girls. I hope you enjoyed the latest chapter in our story and hope that you will join us next time for chapter 7. I really love the direction this story is heading and I am so excited to get it up for you all to read. If you're enjoying the story so far please leave a review and let me know! Until next time, BYE!