A prison by another name
Escarole was looking out on to the scenery before. She had been called in to assist with a UNIT operation a group of terrorists in a country she couldn't pronounce had to be dealt with. The country was an odd one half the country was a desert the other half was jungle.
The village that they had come too was one of the poorest on Earth. No one had Capsules the entire area was still like it had been hundreds of years ago. The situation she had found herself in was so damn familiar to her.
It was her the Colonel and a young Captain. The air was so humid next to this river. No place on Vegeta got this humid she could remember. They had come hunting for extremists they found a bunch of poor people in mud huts. In a language she didn't know the people that they were supporting were interrogating old people, children, and cripple malnourished humans.
From a very early age she had since this kind of thing. She knew what was coming. The government forces may have not spoken in a language she understood but she got the jist of it. The translations were easy 'Why do you have this much food? Where are your young men and woman? Why are you all so nervous? Are you supporting them?"
The government guys that they were support line the villagers up in a line. Colonel was protesting to the government officer. He waived him off and said "Let us do this our way." He had said in very broken English to Colonel.
There was yelling screaming and it was over in a heartbeat. They hosed them down with some lead. The young Captain had covered his soft blue eyes there was a look of shock on his face that she could remember she had once had.
Her mind flashed back to a time when Father showed her the family business. Her mind seemed focused on that little boy. Colonel Stryker didn't look away. He wasn't surprised but from what she could feel was horrified.
The government forces started poising with the dead bodies taking picture and trophies. Escarole found herself breaking into laughter. It was like this had been the funniest thing that ever had happened to her. Their smiles had infected her.
The young blonde Captain looked at her as she was laughing. She was to the point that she nearly lost her footing and fell into that muddy river bank. He need not even ask the question that was clearly all over that shell shocked face of his. She gasped for air and said to him "I thought we were different but I guess the same shit happens everywhere!"
She laughed as the village was burned to the ground and as a chopper came to pick them up. She had managed to finally to calm herself down but the Captain was just staring at her the entire ride back. The Colonel on the other hand said nothing did nothing closed his eyes and seem to make an effort to ignore the world around him.
They return to the operating base of UNIT in this country. The base was in a city that had seen things. People here didn't like to get into group because it made them targets for suicide bombers. There were check points everywhere, everyone had a gun, there were no cops just MPs. The base gave you a good overlook of the Presidential Palace.
The Palace was opulent place. The wealth of the place screamed in a city that was the poorest on Earth. The 'elected' president of this country had stated that he got ninety percent of the vote. He was the one of the wealth men on Earth and was no secret why. Escarole had hated the smell of this place for the moment she had come here. The place reeked of so many smells that she had smelled elsewhere.
The Captain had left for the bowels of the base leaving the Colonel with Escarole in some nameless numbered conference room waiting for him. Escarole sat trying not to look interested as she could sense that the Colonel was about to go into a lecture.
Colonel Stryker "Are you okay Princess?" Escarole "What?" Colonel Stryker "I'm asking if you're okay?" Escarole "Why would be asking me that?" Colonel Stryker "Because you're clearly not." Escarole angry "Then what is the point of asking your absurd question! And for your information I'm fine!" Colonel Stryker "Is that so?"
Escarole spiting with anger "Yes it happens to be true!" Escarole had nearly lunged out of her seat had smashed a hole in the metal table a vein in her forehead was visible. As soon as she stop talking she realized all of this.
Escarole drew herself back in. She was acted without thought. A terrible feeling had come over her. She dare not articulate it but it was clear to herself what it was. It was that she had no control right now. She had laughed without meaning to, she was angry without wanting to be and she didn't know why. Escarole looked once again at the Colonel and he knew it to.
The Colonel didn't seem to be pitting her but it pissed her to no end that he knew. She jumped out of her seat and was out the door out of the base. No part of her wanted to be there. She was done being his bodyguard for the day. She did care if he blew her skull up at this point.
She wanted off this miserable planet yesterday. At Mach speed she flew to the only thing she felt need. She was over Capsule Corp. in seconds and landing in the backyard. She was feeling around for Vegeta. He was in that Gravity chamber that the woman had built for him.
Like lightning she was over to it smashing the emergency button that stopped the machine and the door flew open. She heard her brother yelling obscenities as she marched in. Vegeta "For the last goddamn time woman I don't want a break!"
Vegeta looked to see it was Escarole. His anger to increase as his tail angry jumped around. Vegeta "What the hell are you doing here!" Escarole "We're leaving." Vegeta immediately calmed himself and said "This again?" His posture relaxed as he got himself a towel and a water bottle.
Vegeta "What is it this time? Did the beta male ask you to dinner again? Did you get tired off not being constantly getting compliments from father?" Escarole "Shut up!" Vegeta "Just because you're bored sister doesn't mean we can leave. You know how much progress I have made since the woman gave me this device? I can only most taste Super Saiyan."
Escarole "You don't see it do you brother!" Vegeta paused and faced her, he had just heard something in her voice that he didn't here before anxiety. It was like she was breathing to the point that she was suffocating herself. Her pupils were dilated, her voice trembling.
Vegeta in a serious voice "What happened?" Escarole "You don't see it do you brother do you?" Vegeta "See what?" Escarole "This place it's changing us! Why are you here?" Vegeta "The woman invited me to train…" Escarole "No why are you here? The woman has a ship why haven't we left? Why haven't you wanted to go home? Why haven't we conquered this place? Why haven't we enslaved them? Why are you accepting her charity instead of taking what you want? Why haven't I just killed pretty boy for trying to bed me? Why are you letting the woman seduce you?"
Vegeta taking some offense "I'm not accepting charity and I'm not letting the woman seduce me. I am the Prince of all Saiyan's. I take what I want and no inferior lifeform has sway over me! You're just being paranoid."
In a panicked laugh she continued "You sound like my brother but are you my brother anymore? You can't see the gilded cage that we are in. Wake up brother this isn't us! When did you ever accept another's help when training? When did I ever do anything for anyone else?!"
Vegeta "It's not like you say." Escarole "Are you even my brother anymore or just a weak human that has taken his place?" Vegeta "Stop your whining! You're acting like all of those times that I beat up when you we were younger for trying to outdo me."
Escarole "There right there! That is my brother. My brother is a punches me when I get out of line. Tells me that emotions are for the weak. Welded the fact he was going to succeed father like it a mace. You where cruel, you where mean and you where my enemy. But what am I doing now spilling my guts to you!"
Vegeta had no response just silence. He look like ten different emotions were fighting in his head. He had been very willing to just dismiss all of this but something was preventing him from doing so. He founding himself not having any answers and it was like she was pulling something out of him he had left on the backburner.
Escarole "When I was younger father took me to a planet to conquer it just like he had with you. I got separated from him and I ended up in the shit village. A little boy from that village had come up to me. He was speaking in a language I didn't know. I think he was offering me some water or food. He had no fucking idea how scared he should have been. He was smiling like he was happy to see. I was so scared I… I was five maybe. His hands came towards me I…I blow him apart. I wasn't in control I should have vaporized him but I held too much back. He was everywhere and it took an eternity for him to just die. We are killer's brother. This planet is no different from any other planet. They is only really one power, the power to take life. It was our first and last lesson. Everything else is pointless. So why are we here?"
Vegeta was still silent. He was just staring at her. Every idea in head to say or do was being shot down as fast as they could be put forward. He still just wanted to dismiss her but also wanted to agree with her. He could help but ponder the exact same questions. Why was the woman having such an effect on him? Why was he accepting her charity? Why was he allowing himself to suffer through her attempted seductions? Was he actually enjoying her attention and presents?"
The thoughts sent shivers up Vegeta's spine. It conflicted with everything he thought he knew about himself. He was supposed to be a ruthless killing machine, the future king of the Saiyan Empire, not whatever the hell this was. This place was making him soft. Escarole was right he knew she was.
Vegeta "Maybe…" Both were stopped mid thought and Vegeta mid-sentence. Escarole could both sense it. Both Vegeta and Escarole blurted out "Cooler!" At the same time.
On Roshi island. Krillin yelling "YOU GOT TO BE KIDDING ME! YAMCHA ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND!?" Krillin was red to the point his head was tomato like. He, Yamcha and Roshi were on the beach. Except while he and Yamcha were training Roshi was more sleeping on his beach chair. There were in civilian clothes not their gi. They had been in more of a shoving contest then training but this had put a stop to it.
Yamcha was nervously scratching his head and his face was cringeing. Yamcha "I told you weren't going to like it." Krillin "DOES YOUR BRAIN DO ANY OF THE THINKING?" Yamcha "Hey at least I can get around to telling people how I feel unlike mister, I can't sack up and ask Chi-Chi out!" Krillin "DON'T CHANGE THE SUBJECT! WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?"
Yamcha "Look. I know she's not exactly anyone's definition of a catch but I think their might be a different side of her man." Krillin "I WOULD EXPECT THIS INSANITY FROM BULMA BUT YOU! SHE MURDERED YOU REMEMBER!" Yamcha "I do. It's not something you forget." Krillin "THEN WHY ARE YOU TRYING TO DATE HER?!"
Yamcha looking out into the sea "Man it's like this. She is arrogant and psychopathic at first glance but on the second I see more. You saw what see did for Vegeta man. If there was nothing there she wouldn't have done anything. I think that well… Look I was a bandit, and I was an orphan once. No one gave me a chance. No one but you guys. I think it was the same way sort of with her. You saw firsthand what kind of ruthless hellscape it is out there. Maybe if I give her a chance she could surprise us. Hell her brother the asshole he is, is staying with Bulma. Maybe they can change."
Krillin "Its official YOU HAVE LOST YOUR DAMN MIND!" Yamcha "Come on. She didn't even say yes or no for that matter. It was kind of depressing." Roshi on his chair half sleeping mumbled "She probably didn't know how to respond so she ran away but acted all tough. She couldn't accept that her answer was going to be yes. It conflicted with herself image to the point it triggered her fight or flight response."
Neither Krillin nor Yamcha heard him as they continued. Krillin "Well it's for the best man. She is nothing but trouble." Yamcha "I guess but still." Krillin "Why would you even want a woman like that anyways?" Yamcha "She hot." Krillin "Really? That's your response?" Yamcha "Yeah. I mean boobs aren't as big as Bulma's but I mean I always loved when Bulma worked out…"
Krillin interrupting now more blue from embarrassment "I don't really want to hear about this man." Yamcha "Well you asked." It was then that they went silent they felt it. They blurted out "COOLER!"
Near the Crane school on one of the plateau's the Shinhan's were having a picnic overlooking the wonderful scenery. They had been joined by Suno, Eighter, Bulma and at great protest Piccolo. Launch had strong armed him into coming much to Kunlun's delight.
Tien was in his typical non-training robes minus the beany that Shen had forced him to wear. Kunlun was wearing a duplicate of his father's robes. Launch was in some gym clothes. Suno was in a civilian clothes that were wet with sweat. She was not used to direct sun or heat. While Piccolo, Eigher and Chiaotzu were in what they always wore. Bulma was wearing her most eighties hair style and a white shirt that said Capsule Corp.
Suno after having guzzled some water "So I guess Yamcha and Krillin aren't showing up." Launch pissed "They're going to regret this!" Bulma also pissed "I agree. I'm going make Yamcha suffer for this. I mean this is so rude." Tien "They probably just forgot." Bulma "Yeah well maybe Vegeta could pay Yamcha a visit in lieu of rent." She snickered evilly.
Launch "Yeah now there's an idea." She joined in with the snickering. Eighter "That mean." Launch scoffed "Who invited Jimmy Cricket?" Suno "You did." Launch "That not…never mind. So speaking of irritating guests Bulma how's it living with Prince Stick up my ass, brother to Princess Bitch who tried to kill us all."
Bulma "O I get it you have no comeback so you throw me under the bus?" Launch "Well it is the Elephant on this Plateau." The others nod except Piccolo who was standing on the edge of the Plateau possibly contemplating the pros and cons of leaving or just letting himself fall.
Bulma her head turned "Well it's none of your business." Launch "Not going to fly. We need details, a confession and it all in writing." Suno "Come Bulma were your friends. And friends need to be their when friends well…" Launch "Lose their damn minds." Suno "Well… yeah."
Tien was shaking his head trying to think of ways to escape. Having found his own anger at his friends for not being there to suffer with him. Kunlun and Chiaotzu manage to find themselves riveted by the conversation. Eighter just sad that he felt a fight was coming.
Bulma "So that's the real reason for this 'picnic' a stupid attempt at an intervention or something." Suno "Well…" Launch "Yeah." Suno nodded in agreement. Launch "You have an alien warrior Prince over for a 'sleepover' I think that calls for something to be done."
Kunlun confused "'sleepover'" Tien whispers into his ear "Don't think about it. I'll explain it when you're older." Bulma "So you think you all can have a say in my love life." Kunlun "Love life?" Tien "I don't feel that Kunlun should be here for this conversation." Launch "Not now honey. And yes we do think we have a say in your love life.
Bulma "Well you don't. What I do with Vegeta is my business!" Suno "So you did have…" (She looks at Kunlun then back at Bulma) "'business' with Vegeta." Bulma "For your information there has been no 'business' between me and Vegeta. And not for lack of trying on my part."
Launch snickering "So he's been rejecting you." Suno "Well that's a relief." Bulma "Shut up! Vegeta is complicated. But I feel like I am getting somewhere with him. He not evil and don't think she is evil either." Launch "Yeah right!"
Piccolo angry "SHUT UP ALL OF YOU!" Launch "How dare you!" Piccolo "SHUT UP AND FEEL THAT!" They stop talking and everyone but Bulma and Eighter go blue in the face. Together they all say "COOLER!"
Approach the Earth at Warp speed. An alien voice on the intercom "Emperor Cooler we are approaching the planet we will be there in less than an hour." Cooler is looking at Earth a tiny blue ball at the moment to him smaller than his fingertip. Cooler is half-metal half-organic the metal is smooth and shaped to the original of his body not bulk with pieces sticking out.
His face is deadpan not really showing joy or anger like he feelings nothing from the planet that they are approach. Cooler "It's such a small world isn't it Sorbet." Sorbet "Aw it's just far away sir." Cooler "That's not what I meant." Sorbet "O aw I would think you would be happy sir your about to gain immortality."
Cooler "The Namekians are on the planet?" Sorbet "According to our sources unless they wished themselves a new world." Cooler "Either way there should be Dragon Balls." Sorbet "Yes." Cooler "When I am done their will be no more unspoiled little worlds untouched by fire and fury. No more innocence, no more undiscovered countries, no more Saiyans and no more surprises. It will be boring. But there will be order, forever."
Sorbet "Yes lord." He said not knowing whether his master was happy or depressed. He decided he wished to change the subject. Sorbet "The Super Saiyan is still far off. Whatever damned ship she tried to beat us here in won't be here for hours." Cooler "Good then I shall have a free hand to find the balls. Ready the men we are going to crush this little world."
Krillin "What are we going to do?" Yamcha "I don't know but we have got to at least try." The two were racing towards the landing spot. Krillin "Sure we fought off Slug without Chi-Chi but this is Cooler." Yamcha "Well it's not like we haven't died before." Krillin "That's not comforting."
To their mild surprise they found on the Vegeta and Escarole. Escarole was in her UNIT armor and Vegeta in his cracked RIT armor. Escarole watched the two as they landed, Vegeta didn't bother. Like a switch Yamcha had gone from being scared and ready to panic to suddenly trying to puff out his chest.
Yamcha "So Princess what brings you out here?" Krillin sighed "Come on man could you be serious." Yamcha "Hey I'm just trying to be nice." Krillin "That's not what you were doing and you know it." Escarole was rolling her eyes as Vegeta's blood pressure was steadily rising. Yamcha "All I wanted was to have a conversation with her."
Vegeta angrily "COULD YOU TWO PLEASE SHUT THE HELL UP! Like a true warrior trying to come up with a plan unlike you miserable weaklings. Now stop breaking my concentration."
Escarole turns from the humans and walks beside Vegeta and whispers "So as much I hate to ask have you unlocked Super yet?" Vegeta whispering back "No. The power still alludes me." Escarole whispering "Great. Well at least I will get to see you die first. That will be this slaughter's highlight."
Vegeta whispers back "Glad to make a little Princess's dream come true." Escarole whispers back "Fuck you we're the same size." The two look at each other angrily as the others arrive. Earning a sigh from Escarole and a slight gasp from Vegeta to see that Bulma is with them.
Escarole gets angry looks from the group as a whole even the normally kind Suno seems aggravated by her presence. To those looks she grins enjoying the hatred she seem to inspire in them far more then whatever the pretty boy was trying to do.
Launch rolling up her sleeves "So Princess I thought you would have gone running." Escarole scoffs then in a cruel smile "You should be happy weakling to have me bothering to be here. If anything you should be thanking me." Launch seemed to be getting ready for a fight with Tien backing her up.
Kunlun "Mom stop. Look we need to be fighting Cooler not her and she is here therefore maybe what Bulma was saying about those two not being bad was right." To that Escarole nearly growled in anger and Vegeta looked a little like a deer in headlights before quickly looking angry like Escarole. Bulma was red with embarrassment having that twerp spill some of her thoughts to Vegeta. But thankfully that fact was quickly covered up by Escarole yelling.
Escarole yelling "LISTEN KID THE ONLY REASON IS HERE IS NOT TO SAVE YOUR WORTHLESS PLANET BUT BECAUSE A TRUE SAIYAN DOESN'T RUN FROM A FIGHT EVEN IF IT IS HOPELESS!" To which Vegeta bobbed his head once in agreement.
Launch yelling "DON'T YOU YELL AT MY SON!" The two were about ready to have a smack down right then and there. Piccolo yelling and angry "ENOUGH! You can kill each other later for all I can but right now could we please focus on the horrible alien about to show up and kill us all."
The group as a whole seemed to calm with Escarole going back to her brother's side and sneering at Launch. In silence they stood as the terror came closer. Until it punched through the atmosphere and passed over them as it landed. The group as a whole was sweating except Bulma who was more confused than anything.
The ship landed and the crew quickly exited it. It was an army of as many soldiers left under Cooler's command left he had to muster. It was maybe a hundred or more soldier from various places around the galaxy. At their head Cooler.
Cooler his nose twitched as he smelled the air of the planet. Its smell was far too pure for his taste. As his feet touched the ground of the world they sank from the weight of the metal on the soft arid dirt. He turned to face his army.
Cooler "Listen up. I wanted the Dragon Balls that are located on this world. You are to use any means available to sweep this world until they are found." (He points his finger at Sorbet.) "Don't fail me again Admiral." Nervously Sorbet bowed and gave the signal for his soldier to begin departing.
The first squad flew but in a flash their bodies fell to the ground in pieces at Cooler's feet. Cooler looked to see the one causing such dismemberment to see a very confused looking blue haired young man landing on to the soil. He had on a Capsule Corp logoed jacket with a dark undershirt and pants. The sword was going back into its holster as the young blue haired man puzzled asked "What is going on here?"