Human Hospitality
by pureleaf
Chapter 11
Making Plans (or, Things Always Change)
Warning: There is some dialogue of a sexual nature in this chapter.
The sea breeze was mercifully light and it was just warm enough that Vegeta did not regret leaving the house barefoot when he finally landed at the peak of a jagged cliff overlooking the ocean. He found a patch of grass and sat down, keeping his left leg stretched out in front of him and quickly cracking open a can of beer. It foamed a bit after being shaken repeatedly during the Saiyan's high speed flight away from the Briefs compound.
The sun sank underneath the horizon. The sky darkened, first minute by minute, and then second by second once the last sliver of light seemingly disappeared underneath the sea. He stared into the evening sky, noting the locations of different constellations as they emerged and wondering if he'd ever again travel through the galaxy as extensively as he had as a young man.
Those years had been anxiety-ridden and filled with deeply unpleasant surprises. Vegeta had spent up to sixteen months at a time curled up in his pod, his body kept in stasis until he was mere hours away from landing on an unfamiliar planet, sometimes sent just to run a small errand on behalf of Frieza and sometimes sent to assassinate a leader or destroy everything outright. His assignments always changed- the only constants in his life were his two comrades, Raditz and Nappa, and his growing anger.
He crushed his first empty can of beer and tossed it over the edge of the cliff. He couldn't hear it land and wondered if the wind had picked it up and carried it away for him. He opened his second beer and drank it very quickly.
I'm trapped here, he thought resentfully, sure the Briefs may have another ship, but if I leave, where will I go? I cannot live on a spaceship forever. Even if Frieza were still alive, there would be precious few planets that would welcome the prince of all Saiyans with open arms.
"I wonder how different planets are handling Freiza's death... surely by now the news is travelling fast..." Vegeta mused aloud, cracking open his third can of beer. The Saiyan could feel the alcohol moving through his system and welcomed the buzz.
He'd left Frieza's station on Planet 79 with Nappa and Raditz in tow for the very last time almost three years prior, assigned to eliminate the insect-like people of a massive planet called Ahdar and get it ready for sale. The plan had been to burn their way through Ahdar over the course of ten to twelve months (they'd been given up to two and a half years to kill all advanced life forms and then destroy all remaining structures), working in rotating eight to ten hour shifts, but when they encountered a heavily-armed populace that refused to go down without a fight, the three Saiyans realized they would need help to get the job done.
"Hmm, it's just a thought... I've got a younger brother kicking around on some rock called "Earth". He's probably about a year away from here- we'll be put a bit behind schedule but should still be able to complete the job before the deadline, and it'll mean more help from our own kind with future assignments," Raditz had suggested as he wound-down from his shift at their temporary base camp. Nappa had left for his shift and Vegeta was required to stay alert and guard the camp.
"You have a brother?" Vegeta questioned his comrade through a mouthful of meat pulled from the claw of a slain Ahdarian scout he'd killed an hour prior. He'd already eaten most of the creature's innards after discovering they tasted rather like shellfish. The huge claw had been cracked open and balanced on small rocks and left to cook over glowing embers from the campfire. The Saiyan lay on his side on the mossy ground, propped up on one elbow and eyes constantly wandering as he monitored his surroundings.
"Yeah. His name is Kakkarot. He was born when I was thirteen... or was I fourteen? One of the last Saiyans off planet Vegeta, if not the very last Saiyan to escape... but I'm thinking he'll be pushing twenty one or twenty two by this point and has probably been long-finished with his assignment there."
"Then why the hell didn't he return to a nearby station for debriefing and further instructions, hmm? He's probably dead, Raditz." Vegeta spat out a fragment of shell before he sat up and started to comb his fingers through his hair. He cringed when he came across a matted patch of dried blood and dirt two inches above his scalp. Definitely not his own blood at that point...
"Fair point. I am not certain he is still alive, but it may be worthwhile to check anyway," Raditz replied, cleaning multiple cuts and scrapes to his powerful legs using a healing spray he carried in an inner pocket in his armour, "it's possible his ship was destroyed or malfunctioned and he's just been biding his time on the planet until somebody shows up."
"Knowing your luck, Raditz, you'll manage to get your stupid ass killed the same day you land on Earth." Vegeta laughed at his own remark, reached over the fire and pulled out another steaming chunk of claw meat.
"Vegeta, that's not funny."
"I will be sure to laugh as you choke on your own blood and die in agony, Raditz. Go to Earth and check out the situation there. Keep your communication line open so we can hear what's going on when you get there. Do you understand?"
"Got it. Wake me up if the plans change before I get to Earth. Gonna be rough, knowing I'm not gonna get laid for another year or two..." Raditz ran his tongue over his top teeth and cocked a brow. He set down his healing spray and a lazy smirk spread across his face when he looked at Vegeta.
"Don't look at me!" Snapped Vegeta.
"Come onnn..." Raditz drawled, "you're not gonna see me for a long time..."
"This is work..."
"You're no fun!"
"You're a disgusting son of a bitch, Raditz. I really do want you leave once you're done taking care of your superficial injuries."
Raditz clicked his tongue in annoyance and took the claw out of the fire and started eating. "C'mon, let loose for a bit. You need to relax." He finished all the claw meat in four greedy bites.
Vegeta stood up and moved to the shore of the shallow lake by which they were currently camping and pulled his armour and gloves off. "Raditz, you keep pushing me and I'm going to tear your dick off. Just jerk off before going into stasis if you're that horny, or fuck an Earthling should any of them remain when you get there. I want nothing to do with you. Now get the hell out of here before I reconsider our agreement and give you some serious injuries to deal with!"
"Fine, I'm going! See you and Nappa in about two years." Raditz called for his pod and let himself rise into the air in order to meet it just on the other side of a dense patch of brushwood.
Vegeta didn't bother acknowledging Raditz as he left. He undressed and walked into the lake to wash off. It would be the last time they would speak in person.
"Things never seem to go as planned..." said Vegeta, now laying on his back and watching the stars turn, somewhat drunk and his mood growing darker, "no matter how hard I work. No matter how thoroughly I think things through. And now with Kakkarot a Super Saiyan and bound to return soon, it seems that my plans may be thwarted, and I simply cannot allow that to happen yet again!"
He sat up, gazing at the point where the night sky merged with the dark ocean, and sighed in frustration. "I must make alternative plans now. Perhaps it would be best to leave just before Kakkarot is wished back and return to Earth at a later date."
Vegeta rose to his feet and took off into the night once more, unsure of where to head next.
To Be Continued