Hey, before we get started, I have a quick question for you guys - how did you find out about this story - either this entry or the entire saga, in general? Were you just browsing, did you hear about it from a friend? I'm interested to hear. I am so out of the loop when it comes to DB fanfiction, so I'll be interested to see what's new. Oh well. Enjoy!

Oh, and I posted a chapter a couple of days ago, so make sure you read that one, too. Thanks!

When they had made it back to the palace, Vegeta and Nappa were quickly escorted into the science lab. Everyone was up and awake the moment the good news had been discovered. The king had been immediately alerted and had beaten them to the lab. He stood on the outside, looking into the lab from the outside window. He glanced at Vegeta and Nappa, when they walked up beside him.

Inside of the lab, the victim was being examined by the doctors. They were checking to make sure he was in good health, before they conducted the interrogation. If he were delirious from the encounter, it could mean faulty information. He was a tall Saiyan, with deep-set eyes and prominent cheekbones. He was scrawny, practically skin and bones, and he had a nervous look in his eyes. Whether that was from the attack, from his examination, or from his usual disposition had not been determined.

The king had his hand on his chin, stroking his beard. "Vegeta," he said, "I heard you encountered the killer. Did you get a good look at him?"

"It was just like what Bulma had said – all in black, seeing nothing but his eyes."

He nodded. "At least we know we're dealing with only one of them." He pointed his head at the victim. "Hopefully he'll know something else."

The lab door opened, and Haricot stepped out. "Your majesty," he said, as he handed him a portfolio. "Here's the information on the victim. You may proceed when ready."

"Thank you," he said, as he opened it. Vegeta and Nappa stood behind him, looking over his shoulders.

The man was a low class named Beets. He worked at the spaceport, tracking the incoming and outgoing pods that came to Planet Vegeta. He was a non-combatant with zero experience in the military or in any kind of fighting. There wasn't a single noteworthy accomplishment written in his records. All things considered, he was lucky to be alive.

"Nappa," the king said, "will you please stand outside of the door? I don't want anyone getting in, while we talk."

"Of course."

"Vegeta, I want you to watch, out here. This should be a good teaching moment."

Vegeta grunted, and his father entered the medbay. A nurse was still looking over Beets. When he saw the king, his back went straight as a board, and his eyes went as wide a saucers.

The king grabbed a stool and pulled it up next to the gurney. He sat down, clasping his hands together in his lap. "I hope you are feeling well, Beets."

He glanced around, nervously. "T-thank you, your majesty, but you don't have to ask-"

"Nonsense. Any of the people's worries are my worries, as well. And you needn't be so formal. You may talk to me like any other Saiyan."

Vegeta took mental notes, as he watched his father. He knew that others called foul, when he acted so casual among his subjects. Some say that allowed them to think that their king was no different from them and it undermined his power. The king disagreed – allowing them to think that their king was no different from them brought them closer. It showed that he believed that they were in this together and he cared about their needs, as well. Any notion of "it's better to be feared than loved" was preposterous.

"Alright, your majesty. I mean, sir! I mean… sorry."

The king chuckled. "It's quite alright. Now, Beets, do you think you can tell me what happened, tonight?"

Beets sighed, "I was going home, after my shift ended. I normally don't go alone, but my partner was home sick. I thought I'd take a shortcut, to make sure I wasn't out there for very long. I was walking as fast as I can. And then… I got tackled. I felt a really heavy boot on my back. I had thought it was someone trying to rough me up for money, again, but when I looked up – the guy was all dressed in black. He had this thing, this big knife in one of his hands. He grabbed me by my hair, and it seemed like he was ready to slit my throat. I just screamed, hoping someone would hear and come. That's when the prince showed up. In a few seconds, the guy had run away."

The king nodded. "I see. Did you say something about a weapon?"

"Yeah, it was huge. It was, like, this big." He pointed from his wrist to the crux of his elbow. "It looked sharp and clean, like it was brand new. Had he not shown up, I'd be a goner."

"Can you remember anything else about what he looked like?"

"No. I was too scared out of my wits to pay attention. Sorry, that isn't much help."

"Don't apologize, Beets. You've told us more than enough, already. We're just glad we managed to keep another Saiyan alive, tonight." The king lifted his hand to his chest and smirked at him.

Beets nodded, and repeated the gesture. "Thank you, your majesty."

The king patted his shoulder. "Rest for now. We'll see to it that you make it back, safely."

His father always seemed to know the right thing to say to a scared Saiyan. There was a reason the people loved him so. When it came down to it, he would be there for the everyman. The day he became king, Vegeta could only hope to be as good of a ruler as he.

The team of scientists listened in, as the king spoke. The knowledge that a weapon existed sparked their interest. There was something tangible that the killer used. If they could somehow manage to get their hands on it, they could track him down and finally find it. They hoped it would be soon – they were all growing tired of not having any results.

As the team convened back at the palace, Mizu and Okra snuck out and made it to the crime scene. They had felt that large commotion happening from their lab and set out to see what had happened. When they reached the site where the murder had almost taken place, no one was there guarding it.

"Alright," Okra said. "We can't stay long – they'll be back any minute. If you see anything, just grab it and we'll look it over back at the lab."

"Right," said Mizu.

They looked around the alleyway, behind every hidden nook, trying to find something. Mizu didn't know what they could be looking for, but she knew she had to keep her eyes peeled. For the tiniest shred of evidence that could lead them to the culprit. As the minutes ticked on, they couldn't find a single thing that would lead them there. Mizu's heart had begun to race. The clock was ticking and if they were caught breaking curfew and tampering with possible evidence, they'd be arrested.

"Hey," Okra said. Mizu turned around. "Check behind that dumpster, over there. I'll look over here."

Mizu nodded and ran to the other side of the alleyway, while Okra took her place. She got down onto her hands and knees to peak underneath it. When she didn't see anything, she got up and checked the side sitting against the wall.

Her eyes widened. "I think I found something!" She stuck her hand in between the cracks, stretching to reach the possible clue.

Okra walked up behind her. "What is it?"

"Hang on. I've almost… got it!" She pulled her arm out, grabbing onto something. It was a large dagger.

Okra put her hand on her chin. "It seems that you did. Good work, my pupil." She put her hand on her head and tossed her hair.

Mizu looked down, sheepishly. "Thank you, Okra."

"Now, let's get this back to the lab. We'll talk about it more, there."

With a renewed sense of hope that they were one-step closer to solving the case, Okra and Mizu quickly and quietly left the scene of the crime and snuck back into their hut. When the team at the palace investigated the scene just moments later, they found nothing, with no suspicion that someone had beaten them there.