The Slave girl and the King
Chapter 2
As we arrived outside, at the landing dock where the soldiers were, I took several pictures of the ships. They all looked like smaller versions of Master Frieza's large ship. I was taking pictures of one of the ships, and of course some of the soldiers started watching me and staring at me. There was one of them standing by the ship. I had never seen one of the small ships up close before so naturally I was curious and I wanted some pictures.
I smiled at him and gestured with my camera to the ship. "May I have a look inside the ship please? I've never seen one up close before."
He looked shocked that I talked to him. "O..of course!" He then helped me to get into the ship and of course I took pictures and he told me a bunch of stuff about the controls and other stuff that I didn't totally understand but I sounded interested because I really was, in fact I thought it was all pretty cool.
When we came out of the Ship, Yamma was chatting with someone that was very burly and he had a scar in the shape of an X on his face. I thanked the Saiyan that helped me with the tour of the ship and walked over to them and stood off to the side while they talked and only listened to them talk.
The one with the scar was still talking. "How long has it been now?" He asked Yamma.
Yamma gave a little laugh. "I'm not sure to be honest. Time just blurs together these days it seems."
Yamma notices me there. "This is Ann, the one doing the article that King Vegeta announced, and my best friend. Ann; this is Bardock, an old friend of mine."
I smile. "Pleasure to meet you Sir."
He smiles and holds out his hand to shake. I take his hand in mine and his hand is so big that it engulfed mine but he was gentle as he shook it.
Just then my communicator on my wrist starts to ring. That confuses me and I'm not sure who could be calling me. I open the communicator and walk a little ways away from the others to answer it. It's King Cold calling me, my heart drops to my stomach. "Y..Yes Master?"
He's smiling on the other end and I can tell he is sitting and I can hear someone talking in the background but it doesn't sound like Frieza's men, I'm guessing they had already went their separate ways.
"Hi little Ann!" He exclaims and of course everyone can hear him, this thing is always loud with no volume control. I honestly think he did that on purpose.
I give him a little smile in return. "Hello Master Cold, what may I do for you?"
He smiles and shakes his head. "My little Ann, always trying to please me as always. I only called to see how you were settling in. Are they treating you nicely? No barn this time I do hope."
I shake my head. "No Master, they have been kind to us. In fact the King gave us rooms in the palace, which surprised me, honestly." I smile but look confused.
He smiles. "Good, Good. If you have any issues this time around, feel free to call me. Frieza is going to be very busy the next few days. He's on a conquest to um take care of some business so to speak. He didn't want you to know because he knows how you get upset about that sort of thing but I assure you that these beings are extremely violent." He pauses and I nod, thinking.
"Thank you Master Cold, for checking in on me and I promise if I have any problems I'll call you." I say with a smile.
"Well then, I'll be off, and Yamma, I know you can hear me. Do take care of our little Ann." He gives me a wink then hangs up before I can respond. I let out a sigh.
I stand there a moment thinking about what happened. I then turn around and look at Yamma, Bardock, and Diako and pretty much everyone in the ship yard was staring at me with shocked faces. I hadn't realized that everyone there had gotten quiet. "Oh great now everyone knows what was said." I think to myself.
I smile, letting out an embarrassed laugh. "He was just…. Just," I let out a sigh trying to talk and still trying to get over him calling me. "Just checking in on me, that's all." Everyone is still staring. "Last time, we.. we covered an article, they put us in a barn and it was not good." I give a little laugh not knowing what else to say. I feel like an idiot. I'm just nervous.
Bardock nods as if coming back to his senses and then everyone has gone back to whatever they were doing before the call.
"Do you guys want to come meet my wife." He looks at Yamma. "She's been dying to meet you." He looks at me. "She will be thrilled to meet you too Ann."
I smile and me and Yamma say "Sure" at the same time and we giggle at that and then we all follow Bardock. Diako doesn't talk much but when he does, it's always a meaningful moment.
As we Follow Bardock, Yamma walks next to me and whispers. "You know Ann, eventually he's going to find a way to be alone with you without Lord Frieza around."
I'm looking at the ground, watching where I step. "I know… it's already happened a couple of times already. In fact it was not that long ago." I look at Yamma's face; he doesn't look happy.
"What happened?" Yamma asks looking at me.
"Master Frieza showed up. Nothing happened though." I wasn't telling Yamma the whole truth about that but really not much did happen anyways. I didn't feel like talking about it much less thinking about it.
Yamma is quiet. I could tell he wasn't happy and after all he is my best friend and protector. Of course he's not going be happy.
"I'm okay though, he has never hurt me or been unkind to me in any way. I promise." I give a little sigh and look at the ground every now and then. You never know what's on the ground so I look often. I've done that ever since I went to that one planet and stepped on something that went right into my foot. Some plant that grew there had these spikes that come out of the ground and I wasn't watching where I was stepping and it went right into the bottom of my foot. I cried so much, it hurt so bad and the bleeding was so bad. I'll never forget that. Yamma and Diako were so upset. Ever since then, I watch where I step.
We continue to follow Bardock in silence and I can feel Yamma's unhappiness and Diako is also walking beside me. We finally arrive at Bardock's house. His home is made of stone of some kind and has little windows all over it that are round but like little domes. The opening has no door and looks like a kitchen. There are all kinds of meat on the counters and even some hanging up along the wall.
There's a female Saiyan and she is also wearing the armor they all wear and she's not burly.
She smiles and waves at Bardock. "Bardock! You're Back!" She runs to him and hugs him then pulls away to look up at him.
I smile, thinking how sweet that is, but then I frown. I think of how it must be nice to have someone to love you like that. I've never had that. I've been Frieza's slave for I don't know how many years and I can't age because of this collar, how long does he intend to keep me? Why does he even want to keep me? I'm just a fragile human with no powers. It can't be for the money, he had this collar made long before I started doing the articles. So then why would he do this? I sigh frowning. I guess I'll never know. Oh well.
I hadn't been listening to anyone's conversations or what was happening because I had been deep in thought. Yamma was trying to get my attention, he nudged me gently. "Ann, Ann! Are you alright?"
I look up at him, he looks upset and I shake my head and give him a smile. "Oh no I am fine, sorry about that."
"Ann this is Gine, Bardock's wife." Yamma says to me.
I look at Gine and she's smiling at me. I can't help think how cute she is and she seems very kind and I smile in return. "Nice to meet you Gine" She holds her hand out to mind.
I smile and take her hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you!" She seems so kind and I like her instantly.
We walk inside and we go through a door to another room that looks like a dining room. There's a round table and some chairs and also there is a big pod thing in the corner. It peeks my interest, so I walk over to it to get a closer look. There's a baby inside. I should have been shocked, but I had been to so many different planets, that I had seen different species treat their babies different from each other.
Gene came over to me while the guys were talking. "That's a nursing pod that has our son Kakarot in it." she says with pride in her smile.
I smile back at her. "He's cute. Why is he in a pod?"
She smiles as if she understands why I would ask which is a relief. "You see our planet has a very high gravity and when they are young, they need time to slowly become accustomed to the gravity." She pauses looking at me. "Which I am surprised that you can withstand our gravity, what with you being a human and all"
She was being curious and polite. I put my hand to my collar, smiling. "Oh it's because of my collar. It helps me withstand the gravity here and other planets since I have to do interviews on other planets. It has tons of other features as well but some I am not sure about. As I have been told."
She looks at it a little closer. "It's very pretty. I bet that must have cost a fortune to have made for you."
I felt like I could tell her a little more. "Well he actually had it made way before I started doing articles. I needed the gravity feature because sometimes I went with him to look over a planet sometimes. He doesn't like leaving me on the ship sometimes but the gravity was an issue. Me being human and all."
She seemed interested. "Wow. So how long have you been with Frieza?"
I think for a moment. "I am honestly not sure. The days just seem to blur together." I wasn't allowed to tell anyone about the anti aging effect on the collar. Master Frieza explained to me that it could put me in danger. So I keep that part to myself. Everyone knows I am not aging but they have no idea why and no one dares ask Master Frieza.
"Do you mind if I take a picture of your son?" I ask hoping she won't mind. This will go great in my article.
"Sure, go right ahead. He won't wake up." She says with a smile.
"Thanks! This will be great in the article!" I say and I snap a few photos from different angles and at different distances.
Gine Smiles. "That's great!" We walk over to the table where the guys are. "Bardock, you hear that? Our son is going to be in the article." She smiles and sits down.
I smile happily at her enthusiasm. I proceed to take my bag off my back and put it on the table to get out my notebook to jot down some notes.
"That's great!" Bardock exclaims. I ask, writing notes in my notebook about the baby and other things I needed to write down before I forgot. They were all talking but I wasn't really listening because I was writing about my entrance here. I could type all this in my laptop later on.
Yamma was trying to get my attention as usual. "Ann." He nudged me gently "Ann."
I stopped writing and looked at him. "Oh I'm sorry Yamma, you know me, I gotta write stuff down before I forget."
"Bardock was just wondering if we wanted to stay a moment for something to eat." Yamma motioned to Bardock.
I looked at him and then back to Yamma. "Do you think it will be safe for me to eat?"
"It should be, he said they will be sure to cook it thoroughly. I explained that your digestive system is not like ours and you have to be careful of what you eat."
I trust Yamma so I nod and smile at Bardock. "In that case, it would be an honor to join you. Thank you."
They served the food to us on a plate but it was mostly meat. No vegetables of any kind. I guess it shouldn't surprise me. It looks fully cooked. I cut off a piece with a knife and eat some. It tastes good but a little bland, I eat constantly because I am pretty hungry. It had been a while since I had eaten. The day was still young and I still had a lot to do.
"Thank you, this tastes good." say between bites. I didn't want to be rude and offend anyone.
Yamma and Bardock were chatting but I wasn't paying much attention because Gene started talking to me. I'll admit it's nice to talk to another female for once.
"So You're a human huh? I've never seen a human before. I had only heard of them but never seen one in person. You don't seem much different from our women besides the fact we are fighters but I am not much of a fighter myself." She was smiling.
"I am definitely not a fighter myself. Never have been. I am good with words though and I have gotten myself out of some nasty situations in the past with words so maybe that's my fighting power." I say taking a drink of water.
Gene takes a drink of water and I can tell she wants to say something but she seems a bit nervous about it. I try to act normal to make her feel comfortable around me.
"Have you had any children, Ann? She asks looking at me with no expression.
I set my glass down and put my hands in my lap and I give a little smile. "Me? Oh hehe no, I can never have kids. I've never had any either. Master Frieza, saw to that." I give a sigh and look away. Suddenly, my mouth is dry. I take a drink of water.
I look back at Gene and she's frowning. "It's ok though. I'm ok with it, after all this is my life now." I give her a smile to assure her that I am alright.
I hadn't realized that Bardock and Yamma and Diako were quiet and looking at me. I didn't know what to say to them, so I only smiled and cleared my throat. "So…. ummm I hate to ask a favor, but is there anyway I can get a tour of your planet and maybe some of your wildlife, if you have any that is?" I look at Bardock and he doesn't answer right away. "I…I'll pay you of course!" I say smiling. "Master Frieza gives me my own spending money and I've been saving it up and he gave me extra for this trip. So I can pay you for your time."
He takes a drink of water and thinks a moment. "Ok, sure."
So we ended up spending the rest of the day viewing parts of the planet and I got to take some photos of some interesting vegetation and bugs. They don't have any animals because from what I was told most of them had become extinct. We started heading back when it was supposed to get dark. From what I was told, the planet was supposed to be cold at nights plus we were to get back to the palace. I needed to talk to the King as well. I really was nervous about that. I'm hoping they have a library as well so I can find out even more about their culture.
We thanked Bardock, his wife and his crew for the tour and headed back to the castle. I needed a bath and to freshen up before I saw the Saiyan King.
Back in my room I ran a tub of hot water and cleaned off. It felt nice to bathe off and also all that walking made my feet hurt. It was nice to soak them.
I had just gotten clean, dried and dressed, when there was a knock on my door. I open it and there is a Saiyan in the royal armor at my door. "His Majesty has sent me to tell you that dinner will be in half an hour and asks that you join him."
It takes me aback. "Oh… uh th.. thank you. P.. please tell his majesty that I will be joining him."
He then leaves. Yamma and Diako had apparently heard the conversation, so they both come to my door as I watch that Saiyan leave down the hallway. I look at them both. "This was certainly not expected." I let out a sigh. "I have nothing proper to wear, I never expected this to happen."
Diako looks at Yamma. "Are you going to tell her, or shall I tell her?"
Yamma lets out a small grunt and doesn't look too happy. "Some time after we returned from Bardock's place, King Vegeta had something sent up while you were bathing. I was told to give it to you after one of the guards came to get you for dinner." He looks at me and I don't know what to say and I am also curious and confused.
After Yamma realizes that I'm not sure what to say he leaves and goes to their room and returns. He hands me a package with a pink bow on it. I look at it in confusion because I haven't ever gotten any gifts like this before, at least not for a very very long time. Sure, I get things from King Cold often but never wrapped up all pretty. I take it into the room and leave them standing out in the hallway. I set the package on the table and open it and pull out a blue dinner dress that is so pretty it has flowers stitched to it on one side cascading down on one side.
It's so pretty, I hadn't seen anything like it before. I put it on and did my hair. I Then head downstairs followed by Yamma and Diako. I'm nervous because this is not something I have done before. I don't usually get to eat with the royalty of whatever planet I go visit. The reason for that is the simple fact that I am a slave girl and I am looked down on. Usually I eat in the servants quarters, out of sight of anyone, but always have Yamma and Diako to join me. Tonight will be different and I know that Master Frieza didn't give him extra orders about my treatment. He always says the same old thing to the people I am interviewing and it never stopped them before from treating me the way they saw fit. Maybe this King is kinder than the ones I had met before, though doubted it considering all the things he has had his men do in King Cold's service. I shivered to think about it. It always did upset me, with the work they do.
As I got to the bottom of the stairs, there was a guard waiting there. He looked surprised then he gave a short bow. "I have been instructed to escort you to the dining hall my lady."
I looked at Yamma and Diako in confusion and they only shrugged. I look back at the guard. "Th.. Thank you."
He then turns and we follow him. We are led through a maze of hallways and we finally come to a room that is a huge dining hall. There is a big area with a red carpet leading to three to four steps that you have to walk up to get to the dining table. The table is long with seats lining it facing the huge room and in the middle there is a chair that looks fancier than the rest. My guess is that it's the King's chair. I feel nervous standing in one spot, admiring the room. There isn't much decor in the room besides some flags with the symbols I have seen around the castle.
I don't see the King anywhere and I have no idea what to do.
The guard had shut the large doors behind us and I look at them. They are so big, that they look heavy. I doubt I would be able to even open that door if I tried. They reach all the way to the tall ceilings that have got to be at least 30 feet tall.
The guard turns to me "I shall escort you to your seating." He then turns to walk towards the table.
We follow him and he pulls out a chair next to the King's chair and allows me to sit and as I sit he pushes the chair under me. He then shows seating for Yamma, who will sit next to me and Diako next to Yamma. "Thank you I say to the guard."
I place my handbag in my lap. I made sure to bring a notebook and pen in my clutch, just in case I can get some good info to put in my article. I am not sure what to do so I keep my hands in my lap. We sit there in silence for a few moments. It's so quiet in the hallway, that I was sure anything would sound so loud. I looked at the place setting and the plates were trimmed with gold but no other designs on them. The cutlery is all silver but no designs on the metal. They looked plain but I was sure that they are probably pure silver or some other precious metal unknown to me.
Also there was a glass of water waiting. I suddenly felt parched and took a sip of water etiquette or not I needed it. Then I sat it back down. I looked over at Yamma, who was looking around the room and examining the plates and cutlery, being cautious as usual. Moments later, the King walks in and one of the guards announce his entry and they all bow.
Me, Yamma and Diako all stand for the King I give a bow. "Your Majesty" So do Diako and Yamma and we wait for him to be seated, once he is seated. We all take our seats.
After he is seated he takes a napkin and places it in his lap which I do the same covering my clutch in my lap.
I keep my eyes on my place setting, not daring to look at the King. In all my years of being a slave, I knew better than to look at royalty or talk to them unless needed. I would wait for him to talk.
"Thank you, Ann.. for joining me for dinner." King Vegeta says.
My heart leapt at the sound of him saying my name. Usually I am called slave by royalty or I am called girl. Sometimes I am called slave girl. The only ones that call me by my name are my Masters, Yamma and Diako.
I smile a little and glance at him for a second and look away and shake my head. "No.. Thank you, your Majesty for inviting us."
The King Smiles at Ann. "It's a pleasure to have you, I thought that since you wanted to interview me, dinner might be a good chance to start. You can get to know me and the learn about the foods we eat."
Ann smiles. "Oh yes, your majesty that will be a big help."
The appetizers arrive just then but she pays no attention to it at first, eager to ask questions. "Do you mind me asking, and this has nothing to do with the interview but it is for my own curiosity that is if it is okay to ask, if you don't want to answer then I will understand but it might…. um" She sighs in nervousness. "Um it might be a touchy subject." She watches him to see his response.
King Vegeta looks at his food and nods. "hmm of course, you may ask."
Ann looks at her food nervously and putting her hands in her lap. "I… I was wondering…. How… how did your people come to work for King Cold? I understand if you don't want to answer." She glances at him for a second to see a reaction, she sees him sigh and looking at his appetizer.
"hmm" is all he says, deep in thought. He takes a bite of food.
Ann decides to do the same. It was a bread with a white sauce on it and some sort of fish. It was tasty. Then she takes a sip of wine to wash it down.
"hhmm did he not tell you anything about it?" The king says and looks at Ann.
Ann looks at him and shakes her head. "No I am sorry your majesty, he doesn't talk to me about such things. I have bad anxiety and I tend to get upset about certain things, so I end up having an anxiety attack, so he avoids such conversations with me. However I am still curious."
He's looking in her eyes and can see the sadness there. He then looks at his food and eats more. Ann does the same and drinks some wine. Ann starts feeling a little bit of the wine.
"hmm well there was a huge war a long time ago and… after the battle was over, our population had swindled and we had lost against the cold force. King Cold however saw our potential in power and made a sort of contract to work for him. In return we get technology, and we get paid a cut for the profits." The king said in a short summery.
Ann looks at her food. "Thank you for telling me." She didn't say anything for several minutes. She was thinking about the battle that must have taken place and then started to remember the first and last battle she had ever seen. She saw many die and thought of how those that had died, had their own souls and personalities and their loved ones of their own and all of it taken away in a blink of an eye never to be undone. She shed one tear and wiped it away. She hated violence and death and the more she thought of it, it made her want to cry. She sniffed and took a big gulp of wine and wiped her eyes.
Yamma notices and whispers. "Ann… are you ok?"
Ann smiles at him and nods. "I'm fine thank you. You know me just remembering things that I know I shouldn't." She then takes a few more gulps of wine. She didn't get it often so why not take advantage of it.
A servant comes and gives her a refill. The King had also noticed. "I'm sorry that upset you."
"mm it's ok I know better but I am sorry your majesty forgive me, that was not proper behavior." she says to him.
"No need to be sorry. Is there anything else you would like to know?" He asked her.
With that they ate the main course and Ann asked many questions. Things about the castle and the children and many other things about their culture. Dinner was over and the king had grown tired and excused himself.
"I am sorry my lady but I have grown tired and must retire to my room. If you are in need of anything, my servants will assist you in anything you need. You may have access to any part of the palace." With that, the king stood up and so did everyone else.
Ann and her bodyguards bowed to the king. "goodnight, your majesty."
The king takes Ann's hand and kisses it. "Goodnight my lady" He gives her a little bow like a gentleman.
The King then turns and leaves the room.
Yamma scratches his head. "That's odd, I have never seen the King do that before. He's not usually the type to do that. He must have taken a liking to you Ann."
Ann doesn't know what to say but only stares at the door that he left through.
