Chapter 43 - House of Devil

Heeter's Base

What truly ran the Universe? This was a question mulled over in the minds of many beings.

To those of planet Zipangu, for example, it was their Kami; the might of those they revered as nature spirits and deities.

To the Nameccians, it had been not a deity, but nature itself; the passing of time, the budding stages of the Ajissa.

To the Saiyans, it was power. There was no method other than battle to decide the fate of worlds, so why bother with petty things other than that? Of course, there had been as much variance among Saiyans as other beings, but even the scientist eventually contributed to the health and might of the warrior.

Yet there was another, somehow obscure, while simultaneously much more , something which governed all of the Universe. This was information. In the right hands, with the right purpose, and used by the chosen people, knowledge triumphed over everything. With the right amount of knowledge and a proper string of numbers, the first mortals had split the atom. Knowledge of genetics allowed one to manipulate life itself. Knowing an enemy, however, was a different matter entirely. The strength of your quarry meant nothing if you knew their weaknesses - emotional, physical, psychological.

Everything crumbled before someone who held the knowledge necessary to overcome any situation.

This was the might of the group called the Heeters. The family itself was an old family, having existed since the time of Cold's ancestors began to pillage and raid the furthest reaches of the Outer Rim. The family had always collected information, passing it between parent to child, sibling to sibling, cousin to cousin, and so on. Thus the cycle had passed, until the modern generation of Heeters - now boiled down to a family of four, led by the eldest sibling.

Elec was the oldest sibling of the Heeter family, the son of Shorou, the late patriarch of their family. He led the operations, specifically contracting hired muscle in addition to bounty hunters for the sake of acquiring yet more information, more knowledge. It was Elec who first struck up a relationship with Freeza, engendering a camaraderie that had not been equally returned. Regardless, the protection of the Freeza Army had allowed the Heeter organisation to work openly, and they supplied knowledge of soon-to-be-conquered planets to the Emperor, allowing his soldiers to plan their invasions based on necessary information.

Oil was the second oldest, and the most prominent fighter. He had been on the front lines longer than Elec, despite being younger, and knew the ins and outs of battle. When it came to fighting, he was second to none in their group, and surpassed the likes of the now late Zarbon and Dodoria.

Macki, functionally the middle child, was the only woman. Weaker than Oil, she made up for her lack of strength with cleverness and tactics: precise strikes from a blade crafted purely of her ki would topple even the strongest enemy. Everyone had a weak spot.

Lastly was Gas. The youngest sibling, he was the most skilled as a fighter, and possessed both more power and potential than Oil, and was a sharper mind than Macki. Loyal to a fault, Gas devoted his all to the Heeters, acting as Elec's enforcer.

Their storage of knowledge had begun with books, which the Heeters still kept in their mobile base. These books were a treasure in and of themselves, as, among the advanced civlisations in the Milky Way, the printing of books on actual paper with ink was a rare practise. Their tomes were priceless, valued as much for the material they consisted of as they were for the information stored within.

Now, in the modern era, information storage throughout the Galaxy consisted largely of datapads and holobooks; the former was an electronic device that could display and record vast amounts of information, as well as communicate. They were used as much for storage as they were for resource management. Holobooks were a modern take on the classic book, appearing as books composed of "hard-light" - solidified light condensed into a shape - and were used solely for information storage. The Heeters possessed both forms of these by the millions.

Among their most valuable information, however, was that which was immediate. The sort of information they could sell. This had been their relationship with the Freeza Army and his business in what amount to real estate. This most precious resource was gathered with the Heeter's most ingenious investment.

Computers, installed directly into the brains of sentient beings; essentially turning them into cyborgs. These mechanic sentients, stationed on multiple worlds throughout the Milky Way, were able to retain and distribute information in a near limitless capacity. The perks of a mechanic system integrated into a living organism. It had been difficult at first, stationing these sentient computers on various outposts, but after making their treaty with the Freeza Army, and gaining access to the literal Empire at Freeza's command, it had been ridiculously easy, and barely an inconvenience. These bionic beings would transmit information back to the home base of the Heeters, their asteroid fortress, giving the family access to foreknowledge and the like that others could only dream of.

Through these computers, the man called Elec was monitoring a video feed he'd received a little over a standard month ago now. But he still didn't believe it.

What he saw, stationed on Planet 444, was a Saiyan. He had spiked hair that seemed utterly familiar, and he was making a proclamation to the entire Army.

"My name is Tullece! I am the Saiyan who slew Freeza!"

That in and of itself had been enough to perk Elec's interest when the recording had been relayed to him the first time.

"This army, and this Empire, belong to me! However, it will not be the same as under the Frost Demon Clan!
And to prove my point - to show that I would not sink so low as to ask you, my men, to do something I am unwilling to,
I have fought with the Great King Cold personally! Now watch - as the old regime comes to an end!"

What followed was a graphic display of violence, perhaps the most horrific showing Elec had ever seen. He was not averse to killing or murder, but he had dignity. He preferred the deaths to be clean. The nozzle of a blaster ensured that. Watching the Saiyan who called himself Tullece rip out one of Cold's hearts had made the man's eyes narrow in contemplating. This was now the fifth time he'd seen this feed, and it didn't change his thought process the entire time. Tullece had been one of Freeza's closest men. Elec knew that. Yet he was familiar in a way Elec couldn't place.

"Tch..." Elec turned off the recording, clicking his teeth. Freeza and Cold were dead. The Heeters had been waiting for this moment for literal decades. This should be the perfect chance to make our move...! Elec thought, gently rotating a glass of Adnod, a particularly expensive and rare brand of cognac. But now we have to contend with this...and out of nowhere? Elec frowned. How well hidden had Tullece kept his machinations hidden from everyone? Freeza had suspected nothing, apparently. Even Elec's recording computers had not detected anything odd in Tullece's actions.

Elec parsed through multiple memories, but couldn't recall anything immediately. At least, not anything that made Tullece appear to be anything other than a loyal right hand to Freeza. There may gave even a glint, the hint of something more in Tullece's eyes, but Elec had little regard for Saiyans.

Monkeys at the bottom of the realm of strength and intellect were always going to be plotting. Yet this particular monkey had done the unthinkable, and toppled the lizard kings at the top of everything.

The leader of the Heeters drained the Adnod in a gulp. Tossing the glass aside, he savoured the taste, a symbol of his status, and the burn as the cognac traveled down his throat. In his anger, Elec had wanted to toss the glass with the drink, but had remembered how many kan it cost for one average bottle of Adnod, and was thankful for his decision to drink.

"We can't let him operate unchecked," muttered Elec. "I have to do something."

Calling a family meeting was the simple part. Each Heeter had their own comlink, to communicate within the family. Elec opened a channel that connected his directly to that of his siblings, and summoned them to the dining hall.

Their servants had prepared a lavish meal - various kinds of produce, meat, fish, and even synthetic food, gathered from across the galaxy and shipped via hyperspace trade routes. Elec sat at the head of the table, where Shorou had once sat, and looked out towards his younger siblings. Oil was raucously eating, uncaring of why they had been called. Dinner a few standard hours earlier than normal was music to his ears. Macki ate with more grace, delicately cutting into each particular slice or bite of food, and ate quietly. Gas was the only one who had not touched his meal. His eyes were locked into that of his eldest brother.

"We're here for a reason, aren't we? This breaks schedule, Elec."

The eldest Heeter smiled. Gas' prodigy fighting skills aside, Elec appreciated how quick he was on the uptake. He had not yet informed any of the Heeters about the latest information from Freeza Planet 444. That was a cardinal rule amongst their family; all new information passed through the hands of the family leader. It had been Shorou, and Shorou's father before him, and so on. Now, this role of management fell to Elec. With the press of a button, he displayed the recording, captured live by one of their many bionic beings, for his siblings to see.

A screen had descended, positioned behind him for the viewing of the entire dining hall but himself. Elec had already seen it. He had no reason to view it again.

The Heeters watched in silence, and their faces said more than their mouths.

Macki's eyes widened like saucers, her mouth dropping in an "O".

Oil seemed bored.

Gas had the most dramatic reaction. The younger Heeter's brow furrowed, his teeth clenched, and his pupils dilated in fury while his irises contracted. He remembered vividly this Saiyan, though his armour and demeanor had been different, nearly thirty standard years ago now. But this Saiyan looked so much like that other Saiyan, so it could not be a coincidence. From what he knew of the Saiyans, they didn't have any ridiculous trait, such as all Saiyans of a certain strength-level looking identical. The battle had been so long ago, yet, for his species, that was a considerably short time. As such, the memories were vivid in his mind.

That contemptible Saiyan, with that unique style of hair, squaring off against him on a planet called Cereal.

Blindsiding Gas.

Managing to not only equal him, but surpass him in power.

The battle that had nearly resulted in his death.

Gas' small hand gripped the table, easily shattering the material in his grip to dust.

"Is it him, Elec?" Gas' voice came out as a growl.

Him? Elec pondered for a moment, until the memory came to him. "Ah. Yes, you did have a altercation with a Saiyan some time ago now, didn't you?" The man stroked his beard, thoughtfully. Flashing through memories quickly, Elec had to admit he didn't know the Saiyan as well as Gas. It could be entirely possible this was the very same Saiyan. "No," the Heeter Leader shook his head, dreads bouncing wildly. "I remember seeing an entirely separate recording during Freeza's destruction of Vegeta. That Saiyan was the only one who stood in his way, broken, battered, and utterly wiped out."

The youngest Heeter sat down, his face livid. If Elec said so, it must be true. The Saiyan planet had gone up in flames, but Gas had never watched that particularly video. He didn't care. He only had interest in one Saiyan. "Then why...why does this bastard look just like him?"

"A clone," suggested Oil, shrugging.

"Or a twin brother," offered Macki.

Elec placed both options figuratively on the table. The Saiyans had access to a surprising amount of technology. The bulk of it was pilfered from various other races, however, Elec knew factually they had no cloning technology. The only recorded clone technology in history, either via his own agents, or in recorded documents, belonged to the denizens of the planet Culee. The inhabitants were petite, blue-haired women who were all composed of the same genetic make-up of one individual. These women guarded their technology jealously, and even Freeza's army had never quite figured out how to duplicate genetic material to create an entire being. Furthermore, the women of Culee despised males of any species. They formed romantic attachments solely with each other, and refused on principle to associate with foreign males.

Tullece being a clone was strictly ruled out.

"It must be a twin," shrugged Elec. "Saiyans didn't often form strong familial bonds outside of their mates. Even if your enemy had a sibling, I doubt they would have regularly associated. However, the issue at hand isn't who he is or how he's related to some long dead bastard," said Elec. "The issue...is what we do about him."

"What do you mean what do we do?" asked Oil.

"Oil, bro, use your common sense," snarled Macki. "Freeza just died. Cold just died. This should have been our chance. And instead, we're worrying now about a monkey who took the throne before we even found out. How does something happen before we find out?"

"Our goal has always been simple," said Elec. Folding his fingers together, the man rested his chin on his hands, his elbows on the table. "To make the Heeters the most powerful organisation in the galaxy. More strength than Freeza's army. More reach than the Galactic Patrol. And the political power to make the Galactic King himself buckle." He sighed. "To do that, we needed to find the location of the ultimate intel broker - one of the few things in the galaxy our scouts simply cannot pick up. Yet Freeza always stood in our way, almost as if he knew what we were looking for...and where it was."

"So this chance would have been ideal time for us," said Gas, quietly. "Freeza annihilated. His father deposed. A galaxy to search and decades to do it. But now..." he gripped the table forcefully again, Tullece's mind swimming to the fore of his mind, mixing and meshing with that of the Saiyan he fought so long ago. "...how could he come haunt me after death?!"

It was clear to all four Heeters present that Tullece needed to be eliminated. What remained unclear, however, was how to go about it in a way that fit their methods. The Heeters were not Saiyans. They would not simply barge into a fortified structure as if they owned it and proceed to depose a leader. Their methods required cunning, careful meticulous planning, and—

"Sir Elec," came a voice from the far end of the dining hall. Standing in the doorway, meek and quiet, was one of their servants. A member of a species Elec knew offhand but thought beneath his notice, she timidly spoke to her masters. "P-Pardon my intrusion, but we have a visitor."

"A visitor?" inquired Elec, mildly curious. "Who could be calling now?"

"The...Emperor, sir," replied the young servant.

Heeter's Base, Docking Bay

Outside the asteroid, the dreadnought command ship which had once belonged to Freeza was parked, floating lazily in space. There was no landing pad officially for a ship of their size - even in Freeza's time, the command ship never personally visited the Heeter's base. The occupants of the ship had easily made their way into the docking bay's entrance, however - a party of three; Tullece, Aspara, and a cloaked figure. The dock was built within the interior of the asteroid, where it was kept sealed from the exterior vacuum and pressured to allow breathable atmosphere to pass through.

In the month since deposing Cold, the last member of the Frost Demon clan, Tullece had made considerable wardrobe adjustments. He still donned a Combat Jacket - no sense in adjusting what clearly worked - though he had entirely altered the style. Tullece's new garb was reminiscent of the old kings of the Saiyans, the style the late Vegeta III had carried to his death, and his son, Vegeta IV, ignored entirely. His combat jacket retained its dark colouring on the breastplate, jetblack, though the lining was gold as opposed to white. His shoulder pauldrons, a deep violet, were squared off at either end, a modern take on a classic build. From his waist, where there should have been waist guards, was instead flowed a waist cloak that reached to his ankles. Tullece's tail tied itself nearly around this waist cloak, like a belt. His armbands and boots remained the same as his previous attire, and he now wore black leggings. The most notable difference, however, was the golden necklace, befitted with blood rubies slung over his chest, and an emblem on the breastplate of the jacket: a circle, from which stretched out two, fanning, wing-like arms. Attached to the pauldrons was a flowing cape, deep purple on the exterior, with green interior lining.

To any Saiyan, he truly looked like a King.

Aspara's look was the most drastic. While her hair had not changed, still covering a single eye, and worn straight and sleek, her attire stood out. She wore a skintight bodysuit, cut in the chest area to reveal cleavage, and the midriff to reveal her stomach. A jewel rested on her collarbone, a blood ruby, like the ones on her father's necklace. She too wore a cape, on which yellow, armoured pauldrons rest, covering her shoulders perfectly. Armoured, white boots covered her feet and calves, and she wore similarly white gloves. Like her father, her tail rested over her torso.

The cloaked figure was far less distinctive. They appeared female, at least by the curve of the jaw and shape beneath the robes, but their form was all but hidden by their black cloak. Both women, Aspara and the cloaked figure, walked adjacent to Tullece, slightly behind him on either side.

He wouldn't wait to be shown in. Announcing it to that servant was all the forewarning these fools would receive.

Elec growled. It was a guttural, grainy noise which didn't suit his demeanor. The Emperor?
Forget the fact that Tullece was so casually using the title, how had he made his way here without Elec being informed? Planet 444 had his drones, Elec should have known—

"Please tell me you didn't just let him in," Macki groaned.

"It...it wasn't optional," replied the servant girl. "He didn't give us a...choice exactly."

There was no explosion.

The door to the dining hall was already open.

Yet the servant girl shrieked and ran aside as if she'd been shot, making way for the Emperor and his retinue. Tullece walked into the room, cape billowing out behind him. The man's face seemed to serve as an instant trigger. Scarcely had Tullece made it over the threshold than the entire dining table was upended. Food scattered everywhere, as Gas rose to his feet, enraged.

"It has to be you...!" snarled the youngest Heeter. "You look too much like him for coincidence! That Saiyan from Cereal!"

"Gas, wait!" cried Oil, but his words went unheard. Gas cocked back a punch, rushing down Tullece, his eyes alight. The cloaked fighter made to move, but Tullece waved them down. Gaze firmly locked onto the rushing alien, Tullece used the flat back of his palm to crash into Gas' tiny fist. With his own force deflected and repelled, Gas crashed hard into stone, and Tullece glared down at him.

"You'd do well to calm down," said Tullece coldly. "But by the sound of it, you had a run-in with my late brother."

Elec's frown deepened, his brow furrowing. Among all of them, Gas had the highest combat potential. To see him floored - literally- was disconcerting. "Yes. We were mulling over that. You certainly made your way here quickly, Saiyan. How did you do that, and why are you here?"

Tullece stepped forward, disregarding Gas' stunned form at his feet. "There's a saying among my people. There is a psychic, you see. He knows everything, every night he sleeps. How do you topple a man who knows everything?" Tullece grinned darkly, positively smiling with twisted delight. "It's simple. You move quicker than he dreams."

Elec understood. Somehow, this Saiyan, this bottom tier monkey, had outpaced his own bionic drones. Whether he'd delayed transmissions, disabled them entirely, or done something entirely separate, Tullece had outwitted him.

"Listen, we don't have time to your riddles!" Macki generated a blade of ki from her palm. "We didn't know what to do with you, but if you're going to grandstand in front of us, I'll take you out myself!" Dashing across the dining hall, Macki raised her blade towards Tullece—

—and was met with a powerful leg crashing into her jaw. The woman careened across the dining hall, slamming into the other side. The cloak woman had moved, throwing aside her covering entirely. Underneath the cloak had been a woman, wearing a modified Combat Jacket: a single shoulder strap, pink lining, a simple, speedo-like bottom portion, with white gloves and boots. Her hair was long and of an ebony hue, but her eyes were the most striking: a deep crimson, which seemed to shine of their own accord. Additionally, she still wore the collar from her capture on Namek. Chi-Chi stood in front of Tullece, glowering at Macki.

"The Emperor is speaking," said Chi-Chi harshly. Noticeably, her voice lacked its usual accent. "You'd do well to listen."

"No, this is exactly the kind of display I want to see," said Tullece, placing a hand on Chi-Chi's shoulder. The woman let out a smile of delight. "I would hardly consider doing business with you to be worth my time if you bent your knee to me without even token resistance. If you take exception to my rising to the throne, you're welcome to try me right now. I'll prove to you with my own hands that I am not to be trifled with."

It was almost as if Elec had been waiting for the invitation. A high-pitched, whining impact sounded through the air, clueing Tullece in to the incoming assault. A thin bolt of energy rushed his way, and the newly ascended Emperor of Evil smashed it aside in a quick deflection.

Elec, blaster in hand, raised it again to take another shot, aiming clear between Tullece's eyebrows. Tullece responded in kind, meeting the incoming blaster bolt with two emissions from his eyes. He had to appreciate the strength of this weapon; the ensuing explosion reminded him of actual battle.

Spinning the blaster in hand, Elec discharged multiple bolts from various angles. Tullece avoided each and every single one. When the final one veered towards him, his tail snapped up, batting it into the distance. The Heeters and Aspara watched on amazement, but Chi-Chi looked oddly vindicated.

Frowning, Elec adjusted the setting on his blaster. This was going to demolish the dining hall, but what was a few thousand kan if it deposed a nuisance? Light began to charge from the blaster nozzle, before releasing a massive burst of energy. No, Tullece quickly realised it wasn't a single blast. Multiple individual blaster shots were released simultaneously, merging together to create seemingly a single blast of immense power.

Elec's vision was obscured by the own submachine-style gattling his blaster released. Tullece and his retinue was no longer visible, and the repeated blasts had shot right through where they were, crashing through the wall and into the adjacent room - one mercifully devoid of text and records, as even in desperation, Elec would not have damaged their stores.

"Checkmate."

The Heeter leader froze, his finger still on the trigger. The blaster stalled, its systems overheated, but he felt warmth between the small of his back. Craning his head to look. Behind him, the Emperor was there, a sphere of kI glowing in his palm, levied towards Elec. Looking back where Tullece had been standing revealed Chi-Chi, protectively in front of Aspara, wielding a fan.

"An admirable showing, but in the end, you lose," grinned Tullece. "I admire such ferocity, Elec. Loyalty to your people and your cause... So, I believe rediscussing the terms of your agreement with Freeza are in our mutual best interest, isn't it?"

Utterly, thoroughly trounced. Elec had no words for it. He hadn't even seen Tullece move, and that woman's motion to pull the fan seemingly from nowhere. Elec stood tall, and holstered his blaster. Turning slowly to face Tullece, the leader of the Heeters extended a hand, his jaw clenched.

"Brother, don't—" howled Gas, alive with rage.

"Let's talk terms," said Elec, ignoring Gas.

Thus, negotiations began. As it turned out, there was scarce little Tullece was truly interested in besides continuing the arrangement the Heeters originally had with Freeza. He merely didn't know whether they would acquiesce to a new leader, so a show of power had been important to him.

"You don't want to restrict our activites?" inquired Elec.

"Nothing of the sort," replied Tullece. "Your arrangement with Freeza still stands - after all, his army and Empire are now mine. Provide me with access to your information, as well as aid when I call upon it, and you are free to operate largely as you have been. The Heeter Army is valuable, and your service is prized by me."

"Then what do you want? I can't believe you aren't looking for anything extra," replied Elec.

"Nothing major," said Tullece. "Though I would like to select one of you to act as the representative, the go between of our group." Tullece eyed them all, looking for a reaction to this. If they were surprised, they didn't show it. In fact, Elec smiled at this.

Indeed, thought the leader of the Heeters. One of us would be most suited to spying on Tullece from the inside...if he can get around our bionics, then direct spying may be the simplest way to—

"You agree, then?" asked Tullece, reading Elec's face.

"Yes, I was thinking that may be in all of our best interests as well," replied Elec. "If I may be so bold, I would nominate Gas." Elec gestured to the youngest, who looked positively affronted. The idea of working so close to a Saiyan, especially one who reminded him of the Saiyan who had defeated him on Cereal, repulsed him. "He has the most potential out of all of us, and what he lacks in experience, he makes up for in talent. He should provide muscle as well as intelligence." Elec waited; in truth, he wanted Gas close to Tullece should the latter ever betray him. However, as they were negotiating, he couldn't simply force his desires into the discussion.

Pensively, Tullece placed a finger to his chin, looking at Gas as if he was sizing him up. Then, he shook his head, to the shock and disappointment of Elec, and the immense relief of Gas. "I appreciate the offer, but I would actually like to request Gas' services on the battlefield. No...I would like to select the young lady." Tullece gestured to Macki. "She appears to possess a balance of strength and intelligence, and is in my eyes the best candidate for this role. You are the leader of your family, and are unsuitable by position alone. Your brother here—" He gestured to Oil "—would appear to find his strengths on the battlefield, and solely there. Macki is the best choice."

Macki pointed blankly at herself, clearly confused. Oil was looking between them both, unaware that he'd even been stealthily insulted, and instead wore a strangely proud look at the compliments paid to his capabilities in battle. "W-Wait, you want me? I don't get it."

"I clearly just explained why," said Tullece. "You're free to decline, however, we will have to reconsider our stances and terms."

Elec frowned. Macki, while not as strong as Gas or Oil, was more intelligent than either, and her abilities were tailor-made for killing. Stroking his beard, he held back a sigh that threatened to escape. "Very well. Macki, you will act as the representative between the Heeters and the Tullece Army."

Tullece smiled.

A genuine, complete smile which seemed to make his face a decade younger.

To the Heeters, it was offputting; a sneer or a smirk would have made more sense. The group watched Tullece wring his hands happily, and stand up. "In that case, I believe negotiations are concluded. We've covered the important details - your arrangement does not change, and you will continue scouting planets for me. I've no need to police you. Macki, let's go."

"W-Wait, now?" Macki stuttered.

"Yes, now," replied Tullece. "As the representative between our two groups, there is a working project I'd like to show you. Once you've seen everything necessary on 444, you can always return here, and-" the Emperor gave a frowning Elec a sanctimonious nod "-inform your siblings of whatever you find to be of interest."

"You wouldn't put a gag order on information?" inquired Elec. He knew that Tullece was fully aware the Heeter leader knew of the compromised drones on Planet 444, so he found himself surprised the Emperor would allow such free travel of information.

"Of course not," said Tullece. "Macki will be free to tell you whatever she likes, should she wish it."

"You are naïve, Saiyan," muttered Gas.

"Perhaps I seem so," said Tullece. "I simply look forward to a cordial working relationship. Macki, we'll escort you to the ship."

Reluctant to listen to Tullece, the only female Heeter glanced at her oldest brother for confirmation. Elec met her eyes once, nodding and jerking his head towards Tullece. This was their agreement, and having Macki's eyes and ears on the ground would be helpful.

Groaning, Macki nodded. "Alright. Let's see what your operation is all about."

Thus, the party of four, formerly of three, exited the ruined dining hall. Only when Tullece was well and out of earshot did the Heeter siblings speak again.

"Elec, why'd you just hand Macki over like that?" asked Oil, confused.

"I'd have gone," said Gas. "I wouldn't have enjoyed it, but I'd have gone and we could have killed him so much sooner "

Elec shook his head. "He'd have seen through that. Tullece is not unintelligent, but something about his manner told me he didn't view Macki as a threat. She'll get him, with those sharpened claws of hers. And once Tullece is out of the way—"

"—we can fully resume our search for Zunō," said Gas. "The ultimate source of knowledge."

"That's right," grinned Elec. He couldn't say everything was going to plan, but beggars can't be choosers. Macki would have to end Tullece by any means she could, and grant the Heeters full autonomy. It was only a matter of time.

Outer Space

"HA! HA-HA-HA! HRRRRYAAAAH!"

The sounds of Vegeta's voice bellowing in the empty ship of Capsule Corp design was the only one that could drown out the background. The hum of the ship's engines, the vibrations of enhanced gravity and the rattling of his feet made on impact with the reinforced titled floor. None could compete with the strained presence Vegeta showcased while enduring his horrendous training.

The Prince, currently without a shirt or his leggings - in nothing but standard elastic undergarments of blue over his royal jewels and backside - sweated profusely as he shadow boxes the air in repetitive motions. Every swing made his muscles ache, every adept maneuver felt strained and every inhale was more laborious than the last.

Looking over, he saw the faint reading of the luminescent bulbs shown on the gravity machine taking up the central pillar of the orb shaped vessel. Squinting his eyes last perspiring tears coming from his pronounced brow, he could faintly make out the digital reading in Galactic Basic.

200 x Earth Gravity.

So, this is my current limit without transforming?

He realized he wouldn't have been able to achieve this had it not been for the injuries and eventual death on Namek. His body had hardened, and replaced his weaker physique with a much stronger one. He knew he had a stronger level of ki than Kakarrot did when he arrived on Namek.

But he still has yet to reach it; the source of true power.

Vegeta tried to force himself into this transformation he had before, but he could tell it was a step too short of the Legend. True, it bolstered his power and even eliminated his sense of pain entirely. But it wasn't a true Super Saiyan.

No, this imitation is born out of outrage, not pure rage.

This False Super Saiyan isn't going to be enough, he knew that much. If Tullece was able to escape a pure Super Saiyan, then he would not survive an encounter with the traitor.

That is why I am using the Earthlings' ship! Not just to find the bastard, but to prepare myself. However, if I am to reach my goal of 50x Planet Vegeta's Gravity, then I'll need a means to recover from the wounds I'll no doubt acquire along the way…

Destination:

Freeza Planet 88 Arrival in T Minus
FIVE MINUTES

"Just in time for me to catch a breather," Vegeta breathed out, his breath coming out in vapor as his steaming body trodden over to the machine to disengage. His body felt like molten lead. If he was to appropriate the device he needed, he knew he would have to ensure he played this coolly.

At least, until he got what he wanted.

He walked to the lavatory where he left his Saiyan plasteel armor and its blue fabric. Before he cleaned himself, he grimaced at its wear and tear, no longer clean and dignified. Torn elastic fabric and plasteel, dirt and blood stains in varied places, along with a gaping hole; the very one that ended his life.

It felt like a mark, an analogue to his current self. He had achieved much on Namek, his strength grown to exponential heights he had only dated to dream of. His vision of immortality was squandered, but it was replaced by a burning desire to become the best of his race.

Kakarrot, the Super Saiyan of Legend.

Raditz, the Wrathful Saiyan Renegade.

Tullece, the Traitor.

He dismissed his fallen subordinates, let alone Aspara and Nappa, as significant enough to compare. The two brothers on Earth and his old colleague he sought to avenge himself upon, were the only ones worthy of his attention.

I may not be a Super Saiyan, but I know I am destined for greatness, Vegeta thought as he washed himself in the shower, cleaning himself of all perspiration from his rigorous training. Father, I will become King and see that all who defied me pay with their blood. My honor shall be restored. And I shall be renewed.

The sound of a thundering impact alerted him to the ship impacting one of the many landing pads designed to take high velocity crashes. The ship may have been bigger than a standard Attack Pod by an order of magnitude, but he knew it would take far greater punishment to destroy the pad.

Dressing himself in his tattered Freeza Army Armor, he strode over to the door and press the button to release it into the stairwell it released once opened. Stepping down he saw a number of familiar armored personnel gathered along the plain path on an otherwise craggy rock area the facility is perched upon.

"I-Is that, Vegeta?!" One humanoid soldier cried out with frayed green hair and dark eyes. He looked equally amazed and terrified at his appearance. The Saiyan Prince bore signs of battle but wore no injury.

Was he a ghost? Or an imitation?

"Impossible, how can this be?!" A bearded soldier with purplish studded horn skin said, waving a gloved hand aside with anger. "He's dead! The reports showed Planet Namek turned into molten rock over a month ago! Everyone apart from Lord Tullece died there!"

"I assure you, I am among the living," Vegeta spoke coldly, stepping towards the group of combatants, numbering up to seven. He realized there must be few left to operate an outpost mostly left for research and deployment of medical equipment. The fact they didn't expect him boded well for him.

The bearded soldier grimaced, his Scouter not even blinking as the short Saiyan walked towards him. It's disconcerting, feeling like it really is a ghost walking ahead of his gaze.

Raising his blaster, he primed a blast with a whirring whine-

"Toledo! Don't do it!" The green haired trooper exclaimed in fright at his comrade's actions.

But he didn't even fire a shot. In fact, Vegeta walked past him in particular and tossed something his way. Catching in reflex, the emerald tressed man looked down to see a blaster connected to an arm.

And he gasped while Toledo screamed at a geyser of blood pouring from the stump from his shoulder. Turning to look back at the Prince, he was already gone, evaporated like vapor. None of the other soldiers present couldn't even react and doubted what they saw.

Inside the facility, Vegeta strutted with purpose down the white wall and ceiling filled halls, stepping along deep blue tiles floors. He entered the barracks of one wing of the facility, meant to restock coming and going soldiers used to deep space travel independent of larger divisions and squadrons. There were no markers giving individuality, it was a first come first serve operation. They either had stock, or they were waiting for resupply.

Picking out another piece of flanking shoulder guard plasteel, colored in gold trim over white material. Putting one blue stretchy fabric and gloves to boots over his person, throwing aside his dirtied and damaged uniform onto the ground, he left, walking past other startled personnel and staff of the facility. The less the traitor knows, the better, He schemed with a grin.

He didn't pay any of them mind, he had one goal left to achieve here. Stopping by a particular chamber, flashes of memories came back.

Old memories.

"My Lord, you look quite well today!" An old singular eyed doctor fashioned in white with spindly green skinned limbs. "How has business been?

"Fine," Came a noncommittal grunt from the boy, his face sour and his countenance equally dour. "Blew up a planet today."

"T-That's remarkable!" He said with nervous surprise, his thin lips sputtering from its ovular body. "And to think at such an age. Lord Freeza will be proud-!"

"My father would have been proud," Vegeta had icily said while glowering at him. "That's what you meant to say, right?"

"Well, Freeza is in charge-"

"Freeza isn't here," He said, yelling out as a flare of bluish white erupted from his body. "I AM!"

"My Lord, please calm yourself!" The doctor croaked out, seeing with a frantic eye at instruments, glass and mechanisms shattering everywhere. Even the outside soldiers fled or were paralyzed at the display from the young warrior.

"I am not a lord, you mongrel!" Vegeta swung a hand up, and launched a blast of light that consumed his screaming form. "I am Prince Vegeta!"

As he vaporized, he turned on his heel, a small red cape silhouette walking past a much older and hardened version of himself. He shouted to the outside, as clear as the day he said it decades ago.

"Let this be a lesson to anyone who thinks to belittle me! I don't care who is in charge, unless you have the guts to stand up to me, don't talk down to me, EVER!"

Closing his eyes, he shook his head with a chuckle. He had disposed of almost every one who had mocked or berated him in the past. Now they number as few as fingers on his right hand. And soon, none shall remain other than subjects or slaves to fill out his new empire.

"Prince Vegeta!" A familiar voice squawked behind him. Turning about, he saw two soldiers blinking with just as much shock at the sight they beheld as an orange haired saurian doctor; Raptose. "You…you're alive! This truly is a miracle!"

"I grow weary of repeating that my life has not been extinguished," Vegeta snorted with exasperation. Gesturing to the pair of troopers, he nodded over his shoulder. "You two, unhook that bacta tank in the center and install it in my ship. I wish to depart as soon as you are done."

"Y-Yessir!" One croaked out, while the other saluted nervously. Both slipped nimbly past the shorter warrior, leaving him to watch with his back turned to the saurian orange haired doctor.

"Vegeta, what happened on Planet Namek?" The doctor inquired in a hushed voice. "One moment Freeza sought to claim immortality. The next, Tullece kills King Cold and claims he's done the same to Freeza and that everyone else died on Namek. And now, you are here, alive!"

"It doesn't concern you," Vegeta coldly dismissed as he watched the soldiers detach cables, tunes and wrapped things up for transportation to his ship. "Tullece is mistaken about a great many things. I seek to correct him of those errors. So what he said doesn't matter."

"As the chief doctor of this facility, I say that I've had about enough of the power plays and the secrecy you super soldiers have had!" Raptose said with a nervous yet agitated voice. "Freeza kept things in line fine, but ever since you Saiyans came along, it's been nothing but havoc for us. If you don't want to tell me what's going on, fine. But don't tell me it 'doesn't concern me' when I get worried if my job security is threatened every time another crazed despot takes control from the only source of stability in my life!"

Vegeta chuckled darkly. It was low, humorless and when he turned there wasn't a smile that reached his eyes on his face. It made Raptose swallow hard and back away slowly.

"You know, you raise a good point," He said with a grin intact. "Your job security didn't cross my mind when I was reliving the memories of the last doctor who talked down to me was extinguished by my hands. Your predecessor I believe, what was his name?"

Stretching a hand out, he padded the saurian's shoulder, a too sweet smile present on his visage. It looked more sinister than his usual cruel smirks he remembered from all these years patching the prince up.

"I'll make sure your problems go away when I leave this place."

Swallowing hard, Raptose felt his heart stop as Vegeta loosened his grip and…walked away. The troopers hefted the machine up and followed behind him, walking through the facility without resistance.

Exiting the place, a pool of blood is avoided as they traipse back to the ship, with Vegeta following them inside and watching them with fervent attention; assuring they didn't do so incorrectly. By the time they did so, he gestured to the pair and asked with a raised hand.

"One of you, give me a Scouter. I want to keep up to date with what's happening in the Army," He ordered.

"Y-Yes, of course!" One reptilian looking soldier acknowledged, detaching a Scouter of green lens and handing it over to the prince.

Attaching it to his face, Vegeta smirked and thumbed out the door. Getting the hint they fled, moving as fast as their feet could carry them.

Walking inside without closing the door, Vegeta primed the ship for take off. Thrumming ominously, it raised off with immediate propulsion and took it up and away from the world's atmosphere. Stopping its ascent manually, he floated himself out the open hatch and looked down at Freeza Planet 88.

He remembered coming here all his life, the most frequent of any outpost for recovery and resupply. Nothing but sour memories and distant aspirations to be better and surpass who he was the day before. Now, he looked down with no smile at all and not a hint of remorse for what he was about to do.

"What's that phrase, doctor?" He asked rhetorically with a smile, raising a purplish glowing palm to face the planet below. "Dead men speak to no one."

A brilliant flash of light speared into the planet, puncturing the crust and striking its heart in an instant. Seconds later cracks formed, geysers of lava fired upward before the whole world exploded in a ball of fire and rock.

His periphery caught sight of something in the distance. A speck of light, too small to be a ship but too quick to be a meteorite left the scene. Lowering his hand, he assumed the infamous family of informants at play.

"It doesn't matter," He spoke to himself alive, sealing the ship and plotting a more delayed course to the last spot this execution of King Cold was held. Knowing Tullece, he may still be there. He gave himself a week and he should reach 50x Planet Vegeta's Gravity.

Turning the machine on, he resumed training in earnest, howling aloud as he continued to throw punch after punch at the air, ready to endure the grueling regimen he set before himself.

I'm going to claim my birthright, Tullece! No matter what!

A/N:

LastationLover5000:

Now this is a fun chapter. It's nice to take a break from the common fighting, and do something different, do something new. I don't like the Heeters. I don't like Granola. I will actually be upfront about that, I think the arc is shite. However, I'm never one to dispose of a good canon concept, and as they now exist, I have to actually include them. So, I worked them into this entire scenario as best I could, while trying to flesh them out. I think I did well. Regardless, I had a load of fun writing this. I do, however, feel the need to address something everyone has been asking; Kūra (or as you all say, Cooler) does not exist in this story. He doesn't exist in canon either, but with neither does Tullece. The difference is we managed to work Tullece into the backstory with little to no contradiction. Kūra's entire existence, as he did in the old films, would contradict both Toriyama interviews and Dragon Ball Super: Broly. Because of that, we can't include him.

Demod20: This was a section I wanted to write in between Tullece's takeover of the Heeters' organization. I really wanted to paint a picture of the uphill battle the princeling has had his whole life and how much of a chilling individual he continued to be into the present day. Focused on one thing: eliminate those who wronged him and fulfill his birthright. It's all he can think about and shows why such a driven individual will always clash with the likes of Raditz, Goku and especially Tullece.