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19
The arrogance of the empty body
«The Body Change is a technique typical of a few planets, none of which in this galaxy. We can't tell where he comes from… we don't even know the original resemblances of that being. He might have changed thousands of bodies, for all we know.»
I clench my fists. There's no way I can get out of my head what that warrior had in mind to do. Had I hesitated just for one more instant, I myself would have ended up in that reptilian body instead of that incompetent of Dalion... how shameful would that be?
«Is there any way to counter it?»
Zarbon denies.
«No, but the preparation is obvious enough that you can notice it in time. It's actually quite simple to avoid it. I believe that, to be effective, it must hit the victim frontally in order to immobilize it and establish a contact that allows the energy to be directed inside the mouth. With a little attention, you shouldn't have any problems, Lord Frieza.»
«I'm not going to risk it, anyway.»
«Shall we leave him in the cells, then?»
«Until further notice. Bring me a drink.»
Zarbon bows and exits the room, leaving me alone with Dodoria, who waits patiently for the soldiers to finish chaining Granium to the wall. His daily training is about to begin, but I don't see him as excited as he should be.
«Is something bothering you?»
He shakes, as if coming back to himself. He swings his big head, but I know that he feels frustrated by everything that is happening, starting from the presence of Zarbon who seems to have outclassed him; he should know that this is the case only because we are not on a battlefield. Or maybe the defeat with the saiyan prince still hurts him, who knows.
I'm about to remind him that he will soon be able to vent his instincts when Zarbon returns with my goblet in his fingers, followed by a breathless Kyui clutching a communicator in his hands. I recognize it at a glance: it is the device Granium used to report to my father. The one he still uses, as far as he knows.
Kyui doesn't say anything, he just hands it to me and I notice that it's blinking. An incoming call. It had never happened since I discovered the treason: the communication seemed to be one-sided. Nevertheless…
«What does it mean?»
I look at the faces of everyone around me, but the only one who can give me an answer right now hangs from the thick chains that emerge from the wall. I turn to Granium. The skin of the only arm he has left stretches over the bones, now blackened by bruises; his body lies on his knees with his head leaning forward. Did he not hear or is he pretending not to?
A quick nod towards Dodoria is enough. He lunges towards his victim, grabbing his head by his sparse hair and lifting him so that he raises his gaze to meet mine. Only now, with amazement, do I realize that on his swollen face there is a hint of a smile.
«Did you hear what Lord Frieza asked you? Speak!» the Madorian orders him, but Granium does not respond. He just smiles more and more deeply.
The communicator stops flashing as I leap out of the throne and place my feet on the floor, walking forward.
«You may be the only way to deceive my father, but my desire to keep him at bay is nothing compared to how much I crave to tear you apart with my own hands. Your obedience is the only thing that keeps you alive... remember that, Granium! Speak, what does it mean? Why does he want to communicate with you?»
He tries to keep his bruised eyes open with little success. He even dares to look directly into mine. Torture made him incredibly courageous, more than he ever was in his dull existence.
He murmurs something vaguely intelligible, a gurgling whisper that I can't immediately decipher. I think he said ten days. Every ten days. And he smiles, with a distorted laugh that perhaps would like to be triumphal, as if all of this were his personal victory.
Suddenly the thought of having been deceived again hits me like a punch in the stomach. Exactly what he wanted as he bursts into laughter, and that laughter sounds as offensive as an insult to my ears. I have no intention of being fooled by a being of such low caliber.
«You communicated privately every ten days… perhaps to confirm to him that you were well?» I clench my fists so much that the tendons crack under the skin. «Why didn't you tell me before?»
He raises his head, still looking me in the eyes. In that look I read all the desperation and hysteria of an empty body that no longer even fears death, indeed, perhaps it desires it. And, from what he says, I really think he's doing everything he can to deserve it.
«Because you're a threat and you must be stopped, Frieza. His Highness your father placed me alongside you for this exact reason.»
It makes me laugh.
«Oh, what a heroic martyr we have here! The savior of the Universe, the one who will stop the Perfect Being! King Cold's dog, faithful to the end!»
I can't help myself. I laugh at the top of my lungs, the mere thought is so exhilarating, but soon the laughter dies on my face and the fury blinds me again. I point a finger at him.
«No one will compliment you, Granium. Your death will go as unnoticed as your entire useless existence. You gave up greatness by refusing to be by my side... do you think you're a hero? You're just an idiot!»
«I will die having done my duty» he whispers, and that seems like a request to me. I told myself that I would let him live, but the energy condenses on my finger and I already shudder with the pleasure of seeing his blood spread on the floor.
«No, Lord Frieza!»
Just when I'm about to move, something grabs my arm before I can launch the attack: a blue hand, perfectly smooth and with an incredibly firm grip. I am shocked but inflamed with anger.
«How dare you, Zarbon? Don't touch me!»
«Don't do it, Lord Frieza» he tries to dissuade me. «You still can't face your father, not yet… if only…»
«Take your hands off me!»
He obeys instantly, but his words have achieved the effect he wanted.
You still can't face your father…
I don't slaughter Granium as I would have done a few moments before; I take a deep breath to calm myself down as I reflect on what Zarbon just told me. Anger, only anger fills my mind again.
«So what?» I growl, turning to my advisor, barely keeping myself from attacking the traitor. «We can't make this scum take the call in these conditions. We can't answer in person either. What should we do?»
Zarbon grabs the communicator from Kyui's hands, composing a text message that he shows me a moment later.
«Granium. Report #2 of the day. Lack of video response due to impediments: Lord Frieza has decided to keep his élite with him constantly. I was able to free myself from him for a moment. We are currently landing on Netiko. I'll keep reporting. I'm closing.»
He shows it to me and I read it. I have to say that I'm quite satisfied, so I nod and Zarbon holds out the communicator towards Dodoria. The Madorian grabs Granium's wrist, trapped in the firm grip of the handcuff fixed to the wall, and imprints his thumb on the screen. A few moments later the message disappears, broken down into millions of particles and sent to the recipient.
However, something isn't going as it should. Granium hasn't stopped smiling and it makes me furious.
«Dodoria, get that laugh out of his face before I do it myself.»
My Commander nods, but before he can move Granium whispers something incomprehensible. Nobody moves waiting for my command.
«Come again» I order him.
He slurs, tries to articulate his words, but the torture and forced silence of the last few days have numbed his tongue and he can no longer speak as he should. This time, however, I understand what he is saying.
«It's useless…»
With a jerk I grab him by the collar of the worn shirt he is wearing, lifting him off the ground until I almost choke him.
«What is useless?»
I immediately realize that this position only prevents him from speaking even more. I let go of him roughly and he falls back, opening like a sheet dropped to the floor, but he's moving. He is laughing. A beginning of laughter that does not dare – or cannot – become more powerful.
«It does…» he tries to articulate. «It does not work like that. I have to call him back.»
«You won't call anyone back. You just told him that's not possible.»
He shakes his head, visibly denying it. I understand well what he means, I have no doubt that my father has calculated every eventuality, but I will try to keep him at bay as long as possible. Besides, he has no reason to suspect that I have identified his spy: the message I sent him could be perfectly plausible.
«It's the rules. You have no escape» he whispers again. Suddenly the urge to kick him becomes too powerful to bear; I force myself to move away from him, he doesn't even deserve the honor of being hit by me personally.
«I make the rules» I say, returning to sit in my throne. Then I ask Zarbon. «How long to planet Vegeta?»
«Three days, Lord Frieza.»
Damn.
I shrug, motioning for him to hand me the goblet. The cold glass in contact with my skin gives me a minimum of relief, the sour taste of the red Madorian nectar inebriates my senses. I direct Zarbon to unroll a new piece of space map at my feet.
«Let's see what we have in this galaxy. Dodoria, begin.»
While my advisor obeys, the first scream rises in the room. Music to my ears, now more than ever.
I can't say I wasn't waiting for a call from him. After all, checking in person, even if with an excuse, is what I would have done too. I guess the lack of trust runs in the family; too bad I can anticipate his every move, and this will make everything much more interesting. A challenge to determine who lies best, where the winner can only be the one who manipulate the other in the most subtle way... a difficult task, when the opponent expects just so.
When they bring me the communicator I force myself to stay focused. I touch the screen recalling Zarbon's words, a truth that I must force myself not to deny.
You can't face him … not yet.
The screen lights up and the pixels form the image of his face. Everything from his smile to his tone makes the energy in my chest sizzle.
«Frieza» he greets me.
«Father. What do I owe this call?»
I try to keep my tone and expression as neutral as possible even though I can't deny my concern. I've always been very good at lying but I need to focus. Anything I say right now could irremediably ruin everything.
You can't face him!
«I just want to know how my dear son is doing. Or maybe is it forbidden to call you?»
«Cut it short. I have no time to waste.»
He chuckles, perhaps moves to make himself comfortable on his seat. With a glance I realize that he is not in the Palace, on his planet, and there is only one reason that could ever push him to move from planet Cold Number One. I already sense what will happen and his words confirm it to me.
«I imagine you are busy with your new business. I wanted to discuss this, indeed. Your messengers have contacted some of my planets to propose purchasing yours. I think this is really a bad move on your part, son, but I'd like to talk to you about it in person. I'm already on my way. Where can I find you?»
I force myself to stay calm and try to remember what he knows about me and my movements.
«I am in Netiko's orbit, father. We'll be landing shortly, but now that I think about it, I don't think I'll stay. We'll take off again in a few hours.»
«It won't take me long, I promise. By coincidence I'm already headed on that route and I'm on one of the fastest ships I own. One day, no more. Do you think you can have that much patience?»
I can clearly sense the mockery in his tone. He knows and wants me to understand it. In any case, I will not give him any satisfaction. I would even go back to Netiko to meet him just to see his disappointment, if I wasn't more than ten days away: I could never get there in time even if I pushed the ship to its limit. I shake my head.
«I don't have that much patience and I have nothing to discuss with you. Go back to your planet. If what disturbs you are my emissaries, I will no longer send them on your possessions.»
«I have to insist. Actually, this is a warning: if I arrive on your Planet Number One and you're not there, it could make me very, very nervous. See you soon, Frieza.»
The communication drops without me being able to add anything else. And what would there be to add? What I heard was a threat and insisting would certainly not have made the situation better.
I hand the communicator to Zarbon, who next to me has followed the entire speech and is waiting for me to ask something. I don't care what his opinion is. I know that the best thing I could do is to be on Netiko, but it's impossible and I don't want to admit that the alternative could be so dramatic.
«What is he going to do?» he finally asks.
You can't face him.
I can't listen to those words. I turn my throne.
«Bring Granium here to me, now. I need to know everything my father has in mind.»
Maybe he would like to deny it, but he doesn't dare to. He bows and goes away, leaving me alone, surrounded by undesired thoughts.
Next chapter:
Perpetual return