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Chapter 9
Tyrannical Verdict

Kakarot, Vegeta, Nappa and Raditz arrive on Freeza Planet 896. It's a Blue world with one large white structure which held the same pure white design as Recovery Station 619. It was one of the worlds the Freeza Empire conquered and built on. A large twenty-yard landing pad sat to the right of the Freeza Empire base. Taking up a majority of the landing pad was a large circular shaped ship with a single purple window in the shape of a circle at the very front of it. Its top of the ship had a large hole which was used to allow those inside to go outside and vice versa.

It had several metal single digit legs which were used as landing gear. To the side of the spaceship were several smaller circles in the ground which were segmented to allow for Freeza Empire space pods to land. As such Kakarot and his team landed right next to Freeza's spaceship. The Saiyans immediately exited their pods and laid their eyes on the massive hulk. It was the biggest sign that Freeza had indeed already arrived. They ignored the spaceship and left for the base, stopping for nothing. They passed by several Freeza Soldiers wearing a variety of different sets of armor, all being consistent with the use of Battle Vests. The Saiyans got dirty looks and side eyes throughout their march for the building at the center.

They were used to this treatment in fact Kakarot took pride in the scornful glares, viewing it as a badge of honor that the troops lower on the totem pole of Freeza's forces hold disdain for him for this or that reason. Most of the glares were because of their race but others disliked them because they got plenty of presumably positive attention from Freeza, though in reality Freeza himself doesn't care for them, all he cares about is that they do their job. They enter the large building at the center and eventually stop at a large metal door. Vegeta and the rest of the Saiyans trade glances at each other before they enter Freeza's throne room.

The Saiyans enter a large white and purple room with a single chair sitting at the top of a set of stairs. Up those stairs stood three individuals. These three individuals were Freeza himself and his two bodyguards who stood at both sides of him. In reality they acted more like top class henchmen to him rather than bodyguards. One of the bodyguards was Dodoria, a large, round alien who has small pink spikes protruding everywhere including his large, wide arms. Dodoria wore the same style of armor as Raditz and Kakarot however it was blue and orange rather than black and orange. He had no battle skirt, but he did wear thick dark blue pants.

Lastly, he wore a green Scouter that had the same model as Vegeta and Nappa's Scouters who wore much more advanced models than Kakarot and Raditz. To the other side of Freeza was Zarbon, his closest attendant. He was the polar opposite of Dodoria, he was thin and green. His physical features portrayed an air of elegance and gracefulness, he was also much more humanoid looking than Dodoria, who was more like an armored egg. His choice of clothing was quite elegant looking as well. Zarbon wore a strange ornament that was wrapped around his forehead, small ball shaped earrings and his Scouter was blue too.

His battle jacket's color scheme was the same as Vegeta's however he didn't wear a battle skirt though he did wear the same armored trunks as Kakarot and Raditz. Lastly, he wore dark blue leggings and brown lace less shoes. Both of the men at Freeza's side looked down at the Saiyans with a sense of superiority, a large difference from the look of jealousy and contempt they got from the regular troops. In the middle stood Freeza, the emperor of the Freeza Empire. He was very lizard-like, he had white, bone-like material atop his head with the top of it colored a glassy purple dome. He wore an orange and purple battle jacket with wrist braces as well as ankle braces colored orange and white.

He was barefoot showing three-digit lizard-like toes. Lastly, he had a long pink tail with a purple tip at the end of it. Freeza was above all, the most menacing individual in the room. He looked down at the Saiyans with small red eyes, he gave them a sinister purple grin. The second the Saiyans entered the room they positioned themselves with Vegeta in the front and his three comrades a few steps behind him spread out in a curved line. They all went down to one knee, placing one of their arms on their other knee. Vegeta spoke to Freeza with a respectful tone, "Lord Freeza, we have returned from conquering Planet Prune." Vegeta spoke respectfully, being very careful with his words.

Vegeta might be an arrogant, dangerous individual but he is well aware that however strong he is, Freeza is far more terrifying. Freeza spoke in an elegant and calm manner, sounding like the emperor he is, "Well done please tell me how it went." Vegeta carefully explained their landing, their destruction of the Prune cities all the way to the ambush by PDF forces as well as halting their plan to evacuate the planet in a space shuttle. Freeza interjected upon explaining the destruction of the Space Shuttle, "Oho, how appropriately malicious of you, Vegeta. I applaud your merciless work ethic."

Freeza's words sounded sincere, an aspect of Freeza that Vegeta shared was his sadistic side. Vegeta was careful not to mention anything that would make his squad look bad. He avoided mentioning Nappa getting carried away and not contacting him after finishing his objective. He was also very careful to stick to the cover story on how Kakarot and Raditz got injured, blaming it on a suicidal attack by the Prune forces. Freeza however frowned by the end of the explanation, worrying Vegeta greatly as well as his Saiyan brethren. Dodoria suddenly spoke up in a gruff arrogant tone, "Really, you two were caught off guard by a pack of suicidal fur balls?"

Zarbon added, "Really, I would have expected more from a so-called "Warrior Race"." All of the Saiyans felt their anger rise but they managed to keep themselves from making any outburst or shows of anger. They all were well aware of the fact Zarbon and Dodoria loved getting a rise from them in front of Freeza. Freeza was aware as well, adding, "It is quite troubling that you two would blunder this badly given the inhabitants sub-par technology." This worried Vegeta even more, Freeza mentioned the Prunian's tech, but it was very deliberate. Vegeta had a bad feeling; the meeting was turning more negative than he was hoping.

Vegeta considered the possibility Freeza could be eavesdropping on their communications through their Scouter while on the mission. It is something that is theoretically possible, though it isn't something that has ever officially occurred, only speculation existed of this happening. Vegeta only disabled his Scouter during his discussion with his team at the landing pad out of caution. It wasn't something that was possible to do on the mission since their Scouters are integral to locating and evading danger. Freeza then looked at Kakarot and said, "Saiyan, I would like your account of the situation."

Vegeta felt a chill run down his spine, he thought, "He's trying to get a rundown of the situation from Kakarot's perspective. Why? Does he doubt me? Is this a sign they were eavesdropping and if so…" Vegeta glanced at Kakarot and thought to himself, "Did Kakarot not tell me the whole story? What could he be hiding that Freeza knows?" Kakarot while under the stress of Freeza's orders and gaze says, "Y-yes my Lord, Raditz and I were attackin' their Vehicle Bay when we tracked down their weapons depot. One of their guys fired a round into it and everything blew up." The explanation was short but easy to understand.

Freeza however wasn't satisfied, "A stray blast… you were caught off guard by a stray blast. Do you mean to tell me you two are so incompetent that something as random as a stray attack was able to slip by your defenses?" Kakarot flinched angrily at the question, being called incompetent hurt his pride but he knew if he lost his cool then both he and his brother would pay the price. All Kakarot could say was, "My apologies, my Lord." Vegeta was visibly worried now, Freeza was unsatisfied with Kakarot's explanation despite being along the lines of what he wanted Kakarot to say.

Vegeta cursed under his breath, he thinks to himself, "I should have come up with something specific for him to say, even I would be angry over such a simple mistake." The next words out of Freeza's mouth sent chills down Kakarot and Raditz spines. Color drained from their faces when Freeza said while standing up putting his arms behind his back, "How should I deal with you. I don't think I need such incompetence in my rank and file." These words sealed the Saiyans fate, Vegeta found this strange, yes Freeza disliked failure but the mission overall was a success. The planet was taken despite the explosion and Vegeta would have thought that Freeza would find such failures as a point of comedy rather than a point of criticism.

Vegeta now had the impression that Freeza was up to something. Vegeta took solace in the fact he and Nappa didn't look to be the ones about to be punished. He figured this was Kakarot and Raditz punishment for being defiant at the end of the mission. Kakarot realized that if nothing was done about the situation then both he and his brother would die here and now. Color returned to Kakarot's face as he took a serious expression. Vegeta spotted this and began to worry, he thought to himself, "What's with that look? He's up to something."

Suddenly Vegeta realizes what Kakarot could be thinking of doing, "That moron isn't thinking of dragging me down with him is he?" Vegeta realized that Kakarot could reveal the information he told him to keep hidden. It's reasonable to believe that Kakarot may hold a grudge for the way Vegeta and Nappa treated him and his brother so it was in the realm of possibility that he could throw him under the bus out of spite. Unfortunately for Vegeta, he wasn't in a position where he could stop Kakarot from talking. Freeza would suspect something if he tried. Vegeta bit his lip and hoped Kakarot wasn't actually thinking of doing what he thought he was going to do. Kakarot thought to himself, "If I don't do anything my brother's going down with me."

Kakarot's gaze shifted to Vegeta for a moment and thought to himself, "That bastard probably thinks I'm going to betray him, tell em' about the "disks" en' whatnot. Fortunately for you I'm not a backstabben' bastard not unlike you." Kakarot looks Freeza in the eye and thinks to himself, "I'll just take all the blame, it'll be easy enough to buy since I've always causen' trouble for the squad." "I'm at fault!" Before Kakarot even opens his mouth Raditz beats him to the punch. His outburst surprises everyone in the room, even Freeza looks at Raditz with wide eyes.

Freeza throws out a question, "Excuse me Saiyan, what did you just say?" Raditz looks Freeza in the eye and repeats himself, "I am at fault for the explosion." Kakarot is rendered speechless by his brother's declaration. Kakarot wanted to immediately counter his statement but knew that doing so could get them both killed. Kakarot clenched his fists trying to force himself not to speak, trusting that his brother knew what he was doing. Freeza wasn't sure what was going on, he put on a serious expression and said, "Explain yourself." Raditz immediately said, "It wasn't just any stray Ki blast that hit the weapons depot."

Raditz 'voice quivered for a moment as he continued, "L-lord Freeza, I am a coward by nature. During the battle I panicked and accidentally t-threw a Ki blast into the weapons depot, the explosion was my fault alone." Raditz grew silent waiting for Freeza's response. Vegeta looked back at Raditz dumbfounded, he had expected Kakarot to expose his lies. What he didn't expect was for Raditz of all people to take all the blame instead. Vegeta had written off Raditz's decision to stand up to him as Raditz not thinking straight due to the beating he received. He assumed this was a onetime deal and afterwards Raditz would return to his old cowardly self, it would seem that he was mistaken.

Freeza looked stumped but after a few seconds of silence Freeza looked at Kakarot and spoke with anger in his voice, "Is this true, Saiyan?" Kakarot didn't respond immediately, instead a look of hesitation washed over his face. Freeza repeated the question while adding a few words, "I said, is this true Saiyan? Speak honestly otherwise I may execute the both of you!" Kakarot glanced at his brother who looked equally worried before looking Freeza in the eye and saying, "Y-yes, it's true." Kakarot bowed his head, looking at the floor.

Freeza looked at the Saiyan brothers and after a full minute of silence Freeza sat down, looked at Kakarot and said, "While your desire to protect your brother is admirable, if a bit uncharacteristic, I cannot allow such incompetence to go unpunished." Kakarot had a look of panic on his face, but it soon dropped when Freeza said, "As punishment I will send your brother on a mission, alone." Kakarot and Raditz look at Freeza with surprise. The emperor continues, "You will receive no outside help, you only receive the most basic of information about the world and…"

Suddenly both Kakarot and Raditz were hit with a piercing attack from Freeza. A pair of needle-thin Ki beams hit both Kakarot and Raditz in their right shoulders. A piercing pain shot through their body causing them to falter and drop to both of their knees. They grasped their hurting shoulders as Freeza continued, "That was for attempting to deceive me, no matter you're reasoning I will not tolerate such insubordination." Freeza looked at Vegeta and said, "Now Prince, because you failed to keep the men under your command under control, you along with your squad will remain here until he has finished his mission or dies trying." Freeza then looked at Raditz and said, "You will receive the mission details a week from now, take the time you have to prepare for it."

Raditz fought through the pain as he climbed back onto one knee. He then looked up at Freeza with heavy eyes, "Thank you, I will not fail you." After this Vegeta and his Saiyan allies marched their way out of Freeza's throne room. Once they made it outside, they relocated to a more secure location, on the outskirts of the city. Kakarot and Raditz leaned against an old building, the other Saiyans deactivated their Scouters just to be safe. Kakarot sat down while Raditz kept his footing. Vegeta and Nappa stood in silence, not wanting to start the conversation.

Kakarot looked at Raditz and said, "Why the hell did ya do that? I was gonna take the fall, we both know it was my fault." Vegeta chimed in, "It's clear that you were holding out on me, what really happened?" Kakarot paused for a moment before saying, "Raditz wasn't involved, I blew up the room on purpose." Nappa suddenly asked, "Why the hell would you do that? Did you want to die?" Vegeta crossed his arms and grumbled, "Was this you trying to rely on our Zenkai Boost?" Kakarot shook his head and said, "I fought a commander guy, Jade was his name. He gave up part way in that fight, he just quit." Kakarot had a conflicted expression and he continued, "It made me feel strange, I just wanted to get the mission over with so I could stop thinking about it. So I blew up the base."

Kakarot shifted his gaze to Raditz and said, "You didn't answer my question." Raditz stood there for a moment, giving himself time to think. He then said, "Because Freeza wanted it to be you." Nappa and Kakarot looked surprised by this statement. Raditz looked at Vegeta and said, "You thought that trial was strange too, right Vegeta?" Vegeta nodded in agreement followed by him saying, "Freeza was unusually persistent. He usually views our failings as comedy." Vegeta then added, "However he shouldn't have cared about this. Despite you two's blunder the mission was a complete success."

Vegeta looked at Kakarot and told him, "He wanted you to take the fall, he was trying to get rid of you and I don't know why." Nappa suddenly said, "Why would he care about Kakarot? He's a low-class warrior." Kakarot grumbled at that insult but kept his tone low. Vegeta then reactivated his Scouter and said, "Kakarot, get up and show us your Power Level." Kakarot struggled to his feet before walking away from the building and then yelling out, "Haaa!" A purple aura burst forth from him after which Vegeta began tracking how high his power level was until it reached its max. Vegeta repeated the power level with astonishment, "A Power Level of 4,000."

Raditz looked impressed while Nappa looked furious. Nappa blurted out, "T-that's impossible, that's close to mine, the Scouter must be defective!" Kakarot turned toward Nappa and in a pride filled voice said, "Wanna find out?!" Nappa and Kakarot locked eyes and were both raring to go when Vegeta said, "No, we need to confront Freeza about the rules we're under. I won't have you two idiots accidentally destroying the base in a grudge match." Nappa and Kakarot looked disappointed, Kakarot powered down. Vegeta turned off his Scouter, he then thought to himself, "Even so, 4,000 is nothing compared to Freeza and those two flunkies."

Vegeta gazed at Raditz and then Nappa, he continued his thoughts, "Raditz however showed some real change and Nappa has been more competitive as of late." Vegeta then looked at Kakarot and began to understand something. He thought to himself, "Freeza was surprised when Raditz took the blame. Does Freeza fear the effect Kakarot has on the rest of us?" Vegeta let the thought drift away and said, "Whatever the case may be, we need to be ready in case Freeza throws any more curve balls at us." Vegeta then said, "I'll see about figuring out where we're going to stay in the meantime." Vegeta separated from the group while the others waited for him.

Right after the meeting and a little after Vegeta and his squad leaves, Freeza sits on his throne with Dodoria and Zarbon waiting patiently. Freeza stares off from the window of his spaceship while Dodoria reads a power level in the distance saying, "4,000 I'll bet they're proud of that measly power level." Zarbon let out a laugh and said, "Let them entertain themselves, it's not like they'll have much to do for a long while." Freeza without looking at his subordinates says, "That's for the best, they have become quite bold as of late." Zarbon then said with a grim expression, "It's unseemly for such apes to even attempt to reach above their station."

Freeza then said, "That crazy haired Saiyan, what was his name?" Freeza immediately remembered saying, "Oh right, Kakarot, has become an eyesore. Every time I see him he seems to get stronger and stronger." Freeza then said with a scowl, "Then he proceeds to inspire those around him, before today that brother of his wouldn't have dared to even whimper in my presence." Zarbon suddenly asked, "Lord Freeza, if I may ask why are you so focused on that Saiyan in particular? He's third in the squad and he isn't particularly special."

Freeza scowls deeper and says, "It's precisely that aspect that bothers me. Despite his meager placement in Vegeta's fold he has invoked change in his fellow Saiyan. That "Raditz" is only one example, I need to nip this problem in the bud before they get any bright ideas." The following day Vegeta had finally set up his squad with their living quarters. Freeza has allowed them to stay in their own personal rooms, a hotel of sorts, giving them the luxuries afforded to regular guests. A week passed and Kakarot got up to say goodbye to Raditz who had received his orders that very morning. Kakarot arrived on the landing pad and saw a white pod with Raditz packing supplies into it. He approached his brother who had just finished his preparations.

Raditz looked at his brother and said, "It seems Freeza is either insulting me or cutting me a break. The Planet they sent me to is even more primitive than Prune, granted that's all they would tell me." Raditz then said, "I have one year to finish the world off. They will be satisfied if I wipe out all intelligent life rather than literally every lifeform and I only get to keep the stuff I bring with me." Kakarot has a hesitant look on his face when Raditz says, "No need to worry brother, their power level is even lower than Prune as well, barely anyone reaches above five."

Kakarot just says, "Just call me when you get there, I want to hear all about it." Kakarot and Raditz shake each other's hands and Raditz climbs into the pod. Before pressing the button to close the pod Raditz tells Kakarot one more piece of information, "It's funny actually, before our Father put you in my squad he talked about sending you to a number of different worlds." Kakarot raises an eyebrow in curiosity, he says, "Yeah it's what a Saiyan would normally have to do before joining a squad."

Raditz then says with a smile, "Right, well as it turns out the world I'm going to is the one you were gonna wind up going to." Raditz finished his sentence with, "It was called Earth." Right after that Kakarot and Raditz said their goodbyes and he rockets off into space. Kakarot could feel his fist shaking a little, he felt nervous about something. "I wish I could have asked him why… why he'd protected me back on Prune." Kakarot then smiled and said, "I'll just save that question until he gets back." Kakarot smiled as Raditz flew farther and farther away to a strange blue world known as Earth.

Editor's Notes: Only replacing bad grammar and those kinds of errors.

Author's Notes: I made a slight raise to Raditz's power level for power scaling (not supper accurate mind you) reason for next arc reasons.

Power Level Guide:

Vegeta: 18,000 Full Power

Nappa: 4,350

Raditz: 2,900 After Prune Zenkai

Kakarot: 4,000 After Prune Zenkai

Zarbon: 23,000

Dodoria: 22,000

Freeza: 530,000