.
23
Pride and arrogance
«You really are promising, Vegeta. You should be honored to have fallen into my hands.»
He looks at me, but says nothing. His eyes burn with a living, pulsating fire, and his small body quivers with desire to act.
«However…»
I punch him in the chest with such force that his lungs empty. His eyes close halfway. A stream of saliva and blood escapes from his lips.
«…it might not seem such an honor to you, right now. Look at you, you're pathetic.»
He knows he can't free his arms, but he keeps trying anyway. I'm surprised at his tenacity. He tries to raise his hands, perhaps to reach my tail and loosen the grip it has between his shoulders and chest, but he doesn't even manage to lift his forearms above his hips.
I love his repressed fury. Just looking at him in that helpless and submissive state makes me want to squeeze until I feel his little bones breaking; I want to hear him scream.
«Poor little prince,» I say, laughing. «He thought he'd be greeted with a red carpet. He was wrong!»
I let my tail slip to free access to his chest. Once again, he fails miserably to seize the moment and I feel his ribs cracking under my knuckles. And he screams, a strangled cry that he lets out only to repress it a few moments later. I squeeze him again, sending a shiver of pleasure through my tail.
«You're nobody here, Vegeta. You're not a prince, nor the heir to the throne. You're just a weak brat. You're worthless.»
«Don't... don't.»
«Don't? Are you saying it's not true? Look at you. You can't even speak. What a pitiful sight.»
I slowly release my grip and he slides to the floor, abandoned like an unconscious body, but he's present to himself. I understand it immediately: he stays still for just a few moments, then he turns around and tries to stand up, propping himself up on his palms. I like this move. He doesn't give up despite his obvious inferiority. But for this very reason, I'm not letting him get up again.
«You're weak, even though you're one of the best warriors I've seen at the auction. And yet I admit that you surprise me: even without using energy, you manage to survive my blows. That's something.»
He's trying to speak but he can't. Even breathing is a struggle for him right now. I wait patiently, watching him closely, following his every effort to get the air out of his chest.
«I'm not...»
«You're not weak, you say?»
He is silent in the affirmative. I don't think he's stupid enough not to know what these words mean; indeed, my first instinct is to hit him to prove him wrong. This kid is willing to challenge even death rather than admit that he's inferior to his opponent. I know he's at his limit, and I don't want to risk actually killing him, so I hold back, even if with an effort.
«Big words for such a small boy,» I say, mocking him. «Huge statements for someone who just moments ago couldn't even parry my punch.»
«It's... because you don't allow me to use energy, Lord Frieza» he states. He's trying to measure his words so as not to overdo it. His father must have told him endlessly not to tease me, but it must be really difficult for him.
«Maybe» I say. «But a warrior who doesn't know how to fight hand-to-hand is only half a warrior.»
I retract my tail and he doesn't move. He's waiting for me to do it. I take a step forward and bend over him, almost at his height. He shouldn't raise his head. He should remain still. But he does, and his eyes meet mine. From the first moment I saw him, I saw pride and arrogance in them. He is the worthy prince of his race. I am certain he has also noticed how, deep down, we are similar.
I run my fingers through his hair, feeling the hardness of his skull under my palm. I could crush him against the ground and split him in two if I wanted, and for all his insolence, he wouldn't deserve anything else. But I won't. This head contains the brain of the one who will be my best man. My diamond tip.
«Do you want to become powerful, Vegeta?»
He pauses, considering his answer. If he says yes, it would mean accepting that he isn't yet. He finally nods, either to avoid provoking me or because he has finally decided to admit it.
«Yes.»
«Good. If you continue to train with me, you will. That's a promise.»
I let him go and this time I allow him to get on his knees. He doesn't stand up, he can't. His legs are shaking, his arms are giving out, he coughs up the same dark blood that soaks his brand new battle suit.
«I will make a man out of you, the most powerful in my army» I promise him. «You will be second only to me, and everyone in this universe will fear you. What do you think? Do you like the idea?»
He doesn't even have the strength to nod, but he finds the strength to smile, and I know it's done.
«Your father is our only obstacle, Vegeta. Convince him for me and all of this is yours.»
Our time here is up. I press a button on the scouter and without even needing to order it, Dodoria enters the room and lifts the boy onto his shoulders. Vegeta doesn't resist. He lets himself be lifted like a feather and only now he feels free to faint.
Dodoria comes to me after carrying Vegeta to the healing chamber and stands beside Zarbon, who waits with his arms crossed, waiting to know why I summoned them. They're well aware of the reason.
«I found the planet you're going to visit» I state. I point it out on the map. Tzareg is three days away by Attack Ball from Vegeta. It is very similar to Madoria if it weren't for its incredibly small size. They also seem to realise the poor value of that place; Zarbon in particular is not satisfied.
«A low-level target, Lord Frieza.»
«A target that would require a few dozen men if my priority was to conquer it, but that's not what I'm doing. In any case, if you can take it, you'll prove to me that you're as valuable as the elite that you are.»
«The two of us?»
Zarbon let out a tone that was far too arrogant, but he immediately regrets it. My gaze paralyzed him.
«Yes. I've decided you two will go alone. Anything to object?»
«No, Lord Frieza.»
«Excellent. I'm eager to see how long it will take you to complete the mission.»
«We can do it in a day» Dodoria states confidently.
«Even faster, if you team up.»
Dodoria's brute force and Zarbon's strategy are a formidable combination, but they must work in unison.
If one of them gets the better of the other, they won't even be able to land without arguing.
«And remember that I care about you, not the planet. If for some remote reason you find yourself in danger, don't hesitate to retreat.»
This is also a good test, especially for Dodoria. He'll agree to surrender in case of defeat now that I've expressly granted it to him. Otherwise, he would have gotten himself killed rather than come back to me empty-handed.
I can't say the same about Zarbon. I have never seen him fight since he showed up on the ship, and his main use has always been that of an advisor. However, I expect him to demonstrate incredible power, at least based on his muscles. However, he is prone to betrayal, as evidenced by the ease with which he sold me his entire planet. I will ascertain whether it is worth entrusting him with troops and whether he can lead them himself.
Zarbon bows, Dodoria stands with his arms crossed and nods.
«Any other instructions?»
«One more» I point to their new scouters. «Make use of this opportunity to experiment with those as well. We will communicate through the scouters, so keep them on even when you sleep. I must be able to order your return at any time.»
«It will be done» Zarbon states.
«You are going to leave immediately.»
They turn and leave the room through the mechanical door, their surprise evident but unspoken. As the door closes behind them, I am left alone, waiting.
The red soil of the planet Vegeta extends beyond my windows almost to the horizon, where the royal palace, blurred behind a blanket of dust, appears imposing as a mountain. This planet is not welcoming and I have no intention of staying here for too long. I must leave and find a new planet at the center of my system.
As I am thinking, I am surprised by the screeching sound of the door opening. I wait a few moments, then I turn and my eyes are met with exactly the scene I was hoping to see.
The little prince is in front of me, standing tall and straight on his legs. If I hadn't seen him in person after our training session, I would be hard pressed to believe that just a few hours earlier he couldn't even stand up. He has his hands on his hips and his head high, his eyes fixed to meet mine, his face impassive. It's time to buy him, and I know exactly what currency to use.
«How do you feel?» I ask him, and he knows the answer.
«Good» he says. «Very good.»
Little Vegeta may be a kid of few words, but what he says is all I need to hear.
«I would never have harmed you if I hadn't known for certain that you would be as good as new» I state firmly. I shrug my shoulders with confidence. «This is what I can offer you: extreme training sessions where you can push yourself as far as you want. Every time you do, you will be healed and ready to go again.»
«I like it,» he nods, but there is more. «I have one request.»
His gaze dares me, as only a five-year-old would dare to do. I am amused by this. I consider him essential, but I'm not going to let him dictate to me. In any case, I'm intrigued and I'm listening.
«What would that be?»
«I want to train with you, Lord Frieza.»
I expected nothing less from him. Actually, that was exactly my intention: not always, but in my free moments it might be nice to stretch my legs a bit. I should be careful not to break him, obviously, but I'm sure that he will become stronger and stronger with time and will at least be able to avoid me immobilizing him.
«And why is that?»
«I don't fight with inferior beings.»
He never ceases to amaze me. He's only five years old and already thinks he's superior to everyone else on this ship. I can't wait to prove him wrong.
«You're a bit full of yourself for beating Dodoria. Let me be clear: in that fight, I ordered him to hold back as well as not to use energy. What you saw is not his real power. In any case, you'll train with whoever I decide and when I decide, but yes, there will be times when I will intervene in person.»
He doesn't dare reply. At this point there is only one thing left to do.
«We'll tell your father about your choice. How about you tell him in person?»
He hesitates but then nods forcefully. It is clear that he had agreed differently with him and who knows how he would have had to convince me to give up… but the seduction of power has enveloped this boy and will not let him go.
Vegeta, now, is mine.
Next chapters:
Spin-off: Dodoria - Handsome and the Beast
24.11.24
The selfishness of the heir
27.11.24