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34
The first martyrs
I've been waiting for King Vegeta and his troops with great anxiety ever since the death sentence was emitted. A little more than a day and a half has passed since my departure, time that I have spent planning how to kill the King so that he finally understands who he has decided to side against. Zarbon, in the meantime, has admirably coordinated all the operations inside the ship and is now waiting next to me for Dodoria to return, as expected.
«When did he say he'll arrive?»
«He was docking in the hangar a few moments ago. He'll be here any minute.»
I turn the goblet between my fingers and look at the space beyond the windows. In the distance, the profile of the red planet begins to emerge between the puffs of nebulae and the luminous streaks of distant galaxies. I'm still looking when something catches my eye, forcing me to turn away.
I see it out of the corner of my eye, and at first glance, it looks like a comet. When it gets closer, I realize it's one of the Attack Balls, my little spaceships. Given our proximity to planet Vegeta, its presence is to be expected, even if its direction is unusual. I have an intuition.
«Zarbon, do you know of anyone having to return?»
He's confused, but he quickly figures out what I'm talking about when he follows my gaze.
«No. No return was planned» he confirms. This can only mean one thing, and he knows it too. I'm certain he's never been more grateful not to be in Dodoria's fat body.
«Where did it come from?»
«It looks like that Saiyan's ship. He must be coming back from Meat… alive.»
I hope this is the only ant he missed, because if he'd let any more escape, they would have already reached Vegeta, and that wouldn't be convenient for me… or him. It would ruin the surprise party I'd worked so hard to organize, which could really piss me off.
I'm still thinking about how to punish Dodoria for his failure when the door opens and he strides in, confident in his success. I hope he enjoyed the feeling while he could.
«Mission accomplished, Lord Frieza.»
«Oh, really? You sound so sure of yourself, Dodoria.»
He's clearly confused. Of course, Zarbon seizes the opportunity to intervene.
«Once again you botched it up» he says.
«I did not!»
«You missed one. Their leader, Bardock, is still alive.»
«You're wrong, I saw him die!» he tries to justify himself, but Zarbon points out the windows and the Attack Ball that is still hurtling away, leaving a bright trail of light behind it.
«Oh, then what's that there?»
Dodoria follows his gaze and sees the symbol of his defeat, plain and obvious. I can feel his terror as he realizes that he has failed in the one assignment where he should have been flawless.
«A Saiyan Space Pod! I don't believe it… How could he have survived that?»
«Perhaps this will teach you not to take things for granted» I tell him. «To be more feral with your work.»
He turns to me, and I'm certain I've never seen him so aware of his own miserable existence.
«Lord Frieza, forgive me please! Let me go now! Bardock is dead, I'll be…»
«You'll be quiet, Dodoria! You're not going anywhere!» I shout. I need Dodoria here now, and after all, punishing him would only be a useless waste of time: that Saiyan seems to be heading in the same direction as us, which means he'll join the fate of all the others. I'll let it slide this time. «There's no need to chase after the bee anymore. I've decided to go straight for the hive…»
Dodoria seems relieved. He will be much more careful with each of his missions from now on, just like Zarbon was when he caused my disastrous defeat on Cooler's planet: indeed, since then, he has been impeccable.
Zarbon nods.
«I see you've decided to extinguish the whole lot of them, Lord Frieza.»
I smile. Planet Vegeta is coming up fast, or rather it is I, its fate, who is inexorably approaching. It's been years since I last had a little fun, all because of my father's damn pressure on me.
«You guessed it, Zarbon. If you want to get rid of weeds for good, you have to get them by the root.»
I've finally decided how to execute that impudent king. All that remains now is to wait.
The ship is lost in the darkness of open space, swallowed by the enormous planet Vegeta that is rising before me. I am certain that King Vegeta and his men will arrive soon.
When we arrive a few hours from Vegeta, I order the ship to stop and wait for our guests. They insisted on being welcomed aboard, so I'm not going to take away this pleasure by docking. If they want to die in orbit so much, then let them be satisfied.
I see them through the windows in their Attack Balls as they approach my ship.
«So?» I ask. Ginew, on the other side of the communicator screen, nods forcefully.
«Everything is clean, Lord Frieza.»
«I expected nothing less. Are you missing many?»
«It seems the Saiyans have a habit of sending their children around the Universe, based on the number of children we found» he says. «There are still some around, but we'll make sure to eliminate them.»
«Good, and remember. I want no Saiyan left capable of breathing and possibly reproducing.»
«It will be done» Ginew is saying when Zarbon enters the room to relay an information I already knew: the Saiyans have arrived and will be here soon. Just as I had hoped.
I wait. I have no idea what to expect from them. If King Vegeta had any brains, he would show up without letting anyone suspect anything, or at least he would try. But he doesn't, of course. I can feel the energy surge even before the first blow hits the ground and shakes the entire ship.
Really, Vegeta? Are you going to challenge me so openly?
I smell the burning and hear the screams coming from the corridors. It wouldn't have taken long to notice the Saiyans' presence even if Zarbon hadn't come to tell me of their arrival. With little foresight, the Monkey King has managed to make all this even more stupid: apparently, he has decided to attack my men and have half of his troops killed before even having to deal with me. Better yet: the only blood that will dirty my hands will be the one worth shedding personally.
I hear footsteps growing louder and louder, interrupted only to fight the few patrols on the road: some idiot who didn't get the message to get out of the way. I didn't intend to let him fight, I wanted him to get to me unharmed, but considering the low level of my soldiers, it looks like that will happen anyway.
The ship shakes again, and a drop slips from my goblet and goes to waste on my leg. This wait is taking far too long, and patience is certainly not one of my best qualities.
«Zarbon, would you mind opening that door? Go ahead and have the Saiyans come in, I will receive those barbarians with great pleasure.»
«Yes sir» he says, snapping.
I rise, leaving my chair and stretching. I've been sitting here for hours; life as an Emperor is truly monotonous.
Exercising every now and then can only be beneficial…
I swallow the last sip of nectar and put the goblet on my chair. Then I turn towards the door, behind which the voices are growing louder.
When the mechanical door opens, I find the Monkey King right in front of me. After all this time, he has finally found the way.
He looks at me, and I can clearly read the desperation in his eyes. It's unclear if he's grasped the full extent of his foolishness or if, deep down, he still believes his project is achievable.
He takes a step towards me, pointing an accusing finger, as if this could intimidate me.
«It's over, Frieza! We came to put an end to your reign of terror!»
I laugh. Ambitious intentions for such a small and trembling group of warriors.
«We? You and who else, Vegeta? Your army is so petrified that they're actually turning blue in their face.»
I watch him look back and see what I see: I imagine he must have only just noticed what awaits him since his best men do not even dare to move in terror. He turns back to me, clenching his fists, and I can almost see his face oozing with anger.
«Fools!» he shouts. Then, unexpectedly, he lunges at me.
Reckless, I think. Reckless and foolish, but I let him see it for himself when I dodge his first punch with a slow, graceful movement of my head. He doesn't give up: he tries to hit me again, and again his blow misses.
I decide it's time to end this charade; I have other things to do now, and my plans don't include this waste of time. As he prepares to attack, I seize the moment and throw a punch so hard that his body is thrown several steps away, his strength and consciousness gone.
I admit that I expected much more from him. His son could have done better... but I should have told him sooner, I guess. Now I don't have the chance.
Something rolls at my feet and stops in front of me. It's the King's medallion, the one that the primate wore around his neck with such devotion for some reason.
«What a pity, really...»
I crush it with a single blow, shattering it into a thousand small pieces before the eyes of the Saiyan warriors, who, as I expected, do not dare to move. I can't help but smile at them.
«Don't be so glum, guys. You haven't lost your King for good... wherever he is, you're about to join him!» I tell them, trying to stir up some reaction. Since they're here, they could at least entertain me… but it's useless to hope for it, since they don't show signs of moving. I must have traumatized them quite a bit: after all, they just watched me annihilate their King and destroy his treasure, and they didn't move a muscle. I doubt I would want this trash in my army, even if they weren't Saiyans.
With a decisive gesture, I detach my scouter and call upon the energy that, a few moments later, hurtles towards them in an eye beam. This instantly disintegrates their battle suits and everything inside. The first martyrs perish like this, in the most pitiful way, fitting their race if I were the boring murder type.
There is only one Saiyan who could manage to fight me...
Zarbon steps forward.
«I hope they didn't hurt you, Lord Frieza?»
«Hurt me? I didn't even have to transform... I'm fine, Zarbon. Let's proceed, shall we?»
I turn and look at Planet Vegeta, which is now incredibly close. If I wanted to dock at this point, it would take another eight or nine hours; however, our journey ends here.
«Let's start the fireworks on Planet Vegeta.»
The mere thought of it fills me with euphoria. I approach the windows and cross my arms, already anticipating what will happen from here on. Meanwhile, Dodoria efficiently cleans the room as ordered.
«What a stunning sight» I laugh. «Sometimes I amaze myself with how callous I can be...»
I'm about to say more, but someone comes in through the door, out of breath.
«Lord Frieza! An intruder is approaching!»
«Approaching from where?» I ask, surprised. In fact I notice him as soon as I lower my gaze, along with something else.
I was so busy with my toys that I didn't notice what was happening around me. All my warriors are coming out of the ship and pouring into Vegeta's rarefied atmosphere, some even landing. This wasn't part of the plan. I sense that it was Zarbon who gave the order, but I don't understand why.
«Why are my men attacking?»
«To eliminate the Saiyans...» Zarbon intervenes, as I anticipated. Too bad I don't have time to get them back. This inconvenience, in addition to the Saiyan that is making his way to my ship with explosive shots, makes me lose all my patience.
«It's me he wants, isn't it? So be it. Zarbon, prepare my transport.»
«You wish to leave the ship?» he replies. Both he and Dodoria seem inexplicably surprised. What did they think? That I would have my men exterminate the Saiyan race? That I would spare their insipid rocky planet?
«Are you questioning my orders?»
He knows well what it means to oppose my will. A few moments later, he understands that I have no intention of waiting any longer.
«No, Lord Frieza, right away!»
I clench my fists, my gaze fixed on that Saiyan. He's clearly a threat, able to overpower my men with ease. It's clear that this damned race intends to provoke me until the very end.
Not right now, it's not possible…
He moves with an incredible ease, his speed far beyond what I expected. Could it be the strength of anger and desperation? Or could it be...
No, it can't be, not now!
The panic begins to creep in. What if they've kept the existence of the Super Saiyan hidden from me until now to prevent me from suppressing him, planning to use him when needed? Who else but someone with extraordinary power would be so bold as to fearlessly throw themselves into my army with such determination?
I force myself not to think about it, but that damned legend has taken over my mind and my thoughts. I must destroy them immediately, before I discover that for some unfortunate reason I might be right.
I turn and sprint towards the vault, trying to recall every positive feeling in me and, above all, the frenzy that only death can give me. My moment is about to arrive, and if I really have a Super Saiyan in front of me, he will be the first to die.
Last chapter:
The last ashes