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31.
In the spider's web
Year 737
There's nothing more infuriating than someone who doesn't cooperate, especially when collaboration is his only chance and he's determined to resist.
I slap this dirty Saiyan with my tail, and he spits out blood that stains my floor. He wouldn't even be able to stand if Dodoria didn't hold him up, his arms outstretched. My Commander seems similarly disgusted by that contact.
«Do you think you're a hero? Are you sure someone will remember you after I tear you to pieces?»
He moans, incoherent, and I bristle. I've never missed Ginew so much. Unfortunately, when I entrusted him with his Special Squad and gave them planet Frieza Number Twenty-five, I implicitly accepted that I could no longer use his ability as I pleased for torture. Although I demanded him to find someone else of his race to replace him in this task, it seems he wasn't lying when he said he didn't remember where he came from. Or perhaps he seeks uniqueness and irreplaceability, who knows. All I know now is that this Saiyan isn't acting as he should.
«You know what will happen to you if you don't speak immediately» I threaten him. «You'll end up like Granium. And believe me, I have no patience to wait before reducing you to that state.»
He is visibly shaking but tries to suppress his emotions.
By now, everyone knows the legend of the traitorous councilor who, after years of torture, was tied to the ship and dragged into open space until his flesh turned to ash and his bones escaped the ropes to which he had been tied, disappearing forever into the void. When I decided to end his useless existence in this way, I made sure to place his body in a place clearly visible from the inside, near large windows that would allow anyone passing by to see his body waving in the cosmos. This way, that Granium worm managed to acquire a minimal usefulness: acting as an excellent deterrent for anyone who thinks of disrespecting me.
This horror, however, has no effect this time. I would ask myself why if I didn't know so well: the coat of arms of the royal house still shines on the Saiyan's chest, imprinted even beyond the battle suit. I've never seen anyone more loyal to their king than these apes, and this useless being knows that if he spoke, his entire race would be in grave danger.
Damn King Vegeta and damned filthy monkeys...
At a certain point, he seems to try to hint at something. His lips contract, and he whispers. When I finally decipher his message, it's clear he's doomed.
«Fuck you.»
I clench my fists until my bloody nails dip into the flesh. I cannot tolerate insolence, especially from a being as low as him.
«I want to hear his screams from the throne room» I tell Dodoria, and I have no intention of wasting time watching. I turn, jump into the chair, and push it away from my personal gym, which has recently become my torture chamber. Yet I was sure that, sooner or later, one of them would speak. This Saiyan is the third to die for the stubbornness of not wanting to reveal the intentions of his King. I understand their reluctance to reveal what they should to me, but it's absurd how fearless they are even in the face of death, as if that would change anything.
No big deal: if they don't speak, I will find the answers myself.
I arrive at the entrance of Gichamu's rooms a few moments later. I am pleased to see that the two guards are attentive to my arrival despite my silent pace; they would have heard footsteps from the moment they began in the corridor. I chose the best assassins for this task.
As soon as they see me, they bow and step aside, giving me a chance to approach. I press my thumb on the membrane next to the door, and it springs open, closing behind me as soon as I enter.
I proceed with three more doors in a row, one after the other, in a short corridor with metal walls that seem to emit their own light. I let Gichamu furnish this wing of my Palace as he wished, and I expected nothing less from him than this robotic and mystical appearance.
After the fourth security door, I reach the secret room, the one that no one but me and my Chief Engineer can access. There are those who are outside and cannot enter, and those who are inside and cannot leave. Only me and Gichamu are allowed to walk down the corridor in both directions. Even Zarbon and Dodoria are unaware of everything that happens in here.
I survey the scene, taking in the complete silence. In front of me are the long desks with computers, each with twenty-five of my special sentries chosen by the Chief Engineer personally, among his best men. They are working hard for me.
To my left, a corridor opens up that leads to their rooms, where the sentries spend their days taking turns working. I made sure that this wing of the Palace has everything necessary: kitchens, bathrooms, showers, gyms, gardens, libraries, and relaxation areas. After all, even if they wanted to, they couldn't leave these rooms: they are my spiders, tasked with infiltrating every nook and cranny to gather information. Everything they know must remain within these walls, or the entire organization would be useless.
I'm glad to see they've learned their lesson from the last time I entered, when everyone stood up to pay homage to me and it made me so nervous that I threatened to kill them one by one if they did it again. In a few seconds of distraction, the most important words could be said — the ones I've been waiting for for years. This time, no one moved; everyone continued to do their work in silence. Only Gichamu, the coordinator, approaches me and bows.
«Great Frieza» he greets me.
«Is there any news?»
My voice carries impatience, knowing Gichamu's tendency to deliver bad news, but this time, there's something different.
«We've listened to every word our targets have said. We can confirm what we've intuited: the Saiyans are organizing aa rebellion against you.»
«King Vegeta?»
He nods. «Also, it looks like they finally got Tazba.»
«Only five days late. How pathetic.»
I had no doubt that they would disappoint me again. Since I landed on their red planet last week, the King of the Monkeys has been giving me nothing but bad news. But not being able to get Tazba in a decent amount of time was just the latest of their problems: the first was the prince.
I gave King Vegeta three days to hand over his son and inform me that they had occupied the planet Tazba. By the second day, it was clear that they wouldn't succeed, and I wasn't going to sit around and do nothing. I even had the chance to return to Val in comfort before they managed to get it, and they haven't given me any confirmation yet. At least now he has no more excuses for giving up his son to me.
«Did you hear him say anything about the prince?»
He nods.
«He's not happy to entrust him to you. Yesterday he was saying to his Advisor that what you have in mind for him would be too dangerous.»
«If only he knew his son like I do...»
King Vegeta keeps repeating to the others and to himself that he doesn't care about Vegeta, and maybe that's really the case: the only thing that matters to him is having a worthy heir to the throne; if I killed the brat by sending him as the head of an expedition, he certainly wouldn't be happy. If only he knew that Vegeta has been waiting for this moment for years of training, humiliation, and patient, frantic waiting...
I smile. I'm not giving up such a weapon just because daddy threw a tantrum, even if it means annihilating his entire army.
«We had a deal: a year has passed, Vegeta must come with me. What I will do with him is none of his business.»
«I have no doubt that you were convincing enough» Gichamu continues. He turns and I follow him until we reach his personal screen. «I could tell you the rest, but we have some recordings to play for you, Lord Frieza. I'm sure they'll interest you more than my words.»
They sure will. I watch him press a button, and immediately, King Vegeta's voice spreads powerfully through the room.
«Now listen carefully: Frieza is afraid of us when we are in a group. He knows that the strength of the best Saiyan warriors united in combat can defeat him, and we will show him that he's right!»
«What do you want to do, Your Majesty?» someone asks. I sense that he must be speaking in front of his trusted men, convinced that they won't hear him. Too bad he didn't have the intuition to remove the scouter from his ear.
«I don't know,» he continues. «Certainly not let him get away with it. Let's be clear: the days of that worm giving us orders are over. I'll give it some thought, and I'll tell you what to do in some days.»
«But Your Highness, Frieza wants Prince Vegeta now» one of his men points out. He growls, not accepting it.
«I know. We have no choice. We have to let him go immediately, before he gets word that Tazba has been taken. We'll have to make sure we bring him back to Planet Vegeta before we attack, or at least that he's far away from him.»
He has no idea how far away he will be, I think. In any case, his attitude is unacceptable. King Vegeta's insolence has grown year after year, just as his devotion to me has decreased. If this was already starting to make me nervous, hearing his words literally makes me livid. The notion that he genuinely perceives himself as my equal is utterly outrageous.
«Let the Prince leave immediately for Val and go and heal the survivors of Tazba. Also inform me of what is happening on Kanassa. Tell them to hurry! We cannot afford conquering every new planet with days of delay!»
«There will be a full moon on Kanassa in a few days, Your Highness,» his advisor says, attempting to comfort him. King Vegeta snorts, and footsteps are heard: the recording ends here. Gichamu turns to me, his hands crossed in anticipation of orders.
«When did all this happen?»
«Three hours ago» he reveals. I nod, indicating that Vegeta should already be in his Attack Ball on his way to my Planet Number One.
«I expect you to record every word of the King and his men» I order. «You will personally inform me of any relevant news.»
«It will be done.»
While he returns to his work, I am about to leave, but suddenly I remember something. I turn around swiftly.
«I forgot, Gichamu. Are there news about my brother?»
«Nothing, unfortunately. We are still unable to connect to his scouters.»
This annoys me but does not surprise me. Cooler is not stupid like the Saiyans. Unlike them, he understands enough about technology to make it obvious that a device can be intercepted.
I say no more: I leave the room through the numerous doors, walking along the corridors of my Royal Palace. Now, I just want a glass of nectar and to clear my mind about what to do and how to punish that insolent King of the Monkeys.
Next chapter:
The final obsession