Val sat, alone in her thoughts, watching Vegeta in the tank, for what felt like hours. The only pleasing thought that plagued her was the timer kept readjusting itself like she set it, so he would either be more recovered if she were caught, or he would recover fully when the timer finished if she was not caught.
She dwelled on the thoughts of the 'brothers' who died in her 'village,' unsure how much of that applied to her, even if Moori had declared it. She was unsure if she would ever be able to get to the Great Elder, and even then if he would accept her or reject her, even if Moori had assured her he would. She thought about Dende, glad he at least was able to escape with the strangers and hoped he had survived, considering she had heard Zarbon mention that Vegeta killed Dodoria. The three of them had to be alive then, somewhere on this planet where the three suns hardly set at the same time. The last time they did was her first time staying overnight in her village. She thought about his description of the Great Elder's house, standing alone on a large rock formation. She would have to fly for hours to get there, but she would not be allowed to escape this time around. She kicked at the chain, pulling her leg up and trying to remove it again.
She could neither unlock it nor break it. She huffed, kicking her leg down, but her foot merely dangled over the floor. She crossed her arms over her chest, wishing yet again that she were taller, more fully grown. She kicked her foot out, making the chain rattle and move listlessly.
She stilled herself, looking up when Appule and Zarbon came back in the room. She watched them walk over towards her and Vegeta in the tank. She stood up and stepped away from it. Appule approached the tank, looking at the control panel on the side of it, scratching his head. He saw that the timer read thirty more minutes. "Huh, I thought more time had passed than this," he commented, and then shrugged dismissively.
Val held her breath and held her tongue, wondering if he would accuse her of anything. "As long as he isn't allowed a chance at a full recovery as Frieza ordered, it'll be fine. Make it easier to find that hidden dragon ball," Zarbon commented.
"Why does Frieza care if he doesn't make a full recovery?" Appule asked, voicing the question Val was wondering herself.
Zarbon shrugged, "beats me," he answered. Then he sighed, crossing his arms over his chest. "I never thought we would treat the wounds of a traitor. How is he? How long until we can make him talk about where he hid the dragon ball?"
Appule hummed, "he's suffered a great deal of damage... according to the timer I set, at least another half an hour until he regains consciousness."
Val kept her face blank, glad he clearly did not catch that she messed with the tank's timing at all.
Zarbon clicked his teeth. "I'll report that to Master Frieza," he decided, leaving the med bay.
Val watched him go, leaving her alone with Appule like she was not even in chained up in the room to begin with. Appule approached Vegeta's tank, talking, but she was not sure if he was talking to her or thinking out loud. "Heh... Even Vegeta will tell where he hid the dragon ball... After a little 'interrogation' by Master Frieza..."
She watched him, but then watched the tank, feeling the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. Without thinking, she backed away from the tank and to the opposite wall. Then she saw Vegeta open his eyes in the tank, staring daggers at Appule who just gaped back. She cowered down against the opposite wall as Vegeta sent an energy blast at Appule, killing him swiftly and mercilessly. The blast not only took out Appule, but shot a hole from the med bay all the way to the outside of the ship.
Vegeta pulled himself out the tank, a manic grin on his face. "Thank you so much," he shouted down at the lifeless, charred remains of Appule. "Pity you underestimated my recuperative powers!" She gaped up at him, palpable fear rising up in her throat as he turned his triumphant gaze down at her. "There was never a need for you mess with the timer," he smirked down at her dismissively.
She hated that she was trembling, staring up at him wide eyed. She watched him shuffle away to the door, water dripping on the floor. She figured if she was going to be able to escape again, now was the best time. He was going to make the ultimate distraction. She reached down to the chain around her ankle, frantically trying to yank it off or unlock it. Her fingers scraped uselessly on the metal. She heard him grunt, but did not look up at him. She jumped when a laser sized energy blast struck the chain just below her foot, snapping the chain at the point of impact and freeing her. She looked up at his back disbelievingly as he ran out of the room after Zarbon without bothering to look back at her.
She got up cautiously, watching carefully as Zarbon and Frieza ran passed the blast in the walls that Vegeta had made to the outside of the ship. She ducked behind her abandoned chair, hoping they would not notice her, especially since she was free now.
"Vegeta!" shea heard Zarbon rage. "Impossible! He got away!"
"Hurry! Go after him!" Frieza ordered.
"Curse him!" Zarbon swore. She watched him fly away out of the hole left in the spaceship.
"Can you not find him, Mr. Zarbon?" Frieza shouted up at him. She could only partly see him. He was standing too close to her for her to even think to run away without getting caught quite yet. "If it turns out that our foe has escaped, I will hold you responsible and kill you."
Val kept herself still, hearing the threat and knowing he meant it. Another shout came down the hallway, Vegeta's voice ringing off the walls. "Hey! You fell for it! I'm still inside the ship!"
"What?!" Frieza shouted, staring down the hallway from where Vegeta's voice came from.
Another energy blast rocketed the ship, this time hitting the ship's engines. Zarbon flew back down into the ship. Val watched both Frieza and him hurry away after the most recent blast. The second they were out of sight, she saw her chance and took it. She ran out of the med bay and through the first hole Vegeta had shot through the ship. Once she hit the ground, she took off flying shooting herself through the air to gain as much distance between herself and the ship as possible.
After some time fleeing flying, she landed behind a rock formation tiredly. She dug out the scouter from her pocket, hoping it had enough charge remaining on it when she turned it on. She held her breath as it powered up, feeling like it was taking its sweet time since she was in such a hurry. It powered up and she put it on, trying to read for two energy signatures together somewhere around her on this planet that would be the Great Elder and his body guard. She found one incredibly weak all by itself, the ones from the ship, the one strong one on the move but not flying that must have been Vegeta, one that was flying by itself at a natural speed, one flying by itself at an incredibly high speed, and three energy signatures, two low and one high, staying still by themselves in one spot. She switched between the two stationary spots, one with one by itself and one with three together. The Great Elder was supposed to be with just one other person, a body guard, not two, but not none. She debated internally which one to fly to, which one would most likely be the Great Elder. If there was supposed to be a body guard with him, then the three with one strong energy signature was the most likely. It was also the closest sets of energy signatures near her, not counting the ones at the ship. She jumped back up in the air, feeling adrenaline still coursing through her veins. She channeled it, flying at high speeds towards the set of three.
She flew in that direction for hours, trying to balance rushing there and conserving her energy to make the long distance. She was closer than she realized, seeing a high, rocky cliff in a distance with a large, white building. She flew towards it, landing on the ground with a huff. She panted, feeling winded. She bent down, placing her hands on her knees, looking around the area. She straightened up when the door to the building opened, trying not to breathe as heavily as she needed to. She saw a tall, statuesque Namekian warrior step out. She held her breath, bringing her hand to the corded necklace. Her chest felt tight, looking up at him. She took off her scouter, turning it off, and put it in her pocket.
He looked down at her, brow furrowed, but in curiosity. He looked her over, eyes landing on her scouter. "The Great Elder know what has transpired," his voice was deep, making her feel a shiver in her chest. "He said to trust you since Moori did," he added, not quite sounding like he trusted her as much. He watched her wearily, making her try to look as none threatening as possible. Finally, he gestured towards the door. Her mouth felt dry as she stepped forward. She felt his eyes watch her. She had no doubt that in the moment she seemed threatening, he would not hold back from using excessive force against her.
She stepped in through the door, trying not to stumble over the lift between the door and the ground. She looked around the room, seeing a stairwell going down to what would be a basement in this building. She looked up at a round whole in the ceiling. The warrior watched her and then nodded up at the hole. She launched herself up, bringing herself to land on the floor. She heard the warrior follow behind her.
She gasped, seeing the Great Elder on his throne. She also looked next to him, seeing a surprising person standing to him. "Dende," she cheered, rushing towards him. "You're alive," she said, pulling him for a hug. He seemed a little surprised, but hugged her back. When he pulled away, she rushed out, "the others? The ones who saved you? Where are they?"
Dende opened his mouth to answer, but closed it when the two of them heard the warrior Namekian behind her clear his throat. She looked back at him, then back over at Dende, then over at the Great Elder behind Dende. "Oh, I'm sorry," she breathed. She stepped back and sideways around Dende, and knelt down respectfully. "Great Elder," she said.
"Raise, woman," the Great Elder wheezed. She allowed herself a small smile. He saw her for her age, not for her size. That was refreshing. She looked up at him as she stood. "Welcome, you must be the Anthromorph from Aviary. I would like to express my gratitude for sacrificing yourself so Dende could be saved. Thank you."
She looked up, biting her lip and not sure how to respond. She felt a tinge of grief, remembering what all else happened. "I'm sorry I couldn't have done anything to save anyone else..."
The Great Elder sighed, sounding patient. "You tried to listen to Moori and do what needed to be done. Moori's adoption of you as one of our own was fitting for someone so noble." She pursed her lips, looking down, and not sure how or if she should take the compliment. "Step closer now, daughter of Aviary, if you would," he directed, raising his hand up in the air. She stepped forward, closer to him, with his hand just hoovering over her. "If you please, I would like to look over your past." She blinked up at him, and then nodded.
He placed his hand over top of her head. She gasped, feeling a rush of memories spill through her mind. She saw her father stick out in her mind the most, recalling the first day it was clear she was an Anthromorph and he insisted on training her anyway, calling his child no matter what race she ended up being.
When the Great Elder let go, he pulled his hand away, but barely. "A tragic past," he commented in a caring voice. "The future of your mother's race resting heavily on your shoulders, and yet you were right to resist it as your care taker advised you. However, you cannot resist the Anthromorphic duty forever. You are fall too old now to stay trapped inside the body of a child." She felt herself clam up, recalling bittersweet memories of Asa in tandem with her father. She nodded slightly, swallowing thickly. A heavy silence hung in the room, with the Great Elder looking pensive. "Nail," he called over.
Val looked back over at the warrior, hearing his name for the first time. There eyes connected, making her chest feel warm. He still looked slightly suspicious of her, but less so than when she first arrived. His eyes flicked up to the Great Elder. "Yes, Great Elder?" he answered, sounding confused.
"I wish to draw out her inner strength and potential, but with that she will need your support for this," the Great Elder. "If you are willing, place your hands on her shoulders."
"If you are certain it is necessary," he hesitated out.
Nail stepped up behind her, looking down on her. He raised his hands up, not quite touching her. He gave her a silent, questioning look. She pushed her hair back over her back to get it off her shoulders, twisting it a bit together, and nodded. His hands clamped down on the outside of both her shoulders, intentionally keeping his hands off of any stray hairs of hers, which she liked. His hands felt warm, strong, and firm. His sharp finger nails stayed off of her. She felt the desire to lean back into them and let him support her more. She only allowed herself a chance to look back at him, breathing deeper than she met to. He was different, so very different than any other race she had been exposed to, especially the Saiyans. A tremble went through her, causing him to react by firming up his grip. He looked half unsure and half determined.
"Ready?" the Great Elder asked, hand hovering back over her head. She lined her head back up with her chest and nodded.
"Yes, sir," Nail answered, voice soft and smooth as velvet.
"Yes, sir," she echoed shyly.
The Great Elder placed his hand back down on her head.
This time it felt different from when the Great Elder had just touched her head a few minutes prior. She gasped, almost screaming as she felt like she caught in flames. Memories, yet ones that were not her own, assaulted her. She saw the cataclysm that nearly destroyed this planet decades ago, saw the males and females of the Demon Clan unable to adapt from the planet being forced to shift on its axis, die out save two. One was sent off the planet, the other one, barely a child at that time, cared for by a much younger version of the Great Elder to survive. Only the Dragon Clan and this one Demon Clan child were able to survive and adapt to stay alive. The first few years were difficult, but once the hydrangea plants began to thrive, so did the rest of the ecosystem.
The memories shifted, to one of her own. It was the day where she had not grown for a year, cementing in proof that she was not an Aviary, but rather an Anthromorph like her mother. She was frozen physically in childhood and would never have wings like her father nor a vast majority of the rest of the planet. She also was not triggered by anyone on planet either, which meant she would stay a child. She recalled the bittersweet memory, overhearing her parents fight because of it. She had watched them, ease dropping unbeknownst to them.
"Val has not grown in a year. She's Anthromorph and nothing else," Mother had resigned. "It's set, it's done, that's all the proof we'll ever have."
She heard Father breathing heavily before responding, "that's fine. That's good then." He rushed his words out, sounding like he was trying to convince himself as well as Mother. "I can live with that, with my child, my child being just like her beautiful mother."
"Hayate-," Mother started.
"No, Minha," he spoke loudly and clearly over her. "No, I will not hear any words or lies against my child, especially not from you. We struggled to have one that survived, and we managed it in the end, thank the gods. When the original set of Anthromorphs came here over two generations ago, no one batted an eye at them being so different from the rest of us. Now if someone has a child that ends up not being Aviary, it's seen as a slight or a curse from the gods. It's ridiculous, foolish even. She's third generation Anthromorph, that happens where ever they go. I'll not be ashamed of my child like others have been for having an Anthromorph child with an Anthromorph spouse."
Mother heaved a sigh, shaking her head. "She could be..."
Father growled, "she could be stuck not growing, yes. That is the biggest problem yet." He was panting audibly. "It would be best to try to get her off planet to grow up if possible, but the costs alone... I don't want her to catch the attention of any of King Cold's lackies either..." He heaved a grunt. "My child must learn to fight, how to defend herself, even if she isn't Aviary," he decided. "I'll take her to the training grounds, do it myself."
"Hayate," Mother echoed again.
"What?" he snapped harshly. "What?" he repeated in a gentler tone.
"She's on the small side for a child her age," Mother cautioned. "The training grounds might unsuitable for someone her size."
"She'll learn, she'll adjust. We'll adjust as I train her," he ruled. "She'll learn to fight, we'll figure it out. That much is certain. Aviaries learn how to fight starting at her age, and my child will not be treated any different."
Val pulled out of the memory after that, feeling overly hot and sweaty. She blinked, looking around the room confused, seeing grey blur in front of her. The lights hurt her eyes, and no manner of blinking allowed her vision to clear. Her mouth felt dry and dusty. She leaned back and collapsed against the person holding her up. The last thing she remembered was a child's voice crying out her name.