Planet Kori, Ici Force Headquarters
Ici sat on her hover chair, squinted eyes focusing at the wide television screen. It flickered, then showed an image of Lord Frieza. She can't forget those pairs of sharp red eyes. He might be short, but power and connection were his strongest traits. It ran in the family; power towered above everything else.
"Ici, it's… pleasant to see you again."
Ici resisted an eye roll and cleared her throat, leaning forward. "Frieza, I have news to s—"
"That's Lord Frieza."
A growl vibrated within her throat. The nerve of her brother's arrogance. It was another trait she despised about her family. "I mean… Lord Frieza, I have news to share. Planet Namek's grand elder had agreed to solidify a treaty between his species and my army."
Her ears picked up on low growls. She expected Frieza to panic. Planet Namek was a pretty boring planet to sell. Nothing but plain landscapes and three suns. The Namekians were a peaceful species, one Ici had grown an interest with. Unlike her brothers, Ici learned various languages. The experiences allowed her to communicate with the species she and her army visited. "Once the treaty is signed, you can't invade that planet, Lord Frieza."
"Oh my, you're a clever girl."
Ici noticed Frieza's fingers gripping the hover chair's rim. Surges of excitement and fulfillment swelled in her chest. Yes, she hated her family, but messing with them felt nice. Satisfying, as Ici's plan for stopping Frieza at all cost was working. Planet Namek's agreement and witnessing Frieza's frustration were small steps to Ici's aim being complete.
"Tell me, Ici. Why go after that pitiful planet?"
"Well," Ici straightened her back. "I pictured the universe under severe protection from space pirates and spoiled brothers who believe every planet belongs to them."
That stung Frieza. She loved driving the dagger in Frieza's and Cooler's sensitive spots. They never enjoyed getting mocked. Almost everyone knew that, including Ici, but she doesn't care. A smile drew on her face and she extended a hand, palm facing the screen. "Besides, I know you wanted Namek for something else. Am I right?"
Frieza's eyes widened, his back leaned against the hover chair's cushion. There it is, Ici thought, her smirk widening.
"How did you know?"
"I have my resources, Frieza. Also, you never shut your mouth. That bragging slipped vital details about your dreams. What was it again? Becoming immortal?"
A much louder growl erupted. Frieza levitated off his hover chair, feet landed on the floor, and he scoffed. "Damn you! I was this close to achieving immortality!"
The Dragon Balls, magical orbs that granted wishes to whoever summoned its guardian, were artifacts told through rumors. Frieza, always power-hungry, heard of them, thinking he'll stay the strongest mortal. By becoming immortal, that is.
Last year, Ici—through information from an undercover soldier she sent out—learned how Frieza will achieve immortality. That was why she talked with the grand elder on Planet Namek. Her sole duty was protecting all planets from her family's tyranny. "Finders keepers, as what Dad said."
"One, it's Father! Respect him, brat! Two, I'll get immortality somewhere else! Agh, you're the biggest regret in our family!"
"I should say the same thing, Frieza."
"It's LORD FRIEZA!"
His face shifted to a reddish-pink. Rage was a flaw he ignored, because of how power-hungry he acted. Ici, too, had anger issues. She only directed it to her brothers. Her army might act scared when she expressed furious intentions, but she would never hurt them. Only ones who deserved the smite of her fury. She wished she can punch Frieza's stupid face in. However, that wouldn't satisfy their father's wishes.
"Are we finished? My army needs me."
A sequence of rings chimed. That must be him, Ici pondered to herself. Before Frieza can claim his superiority, Ici turned off the screen. It flickered for thirty seconds, then showed King Cold, her father. He had a cheery smile which rubbed Ici awkwardly. "Hello, Ici! Are you feeling decent?"
"Everything is alright, Dad."
"No need for formal conversations, sweetie! Call me Father!"
Unlike Frieza's ill-tempered expression from earlier, Cold's cheeks blushed with content. He'd always wanted a daughter, yet Ici's birth disrupted the family dynamic. Ici, being the youngest sibling, got the most comfort and affection from Cold. Frieza and Cooler? They grew 'jealous' of Ici getting attention. It wasn't like she adored the attention. "Okay, Father. Why are you calling me? I just finished a brief conversation with Frieza."
"You have? Ugh, what did Frieza do this time? Blow up a planet you owned?"
"No, not this time. My army and Planet Namek are going through an agreement treaty. Frieza must have heard the news and called me. He seemed pissed."
"The nerve of that boy. I should take the blame, but you can't complain about traditions. The Cold Family had been ruling quadrants for centuries."
He crossed his burly arms over his chest. "Cooler was an obedient son, though he ignored my words the older he became. When Frieza was conceived, that stubbornness got worse. It tainted whatever obedience I'd taught him." He drooped his eyes, barely hiding those red pupils. "After giving my army to him, Frieza conquered and sold planets, more than either myself or Cooler. Although I'm proud, that only inflated Frieza's toxic arrogance. I had to solve it and…"
"You had me. Your plan was to make Frieza the middle child."
"That and I'd always wanted a daughter," Cold's cheeks blushed with embarrassment. He wouldn't share these topics to anyone. His sons wouldn't understand, too. Ici, meanwhile, understood how he felt. "I'd never thought conceiving a daughter would happen, but the scientists worked a miracle."
Upon seeing that wide smile, Ici remembered her day of birth.
Warmth spread underneath her skin, loosened knots in muscles. Behind thick glass was a window. Its circular shape confused her, but the gleaming stars beyond it drew her forward. Her tiny hands pressed against the surface. Green filter, coming from the embalming fluid surrounding her, made the scene weird. Any sense of confusion erased itself. All she could feel was curiosity. What were those stars?
Where was she?
Vibrations reached her. The fluid shook, too, matching the footsteps' patterns. Two scientists, one with saggy skin and animalistic features and another with reptilian eyes and scales, studied her. Both were amazed in her appearance. Dark blue bio-gems sparkled. Her red eyes glowed slightly, as she noticed their puzzled faces.
This is astonishing! Our project works.
Yes, you're right. The amount of estrogen and our lord's DNA merged well.
Should we call—
Much larger footsteps marched into the unknown area. She shifted all attention to a tall figure wearing a cape. He had sharper horns; the tips pointing at the ceiling. Compared to the scientists beside him, he was the tallest. If she could talk, questions would utter from her mouth. Who was that guy? Why does he look like her?
Is this… her?
Yes, m'lord. The progress is over. It seems she's growing awareness, sir.
Can she hear?
Two taps on the glass and she backed away. Her three-toed feet lounged at the glass, then reeled back, legs curling.
She's aware, m'lord.
Oh, my. I've done it. My first daughter. Hello, sweetie!
The figure pressed both hands against the glass tube. His frame blocked the window she was watching. She wished to see the stars. Not watch whoever this guy was, cooing at her adorable appeal. The scientists scrunched their faces, as if their leader's reaction shocked them. It was the only guess she had.
I'm your father, Cold. As of now, you're the first princess in our family.
Father? A perplexing word that bothered her. She closed her eyes and lowered her head. Maybe a fetal position will get him off her. It doesn't and Cold raised an eyebrow.
Right, this is your first time. Men! Release my daughter from this chamber! My sons will be thrilled to see their sister.
The scientists muttered amongst themselves once Cold left. The fluid drained. She floated downward, following its path. Unfortunately, the fluid disappeared, leaving her in a wet, empty glass tube. Her skin ran cold.
The top of the tube opened, then a man in armor extended his arms to her. Something jolted all nerves. She didn't want this man touching her. As if all senses acted on their own, she bolted out the tube, flying above it and the man.
'Get away!'
The man's eyes widened, the shock throwing his balance over the tube. He fell into it, while she attempted to escape, but almost bumped into Cold. She was face-to-face with her supposed father. He gasped when she floated inches away from his face.
Incredible! You're flying!
He pinched a tail she didn't know she had. It hurt, but the pinch wasn't too much. She squirmed a little, not appreciating how touchy Cold was. One moment, she wanted answers to the stars' existence. Then, Cold announced himself to be her father. Her throat contracted, an instinct to say something. Anything to drive him away.
Go… Away!
*gasps*
Cold became flabbergasted in what came out of her mouth. She stopped squirming for no reason but to see Cold's reaction. Their widened eyes matched, yet Cold's shocked expression changed to surprise.
Your first words! It usually took Frieza or Cooler a few days to talk.
That was one awkward moment she'll never forget.
"Okay, Father. I must be going now. Talk to you later."
Cold waved a soft gesture to Ici, then the screen flickered off. Ici released a breath of relief. She and the hover chair glided to the door, waited for it to open, and entered the curved hallway. 'Dad is the only exception, somewhat. He conceived me, yes, but still followed the same warped mentality. That our family ruled the universe.'
Soldiers noticed Ici and saluted. She thanked them, though wished they could stop doing that. Willow and Zarbon saluted to her, but those moments were business-related. The low-ranked soldiers only saluted to her, because they feared she'll kill them. Just how her brothers did whenever a soldier broke a rule. Or talked back to them. There was that one moment when a soldier complained about Frieza's unfair rules. He got vaporized in seconds. Ici shook her head.
'What am I thinking? My family won't understand how precious each planet is. The peaceful, the undiscovered, and the hostile. All play an important part in maintaining the universe.'
Speaking of Willow and Zarbon, she arrived at her master bedroom, where she'll contact them. The door shut, darkness eclipsed the area. Light from the singular window was all Ici needed. Her hand pulled out a communicator out of her breastplate. A tap on the call button and Willow's voice rang.
"Lady Ici, he has agreed to join our army."
"Really?"
"He needed some time, then an accident occurred, but he concluded on joining our cause."
"Excellent, Willow. It'll be a two-day trip to Planet Kori."
"I'm aware of the time frame."
"Okay, Willow. Please, escort Vegeta to Planet Kori. I'll prepare the introductory test for him."
Willow dismissed herself and hung up. Ici commanded an AI to turn on the lights. Flashes of white flicked to life. She had to blink her eyes several times. The back of them stung.
'I have to manage Vegeta's enrollment and keeping Frieza from achieving immortality. Cooler isn't interested in living forever. At least we have common sense.'
Planet Frieza 667, Frieza's Master Bedroom
'Pretentious brat! She took my first chance of obtaining immortality! She'll face the wrath of Lord Frieza!'
A crack spread wider. He glanced at the window, anger boiling harder as he resented Ici's clever, underhanded tricks. Being the middle child felt miserable to Frieza. When his father showed him and Cooler the news, it diminished any excitement. The news was Ici, their baby sister and first ever princess in their family. Why a sister? That question haunted Frieza for over thirty years now.
'Father made a horrendous mistake in conceiving that brat! Anything I say would pierce through his skull! Why doe he spoil Ici and scolds me? Cooler isn't much of an assistance, always embracing what Ici had under her sleeve!'
He walked away from the window. Someone will repair it later. The sole purpose he needed to reach was immortality. With Ici defending Planet Namek and its dragon balls, Frieza had to resort to Plan B. Ici might be more flexible than him, but he prioritized. He did his research, scanned the entire northern quadrant and found his backup. Planet Earth.
'That planet looks primitive, too worthless to sell or conquer. But by what those simians said, it has dragon balls.'
Despite the rising hatred towards Earth's pathetic existence, Frieza wanted its dragon balls. To make sure Ici or her soldiers don't follow his tracks, he called a new ally. He pulled out a scouter from his nightstand, placed it over his ear, and pressed a button. Static tickled his eardrum, but stopped when a booming voice chimed.
"Yeah, who is it!?"
"Charlotte Webb, is it?"
"Oh, shit! Apologies, m'lord."
Her attitude was more atrocious than Ici's, yet she'll do. "I have a job for you, Ms. Webb. There's this planet called Earth. On that miniscule planet are seven dragon balls, wish-fulfilling orbs. I want you and a soldier of mine to search for them."
She fell silent. "Dragon Balls?"
"Yes, magical artifacts which grants wishes to whoever summons its guardian."
Frieza can't yell at Charlotte. There was a reason behind it. Frustrations filled his chest, burned his lungs and throat. The urge to yell was evident, but Frieza kept his composure.
"Yeah, I've heard of those little shits! Are they on Namek or something?"
"Yes, but unfortunately my sister's army has sealed an agreement with the planet's ruler."
"Wait, my sister's group has ownership!?"
He remembered Charlotte's rivalry with Willow, the disowned daughter of the divian royal family. A low chuckle seeped through his clenched teeth. "Of course, your sister helped Ici secure the deal. I'll make an accurate deal with you, Ms. Webb. Gather the dragon balls, contact me, and I'll place a hit on your sister's head. That way, you can—"
"KILL THE SHIT OUT OF HER!"
He winced from Charlotte's outburst. That must've got her interested. "You got it, Boss Man! Anything to snuff the life out of my pathetic sister!"
"Just remember to collect the Earth's dragon balls first. Actually, visit Planet Frieza 667 first. My chosen soldier will escort you to Earth."
"Alright, alright, you got a deal!"
She hung up, satisfying Frieza's ears. He somewhat regretted hiring Charlotte into the force. That attitude and how disrespectful she was to him, he couldn't stand it. Still, Charlotte agreed to collect the dragon balls from Earth. That was all he needed to hear. He tapped the scouter's button again, contacting his chosen soldier. "Citron?"
"Y-Yes, m'lord!"
His squeaky voice was slightly irritating than Charlotte's bombastic tone. An adolescent voice Frieza grew confused when Citron employed himself into the force. "Are you available?"
"O-Of course, m'lord!"
"Please, don't shout. It's scratching my ears."
He poked one finger inside his open ear. "I want you to escort Charlotte Webb to Earth for me. Don't share your mission to the other soldiers, or else."
A gulp blared through the speaker. Citron was a nervous wreck. Most soldiers were, but their spines were tougher than Citron's. "Y-Yes, m'lord. I-I'll wait for Charlotte to arrive at headquarters."
"Excellent. Thank you for accepting my gracious offer."
Once the communication cut off, Frieza swore under his breath, eyes drooped and faced the window again. That crack would've grown wider, if he controlled his anger. It wasn't the case. He needed something to vent onto and that window was his target. A soldier would've been the better target. Images of blood splattering on his wall and bedsheets irritated him more. On second thought, he didn't want to mess his master bedroom. The window, it was!
Shards of glass exploded after Frieza's eyes glowed red. A telekinetic pressure caved the window. That crack spread so much, the window couldn't hold in anymore. The vacuum of space sucked all oxygen. It won't bother Frieza. His species can survive space.
'I'll have the grunts repair the window. God, I need a new coping method.'