Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Aftermath ❯ The Truth in Rumors ( Chapter 2 )

Chapter 2: The Truth in Rumors

The stars shown down on the group silently, the only sound being the snap and crackle of the flames. There were four of them. Two men, twins, appearing to be in their early thirties sat cross-legged, dutifully tending the fire. A young girl, no older than sixteen was deep in thought, mindlessly tossing stones. Only one figure was standing, a woman, prematurely aged by battle and worry paced back and forth.

"And where is he then?" the older woman bellowed to the others in a thick accent. " I knew the bastard wouldn't show."

"Be patient Ketriana. He'll be here, you know he always takes his time." One of the twins, Atrus, reassured her.

"We'll see. All Vegeta EVER cared about was defeating Freiza. And now that that's done why should he bother with anything else? Irresponsible prick…"

"We don't even know if Freiza really is dead yet so do calm down." The other twin, Gren, answered.

Ketriana looked up, she began to feel the distinct ki signature of a Saiyan. Vegeta was watching them.

"Oh, you might as well go to sleep. I'm staying up. I'll wake you if he arrives."

"No you won't," muttered the teenager, Iria speaking up for the first time all night.

"I will, now sleep," the woman simply replied.

The others relented and one by one fell into unconsciousness. Lighting a cigarette, Ketriana walked a considerable distance away from the fire and joined the figure already waiting in the shadows. They stood for a moment quietly regarding each other.

"So," she whispered, breaking the silence. "the prince finally decides to grace us with his presence. Tell me, how have you been?"

Vegeta, not being one for pleasantries got straight to the point.

"Why are you here?"

"Don't be stupid, 'why are we here?' " she sneered exhaling smoke, "Maybe it's because ALL HELLS BROKEN LOOSE! Rumors are flying around everywhere: Freiza's dead, Freiza's not dead, Freiza's in hiding. I even heard one where Freiza's gone insane and is slaughtering all his own troops." She spoke rapidly before calming herself with a long hit. "All I know for sure is that Freiza and the Ginyu Force are no where to be found, all the main bases are destroyed, and YOU my friend, seem to be the center of all the controversy."

"What are you talking about?"

"I mean that everyone seems to think YOU are responsible for the disappearances of Freiza and the Ginyu Force. I was hoping you could shine some light on the subject. So just tell me yes or no: Is Freiza dead? Do you even know?"

"Freiza is dead"

The older warrior couldn't help fighting a smile.

"Was it you then? You were always bragging that it would be you and now you've actually done it. I must say Vegeta, I never thought you'd actually have the guts to go through with it. You know..."

"It wasn't me!" he snapped, cutting her off. He turned from her, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Then who?"

"Nobody important" he responded after a pause.

"Oh well, it doesn't matter." She said softly, stubbing out her cigarette and lighting another. Ketriana sat down on a rock and they stayed that way, not talking, for a while.

"I guess the real question is where do we go from here? What now? It's not as if we all have homes we can return to. Freiza made damn sure of that. With him dead I would have thought you'd have tried to take over by now? That was always your plan." She said finally.

"Things change"

"Yes, I suppose they do."

Again they sat in silence.

"I envy them," Ketriana whispered over the sleeping forms of her comrades.

"Why?"

"Because, it's not too late for them, they can be spared. Not us, my friend, we are too far-gone. They still have a little thing called emotion," she gestured towards the fire, "They have regrets, they… feel," She paused, "I have not regrets, I decided that long age. I am not ashamed of the things I've done and neither are you admit it!"

"No" he whispered.

She laughed to herself, "Because you see Vegeta, we understand that we were only trying to save our own skins. It's kill or be killed, right? That, however, is not a realization I am very proud of. I wiped out over fifteen species entirely during my lifetime…and I couldn't care less. And THAT my friend, is what frightens me. And you…you have nothing to say, nothing to add, no opinions on the matter?"

"You talk too much."

"Yes well it's good to see nothing has changed. I'm going to sleep. I highly suggest you come back tomorrow morning. There are more pressing issues at hand than whether or not Freiza is dead."

"Stop stalling and just tell me now."

"If I tell you now you might never come back." She replied with a grin before walking back to the fire.

"Hump!" Vegeta scoffed before taking off into the night sky.