Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Hope Leaves ❯ Every Day is Exactly the Same ( Chapter 3 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Trunks' eyes slowly cracked open, the sunlight coming through the open window stinging them instantly. When the room was more in focus he noticed his mother standing over him looking incredibly worried. There were tears in her eyes.



The temperature of the already icy cold water was steadily falling but the partial numbness it caused was welcome. Vegeta had been swimming in the lake for hours now in an attempt to compose himself by washing away the disgusting sensations that lingered from the dream, the likes of which he'd never had before. Or at least not for a long time, not that he could remember. Had anyone been watching him from above they would have witnessed the unusual spectacle of a man swimming in the lake at 3 in the morning. Every now and then he would stop swimming to scrub at skin as though it were covered in dirt but it did no good. It seemed that no matter how great his efforts were to brush them away, the unwanted feelings of liquid entrails seeping into his pores and hands trailing his skin would not subside. It took every ounce of his self control not to be sick again, and had their actually been anything in his stomach he would almost certainly have lost that battle. Perhaps this was a gross overreaction, but if there was one thing he could not stand it was insect and bugs, particularly the squirmy, writhing kind of which worms were a good example. So many worms...

Waves of nausea rocked him once more as he tried to resist the images flashing behind his eyes. The undertones of what had been going on in the nightmare didn't even bare thinking about, not that there was much free choice in the matter. He rose out of the waters quickly and the shock of exposing soaking wet skin to the biting wind stilled all sensations if only for a moment, but once the shock wore off an abnormally sharp drop in temperature became noticeable. This time it caused no alarm.

'Where are you, doctor? Better show yourself now, I'm in no mood for games!'

'How did you know I was here?' came the even reply. It was at this moment that Vegeta realised how much that voice unnerved him; it was one of those calm, certain voices that said the speaker knew things he shouldn't, that other people couldn't dream of imagining.

'Never you mind! What did I tell you about getting a fucking watch?'

'Do you always do strange things at this hour of the morning?'

This question earned a low growl from Vegeta. 'If the strange things I do at certain times bothers you so much then try materialising out of nowhere at more appropriate hours. You can leave now, I'm not in the mood to speak to you and I doubt I will be in the future.'

The doctor could be heard sighing quietly, the sound harmonising with the breathy voice of the wind which was now beginning to die down a little. Fragments of the full moon fazed in and out of sight from behind the misty haze of clouds, casting an uneven and sickly glow over the atmosphere. The leaves on the trees, now in late autumn shades of red and brown, were the colour of dried blood in the ghostly light. They were continuously drifting down from the branches in slow motion, coming to rest on the already covered forest floor. Vegeta turned to look at the doctor whose face was obscured by darkness until a shaft of light passed over him, illuminating only his pale eyes.

'It makes me sad to hear you say that.'

'It makes me sad to think that *you* think I care.' This remark got the silence he'd been hoping for, at least for a while.

'Did something happen that changed your mind?' the doctor asked sincerely.

'You're like a small child. Always asking questions. I told you before that you should go look for Kakkarott, I know he could help you. All you have to do is ask,' Vegeta replied, evading the question.

'You talk about this man a lot. From what you're always saying about him I get the impression he can do anything.'

'I wouldn't be surprised,' Vegeta muttered.

'You're the only one that can really help me. I'm sure if he were able to help me like you're able, he would,' the doctor challenged, but it didn't have the effect he'd wanted. When he heard the saiyan speak, the voice sounded tired and sad. He almost thought he heard it breaking.

'Well I'm not him. Not even close.'

'Why would that matter? I'm sure you're fine just the way you are.'

Vegeta laughed quietly at this. 'Whatever, just... just leave would you?'

'Why?'

Vegeta clapped a hand over his forehead in frustration. 'Because I can't do this. I can't help you, do you understand? Dredging all this up stirs up too much shit, and I don't have the months and months it takes to make it disappear again.'

'Stirs things up? Like bad memories? Well I know a lot about memories, and I can tell you that you can try to make them disappear for months or years or decades, but you'll never succeed. The more you try to suppress them and run from them, the more they haunt you.'

'Well, trying to do the impossible always was my favourite game.'

'There's an easier way. Please, listen to me. I can help you if you help me.'

'And what if I don't want your help?'

'At least come out of the water. You can't possibly be comfortable out there.'

Vegeta rolled his eyes and rose up out of the water to levitate over the lake, his energy flaring momentarily. When he landed on the ground, the doctor was surprised to see he was completely dry.

'Tell me something doctor, how many people do you think I've killed?'

'I don't know. Millions?'

He laughed at this. 'More like billions. Even if you wanted to help me, you wouldn't be able to stand it.'

'You have a point. But as it turns out, I too enjoy trying to do the impossible.'

'I'm not going to get rid of you so easily am I?' he sighed.

All the doctor did was smile, and Vegeta wondered for the thousandth time why he was doing this. When was it that he'd gotten so soft?

'I was wondering if you could tell me what it was like just living day to day as a soldier in Frieza's army. You see, young people are always being lured into the service of these organisations on the premise that they'll have a better life that's free of hunger and hardship.'

'Free of hunger, yes. You can have any material possession you want working under men like Frieza but you won't be free of hardship.'

'Explain that to me.'

'Think of it as being in a very unusual prison. You can have anything you want, but you can never have freedom, and If you aren't free then nothing is really yours. Does a doll own the clothes it wears, or does the child who owns the doll own them? If you are someone else's property then everything that's yours actually belongs to your keeper, you're simply borrowing it. Anyway, you can leave the prison sometimes, but only for as long as they permit you to, and you can't go so far that they won't be able to keep track of your every move or bring you back if need be. They're always watching you. You also have to do everything that's asked of you by your superiors no matter what you think of it. You never question orders.'

They were sitting near the water's edge now. Vegeta began to talk about his first few weeks on Frieza's ship. To the doctor, the place and the experiences being described sounded as though they originated in a bleak and distorted reality, but he never once saw the expression on the other man's face change.

**Frieza's two guards are leading me down the long, curved hallway of the ship that is to be my home from now on. I've been here not fifteen minutes and already I don't like the place. It's cold, there isn't enough space for my liking, and it smells funny, like metal and cleaning products. Almost everything is made of metal here- the walls, the doors, the floors. It has to be the dullest, most unwelcoming place I've ever seen. I don't like any of the people I've met so far either, least of all these guards. One of them is Dodoria, a fat pink thing with a bloated face and sunken eyes. It looks like he's drowned and come back to life still waterlogged. Every time I think I've seen the ugliest creature in the world, I'll meet another of Frieza's soldiers like this one who proves me wrong. I don't know what to make of the other one, Zarbon. There's nothing strange about his body (apart from his ridiculous looking armor), but his face is very confusing. All I know for sure is that he's very rude. He only walked in the door a few minutes ago and he's already telling me what to do, listing off all these rules I'm meant to follow. I make a point of staring off into the distance so he knows I'm ignoring him.

'You will be given a schedule that you must follow each day. It is the same for everyone. You're probably used to doing as you please and having everybody at your beck and call, but it is not quite the same here. Everybody showers, eats, trains and sleeps at the same times. You are to obey and respect your superiors at all times, which includes everybody that ranks above you. That means you ought to be listening to me carefully right now, Vegeta.'

'So sorry,' I say insincerely.

'So sorry sir. Now, where was I... ah yes, you are not to enter Master Frieza's room under any circumstances unless you are sent for, do you understand? I would also advise you don't speak to your superiors unless spoken to. We're all very busy here and we don't have time for games or silly questions that children like yourself are so fond of...'

That's about as much as I hear. I just nod every now and then until after what seems like ages we reach whats meant to be my room, which I'm disgusted with. Not only is it small, but it looks like someone else lives there too.

'How am I supposed to sleep in here? It's too small. It's not big enough to be a cupboard.'

They both laugh at what I've said, and Dodoria finally speaks.

'Well you know what kid, you're small too. And small things don't need big spaces. Now we're gunna leave you to get settled in. You can show yourself around. We've got other things to do.'

'Indeed,' Zarbon adds. 'Someone will bring your things along shortly.'

As they go to leave, I ask them to wait. Zarbon looks back at me with distaste.

'What is it saiyan?'

'Well, I just wanted to know, what *are* you exactly?'

'What- what do you mean what am I? What kind of a foolish question is that?'

'I just wondered if you were a man or a woman.' He looks at me astounded for a moment as if I've sprouted another head. Then his face becomes calm and smug again. Dodoria is grinning behind him.

'I understand how true beauty would confuse one from such a homely race as yours. I do not expect you to understand it and therefore I will forgive you your rudeness this one time, but I have a question of my own for you. Did life change a lot after Frieza became ruler of your planet in your father's place?'

I give him a black stare. 'My father is still the king. Nothing's changed.'

'Oh I beg to differ. A lot has changed,' he says as he turns to leave. 'You aren't a prince anymore Vegeta. Not around here,'

Afterwards I sit in the darkness feeling very angry. I'll get him back for that remark somehow. Not long after they've left an odd little blue creature comes along with my things and shows me around. Not that I'm interested, but it seems necessary. The walk does nothing to improve my mood- every person we pass gawks at me and often after they've turned away I can here them calling me filthy monkey and a host of other insults under their breath. I would punish them, but I know neither who out of the clusters of warriors is saying it nor how powerful they are and my father has warned me against taking on just any of Frieza's soldiers. I'll find out about their abilities soon enough though, and then they'll pay. I've never been spoken to like this in my life, and I won't tolerate it. They'll see.

Eventually I'm back in my excuse for a room, angrier than ever. I make out the form of a large rat scuttling across the floor and blast it. The sound of its squeal as its being being incinerated is soothing somehow. I hear the sound of more footsteps very close by and hope no one's coming to join me. I'm not at all in the mood for company. Of course I have no such luck. The door swings open and a boy with skin the colour of a tomato and long white hair stands in the doorway. He says nothing at first, just stares at me with big green eyes. He's the youngest person I've seen here so far but he still looks at least five years older than me.

'So you're the saiyan then? Never 'ad a saiyan 'ere before.'

I say nothing.

'What's the matter? You don't look too happy. Aren't they bein' nice to ya?' he says, nodding his head in the direction of the place where all the people were congregating down the hall. I still don't answer.

'Don't take it personally. It's just cause you're a saiyan. You lot aren't real popular round the rest of the universe. Thought you'd a noticed by now, bein' one an all. But don't worry, I ain't like everyone else. They're all old an borin', an I'm stronger than 'em all too. I'm Jeice, an I'm part of the Ginyu Force, Frieza's top warriors,' he boasts. This has me interested.

'Really? You're stronger than everyone else here?'

'Yep. Much. Did you know you're the youngest person now? I used to be. Everyone's been talkin' about you. They don't think you'll last.'

'Well they're wrong.'

'Oooo, cocky. We'll see.'

He continues to babble for a long time about all sorts of things, mainly about how great this place is and how you can have anything you want. I think he talks too much, and I can't always understand him because he leaves half the letters out of his words for some reason, but he is funny. It looks like I'm stuck with him whether I like it or not anyway; he's told me we are going to be friends and hasn't asked for my opinion on the matter.

Over the next few weeks we hang around each other in the evenings when ever he isn't with his team members, which I learn are even stronger than him. It doesn't take long to learn who is the strongest around here. After the first night I expect things to improve once I've shown everyone that I'm better than most of them could ever dream of being. I'm wrong. The extreme routiness of everything we do is maddening because I can't stand being made to do as everybody else does. Also, while most of the men quickly learn to respect me (or at least fear me), my supposed superiors make a point of insulting me as often as possible. It seems like everybody here hates me simply because I'm a saiyan, whether they're too afraid to openly show it or not. My behaviour probably doesn't help this much. Jeice is the only one who doesn't avoid me and though I'm glad to have at least one friend, he's driving me nuts. If he feels like company you have to provide it whether you feel like it or not- he has to have everything he wants whenever he wants it, and if he doesn't get it he gets angry. The difficult thing is that it's hard to tell if you're making him angry because it comes on very suddenly.

I become fully aware of this one particular day when I feel like training alone but he's decided we're sparring together. I'm not making much of an effort in hopes that he'll get bored, though it looks like it's just making him mad. Without warning, he breaks through my defense and drives his fist into my gut with a horrific force. I have never, ever been hit this hard before or felt this much pain. Tears run down my face before I can stop them.

'Looks like that woke you up,' he sneers. I'm too winded to say anything, and don't move for a long time.

'Givin' up are ya? Well, that's why they say don't ever let ya guard down.'

Later on that night he is his usual idiotically cheerful and joking self and acts like nothings happened, except for when I'm changing and he laughs at the huge purple bruise that has spread across my torso. It will make all my movements painful for a week afterward. I start to take him a lot more seriously after this, realising that he isn't joking about his strength.

Jeice isn't the only confusing problem either. I notice a lot of the men around here are irrational or down right mad, and often they take what I in my ignorance believe is medicine. It baffles me how it makes them crazier rather than sane. I don't know how to deal with so many violent lunatics in the one place and even when they aren't bothering me directly I can feel their silence and their hate leaking out of them. It doesn't take long for me to start avoiding everyone, training alone or staying in my room whenever I have free time. Things start to feel monotonous, hopeless, lonely even. It's only been a few weeks, maybe a month when I'm told my planet and all its inhabitants have been destroyed. Nappa and Radditz show up a few days later.**

'What was that like, when they told you your planet was gone?' The doctor finally cut in.

'What's your name? You've never said,' Vegeta answered him with a question.

'You avoid that question every time I ask.'

'And you avoid that question.'

'I suppose I do. Listen, there's something you said that didn't make a lot of sense, about some of the soldiers taking medicine?'

'I thought that was obvious. There were a lot of illicit drugs there. Drugs and drink. As if the people weren't crazy enough.'

'Did you have to struggle to stay alive, with so many dangerous men around? You said you avoided them frequently.'

'I had to avoid them. Whenever I was around them I couldn't stop myself arguing with them, which would either result in me killing someone, or if it was the wrong person, them almost killing me. I can remember at least ten times I nearly died on that ship, and many more times I caused someone's death there. Everybody had to struggle, men were 'mysteriously disappearing' all the time. There was a lot of competition and paranoia. It seemed that no matter who you were, half the people liked you and the other half wanted you dead. Or all of them, in my case.'

'So I suppose it was a trade off,' the doctor mused. 'You could have anything you wanted, but at the cost of constant risk to your...' his voice trailed off, and Vegeta noticed the doctor staring at him.

'What?'

'What's happened to your neck?'

Vegeta huffed in annoyance. 'Nothing you need to worry about.'

'It looks quite bad...'

'It's nothing! Just a rust spider.'

'A- a what?'

'Don't worry about it! I swear if I hear one more word about this god damned bite I'll-'

'Alright, alright,' the doctor cut him off. 'I'm sorry, it's just that it's a bit unusual. Nothing unusual has happened lately... *has it*?'

*A strange question*, he thought. 'Everything that happens to me is unusual. The only time I'd be able to say something unusual had happened is if something usual happened. Now *that* would be unusual.'

'I don't know if I'm following you.'

'I don't know if I'm following myself. It's too early to be awake. Go on then, disappear. I need to sleep sometime.'

'I've never met someone with manners as impeccable as yours,' the doctor scoffed. Vegeta had already closed his eyes, but opened them again to look over only to find the doctor was gone.

*I swear I'm going to find out who and what that man is and why he's really here,* he thought to himself. *Next time...*

He sat up to decide where to go to train, having never had any intention of sleeping after all the nightmares he'd been having. As he did, something caught his eye and he had to blink several times to make sure he wasn't hallucinating. There appeared to be a vortex forming in the middle of the lake that couldn't quite be explained by the harsh winds whipping through the forest at the moment.

'What the...' he muttered as he rose into the air, floating over to stop directly above it. It was plain to see that it was no hallucination- it went deeper than the lake bed, whirling downwards into the earth, where a glowing red light burned at its center. The coloured light reflected off the spinning waters of the vortex, making fascinating patterns. It was beautiful, mesmerising, almost beckoning the watcher to go towards it even as his instincts screamed at him to stop. Vegeta couldn't resist it and slowly began to descend into the watery opening, however the nearer he drew towards the light the further away it seemed to get. Had he looked up it would have been noticeable that the trees, the sky and the stars were no longer visible, but he had eyes only for the light, now in a deep trance.

Then without warning the light vanished, bringing him to his senses instantly. At first he was disoriented, unable to remember what was going on or what had lead to this situation. Everything was in compete darkness. The lake, the forest, the vortex, it had all vanished. The dank, musky smell made it feel as though he was standing at the bottom of an empty well, except that something was wrong with the walls. Firstly the fact that there were walls, and secondly the cold, slippery feel of them, as though they were made of metal. He pounded his fists against the smooth surface and stared upwards, shouting at whoever might be listening. The rage distracted him from the intense panic he was starting to feel.

'Whoever's behind this better let me out of here right this instant, or I swear I will find you and rip the head clean off your shoulders!' He thundered. All this seemed to achieve was the switching on of a dim light somewhere above him, its green glow revealing the strange surroundings. It looked like he was in a very steep metal tunnel that eventually forked off into what was presumably other tunnels.

'Can't be too hard to find my way out of here...' he reassured himself, about to fly upwards when he sensed movement. The entire tunnel was moving, at first slowly, then faster, lurching forwards and spinning. Everything was spiraling out of control into a blur of pallid gray, making it impossible for him to blast through it and move forward. The spinning was horribly dizzying, but just as he was about to topple over the brink of unconsciousness the tunnel became calm and still again, causing his body which was suspended in mid air to fall face down. As terrifying as the prospect of raising his head and looking up was, he finally forced himself to do it. Now that everything was the right way around, it became obvious what this place was.

'No...' he whispered, 'This has to be a dream. I refuse to believe this.'

He sat up and performed a favoured test of of reality and consciousness which was to punch himself as hard as possible in the stomach, but it did nothing but wind him. This was no dream, he was definitely on Frieza's ship. Something else was wrong too. Everything around looked bigger and higher up than usual, and his voice didn't sound right at all. There was no need to look at his body, it was obvious he was a child again. He stood and began to walk mechanically down the hall. It always happened this way- walking down the tunnel lead first to some kind of horror then to waking up. This part was necessary. 'Surely I'll wake up,' he tried to reassure himself, but somehow this didn't seem like the truth.

It was cold and stuffy. There were people all around, but nobody noticed or spoke to him as usual. Only their whispers could be heard. A voice very close to his ear murmured, 'Shhhh,' and a large, beefy hand clamped itself over his mouth, yanking him into an adjoining room.




Oh my, what has Vegeta gone and gotten himself into, and can he get out of it? What does it all mean, and is it even real? Guess you'll have to wait and find out :P Please let me know what you think too:)