Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Revenge: An Earthling's Retribution ❯ Chapter 10

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

HUGE thanks to AQUESTRA for her awesome Beta-ing for this chapter. You rock! All credit for the quality of this chapter really goes to her! Any mistakes here was most likely me playing around with it after she sent it to me. Sorry! Also, check out her new BV fic, The Immortal Mercenary. It's going to be awesome!!!


Special shout out to SaiyanPrincessBB who demanded this chapter, sorry for the delay. Check out hers and SaiyanPrincessofCalifornia's lovely BV work and give them

WARNINGS: BAD LANGUAGE, VIOLENCE AND BLOOD!!!

Revenge: An Earthling's Retribution

Chapter Ten

"Bulma!" She heard Kakarot scream for her just as waves of molten hot lava gushed towards her, consuming hundreds of people, who didn't manage to fly away fast enough, and ships in its wake. People were trying to swim out from the lava, but when they surfaced from the sea of fire, they were nothing but melting flesh before their screaming skeletons were once again swallowed into the molten waves. Bulma closed her eyes, unable to breathe as she waited for the flames to engulf her. It would be a pre-experience of the burning punishment awaiting her when she arrived in hell.

She was sure her heart had stopped beating way before the heat of the fire had engulfed her whole. Bulma closed her eyes with an exhalation of breath as her shoulders sagged with acceptance of her fate.

When she opened her eyes, she expected to be in the depths of hell, burning for all eternity, until her blackened soul burst into flames as well. Bulma was absolutely sure that that was to be her punishment for all her sins and yet when she opened her eyes she immediately closed them again. Like a child who shouldn't be peaking she opened her eyes once again before scrunching them shut for the second time. She was afraid that if she opened her eyes one more time the scenery before her would have all been a figment of her imagination, conjured from her deprived heart, and so she kept her eyelids shut and took in a shaky breath.

She could breathe, she could see and she could smell and she was completely at a loss as to what in the hell was going on. Then she could hear as well.

"Bulma." Her name was called so softly and familiarly she felt it like the chill of the cold winds that breezed against her skin. Bulma shivered and shook her head in disbelief but it was her name, being called again, that made her cautiously open her eyes. To her delight her surroundings remained the same and Bulma's eyes glazed over with unshed tears.

"Mamma?" Bulma asked uncertainly as she took in the beauty of the pale blues and pure whites before her. She was back on Earth, back on her beautiful planet and on the grounds of her own home.

The normally lush green grass of Capsule Corporation, the tops of her home's domed roofs and the large fir trees her parents normally brought over for Christmas were all covered with a thick mat of pure white snow. Baubles and lights adorned their home and the fir trees and a snowman, that looked like she had built at the innocent age of six, stood proudly in their compound.

However it was the blonde haired woman standing before her that made Bulma feel warm inside and caused tears to gush from her eyes and stream down her cheeks. "Mama." Bulma screamed and from pure longing and happiness she ran into her mother's arms.

Bulma's unconditionally loving mother wrapped her slender arms around Bulma and cradled her daughter to her chest. Bulma's legs gave way underneath her and she pulled her mother onto the blanket of snow beneath them. She expected to feel cold in her attire under the circumstances but she didn't. She actually felt warm and safe and Bulma revelled in the glowing feeling of happiness she hadn't felt since she had been sixteen. She sobbed uncontrollably, her face buried in her mother's chest, and she felt loved once again as her mother rubbed her back and murmured soothing words of comfort to her.

After Bulma's tears dried up and nothing but dry sniffles were heard, her mother lifted her face and wiped away any lingering traces of tears that remained on her cheeks. "Oh Bulma, crying makes your eyes puffy and your skin blotchy dear. You're too beautiful to cry."

And with that Bulma's pouty lips curled into a full-blown smile which turned into laughter. Genuine laughter that instantly melted the edges of her cold heart. She missed her mother dearly. Even the other woman's inappropriate comments about wrinkles and the hazards of smoking at the most inappropriate times.

Her mother looked beautiful and reassuring, like she always did. But all Bulma could think about was how real her mother looked and felt, bathed in the warm smell of roses and homemade cooking. Real and alive. "Mamma, it's really you."

"It is dear." Her mother bestowed a radiant smile filled with pride and love at her.

Happiness was like a precious oasis in the middle of a dry desert and all Bulma could think to do was quench her dehydration of misery the last nine years of her life had caused. "They aren't taking me to hell?" Bulma whispered curiously, seemingly innocent and child-like in her mother's presence. She was positive her mother would never be sent to hell. Bunny was too good for that. Her mother didn't immediately answer her but Bulma was too pleased to notice.

"Where's dad?" Bulma asked as she sat back on her thighs so she could peer around her mother to search for her father.

She expected to see him walk outside to join them any moment now; a cigarette between his lips and his black cat on his shoulder. Bunny ran her hands down her daughters arms before capturing Bulma's hands in her own, squeezing them tightly, her own sparkling blue eyes glazed with unshed tears.

"He couldn't come dear." Bunny's voice was as lilting as always but Bulma frowned at her words.

"What do you mean he couldn't come?"

"You still have much to accomplish my sweet baby girl. I know you will. You've always been so determined and independent." Bunny answered cryptically.

Just as Bulma was about to query her mother's words, Bunny pressed a kiss to her daughter's forehead and Bulma closed her eyes to bask in the long since forgotten gesture of love. An ominous chill caressed her skin making Bulma shudder and she slowly opened her eyes.

Like a nightmare cascading into a wonderful dream a dark shadow fell upon them. The bleak darkness wrapped itself around Bulma and pried her away from her mother. Bulma tried to move, to scream, to stay but the shadow refused to release her from its relentless hold. Bulma instantly felt cold and alone and she began to cry again. This time she shed tears of sadness and not happiness.

"Mama." Bulma screamed as she reached out for her mother feeling her stomach turn over as the glow her mother and Capsule Corporation radiated grew further away from her grasp.

"Bulma." Bunny cried as her daughter was snatched away from the safety of her arms. Bulma felt the warmth her mother had emanated leave her. She felt icy and despondent and she screamed as if she were being crucified.

"Bulma. Bulma, wake up. You're fine."

Bulma opened her heavy eyelids to see Kakarot hovering uncertainly above her. She blinked a few times to register her surroundings before she shot up from the ground she had been lying on. As she moved her head from side to side and rubbed her aching temples, running her fingers through her blue hair, Bulma realised she was still on Vegeta-sei. Bulma shook her head and looked up at Kakarot. Bulma immediately became aware of the stinging in her legs and arms as her mind noticed Kakarot using some healing gel to repair her burnt skin.

"I made it to you just in time. That lava was sure moving at a fast speed." Kakarot told her.

His words triggered her memory as she realised he had flown to her just as the lava was about to swallow her whole. She had obviously blacked out for some time from the anxiety the day had brought on. Some of the hot liquid had already splashed on her legs and upper body though. She noticed that Kakarot's black uniform was also burned through and his own legs and arms were seared as well.

Her mother had only appeared in her dreams and Bulma had never left Vegeta-sei. Bulma unconsciously wiped the tears that wet her cheeks before reality snapped her out of her daydreams.

"Kakarot we have to get out of here."

"Bulma." He stuttered.

He looked at her, hopelessness etched on his face and she felt like they were back to that day when he was trying to sneak a pregnant Chi Chi off planet. He didn't have a clue as to what he should do. This was not the Kakarot who had attacked Vegeta or kissed her or took her to Namek for her enjoyment ...

"That's it." Bulma shouted as she sprung to her feet much like her light bulb idea had sparked in her head.

"What is?" Kakarot asked her as he too stood up.

Bulma ignored him while she took her tool belt, which was slung around his shoulder, from him to empty its contents out onto the ground. "Where is it?" Bulma shrieked as she rummaged through a number of different coloured capsules.

"What are you looking for Bulma?" Kakarot frowned at her. He felt uneasy not knowing what to do to help. Part of him would rather be facing Frieza now than standing around waiting to die from his home world exploding.

"Kakarot, where is it?" Bulma screamed in irritation as she hurriedly scrutinised every capsule she had. It wasn't an easy feat considering she had about a hundred of them with different coloured labels and codes on it.

"What Bulma?" Kakarot asked in frustration.

"The fucking pink capsule that had my space ship in it." Bulma groaned as she slammed her fists into the sand. "Fuck. We must have lost it."

"Bulma, what the hell is a ship going to do now. None of the pods are working out here." Kakarot demanded.

"I have an idea ok. But we need a ship." Bulma threw everything she had taken out back into her bag, unconsciously shoving sand into her tool belt as well. "Come on." She said as she slung her belt around her waist, clasping it securely before she held onto Kakarot. "We have to find a pod that isn't damaged."

If it had been anyone else besides Bulma, Kakarot would have argued with them. But the Saiyan did have first hand experience with how brilliant Bulma was when it came to technology and so he wisely complied with her wishes. He flew off into the direction of the docking bay with Bulma nervously clinging onto him. They hovered over the demolished area trying to spot a space ship that hadn't been damaged.

"Idiots, I introduced encapsulation for their ships and they still keep it out in the open to be tampered with." Bulma complained.

"That's it." Kakarot cried as he rocketed towards the docking bay. "Bulma, you truly are a genius." He screamed as Bulma shrieked from Kakarot's pace and ducked her head in the crook of his neck.

"I am?" She gulped as she tried to settle her rioting stomach.

Kakarot swarmed around the docking bay's station but it was barely there. The roof was gone and so were most of its walls. Fortunately though it hadn't been swept away by the lava. Kakarot landed smoothly, before he gently set Bulma down, as he walked briskly towards the station with Bulma following closely behind him. He walked carefully over some rubble before he came across a fallen shelf.

He turned around to look at Bulma who was carefully eyeing the demolished station. "I'm going to lift this shelf up and I want you to see if you can uncover any undamaged pod capsules ok?" Kakarot told her.

"That's a brilliant idea Kakarot. I'm impressed." Bulma winked at him and he smiled at her compliment.

"Ok." He said as he bent down. He gripped the edges of the floor to ceiling shelf and huffed as he lifted it off the ground. It wasn't too heavy for him but he had to hold onto it because there wasn't any place to let it stand against.

Bulma dropped to her knees and searched through the debris on the ground. "Ouch." She cried.

"Bulma, what is it?" Kakarot asked, his heart catching in his throat as he experienced a moment of panic for her safety since she was obstructed from his view by the bulking shelf.

"It's nothing. I just pricked my thumb." Bulma grouched as she sucked at her bleeding thumb before continuing her search for a capsule. "Bingo." She cried as she stood up again. Kakarot lowered the shelf and Bulma jumped at least ten feet high in excitement. "Let's go." Bulma told him as she threw the capsule in the air before safely catching it in her palm again.

"Let's go." Kakarot agreed as they flew off.

~~~o0o~~~

Vegeta removed himself from the rock he had been smashed into and his eyes narrowed as he watched Frieza continue to radiate that hideous pink light.

He walked closer to him and pressed at his scouter. "What the fuck?" Vegeta shook with rage. Not fear, rage. Frieza's power level was exceeding fifty thousand and still rising. Almost to a hundred thousand. There was a flash of blinding light before Vegeta's scouter cracked against his face. He barely felt the sting it made against his skin before he removed the now useless device from his ear. His scouter had read one hundred and thirty thousand before it went off.

"Impossible." Vegeta whispered as he gulped in horror and shame. He was way out of his league here. Part of him wanted to take flight. Run away. But he was no coward. He had too much pride for that course of action.

No, he'd rather die in battle. That was the most honourable death for him. He wouldn't go down without a fight though. No matter how outmatched he was. He wiped his hand against his mouth after he spat phlegm and blood at the ground before walking towards Frieza. He was definitely unprepared for what he saw standing before him.

Frieza had transformed. Like Saiyans could transform using the moon, the Ice-jin could transform at will. Frieza wasn't puny anymore. He was taller and meaner looking. Still ugly, but meaner looking. He radiated power.

"Fuck." Vegeta growled as his dark eyes took in the overlord's tall frame. The Ice-jin's scaly skin was stretched taut with firm muscles, his black horns glinting dangerously from his purple head and his imposing aura crackled with a newfound strength. Although it was Frieza's beady, blood red eyes that sent a foreboding chill that Vegeta fought with all his mind to suppress from running through him in the form of a shiver.

The Saiyan Prince's mind wondered towards the Legendary transformation of his own people and realisation pierced him like a dagger to his chest. He was no closer to being a Super Saiyan than he had been a year ago. No Super Saiyan, with royal, elite blood pulsing through his veins, would be defeated by a mere Ice-jin. The fact that he hadn't had any significant changes towards his physical appearance was because he was not a Legendary warrior. The surge in his power level was nothing but a boost from his extensive training regimen. Vegeta felt a crippling sense of defeat start to smother him even with his temper raging furiously inside of him.</P>

Frieza stuck out his hands and posed in all his powerful - still ugly - glory as he smirked at Vegeta. "Don't be frightened Vegeta. I don't want to hurt you." Frieza cooed as if he were talking to a scared little child.

"Why would I be afraid of an ugly lizard who just beefed himself up? Fancy little trick Frieza, but even I can transform." Vegeta scowled at the Ice-jin's tone.

Frieza gave a joyous cackle as he placed both of his outstretched hands behind his back. "Yes Vegeta, I'm well aware of your other form. But I really don't wish to fight you, I've come to make a deal."

Vegeta snorted. "By attacking my planet?" He sneered. "Or purging my galaxy?"

"Now, now Vegeta, I do not want to discuss politics with you. The Planet Trade Organisation is a crass matter to discuss in such surroundings. There is much you don't know of. Right Zarbon?" Frieza tilted his head slightly towards his right hand man in question.

"Yes Lord Frieza." Zarbon bowed his head at being addressed by his master.

"Find him. Bring him here so he may speak to Vegeta. Maybe convince him to choose the best path for himself now." Frieza ordered Zarbon.

"Don't Bother." Vegeta spat. "The King is dead."

"Oh I know that Vegeta. I am omniscient after all." Frieza announced smugly.

"But don't worry, I won't shame your father by revealing the true nature of his death. I think he's been embarrassed enough by not being able to lead his Empire successfully." Frieza whispered sadly as if he were offering platitudes for the late King. "Don't you agree?"

"How dare you." Vegeta hissed as his fists clenched at his sides. He felt lost and disadvantaged on his own fucking planet and he slowly felt his control begin to slip away from him. Vegeta screamed his fury as he charged towards Frieza head on.

It was like Frieza didn't even move to defend himself. Every punch or kick Vegeta threw his way was easily sidestepped or blocked. That was until Frieza finally hit him. It was one punch. One fucking solid punch that had the Saiyan Prince flying into the sky.

Vegeta growled as he halted himself in mid-air. He raised up his hands and faced his palms towards Frieza. Then he let loose an assault of hundreds of tennis ball sized ki blasts that engulfed Frieza in a sphere of energy. When the dust settled Vegeta landed again, slightly out of breath, as he wiped away the sweat that had gathered on his forehead.

He had been prepared to see Frieza walk towards him after his attack but what Vegeta hadn't expected to see was that Frieza was completely unscathed. Not even a scratch. Vegeta cursed as he rushed towards Frieza again. This time he didn't even manage to throw a punch as the lizard lord's thick tail quickly flicked out to smack Vegeta right across his face.

The Saiyan Prince's eyes grew wide as he crashed into the ground. Of all the humiliating acts he had to endure, none came close to being smacked into the dirt like nothing but a common house fly. That was it. No more. He would endure no more humiliation at the hands of the Ice-jin. Vegeta stood up shakily and brokenly chuckled as he spat out some dirt.

"Well you scaly, piece of lizard trash, let's play it your way then." Vegeta snarled.

"Now, now Vegeta. There's no need for name calling." Frieza chastised.

Vegeta growled at being reprimanded like a child but ignored it. He conjured a pure white ball of ki in his palm, before he commanded it to split, and then form into one ball of massive light and perch itself in the darkening sky. It presented itself as the moon and Vegeta uncurled his fury brown tail from around his waist as he gave in to the moon's pull.

The pounding of his heart was all he could hear as his blood began to pump fiercely inside of him. His veins pulsed with vigorous strength as his skin stretched across his expanding body. Thick brown fur sprouted from his skin and his already sharp canines stretched into fangs. His own eyes were nothing but blood red pools of power as he transformed into a giant ape. He felt pure strength course through his veins and he resisted the urge to beat at his chest as he roared loudly before looking down at Frieza.

"The great Oozaru. How ... fascinating." Frieza drawled out the last word in a bored tone that made Vegeta want to rip out his head and shove it up his ass.

Vegeta opened his mouth and flashing red ki shot out from his lips aiming straight at Frieza. The Ice-jin simply sprung into the air to avoid being hit. Before Frieza could turn around, from the massive crater in the ground, to look at him, Vegeta had his large palm wrapped around Frieza. Vegeta squeezed the Ice-jin in his hands, glad that both Frieza's hands were trapped at his sides, hoping to crush his bones inside of him.

However to his great despair all Frieza did was spread his arms and slowly, with a strength that even the proud Saiyan Prince couldn't deny, extricated himself from Vegeta's hold. Frieza then went on to hold Vegeta's large hand in his own and break a finger with unnecessary force. Vegeta tried to swat Frieza away with his other hand but the Ice-jin was too quick for his own clumsy movements. Frieza just pulled Vegeta's hand with him while he avoided being clubbed at. Vegeta tried to lift his captured hand to smash Frieza into the ground but the Ice-jin, to his dismay, kept Vegeta's hand still.

Saiyans prided themselves on the power the transformation of the great Oozaru offered them. The humongous stature of a gorilla like creature that could desecrate entire worlds with the stomp of their big feet and here the Prince of all Saiyans could not even manage to keep his enemy in the hold of his gigantic paw. The Oozaru's rich brown fur bristled in affront and his luminous eyes blazed in fury as his fanged jaw growled out dangerously making Vegeta's long snout twitch furiously.

Vegeta roared in pain and anger while Frieza chuckled near his large and overly sensitive ears, whispering how incompetent his Oozaru state was, just before Frieza sent a red beam at Vegeta's ki moon. It shattered into a million pieces of flickering light that scattered into the ground. Immediately Vegeta began to shrink to his normal size. All his strength shrinking away with his size, leaving him feeling depleted. When he was returned to his normal state he stared at Frieza with nothing but hatred as he flexed his hand that had three broken fingers on it.

No one had ever challenged the Saiyan Prince and went on to defeat him in battle before. It was not an experience Vegeta found himself enjoying and his pride struggled to accept his situation as real.

The scene Vegeta found himself in no longer produced the enthralling power of battle glory but rather it wrought on the shame he felt at being defeated. His pride refused to be broken though and he slowly stood again. Vegeta was not going to stand back and cower at the Ice-jin's feet. He was the Prince of all Saiyans. And so he fought. And he fought. And every time Frieza pummelled him into the ground he would get up again. He had a dislocated shoulder, three broken fingers, about three broken ribs on each side, he was sure one of his lungs was punctured and all he could taste was blood and dirt.

Yet he still stood again.

Regally.

That was until Frieza grabbed him by his hair and ground his face into the dirt. The ruthless tyrant then lifted Vegeta up again and brought his body flush against his own. Vegeta could not help the shudder of disgust he felt at being in physical contact with the Ice-jin. Especially when Frieza's cold breath was at his ear.

"This is why I want you Vegeta. You're not a glutton for punishment. Oh contraire. You're so proud and strong. And that's why I'd love to have you as a pet. You'd be the best to break. To beat and beat until all the spirit is taken from you."

"Never." Vegeta vehemently denied.

"And then you will be mine to do as I please with." Frieza ignored Vegeta's denial. "They always refuse in the beginning Vegeta. They all do, but eventually they beg me to end it."

"Screw you, you sick son of a bitch." Vegeta spat. That earned Vegeta a hard thud against his side with Frieza's thick tail which caused Vegeta to cough out more blood.

"Do you know what the funny part is Vegeta. This is only my second form. I have two more after this and you couldn't even handle me at this stage. My power at my complete form is over one million, what makes you think you could ever beat me." Frieza whispered conspiringly to Vegeta.

At this Vegeta went rigid in Frieza's hold. "You lie." He almost croaked out and if he were a lesser man he would have blasted off his own head right now.

Before Frieza could respond Zarbon dropped down before them. He wasn't alone though. Zarbon threw a bloodied body at Frieza's feet and the Ice-jin dropped Vegeta to his knees.

"Vegeta, I allowed you to make those plays against my Empire. I could have stopped you at any time, by coming to you and crushing you like the insect you are but I didn't. Do you know why? Because I wanted to see how far the Saiyan Prince could really go. I couldn't understand how you raging monkeys infiltrated my systems and was plotting against me. But instead of killing off my incompetent technicians and re-opening my systems I decided to let you have your fun. All the while gaining precious information on what you've been up to." Frieza spoke sweetly.

"You." Vegeta spat, his eyes focused solely on the newcomer and not Frieza.

The battered and bruised being looked up at Vegeta. "I'm sorry, I had to do something."

"Just shut the fuck up." Vegeta cursed as he stood up from his embarrassing position.

"Now, now Vegeta, play nice. There are some things I want you to hear first before you decide your fate. I want you to understand how useless your struggles will be."

~~~o0o~~~

"Are you sure this will work?" Kakarot asked as he paced around the pod that Bulma was currently underneath.

"Yes I'm sure." Bulma reassured him for what felt like the hundredth time already. "The system could be engaged to take off in these conditions but that would take up time - we don't have - to set. So I'm hoping to make the pod take off on a default action using nothing but pure nitrous. Hopefully that will get us out of the planet's atmosphere and allow the system to start working normally again. That should give us enough time to launch the pod and set co-ordinates for travel." Bulma explained.

"You hope?" Kakarot asked uncertainly.

"Yes." Bulma sighed. "I haven't tried this before. Have you managed to contact your dad as yet?" Bulma tried to get Kakarot's mind away from her work.

"No." Kakarot replied despondently.

"Relax, he's probably already off planet or engaged in battle. Bardock's a smart man, he'll get out." Bulma said as she squinted at some wires.

"I hope so." Kakarot replied.

"Yes." Bulma cheered as she got up from her kneeling position.

"Did it work?"

Bulma wiped her rubber gloved hands against her forehead and looked impassively at Kakarot. "There's only one way to find out." She told him honestly as she stood up.

"Right." He nodded as he went towards the pod. She watched as he stopped moving and looked over his shoulder at his home world before sighing. She could empathise with him and his reluctance to leave. Remembering when she had wanted to see Earth until it couldn't be seen from space anymore. Of course she had never had the chance to do so and her last memories of Earth were blurred images of running and hiding and death and destruction.

Bulma begrudgingly decided to give him a few moments to himself and walked over towards the pod before getting inside it. She plugged in a chip from her scouter into the pod's control panel. Bulma crowed in triumph when the system rebooted but as expected its signal was scrambled and couldn't launch itself into space. The genius went into default mode changing minor programming so she could work around the ships structure. She changed the propulsion system to work with the nitrous, much like a rocket, so the ship could blast off without using its engine.

"That's it." Bulma laughed as she made quick progress on her plans.

"Where do you think your'll are going to?"

Bulma and Kakarot looked up to see a familiar looking alien touch down before them. She watched as the alien unwittingly spurred Kakarot's decision to leave Vegeta-sei as he quickly fired a large ki blast at the orange alien before he ran towards her. As the orange alien was moved away a little from the momentum of the blast Kakarot hurried into the pod with Bulma and she settled herself between his parted legs.

"Please work, please work." Bulma pleaded as she typed furiously to set her plan into action.

Just as the lanky alien, whose nose Kakarot had broken earlier, started to fly towards them at an alarming speed the pod's screen flashed in warning.

"Bulma do something." Kakarot panicked. He did not want to have to fight the alien and risk damaging one of the only pods he and Bulma had. Or get Bulma killed by being caught in the crossfire of a brutal fight.

"I'm trying." Bulma replied. The blue haired beauty couldn't breathe as her stomach did cartwheels from trying to work faster while in peril. Bulma felt as if she were detonating a bomb that was about to explode at any moment now. She could almost hear the ticking of an imaginary clock in her brilliant mind as precious seconds went by.

"Now." Kakarot exploded just as Bulma slammed her palm down onto the launch button. The hatch whirred closed and Bulma sunk back against Kakarot with a loud sigh as the pod blasted off, vibrating shakily out of Vegeta-sei's atmosphere.

~~~o0o~~~


"Vegeta, I had to do something to avenge the crown of Vegeta-sei." Zorn tried to explain. I couldn't let that whore wheedle her way into our plans. Especially with what she had done to the King. Your father."

"I had control of the situation." Vegeta barked out harshly. But his normally gruff and commanding voice sounded scratchy and worn out, losing its desired effect.

"Control. She was using her mind to barter with you. And you allowed it." Zorn contradicted. "How long was it before she got to you?" Zorn tried to reason.

"I am the Prince of every fucking Saiyan. She is a mere weakling. You on the other hand ..." Vegeta pointed a threatening finger towards Zorn and the older Saiyan gulped. "Cannot be trusted. You decided selling us all out to Frieza was worth getting rid of her?" Vegeta demanded.

Zorn could not offer a response to Vegeta's question. In actuality he had believed his Prince had finally reached a new level of strength that would have been enough to defeat the monstrosity called Frieza. Obviously, looking at Vegeta's beaten state, that was not true. Zorn could not bring himself to explain this to Vegeta because he could tell the humiliation Vegeta was inwardly struggling with would only further infuriate the volatile Prince.</P>

Zorn had known Vegeta since he had been a little boy and he had worked under the late King for over a decade now. He knew much about their personalities and state of minds. He was afraid that anything he said now would push the Prince over the edge. He had not truly anticipated this outcome when he had made contact with Frieza, trying to draw the Ice-jin to Vegeta-sei. Zorn had merely seen it as a calculated risk since Vegeta had increased in strength and boasted about having surpassed Frieza's power level. In the end it wasn't Vegeta that had drawn out Frieza, it was Zorn with his cunning political mind. Zorn had seen it as a way to eradicate two problems at once. Vegeta would kill Frieza and he would kill that whore. Neither had worked out as he had planned though.

Frieza had stood quietly aside, watching the exchange unfold with slight amusement before he spoke. "Why don't you start at the beginning Zorn, and explain to the young Prince exactly why the Saiyan Empire was crumbling around the King and that coward couldn't do anything to stop it."

Zorn looked at Frieza with pure hatred before he turned to Vegeta, his fists still clenched at his sides. Zorn preferred to be on the ground, hoping his defensive posture would appease his Prince.

"When you were ten your father made a pact with Frieza. King Vegeta promised to give you to the Ice-jin and work under Frieza's rule as long as he was allowed to keep our planet and rule over us."

"But Vegeta got greedy and all that wealth he received from squandering other planets went to his head. So he turned traitor on our deal." Frieza chipped in.

"No." Zorn denied. "He managed to find out that once Frieza had you he was planning to blow up our Planet. Your father changed his mind."

Vegeta did not want to deal with this right now. He had just been defeated by the Ice-jin and now he had to listen to his father's cowardly behaviour as well. But listen he did. And he couldn't seem to make sense of it all. If his father had reneged on his deal with Frieza then why hadn't the Ice-jin just killed them all and kidnapped him ages ago. Why now? As if sensing Vegeta's thoughts Frieza spoke.

"Ah Vegeta, that is another thing I rather like about you, you aren't as dumb as the rest of your kind." Frieza mockingly praised. "Let me tell you Vegeta there is a fine art to revenge. It's not all just mindless killing. You have to enjoy the kill, know that you are ripping away everything from your enemy before you deliver that final blow. It's a game of waiting. To torture your enemy, having them continuously look behind their shoulder and wonder when you're going to strike. Knowing they are completely powerless to stop you." Frieza spoke, his voice eerily calm but the danger in his tone unmistakeable.

"Why wait till now then?" Vegeta asked the Ice-jin.

Frieza chuckled. "That foolish King had nothing. I had been the one to introduce him to purging and taking what you want. Then he decided to take all for himself. So I allowed him to build an Empire on blood and bones because I knew I could rip it all away from him whenever I wanted to. And I enjoyed the little rivalry we had going on, each trying to outdo the other." Frieza flayed his hands elegantly as he spoke.

"Remember Vegeta, revenge is only sweet when you get to punish the person you are after by making them suffer. But then that fool had to go get himself killed by a woman. I'm very pleased to say that you impressed me though Vegeta. I've kept a close eye on you for years now. You did well when your sire departed; very well. And that was when I knew I had to have you. A fine addition to my collection. However, you are no match for me. Therefore I offer you the distinct privilege of working under my exalted reign."

Vegeta felt as if his head would explode any second now. Part of him would rather die here, even if it was at the hands of Frieza, so he could at least die an honourable death. 'Unlike his own father.' Vegeta thought bitterly. But the other part of him wasn't ready to die.

"At what cost?" Vegeta found himself asking.

"You work under my rule specifically. You will obey my every rule and in return I will spare you your life."

He was a Prince. He possessed the blood of generations of elites and he was asked to work for the Ice-jin. "No fucking way." Vegeta spat.

Before he knew it Frieza was before him. The speed that which the Ice-jin moved at was almost incomprehensible. Frieza's tail wound its way around Vegeta's throat and lifted him off the ground. All Vegeta did was stare blankly at him.

"I don't believe I gave you a choice Vegeta." Frieza spat, all pretence of civility gone as spittle flew at his face. "Like I told you before Vegeta, I'm going to enjoy breaking you." Frieza promised as he threw Vegeta onto the ground.

Frieza gathered a massive ball of red ki at the tip of his finger and looked right into Vegeta's blazing black eyes as he smirked at the helplessness the Prince revealed in his gaze. The Ice-jin then pointed his finger towards the planet's ground before he released the ki ball from his finger. He cackled as the burning ki started to break through the planet's surface and penetrate its core.

Vegeta turned his head away from Frieza, refusing to show any emotion towards the Ice-jin as he gulped back the wretched taste of frustrated bile and anger that started to choke him. Cracks of rolling thunder could be heard as dark clouds began to loom above, shrouding them in darkness. Vegeta felt that figurative dagger that had pierced his heart earlier cause his only sense of sentimentality to wither away like a shrivelled piece of fruit.

He closed his eyes as anger blurred his vision over his father's cowardly betrayal in not informing him about the true nature of Frieza's vendetta. He frowned as the force of the hatred he now felt for Frieza settle inside his chest where his heart once beat. When the Saiyan Prince opened his eyes again they were nothing but bottomless pits of frozen bleakness.

The Prince lay there on his knees, his face hard and impassive and his stature stoic. With every inhale he felt himself losing his choice. He turned slightly to face the terrified Zorn who stayed stock still on his knees. Vegeta stood slowly, his pride warring inside of him, demanding he change his fate. And yet his mind knew he had already lost this battle.

Vegeta stood up as proudly as he could in his state and walked around Zorn, who was still kneeling defeatedly on the ground, and his pride nodded at him to continue. Vegeta grabbed a hold of Zorn's tail which was bristling and swaying with fear before him. He tugged harshly at it before Zorn could react, snapping the appendage clean off from Zorn's tailbone.

Vegeta then stretched the tail between his hands before he looped it around Zorn's neck. The older Saiyan did not try to fight his punishment as he still believed his actions were born from his undying loyalty to the crown. And if this was the fate his new King saw fit for him then he would accept it without struggle. Either way he would die with his home Planet.

"This is far less than what you truly deserve traitor." Vegeta spoke harshly and coldly as he continued to strangle Zorn. "But consider this a payment for all the years of loyalty you served to my father. Not to me." Vegeta growled as he jerked his hands to break Zorn's neck with a satisfying crack. That seemed to alleviate some of his pent up frustration and appease some of his angry pride at his situation and Vegeta opened his closed palms causing Zorn to fall on his face, dead.

Frieza smirked in approval at Vegeta's behaviour as he motioned for Dodoria to grab Vegeta. Dodoria chose to be purposefully harsh as he jerked Vegeta forward. The Prince tried to pull his hand away from Dodoria's hold but the pink alien refused to let go. Vegeta refused to go willingly. Frieza himself would have to drag him off his planet. Just as he was about to sink his teeth into Dodoria's arm and rip out some flesh the fat being screeched in pain as he was blasted from the side.

Vegeta turned around sharply to see a figure shrouded in the shadows standing before him. Lighting flashed and some dark clouds parted to reveal a bloody and bruised Bardock with an outstretched hand standing before them. The Saiyan had a red band wrapped around his head and Vegeta flinched knowing what that symbolised. Recognition for the dead.

"Frieza, you will not leave Vegeta-sei with our Prince." Bardock declared loudly.

Kakarot's father had been engaged in continous battle for most of the day and he was just about ready to drown himself in a regen tank, when duty towards his Prince brought him to the thick of things. Zorn had been fighting beside him and the two had been a formidable team, defeating countless enemies before the blue skinned alien had managed to best both Saiyans before flying off with Zorn. Needless to say, Bardock was sporting many battle injuries that adorned his tanned skin with open gashes and smearings of blood. Even in his weary state though, he was proud to say that most of the blood that covered him was from the beings he killed rather than the many wounds he wore. In the end though, no matter his state, Bardock would fight to the death for his Prince. Even with the knowledge that he couldn't win.

Vegeta felt his gut clench as he looked at Bardock. His face reminiscent of Kakarot and the Prince wondered what would become of him and Bulma when this planet blew up. She was smart, but they were in the third eye and there was no way they could tell what was going on outside the Palace. He felt pride also in knowing that at least some of his people still pledged their allegiance to him.

'Bardock. He's too strong.' Vegeta telepathically told the older

Saiyan. As his Prince, Vegeta could not let Bardock go blindly into a fight against Frieza while he stood back and watched, not strong enough to fight himself.

Vegeta and Bardock's gaze locked and the Saiyan Prince could only see passionate loyalty burning in the other Saiyan's eyes. Vegeta was slightly taken aback by Bardock's unwavering faith in him and something akin to regret momentarily shone inside Vegeta as he knew what was to become of the older Saiyan.

Before Bardock could respond Dodoria had stood up again and threw a ki blast at the elder Saiyan which shot straight past Bardock's unruly hair. Bardock managed to move his head just in time to avoid being hit straight in the face but some of his hair was snipped off and the red band around his head fell to his feet. Bardock crouched into a fighting stance, ready to pounce. At that moment Frieza stepped forward, halting Dodoria from attacking. Vegeta's eye twitched as he was absolutely powerless to stop what happened next.</P>

Frieza looked at Bardock disinterestedly before he raised his finger above his head, gathering a large ball of ki at his fingertip. Bardock furiously sent a ball of ki towards Frieza which was just absorbed by Frieza's own ki ball before the Ice-jin sent his energy straight at Bardock. Vegeta cringed at the sight of Bardock being blown away, miles from them, before he turned towards Frieza. Before the Saiyan Prince could react Dodoria was back at his side, this time accompanied by Zarbon.

Dodoria elbowed the Prince in his gut, relieving the frustration Bardock had caused using Vegeta. The Saiyan Prince fell to his knees in pain as he coughed up more blood. Zarbon and Dodoria roughly grabbed Vegeta's arms before they picked him up, Dodoria's sharp nails digging into his arm in silent warning. Not before the Saiyan Prince had managed to pick up Bardock's red band though. Crunching it in his fist Vegeta used it as a reminder of what he would have to do.

Before anyone could move any further Frieza's scouter beeped and everyone stood still, as Frieza remained rooted to the spot, like sheep who waited to follow their master. Frieza's face contorted in rage as he slurred angrily to the person on the other end of the communication link.

"Follow them and bring them both back alive." Frieza demanded before he pulled out his scouter and smashed it in the palm of his hands. He then turned around to stare intimidatingly at the Saiyan Prince.

"Vegeta." Frieza stared directly into Vegeta's eyes, his inky red pupils daring Vegeta to lie to him. "Tell me where this lovely scientist of yours is? I just received a transmission stating that one of my men saw her launch off into a pod with a man who looked eerily like that fool I just killed."

'Kakarot.' Vegeta thought bitterly. While he had been fighting with his life those traitors had took off and completely disobeyed his orders. And he had been a fool for considering their whereabouts.

"Why?" Vegeta asked almost nonchalantly.

At this Frieza bent towards Vegeta. "I only require the best Vegeta. The best wine," Frieza said as he traced a finger along the blood that dribbled down Vegeta's strong jaw. Vegeta resisted the weak urge to throw up as Frieza sucked at his blood that smeared the Ice-jin's finger. He was no stranger to Frieza's act but having it done to him was pure degradation. "The best monkey." Frieza continued as he mused Vegeta's hair. Vegeta scowled in disgust before shaking away his head from Frieza's hand. "And now the best scientist." Frieza slapped Vegeta across his face for moving his head away from the Ice-jin's touch and the Prince's neck snapped to the side. "I have someone tailing them as we speak but if they do so disappoint me I would like to know her possible whereabouts." Frieza concluded.

In truth, Frieza already had a very good idea as to where the scientist would possibly be going to from what he had gathered from Zorn. Only he needed to remind his little Prince who was in charge here. He wanted this to be Vegeta's first act of submission to his superiority. He had great plans for Vegeta and for the Earthling he was yet to meet. Great plans indeed.

Vegeta couldn't deny that Bulma was the best scientist in the Universe. There was nothing that Bulma's mind could imagine that she couldn't invent with her own hands. His mind flashed with a distant sight of blue and a light flowery scent wafted through his blood clogged nose and Vegeta cursed himself for not just fucking Bulma and killing her when he had had the chance.

He had started to play games with her and for a being who did not waste time playing games he had put aside his lust to keep her with him. Lulling her into a false sense of security by not touching her and re-purging that stupid mud ball of hers. Maybe there had been some truth to Zorn thinking Bulma had some power over him after all. She was always challenging him and he seemed always to give in to her mind games. She always managed to emerge stronger than him in all their mental battles.

Vegeta looked straight into Frieza's eyes. He knew then what he'd do. Vegeta squeezed the red material in his hand as if it solidified his decision before he opened his mouth to speak. Screw Frieza, he'd turn this game into his own. He'd show Frieza the "fine art of revenge".