Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ RipTide ❯ 14 ( Chapter 14 )

Chapter 14

The palace was busy as the king and queen prepared to leave Vegetasei for Planet Frost so they could give their best reasons for being allowed to live. Vegeta had wanted the ordeal to be kept secret from his children, so of course Adrian knew all about it.
"Dad--"
"No."
"You don't even know what I was going to ask!"
"Then ask."
"Can we come with you?"
"No."
Adrian had been following Vegeta around for the past hour, begging to be taken along. Sdhoirm and Zafira had become scarce for whatever reasons of their own, so Adrian got no help from them, and he knew that if he asked Vaya it would be all over. It was better to try and cave in his father first.
"C'mon, Dad, you gotta let me come!"
"No I don't."
"Yes you do, it's for the good of the planet! Since I'm going to be the king someday, I'm gonna need to learn how to deal with these types of situations."
Vegeta gave him an incredulous look. "Since when do you care about your future responsibilities?"
"Since forever."
"You lie."
"Okay, since I found out you were leaving and decided I wanted to go, too."
Vegeta rubbed his head. "Adrian, no. You're not coming, and neither is Hitomi. You'll stay right here on this planet in this palace where it's safe, for the moment at least. Mate or not, you're still a sixteen-year-old boy--"
"I'll be seventeen in two months."
"As I said. You're only sixteen, and that's too young to be put into this type of situation. Strength won't help this time, kid...and you don't have the patience or the maturity to handle that yet."
Adrian started to disagree, but Vegeta raised a hand for silence, indicating that the subject was closed. Then, without another word, the king turned and left the room. The prince stared after him with mounting indignation.
He found Hitomi a couple of minutes later, playing with Princess Vitani. Vitani had been so happy on their return that she had jumped into their arms and promptly burst into tears. Apparently she had missed the both of them so much that she had cried every day since they left. She had particularly missed Adrian, much to his surprise.
"It's because you're her big brother," Hitomi had pointed out. "Rivalry or not, you're the older, bigger, smarter and stronger one, and she looks up to you."
Now Hitomi turned her attention to her mate, who stood in the doorway of his little sister's bedroom, looking annoyed. Vitani bounced over to hug him happily, then returned to her dolls.
"Negative response, huh?" she guessed with a sigh.
"Yeah..." Adrian nodded, frowning. However, he suddenly grew a very devious sparkle in his eyes, and the frown turned to an evil little smirk.
Hitomi raised an eyebrow; she knew that look. "Adrian..." she started in a knowing tone. "You wouldn't...!"
"C'mon, Hitomi, I thought you knew me by now," he replied loftily, giving her another smirk before disappearing from the doorway.
Hitomi grinned. Things should get interesting.

~*~
Zafira sighed, "Our first time setting foot back on Vegetaseii in years and we're already packing to leave again."
Sdhoirm wrapped his arms around her waist and rested his head on her shoulder, "We could always stay here."
Zafira scoffed and looked at him, "You know we can't. This is our future we're talking about."
"Ah, the life of a monarch," Sdhoirm muttered.
"Tell me about it."

~*~
You're positive we won't get caught? Hitomi followed closely behind her mate as he led her through the docks and to the back of the ship as it was being loaded. He quickly pulled her behind a large crate before a servant could spot them. There were at least 10 other ships in front of it. Battle cruisers, probably to protect them if the people waiting for them wanted to hail them with fire.
Yeah. After all those pranks I pulled in the past, this'll be a peace of cake...Adrian smirked. Hitomi merely rolled her eyes. Adrian took her hand and pulled her from behind the crate and made a silent dash for the ramp. Before they knew it, they were in the back of the ship and snuck into one of the spare rooms of the ship with their packs on.
Now we sit back, relax and wait for take off.

~*~
A long line of Elite soon came up the ramp, dressed in their fighting fuku. They were all prepared to protect their leaders with their lives. Soon enough: Vegeta, Vaya, Sdhoirm and Zafira were soon heading up the ramp and for the cockpit where they all took their seats. A saiiyan pilot began plotting the course and ship began to activate. Planet Frost, dead ahead.

~*~
"Captain, sir, the saiiyans have arrived," a soldier bowed before the purple giant. Captain Ginyu nodded and waved him away. A picture of the saiiyan vessels appeared on the large wide-screen monitor and he couldn't help but smirk.
I've got you now Vegeta. We'll see what good all your power does you here.

~*~
Planet Frost. Looking at it now, one would wonder how it got its name. What once was a barren, arctic tundra was now a luscious, tropical paradise. Long ago, after the death of Frieza, the Tsiru-jin populace all committed mass suicide. After the mysterious deaths of Prince Coola and King Cold, Frieza was their only reason for living. They looked up to their leaders as gods and with their 'god' gone, they vowed to follow him into the gates of Hell. And so they did.
By coincidence, years after the extinction of the Tsiru-jins, a star was in the middle of it's growth phase. Dust particle to nova, nova to supernova, supernova to star, and star to sun. That sun was somehow gravitationally pulled in, possibly by Planet Frost and orbits it to this day. With its life-giving rays, great green forests, vast animal life and large bodies of water now occupy the planet.
Zafira looked at the screen with narrowed eyes. She remembered Planet Frost. While the others saw a beautiful planet, she could still see the arctic tundra that housed her hated enemy and former master. She remembered the first time Frieza had taken her to Planet Frost with Zarbon and Dedoria. Walking through the cold streets, she attracted glares and jeers from the Tsiru-sei populace. Were it not for Frieza's raised hand, they probably would've attacked her. The Tsiru-jins did not like saiiyans and wondered why Frieza had 'allowed' them to live. One of them had managed to get his tail around her wrists and pulled her away from the others unawares. He cursed her and her race and vowed that someday Frieza would destroy them all and that it would be a glorious day. He ranted about her worthless her life was and how Frieza was foolish to not have killed her the second he laid eyes on her. Needless to say, Frieza found out and slaughtered the Tsiru-jin on the spot and threatened to do likewise to anyone to who even thought of harming one of his favorites. She never went to the planet again.
Sdhoirm noticed the glare she seemed to direct towards the screen and placed a hand over hers.

"Don't worry about it," he murmured softly. "We all have pasts we'd rather forget...just put it behind you. He can't hurt you now."

Zafira let out a low sigh, her features softening slightly. She was beginning to wonder if this was his revenge for her betrayal towards him.

~*~

"It looks like we've arrived." Adrian looked to Hitomi who gave a simple, "Duh". Now they'd have to wait until the coast was clear to leave.

~*~

When the doors finally slid open and the ramp came down to allow them exit, they were greeted by numerous soldiers from different races, all armed with laser rifles and all donning black armor that covered them from head to toe. The saiiyans eyed them warily. Then the Elite guards stepped out in front of the saiiyan monarchs and began to walk down the ramp, clearing a path in the center of the crowd of guards.

"Ah, King Vegeta, you have arrived!" a phony-friendly voice spoke out and they all looked ahead to see a short, froggish-looking man greet them, dressed in black armor with the letters 'G.R' etched in blood red color. He smirked and his eyes narrowed. All four.

"Guldo," Zafira muttered under her breath, her eyes narrowed. The others looked at her. Of course, Zafira had met the Ginyu Force as well. She would be a much-needed ally in this fight. Guldo's eyes rose.

Uh oh. The boss didn't say Zafira'd be here with them! He gave her a sickeningly sweet smile, "Zafira! We didn't expect to have the queen mother along on this trip!"

He also noticed Sdhoirm standing closely beside her, glaring daggers at him. He gulped and grinned nervously, "If you'll walk this way, I'll gladly direct you to your rooms."

The saiiyans all looked at each other. Of course they couldn't trust him, but they couldn't just choke the little pest and head for the council room either. Vegeta merely grunted, "Lead the way."

~*~

They were given their own building complete with enough rooms to house the king, queen, Sdhoirm, Zafira and all the Elite that had come with them. Zafira had advised that they leave all servants at home, so not to add anymore bad points against them in this fight.

"Trying to get under our skin. The Ginyu have come a long way," Sdhoirm spoke as they examined their lush surroundings. There were actually spare rooms for them in the building.

"We'll obviously have to remain on our guard at all times, but suppress the urge to fight, no matter how angry anyone makes you. The people out there see us as a violent and primitive race. The Ginyu feel that if they can bait any of us into a fight, it'll be our downfall and it would surely prove to the people we are dangerous. Though we are dangerous, we are also skilled and wise and this is our chance to prove it," Zafira spoke, earning nods from everyone.

While everyone got settled into their rooms, Zafira and Sdhoirm ventured out into the streets on her own, dressed in her cloak. Maybe they could get some inside information. And with Sdhoirm and Zafira's newfound gifts, this wouldn't be so hard a task.

~*~

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN 'THEY HAVE ZAFIRA WITH THEM?!" Captain Ginyu yelled at Guldo. Guldo winced, "I swear, captain. I saw her walk out of the ship right behind her son."

Ginyu grumbled, "This could be a real problem. She knows a lot about us. More than any of the saiiyans. And Sdhoirm's with them too...His advice didn't save the previous Vegita, but this new one is a lot smarter than he was. Those two could easily throw a kink in the works. Guldo!"

"Yes sir!" Guldo stood upright. Ginyu held his chin, "Call up some scouts to keep an eye on Sdhoirm and Zafira. I want to prove to the galaxy that the saiiyans are a barbaric and dimwitted race. Sdhoirm and Zafira will only eliminate that from the peoples' minds. Keep an eye on them and find a way to keep them from the king."

"W-What about the queen? She is her father's daughter and she is rumored to take after him a lot," Guldo muttered. Ginyu growled, "Then we'll just have to do something about her when the debate comes up."

"Well what about the prince?" Guldo asked. Ginyu's invisible brow rose, "What about him?"

"Our cameras spotted him and a saiiyan female sneaking out of the saiiyan vessel and out into the streets," Guldo spoke. Ginyu's eyes lit up, "On screen."

And just as the froggish Ginyu had said, Adrian and Hitomi were seen sneaking off into the streets after all the Elite had left. Ginyu smirked, "Hmm…and I'm guessing the king and queen don't know they're here."

"I'm doubtful sir." Ginyu chuckled, "This could fit well into our plans."

~*~

Adrian and Hitomi did their best to blend with the people in the streets, keeping their tails wrapped around their waists and their arms folded to block the frontal view of it. It was amazing; hundreds of representatives from different races and species, all congregated for one purpose -- to end the Saiyan threat now.
I never realized we had made so many enemies... Adrian sent to Hitomi. She could sense his fear as the future king for the well being of his race.
I think that there are a lot of things our parents never told us, she responded slowly.
Naturally, the Saiyans were the topic of every conversation on the streets, but never in glowing terms. Scathing insults and bloodcurdling threats flowed from every alien mouth, making the teenagers' blood boil and their heads spin. It was all they could do to keep their sensible trains of thought and restrain themselves from blowing up the square.
"I'm hoping I get to take a crack at the king myself," said one man with green catlike eyes and blue skin. "I'll tear him into a thousand tiny pieces!"
"It's better than he deserves! The Saiyans destroyed my entire planet! Only a few of us got off in time, and we're here to give back what we were showed!" yelled another with blue slitted eyes and webbed hands.
"They worked me like a slave after killing my people!"
"I watched my family die at the hands of those monsters!"
"Death is too good for them!"
"What about the queen? I'd like to get my hands on her before they send her to Hell!" sneered one who was at least three feet taller than the others.
"Payback's a bitch, isn't it?" shouted another, and the crowd roared with laughter.
Adrian shivered at the coldness of their voices. He had never encountered true evil before, and it chilled him to hear it now. Then he heard something that made his blood run colder than ice.
"I've just heard a rumor straight down from the squad," one man said, and the crowd hushed to listen.
"It seems that they're planning to do worse to the Royal Family than any of the other lower warrior levels. They'll kill the prince and princess first, in front of their parents, just to shake 'em up."
Adrian stiffened. He could feel anger starting to surge from Hitomi, but a short mental shock was all the warning she needed to lay low. But Adrian himself was beginning to see red. How could they do this? They were acting no better than his people had supposedly behaved.
"After the children are dead, they'll turn the queen over to the people to do with her as they like before they kill her. Just that knowledge alone will probably drive Vegeta mad..."
The one speaking was clearly enjoying the effect his words were having on the gathered warriors. Their eyes were glowing maliciously. Adrian could feel heat beginning to gather behind his eyes; he knew he would explode if something didn't stop him; beside him, Hitomi was no better off...
"And when they finally are finished destroying everyone and everything the Saiyans' precious king holds dear, a public humiliation spectacle is reserved to finish him."
The man looked around; numerous hungry eyes waited intently for what was next. Even the idea of wiping out the hated Saiyans was stirring them for battle already.
"They'll drag him to the coliseum, here, on Planet Frost...Torture first, while every one of our proud fighters watches. Free admission, of course; they wouldn't want to leave out those who lost everything to the savages."
There was a rumble of resenting agreement. Adrian's breath was beginning to catch in his throat.
"Then they'll tie Vegeta to a backboard, half-dead by this time...and our best archers get a live goal for target practice."
The crowd erupted with cheers and shouts of evil excitement. Raised fists and roars of approval signified their utter joy at finally ridding themselves of their hated enemies at last. Then there was a massive rumbling and pounding of feet, and the crowd of warriors thundered of to the stadium to continue training and be at their best for the coming onslaught.
Adrian and Hitomi were left behind, shaking from fury and fear.
"Those...monsters..." Adrian choked out around clenched teeth. "How...could...they?"
"We can't let them do it!" Hitomi suddenly cried. "We've got to do something, warn your parents, blow them up ourselves, anything!"
"I don't think you'll get the opportunity for that," said a voice from behind them.
Adrian and Hitomi whirled; then they tilted their heads up, up, up a tall, blue, armored body to meet cold, insect-like eyes with bottomless depths. It was a member of the Ginyu Force, Adrian knew right away. He had heard of this one. His name was Burter. They tried to make a run for it, but what Adrian had heard of Burter was true. He was much faster than they were, and had them captive in a second.
"Going somewhere, kids?" he hissed. "I think not. We have plans for you."

~*~

Sdhoirm held Zafira's hand tight as she fought back her anger. The things they said about her child...her people!

Stay calm...Sdhoirm lowered his head and gritted his teeth. He was trying his best to suppress his anger as well. Zafira looked to him, "What will we do? I don't think anything Vegeta says will save our people from another war. And we lost so many with Frieza."

Sdhoirm's expression was grim. This war was worse than the one with Frieza. Frieza wanted them dead because of his cruel treatment of their people. These people had more justifiable reasons. They wanted revenge!

"It seems Frieza is getting the revenge he wanted." he heard his mate mutter. He quickly held her arms and made her face him, "No! Whatever Frieza told you in the past, wipe it from your mind! We should've expected something like this sooner or later! If not from The Ginyu, then from some other enemy!"

Zafira took a deep breath, "You're right. This just means we'll have to work harder to earn their trust."

Sdhoirm nodded and the two headed back to the king and queen's quarters.