Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ The Saga ❯ The Invasion ( Chapter 5 )

The Saga

Chapter 5

ChiChi lay in one of the Briefs many beds heavily sedated. Mrs. Briefs lay in another room also heavily tranquilized. Neither one could hold up to the news that their precious children had been kidnapped by an alien, maybe to never to be heard of again--if they were still alive.

Goku stood on the balcony he said he needed to get some air, but that was actually a lie. He couldn't stand the overwhelming silent accusations that were emanating off Dr. Briefs and Yamcha. He was the strongest; he was always Bulma's savior/knight. He was Son Goku the one who always safeguarded the world from its evils. However, this time…he was beaten.

His armor was tarnished.

He couldn't protect Bulma or Gohan. He could defend thousands of people he never knew, in places that he couldn't name, but when the time came for him to protect the ones he cared about, he couldn't. Instead, he let everyone down. Goku slammed his fist down bending the iron railing with his force. Life was unfair! How could it decide to let him save the lives of so many different people that he would never meet, but fail when it came to people that he knew and loved?

Yamcha looked up to see the fluttering of the white curtains in front of the balcony doors. He knew Goku had left through those doors, wanting to escape the nightmare reality that they had been so suddenly trusted. He too wanted to find the exit to the bizarre labyrinth his life had become in the last few hours. He didn't blame Goku he saw how badly beaten his friend had been. Still it was so hard not to blame him--he needed to condemn somebody for the stabbing pain he felt in his chest when he thought of how terrified Bulma must have been when she was abducted.

If only they could do something.

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Bulma glanced around at the gadgets inside the ship, her technical brain wanted to disassemble every last alien part and put it back together to see how it worked. Other than Piccolo, she never really believed aliens had existed, since technically, he was born on Earth, and Kami-sama was the guardian of Earth. She pulled her white jacket closer around her body. Earlier she'd caught the big Saiyan named Nappa leering at her form. He made her uncomfortable and of course, it didn't help that he was the one who bruised her back by stepping on it. Turning she smiled at Gohan who was wide-eyed despite his ordeal, she was thankful that he wasn't crying. She was positive that the other Saiyan known as Radditz wouldn't approve of it.

She watched Vegeta talk in low tones with the only other non-Saiyan alien in the room. The bastard hadn't even taken the time to introduce her to the alien. Bulma chuckled at the thought, so irrational. Abducted by aliens and she was angry, because the midget alien didn't have proper manners. How sad her life had become. Bulma turned toward Gohan seeing the glistening of tears in his eyes. She felt sorry for the young boy, taken from his family suddenly and propelled into an alien environment, but she couldn't comfort him. She didn't know how they were going to get out of this mess, but she knew she would die first, prior to letting one of them harm him. Bulma caught his tearful black eyes and offered an encouraging smile. Bulma wasn't beaten yet; she was going to get her and Gohan back to Earth. I'll make it a promise to myself. I will return to Earth with Gohan.

************************************

Vegeta listened attentively to the schematics Dr. Zodor was outlining to him. He could not believe it. All his planning, all his waiting and putting up with Frieza smirking face and laughing eyes, all of them added up to this one moment. Finally, he would reign supreme over the galaxy, as his father wanted, once Frieza was out of the way, there would be no one to stop his domination. Vegeta looked up at his waiting men and smirked. "It's time."

Radditz and Nappa leered. It was time for fun.

Dr. Zodor stood up and motioned Radditz and Nappa closer to him. "I have created a holographic mirror that Prince Vegeta will use to speak to the inhabitants of Planet Jueru. You will be standing on the other side of the projections, but you will be afforded no sound." Dr. Zodor nodded to Vegeta to take over the instructions.

"Radditz, Nappa," instructed Vegeta. "I've decided that we are going to give the Juerians time to surrender and recognize me as their new ruler. I prefer this method as I don't want to kill a substantial amount of the populace." A twisted smile flirted with his full lips. "There will be enough time later for that, if they don't learn to obey my word."

Nappa grinned evilly. "Prince Vegeta, I would like to take the time to say, any Juerian who does not understand you are the supreme-being in their life, I would be more than happy to deal with them personally."

Vegeta nodded to him. "I will hold you to your word Nappa. Now let us begin."

***********************************

"Garnet," said Rube to his older brother stopping him in the middle of his story about his training in the Gold House. They were Elite training rooms, where the best Juerians were allowed to master the ancient art of fighting. "How come you wanted to learn fighting, we are protected by a ki shield it doesn't allow other life-forms to detect our presence."

"How do you know of this," asked Garnet shocked that his brother knew so much about the aegis that protected their world. "It isn't public knowledge about our planetary shields. You've learned so much since I've been away."

Rube grinned at his brother. "Thanks, Garnet."

"Don't sound too impressed," replied a voice opposite the duo. "He was quizzing Grandpa about the history of our planet before you returned."

"Well, I'm glad he's taken an interest in our world," responded Garnet glaring at his younger sister as she flipped through a book. "You should show as much interest as Rube does Jasper."

Jasper glanced up at her brothers and smirked. "Just because he's my twin doesn't mean we have to be interested in all the same things."

Rube rolled his eyes at his sister. "Don't mind---"

A siren went off. It blared its warning through the small room. Garnet jumped up from the bed looking around for his sword and uniform. "It's the attack siren. We're under siege."

The twins stood up as their brother quickly dressed in his battle garments. Rube looked down as his sister grabbed hold of his hand her face full of worry. She didn't know what was happening. There had never been a battle on their planet.

Garnet wrenched open the door glancing back at his siblings. "Take care of each other." He disappeared.

Jasper looked at shut door and squeezed her brother's hand.

Rube squeezed back. "Don't worry. Nothing's going to happen."

Jasper shook her head bolting for the door with Rube following close behind her.

**********************************

Garnet met up with his regiment outside the palace walls. "Moonstone," he called to his squad brother. "It seems we've graduated just in time."

"Heh," said the white-haired solider. "I didn't want to test my skills this early. I was just getting use to my Opal cooking me a hot meal everyday and attending to my needs."

"Well, it's no fun for me either; I was going to ask Bixibite to be my fixture," he glanced around as they both got in line with the rest of their group. From the drifting conversations everybody was wondering why a red-alert sounded for the planet.

"Bixibite?" questioned Moonstone.

Garnet grinned. "I know she isn't much to look at--"

"That's understatement. The girl is damn ugly."

"--but she gets along really well with the twins."

The two grinned at each other, but straightened up quickly as they saw their commander pointing to something in the sky. Three huge projections were pushing past the ki shield to loom over them.

"Great Gravel," said Garnet under his breath. "This isn't just a drill."

The squad gazed up at the silver sky where three large screens appeared. The most prominent screen held the smallest of the images that appeared to them. This figure was dressed in royal blue suit with armor and had a flare of upswept black hair. The other two aliens that surfaced with him in the sky were featured on scaled down screens on the side of him. Both aliens were obviously over six feet tall one was balding wearing yellow and black armor while his comrade had hair down to this feet wearing armor also but his was red and black.

The small alien smiled and Garnet felt a chill of trepidation and foreboding he'd never felt in all his carats. Gazing up at the projections he knew that all the training he received at the Gold House would be tested firmly by the trespassing extraterrestrial.

************************************

Vegeta assessed the group waiting below he was in awe of Dr. Zodor's invention. The projection screens permitted him to not only project his presence over the planet it allowed him to view its inhabitants. He watched as Nappa and Radditz adjusted their armor assuming the expression of a battle prepared Saiyajin.

Vegeta cleared his throat. He scanned the warriors beneath his own projection screen. Yes, these were going to be his new people. Under his tutelage with them he would start a new empire and finally rid himself of his only shame and obstacle. He would show Frieza what a living Hell resembled.

"Welcome," spoke the prince finally. His booming voice drew attention from not only the soldiers, but other Juerians who had exited their settings to what was occurring. "I am Prince Vegeta, your new emperor. Think of this as a change in management…a hostile takeover. In the simplest terms: this is an invasion." He waited for the gasps of surprise to subside before he continued. "On my left and right are my warriors: Nappa and Radditz." As they were identified to the people below, the two huge Saiyajins clasped a fist to their chest as they stepped forward.

Moonstone let out a self-conscious laugh. "I doubt he'd be able to defeat us Elite's with only two warriors."

"Don't be a fool, Moonstone," whispered his red hair friend. "Look at their eyes; they are more than prepared for a battle with us."

"I know. I just wanted to give myself an added sense of falsity before I die defending our planet."

"We are not going to die," muttered Garnet, glaring at his companion. "I refuse to die. I have the twins to rear and Bixibite to become my permanent fixture."

Vegeta watched as more people poured into the street at his declaration. This was going exceptionally well. The more people who heard his message, the fewer people he would have to kill. The displaced Saiyajin prince dropped his last notification to his waiting public. "According to my esteemed colleague Dr. Zodor, you have four shrines dedicated your deities. You have four hours exactly to relocate yourself in the south, west, or east shrines. The northern sanctum is where my comrades and I will be waiting for those who are wishing to oppose this change in administration." He smiled to his soon to be public. "Be warned for once you have chosen to be my opponent I will tolerate no surrenders."

Prince Vegeta laughed. Frieza had taught him well.

***********************************

Bulma casually wandered over to Dr. Zodor's control unit taking stock of all the mechanical paraphernalia. With half and ear she listened to Vegeta explain to the unlucky people below her he was proclaiming himself the new emperor and he wouldn't hesitate to kill all those who wouldn't bow and scrape before his greatness. Pompous ass. She snorted to herself, lifting her finger to touch one of the buttons. Lured by the buttons, Bulma leaned forward to depress the square blue button; however she found her hand being lightly smacked before she could. Startled Bulma glanced up meeting the blue eyes of Dr. Zodor.

"You really shouldn't touch that button," Zodor whispered quietly to her. "That button would deflate Prince Vegeta's ego."

Bulma laughed. "I'm Bulma Briefs." She stuck out her hand.

Zodor regarded her hand quizzically before he decided it was some odd Earth custom. "I'm known as Ha Zodor." He opened his hand to her.

Bulma took his hand into hers shaking it. "This is how we introduce ourselves on Earth." She glanced over to where Vegeta was still spewing his grandiloquence to the planet. "So, where were you abducted from and are you a gift from Radditz or Nappa?" Her face held a saucy smile as she surveyed this new alien. "Or did Vegeta obtain you himself?"

Zodor smiled. This female had spunk. "I was abducted long ago from a planet on the other side of the galaxy, but not by our resident Saiyajins." He stood next to the command center he began tapping keys on the console, his blue eyes clouding with remembrance. "I was put into service by Frieza. Prince Vegeta was only a young boy when I first appeared on the space ship; the young Saiyajin has liberated me." Zodor began pushing other buttons skipping over the square button Bulma had wanted to push.

"He liberated you?" asked Bulma confused. From what she observed of the diminutive prince, he did not resemble any hero from her youth and she couldn't see him taking up the position as savior toward anyone.

Zodor bobbed his white head. He watched as a myriad of expressions clashed on her face. He had been in the female's presence for only a few seconds and yet he wanted to laugh. He smiled it was good to laugh. He thought of his own planet destroyed so long ago. It was also better to forget. "Can I ask you what you hoped to achieve by pressing buttons on the control panel?"

"I just wanted to see what it would do. Curiosity is part of my nature," explained Bulma. "I'm--guess it was now--a technical genius on my planet. As a matter of fact my father invented capsules, a new revolutionary compactor device on Earth and now my family owns the biggest business on Earth."

Dr. Zodor looked at her with shocked eyes. She was as boastful as the young prince was. "You're a mechanical genius."

Bulma straightened out her shoulders puffing out her chest. "Yes. I've been designing stuff since I was an adolescent. My genius ability has been lauded by many."

"I'm sure it has," replied the doctor dryly as he observed the small Saiyan cub. They were an extraordinary species to start out so small yet grow so huge and wield phenomenal power. However, Prince Vegeta wasn't tall yet he held immense power that belied his height. "What is the cub called?"

"The cub?" asked Bulma scratching her head. She turned to follow his eyes and found them resting on her best friend's son. "His name is Son Gohan. And he isn't a cub; in Earth terms he is considered a young child."

"But he isn't an earthling," replied Zodor blinking his blue eyes at her. "He's a Saiyajin cub hybrid, or among his own people he would be called a half-breed. The boy is quite lucky to be alive. It is a Saiyajin custom that half-breeds are either to be killed immediately or used as servants--many are killed."

Bulma covered her mouth with her hand stifling her grasp. Gohan was in trouble. She definitely had to return them to Earth. "Since, he wasn't killed what is Radditz going to do with him?"

Zodor shrugged his shoulders. "I haven't a clue why Radditz would assume the care for the young cub instead of killing him." He looked into her eyes seeing the fear she held for the young boy. "Well, we did hear Radditz say that he wanted a chance to train Gohan, maybe he will train him as a soldier."

"I have to get Gohan away from these Saiyans," whispered Bulma as she frantically looked around the small ship. "ChiChi wants Gohan to be a scholar not a fighter. He's a sweet boy and fighting with these Saiyajins will only get him killed."

"There isn't a way for you to escape," said Zodor assuming his position next to the console. He began to punch in more data. "You don't know where you are in the galaxy and I highly doubt even with your genius mind that you would be able to fly one of the Hetans."

Bulma stopped muttering to herself as she let the words of Zodor sink into her brain. He was right. She didn't know where they were in the galaxy and neither did she know how to navigate a ship back to her own planet. She smoothed down her shirt and shorts, plastering on a fake smile she moved seductively toward the alien doctor. "I do believe Dr. Zodor, you with your advance knowledge would be able to in a matter of minutes--no nanoseconds--would be able to prepare a ship with coordinates back to planet Earth." Bulma trailed a hand down his shoulder stopping at his chest. "I bet you could achieve it with very little obstacles and I could make it worth your while to help me."

Crinkles formed at the edges of Zodor's eyes. She dared to seduce him into sending her back home; obviously she didn't understand his position on the ship. Nevertheless, he had to give her credit for trying. "You're right I could have one of the pods readied and within a few seconds with information needed to guide you back home, however I won't help you." He removed her hand from his chest. "I have sworn my fealty to Prince Vegeta and would not betray him for you. He has liberated me and only his power will liberate the galaxy." He winked at her. "Sorry."

Bulma gnashed her teeth in frustration. No man had been able to resist her wiles and wants when she was at her most seductive. How dare this alien doctor reject her! She was Bulma Brief: sexiest, richest, and smartest female of Earth…but she wasn't on Earth. She was currently floating somewhere in the universe unable to do anything but await her fate. "Damn life sucks."

"My sentiments, too," replied the doctor silently laughing at the prince's gift. "I came to that conclusion a long time ago." He looked up and noticing that the prince had stopped speaking. "Prince Vegeta?"

"Nice of you to become aware of my presence Zodor," the young prince sneered. "I want you to put up a timer to alert me when four hours have lapsed in Juerian time. I will begin my invasion when the clock is at zero. Be prepared to dock on the planet within forty minutes maybe less depending on what kind of resistance these fools will try to muster."

"Of course Prince Vegeta." The doctor moved to begin carrying out his orders. "Will you be needing any of your formal wear, Prince Vegeta?"

Vegeta stopped glaring at Bulma long enough to shift his eyes to the doctor. "No, I will assume the throne in my battle clothes after the planet has sworn fealty to me, and then I will hold a proper ceremony declaring me the supreme leader of Juerusei."

Bulma licked her lips unwontedly drawing the attention of nearly all the Saiyan males present. She decided to ignore them and focus on the diminutive prince. "I heard some of your speech."

Vegeta cocked an eyebrow waiting for her to continue.

"It seems to me that if you want to ingratiate yourself to these people you might want to consider a little leniency." She began to fidget under his cold stare. "You could show your might by indeed killing all those who oppose you, but you also might want to show that you are not without some heart by not killing those who you might surrender in battle."

Vegeta studied his gift for moment his face expressionless as he turned her words over in his head. "I will consider your words they are not without merit, although my heart has no kindness in it. It is only filled with the evil and darkness." He jerked his head at his guardsmen. "It is time to leave."

***********************************

Garnet went back to his parents' small setting. He had to get his family to one of the shrines before he returned to fight their invading enemy. "Grandfather," he called as he entered the dwelling. "Jasper. Rube. It's me Garnet." Creeping around the corner although he was inside he could still hear the sounds of mass hysteria from outside.

Rube shushed his sister and grandfather as he cautiously opened the closet door they were hiding since the invasion of their world began. "Garnet is that really you?"

"Yeah," said Garnet spotting his brother's red eyes peeping around the corner. "I've come to move everybody to the eastern shrine where it is safer."

"Are you coming too," asked Jasper pushing her twin to the side. "You're not going to fight these monsters are you?"

"Of course he is," replied Rube thumping his sister on her head. "He's part of the Elite. We can't lose. Garnet and Moonstone will eradicate those alien beings."

Garnet gave his brother a faint smile. So much faith he hoped he was deserving of it. "Where's Grandfather," he glanced around the room.

Jasper pointed toward the closet where their guardian was seated. "He was injured in the rush," she explained. "We were outside watching the hologram projectors and heard the declaration that the small one gave us. The people went crazy and started running back to their own settings. He was trampled trying to remove us from danger."

Garnet rushed toward the closet looking inside he found his grandfather leaning again the wall a bluish bruise was on his face. "Grandfather," he called hesitantly, he did not like the pallor of his face. "It's me Garnet. Are you all right?"

The old man's eyes fluttered before he opened them to see his oldest grandchild. "Garnet," he questioned his voice coming out on a raspy timbre. "Why are you here? Have we lost already?" He coughed sitting up he held onto his arm, which was obviously broken. "This is a terrible omen for things to come."

The red-hair soldier grinned. "Everything is an omen to you, Grandfather." His eyes lit with delight. "I'm glad to see you are not seriously hurt." He helped him out of the closet into the sitting area. He turned to see his grandfather looking around with a questioning expression. "What's wrong?"

"Where are the twins," asked Red. "They didn't go back into the streets did they?"

Garnet shook his head. "I sent them to their room to collect some belongings. I'm taking you and them to the eastern shrine before I return to the battlefield." He pulled out some long gauze as he prepared to set his grandfather's arm.

Red grimaced. "I refuse to leave my home." He gritted his teeth as Garnet snapped the bone back into its socket. Sweat dripped down his face. "By Gravel I won't allow those invading aliens to kick me out of the house I built with my two hands. I have the inclination to take up your sword and show them that they picked the wrong race to invade."

Garnet held his grin in as he spied his siblings hovering in the doorway each of them held large sacks on their backs. "You have no choice Grandfather; I'm man of this house." He finished wrapping his grandfather's bone; "Besides you didn't build this setting. It's a replication all you had to do was push a button."

Red sniffed. "Well I pushed the button for the replication, didn't I? It's like building this setting with my own hands." He stood waiting for his grandson to lead. "Cheeky rhinestone."

**********************************

Garnet greeted Bixibite as she shyly stepped toward him. "Bixibite." He held one of her hands. "I'm leaving; will you wait for me?"

Bixibite blushed as others stopped to stare at Garnet holding her hand in the shrine. She knew she wasn't a beauty and others couldn't believe that the handsome Garnet would be interested in an ugly stone like her. "I will await your return. There is no one who would spirit me away; I'm unpolished."

"You are a beautiful stone," he whispered huskily. "Anyone who got to know you would understand why I want you." He kissed her hands and then her cheeks. "I would ask a boon of you."

Bixibite's face colored even more at this public display of affection. She could hear the snickers in the background. She knew rumors floated around saying Garnet was only pretending to be interested in her, or that he'd lost a bet with his friend Moonstone and had to court her. The gossip wasn't true according to what her lover's eyes revealed. "You can ask me for anything. I would give my life for you."

Garnet caught the head jerk from Moonstone and knew it was time for him to return to the forthcoming battle. "I would ask of you to watch over my family until I return." He shushed her with two fingers to her lips. "I want you to be my fixture, so they will be your family too. And I won't allow you to give your life, I will protect you."

Garnet kissed her once more before the left with Moonstone. "I will give my life to you," whispered Bixibite as she followed his disappearing form. "Come back to me."

**********************************

Garnet and Moonstone crouched at the invisible line separating them from the three alien invaders. They were looking straight through the army, knowing their refusal to acknowledge their opponent's presence was undermining their confidence.

It was a good tactical move.

Vegeta's body began to hum with excitement as he watched the clock tick down the last few seconds. Soon he would be engaged in a war, which would allow him to conquer the planet. He had conquered planets and vanquished armies beforehand, but it was all for Frieza. Now, he was going to do it for himself. He was going to become the prince his father had wanted him become and achieve the power that was his destiny. Moreover, it would all start with this planet; this small planet will lead to Frieza's demise.

Zero seconds were left; Vegeta smiled and lifted up a hand. "Kill them."

Radditz and Nappa charged the army shooting ki and crunching skulls with their bare hands. Vegeta moved swiftly among the army preferring to take out several soldiers at once using his ki instead of his hands. He didn't want to waste too much time on the battle.

"How are you doing Commander," asked Radditz as he picked up a green-hair Juerian. He punched his fist through the stomach, pulling back a bloodied hand he wiped it on the tunic of the warrior he had just slain. "Pathetic."

Nappa grabbed two Juerians bashing their heads together, he watched as their blood splattered onto his armor. "Not too bad. They are weaker than I thought." He elbowed a soldier who thought to sneak up behind him. "I don't think they battle often." He broke that soldier's neck.

Radditz nodded in agreement as ripped another warrior's arm out, he watched the guy scream in agony. Mercifully, the red-armored soldier ended his life and screams with a ki blast through the head. "It is rather a shame to kill them. It feels like I'm fighting untrained children."

Vegeta heard the casual conversation he growled lowering his hand from shooting a red-hair soldier. "Fine," he snapped, pushing a button on his wrist; his voice became amplified over the scenes of carnage. "Those who wish to surrender shall do so now. Drop your weapons and move toward the shrine. Those who wish to fight are foolish and deserve to die."

Immediately several wounded soldiers dropped their weapons and began running for shelter grateful for the small amount of compassion the aliens were giving to them. They were greatly outmatched; not all the training they had received in the Gold Room had prepared them for the carnage and savagery of those Saiyajins. In order to continue to live they surrendered.

Moonstone held on to his shoulder as the blood seeped through his fingers. He diligently searched the faces of those who had surrendered with him for that of his friend Garnet. He saw a flash of red-hair in the middle of the troops. He pushed the people aside to get to that flash of hair. "Garnet," he cried reaching the middle. The flash of smile melted off his face. It wasn't his friend. "Where the hell is Garnet?" Someone pointed toward the battlefield. Garnet and few others who refused to surrender were circling the three aliens. "No," he whispered. He ran down the steps shaking off the hands of those who tried to stop him.

Vegeta black eyes narrowed at the red-hair soldier. I could have sworn I killed him already he thought to himself studying the warrior. His dark eyes roamed over the Juerian clutching the sword tightly in his hand. He saw blood dripping down from a gaping wound. He had only wounded him with his blast. "Why don't you surrender? Your tenacity is something I will need when I rebuild my army."

Garnet spat out a mouthful of blood and teeth. He couldn't believe such a massacre had occurred in such a short amount of time. More than half of his battalion had been wiped out by those invaders; they butchered his friends and countrymen without so much as batting an eye. He couldn't allow such people to take over his planet. "I'm the fool who refuses to surrender. I will never serve the murderous likes of you." He raised his sword.

"Have it your way," muttered Vegeta, he prepared to attack. "I have no time to change your mind."

The two rushed each other. Garnet spat out more blood. His blade didn't even scratch the armor of the invading alien. He looked back to see the alien's hand was sticking outside his back. His own life source dripped down those fingers. He turned to look at his executioner; his eyes were black and emotionless. Garnet laughed. His troops didn't have a chance against such professional killers. He felt a hand pushing at his chest; he heard the sucking sound as the alien removed his hand from his body. Garnet felt his sword drop from his fingers; his vision was starting to darken at the corners. He dropped to ground. "Grandfather, Bixibite, Rube, Japer," he whispered as the dark finally claimed his eyesight.

Moonstone came charging onto the field as he watched as those who refused to surrender were quickly dealt their own killing blows. His eyes would only focus on his friend. "Garnet! Garnet!" he screamed. He dropped beside his fallen friend. "Why Garnet? Why didn't you surrender?"

Vegeta sneered turning away from the touching scene. "Pathetic." He surveyed the field of bodies; it had been a simple battle. The ki shield protected these people from being detected so it was only natural that they wouldn't have much skill. He would have to train these people in how to fight. Frieza wasn't going to go down quietly. He needed skilled warriors on his side not walking corpses. His eyes narrowed as Nappa and Radditz stood among the fallen warriors joking. Without warning, Vegeta spun on his heels killing Moonstone who had picked up Garnet's sword in a rage and tried to attack.

The battle was finally over. The planet belonged to Vegeta. He contacted Zodor.

**********************************

Vegeta told Bulma to follow close behind him as he surveyed his new palace. "Rustic. I'm glad I brought Dr. Zodor with me. My palace requires modernity."

Tears were in Bulma's eyes as she tried to block out the dead bodies littering the floor. They had been transported from the battlefield to allow the family members to claim their bodies and provide them with a proper burial. She had never seen such wanton destruction of life. Her eyes drifted to Vegeta's flame head, how could he not be affected by the cries and the stench? How would she be able to escape with Gohan amidst all this carnage? Yet, how could she not? Vegeta would turn Gohan into a merciless assassin like him. "What do you plan to do with me?"

Vegeta stopped his walk to the throne room to regard her silently. "I do not know," he said simply. "You are not slave material nor are you warrior material. I don't know what to do with you."

"You could send me home," she said hopefully. "I will even take Gohan with me. I know you Saiyajins don't really like half-breed children."

"That is true," replied Vegeta. A bloodcurdling scream diverted his attention, quickly he thrust Bulma behind him, settling into a crouch to defend himself from the female charging toward him with a sword held in her hand.

"Shit," exclaimed Nappa, shoving several of the loitering Juerians out of his way. He was supposed to behind Prince Vegeta all the time; his duty was to protect his prince and he fucked up. He saw the prince assume a crouched position; there was no way he could cut off the attacker before she reached the prince. Nappa reached out a hand and fired several rapid balls of red ki into the back of the screaming female.

Bixibite dropped to the ground her arm extended to plunge the sword of her beloved into his murderer. She couldn't even avenge his death. Funny, she thought death would hurt, but it was more like a calming peace had set over her body. She shifted her red eyes toward the twins who were standing over her crying. "Jasper…Rube," she coughed up blood. "Garnet."

"Why?" questioned Rube as he leaned over his brother's fiancée. "Why did you try and do it?" He wiped away the tears on his face, boys were not supposed to cry, they had to stay strong--he had to stay strong he was the only person left to take care of his sister and grandfather. "Take care of my brother, Bixibite."

Bixibite nodded and smiled closing her eyes.

Bulma stifled her scream. The event had happened to quickly for her to follow. She knew she had opened her mouth to scream, but she didn't know if it was to warn Vegeta or stop Bixibite from throwing away her life. "Why did she even try," murmured Bulma underneath her breath.

Vegeta heard her quiet question. "Passion," he replied. "She wanted to kill me out of passion. Obviously one of the bodies was that of her lover and she sought revenge." His gaze flickered toward the sword the female had dropped. It was the same one that the young man he had fought earlier that day had used. Garnet. Twice he had been nearly killed on his behalf. "It is good that she is dead," said the prince coldly.

"How can you say that," cried Bulma as she watched the saddened expressions of the twin children standing over the body. "How can it be good that anyone dies?"

"Many deserve to die," responded Vegeta. He flicked an imaginary piece of lint off his royal attire. "Even I deserve to be killed for the atrocities I have committed across this galaxy. But she deserved to die because her hatred of me would have festered and she could have led to the destruction of my empire."

"And these people don't hate you now?" Bulma asked her voice full of the incredibility she felt. "You just came in and annihilated their world."

"They don't hate me with the sort of hate that female would have used to destroy my new empire," Vegeta dismissed her feelings. "These people need a strong ruler and they are easily malleable, they will bend toward the person who has the power. In a few months their life will be almost as normal as it was before--with a few necessary changes."

Bulma watched as the small girl bent down and picked up the sword that the female had released. She heard a growl from Vegeta; obviously he saw her pick up the sword too. She watched as he lifted his hand. "Stop Vegeta don't do it," she was shaking her head at him. She didn't want to watch another person get killed in front of her--especially a child no older than Gohan. "Please don't kill her."

Vegeta's black eyes snapped at Bulma as he studied her face and her hand on his arm. "I'm not going to kill the child just disarm her. After Nappa's demonstration thoughts of insurrection have fled out of their minds." Vegeta's eyes roamed over the room until he found those of Radditz standing among a throng of people. "Radditz" he snapped. "Bring yourself over here with your half-breed."

Radditz picked up Gohan by his shirt slinging the child over one shoulder he made his path toward the prince. He laid a fist against his chest in salute. "Yes, Prince Vegeta." He inquired dropping his nephew by his feet. "Is there a problem?"

"Other then my attempted assassination," replied Vegeta dryly. "And the fact that now a child holds the weapon that battled me and would have been used to end my life. Nothing." He watched as his soldier colored at his sarcasm. "I want you to take charge of those two children, train them with your half-breed relation."

Radditz saluted; he went to retrieve his two new twin charges. Vegeta watched as he pried the sword from the girl's hand. He watched as Radditz shoved the boy and girl toward Gohan who was standing behind his uncle. Vegeta turned as he felt Nappa approach behind him.

Nappa kneeled before his prince his fist in salute over his shoulder. "Forgive me Prince Vegeta. I was amiss in my duties and it nearly led to your death. I offer my life to you for my stupidity. I have no right to be called a Royal Guardsman."

A small smile flirted with the edges of the Saiyan prince's lips. Nappa was an excellent solider. "Commander Nappa, I will not accept your life as you were maintaining order in my new palace. You did not shirk your duties toward me and you are worthy of being my guardsman. You acted quickly and efficiently to deal with the attempted assassin. I see no reason as to why you should continue to act as my right hand. Now rise."

The baldheaded commander, hazard a glance upward at his prince. "Your majesty, I thank you for your benevolence. I'm not worthy of the compassion you have shown me today."

"Compassion!" screeched Bulma. She ducked around Vegeta to glare at the kneeling soldier. At first, she was slightly amused about the eloquent apology Nappa uttered to Vegeta, but that soon faded. She was furious that he dared to speak about compassion. "Do you even know what that word means? How dare you apply it to any of you Saiyajins?" She pointed toward the dead body laying a few feet away from her. "Did you show compassion to that female? To those children?"

Nappa opened his mouth, but Vegeta held up a hand stopping his rebuttal. "Bulma," said Vegeta coolly. "We Saiyajins normally don't show compassion. Trust me, there are worse ways to kill a person than what you just witnessed, so don't try to correct my soldier in his duties. If he had shown compassion toward my assassin then I could be dead or the people would think I'm a weak ruler who is being supported only by a strong military presence."

"Wouldn't you rather rule with compassion," queried Bulma her blue eyes assessing the man before her. "You can rule with a strong hand and still be compassionate."

Vegeta sneered. "What do I need or want of compassion, Bulma? I will award my subjects when they please me and I will discipline them when they don't." He shifted his eyes toward Dr. Zodor, who held a blood-red mantle for the prince to wear. The prince wrapped the mantle around his shoulders fastening the ties to his shoulder pads. He adjusted the turquoise medallion around his neck. He nodded for Bulma to follow him up the steps toward his new throne. "Besides," he whispered. "I rather all my subjects fear me, if they can't love me."

Bulma tightened her lips to stop them from curling and her saying something extremely rude to the young prince. She recognized that paraphrase from a Prince Machevelli's book; it would figure that a sadistic prince would enjoy the writings of another sadistic prince. She blinked her eyes as the clapping finally registered in her brain.

Vegeta stood up and surveyed the quiet crowd. "I am Prince Vegeta your new emperor. You may also refer to me as Bloodstone." Vegeta sat back down as Zodor returned to his speech. Everything was moving according to his plans within four years he would be strong enough to defeat Frieza and then there would no one in the galaxy to challenge him for supremacy. He leaned back smiling. Good-bye Frieza.

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End Chapter 5. Created [10/14/01]; and Finished [04/24/02]. Please don't kill me. I'm sorry about the huge delay; responsibilities, extreme laziness, and then writer's block attacked me. Coming next time: Making Plans. Please send all comments, questions, critiques, and flames to me at pmchivas@hotmail.com. All standard disclaimers apply. Dark Shadow Princess.

Straightjacket Musings:

I'm trying to group stones together according to color. I probably won't be able to continue the color scheme. Yeah, I'm going to screw up with the aliens. I suck at sci-fi.

Bixibite, Garnet, Rube, and Jasper: these are all red stones.

Moonstone, Pearl, and Opal: Are all milky whitish stones.

Vegeta and subordinates didn't need the pods, because from the Bardock Special I noticed that these creatures could breath in space because of the shield their ki formed for them.

Hmm, I may speed up this story some; you know a few years it all depends on how I'm feeling writing the next chapter.