Fan Fiction / Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Altiverse: Dawn of Time ❯ Two Saiyans Train ( Chapter 1 )

Chapter 2

Two Saiyans Train

Seven years passed, and the prince and the adopted princess grew quickly. Prince Vegeta was surprisingly accepting of the baby, and took pride in his ability to help out with her. Both children grew very close, more as friends than siblings, and they trained and played and got in trouble together. They were both small, but Vaya always remained the littler of the two, and it was soon clear that she would always be smaller than normal. Warfrost, too, grew quickly as all Emeras did, and towered well over even Cassinian's size. He was the largest creature on the planet, but was like an overgrown kitten when playing with Vegeta or Vaya.

One thing about Vaya remained a mystery. For whatever reason, early trauma or a hurried birth, she never learned to speak. She didn't know how to use her voice at all. Even sounds like a giggling or a squeak remained beyond her grasp, and she instead made sounds by breathing either fast or slow.

However, there was a talent Vaya possessed that quickly helped make up for her lack of vocal ability...she was telepathic.

According to Vegeta, at least.

Around the time that the little girl should have learned to speak, and her foster parents were getting worried, Vegeta exclaimed that he could hear Vaya inside his head. He knew it was her...she told him so. And he said that she couldn't talk because she didn't know how.

At first his parents didn't believe him, thinking that it was another game that he had made up. Psychics were rare, almost impossible to find, and who ever heard of a psychic that couldn't figure out how to talk? And she was still just a very small child...she had been two when this had occurred, and they had been agonizing over her voice for over a year. But Vegeta insisted that she could talk, but just to him. They had a psychic bond.

Finally, it became slowly apparent that the little prince was telling the truth. He was Vaya's interpreter, her voice to people that she still couldn't "send" to. He would speak her opinions, her needs, her desires, and every time it was proved that he was right. Jemina was thrilled, and King Vegita was puzzled -- but they were now certain that Vaya was telepathic, and that her power was psychic ability.

The doctors who examined her to try and cure her speech "impediment" agreed that her brain waves were off the charts. She was very intelligent, but her physical power was low by Elite standards. They suggested that she train intensely with Vegeta.

She did so, and her power vastly improved. She became Vegeta's only equal in combat. Vegeta didn't mind in the least...he had become very close to the little girl, and he loved having a worthy opponent. His strength exceeded hers, but she made up for it with her superior speed and quickly growing mental abilities.

She learned to send perfectly, so she could talk to Vegeta inside his head as normally as if she had been using her voice. She also developed telekinetic powers, and could lift objects far heavier than she was with her mind alone. She worked ceaselessly to learn to grow more powerful and to send to people besides Vegeta, who she now referred to as her best friend. He did the same.

Although her physical and mental strengths were everything King Vegita had hoped for and more, Vaya still never could grasp the use of her voice. Vegeta worked hard with her at it, but she still could not manage even the lightest giggle. When she laughed, she made a sound by breathing in and out rapidly, sounding as if she was panting instead of laughing.

But Vegeta didn't mind. He had a playmate and someone to keep him from getting lonely or bored. They constantly spent their time playing and fighting and getting each other into trouble and bailing each other out again. They often found that their friend had a new trick or plan up his or her sleeve, and would test it as soon as they could.

They would be great warriors someday.

~*~

In one of the many training rooms in the huge Elite complex, five Saibaimen surrounded the now eight-year-old Prince Vegeta. They grinned insanely, cackling, and crouched low. Vegeta didn't move, but his eyes sparkled maliciously and his tail twitched.

The Saibaimen, one after another, leaped straight for the young Saiyan Prince. Vegeta let them come within inches of him before he suddenly jumped out of the way. The Saibaimen circled him, and sprang for him together. Once again, they only came within a few inches of the prince. Vegeta powered up and blew them into the walls with his energy.

Outside the room, three men were watching through the large glass window. One was the prince's caretaker, Nappa. The other two were the current training coordinator, Pantaro, and his new assistant Malecki. Nappa leaned against the wall of the outside room, and Warfrost was curled in a huge ball in the corner with his head on his paws, wings folded, flicking his tail and watching his young master through the screens. Pantaro and Malecki sat in a chair in front of the control computer for the training area. Malecki, who had never worked in the palace before, was shaking with fear and disbelief.

"Mr. Pantaro, sir! Did you see that?"

"Yes, I see it all the time. That's Prince Vegeta...he's the best."

"Th-th-there's no way...!"

"Not for any kid you've ever known."

Nappa chuckled.

Inside the dark training room, Vegeta raised one hand slowly. His index finger began to glow with energy. Pointing to each of the Saibaimen and grinning with wicked pleasure, Vegeta blasted their bodies apart.

Malecki almost fell off his chair. "Unbelievable!"

Pantaro shrugged. "I told you."

"My gosh, what's he gonna be like when he's full grown?"

Nappa gave them both a nasty half smile and stood up straight. "Nobody knows that yet," he said. "But take my advice and stay on his good side."

Warfrost purred smugly.

"Shoot, yeah!" Malecki gasped.

Prince Vegeta's voice came through the speaker. "Open the door, you fool, and let me out!"

"Yikes! Sorry, sir!" Malecki fumbled with the controls hastily. The door slid open and the small form of Vegeta emerged.

Nappa handed him his Royal Saiyan uniform. "You're the best, Prince!" he said enthusiastically.

"Hmph. Stop kissing up, Nappa!" Vegeta snarled as he pulled the armor on over his head. Even though the six-year-old barely stood taller than his knees, Nappa fell silent. Warfrost lumbered to his feet and padded over to the prince, bending his head down so Vegeta could scratch behind his ears. Vegeta ruffled his fur, then climbed up on his pet's enormous back, between the two folded wings and the shoulder blades.

They left the training room and started down the hall of the castle.

"I'm bored! That was lame! I want a real fight!" Vegeta said loudly from his perch. "Where is Vaya?"

"Last I heard she was getting another checkup," Nappa replied.

"Again?" Vegeta snorted. "Why don't they listen to us? Grownups are so stupid."

Nappa decided that it would be wisest not to respond to the statement, so he kept quiet. Warfrost made a rumbling noise.

"What's up, buddy?" Vegeta asked, looking down at him.

Warfrost snuffled, then started to pad faster down the hall. Nappa had to run to keep up. "What's going on, Vegeta?" the big Saiyan cried.

"He's going to see Vaya!" Vegeta shouted over his shoulder. "Woo! Faster, Warfrost! Faster!"

And Nappa started to run as Warfrost picked up the pace at his little master's command.

~*~

Warfrost slowed down and stopped just outside the door of the doctor's testing room. Vegeta hopped down quietly and poked his head in. He could see Vaya sitting with her back to him on a table covered by a white cloth, with about five doctors inspecting her carefully. Vegeta vaguely admired her patience. Neither of them could usually sit still for very long. Queen Jenova was standing off to one side, waiting for them to finish. None of them noticed Vegeta.

Warfrost made a snuffling noise. Vegeta shushed him as Nappa approached the door as well.

"Wait here, I wanna sneak up on her," Vegeta whispered to his companions.

Nappa started to say something, but Vegeta gave him a fierce look and he fell silent.

The prince lifted off the ground just a few inches, to prevent himself from making any sounds. The doctors ignored him, but Jenova saw him, and he motioned to her to keep it a secret. He floated silently towards his friend and was just about to grab her shoulders and surprise her when...

Don't even think about it, Vegeta.

Vegeta fell out of the air. Vaya turned around and smiled at him.

"What are you, some kind of bat?" he asked her in annoyance. "How did you hear me?"

She smiled some more. I heard you out in the hall. You're so insufferably dense.

Vegeta groaned. "That's not funny." He could speak telepathically to her as well, but only if she contacted him first. He hadn't yet learned how to establish his own connection. But at the moment, he was bored, so he was talking half just to hear the sound of his own voice.

The doctors looked at him, and it took them a minute to figure out whom he was talking to. Then they looked at Vaya's brain waves and sighed as they understood.

"Well?" Queen Jenova asked, getting impatient. "Have you found anything new or are you just wasting my time?"

The doctors gulped, all except for one, who was young and had just recently started his medical career. He was very good at his job, and knew it.

"Her vocal cords are healthy, and she has a very high IQ," he said to the queen. "Leave her alone. She'll talk when she's ready."

Vegeta whacked the table next to Vaya in exasperation. "THAT'S what we've been trying to tell everybody!"

"Well, he's absolutely right," the young doctor said. "She'll see other people making sounds and she'll pick up on it soon enough. It's nothing to worry about."

At that point Warfrost and Nappa decided it was safe to enter. Warfrost gave Vaya a nuzzle that almost knocked her off the table.

"It's really easy to talk, Vaya, you'll see," Vegeta assured her.

I don't want to stay here anymore. I want to go do something. Let's get a new assignment from Frieza, Vaya sent to him.

All right then. Come on, let's go. Vegeta waited as Vaya hopped down off the table. Her head came up to his shoulder. They started to leave.

"Where do you think you're going?" Jenova started, eyeing them suspiciously. She was very aware of their mischievous streak.

"To see Lord Frieza. We're bored," Vegeta said briskly. Vaya nodded eagerly.

Jenova looked them over carefully. Finally she nodded. "Okay...just watch yourself, Vegeta. We wouldn't want Frieza to get angry with you."

"Yes, Mother."

"I'll come with you," Nappa said, starting forward.

"No!" Vegeta commanded. "We can go by ourselves."

Nappa looked at Jenova for affirmation. She sighed and nodded, walking over and bending down so that her narrowed eyes were staring straight into her son's. He swallowed nervously.

"You will stay out of trouble, Vegeta. Got it?" she told him. "Because if you get in trouble, I will be very upset. And what happens when I'm not happy?"

"Nobody's happy," Vegeta replied.

"That's my smart little boy," Jenova purred, holding Vegeta's chin with her hand and giving him a kiss.

"MOTHER!" Vegeta squealed indignantly, furiously wiping his cheek.

Jenova just chuckled fondly. "Now get going," she said with a smile, turning Vegeta around and giving him a push. Vaya quickly hurried after him, with Warfrost padding behind them.

~*~

As they were walking, Vegeta suddenly sighed. "If something doesn't happen around here soon, I'm gonna wack out."

What do you mean? Vaya asked, giving him a puzzled look.

It's so boring here. Nothing ever happens. The only time we have fun is when we're on other planets, Vegeta explained. I wish something really wild would happen...something really big and important. Soon.

Before Vaya could reply, Warfrost growled his disagreement. Vegeta looked at him in surprise.

"What's with you?"

But of course Warfrost could not reply. He just fixed Vegeta with his intense, unblinking stare with both of his eyes. The green cat eye sparkled, but the yellow-glazed scarred one made Vegeta a little nervous. Vaya glanced back and forth at them and shrugged.

Hurry up, let's go faster, she said impatiently.

Vegeta glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. All right... Then without warning he took off at top speed down the corridor. "Catch me if you can!"

Hey! Vaya sent in indignation, charging after him. Warfrost followed at a steady gallop.

~*~

The race ended rather quickly the same way they always did, with Vaya jumping on top of Vegeta and turning the whole thing into a massive free-for-all before they had even reached Frieza's hall. Despite this, the two Saiyans and the enormous Emera managed to make their way to Frieza's quarters.

Just before he opened the door, Vegeta shot Warfrost a where-do-you-think-you're-going look. Warfrost pawed the ground uncomfortably, growling in annoyance. But he knew the rules. Warfrost had been taught to stay away from Frieza because he still hadn't learned when to stay quiet. And since Vegeta preferred to have his favorite pet physically intact, he kept Warfrost out of Frieza's way.

"C'mon," Vegeta said to Vaya, and pressed the button to slide open the door. They strode in seriously. Frieza sat with his back to them, staring out a huge window, but Zarbon and Dodoria were on them in a second.

"Prince Vegeta! Princess Vaya! What do you think you are doing?" Zarbon demanded.

"Frieza didn't send for you, kids," Dodoria growled. "You know no one sees Lord Frieza unless he calls them first."

"Look!" Vegeta snapped. "We're bored! This is lame, we need an assignment!"

"What do you mean, `we'?" Dodoria scoffed. "Hasn't the little female squirt learned to speak yet? That's pretty pathetic if you ask me."

Vegeta swallowed sharply. Making fun of Vaya was crossing the line, and he was going to lose his temper...

Don't worry about it, Vaya suddenly sent to him calmly. What's really pathetic is that he has to go through life as a big pink reject from a weight-loss "Before" picture.

Vegeta snickered, and when Dodoria looked at Vaya she just cast her eyes downward quickly.

"What do you think is so funny?" Dodoria sneered to them, a little unsettled. He took a threatening step towards them.

"Back off," Vegeta started, with Vaya's face remaining cool and impassive.

"Who do you think you are?" Zarbon hissed. "I ought to teach you a lesson in etiquette, prince."

Vegeta snorted. But before he could reply, Frieza murmured from his chair. "Give them an assignment, Zarbon."

"Ah! Lord Frieza...!" Zarbon started to protest, but Frieza interrupted quietly.

"The boy doesn't mean any harm, Zarbon. He just hasn't learned how to control his passion," Frieza replied. "Give them the hardest assignment that you have. And, Vegeta...do come back alive..."

Vegeta and Vaya bowed deeply. "We will, sire. Thank you very much," Vegeta said.

"You don't have to thank me, Vegeta. You two certainly earn your keep around here...You might want to mind your manners a little better, though."

Vegeta clenched his teeth, but bowed his head. "Sire!"

Frieza chuckled. Vegeta and Vaya turned to leave, but then Frieza's voice called them back.

"Wait just a moment...Vaya, would you come over here so I can speak with you? Vegeta, you may go. I do not need you to interpret this time."

Vegeta gave Vaya a worried look. She gulped a little, but then nodded. I`ll be fine. Don't leave without me, though, okay?

I won't.

Then, with a last sneer at Zarbon and Dodoria and a glance back at Vaya, Vegeta left Frieza's chamber to find Nappa and prepare to depart.

Vaya took a deep breath, and approached Frieza's chair. She stopped beside it and waited.

"I understand that you are developing some magnificent potential, Vaya," Frieza's said. "Don't be afraid. Step in front of me so that we may...`talk'..."

Vaya obeyed. Zarbon and Dodoria tried to listen in silence. But Frieza's voice was very soft.

"I believe that you will be a great asset to our team, Vaya...you and Vegeta. I only hope that you will remember your place in future. If you will prove that you are worth my time, then I think you will find the rewards quite useful. Do you understand?"

Vaya nodded her head, trying to keep herself from staring defiantly back at him, which would have been trouble.

Frieza smiled. "Are you wondering why I chose to say this to you alone, without Vegeta?"

Vaya nodded again.

"Well, as I understand, you and Vegeta are quite close to each other. More so than anyone else. You seem to be able to talk to him easily...he will listen to you. I am telling you this so that you will help Vegeta learn to control his temper...I think you will both be great warriors if you remember not to lose yourself in the moment. Do you understand?"

Vaya nodded a third time.

"Good," Frieza replied. "You may go and complete your mission now. I hope you will continue to make me proud to have you here."

Vaya bowed low, and walked away from Frieza's chair. Zarbon and Dodoria gave her quizzical looks as she passed, leaving through the door as calmly as she had entered.

~*~

Frieza, Zarbon and Dodoria were in Frieza's quarters on the giant changeling ship. The two henchmen had been arguing about how to deal with the Saiyans, until Frieza stopped them with some ideas of his own.

"There's no need to chase after the bee anymore," Frieza said. "I've decided to go straight for the hive."

"Sire...?" Dodoria started.

Zarbon smiled. "Yes, I see, you've decided to extinguish the whole lot of them, sire."

Frieza chuckled. "That's right...you guessed it, Zarbon. If you want to get rid of weeds for good, you have to get them by the root! Ah ha ha ha ha ha!"

Frieza's huge spaceship was coming slowly into view of Vegetasei. Red clouded and majestic, the Saiyan planet rotated slowly on its axis, unaware of the intentions of the cruel tyrant approaching.

Frieza smiled when he saw it. "Ah, yes, ease up, there she is. Beautiful, isn't she? A rare gem indeed, as red as a blood moon."

The ship was moved into position...

~*~

Vaya suddenly gave a start, and her head snapped up. Her tail tightened involuntarily around her skinny little waist.

She and Vegeta were alone on the world they had been sent to just a few hours before. Nappa and Raditz had gone with them, but the four Saiyans had split into pairs to work faster, and since Vegeta and Vaya hated to be separated, they had been left on their own.

Vegeta noticed her agitation. "What's wrong?"

S-S-Something...bad...is going to happen... Vaya sent nervously. Bad...very bad...!

What do you mean? Vegeta asked. Bad how? To us?

Vaya shivered. To Vegetasei...something is going to happen there...I can feel it!

~*~

Frieza hovered above his ship in his little pod chair. He raised one finger and a small ball of energy formed at its tip. A Saiyan was shouting insults and other things at him, but Frieza paid no attention.

Then the Saiyan threw an energy blast at him. With a burst of maniacal laughter, Frieza expanded the death ball to enormous proportions. The energy from Frieza's attack engulfed the pitiful form of the Saiyan's...

With a flick of his finger, Frieza sent the death ball hurtling towards Vegetasei's ruby surface. The ball caused the whole planet to shudder on impact, and it began to sink below the surface, cracking and chipping and bursting the planet's core.

~*~

Vegeta and Vaya sat amidst a ring of dead and broken bodies that were almost innumerable. They were calmly eating at the provisions they had brought, when they received a transmission via their scouters. Since it was a well-known fact that Vaya could not respond if called over the scouter, the messenger spoke to Vegeta instead.

"Prince Vegeta! Do you copy, sir?"

"I'm here," Vegeta snorted, biting off another piece.

"Sir, unfortunate news from Lord Frieza. Vegetasei was struck by a large asteroid today, a...and destroyed."

"And...you're sure?" Vegeta replied. Vaya frowned.

"Affirmative, sir. Lord Frieza sends his sympathies and regrets. As of now, you and Princess Vaya are the only known survivors."

"Oh. Really," Vegeta said dully.

"Would you or Princess Vaya like to send a reply, sir?"

Vegeta hesitated. Vaya sent nothing. He finally answered, "No. No reply."

"Very well, sir. Over and out."

When the scouter transmitter clicked off, Vegeta turned to Vaya. "Well. It seems that you were right after all."

Yes... she replied. And you got your wish. Something big did happen to Vegetasei. Our parents...the warriors...Warfrost...they're gone.

Vegeta didn't respond to that. He stood and brushed off his uniform. Vaya did the same.

"The only known survivors..." he mused. "It seems as if we are all we have left."

Vaya nodded. She seemed troubled. Vegeta noticed and smiled reassuringly as they started the trek back to their base.

"Don't worry. We'll look out for each other," he said, draping his arm across her shoulders.

She looked up at him and grinned. Yeah. Because we'll always be best friends, right?