Fan Fiction / Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Altiverse: Dawn of Time ❯ Ten Years Pass ( Chapter 2 )

Chapter 3

Ten Years Pass

Vegeta came flying at Vaya, fists together and pulled back for a devastating hammerblow. At the last second, Vaya flipped backwards onto her hands and shot her boots forward, hitting him in the chest and sending him spiraling back headfirst into a wall of rock.

Fool. What was that? I thought you were planning to defeat me, Vaya sent with a sneer to the cloud of dust.

Don't worry, came the fierce reply. I won't miss this time!

Vaya gasped.

Vegeta burst forward from the rubble and charged her head on, preparing to rocket punch. Vaya went to block the attack, but Vegeta's image passed right through her and evaporated. He reappeared again behind her, and struck her with a spinning kick that sent her flying.

Vaya somersaulted over and over again until she finally regained control to stop. Coughing on her hands and knees, she reached up to wipe the dirt from her face, and felt something wet next to a sharp pain in her cheek. When she pulled her hand away, there was blood.

She clenched her fists tight and growled angrily. Getting to her feet, Vaya turned to face Vegeta, who was standing where he was before, arms crossed and smirking with superiority.

I think you spoke too soon, he told her with mock sympathy.

Vaya didn't reply. Instead, she pressed a small button on the side of her scouter, and held out her hand, palm up, as if waiting for something.

Suddenly a flash of light appeared in her hand, and stretched out to the length of a spear. When the light faded, there was indeed a spear in position, with a metal shaft and a razor-sharp head. Vaya closed her hand around the shaft and took a fighting stance, smiling nastily.

Vegeta raised an eyebrow. Then he, too, pressed a button on the scouter. This time, the light extended to the length of a sword, and revealed a double-edged beauty with a silver steel blade. Vegeta gripped the hilt and twirled it expertly, taking his own position to prepare for the second phase of the brutal battle.

Vaya charged forward, whipping the spear up and down to split Vegeta's skull. Vegeta blocked the strike with his sword, and pushed to shove Vaya back. Then the two began to attack blow for blow, trying to land a lethal hit. But they were too closely matched. However, cuts and gashes began to appear across their bodies, oozing blood, but they ignored them in the heat of battle.

Finally, the two Saiyans reached a stalemate. The weapons sparked as steel ground steel. Vegeta and Vaya pressed hard against each other, with the spear and the sword forming a metal cross between them. Teeth clenched and bared, their faces were inches apart, sweat and blood mixing as they poured down their faces...

Suddenly, Vaya made her move.

With one swift movement, she swiped Vegeta's legs right out from under him. The Saiyan Prince fell flat on his back with a shout, the sword flying out of his hands and out of reach. He started to get back to his feet, but before he could react, Vaya pressed the sharp point of the spear into the hollow of his throat.

Still holding the shaft, Vaya stood above his stomach, with one boot on either side of his body. She crouched down, moving the spearhead just a little so that she tilted his chin upward. Vegeta swallowed.

She smiled. You let your guard down...I win.

Then Vegeta grinned, too. All right, all right, sheesh. Now let me up.

Vaya chuckled and got up, reaching out her hand to help Vegeta. Then Vegeta pressed another button on his scouter, and the rocky terrain around them began to shimmer and disappear.

The two of them stepped out of the virtual reality chamber together. Their cuts disappeared and the weapons were left behind.

~*~

Vegeta and Vaya had completely changed from the way they had been when their planet was destroyed. Vegeta was 18, and Vaya was 17, and they had come farther than anyone had ever hoped they would.

Vegeta had improved drastically, making a name for himself as one of Frieza's strongest fighters, and the leader of his small band of Elites. He took on assignments that other groups avoided, just looking for excitement and a new challenge. And he had learned new levels of self-control, which had aided him more than once. He had also gained a reputation as a master strategist. But he was constantly trying to shake his juvenile image...all of the older Elites still thought of him as a kid.

Vaya, too, had changed. Although she was still smaller than the others, she was almost exactly equal in power to Vegeta. Her psychic skills were unrivaled. And she had blossomed into the most beautiful Saiyan woman that any of the Elites had ever seen. She was slim and shapely, with an air of mystery about her that men found infinitely alluring. She constantly had to drive off advances from the men on other squads.

And she had learned to speak.

After the destruction of Vegetasei, Vaya had quickly learned to make sounds -- to laugh, to cry, to growl or hum. But one day when she was fourteen, on a distant planet, she got into some trouble that no amount of sending could help. No matter how far she stretched her power, she could not reach Vegeta or anyone. So, mustering up every bit of her energy, she finally managed to scream Vegeta's name.

He heard, and came running, still half-dumb with shock. After rescuing Vaya, he asked her if she had just learned, and she managed a shaky "Yes" in reply. From then on, Vaya was free to use her voice at will.

She proved to have a beautiful voice, as mysterious as her demeanor, soft and silky. But strangely enough, Vaya still liked sending better. Granted, she usually talked aloud now that she had learned how, but she was more comfortable sending. But although she could speak, no one had ever heard her raise her voice.

Vaya was the smallest of the Saiyans. Her head came up to just above Vegeta's shoulder. When she was sixteen, Nappa and Raditz had to explain to her that she would never get taller. Her response --"This is as big as I'm gonna get? You're like 12 feet tall."

~*~

When they emerged from the VR chamber, Nappa and Raditz were waiting, faces glowing with awe.

"That was amazing," Raditz murmured. "You two are almost exactly equal!"

Vaya chuckled. "Almost. Right up until I kicked Vegeta's ass," she said in her silky voice.

Vegeta coughed. "Hey, I let you win. Don't get cocky."

The two of them glared evilly at each other for a second; then Vegeta made a face and they burst into laughter.

Nappa laughed. "Boy, you two are something else. It's almost as if you're in lo--"

"NAPPA!" Vegeta gave him a death glare. It was insulting for either of the other two older Saiyans to hint that Vaya and Vegeta would ever be mates. They were best friends, and couldn't imagine it different.

But Vegeta had never been that offended.

"Can't you ever be serious?" Vaya frowned. She did not have patience for Nappa. She was closer to Raditz.

"Right. Serious. Okay."

Vegeta raised an eyebrow. "Whatever. I'm bored. Let's go do something."

"You're always bored," Vaya said to him, but she followed him out the door and into the corridor. Nappa and Raditz were right behind them.

Vaya was walking close next to Vegeta. This was not a sign of a crush or anything, but merely a force of habit. They weren't very trusting of anyone...world being blown up would probably have that effect on most people. The only people they really relied on were each other.

But Nappa was also pretty tight with Vegeta and Vaya, having been in charge of caring for them and all since they were born. So he usually noticed when one of them looked or acted differently than normal. And this time, when he looked at Vegeta, Nappa saw that the young prince seemed nervous. The big Saiyan wondered why.

The group went outside into the big, grassy fields of Frieza Planet #79. They had been there for over two weeks without any new assignments, and they were bored stiff. Especially Vegeta. He wanted to blow something up.

"What should we do?" Vaya wondered, kicking at a stone.

"Hey, I got an idea," Raditz suddenly said. "Why don't we go pick a fight with some of the rookies? You know, give `em a taste of what the Elites are like."

"That is such a stupid idea," Vegeta sneered.

"Aw, it sounds like fun," Vaya said. "C'mon, Vegeta, there's nothing else to do."

Vegeta glanced at her. She was smiling brightly at him. He sighed. "Okay, fine."

Nappa raised an eyebrow.

"Hurry up, let's go!" Raditz cheered, as he and Vaya took off towards the rookie base. Vegeta started to follow them, but Nappa put a hand on his shoulder.

"Wait a minute, Vegeta. I want to ask you something."

Vegeta blinked. "Huh? What's the matter?"

Raditz and Vaya stopped. "Hey, aren't you guys coming?"

"We'll be there in a minute, go on without us," Vegeta told them, waving his hand in a dismissive way.

Raditz shrugged and started off again. Vaya hesitated for a moment, but then followed as well.

Vegeta watched her go with a distant sort of expression. Nappa quickly took note of this, and asked, "Vegeta, is something wrong?"

"What are you talking about?" he asked in annoyance.

Nappa folded his arms. "You've been acting awfully jumpy for the past few days. What's got you so restless?"

Vegeta shrugged and put his arms behind his head. He said vaguely, "Well, you know, it's just been the same thing day after day, we've been stuck here forever, there are no new assignments, there's no one new to fight, I'm just so bored..."

Nappa sighed. "You're in love with Vaya, aren't you."

Vegeta blushed. "Pretty much."

Nappa smacked a hand to his forehead. "What are you, nuts? You can't fall in love with her! You've been best friends with her your whole life, what in the name of hell made you change your mind now?"

Vegeta shrunk back for the first time in his life as Nappa completely spazzed out. The prince had no idea Nappa felt this strongly about anything. In fact, he didn't even understand why Nappa was upset. He waved his hands frantically.

"What's the big deal? It's just a feeling, that's all. Besides, she could be my mate. Why are you freaking out?"

Nappa gave him a look that suggested he was the dumbest idiot in the galaxy.

Vegeta blinked. "Okay, the irony is getting just a little too thick for me..."

"Well, why don't you explain to me, then, why you `love' Vaya all of a sudden? Because I can't think of anything that could make you, of ALL people, change your mind on the spur of the moment," Nappa said curtly.

Vegeta coughed. "Okay, well...I guess it's because...we like a lot of the same stuff, and she's really cool..." His eyes regained the distant look. "And because she's the first person to really understand me, that I felt like I could talk to. She's got something about her...I don't know...she's like a secret, that you've got to know, or you'll die trying to figure it out. She's perfect...funny, strong, smart, exotic..." He sighed. "And she has a body that is so sexy that I struggle to even understand it."

Nappa made a face. "Wonderful. I want to see you say that to her face. I think we could all use a good laugh."

"I'm serious, Nappa."

"So you think she's beautiful."

"Beautiful is an understatement. More like, heavenly, or goddess-like..."

"But there are other qualities you find attractive as well?"

"Hell yeah. She's incredibly intelligent, and a damn good fighter."

"That's great."

Vegeta glared at him. "So what's your point?"

"My point, o fearless leader, is that if you haven't found any of this things attractive about her before, it's probably just a crush now."

Vegeta sighed again. "But what if it's not? Nappa, what if she's the one? What if we ARE destined to be mates? Think about it...aren't we perfect for each other?"

"Be that as it may, I still think you're getting in over your head again. You always think you're ready for things before you really are. What if Vaya doesn't feel the same way about you? What if you tell her you love her and she laughs in your face?"

"Thank you, Nappa."

"Hey, I'm talking worst-case scenario."

"I'd run away, become a hermit, and die old, lonely, and unloved."

Nappa gave him a nasty look.

Vegeta shrugged. "Okay, okay, I was just kidding. Look, if it makes you feel any better, I'll try to forget about it. You're probably right, anyway."

Nappa nodded. "Thank you. I think you'll be much better off if you just stay away from Vaya...and her bewildering body."

Vegeta sighed a third time. "Yeah, sure. Now, where did those two say they were going?"

"To pester the rookies."

"Ah yes. Let's not keep them waiting any longer."

With that, Vegeta and Nappa jumped into the air and took off towards the area where Raditz and Vaya had disappeared.

~*~

In Frieza's quarters, the evil tyrant and his henchmen were pouring over a 3-dimensional projection map of all the planets in the galaxy that they were currently residing in. By pointing at each planet, Frieza could get the computer to project as larger image and to pull up any information on it that he would need to make his decision...Which planet to conquer next?

"What about this planet, sire?" Zarbon suggested, pointing to a purple and yellow planet. The information poured over the computer screen.

Frieza shook his head. "No. Too swampy."

"How about this one?" Dodoria tried, indicating a green planet.

"Too boring."

"This one?"

"Too flat."

"This one?"

"Too small."

They continued in this fashion for a while. Frieza found something wrong with everything they pointed to, until there was hardly any planets left. Suddenly, Frieza noticed a medium-sized, ice blue planet down in the far corner of the projection.

"What's this planet?" he asked with vague interest, pointing and looking over the files.

Zarbon read the information off as Frieza inspected the larger projection of the planet's image. "Its name is Aramin, sire. It is sparsely populated, with two seasons...one of heat and sunlight, and another of cold and gray skies. You would not have a hard time conquering it, sire."

"What is this it says," Dodoria spoke up, reading the file. "It says during the cold season the planet blankets itself with...snow...Lord Frieza, do you know what snow is?"

Frieza chuckled. "Yes, Dodoria, of course. Snow is solid rain. It falls from the sky and it looks like sand, except it is white and bitter cold. Hardened snow or water will also form ice, which is freezing and smooth and dangerous."

Dodoria and Zarbon listened with fascination, for they had never seen snow before.

Frieza folded his arms. "This planet interests me. I wish to own it. I wonder which of my teams I should send on the mission?"

"Whoever you send should go as soon as possible, sire, to avoid the season of white cold," Zarbon said. "Who knows what the temperature could do to the space pods?"

"I'd be happy to do it myself, Lord Frieza," Dodoria volunteered. "I can't wait to get out again."

"No, Dodoria," Frieza said. "Your assistance will not be needed. I shall send the Saiyans to do the job."

"Th-The Saiyans?" Dodoria stuttered. "But sire...I could easily do it, just let me, you don't need to send them to do it..."

"Be quiet, Dodoria, I'll have none of your foolish jabbering," Frieza snapped. "Besides, Vegeta has not had a chance to exercise in a while, and he has been very good about it. I wish to reward him for his patience."

Dodoria swallowed. "Y...Yes, Lord Frieza."

"Good. Mr. Appule!" Frieza called.

A strange-looking alien with a long head and spots came running in. He saluted. "Yes, sire!"

"Go and inform Vegeta and his crew that they will be departing at once. I shall be sending them to Aramin for their next assignment."

"Right away, sire!"

The alien ran out again to carry out his orders. Frieza smiled to think of what Vegeta and the others would say if they saw the snow. Vegetasei had cold weather, but never cold enough for precipitation like that.

~*~

Four Saiyan space pods were hurtling towards Planet Aramin. It had taken them one month to reach the planet's solar system, and they were swiftly coming into view of the blue planet itself.

However, their approach had not gone unnoticed.

In the capital city, technology far more advanced than Frieza's men had anticipated had detected the arrival of four mechanical spheres. They had prepared an assault force, and were aiming a huge rocket jet at the pods...

FHOOM!

The rocket was fired just after the pods entered Aramin's atmosphere. It exploded into the side of Vaya's ship, sending the other three hurtling towards the ground and exploding on impact in a forest. The Araminites ran to check the remains.

"Well?" the general called to his men. "What are you waiting for? I need a report on what was inside those things!"

"Sir...There's nothing here!" one officer cried. "The strange pods are devastated, but completely empty!"

"What? That's impossible! They are obviously transports, something must have made them run..."

"You're absolutely right," came a rough, cold voice from the shadows of the trees. "They belong to us, and you broke them. It isn't nice to break other people's toys."

Four shapes loomed out of the darkness. Two were absolutely enormous, and two were dwarfed by their companions. Vegeta, Vaya, Nappa and Raditz strode forward and faced the stunned army, faces dark as storm clouds with a fury that would soon prove lethal.

Just before the rocket was fired, Vaya had telepathically sensed it. She had ordered the others to abandon the ships immediately. They had all obeyed her order, and evacuated instants before the rocket hit.

"Who...Who are you?" the general stuttered in fear as his men cowered behind him.

"We're the last thing you'll ever see before you're sent to hell."

Vegeta formed a gun with his hand and pointed at the terrified Araminites.

"Bang."

With a huge explosion and multiple screams of pain, the entire area heaved up and tore itself and the Araminites apart.

Raditz snorted after the dust had cleared. "How pathetic. They didn't even try to defend themselves."

Vegeta just shrugged. "Come on, let's get this over with." He pressed his scouter and numbers flashed across the screen, indicating cities in every compass direction. "There appear to be at least four major cities. We should split up...it will be quicker."

The group took off, splitting up and heading in separate directions.

Over the course of the next few hours, the Saiyans quickly made their presence known and felt. They destroyed every one of the remaining Araminites and devastated the cities.

But that still left the fact that their ships were completely destroyed. The planet's temperature had already been cold when they had arrived, and it had started to drop quickly.

"What are we gonna do? What the hell are we gonna do?" Nappa cried furiously.

"Just calm down," Vaya said. "We'll think of something."

"I'll report back to the base through the scouter," Vegeta told them. "They'll send us new pods, and we can use those to get home."

"Yeah, but it's still gonna take the ships at least a month to get here," Raditz frowned.

"So we're going to be stuck on this backward little planet for a month," Nappa growled. "That's perfect. It can't get worse than this."

Suddenly, little white flakes began to fall from the sky, and an icy wind chilled them. It had started to snow, and it seemed like the wind was gearing itself up for a blizzard.

"You always speak too soon," Vegeta snapped.

"This must be what they called `snow'," Vaya murmured. "It's so cold...we need to find shelter while we wait, or we'll freeze."

"I saw mountains in that direction," Raditz said, pointing off into the distance. "Maybe we can locate a cave or something."

"A cave?"

"Would you rather freeze?"

"All right, all right. Let's go."

They lifted into the sky and took off once again.

~*~

Once they had reached the mountains, they did indeed find a large cave to stay in. They inspected it carefully, and decided that it was the best they were going to get. Vegeta sent his message through the transmitter and they gathered to explore their new residential `suite'. Outside, the storm was really starting to blow.

Vaya and Vegeta went off as scouts, because they had the sharpest eyes. They disappeared down the dark tunnel in the back of the cave for a few minutes, then returned with news.

"There are at least six different chambers that branch off of the tunnel. We can each take one to sleep in," Vegeta said.

"One of the other chambers has a hot spring leaking through a crack in the floor. If we can open it up, we could use it as a bath and at least smell tolerable," Vaya added. Then she looked at Nappa. "Although in some cases it may not be enough to have any effect..."

"Hey!" Nappa cried.

"Enough," Vegeta interrupted, before the two could start an argument, which he knew could get very messy. Vaya was too smart to lose, and Nappa was too dumb to give up. "Let's get our rooms ready..."

"How?" Raditz snorted contemptuously. "There's nothing but rocks."

Vaya smiled smugly. "I happened to be prepared in case something like this ever happened."

She reached into her uniform and pulled out four tiny, round, metal balls. She threw them to the ground and there was a huge puff of smoke. When the smoke cleared, there were four huge thick blankets and four pillows lying on the ground.

The men blinked at her.

"Hey, what can I say?" she shrugged. "Take one and set up."

The guys shook their heads and did as they were told.

After a little while, everything was ready in the caverns. The group congregated back out in the main cavern. Vaya and Raditz started to try and get a fire going with some dead wood they had gathered from throughout the cave. Vegeta and Nappa had two small devices set up on either side of the gaping entrance. They were programming the machines to create a force field to protect them all from the raging elements.

Soon they had completed everything. The fire started to warm up the whole cave. The Saiyans prepared for the long month ahead of them.