Fan Fiction / Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Altiverse: Dawn of Time ❯ Banquet ( Chapter 4 )

Chapter 5

Banquet

Five years had passed since the Saiyans had been rescued from the barren ice world of Aramin. Vegeta and Vaya were no longer the confused and inexperienced youths that they had been before. Vegeta was now 23 and Vaya was 22, and they had changed even more drastically than in ten years.

Vegeta had finally tossed aside his childish image. He was a grand wicked Saiyan, with a frightening power and wild ambition. No longer did the other Elites think of Vegeta as a little Saiyan kid who was kicked brutally out into the wide, cold world too soon.

Although a little over-zealous now when he assumed his responsibilities, Vegeta had become alert, tense, serious, and very protective of his friends. But because he was still young for a Saiyan he sometimes made rash decisions. However, he knew this and came to rely often on the advice of his closest friend and secret mate, Vaya.

Vegeta's abilities as a warrior had also become quite famous. It was well known that he was capable of frightening rage, especially if his friends were threatened. His skill as a fighter made him a lethal opponent and his movements were always quick, graceful and sure. Ever the devil's advocate, Vegeta was often right, but found no value in saying "I told you so."

Vaya, too, had grown more mature from experience and years. She was still beautiful, quiet, and self-possessed, preferring to be in control of events that affected her. She did not at all like to be dependent or beholden. She was brave, though cautious, and she trusted her own strength.

But she was no longer temperamental and stubborn, although it was obvious that she was independent. Her impassive face was rarely crossed by emotion, which made her hard to fathom by even Frieza himself. Mindless fury was an emotion that Vaya has purposefully forgotten. She knew who she was and was comfortable with it. It gave her a center, and a calmness.

Vaya and Vegeta tended to balance each other's personalities. While Vegeta was bad-tempered and argumentative, with a huge superiority complex, Vaya was cool, serene, tranquil, and very perceptive. However, they both were cunning, cruel, and merciless in the heat of battle. And their Saiyan pride was immeasurable.

Vegeta often spent the lazy days of "unemployment" with Vaya. They were quite a pair together. Nappa and Raditz often watched the younger two, and talked quietly about them.

"Vegeta knows more about living than most of us ever will!" Nappa said once with a knowing nod. "I don't think any Saiyan will live longer, get into more scrapes, or have more fun getting out of them than Vegeta. Nothing scares him! He plays tricks on Zarbon and Dodoria just to stir things up! Can't blame those two flunkies for never taking kindly to him...but they'll never catch him. He's a cold-blooded dragon child, all right -- but he has a loyal heart, and a fighting skill that I've yet to see equaled, even by Vaya."

"You're right in what you say," Raditz replied. "But Vaya is as much a princess as Vegeta is a prince. Perhaps her blasts are not always as sure to the mark as his -- but Vaya's patience often brings better results than Vegeta's recklessness. And when Vegeta in one of his rages would have led us into futile battle against the Tsiru-jin Empire, Vaya's wise counsel always turned his anger aside. They are mates. They complete each other."

One day, Nappa and Raditz went to Vaya and Vegeta's rooms to check up on them. But they weren't there. The pair didn't like to be followed, and this wasn't the first time they had sneaked out on their own. Usually they caused some sort of chaos.

"We better find them...and quickly...before we have an episode like the last time," Nappa sighed heavily.

Raditz nodded as they headed down the hall. "Yeah, it took forever to clean up the pieces of those space pods, didn't it?"

They searched the entire building, but there was no sign of the royal pair. Everything seemed pretty calm and was going on as usual. However, no one had seen Vaya and Vegeta for several hours...except for one person.

"Yeah, I saw `em," said one rookie fighter. "Well, I saw Vegeta anyways...he's the dude with the spiky hair that kinda sticks up all funky-like, right?"

Nappa and Raditz sweatdropped. "Yeah..."

"Yup, he was flyin' off toward the hills thataways...Didn't see where he went, though, he kinda disappeared outta my sight, ya know? Hey, I gotta ask you guys...who's that babe he's always pallin' around with, huh? She's one hot little knockout!"

"Um...thanks for your help, gotta go," Raditz said quickly; then he and Nappa took off again.

"Hey, wait! Could you set us up on a date, or somethin'? Aww..."

~*~

Interestingly enough, Vaya and Vegeta weren't out causing havoc. They were sitting in one of the grassy fields, under a big tree.

Vaya was seated with her back resting against the tree trunk. Vegeta was resting his head in her lap. Their right hands were intertwined, and Vaya was using her left hand to run her fingers through Vegeta's hair. Vegeta was talking animatedly to her, and she was gazing fondly at him the whole time. She could sit and listen to him for hours.

As he was talking, Vegeta was gazing back and forth from his mate's face to her hand, the one that he was holding in his own.

She did not look like a warrior. She looked too detached from the harshness of reality to be a killer. If anyone was meeting her for the first time, they would have sworn that she was some sort of magical healer. Her hands were beautifully shaped, and her fingers were slim and long and elegant. They fit her appearance, but not her profession.

At one point, Vaya asked a question during a break in Vegeta's talking. "Vegeta, tell me about your mother and father." Her voice was soft.

Vegeta was caught off guard. They never mentioned the king or queen, or any of the Saiyans that had perished so many years ago. He looked up at her with a quizzical expression. "But you know as much about them as I do."

Vaya shrugged. "Tell me about them as if I have never known them."

Vegeta was silent for a minute. He wondered just what he should say.

"My father was hard and cruel...he had very little tolerance for failure. He would get angry with me if he didn't think I was training hard enough -- I think he had some high plans and expectations for me. He treated everyone with the same disdain and met them with fury when they disappointed him. Father's self-control was always conquered by his anger. I think he defeated himself even before Frieza arrived...But he loved my mother very much. My mother was very beautiful. I think I was always closer to her than to my father, because she was the only one who really seemed to love me. She spoiled me when I was an infant, fed into every one of my demands. But once I grew old enough to know better, she insisted that I learn to take care of myself -- just in the event that one day I might need to. Mother was always calm, and she used her head...it was often she who helped my father to relax in heated situations. She taught me restraint and the use of clever plans in battle. But she did not think that I should have trained so much...she wanted me to learn, not fight."

Vegeta stopped talking and grew very silent. Vaya could tell that he was remembering times when his parents had argued about him when they thought he couldn't hear. But he always did, and it had confused him because he could never tell who was right. Vaya squeezed his hand.

"Are you all right, my love?"

Vegeta blinked and nodded. "Yeah. I'm fine."

Vaya half-closed her eyes. "Your mother and father were so different, but they fit so well. I wonder what my real parents were like."

Vegeta looked at her in surprise. Vaya knew that her father was Vegeta's soul-father, but she had never mentioned either Sephiroth or Sikah before in her life. The Prince didn't know what to say.

But before he could think of a response, Nappa and Raditz landed on the ground next to the tree. Neither of them looked very happy.

"Where've you guys been? We've been looking everywhere! Do you know how bad it would look if Frieza sent us on an assignment and we didn't know where our commanders were?" Raditz hissed.

Nappa added with a growl, "And what the hell do you think you're doing? Anyone could just sneak up on you like this! You could have been caught! What were you thinking?"

"One of the rookies saw you leave, Vegeta!" Raditz cried. "You could have been followed, and then our whole cover would have been blown!"

Vegeta and Vaya just stared at them. Then they sighed and got to their feet.

"You worry too much," Vaya said smoothly. "We were on our guard. If someone untrustworthy had approached us, we would have been on our guard."

Nappa frowned at her. "But we flew right up to you without you knowing it! How do you propose you would have been prepared?"

"I am not a Master of the Mental Arts for nothing," Vaya replied smugly.

"Oh, right. Of course." Nappa didn't look convinced.

Raditz was talking urgently. "C'mon, we gotta go. There was a message from Frieza; he's making a visit to this base, and the command wants every fighter waiting for him. We're supposed to dress according to our planet's culture, or something like that..."

I don't see why we should. Frieza apparently hated the idea of our race enough to exterminate it, Vegeta sent bitterly to Vaya.

"So hurry up. Come on, come on," Raditz insisted impatiently.

Vegeta muttered, "Get over it. I wanna stay here. I'm comfortable. I need a break with Vaya."

"You need to put ice down your pants," Nappa replied.

Vegeta jumped up and chased after Nappa, who had wisely bolted right after he said that.

"GET BACK HERE, YOU DAMNED IMPUDENT BASTARD!! HOW DARE YOU SPEAK THAT WAY TO ME, I WAS YOUR CAREER, YOU FOOL!!!" Vegeta roared furiously before tackling Nappa from behind. He then took a seat on top of him as he proceeded to beat the daylights out of the big Saiyan.

Vaya chuckled airily. Raditz sweatdropped as he watched Vegeta pound Nappa.

"Shouldn't we break them up now?" he asked.

Vaya waved a hand absently. "Nah, not yet...we wait for Nappa to scream. 5...4...3...2..."

"AAARRRGGHH! OW OW OW OW STOOOOOPP!!"

"There we go," Vaya smiled. Vegeta, my love, let's go now.

Vegeta immediately jumped up and sprang over to follow his mate, who had already started back. Raditz shook his head as he watched them fly off, and then he strode over to help Nappa back to his battered feet.

~Later~

There was an entire banquet planned out in the main dining hall of Frieza Planet #79. It was not often that Frieza himself made personal stops on any of his old planets, but he had arrived there just that day, and he planned on staying for awhile. The banquet was being held in his honor and each of the #79 squads would be presenting themselves to Frieza one at a time.

It had been many years since Frieza had last seen Vegeta and Vaya, who happened to be his two favorite fighters on account of their strength and spirits. The last time he had actually laid eyes on them was when Vegeta was sixteen and Vaya was fifteen. He was anxious to see how these two had changed over the years...as were Zarbon and Dodoria.

"Lord Frieza, are you happy to be back on this planet?" Zarbon asked as Frieza waited for the banquet to begin.

Frieza sat in his little hover chair, staring off into space, thinking private changeling thoughts. But when Zarbon addressed him, he smiled faintly.

"Yes, indeed I am, Mr. Zarbon. I am especially anxious to see Vaya and Vegeta again. I wonder exactly how they have progressed over these past few years."

"Well, if they're anything like they were before, they'll be scrawny, weak and over-confident," Dodoria snorted.

"I doubt that, Dodoria. It seems to me that they have indeed changed greatly. I have heard their voices over the scouters when I send them their assignments," Zarbon disagreed. "They seem very different."

"Hmph," Dodoria muttered. "They're only Saiyans. There's nothing special there."

"That may be so," Frieza murmured softly, interrupting the two lackeys. "But they are certainly two of our top fighters. It would be wise to treat them as such."

"Yes, Lord Frieza."

Just then, a lower officer ran into the room and bowed. "Lord Frieza! The banquet is ready to begin! The squads are preparing their entrance, sire!"

Frieza smiled. "Very well. Proceed with the ceremony."

"Yes, sire!"

As the officer ran from the room, Frieza made his way in his little hover chair up onto a raised stage that had a long table prepared especially for him. Zarbon and Dodoria followed him up and took their spots, Zarbon at Frieza's right, Dodoria at his left.

For a few minutes, there was silence. Frieza gazed absently over the myriad of round tables set up for each separate squad. Then the music began. It was a slow march, sounding almost like a church bell tolling in a graveyard. Frieza smiled with approval as the squads began processing in, one group at a time.

Unit after unit presented themselves to Frieza. Some faces he recognized, others he was seeing for the first time. Each team was introduced by their rank out of four classes: C, B, A, and S, with S being the highest. They would walk up through the single aisle running through the center of the room. They stopped before Frieza's platform and kneeled low, until he gave them permission to rise. Then they would turn and head to their assigned table. Frieza eagerly awaited the arrival of the highest unit...the only S-Rank squad on Frieza #79, and his favorite fighters.

Finally, the A-Ranks finished, and the announcer made a deep bow. "It is my humble honor and deep privilege to present to you, Lord Frieza, the Saiyans of the S-Rank squad!"

All heads turned to the door, those who liked, admired, feared, and hated that Saiyans alike. Frieza lifted his head, and Zarbon and Dodoria tensed eagerly.

The doors were swung open. However, only two Saiyans came striding in, with pride and power radiating through their armor. Nappa on the right side, Raditz on the left, they marched obediently down the long carpet.

Vegeta and Vaya were sitting on the pads of their shoulders.

Vegeta sat comfortably on Nappa's huge, broad, left shoulder. One of his legs was drawn up, and his elbow was resting on his knee. His face was expressionless, but there was a sort of fierce defiant pride in his obsidian eyes.

Vegeta had always reminded Zarbon and Dodoria of a predator; a stalking, bloodthirsty, strategical mastermind. The way he moved and spoke, calmly, smoothly, but with a trace of malevolent determination on every action and word. He was crafty and cunning, and through painful experience they had both learned not to underestimate his power or his ambition. Even the blood red cape draped over his shoulders and the golden Saiyan medallion dangling from his neck were symbols of honor.

Vaya was sitting just opposite him, on Raditz's right shoulder. Her legs were crossed, and her arms were folded across her lap. She looked very calm and self-possessed, and the cool way she regarded everyone about her made even Frieza slightly uncomfortable.

Zarbon and Dodoria were speechless. They had not expected her to change so much. She was, simply put, stunning. The royal blue, sleeveless velvet gown that she was wearing hugged her body tightly and did enormous credit to her curvaceous figure. Her eyes were different as well. They used to have a shy, defeated look in them, but now they burned with a savage pride and defiance of the world. Vaya was smart, and she knew it.

Raditz and Nappa stopped in front of Frieza's platform and kneeled. As their shoulders bent and their heads bowed, Vegeta and Vaya slid lithely off their shoulders to land in front of the big Saiyans. Then the smaller pair dropped to one knee in front of their master.

This is ridiculous! Vegeta sent fiercely to Vaya. Why are we parading around for this bastard like we're a dumb bunch of trained dogs? We should be kicking his ass right now!

Patience, my love, Vaya replied smoothly. If we wish to destroy Frieza, we must stay in his good graces until we are strong enough to do so.

Vegeta ground his teeth but did not reply.

Frieza's face twisted into a small half-smile. "My, my, my, how we have grown. It seems like only yesterday that I had you two brought to my ship as children. You have come very far, Vegeta and Vaya. Vegeta, I am most impressed with the progress you training has made."

"Lord Frieza," Vegeta replied, nodding his head downward.

Frieza smirked, and turned his head to Vaya. "And you, Vaya. I hear that your powers are growing greater every day. What a wonderful balancing asset you are to us."

"Sire," Vaya answered in her silky voice. Zarbon and Dodoria got shivers.

Frieza nodded once to them. "Please, rise and take your seats. I'm sure that you are very hungry." His voice was almost mocking.

"Thank you, sire," Vegeta nodded again. Then he and the other three Saiyans rose to their feet and went to sit down at their table, which was in front of the platform near the wall, on Frieza's left.

The banquet went smoothly. Large quantities of delicious food were brought in to satiate the appetites of four Saiyans and many soldiers. Frieza did not seem to eat much. Instead, he took sips from his wineglass and scanned the tables with his soldiers.

Zarbon and Dodoria were engaged in some strange conversation that made sense to no one but themselves. Somehow, the discussion turned to the topic of Zarbon's supposed status as ladies' man. Dodoria didn't believe this.

"Come on, Zarbon, you don't expect me to believe a load of rubbish like that. Why, you haven't had a date since I met you!" Dodoria chortled maliciously.

Zarbon refused to lose his temper. "My service to Lord Frieza has been too demanding, Dodoria, but I don't expect that your simple mind would be able to contemplate the extent of my loyalty."

Dodoria looked confused. "What?"

Zarbon smirked. "Never mind. But trust me, my friend, I could get any female I wanted, any time I wanted."

"Hmph," the pink alien snorted. He sulked for a minute...then he got an idea, and glanced over at the Saiyans table.

Nappa and Raditz were stuffing their faces, laughing heartily and joking with each other. Vegeta and Vaya seemed to have finished already, and were talking very quietly to each other. They were so absorbed in whatever they were saying that they didn't seem to be aware of anyone else in the room, even their two raucous companions.

Dodoria snickered. "Well, Zarbon, if you're so good at this, why don't we test your abilities?"

"What are you talking about?" Zarbon sneered airily.

Dodoria pointed to Vaya. "I want to see you get the girl."

"What! Vaya? You can't be serious!" Zarbon looked horrified. "She's a Saiyan, you fool! Don't be disgusting."

"What's the matter, Zarbon? You've had Saiyans before, and surely you must admit that she is a prize above all others of her race," Dodoria goaded. Zarbon tilted his head and gave Vaya an appraising look. Dodoria smiled. "I think that you just won't be able to."

Zarbon should have known better, but he took the bait anyway. "I am a master. You've got yourself a bet. I'll have her in the palm of my hand by tonight's end."

"Might I point out one small problem?" Dodoria added.

"What is it?" asked the green alien impatiently.

Dodoria pointed. "Vegeta."

"What do you mean?"

"He's damn possessive of the girl. They are best friends, you know. The last person to make a move on Vaya ended up in the restoration tanks for three weeks."

Zarbon snorted contemptuously. "I'm not afraid of some overconfident little princeling. He'll be easy enough to get out of the way. I'll just play on Vaya's sense of independence, that's all. Every Saiyan female wants to prove she can take care of herself."

"Clever," Dodoria nodded approvingly, but there was an undertone of mockery in his voice. "Let's see what you can do."

~*~

Vegeta and Vaya were still talking, with the occasional snickering laughter. They didn't notice Zarbon walk up to them until he tapped Vaya on the shoulder. Then they both looked up. Nappa and Raditz glanced over as well, and choked on their food.

"Greetings, my friends," Zarbon started with a smile.

Vegeta snorted. Vaya kicked him under the table.

Zarbon ignored Vegeta and focused on Vaya, giving her a warm smile. She glanced at Vegeta, but said nothing. Zarbon started, "Vaya, I was wondering if I might be permitted to speak with you alone for a moment."

"No," Vegeta answered dully before Vaya said anything.

"No?" Zarbon repeated with surprise.

"No?" Vaya echoed dangerously.

"No, you may not talk with her. We are right in the middle of our own conversation," Vegeta said smoothly.

Raditz glanced at Zarbon fearfully. Nappa smacked a hand to his forehead. Zarbon looked slightly startled, but before he could say anything, Vaya spoke to Vegeta.

"Vegeta, my dear friend, it would be rude to disregard Frieza's right-hand man. I trust we can continue speaking...after I hear what Zarbon has to tell me." However, in her head she sent bitingly, How dare you presume to think for me? I am quite capable of responding to my own summons, your highness!

Vegeta winced. That last part had hurt. He finally grunted and waved his hand in a dismissive way.

"Thank you," Zarbon bowed. "I shall only steal her away for a moment."

Something about the way he said that made Vegeta go very tense. Nappa must have noticed, because he put a restraining hand on Vegeta's shoulder as Zarbon led Vaya away. Raditz waited for a minute, then hopped over to sit in Vaya's chair next to Vegeta. The three of them watched Zarbon suspiciously. He had led Vaya over to the opposite side of the platform and was talking to her quietly. Vaya's face remained impassive, but she raised her eyebrow in surprise.

"What do you think he's saying to her?" Raditz asked in a whisper. "I can't hear him...it's too loud in here!"

"I don't know, but whatever it is, I don't like it!" Vegeta growled.

"What if he's changing her assigned team?" Nappa wondered.

Vegeta shook his head. "No, it's not that. He's too relaxed and casual. If he was going to break news like that to her, he would be very proper, and he would have done it in front of all of us. Besides, Frieza likes having us together, he wouldn't do that."

"Well, send to her, and ask her!" Raditz snapped.

Vegeta nodded. Vaya, what's up? What's he saying?

Wait! Vaya replied quickly. I need to concentrate! I'll talk to you later!

"So?" Raditz started. "What'd she say?"

"She won't tell me," Vegeta answered. "She said she's gotta concentrate!"

"What's she gotta concentrate for?" Nappa asked.

"Ssh! Look!" Vegeta hissed.

Zarbon had cornered Vaya against a wall. He had one hand resting next to her head, and he was talking so low that his mouth was hardly moving. Vaya was regarding him in a cool, disinterested way...the same way that Vegeta had seen her look at other men who had hit on her.

Just then, Zarbon took a few strands of Vaya's hair between his fingers and started playing with them absently.

Vegeta jumped up. Raditz and Nappa immediately grabbed his shoulders and shoved him back down.

Vaya smoothly raised her hand, pulling her hair away from Zarbon, who didn't notice. Vegeta was nearly going out of his mind with agitation. It took every ounce of restraint that he had learned to keep himself from running over and tearing Zarbon's ugly green throat out. Of course, the death grips that Raditz and Nappa had on his shoulders helped.

Finally, just when Vegeta thought he couldn't stand it any longer, Zarbon and Vaya started walking back over to their table. Raditz jumped back to his seat as Vaya glided over and slipped calmly into her chair. Zarbon ignored the stares that he was receiving from the male Saiyans, even the daggers that were being shot from Vegeta's obsidian eyes.

"Just think about it," Zarbon said to Vaya with a smile. He took her hand and kissed it. "I'll see you after the banquet." And he strode away.

Vaya looked at her hand as if she wasn't sure whether to wash it off or tear it off. Vegeta pounced on her with immediate questions.

"What did he want? Why did he take you over there? Was he asking you out? How dare he touch you! I'll kill that fucking bastard!"

Vegeta, calm down, Vaya sent. She knew that her sending always relaxed him, and she was right. Vegeta settled down, but only a little.

"Vaya, tell me what happened," Vegeta ordered. Raditz and Nappa leaned in to catch everything.

Vaya sighed. "Zarbon apparently wants to date me," she said in a bored tone. "He asked me about it, but I told him I'd tell him later. He gave me until after the banquet, and he's going to meet me in the east wing hallway."

"You agreed to meet him?" Vegeta cried.

Vaya nodded with a smirk. "I could read him like a book, Vegeta. I said before that my powers are not just for show. There is an ulterior motive to his sudden desire, which I doubt is even real at all. And if he thinks he's going to play with me, I'm going to have my fun and play with him."