A/N: Okay, quick recap…we have seen the rise of Vegeta to power as the new king and the obstacles he has to face with Frieza and the Eastern rebels. The  arrival of the mysterious lurker that wants to bring down the King and the attacks on Tarun during their Sai’joun festival. Kayla has been killed and Kakkarrot has taken her away to the Sacred Mountains. Finally, we saw Bardock return back to his renegade friends. And now without much further ado, the next installment….

Dedication: To the dean…

CRIES OF THE LOST
CHAPTER ONE:

Vegeta’s eyes snapped open as the loud cry came down the long hallway. Getting out of his chair, that had been his father’s prized possession for many years, he stormed out of the office, ready to give some stupid warrior a piece of his mind. He had been trying to get a bit of rest from both his ordeal with Frieza and from Gradun’s constant whining and complaining.

“What in the name of Vegetasei is going on?!” He bellowed as he stepped out onto the corridor.

“My Liege!! My Liege!!” The flustered looking wa’zua gasped out, coming to a halt in front of the angry-looking King. “Vic…Vic…Victory…”

“For Za’ani’s  sake! Speak up!!” Vegeta snapped, his impatience growing rapidly.

“My Liege…it is Lord Nappa and his wa’zuai …”

“Yes?”

“They…they…are returning from…from…a successful mission, my Liege.”

“What successful mission?” Vegeta asked sharply. He didn’t recall sending anyone out for a mission.

“Why the mission you sent them for, my Liege. The successful destruction of the Eastern rebels.” The warrior said, a tinge of bemusement filling his voice.

“Ja’ri ? Nappa?” Vegeta asked numbly, a sense of dread beginning to fill his being.

“Ahi, nu Ha’j!  They are coming into the city now! They have arrested all the rebels and are dragging them through the streets. You should see it, my Liege! The people are cheering and…”

“That will do!!” Vegeta interrupted sharply, as he noticed Kazak heading his way, an expression of concern on his face. “Thank you for the information. You may leave.”

“Sai’ru ta’i, nu Ha’j .” The warrior said, kissing the King’s hands in respect before dashing out of the hallway again.

“Kazak…” Vegeta began, raising quizzical eyebrows at his father’s advisor, as he headed back into the offices. “What is going on here? I seem to be the only one at a loss as to what is going on in my own kingdom.”

“I assure you my Liege, we will get to the bottom of this.” Kazak said, helping Vegeta don on his royal robes. “General Nappa and his men were sent out without permission, and they should be punished for that.”

“Do you really believe they have squashed the rebellion?” Vegeta asked, turning worried eyes to the older Saiyan.

“I don’t know. They might have, they might not. It is hard to say. We must never underestimate the power of our enemies.”

“Ahi …but why would they attack them now?” Vegeta asked softly, as they headed towards the throne room. “I don’t understand…”

“I believe that it was the night of a certain festival in the quadrant, my Liege.” Kazak answered softly. “A festival known as…”

“Sai’joun …” Vegeta finished weakly, his face paling considerably as he remembered Kakkarrot speaking about it.

“Ahi, nu Ha’j . The perfect time for anyone hoping to catch the rebels off guard. A time for peace and celebration…”

“Turned into a night of bloodshed.” Vegeta continued, his voice filled with dismay. “Ah, Za’ani , Kazak…what have we done?”

“I think we have just given the Eastern Quadrant more of an incentive to want to destroy us, my Liege.”

-*-*-*-*-

General Nappa couldn’t be more pleased and proud of himself if he tried. Grinning wildly from ear to ear as the cheers of the crowds lining the streets filled his countenance, he thanked the gods for his secret advisor. Waving a hand at the cheering people, he slanted a wary glance at the group of men that had been captured.

~ Ah, the King would be so pleased. I have single handedly destroyed the rebellion. There is no way; he wouldn’t make me his personal assistant now. I have earned the right. ~

His neck suddenly prickled with awareness, and darting his head sharply around, he came face to face with jet black, laughing eyes.

~ Za’ani ! Why is he still following me? Why won’t he leave me alone? ~

Swallowing tightly, he plastered another grin on his face and gripping his tail around his waist in a death grip, he led his triumphant men into the palace.

-*-*-*-*-

Radditsu wondered what all the fuss was about.

“Come on Taina! We have to finish sparring! Get your mind focused for crying out loud!!”

“I don’t think so Radditsu!” Taina replied, already racing for the exits. “I heard that Lord Nappa has squashed the rebellion in the East and he is heading into town.”

“What?” Radditsu asked sharply. ~ How was that possible?! ~

“You heard me. I am going to see them. You better come with me if you want to get a good spot in the crowd!” Taina yelled back, before dashing out of the courtyards, leaving Radditsu alone in the now empty grounds.

Radditsu couldn’t believe it. That was supposed to be the night of Sai’joun  and Lord Nappa had gone to capture the rebels. And it was his entire fault. He bit his lower lip, trying to stop the cry of anguish that threatened to spill out of his mouth. Why hadn’t he thought before speaking to the older man? He had always wondered why the General had had a sudden interest in his people and the festival in general and now he knew the reason for it. Sinking to the floor, he felt the tears slip out of his eyes slowly. He had let down his people. He had betrayed their trust. He had failed his mother, Saida, Kakkarrot and most especially his father.

~ Ahh…he might have been captured by now. My stupidity has caused my downfall and my people’s downfall. I have no other choice but to leave. ~

~ Why leave now, Radditsu, when the fun is just beginning? ~

“Ja’ri ?! Who…what…who are you?!” Radditsu asked aloud, darting his eyes around the empty courtyards. “Show yourself, you coward!” He shouted out, jumping to his feet and crouching into a defensive position.

“Come now, Radditsu. There really is no need for us to get all jumpy.” The rough voice said calmly, as the cloaked figure stepped out from its hiding place behind the large columns. “I am here to help you.”

“Help me? Who are you?”

“Let us just say that I have a much better way for you to take care of all your problems and worries.”

“How…”

“Listen to me!” The voice barked out impatiently, as it approached the now trembling warrior. “Nappa thinks he has everything taken care of, but you and I both know that trouble still lies ahead, and it will be up to us to take care of it all, ne?”

Radditsu could not speak. He seemed to be hypnotized by the jet black eyes that were staring deeply into his own. He suddenly felt like he had been stripped bare and left to stand naked under a very arctic chill. He could only watch helplessly as the lean hands reached up to caress his face, his body cringing reluctantly at the clamminess of the touch.

“Oh, Radditsu…you fine young specimen. How much you remind me of your father. Ahi …for you see, my dear sa’an , you and I are going to bring down the rebellion one by one. You will work for me, Radditsu. You will give me life again. You are the one I have been looking for and finally I will get a chance for my revenge.”

Radditsu’s eyes widened in growing horror and his mouth opened in a noiseless scream, as the figure leaned in closer to suddenly clamp sharp canines into his neck. Hissing in a sharp breath, he felt the flow of his blood drain into his armor and the wet sucking sounds from his captor’s lips. Groaning weakly as the strange mixture of desire and pain flowed through him, he slowly closed his eyes, as he finally gave in to the power of darkness.

-*-*-*-*-

Nappa strolled into the throne room with all the confidence in the world.

~ Ahh…I see that all the Lords from the other quadrants are here. This is too good to be true. ~

“Congratulations, General Nappa!!”

“Fine job, General!!”

“You ought to be promoted and made an honorary advisor to the King!!”

“Oh, you all flatter me too much…” Nappa began saying, before the sounds of the King approaching froze him in mid speech. Falling to his knees in respect, he waited for the commendation with abated breath. When nothing was heard from the Ha’j , he raised his head slowly to stare into cold eyes that seemed to wait for some sort of explanation from him. Coughing self-consciously, he opened up his mouth to speak,

“My Liege, I bring you good news from the East.”

Vegeta only stared at him.

Coughing again, he turned to the Lords for reassurance and seeing their helpful smiles, he continued in a stronger voice,

“My Liege, I and my elite group of wa’zuai  have successfully squashed the rebellion in the East!”

Noticing that the King looked far from impressed, he tried again,

“Nu Ha’j , this was a task of great undertaking. We have planned this for years and finally all our hard work has come to fruition. We have captured the rebels and have placed them in the dungeons, where they are to be executed come morn in the public square!” He finished in a flourish, earning a cheer from his supporters.

Vegeta glared at the clapping men, as they immediately froze at the stare. Turning back to Nappa, he asked softly,

“Tell me, Lord Nappa. When exactly did I give you the orders to attack the Eastern quadrant?”

Nappa looked liked he had been pole axed and sputtering lightly, he muttered out,

“But…but…my Liege…”

“Since when did the General of the KING’S army, decide to take matters into his own hands, without the permission of the KING?!”

“My Liege…”

“Does it really matter, my Liege?” Lord Sankat asked meekly, fearing the wrath of the obviously pissed off King. “I mean, we have been trying to stop the rebellion for years now and it has finally been squashed…”

“I agree, my Liege.” Lord Kaipan said, standing up in his glittering orange robes. “General Nappa here has done something that we have been trying to accomplish but have failed to do. The least we can do is to praise him and commend him on his achievement.”

“Ahi, nu Ha’j .” Lord Tahatt added, standing up as well. “The people of the remaining quadrants are forever indebted to you. For you see, my Liege, you are now considered as the only King that has been successful in leading a fruitful destruction of the very thing that haunts us!!”

“Hear! Hear!!”

“LONG LIVE THE KING!! LONG LIVE HA’J VEGETA!!”

Vegeta could only gape in disbelief and stunned shock as the Lords and even some of the guards began to cheer and clap for him. He wanted to scream out in frustration. He had done nothing. This was all a horrible mistake. But yet…

His eyes scanned the cheering room again. This was what they had been seeking for. A way to quell the East and by Za’ani  they had done it, with or without his consent. He had done something his father had tried to stop. He had the support of the main city and the remaining quadrants…he could mobilize them and they could put a stop to Frieza…he could do without the East. They were out of the way now. Ahi ! Finally, he could rule the kingdom the way it was meant to be! He was now the true King of Vegetasei! His people loved him and that was all that mattered…or was it?

~ Kakkarrot… ~