CHAPTER TWO:

General Nappa, leader of the first squad division of the new Elite forces, glared in disdain at his new wa’zuai . He still could not get over the fact that he had been replaced with that pathetic weakling, Gradun, as the traveling companion to the new king. Frowning in displeasure, he wandered if this favoritism with the red-haired warrior was going to continue, now that his old master had passed away. Shutting his eyes for a brief second in memoriam, he jumped up, startled, as one of his fighters tapped him on the shoulder. With an angry growl, he snatched the poor man by the scruff of his uniform and lifting him face high, he spat out angrily,

“You will give me the proper respect I deserve, you l’arun ! Can you not see that I am giving respects to our fallen King?!”

“I…I… apologize, Lord Nappa, but I was sent to give you this…”

Nappa snatched the parchment from the trembling hands and with a grunt; he threw the wa’zua  several feet across the courtyards. Staring blankly at the note…~ Hn. Royal emblem. Someone from the House. ~…he turned to address his new recruits.

“Alright, you pathetic excuses for wa’zuai !! You are to begin training now! When I return, I want to see some sweaty bodies out here or you will be dancing on hot coals for a week!!”

“YES SIR!!”

Nappa groaned at the loud cheer and spinning on his heels, he walked into his private offices. Shutting the door behind him, he began heading towards his chair when his entire being froze at the silent figure standing in front of his window.

“Za’ani !” He muttered out weakly, clutching a hand to his chest. “You nearly gave me a heart failure. Now if you don’t mind, I would like you to identify yourself.”

“Do you really wish for me to do so, Nappa sa’un ni  Tankne?” The calm, aged voice said softly.

“Y...yes…” Nappa said weakly, wondering why a sense of dread began to fill him. That voice. He had heard that voice before.

“Very well then…as you wish…”

Nappa felt his breath hitch painfully in his throat as the cloaked figure spun around slowly. It couldn’t be. It just couldn’t be! He was dead! He had to be dead!!

“I see you are surprised, Nappa. Is this the way you greet an old friend?”

“No…no…no!! You are dead!! You can’t be here!!” Nappa screamed in panic, and in his haste to run away, he ended up falling to the ground in a painful thud.

“But I am here, Nappa. And I bring good news for you.” The face broke into a grin, so hideous that even the strong leader had to cringe in fear.

“For you see, Nappa…” The figure continued, beginning his slow approach to the whimpering wa’zua . “I have some plans for you and I. We are going to take care of our new King, Nappa. Ahi , you and I have lots of work to do.”

“NO…NO…NOOOOOO!!!” Nappa screamed hoarsely, before all the lights went out.

-*-*-*-*-*-

Vegeta rubbed his arms unconsciously as they made their way down the long corridor. It was cold. Too cold. He had not expected Frieza’s ship to be this enormous. It was like an entire planet in here. Slanting a wary look at his escorts, he smirked inwardly knowing that he could handle the weaklings in one fell swoop. However, this was not the time or place for it. He was here for a conference with the changeling at his request and he would be damned before he showed his unease and trepidation.

Tightening his tail around his waist, he stood as still as a statue as he watched the tall blue-skinned being walk towards him.

“You must be the new King.” The changeling spoke in a light voice, creating an unpleasant crawl down the Ha’j’s  spine. “Lord Frieza awaits your presence.”

Casting curious eyes on his companion, the changeling continued, “Is this person with you?”

Vegeta nodded. “Yes. He is my personal companion.”

“Hn. Lord Frieza wishes to see you alone. He does not need any other intruders.”

“I am not an intruder!” Gradun spoke up coldly, his face going a deep shade of red at the insult. “I am the King’s personal guardian and I follow him at all times!”

“Gradun…” Vegeta said softly, an edge etched in his voice.

“But, my Liege…I cannot leave you with these…”

“I will be fine, Gradun. We are just having a negotiation.” Vegeta replied, staring at the anxious look on the wa’zua’s face.

“So be it. But I will be waiting here…” Gradun said firmly, casting a baleful look at the blue-skinned man.

“Sai’ru ta’i,  Gradun.” Vegeta said softly, and turning to the changeling in front of him, he nodded curtly. “I am ready to see Frieza now.”

A small smile graced the tall man’s features and with an extravagant sweep of his arms, he opened the doors leading to the Cold Lord’s domain.

-*-*-*-*-

Radditsu tightened the armor over his shoulder blades with a light grunt. Flexing his arms, he tested the comfort and lightness of the material.

~ Ahi . I look like an elite now… ~

Grinning wildly, he spun in front of the large mirror in his own quarters, admiring the way his well-toned physique rippled and flexed at each movement, clearly displaying his body to perfection.

~ Ahh…if only you could see me now, pa’un . You would be so proud of me. And you, Kakkarrot, you would envy me, but don’t worry. Your time will come soon. ~

Sinking onto the bed, he slipped out of his boots and wiggled his toes lightly. It had now been roughly four days since his arrival to the main city and yet he had not seen the new King. He had been stunned by the news to be exact. Somehow word had not yet gotten to the other quadrants about the death of the former Ha’j  and it seemed like the people of the main city wanted to keep it a secret.

~ Why? ~

He did not understand it. If the King was dead, that would mean that the ha’ji  had control of power now. So why wouldn’t they want the rest of the quadrants to know about it? Shrugging it off, feeling that it was none of his concern whatsoever, he closed his eyes and waited impatiently for the sounds of the horn that signaled the start of early morning training.

-*-*-*-*-*-

Vegeta felt like his head weighed a ton. His eyes felt heavy and his mouth felt like it had a huge lump of metal on it. He stared blankly at the red drink that had been placed in front of him and wondered idly if he should have accepted the obviously drugged liquid.

His woozy eyes took in the sight of the cruel smiling lizard in front of him. The blue-skinned man was not far behind…~ Zarbon…yes, that is his name. A stupid name if you ask me. ~…and another fat slob made up the trio of circus freaks. Feeling his tail swish behind him slowly, Vegeta tried to focus his attention on the words that were now spilling out of the changelings’ mouth.

“I see you have discovered the potency of my wine ne, Ha’j  Vegeta?” Frieza said, his raspy voice filled with undisguised glee.

“A…Ahi …” Vegeta said dully, shaking his head as he felt himself get drowsy. “It…it…it is…very…very…str…good.”

“Of course it is!” Frieza said in mock indignance, earning chuckles from his cohorts. “I always have the best, do I not Dodoria?” He asked, turning towards the pink, fat monster.

“Yes, my lord. You are the best.”

“Whatever.” Frieza said curtly. Jumping off his high-perched chair, he walked towards the tipsy King, licking purple lips in growing lust and desire as he took in the sight of the well built physique.

~ Ahhh…he might be a monkey…but he is a fine monkey. Yes…he will do just fine. Come to me, my little King, let me see what fills that petulant head of yours. Let me see your deepest, darkest fantasies. ~

Vegeta watched through hooded eyes as the lizard approached him. Trying to squirm away from the horrible creature and the light foul smell that emanated from him, he shut his eyes in pain as the words of the Cold Lord seared through his mind.

~ Yes, Vegeta. I want to see it! I demand it! Show me what you really, really want! ~

~ NO!! Get out of my head!! ~

“Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!” He screamed aloud, as Frieza placed icy cold claws on his temples, creating shock waves of enormous pain that sent the King flying through an abyss of darkness.

~*~*~*~*~*~

~ I am dead. ~

Vegeta opened up his eyes slowly to stare at a blinding white light. Blinking rapidly, he sat up in a quick jerk, taking in his surroundings sharply. He was…nowhere. He seemed to be in the middle of space. A space so white, that he wasn’t sure if he was in the afterlife or not.

~ And I am cold…~

Bending down to pull his robes tighter against him, he came into contact with nothing but his bare skin. Gasping in disbelief, he stared numbly at his completely nude body, idly noticing that he was extremely aroused. Gripping his tail around his waist in subconscious protection, he tried to remember how he landed in this white void in the first place.

The last thing he remembered was drinking that blasted drink with the changeling and getting no help in his negotiation attempts and then BOOM! He was here in this place…

~ I have to get out of here…but how? ~

~ The only way you are getting out of here, my little monkey King, is if you reveal to me, what you truly desire. ~

~ Ja’ri ? Why must you know?! I answer to no one! ~

~ Well then you stubborn mule! I guess I will just have to leave you here to wander around for eternity!! ~

“NO!!” Vegeta shouted in desperation, hating himself for crawling so low. Shutting his eyes, he whispered out softly, “Fine. I will show it to you. But you must promise to get me out of here as soon as I am done.”

~ Whatever you say, my dear King. ~

Vegeta sighed in resignation and sank back to the floor, crossing his legs in his usual meditation position. Closing his eyes, he folded his arms and concentrated on bringing the one thing that he needed more than ever.

~ Come to me, Kakkarrot. I need you nu ra’hi . Now. ~

-*-*-*-*-*-

Nappa licked his lips in growing desire as he watched the young wa’zua  take his place amongst the others. The longhaired saiyan was a sight to behold.

“I see you are impressed ne, Nappa?” The rough voice said softly behind him, jerking him away from his reverie.

“Ahi . He is a fine warrior.” Nappa replied, never taking his eyes off the fighter. His eyes widened even further as the spars began and at the finely tuned skills that were displayed. Truly this one was something special.

“Yes, he is Nappa. That is why we need him for our mission.”

“Ja’ri ? What mission?” Nappa asked bemusement etched in his voice. “I was not aware of any such mission…”

“You fool!! Do you not remember what I called you here for?!”

Nappa scratched his baldhead for several seconds before widening his eyes. “I am very sorry. I did not…”

“Hn. And you were made a general. Bah! You are hopeless!”

Nappa frowned at the insult and gritting his teeth, he bit out coldly. “Alright then, I have seen the wa’zua . What do I do now?”

“What you do now, you big buffoon, is that you are to become friendly with him. He is the key to bringing down the rebels in the east. Does the word Sai’joun  mean anything to you?”

Nappa shook his head.

“I guessed as much. It seems to be a festival celebrated only by the Ba’an . Anyways, this is a very important festival and you are to find out everything about it from our dear young fighter.”

“But…”

“Just do it!” The voice bristled in growing irritation.

Snorting angrily, Nappa stomped towards the fighting men and with a curt command, he ordered Radditsu to follow him.

The figure in the cloak watched the disappearing couple as he cackled wildly with glee. Ahi , things were going according to plan.

~ By this time next week, the Eastern Quadrant should be reduced to rubble. ~