Action. Finally. =] I will apologise in advance, as this chapter's lengthy.
Chapter Three: Here To Stay Gohan was almost level with Vegeta when the Saiyan suddenly slammed on the aerial brakes, almost causing a mid-air collision.
What in the hell are you doing? The half Saiyan growled in annoyance, thanking his superior muscles for allowing him that flexibility.
Careful, Prince
So she was alive, then. Vegeta almost smiled at the revelation that there was a fraction of justice in the universe, and that it wasnt just her ******* of a spouse that had been allowed another chance at life.
I will be, he replied, his mental training having allowed him a low level of telepathic ability.
I will be.
Vegeta! Gohan shouted, trying to capture the preoccupied Princes attention, which was obviously away from the imminent confrontation.
Yes? Vegeta asked tersely.
Why are we just standing here when Remzus -
The Prince raised a steady arm and pointed at a tiny figure in the distance.
- over there? He offered icily, to which Gohan, surprised, nodded slightly.
Yes. Over there.
Why run to a coward?
The words were laced with fury, and Gohan eyed him nervously as he felt his power escalate.
Shall I
? He tried tentatively. Gohan was no stranger to potentially lethal situations, but he was never quite sure how to react around the more powerful and less well tempered Vegeta.
Use your initiative, the Saiyan snapped, now able to define Remzus every facial feature. And use it quickly.
Seconds later, the Duke was in their vicinity, and smirking in a superior fashion.
Did you miss me? He enquired cheerily, his expression as smug and as gaunt as Vegeta recalled it.
Cant say as I did, no, he quipped coolly. However, before I incinerate your pathetic frame, Id like a little information out of you.
Incinerate me? The Galen pondered aloud, amused at the threat. Id love to see you try it.
Vegeta snarled, close to entering the boundaries of Super Saiyan.
However, the Duke said in a rare streak of fairness, I will humour you with a response if you so desire it. Even if its only to see that rather witty threat attempt to be realised.
A growl escaped the Saiyan, his circulations temperature increasing as his blood metaphorically boiled in poorly controlled anger.
Tell me this, Galen, Vegeta snapped, tight-lipped, How did you survive?
A shadow crossed Remzus face, his superior shield slipping a little.
I didnt, he admitted, his tone livid now he had been reminded he was speaking to his killer.
Vegetas eyebrows raised, and Gohan clicked his tongue impatiently, enraged to be facing the murderer of his mother, daughter and wife and being unable to do anything about it thanks to Vegetas apathy.
Then how are you here? The regal Saiyan asked simply.
Remzu, already bored of speech, simply smirked.
Galens, as you doubtlessly know anyway, share a telepathic bond, he answered lazily. The bonds between father and son are the strongest and most significant. By sacrificing some of his life energy, Tiroth was able to resurrect me.
Somewhere in the recesses of his mind, Vegeta realised that he finally had a decent reason to detest Asaras son - a boy whom he had abhorred on sight.
I was therefore unable, as my death and subsequent dimensional collapsure had already occurred, to salvage Capasca. I was, however, able to teleport the remaining Galens - including my wife and children - to a spot a little over a hundred miles away before we were all annihilated.
All that should have happened a year ago, Gohan finally interjected, interrupting Vegeta as his curled lips began to form a word.
Remzu actually seemed surprised at this.
Should it? He replied, apparently a little confused over that fact. Not that it shocks me. The fabric of Capascan reality was crumbling. It never occurred to me to verify the timeframe.
Vegeta very much doubted that this fact had been entirely truthful, but his next sentence was interrupted as he felt a power creeping towards them.
Anyone you know? Vegeta asked smugly, plotting ways to blast the oddly familiar female out of the sky.
Remzus face gave nothing away, but his countenance altered ever so slightly - which was all Vegeta needed.
No, the Duke lied instantly.
Ah, I see, the royal said, evidently unconvinced. So you wouldnt mind if I used her as target practice then?
He smirked evilly as a sphere of glowing blue ki matured in his palm, shivering with unused potential.
Try it, Remzu snarled, his own hand shimmering with purple, psychic energy in response.
Vegeta grinned, acknowledging his small victory.
Perhaps later, he responded, the ball dissipating to nothing. I think I might just have a little fun first.
Remzu would suffer the dishonour of suffering taunts and mocks before Vegeta would be even halfway satisfied with his death. Stashing his anger in an unknown reach of his mind, the Prince calmed a little, and waited, his eyes never leaving his foes.
The Galen female came into view, and Vegeta finally recognised her as Asaras eldest daughter, whose name he was unfamiliar with. He didnt want to risk a mental war with her by delving into her mind to discover, so simply waited for her to join the fray before asking.
The first thing that struck Vegeta about this woman is how much of her mother she was. He could feel it radiating from her demeanour - she exuded a natural aura of intelligence and coolness under extreme pressure. She resembled Asara too - her features were infused with beauty, her scarlet skin and oddly tasteful humanoid shape were heavily scented with unseen potential and her soft, violet hair shimmered in the mid-afternoon sunshine.
Her most striking feature were her eyes; unlike Asaras, they werent tainted with the bitter pill of regret, and were a gentle lilac hue. This female had led a charmed life, but wasnt averse to struggle. Much like her heritage, it seemed. Her mind was still somewhat innocent, and oblivious to the hardships someone like him had been through, but she was intelligent enough to realise that first-hand experience wasnt necessarily needed for comprehension.
She was shapely, pretty and generally a completely mature Galen woman, albeit one with a lot less personality flaws than her parents. Her curvaceous but slim frame was finished tastefully with a ivory silk dress. Before his acquaintance with Asara, hed have considered attire like that a sign of unwillingness to fight - not now, however, for he could sense that this woman was certainly no pushover.
Vegeta considered vaguely for a moment that his son would probably quite enjoy her company, before his thoughts were interrupted by her very softly spoken voice inside his head.
Princess Solexia of the Galen people, she introduced. Vegeta cast a sidelong glance at Gohan, who seemed to have heard it too.
Remzu appeared not to have, but Vegeta could see that he realised what his daughter was doing.
Why in Omegas name are
you here? He shot angrily, evidently not having accounted for her presence.
Mother sent me, she said simply, her actual voice as gentle and smooth as her mental one. As though you didnt already know, father.
Remzu looked like he wouldnt have declined an offer of ritually sacrificing the young woman, but a sneer masked that desire well.
Hold your tongue, he growled lividly. You are younger and less experienced, so I would not expect you to comprehend the severity of this situation -
Solexia apparently wasnt one to take comments like this lying down, and furiously bit back.
Do not address me in that tone,
Duke, she cried in indignation, which seemed to stun Remzu momentarily. I answer to the commanding force of my species, my Princess and mother.
My dear brother - she raged with the utmost contempt - might be incapable of displeasing you, but I assure you that that rule doesnt extend to myself or to Alyssia. You might be opting to forget, father, but youve been away. For twenty five years. You honestly believe that you can stroll back into the fray and act as thought you left yesterday? Its bull. I know its bull, and so does mother, and Alyssia, and even Tiroth, although he chooses not to let it irk him. Omega, even the damn population knows it. So dont you order me to hold my tongue,
Commander - I answer only to those for whom I possess an iota of respect and loyalty for.
Had the situation not quite been so sincere, Vegeta would have been tempted to laugh Remzus emotional cocktail of ire and amazement - however, all thoughts of that were displaced from his mind as Remzus calloused hand splayed across his offsprings face, a fierce echo of a slap cutting through the air as she reeled backwards. She appeared to have expected nothing less, and smiled bitterly at him.
I thought you were dead, you stupid girl! The Duke shrieked, unable to prevent a note of pain from penetrating his voice.
And it never occurred to you to verify that? She said, a stark sourness permeating her tone. Did the thought never once enter your mind that we might have used Capasca for the purpose it was intended, and fled there after Drafacus was destroyed?
Vegeta had long pondered that question himself - surely, in twenty five years, Remzu would have thought to search there? Perhaps even if not to search, to take emotional comfort in hiding in the only place he had left
Vegeta promptly stopped wondering this as he realised that he was taking the Galen for a compassionate individual.
Remzu rounded on his daughter, who faced him bravely, although the Saiyan could see a spike of fear in her eyes.
I didnt want anything to do with the place, he snarled, a torrent of rage causing him to shake. I had nothing. You dont know what that does to a man, Solexia. You dont know how much it hurts
Vegeta, despite detesting the Duke with every atom of his being, felt he was able to empathise on that point - the Princess had no idea how hard it was to lose all you loved. However, what he couldnt decipher was why that had affected Remzu - evidently from this display and his attitude towards Asara, he didnt only not love them, but appeared barely able to tolerate their presence.
The Saiyans eyes flitted back to the matter at hand as Remzus hand uncurled from the fists they were clenched into, shook himself off slightly and returned to the point of this situation.
Time I showed you a little respect, I believe, he muttered, though it sounded like a grudging revelation. What do you propose we do about our friend over there?
He couldnt keep the contempt from his voice when addressing Vegeta, and his eyes hurried Solexia along.
Vegeta himself was stunned, but went along with it, curious as to how the tactics were developing. Whatever the Princess would suggest, he intrinsically knew that this woman was her mothers daughter, and that therefore he was in no immediate danger.
Well, how else but by the ways of regal Galen conduct? Solexia enquired placidly, giving her father a look that clearly informed him that she wouldnt forget their earlier discussion, to which he acknowledged with a quick nod. Her tone was light, as though that had been the simplest decision shed ever had to make.
Who with, though? Remzu asked eagerly, clearing hoping it was Vegeta.
The Saiyans were bewildered - what in Kamis name was entailed in regal Galen conduct?
They didnt have to wait long to discover though as Solexia nodded at Gohan, adding a reason to her abashed father of I never could trust the quieter ones, Duke.
Remzu looked mutinous as his daughter drew a ruby encrusted sword from thin air, utilising her impressive Galen summoning ability, and tossed it towards the Saiyan duet. Although Vegeta was quite sure it wasnt meant for him, he caught it anyway as it swooped gracefully through the still afternoon air.
Solexia threw him an amused look.
Just as impulsive as mother said, she commented nonchalantly. Ill get to you later, Vegeta.
The sword was telekinetically lifted from his hand and moved over to Gohan, who seemed a little surprised, but took it anyway as it insistently hovered before him.
An emerald draped blade, similarly magnificent but seemingly more individually tailored to Solexias needs, appeared in her own hand.
It is the ways of Drafacian Elite conduct that no spectator is permitted to either enter or participate in their own individual fights whilst ours is occurring, she told the assembled crowd. The same code also states that whoever draws the first stroke of blood from their opponents chest area will be pronounced victor. Are all gathered company clear on this?
Remzu and Vegeta both reluctantly nodded, the latter internally seething - why was she opting to fight the weaker man? Surely she knew that he wished her no malice unless she warranted it fully.
I told my mother that Id keep you protected, he heard her soft voice said, and he looked up to see her eyes staring into his.
His anger erupted.
Tell your mother that Im perfectly capable of handling myself! He screeched in intense annoyance.
You can delude yourself, but not me, she replied, her voice hardening a little.
Youre still no match for his mental skill, despite your training. I will keep your acquaintance here occupied. In the meantime, gain some ground. Find out some information. But dont touch him. At least not until I can assist you again. Its a suicide mission.
Sighing angrily, he snapped just one word of very reluctant agreement.
Fine.
She smiled, and took up her position twenty feet from the men and opposite the prepared Gohan.
Draw it out, he advised the younger Saiyan.
Im going detective. Gohan gave a tiny and barely noticeable nod, not bothering to take his eyes away from his opponent, nor to turn his head.
Ready? He asked, receiving a small inclination of the head from Solexia, to which they launched together, their swords clashing down in a fierce and synchronised blow.
« Last edited by shiny zapdos on Jul 21st 2006 »