Chapter Text

This is the start

I can't really remember landing on that Frieza planet. But, I do remember when my injuries finally healed. The blue liquid of the healing pod has always been memorizing to me for some reason. Perhaps it's the path of the bubbles as they wander upwards that catch my eye? The healing tank's liquid that's absorbed into my body was specifically engineered by the brightest of Saiyan scientists hundreds of years ago to amplify a Saiyan's natural healing ability*. It just so happens that the technology developed to accelerate the Saiyan's recuperation from battle is also compatible with pretty much every other race in the galaxy. It's one of the few things that the Cold Empire (which included the now retired King Cold, and his two sons Frieza and Cooler) 'adopted' from the Saiyan race*.

The beeping to signal the tank being drained may have been muffled by the liquid I was surrounded by, but I could hear it all the same. I could also hear the muffled voice of Dr. Nusvara*, no doubt he was preparing for the worst case scenario when I step out of the tank. There have been… incidents in the past of my mind not quite catching up with my body that I'm safe and away from the battlefield. I should apologize to Dr. Nusvara for all the trouble I've caused him over the years... The liquid is fully drained and I don't even try to hold in the sigh of relief that escapes me when I pluck the sensors off my face. The breathing mask that was covering my nose and mouth swiftly follows.

"You are fully healed now, you can open your eyes." Dr. Nusvara's raspy voice rings loud and clear in the medical room. I had always found the fact that Dr. Nusvara belongs to a bipedal reptilian species that grows red hair on their head fascinating.

I blink and resist the urge to wipe my eyes. The healing tanks' liquid always makes my skin feel slightly itchy when exposed to air for the first time. There are showers literally attached to the armor room. I have to be patient. I also don't want to irritate my favorite doctor that Frieza has. Maybe I should recruit him when Frieza dies? I stand up carefully and plant my left foot on the 'lip' of the edge of the tank.

"Unfortunately, we weren't able to reconstruct your tail." Dr. Nusvara stated.

"It doesn't matter." I huff and ignore the note of sympathy in his voice. No doubt he thinks I'm devastated at losing a 'limb'. I flex my arms a few times and smirk at being one step closer to my goal. "I don't need a tail to fulfill my 'mission'."

Dr. Nusvara nods and steps aside to get out of my way. I step down and manage to only flinch slightly at feeling the cold floor under my bare feet. I blame my reaction to temperatures on my human memories, as Saiyans are very resilient in most extreme environments*. I had long since grown accustomed to waking up in my 'birthday clothes' when in the healing tank. Doesn't change the vulnerable feeing that always settles in my stomach when I step out of the tank after waking up. I once complained to Dr. Nusvara about it, and he explained that any article of clothing left on the patient's body meant some of the healing liquid was lost. Also, there was potential for the clothing to 'react badly' to exposure to the liquid. Thus, the patient was stripped of all clothes so the most money could be saved, and no clothing would be potentially damaged from exposure to the liquid.*

Once I had voiced my complaints, Dr. Nusvara always seemed to ensure that as few people as possible were in the room whenever I came out of a healing tank. Which, I was and am grateful for. I mean, being part of the army quickly desensitizes you to nakedness amongst others. Especially if you have to share your quarters with other beings, like I do- did with Nappa and Raditz. It still made me a little uneasy to have no armor or weapons on hand after being in such a vulnerable (wounded) state… even though I could dispose of any scientist that works on this base in my sleep if I needed to. It's one of the reasons why Dr. Nusvara is one of my favorite doctors that I've had to interact with over the years.

I nod to him and he leads me to the armory (which is the room attached to the healing pods). I take a five minute shower, dry off, and wander back into the armory to find Dr. Nusvara inspecting my damaged armor.

"Care to tell me what happened, Vis?" He glanced at me, then at what was left of my bloody armor. "Or is the wound to your ego still too raw to be examined?" He turned said armor over in his hand, the soft 'clack' of his claws softly hitting the cracked armor cut through the silent room. "Judging by these stress fractures and cuts in your protective armor, you must have received quite a beating. And that's putting it lightly."

I know that he wouldn't say my preferred name if another was in the room. But I use my new ki sensing ability to check anyway, and am relieved when we are truly the only people in the room. I withhold any remarks at his.. scolding and start to put on my blue body suit and boots.

"I hope you're not entertaining any ideas of revenge." He ignores my snort at that remark. "I might not be here to put you back together next time."

"You don't have to worry about that." I scoff at his warning and tap my boot on the bench to ensure it fits properly. "I won't have to search for that Clown to get my revenge." Just the thought of fighting Goku again brings a giddy feeling to my chest. I take a breath and grab new armor to put on.

"Oh? Do you know something I don't?" He asks with open curiosity. "Is it one of your 'feelings'?"

"Hmph, as if I'd tell you that!" I put on the gloves and turn to smirk at him. "By the way, is Frieza here? I need to speak with him."

"He left. I don't know where he is."

"Are you sure?" I narrow my eyes at him, and am satisfied at the nervous expression that flickers across his face. I tap my boots and tug on my gloves in the familiar pattern of a long forgotten melody*. Perhaps if I remembered the name of the song... I mentally shake those thoughts away and hum in satisfaction once I have ensured that they are secure on my hands and feet.

"Perhaps Cui can help you find him. I saw him make his way to the training center earlier. You can probably catch him there before he leaves, if you hurry?"

I snort and shake my head at the suggestion.

"I have no use for that cowardly fool! Tell Frieza when you see him that I'm looking for him." I wave goodbye and start to walk out of the room when Dr. Nusvara calls out to me.

"But, Vi- er, Vegeta! Sir, you're leaving your scouter behind!" He hurries after me with said device in hand.

I turn towards him and try to reign in my annoyance at the situation. He's trying to do his job, nothing else. Scouters are a part of the Organization's equipment, after all.

"Keep it, it's of no-" Wait, I just learned how to sense ki. Perhaps I should keep it, just in case? "Forgive me, I suppose my mind is still a little… scrambled from the healing tank." I put a grateful smile on my face and take my scouter back.

Dr. Nusvara tilts his head to the side in a silent question. I don't know what he's trying to ask, but after a moment of searching my face he hands me the scouter. He mutters something under his breath and slowly nods. I attach the scouter to my ear, nod in thanks and turn to leave.

"May your next mission be successful, Vegeta." Dr. Nusvara says in his own version of goodbye.

"May your next patient survive under your care." I respond in kind. It was time to hunt down Cui - I wasn't going to waste time twiddling my thumbs waiting for Frieza to come back!

* * *

I'm walking down the halls towards the training rooms, when I happen upon Cui. Well, I suppose it would be more accurate to say that Cui was blocking my way. He started spouting comments about how 'I'm weaker than a third class Saiyan', and 'Frieza isn't too happy with my performance in the field'. Then, he has the gall to put his hand on my shoulder when I try to walk past him! I barely suppress the sudden violent urge that tries to take hold of me and manage to wait it out by gripping my forearms.

"I don't want to hear from you what Frieza thinks! He can tell me in person how disappointed he is in my performance." I take a breath and turn towards Cui. "If you don't get your hand off my shoulder, I will end your pitiful existence." I glare at him, satisfied in the knowledge that even if some regard me as 'Frieza's bloodthirsty attack monkey', I wouldn't have to work very hard to kill Cui. In fact, maybe I should. Cui no doubt has been tasked with keeping an eye on my after that failed mission on earth…

"Y-you don't know what you're talking about!" Cui lets go of my shoulder and takes a step back. "Having a 'talk' with Frieza about failed missions never goes well! Besides, no one's ever won a fight against him!"

The longer Cui talks, the more appealing murder is. And why is he expositing to me about Frieza's strength?! Frieza has beaten me within an inch of my life numerous times for 'failure' ever since I was a small child. Why is he bringing up fighting Frieza to me? I didn't mention wanting to fight Frieza, did I?

"You're biting off more than you can chew! Frieza is utterly indestructible." Cui continues.

"Enough! I am aware of how 'indestructible' Frieza is. Now tell me where Frieza has gone!" I growl.

"The planet Namek" Cui smirks. "That's where Frieza has gone."

I expected Cui to say something like that, but I'm somehow still surprised at Cui's answer? Whatever, I finally have the chance to start the beginning of Frieza's demise! I can't shout for joy or pump my fist right now! Especially since I have an audience… And, I need to hurry so I can stop Frieza from getting all of the Dragon Balls! If I can't do that, then Frieza will truly become unstoppable!

"-never get the Dragon Balls. Believe me, Vegeta, Frieza has no doubt started to find them. And he'll destroy the planet Namek-"

The impatience, anxiety and elation of being so much closer to my goal finally breaks my restraint and I punch Cui in the stomach. His gasping wheeze and shocked face as he doubles over in pain is very satisfying. It's not enough. If I stop with this, then Frieza will be alerted at my 'rebellion' sooner than I'd like. I grip Cui's shoulder.

"Oh, you're bowing to the Prince of all Saiyans? So you finally know your place." I can't help the grin that has stretched across my face. I pull back my fist and gather some ki in my hand. "I'd tell you to grovel and lick my boots, like the dog you are.." I tighten my grip on Cui's shoulder and fire the ki attack as I strike him in the stomach again. "But why would I waste such words on a corpse?"

The ki blast created a hole not only in Cui, but also through the walls protecting the base from the harsh atmosphere of whatever Frieza planet I was currently on. I grab Cui's scouter and hastily run down the hallway back the way I came. I nod to Dr. Nusvara, who is running past me, and jump inside my space pod. I quickly input the coordinates for planet Namek and take off. Most of the soldiers will be busy with the 'hull breach' and won't be able to stop me from my destination until it's too late.