House of Vegeta

A/U

House of Vegeta: The Queen's Ultimatum pt.11

Inshei strode smugly about her private chambers. Today was the day.

_You'll pay for my humiliation, Vegeta...do you think me a fool? Either you do my bidding or be exposed along with that ovee._

The Queen looked at herself in a full length mirror. While no striking beauty, she was hardly an eyesore. Her angular facial features were relatively well balanced, although she thought her nose a shade too long. Shoulder length black spikes were laced with golden thread, a complement to her jewelled crown. Inshei wore her favorite robe, regal velvet in purple with a green train.

_Hn, not bad...there are those who find me quite attractive, although my king doesn't seem to think so..._

So preoccupied was Inshei she never noticed silent footsteps entering the chamber. Vegeta Ou strode in behind her, jolting her reverie.

"Still vain as ever, woman."

The Queen spun. "You dare sneak up on me?"

The Ou snorted. "I don't sneak in my own palace, Inshei. If you weren't so busy admiring your pedestrian looks, you would have heard me."

Inshei tossed her head with disdain. "Have a care how you speak to me, Vegeta...I requested this private conference for a reason."

Vegeta poured himself a drink and stretched out on an ottoman. "Hn, sounds mysterious. So what is it this time, my queen?"

Inshei chuckled to herself. "You think this is funny? We'll see who's laughing when I'm done."

Dark eyes flashed at her. "And what are you doing? I trust you aren't threatening me."

She spun on him suddenly. "I want a child, Vegeta!"

He growled at her. "Again with that? You have a child-"

"Vegeta isn't mine!"

"By law and throne he is. As Queen you will honor that!"

Inshei paced. "And I have. But in the past you've ignored my requests."

"Why do you need a child, Inshei? The throne has an heir-"

The Queen laughed wildly. "So that's it? You have a son and to hell with my needs?"

"WE have a son" the Ou insisted.

"I have nothing against the boy" Inshei admitted. "However, is it so unreasonable to want a child of my own?"

Vegeta sighed. "No..."

"You rarely touch me. Am I so repulsive?!" her own eyes glazed in anger.

"Do you want me to say it?"

"I want the real reason, Vegeta!!"

The Ou abruptly stood. "You know the reason, Inshei. Why play games? I never pretended that you were my choice as mate."

The Queen folded her arms. "Hn! So you'd rather roll with your lover and make ovees?!"

Vegeta paled. "What?! Woman, keep your voice down!"

Inshei smiled triumphantly. "So its true...Vegeta isn't the only besdi of yours, ne?"

"You dare call a son of my line besdi?"

"Shall I name your other son?" she asked sweetly.

The Ou stood in front of her. "I'm warning you-"

She held a finger to his lips. "I know about Raditz. Didn't you give him to Bardock to find a home?"

Vegeta spluttered. The Queen threw her head back and laughed.

"Kami! The look on your face is priceless..."

"I never should have married you! That wretched Queen Ruda put pressure on my family-"

"Don't blame my dear, sweet aunt. She only had my best interests at heart."

"Aye, like royal titles for her ragged clan...I'll not mate bude (fancy trash) cloaked as elites!"

"You dare?!" Inshei moved to strike him. He grabbed her.

"I'll bring no worm tails into the world, woman. I know all about the history of your clan from the archives!"

"Irregularities exist in nearly every line-"

"Only those where low blood dominates. Do you think me a fool?"

"My clan is coveted everywhere, Vegeta. There is elite in my strain!"

Vegeta slammed his drink down. "Hai, the Mirksai seem to be the bridge to everything, both elite and rag tails. I'll not mate with that muddled mess!"

She tore free of his grasp. "My conformity is regular-"

"On the outside, perhaps. But what surprises do you carry?"

Inshei started to say something, then paused. "Who is your lover?"

The Ou blinked, caught off guard. "Sei??"

She snorted. "You heard me, Vegeta. Those ovees didn't spring from the ground!!"

The king paled, shaking her again. "I told you to keep your voice down!"

Inshei laughed in his face. "What, do I cower when you bellow? Fool! If you'd kept your cock in your pants this wouldn't have happened!!"

"I'd never have Vegeta with your poor blood, witch..."

A ki ball formed in her hand. "Not just Vegeta."

"You dare raise power against me?"

"Bah! I am Queen of Vegetaseii. Mock my clan if you will, but-"

He held her hand away. "A foolish challenge, Inshei. Your power is no match for mine!"

"It won't matter if I blow a hole in your gut."

Vegeta snarled a savage grin. "And now the shikshei trash comes out-"

"At least I don't lay around, although I've had offers!"

"I suggest you take whatever charity you can get-"

Inshei cracked Vegeta across the jaw, rocking him back. The Ou smiled, wiping a trickle of blood from his lips.

"A good shot, woman. The only one you'll get before I rip your head off!"

Inshei smiled, flashing sharp teeth. "You'll try...did I mention I have a list of your potential lovers?"

That stopped him in mid stride. "List? What the hell are you talking about?"

"The father of your bastards! What do you think I mean?!"

Vegeta lunged for her throat. Inshei dodged with amazing agility.

"I've narrowed the list to three" she continued, smirking. "All are young, handsome and well formed-"

"You've described nearly a thousand warriors, woman!"

"Hardly...all are distinctive in formation and coloring. All of them spend considerable time in your company..."

"Enough of these asinine riddles, Inshei. My patience grows short!"

Are these names familiar? Dakk, Bardock, and Jersunn."

The Ou's throat went dry. "What are you getting at?"

"Only this...I have my own contacts that see to my best interests. They inform me of any activity that might threaten my position as Queen-"

"You have the gall to spy on me?"

"You've done the same, Vegeta. Have I investigated this situation well?"

The Ou sat slowly, considering his options. "What do you want of me?"

"Give me a child and I will keep silent about what I know."

Vegeta couldn't look at her. _Damn._

The Queen smiled triumphantly. "Come, come. It isn't that bad a prospect, ne? And just think...Vegeta will have another sibling to play with!"

The Ou glared at her, redfaced. "You know nothing, woman. Where is the evidence of your words?"

Inshei closed the space between them. "Even the king can't hide every trail. Servants talk. Elites gossip..."

"More chatter, no proof."

"Three of your generals bore witness to one ovee. Ebluka knows all, as does Commander Varba. Several servants have revealed minor details of secret trysts, with some persuasion."

"Not possible" Vegeta faltered in disbelief.

"Hai, my dear. And I know who those trysts were with. You were careful to avoid me during those times, else I would have caught the scent."

The Ou thought furiously. _There must be a way out..._

"And before you deny it, know this...the fact that Vegeta is super saiyan proves the gene came from both parents, not one!"

The king paled. "I know where you're going, woman-"

Inshei plastered on a sweet smile. "I'm certain you do. Some research in the archives revealed a most startling revelation-"

"Research on who? For what reason?!"

"You're living in a house of sand, Vegeta...either I get what I want or everyone goes down with me!"

"Stop!" he held out a hand. "Perhaps we can work out an arrangement."

"I thought you'd see things my way" the Queen was smug.

"I have a counter offer."

She lifted an eyebrow. "Oh?"

"You've mentioned a desire for stronger status within the elite community."

"Hai, I detest being treated as a mere figure head."

"What did you expect? You coveted a crown bringing no real accomplishments of your own. My parents promised me away like cattle to your clan as a child."

"You never stop reminding me of that, Vegeta!"

"I was bartered as an obligation to my line."

She eyed the handsome face regretfully. "I loved you, you know."

"I know."

"I thought that if I couldn't have your love, I'd at least have part of you."

The Ou sighed. "I bear you no vindictiveness, despite our differences."

Inshei sidled alongside him. "I don't want differences, Ou. I want you."

Black eyes sparked with a strange fire. "Inshei..."

Long fingers stroked the goatee. "I like us better as friends, ne?"

"Perhaps...now will you listen to my counter offer?"

"Say on."

"There is a campaign coming up of some prominence. You know of the planet Xuerlon?"

The Queen's eyes lit with a feral light. "Hai...many elites plan to participate in that purge. It involves mining rights to precious minerals?"

The Ou nodded. "Rights that we will take by force if necessary. The response for this campaign has been overwhelming...there are over five thousand entries pending."

Inshei's eyes widened. "That many? Clearly, not all elite."

"No, even the ragtails line up in record numbers, along with the second and first class."

"What exactly is your proposal?"

"Go on this mission as a commander. It would gain you respect and acclaim the crown alone cannot."

"Hn..."

"Then we can expand on our family. You would get the best of both worlds...a new child and true power as Queen."

Inshei paced a bit. "No tricks, Vegeta. If I sense any deception-"

"A king always keeps his word."

The Queen stared at her image in a mirror. "Myself a warrior...aye! We have a deal, Vegeta."

The Ou stood and turned to leave. "Good. Inform me of your arrangements. We still have two weeks for preparations and war council sessions."

"I will attend those!"

Vegeta nodded. "Of course. It would be impossible to command otherwise."

Inshei poured herself a drink. "Don't you want to toast?"

The Ou headed out, his cape billowing as he moved. "I think not, my Queen."

THE END