House of Vegeta Chronicles

A/U

HOUSE OF VEGETA CHRONICLES 3

Nappa waited patiently outside the Ou's upper chambers along with
Tozzak, Goboll, and Barjus. The grizzled commanders were among
Vegeta's most trusted. They sat at a polished table in the private
conference area.

Tozzak spoke first. "You know what this means."

Nappa nodded. "Ai, we are among the few that know...Vegeta grows
increasingly reckless."

Barjus nodded, pulling his bearded jaw. "Inshei moves against him now
in earnest...her rage knows no bounds. But we have interests as well."

Goboll snarled. "Junior officers and courtisans sniff her tail
everywhere, seeking favor. I hear rumors from the parliament she
intends to replace long standing members with her own clan."

Nappa grunted, pouring them all a drink. "Shikshei trash...her
raggedy group always did aspire beyond their means. Vegetaan never
had a choice, thanks to old queen Ruda."

Tozzak gulped his drink. "Ancient, scheming wikka (witch)! Still,
Vegeta makes it worse with hot blood...the fool!!"

Barjus looked about. "Curious. Bardock isn't here..."

Tozzak smirked. "Why that, eh? Whenever the king is in...a certain
state, he's nowhere to be seen!"

"Are you implying what I think?!" Goboll grinned smugly.

Nappa shook his head in thought. "Krukka, his sire Gedok was bad
enough, back in the day when I came up through ranks. You know the
rumors!"

Barjus sniffed. "Hn, about Gedok's mirde (child of destiny)?"

Goboll sighed. "The son he never claimed, supposedly. Bah! Dry talk
from brainless social climbers."

"Not so brainless." Nappa murmured, as if to himself. "I was among
the coterie that witnessed the birth of Vegeta's hidden cub."

Barjus stared. "Ai, we all know of the secret. But what's that to do
with Gedok?"

The bald general lowered his voice, mindful of his words. "Nothing
directly, but hear me out...who among us is a walking contradiction
in status and power?"

The commanders stared at each other. Tozzak braved the first comment.

"Bardock is...we all know it. No third class known has ever rated his
power."

Nappa looked about quickly. "I'll only say this once. Have any of you
ever noticed his ki spike?"

They all nodded shortly. Nappa continued.

"And few elites as well...which leads me to conclusions. Do you
follow this?"

Shocked silence.

Barjus blubbered. "Are you mad? Do you know what you imply?!"

"I won't be hung for treason, Barjus...but we've all wondered at
his 'fast track' to the top of our ranks."

Tozzak thought a moment. "He is young to command so many armies..."

"Rumors have ever persisted about his blood in elite circles."

"And why did Vegeta give him the cub to hide?"

Nappa lifted an eyebrow. "Why indeed? Think!"

The commanders gasped. Barjus waved them all to silence. "Bedattka.
Enough, or we'll all be hung!"

Nappa sipped his drink again. "These thoughts have plagued me for
years. Now Vegeta is with child again. Krukka! This insanity has no
end."

Tozzak sighed. "Bardock hiding the cub proves nothing, Nappa."

"No? Are you dense?"

"He had least seniority at the time and would raise the least
suspicion." Goboll added. "We would be too high profile for such-"

"Asshole!!" Nappa thundered. Our Ou GAVE the baby to Bardock."

Heavy silence was his only reply.

The bald general snuffed, annoyed. "And now we wait for audience with
Vegeta, who bellows like a madman from his bed."

****

Vegetaan roiled in the royal chambers, heaving with pain and fever.
Glerunn was at his side, with sterile cloths and draughts. Other
servants were preparing medications.

"Be still!"

Vegeta roared, arching from sweat soaked sheets. Darkly handsome
features were contorted in savage fury. Servants barely held him
still as he thrashed in agony.

"DO SOMETHING, YOU STUPID SLARRGS...THIS CUB DRIVES ME MAD!!"

"Silence, Vegeta!! Or I'll put you to sleep!" Glerunn shouted,
slamming broad shoulders down.

The Ou sweated, holding his thickening belly. He had been in bed for
over a week with pain, weakness and fever.

"Glerunn...do something about this chibi, I say. It won't keep
still!!"

The grizzled physician prepared syringes. "Vegeta, you have worms.
I'm going to give you medicine for that, and a relaxant."

The king clenched his teeth. "Sss...will the cub be harmed?"

"No, although it's strange for a chibi to move this early."

"Tell it to this baby! I can't sleep, I can barely eat..."

"You're only two months along-"

"So what!!" Vegeta roared again. "The little fiend is ripping me
apart!!"

****

The commanders postponed their meeting, as recommended by Glerunn.
With grim faces they milled about the castle grounds, mulling options
for maintaining the regime.

Vegeta was finally resting comfortably. Muzzy from sedation and
medication, he lay in plush comfort. Small footsteps entered his
private chamber.

"Father?"

The Ou tilted his head, smiling weakly. A very young Vegeta no Ouji
stood in the doorway, under heavy velvet curtain. Wide dark eyes were
clouded with worry.

The king motioned to him. "Come, child. Sit beside me here."

The princeling nearly bounded across the room, his lithe form
gracefully covering the small distance. The boy clambered up and
snuggled, his fat tail coiling the king's arm.

Vegeta sighed, breathing spicy scent from the tender skin. He nuzzled
a thick flame of hair.

"Why have you been crying, Vegeta?"

The boy sniffed, his heart shaped face flushed. "I...I wasn't crying,
father. I heard you and got scared."

Cable like arms wrapped around. "Don't be afraid. Haven't I always
told you a prince is strong, even when scared?"

Another sniff. "Yes, father."

"Good. Now why were you scared?"

"Because I heard you yelling."

"I'm fine. See?"

The princeling looked him over oddly. "You smell funny."

A sigh. "I've been sick, child."

The bright face tilted down, staring. "Paba, you're kinda fat. Did
you eat something big?"

Vegeta nearly choked down a laugh. "Indeed. I bit off more than I
could chew."

The princeling snickered. "I can feel something! Is there somebody
else in the room?"

The Ou went pale. "No child, just us two."

The boy tilted his head, frowning. "Uh uh." Keen eyes looked about in
confusion. A small nose sniffed again. "Somebody real little." a
reddish black tail swished wildly. Finally the dark gaze fell on the
Ou's swollen middle.

"Right there!" the little ouijan pointed.

Vegeta flushed. "That's enough!"

"But-"

"Go play now."

"You okay, father? I can make a medicine."

The king made a face. "I don't think so. Go on, now" he kissed the
thick mop of hair.

The ouijan bounded down from the bed. "All right. I'll tell the
servants to bring you food later."

Vegeta smiled, propping himself up in bed. "You do that. Away, sesei
(darling)!"

Squealing, the young saiyan raced out, nearly tripping over his tail.
The Ou sidled down in bed again, relaxing against satin pillows.

The chamber was quiet momentarily. Until...

"I hear you, woman. There's little point in hiding."

Queen Inshei strode out in regal annoyance. Her tone was smug. "A
queen doesn't hide. I merely waited for this opportunity."

"Typically your style. What do you want?"

Angular features tightened under bejewelled braids. "Not much at this
time. I merely find this situation amusing."

"What's so damn amusing?!"

A sly laugh. "You, Vegetaan. The look on your face moments ago was
priceless. The boy's instincts lead him true, as they would any
saiyan."

"He's too young to know."

"No he isn't. Fool! The inner court and select members of the
parliament know the truth, as well as several of your generals-"

The Ou nearly climbed from bed. "Beware, Inshei..."

She waved him off, laughing. "Spare me your empty threats. I enjoy
seeing that cub turn your insides out! You deserve it."

"You dare speak to your king that way?!"

"Why not? You care nothing for me as queen! I'll have my due, Vegeta."

"Wikka (witch). I know you manuever within the parliament, woman.
Your ragged clan will never achieve dominance!"

"We'll see...several of my dear relatives wait patiently. It would
seem many elder members have secrets they don't want revealed-"

"Mocco!! (Moron!!)" the outburst cost Vegeta as he clutched his belly
once more.

Inshei laughed madly. "Drop one, drop another! Tell me, do promises
in sweat under moon feel good now?"

A ki ball formed in Vegeta's hand. "So help me, woman...I'll kill you
now and worry about consequences later!"

She made an affected smile. "Kill Vegeta's mother? Oh, I think
not...your rule would come to a swift end."

"You overestimate yourself."

"Horny bastard...you can't get Bardock out of your system!!"

"I'll hear no more, woman. Begone!"

"Gladly." she stormed out, silken robes trailing.

****

Vegeta fell back into bed, his ki ball dissipating. He wanted to
sleep...

/Vegeta./

Dark eyes snapped open. /Bardock? Where are you?/

/Where the hell do you think? On this half assed mission to backwater
Osakki Five./

/It's too hot for you here, now./

/So I gathered. The bitch giving you problems, eh?/

/What else is new. I should have killed her just now./

/Good. Then I can kill you!!/

/?!??/

/Shikshei royal skank...how many are you going to have?!/

/Bardock, I swear this was unexpected. I thought my bearing cycle was
over!/

/Bullshit!! Haven't you screwed with me enough?? Who raises this new
baby?!/

A sigh. /This chibi is a problem.../

/What? Has my worst fear finally happened?!/

/Not that!/

A pause. /What, then? When I last saw you, there was no cub!/

The Ou smiled to himself in the link. /Bardock...the Ardwett
jungle.../

/!!/

/Under moon...three nights.../

/Shit!!/

/Hn, your own fault. You followed!/

/Dammit, Vegeta. We have a MOON cub?/

A grimace. /Based on the way its ripping my insides...yes!!/

/You deserve it!/

/Asshole! This is your child also. You will raise it!/

/Like hell...let Vegeta grow with his sibling!/

/We'll discuss this later, Bardock./

/No we won't! Celipe would put a knife to my neck./

/So why stay with her? There's no point, now!/

/Several reasons I won't go into./

"RUARRGHH!!!"

/Vegeta! What the hell??/

The Ou heaved again. /This daza (demon) tears me in two!!/

/That's insane...you aren't that far along!/

A snarl. /If I could blow this evil cub out now I would!!/

Bardock laughed from his ship. /Goodnite, sweet king...cradle the
mostri (monster) well until I return!/

The saiyan commander walked down dark corridors, infinitely amused.

THE END