The Bounds of Hatred

Chapter Five: Duties

Vegeta slumped in the tattered black leather seat, staring out at an expanse of space. Why did the solitude of space almost comfort him? There was nothing there really, but somehow…that lack of something was calming.

He couldn’t quite put a word to it…but he almost felt at…peace. His face rippled with a grimace, contorting his strong features into a scowl of rage. Peace? I know nothing of peace! The entirety of my existence is forged around the blood of the innocent!

He ground his teeth together and snorted. Who am I trying to fool? Innocent? Not one person in this pathetic universe knows the value of that word. They all have their own secrets. They sell each other for money. Murder each other for survival. They even destroy their own worlds for the progress of their own selfish motives.

The chair creaked as he shifted his weight. He tilted his head to one side, resting the side of his face into his palm. Innocent indeed! At least I admit my pleasure in coating my hands crimson. Of course, I am a Saiyan after all.

He cackled and closed his intense eyes, sighing. Saiyans had always been a blood hungry race. They were the most feared warriors in the universe! No one dared to stand in their way! They were unstoppable. The ultimate! The legendary!

Vegeta’s eyes snapped open and he slumped suddenly into the plush leather seat. Well, they had been unstoppable. Until Frieza, they had been the rulers of the universe. A growl was filling the room, pricking Vegeta’s sensitive ears. It took him only a handful of seconds to realize it was him.

He sneered, his growl intensifying with the realization of his loss. The loss of his home world. The loss of the life he would have had. The loss of his right to the Saiyan throne. He should have been ruling people! He should have been causing wars for the advancement of his people! Instead, he was taking orders from that snake.

Vegeta sneered, running his fingers through his mane of black flame hair. He spun away from the control panel, shooting up from the chair he had placed himself in. His boots echoed heavily as he paced a circle.

It was not befitting of a Saiyan, especially a Saiyan royal, to dwell on the past and regret things. He would not give himself over to the humiliation. He would move on with his life. Prepare for the future. His own future. Someday. Someday he would put an end to Frieza and seize control of the universe. He would create a new planet Vegeta and renew the Saiyan race. He would even begin the army of the legendaries again!

He laughed. There was an edge of shrillness to the sound. It sounded as if he were on the brink of madness…and maybe he was.

He gave his head a sharp shake and stopped the circle he was wearing into the steel floor. “Absurd,” he muttered, his tone coming out in a growled annoyance. He needed to get his mind off of the past. He needed to look forward! Why was that so hard? He was always in a carefully controlled state! Why did he feel that control quickly slipping away?

He snatched up his mission folder, throwing it open on a nearby control panel. His eyes fixed themselves upon the words. He attempted to read down the lines, but none of the sentences would register in his racing head. He could not comprehend a solitary word written down. He snarled and yanked at his hair before throwing his papers across the chamber.

The sheets pulled free of the manila folder, fluttering helplessly through the air. They landed in a cascade of confusion to coat the tiled floor. He snickered and resumed his pacing, ignoring the mess. Screw it, he would go by his memory and recite the damned mission.

"Planet Unali." His tone sounded like that of an android, no emotion causing friction in the words. Just a fact. "It is yellowish brown in color from space, the land itself made from precious amber," he continued, his voice becoming more growl. More normal.

"Vegeta." Nappa pushed out, kneeling on the hard floor. His eyes sought the floor and he bowed his head in submission. Vegeta stopped his pacing and looked almost expectantly at the older Saiyan. “Sorry to intrude but,"

"Stop apologizing Nappa, your apologies are useless.” Vegeta snarled and rubbed a gloved hand over his weary face. He waited a heartbeat before waving his hand dismissively at the large warrior. “ Go make us some glarps, I’m famished." His obsidian eyes followed Nappa as he left before he resumed his treading.

He really didn’t have a care as to what Nappa wanted. If it had been truly important, Nappa would have protested a bit more. Vegeta chuckled and cleared his throat, recommencing his rant. "Originally, Frieza had ordered, not an extermination of the planet, but an extermination of the species upon the planet. He wanted them destroyed for their disobedience to His rule. He ordered the Unalians to be slaughtered and the planet to be inhabited by the Nakoirs."

He stared at the ceiling for several heartbeats, listening to the eerie silence of the chamber. He could feel his muscles beginning to relax. "Nakoirs are a toad like species who have ruled the dungeons of Cooler’s, Frieza’s brother, ice palace for centuries. Cooler soon became tired of them and exiled them to a wasteland upon the ice planet. Although King Cold could be considered the true ruler of the universe, he gave most of his reign to Frieza. Cooler was a frozen wart on the backside of his father’s ass." Vegeta snickered and stopped to stare out the windows for a moment. Still nothing but stars.

He was feeling better already. Reciting was the perfect therapy for his restless mind. "Setting the family tree aside, Frieza gained rule of 95 percent of the universe, including Unali which had risen against Him after 15 years of faithful service. After long debate upon the subject, which mounted to long hours of arguing between His father and Himself, Frieza decided that a full extermination would be necessary. Amber mines are on plenty of other planets, one loss would not present to be a major problem." He smirked, sliding back into his tattered seat. He was at ease once more.

***

Slipping back into the crimson coated prison, Sytheria padded back towards the overly plush bed. A whirlwind of images were cascading over her mind and she failed to notice the Ice-Jinn. What was Zarbon planning? Could he possibly be strong enough…or even smart enough to plot against their Mighty Ruler? She gave her head a small shake, dispersing the thoughts, only to halt dead in her own tracks.

Frieza’s ruby eyes glinted through the darkness, pinning her to her spot. He was crouched at the edge of their bed, His tail flicking to and fro rather aggressively. “Where have you been my…sweet Sytheria.” He purred, but she did not neglect noticing the distrust in his voice. It chilled her heart and stole her breath. He was a very jealous creature, and was even less forgiving. She had to swim her waters carefully, even when she had nothing to hide.

"Where have you been my sweet Sytheria?" He repeated and this time the suspicion in His voice faltered her heart, but a smile slowly crept over her delicate face. Though a shadow of uncertainty billowed over her soul, she took a ginger step towards Him. The lizard narrowed His eyes, stopping her advancement again. This time, she frowned.

She had nothing to worry herself over. She had committed no crime against him. She was a faithful servant. She did not like being punished after all. She had witnessed some of the Supreme Being’s punishments, and she had to say, He was rather creative.

She could recall a particular torture session that lasted mere minutes, but the encounter burned the back of her restless mind. She could sit through them. She could hold her blank expression, even manage a bored amusement, but down it her bones she shivered. She did not agree with some of His methods, but she would never admit that. Not if she wanted to live.

She drew herself to her full height, puffing out her tiny chest. “Why…my lord.” She batted her long lashes at him and pursed her full lips. “I was only going to get some healing cream for a few of our playful wounds.” After all, it was the honest truth. He Himself had ordered the injection to be created in the first place. He knew unequivocally what was in store for her when He had first laid his greedy eyes upon her. She was His plaything, simple and clear. He liked it rough, so naturally, being a mere being, she needed some enhancement for the attention.

Frieza had never liked weak beings, but she seemed to be more enticing than He let on. He, after all, kept her around. She had been in His charge for more than a handful of years. She often wondered how long it would be before He tired of her.

“After all, I know how you love the flawless perfection of my body. I wouldn’t want any kind of tainting mark. You seemed to have sap most of the chemical healing with your rather,” she searched in her mind desperately for a word and a smirk graced her cherry lips. “Your fiery performance in bed.”

Frieza’s tail slowly began to stop wagging, but His face remained suspicious. Sytheria truly did not want to give Him any reason for suspicion and knew only one thing would take His mind far from it. She shrugged her shoulders slowly, raising her palms at chest level, placing them over her perky breasts. She tweaked a nipple until it became ripe and peaked, sliding her free hand over her smooth belly. The hand at her breast worked at caressing the delicate flesh, her tongue darting out to moisten her steadily drying lips.

Frieza’s eyes darkened and His breathing slowed with lust. His gaze followed her slowly descending hand until it stopped at her soft patch of honey colored hair before her index finger disappeared into her depths. She let out a moan of desire and He was suddenly at her side, eager to be of assistance.

***

Jace stumbled from the tank, her nude form drenching with slimy blue liquid. Her body was healed and her determination restored. The only thing she didn’t have was a plan to keep herself from her punishment. She scuttled to the far corner of the room and her eyes darted around. She always felt so vulnerable after the regeneration tank. Being nude really didn’t help.

There was a time they could climb into the regeneration tanks fully clothed, but that rule had been quickly stricken aside. Somehow, a few years prior, a torn piece of a warrior’s clothing had managed to spill down the drainage and clogged the system. It had been backed up for days! Frieza had lost a handful of good warriors in those few short days. Needless to say, it was forbidden to bring anything into the tank aside from yourself.

Her fingers worked nimbly over a control panel stationed on the wall. The computer’s voice clicked to life and Jace rolled her eyes. “Commencing cleanse mode.” It droned and a thrumming noise vibrated through the thick walls. “Have a wonderful day.” She finished, clicking off. The growling noise grew louder and soon water exploded from the ceiling, assaulting Jace’s slimey body.

She tipped her head back into the spray, letting its warmness embrace her tiny body. She scrubbed at her hair with her fingers, attempting to rid herself of the last droplets of healing liquid. It wasn’t too hard to get the slime off your body, but it seemed to take forever to free itself from the threads of her hair. Every time. She scowled.

"What am I supposed to do?" The words were drowned out by the rushing water, but still she received no reply. She hadn’t really expected one, but it would have been nice. Once she was thoroughly scrubbed and looked like a drowned rat, she ceased the ‘cleanse’ mode. She pulled her clothes quickly over her damp limbs and dragged herself towards the door. She reached to punch in the code, but it slid open of its own accord.

"Sorry, didn’t mean to get in your way," she muttered, stepping aside as Zarbon swept in. He carried a young woman with locks of gentle aquamarine. Blood stained the locks near her forehead and patches of dried blood decorated her body.

"Can you help me with her clothes Jace?" His tone sounded serious and she merely nodded, moving to comply before her brain had fully registered the request. They stripped Bulma of her shredded lab coat and all other clothe, setting her gently inside of a regeneration tank. Jace began programming the tank for a full healing while Zarbon hooked the woman up to the oxygen mask. As soon as he moved from the tank the lid slid closed and the tank began to fill with the slimy blue liquid.

"What happened to her?" Jace’s tone was not of concern, but that of mild interest as she turned to the amber eyed warrior.

He replied, shaking his head. "It’s a long story."

She smiled bitterly and crossed her arms. "Trust me, I have plenty of time."
***

Nappa slid into a chair near his Prince and tapped at the control keys. "Planet Unali coming into view. We have two minutes before we are within firing range, and if you wish to land, we must circle to the East side of the planet, there are storms broken out everywhere Prince."

Vegeta took the news in with mild concern and barely nodded. He would have Nappa fly them to the East side. "Remember Nappa, you can do what you want with the inhabitants, but nobody must survive." His tone was dead and emotion was the furthest thing from his soul.

"You do know, Prince, that it would be faster to just blow the planet up from space,” Nappa commented boldly. Vegeta’s eyes slid to his servant and his hand shot out in a blur of speed, sending Nappa into a wall.

"I know that!" Vegeta snapped, crossing his arms as he slumped back into his chair. "Any other bright ideas, baldy?" Nappa stood and shook his head slowly, cautiously taking up his seat again. "I didn’t think so.” Vegeta spat. “Now land this piece of shit Nappa, and stop giving your opinion."

***

"Planet Unali." The computer droned in a monotone voice. "Atmosphere, breathable. Temperature 103 degrees. Water supply, no good for drinking. Population of planet, 3083 people. 85 percent of the planet is desert. Capital of Unali is Gem City. 2082 men, 1001 women. 371 of those men and women are children."

Vegeta made a wave of his hand and Nappa tapped a bright orange button. "Thank you, have a safe visit." The computer droned once more before turning off. Vegeta’s eyes traveled to meet Nappa’s and they nodded to each other, sliding the ramp down. They were ready to take out any being that moved.

They walked steadily down the ramp, their tails wrapped tightly to their waists as they went in opposite directions. Vegeta knew it wouldn’t take long for the screams to begin. It would be no secret why they were there, for they wore Frieza’s warrior badge upon their Saiyan torso armor.

AN: Thanks so much to Hiei08 for being my very first review! Hopefully it isn't my last review! I am not lying when I say that your review was the only thing that pushed me to finish this boring chapter (sorry it was boring, I had to get through it) and post it. I've been feeling pretty crappy lately, with the lack of reviews (even bad ones) and so I had no motivation. Thank you so much, I will promise to try and keep the updates coming.