House of Vegeta Chronicles

A/U

HOUSE OF VEGETA CHRONICLES 6

Vegeta sat in his office, tapping a stylus absently. The conversation
he'd had with Raditz had him totally distracted.

_What madness were we talking about? We've always gotten along...but
that doesn't mean anything special. Does it?_

His thoughts roiled wildly. Furious, the ouji hurled the stylus
across the room.

"Bah! I'm all but useless like this...I need answers!"

****

Raditz received a summons to the castle later that afternoon. His
best friend, Humoz, entered the gym area where warriors trained.
Their barracks nestled in the mountains, hundreds of miles away from
the castle proper.

The bearded saiyan mopped his brow, grinning wickedly. "Word is
you're wanted at the big house again!"

Raditz sneered, catching the inference to past visits. "Shut up.
Prince Vegeta demands audience, and I can't disappoint him."

"At least you won't have to pack a bag!" Humoz teased again.

Raditz didn't find it funny. "You want a broken nose?"

Humoz sat next to his friend on a stool while they watched other
soldiers work out. "Any idea what it's about?"

The great mane shook. "None. Odd, I was just there the other day."

"You didn't piss our prince off, did you?"

"Hardly. He'd just returned from a purge on some backwater."

Humoz pulled his beard in thought. "Yeah, I heard about that. Our
ouji is extremely efficient."

Raditz looked at his chronometer. "Ai, I'd better get going."

****

Raditzsu decided to change into flashier armor than his standard
issue. Something in him rebelled at being seen as ragtail, though
physically he bore no resemblance to any third class. Open stares
followed the so called third class who stalked regally through castle
halls.

Raditz smirked in satisfaction. _Aye, let them stare...they're so
used to seeing lower class squirm and dress like pond scum. Not me!_

A thickly built saiyan of considerable renown watched him also,
surrounded by cronies. Nappa.

"Hn, what's this? Another return visit, Raditzsu?"

The maned saiyan whipped around, glaring. "What buisness is it of
yours, Nappa?"

The hard mouth laughed. "Oh, I make everything in the castle my
buisness, boy."

One of the other commanders stepped forward, Hurrun. He tapped shiny
armor.

"Fancy pants, eh? This armor must have set you back a piece, boy."

Raditz pushed the hand away. "Again, none of your buisness. Get out
of my way!"

The others encircled him in the great hallway. "Insolent trash"
Hurrun snarled, shaking his square head. "You think being pretty
gains you access to the elite? Bah...back to your own kind!"

Red haze fogged the young warrior's vision. "My own kind!!"

Still another general spoke, Wurrd. Her shaggy spikes were pleated
around bone clamps. Dark armor covered her thick body.

"Don't start something you can't finish, boy. If our ouji didn't
desire your appearance, we'd surely have tossed you out by now."

Raditz glared angrily. "We'll see."

Nappa moved aside. "Go on, while you still can."

The young warrior stalked between them all, his large frame gleaming
in polished silver. The generals stared intently as he disappeared
down busy corridors.

Wurrd spoke first. "Nappa, I tell you...that boy is..."

"Ai. I'd come to the same conclusion years ago, but there's no hard
evidence..."

The female commander lowered her voice. "You witnessed, among others.
And rumors have ever persisted."

The thick general waved for her to stop. "Are you mad, Wurrd. Not
here!"

Hurrun nodded secretively. "Hai, evidence enough. There are those
that know, Nappa. Why deny it?"

The bald general glowered in the direction Raditz went. "Because I
want my head squarely where it is. Still, these visits grow brazen."

"Is your memory so poor? You were there!"

"True, but that isn't proof about Raditz-"

"Faugh!" Wurrd snapped impatiently. "If that's the way you want to
play it...but it's known he gave the child to Bardock!"

"And Bardock is his father, ne?" Hurrun grinned slyly. "Coincidence,
or more?"

Nappa looked away briefly. "Supposedly his mother is a ragtail by
name of Celipe."

"Do you buy that? Really?"

A snort. "I don't know what to believe. Those entrusted to the secret
swore not to speak of it..."

Wurrd folded her arms, nodding. "True, but even secrets slip through
cracks."

Nappa thought a minute. "The one thing that perplexes me is his power
level...there's nothing extraordinary about it."

The other two stared in surprise.

"You mean, he actually rates as ragtail??" Wurd stammered. "But..."

"Ai, I've gone round and round in my own mind on this. It makes no
sense."

"Maybe the changeling is another...still, this brazen wurla (low
class) struts the castle as if he owns it!" Hurrun huffed.

Nappa shook his head again. "Something about this has rankled me for
years. Who does he remind you of?"

With a hushed whisper the generals spoke in unison. "Vegeta Ou."

****

The prince waited impatiently, tapping his foot.

"Where is that shiksha-"

Raditz stepped into the imperial chambers and kneeled. "My Ouji
desires audience?"

Vegeta looked him over in surprise. _How is he dressed? Kami, he
looks like an elite soldier...or royal..._

Raditz glanced up at the long pause. "My prince?"

"Why...are you dressed so formally?"

The warrior glanced down at himself. "I thought to please my prince.
Is it sufficient?"

Vegeta looked him over again. "Very. Now get up, for I have little
patience today!"

Raditz stood, perplexed. "We but spoke yesterday-"

"Silence, I didn't give you permission to talk. Our previous
conversation rankled me, Raditz. I've decided to take matters into my
own hands."

Dark eyes blinked in confusion. "I...don't understand?"

A sigh. "The conversation regarding our...curious past."

The larger saiyan remembered to breathe. "Then, you think there's
merit to what I said?"

"To what you implied. Yes. That's why I summoned you here...the two
of us are going to review the hidden archives."

"Ba...but I can't! I'm only third class-"

"You have the protection of your prince, dolt! Now follow me, we go."

Numbly, Raditz could only comply as they headed out.

****

He couldn't believe it. They walked through the castle, side by side.
Confused and amazed stares followed them. Courtiers, servants, elites
all were dumbfounded at the sight of their ouji strutting through
with a flashy third class at his side. Tongues wagged, heads turned
aside in whispers.

Icy glares from Vegeta no Ouji dampened their curiosity. Eyes averted
nervously.

"What's their problem?" Raditz finally asked, annoyed as they
proceeded on.

"Never mind them, you're with me. Be silent!"

As many times as he'd visited the castle, even lived there, Raditz
never ceased to be amazed at it's sheer size.

As if picking up on his thoughts, Vegeta nodded. "You've never seen
all of it, and there's more...the planetary archives are below
ground."

"What?!"

"Ai, what I share with you now precious few have knowledge of.
Consider it a royal boon."

"But won't the Ou be pissed?"

A smirk. "Let me deal with that. Now observe as we go, Raditz."

In awed silence the burly saiyan looked about. They descended down a
huge walkway made of polished marble. Massive columns exsquisitely
carved adorned the graceful hallway.

/This seems endless./

Further down they wound, approaching a gigantic stone wall. It
appeared to be carved from a mountain face.

"We're below level now" Vegeta explained. "That wall is carved from
subgrade stone. The archives reside here."

"Incredible...the castle actually rests on the central library?"

A laugh. "Ai, not the public records but true ones. You'll see."

The burly saiyan nodded in silence. Out of nowhere, guards appeared
with stun poles and ki suppressors.

"HOLD."

The Ouji grinned coldly. "Stand aside, I desire access."

Stun poles pointed at the pair. "There's been no notification."

Dark eyes burned with fire. "Don't be foolish. I'll only say it once."

Raditz spoke in his ear. "Maybe we should come back-"

"Ne" Vegeta snarled, pointing a glowing hand. "Stand aside!!"

A captain stepped forward then. "Ouji, what do you here? Rarely do
any access these records!"

"I'll not explain to you, captain Orokk. While I respect your duty,
you'll stand aside for your prince. Could you risk a battle that
would damage these chambers?"

She thought that over momentarily. "Probably not. Yemada! All of
you...allow the prince and his guest access!!"

The heavily armored guards moved aside, melting into the corridors.
Their prince nodded in satisfaction.

"Power will out."

****

The sheer enormity of the catacombs was breathtaking. The lower
levels resembled an endless library full of ancient books, scribes
and data files.

Vegeta explained as they walked the giant hallways. "Many of the
oldest records have been updated on data chips for permanent storage.
However, the original documents are preserved whenever possible."

Raditz nodded, glancing about at busy caretakers. "Makes
sense...there's always more than one copy of any documentation."

Gloved hands pointed at various storage levels. "The oldest documents
date back nearly five thousand years, when our people first developed
written language. Every birth, death, social event and city structure
is recorded."

The maned saiyan stared up. "It must be an endless task, keeping
track of everything."

"True enough, and new chambers are ajoined to this one every few
decades."

"Who are all these people?"

"Historians and recorders. Their job is continuous."

The pair continued in silence for some time, as curious eyes stared.
A tall saiyan approached them, wearing glistening robes the color of
dewdrops. A long beard grew from his narrow jaw, shaped and cut
severely at the bottom.

"Greetings, Ouijan. What brings you here?"

Vegeta glanced around. "Urtok, I need access to royal records, fairly
recent. No more than two or three decades."

A thick eyebrow lifted in curiosity. "Of which variety?"

"Blood records."

A gasp. "Ah, those are of highest classification-"

"I want to see them!!"

"But why, Vegeta? I don't understand-" he glanced at Raditz.

"Don't concern yourself with that. My visit will be fairly brief."

"I...don't know..."

"Enough!! Just point us in the right direction."

Dark eyes looked over the younger saiyans. "Very well, ouji...but
this is highly irregular."

"So is our circumstance."

****

Contrary to Vegeta's belief, their visit was anything but brief.
Hours later the two saiyans were pouring over old documents, records,
and data files. Food had been sent in.

Raditz clutched his wild mane . "I'm going blind from this, Vegeta.
What the hell are we looking for, specifically!"

The Ouji held a data chip. "Anything regarding the recent bloodlines
of Vegeta...all births."

Raditz blinked in shock. "That would include your father!"

"Ai...and here reside all true records, not those altered for public
databases."

"Are you certain you want to do this?"

Dark eyes sparkled. "We need to have facts, not suspicions. And I
love a good mystery."

"Wait, here's something on my computer screen...about the Ou!"

"Hn!" the Ouji sidled next to the larger saiyan. "Ah...father's own
records."

The bright screen flashed small text. Information poured out in a
scroll...

DATA FILE RECORD #4992010399911-aaa-9911138488. Birth Vegetaan (M)
0013.06.88. Sire/ Gedok 0013.04.59/ Dam/ Aperdis 0013.11.64 /
Classification 0-1/Super Elite. Blood YT negative/Color RDB.

Raditz glanced at his Ouji. "I hope you don't mind if I say 'so
what?'"

A smirk. "Let's scan down further...we need to see more!"

"Hn, there's an awful lot here..."

"Wait! There, Raditz!!"

Eerie bright light washed over them from the screen. The burly saiyan
pointed.

"This is your record, Vegeta!"

"Ai. I've never looked at it before, there was no need."

"Fascinating."

DATA FILE RECORD #4122013029911-aca-9914448488. Birth Vegeta (M)
0014.07.16. Sire/ Unknown 0013.12.95/ Sabat/ Vegetaan 0013.06.88/
Classification 0/Super Saiyan. Blood ST negative/Color RDB.

The ouji tapped his chin in thought. "Now for your record."

Raditz swallowed. "I'm nervous for some reason, Vegeta. I don't see
Queen Inshei's name on your true record."

"No, she didn't birth me. Of course I knew that even as a child, for
senses ever lead true."

"She didn't smell like your mother either."

"No. Now keep scrolling down!"

"Shit..."

DATA FILE RECORD #8332011376711-azz-9914418025. Birth Raditzsu (M)
0014.01.11. Sire/ Bardock 0013.12.95/ Sabat/ Unknown 0013.06.88/
Classification 1/Super Elite. Blood ST negative/Color BLB.

Raditz looked away. "Oh Kami..." he shuddered.

The Ouji spoke in a whisper, his mouth dry. "There's only
Bardock...and Kakarot to check..."

Still more information flashed after a query:

DATA FILE RECORD #9766011790312-atv-1478918033. Birth Bardock (M)
0013.12.95. Sire/ Unknown 0013.04.59/ Dam/ Ubera 0013.10.55/
Classification ?? Unknown. Blood YS negative/Color BLB.

"What the f-??" both saiyans said in unison.

DATA FILE RECORD #6642011669011-oof-9225617775. Birth Kakarotto (M)
0014.03.21. Sire/ Bardock 0013.12.95/ Sabat/ Unknown 0013.06.88/
Classification 0/Super Saiyan. Blood ST negative/Color BLB.

The pair sat with their mouths open. Raditz found his voice first.

"What does this mean, Vegeta? Even these records don't reveal
everything about father!"

"There has to be a cross index somewhere with that information!"

"Transpose the dates on these records...see what I mean?!"

In consternation, the prince tapped his fingers. "It...indicates what
we both suspect, but-"

Raditz shook his head. "It's too incredible...there's a definite
connection, Vegeta!"

The ouji looked him over. "Same blood type...the transposition of
dates for parentage, substituting 'unknown'-"

The large saiyan was very quiet now. "Am I royal, Vegeta? Is Kakarot?"

A burning odor interrupted their talk. Seconds later the computer
blew, smoking sparks from a dark monitor.

Vegeta banged it with his fist. "Stupid machine!!!"

****

They decided to look the old fashioned way, through dusty books.

"Vegeta, something else is bothering me about father's records..."

"Agreed. There's too much mystery."

"Who was his sire?"

The prince rubbed his head wearily. "How should I know? Who's your
saban (birthing parent)? Who sired me? And why was Bardock's power
level hidden? This is madness!"

Raditz fell at another desk. "I'm getting a migrane. Shit!"

Vegeta poured over a pile of books. "There's got to be something..."

"What's this? Some kind of journal?"

"What?! Let me see!" the ouji plopped at his side. "It is...father's
private writings!"

Raditz grinned wickedly. "Do you think we should? I mean, it's liable
to be very personal..."

"It may be key to the answers we seek."

Settling in, they started to read. Raditz thumbed through several
pages of nondescript thoughts by the king. A passage caught his eye
suddenly.

"Vegeta!"

"I see it. This paragraph says something about children!"

_I suppose I should be grateful. The public has an heir, and my first
cub is well cared for. The crown would have been his as first born.
My soul burns, knowing he is near and yet so far away. I can't even
hold him, smell his skin. Someday I'll stand before all of Vegetaseii
and call his name. I swear it, by blood and throne. Though I long to
claim you, events and circumstance will not allow it. I hope someday
you'll understand when the truth comes out. I am helpless to do
anything but watch from a distance. Arruta! you have my profile,
youngling. I regret the ragtails giving you such a hard time in
school._

"Raditz, why are you crying?"

"I'm not!"

_My beautiful heir Vegeta, so refined. Almost delicate in his youth.
I marvel at his intelligence and grace, even for one so young. He
will make a fine king one day._

Vegeta closed his eyes briefly.

"Are you alright?"

"Hai. Aren't you?"

"I don't know."

_And then there is power...power such as our world has never seen.
For I carry the live genetic coding given to me by blood and
ancestry. In time my get will be legendary, as legendary as my mate,
our line. None will defy us!_

Vegeta and Raditz looked at each other.

_But meanwhile, they must be nurtured. The future king will be super
saiyan. Why not? Blood always tells in the end. My mate understands
this, though he resisted for some time._

"What does he mean by that?"

"I have no idea. Let's read on, Vegeta."

_When we first met, it was love...there was no other for me. Old
Queen Ruda forced my marriage to Inshei, but blood burns through all
pretense. We couldn't be denied, regardless of outside pressures. And
the evidence of our love warms me everyday when I hold this chibi._

"Who the hell is he talking about now?!" Vegeta's voice was strained.

Raditz made a strangled sound. "I think we're about to find out..."

_This wild little daza (demon). Such a beauty! He bites the naa'ti
(nursekeepers) as soon as they enter the room. An excellent appetite,
too. His eyes sparkle whenever he eats. Kami take it, I wish you
could have been here...I know you still resent not seeing Vegeta
until he was nearly a month old, but it couldn't be helped. Now I can
make up for that mistake. This cub will keep like the other._

The ouji went pale.

"Vegeta, I-"

"Raditz...keep reading."

_Despite your anger at me, I knew you would accept this chibi. He is
perfect in every way. I swear again I didn't know this would happen._

Vegeta banged the desk. "Who? What chibi?!"

Raditz growled. "F-..."

_The look on your face was priceless when you held him. Not angry
now, eh? You melted faster than hot slavva. As I promised, pefection
again. And his tail is so fat!_

"AARUGHH!!" Vegeta pulled his hair.

"Ai, get to the damn point!" Raditz growled.

_We only make the best, koi. Maybe now you'll trust my word. My
thanks for the holograms you send me of Raditz. The boy grows like a
weed. Ai, with meat on his bones he'll be impressive. He was a thick
chibi, after all._

The prince snickered. Raditz glowered at him.

_The cub has a wonderful pelt. Methinks someday he'll be considering
many offers._

The burly saiyan puffed with pride. "Hai, well enough."

"Shut up and read."

_I'll always find a way to help provide, you know that. I claim our
children in my heart if not publicly...and this new chibi will only
add to our legend._

"Does he ever get to the point here?"

"That's why it's called a journal, Raditz. You can ramble and be
unfocused."

_Everything happened so suddenly, but that's the way it always is
between us. I'll miss this little hell ball...he nibbles my finger as
I write here. He's you all over again, Bardock. I look at him and see
your eyes._

Both saiyans gawked in shock. "Kakarot!!"

_Hopefully that ragtail of yours will accept him also...I can do
nothing else. We always joked about which cub inherited what. It was
your right to name this one, since you had no choice with the others._

Vegeta blinked. "Incredible...so Bardock only named Kakarot."

Raditz nodded numbly. "It would seem so."

_They all have your cheekbones, Bardock. But this wild thing I hold
now presents a challenge to us both._

"True confessions." Raditz said shortly. "There's more?"

_Kami, those three nights in Ardwett! Rarely do we get three
successive moon nights, but the time was well used, eh?_

Vegeta was redfaced. "Is this going where I think it is?"

Raditz was smug. "What do you think? Wanna continue?"

The ouji leered also. "Why the hell not? I'm as big a pervert as
anyone."

****

They read on.

_I called, you came. And the moon...was so delicious. Not that you
could have refused me anyway. After all, I have my...ways._

"Hot shit here!!" Radtiz purred.

The ouji elbowed him. "Quiet, dolt! We don't need anyone bursting in
while we read the good stuff."

_You chased my trail like a maniac. We seem to do that to each other.
I tried to stay inside the caravan...but king or no, my bones ached
too bad. The elders have often told me my blood will be my downfall.
It's the same for you, Bardock. When we scent heat, it's impossible
to turn aside. And the moon...glorious in the jungle, so red. The
third night it rained on us, but I didn't notice. It cooled nothing._

"Had enough, Vegeta?" big grin.

"Hn! There's a result to this, but what?"

_Howling, rolling and loving. What could be better for a saiyan under
moon? Our hunt was invigorating. Soaking and sleep gave us small
respite, I think. Getting back without suspicion was some piece of
work, I must admit. Oh there were the usual questions but I turned
them aside. You slipped inside the soldier's tent, none the worse for
wear. Well, not exactly. I wore your ass out, my golden lirda (god)._

Raditz turned red. "Krukka!"

"Huuh...too much!" Vegeta agreed, flushing also.

_Who could have known, Bardock? With every sweet scream we were
closer to making another chibi. You never believed me then, and I'm
not sure you do now. I wouldn't try to claim you with another cub.
Besides, you were already mine. Raditzsu took care of that!_

Raditz stared at his prince. The ouji sniffed. "Skank."

"The wretch. A perfect snare!"

"A moot point, Raditz. They kept right on going, anyway."

"Tell me about it!"

The remaining passage was pure raunch about their romp under moon.
Both saiyans sweated and heaved, their tails puffing.

"Raditz, I think we need to stop now."

"Hahh...why?" the burly saiyan licked his lips.

"If I keep reading this I swear I'll go into rut. Enough!"

Strong hands closed the book, putting it away. Raditz rested his head
on the table. Vegeta leaned against him quietly.

"What are you feeling?"

"Many things, Vegeta" the deep voice was muffled. "Confusion,
betrayal. Joy. Excitement and relief."

One dark head lay against another on the table. "Hai...it's a strange
turn of events to be sure."

Raditz turned his head a little. "Our instincts didn't lie...brother."

The ouji cracked a whisper. "No. And at last, I'm not alone."

They embraced as though dying, shuddering through tears of discovery.

****

An hour later the saiyans finished putting all records in their
proper place.

Vegeta dusted himself off. "We can't tell Kakarot yet, Raditz."

"Agreed. He's too young to understand fully, especially now."

"Is he still in rut?"

A sigh. "He's a danger right now, Vegeta. They won't release him
until he can function."

Pain flashed across handsome features. "I wish there was something I
could do for him."

"There is, but it wouldn't be wise."

"That's not funny."

"It wasn't meant to be. How are we going to approach our parents with
this?"

"It's best to say nothing for now. Confrontation would be pointless."

"The truth has to come out eventually, Vegeta!"

The prince looked about at dusty records. "Nothing stays hidden
forever, brother. My sense tells me we wait for now. There's more to
this than we know, despite what we've read here."

Raditz folded his arms in thought. "Like father's mysterious records."

"We can't give anyone political ammunition against the Ou."

"True. It would be disastrous for the throne, and our line."

Vegeta clasped the hands of his brother, eyes sparkling. "You speak
like a prince."

A warm smile spread over the tall saiyan's features. "It's official."


THE END