CHAPTER TEN: Impending Battle

Shinto hated it, but loved it at the same time. The whole army was basically on the same level. That was what he hated. The normally neatly separated groups of soldiers, set on levels according to power, were all down on the same field. There were no boundaries between them now. They had been over and over the plan for the tournament. This ‘practice’ was just a huge training class, but he had to admit that it was a good idea.

He loved it because it was anything but his normal job.

The best part was the Super Saiyan Ability. They had perfected the genome project, and although it was pretty much a show, their power had increased substantially. He had never been more proud than the day he finally donned his gold hair and green eyes. There were thousands around him with the same ability, but it was extremely moving either way.

He was jolted out of his thoughts as the practice ended. It was time for training rotation, and he began to follow his group. Each group would separate, train, and rotate on a time schedule. After awhile it would be time to rest, and do it all again when the sun rose.

They didn’t have time to waste, and he knew it. As each day went by, the groups grew more tense. This would be a confrontation of huge proportions; a battle of power and mind. If their plan didn’t work, it would be the revolution that would make or break the entire race.

Shinto picked up his pace.

"So what happens when the whole planet explodes and Trunks and I have no where to go?" Bulma asked in an unusually calm voice. She continued looking over the blue prints of the arena.

Vegeta shook his head "If the planet blows up, you and the brat will be joining me in the other world" he sighed as if he’d been explaining it all afternoon.

"Vegeta, I understand your primal need to protect your mate and son, but that is NO reason to lock us in the basement of the palace with no one to keep us company!" She finally stopped her work and faced him. Anger was beginning to build as she thought of how lonely she would be with the rest of the world at war.

Vegeta kept his back to her and visually tensed up, his lip curling as he spoke again. "Your guard is too powerful to hide their ki levels, and for that matter, they weren’t taught how. I will not risk the gem of this heirarchy being thrown around like a ragdoll once again." He started toward the door, his tail locking around his waist like a seatbelt. "You’ll go down as soon as the ship enters the atmosphere. This is a war, we’re not playing games."

The door slammed before she could retort, but she hadn’t planned on it.

Bulma sat, eyes sparkling. "he just complimented me….. I don’t think he meant to…. Wow. The gem of the heirarchy! " she sat back and basked in the glow of the first (and probably only) compliment she’d ever received from her mate.

She giggled to herself as she went to attend to her awakened son.

Miaka frowned. She watched the orange dot that was her planet finally disappear. This was not a good situation. She knew Golkor had been ordered back weeks ago, but she never thought she’d have to go back.

The most painful experience besides being separated from one’s mate, was being separated from one’s child. This was the exact situation that Miaka was faced with.

War at hand, any rulers of foreign planets had been ordered back to guard them. The diplomats had to be sure that they weren’t the only one’s with a plan.

Her brat had been too young to make the trip with her. Miaka could not understand the logic of leaving her child on a planet that was days away from war. Her heart remained beating, but she didn’t feel as if she had a soul. Empty was the simple term for her feeling.

Kijan was her only hope. She had promised to have Jin sent to Ginosei as soon as it was possible. In the meantime, Kijah would keep an eye on him along side her own.

The sleep took over soon, but as Miaka slowly drifted off she knew that that waking up would only bring the same hopeless feeling.

"She’ll be fine." Chatsu let his tail reach and slide over his mate’s back.

Kijah walked beside him towards the palace. Her gaze centered on the ground in front of her. "I can’t even imagine what that feels like." She said softly.

Chatsu locked his jaw and watched to see the light that was Miaka’s ship fade into the blackness of space. He turned and walked slowly along side Kijah in silence.

The blasts kept coming. The burning did not cease, but she refused to give in.

Breathing out with a sharp hiss, Liena took every hit in stride. Her eyes squeezed to slits, mouth curved downward in a parallel with her eyebrows. She was the absolute picture of Saiyan determination.

"Ok." A word came. The blasts had stopped. She breathed out, but did not yet allow herself to drop her guard. She kept the determined look, mixed with the wary spark to her eyes.

Kakarott nodded once, and dropped his ki. Liena fought not to drop to her knees. This pregnancy (however early it was) wore her down more quickly, but she refused to let it stop her.

"You’re faster this time, but you’re still knocked out of SSJ too quickly…we have to keep working after break." he said, making a gesture

that meant ‘come with me’.

She glared to the ground, softening the short pants that escaped her mouth.. She followed her mate with a slight, hidden limp.

Kakarott turned slightly as he walked. "What’s wrong?"

Liena shook her head, caught his glare, and finally spoke"I’m sick of it. You need to stop wasting your time." She eyed him, his only response was a quirked brow. She drew her own brows down more and continued speaking. "You are the only one to achieve SSJ without the needle. You’re never going to get me strong enough to do it on my own. You have the taint…. I don’t. DO not waste precious training time on a hopeless project."

Kakarott smirked and grabbed her hand. "Let me show you something.

Liena lost the Saiyan look and suddenly found herself being flown through the halls towards the (now empty) workrooms.

"Wha…" she started, but he turned his head, making a quick ‘shush’ gesture, and she stopped.

Focusing ahead, Liena wondered if she’d get that steam bath she’d been wanting since sunrise.

The planet went about training in it’s own composure. While Liena trained, a backup guard kept watch over her workplace. As soon as the ship entered the atmosphere, an alarm would sound and they would all return to their normal posts.

Everything from yard work, to continental trade would continue as normal. The planet could not be tense at this moment. They had to let this creature believe that he had the element of surprise.

The Queen would be taken to the core of the palace, hidden away with the most stealth equipment they could find. The heir would join her, neither able to see the plan (she’d pretty much devised on her own) put to work.

Ironically, the Queen held the most nerve-racking job at hand. Blindly sending her plan to work, and then waiting to see if she lost her home, her husband, or even her own life.

But with the Saiyans on defense for the first time in centuries, backed by the most advanced technologies in the universe, they had a fraction of a chance.

The door slammed, and Bulma flinched, "W..what if i... it last all night a..and I don’t have any f..food?" she stammered. Vegeta quirked his eyebrows. Is she cold? Or just frightened...

"There is a preserved closet in the back of this room. Eat what you can if you get hungry. I think that bag contains enough to keep you and the brat alive for the next century." He sneered to her.

Bulma smiled and opened her arms. Her mate quickly handed her the sleeping child, thankful it hadn’t awoken on the long walk down to the room. "You know it’s all for the little prince here. " she said, placing him in the cradle that she’d set up.

Vegeta stood and watched over her, and when she finally stopped to look at him, he nodded. "It’s time." She made a face and squinted her eyes as they welled with tears,and jumped up to hug him with all of her might. He placed one hand on the small of her back, and lowered his head to take in a breath through his nose. Vegeta’s tail allowed itself to slide around her waist once before he pulled back. She placed her hand onver her mouth, fighting a sob. Bulma knew it made him uncomfortable.

"Don’t die Vegeta... I love you" she said in a choked voice. He smirked, turned and walked out.

She heard the door welling shut behind her and it was suddenly very quiet.

In the soft yellow glow of the lights in the small room, Bulma allowed herself to cry.

The ship was even bigger than the last one, most likely hauling all of Freeza’s potential tournament contendors. Shinto squinted his eyes as the running lights on the ship flashed just before landing.

He shifted back and nodded, his tail clicking into place around his waist. The rest of his squad snapped to attention. The squad in front of his was the lead escort, his would take over flanks as they ran out.

The door hissed and opened coming to a drop on the landing pad. The lizard man and his two strange companions came into view. Shinto noted his efforts to look regal; capes descending from each of the three royals, flapping in the night wind.

"It’s so quiet...." Freeza remarked.

Shinto watched the leiutenant in front of him speak up. "Lord Freeza, your fellow attendants and yourself are welcome to some refreshments in the dining hall, or we could lead you directly to the arena." He spoke regally, wondering in vain if the alien understood. The Queen had basically written a script for them to follow, and the small thing’s smirk made it clear that she had been wise in doing so.

"How hospitable of you all, but Zarbon here has already prepared a lovely meal that we’ve taken care of on ourt trip. We can not wait to arrive at the theatre" He said.

Shinto made a confused face ‘theatre’? He actually thought this was a show.... boy was he in for a surprise.

Shinto fell into line alongside a group of contenders, all dressed in similar colors.

Lights flashed, and Kijah found herself momentarily blinded. She was amazed. Even their normal seasonal tournament had not been held with such audacity. The audience was filled to the brim, guards flanked the doors, and the battle crys and cheers roared as the one called Freeza entered followed by a miriage of fighters. It looked similar to the inter-planetary conventions that were held. Almost every warrior looked as if they had been taken from a different planet.

Kijah stood to attention and watched as the King made his entrance on the opposite side of the huge arena. Kakarott followed in the King’s guard. It was obvious that his idea had worked. Vegeta stopped, and the crowd went quiet.

The huge doors in the arena closed behind the attendants.

‘Here goes nothing.....’