"It has come to my attention that we have for many years been wasting a possibly valuable resource."  Prince Vegeta's voice echoed around the stark chamber that was currently the meeting place for the top officers in his army.  Those assembled here were the among the most powerful individuals in the galaxy, representing the strongest race in existence - the Saiyajins.  They had conquered a full third of the habitable planets in their section of the heavens, and the very mention of their name held terror for those who had not yet suffered their arrival, so apparently insignificant in their travel pods. The devastated ruins of worlds they left behind them were testament to the appropriateness of that fear, technology stolen from established civilizations to further the spread of Saiyajin dominion, while the planets themselves were sold off to 'allies'...

<Not that anyone other than those with Saiyajin blood are truly our allies - and even then we are a race divided.>  Toronipsu shifted his weight, his restlessness concealed by the shadows that flickered around the edges of the room where he was standing.  One of the benefits of being so lowly ranked - you didn't have to spend so much effort in self-control as there weren't quite so many people watching you for the slightest mistake, after your blood if you ever slipped up...  Of course, given who his family were a lot of people watched him anyway.

"We have blindly followed the traditions of our ancestors in conquering worlds - then throwing them away."

"But we don't throw them away, Oji-sama," a protest arose from the left side of the room.  "We get good prices for them, and they're in friendly hands - "

The officers around the dissident ducked for cover, and the objections were abruptly cut off as the prince's ki-blast burned through flesh at a remarkable rate.

"Those planets should remain under our direct authority,"  Vegeta continued, folding his arms across his chest as the body hit the floor.  "I intend that all subsequently acquired worlds be harvested continually for whatever wealth they may supply, rather than given the once over treatment."

"Uh...  But Oji-sama?"  One of the Saiyajin commanders dared to question his leader.  "Just how are we to achieve that?  There aren't enough of us to maintain an entire planet..."  He trailed off at the sneer the Prince directed at him.

"Of course not!"  Vegeta snapped.  "I will be appointing a lieutenant to be responsible for the subjugation of each planet.  The natives of each planet will already be doing what is necessary - my lieutenant will merely see that all resources are redirected to support us!  Just how that lieutenant achieves and maintains mastery over the planet will be his own concern!"

He swept the room with measuring eyes.  Few were capable of meeting the Saiyajin no Oji's steady gaze for long - but to Toronipsu it seemed that those dark eyes lingered on his own for longer than the others.  <Probably just my imagination.>  The dark eyes continued on in their survey of the Saiyajin cadre.

"There will be three lieutenants initially.  More will be chosen as I see fit."

The tension in the air was tangible; this was the moment that counted.  <Three lieutenants...  Nappa will obviously be chosen.>  Toro spared a brief glance for the huge man who had been one of the Prince's personal bodyguard since Vegeta was a child.  He was looking somewhat smug - <And probably with good reason.  He'll get the pick of both planets and forces, being second only to Vegeta himself.>

"Nappa will be my first lieutenant, and Beyansu my second."  Vegeta gestured to each in turn, Nappa at his right hand already, Beyansu moving to his left.  Both knelt in homage before their Prince.

<Figures.  Beyansu always was the most bloodthirsty one of the lot - and one of the more ambitious.  But who else?>  He leaned forward slightly.  The first two had been fairly obvious choices, but the third - there were plenty of contenders in the running, and each would be most unhappy if they missed out.  <So upset that they'll accidentally kill whoever it turns out to be.  Or try to, anyway.>  Toro snorted quietly.  <Vegeta might as well have left it at two - but he enjoys these little internal power struggles as much as any external conflicts.  If only Radditsu was still alive...>

"And third, Toronipsu."

<Nani!>  His eyes widened in shock, and he stared at Vegeta blankly for a moment before the brief flicker of irritation across his liege's face brought him back to reality.  He knelt hastily, lifting his right arm across his chest in tribute, thanking the Prince for this offer of a chance to serve him.

Vegeta acknowledged his salute with a slight nod.  "I will expect the three of you to be ready to leave tomorrow,"  he informed them before standing and striding out of the chamber, leaving Toro still kneeling on the floor in shock.

As soon as the Prince was out of the room he could feel everyone turning to stare at him.  He forced himself to remain impassive as he got to his feet and prepared to make his own exit.  He rested his hand lightly on the tail wrapped around his waist, trying desperately to keep it from twitching and revealing his discomfort at the not-quite-whispers that were being uttered around the room.

"Toronipsu!"

"Why that brat?!  Why not one of us?"

"It's because of his brother..."

"He should have been executed years ago, after what his father did!"

"I knew the brat would cause trouble..."

"You know what they say: like father, like son..."

"I suggest that you don't let Vegeta-sama hear you say that one."  The mutterings ground to a halt as Nappa's voice sounded easily above them.  The giant strode across the room towards Toro, forcing the unhappy crowd to move out of his way, laying one huge hand on his shoulder and steering him out of the room.  "Come on, kid.  We've got better things to do than listen to this lot whine."  With that, they were out the door  and beyond the reach of the disgruntled would-be third lieutenants.

<Not that I can really blame them. If I were them I'd be plotting how to get rid of me, too.>  He followed Nappa as he led him a short distance from the assembly chamber.

"Why me?"  he asked.  <I need to know!>

"Hn.  You should ask Vegeta-sama that one, if you really want to know."

Toro shot the taller man a sharp look.  Nappa laughed.

"You mean, is this about your brother?  I honestly couldn't tell you."

"And my father?"

Nappa's gaze narrowed.  Toro bit his lip.  <I shouldn't have asked that.>

"Listen, kid.  You're a good fighter, one of the best - I've seen to that.  You're better than your brother ever was, and you've earned this assignment.  Whether you keep it is another matter; but what Bardock did held no bearing in Vegeta-sama's eyes towards Radditsu.  I doubt it will with you, either."

"Only Bardock killed Radditsu."

"While your brother was defending our Prince, yes."  Nappa leaned down until their faces were bare inches apart.  "I'm sure you'll do the same, ne?"  He resumed his upright posture abruptly, turning and heading off down one of the many corridors that honeycombed the rock of this planet they were temporarily forced to call home.

<Would I do the same?  Of course - he is the Prince.>

But Bardock had been defending the King's interests - partially, at least...

He frowned, clenching his fists.

<Why does he want to kill Prince Vegeta so much?  To stop him from becoming King?  That's laughable - he's king in all but title.  Of the two main Saiyajin forces, ours is very much the superior.  The only thing they have that we do not is Vegetasei itself - and then only because it amuses Vegeta to see his father live only at his tolerance. We could take them out easily, even if they would most likely take the planet with them...>

Taking a planet...  He made his way briskly to the science labs, where Kizare would most likely be waiting for him.

He was.

Kizare was not a Saiyajin, but a member of one of the races whose technology had been plundered generations before.  The remnants of his people were all in service to their conquerors, maintaining and on occasion improving upon the knowledge which had cost them so much.  <Yet it gives them some measure of power over us...>

The Saiyajins' lack of this knowledge was a weakness in their defenses.  <It leaves us vulnerable to those who might deceive us with false offerings of assistance.  Raw power and force cannot overcome everything...>  There had been rebellion amongst the scientists in the past, and there were given little freedom now as a consequence.  But few Saiyajins could be bothered to learn what the scientists had to teach - hence they were still a necessary part of  the Saiyajin culture.

Toro was one of the few who did want to learn, and Kizare had been his teacher for several years.  <Since Radditsu died...>

"I hear that congratulations are in order, young Toro,"  the aging scientist greeted him at the door.  "It is a great honour for you to have been chosen."

"Is it?"  Toro questioned, lifting one eyebrow.  Kizare smiled ruefully in reply.

"You'll have to hope so, if you want to survive."  He ushered the young Saiyajin into the lab, leading him over to a computer terminal.  Here's the data for the planet you were assigned - "

"Assigned?!"  Toro interrupted.  "I don't get to choose?"

"Apparently not," Kizare sighed.  "Although the other two do.  Take a look, Toro.  The Prince is up to something."

Toro scanned the data quickly, one particular phrase catching his eye almost immediately.

"'Negligible power levels'?"  He stared at the older man.

"I knew you'd see it.  Nobody's ever been sent there because of the lack of a challenge it represented."

"So why does Vegeta want me to take it now?" Toro wondered.  <Either he really wants me to succeed with this, or there's something else that he knows...>

"I don't know, Toro."  Kizare shrugged helplessly.  "I have no way of knowing Prince Vegeta's mind."

<I'll find out soon enough.>

The day was just dawning on the planet known to its inhabitants only as 'Earth'; bright rays of sunlight were stretching across the land like fingers with their warming touch.  Birds were calling out their greetings in the growing light, other animals just stirring from slumber...

At the center of a small clearing the embers of a small campfire still glowed faintly, in a doomed battle with the spreading blanket of sunlight.  Two figures were visible at the fireside; one was sitting with knees drawn in close to his chest, the other still recumbent, wrapped in sleep.

"Is that him, then?"  The whisper was heard in the depths of the shadows beyond the fire.  "The one lying down?"

"Of course it's him!  He looks exactly like his father."

"Who's that with him, then?  Not Saiyajin - not with that hair."

"Who cares?  We don't need that one - just him."

"Alive and in good condition, don't forget."

"Heh.  I could take them both in my sleep!"

"Don't be so stupid!  You know who his father is, and what he could do!"

"Yeah, but this is his kid, not him!"

"So?  We're being paid not to take chances.  We'll do it as he said."

"How boring."

"Do you want to live or not?"

The whispered conversation died away.  The two boys who were its object did not stir, one preoccupied with his own thoughts, the other oblivious in slumber.

A small click - easily mistaken for an insect - and the air in the clearing began to thicken, a sickly sweet aroma taking hold.  The pale haired boy soon became aware of the danger, his head snapping up at the first hint of that strange scent - but by the time he reached his sleeping companion it was already too late.  He collapsed on top of his friend, consciousness lost to the potent drug.

Several shapes moved out of the shadows, coalescing into vaguely humanoid figures and surrounding the two helpless boys lying prone on the ground before them.  They were all wearing masks, sparing themselves from the effects of the fumes.

One snorted in disgust.  "That was just too easy.  We should have fought them instead.  It would have at least given us some entertainment."  He nudged the unresponsive bodies with his foot, as the haze began to clear.

"Knock it off!  He's wanted undamaged, remember!" A second masked figure rolled the pale haired boy off to one side and hoisted the objective of their mission over one burly shoulder.

"Hn, but what about the other one?  We can wake him up and have a little fun..."

"I doubt he'd be worth it.  Probably a native - and they're a pathetic species.  Waste of effort."

"It'd be better than nothing!  This whole mission has been a waste of our -"

A ki-blast cut him off mid-sentence, sending him flying backwards.  The others spun around to see several Saiyajin approaching at a rapid rate.

"Kuso!  Let's get out of here, now!"

The masked kidnappers fled the clearing, hotly pursued by the Saiyajin warriors, until they managed at last to reach their spaceship, hidden in a valley several kilometers away.  Within moments they were headed into space, narrowly avoiding the ki-blasts sent after them by the unsuccessful pursuers.

"Why couldn't we have fought them?!"  The speaker threw his mask to the floor in frustration, revealing a blue face with slit-like eyes.  "It would have been better than just turning tail and running..."

"We have a mission to complete - if we want to get paid, that is.  Go back and get yourself killed if you want.  One less person to share the rewards is fine by me!"

The others laughed, causing the blue face to turn purple in rage.

"Ah, cool it, both of you," another of the kidnappers told them as he unmasked.  "The amount he's putting up is enough for us all, easily."

"True.  I wonder what he wants with the kid, anyway?"

"Maybe kill him for going over to the Prince's side..."

"Don't be an idiot.  He wanted him unhurt, remember."

"So he can have more fun himself?"

"Who cares?  All that matters is that we get paid."

The mercenaries settled down for the journey to their meeting place with their employer.

<Hn...What..?>  Goten froze as he noted the surface beneath him.  <Hard and cold...  Definitely not my own bed...  So where...?>  Memories of the previous day slowly drifted up to his sleep-mazed conscious mind.  <Oh.  Trunks.  That dimension-thingamajig.  I'm in another world.>  He started to stretch, but stiffened once more as his hands slid across the floor.  <I don't remember the ground being so smooth...>  He opened his eyes cautiously - and stared.

He was in a small, sparsely furnished room.  He himself was lying on some kind of pallet, while the only other piece of furniture was a simple chair.  An occupied chair.  The occupant spoke.

"Awake so soon?"  The appearance of the speaker was something of a shock - a face much like his father's, or his own,  but placed above a body wearing most distinctly Saiyajin-style bodysuit and armor, with a tail tightly wrapped around his waist.

<Oh boy.  What have we landed ourselves into?>  Goten wondered as he lifted himself into a sitting position.  <Is he this world's version of my father?>

"Your powers of recovery indicate that you do indeed have the strength I foresaw you as having."  The familiar-looking stranger examined him with his scrutinizing gaze.  "That gas would have had a normal boy your age unconscious for at least another day."

"I think you've made a mistake," Goten informed him.  "I'm not who you think I am."  <How did I get here?  And what about Trunks?>

The Saiyajin laughed with genuine amusement.  "And when was the last time you looked in a mirror, Toronipsu?  You surely can't be as blind as your brother was!"

"My brother... blind?"  Goten inquired, distracted from his thoughts.

The Saiyajin's expression darkened.  "Yes, blind!  How else could he possibly have followed that treacherous Prince of his, and dragging you with him, no less!"  He broke off from his angry exclamation to lean forward, gazing deeply into Goten's eyes.  "He convinced you, didn't he?"

Goten blinked in confusion.  "Convinced me of what?"

"That that so-called prince would be a savior to the Saiyajin race, instead of the cause of our ruination!"  The reply was half-snarled in the anger that Goten could feel seething through the warrior before him, as he sprung out of the chair, with fists clenched.

"'Ruination?'"  Goten asked, caught up by the sheer force of the stranger's will.  "How do you know?"

"I have seen it!  Seen it with my own eyes!"  Goten followed the man with his eyes as he paced the length of the room restlessly.

"'Seen'?"

"The future!  Did your brother tell you nothing of me?  I was cursed to see the future, shortly after you were taken from the tank!"

<Tank?  Oh yeah - Saiyajin baby farms...>  "What have you seen?"

The Saiyajin stopped pacing to stare at him.

"What have I seen?"  He laughed again, but this time the sound was twisted by bitterness.  "Our people live in division already , with the brash young fools following the Prince while others support his father, the rightful King.  This division is but the start:  I have seen our homeworld destroyed, shattered by a single blow.  I have seen the races we have conquered rise up against us, united, to wipe out the last vestiges of our once mighty people.  I have seen a future where the Saiyajin are no more than a memory!"

He slammed his fist down beside Goten, his other hand gripping Goten's shoulder, pulling him close until mere centimeters separated their faces.  Goten met his gaze evenly, until the Saiyajin pulled back, slowly.

"But I have also seen you."  The Saiyajin's voice was mush softer, now, and touched with the faintest hints of pride.  "I have seen you ready to strike Prince Vegeta, with power enough to do what I cannot.  I tried.  All the powers of the universe know I tried - but it was not enough.  I had not counted on Radditsu stepping between us like that.  The blast that should have eliminated Vegeta only wounded him, killing my son instead, and I will not get a second chance.  Vegeta is too powerful for me now."  He paused, then narrowed his gaze.  "Do you hate me for that?  For killing Radditsu?"

<Radditsu?  Wasn't he my uncle or something?  He called him 'son' - does that mean he's my grandfather?  What was his name... Bardock?>  "Why should I hate you for that?"

Bardock smiled, nodding.  "I knew you'd understand.  Your brother died well enough, despite it being for the sake of that bastard."

<Brother?  Radditsu?  Does he think I'm Tousan?  But he called me Toro-something-or-other...>

"What happened to your tail?"  Bardock demanded, glaring at his tail-less waist.

<My tail?!  Uh oh...>  "I.. ah.. lost it in a fight.  Does that matter?" Goten hazarded.

Bardock looked at him in disbelief.  "Our tails are what gives us strength!  How can you ask if that matters?!"

"I mean, did you see me with a tail in your visions?"  <If so, then he's definitely not talking about me.>

The older Saiyajin frowned.  "I don't know," he admitted.

<Damn.>

"But you're still the only hope for our people," he continued.  Goten blinked.

"What do you want me to do?"

Bardock  stared at him.  "Kill Prince Vegeta, of course."

"Hn."  <Kill Vegeta?  From what he says it's probably for the best.  Vegeta's turned into a bastard once again...  and this time I get a chance to kill him!>  He smiled at the thought, remembering that in his own world, Vegeta had been the cause of all their problems.  <It was all Vegeta's fault then, just as it will be now...  Only this time I can stop him!  If he hasn't - >  He paused, a new thought occurring to him.

"What of the Legendary Saiyajin?"

"You turn to legends?"  Bardock was frowning once more.  "They won't help us now!"

"But what if he returned?"  Goten pressed, a gleam lighting up his eyes.  "The Legendary Super Saiyajin would be able to defeat Vegeta!"

"And just where do you propose we find him?!  You are our only hope - and you will face Vegeta and confront him!  I will not permit my son to live as  a coward!"

Goten laughed.  "But you just said I was stronger than you.  I don't really think you have much of a choice.  But you don't have to worry.  I'll take care of Vegeta."

Bardock nodded in relief.  "I know you will."

<This Vegeta will die, by my hand.  It's the least I can do for this world, ridding it of him, just as Trunks - >

The smile fell from his face to be replaced by an expression of alarm.

<What the hell's happened to Trunks?!>
 

End Part 1    Go to Part 2