Ashes to Ashes
By: Meiko

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Chapter I

The young Kakkakujin watched from the shadows as his lover slaved over his ‘pet project’. Sparks flew through the darkened room, highlighting his red eyes and smooth, gray face. His lips twitched into a frown as his stomach churned with jealousy. He stepped out of the shadows and faced the other Kakkakujin. "Enjinia" he hissed, "What are you doing."

The head engineer of King Cold’s personnel seemed lost in his work. He paused for a moment, "What does it look like Gishu?"

Gishu shook his head, "It seems that you are breaking King Cold’s command." He pointed at the table, "He has another project, Enji, take it and save your face. He doesn’t like to be turned down.

Enjinia shook his head "I serve Freeza." Gishu shook his head, "Freeza is dead and King Cold specifically ordered that he not be re-engineered. He wants a new heir, Enjinia, and he wanted you to head the team to engineer him! Think of the opportunity you turned down!"

Enjinia slowly placed his tools down and turned to face Gishu. "Are you jealous?" he asked softly, his face filled with concern. Gishu opened to speak, but he could not truthfully deny anything. Enjinia smiled and ran his finger down Gishu’s cheek, "You needn't be." He ran is fingers through Gishu’s white hair, "I am merely being grateful for the one who saved me from death. You remember that, don’t you?"

Gishu swallowed hard, "Yes." He muttered, "Freeza spared you from his brother, but you owe him nothing now! Eighteen years of servitude took care of the debt. Why do you want to bring him back?"

Enjinia shook his head, "You could not understand." He sighed, turning back to his work, "I trust you will tell no one of this." Gishu nodded, "Hai." He muttered, "I will tell no one."

* * * * * * * *

Bulma Briefs flopped lazily onto her bed and stared out the window. Occasionally the red and violet clouds would drift and the stars could be seen. Vejiita had once told her the only time the sky was completely visible was the time of the full moon, which thankfully did not occur often. She pulled the covers to her chin and settled into the pillows. After a long days work at the lab, she looked forward to a good night’s sleep. Unfortunately, more often than not, Vejiita had different plans. Of course, she rarely minded.

She giggled and closed her eyes. "And what do you think you’re doing?" A dark voice called out softly. Bulma groaned and shot up, trying her best to look annoyed. Vejiita stepped out of the shadows, smirking like he always did. "I hate those fucking tunnels." She hissed as he ran his hands through her silky blue hair. She relaxed a bit as his hand caressed her jaw line and his thumb brushed her rose lips. He leaned forward, pulling her closer to him. He caught her lips with his and wrapped his arms securely around her, bringing her out of the bed. She relaxed as he cradled her in his arms, burying her face in his neck. "Where are we going?" she murmured. "You know I can’t leave the palace."

Vejiita sighed, "Hai." He muttered, as he placed a kiss on her forehead. "I’m taking you to the safety shelters. Bulma stiffened and wrapped her arms tightly around his neck. "Why?" she breathed.

Vejiita slid into the hidden entrance behind the tapestries. "Our computers have detected a fleet of ships in our direction." He shook his head, "It’s nothing to be concerned about, and you know that."

Bulma sighed, "You realize, one of these times you won’t be so lucky. Vejiitasei is divided, and the council is a bunch of bumbling idiots. Every purging business and bounty hunters and nut case in the universe wants to prey on Vejiitasei’s weakened state. Eventually, your little army isn’t going to stop these onslaughts! How many Saiayjins died in the last attack?"

"Two thousand." He muttered, "But they died bravely." Bulma shook her head, "That doesn’t include the slaves and workers." Vejiita shook his head, "Two thousand is not a large number." Vejiita argued, "We’ve lost worse." Bulma sighed, "Your right, but its going get worse if you don’t do something. Saiyajins from the eastern clans refuse to fight beside the western clans and the council spends all their time bickering and they can’t rule this planet. You have to unite the Saiyajins, otherwise you’ll fall to your enemies!" Vejiita shook his head; "I have lost face with my people. I could never unite them until I become a Super Saiyajin and defeat Kakarott."

Bulma motioned to be put down and Vejiita reluctantly replied. "You’re a fool, Vejiita." She snapped. "Maybe even a coward." She turned sharply around "I can get to the shelters myself."

Vejiita watched her disappear down the darkened corridors, her harsh words biting at him. "I’ll prove you wrong," he whispered, turning in the opposite direction. "I will be the Legendary."

* * * * * * * *

King Cold smiled maliciously as his techs worked non-stop on his newest project: A new heir for his throne. Freeza wasn’t worthy of being re-engineered and Koola was nothing but a disappointment. His new heir, however, would be perfect. Created to be the most powerful being in the universe. Cold sighed, but the techs had to hurry, he had little time left.

Ever since the destruction of his kind, the survivors searched for ways to bring back the powerful race, but there were always glitches. They thought when they had created Cold; they had mastered their technique. They made him their ruler, for they were desperate for a semblance of order. However, they soon discovered a glitch in his engineering. He was extremely powerful, intelligent and like all of their people, had multiple forms. However, once transformed, he could not return to his first, energy conserving form. It was as if he was slowly bleeding to death.

They rectified the matter with Koola, but forgot to give him brains. Cold refused to accept him as an heir.

Then came Freeza. They believed he was perfect, and so did Cold. However, his recent battles with the Saiyajins proved otherwise. When a scientist returned with the remains of his body and begged to rebuild him, Cold refused. A new heir would be built and this time there would be no glitches.

There was still the matter of the Saiyajins to attend to. Freeza had not finished his duty; in fact he had ruined everything. There could be no treaty, the Saiyajins would never agree. Now, there was no choice in the matter, the Saiyajins would have to be exterminated. It wouldn’t be difficult, Vejiitasei had been divided and the ruling force behind it had no throne.

Cold smiled inwardly, it would be fun watching the Saiyajins’s downfall. He would be delighted to watch the Prince beg for mercy before being given to his heir for his first kill. All was in place and an attack was set. Surely, Vejiita even knew it was coming, but he would never be prepared for the onslaught. He would never see it coming.

* * * * * * * *

The Batijin tech walked unnoticed past the Saiyajin guards. They were too occupied with other matters to be concerned with him. Not that they guards distrusted him; Dondurma had been the perfect guise. He snickered as he pressed the entry codes to the Imperial Wing. This is too easy. Once I’ve cornered the Prince, I’ll be able to take him to Cold. He smiled inwardly, continuing on to the Prince’s chambers.

It was a simple exchange, Vejiita alive for a handsome price and a life without service to the Cold Clan. It would be an extremely easy venture, and with the rest of the team hidden inside the palace and reinforcements on the way, Vejiitasei would fall by moonrise. Ginyu stopped at the two ornate doors; he would never suspect Dondurma of anything.

He tapped politely on the door and waited for the response, there was none. Irritated, he knocked harder. Idiot! He cursed himself The Prince wouldn’t be here. He would be coordinating a plan of attack. Ginyu quickly turned towards the main command post, the Prince would most certainly be there.

* * * * * * * *

Vejiita paused quietly; the docking bay was completely empty. They were all preparing for battle. He had no doubt that there would be another victory for the Saiyajins. He would not be missed. He slid quietly into the pod. He would become the Legendary, by Tyr and no one would stop him. He would not rest until Kakarott and Vejiitasei bowed to him once again.

* * * * * * * *

Bulma seethed silently in the corner of the safety shelters. Arrogant son of a bitch. He’s going to get himself killed. Bulma shook her head. Her relationship with Vejiita was extremely difficult to define. While she couldn’t honestly admit there was based on true love, she knew her feelings where more than that of lust she cared for him deeply and each day her feelings grew. She forced herself to believe that his feelings were the same.

But the way he seemed to shut her out, made her wonder. He was constantly insulting her and ignoring her. She understood that he needed to train and prove himself. She wanted, more than anything, for him to be happy. But he didn’t have to hurt her in the process!

Bulma shook her head, now was not the time to think about these things. Turning her head she made a quick count of those present. As head of the Engineering division it was her duty in every state of emergency. She quickly noted that Dondurma, the Batijin ambassador was not present. "Strange." She murmured, "Where would he be?"

She rose and asked a guard if Dondurma had requested to stay in the labs. The guard shook his head, slightly annoyed. Strange. She thought. She waited for the guard to be occupied in a conversation, and then she crept quietly down the corridors in search of her missing comrade.

* * * * * * * *

Gishu sulked through the hallways, not paying much attention in his direction. "Gishu!" a voice called. He paused, turning his head towards the voice. "Toukan?" he asked.

A familiar face appeared from around the corner and Gishu suddenly brightened. "Toukan!" he exclaimed with joy, "What brings you here?"

The other man smiled, his smooth creamed color face brightened and his gray eyes focused on his former lover. "Cold bid me come." His smile widened, "I thought I could see how you were." He thought for a moment, "Enjinia, does he treat you well."

Gishu nodded, "We are happy. Happier than you and I." Gishu suddenly became bitter. "You were never satisfied, were you?"

Toukan’s smile faded and he turned his eyes away, nervously running his hand through his black hair. "You’re right." He brightened again, "We are from different worlds anyway." He remarked. "You like to create, and I love to destroy. You and Enjinia were meant to be. I…" he smiled whimsically, "I was made to cause pain."

Gishu frowned, "And you do a fine job of it too." He spat. Pushing past Toukan. "I have things to attend to, I am sure Cold awaits."

Toukan watched Gishu depart. So you still hate me. That’s all right, in the end you would have had to die anyway. Now I’m afraid it will have to be sooner. Shrugging his shoulders, he turned towards the throne room in anticipation of his meeting with Cold.

* * * * * * * *

Rettich was beyond pissed at the council as they bickered among themselves. "Would you just shut-up!" he bellowed. There was silence as they all peered at him in an annoyed fashion. "You haven’t ordered a single saiyajin to the front line to meet the enemy when they arrive!"

The council stirred uneasily, "In fact," Rettich continued, "You haven’t done a damn thing since the King’s death. Vejiitasei is crumbling and you can’t get organized to pick up the pieces!"

"Why do you scold us, Rettich." One council member hissed, "You spend your days guarding an alien woman and bowing to a man who has no title."

Rettich seethed, "That saiyajin is your King. Legendary, or not. You are a bunch of sniveling idiots who couldn’t…" Rettich stopped cold, the pain in his chest was slight, but the blood was everywhere. He slid to his knees as a new voice was heard. "I’m sorry to interrupt your little meeting, but we have things to attend to.

Rettich found the strength to turn his head. There were four of them, the one speaking was a short, red-skinned man. He recognized the symbol on their armor at once. The Ginyu Force was on Vejiitasei. By Tyr, they were already here! Those ships on the scanners were merely reinforcements. Vejiita…

Cries of anger and surprise faded as darkness overcame him and he embraced death.

* * * * * * * *

Bulma had searched everywhere, but in vain. Shaking her head, she turned back to the safety shelters. Then, an idea hit her. He must have gone back to his ship. She sprinted in the direction of the docking bay and noticed that his ship was open. Great! She climbed up the stairs and peered in the open door. "Dondurma?" she called, "It’s me, Bulma!"

There was a scrapping sound, then what sounded like a muffled cry. Bulma ventured further, following the sounds. "Dondurma, are you okay?" She stifled a scream at what she had found. A tall, purple alien, tied and gagged. Bulma backed away, "I’m going to get help."

She turned and found herself buried in a chest. Backing away slightly, she saw whom it belonged to . "Dondurma." She sighed, relieved. "What’s this." She pointed to the prisoner.

"That," he sneered, "Is Dondurma." And before Bulma could respond, blackness engulfed her.

* * * * * * * *

Vejiita leaned back into the chair of the pod. You’re a fool Vejiita, and maybe even a coward! Perhaps she was right. After all, he was running away. NO! he told himself, That’s not true, you’re not running away. You have to escape the distractions. I need to find Kakarott! I will become the Legendary, and I will prove them all wrong.

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