Dragon Ball Z: A Good Man - 17

      It was like waking up from a nightmare.  Only it hadn’t been a nightmare.  Not a moment of it.  It had been a living Hell.  The transition out of it was strange.  The sights and sounds of it had been taken away long ago – but he’d still smelled the stench of old enemies and regrets.  He’d still felt horrors digging into his skin.  But without his sight or hearing, those terrors had become indistinct.  It had been a blessing.  But now, slowly, Vegeta was coming to the realization that reality had found him again…perhaps.  It was hard to be certain.  His vision was still completely black whenever he opened his eyes and the world was utterly silent.
      A terrible thought occurred.  Have…have I gone deaf and blind?
      He was pretty sure he said that out loud.  But he couldn’t even hear himself speak.  He tried to feel around his surroundings, but he could barely move at all.  He gritted his teeth, fighting back the urge to panic, and forced himself to just focus on his remaining senses.  He could still smell just as good as ever.  So he sniffed deeply.  Chemicals and perfumed sanitizers.  The infirmary.  He was still in the infirmary.  And of course he couldn’t move – he was probably bound to something as he always was these days.  Though…this time felt even worse than usual.  The air around him was also extremely warm and he could feel his skin covered in sweat.
      Is someone out there? Again, he felt his mouth and throat move as he spoke, but heard nothing of his own voice.  Hello?!  Give me some kind of answer, damn you!
      He felt a subtle movement in the air, it turning a degree cooler around him.  He jerked as something touched his arm – a hand?  Something was at his ear now.  He squirmed distrustingly as he felt an uncomfortable suction.  But then, like a tidal wave, sound came rushing in, accompanied by an annoying but strangely welcomed ringing in his ear.
       “Welcome back to sanity, your highness,” a voice remarked, the silence sucked out of his other ear as well.
       “Who are you?” Vegeta demanded.
      The voice snorted.  “Well, one thing’s for certain, if there is any neurological damage, it certainly hasn’t affected the parts of your brain that deal in rudeness.”
      Vegeta sniffed again.  “Oh…of course, it’s you…”
       “What was that?  Thank you, Dr. Tottle, for saving me from that drug-induced state of constant paranoia and torment?  Why, you’re most certainly welcome, Vegeta.”
       “Guahhh…”
       “Do you remember anything?”
      Vegeta clenched his fist under the restraints.  “…I remember all of it…” he stated, his voice a note deeper than usual.
      He heard the doctor sigh.  “Well that’s unfortunate.”  Vegeta felt the binds holding him come loose one by one and his hands grasped.  “Come on,” Dr. Tottle prompted, “Step out.  Don’t worry, the bandages over your eyes will come off in a moment.  I need to examine you first and make absolutely sure you’re not going to relapse.”
      The idea of being blindly led around was frustrating, but he ignored it, getting out of whatever he’d been strapped down in, stretching his stiff tail as his feet touched the cold floor.  He was naked, he’d already figured that out.  No matter, it wasn’t the first time he’d been exposed in front of a doctor.  He was sat down on something soft and felt restraints snap over his legs.
      Upon feeling them, he couldn’t help but laugh a little.  “You really are afraid of me, aren’t you?” he mused.
       “Me?” Dr. Tottle answered with surprise, “Not in the slightest.”
       “Oh really?” he challenged, “Then why the constant bondage, even when I’m blind?”
      He could feel those indignant eyes on him.  “Because cold-blooded murders lose the right to move,” he stated plainly, “Now just sit there and be quiet, this scan doesn’t require your jaw flapping to work.”
      Vegeta growled softly but said nothing more.  Humming sounded around him from a scanner and he touched a hand to his forehead, running his fingers over the bandages that covered his eyes.  Neurological damage.  So that was it.  Nevrrest hoped to destroy his mind, the one thing that was still holding the fragile remains of his pride together.  But it hadn’t worked.  Kakarot…Kakarot had saved him.
      Don’t you dare, Vegeta…don’t you think of giving up, even for a second!
      Dishonor…dishonor…
      He gritted his teeth and hissed, shaking as he dug his fingers into his hairline.  No, that hadn’t been Bulma, but it didn’t matter.  He knew it was true – he had dishonored her by falling like this.  He’d dishonored his entire family – his entire race.  In the midst of that horrible state, he’d been visited by every fear and regret he’d ever had.  But what her visage had said…that was the one thing he couldn’t face.
       “Take deep breaths, your heart rate is going up again,” Dr. Tottle interrupted his thoughts.
       “Shut up, you, and leave me alone,” Vegeta snarled.
      There was a pause as the humming scan stopped and he heard footsteps followed by his wrist being grabbed and yanked down from his head.  “Whatever you experienced,” Dr. Tottle stated firmly, “Was nothing but a wild cocktail of your own brain chemistry.  It meant nothing.”
      Vegeta hissed angrily.  “What do you know, you stupid old man?”
       “There it is, right there!” Dr. Tottle shot back, likely with a finger in his face, “The one thing about you Saiyans that always irked me the most!  Somewhere in your meaty brains you got the idea that by punching things it made you the gods’ cheese!  I may be old, little princeling, but I am not stupid.  No one is above illness.  No one.  So as far as I’m concerned, when it comes to your health, I’m the goddamn super saiyan and you’re the puny weakling.  So shut up before I lose my temper.  I’ve had hardly a nap in two days because of you.”  He released his wrist and left him for a moment.  “Now I recommend you close your eyes,” he stated, returning and beginning to unravel the bandage, “It will make adjusting to the light easier.”
      Vegeta grunted, following the suggesting.  Light began to touch his eyelids and slowly he cracked open his eyes, blinking against the stinging brightness.
      Dr. Tottle cocked his head, studying Vegeta’s pupils.  “See anything frightening?”
      He rubbed at his eyes a bit and glanced carefully around the infirmary.  “…No.”
       “Good,” he replied, dropping the bandages into a disposal, “Then the detox was a success.”  He took Vegeta’s arms and held them out, looking the warrior’s muscular form over.  “Yes, very good.  Physically, I’d say you’ve made a full recovery.  Psychologically?  Doubtful.  Neurologically?  Well, we’ll soon find out.”  He grabbed a tablet off his desk, glancing it over.  “I’m going to ask you some simple questions.  The answers will hopefully seem insultingly obvious to you.”  He glanced at the tablet again.  “Give me your name, age, planet of origin, and prisoner number please.”
      His brow lowered slightly, looking down.  “Prince Vegeta.  Thirty-six.  Planet Vegeta.”  He went silent.
      Dr. Tottle waited patiently, finally giving him a look and putting his hands on his hips.  “You know, I don’t have to give you your clothes back.”
      Vegeta growled deeply and his gaze shifted to the side.  “…Zero…Zero…Zero-One…”
       “Thank you, now that wasn’t so hard, was it?  All right then, onto the next one…”  Vegeta continued to answer the rest of the questions with little emotion, Dr. Tottle nodding as he went down the list.  They moved on to test his motor skills and basic senses.  Dr. Tottle sighed, lowering the light he had been shining in Vegeta’s right eye.  “Well that’s that.  I’m going to have to give you a clean bill of health.”
      Vegeta frowned.  “And why is that a bad?” he asked.
       “Because, it means when they come for you in a few hours, I won’t be able to turn them away – even though any damned fool could see that no one should have to go face the court after going through such a traumatic event.”  The doctor saw a twinge enter his patient’s eyes.  “Yes, I’m afraid it’s true.  Today’s your court date.  It’s very early morning for the fleet right now.”
       “Terrific…” Vegeta snorted, looking down and bracing his jaw.
       “In the meantime, though…let’s both do our best to get you ready.”  He sat his physician tools aside and headed into a small chamber.  “I’m drawing you a bath,” he called out to him, “You’re absolutely filthy right not.  You’ve spent the last few days in the expellerater sweating out all those poisons.”
       “What difference does it really made whether I’m clean or not?” Vegeta called back, “Am I not to die soon anyways?”
      He heard the water running and Dr. Tottle poked his head out of the chamber.  “That has not been decided yet,” he sharply reminded before popping out of view again, “Besides, it will make you feel more relaxed.  Not to mention make you smell better.  Do you have any idea how many cans of air freshener I’ve had to—”
       “All right, I get it!” Vegeta snapped, “Just don’t start going on about that again.”
      The doctor actually chuckled a little, shutting off the flow of water a few moments later before going to rummage in a drawer.  “Let’s see…ah, here it is.”  He pulled out a chain and pressed a button, motioning to the Saiyan as the shackles on his legs released.  “Come on then, Triple-Zero-One.  Don’t worry, you’ll get to bath yourself.  And we’ll get a nice little break from each other.  Soon as you’re in, I’m going to go pass out on my desk.”
      Vegeta grunted, sliding off the examination chair and walking past the doctor into the bathing chamber.  Dr. Tottle connected the chain from Vegeta’s neckband to a spot on the chamber wall, stepping out and locking him in.  Vegeta stared down at his reflection in the water for a moment before stepping in and sinking down into the hot bath.  He groaned softly, closing his eyes and letting his head fall back against the lip of the tub.
       “Put on trial…” he muttered to himself, “To think that I should come to face such a day.”
      His eyes cracked open again, glancing over the bottle of cleansing powder before drawing a breath and sinking beneath the steaming water, letting his head come to rest on the tub bottom.  Bubbles rose from his nose as he glanced to the side, glaring coldly at glowing numbers his shoulder cast on the tub wall.  More bubbles slipped out and he turned his head again, now staring at his blurred reflection on the water’s surface.
      Bulma…Trunks…my unborn child… he thought as he lay sunk and chained, For your sake, I will do all I can regain my lost honor.  For you…I will try.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

       “…You know I’m here…don’t you?”
      Goku’s eyelids trembled.  “…Yes.”
       “You know what I’m going to do to you…don’t you?”
      He grunted and whimpered, twitching in his bed.  “…I do…”
       “Shhh…”  The tiny monster of the glowing red eyes sat gently on his chest.  “Then don’t struggle…just let it happen…”
      Goku’s fingers clutched the blankets.  “Please don’t…”
       “Don’t worry…”  The tiny monster stroked the side of his face.  “You’ll know when you wake up that this was all just a bad dream…”
       “No…don’t do it…!” he begged as the fangs extended, reaching towards his neck, “Please!  Don’t—!”  They plunged.  “Neeaaahhhhh!!!!” he screamed as the fangs sank deep into his neck.
       “Goku, wake up!”
       “GE-AH!” Goku shot up in bed, headbutting Horkion.
       “Ow!” they cried out in unison.
       “Ooh…” Horkion groaned, rubbing the grooves of his scalp, “Well you’re awake now…you know, you’ve got a pretty hard head for a fleshy.”
       “You’re pretty hard for a rock!” Goku exclaimed back, holding the top of his own head.
       “You were having a nightmare,” Horkion explained, lowering his hands again, “Oom’Bagu sent me to make sure you woke up early for the trial and I heard you screaming.  Are you alright?”
      Goku itched at his neck.  “Yeah, I’m fine…just another bad dream…”  He rubbed at his head again.  “Today’s the trial?”  Horkion nodded.  “Oh yeah…”  He sighed as he swung his feet out of bed.  “No wonder I didn’t sleep well.”
       “Truth be told, I don’t think a lot of people have been sleeping well,” Horkion remarked, “Course, I only have to sleep once a month, so I usually train at night.”
       “Wow, I wish I could do that!”  Goku tossed the covers aside and went to his nutrition portal to order his breakfast.
       “It’s handy having the extra time,” Horkion shiny admitted, watching the Saiyan, “But honestly, I couldn’t get by without it.  I’ve always had to work that much harder to just keep up with the others.  Without quantum fusion, my energy output is…well it’s not much.”
       “Don’t worry, you can always get stronger,” Goku encouraged, eagerly salivating as he placed his order, “Besides, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a fighter with technique like yours.  Your precision and speed, it’s nearly perfect!”
      Horkion smiled, looking down and grinding his fists together.  “Thanks.  Hearing that from someone like you, I gotta say, is really something else.  I do love to fight, always have.  When I’m in battle…it’s like I’m in another world and nothing else matters.  Nothing could make me happier.”
       “I know the feeling,” Goku glanced back with a smile, “Especially if I meet someone who’s really strong, I just have to fight them!”
       “It…it may be inappropriate to talk about,” Horkion stated, his gravely voice vibrating with excitement, “Considering what’s been going on…but I’d love to see you fight Nevrrest!”
       “Hm,” Goku paused, touching his chin and looking up, “She is pretty strong.”
       “Truth is, she didn’t even need quantum fusion to beat Vegeta!” he continued to prattle, “Even when he pumped up and got that extra layer of energy, they were equally matched!”  He held up a finger.  “But Nevrrest always fights smart.  She never takes an opponent and unless she’s absolutely certain she can win.”
       “Really?” he asked, curiosity increasing.
       “That’s’ right!  And no matter how strong she gets, it’s never enough for her – she’s always determined to get even stronger.  I think surpassing the gods wouldn’t be enough for that woman.”  Horkion laughed and put his fists to his narrow hips.  “That’s why it would be so amazing if you two ever fought!  It’d be like watching two titans clash, as they say.”
      Goku giggled and rubbed at his mess of black hair.  “Oh boy, don’t say that!  Now you’re getting me all excited and wanting to fight her!”  He laughed again and folded his arms, bending impatiently over the food portal.
      Horkion chuckled and glanced about the suite.  “Well since you’re still getting ready and I already made all my preparations last night, you mind if I make myself comfy in here?”
       “No, go ahead!” Goku chirped, “Stay as long as you like!  I don’t mind at all!”
      The Minarite made himself comfortable on the sofa.  Getting bored, he switched on one of room’s screens, surfing the net’s data stream idly.  In the background, Goku cheered as his breakfast started to arrive, ferrying the mound of orders over to the table and chowing down.
      Horkion glancing over at him with a frown and shrugged, chuckling as he returned to his net activities.  “You know, I’ve heard the kitchen hates you.”
       “Whaf?” Goku said, his head popping up with a mouth completely stuffed with food, “Mey hate meh?  Why mould they hafte meh?”
       “Something about how much work it takes to…”  Horkion suddenly froze, his eyes locked on the screen.  “What?  This isn’t a regular broadcast…”  He grabbed the remote, shifting the frequencies and stared again.  “What the…?”
       “Hey, whaft’s up?”  Goku wandered over, eating some kind of shish kabob.  He noticed the screen.  “Hmm?”  he focused on it, taking another bite.
      The screen was black, but white text slowly and dramatically rolled across it.  ‘Twenty-one years ago, on this very day, a tragedy struck.  Long before The Justice was formed, there was another community who dared to bring order back to the galaxy.  In secret, the magnificent civilization of planet Balaci established a government to organize the worlds and combat Frieza’s tyranny.’
      Horkion clicked at the remote again.  “I don’t understand, it’s on every frequency!  What is this?”
       ‘This civilization was over a billion years old, a shining star of hope to many.  But twenty-one years ago, this government was discovered and the planet destroyed.  Twenty billion perished in the flames.  But not all of what they were was lost.  Five years ago, a observation satellite was discovered in the depths of space.  From this satellite was recovered footage of the Balaci’s final moments.  It will now be played in the planet and people’s memory…’
      Horkion leapt off the couch, his black pebble eyes shooting sparks of horror.  “What?!  No!  Who is broadcasting this—who would dare?!”
       “I don’t understand, what’s going on?” Goku interjected, glancing between the little rock man and the screen.
       “There’s a reason only the other justiciars and I have seen this—I have to stop it!”  He leapt over the couch, activating a projection from his fusion band as he ran.
      Goku blinked and returned his eyes to the screen.  A video was playing.  It was a little blurry, but easy enough to make out the images.  Dead bodies.  They floated all over against the backdrop of a beautiful blue and violet planet.  Something moved.  Yes, someone was still alive in that mess!  The figured hovered on the edge of the planet’s atmosphere.  He saw the spiky black hair and white armor, and blue unitard.  He was joined by a large bald man and another with a giant cascade of black hair.
      The shish kabob fell from Goku’s mouth.  “Oh no…”

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

      Vegeta lowered his brow, his eyes intent on the screen as his fifteen year old self looked down on the planet, his two servants at his sides.  Dr. Tottle stared at the screen as well as the scene played out, his jaw hanging slightly.  His jaw set and he reached for a button.
       “No,” Vegeta commanded, his voice so firm the doctor actually listened.  His muscles rigid under the medical bed’s restraints, Vegeta watched the screen with unmoving eyes.  The adolescent Vegeta clenched his hands at his sides, sparks and crackles of energy beginning to build and snap across his young, skinny body.  Nappa and Raditz moved back, suddenly going from chuckling grins to looking almost afraid of their prince and his growing power.  Dr. Tottle’s brow lowered and he reached for the button again.  “I said no!”
       “Why?” Dr. Tottle snapped, shooting him a disgusted glare, “So you can gloat?”
       “This is nothing to gloat over!” Vegeta shot back, making the doctor’s accusing expression disintegrate.  His brow lowered.  “It’s just a dog doing his master’s bidding.  Not even the shadow of a true warrior.”  His gaze grew even more intense on the screen as his younger self continued to charge.  “But…if this is how the universe is going to remember Prince Vegeta, then I too must see it.”

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

      Bulma hugged the pillow tightly to her chest, gazing unwaveringly at television set.  Gohan stood behind her, his hands on her shoulders as everyone gathered around the screen, shocked by what they were seeing.  But there was no mistaking it.  Even after all this time, they immediately recognized Goku’s older brother, the big brute who had mercilessly slaughtered all their friends, and their very own Prince of All Saiyans.
      Bulma’s fingers dug into the pillow, shaking.  Why were they seeing this?  She might have thought it some kind of attack on their home if she hadn’t already discovered that it wasn’t just them that was seeing it – the signal was bouncing all over the planet.  In fact, if her readings had been correct, it wasn’t even the Earth alone that was getting this broadcast.  Vegeta…he was so young, around the same age she’d been when she’d met Goku.  Is this why they’d taken him from her?  For something he’d done back when he was just a stupid kid?  Everyone did stuff they regretted at that age, right?
      Gohan’s eyes were wide as the teen Vegeta continued to charge, bodies of fallen defenders around him.  “Shouldn’t we just turn it off?” he pressed, hoping he wasn’t the only one who felt this way, “There’s no good reason any of us should have to see this!”
      But no one answered him.  Their eyes were all glued to the screen.  The energy grew wild and nearly uncontrollable as it danced around the youthful prince’s form, his muscles clenched and mouth gaping open in a scream of exertion – though the video was completely without sound.  The other two Saiyans drew even further back from him as the violet storm flashed.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

      It was the past.  It was the past, so there wasn’t anything anyone could do.  But Goku wanted to so badly.  He wanted to jump through that screen and stop Vegeta from what he knew he was about to do.  Goku’s teeth gritted and his fists clenched helplessly.  That attack – he recognized it.  It was a much cruder version of the galick gun:  the same move Vegeta had once used in an attempt to destroy both him and the Earth.  In that same manner, the adolescent saiyan braced his arms against each other, the power so great he looked to be in pain.
       “Don’t do it, Vegeta,” Goku begged, “Please don’t…”
      But there was no stopping what had already happened.  The charge grew so powerful that the prince couldn’t hold it a moment longer, screaming as he thrust it down at the planet.  The explosion sent the satellite capturing the event spinning so that nothing was visible for a moment.  But then the camera came around again.  The planet…it was still there.  Goku blinked and then took a step back in horror as a strange shifting occurred across the surface of the world and a giant chunk broke off.  He hadn’t managed to make it explode.  He’d merely shattered it.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

      Vegeta’s lips curled back in disgust as Balaci cracked open like an egg, growling softly.  He probably couldn’t recall even half the worlds he’d destroyed in his life.  But Balaci he couldn’t help but remember.  It had been, after all, his first.  What a fool he’d been, so desperate to earn respect among the elite of the Planet Trade Organization, he’d demanded the right to be the one to destroy it.  Even though he’d never even blown up a moon before, let alone a planet that large, he’d been so certain in his own strength and that it’d be easy.  And all for what?  The prize of being one of Frieza’s top minions.  Just looking at that younger saiyan as he floated there stupidly made him so angry he could have puked.
       “Well that doesn’t make any sense,” Dr. Tottle remarked as the planetary chunk drifted from the main mass, “I know for a fact that Balaci was destroyed and well…that’s not destroyed.  That’s just decimated.”
       “Oh don’t worry,” Vegeta spat.  His teeth clenched as he saw his younger visage begin to shudder, seething down at the broken planet.  “That wasn’t the end of it.”

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

      It was like watching a moment of Trunks’ angry toddler phase.  It was the only thing Bulma could compare it to.  Whatever the young Vegeta had intended that blast to do had clearly failed because moments later he flew into a complete temper tantrum, terrifying his companions even more.  He threw back his head, screaming in a rage.  Moments later his body started sparking again, now viciously, his gloved fingers curled like claws.  He shot off out of sight.  There was an explosion, shaking the camera again.  The Briefs and Sons sat up anxiously as the video fizzled out for several seconds.
      When the images cleared again, there were explosions everywhere.  At first it was indistinct as to what was happening, but then they saw the energy-wrapped missile rocketing around the planet, pummeling it hatefully from all sides with repeated blasts.  It was a slow, painful process to watch, the planet’s skin cracking and starting to bleed out magma, it’s atmosphere turning orange and gray.  It went on for minutes, smaller chucks breaking off and drifting into orbit as the fitful prince smashed at it like a raging baby.
       “God, this is awful,” Gohan gaped.
       “This can’t be real…right?” Chi-Chi wavered, holding Goten in her lap.
      Bulma bit at the corner of the pillow.  She wanted to deny it, but it was her Vegeta alright, throwing a temper when something didn’t go his way.  It didn’t come as a shock that he’d once done something like this, as horrible and saddening as it was.  She couldn’t love such a man if she hadn’t already accepted what he was once capable of long ago.  Her only fear was that Trunks was somehow watching this.  It wasn’t a side of his father she ever wanted him to see.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

      Goku’s shoulders hung as the last large chunk of Balaci finally split in two.  There was a bright flash and at long last the core gave way, the planet exploding.  It was hard to catch, but Goku’s sharp senses noticed in the footage what most likely overlooked.  The adolescent Vegeta, in his rage, was too close to the planet when it blew up and was sent hurling through space, his skin touched by burns.  As the camera spun wildly and started to fizzle out, Goku caught a last glimpse of Nappa catching the prince in midflight and hurrying him into a spacepod.
      It went black and a single white word filled the screen.  ‘Remember.’
      Goku heaved a deep sigh and dropped back onto the sofa.  “Man, Vegeta…I’d forgotten just how bad you were back then.  But I know you’d take it back if you could.”  He glanced to the side, spotting the fruit Misado had left him sitting near on a side table.  He grasped it, bouncing it lightly in his palm.  “Don’t worry, old friend, I’m gonna make sure you get your chance to make things right.”  He frowned, lowering the fruit to his side.  “But still…what was that all about?  Horkion didn’t seem happy about it at all…”
      A thought ran through his head.  It’s on every frequency!
      Goku’s jaw dropped.  “Oh no!  It wasn’t just in my room!”  His brow lowered.  “Nevrrest…”

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

      It was a beautiful thing to gaze upon – the quantum fusion core.  Floating in a sea of green containment fluid, the mauve and gold sphere fluxed with energy.  Red and pink ribbons of light danced about it, like electrons on an atom.  Its gentle throbbing was like that of a heart and in many ways it was just that – the heart and soul of the fleet.  Because of it, not a single criminal the Justice targeted had ever escaped capture.  Because of it, the good people of the galaxy were no longer afraid.
      Normally, upon entering this chamber, Oom’Bagu would stop to admire it.  But in this moment, there was nothing that could distract him from his rage.  His narrowed eyes drifted across the monitoring station, spotting Nevrrest and Sepis standing together, gazing up at the core.  Oom’Bagu’s lips curled back, flashing teeth before marching at the reptilian bird.
      Nevrrest turned from Sepis to face him.  “I was hoping—”
      Oom’Bagu seized her by the shoulders and spun her around, slamming her back against the core’s transparent shielding, cracking it slightly.  “How dare you?” he rumbled.
       “Oom’Bagu!” Sepis cried out in utter shock.
       “I trust you to control yourself and you go and commit such an act as this?” he continued to bark at her.
      Nevrrest coughed a little and squinted, regaining herself.  “What the hell is the matter with you?” she demanded, “Take your hands off me.”
       “Do not think to play dumb with me, Nevrrest,” Oom’Bagu growled, “How could you?  Abusing the alert system to broadcast that evidence across a quarter of the galaxy?  I am disgusted you would perform such an atrocity.  Is ensuring the universe’s hate of Prince Vegeta truly that significant to you?”
      Her jaw dropped.  “You think I broadcasted that message?” she returned, pressing a hand to her hardened chest.
       “I believe that point was fairly obvious, yes,” he shot back, “There’s only a handful who even knew that tape existed and even fewer who would benefit from its distribution.”
       “You will take your hands off me, Grand Warden,” Nevrrest hissed, grabbing his wrists and tossing them back.  She dusted herself off and glared down at her familiar.  “I don’t care what you think, but I will not be spoken to so.”
       “Do you not care that there are planetary riots happening because of this?” he demanded, gesturing harshly to the back wall, “We’ve had to dispatch teams to help local governments calm their populace!”
       “Yes, I am aware of that—who the hell do you think dispatched those teams to begin with?!”
       “Oom’Bagu, please!” Sepis protested, holding up and spreading his digits, “Nevrrest had nothing to do with that broadcast, I swear!”
      Oom’Bagu’s eyes shifted sharply to the Arlian.  “Was it you then?”
       “What—no!  No, I had nothing to do with this!”  He gestured to the computer bank he’d been at moments before.  “I’ve been trying to track the source of the broadcast!  It definitely came from the fleet, but I can’t find the access point.”
       “Then how can you be certain whom is free of blame?”
       “Because he knows I wouldn’t do something so blatantly stupid.”  Nevrrest’s brow lowered intensely.  “You have a fine brain, Oom’Bagu, use it.  It’s true I’ve been trying to influence public opinion, but turning evidence into a propaganda film?  Who the hell do you think I am, some brutish tyrant?”
      Oom’Bagu growled with frustration.  “I want to believe you,” he stated, holding up his hands, “But if not you, who then?  Who else would have motivation to do this?  I’m sorry, Nevrrest, but I see no other culprit.  Do you?”
      Her beak clenched.  “I don’t have to—”
       “Well aren’t you two the shining examples of professionalism.”  Nettelish’s black robes flowed around her as she crossed the monitoring station.  “If you really want to fight so badly, I suggest you take it to the training floor.”
       “Not a bad idea…” Nevrrest stated, glaring at Oom’Bagu threateningly.
      Oom’Bagu held her gaze and finally seemed to regain his composer.  “What is it, Nettelish?”
       “We have a trial to put on in two hours?” she reminded.
       “You’re joking.  After an incident like this, you still—”
       “Yes, I do,” she affirmed.  She swept forward, joining the three of them.  “In fact, considering what just occurred, I say it’s all the more imperative we settle the matter immediately.”
       “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I agree with Oom’Bagu,” Nevrrest stated, her feathers ruffled, “You’ve got to give us a few more hours at least.  What if one of the local pirate groups takes advantage of this chaos and goes on a raid?”  She hissed, clenching a fist.  “After all, hasn’t that damn monkey done enough damage?”
      Nettelish turned slowly, a glimmer in her glowing violet eyes.  “Or…” she sounded, holding up a black gloved finger, “Maybe you’re just trying to cover your tracks.”
       “Wha—how dare you?!” Nevrrest snarled, her talons extending, “Now you accuse me as well?”
       “Oh come on, Nevrrest, everyone knows who instigated that broadcast,” she admonished, “Even if it wasn’t you directly, it was clearly one of your supports.  Thus, you are responsible.”
       “Please, stop this!” Sepis begged, pressing his palms together, “It wasn’t Nevrrest!  And…if…if pushing back the trial is best…”
       “No, no more delays.”  Nettelish look at them all strictly.  “I think we’re all damn well tired of these games.  The court date is set.”  She turned on Nevrrest again, her eyes narrowed.  “Unless you don’t think you’re capable of fulfilling the role of prosecutor anymore…”
       “Enough,” Oom’Bagu sounded, “If this is truly your decision, Grand Judge, then so be it.  Let us all get to work.”  His eyes shifted back, giving Nevrrest a harsh look and she glared back.  He softened with a sigh and turned to leave.
      Nettelish’s eyes squinted in a smile.  “Good to hear.”  She turned as well.
       “Nettelish, wait.”  Nevrrest turned, her plume rising slightly.  “You never got back to me on whom I’ll be facing as defense.”
      Nettelish chuckled.  “So I didn’t…my apologies.”  She turned back.  “In a rather surprising turn of events, it seems that Misado has stepped up to fulfill the role.”
      Nevrrest’s tail dropped, hitting the floor.  “Misado?” she stated, flabbergasted, “But… Misado’s never been anything other than judge or jury!”
       “Shocking, I know,” Nettelish smoothly agreed, “Must have been Son Goku’s influence.”
       “Carrssss…” Nevrrest hissed, eyes narrowed and feathers stiffened, “But of course…”  She said nothing more, stalking out of the monitoring station herself.
      Sepis’s bulgy red eyes watched tensely as Nevrrest departed, shifting to the remaining justiciar.  Nettelish approached the transparent wall between them and the quantum fusion core, pressing her hand against it as she gazed up at the giant sphere.  Sepis tightened his cloak around him awkwardly, looking up at the core as well.
       “It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” he remarked, hoping to lighten the mood.
      Nettelish’s glowing violet eyes shimmered.  “Yes it is, Sepis…yes it is.”