Chapter Text
Many things can happen in just one second. I have had many seconds.
I have had a second when I was thrown into seclusion. I have had a second when I found a way out.
I have had seconds of love, fear, anger.
I have had seconds of my blood running cold, seconds of adrenaline flowing through my veins as I run for my life.
That was a long time ago.
As an immortal, my life has been extensively full of fear. Many believe that I have nothing to be afraid of.
They are wrong.
I am the only immortal I have ever met. If I had met more, I wouldn't be so lonely. Everyone that I have ever loved has died before they had a chance to live.
The guilt eats me alive at times.
On my home planet, I had protectors. Many of them, through the years. They have all died from either old age or war. Every time I get new protectors, I get two at a time, in case one of them dies.
My father arranged a secret board. Military generals, leaders, elites.
He told them to protect me at all costs.
After my father had his time, the board put me into what was essentially a prison. I had no way of getting out.
Then one day, my main adviser, Nappa, came to me with groundbreaking news.
"King," He said, out of breath from sprinting to my cell, "The board has found something that may help you."
With my head in my hand, I sighed and motioned for him to continue.
"At the other side of the galaxy, there's a small planet, and if we go there, we might be able to cover up your, uh, issue," He looked around the room, making sure there were no spies, as there were regularly. They too died all too soon.
"Continue," I said, bored in my execution, but intrigued in my mind.
"They have magic balls, and apparently they can grant you any wish you please."
"What is your point, Nappa?" I sat up and erected my posture, a plan brewing in my mind.
"My Lord, if we travel to this planet we may wish for you to be sterile, and be able to prevent any incidents with the whores, if they got a hold of you," He bowed at the waist, his head falling low.
"Arrange a meeting for me with the board. I wish to discuss the situation with them before our departure."
Nappa stood again and nodded, leaving the room and locking it behind him.
Nobody sees the royal family. It's tradition. The only times I'm allowed out is when there is a festival or holiday, and I pose as a descendant, the 'new' King.
I stopped aging when I was hardly an adult, my soft face holds the same shape it did more than two thousand years ago. I sighed and gazed into the small mirror on my stone wall. I did not see the point of having it, because my face never changed.
During my seclusion, I had made many, many friends, if they can be called such.
The people I was fond of, the people that treated me normally.
None of them ever knew my secret. I took pictures with them, hoping to figuratively immortalize them with photos. I kept them in a small lockbox.
My second advisor, Raditz, came to my cell, the iron lock clanking around as he opened it from the outside.
I could escape at any time, but I chose not to, so I can appease the board. It was in my best interest to keep them happy, and my guards alive.
"My Lord," He said, bowing immediately and talking to the ground, "The board wishes to meet with you immediately, and requested that Nappa and I be your advisors along the trip.
I nodded, "Take me to them. I want to get this done with."
"Yes, Lord," He stood upright, allowing me to pass by before following me down the hall into the main collaborator's office, where the whole board was seated.
Raditz spoke for me, "Dear sirs, your King."
They all stood and bowed out of formality, but I knew none of them truly and honestly respected me. I nodded to them and took my empty seat at the head of the table. The head member, Ackee, stood and cleared his throat.
"King Vegeta, if I may make a suggestion," He paused for my permission to continue.
"You may."
With his hands clasped together he leaned forward slightly, announcing their discovery.
"As our researchers have discovered, there are wish-granting orbs on a distant planet. The travel would be extensive, but as time is obviously not an issue for you, my King, I'm sure you wouldn't mind taking the trip." He sat, folding his hands on the desk, waiting for my answer.
"As far as the travel time, how long would the trip be?"
"A year one way, at the most with our latest ship technology. The total wait would be two years, as we wish to send Raditz to the planet alone to asses the level of danger. All to assure your safety, of course," Ackee closed his eyes and waited for a response.
"As far as I'm concerned, Ackee, I am perfectly capable of protecting myself, but if it gives you comfort, I will allow this plan to come into action. Of course, I will want Nappa traveling with me when I leave. I also want scouters active and with me at all times so I may communicate with Raditz on his excursion."
"Of course, my King, whatever you please."
"Is that all?" I crossed my arms, impatient.
"No, actually," The board's second in command, Rambu, stood and folded his hands in the same fashion as Ackee, "It appears that the planet the orbs are on, is the same planet the second son of Bardock was sent after his birth, Raditzs' younger brother."
"This is important to me, for what reason, Rambu?" I uncrossed my arms as he scrambled to explain himself.
"W-well, he is a full blooded Saiyan, my Lord, and given that he has grown significantly in the past twenty or so years, he could be a possible advisor, if you wish him to be, of course, my Lord." He sat, finished with his statement.
"If he proves to be strong enough, then I will consider him," I crossed my arms again, "I have another request, if we are finished with the matter of the boy."
"Of course, King Vegeta," Ackee stood, "We will do everything in our power to be sure this mission goes as planned."
I nodded, "I wish to be released from my room for the year the Raditz is not present. You may assign me another advisor for the time if you wish, but given I run into conflicts on this planet I want to be physically prepared. My muscles haven't exactly been growing in my... room."
The board looked between each other with concerned looks, wordlessly debating with one another on how to deal with my request.
Rambu nodded to the others, coming to a decision, "You may, but you must sleep there. Training, eating and your personal hygiene may be preformed elsewhere."
I nodded, appeased, "Alright. I want Raditz to leave today, within the hour. Ackee, see to it that Raditzs' ship is set to the correct coordinates. Rambu, Set up three scouters for Raditz, Nappa, and myself."
I turned and left the room, swiftly walking back into my cell and retrieving the dusty spandex suit folded in the lone desk drawer.
"My Lord, don't you think you're being a bit hasty? You have an entire year, do you not?" Raditz stood at the entry, a hand over his chest. I turned to him with a grimace.
"Raditz, a year to someone who is millennia old is like the length of tea time for you. Now if you'll remind me, where the training rooms are located?" I looked at him expectantly, waiting for him to escort me.
"Oh, yes, this way, King Vegeta," He turned on his heel and led me down a few hallways to the wide wooden doors of the training areas.
"Thank you, Raditz. I want you to get going. I will see you in two years time," I opened the doors and smelled the old familiar smell of sweat and old punching bags. I smiled to myself as I changed.
Nothing in the room had changed except for a few new fixtures and new equipment. I strolled around, not knowing where to start. My eyes fixated on a small panel on the wall toward the back of the room. Upon closer inspection, there was a small label above the panel engraved wit the words, 'WEIGHT SIMULATION'.
A small red '1' appeared over the number panel, indicating the machine was off. Shrugging, I pressed '2', then 'Enter'.
The room became warm, my limbs magnetized to the ground. I struggled to keep my footing as I walked over to one of the punching bags. I could hardly lift my arms let alone punch the bag hard enough to make it move. I sighed, opting to try to walk before damaging anything.
The room seemed smaller under the increased gravity. All of the equipment looked far more intimidating than it did when I had first walked in.
A hard knock on the wooden door caught my attention.
"King, are you in there?" Nappa asked, seeming concerned.
"Yes, Nappa. Leave me be, and have a meal ready for me when I am finished." I struggled to catch my breath after such a long sentence, but Nappa didn't seem to notice.
"Yes, Lord," I heard his heavy footsteps recede down the hallway.
It may have been the longest year of my life.