Long Live the King?

Guard Duty

Easy Quest

Requirement: Third-Class Saiyan

Reward: 1,000 zeni

Looks like one of the guards is sick. King Vegeta needs someone to replace him for the day. You! You don’t have any missions today, do you? Now you do. Get to the throne room and stand in the empty post. If any intruders need escorted out, you know what to do.

“Ah, Mr. Gohan.”

“Gohan looked up from the bar to the familiar face of Kraut. As always, he wore his Saiyan Elite battle armor and red cape. He looked surprisingly smug today.

“You look surprisingly smug today.” Gohan took a sip from his beer and turned away.

“Of course I am! My recruit is the first Third Class to make it into the O.S.F.” Kraut slapped his hand across Gohan’s backside, a sort of congratulatory pat on the back.

“And where is my way home?” Gohan asked with a chug of his beer.

“All in time my friend, all in due time.”

“Figures,” Gohan took another sip of his beer and turned away from Kraut.

“Oh come now, don’t be that way.” Kraut plopped himself down onto the bar stool next to Gohan.

“If you’re not going to help me, then I suggest you leave me alone.” Gohan was a bit spiteful of the man.

Kraut had promised to help Gohan find a way back to Earth several weeks ago if he would assist in a mission on Tranex. Gohan did so, unknowingly assisting the Lieutenant General secure the planet to be sold by the Planet Trade Organization. Once he had found out who and what the P.T.O. did, Gohan had regretted that decision and decided that it was his responsibility to put a stop to it before it reaches Earth.

“Of course, that’s why I’m here.” Kraut responded with another slap on the back. “I heard that King Vegeta is looking for a temporary guard for his chambers. Normally he wouldn’t let a Third Class step anywhere near his castle, but as the new recruit of the Oozaru Special Forces I’m sure he would be thrilled to have you protect him for the day. This is your perfect chance to get in good with the King.”

Gohan turned his gaze toward the Lieutenant General. If what he said was true, then that would be the perfect chance to see just how deep the P.T.O. runs in the government. Maybe he could persuade King Vegeta to steer clear of Earth.

“Here is the invite,” Kraut handed Gohan a letter with a red seal engraved with the King’s logo. “This will get you past the main gate and into the chambers.”

Gohan responded with a ‘tsch’, snapping the letter out from the Elite’s hand. Gohan felt as though he was being manipulated by this guy, but he covered his tracks well. The half breed stood up and headed for the exit.

“Oh yeah,” Kraut called out just before Gohan exited. “Just be careful of watch you say. They say he killed the last guard because of an ill-timed remark he made about his younger son.”

(WC: 454)

Gohan arrived at the main gate. It had only been a few days since he had last been there and the scorch marks from his battle with Gourd still litter the field.

“Halt, who goes-“ The guard paused when he recognized the warrior. “What do you want?”

“I am here to fill in as a temporary guard in the King’s chambers.” Gohan replied. He had a feeling, deep in his stomach, of just where this was heading.

“Ha, don’t make us laugh.” The guard snickered at the reply. “Only First Classers are allowed to be up there.”

Without hesitation, Gohan pulled the sealed letter from his pocket and showed it to the guard. The expression on the guard’s face after seeing the letter was priceless.

“A royal seal!” The guard gasped in surprise.

“Only the King and a few Elites have the authority to hand those out,” The other guard commented, examining the seal closer. He looked up to Gohan and with a look of admiration he said, “You must have some powerful friends.”

“In any case,” The first guard cleared his throat, interrupting the second guard. “you may enter.”

Gohan nodded and placed the sealed letter back into his pocket underneath his O.S.F. armor. He didn’t care too much for the armor, but it was all he had since his only other change of clothes were ripped to shreds when he changed into an Oozaru a few days back. He walked through the main gate and into the courtyard.

To have such influence as a Saiyan Elite is incredible. If Gohan were to fail to convince King Vegeta to renounce the capture of Earth for the P.T.O. then perhaps he would listen to an Elite. This also brought to mind just who was Kraut in relation to all of this? Why did he have all the answers? And why is he stringing Gohan along? What is he after? All Gohan could do is roll with what he is given, he was never very fond of mind games and he really didn’t plan that far ahead.

(WC: 346)

Gohan stood silently at the King’s side. He had been there for only three hours and had witnessed King Vegeta in all of his moods with exceptions to the pleasant ones. The King had thrown out seven peasants, destroyed three vases, bought two slaves, and killed one insubordinate Xeno. The King was a brutal man, a warlord, a menace to peace. He believed the best way to rule was to be in a state of eternal conflict, eliminate the enemy before they raise a weapon were the words he lived by.

Gohan sensed the ki signatures in the room and it would seem the gold aura he picked up a few days ago was that of the King and it was incredibly strong. Standing next to him Gohan could sense the full extent of his power and estimated his overall strength to be somewhere around a hundred and thirty thousand, more than double that of his own.

The man standing opposite Vegeta, was not a guard but an advisor to the King. He was the one who had the bronze aura and had a power level around ninety thousand. His name was Marco and he was a lot less frightening than the King. He did not speak aloud when in the main chamber, but instead whispered into the King’s ear. He issued orders to the guards using only his hands, pointing and waving his hands in such a manner that showed gracefulness yet had a certain sternness to it at the same time.

Gohan figured it best to wait for the chamber to be dismissed before approaching King Vegeta with his request and so, once he sent everyone away Gohan turned to the man and begun his plea.

“Sir,” Gohan politely called out to the King who had just lifted himself off his throne.

“You’re the new O.S.F. recruit?” Vegeta asked, noticing the emblem that adorned his armor.

“That I am.”

“And your only Third Class?” Vegeta asked raising an eyebrow.

“Yes sir.”

“You have some mighty scars for a Third Class. Most of you die within a battle or two.” King Vegeta was cold in his conversation. He kept his distance from his emotion, both pleasant and unpleasant.

“I pride myself on my survivalist skills.”

“Oh? And if you face an adversary who you have no chance of winning against?”

This was the tricky part; tell him what he wants to hear or the truth. Gohan knew that the King was interrogating him, but he hid it incredibly well. If it were not for the half breed’s time being tortured by the demons, he would have never known of the scheme and might have even let slip a few things he shouldn’t. He decided it best to be honest; lying would do him no good here.

“I would run.” Silence filled the air and with the large chamber being empty, the time seemed far longer than it should have.

“Most would call that cowardice.”

“I call it surviving. If you have no chance of winning, why die trying?”

“Have you no pride, warrior? Most Saiyans will fight proudly even if it’s to their death.”

“Most Saiyans are idiots.” Gohan paused, he just inadvertently called the King in idiot. “It is after all, why you have so few high ranked soldiers. But you knew that already. It’s those deaths that keep you in power.”

The King eyed the future warrior carefully. The tension in the air was so thick, not even Gohan’s sword could slice through it.

“You are a rare one indeed. Kraut was right about you.”

“If I may King, ask of you one thing?” He felt that he may be overstepping his bounds, especially after such a non-violent conversation with the man. A feat that is hard to accomplish as it seems.

“Oh, already calling in favors are we? Don’t forget your place, you are still a Third Class.” The King’s voice has harsher than it had been before. He appeared frustrated now, irked and bothered.

“I know you have an agreement with the Planet Trade Organization,” The King’s face began to glow a hot red, but Gohan had to continue. “I ask of you to spare the planet Earth of fates like that of Tranex.”

“How dare you!” Vegeta roared. His voice reverberated off the walls amplifying the volume. “Get out of my castle! NOW!”

Gohan’s quest ended in failure, however he was able to assess the King’s attitude toward the P.T.O. There was something he was hiding about the organization, something big. He did however gauge the strength of the King and his subordinates; a knowledge that would certainly be useful in the future.

(WC: 779)
(TWC: 1579)