Chapter 1

“Stop shoving this fake bullshit my way,” Kiki hissed, tossing papers against the bars of her cell, “Trust me, I know how easy it is to fake documents.”

Nix’s eyes narrowed at Kiki. “You knew? About everything?”

“Of course,” the imprisoned princess told him, “Did you think father kept things from me? I’m not our brother.” Nix glared at her and turned to leave before he did something he’d regret. “By the way, brother...” Kiki called after him, “You weren’t the only one that was considered a success...”

Nix turned back around and walked back to her. “You were deemed a success based on your potential. You want to make that claim, then let’s go.” He unlocked the cell and opened it.

“Gladly,” Kiki said. She followed Nix out of the prison. “You gonna take this off or not?” she asked, linking her thumb under the ki suppressor.

“No, because I’m not an idiot,” Nix told her.

“Well, that’s not very fair, now is it?” Kiki asked as they walked out of the palace and towards the arena.

“Well life isn’t fair, princess,” Nix said.

“Hmm...” Kiki muttered, “You would know, wouldn’t you? The bastard son of the king. He doesn’t even care enough to take you in. Throws you into an experimental program that, let’s face it, was just a torture camp. And when you finally ascend, he doesn’t even congratulate you. No...he fears your strength and sends you to...well, what was supposed to be your death. Not fair at all, was it?” As they entered the stadium, Kiki stretched and turned to face Nix. “We going to do this or what?” she asked, “Because, if we are, you’re going to have to take this off.” She gestured to the collar.

“Do you take me for a fool?” Nix asked as he puled out a small remote. He pointed it at Kiki and pressed a button, sending a high voltage of electricity through her body. “It was never about seeing your potential. That’s all it is. Potential. All that I wanted was to confirm what I suspected. For the crimes that you’ve committed, you are hereby banished. Should you ever return, you will be executed.” He uncapsulized a pod and tossed her in it. “By the way, this pod is set to self-destruct when it reaches its destination…so, have fun being stranded.” The pod launched and Nix watched it disappear into space.

“Well, that’s one thing crossed of my to-do list,” he muttered to himself.

Nix walked back to the palace and to his office. Not long after, Paragus walked in with some suggestions for him. Nix looked at him suspiciously. “Can I ask you something?”

“You can ask me anything, my king,” Paragus said.

“Did you know what King Vegeta was doing?” Nix asked.

“What do you mean?” Paragus replied.

“I’m not an idiot, Paragus,” Nix told the older Saiyan, “You were his advisor. You were close to the former king. You of all people had to have known what he was doing to his own people.”

Paragus hesitated, but sat across from Nix, before saying, “I will not lie to you, my king. Yes, I did know. But I was powerless to do anything. The former king threatened not only my life, but lives of both my son and mate.”

“I understand. You wanted to keep them safe,” Nix told him, “I think anyone would have done the same thing in your position.”

“If only I had kept my family safe,” Paragus said angrily.

“What do you mean?” Nix asked.

“My son...he was forcefully taken and...” Paragus trailed off, “My mate and I were informed that he had died years later. She never recovered and passed on as well...”

“I’m sorry to hear that,” Nix said.

“Broly never got to be anything besides one of the king’s sick experiments,” Paragus said to himself.

Nix stopped. “I’m sorry, but what did you say your son’s name was?”

“Broly. I’ve heard the stories, too, but I do not believe they are real,” Paragus told him.

Nix looked at the man across from him. “The stories weren’t false, Paragus. I may not have seen it happen but I saw the aftermath.” He turned on the computer and opened the program that contained all the files of those in the former king’s program. “Yes, Broly was deemed a failure. But not because he didn’t achieve what the king wanted. He was a failure because when he did ascend, he lost his mind...”

“Wh...what are you saying?” Paragus asked.

Nix turned the monitor towards Paragus, showing him Broly’s file. “Broly is alive, Paragus. Off planet and sedated, but alive...”