A History of the Triad Alliance, Book I

Hi everyone! Well, here is the first chapter of a new story, lemmee know what you think. The poem near the end is by Percy Bysshe Shelly. I don\'t own DBZ, for which the world is thankful.

Many lemons on the way, so the NC-17 will be well ear Not Not this chapter, sadly. . .
Oh, and major slash, MPREG. Yamcha haters will be disappointed.

_______________________________________________________


Piccolo Daimou, Emperor and By Grace of the Gods Guardian of Namek, was slightly less than pleased. He had struggled, this past year, to show that he it was indeed tough satisfy in the matter of trade agreements. And while the Cold family had obviously heard and brought the greatest of gifts, the gifts left a lot to be desired. Admittedly, one Saiyan was a treasure beyond reckoning, two unsurpassed in the history of the Empire. And if his suspicions about these two proved correct, this \"gift\" would be the first step in changing the future they were currently headed for. So, in that way, he was pleased that everything was going according to plan.

He was not, however, pleased with the condition of the slaves. Their pelts were cut haphazardly and fell short of the normal, healthy lustre. They were clearly malnourished and their tails hung to the floor instead of wrapping about the waist. There was no doubt in Piccolo\'s minds that beneath the travel robes they wore they would be covered in bruises and scars. Judgin the the posture and blank eyes of the taller, he had obviously just born a child who was conspicuously absent, and the ringring attention and glare of the smaller made it clear that they were a bonded couple. The loss of their child would wound both of them deeply. Knowing why Frieza kept the child made the emperor\'s stomach curdle. He was, without a doubt, less than pleased.

Luckily, Frieza guessed none of this since the famous inscrutability of the Nameks had been plastered on since early in the morning and was not scheduled to come off until his ship left orbit.


\"We are honored by your gift, Lord Frieza.\" He said, idly stroking his fingers through the hair of the slave as his knee, the human Yamcha. \"Their kind are very rare these days. That you bring me two demonstrates both power and courage. I think our agreement shall be profitable.\"

The Ice-jin gave an obsequious little bow. \"I understand how the gift shows power, your Majesty, but courage? How so?\"

Piccolo grinned. \"In that you should have brought at least three. In the case of Saiyans, parents without their children are worse than useless. How much for the rest of the family?\"

Frieza froze for a moment, unsure of how a mere Namek had seen through his ruse. Into the silence a new voice spoke.

\"Sir, there is only one child, an infant.\" Piccolo looked over. The smaller had spoken, his raspy voice betraying years of misuse. At Piccolo\'s glance, he added. \"I thought my new master might want to know.\"

Piccolo slowly nodded his head in thanks.

\"Well, Frieza, one infant. Surely 500 crowns will be enough? Since I am sparing you the expense of his upbringing, and keeping our agreement intact. . .\"

The Ice-jin nodded, knowing there was no graceful way to get out of the situation. \"Zarbon,\" he snapped his fingers. \"Go fetch it.\"

The graceful soldier bowed and walked out of the imperial throne roomere ere was a moment of silence before the Emperor moved, snapping his fingers for refreshment to be brought. \"Well,\" he spoke softly. \"In the meantime, I think I\'d like to know more about the new members of my household.\" He gestured for the Saiyans to approach. \"Tell me, what are you called?\"

The taller didn’t seem to notice anything as the smaller guided them both forward. It was the smaller who, after a long glance at his companion, finally spoke.

\"I am called Filthy Slut, and he is called Dirty Whore. . . Sir.\"

There was another small moment of silence.

\"I see I should have been clearer in my meaning.\" Piccolo stated. \"I did not mean, what did the Cold Family call you, I meant, what would others of your kind call you? Or even better, how would you like to be called?\"

The smaller Saiyan was silent as he mulled the question over, wondering if it were a trick question. Why should their new keeper wish to know their wishes in any matter? And if he told the truth, would it be deemed impertinent and to be punished? Or did this creature actually have some care for those he controlled? There was only one way to find out.

\"Then I am called Vegeta and he is called Kakkarot, Sir.\"

Piccolo smiled gently, and noticed one of the hall doors open to admit Nail and Iscargo, two of his other slaves, both heavily laden with cushions and silk sheeting. He gestured for them to approach as he spoke. \"Well, Vegeta and Kakkarot, welcome to The Hall of Memory on Namekusei Prime. As soon as Nail and Iscargo have arranged the cushions, ah, there you go, come have at. at. I\'m sure the journey here was quite fatiguing.\"

A soft, nearly inaudible murmur passed through the assembled court, for all present saw the implied insult. For while Namekians treasured slaves and had a way of lavishing them with luxury and attention, they knew that other races saw things quite differently. They knew that for the slaves to be invited to sit while the Lord Frieza still stood like a supplicant would be seen as nothing less than a slap in the face. Indeed, the Ice-jin had stiffened at the invitation, but he held his tongue. It was well within the Emperor\'s rights to order what were, after all, now his slaves. And any breach of courtesy could be blamed on Frieza himself, as he had committed an even greater offence by trying to cheat the emperor.

Vegeta was naturally aware of all the subtext, and his heart smiled grimly. Being given as a gift to someone was humiliating in the extreme, but anyone who would insult Frieza so blatantly without even seeming to think about it was obviously someone he might potentially respect. So he guided his mate over to the cushions, and sat him down next to the throne, and then sat himself on his mate\'s other side.

Piccolo was somewhat heartened at this arrangement. Vegeta had obviously decided that he represented less of a threat than the rest of the room.

\"Vegeta,\" he mused. \"Was that not the name of your king?\'

The slave nodded. \"Indeed, sir, I was named after him.\"

Piccolo smiled. \"Then you must be a fine warrior to merit such a name.\"

Vegeta frowned. \"Not fine enough.\"

\"But undoubtedly better than any here on Namekusei Prime, for it has been many centuries since last a Saiyan set foot on this planet.\"

Vegeta\'s tail twitched, and even Kakkarot gave a faint frown.

\"You are permitted to ask questions.\" Piccolo murmured, inwardly cursing Frieza for what he had done to these two. In the past, even the lowliest of Saiyans would have had no problem with saying anything he damn well pleased no matter who it was to. But he had to tell these that it was okay to ask questions.

Vegeta spoke. \"You say we are the first in centuries, but what of the tailless one on your other side?\
Piccolo suppressed a chuckle, but Yamcha showed no such restraint as he filled the Hall with his light, brilliant laugh.

\"This is a day to remember!\" he exclaimed. \"When Yamcha the slave was mistaken by a Saiyan for one of his own kind. No,\" he leaned around the throne and caught Vegeta\'s expression. \"Do not scowl. I can well understand the mistake, for in the infinite variety of creation, our two species look much alike. But make no mistake, a Human is not a Saiyan\"

Vegeta gazed back. \"Then if a Human is not a Saiyan, which I can well believe, what is a Human?\"

Yamcha thought a moment. \"A Human is a creature with neither the strength of a Saiyan, the wisdom of a Namek, nor the ambition of an Ice-jin. One could say we were a weak, foolish, complacent people. We are also considered quite insane.\"

\"Insane?\"


\"We\'re the only known species to not only have developed nuclear weapons, but used them. On ourselves, no less. We also came very close to destroying our own planet, and even closer to letting the few brains we had atrophy once we had machines to think for us. No other species out there has done even one of those things, much less all.\"

\"Hn.\" Vegeta grunted. \"Then what good are Humans, if you are weak, foolish, complacent and insane?\"

Yamcha gave a little smile. \"We\'re trying to figure that out. I think we serve as a mirror for all other species wherein they may view their own faults and perfections. It is why, though we haven’t the wisdom of Nameks, our music and poetry is equal, if not better. And while we may lack the strength of the Saiyans, our courage is every bit as great. And though we match not the ambition of-jin-jins, still have we forseen their deaths before mine.\"

Freiza snorted, not believing a word. But Vegeta, looking into Yamcha\'s eyes, sensed a voice behind Yamcha\'s that even he would not contradict. And Kakkarot\'s hand moved to his chest, and rubbed his heart, knowing the words for the truth they were.

\"Perhaps,\" Freiza said, \"the Human could share with the Saiyans the manner of my death?\"

Yamcha looked up at Piccolo, who nodded. \"He will beg for mercy from the father, who will give it. But the son, radiant as all the stars in heaven, will cut him into a thousand pieces with the sword from the edge of the universe, and every piece shall be consumed with flame. The Son will rule a third of everything, as shall his brother, and the brother\'s daughter shall be given the rest. In this way will the silent be heard, the small become great, and the dead come back to life.\"

Frieza laughed. \"See, monkey, it makes no sense. It\'s worthless.\"

But Vegeta wasn\'t so sure. Kakkarot\'s father had had the gift of Sight, and this sounded very similar to something he might have said. Speaking of Kakkarot, he was now grinning, and distant look in his eye.

\"I think,\" Kakkarot started. \"That if human poetry is equal to Namekian, I should like to hear some.\"

Again, Yanmcha looked to Piccolo, who again nodded permission.

\"This is an old favorite of mine,\" he prefaced.


\"I met a traveler from an antique land
Who said: Two vast and trunkless legs of stone
Stand in the desert . . . Near them, on the sand,
Half sunk, a shattered visage lies, whose frown,
And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command,
Tell that the sculptor well those passions read
Which yet survive, stamped on those lifeless things,
The hand that mocked them, and the heart that fed:
And on the pedestal these words appear:
\'My name is Ozymandias, king of kings:
Look upon my works, ye Mighty, and despair!\'
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare
The lone and level sands stretch far away.


As Yamcha concluded, Zarbon slipped back into the Hall, bearing a small bundle in his arms. Walking quickly but carefully, he brought the bundle up to the dias, and presented it to Piccolo.

\"Here is the child, Majesty.\"

Piccolo stood, gesturing for his bursar to pay Frieza, and carefully took the child. Looking down, he saw a riot of dark, shining hair. And two large eyes dark as night which snared his mercilessly. Piccolo barely had the presence of mind to speak the words of departing.

\"Our business is concluded,\" he began, a faint smile tugging at his lips. \"Go in peace as you came. In one month\'s time, a shipment of alganda plant and zirina wine will be delivered to your hogs. gs. You are paid, as am I, and things between us are level. Thus I bid you to fare well upon your way.\"

Frieza, knowing a dismissal when he heard one, gave a slight, hardly visible bow, and left. The door closed behind him and, still entranced by the child, Piccolo ordered for the floors to be scrubbed, the carpets Frieza had stepped upon to be burnt, and for the windows to be opened to blow his stench away.

Slowly he turned toward Kakkarot, eyes never wavering from the child\'s. \"What is his name?\" he asked.

Kakkarot smiled. \"Gohan, Sir.\"

\"Welcome Gohan, to Namekusei Prime.\" The child giggled, as though he understood the emperor\'s words.

Piccolo handed Gohan over, marveling at the change that had come over Kakkarot once his baby was returned. Vegeta too seemed more relaxed, now that he knew both his mate and his son were as safe as possible.

\"Come,\" Piccolo said, \"I will show you your new home.\"