“Please, dear, open the door and let me talk to you” she asked with a full-hearted voice. One of my limp arms reached for the door and yanked it open numbly. The light blinded my squinted eyes, and the tearstains on my face began to fall away in shards of crust as she scraped them away.

Nanny cradled me in her scaly arms as we sat on the floor- nuzzling me under her chin. “Maybe you’re right” I said faintly. “But- I still want them to pay for it” I squinted, bawling one last time. Nanny patted my back and rubbed my flesh around my bones. “You do what you think Tenchi would want, and nothing more” she whispered, and stood, disappearing down the hall. I stood from my knees, sniffling a bit and flicked my lights on- running down the hall to the dining room where I knew Rayne would be at this time in the afternoon.

 

“Everyone! Rayne! We’re going to the planet Vegeta!” I announced loudly in a creaky voice. Rayne turned around with her face full of her sandwich. “WHAGT!?” she managed to make out through her chubby cheeks. “We are going to the planet Vegeta!” I snarled again, slamming my fists on her edge of the table- her glass of spring water spilling all over the floor. “That’s utterly OBSURD, Ryver! You’re going no where NEAR that preposterous planet! My deal may still be fresh with King Vegeta, but I am not sending my daughters over there after what happened just last week!” he stood, growling and lashing out at me. “I’m going ALONE, then! I will NOT stand to let this go! They have no right to stomp on our turf and kill our people because they’re uncomfortable with people like Tenchi! I will go ALONE if she wishes not to join me! But I will come back for you, sister- you know this isn’t right, and it isn’t like you to let it go so easily” I squinted, and stormed out of the dining hall- still in my pajamas…

 

It was as if I readied for war- taking a thorough shower and dressing as if I was headed straight for the battle field- my jade shirt and denim pants tucked neatly around my curved body. I tightened Tenchi’s bandanna around my hair and shoved my feet in Saiyan boots- they would have to deal with me, even if I wasn’t a threat to such a race. I dropped by one of the science labs outside the reach of our underground kingdom- it was south from our village, so I tried to make it quick. “Doctor Tae- I know you aren’t much of a mechanic, but I need a ship that’ll take me to the planet Vegeta in less than three days” I pleaded to the orange-scaled doctor. “THREE DAYS!? It’d have to be like a Saiyan pod, perhaps! I had a model like that a long time ago but- I think it backfired in an effort to relocate the pudding maker”- “Forget the pudding maker I need a ship NOW!!!” I lashed out- he cringed, knowing-like the rest of my people- I had a bad temper and grew very impatient all the time. “NOW, EINSTEIN!!!” I hollered in a horrendous scream that cracked the glasses atop the bridge of his nose. “Y-Yes, my P-Princess” he stuttered rummaging through his trash. “AH HA! I remember I built this mod”- “WHERE IS IT!?” I breathed in his face, as I lifted the short Galinian up by his collar. He pointed a bolted door. “I- k-k-keep a-all t-the rejects back there”- “Open it- please?” I tried to be courteous by setting him down and asking nicely. “S-Sure!” he stuttered unlocking it from a key that dangled around his neck on a thread.

“Yes” I hissed, seeing it in the shadows, and then seeing it better when he turned the lights on.  It was indeed like a Saiyan pod- the shape, the latch- almost like a disguise. “Perfect!” I leapt, hugging Doctor Tae while sweeping him off his stout feet. “Y-yes- yes- sure, Princess! But what is so perfect about this?” he arched a brow and shoved his glasses up the bridge of his snout-like nose. I set him down and cocked a brow back at him. “It’s a perfect Saiyan disguise for the planet Vegeta!” I smiled and hurriedly started for the door. “But, Princess”- “Listen here, little man- those dirty Saiyans are gonna get a huge piece of my mind pretty soon, and I DON’T see how YOU can stop me! Be back in a few!” I winked after threatening him and jumped out the door.

 

“Rayne! Pack your bags! We’re goin ta planet Vegeta in a few!” I knocked rabidly on her door. She opened it with an agitated swing. “Well, well, well- what brought you outa yer grave?” she smirked. “Nanny!” “What?” she hissed. “Nanny! She totally explained it to me, and that’s why I wanna make this trip- she said that whatever Tenchi would want me to do, is what5 I should do!” I smiled, trying to perk my voice up. “But Ryver- Nanny’s been dead 16 years! Remember? She died earlier last year!” “WHAT!?” I seemed In utter shock as my memory started to crawl back to me. I remembered when Nanny died- she was very calm and willing to go. She was very old and sick of age- I remembered the looks on our faces when she passed on, but ever since then, I thought I’d learned to cope with such things. “But- she- she was at my door and”- “News for ya, sis- whoever it was, it wasn’t Nanny” Rayne casually looked towards me as I started to combust in her face. “ARGH!!! Excuse me, sister- just- meet- me- on the- South side at Doc. Tae’s lab” I grumbled, and stomped off. “Whatever” she sighed and shut the door as I stammered away. I ran as fast as my weighted feet could carry me to the nearest Galinian bar. I burst in, the dead doors almost off their hinges. One of the bartenders gasped. “P-Princess- R-Ryver!” he seemed to shudder and duck behind the counter when he saw the expression on my face. My tail slammed the door behind me to the underground bar. “ALL RIGHT!! WHICH ONE OF YOU KNUCKLE-HEADS WAS AT MY DOOR THIS AFTERNOON, TRYING TO MAKE FUN OF ME!?” I shouted, my voice piercing the silence after I’d entered. I saw Big Turke and his buddy, Little Armedais and Saygan. “Turke? Was it YOU who showed up there this afternoon?” my face was scarlet and blinded by the steam that rose from my pores. He shook his head- “Nuh uh!” rabidly he shook. “Armedais!?” I hissed, lifting him off his stool. “Nuh uh! Short legs, m’lady!” he stuttered with fear. I dropped him back in his seat. “Saygan!?” I took him by his collar and pressed his scarlet snout against my own- angered and red nose. “Was it YOU!?” I hollered so that it rang through his ears. He smirked towards his buddies and looked back at me. “May—be!” he sang. “SAYGAAAAAN!?” I shoved him towards the edge of the bar and choked him with my fleshy hands. “DID YOU!?OR DID YOU NOT!?” “N-Naw! I-I-I- was j-ju-just p-playin!” he choked- I shoved his spine into the arm of the bar-rail and left with a turn of my shoulder and a swipe of my tail.  I turned before entering the dimmed civilian hall and said, “I apologize- Turke, Armedais, Saygan” I hissed lastly and turned, slamming the door. There was silence before I emerged unto the plains above the bar…

 

I met Rayne a few minutes later at Doctor Tae’s lab- there seemed to be a few complications but, that’s where Rayne and I needed to make a drastic decision. “We only have one pod, I’m afraid- so only one of you will get to go” Doctor Tae explained, showing us the single pod. “Uh! Figures- I’ll just have to stay here” Rayne sighed, and tried to turn for the door- I grabbed her shoulder and turned her around. “WHAT!? I don’t see what you need ME here for!” She looked from Doctor Tae to me. I looked at Doctor Tae and nodded. “I’m going to ask you, Doctor, to attach a homing device to the pod- you will track my signal until I arrive there- and if you some ODD reason I don’t end up where I’m supposed to, send Rayne to get me. That’s why I need you HERE- to hear what part you still play in my operation!” I smiled. “Oh- joy” Rayne sarcastically responded. “FINE! Just tell Daddy- I’ll be back soon- and take care of everyone, Rayne- I know you will” I put a hand on her shoulder and smiled sentimentally. She grinned back and we both watched as Dr. tae attached the homing device.

 

“I already calculated your destination- you could even arrive there today! I have no idea how the speed multitude is- but you can tell me when you return” he smiled when the pod was out in the open. Rayne stood beside the stout doctor and grinned as I stepped in. “No- weaponry?” he asked as a last minute question. “Who needs it?” I smirked, as soon as the pod latch shut.

It shot off after they both waved at me- and grew into small dots as I left the atmosphere of Galina, and entered the milky stars of the universe. I frowned, pounding my fist on the arm of the small chair I sat in. The Saiyans would know what they’d done- soon enough.

 

                                                   << Two Days Later>>
The planet Vegeta was minutes of coming in touch with my rouge pod. I could sense the squeeze as I entered the reddened atmosphere. I plunged down at a landing dock- all the beings around me looking so strange and unfamiliar. My feet were shaken from the turbulence I’d gone through, falling from the sky at a very fast rate. “Who is it?” I heard a voice come from one side of the pod. “I-I- well I don’t know!” said the other. I crossed my arms and frowned at them- I was already spiked with anger. The latch opened soon enough, and I heard screams from two stout soldiers. “GAAAAAAGH!!! AN INTERGALACTIC ROUGE!! SOMEONE CALL KING VEGETAAAA!!!!” it screeched. “JEEZ! SHUT UP!” I shoved the screaming one as I stood- I appeared to be MUCH taller than them. “Hey! You guys aren’t Saiyans!” I frowned- as the smoke cleared form the pod. The silent one smirked. “That would be affirmative- and what-are yooouu?” he question with a prolonged ending. My tail smacked at the pod behind me- I frowned, tossing a frayed piece of hair out of my face. I snarled and whipped my tail out at them.  “Hello boys. I’m your worst nightmare- a Halfling” I spat, kneeling down almost. “WHAAAAGT!? AAAGH- what’s that?” the loud one question. I rolled my eyes and shoved them both. “I don’t have TIME for Non-Saiyans like YOU!” I growled, and shot of fin the air. “I shoulda stuck around and forced them to tell me where the Ki”- I froze as I rose atop the hazy buildings to see a gigantic palace ahead of me.

 

“And I thought I was gonna need directions!” I giggled and shot off in a flaming

illumination of Ki towards the palace. I worried about Saiyan guards and what not attacking me- but I was so angry, I felt strong enough to shove my way to the top. I flew over the gates and past the entrance- swerving around as if I actually knew where I was going- I just happened to run into the Royal court- where the King probably sat on his butt all day. I could tell through the fogged windows what it was- and I thought it was a wonder they didn’t sense my power level. I shoved the towering doors open with a thrust of anger, and stomped down the paved carpet. “Get this ALIEN out of here!” came a sudden outburst. Two guards tackled me, taking me by my arms and trying to force me backwards. “WHAT!? How did you”- I squeamed. I was interrupted by a cold voice in the shadows- “Saiyans aren’t THAT dumb, my dear! Did you expect to get here and wander in on a bunch of clueless idiots!?” it rose frigidly. “ARGH! You just have a PROBLEM with people like ME!!” I thrust about, my tail smacking both guards from behind. “Is that so? Bring her to me” came the voice in demand- the guards swerved around and took me forward, dropping me at the foot of a step. “Ah ha- I see” I heard, the outline of a body coming into my view. I looked up with two swollen eyes. “You must be their King” I hissed, my tail curling around one of my feet. “Oh- so you’re THAT breed” he chuckled evilly- a face forming in the shadows with a darkened and charred-brown beard and hair that stood on end atop his head. A scarlet cape was draped over his shoulders and curved down to his feet behind two large Saiyan boots. He looked directly at my tail and squinted. “Ah yes- the Halflings” he sat back, folding his hands. I tried to stand, but found it too hard when people stood around you and your bravery began to shrink by the minute. “WHY!? Whatever did my people do to die like that!? People like ME!? Why do they have to DIE!?” I shouted, finally getting to my feet, only to be shoved down onto all fours by the guards that stood apart from me. “Because they have eaten away and singed our blood- they’ve made us look like a bunch of inbreeds that hold hotels all over this planet! I will not stand to have our people fall because of mutant hybrids like you” he knelt down from his thrown and spat his words in my face. “NOO!!!” sweat dropped my face as I raged out as much as I was allowed by those around me- but I didn’t care how much they’d let me yell.

“What have you come here for!? You think that a single mutant such as yourself will convince me of ANYTHING!?” “It was worth the TRY!” “Your kind is not worth THAT much” he hissed back as they started to cart me away- I squirmed on the floor, struggling to get on my feet and lunge at him- but the guards shoved me and tugged me back too hard. I powered up just as I reached the door, and tried blinding the guards with the sprouting blasts that soon singed their faces from my fingers. I ran back- no one there to stop me, and jumped forth in front of the King. “Feisty little thing, aren’t you? You just won’t give up! I struggle between letting my son kill you, or letting myself kill you right now” he pondered with a finger to one if his temples. I gulped down my fear and tried to keep the sweat away from my face as I panted with exasperation. “Not much of a choice” I panted. He chuckled evilly. “You have a sense of humor, I see! And even with your own death!” he burst into laughter. “I don’t see what’s so funny” I snarled, getting bored with his monotonous laughter.  “Send her to the gravity room with Vegeta. We’ll see what this Halfling woman can really do” he squinted, and soon I was carted away by more guards.