Disclaimer: DragonBall Z (C) characters belong to Akira Toriyama-san (All Hail), Funimation (?) and perhaps some others but most definitely not to me. I am borrowing characters without asking permission and I am not making any money out of this. However this story and any characters I create do belong to me. I hope anyone who takes the time to read this will enjoy it.
Before we begin, I have to give my sincerest thanks to Kaeli-san, Sylv-chan, Rebecca-san and Yasai-san for pre-reading for me. They have really helped to get rid of some of the glitches that bug fic writing. Thank you everyone.
. The Powers That Be: Empire's
Heir
.
Chapter One - Council's Choice .
The Present: Council Planet - Year 789 - 25 years after King Cold's death. (5 years after the end of Dragon Ball Z, since Goku met Uub)
"So we're are agreed then?" The question hung at the end of a long debate. However, it was something they had been struggling with for days.
"We'd better bloody well be agreed. Our continued existence rests on the uniformity of the Council," the Baltor ambassador snapped. He, she, they, you could never be entirely sure with a Baltorian was as tired of the debate as the rest. But they were manipulating power here, so much power that one false word would get them all dead.
"We know that but we are agreed," The nominated chair broke in tiredly. "It is this Council's unanimous decision that Morphine will be anointed as the Ruler of the Cold Empire, and as being the one with the rightful claim for the Throne of Galaxy, only after he defeats the one who won that position in combat. Only after he defeats Son Goku!"
"We are agreed!" Every ambassador intoned as they placed their votes.
One hundred percent. Morphine could rule but only after he won the place in combat.
The Chair nodded in satisfaction, a picture of calm serenity until you noticed the way his tentacles were writhing around one another, or the slight crease in his forehead. "Good, soon we will have a new Emperor. I will convey the decision to Morphine-sama. The Council is dismissed." He waved one appendage in dismissal before he almost seemed to flow out, all his limbs rippling, wave like, to propel him forward.
No one hindered Dru's passage through the palace. As Chair of the Council he had access to almost all sections and by now word of the Council's Vote but not the actual decision would have been passed through the structure. The outcome would not become public until he informed Morphine of the decision. As he approached the Throne Room he remembered the past that had brought them here.
It had been almost 25 years since the Cold Empire had so dramatically been destroyed, throwing the Galaxy into chaos. We should have been warned by what the destruction of the Saiyajin Empire did... No. That was different. Then there was someone, King Cold and his sons, ready to take over. We should have taken warning from the events on Namek. The destruction of the planet was history but the details were not great enough to give warning.
And when the details had become clear, it was already too late. King Cold had already left for Chikyuu. Dru shook his head slightly. It was chaos. The confirmation that King Cold and Freeza-ouji had both been killed on the planet Chikyuu. Dru smiled grimly at a new realization. Empires come and go but this Council remains.
The Council was comprised of representatives of those planets who joined the Cold or Saiyajin Empires. Those that had a choice, those who had developed fastest or were in a position to buy other planets and protect themselves. Those planets that weren't forcibly conquered stripped of resources and any surviving natives shipped off as slaves. The Council had existed in one form or another for centuries. It always would. But it was only recently that it had gained so much power.
The Cold's might have conquered the galaxy but they needed someone to make it all run smoothly. King Cold had ruled and his sons conquered but it was the Council who made the day to day decisions, and saw that the laws and cover-ups were accepted.
Namek had been the biggest. It had been passed off as the routine destruction of a low value planet that had refused to become a member of the Empire and wasn't worth conquering. (It was policy then, not to leave any inhabited planet in the Empire's space intact if they were not a member.) But no one who saw Freeza after his return could accept that 'truth,' not that they lived to tell about it. Dru shuddered at the memory of Freeza's injuries. The Colds were supposed to be the only beings with that much power and then another had come out of nowhere and had left his challenge on Freeza's body.
They hadn't even known the being's name until years after. First King Cold and Freeza-ouji had gone to Chikyuu, the beings home world. They were confirmed dead a mere half-hour after their arrival. What kind of being had that much power to kill them both? And from a planet like that, a planet listed by Saiyajin records as one where the inhabitants had an average power level of one! A planet only good for its natural resources! What kind of being? The panic hadn't broken out then, Kooler-ouji still ruled. But then he too had been destroyed by Chikyuu.
That's when the panic had started, when the Empire had splintered. Without a strong leader, each planet went their own way, warred amongst themselves, each trying to become the new ruler. The Council had done what it could. It had taken the threat of a New Saiyajin Empire to bring some cohesion back and that had only come when the Namekian's had sent a representative to the warring planets and the full story from Namek and new Namek had emerged. A Saiyajin. A Super Saiyajin. What had once been considered a fiction, spread by the Saiyajin had become real. Extinct Vejiitasei might be but her people had still extracted vengeance and they still had the power to rule if they desired. They had the claim by right of combat. And by right of power.
Some planets had clung to their independence. And that trend had continued when no one had come to claim the Throne. The pretenders had quickly been revealed to be that. The Namekian, Percussion had explained why the Throne remained empty. The Saiyajin had no desire to rule and so the Council had taken control. For nearly a decade they had ruled outright. That will change when Morphine takes control. We will have power but we will not rule, Dru thought glumly.
Morphine... He had appeared one day, backed by a Union of Non Council planets and had demanded to be named the Ruler of the Galaxy. After several fatalities and the destruction of the planet Cecrisafi, by his hand, as a demonstration of his power, the Council had agreed to discuss his claim.
They were the rulers now. They wouldn't be intimidated.
Much.
And that is how things stand, Dru thought, as he approached the Throne Rooms large doors. The Council has voted and I will now relay the decision... Dru's thoughts paused. Diplomatically of course. I have no wish to end up like my predecessor. The doors swung open and he rippled in.
The room was vast, vaulted and dominated by a large stone throne that stood exactly three steps above the floor. Morphine had yet to occupy it, he had enough political skill to realize that if he insulted the Council he would have to destroy their planets to make them agree to his rule and by then there would not be much of an Empire left. But his followers, those representatives of the planetary Union that backed him, and those individuals who were his personal fighters, stood before the throne, forming an effective barrier. Morphine stood on the first step, approaching the throne but not fully claiming it.
They looked up at his entry, and as Dru flowed towards them they parted so that he could approach. Morphine's fighters though kept a tight watch on him. He was not threat to any of them but Morphine hated to be bothered by such bugs. ' "Being killed by me is an honor they don't deserve," ' Dru believed were Morphine's exact words as he had arranged for the disposal of a guard who had failed him.
Dru spread his tentacles in what was his species' equivalent of a bow. Morphine watched him with glittering eyes. Dru felt uncomfortably like calamari. He shifted restlessly, trying to ignore the gaze as he waited for Morphine to open the dialogue.
Morphine licked his lips. Definitely calamari rings, he decided, looking at Dru before he began. "Well? The Council has decided?" His voice was a chill his. He'd been waiting for a long time for this decision.
"Hai, Morphine-sama." Dru was no idiot. He could treat anyone with respect when he had to. It was probably one of the requirements to become a Planetary Ambassador, the ability to ingest large quantities of boot polish.
"So tell me your eminent Council's decision."
Dru could tell from his voice that he was not in the mood for a bad decision. He forcibly stopped the panicked movement of his tentacles, his race's equivalent to the nervous gulping of air. "It is our unanimous," - the stress on that word was quite deliberate. If Morphine did not take this well, Dru had no intention of being the sole victim - "decision that you do have a fair claim to the Throne of the Empire." Time for some flattery. "Your demonstration of strength has illustrated that if it had been your desire at the time you could have wrested the Throne from King Cold." The dangerous glimmer in Morphine's eyes had softened somewhat. "Because of this strength, the Council will support your elevation to the Throne of the Galaxy." Dru raised a tentacle and waved the tip in a precautionary manner. "However, there is one condition."
"WHAT?!" Morphine roared. "What condition?" he snarled, his whole body shimmering with ki power.
Dru shrank back, five tentacles whipping out to cover his head in what would have been an ineffectual gesture. "Just a small one," he squeaked, as he cracked open an eye and looked up from his position, hard against the floor.
"A small one?" Morphine's tone didn't seem any more reasonable.
"One to maintain tradition," Dru clarified quickly, when he wasn't vaporized immediately. He slowly unwounded his tentacles from his head. "King Cold claimed the Galactic Throne through right of conquest. The destruction of Vejiitasei left the galaxy free to be unified and this is what happened. But the King and the heirs of the Galactic Throne were defeated in combat and so the title of Emperor goes to the one who defeated them. The Council cannot in good faith award you a title that belongs to another. However you may wrest the title from the one who holds it in combat and then you will be the Emperor."
Morphine's eyes narrowed dangerously, glittering, "That's it?"
"That's all," Dru confirmed. "We merely wish to ensure the stability of your rule," he continued. "Although the destroyer of the Colds has never claimed the title, you must understand, it would be chaos if the Council anointed you and then he, with a prior claim stepped forth. The Empire would be torn in two." Dru tried to sound as reasonable as possible, practically begging Morphine to accept his logic.
"It would be chaos," Morphine murmured, half closing his eyes. "It would also stupidly risk your Council's existence and you are not brave enough for that. But I would be stupid as well to venture into combat against such an unknown, especially against an unknown who has proven that the impossible is not out of his grasp."
Dru nodded sagely at Morphine's words. It appeared that he had accepted their decision. His tail was snaking slowly back and forth behind him, which was always a sign of calm. Suddenly though it stopped and seemed to twitch and stiffen. Dru looked up into Morphine's red eyes and his mouth suddenly became dry. Perhaps the danger was not yet past.
"What is this man's name?" The question was hissed coldly.
Dru almost collapsed. It was not what he had been expecting. "His... his name?" he managed to splutter.
"Yes, his name. I'm assuming his species is one that does give names to individuals... So what is his name?" Morphine laughed suddenly. "From your reaction Ambassador, I'd almost think you were hiding things from me. But you remember Cecrisafi. You wouldn't do that would you?"
"Iya, Morphine-sama!" The honorific slipped out but it seemed to appease him somewhat. Dru swallowed and once again willed his tentacles to move at a more reasonable pace. "His name is Son Goku, although he is a Saiyajin. He was raised on Chikyuu and he has obviously surpassed all limits the Saiyajins were believed to have. I will have what data files we have forwards to you," Dru added hastily as he realized perhaps he had let slip too much.
Morphine looked down at him, eyes narrowing in calculation. "Do that but I think we can do better than that. Your files date from the fall of the Colds. In twenty five years many things can happen." Morphine paused for an instant before continuing in a brisk manner. "There is an Anniversary Budokai in recognition of 25 years free from Colds rule, yes?"
"Hai," Dru confirmed, a bit confused. Morphine did not seem aggressive now.
"Good. It would be appropriate to invite the man responsible for this. After all, it is through his good graces that you are celebrating this feat. Send him an invitation, if he is any Saiyajin he will be there," Morphine stopped, looking pleased. This way was best. He would see Colds' killers fighting style with his own eyes and could then decide upon a course of action. He had been waiting years to ascend the Galactic Throne. He could wait a little longer.
"I will see to it," Dru said. "We should have thought of it ourselves," he added the praise deliberately. If Morphine was strong enough to wrest the Throne from the Saiyajin, it could later be valuable. He turned way, rippling towards the door.
"Oh just a few more things Ambassador. You had better make the invitation general. There may be other warriors on this Chikyuu we do not know about." His voice took on a calculating time. "And I think it would be best if I withdrew. I have no wish to fight a battle not of my choosing. I will be a judge instead." He closed his eyes for an instant. There was something about the Saiyajins he remembered. Ah Vejiita! That's who I remember. He was with Freeza but what happened then? As the Saiyajin no Ouji he would have had a claim to the Throne of Galaxy... No he forfeited that when he agreed to work for Freeza. Where is he then? Ah... Chikyuu! The Saiyajin no Ouji also settled on that Planet. There is something there. I must consider. "One last thing Dru, send an invitation to the Saiyajin no Ouji. I wish to fully gauge the strength of the Saiyajins," Morphine flicked his tail in dismissal as Dru continued on his way.
Dru was shaking as he emerged from the Throne Room, not from fear but from rage. I am not his secretary! I do not run his errands or attend to such details as the Budokai. I am a Planetary Ambassador, the Chair of the Council and I am above such things. Dru was all these things but he had a fine appreciation of his value in the scheme of things. He was not about to challenge Morphine directly, not until he was bored of this life.
He snorted, once he was safely in a quiet section of the palace. You, like all rulers Morphine, should pay more attention to us, the Council. Our data files are somewhat more recent that you think. The Namekian was quite comprehensive. Dru frowned. There was something not on file, something the Namekian had said privately about Son Goku. ' "He is the strongest in the universe and he seeks to protect. He was drawn others who are similar." ' No, that's on record. What was it? Something about power..? ' "He is power tempered only by control." ' That was it. But what the hell did it mean? No one was pure power, not even Morphine.
So what did it mean?
Word/Name Meanings
Chapter 2: Life As It Is
The Powers That Be: Empire's Heir - Chapter 1 Copyright April
2000