Chapter 39

Saiyans could discern the early stages of rut without any difficult, but it was harder for non-Saiyans. Bulma wondered a bit at Chishan's increase in attentiveness, then she wondered a bit more at Radditz's increasingly hostile attitude toward Chishan. The two were not, perhaps, bosom buddies, but they had always gotten along.

Vegeta told Zarbon to watch his back around Radditz, a comment that earned a glare. Vegeta just smirked. "He's getting that ultra-male smell again," the King told his liaison. "He's likely to be looking for a mate soon, whether he wants to or not. You could just let him stalk you successfully this time and save us all the melodrama."

"Oh, I'm not the center of his attentions this moon," replied Zarbon, a trace of pique adding an edge to his normally-smooth voice. "He and Chishan are acting very strangely toward each other."

"Perhaps Chishan's protecting his mate." The idea amused Vegeta so much that he began to deliberately throw the two together, watching the near-involuntary bristling and hostile body-language. Zarbon regarded these developments with alarm; apart from whatever emotions he might be experiencing, a situation where two top-ranked members of the Guards were openly aggressive towards each other was not good. The best thing to do, Zarbon thought, was talk to the two of them, and not in public given their propensity for either walking away from him or nearly coming to blows with each other. He sent an order for the Captains to meet him in his office.

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Bulma had visited the Southern Palace numerous times, but outside of her pregnancy the longest she ever stayed there was a couple of weeks. This time it was not as simple as having her robots pack an overnight bag before heading off. Since Vegeta was adamant she needed to remain cloistered until "after the moon," arrangements were more complicated. Saiyans spoke of "before" and "after" the moon as if "before" and "after" were measurable durations as discrete as hours. In real time, it would be another couple of weeks before the moon was even visible, although from what she understood it would quickly dominate the sky even during daytime as it approached the apex of its elliptical orbit before just-as-quickly retreating.

Between making departure preparations Bulma participated in numerous 'farewell' ceremonies with Vegeta as the last alien diplomats formally took their leave of the court. Most had left months earlier. To her surprise, some of her own engineers requested off-world sabbaticals as well. Capsule Corporation overseers reported that many factory workers were likewise asking for leave. It would mean a marked disruption in production, but substantial downtime during the moon year was the norm on Vejiitasei. Wishing to respect the customs of her adopted home, Bulma issued instructions that any employees who felt they needed the time off could take it, no questions asked. The few remaining engineers would accompany her to the Southern Continent, which meant temporary housing and a lab would have to be erected. Fortunately Capsule Corporation modules were available, although the lab needed stronger power sources to be fully functional and therefore would take additional time.

A scheduled video call with Nira raised further concerns. The Eastern Chieftain casually mentioned coastal areas on the Eastern Continent were being evacuated in anticipation of tidal extremes. When Bulma expressed alarm and asked if emergency assistance was needed, the Chieftain assured her the procedure was routine during moon years, dryly adding that the temporary shelters provided by the Capsule Corporation was making the process much easier than in the past. "And your plans, my Queen?" Nira asked with exaggerated diffidence. "Will you return to Chikyuu?"

"You sound like Vegeta," grumbled Bulma. "He tried to send me there, too. No, of course not. It's my first time seeing the moon here, and it's an important part of my son's culture. Why would I want to miss it? I'm going to the Southern Continent, though, since Vegeta's adamant I can't stay in the Capitol. He said he'll follow once the moon becomes visible. That's, what, two or three more weeks yet, right?"

"Two at most, my Queen. Is that wise to wait that long? Most of us can already feel it. The Southern Continent is less populated because of the King's Forest, but it's still Vejiitasei."

"Nira, seriously. Don't you start."

The Eastern Chieftain pursed her lips but did not press further. "It is my daughter's first moon as well or I would offer to accompany you. I must be here, with her."

"I thought about sending Trunks to stay with you and Zenza for a few weeks, but Vegeta said it wouldn't be a good idea. What do you think?"

Nira's eyes widened fractionally before she cast them down. "I would not dream of contradicting my King," she murmured.

"Well, looks like I'm going first and the boys will follow in a few days, then." Bulma sighed in vexation. "Can't be helped, I guess. Please let me know if there's anything I can do to help you with the evacuations or anything else."

"Of course, my Queen."

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Radditz arrived at Zarbon's office to find his counterpart was already there, standing in the middle of the room with arms crossed and legs braced wide apart. Scowling, he adopted a similar posture. Zarbon was behind his great desk, doing that not-quite-making-eye-contact thing that was guaranteed to annoy any Saiyan. Radditz was aware it was a deliberate ploy, meant to discomfort. He still found it annoying.

"Captains." Like his gaze, the Liaison's voice was passive and polite. "Any difficulties with the duty rosters? Unusual allocation of personnel? Anything else," the faintest emphasis on the word, "anyone cares to share?"

There was a beat of silence. The two scowling Saiyans dominated the space, while the King's Liaison sat passively as his gaze somehow took both of them in without acknowledging either. "So," Zarbon finally said in the mildest of tones, "which of you two are going to tell me exactly what the problem is?"

"Nothing," said Chishan after another fraught pause.

Radditz snorted.

"Nothing," reiterated Chishan, breaking his stance to glare at his fellow Captain.

Zarbon rested his elbows on the desk, steepling his fingers. "That," he said, "was me being polite. This is not a request. You will tell me. Or do I interview every female in the palace until I find out which one you are fighting over? I warn you, I will start with Palace Guard Konnaku."

If he expected either male to be cowed at the prospect of Chishan's wife being called in, Zarbon was to be disappointed. Radditz snorted again. Chishan did not exhibit any noticeable change of expression.

"Fine," said Zarbon after a yet another stretch of unbroken silence. "You," he nodded at Chishan, "will wait outside until you are called. Now, Captain," he added after Chishan made no movement towards the door.

Looking neither to the right nor the left, Chishan executed a military-perfect pivot and strode out the door. It slid shut behind him.

Exhaling softly, Zarbon laced his fingers together and briefly dropped his head to rest atop them before raising his gaze to Radditz's scowling face. "Talk to me."

"Nice weather we're having," Radditz commented.

"Ha-ha."

Radditz shrugged. "I don't know what you want."

"I want the two of you to stop undermining morale."

"It's not that simple."

"Whatever the issue is between you two, at least save it for when you're both off duty. It's causing problems for both the King's and Queen's guards. Some of your soldiers are beginning to take sides."

"Is that a surprise?" countered Radditz. "It's the moon year. You know what we're like during the moon year."

"I thought I did, yes." Pushing the chair back, Zarbon got to his feet. "I also thought talking to the two of you in private was a good idea, more fool me."

"What did you think would happen?"

Zarbon spread out his hands to the side, frustrated. "I was hoping to open a dialogue. Something."

"'Open a dialogue'? Zarbon, we're Saiyans. You know we don't do dialogues. Especially now."

"I've yet to see how all this posturing in the hallways produces anything constructive."

"You want 'constructive'? Fine. Here's me being constructive." Leaning forward, Radditz set his fists on the desk. "You have to send Chishan someplace, anyplace. Just get him away from here."

"Oh, I hate interfering in one of your charming mating rituals," drawled Zarbon. "I've never paid much attention to Chishan's wife before. I'll have to make a point of meeting her, since she brings out the animal in you."

Radditz stared blankly for a minute before snarling. "Baka. You think it's about her?" He straightened up, crossing his arms again. "He wants Bulma, Zarbon. Even now he's having a hard time containing it, but when the full rut hits he's going to be uncontrollable around her."

Zarbon was startled. Chishan had always been ... attentive ... to the Queen, but the fragility of Earth women seemed to bring out latent protective urges in some Saiyan males. "Oh, come on."

"I can smell it on him, when he's around her," Radditz snapped. "And he knows I can. I'm going to have to fight him soon, Zarbon. He'll kill me, of course, he's much stronger than I am, and then he'll go after Bulma. By then he'll be in such a hormonal frenzy he won't even know what's he's doing."

"Are you seriously saying Bulma's in danger from him?"

Radditz shook his head. "No. He's no Nappa. Besides, Vegeta will vaporize him on the spot. Which, I'd like to point out, will both upset Bulma and inconvenience you since you'll have to appoint two new Captains."

"Radditz, this is insane. I've been around you for how many moons now? You don't get violent. You just get ... depressingly maudlin, really."

"Baka!" snarled Radditz. "This is becoming a territorial battle. My job is to protect the Queen. Chishan's instincts are telling him that he's the stronger male, it should be his job. He knows better. We both know better. I've never been around another male in rut before, Zarbon. We're making each other worse. Send him away. Soon."

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Dismissed by a thoughtful-looking Zarbon, Radditz strode out of the office. Chishan leaned against the opposite wall with one leg bent, arms folded. Radditz paused only long enough to tell Chishan to count to one hundred before going in. Chishan lifted a lip, showing a canine, before catching himself and pressing his mouth tightly together. Still bristling from the meeting, Radditz marched through the King's halls, nodding automatically as other guards acknowledged his passing before he stalked into his private quarters. He paced angrily, annoyed and embarrassed that he had to verbalize the 'problem' between himself and the other Captain out loud. And he had to say all that to Zarbon, for Kami's sake! Zarbon, who called him maudlin! A Saiyan liaison would not have needed words. Could this day get any worse?

A beep sounded. Radditz turned his head, scowling at the comm station in the corner. It was the personalized tone for Bra, who would call back every five minutes until he responded. Closing his eyes, he breathed in through his nose, slowly exhaling as he concentrated on centering himself. Then he pasted a smile on his face as he answered. "Hey. I wasn't expecting—"

And stopped.

Yes. Yes, it could get worse.

"'Hey' backatcha, young man," said Dr. Briefs.

For an instant Radditz was thrown back to the state of terrible helplessness after the unexpected attack by Gohan all those years ago. Even now knowing that Dr. Briefs was trying to help him rather than experimenting on him (admittedly a fine line when working with an unknown alien physiology), an unexpected sighting could send him to that horrible time. He had become somewhat inured to the sensation during the Briefs' visit to Vejiitasei, however, so he was able to again breathe deeply through his nose, let the air out, and greet Bulma's father after only a negligible pause. "Sir. How may I help you?"

Dr. Briefs looked at him over his glasses. "Straight to the point? Good. Just so we're on the same page, you can do the monkey thing, right?"

It was an effort not to roll his eyes. "Yes. All Saiyans can go oozaru."

"At will, like Bulma's young man?"

Radditz imagined the King's response to being referred to as 'Bulma's young man' and barely repressed a smile. "Yes."

"Good! You're just the person I need to talk to."

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The previous meeting had been formal, Zarbon's station behind the desk making it clear he was addressing subordinates. This time he leaned casually against the desk, one ankle crossed over the other, arms folded, gaze slightly cast down.

Somehow, the alien's relaxed demeanor was even more disconcerting. Chishan stood at attention.

There was a long stretch of silence. Then Zarbon sighed, but did not raise his head. "I will be blunt, since that seems to be necessary. The queen is not yours to protect, Chishan."

A mottled flush swept across Chishan's neck and face. Zarbon heard teeth grinding. When the Captain spoke, however, it was formally. "I request leave for the duration of the moon year."

At that, Zarbon raised his head, observing the Captain's heightened color and clenched jaw. "Granted," he finally said. "I can also arrange time off for Palace Guard Konnaku. Paid, of course."

Chishan turned his head away. "That will not be necessary."

"Very well. Your leave starts immediately, which means you leave the palace immediately. Understood?"

"Sir," growled Chishan with rigid formality. "Is there anything else?"

"Only this," said Zarbon. "You may go where you wish, except for the Southern Continent. Until the moon passes, it is off limits to you. You are dismissed, Captain."

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Vejiitasei's Capitol was a showcase of impossibly-tall constructs exhibiting all the mod-coms of a contemporary intergalactic city. Even with such consciously-conspicuous modernity, there were areas where those abandoned by society for one reason or another eked out a meager survival. All of Vejiitasei was dangerous during the moon year, but for some the danger was more personal than being caught between raging oozaru. Physiology controlled certain lives to an extreme, and within those individuals alterations were already occurring.

Which meant even within society's outcasts were pockets where desperation was as tangible as a touch.

Within one of these enclaves, in sight of the palace itself, a slight figure crouched, staring with fixed determination at the wall enclosing the structures housing the Royal Family and their various guards.

It was impossible to get near the Queen in the Capitol.

Rumor, however, indicated the Queen was relocating to the Southern Continent for the remainder of the moon year.

Rumor is the only thing that will save me.

The figure melted into the shadows.