It was not his imagination. The Saiyans were getting more feral.

I should have insisted on bringing provisions. Zarbon flipped a rock, watching circles spread evenly across still water. Pulling his knees to his chest and wrapping his arms around them, he concentrated on the ripples, trying to clear his mind. His wayward thoughts persisted. But who knew hunting did this to them...?

There had been an ugly scene at the evening meal when both Nappa and Vegeta laid claim to a kill. Rather than yielding to his Prince, Nappa wrestled him over the meat, both snarling and pushing and shoving like...

...like animals.

Animals with dangerously high power levels.

The day had gone so well up until then. Vegeta was a receptive listener for a change. Working on the subtle ki manipulations made the Prince feel like he was doing something practical. Both student and trainer felt the satisfaction of accomplishment by the end of the session.

And then that bizarre confrontation when there was a perfectly good slab of fresh, raw, Saiyan-palatable meat just a few feet away, with Nappa snapping his teeth and Vegeta growling and bristling until that rough upswept hair of his flared into spikes. Was it just Nappa's presence that set the Prince off? The man was a primitive brute, even by Saiyan standards -- which was probably why they put him in charge of their armed forces, Zarbon wryly acknowledged.

Zarbon let himself sigh, and dropped his forehead to his knees. This was just not going to work.

"So this is where you run off to."

Zarbon's voice was muffled against his chest. "Go away, Radditz. Don't you have a moose to consume?"

There was a shrug in the other man's tone. "I finished it. Zarbon, you shouldn't be out here."

Even though Zarbon was reaching the same conclusion, he said coldly, "Pardon me?"

"Why are you apologizing?" Radditz queried. "The moon's coming, Zarbon."

They were all cracked -- "There isn't a moon."

"Baka," said Radditz without heat. "It doesn't have a regular orbit, but Vejiitasei does have a moon." Zarbon heard the sounds of creaking leather, then felt the warmth of Radditz's body as he crouched next to him. "Open your eyes and look, Zarbon."

"I don't want to see anything you've got."

"Stop being childish. I'm trying to help you."

Stung, Zarbon raised his head and glared at Radditz's profile. The other man was squatting on his haunches, looking at the ground. Glancing down, Zarbon watched as the Saiyan traced a wide circle in the sand. "This is our orbit," said Radditz. He poked two holes into the circle's center. "Those are our suns. The suns are close to the same size, and we're in a nearly concentric orbit around them. That's why we don't have the usual extremes associated with a binary system, and why we don't have dramatic seasonal differences on Vejiitasei."

"Thanks for the basic astronomy tutorial."

A muscle leaped in Radditz's jaw, but he continued in an even voice as he drew a narrow, symmetrical oval, the far curve intersecting the circle. "There is a planetary satellite, however, in an elliptic orbit around Vejiitasei. It crosses our path every seven years. Lots of things happen then; our oceans develop waves and tides, certain plants bloom, most of our females become fertile, things like that."

"Ah, your people only mate every seven years. No wonder you're such a cranky bunch."

The muscle jumped in Radditz's jaw again. He was clearly making an effort to keep his temper. "Most of us don't mate seasonally, Zarbon. When the moon comes, though, we all get -- disagreeable. We feel the moon. It makes us very, very dangerous."

"What, a race as renown for its mellowness as yours?"

Exhaling sharply, Radditz stood up. "The King sent you here to die, Zarbon. This is only Vegeta's third moon, and his control isn't likely to be good. Nappa's goading isn't helping. He's probably doing it on purpose, so the Prince will be totally crazed when the moon gets here. Vegeta already feels its pull. We all do."

"Great. No wonder I can't get him to settle down. I take it you and Nappa won't be -- er, 'totally' crazed?"

Radditz looked over the water, and spoke distantly. "I have seen hundreds of moons on hundreds of planets. So has Nappa. If either of us kills you -- it will not be an accident."

Well, isn't he cute, thinking his little 1500 ki could hurt me. He might be worth keeping around for entertainment value ... ah, ha.

Zarbon craned his neck back, straining to see Radditz's face through the failing daylight. "I think I've just figured out your problem. And I am the nearest thing to female in the vicinity, aren't I?" Heightened color briefly touched the bridge of the Saiyan's nose; Zarbon grinned. "Don't expect me to do anything about it. I'm not into this uncontrollable hormonal stuff."

Radditz suddenly smiled, that strange, lopsided, dangerous smirk that characterized most Saiyans. "Feh. It's a throw-back from my mother's side. I'll be fine in a week."

Zarbon caught himself thinking that might be a shame.

_________________________________________________________

I'll miss the full moon, he thought. That strange, mystical object that controlled so much of a Saiyan's destiny, that he'd only seen twice in his life (and the first time didn't count, he barely remembered it) was almost here. In a couple more nights the double crescent would be visible; within a week, the planetoid would reflect the light from the binary stars and Vejiitasei's night would be as bright as its day.

And far, far more dangerous.

There were more important things than moonrise, though. The moon would return in another few years; Vegeta might never get another opportunity to go off world, let alone fight in a real battle. It was even possible that Rigel Seven had a viable moon of its own, in which case he could fight as an oozaru. That would be the experience of a lifetime for a Crown Prince, whose closely-organized life not only kept him out of real battles but trapped him on Vejiitasei.

He heard the sounds he was waiting for, the shifting that told him that Nappa was getting up, then the muffled snaps of words as Radditz was awakened. Footfalls (and Radditz's annoyed muttering) led away from the camp. Sitting up, Vegeta looked across the fire at Zarbon; wrapped in his cloak, the alien lay with his back to the embers, facing away from the river. He looked like a big cocoon.

Vegeta stealthily crept until he was near Zarbon, looking down at the alien's shadowed, sleeping face. He held one glowing hand up for a second -- well, he's a sound sleeper, for a mercenary. And he yells at me for overconfidence!-- and put it down near Zarbon's shoulder where it hissed gently for a second. Moving silently, Vegeta grabbed his chestplate, left his flank guards for fear the metal in them would clang and wake Zarbon, and softly padded after Nappa and Radditz.

_________________________________________________________

Radditz objected, "But you're supposed to stay here with the Prince!"

"That was before this whole Rigel Seven thing came up," snapped Nappa. "I've contacted Miso. He'll be here by sunrise."

"The chief of the southern tribes...?"

"He wasn't happy about it," Nappa agreed, grinning. "He thought he had better things to do than baby-sit the Prince. The King disabused him of that notion. In the meanwhile, you need to keep an eye on the alien. I won't be here for the moon," he added, regretfully. "Maybe you should record the battle. I want to see if its blood's blue in this form, too."

"He may surprise you."

"Radditz, that's just hormones talking. It doesn't have a chance." His tone was, for Nappa, kind. With his own taste for seasonal females (rare and difficult as they were to find), he'd ended up with sons that bore the unfortunate taint. "You'll need to check in with the King first thing, especially if Miso drags his heels and gets here late. Don't let the alien off alone with the Prince until you have backup."

Radditz rolled his eyes. "Oh, as if we could really do anything..."

"I don't care what it's power level is, it still isn't a Saiyan. You'll find a way to restrain it." That earned a strained chuckle from Radditz. Nappa grinned and slapped him on the shoulder; Radditz winced. "I don't even want to know what you're thinking."

"True enough. I don't even want to be thinking it."

"Eh, it'll be over soon. I have to get going. You're clear on what to do?"

"Wait for Miso, restrain Zarbon, get ki blasted into oblivion. Got it."

With an approving chuckle, Nappa turned toward the one-man space pod.

And stopped when a low voice said out of the darkness, "I think you're forgetting one thing."

_________________________________________________________

He loved surprising Nappa. Not that it was an especially difficult thing to do, but the big, squared-off face was particularly comical when it was contorted in the throes of astonishment. Radditz's expression was almost as delicious, especially that touch of alarm.

"Going someplace without me?" asked Vegeta as he tugged on one glove. He smiled at his father's Commander in Chief. "I don't think so."

"Vegeta, I have an off planet mission," said Nappa, recovering from his surprise and speaking sharply. "An important one."

"I'm in the mood to go off planet myself."

"Vegeta, you can't."

"Maybe my father and his father and his father couldn't find their way off the planet even with a fleet of navigators, but I can. I have. I will. What is the point of being the greatest warrior of my line if I'm not allowed to fight?"

Nappa set his feet firmly and planted his hands high on his waist, scowling. "Vegeta, be reasonable. It's only a few more days to the moon. You'll finally be able to trash that alien thing, what-ever it is. You don't want to miss out on that, do you?"

Gathering his ki around him as Zarbon had shown him, Vegeta glanced down at Nappa's feet, extended it...

...and a hole opened up in a near-silent upchurning rush of damp sand and pebbles, leaving the unprepared Nappa suddenly shoulder-deep in a wet pit that closed crushingly around him, then buried his head before he could do more than gasp. Vegeta stepped on the sandy mound, paused to stamp on it hard, and made for the open hatch of the space pod.

Lunging after him, Radditz grabbed him by the edge of one shoulder guard. Raising a clenched fist, Vegeta opened his palm and expelled a ki ball into Radditz's face. There was the crack and burn of released energy. Radditz stumbled back, his scouter flying off.

"I'm going to assume," said Vegeta, deadly, "that your condition made you forget your place, Radditz. Do not ever touch me again."

"My Prince, you can't..."

"Don't try to tell me what I can and can't do." Vegeta settled into the cushioned cockpit, checked the control panel, and nodded; the coordinates were already set. He looked at Radditz, shakily trying to get to his feet, and jeered, "Go wrap yourself around a tree until you get over it."

Touching the pad that sealed the hatch, Vegeta grinned in unholy anticipation. For the first time in three millennia, a member of the royal family, the Heir to the throne no less, was going into battle.

________________________________________________________

Blinking, half-blinded, Radditz squinted up at the departing capsule in disbelief as it whirred into the night sky. He got away again. The King will skin us alive for this! Speaking of alive...

Falling to his knees, Radditz dug into the sand, quickly freeing up Nappa's head. The older man was breathing, unconscious, and even in that state looked mad as hell. Someone's going to get an earful. It'll probably be me.

Turning his gaze back up to the dark expanse of space enclosing Vejiitasei, Radditz tracked the exhaust trail of the departing pod and frowned. The Prince really was going off planet. Was there another tournament he'd heard about, or...

"What is the point of being the greatest warrior of my line if I'm not allowed to fight?"

Cold dread crept over him and Radditz leaped to his feet, cursing. A member of the royal family in planetary combat was so unthinkable Radditz's brain hadn't made the connection immediately, but of course Vegeta was going to Rigel Seven. I'm as dense as this tub of flesh, he thought angrily, kicking the downed Nappa in his frustration. I should have done everything I could have, I should have died, rather than let him go into battle. I have to go after him, protect him -- wait. He turned toward the fading glow of the camp fire. Zarbon has the higher ki. He'll be better equipped to protect the Prince.

_________________________________________________________

Shaking awake a mercenary with a high ki level, Radditz suddenly realized, was a bone-headed move worthy of someone as thick as Nappa. Fortunately Zarbon himself, in the fraction of the second before blowing Radditz' head off, recognized the Saiyan in the glow of ki energy cackling about his fist and jerked his hand slightly off to one side. Unfortunately, he couldn't completely abort the blast itself and several of the King's prime hunting acres went up in flare of power.

"Damn," said Radditz in awe, looking over his shoulder at the conflagation. He was no slouch when it came to ki blasts, but that was impressive.

"'Damn' is right," yawned Zarbon. "Next time you want to play slap and tickle, make sure I'm awake, eh?" He narrowed his golden eyes at the Saiyan, his gaze not at all sleepy. "Asking first is always a good idea, too, y'know. I suppose I should put that out..."

"No time. We have to go after the Prince."

"Excuse me?"

"Why are you always apologizing?" Radditz snapped. "Vegeta took Nappa's pod. He overheard Nappa talking about a military action on one of the Associate Worlds and went to participate."

"Has he ever been in a military action?"

"Of course not! He is the Prince. But they've sent several squads of adult fighters, so it must be a very dangerous mission. We have to protect him!"

"Where's Nappa?"

"Vegeta...ummm..."

"Is Nappa dead?"

"No."

"Pity. Fine, we'll leave him here. Where's the nearest off-world vehicle likely to be?"

"The Palace, east of here."

"Call ahead. Maybe the fleet can intercept him."

"Son of a bitch," Radditz exclaimed, his eyes rounding. "He blew off my scouter!"

"I think you just insulted the gene bank." Zarbon reached for his scouter and pulled back, staring at the melted remains. "Oooh, that clever, clever little monkey-boy! When I get my hands on him..." Zarbon took to the air, impatiently waving at Radditz to follow him. "Let's see what they've got at the Palace."