Sorry about all the small parts, but it was either this or attach the
fic - and I know that some people can't read attachments...

This is the second story in my set of Dragonball alterniverses.  It
might make a little more sense if you read the first story, What Friends
Are For and its several little sidestories, but I think you should be
able to make sense of it without reading them.  All you really need to
know is that I've made Trunks' life hell, and dumped both him and Goten
in a parallel dimension with no way of getting back to their own
dimension. The previous stories are up on my page. Enjoy!

http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Island/3226/fanfics.htm

Dragonball belongs to Akira Toriyama; I'm just borrowing his characters
for my own twisted and non-profitable amusement.

Allegiance - Part 1

"It has come to my attention that we have for many years been wasting a
possibly valuable resource."  Prince Vegeta's voice echoed around the
stark chamber that was currently the meeting place for the top officers
in his army.  Those assembled here were the among the most powerful
individuals in the galaxy, representing the strongest race in existence
- the Saiyajins.  They had conquered a full third of the habitable
planets in their section of the heavens, and the very mention of their
name held terror for those who had not yet suffered their arrival, so
apparently insignificant in their travel pods. The devastated ruins of
worlds they left behind them were testament to the appropriateness of
that fear, technology stolen from established civilizations to further
the spread of Saiyajin dominion, while the planets themselves were sold
off to 'allies'...

<Not that anyone other than those with Saiyajin blood are truly our
allies - and even then we are a race divided.>  Toronipsu shifted his
weight, his restlessness concealed by the shadows that flickered around
the edges of the room where he was standing.  One of the benefits of
being so lowly ranked - you didn't have to spend so much effort in
self-control as there weren't quite so many people watching you for the
slightest mistake, after your blood if you ever slipped up...  Of
course, given who his family were a lot of people watched him anyway.

"We have blindly followed the traditions of our ancestors in conquering
worlds - then throwing them away."

"But we don't *throw* them away, Oji-sama," a protest arose from the
left side of the room.  "We get good prices for them, and they're in
friendly hands - "

The officers around the dissident ducked for cover, and the objections
were abruptly cut off as the prince's ki-blast burned through flesh at a
remarkable rate.

"Those planets should remain under our direct authority,"  Vegeta
continued, folding his arms across his chest as the body hit the floor. 
"I intend that all subsequently acquired worlds be harvested continually
for whatever wealth they may supply, rather than given the once over
treatment."

"Uh...  But Oji-sama?"  One of the Saiyajin commanders dared to question
his leader.  "Just *how* are we to achieve that?  There aren't enough of
us to maintain an entire planet..."  He trailed off at the sneer the
Prince directed at him.

"Of course not!"  Vegeta snapped.  "I will be appointing a lieutenant to
be responsible for the subjugation of each planet.  The natives of each
planet will already be doing what is necessary - my lieutenant will
merely see that all resources are redirected to support *us*!  Just how
that lieutenant achieves and maintains mastery over the planet will be
his own concern!"

He swept the room with measuring eyes.  Few were capable of meeting the
Saiyajin no Oji's steady gaze for long - but to Toronipsu it seemed that
those dark eyes lingered on his own for longer than the others. 
<Probably just my imagination.>  The dark eyes continued on in their
survey of the Saiyajin cadre.

"There will be three lieutenants initially.  More will be chosen as I
see fit."

The tension in the air was tangible; this was the moment that counted. 
<*Three* lieutenants...  Nappa will obviously be chosen.>  Toro spared a
brief glance for the huge man who had been one of the Prince's personal
bodyguard since Vegeta was a child.  He was looking somewhat smug - <And
probably with good reason.  He'll get the pick of both planets and
forces, being second only to Vegeta himself.>

"Nappa will be my first lieutenant, and Beyansu my second."  Vegeta
gestured to each in turn, Nappa at his right hand already, Beyansu
moving to his left.  Both knelt in homage before their Prince.

<Figures.  Beyansu always was the most bloodthirsty one of the lot - and
one of the more ambitious.  But who else?>  He leaned forward slightly. 
The first two had been fairly obvious choices, but the third - there
were plenty of contenders in the running, and each would be most unhappy
if they missed out.  <So upset that they'll accidentally kill whoever it
turns out to be.  Or try to, anyway.>  Toro snorted quietly.  <Vegeta
might as well have left it at two - but he enjoys these little internal
power struggles as much as any external conflicts.  If only Radditsu was
still alive...>

"And third, Toronipsu."

<*Nani!*>  His eyes widened in shock, and he stared at Vegeta blankly
for a moment before the brief flicker of irritation across his liege's
face brought him back to reality.  He knelt hastily, lifting his right
arm across his chest in tribute, thanking the Prince for this offer of a
chance to serve him.

Vegeta acknowledged his salute with a slight nod.  "I will expect the
three of you to be ready to leave tomorrow,"  he informed them before
standing and striding out of the chamber, leaving Toro still kneeling on
the floor in shock.

As soon as the Prince was out of the room he could feel everyone turning
to stare at him.  He forced himself to remain impassive as he got to his
feet and prepared to make his own exit.  He rested his hand lightly on
the tail wrapped around his waist, trying desperately to keep it from
twitching and revealing his discomfort at the not-quite-whispers that
were being uttered around the room. 

"*Toronipsu*!"

"Why that brat?!  Why not one of *us*?"

"It's because of his brother..."

"He should have been executed years ago, after what his father did!"

"I knew the brat would cause trouble..."

"You know what they say: like father, like son..."

"I suggest that you don't let Vegeta-sama hear you say *that* one."  The
mutterings ground to a halt as Nappa's voice sounded easily above them. 
The giant strode across the room towards Toro, forcing the unhappy crowd
to move out of his way, laying one huge hand on his shoulder and
steering him out of the room.  "Come on, kid.  We've got better things
to do than listen to this lot whine."  With that, they were out the
door  and beyond the reach of the disgruntled would-be third
lieutenants.

<Not that I can really blame them. If I were them I'd be plotting how to
get rid of me, too.>  He followed Nappa as he led him a short distance
from the assembly chamber.

"Why me?"  he asked.  <I need to know!>

"Hn.  You should ask Vegeta-sama that one, if you really want to know."

Toro shot the taller man a sharp look.  Nappa laughed.

"You mean, is this about your brother?  I honestly couldn't tell you."

"And my father?"  

Nappa's gaze narrowed.  Toro bit his lip.  <I shouldn't have asked
that.>

"Listen, kid.  You're a good fighter, one of the best - I've seen to
that.  You're better than your brother ever was, and you've *earned*
this assignment.  Whether you keep it is another matter; but what
Bardock did held no bearing in Vegeta-sama's eyes towards Radditsu.  I
doubt it will with you, either."

"Only Bardock killed Radditsu."

"While your brother was defending our Prince, yes."  Nappa leaned down
until their faces were bare inches apart.  "I'm sure you'll do the same,
ne?"  He resumed his upright posture abruptly, turning and heading off
down one of the many corridors that honeycombed the rock of this planet
they were temporarily forced to call home.

<Would I do the same?  Of course - he *is* the Prince.>

But Bardock had been defending the *King's* interests - partially, at
least...

He frowned, clenching his fists.

<Why does he want to kill Prince Vegeta so much?  To stop him from
becoming King?  That's laughable - he's king in all but title.  Of the
two main Saiyajin forces, ours is very much the superior.  The only
thing they have that we do not is Vegetasei itself - and then only
because it amuses Vegeta to see his father live only at his tolerance.
We could take them out easily, even if they would most likely take the
planet with them...>

Taking a planet...  He made his way briskly to the science labs, where
Kizare would most likely be waiting for him.

He was.

Kizare was not a Saiyajin, but a member of one of the races whose
technology had been plundered generations before.  The remnants of his
people were all in service to their conquerors, maintaining and on
occasion improving upon the knowledge which had cost them so much.  <Yet
it gives them some measure of power over us...>

The Saiyajins' lack of this knowledge was a weakness in their defenses. 
<It leaves us vulnerable to those who might deceive us with false
offerings of assistance.  Raw power and force cannot overcome
everything...>  There had been rebellion amongst the scientists in the
past, and there were given little freedom now as a consequence.  But few
Saiyajins could be bothered to learn what the scientists had to teach -
hence they were still a necessary part of  the Saiyajin culture.

Toro was one of the few who did want to learn, and Kizare had been his
teacher for several years.  <Since Radditsu died...>

"I hear that congratulations are in order, young Toro,"  the aging
scientist greeted him at the door.  "It is a great honour for you to
have been chosen."

"Is it?"  Toro questioned, lifting one eyebrow.  Kizare smiled ruefully
in reply.

"You'll have to hope so, if you want to survive."  He ushered the young
Saiyajin into the lab, leading him over to a computer terminal.  Here's
the data for the planet you were assigned - "

"Assigned?!"  Toro interrupted.  "I don't get to choose?"

"Apparently not," Kizare sighed.  "Although the other two do.  Take a
look, Toro.  The Prince is up to something."

Toro scanned the data quickly, one particular phrase catching his eye
almost immediately.

"'Negligible power levels'?"  He stared at the older man.

"I knew you'd see it.  Nobody's ever been sent there because of the lack
of a challenge it represented."

"So why does Vegeta want me to take it now?" Toro wondered.  <Either he
really wants me to succeed with this, or there's something else that he
knows...>

"I don't know, Toro."  Kizare shrugged helplessly.  "I have no way of
knowing Prince Vegeta's mind."

<I'll find out soon enough.>

*************
Rhionae
http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Island/3226/fanfics.htm