Meera's POV: (Original Character)
The morning air carries the metallic tang of ship fuel and recycled oxygen as I adjust my uniform collar.
Lieutenant Meera Voss, 3rd Battalion of the Paradisian Imperial Forces, at your service. Not that anyone important would care about my name.
I'm just another soldier in the vast army of the greatest empire the universe has ever known - Emperor Vegito's Paradis.
Today is different, though. Today, I might actually see him.
"Lieutenant Voss, final equipment check complete. All troops accounted for," my second-in-command reports, snapping a perfect salute.
"Very good, Sergeant," I reply, keeping my voice steady and professional despite the excitement churning in my gut. Holy shit, the Emperor himself is coming. THE fucking Emperor.
I've served in the Paradisian forces for two months now. Joined after the Emperor's forces liberated my homeworld from what remained of Frieza's fractured empire.
Before that, I was nothing - a scavenger picking through the ruins of what those lizard-faced bastards left behind.
Now I wear the blue and gold of Paradis, serve a purpose greater than mere survival.
And I've never once seen Emperor Vegito in person.
"Attention!" The command rings out across the hangar as the main doors begin to open. Every soldier in my battalion stands ramrod straight, chests out, chins up, eyes forward.
The sleek imperial cruiser descends with impossible grace for its size, barely disturbing the air around it.
As it touches down, I struggle to keep my breathing even. Don't embarrass yourself, Meera. He's just the most powerful being in the universe.
The one who killed Majin Buu. The one who's building an empire of peace across the stars. No big fucking deal.
The ship's ramp extends, and several imperial guards emerge first, taking positions at the base. Then, a tall figure appears in the doorway, and the very air seems to vibrate with power.
Emperor Vegito.
He's even more imposing than the holovids suggest. Taller than any Saiyan I've heard described, with that distinctive hair that somehow combines spikes and a widow's peak.
His imperial armor gleams in the hangar lights, midnight blue with gold trim, the stylized "V" emblem prominent on his chest plate.
And his tail - a brown-furred Saiyan tail - wrapped regally around his waist.
But it's his eyes that catch me off guard. Sharp, perceptive, missing nothing. Eyes that have seen the birth and death of worlds. Eyes that could reduce you to atoms with a glance.
"Commander Zuri," the Emperor addresses our base commander, his deep voice carrying effortlessly across the hangar. "Your report was concerning. Tell me more about these pirates."
Commander Zuri steps forward, bowing deeply. "Your Imperial Majesty, they've been operating in the Cygnus sector for approximately six months.
At first, they targeted only civilian transports, but they've grown bolder. Three weeks ago, they ambushed one of our patrol vessels. No survivors."
I keep my face professionally blank, but inside I'm seething. Those were my comrades, my friends on that patrol. Fucking pirates. Hope the Emperor makes them suffer.
"And the most recent attack?" Emperor Vegito asks, his tail unwrapping slightly from his waist - a sign of displeasure, according to the behavioral guides we have about Saiyans.
"A settlement on Cygnus IV, Your Majesty. They took what they wanted and killed anyone who resisted.
When our response team arrived, they were ambushed as well. Only one survivor, barely able to transmit coordinates before succumbing to his injuries."
The Emperor's expression darkens momentarily, then returns to its composed state. "I see. Rather than risk more of your soldiers, I will handle this personally."
My heart skips a beat. The Emperor himself, going into battle? For us? For soldiers he's never met?
"Lieutenant Voss," Commander Zuri calls out, and I nearly jump out of my skin. "Your battalion will accompany His Majesty as support."
I step forward, saluting crisply. "Yes, Commander. It will be our honor." Holy shit holy shit holy shit. We're going with the Emperor. We'll actually see him fight.
Emperor Vegito's gaze falls on me, and I feel like he's seeing straight through to my soul. "Lieutenant, have your troops ready in thirty minutes. I want a small, mobile force. We're not going to war; we're hunting pirates."
"As you command, Your Majesty," I reply, keeping my voice steady despite the internal screaming. The fucking Emperor just spoke to me directly.
Wait until I tell Mom.
Wait, my Mom's dead...
I'll tell her in the afterlife after I die!
The journey to the pirates' suspected hideout takes less than an hour in our fastest scout vessels.
Emperor Vegito travels with my squad in the lead ship, standing at the viewport, arms crossed, studying the approaching planetoid.
It's an unremarkable chunk of rock, barely large enough to hold an atmosphere, with a single sprawling structure built into the side of a crater - likely an abandoned mining operation from before the fall of Frieza's empire.
"Perfect place for vermin to hide," I mutter, then freeze when I realize the Emperor might have heard me.
But he merely nods. "Indeed, Lieutenant. Isolated, defensible, with multiple escape routes."
He turns to address me directly. "Your troops will secure the perimeter. Ensure no ships leave this rock. I will deal with the pirates myself."
"With respect, Your Majesty," I say, choosing my words carefully, "these pirates have proven dangerous. Perhaps a squad should accompany you as backup?"
A small smile touches his lips - not warm, but amused. "Your concern is noted, Lieutenant, but unnecessary. These 'dangerous' pirates will pose no threat to me."
Of course they won't, you idiot, I scold myself.
He's the fucking Emperor. He killed Majin Buu. The one stated to have been the Terror of the Universe! Destroyer of Galaxies!
You've read the legends in the Imperial public library before!
Don't embarrass yourself by making him think you can't read!
"As you wish, Your Majesty," I reply, bowing my head.
As we approach the planetoid, our sensors detect a small fleet of ships docked near the facility - eight vessels of various sizes, all bearing the marks of extensive modifications. Pirate ships, without a doubt.
"Interesting," the Emperor murmurs, studying the readout. "These energy signatures... they're not typical pirates."
His tail tightens around his waist. "Lieutenant, maintain your distance until I give the all-clear. This may be more complex than anticipated."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Our ships land in formation around the facility, establishing a perimeter as ordered. I deploy my troops with precision, covering all potential escape routes.
The Emperor stands at the edge of the main landing pad, surveying the facility with calculating eyes.
"Your Majesty," I say, approaching with caution, "we're in position. All exits covered."
He nods, still focused on the structure before us. "Good. Now watch and learn, Lieutenant. This is how the Paradis Empire deals with those who threaten its people."
Without another word, he strides forward, alone, toward the main entrance of the facility. His posture is relaxed, almost casual, but I can feel the power radiating from him even at this distance.
I activate my comm unit. "All units, hold positions. The Emperor is engaging. Maintain the perimeter."
Then I watch, barely breathing, as the most powerful being in the universe prepares to deliver justice.
Emperor Vegito doesn't bother with stealth. He walks directly to the main entrance, a massive metal door designed to withstand mining explosions.
With a casual gesture, he extends one hand and releases a focused beam of energy that cuts through the door like it's made of paper. The severed metal crashes inward with a deafening boom.
Through my tactical visor, I can see heat signatures inside scrambling in response. Dozens of them, moving to defensive positions. The pirates know they're under attack.
The Emperor steps through the smoking entrance, disappearing from view.
I switch my visor to the surveillance feed from his armor - a privilege granted only to commanding officers during operations.
What I see next will stay with me until my dying day.
Inside, the facility has been converted into a pirate stronghold.
Stolen goods pile high against walls, weapons caches at strategic points, and at least forty armed individuals taking cover behind makeshift barricades.
They open fire immediately, energy blasts and projectile weapons creating a deadly crossfire that would shred an ordinary soldier.
The Emperor walks through it untouched. Not deflecting, not dodging - the attacks simply hit an invisible barrier around him and dissipate harmlessly.
"Is this really the best you can do?" his voice carries through the comm, cool and unimpressed. "I was told you were dangerous pirates, not children playing with toys."
A larger energy blast - far more powerful than the others - streaks toward him from the back of the room. The Emperor catches it in his bare hand, examining it like a mildly interesting insect before crushing it into nothingness.
"That's more like it," he says, a hint of anticipation entering his tone. "Come out and face me properly. You're not dealing with ordinary imperial troops now."
The firing stops. A deep, rumbling voice echoes through the chamber.
"Well, well... what have we here? The famous Emperor Vegito himself, gracing us with his presence."
The speaker emerges from the shadows at the far end of the room - a massive, blue-skinned humanoid with long orange hair and a face marked by a prominent scar. "I'm honored, truly."
Holy shit. I know that face from the imperial database. Bojack. One of the most wanted criminals in the galaxy, thought to be just a legend by most.
A being supposedly dead, killed by the gods themselves eons ago for his rampage across the universe.
"Bojack," the Emperor acknowledges, sounding almost bored. "I thought I sensed something decently powerful. The Kais' prison couldn't hold you, I see."
Wait, the gods didn't kill him?
Huh, seems even some legends in the imperial library can be wrong. Probably not the one that isn't public though.
I've heard the Emperor likes literature, and has paid hefty prices for any books that don't exist in the library.
"Nothing can hold me forever," Bojack boasts, his massive arms crossed over his chest. "Not the Kais, and certainly not you, 'Emperor.'" He spits the title like an insult.
Four more figures emerge to flank him - his infamous Galaxy Soldiers. A beautiful blue-skinned woman with orange hair, a swordsman with long blue-green hair, a small pale being with pointed ears, and a hulking brute with a mohawk.
"Your reputation precedes you," Emperor Vegito remarks casually. "Destroyer of worlds, scourge of the North Galaxy... now reduced to petty piracy in the outer reaches. How far the mighty have fallen."
Bojack's face contorts with rage. "Watch your tongue, Saiyan. I was conquering worlds while your race was still learning to make fire!"
"And yet here we are," the Emperor replies with a dismissive wave. "Me, ruler of half the known universe. You, hiding in a hole like a common thief."
"We were biding our time," the blue-skinned woman - Zangya, according to our records - interjects smoothly. "Gathering strength incase those blasted Kais try their tricks again. Waiting for the right moment."
"And now the moment has come," Bojack declares. "Your head will make a fine trophy, Emperor. The beginning of my new collection."
Emperor Vegito sighs audibly. "I came here expecting a challenge. Instead, I find delusional relics." He uncrosses his arms, his posture shifting subtly. "Very well. Show me this strength you've been gathering."
Bojack roars a command, and all five pirates attack simultaneously, converging on the Emperor from different angles in a clearly practiced formation.
What happens next is almost too fast for my visor to track.
The Emperor moves with impossible speed, dodging and weaving between his attackers as if they're moving in slow motion.
He doesn't even bother to counter-attack, simply avoiding every punch, kick, and energy blast with minimal movement.
"Is this really all you've got?" he taunts as he dances between them. "I was told you killed my soldiers. Either they were remarkably incompetent, or you're holding back."
"Bujin!" Bojack barks. The small, pale pirate raises his hands, and glowing energy threads shoot out, attempting to ensnare the Emperor.
"Ah, energy binding," Emperor Vegito remarks as the threads wrap around him. "How nostalgic. I believe Majin Buu tried something similar. Though his was far better."
He flexes slightly, and the threads shatter like glass. In the same motion, he extends one finger toward Bujin, releasing a tiny energy blast that strikes the pirate in the shoulder, sending him spinning across the room to crash into a wall.
"One down," the Emperor announces cheerfully. "Who's next?"
The swordsman - Kogu - draws a wicked-looking blade that glows with energy. He charges, moving faster than before, the sword a blur of motion.
"A sword?" Emperor Vegito sounds genuinely amused. "Against me?"
He doesn't dodge this time. Instead, he raises two fingers and catches the blade between them, stopping it cold. Kogu's eyes widen in shock.
"My turn," the Emperor says, and flicks his fingers. The sword shatters, and the shockwave sends Kogu flying backward, blood spurting from his nose and mouth as he collapses in an unconscious heap.
"Two down."
The hulking brute - Bido - roars and charges, fists glowing with gathered energy. The Emperor sidesteps easily, then taps Bido on the back as he passes.
The simple touch sends the massive pirate face-first into the floor hard enough to crack the metal plating. He doesn't get up.
"Three down. This is becoming embarrassing for you, Bojack."
Zangya launches a barrage of energy blasts, each more powerful than anything the ordinary pirates had managed.
The Emperor walks through them unfazed, his expression one of growing disappointment.
"At least put some effort into it," he chides.
When he reaches her, she attempts a desperate physical attack. He catches her wrist, twists slightly - not enough to break, just to immobilize - and uses his free hand to deliver a light chop to the side of her neck.
Her eyes roll back, and she crumples to the floor.
"And then there was one," the Emperor says, turning to face Bojack, who has been watching with growing rage.
"ENOUGH!" the pirate leader roars. His body bulges, skin turning a sickly yellow-green, hair blazing red as his muscles expand grotesquely. "I'LL SHOW YOU MY TRUE POWER!"
In this transformed state, Bojack is truly monstrous, nearly twice his original size and radiating malevolent energy.
He charges the Emperor with a speed that belies his bulk, the floor cracking beneath his feet with each step.
For the first time, Emperor Vegito seems mildly interested. He raises a hand to block Bojack's punch, the impact creating a shockwave that rattles the entire facility.
"Better," he acknowledges. "Still pathetically weak compared to me, but at least you're trying now."
Bojack roars in fury, launching a flurry of attacks that would reduce planets to rubble. The Emperor blocks or dodges each one with minimal effort, his expression growing increasingly bored.
"I think I've seen enough," he says finally, stepping back from a particularly vicious assault. "Time to end this farce."
A golden aura erupts around him as he transforms into a Super Saiyan with casual ease. The power radiating from him is so intense that my visor temporarily malfunctions, the feed cutting to static before re-establishing.
When it returns, I see Bojack backing away, genuine fear in his eyes for the first time.
"What... what are you?" he demands, his voice trembling slightly.
"I am the hope of the universe," Emperor Vegito replies - though his tone a bit... quoted? As if he is reciting something he heard once, for hilarity's sake.
"I am the answer to all living things that cry out for peace. I am the light in the darkness. I am truth."
He moves - so fast the camera can barely track him - appearing directly in front of Bojack.
One hand shoots out, grabbing the pirate lord by the throat and lifting him effortlessly despite his enormous transformed size.
"I am Emperor Vegito of Paradis, the Monkey King, Great Sage Equal to Heaven," he continues, his golden aura pulsing with each word.
"And you, Bojack, just like I told that lizard in Hell weeks ago, are nothing but a relic of a bygone age, too stubborn to realize your time has passed. I should send you to him."
Bojack struggles, his massive hands clawing at the Emperor's arm to no effect. "Kill me then," he chokes out. "Finish it!"
"Death would be too simple," Emperor Vegito replies. "Too... merciful."
He releases Bojack, who collapses to his knees, gasping for breath. With a gesture, the Emperor causes the unconscious forms of the other Galaxy Soldiers to float toward them, depositing them in a heap before their leader.
"You have two choices," he states coldly. "Submit to me as slaves, working to atone for the lives you've taken until I deem your debt paid... or die here and now, returning to whatever hell the Kais originally condemned you to."
By now, Bojack's transformation has faded, his power spent. He looks up at the golden figure of the Emperor with a mixture of hate and fear.
"And if we submit?" he asks hoarsely.
"You will serve the Paradis Empire. Your strength will be used to protect rather than destroy. You will build rather than demolish. And perhaps, in time, you may earn a measure of redemption."
"And you expect me to believe you would ever set us free?" Bojack scoffs.
"I don't lie, Bojack," Emperor Vegito says simply. "When your debt is paid, you will be free to choose your path - within the laws of my empire.
But make no mistake: break those laws again, harm my people again, and no force in this universe will save you from my wrath."
The pirate lord looks at his fallen comrades, then back at the Emperor. Slowly, with obvious reluctance, he bows his head.
"We... submit," he growls, the words clearly painful to speak.
"A wise choice," Emperor Vegito says, powering down to his base form. He taps his comm unit. "Lieutenant Voss, you may enter. The situation is contained."
I signal my squad and we move in quickly, securing the perimeter and checking the status of the fallen pirates. They're all alive but unconscious, except for Bojack, who kneels before the Emperor in defeated submission.
"Secure them with ki-dampening restraints," I order my troops. "Full biometric monitoring. No chances."
"Yes, Lieutenant," my sergeant responds, moving to carry out the orders.
I approach the Emperor, standing at attention. "Your Majesty, the area is secure. Shall we prepare transport for the prisoners?"
He nods. "Yes. They will be taken to Rehabilitation Colony Epsilon. I have special plans for their... reeducation."
I suppress a shiver. Rehabilitation Colony Epsilon is where we send the worst of the worst - beings too dangerous for ordinary containment but too valuable to simply execute.
The Emperor's "special plans" are not something I want to contemplate too deeply.
"As you command, Your Majesty."
As my troops secure Bojack with specially designed restraints, the pirate lord looks up at the Emperor with hatred burning in his eyes.
"This isn't over," he hisses. "No chains can hold me forever."
Emperor Vegito regards him with cool amusement. "These aren't ordinary chains, Bojack. They're specifically designed to contain beings of your power level. A little gift from my scientific division."
He leans closer, his voice dropping to a tone that sends chills down my spine despite not being directed at me. "And should you somehow break them, remember: I can find you anywhere in this universe.
There is no corner dark enough, no hole deep enough to hide from me. And believe me, if you touch something I deem to be untouched, you face a fate that will make the Hell you know, Paradise."
Bojack falls silent, the fight visibly draining from him as the reality of his situation sinks in.
The Emperor straightens and addresses me. "Lieutenant Voss, have your troops search this facility thoroughly. I want every piece of stolen property cataloged and returned to its rightful owners where possible."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
As my soldiers carry out their tasks, I can't help but steal glances at the Emperor. He moves through the facility with purpose, examining various items, occasionally stopping to study something more closely.
His tail, now rewrapped around his waist, twitches occasionally - the only outward sign of his thoughts. I think he honestly allows it to show his mood on purpose. No way, the Warrior of the Gods has such a weakness.
He is trying to make himself more... approachable. Part of us. And for that I can not help but be even more in awe of his character.
When we return to base, I'll write my official report. It will be professional, detailed, and precise.
But it won't capture the awe I felt watching him move. It won't describe the absolute control he demonstrated, toying with beings that could destroy planets as if they were children.
It won't convey the perfect blend of mercy and justice in his judgment.
Some things can't be put into official reports.
As we prepare to depart, the Galaxy Soldiers are loaded onto the transport ship, each securely restrained and monitored. Bojack, once feared across galaxies, now kneels at the feet of the true master of the universe.
Emperor Vegito stands at the ramp of his personal vessel, surveying the operation with satisfaction. His eyes meet mine briefly, and he gives a small nod of approval that makes my heart race with pride.
"Well done, Lieutenant," he says. "Your battalion performed admirably today."
"Thank you, Your Majesty," I reply, bowing deeply. "It was our honor to serve."
As his ship lifts off, I watch until it disappears into the atmosphere. Then I turn to my troops, my voice steady despite the excitement still coursing through me.
"Alright, people. Let's finish up here and go home. We have a report to file about how the Emperor of Paradis personally kicked the shit out of Bojack and his entire crew."
A cheer rises from my soldiers, and I permit myself a smile. Today, we witnessed history. Today, we saw the Emperor's might.
And holy shit, was it a sight.
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(Author note: Hello everyone! I'm back! Hope you all enjoyed the chapter!
I've decided to continue this story, seeing how much you all liked it. I won't bother with those who hate it anymore. They can leave if they want.
I wanted to show a bit more of Vegito's Empire and all that, and from the eyes of a soldier is quite interesting.
Though, do tell me what you think of the existence of Bojack here.
Well, I hope to see you all later,
Bye!)