Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ A Scrap of Hope ❯ Names ( Chapter 2 )

A FEW HOURS LATER

Vegeta tapped his foot impatiently, waiting for the doctors to bring him his little "prize."

Said prize stood under the shower, washing off the green gooey stuff. He'd been scared at first when they wanted to put him into that odd, cage-like chamber, but they'd made him go in. Of course the ki-collar around his throat helped. Even his protests at being put into the strange cage had been nothing to the ruckus he'd put up when they tried to stick him with needles. He stuck out his tongue and shivered at the memory. Ki-bound or not, it had taken three of them to hold him down to have his blood drawn. He dried off, then walked out of the bathroom, finding that everyone seemed to have gone elsewhere - without telling him what to do or where to find clothes first!

Vegeta was giving due consideration to randomly popping off ki shots to get the stupid doctors' attention when he spotted his quarry coming out of the bathroom. His eyes narrowed in disgust when he realized the boy was still wearing the stupid ki-collar he'd specifically ordered removed. There would be a random doctor in the tanks tonight. He was not amused by incompetence, and even less amused at having his orders disobeyed. "Boy. Over here." Vegeta leaned against the door, waiting.

Goku's ears twitched as he recognized the voice and turned - to stop dead in his tracks. Now that he miraculously felt so much better, he could see, really see his … well… rescuer? Master? I don't know how, but I seem to be completely healed. Is he a new master? I'm not so sure about that. He killed the master, cared for me, rescued me… But the way he talks to me… he must be my new master. He's breathtaking! And there is that tail, just like mine! His own tail swayed happily, unbroken and actually able to move for the first time in ages, as he sauntered over to the other. He was still cautious though, not knowing what to expect. Clothes would be nice, maybe. I wonder if this master will allow them?

Vegeta eyed the young man. "You cleaned up well enough. Hungry?" He smirked, holding out an apple. "Do you want it, boy?"

Goku's eyes lit up at the prospect of food and instantly focused on the apple. His gaze shifted between the apple and its owner, pondering whether it was safe - and what the catch would be. He decided quickly: one apple is better than no apple. Crouching slightly he stalked nearer, tail lashing, then snatched the apple from the outstretched hand and instantly devoured it.

Vegeta smirked as the younger man made the apple disappear in what looked like two bites. Ravenous, somewhat more than half-starved. "Come, scrap. We'll have to find you a decent meal." He wheeled, not minding in the least that the boy would have to follow him still nude.

Goku backed away slightly, expecting to be hit for his insubordination, but nothing happened. Odd. Well, it's not like I have anything to loose… It was a bit cold and he wouldn't have minded some clothes, but he'd been used to being kept nude for days for his master's convenience, so it didn't bother him. Slinking along behind the other man, he admired the flame-like upswept hair, the trim build of that powerful body, and the thick, luxurious fur of that fine tail.

Vegeta stopped in mid-step, turning to face the boy. "I almost forgot…" He reached for the boy, grabbed the ki-collar and snapped it. "That's better."

Goku stopped and looked curious, flinching when the hand neared his throat, having learned that nothing good comes of others' touches. What does he want? Have I done something wrong? What… my collar? When the ki-collar snapped he stared for a moment, freezing completely. Ki he hadn't had access to for uncounted years rushed back into his unprepared body and he screamed, eyes turning upwards as he fainted.

Vegeta sighed and caught the limp body. There was a reason he'd wanted it done BEFORE he picked the scrap up. He carried the youth to his own rooms, laying him on the bed.

Goku slowly came back to himself, shivering, his body still remembering the shock. But slowly warmth permeated him, a warmth he hadn't felt in... he couldn't remember how long. The warmth of his own ki. Large eyes blinked open in confusion, as he tried to find out where he was.

Vegeta settled down for a more detailed examination of his new little pet. The ragged tail he saved for last, ruffling the limp, dry fur. A brief, terrifying smile graced his face for only a moment. The next slave trader through here is in for a nasty surprise.

Goku blinked again as he felt a hand on his tail, freezing in fear, and spoke for the first time, his voice raw and rough from screaming too much. "… I'm sorry... Master... please don't punish me…"

Vegeta amended his former thought to an extremely nasty, long, lingering death. "I'm not going to hurt you, Scrap."

Goku whimpered, as his tail was not released. I wish I wouldn't have a tail at all.. all they ever do is hurt me with it…" But... why… my tail…?"

The prince focused on the appendage. "Has been rather badly damaged, if this is all the better it healed. You're in very poor shape, Scrap." He carefully ruffled the fur, examining the tail closely. "Before that apple, when was the last time you ate?"

Goku was slightly confused by this new person who acted so differently from any other he'd ever met. "I... I can't remember... The old Master saw fit to punish me…"

"That fool is dead. Did you enjoy killing him, Scrap?" Vegeta moved across the room, opening a cabinet full of food. "You may eat if you did."

Goku eyed the food, then the other man. "I…" Not sure what to say, a flicker of determination crossed his face. "Yes… yes, I did... he was... cruel... and he hurt me... and he made me do things…" Goku slowly got up, nose twitching as it picked up the scent of food.

Vegeta smiled, his voice a husky velvet purr. "Things, Scrap? What kind of things?"

Goku, eyes fixed on the food, tried to find out what he had to do to get it. He'd learned early that there was always a price to pay for food. "He... made me serve him... he liked me... he said I was his favorite. He taught me things... and then he gave me to others... and I had to please them, or I would be punished... and sometimes I had to be punished to please them…" He stared at the food longingly.

Vegeta was not particularly happy with the answer. "You were a pleasure slave, Scrap?"

Goku, still staring longingly at the food, tried to ban the memories from his mind. "If you want to call me that, Master…"

"Hn. Eat, boy." That's not what I expected. He wasn't in a cage with pleasure slaves. Those were all fighters. Perhaps he will understand the situation better because of it, though.

Goku's eyes shifted back to the other as he thought. There had been no price named, so he expected the usual. Hopefully the food would be worth it. Walking over to the food, he took some, not too much, having learned the hard way that eating too much would be doubly punished - first by his master, then by his body, unused to large amounts of food. He sat down on the floor, starting to nibble on the food, trying to savor it for all it was worth

Vegeta allowed a small smile of approval, the boy was intelligent enough to know not to take too much. "Your name?"

Goku mumbled between two bites. "Master called me Goku." He did recall having a different name, long ago.

"Goku. That's no Saiyan name."

Goku looked up, slightly surprised, but feeling his old memory vindicated. "Uh... yeah... I did have another name. I think they called me... umm... Kakarot, when I was very little"

"Kakarot. Yes, that's more like it. Kakarot…" He purred the name out, watching the younger man to see how he reacted, as his tail twitched with good humor.

Goku's own tail waved apprehensively, for some reason he liked being called by that name. And the way his new master said it made goose-bumps rise. But that look... he shivered slightly and gulped down the last bite, wiped his hands clean, then crawled over to where his master stood. Time to pay the price. "Master... do you wish to use me now?"

Vegeta stared blankly for a moment. He can't possibly mean…! "For what, boy? You're in no shape to do much more than fall into that bed over there," he said, indicating the bed, "and sleep about a week."

Goku's eyes shifted to the floor. "But I had food, plenty of good food, Master... and I've been healed. Don't you want to take the price for it? What have you done this for if not so I can serve you better?" He looked up with honest confusion in his eyes.

"Plenty of food? Healed?" Vegeta laughed, a harsh, hard noise as his fear was confirmed. "You've had barely enough to call it an infant's snack, and it's only your worst wounds that have healed. You need sleep and time for your body to recover the damage, and probably another stint in the tank. Your tail tells me all I need to know about your condition." Vegeta's tail snaked out and looped around the boy's. "Look. See the difference?"

Goku looked down at their entwined tails with something akin to amazement. Bending over them he studied them closely, noticing the deeply reddish tints in the other's tail, while his own was a bit more on the darker side. And the Master was right - where his tail sported only thick, glossy, luxurious fur, his own pelt was rather thin and brittle, unkempt and ragged looking. Suddenly he felt ashamed and pulled his tail back, hiding it behind his back, but still looking in fascination at the other tail, finally picking it up to feel the texture, petting it gently. "It's beautiful…"

Vegeta snorted in amusement. "Of course, boy." The gentle petting felt nice, but he knew perfectly well that the boy was in no shape for him. It's not like I'd have the chance, anyway. He pulled his tail away. "After all, I am Vegeta, Prince of the Saiyans."

Goku looked up with wide round eyes. "Prince? Of the Saiyans…" He knew they always called him a Saiyan, though he never was sure why. "So... you're a Saiyan, too?" He looked back at the tail that swayed freely. "And I'm a Saiyan. And this is the place that we come from... does that mean I was born here?"

Vegeta blinked. "Of course I'm a Saiyan! Didn't I just say I was the PRINCE of the SAIYANS?" His tail lashed. "Yes, this is Vegeta-sei, our homeworld. Kakarot…" He crossed to a terminal and inputted something. "You were born here 20 years ago, and shipped out on a mission. I assume you failed, since you are now a slave." The tail lashed again. "Third class. Father, Bardock. Brother, Raditz. I suppose someone may get around to informing them... later." The last word was as much a threat as a promise. Bardock's son…

"I'm sorry. I've never seen another Saiyan before." He blinked in astonishment as the rest of what Vegeta said sank in. "You mean… I have a family?" Master told me… I never believed him. But… no one came. Was Master right after all?

"Never seen... in twenty years, you never saw another Saiyan?" Vegeta sighed, growled. "Boy, go to bed." He pointed, growling more to emphasize his point. "Now."

Goku, not sure what to make of that, but too accustomed to obeying, padded over to the bed and laid down on it, watching Vegeta with curious eyes. His master settled in front of the terminal, and appeared quite busy. Slowly, his eyes slipped close and it didn't take long until only his soft, steady breathing and Vegeta's busy typing filled the room.