Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Big problems in a small package ❯ last ( Chapter 10 )

Vegeta felt the presence’s of the alien police force leave earth’s airspace. They were not the best detectives but, going from place to place in a hurry. There was no one better than them. They only were there on earth for seven minutes. And that was slow for them. They were the minute men force of the universe. They were kinda annoying and almost rude to a point. But the rush, rush on jobs like this. They were the people you wanted.

That was he’s personal experience with them. Everyone that was on Frieza’s ship was on their list. Including Frieza, he was at number one. Even after the years that had passed Vegeta believed he was probably on the top ten still. He was number three on that list back in the past when he was this age the first time.

It was early morning. Slightly pass the training time to set of the boys for the past weeks. He felt their kis downstairs. And the others were coming back. That was kinda like the all clear sign. Vegeta leaped up off the bed. A little pounding of the half-breads would be good therapy for him. Going to the door he stopped and put his ear to the door. It sounded clear but, through the almost sound proof door. It was too hard to tell even with Saiyan ears.

Opening the door slowly. He peaked his head out. It was all clear. Vegeta pressed against the wall and slunk down the hall keeping his back firmly against the wall. The enemy was down there, waiting for him. Ready to pounce the second he showed his face. He could sense it down there by the bottom of the stairs.

Getting to the stairs, Vegeta dropped to the ground sneaking a look around the corner. It seemed to be clear. But, it was quiet. Too quiet. The enemy was there waiting for him. He knew it. He wasn’t going to down there. Not yet. Goten, Trunks. Meet me at the training spot in five minutes. If either of you are late, I will use both of you as punching bags. Got that!

Yes sir Uilsai sir! Vegeta got up from the floor and rushed back to his room. He opened the window.

“Vegeta!” Vegeta scrambled out the window and flew off to the mountain. “Vegeta?” Mrs. Briefs looked inside his room. “Weird. I was sure I heard him up here. He must have gone to train.” She laughed lightly. “It runs in Vegeta’s side of the family to train all the time. I wish he would get back. I miss him.” Bunny said with a loopy smile. “I think I miss him more than Bulma in ways.” She giggled turning away from the room.

X)(X

Vegeta landed on the mountain seeing both of them there. Vegeta was glad he escaped without seeing the blonde haired non-android one. That one freaked him out in ways no one else could. Shaking his head clear of those thoughts, he turned to the boys.

“All right. We are going to twist some things around today. Two on one but, your not fighting against me this time.”

“So . . . who’s going to fight who?”

“I will leave that up to you. Choose or I will. You have ten seconds to decide who gets double teamed.” Vegeta turned his back to them. He could hear them sweat just a little. He almost laughed in an evil fashion but, settled for a dying chuckle.

X)(X

The others returned as Vegeta left. Bulma stopped herself from laughing. She knew why Vegeta was flying off fast. Her mother had the ability to kill with kindness. And annoy Vegeta like no one he ever encountered no doubt.

Bulma walked in the front entrance seeing what looked like the three-ring circus ran through there. Steamers and balloons everywhere. Enough food and drinks to fill Goku’s appetite and maybe leave a little something for everyone else. Or at a little something for at least some of them. It was a tab overbearing.

“Mother! What is this?”

“Vegeta’s birthday party. The first he ever had. I wanted to make it special.

“You passed special five streamers ago.” Mrs. Briefs waved that comment off with her hand.

“Oh nonsense. He’ll love it.”

“Like the . . . other Vegeta did when you threw him a party once?” It was so weird to her called the same Vegeta the other Vegeta.

But, this was the only way she would understand. Most of the time her mother really was a dumb blonde.

“Now I know why! Whoever Vegeta’s parents were! Well, they should be ashamed. No such thing as birthdays.” Everyone only agreed with half of that. Vegeta’s father should be at the least. Bulma sighed knowing her mother’s heels were dig in deep.

“Whatever mother whatever. I wouldn’t expect too much of a different reaction from the older one. They are practicality alike. Nearly one and the same.” Because they are one and the same. Bulma thought going upstairs knocking away some of the balloons that were tied to the banister that were in her way.

X)(X

Goten tried to block but, was only able to block one fist as the other connected with his chest. Vegeta fist was the detraction. Goten relieved that now. He was so use to blocking or trying to block his attacks he instinctively moved to block his attack allowing Trunks’ fist to connect. Vegeta never said a word the entire time. There was a lesson to be learned here. And Vegeta wanted him to learn it on his own.

Unlike now Vegeta would yell out helpful hints and advice while knocking them around. But, there was no coaching here today. Goten tried to think but, we two attackers on his non-existent tail, he really could not think beyond ‘avoid that’, ‘block this’, and ‘get out of the way before his fist goes through my stomach’ kind of thinking. This is going to be a long, long, long, loooooonnnnnnnnggggggggggg training session!

X)(X

Bulma was upstairs looking at the clock. It was only ten in the morning. The boys were still in training with him. But, it would not surprise her if he stayed out later than noon though. Vegeta had a way of knowing when trouble was coming for him. And nothing was more trouble than her mother on a mission.

Bulma was thinking about the past more than she ever had before. Things in hindsight that was so obvious about him she never noticed until now. His way of sitting away from others. Aggression towards the other men of the group. But, hardly any true aggression to her or her mother when they saw him.

When she took over the maintenance on the gravity room and training tools. The workload her father had was cut by seventy-five to eighty percent. And Vegeta sometimes would stay in there or away from capsule corp for days at a time. It would annoy her to no end. But, why she never thought about it until now. She was intrigued by him. The things he did, why he did so and how he did them were strange to her.

He was different from every other man she met business or like business dinner dates her father set up to talk business. Sometimes she felt like window dressing when he did that. She was beautiful, rich and smart. But people only saw the first two. There was another reason why Vegeta was so interesting. Vegeta couldn’t care less about her money in the bank or her company. She was a human that knew about but, couldn’t use ki power to him.

XXX((((flashback

Bulma slammed the door the second she was fully inside. Her business dinner date gone bad. She got the deal and such but, if she heard him say one more cheesy pickup line she would have told him to take his company and shove it up his ass. It was a ‘business’ date not a ‘date’ date. She was there to discuss business only.

She couldn’t get that through his head for the life of her. She gave no sign of even enjoying herself on this so called date for lacking a better word to call it.

“Men! I swear! All of them thing about one thing! Is every man in the world that swallow? Or just I ones I meet?” Bulma threw the contact on the table and stalked upstairs. She was going to her bedroom when she heard a door closing to her left. The white material of a boot was the only thing she saw before the door closed.

Bulma looked at the closed door for moment longer. That man was like a ghost now. Much more than before. Ever sense the fights and insults he would say was no longer keeping her away. Food and such would disappear but, he would never be seen. Bulma was filled with an emotion as strong as her anger, stomped to that door. She pushed it open without as much as a knock at the door. Why she was doing this, she wish she knew.

She figured Vegeta would be furious and yelling at her to get out but, that was too much to be expected from the most unpredictable person on earth. His bare back was to her as he was taking off

“Not even a knock at the door. And people call me rude.” That was a sample of his highly sarcastic wit.

“The rooms are soundproofed because of the labs.”

“Human soundproof not Saiyan soundproof. If you knock, I can hear you.”

“I’ll remember that.” Vegeta seeming to notice her not leaving, pulled his sleeveless shirt back on over his head. He wasn’t shy but any means but, something made him do so. He also refused to turn around to face her face to face.

Bulma moved closer not taking in account of the dangers he possessed in just his little pinky much like his whole body. She felt no danger from him though. He hadn’t been the nicest person to her but, he never raised a hand to her or her mother. Raised his ki making the battle aura form as an intimation tactic but other than that nothing violent.

“Can I help you or something?” Vegeta voice was annoyed and gruff.

Vegeta and she had exchanged some not nice words for the past two months. Two out of the three of them leaving her in tears. It was only recently she noticed the self-hatred in his eyes went he would say those things to her. So instead, Vegeta had stayed away from her and Capsule corp as much as possible while staying on earth and near the Gravity machine.

Bulma was just barely behind him at his side. She could see his face was turned away like he was hiding something that was on his left side of his face.

“It . . . must be hard for you.”

“What are your rambling about now?” He was still annoyed and gruff. Nothing was going to pull him out of his mood tonight. But, Bulma for reasons she didn’t understand was going to try.

“Being alone even with people around you. Being practicality the last of your kind.” Vegeta didn’t said anything. He didn’t even look like he was listening to her. Bulma threw her hands up in defeat for once and turned to walk away.

“I have had more than twenty years to get used to it. And that is space time not earth time for your information.”

Bulma thought about that. Time went so slowly up there. One day here was the same to a month if not more here on earth. Time wasn’t short to him. Not at all. It was worst than the time chamber up at Dende’s with one earth day one full year in there. And the other thing was Vegeta was barely older than she according to her examination when the gravity machine blew up with him inside. Luckily, he passed out some time before. He would have resisted an examination out of the pure instinct and distrust.

What Goku said in passing about Vegeta and what to had to endure with Frieza. He was bad enough for twenty earth years. But, too him, time like that was inessential. Time hardly had meaning no doubt. Tears formed but, she pushed them back. Even she knew that he hated pity and wouldn’t stand for it if she showed the slightest bit to him or around him.

“That means you were just a kid then.” Her thoughts took control of her voice. She winced hearing herself say it out loud.

“I was never a child . . . mentally.”

“A Saiyan thing?”

“It . . . . .wasn’t allowed to me.” Bulma looked at his back confused. What he said didn’t make sense to her.

“That doesn’t make any sense. How could they stop you? It’s natural.” Vegeta’s hands clenched at the word natural set him off. But, as quickly the action happened it stopped. She relaxed his hands. Like it wasn’t worth getting angry.

“For things that are natural yes.” Vegeta moved to the window, opening it wide. He turned his head to her. Bulma’s breath was caught in her throat as the shine of an animal was in his eyes. Something not any of the other off worlder’s including Goku had in their’s. “But, for things like me. Unnatural in its purist form. No.”

Vegeta without another word blasted off into the night. Bulma took a few more seconds to recover her wits and looked out of the window. Only a fading streak in the sky showed where he went. The night air was cold. She shut the window but, left it unlocked in case he decided a warm bed was better than the cold ground or unforgiving tree branch.

X)(X present time

Vegeta slammed Goten into the cliff wall. His knees buckled but, he stayed in the grove that his body made. Trunks was by Vegeta’s side not attacking since he was not moving out of the wall yet. Vegeta didn’t move yet either as he crossed his arms looking straight ahead.

“You still not learning. How many times do we have to hit you until it comes to you?”

“You could just tell me!” Vegeta shook his head.

“You have to learn to see the things in battle. I can not be holding your hand all the time and I will not either.” Goten pulled out his right side and slid the left side out. His balance was something left to be desired as he fell to the ground once free of the wall. Vegeta watched him with bored eyes. Trunks moved closer to him.

“I don’t think he can handle much more.”

“Agree. Not that you would fair too much better two on one.” Trunks narrowed his eyes at the comment. But, it was true.

Goten struggled to get up but, try as he might, he was only able to get to his knees. Vegeta watched on as Goten breathed heavily. He was too hard on these two. He trained some of the higher ranking and some that were convicted of a crime for their punishment. Vegeta was used to training fully blooded, never quitting, bone crushing Saiyanjins.

These half Saiyans, although had heart and drive. Their weaker bodies though couldn’t follow all the way through completely. True they were younger than anything he trained before back home. And true, he never trained everyone this closely before. Never been this involved with it before. He would leave the staggers behind without looking back. Beat a lot of them bloody and had then in the tank for days to recover.

Vegeta for once, felt compelled to change his view on this. Normally, he would make him get up and beat him into he learned or went unconscious.

“Enough.” Trunks relaxed looking at Vegeta. Vegeta could swear that he could see a question mark above his head. Because never once did he ever call a time out or break. “Grab him. We are going to Dende’s tower or whatever you people call it. He is no good if he can not stand on his own two feet.” With blind obedience Trunks did so. “After all. You have not had your turn yet.” Trunks winced thinking about it. Vegeta was being brutal today. More than usual. But, this was the first time Vegeta went with him to get healed up.

X)(X

Bulma came down at noon. She felt asleep up there. She was kinda in the same condition than Vegeta was when he was sick. Sleep was rare. Like Vegeta said to her. Just because you close your eyes and turn out the lights. It does not mean you are going to sleep. Boy, was he right about that too. But unlike Vegeta, Bulma hid her dark circles with make-up so it was not noticeable. And was taking sleeping pills to help her problem

Vegeta didn’t try to hide it. He didn’t care what others thought about him. Never did. Except he hated when people showed pity. That drove him crazy for someone to pity him. But, after hear what was done to him, the tortures and things that were forced upon him. It was hard not to feel something along the lines of pity for him.

X)(X

Trunks’ whole body hurt like no one’s business. Back after the tower as Dende healed Goten, he talked to Vegeta. Halfway through Vegeta told him to think his thoughts. All he heard was that Goten seemed to figure out what the meaning of this training. And since Vegeta said it was his turn now. He must have been right on the money. That was an hour ago. Trunks still had no clue what he suppose to learn here. And he thought it would be easy the second time around. Then again he was on the other end before.

X)(X

Vegeta sent the two on their way a little after two o’clock in the afternoon. Both blasted off on Dende’s outlook going to capsule corp. He decided to stay away for awhile. He didn’t want to see the impossible happy non-android blonde right now.

“You seem to have gone harder on them that usual. Is this going to be a tread?” Dende asked keeping his distance.

“How should I know? Do I look like a seer to you?” Vegeta said with a smile literally stepping off the ledge.

Vegeta caught the railing of Korin’s place and flipped himself over it. Sitting down on the rail as the sword carrier started scrambling into the nearer corner. Korin showed no emotion on his furry face

“What did I owe the honor of this visit?” Vegeta shrugged at the question.

“No reason. Felt like it.” Vegeta smiled going from almost stoic like to completely cruel looking in the matter of seconds. “Is that okay?”

“It’s fine.” Vegeta thought back for a moment. Strangely enough I expected him to say ‘actually it’s not.’ Weird. Vegeta shook that off. “How about some tea?” Vegeta narrowed his eyes remember what happened the last time.

“Sure. But, keep your astro projection of yourself in your mind where it belongs. If you know what is good for you.” Vegeta could have sworn Korin paled. But, through the white fur it was impossible to tell.

“Trust me. I don’t want to go through that again.” He was holding his head with one hand like the pain of the time came back suddenly.

X)(X

It was five o’clock now and Mrs. Briefs was getting anxious. She was to the point of pacing across the floor. But, with a smile of coarse.

“Where is he? I hope he is okay. Maybe you should look for him or track him down like you can do.” Goku didn’t hear her as he was looking at the cake before him. It was chocolate with chocolate fudge inside with chocolate icing, with chocolate chips spelling out happy 9th birthday Vegeta. It was a wooey-gooey mess of delicious tongue savoring fun. Goku was almost drooling. He couldn’t help it. It looked so good.

“Goku!” He snapped back to reality at the sound of his angry wife’s voice screaming his name in almost rage.

“Y-y-yes!”

“She is talking to you.”

“Oh! Sorry! What was that?”

“Vegeta has been gone for a really long time. Can you go find him?” Goku laughed although he knew Vegeta was going to be cranky about this.

“Sure. Okay.” Goku got up taking one late look at the cake before locking on his ki.

X)(X

Vegeta was looking over his cards in his hand. He just learned the game today and seemed to be better than the other two. He lost the first hand but, that was the only hand he did lose. He had a natural poker face.

“Two pair.”

“Straight.”

“I win again. In honor of me. Royal flush. I must thank you for teaching me this game.” Vegeta put his cards down on the table showing the winning hand. Both groaned, hating to lose again to the small prince. (Time to pay up, boys.) At the psychic message both of them groaned again. It wasn’t money or even strip poker. They either told or showed parts of their past. That was Korin’s idea. Who had the worst hand had to show or tell and embarrassing tale of their past. Unfortunately, Vegeta was a fast learner and was beating them at there own game. “Think or tell. What is your choice?”

Both put one hand in the middle of the table. They were going to show again. It was easier that way. Quick and . . . almost painless. Now to mention the other person didn’t know what it was. Vegeta tried not to laugh but failed. He was pounding the table almost breaking it trying not to laugh loudly. He was shy of the mark on that one.

“Oh come on. You got to be kidding me. You just made that up.” The face of the cat said no. Vegeta let a few more full hearty laughs go before putting his legendary control back in place. “Shall we play again?” Vegeta stood on the chair and stuck his fist out to the side. Goku materialized next to Vegeta.

Goku fell back in shock of seeing a fist in his face the second he fully arrived. The small laughter was easily recognizable.

“Vegeta! That was not funny!”

“Kakaorot! Yes it was!” Vegeta mocked Goku’s tone before sitting back down in the chair. “It is your turn to deal Korin.”

“No time Vegeta. Mrs. Briefs needs your presence at the house.” Vegeta turned to him pushing inside mind briefly. Right in front of it was a picture of the chocolate cake with his name and age written on it. It was a stupid human celebration of an anniversary of births. Vegeta rolled his eyes before locking eyes with him.

“I am having fun Kakaorot and I am not killing or ripping apart anybody. For once in my life I am having fun without the problem of someone later dying or being tortured because of it. And you want me to go back to capsule corp where I will have deal with that impossible happy female and people I can hardly stand. I am Saiyanjin not human. We do not do things called birthdays. Get over it. I am not going.”

Vegeta turned back around in his seat gathering up his cards that was dealt as he was talking to Kakarot.

“I am tired of doing what others want. My so-called father, my people, Lord Frieza. They are gone. So now I am going to do what I want. If you can not understand that. Then we have nothing to talk about.” Vegeta looked over his cards seeing that his two playmates were staying out of this. There were listening but trying not to look it. “Take two.” Vegeta put the discarded cards on the table and was dealt two more cards.

He had a bad hand. Nothing good and his highest card was a five of clubs. But, he was going to play the hand. He had just as bad hands and won by making the others believe he had a good hand. Placing his cards face down on the table Vegeta looked at the other two. “I bet twenty.” He threw five blue chips in the middle of the table.

Goku watched to understand. They weren’t playing for money but, had chips to bet with. If they all called it the worst hand had to tell an embarrassing story while the other losing hand had to tell a story from the past. Losing hands lose chips to so call bet with. They were strange rules with stranger winnings. Goku figured to was Korin’s idea to learn more about Vegeta past. But, it seemed to him, that Vegeta was the one winning every hand and learning more about them every second. That was Vegeta for ya. Turning a disadvantage into an advantage on his part.

“Can I play?”

Vegeta’s tail rustled but, he calmed himself down a moment later. Vegeta didn’t say anything but, picked up the only empty chair with tail and throw it off the tower.

“Oops. My bad. Seems we have no chair for you. Why do you not go back to where you belong and when no one is looking eat that cake and choke on it.” Goku growled but part of him was slightly amused by the action.

“Go ahead Goku. You can have my spot. I lost enough for one day and he had enough blackmail for ten years on me.” Goku accepted and everyone put their cards back in the middle of the table to reshuffle them. Now it was two Saiyanjins and the big kittcat’s game. Vegeta only narrowed his eyes turning back to his cards.

X)(X

Vegeta and Goku returned after midnight when it was officially not Vegeta’s birthday here anymore. Humans and there concept of time. He went to his window of his room finding it locked.

“Looks like you have to come in the front door.”

“That is what you think.” Vegeta used his mind turning the locks on the window the other way. He opened the window without problem. “See?” Goku shrugged and watched Vegeta fly through the opening. Before Goku got to it, Vegeta closed the window making Goku bump his head. It didn’t hurt him but, he did leave a small crack.

“Vegeta!” Vegeta put his finger to his lips and mouthed the words. ‘Careful. You will awake everyone up. Be considerate.’ Goku hit the side of the wall again leaving a crack in the wall. Bulma was going to be mad.

Vegeta turned yawning feeling Goku outside leaving the window know he wasn’t going to let him in and if broke the window Bulma would have Chi-Chi that his head. He knew that Kakarot knew that too. He laid down on the bed not tried now that he was back on planet Vegeta’s time but, didn’t feel like being out and about at the moment.

He was think back at the card game. The very last hand he lost. But, out of fifty or so hands losing twice was not that bad. He only had to tell a regular story the first time he lose since Korin had the worst hand. But, the last hand he got the worst cards in the deck it seemed. He ever he could bluff that hand.

Apparently, Saiyan’s embarrassment and human’s embarrassment was different. When Goku said, he couldn’t tell the difference between males and females without doing the pat down of the lower region Vegeta showed them about an incident when he was three years old. Apparently, what was embarrassing to him brought tears of sadness and pity to all the others in the room. If he knew that fact before hand, he would have told a different story. Not that he was embarressed about in much of his life. Although that, was the most embarrassing memory to him.

X)(X flashback

Vegeta flew fast to the same mountain his father dropped him off of when his was just an hour taken out of the birthing tank. He had to get away from the castle and all other stress. Stress made his mind more aggressive and the two sides more restless. The fresh air wasn’t working. It didn’t even help.

“Stop it! Stop it! Stop it! Please just stop it!” Vegeta cried out as if yelling the words would make them stop. Unfortunately, it didn’t even quiet them down. Vegeta sank to the ground pulling on his upswept hair.

After long minutes Vegeta gathered enough strength to get up off the ground. Only three Vegetasen years old and he wanted it all to end. He was at the end of his rope. He was ready to cut it and drop into nothingness or anywhere else but here. But, he felt like he didn’t belong here, there or anywhere for that matter. He was a freak, false, unnatural. It wasn’t his fault but, it didn’t make him feel any better about it.

He looked over the edge seeing the ground. It was the same patch of ground his father was planning to smear him on the day his was so called born.

“How ironic. I guess ‘Daddy’ is going to get his wish. A hundred magclicks later.” Vegeta spread his arms and dropped off the mountain. Suicide was embarrassing to a Saiyan. Death besides dying in battle or hand so of the enemy were the only acceptable ways to go.

Vegeta had his eyes closed as the ground came closer. In seconds it would all end. The pain, the suffering, and everything else. It would be gone and he hope to cease to exist. Vegeta did not pay attention as a cry of some kind of animal sounded somewhere around him. Paid no attention to the shadow over him.

He open his eyes as he felt himself stop falling. He put on a ki damper to keep his body from reacting. He still should have fell with no problem. Vegeta stared stupidly at the ground as his fingers tips touching the ground lightly. It was long moments before he looked up seeing a giant bird with colorful wings and scales on most of it’s body. Vegeta relaxed his body as the bird took off. At least now he would dead being eaten by a predator. That was a little better than falling to his death. Vegeta figured at least he would be useful before he died. Even if he was only a last meal.

Vegeta was lightly set down in a nest in a tall tree. Vegeta turned seeing the bird wasn’t as big as it looked. It still was a big bird but, not huge like he first thought. Another bird was in the nest. It was about the same size. It was probably it’s mate. Vegeta hoped he wouldn’t be alive through most of the ripping of his intestines and organs.

“Okay. Let us do this.” Vegeta closed his eyes and waited. And waited more. Vegeta opened his eyes seeing them both looking at him. “O-kay. Um . . . maybe they are waiting for another to come and share.” Vegeta looked down at himself. “Not much of a meal too share.” Vegeta just laughed humorlessly. He wasn’t feeling much of anything.

(“Strange creature. Why did you save it?”)

(“How could I not? Look at him.”)

(“True. It has something about him.”)

Vegeta was looking around wildly. He kept hearing people talking but, there was no one around. He was confused entirely.

(“Do you think it was trying to fly?”) Vegeta turned his head to what he believe was the female due to the slightly duller color of her wings. Males were flashier to attract mates. But, there were exceptions to the rule.

(“I think it wanted to die.”) Vegeta’s mind was reeling. For a second Vegeta thought he lost his mind completely.

“Why? . . . . I . . . . .I can understand . . .the both of you. Why! I . . .” Vegeta stopped talking and looked away but what not really looking at anything.

He was starting to feel emotional. That wall was starting to crumble and turn to dust. He thought about jumping out of the tree but, felt it would be a waste of time.

“Oh . . .Shiva. What kind of unnatural freak am I? This is not right.” Vegeta whispered to himself but, the sharp ears heard him.

(“How strange again. The two legged, tailed one can understand are speaking. No other even could before.”) The brighter one flapped his wings hard.

(“He is not like the others.”)

(“That might be the problem.”)

(“Outcast?”)

(“My guess yes.”)

(“One so young shouldn’t feel this way.”)

(“Yes. I believe that too.”)

(“We must help.) Vegeta stopped listening a little bit ago. But, all the growls, squawking and flapping they were making seemed to form words in his mind. Part of him wanted to die even more now for being such a freak. Now even more so.

X)(X

Vegeta woke up not remembering when he fell asleep. It really wasn’t that bad of a memory. They became his pets after he got over his emotional state but, remained wildish. They seemed to somewhat like being pampered all day. And they could come and go as the pleased. They were his favorites until he found the two snakes and raised them himself.

Vegeta got up knowing a certain someone was still up. He had a promise to keep. Even if it killed him. But, his pride of being a prince was on the line.

X)(X

It was noon. Goku finally got up, seeing everyone was up and the boys were in the living room. Goku moved down the stairs seeing Vegeta outside on the rail of the balcony.

“Done with training already?” He asked the two on the couch.

“We didn’t do training.” Both said like twins. “We found notes inside are rooms saying do not bother going to the mountain today. I will not be there.”

“Did he say why?”

“No.” Again said at the same time.

“Did you ask him why?”

“Yes.” Goku was stumped. That wasn’t like Vegeta who always trained no matter the weather or physical condition.

“Did he say anything?”

“Nope.” Goten said with a shrug.

“Not a thing.” Trunks said after him. Goku clenched his fist feeling the angry again. He turned to the doors throwing them open. Everyone turned to others commutating with each other’s eyes before getting up.

“Vegeta!” Goku screamed looking at Vegeta laying on the rail. He was on his stomach with his legs bent up. They were rocking back and forth slightly. But, there was no reaction to him from Vegeta. Growling Goku picked his up the back of the solid black shirt. Again hardly a reaction. That in itself was weird. He seemed strangely content and unaware of his surroundings. Goku’s angry was gone seeing Vegeta in a strange way. “Vegeta?”

Piccolo heard something and stepped forward to Goku. Piccolo listened and seemed to recognized the noise reaching around Vegeta’s ear. Piccolo pulled and a band with small speakers on the end with in his hand. Headphones from a MP3 player. He was listening to music. Vegeta seemed to wake up and knocked both of them down in the matter on mil-seconds.

“You two better have a very good reason why you did that. I was in such a good mood.” Both rubbed there heads.

“You were out cold.” Goten said. Vegeta turned to him with mellow eyes.

“Hn. I see.” Vegeta kneeled down taking the headphones from Piccolo.

“Where did you get that?”

Vegeta smiled and surprisingly nicely which made everyone but, the boys and Bulma step back in almost freight. Vegeta went neutral seeing the other’s reaction.

“Birthday present from the blonde non . . . I mean Mrs. Briefs. By the way Trunks you have some new clothes that are a little too small for me. I think the ducky shirt would look soo nice on you.” Vegeta said as sarcastically as possible. “Oh! And next time. Try telepathically if you can not get an answer verbally. Sometime vibrations in some music put me in an almost dolce mood. It is the animal in me. Now if you do not mind. I have . . .” Vegeta pushed a few buttons on the thing. “Forty-five more songs to go through on this disk and I have the other one too. By the way Kakarot. You can have my piece of cake Mrs. Briefs saved. How with one full Saiyan and third halves I am not sure. But, it is not my day to eat. Now I will ask you nicely. All of you . . . leave me . . . alone!” Vegeta’s voice went graveled as he jumped on the railing and flew off in the horizon.

The others watched him go confused on the whole thing. He was calm but angry. But, it was like when he was older. He was yelling in annoyance. Bulma smiled.

“The whole Grandfather thing must still be bugging him. Let’s just give him a little space. He has things to sort out.”

X)(X

Mrs. Briefs told them about when Vegeta can down at midnight. He told her he didn’t like parties but, didn’t want to be rude to him host. She was wearing a neckless that looked like a upside down, golden flame with a blue stone in the middle.

“So where did he get that? It’s beautiful.”

“Vegeta gave it too me. He said when someone give you a gift and had to in return where he is from. So he gave this to me. All he said was he found it in the ocean or something like that. But, you know what is strange?”

“What?”

“Most the clothes I got him are Trunks’ size. Like when Vegeta wore Trunks’ blue shirt when they went to the amusement park. Remember how that was almost too big for him. But, now that don’t fit him at all. It too small and the sleeves are all quarter length instead of long like before. Not only that but, only three shirts did because they were miss labeled and were a bigger size. Isn’t that strange? Sometimes little boys just shot up all the sudden I guess.” Mrs. Briefs got up from the kitchen chair and grabbed her purse. “Well, I’m off to the spa for a few days. The number is on the fridge. Bye now!” She was out the door like a sixteen year old late to a hot date.

X)(X

Vegeta switched the disks. The one before was mostly classical music. A lot like the music he was playing in the piano that night. It was relaxing. It made a mental note to use that disk when he couldn’t sleep. The other had some harder stuff on it. He liked this gift and he got rid of the neckless. A neckless for a thoughtful gift. It seemed to even out somehow.

Vegeta after many hours of listening to non-stop music turned it off and pocketed it in the new blue-jeans. He started to fly back. Some of the music brought flashes of images he both remember and didn’t. Memories seemed to come to him. But, they didn’t mean anything. Like they were only strange day dreams. Vegeta ignored the fleeting feeling in his stomach and flew on.

Coming to C.C. he felt some where in the kitchen area and some were again the living room. Vegeta landed on the balcony. Vegeta opened the door and walked through without a word.

“Vegeta?”

“Yes, blue haired human.”

“Can’t you call me by my name?”

“No.” Vegeta started moving upstairs.

“Vegeta I’m serious. We need to talk.”

“You talk enough for the both of us female.” Bulma grabbed his arm without thinking. It was a completely brainless move.

Vegeta acted on instinct alone but, stopped as his hand was hairs away from her face. Anymore force or mil-seconds longer and she wouldn’t have had a face. Hand clawed ready to rip her face off. Slowly moving back to hand he slammed in though the wall. A displacement move that calmed him. After a few moments Vegeta seemed to calm down enough to talk.

“Careful. I still can not control all my instincts.” Bulma strangely was barely affected by what happened.

“I know. I lived with it. But, still we have questions and we like you to shed some light.” Vegeta sighed knowing sooner or later explanations had to be now. But, he wasn’t in the mood for Q and A time right now.

“Meaning you wish to know more about the freak of nature.”

“Vegeta.” Bulma wasn’t expecting that. Looking around she saw no one was. Vegeta almost smiled at the shock he caused.

“It is fine. Being made by scientist carries that tittle. I am okay with it. I really do not care. I came to terms with that a long time ago.” Vegeta continued on his way.

“Vegeta just one question then. You turned Super Saiyan. You said you never would in the past after your . . .” Goku stopped as his brain kicked in. Vegeta didn’t need to be reminded of that. Plus he was very upset at the fact they were prying into his past without his permission or knowledge of it before hand.

Vegeta was in the middle of the stairs when he stopped again. He was angry for a few moment before calming down almost too easily. For some reason her death or them looking into his past didn’t bug him so much anymore.

“You can say it Kakarot. After my father got done torturing Calflowe and ended dying from her injuries. I got so angry and enraged with true emotion. The angry of someone’s else pain. All barriers broke and I transformed into the so called legendary state of Super Saiyan. I promised not to use her death but, promises can be broken when the one you made it for says you can. Any questions? Too bad. Goodbye. Do not bother me unless you want to be missing limbs. I am not in the mood.” Vegeta continued on without another word.

X)(X

Vegeta had on his MP3 player again. The range of what kind of songs where all or the scale. Rock, metal, techno, pop, R and B, rap, and kinds he wasn’t sure what they were. Some of the techno and rock reminded him of home. Songs were rare but, they had some. But, only in one place. Where Calflowe and Tuilka took him. It was a third class only club.

XXX(((Flashback

Calflowe pulled him up off the floor of the treehouse. “Come on. We are going to the club.” Vegeta looked at her in confusion.

“Club? What club?” Tuilka overheard that. He was surprised. His eyes growing less hard for a moment.

“Man where have you been? I thought every Third class went there.” Vegeta only shrugged not knowing what else to do.

“Who carrrrrrrres! Let’s go! Let’s go! Let’s go!” She pulled both the boys out of hole of the treehouse.

Rolin a.k.a. the runaway prince followed them with no clue where they were going. Down an alley and, over building, under a almost collapsed bridge and to a huge tree. He could see it from every window in the castle the thing was so big.

“This way. Come on.” There was a six foot door cut into the root of the tree. Vegeta followed them with interest. Vegeta could barely see in the darkness but, he could make out Calflowe’s form in front of him and Tuilka’s in front of her. At least he hoped it was him. His was ninety-nine percent sure it was.

“So you really never been here before? Not even once?”

“No.”

“Weird. But, I guess your first time is much later than ours. You must have been a loner this whole time.”

“You could say that.” Calflowe jumped in cutting off Tuilka’s reply.

“Well, now we are going to show you groups among groups. We’ll take the loner out of you! Come on! Not much further now. Your going to have soooooo much fun.” I have heard that line before about five hundred and seventeen times.

“Maybe.”

“Maybe!” Calflowe laughed hard like it was the funniest comment she had ever had. “Good one.” Vegeta rolled his eyes in the darkness. She has to be playing this up. Well then again. She is not really all that well controlled. Vegeta thought about it some. Then again that is what makes her so intriguing. I wonder why I feel conformable to be lead to a place I have no clue existed before. Normally I would not be doing this.

Vegeta heard a hard beat that come in pulses almost. He could feel it go through him. It made it harder to breathe for him. Something his body had to get use to. He had to fight the effect on his brain. The old saying that music would soothe the most savage of beasts played out it his head. Your not an animal, Vegeta. . . . mostly. You can not be weaken to the charm of it. You can not allow it. A light at the end of the tunnel showed a figure waiting by the door. It remind Vegeta of one of the guards back home. There job was to stand there and only let people with permission to go in and see them. A lot of times though they were sleeping with there heads up. You could go in and there would never know. Vegeta would a lot of times would put itching power or pesky little termiulatel bugs on their tails or down the backs and watch them go crazy. It was something to do on his downtime.

“Hold it there.” The guard said shining a light in there faces. The sudden light hurt not only Vegeta’s eyes but, Calflowe’s and Tuilka’s as well.

“Every time. Do you mind? I like to keep my damn sight past the age of ten. Knock it off!” Vegeta almost laughed at the fiery comment she made.

“Nice to see you too Calflowe. Tuilka. Who’s your friend?”

“His name is Rolin. A loner who going to try the other side of the street for a while. Got a problem with that?” Vegeta could heard the sneer in her voice. He didn’t need to see her face to know that she was doing so.

“Rolin? That is a name not used for a while now.”

“Neither is the name Celry. Celry! Can we go or not!” The guard looking at Vegeta for a moment and nodded his head. Vegeta made sure to kept his eyes mostly closed. He didn’t want to explain the shine in his eyes to him. He was the only Saiyan he knew or seen that had the trait. The door opened and the music bombarded them.

Vegeta looked around, careful to keep the wonder expression off his face. Vegeta never seen anything like this but he did read about things similar to this in the books he paid to have smuggled in off of other planets. Vegeta followed them as the searched for a unused table. Vegeta wanted to ask why they didn’t have to paid to get in. But, he thought best not too. At the moment he was worried that the dimmest of the place would make his eyes shine the animal shine.

“You okay, man?”

“Yeah fine. Eyes . . . are bugging me . . . a bit.” Vegeta said trying to talk like they did. He wasn’t sure if he was succeeding or not. But, the way his eyes were and why there glowed did bug him a bit. What he said was truthful.

“It’s the smoke from the vents. They’ll get over it quick.”

“I’m sure.” Calflowe moved to his side.

“Don’t worry. It’s too bright and colorful to see the glow in your eyes, your highness.” Vegeta almost growled.

“Stop with that highness talk. If someone hears you I have to kill everyone here including you.” She only smiled at the threat which really sent Vegeta for a loop. Vegeta decided to ignored that. She was a weird one. “Here’s a table guys. Let’s grab it before someone else does.”

Sitting down at the table a waitress come out of nowhere and gave them all drinks and walked away without a word said. Vegeta watched as Tuilka gulped his down in one turn of the glass. This was normal he figured as he took a small swig of his. He didn’t have a clue that the drink was but, it was pretty good. It was something the made his animal side rejoice at the taste. And he civil side had no rejections. That was rare.

“Mmmmmmmmm! I love Brilleal blood wine. It’s really good this time.” She said loudly. Like it was for his benefit alone.

“Better than last time but, not ‘really’ good.”

“Wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhaaaaaaa aaaaaaattttttttttttttttttever! I think it good. So I don’t care what you think.”

“Fine. Bite my head off.”

“Maybe later if I get hungry.” She looked over Vegeta. “Aren’t you gonna drink that?” Vegeta was caught in the conversion he forgot about his drink. Vegeta smiled lightly and turned partly away looking at the dance floor with drink in hand.

People were dancing in almost the same time. Doing the same moves like it was choreographed ahead of time. *Man, third classes had the life. Besides the need to steal for food and such. That kinda looks like some fun.* Vegeta almost laughed. *Kinda looks like some fun? Now I am even sounding like them in my own mind. I can not believe I thought that. Whatever I am turning into. I starting to like it.*

“Rolin!” Vegeta snapped out of it.

“W-what? What are you screaming for?”

“Well, I tried to five time calling your name. You were in space for a minute there. Though you were dead for a second.”

“Well excuse me for inhaling air into my lungs, okay.” Calflowe moved up out of her seat and moved over to him.

“Come on. Let’s dance.” Vegeta was almost horrified. He had to clue how to dance in exact this fashion.

Slow dancing for royal balls and planet relations things sure. He was pretty good as it but, this was a completely different than this kind.

“Dance?! No I do not think so.”

“I won’t take no for an answer, Rolin! I drag you if I have too. Kicking and screaming all the way and I have done it before. It’s your choice. Make it now.” Vegeta was too confused to respond to that kinda of threat.

“You better do it. Because she had done that before.” Tuilka said looking at the bottom of his cup for a drop more of blood wine.

Vegeta drank the rest of the blood wine down and got up. She grabbed his hand and weaved in and out of the lines of people to find a clear spot. She stopped suddenly and turned to him.

“Just follow the person it front of you. But, try to have a little fun with it. Add personal style.” She said in his ear and she started to dance. *I meant it was fun to watch. Not do it myself! Get a hold of yourself. If you can learn Iloineaians language in one full week of studying. You can do this. But, do I want to do this? I am not sure. Oh screw all of this. I am out of here.* Vegeta tried to go back the way he came. Vegeta was grabbed by the one the small rips of his training suit. Vegeta turned instantly looking at her.

“Do you mind?”

“If you move away one more step I will rip the suit off. I doubt you want everyone to see that. Now I better see some dancing.”

“You blackmailing bit . . .” She pulled a little harder making the rip slightly longer. A warning. Vegeta started growling.

“Be nice. And have some fun. Or you will regret it.” *Talk about having a ki blast to your head. But, I could rip her hand off so easy. Why do I not? Hm? I think she is serious. I can not sense a lie on her. Okay then. What is better? Running out of here and trying to find a outfit before I die of expose or something worst or complying with her request. I hate ultimatums. Okay, fine. I will stay. But, she is so paying for this later.*

Vegeta looked at the man in front of him. He’s hands were in the air swaying and his feet were sliding side to side at timed intervals. Vegeta sighed and started copying him. Vegeta was going through the motions only. Just coping. “You’re not having fun. You’re suppose to have fun!” Vegeta was past annoyed.

“Blackmail is not fun. Deal with it. I am dancing. What more do you want? Singing?”

“Maybe later. But, you are only coping the moves of person ahead of you.”

“Like you said to do.”

“Yes and add personal style.” Vegeta confusion grew at the statement.

“I do not understand. Everyone is doing the same thing. There is no personal style!” Vegeta yelled over the deafening music. She only shook her head.

“Look again!” Vegeta narrowed his eyes and looked around while still moving in time. He saw some your out of sync with the others.

“So some have no or bad rhythm. So what!?” Again she shook her head.

“No. There adding small touches. A small kick there and twirl here. It throws them off but, we don’t have to be the same. Come on! Try it! Like this.” Calflowe bumped her hip against him. He barely moved but, she was only meaning to annoy. Vegeta got a wicked idea and bumped her hard. So almost hit the person next to her. As he figured she got into fighting rage and him pushed him back hard. Vegeta checking his strength pushed her as hard as she did.

She seemed to forget where she was as he blindly attacked him. Vegeta moved out of the way in a fashion twirl. She barely missed the other to that side. Some of the crowd stopped seeing the fight break out. Look at space wreck, people had to see what was going on. A bunch of ‘check this outs’ and ‘what’s going on there’ was heard but, Vegeta ignored them but, smirked at bit. Calflowe attacked and Vegeta match her move for move. Blocking her every attack as if it was just like the dance everyone was doing moments ago. She lunged, he countered. She jumped, he’s ducked. Vegeta started adding speed and high spinning heel kick over at her head. She would dodge and return the move. He would duck under to. Just like he expected. The music couldn’t be any more perfect. And the people around them were clapping in rhythm to the beat of the song.

Their fists, feet, and even tails once in a while would hit in perfect timing. He could hear the tempo of the song start to hit the finale. He flipped over her and grabbed her in a crushing grip as the song hit the final notes. With stronger strength Vegeta forced her in a twin bow with him.

The wave of applause made her snap out of her anger. She finally realized what she was doing. She turned red in embarrassment before calming and forced the feeling away. Vegeta watched the brief emotion across her face and smiled. He concocted it all too well. He knew she would react that way out of instinct. Yet, it wasn’t only that. She had the smell of fresh primal on her. She must have gotten over in the past week or earlier. Some effects could stay up to a month depending. Vegeta released her and she looked at him confused.

“Was that enough of a personal style?” She blinked rapidly for a good ten seconds before she smiled and lead him off the dance floor.

Tuilka looked at them with suppression in his eyes. The look in his hard eyes told them both what he was thinking.

“Where did you two plan that?”

“It was not planned. It just happened.” Tuilka was shaking his head while talking.

“No. I don’t think so. If you were ten times stronger and could read her moves in advantage without mistake. Sure then. I buy that. But, no. I not buying to similar strength ones doing that. You had to be faking Calflowe.” She turned her head away. He’s face dropped into a strange calm state of shock. He one eye twitched I little. “You weren’t faking. You had a relapse of Primal. Then . . .then how did you? With the moving and the . . and the . . .with the . . twirling and.” He stopped realizing it would take him a year to get out what he was trying to say. “It’s not possible!”

“Sure it is. I just blocked her.”

“Okay how did you do it. Really?”

“Really?” Vegeta ask him with an devilish look in his eyes.

“Really?” Vegeta motioned him closer.

“Okay. Really. I am the prince in disguise of a third class so I could get away from my father and all the princely duties. I raise my power above her’s and blocked all her blows.” Tuilka eyes went wide and he sat back looking at Vegeta straight face. All the suddenly Vegeta started to laugh. As reflex so did Tuilka and Calflowe who heard the whole thing, did so too. Tuilka wiped his hand across his brow.

“Man. For a second I was going to believe that. Man. You got me!” All laughed it off.

The waitress came back and put three more drinks on the table. Calflowe looked at her. If it was one thing about her. She was brutal honest.

“Sorry but we already had are commentary drinks.”

“The manager says these are also in the house for the free show.” Tuilka already chuckled his down. Calflowe looked ashamed or embarrassed. He wasn’t sure why.

“Sorry for that. I just got over primal. It hit me rather later.” Now it made sense. Vegeta only shrugged.

“I was able to block much easier since your attacks were sloppy and lacked grace.”

“Oh! So that’s how you did it. Makes sense.” He chuckled. “You gonna drink that?” Vegeta take a conplete mouth full and spit it back into the glass. And then put it in the middle of the table.

“If you want it. Go ahead.” Tuilka gave him a death glare and laughed hearty.

“You’re alright. You know that.”

“I guess I do now.” Tuilka pushed it back and Vegeta drank the all of it down and fast bearly tasting it. “Maybe we should do that again. I’m still thirsty.” He winked at Calflowe openly. All let loose a howl of laughter that was drowned out of the rock music and chatting Saiyans around them.

X)(X

Vegeta opened his eyes. Memories were coming at him faster than he could process. Some he didn’t want to but, he didn’t have a choice. It was a hit and miss of which ones his mind could understand. Only one out of a hundred thousands would play out in real time.

Vegeta smiled as the memory. He realized now. He really liked her. He wouldn’t say love. He was too young for the kind of thing. Saiyans grew up fast now not that fast. Not on things like that. Vegeta got up off the bed. He wanted to talk to Bulma. Why? He wasn’t sure but, he wasn’t going to fight it. There was no point it that. He listened that a while ago.

Moving out the door Vegeta felt that Bulma’s ki was in her room again. Happy that she was away from the group he moved to the room down the hall. He stopped at the door. He was having second thoughts. Cold feet even. He’s emotions were starting to leak out of his mental wall. He turned to go. He do this later.

The door opened and Bulma almost stepped his foot. She stepped back in surprise.

“Oh! I’m sorry.”

“It is fine. Not like you could hurt me.” Bulma looked at him.

“Did you want to talk to me?”

“I changed my mind.”

“Because I stepped on your foot?”

“Yeah. Sure. Why not?” Vegeta said with his usually sarcastic tone.

“Vegeta?”

“Yes?” Vegeta said not facing her.

“You sure?”

“I wanted to at first. Then I changed my mind. My emotions are churned. I need to calm first.”

“You need to be emotionless to talk to me?”

“It is better that way. I am not in my best frame of mind. We both know that goes.” Bulma ignored the comment and laid her hand on his head. He shook slightly but, again no violent reaction.

“Maybe talking can help.”

“I do not . . . . stop that.” Bulma was rubbing his head. Vegeta didn’t like the way she was doing it. “If you are going to do that scratch lightly was the nails. Otherwise your just moving the hair around. And that is just annoying.” Bulma knew the lightly meant too hard from human child and scratched hard. She was rewards by the tipping of Vegeta’s head. “There you go.”

Vegeta’s head pushed against her hand lightly as a deep sound started from him. He sounded like a big cat. He stopped horrified.

“That is it! I am out of here!”

“What? What is wrong now?” He looked at her incredibly. Like she asked him why does he have to breath air or fight.

“I was purring!” She showed no reaction. He thought that was explanation enough. “You know! Purring! Like a cat. Like the tiger in the animal safe house.” Vegeta mind adjusted remembering she was not familiar with much of Saiyan culture or ways. “You do not know how embarrassing that is, do you? Let us just say if there was another ‘true’ Saiyan here I could not show my face anywhere around here. Only cubbies purr like that. And one other thing but, that did not happen so let us not go there!” Bulma never seen Vegeta like this. He never cared about what others think. That was weird. Strangely it was kinda cute.

“I won’t tell if you won’t.” Vegeta seemed to calm but not because of her words. He let Bulma continue on with the scratching treatment despite the whole speech he gave a moment ago. “Come on now. You wanted to talk. So let’s talk.” Vegeta followed her back in her room.

Bulma looked him over a bit. Her mother was right. He was bigger. It wasn’t much but, more than what he should be for a two days after beating Grandfather.

“What did you want to talk about?”

“I wanted cross reference a few things.”

“Like?”

“Memories. I having so many and some feel like weird dreams. Since Grandfather I had a hard time tell what is real in here. After he put me under the charm eye he put more false memories in there. So there would not be such a sudden change in temperament when the charm wore off. So he would have time before I started fighting him again. Even after everything. Some of them I can not tell if they are real or not.”

“I see. Like what?”

“Do you have a picture of me when I was older?” Bulma tried to think. Vegeta hated pictures like he believed they would steal his soul.

“Um maybe. One second.” Bulma moved around in some drawers looking around. She found one. It was a few years old but, I would have to do. “Here.” Vegeta floated it over to him and gasped it once it was in reach. He looked at the picture.

“I look just like my father except black hair and no facial hair. Did I not suffer enough in my life?” Vegeta set it down. “Well that did not help.”

“Maybe I can help. But, would you answer some questions in return.”

“How about this. Fair trade system. You help with a memory. I will answer a question. We can go on until we get what we need to know from each other. Deal?” Vegeta looked at her seeing a smile at his suggestion.

“Deal.”

“Fine. I will go first then.”

X)(X

Goku was finally allowed to eat the last piece of the Birthday cake. Vegeta wanted to be alone. Be his demeanor was off. Vegeta was off his game. Goku could see that. The stuff with Grandfather must have messed his up more than he said. Which he said nothing about it.

X)(X

“Okay easy question to start. A while ago you told us that a true Saiyan’s hair doesn’t change from the day they are born. But, you had bangs. You said that you grew out of them. But, that would recant what you said when you were older.”

“A Saiyan’s hair does not change . . . naturally. I was born with bangs because I was left in the tank too long. It started overwriting the natural charge in my hair. Starting with the shortest pieces. Right here.” Vegeta pulled the shorter pieces of his hair. What used to be bangs on his face. “After a few years. My body started to overwritten the override.” Vegeta let go on the pieces letting them spring back into place.

“I see.”

“Okay then. My turn.”

X)(X

Goten turned to Trunks. A question had been playing on his mind for a while now. He wanted to know what Trunks thought about it.

“Do you think Vegeta would still train us if he returned to normal?”

“Train us the same way? Doubtful. But, maybe. If the happens.”

“Careful. You don’t want to jinx it.” Trunks rolled his eyes. Goten said the same if and now he was saying don’t say that. These Sons sometimes didn’t think before they opened the mouths. “What? What I say?”

“Nothing. Forget it.”

X)(X

“Why do you still train the boys when you were only training Goten to get on Trunks nerves?” Vegeta almost looked proud of her.

“I see. Was I that obvious?”

“I only thought about that recently. It would make sense.” Vegeta laughed softly like he was trying to keep her from hearing it.

“I was ready to scrap it completely after Goten’s first session. He could not do anything without me practickly holding his hand. But, . . . . he could make me laugh. I have not laughed in a long time that I could remember. It felt nice. Plus, my honor was at stake if I said no more. So I stuck with it.”

“Smearing it in Trunks’ face when ever possible.”

“That is what happens when people show no respect as the other did for you. You get hurt. I made him understand that.”

“The hard way.”

“Is there any other way?”

“Not for you.”

“Better believe it.” His down went down. Bulma looking him over. He was still sitting on the edge of the bed. His back was still to her. Something was on his mind again.

“Vegeta I’m not a mind . . . thought reader like you are. You have to tell me what your thinking.”

“I am not entirely sure. I think I remember something. There was a kid with a black mop top, one that looks like the ex-monk except no hair and six . . . . um . . . dots on his head. Like six orange dots in two rows. It could he him. I guess. I am not sure. And a Namekic that I am almost positive that is Piccolo. Frieza’s there too. His whipping the older version of me. I least I believe the older version of me. Tail around my neck. And flashes . . . images of a blast going here.” He put his hand over his heart. “My eyes blurring. Burning. Darkness and the corner of my mind. I- I think I was . . . dying again at Frieza’s hand.” Bulma wasn’t sure. Those three went to Namekic but, if it was a full memory or not. She couldn’t tell him.

“Um . . . could you. . . .?”

“Sure go ahead and ask them.”

“Could you let me . .?”

“Finish my question before you answer it? Nah. It saves time.”

“Are you . . ?”

“Reading your thoughts? No. I did not need too. And for you information I do not read people mind on a whim. I have some decency in matters of privacy.”

“What about . .?”

“Hurcule? People have to have decency before I can respect it.” Bulma except that, not that she could do anything else about it. Bulma decided to go now.

Moving down stairs. Bulma saw two of the three she needed. But, that was okay. She moved in front of Gohan and shook Piccolo out of his meditation. Before he could tell his outrage to her. She spoke up.

“I know. I know. But, this is important. What happened before Freiza killed Vegeta on Namekic?” Gohan pounced on the question.

“Is Vegeta getting his memory back?”

“Yes and no. Grandfather add things to keep Vegeta calm between the charm eye treatments. He not sure what is really a memory or not. He has a scene of what he believes is you and your younger self. Small child with a black mop top.” Gohan’s cheeks turned red at the nick name but, not because he was embarrassed. It was it was true.Vegeta called him that a few times of Namekic. Never seemed to called anyone by name that much. He calmed down and looked at Bulma.

“He was being beaten down. Frieza kept telling him. Come back with me. Be part of my army again. You were always my favorite. The pain will stop if you pledge loyalty to me. Stuff like that. His tail around his neck, throwing him into a cliff wall, stepping on his chest, crushing a small rock that landed on him into his chest while verbally degrading him. Then my dad showed up. After a few minutes of Vegeta talking, Frieza send a thin beam through his body. Through his heart. He didn’t die right away. He finally drifted away maybe an another minute or two later.”

“Whipping the older version of him around. Blast through the chest. It was a memory. It was a part of a true memory.”

“So his memory is coming back.”

“And his body is growing at a very fast pace. If he keeps going at this rate. He may be normal age and size by the end of the month.”

“And his mind?”

“With help. Maybe not too long after that. Maybe before that knowing him.

X)(X

Vegeta was trying to meditate but, with the images in his head. He could concentrate enough to go into a trace like state. Much less meditate. No doubt it was chaos in there. This was the beginning of a long evening and night. Before he could get up. Bulma came back in.

“It happened that way. It is a memory.”

“How nice.” Vegeta sounded anything but, pleased. “Ask your question.”

“Why do you not react when I pick you up or touch you? Where anyone else and they be twitching on the floor?”

“My instincts do not react to you. No damage, no danger, no threat. It would be a waste of energy.”

“I see.” Secretly that was not the answer she truly hoped for. Vegeta got up off the bed.

“It is close to the thirty-eight hour mark. It is time for me to sleep.”

“Thrity-eight?”

“I am on Planet Vegeta’s time again now that my body had repaired itself. It is a forty-two hour day. I only sleep four hours. That is a freebie question. You only get one it the deck.” Vegeta walked past her but, looked over his shoulder. (The other reason is I believe that somewhere in my mind. I might remember you in some form or another or maybe I just like you as a female. Different than my older self mind you. You blue-hair perverted female!) Bulma narrowed her eyes. Vegeta wasn’t going to let that go.

X)(X

Vegeta calm into his room stretching off both falling on the bed. He body ready for it’s required sleep. For a second he swore he felt someone rubbing his hair. Two things were off. One he liked it even if it was only moving the hair around and two their was no ki presence in the room. Vegeta turned into his back seeing a sight that made him smile. Internal and external.

“Mother.”

“You are bigger now. But, your mind is still not as it should be. No worries my child. I will help you. Take my hand.” Vegeta for once in his life asked no questions and he didn’t even hesitate in reaction. His smaller hand was in her’s. Both started to fade, becoming ghost like in appearance.

X)(X

Bulma ran downstairs like her hair was on fire. Her target. Goku. He was up when he saw her running like that.

“Bulma what’s . . . ”

“I need you to find Vegeta.”

“Huh? What? I don’t . . .”

“Damnit Goku. Sense his ki or life force or whatever you do and find him. Now!” Goku put two fingers to his forehand searching for his ki. Opening all senses. He couldn’t feel him. “You can’t find him. Can you?” Goku shook his head. “Does that mean he’s . . . ”

“No! No. I don’t think so. I’m sure his only hiding it.” “Don’t feed me that. You could find it before!” Goku couldn’t retort as Bulma grabbed on his gil and started crying uncontrollably.

“He’s dead. He’s dead somewhere. There’s no other explanation for this. There’s not!” The mood change both surprised and didn’t surprise all in the room there. Bulma loved Vegeta. Plain and simple. Young or older he was the same person. She was just like an overzealous mother to him at the moment. Her feelings had to adjust to the new situation. (Boy, she is taking this better than I thought she would.)

Goku looked around seeing, he was the only one who heard that. The voice was only talking to him it seemed. (King kai? What’s wrong?) (I figured I should tell you where Vegeta is before she drowns you in tears. He’s with his mother. He got him late night.) (Oh! Well that’s nice. Family time. ) Goku’s eyes went wide as he brain kicked in.

“What? But, she’s died!” Everyone jumped in freight at Goku’s scream. He smiled apologetically before continuing again out loud. “Vegeta’s mother is dead, King Kai. How can he be with her?” That was the wrong thing to ask as Bulma took it the wrong way and started crying harder. Goku winced realizing his mistake too late.

X)(X

King kai in the next dimension watched as Vegeta was beating up on a troll and his mother doing the same. It was like they were playing catch with the troll as the ball. But, using their fists to knock it to each other. (She brought him here. Yami is having a fit but, there is nothing he can do. He knows how temperamental Vegeta can get. And no doubt his mother was the same. He seems to take over her in most things. Plus she was in her right to do so.)

(So. He’s not dead?)

(No you idiot! If he was dead Yami wouldn’t be angry and you would be at new Namekic to wish him back before Bulma somehow killed you! How dense can you be, you dolt?!)

(Okay! Okay! Sheeh! I was only asking, King Kai.) He could see in his mind that hand going behind his head in the strange habit he adopted somewhere.

King kai stayed silence was a moment as Vegeta and Talimash changed the game in mid play. It liked to be like volleyball as they spiked and bumped the troll into the air. It was cruel to the troll but, Vegeta and her seemed to love it. The smirks were identical to each other. Vegeta jumped up and hit the troll hard. She went for it but, was too late as he was imprinted into the ground.

“Fourteen to Fourteen. Final point. My favorite part of the game. Sudden death.” His mother laughed cruelly at the comment. It only made Vegeta smile for a moment before he frowned at the bleeding troll in hand. His groans meant very little to Vegeta. Just like the olden days of carefree destroying. He missed it a bit. Instincts came into play. He punched him under the jaw, sending him to his mother. She spiked the troll back to him. The game seemed to switch again. As he threw the troll back. Like a cross between tennis and catch. The troll had neither the strength nor the will to plead for mercy anymore. (It seems that she only wanted to spend time with her son. There playing some kind of game.) King kai was able to keep the vial disgust out of his voice.

X)(X

“Oh really. Well that’s nice.” Goku decided to say his part out loud so they would hear part of the conversion. It would cut down on the questions later. (Sure. If using the troll that was in the wrong area at the wrong time as their ball is nice. I mean his moaning in pain and there still hitting him. I can see blood dripping onto the ground from the wounds and one of the bones in his arm is sticking out of the sk . . . )

“Okay. Okay, King kai. I got it. No need for details. But, how is he down there? How did he get there? The living shouldn’t be able to be there unless they have the same power as Baba.”

(Well, you see. There’s a point system down here. Since you keep your memories, people get rewards and such. The time they had been down here. That’s why there was an argument about you going to earth. You were only there was seven years. You didn’t have that many points. Not even close. But, Vegeta’s mother was stuck in that statue for over three-hundred planet Vegeta years. She got compensation for being stuck in there. Plus others give her their points of they wanted too or not. She had enough to come to earth or bring someone here for two days.) “Two days? I only got one.”

(Don’t be greedy! You’re lucky you got anything at all! Plus you don’t have to use any of your points!) Goku frowned. *I didn’t even know I had them. No on told me about a point system.* (That’s because you were thinking about food instead of listening.) Goku decided to get back on track before Bulma got too upset or too angry.

“Sorry! Sorry. So what are they doing now?”

X)(X

King kai turned his head back seeing Vegeta and Talimash walk off as the game was over. Vegeta stepped on the troll as he went. It’s head caved in and busted at the sides like a ketchup packet. King kai could have gone on without seeing that. “What an interesting game. You’re too good.”

“Fourteen to fifteen. It was close.” Vegeta said shrugging.

“Because you spotted me fourteen points because I just learned how to play.” Vegeta only shrugged again.

“Details. Details.” She laughed deep at the comment. A laugh that made the hiding Kai shiver. Vegeta wasn’t fazed at the evilness of it. She snaked her arm his shoulder. Vegeta normal response was no longer an issue with this certain Saiyan.

“Come on. My favorite show is coming on.” Vegeta was slightly intrigued but overly curious. It was a strange combination.

“Show? What is it?” “Something you will really like.”

“Really? We will see then.” She froze as she turned. He noticed as felt for a ki presence. It wasn’t anything he was used it. Curiosity among other things he fazed out. King kai turned in time to see Vegeta faze in front of him. Eyes feral like a tiger on the hunt. The fully grown one was now behind him. The scared feeling was now turning into complete total terror. Vegeta by himself could scare anyone senseless young or old. But, now two Saiyans with the same evil like mind set was too much.

(King kai? What’s happening? Hello? You still there?)

(Not now Goku. Not now!) Regaining his voice he decided to defuse the situation. Or at least try too. He wasn’t sure if that was possible.

“Hi guys. Um . . . your probably wanting to know why I am here um . . . spying on you, right?”

“Sure.” Vegeta’s mother nearly slammed her hand on his shoulder. He winced from the pain but, mentally knew not to voice it. It would only make her push down worse than she was doing now. He was sure that she at least bruised the bone.

“Why do you enlighten us? And do it quickly. We don’t want to miss the show.”

“Well. You see. You left so suddenly you worried your friends on earth.”

“I have no friends on earth! Their morons.”

“Even Bulma?” Vegeta’s eye twitched like he was annoyed. “ . . . Do not make me repeat myself. I hate that.”

King kai caught on to his attitude just enough from Goku’s stories. Vegeta was easier to read with a little background information. He did not believe what he was saying for the most part. And neither did King kai. “He’s my son.” The female Saiyan said suddenly. “I can take him anywhere I please. I do not need their permission! They are nothing too him! I am blood!”

“Well. Actually Bulma and Trunks are . . .” She picked him up in mid sentence and throw him out of their sight. She turned up her nose and started walking with Vegeta next to her. “Noisy catfish.” Vegeta looked up at her.

“Catfish?”

“He looked like a catfish to me.” Vegeta visualized his face and one of a catfish from earth. He kinda agreed that he did look like one.

“How do you know what a catfish looks like?”

“Because you do. I did what you did to Piccolo. Although I couldn’t do it too anyone else but, blood.” Vegeta accepted that. He put his hand of his stomach as it grumbled. It was the third day. His stomach demanded food now if not sooner. The talking about fish didn’t help matters any.

“Great. You had to mention food. Now I am getting hungry.”

“Good. You are too skinny. You need to eat more.”

“I only eat once every three days.”

“I know. Because of Frieza. He can’t hurt you anymore or starve you either as the case was.” Vegeta only shrugged.

“Habit. There are hard to break. Plus having to eat everyday is a weakness.”

“So is having to breathe the air.”

“I can hold me breath for thirty minutes at a time.” Vegeta smirked evilly.

“Oh! You are impossible!” She suddenly smirked scooping him up in her arms. “And I like you that way. Just like me.” Vegeta put his arms around her neck and started purring with no shame no unlike the time with Bulma. She herself started to do so as well. Not that Vegeta would admit or tell anyone but, he craved this kind of attention more than anything. Over three-hundred planet Vegeta years. The Saiyan’s ways changed dramatically. Family and friends were no longer in packs. Family bonds were at an arms length since birth. Brothers willing to kill each other over petty things. It saddened the both of them on the ways they changed. She herself was so happy that her son so much more in the older way than the new Saiyan’s ways. The old ways were best.

Vegeta opened his eyes seeing a tent of some thing is the middle of the gray mountain like area. He knew he wasn’t in the H.e.i.l area anymore. That place was more cheerful and had a huge pool of watery blood and troll like things running around. Plus there was a no lying rule. And that suited Vegeta just fine.

“This is the level below H.e.i.l. You know, hell. First level. Like the earth phase seventh layer of hell. It’s true. There is seven layers.” Vegeta just nodded liking at the tent. “This is where the show is at.” Vegeta slid out of her arms and walked beside her. Her chestnut tail went around his waist loosely. Vegeta’s tail wounded around her’s lightly. As her hair on her tail ruffled slightly he felt her shiver. Vegeta figured fay-lo-lnes weeded out that weakness of a sensitive tail when he was in the tank. If his mother and father felt intense feeling and he didn’t. It was the only explanations he could thank of. Not that it overly mattered anyways. He broke Nappa’s tail at the base. When it healed he didn’t feel anything. He was so embarrassed that the chibi prince broke it so easily that he said that he began to evolve into a higher state of Saiyan. Going through in the tent, Vegeta was reminded of the park grounds a bit. Except less cheerful and ten times gloomily.

“Are you going to tell me or what?”

“It’s about to start. Just wait a minute. It’s worth the wait.”

“I hope. Not that many things are worth waiting for.”

“This is though.” Vegeta looked around. Trolls and some human liking people were there. All waiting in the stands for the ‘show’ to start. Talimash scared two human like creatures out of there seats up front in the middle of the stands. As they ran, she smiled sitting down. Vegeta sat next to her. His patience was never really any good. Vegeta was tapping his fingers on his arm leaning back at little. He closed his eyes trying to stay calm. She looked over and smiled while chuckling a little. But, she was getting annoyed too.

Loud clanging footsteps came from Vegeta’s right. He looked over see a cross between a bug and a human walking towards them. Vegeta was feeling them he met this thing before. But, he didn’t remember really. It was only a feeling. He watched as the man throw a troll out of the tent to sit down right next to Vegeta. Vegeta narrowed his eyes as flashes went across his eyes. Something that looked more like a cross between Frieza one form and a grasshopper. A larger green still insect look man. Face like green with a tail that could suck up a human. Vegeta shook his head. But, one word kept going off in his head.

“Cell?” Vegeta said quickly. He didn’t understand why that word wouldn’t leave his mind. Cell turned to the child sitting next to him. He knew he never seen this child before but, something inside him told him he did know him. Plus, he knew he heard the kid say his name. There was something about the kid. Something about his hair and face. So familiar. Vegeta felt the stare and turned to the man. Cell’s eyes flashed with recognition at the child’s eyes. The ki presence was too close to be a relative. It was him. No doubt was his mind now.

“Vegeta!” Narrowed his eyes for a moment before responding.

“Yes. What do you want?” That was no recognize in his eyes. But, a faint feeling was there. Yet, that was all that was there.

“You really Vegeta?” Vegeta only rolled his eyes overly annoyed at the bug like man.

“Yes! The prince of all Saiyan in the flesh is before you! Well, the still ‘living’ flesh I should say. Now what do you want?” Cell turned his head away.

“Nothing.”

“As It should be.” Cell snarled but, the sound was blocked as the lights dimmed at a drum roll sounded. “Finally. I though it never would start.” A tentacle monster looking thing come into the middle of the ring.

“Ladies, gentleman, neutral, drones, and creatures of all species. Welcome to Frieza’s stage one torturing punishment.” As the announcer repeated that in different languages Vegeta was almost stunned out of his seat.

“Told you that you would want to see this. We can’t see the others levels but, it will do I think.” Vegeta’s mother said in his ear. Vegeta said nothing but, nodded in agreement. A stage started to come up from under the announcer’s feet. As he rose Vegeta could see shackled arms and elbows. Frieza was in his final form. A form Vegeta only heard about but, never seen with his own eyes. Vegeta smiled cruelly as he saw Frieza’s tail and feet were planted in the steel. There was no way he was moving much less getting away.

Frieza looked up seeing a little boy. He closed his eyes and looked again. *It looks like the chibi prince Vegeta. But, that couldn’t be. This must be a twist on the torture. Trying to play with my mind. I won’t believe it. Vegeta is much older. I know that.* Frieza looked away with eyes to the floor awaiting this. He went through his every other day. He never did get use to it. And this was only level one. The audience was a little much in is opinion. A sheet was taking off a small tray. Things vegeta recognized and things Vegeta never seen before were on it. Vegeta couldn’t believe this was happening. This was better than revenge. Vegeta leaned up in his seat not wanting to miss wince or look of freight on Frieza’s face. He hoped this was going to be a long show. Better yet. He hoped there was audience participation here. A sickening crack of a whip lead to a loud scream of a pained soul. Vegeta chuckled darkly. Frieza was right about one thing. It was fun to hear the tortured one scream. Not that Vegeta ever did. Even if it made it worse.

X)(X

Bulma was a wreck. Why she was so upset everyone wasn’t sure. Chi-Chi tried to understanding but, couldn’t fully understand Bulma’s mood. It wasn’t like Vegeta was seeing a old girlfriend and didn’t remember the time he had with her. It was only his mother. She would want to spend time with a son she just found out about. She didn’t understand why Bulma was seeing this as a bad thing. She gave up trying to comfort and reassure her on that. It was going on twenty hours if he was taken around mid-night which they were sure he was.

X)(X

Talmaish looked at the building. It wasn’t impressive to her. She hated it completely. Rolling her dark, bottomless eyes, her moving to the entrance. The door was locked but, with one hand she pushed the doors open like they weren’t. The noise was easily noticed. All with ki power getting up off their seat with energy attacks in hand. They waited for the enemy to come. They attacks melted when they saw a six foot tall woman with the blackest of black hair down to her knees as thick as velvet curtain. Her skin was pale peach. It seemed to be barely sun kissed. Her eyes hard and black with glimmers of amusement. She was lean but, well formed muscles could be seen easily. Followed by a thick brown tail looped loosely around her waist like how women would wear a fashion belt. Over one hip and under the other.

“Talmaish!” Bulma almost screamed. If the tail wasn’t enough to know who she was. Having Vegeta in her arms was a pretty good indicator.

“Pronunciation couldn’t be worse. But, close enough.” She walked past the shocked onlookers and push on scarred one out of the way setting the still sleeping Vegeta down.

“Why does the whole Vegeta family pick on me!” He cried out again as Talmaish hit him across the back of his head.

“Be quiet human.” Like Vegeta could do. She said it softly but, the impact of her words were felt more on other levels. He shivered and crawled away from the couch.

“This defiantly Vegeta’s mother.” He shivered again like he whole body went cold as ice. Vegeta curled up like he usually did. He was complete oblivious to what was going on in the room. Bulma finding her courage stepped up to her. Knowing that she fully animal instead of half like Vegeta is. Her reaction could be violent. Highly violent. No body there with the exception of Vegeta could no for sure.

“Look. You may be his mother. But, what right do you have to take him in the middle of the night like that.”

“I’m am his mother. I need no permission from anyone. And especially not some weird haired, terrible weak kied, weak little human woman.” She stood up off the couch using her full height to imitate the other woman before leaning down in her face. “Step off before you get on my bad side.” She snapped her teeth hard. Bulma complete rage and anger spilled over and common sense took a five minute vacation.

“Trust me. I’m seeing your bad side right now! You couldn’t get any worse!” Talmaish eye’s flashed red just like Vegeta’s had many times before at Bulma backhanded insult. Before Bulma could flinch she had her shirt in a death grip. She was up off her high heeled shoes. Goku’s mind took him to jump in but, his feet wouldn’t move from their spot on the floor. Bulma hung there in her tight grasp. Bulma narrowed her eyes as she as if she was helpless and at the impossible small mercy of the Saiyan of older time. Talmaish face suddenly softened and dropped Bulma on her feet. She smiled a smile that made Bulma lose all nerve.

“I like you. You have guts for one so weak. Maybe Vegeta didn’t make a mistake as all.” Bulma was in shock as she watch Talmaish pick up Vegeta’s sleeping form and started up the stairs. Bulma stocked and bewildered fell to her knees looking at the other woman’s back stupidly. A stupid idea paid off. Losing her tempter got her into the wild Saiyan’s favor.

“Man. Vegeta did take after her the most. Looks his father. Temperament and attitude his mother completely.”

X)(X

Vegeta didn’t awaken some his pleasant dreams. He was watching the torturing of Frieza over and over again in his mind. Talmaish was picking through his hair. Like she did a long time ago with her other children. She had three sons and two daughters. A husband and a tight pack of friends. But, here in this time, this place. She was here with her son over hundred years later. Where she should have been dead for a battle some time ago. But, here with him in the here and now. She could love him anymore even if I was conceived by her. The blankets of clouds come apart showing again a full moon. She resisted to look at it. Somehow she knew Vegeta could hold off his transformation but, she could not. Vegeta awoken for some reason his mind didn’t understand until he looked at his mother. He realized the full moon was affecting her greatly. Vegeta never felt the extreme pull of the moon. Never understood it. Vegeta needed to help. If by mother reason. He mother was in kinds of pain.

“You can not control the effects of the moon. Just like everyone else at home.” It wasn’t a question by any means.

“No.” Vegeta feeling things different that before grabbed her hand and covered it with his other. Closing his eyes he created a stronger link between them. He let her use his control to stop the reaction. She was breathing easier now. “Thank you, little one.”

“I hate that name.”

“Too bad.” Vegeta narrowed his eyes and suddenly laughed loudly.

“Normally. If anyone said that I would rip their throats out.” She reached out stroking Vegeta’s hair back. A calming and nice feeling ran through him. He smiled started to lay down again. She was still rubbing his hair putting him in an almost coma without scratching behind his ear. She smiled before looking at his lithe form. It saddened her a bit.

“You don’t belong here. Not with these humans and such. No one understands you. They say they do. But, they don’t. How could they? The only other Saiyan is so watered down he’s a human with Saiyan abilities. It’s sickening.” She looked away from him. “You never had a chance even before your of birth father and Frieza. Here’s not much better. You have to compromise so much of yourself, so that people do not complete hate you on sight. And even then some do. It isn’t right. You don’t belong anywhere. Just like you told me that day when I was struck in the statue. You are completely right. You just don’t belong in the world of old, the world of new and or even here. An outcast for all time and in all places.” She looked back down at him making up her mind. “No. No more. This must stop. Your suffering must not continue anymore.”

She reached down into her boot. Slowly she pulled out a knife was a bone handle. She had one where her turned to stone. But, that too turned to stone. Only her talisman that was on the dresser now didn’t turn for some reason or another. She had to make another from the troll bones in H.e.i.l. She felt naked without a one. She watched for years as her family and friends watched over the statue and how the reason why changed as her family dead in battle or by beasts. She was now dead in a different place as the other place for the older Saiyans long closed forever. The only tie was her child here that wasn’t born from her exactly. A forever suffering child that’s suffering was too much to watch. It had to end. She had to end it for him.

“Vegeta? Son? Are you awake?” She called out. No reaction. He was deep asleep for one of the only couple of times in his life that was no to injury mental or physical. Now was the time. The only chance she would get. No doubt the others where there watching for her. She could smell their distrust like a really bad odor. It was that strong. She turned him over. She would have to be quick and fast. She didn’t want him to be in any more pain than needed. She had to get him right in the heart. Death would only be seconds if she did it right. She put her hand over his heart and measured where the best place would be. Raising the knife slowly above him she let one tear slip from her eye. “I do this out of love of my son great Odin, merciful Shiva, Harsh and demanding Ramah, and forgiving Eden. I beg you to stop this child’s . . . my child’s pain. Grant him sweet relief of this hard life. . .” As she continued with her pray. She was unaware that someone was keeping tabs on the two.

X)(X

“Oh no!” A ecking sound was heard behide him. “Yes, bubbles. This is bad. Vegeta’s mother is going to kill him.” More ecking and a frantic tone sound beside him again. “Yes, I know Bubbles. But, she believes she is helping him. But, I must warning Goku. I hope it won’t be too late.” *I know that prize was a bad idea. But, who knew you could get that many points?*

X)(X

(Goku! Goku! Wake up!) Tired eyes opened as he yawned.

“King kai! Why are you . .”

(Goku shut up and listen. You have to get to Vegeta’s room now. Vegeta’s mother is going to kill him.) A second passed before his brain understood. He was out of bed so fast Chi-Chi was knocked off the side of it.

X)(X

“ . . .let my blade be quick and all pain end.” She raised the blade above her head and brought it down hard. The knife shook as it was hairs away from the skin. She looked out at the watered down version of a Saiyan. She was not in a good mood. “How dare you interfere.”

“How dare you try to kill your own son! What kind of monster are you?” Her eyes turned a solid red as Vegeta’s had when angry.

“The only monster here . . . is you!” She kicked him hard surprising him and knocking him through the wall. She went after him the knife forgotten on the bed. Vegeta woke up from the noise. He looked at the wall surprised and annoyed. He rubbed his head and slammed his hand down on something hard and sharp. He looked down seeing a knife that didn’t belong to him.

Confused and slightly bewildered he picked it up looking at it. It was nicely made from natural materials. Basically, bones and stone fused together by fire and ki. He brought it to his nose smelling the scent. Only his mother’s scent was on it. His mind went back to some books he read on older Saiyans. If they were correct. It was a sacrificial blade.

Made to give those in permanently pain or dying an honorable death. Instill of waiting for death to come unnatural or letting one take his on life because he or she had become a burden of the entire pack All answers come to him. He tried not to believe them. There has to be something else. Laid down trying to think as he felt a small wet spot on the cover. It was small and barely noticeable but, too his nose it had the slight smell of warm salt. A tear his mind yelled at him. Only one tear was suppose to be shed in the ceremony. That was the final fact the broke the vault. He couldn’t deny it anymore. His mother was going to kill him. The reason didn’t matter. Nothing did. She had no right to do the ceremony without his permission.

Gripping the knife hard enough to break his own skin he calmly walked to the door. He opened the door even if there was a hole right next to it and went into the hall. He could hear all everyone yelling and a fight going on downstairs. Vegeta didn’t even speed up as he went down the stairs seeing Kakarot holding his mother against the wall with his stronger strength. Vegeta at the moment didn’t care. Bulma turned seeing him. He didn’t seem right. He should be angry. She went to him. He was murderously calm.

“Vegeta. Wait. Don’t.” Vegeta’s ki knocked her off her feet onto the couch. He didn’t even miss a step like he didn’t see her at all. She wasn’t hurt but, her body would move off the couch no matter how hard she tried to make it move. He stopped feet from the two Saiyans. His mother looked over at him and addressed him sweetly and in a low tone.

“Vegeta. Sweetheart. Tell you third classer friend here to back off before I decide to neuter him the hard way.”

“Why?”

“Why? Ha ha very funny, Vegeta. Seriously.”

“Seriously.” Vegeta throw the knife as her. It landed a hair width away from the skin of her ear. “Why?” She looked at him. “I know what that knife is about. So what was the illness or pain I was going through that you believed I had to die for it. Tell me, mother. What was it?” Vegeta sounded like a child asked what his puppy won’t get up after being run over by a car. “You know what. Do not even bother. I know. Both reasons. You only convinced yourself that you were doing it for me. The other reason. The true reason was for yourself. You did not want to be alone down there anymore. How selfish of you.” His tone changed from innocent child to third party narrower. No emotion. He was only telling the facts. “You have no honor. Because the person you are going to do that to is suppose to know about it ahead of time. But, you knew I would never agree to it. Even if it was tempting in ways. You never even thought to ask me at all.”

Goku set her down as he stopped even moving. She hardly was breathing at all. Vegeta turned his back on her. It was apparent it was Saiyan thing because tears started from her eyes.

“I do not even want to see you again. If or when I die you are to stay away from me. Go back to H.e.i.l where you belong. For you are no better than my so called father. In fact I can say in ways you are worse. I could forgive him for only what he did to me and I can not forgive you for what you were going to do.” Vegeta fazed out of their view and reappeared at the top of the stairs.

“Vegeta! Please listen!” Vegeta walked like he didn’t hear her. She clenched her fist grabbing the knife from the wall. “This is all your fault!” She pointed the knife at Goku. “His pain is your curse. I pray to Ramah you . . . all of you feel his pain. Ten-fold.” She closed her eyes and faded back to the underworld.

X)(X

Vegeta grabbed his MP3 player and a his pay card for some reason. With them in hand he flew out the window. He wanted to be alone. Completely alone. Like he was in the world and like in his mind now. He wanted silence. He felt no one following him and he was grateful for that. The promise that he made and decided to keep even if the reason why he made it in the first place was nugatory wouldn’t keep him from killing one of them. He didn’t care if his honor would be shot and his right eye for forfeit to the other. He could live without an eye. He would adapt to it and sometimes honor got in the way. He was flying without direction or even a purpose. Like he was flying to leave the pain and emotions behind. Vegeta found himself at Dende’s lookout. He didn’t want to talk to Korin or his fat friend. He looked off the edge thinking to himself. Saiyans of the older world were so connected with one another. Part of him wanted that connection but, everyone he grew up with frowned upon that kind of connection. So he forced himself to distance himself when all he wanted was to make friends. And not like Bardock kind of friend either.

“Vegeta?” It was the smaller namekic Dendon of something. He wasn’t sure. He didn’t even care.

“Just be quiet and leave me be. Pretend I am not here.” Dende rubbed the back of his arm. He could literally feel Vegeta’s pain that he was trying to suppress.

“You wish to be alone?” Vegeta grabbed his hair pulling on it slightly in a annoyed gesture before pull them out..

“Am I speaking a language you do not understand?” Strangely he didn’t sound annoyed. It sounded like a serious question.

“No.”

“Oh. Well in that case. Yes! I do, you moron! Humans and Namekics have no common sense as well do you?! What else could ‘just go away and leave me be’ mean?!” Vegeta was breathing to catch him breath through clenched teeth. Dende only smiled grimly. He know Vegeta was about to forget his honor and destroy everything and anything in his way. As rage was present in his mind and body.

“Feel better?”

“No! I do not feel any better! You are still here!”

“Well. There is a place you can be truly alone but, I think I might be too lonely for you.” Vegeta looked at him with one eye over his shoulder.

“Sounds too good to be true.”

“Follow me. I’ll show you.”

“Fine. But, if this in a trick I will not hesitate to . .” Dende cut him off.

“I know. I know. Rip out my spine through my mouth, right.”

“Actually I going to beat you so you walk ever again but, I like your idea better.” Dende winced as his mind played that out for him. He decided to keep his mouth shut and Dende lead Vegeta to a white door. Dende looked back at Vegeta who had a look of confusion and contained anger.

“Here we are.”

“Here? Wow! A door! A door that looks like every other door here! What is so special about this door?” Vegeta sarcasm was a levels never before used by him. It almost scared Dende for reasons, he wasn’t sure why. Dende swallowed to get his emotions under control.

“This a the time chamber. One day out here is one year in here.”

“Intertwined dimensions with a stable rip in space time continuum?” Dende was taking back for a moment but, recovered.

“Yes. Something like that. Let’s us go in. I show you around a bit.”

“Fine but, you first.” Dende nodded expecting something like that. Vegeta noticed the heavier air and slight heat. It calmed Vegeta. It was like home in a way. Dende noticed the slight change in Vegeta.

“Out here.” Dende said out of the ledge. Vegeta stepped out in the tiles. He looked at the completely white empty space. He laughed slightly.

“Now this is what I call truly alone.” Dende opened his mouth to tell him about that first step but, Vegeta stepped out without a problem. He didn’t seemed to notice.

“Yes well. The gravity gets heavier the farther you go out from this point. This is the only structure in this place.” Vegeta looked at him.

“You do not know for sure on that.” Dende thought about for a second. He never looked himself. Didn’t want to take a chance.

“Well. Yes but, I . . . we . . . I never wanted anyone possible getting lost forever to go look for something that may not be there.”

“Whatever.”

“You can stay here as long as you wish. Well actually no more than two years. I don’t know why but, the door will disappear or something.”

“Two years here or out there?”

“In here. Two days out there.”

“I see. So the doorway is stable to a point.”

“Remember you will age the time you are in here.”

“In a month I be my adult self. Give or take. Who cares?”

“Right well. I’ll leave you alone then.” Dende walked back to the door. He was wondering if he did the right thing. Vegeta felt him leave. He couldn’t feel a ki outside that door or inside here. He was truly alone.

“I think I am going to like it here.”

X)(X

Vegeta pulled back the white covers. The bed was soft but, he got use to it. He wasn’t sure how long he was in there for. There was no sun or moon rising. He trained a bit, he ate when he was hungry. He got hungry twice. So if his stomach stayed on the three day thing he was in there for six earth days but, sometimes he got hungry before the three day mark. He stood out of bed. However long it was Vegeta felt much better. He decided to go.

Vegeta walked on through the door. He was curious on what he looked like. He could tell that he aged some as things were not as the same eye level anymore. But, there were no mirrors on that side. He wanted to see how he changed. No had no memory on how he looked at this age. Stepping out of the structure he moved on to the platform. Dende and Popo were in the garden. Dende noticed him first. He turned and gasped at the sight. Popo dropped him watering can. Vegeta was slightly annoyed. But, then again them standing there made him annoyed. Sometimes having the clouds go by made him annoyed.

“Vegeta. You . . . grew.”

“Yes. Like I said. A month earth time I should be my normal age again. No doubt I have in there for days.”

“Yes. I see. The time here has only been twenty minutes. And I believe that one minute here is six hours there.”

“Five days then. I can’t say how old I am and, I can’t trust my memories at the moment.” Dende noticed something that was off.

“Can’t? You just used a contraction twice. I thought you didn’t do that.”

“Yes. The whole proper speaking thing was a faze. I grew out of it at the age of ten if memory serves. I believe in this case it does.” Vegeta moved past them. He was heading for capsule corp.

“Popo? Does he seem. I don’t know. Taller than he was when he was an adult?”

“I don’t Dende. I couldn’t say.”

X)(X

It wasn’t that long since Vegeta left. It was only about forty minutes. He decided at the last minute to stay around the city before going back. He really never looked at this city. Although the one up north looked kinda the same in the dead on night. According to the outside clocks that were around. It was eleven o’clock almost. Vegeta wearing his tradition one piece elastic like spandex suits got the looks of many young girls. Vegeta ignored them. He was hear their conversions on this quiet night. Apparently, his teenage or maybe close to teenage self was pleasing to the eyes for females around here.

He took out his MP3 and put the base between his waist and tail. His tightened his tail to keep it form moving. Turning it on the song come up. System of the down-BYOB. This angst style was soothing in a way. A different reaction to humans he was sure. In his white glove he had to pay card he took time to get his money from Frieza gridlock. He transferred it all into a human account. Something told him he wasn’t leaving this planet. He instincts seemed to be right again. Vegeta continued in his way noticed a weak human female walking he behind him. He made sure to keep all hurtful reaction under control. He stepped to the side of the building and stopped, seeing if she truly was following him or just walking. As she stopped he figured the first conclusion. Leaning against the building he looked at her not showing anything.

“Hi.” She said nervously. Even with the music on he could hear her.

“Oilio.” Vegeta said in his native tongue because he felt like it. She looked confused. Vegeta decided to be nice for once. “It means hello.” She blushed a deep red.

“Um . . . me and my friends wanted to know if you were . . . busy and such? We have this party tonight and we need a good looking guy and well you’re the cutest I have seen in this city.” Suspicious Vegeta scanned her mind quickly seeing she was truthful but, there was another reason. Revenge on another girl that was there friend. Vegeta decided there was no harm in it. Not that this girl or any of them could harm him.

“Sure. I got nothing better to do.”

“Really?! Great!” She turned and waved to them. They jumped into the car and sped to the other side of the street. “Let’s go.” Vegeta was almost ushered into the car. He was wonder if this was a good idea. At the moment he wasn’t so sure.

X)(X

Morning came and went. Vegeta still hadn’t came home yet. Vegeta was really upset. But, who could blame him though. “Don’t worry. Vegeta can take care of himself.”

“I know. But, he was so . . .” She didn’t want to say but everyone knew the word. Depressed. Highly depressed.

Just outside Vegeta smiled at the memory of the party. It was . . . fun. Unfortunately when the human got tried he was still pumped and ready to go. He wore out all five girls on the dance floor. They said he couldn’t be human. Drunken was the only time they ever made any sense to him. Walking through the still broken door he saw the greeting bot. The greeting bot didn’t move away like Bulma programmed it to do. His looks changed enough he couldn’t tell it was him again.

“Hello sir.” Vegeta pushed it down to the ground hard braking the screen that was it’s face seconds ago.

“Goodbye robot.” He said mocking the same robot tone it used. “I still hate that thing.” He was barely buzzed by the full night of drinking. He had enough to kill five people from alcohol poisoning. The stuff was weak and watered down to him but, the taste knocked down the craves him body had for that blood wine back home. Not that it would ever have it again.

“Who’s there?! Vegeta? Is that you?!” He rolled his eyes. He stepped into the room where everyone liked like statues. Shock was highly present. Bulma shook her head and ran to him checking him over back to front in a weird fashion. For some reason it brought a memory of her doing his to a purple haired man when she had a purple haired baby in her arms. In fact the children and man had the same color hair and same color eyes. Banishing the memory he watched her with hard eyes. He looked her straight in the eyes as his were angled down slightly. She moved back.

“Your slightly taller than before.”

 “If you say so.” “I mean it! In these heels we were the same height.”

“I’m sure you do. And I’m sure I was.” He moved past her and went to the couch. Grabbed Yamcha and throwing him to the floor like a throw pillow, he sat down.

“What is with you doing that to me!” Vegeta looked down at him.

“I don’t like you. Enough said.” He opened his mouth again but, Vegeta beat him to the punch. “Yes. I am using contractions. Like I told Dendony and whatever the Namekic calls himself. I grew out of the that after the age of ten. And I’m past ten now so I don’t put in the extra effort not to use them. You get it now? Or do I need to talk slower and use smaller words so you can keep up?”

Before anyone could say another word a cell phone rang. Eighteen, Bulma, and Yamcha checked there’s. It wasn’t theirs. Vegeta pulled out and flipped open a silver one. “Talk to me.” That was surprising to everyone, seeing Vegeta on a cell phone. Owning a cell phone what even weirder. “Oh hey Terra.” They listened on. “Really. You don’t say.” A short pause as he was listening. “Sure, why not?” They got closer. “See you there babe. Oh and do leave your hair down. It looks better that way.” Vegeta flipped the phone closed he saw the others in close. Strangely, he wasn’t annoyed with the closeness of everyone. Not yet anyway. “Problem here?”

“When did you get that?!”

“Let’s think. If I didn’t get it when I left and I have one now. That must mean that I had to have gotten it when I was out. Get the picture?”

“Sarcastic, smartalic Brat.”

“Better than being a stupid dumbass like most humans.” Vegeta looked at Goku. “And wannabee humans.”

“Forget that. How . . . the time chamber. Dende let you use the time chamber.”

“Give blue-haired here a prize. Great place when you want to be alone.” “But, you weren’t in there for very long.”

“Twenty minutes. Out there five days.”

“Twenty minutes?! Where were you the rest of the time?” Vegeta laughed at the memory.

“If you must know. I get invited to a party when I was in the city. I scanned the one girl’s mind. She and her female friends were looking for what they called hot men to take in rub in into there ex-friend’s face. I accepted. We went to club Chic.”

“Club Chic? You need a reservation three months in advance to be put on the waiting list!”

“So they told me. But, we went straight in.”

“You bust up the bouncer?”

“No. No need. Terra’s father owns the place or something.”

“Terra Wellington?!”

“Yes that is her full name. Charming girl with a wild side to match mine. It a different way of coarse.” Vegeta stood up. “If you will excuse me. I have to shower and change for the luncheon I need to attend to.” Bulma looked like she was about to cry.

X)(X

It was almost evening. Bulma mood didn’t improve. She felt she was losing Vegeta. If Vegeta found a age to stop fast ageing he could leave her and never look back. Thoughts like that formed in her mind. It was tearing her apart. The greeting robot come and tolled them that Vegeta and Terra were coming in. Bulma wanted to throw that girl out but, it would be too hard to explain. The girl was beautiful. Long blonde hair to her thighs, bright hazel eyes, and a long lean yet curvy in the right places. The girl was a ten of the scale.

“Ah! Aunty Bulma. We were just talking about you?”

“Wha . .” The Aunty part threw Bulma quite a bit, but went unnoticed as Terra started up.

“Yes. It’s pleasure to meet you. Your nephew is such a business man. My father loved the ideas he purposed. Capsule corporation is a most proteges company. I brought over some contracts and I have my father’s cell phone number if you need anything further.” She smiled putting in on the coffee table.

“Well I need to get going. My soon-to-be husband is waiting for me outside.” She turned to Vegeta. “Thanks for showing a girl a nice night. It’s good to know there was decent men out there.”

“Anytime.”

“Oh and James wanted to invite you to the wedding next month. Maybe as a bouncer.” “Sounds like fun. But, only if I get to rough someone up.” She slapped his lightly and kissed his cheek. “If only my marriage wasn’t arranged years ago. Oh well. Money and love don’t mix most of the time. Sad really. Call me Vegeta. I’ll text you the date and such for the wedding.” She smiled at walked out of the building to the waiting car.

Vegeta looked at the stunned group. He smiled and sat on the couch opening the brief case. Vegeta set up some papers in three piles on the table. “They were having trouble with shipping the drinks and other supplies. Trucks and other vehicles were having trouble in such things. With are capsule planes the time would cut in half along with the pain and expense. The profit is estimated to be fifteen percent within the first trimester. It is estimated to increased five to twenty two percent every trimester afterward. I have checked for loopholes and other things. I weeded out all the bad worded things. Humans are a tricky bunch. But, I get it all straightened out on. All they need is your signature. Read over it and whatever. . .” Bulma took him by the shoulders to make him stop. “What is with you, Aunty?” Vegeta said a cutsy as possible.

“You mean Terra and you aren’t . .” Vegeta laughed hard like it funniest thing he heard all day.

“Me and Terra! No way in H.e.i.l. or the levels below. She smart and runs half the club.”

“But, you said babe and leave your hair down and . .” Vegeta put his gloved hand on her mouth.

“You talk too much. Babe is what everyone calls her. Even here mother. Like a nik name. And leave your hair down. We were going over these contracts. And she would dress up and do her hair in a bun and such for contract talks. Basically I was saying come as you are.” Bulma’s eyes welled up and she started crying in his shirt.

“Humans. Are they always like this?”

“Shut up!”

“Now. Now. No need for that. Why would I want a little girl for? When I already have a more exotic version right here.”

“This is both romantic and disturbing at the same time.” Eighteen said watching the scene.

“Quite. Especially when their fifteen year age difference between us at the moment.” Bulma popped her head up. He was handsome for a teenager. “Oh old are you?”

“Thirteen.”

The collective room stood stunned again. Vegeta looked old enough to be in his twenties. But, Vegeta was only still a kid. Barely teenager.

“You mean thirteen mentally right?”

“No. My body is of a thirteen year old Saiyan. Or five-hundred and forty two magclicks. Saiyans don’t stay in a teenage form long. We are cubby, child, what you call a teenager for maybe one of your years then grown-up.”

“Well then.” Goku said with a grin. “You have more the fifteen years to catch up on. Bulma is . . . Ouch. Chi-Chi! Why did you hit me?” Chi-Chi with pan in hand and fire in her eyes glared at Goku intently.

“Never reveal a woman’s age!” Goku only blinked liking at her. “Why? You’re fort . .” The frying pan come down again. “Ouch! Chi-Chi! That’s hurts!”

“First of all. What did I say! And two I am not that old!!” They watched as Chi-Chi chased Goku around the room with a frying pan. Wherever she pulled that from. No one knew. Vegeta followed with his eyes as Kakorot room the parameter of the room as his wife on his non-existence tail.

“I am finding this very funny then again it would be the gallons alcohol talking.”

“You’re not old enough to drink.”

“There’s a age limit on alcohol here? As water down as it is I am surprised. I was drinking Saiyan alcohol mixed with Cankoe’s blood when I was nursing. Like all Saiyan children were.” All blinked at him. He didn’t noticed as he was still watching the two running around the room.

X)(X

Vegeta sat on the couch doing anything important. He was having something he never had in his life. No will to do anything. That had never happened before. He had energy but, no will to use to. Seeing this the others were getting worried. Vegeta normally older or younger could sat still more than a few minutes at a time unless meditating or something like that. Bulma moved away from the group and sat down next to him.

“Say Vegeta why do you take Goten and Trunks and . .” She was cut off by a cell phone again. Flipping his silver open again he brought it to his ear. “Talk to me.” Long seconds before Vegeta stood up his body charging with ki but, he didn’t seem angry. “Where?” Within seconds Vegeta folded his phone and went to the door.

“Vegeta. Where are you going?”

“Not your business. Stay out of the way.”

X)(X

Vegeta come back late in the afternoon the next day. Bulma was ready to blow a gasket. Vegeta didn’t pay much attention.

“Vegeta. What is going on with you?” Vegeta didn’t ask him but, take out a pack of smokes and a lighter. Lighting in up he took a long drag. Then blow it into Goku’s face. As Goku choked on the smoke Vegeta only laughed. “Whatever I want. What’s your problem anyway. It’s better than destroying planets for a overlord that could never have enough money, power, and pain of others. I found the fun life. Parties, drinks however watered down they are, music everywhere. Might as well enjoy it while I’m young, right?”

“Vegeta. You are falling into a ‘human’ trap.”

“The way I see it. Where did the Saiyan way get me? Twenty years of hell with a icejin master. The whole life of duty, honor, blood, burning, ripping, bruising flesh, broken and scattered bones. Screw that! Take my prince tittle and shove up your . .” Bulma smacked him hard. She nearly broke her hand. But, Vegeta seemed to stop his tirade. Vegeta seemed to wake up from his close to stoner trance.

He shook his head and took the cigarette out of his mouth. He burned it up with his ki. And then he threw the pack up into the air and blasted it. Bulma did that without thinking and his reaction wasn’t was she expected after she realized what she had done.

“I guess I need that. Fun, until I was losing too much of myself. Funny thing is, that was the point. To forget. But, it only brings things to the surface so you do it more so your numb. I guess that was the trap you were speaking of.”

“You’re remembering?”

“Everything. Father, Freiza, future Trunks, androids, Cell, turning majin, Majin Buu and last trying to blow myself up but, a strange light cut through my energy and started changing me. Everything. There are holes but, slowing filling in. I was hoping to forget some of it. But, not for my photographic memory. It was reliving all those events again like it was for the first time all over again. So I turned to mind effecting means to tone down the pain. Unfortunately, it was doing more than dulling some pain.” He laughed humorlessly. “Caught in a human trap. It’s almost too much to stand.”

“Vegeta. After everything. It’s normal to feel that way. Most people wouldn’t be able to deal with all the things you had to deal with.”

“Funny really though. I wasn’t suppose to feel anything at all. I was made to feel nothing and be a just a killing machine. But, I felt things stronger than anyone else there. I was so tried at the end of the thirty-six hour day. Pretending you feel nothing is draining. I tried to kill off all feeling. It only made it worse.”

“With Tuilka and Calflowe you could experience emotion without hindrance. That’s why your father kept you busy and isolated from everyone. To make you the heartless machine he wanted. To make your emotions died off. But, part of you wouldn’t . . . couldn’t let you do that. They wouldn’t go away no matter what.”

“Yeah. Evil in a way. Evil only begets more evil.” Chi-Chi and Goku ushered everyone upstairs. This was between Vegeta and Bulma. Chi-Chi nodded to Goku and he grabbed into Piccolo’s shoulder. Piccolo seemed to see this coming. Anywhere in the house he could hear the conversion. They disappeared. Vegeta noticed the silent crowding out of the room.

“Vegeta you’re . .”

“If your going to say I’m not evil. I going to join Kakorot and Piccolo wherever they both are at the moment.”

“Fine! You’re way evil! You’re so evil that the darkness runs from you. That the . .” Vegeta rolled his eyes at he cut her off.

“Okay! Got the point. Don’t over do it.” She smiled leaning into him. “So your evil. Most of us here aren’t saints either. I think only the sons are for the most part. Maybe. Hard to tell.”

“Point please?” Fire raged in her eyes as she turned to him.

“You’re impossible!”

“Thank you.” He said sickening sweet.

“Not a complement!”

“Is to me.” She smiled leaned back on his shoulder. Question were bombarding her mind a bit. All about him like the last weeks have been.

“Vegeta. I have a few questions.”

“When don’t you?” Bulma closed her eyes letting that slide. “Do you remember how we got together?”

“Every detail and word said.”

“Do you remember the events before that.”

“I do.” Vegeta said with one nod of his head.

“Okay. There’s been something bugging me since the virus was cured by the dragon.”

“Okay?”

“How did you get over the virus in the first place?” Vegeta leaned back.

“Did you wish to have the short verison or the long verison.” He asked but, he sounded like he already know that answer.

“You already know.” Vegeta closed his eyes.

“It was like this. Well wait. This will be easier. Some things may sound weird but, I’ll translated the best I can. Our language is not compatible for the most part. Goten still can’t say most of the words right.”

XXX***(((((

The three pods landed down the planet. There next mission. Destroy every living person. Normal mission. As the pods doors opened it had slight difficultly, as ice and snow cover half of the pod when they landed with brutal force. Nappa used his bulk move through the snow and ice. Radditz melted it was his ki which turned out to by a bad idea has it turned into ice under his feet. He fell on his feet time after time until he was off the ice and in the knee deep snow. The prince’s pod door opened but, the prince didn’t emerge from it. They turned to each other before going to the pod.

“Sir? Sir? Prince Vegeta? Are you okay?” Nappa put his hands on the pod’s opening and lifted it out of the small crater. Setting it down they looked inside. The prince was pale with his head drooped down on his chest. He wasn’t sleeping in the slightly bit. He was out cold, like the tempature outside. “He’s looking worse.”

“With the illness. Tramuishuos flu we would be dead by now.” Radditz pulled him out of the pod and close the pod door, leaning him up against it. The prince opened his glazed eyes. “We’re here sir.”

“Where is here?” Both looked at each other again. Vegeta mind with like a steel trap most of the time. Something was really wrong with him.

“Planet Friuziol. We are suppose to kill out life so the new habitants can move in.”

“What? . . . Oh, okay.” Vegeta pushed himself off the door. “Well let us go to . . . what are we here for again?” Vegeta shivered hard as the cold went through him. But, it wasn’t because of the wind or snow. Yet the snow level was past his thighs. Vegeta started walking through the snow mechanically without thinking. Nappa and Raddits had a easier time with the snow level that was only to their knees. They would have flew but, since Vegeta wasn’t they weren’t going to other.

“I can carry you if you wish.”

“No.”

“Sir the snow level is about half you height. And you don’t have the energy to fly right now.”

“I said no Bardock.” Vegeta went on his he blinked confused at the comment. “Huh? . . . That’s Radditz. Vegeta”

“Whatever, Toma.”

“Toma? Do I look like that female to you?!” He covered his mouth. He yelled at the prince. The prince would be worse than Frieza once in a while. Luckily for him, Vegeta didn’t seem to notice that at all. Vegeta kept walking although his walking through the snow was a slow crawl. Again they looked at each other with dread.

“He’s not going to like this.”

“When does he like anything?” A quick game of fangs, talons, and venom, which was about the same as rock, paper, scissors. Radditz lost. He winced and picked up the prince hoping his assault would be quick. Nothing happened as Vegeta didn’t seem to notice that his legs weren’t moving anymore or that he wasn’t tracing in snow now. He noticed that Vegeta wasn’t shivering like he or Nappa was. It fact he seemed to be boiling at the touch.

“Why did Frieza choose such a hot planet for them? They like the cold.” Vegeta wiped the sweat off his face. Both Saiyan stopped like they feet froze to the unseen ground. Radditz took him off his shoulder feeling the heat that was coming off him.

“Not good.” He set Vegeta down on the snow watching as the snow my starting to melt at Vegeta’s higher body tempature.

“We have to finish the mission. Frieza will punishment all of us if we don’t.”

“Nappa! He’ll punish us even if we do. He doesn’t have that kind of time. He’ll be dead! Do you understand. Our prince is dying here! You’re his body guard! Act like it!” Radditz never raised his voice to an higher class before but, at the moment class didn’t matter. Nappa seemed to ignore his anger that was that the third class and put his duty before it.

“Back to the pods. We need to put him in the tank. It will buy us some time. I think.” Both flew above snow level back to the pods that were not very far away. Strapping Vegeta in Radditz turned the tempature control down to freezing to keep Vegeta’s fever from going higher. Once all three went in the set controls for Frieza’s ship.

***

Once inside the docking crew did they job and all not aware of the medical emergency on board. As the pod doors open Nappa got Vegeta out. One of the crew saw him.

“Boy, he looks bad. I never seen him like this. Of coarse I don’t see him that much at all.” Ignoring the man Nappa ran past him knocking down everyone with his size that was in his way. Getting the medical ward one of the doctors came over. There was no one else in there. It was a slow day.

“My, my. His got to learn not to insult Frieza or start to scream in pain during torturing. He goes easier an the screamers.”

“No. It wasn’t tortured today. It’s that flu Frieza got into him.”

“Oh! My then.” He ushered them to the table and Nappa put him on it. “His close to the final stage. I thought maybe his body could fight it off. But, without normal food, water and sleep. He’s body is starting to give out.”

“There’s got to be something you can do! Because so help me if he dies. You’re next!” The doctor cleared him throat.

“No need for that. But, there’s not much I can do. Except this.” He brought over a tray with rags, medical bottles and a package of tablets.

“The tanks won’t help him but, so old fashion medicine can make him comfortable for a short time. There is no cure here for the illness and it would be too late probably if there was.”

***

News got to Frieza fast. By the time Vegeta seemed to be well enough to walk for a short distance, Frieza demanded them to the throne room. Vegeta had enough sense to let himself be carried in the empty hallways but, struggled to stay on his feet in the hallways with people in them. By the time they made it, Vegeta was back the way his was when they landed on the planet. Barely there. Nappa opened the door with his long arms staying behide him to make the illusion that Vegeta opened the door. Frieza had narrowed eyes and his tail was beating the floor in a fast pace that left a dent in the floor. As they got to Frieza, Vegeta tempted to bow. He lost his balance and Nappa caught a hold on his tail to keep him stable. If Frieza noticed, he showed no sign of it.

“Well. My stupid pet monkeys. The planet still has life. And you are here. Does anyone else see a problem here or is it just me?” Frieza was about to yell when he noticed something. Standing he moved to the prince. Vegeta was always on guard when he was in the room. But, it looked like he had no clue where is was. “What is the matter monkey?” He said to him in his face. Vegeta would shake sometimes violently to keep his rage under control. But, now it was like Vegeta did not even seem to hear him. His eyes seemed to widening with a sick glee. “You poor boy. The flu is almost done with you.” Frieza leaned against his ear. “Now I will get to hear you scream young one.” He walked back to the chair. “You two. Finish the job double time. While the princling here and I have a small friendly chat.”

Knowing what Frieza was going to do and what would happen if they didn’t would only be worse for them, they had no choice but go.

“You two leave as well.” His right hand and left hand men walked past the prince and out the door. “That flu took longer than I thought. My father had a scientist to create it to wipe out the Tramuishans. And to make it a show. For half a Caslikjss I watched you. Sometimes I thought you fought it off. So I would coat the snake coil whip with the flu to inflict you again. With little food, water and rest you body could no longer stop the effects and now here you are.” He wasn’t sure if Vegeta was getting any of this or not. Frieza had Vegeta was the back on the latex training suit. Vegeta didn’t try to resist him at all. Not that Vegeta fought him. He walked in there head up high with at air around him that said ‘you can not hurt me. You can never brake me.’ “Today is the day I will brake you. Your pride. Your mind. You will be mine. Mind, body and soul. You will give them to me willingly. Perhaps you will became a replacement for Dodoria when your older. But, first I have to get you there. Shed and rip your annoying pride. Because my dear Vegeta. You are and always will be one of my favorites. Like in told your father. ‘I have no need for a heir but, a son.’ It was for the best.” As Frieza was talking he was chaining Vegeta hands towards the ceiling and locking Vegeta foot to the floor.

Vegeta was almost all a manakin. No reaction at all.

“There are no more walls. I will break you and then rebuild you in my image.” Frieza cracked the whip loudly. Like he was letting Vegeta know he was going to start. The whip landed across the back. It whip landed to the floor as Frieza didn’t pull it back. He noticed something. They was that a flinch or tense. Nothing. Frieza pulled it back and brought it down harder. Again Frieza let the whip slide to the floor. Dropping the handle, Frieza went in front of Vegeta. Taking his nails he cut into Vegeta’s chest like little knifes. No hitching breath, no clenching jaw, no tensing muscles. Vegeta wasn’t feeling anything. The light was out of Vegeta’s eyes. They didn’t burn with barely contained rage. Frieza grabbed his jaw looking into his eyes. Nothing was there as his eyes were glazing all more. Frieza felt his pulse. It was growing fainter. “Oh no you don’t, Saiyan!” Frieza ran out of the room leaving the dying prince hanging there. Frieza was back quickly with a needle in hand. Practically stabbing Vegeta in the stomach with it, he injected a blue liquid into him.

Long moments went on until Vegeta gasped loudly as his body wanted air. He coughed hard as he body seemed to chock on the air. Rapid blinking Vegeta almost flinched at the sight of Frieza.

“Great. I am dead and you are the devil down here. Wonderful.”

“Cute, monkey. Very cute. The virus is gone and no doubt your body had made an copy of the antidote. But, you are still going to be broken by me. One way or another!” Vegeta watched partly and heard the rest of the way as he slammed the door and the lights went off.

“Rude and cranky. Kinda like me when awoke up.” Vegeta sighed looked up at the chains. In the dark he could still see the restrains and saw that Frieza was in a hurry and that he wasn’t use to chaining up people himself. Vegeta smiled at used his double jointed wrist and fingers to his advantage. Dislocating his thumb he slipped the chains one hand at a time. Catching himself on his arms before he hit the ground he untied the chains off his feet. Once free Vegeta picked up the ripped up top part of his suit and walked out the door. The virus would never affect him again.

X)(X

Bulma opened her eyes as the images stopped. She turned to Vegeta smiling sweetly. That was terrible. “What is a caslikjss?”

“Same as a half a year here.”

“So you dealt was the virus from six of are months. How could you stand it?”

“What other choice was there?” She smiled.

“So he didn’t want to kill you. Just brake you to make you like him.”

“No. To make me loyal to him like Dodoria, Zarbon and his son Zarbon. The one you saw on Namekic I thought he wouldn’t turn out like his father but, when his father died. He took his exact place.”

“He was your friend?”

“He was young. I was younger. We were the only . . . kids there.”

“I see.” Vegeta seemed to have enough.

“I’m going to bed.” He fazed out of sight. Bulma turned seeing vegeta reappear at the top of the stairs.

X)(X

A week went by. Vegeta visited the time chamber a few more times. Stay a few days at a time. He looked normal again. His mind and memories were nearly the same. Only a few glitches and holes. He was training and eating everyday like he did before the incident. Vegeta’s attitude was very close to normal. Small differences like his tempter was better contained and wasn’t as touchy. One other thing was different. Bulma wasn’t seeing things that day. Vegeta did grow taller. At the time he was normally aged again. He was three inches taller but, still has a highly compacted frame. Now instead of five-six he was five-nine. “Vegeta. How tall was your father?”

“Don’t remember off hand. He was taller than Nappa.”

“So over seven feet?”

“Probably.”

“So between your mother and father. You should have been at least six feet six inches tall.”

“Yeah. I’m lucky.”

“Lucky?”

“Being that tall and a fighter causes problems. Like balance and hiding cover when under heavy fire. Also wind resistance and blood flow. Nappa was strong but, slow because of bulk and height. He was lucky he hade power.”

“Makes sense. Boy this house is going to sound and feel lonely. Now that you are normal again. They are going home.”

“About time. They were getting on my nerves.”

“Who doesn’t get on your nerves?” She turned to see Vegeta wasn’t there. Before she could curse him, he grabbed her around the waist. “Vegeta! Don’t do that!”

“You.” Bulma blinked confused.

“What?”

“You asked me who doesn’t get on my nerves. The answer is you . . Sometimes.” His hand went under the hem of her shirt.

“Vegeta! Everyone is downstairs. Including Piccolo!” Vegeta only smirked as she backed up. She had the biggest blush on her face either as her position or that Piccolo could hear them up here with his super hearing

“Let him get his own human.” Vegeta said having her backed against fully against the wall. “By the way. Trunks is staying over at Kakorot’s. Only fair since their kid was here so long. Don’t you agree.” Bulma couldn’t say any words if her tried.

X)(X

Downstairs Piccolo face flushed Purple and he went back to the outlook in a hurry, where he was staying before all this happened. Trunks left was the sons and everyone went back to their homes. Things were back to there normal or semi-normal. As normal as a natural spiky hair man with a tail around his waist was.

X)(X

One month later. . . . The strange abilities Vegeta shown in the weeks as a child didn’t fade. His power increased a bit with the device out but, not as much as everyone was expecting. The device must have started to break after so many years. It was mostly suppressed memories and mental powers but, only dampening power slightly. Vegeta could still flash his eyes red but, could control it now purely at will without looking at his eyes like he had too before. He scared away a salesman or two with that. Besides making him look demonic that was no real purpose was the ability. She ran some tests, with only a few gripes from Vegeta. It wasn’t hurting anything. It didn’t even affect his version. It was a trait that was Saiyans could do. Vegeta was fighting differently a bit. Adding his more countering moves in his impressive list of techniques. Vegeta still could fully go animal but, not fight to regain control afterwards.

“So you had that two minds all along?” “From the day I was born to before I was changed to a child. It only got quieter and easier to control. But, they never were gone. Even for a second.”

“How you deal with that?”

“A few unhealthy ways. That’s when I started to cut. But, that stopped only three weeks after I started. It started with an accident. I cut my hand cleaning the blood off my blade I used for an assassination mission I had to perform. The pain drowned the emotions and screaming sides of me. So I started doing so on purpose but, that was only a temporary fix. I soon realized that and stopped it. In the long run I was only making it worse.” For the past half-hour she had been asking him questions. She been nagging him for the last month and he had blown her off or gave them both something more important to concentrate on. But, now she was the stone he could squeeze blood from. She had seen him as a beaten but, not broken child. Talking about it wasn’t going to make it much worse now. Unlike before. She seem some of the worst. His cell phone rang suddenly.

She remembered when a telemarketer called him asking if he would like to change his long distance service. He motioned for her to cover her ears. He used his screaming attack he used a few times. It wasn’t as high pitched like before but, it was still loud. No doubt the person on the other side would have no hearing for the next hour or two. Bulma was glad she didn’t have to replace her windows again, like in the lab when the demon came through. He explained it was a primal way of warding off enemies or a warning to those in family packs. She didn’t understand, until he went into the older ways of Saiyanjins. Flipping his phone open. He answered it.

“Vegeta speaking.” Vegeta eyes widened as he turned. “Terra. Hi.” Bulma narrowed his eyes at his reaction.

“No. This is not him. He had to leave suddenly but, he knew you would call. He didn’t have the time to call you.” A pause as the girl was talking. “Yes, I am sure he regrets that terribly.” Another pause. “Let’s say that cell phones don’t work where his at.” He turned back walking to the couch sitting down. “Yes. I sure. He sends his deepest regrets.” He pulled the phone away and closed the phone putting it back in his pocket. Bulma looked at him expectantly. When he was talking, she narrowed her eyes at him. Vegeta only snorted at the display of intimidation. “You suck at that.”

“Tell me, Vegeta.” He smirked evilly.

“Maybe later.”

“Ve-ge-ta!”

“Why do you people think yelling one’s name is going to get you what you want?” Vegeta wasn’t taking the bait like he usually did. She was going to have to relearn Vegeta all over again in parts. Vegeta only chuckled a bit. “She wanted to talk to Rolin Vegeta. But, he’s no longer here.”

“Rolin? I have heard that many times in the flashbacks.”

“It’s my middle name. I had some use it like my first name to a some individuality from my father.” Bulma nodded understanding now. She leaned so many things in a short amount of time. Like why he had a short tempter and a nasty attitude almost all the time. Keep people at an arm’s length and went they die, you wouldn’t felt it. It was a lousy way to live but, he thought it was necessary. She had a hard time showing him that wasn’t the way to be now. He was better but, habits died hard with him.

“Vegeta? What about the demon that was inside you? Did you have that before too or was it like the virus being created?” Vegeta closed his eyes leaning his head back.

“He was there. He never left me but, he got easier to control as I got stronger. Body and mind. Soon it was second nature to keep him in his place. Even now my mind still checks to see if he moved. But, it doesn’t seem to realize yet, that he is not there. He’s gone. The strainer had been removed.”

“Strainer?” Vegeta looked at the confused look on her face. It was kinda funny.

“I use to strain my emotions through him. He would feed on the negative emotions and in turn would make me mental stronger. I was using him like he wanted to use my body.”

“And you were able to kept him down the whole time. I can’t believe that.” Vegeta leaned forward almost slumping over.

“No. I couldn’t. It was only once but, I couldn’t kept him down.”

“Really?”

“Let’s say Frieza really ticked me off too much. I lost control and he came out. Funny thing is that demon almost destroyed Frieza himself. If Zarbon senior didn’t get in the way. And my body wasn’t shocked with lasers set to kill.”

“What did Frieza do then?”

“He waited until I woke up and interrogated me. I played dumb. Like I didn’t understand what he was talking about. He didn’t believe me and punishment me again. Not that he wasn’t going to do that anyway. Then that’s when he knocked me out and had me fitted for the device. That device was mostly for the nameless one. The memory of having him, the memory of him attacking and almost killing him, and things along those lines. Plus the dampener was a humbling thing. Like I could even use my ki on the ship anyway with the ships dampeners.” Vegeta said with backhanded sarcasm.

“That’s horrible.”

Vegeta pushed off the couch going to the balcony doors. She winced when he did. He still didn’t care for pity, even from her. “That was Frieza for you. But, it doesn’t matter now. He is dead and I am alive. I have won, he has lost.”

“Vegeta. Your past matters. It still hurts you. Somewhat more now than before as things are fresher.”

“It did hurt. But, not so much. I understand things better now. My father at first saw me as a made killing machine. No. Wait. First he saw me as an abomination that should be destroyed then he saw me as a made weapon. Something that could be replaced.” Vegeta stopped for the moment as the memory of that scared him soul. Reopening old wounds that still hadn’t healed correctly. It was only few moments when he eyes lightened only so slightly that nobody but, she could see it. “But, when Frieza killed me that day. My father showed the part I was sure he killed off long ago. No matter how I came to be. I was his son. It took almost three-hundred magclicks for him to see that. He was willing to use his life to bring mine back. I couldn’t see that until now. When the demon showed it to everyone. I choose not to believe it at him at the time. But, the demon had no reason to lie. I know that now.”

Bulma came behind him knowing he knew she was coming. Rapping her arms in front of him, she leaned into his back in a backwards hug. Her head partly on his shoulder.

“I think I like you better shorter.”

“It seems you got me confused with someone who actually cares what you think.” She smacked his back hard. Not that it could hurt him. Before she could pull her hand back Vegeta grabbed it. He turned with her hand in his gasp. He pulled her closer. “So. What is my prize for answering the questions without complain?” “You want a prize huh? Well. I think I can accommodate that.” She leaned in.

“Dad?” Bulma moved away as their son was at the top of the stairs. Vegeta gave a look that said ‘state your business’ in volumes. “Um . . . Goten and I were wondering if you were going to train us anymore in the way of the Saiyan and such. We still have much to learn.”

Vegeta sighed and turned his head to the side. “Uie uhjiho eoihsd uohde hbewor iojw. Eih iowe ewiuo uwe er jhewrhih.” Trunks nodded and ran back to his room. Bulma looked up at him. She didn’t like the fact she couldn’t understand with he was saying. “What did you say to him?”

“Noisy are we?” Trunks ran back.

“He’s says he’ll be there six o’clock on the dot Saturday.” Bulma smiled as Trunks ran back to his room. She leaned back a little while holding on to his shoulders.

“Your turning into a softy.” Vegeta red flashed red but, not from angry.

“Your going to pay for that remark.” Vegeta fazed both of them to the top of the stairs. Throwing her over his shoulder like a stack of potatoes. Bulma was laughing and hitting his back with his fist lightly.