Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Butterflies & Hurricanes ❯ Chapter 28

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Disclaimer:  I don’t own anything.  Just my Husband, laptop, my 3 dogs and a very overactive imagination… Dragon Ball Z and any songs mentioned in this fic DO NOT belong to me. I’m just borrowing them for my own twisted amusement.

Chapter 28


Bulma was unaware of how long she'd been sitting in the shower, letting the warm water fall on her after she’d scrubbed nearly every inch of her body that she could possibly reach until her skin burned; the gentle, warm water pelting down on her was oddly comforting.

She was spent and exhausted both mentally and physically, having purged her system of everything until there was nothing left. She couldn't even cry anymore but her body still shook from the aftershock of what had just happened to her.

Try as she may, she couldn't banish it from her mind. When she felt like she had gotten a hold of herself, she found herself hit with either another round of nausea or another emotional outburst.

It didn't matter what she did; she could still either visualize him on top of her or feel him touching her and it was those thoughts that consumed her at the moment. What had it all been for, she wondered?

"I deserve this," she whispered out loud to herself as she remained huddled on the floor under the steady stream of water. "I deserve it. Vegeta even said that. I deserve whatever happened with his father and I deserve this too... He told me to leave and I didn't when he said to. This is all my fault."

How could she ever face Vegeta again, she wondered for the umpteenth time? Would he ever be able to see past this? Would it even matter to him that she'd had no real choice in the matter? Betrayal was betrayal no matter the circumstances surrounding it. Was that how he would see this?

She nearly began hyperventilating from the agony at the thought of eventually having to tell him what she'd done or rather what she had let take place.

What if he couldn't look past this and finally saw her for what she really was: a weak, frail girl who couldn't look after herself and not worthy of him. No, he won't think that, he won't. She kept telling herself.

Though she knew this would devastate him possibly even more so than she herself already was, she decided that not telling him was better for the time being. On the other hand, she wasn't sure if she could not not tell him. Her guilt and misery was almost too much to bare and she had no one to talk to about it. It had been hard enough keeping the news about his father from him. She did feel a tremendous amount of guilt over it; it was the only thing she had ever kept from him since their union and she hated not being completely open with him, especially over something that had hurt and affected her so deeply and on such a personal level.

Once they had arrived here and the joke of a trial against Vegeta had ended, Bulma decided then and there that she would not dwell on or think about what had happened with his father again. Everything and anyone to do with it was dead and gone so there was no way for it to come back and haunt her; she refused to let it. She felt that to dwell on it for even let it affect her on any level for even a moment was letting his father win. That's what he had set out to do, wasn't it? To break her. She wouldn't let him. Even from beyond the grave she felt he would win if she let his actions get to her.

Of course telling herself that she wouldn't let him affect her and it actually not were two completely different things. But she figured she had done a good job so far in putting it behind her… Until now.

She took a deep breath and decided to put it back to the furthest part of her mind, back where it belonged and where Vegeta would most likely not be able to find it. Putting the incident with Jeyice away would be harder because it was still so fresh but she would decide when Vegeta got out of the regeneration tank if she should tell him or not.

She wanted nothing more than to get out of here and take solace in Vegeta... If he would still want her after he found out about everything…

Bulma shook her head and stood up finally, deciding that she couldn't dwell on that possibility. Not right now. It would destroy her completely if Vegeta left her over this and right now the only thing getting her through this was focusing on getting him and the boys out of here as soon as possible.

Deciding that she wasn’t doing herself any good sitting there feeling sorry for herself, Bulma shut off the water and stepped out of the shower. She combed her hair and threw it up into a loose bun on top of her head before drying herself off and putting on the thickest most comfiest pair of sweat pants and loose t-shirt from way back before her home had been destroyed.

Bulma gave herself a self-loathing look in the mirror before exiting the bathroom and crawling into bed; all she wanted to do was go to bed and forget that today had ever even happened.

She made a sour face and swallowed another lump of emotion in her throat as she was reminded of what had taken place here with Jeyice just a short time ago before she finally curled herself up into a ball and buried herself under the comforter, wishing she had extra sheets to change these soiled ones. She wouldn’t feel better unless she burned the mattress as well and got them to get her a new one, however she knew the chances of that happening were slim to none so she closed her eyes and decided to try her best to get some sleep.

Maybe tomorrow it would somehow be better.

-0-0-0-

Trunks and Tarble carefully navigated down the halls from the barracks towards the science wing. They found themselves lost at least once and that had developed into an argument and brief scuffle in the halls, Trunks blaming Tarble because he had been there already and should have remembered the way and Tarble blaming Trunks for not paying attention on their way out and then again the blame went back to Tarble; Trunks insisted because Tarble had gone to and from the lab, that he should have remembered better than him how to get there.

Eventually they found their way.

"Hide!" Trunks hissed as they saw Jeyice coming around the corner. Tarble leaped up into the air and pressed himself up against the ceiling within a crevice and Trunks darted into the crevice where there was a fake plant and stood as close to the wall as possible, his back facing the direction Jeyice was coming from so he wouldn't see Trunks unless he stopped and looked into the crevice.

As he walked by leisurely, oblivious to the boys' presence, they both looked at each other curiously. He smelled of Bulma. Neither of them uttered a sound, but both of them knew that something was off about this.

They waited for Jeyice to turn the corner, clearly he was on his way back to the barracks and his own quarters presumably. They waited a few more minutes before Tarble came down and landed next to Trunks.

"Did you smell him?" He asked.

"Ya, he smells like mom," Trunks nodded and for whatever reason he felt the overwhelming need to follow him and beat him senseless. "Something really isn't right. I don't know what it is, but it's bad."

"I think so too," Tarble agreed. "Do you think he killed her?"

"I don't think so," Trunks shook his head. didn't have blood on him. He just smells like her. Let's go find out."

"Wait!" Tarble whispered hoarsely as Trunks darted in the direction Jeyice had gone, rational thought now evading him. He stopped though and turned to Tarble in question. "Shouldn't we check on mom first and see if she's okay? She might tell us. If we go after Jeyice, he's just going to be mad, I doubt he will tell us anything helpful and then we both will get a beating for wandering around where we shouldn’t."

"You're right," Trunks nodded, his hands balled into fists at his side. "We should make sure mom is okay first; she may be hurt."

They both nodded in determination and continued down the hallway, being very careful to be quiet.

"Trunks," Tarble whispered.

"What?"

"I can still smell him."

"Ya, me too. That's how I know we are going the right way now." Trunks said.

They came up to the lab doors where the Android was standing guard.

“Hey, mister,” Trunks addressed it after clearing his throat.

The Android looked down at him but did not say anything.

“My name is Trunks and this is my brother Tarble,” he introduced themselves. “Our mom is in there and we were wanting to visit with her.”

The android nodded once. “Permission granted,” it said.

“Whoa, really?” Tarble exclaimed, they hadn’t thought it would be that easy.

“Visitation with her is restricted to the confines of the lab but you both have clearance to see her once per day. She is not, however, permitted to leave these premises.”

“Wow!” Trunks exclaimed. “No worries, we’re just happy to visit her. Thanks!”

“Didn’t Jeyice say if she paid him, we could see her like every day?” Tarble asked as they walked into the lab.

“Yea,” Trunks said with a frown, it only dawning on him now that it never occurred to him to find out what form of payment Jeyice had wanted from her. He shrugged it off, hopefully it wasn’t too expensive. He was just happy to be able to see and meet his parents finally after all this time.

“You will find her in the last room on your right,” the android informed them before the door shut behind them.

The boys quietly walked down the hall and stopped at the closed door they were told was her room.

“What should we do?” Tarble whispered.

“Dunno,” Trunks shrugged. “Knock, I guess.”

Trunks knocked quietly at the door and they waited a few moments. There was no answer.

“Do think maybe she’s gone?” Tarble asked in a whisper.

“Doubt it, the Android said she can’t leave, remember?” Trunks replied. “Maybe she’s sleeping.” He knocked again a little bit louder this time.

“Go away,” they heard faintly on the other side of the door.

The boys looked at each other in confusion a moment, silently debating on what to do before knocking again. “Mom?” Trunks called out. “It’s just me and Tarble. We came to see you.”

Again, there was no response but a few moments later she opened the door just a crack and checked to see if it really was them. “Are you alone?” she asked. “Or is Jeyice with you?”

“No, we came by ourselves. Jeyice doesn’t even know we’re here.” Trunks said.

She opened the door a little wider to let them in before quickly shutting it again. “What are you two doing here?”

“I wanted to talk to you,” Trunks said with a slight frown. “Hey, are you okay? You don’t look so good.” He noted awkwardly. It looked like she’d been crying.

“I’m fine, sweetie, just tired,” she said unconvincingly, her voice cracking as she tried to hold herself together and smiling weakly. “I’m just glad you’re here.”

Trunks frowned and looked at Tarble who had a very similar look on his face. She smelled like Jeyice but looked alright for the most part aside from looking a little shaken up. “He upset you, didn’t he?”

“What do you mean?” she asked with a frown, her stomach dropping. She did not want the boys knowing about it.

“We saw him in the hall on our way here, he smelled like you,” Tarble said. “We hid so he wouldn’t see us, but we could smell you on him. Did he beat you or something? You kinda smell like him too a bit.”

Damned Saiyans and their freakish sense of smell, she cursed inwardly. She still obviously hadn’t showered him off of her and that brought on another weave of anxiety and nausea. She covered her mouth with her hand as she took a few deep breaths to calm her nerves again. “No, no; he didn’t do anything. He was here and we came to an agreement and everything is alright.”

Trunks shook his head. “Are you sure? Because he can be real mean when he wants to be,”

“It’s ok sweetie, everything is fine,” she said soothingly. “At least this way we get to see each other and visit, right? That’s all that matters.”  

Tarble stood there with a frown, not sure what to say. What exactly had Jeyice done? She looked alright for the most part. It didn’t look like he’d hurt her but he could tell she was upset about something.  He looked warily at Trunks, who looked just as confused as he was.

“What’s done is done. Jeyice has been sent on a long mission so it doesn’t matter. We won’t be seeing him for a very long time,” she said, trying her best to be as positive as possible even though inside she was reeling.

Trunks nodded, relaxing somewhat and looking around her room skeptically. “Is this where you live?” he asked.

“Yes,” she answered, walking into the small kitchenette. “Would you like something to drink? I have bottled water or I could make you something warm if you’d like?” Bulma asked, nervously looking around in the kitchen trying to scrounge something up for them.

“Umm sure?” Tarble replied as Trunks nodded. “Water is okay; for both of us.”

“Alright,” she said, taking two bottles out of the small fridge and handing one to each of them. She herself wanted something warm and comforting to drink. Gero was a huge coffee and tea drinker himself so she would sometimes steal packets from his lab stash for herself here and there.

Bulma chose a lemon tea for herself and popped a bag in the kettle and left it on the stove to heat up, walking into the rest of the miniature room. She offered them a seat on the small couch but they both opted to stand. By then her tea was ready and she came back to them, mug in hand and curled up on the couch with her knees to her chest, trying to appear calm in front of them.

“You boys are sure you won’t get into trouble for coming here?” She asked.

“It should be fine,” Tarble shrugged.

“Ya, the android said it was okay and that we can come once a day so long as we stay here.” Trunks said.

Bulma nodded, feeling somewhat better that Jeyice had already made good on his word. Maybe that was what he’d said to her on his way out? She had been so upset and rattled, she hadn’t heard what he’d said, though she did remember him telling her something before finally leaving. “That’s good. I’m glad you came.”

“Ya, I- well, we wanted to see you,” Trunks said, looking uncomfortable. “I couldn’t sleep because I couldn’t stop thinking about you and dad. I think I remembered something about him.”

“Oh! Is he out of the tank yet?” Tarble asked excitedly.

“No, he’s still in there,” Bulma shook her head. “Even if he’s out, I don’t think you would be able to see him. He stays someplace else.”

“You guys don’t live together?” Trunks asked curiously.

“No,” she shook her head. “He has to stay in the lab and I live here,”

“That sucks,” Tarble huffed. “Maybe we can come here one day when he’s out?”

Bulma shrugged, not wanting to let them down, but the last thing she wanted was for them to walk in on Gero while he was preforming one of his sick experiments on Vegeta. “Maybe. I know he would like very much to see and meet you both.”

“Well, one day, I guess,” Trunks shrugged. “Hopefully soon.”

“Hopefully,” Bulma agreed. “You said you remembered something about him, Trunks?”

“Yea,” he lit up. “I always do this thing with my ki,” he explained, making a ki ball and demonstrating to her.

“He does it all the time,” Tarble rolled his eyes, sitting on the floor. “It’s annoying.”

“Did dad use to manipulate ki with us?” Trunks asked, ignoring Tarble. “I do it all the time and until today, I never thought about it until after we saw him; I think I remember him doing something like that with me.”

“Yea, but I don’t remember, Trunks,” Tarble nagged at him. “Why would you remember and not me and why would he not do that with me too?”

Trunks rolled his eyes. “I don’t know. Unless I just think I remember it and I actually don’t.”

Bulma smiled and tried to keep herself from not getting emotional and come up with a viable explanation for them.

“I remembered you,” Trunks pointed out. “I remembered mom alright; I don’t know why you didn’t. Maybe you were just dropped on your head.”

“Hey, no,” Bulma cut in. “No one was dropped on their head. Or at least they weren’t when we were all together safe and sound. I am sure there’s a perfectly reasonable explanation why Tarble doesn’t remember things that I am sure he will figure out when he’s older.”

Tarble gave her a bit of a funny look but seemed to accept her comment.

“Anyway yes, Trunks, your father used to play with ki with you,” Bulma nodded. “He used to with you too, Tarble but not as much. You… didn’t respond to it the same. However you did start walking before Trunks did.” At least that much is true. She told herself. She didn’t want to lie to Tarble but at the same time figured that it didn’t matter at the moment and to tell him about his true origins now, at this point in time would do more harm than good. Who knew what King Cold would do if he found out the truth about Tarble? She did not want to risk finding out, nor chance having the boys separated from one another. If there was any advantage in all of this, Vegeta had been correct about one thing: at least they had each other.

“Yea, Tarble learned to fly before me too,” Trunks admitted. “So tell us something about you.”

Bulma shrugged. She wanted to know about them, not discuss herself; although to be fair they were in the same boat as she was she supposed and they all needed to start somewhere. “Sure,” she smiled at them. “What would you like to know? But I’ll only answer if you guys tell me something about yourselves after. We can take turns. Fair?”

“That’s fair,” Tarble nodded, looking at Trunks. “What should we ask her?”

“Hmm,” Trunks grunted. He had plenty of things he wanted to know but now that he was faced with being able to ask her, he found it hard to come up with something. “I know! How did you and dad meet?”

Bulma sighed and smiled. Of course it had to be something that required a lengthy explanation.

“Yea! How did you meet being that you’re not a Saiyan and all?” Tarble asked.

“Alright,” she nodded, getting off the couch and sitting on the floor in front of them. “That’s a long story. I’ll tell it but then you guys have to tell me something really cool about yourselves, alright?”

“Yea!” they both agreed.

“Alright, well I lived on a planet far, far away from here called Earth and one day some evil aliens came and destroyed it. I was taken and sold before that happened and I was working at a place that was like a restaurant with entertainment,” she started.

“What’s a restaurant?” Tarble asked and Trunks nodded.

Bulma caught herself, realizing that they would have no way of knowing what that was. “It’s a place where you can go to socialize and have a good meal. I don’t think they have them here, but if we ever get out of here, I’ll take you guys to one. I was working at one at the time and your father came in with a few of his fellow… comrades.”

“Cool!” Trunks exclaimed. “And then what?”

“Nope, it’s my turn to ask you now, kiddo.” Bulma shook her head with a smile. “How long have you both been training?”

The boys looked at each other and shrugged. “As far back as we can remember, really.” Tarble answered.

“Ya,” Trunks agreed. “Once we both could walk. I remember we were in the time chamber when we learning to walk better and fly. I don’t really remember much but for little things here and there before that.”

“Me neither,” Tarble answered. “When I try to remember things, all I really remember is Jeyice.”

“Ya, Jeyice mostly,” Trunks nodded. “Anything that isn’t little things about you or dad is Jeyice.”

“So Jeyice has raised you both then?” she asked. “How’s that been?”

“Ya. Jeyice mostly. There’s a few other guys that we have to train with when Jeyice isn’t around, but mostly it’s him,” Tarble said. “Hey, you cheated! You asked us two things that time!”

“Three total, actually,” she grinned. “But you only answered two so you guys can ask me two questions.”

“So what happened when you and dad met?” Trunks asked.

“Hey, you went last time! I want to ask her something too!” Tarble objected.

“Okay, you both get to ask me,” she snickered at them. “Let me answer the first one and then you get to ask me one too, okay Tarble?”

“Okay,” he nodded shooting Trunks a triumphant look.

“Well, we met and we liked each other very much,” she started and was wondering then how much they knew on slave trade and planet purging so she decided to keep her story as simple as possible in case she accidentally told them something she shouldn’t be. She didn’t want her visiting privileges revoked. “Your father left to go back home and in the few weeks it took for him to get there, he decided that he wanted me to come with him.”

“He liked you a lot, didn’t he?” Trunks asked with a smile.

“He did,” she nodded with what she knew was the first genuine smile to grace her face in months.

“I bet he thought you were really pretty!” Tarble said.

“I think so,” Bulma nodded again. “I liked him a lot too and he was very handsome. You both look a lot like him actually. I remember seeing a picture of him when he was about your age, maybe a little younger, and he looked just like you, Tarble. He had bangs too that eventually receded or maybe he cut them, I’m not sure; I never thought to ask him but you look a lot like him when he was younger.

“Trunks, you look like him too, only you also look a lot like me and you resemble your grandfather on my side as well. He had hair your color; but your facial features and expressions all remind me of your father.”

“We always wondered why I looked so different.” Trunks said. “We’ve seen pictures and video footage of father and everyone says Tarble looks like him but I act like him.”

“You’ve seen footage of him?” Bulma asked almost in alarm and wondered why and what they’d been shown. When Frieza and Gero had shown her footage of Vegeta she had been horrified at what she’d seen.

“Yea,” both boys nodded.

“King Cold and Jeyice showed us so that we would know where we come from because we are the last Saiyans,” Tarble said. “They said we needed to understand where we came from but also we needed to be like him. He was the best but that he was bad; he betrayed King Cold and-”

“Don’t talk about it,” Trunks said bitterly, cutting him off. “They keep telling us to be strong like him but to not think like him.”

“What do they mean by that?” Bulma asked.

“Well, I guess he was trained by King Cold’s son kind of like Jeyice has trained us under King Cold’s direction and at some point it all went to his head and he betrayed them all when he shouldn’t have because the Saiyan are under Ice-jin rule and he tried to break away even after everything they have done for him. They told us that he was a brilliant soldier but a disloyal one.”

Bulma nodded as she listened to their story.

“If we do as we are told and live up to be as good as he was or better, we will one day help King Cold rule the universe now that his son is dead because of dad,” Trunks added. “Is that true? Was he bad?”

“No, Trunks, he wasn’t bad,” she answered carefully.

“So then King Cold is bad?” Tarble asked.

Bulma sighed; this was getting complicated. “I can’t answer that, boys; I can’t. Not without getting myself into trouble. I suppose I could say yes, in a way King Cold is bad and so was his son but if you look at it from their point of view, I guess to them your father was bad for trying to free himself and his planet from them. It’s really something you would have to talk with him about because until I met him, I had no idea that King Cold or his son Frieza ever existed. There’s a whole lot of history there that I don’t know.”

“But dad didn’t want us here, did he?” Trunks asked.

“No, he didn’t,” she answered. “Us being here was the last thing he ever wanted.”

“I thought so,” Trunks nodded. “They told us that he gave us to them.”

“Ya and that we had to make up for him and if we don’t they will make sure he dies. That’s what King Cold said,” Tarble added. “That he was supposed to be executed but then they decided he had to stay here. We knew you were here too but we don’t know why, just that you are supposed to be a genius or something.”

“Oh, my,” she sighed, wondering how to make this more simple to them. “Alright, no, you weren’t given to King Cold by your father and I. We were taken before your father’s home planet was destroyed. Your father came here trying to stop King Cold from destroying his home and it didn’t go according to his plan. When he fell, he told me to leave with you both. My parents live on another planet, he wanted me to go to them where it was safe. Your father arranged everything and I… I took too long getting everything together and was caught and taken and sent here while your father was put on trial against his actions against the Cold Empire.

“He was sentenced to death but then the doctor who runs this lab asked to be able to study him instead and I was sent here to assist. I must or they threatened to have the two of you and your father hurt so here we are.”

The boys sat there for a moment absorbing everything in. “I believe that,” Tarble said.

“Ya, me too,” Trunks nodded. “I always knew they weren’t telling us the whole story.”

“Oh, I was going to ask you,” Tarble started, pausing a moment before going on. Bulma nodded at him. “What did you do on your planet before you worked at that place and met dad? They don’t tell us much about you, but they do say you are a genius.”

Bulma smiled at him; this was better and a much safer topic of discussion that she was much more comfortable discussing with them. “I was a technological scientist, kind of like I am here. My father and I were the smartest people on our planet and we both designed and built small homes, ships and weapons until we were both taken and our planet destroyed. In fact, some of the things my father and I invented were the reason your father even took an interest in me to begin with.”

“Really? Like what?” the boys asked.

“Well,” she said mischievously, debating on whether or not to show them capsulation or not. What the hell, she thought to herself, getting up from where she was sitting and reaching into her pouch of capsules. It couldn’t be that much of a secret since Gero had her practically mass producing them since she had arrived. “Alright. This is a capsule. It was originally created by my father, or your grandfather many years ago. It was such a success that he made his millions off of it and later on I improved it somewhat and after that we were a team.” She said proudly.

“Watch closely,” she instructed, holding up the capsule to show them before tossing it on the ground and out popped her luggage and suit cases.

“Whoa!” Both boys exclaimed.

“Neat, huh?” She chuckled. “You can put almost anything in them so they are great for storing large items or large quantities of multiple items.” Bulma explained as she recapsulated her things.

“So that’s why you’re here?” Tarble asked.

“Partially, yes,” she nodded. “King Cold wants me to work for him and help develop a few things. It’s not where I want to be, but it keeps me near Vegeta and I can see him so that’s why I stay.”

The boys nodded in understanding. “That’s not what they told us,” Trunks said. “But I believe you.”

Bulma smiled. “I’m glad,”

“We should head back, Trunks,” Tarble said suddenly. “We’ve been gone a while.”

“Yea, you’re right,” Trunks agreed, standing up. “We’ll come back tomorrow some time, okay?”

“For sure,” Bulma nodded. “Just don’t get yourselves in to any trouble, alright? I’d rather you not come then get into trouble for coming; and that’s not because I don’t want to see you guys. Just keep in mind, I’ll always be more upset with you if you get into trouble because you came here than if you can’t come see me at all for some reason. Don’t let them convince you of otherwise either, alright?”

“Yes,” both boys nodded.

“If Dad wakes up can you tell him we were here?” Trunks asked.

“I sure will,” she said, giving them both a quick hug before they finally left. Despite everything that had happened that day, she couldn’t help but smile to herself as she stood there in the silence of her room. She’d met the boys again and had actually visited with them. They weren’t quite as she had expected being that they had grown up so quickly, but she could tell that they were nice boys, overall fairly well-mannered and really good natured despite their upbringing. She only hoped they would stay that way and that maybe her influence on them would counteract any negative influences from Jeyice and any of Cold’s other soldiers they had to train with.

Turning off the lights, she headed back to bed in an attempt to go to sleep. She lay there for a few moments before her happiness wore off and she was reminded once again of what had happened before the boys had shown up. What a nice distraction, albeit brief, that had been.

After several minutes she couldn’t stand it anymore, she had to get out of her room.

Bulma dressed and threw on a lab coat and exited her room, heading back into the lab. She would work until she passed out. That always did the trick.

There were several projects Gero had on the go that he demanded her assistance on. She chose one and decided to get to work on it, placing her work on the table just in front of the regeneration tank where Vegeta was still recovering.

She glanced briefly at him and was nearly overwhelmed to tears again in her guilt over allowing Jeyice to have her that evening. How will I even be able to face you once you wake up? She asked herself yet again as she looked away from him and began working on her project. She could not let this destroy her and she could not let Vegeta know about it. She had no idea how he would take it.

Her stomach began to churn and she turned from him again, unable to even look at him without feeling like she wanted the ground to swallow her whole before he got out. No matter how many times she told herself that it wasn’t her fault and that she didn’t have much of a choice, she still felt he wouldn’t be able to understand or see past it. What if he wants nothing to do with me when he finds out? She asked herself in panic. Will he ever be able to forgive me?

She shook her head and forced herself to start working on her project and stop dwelling on everything else. Funnily enough that was always what she did when she was faced with a problem or an issue; she’d work herself to the bone until she either forgot about it, or solved the problem. She knew there wasn’t anything she could do to fix or resolve this but maybe she could forget it had even happened for the time being.

-0-0-0-

Vegeta opened his eyes, the hazy fog of the sedative still heavily affecting him, trying to drag him back into the blissful sweet state of oblivious unconsciousness. Something had been drawing him though, trying to pull him out of that state. It was familiar but full of distress and anguish mixed together. It had taken him a while to climb to the surface of consciousness, but he had.

The first thing he saw once his eyes focused was Bulma. She was working on something at a table just across from the regeneration tank; his vision was clouded, but he could still see her clearly enough.

She was frowning in deep concentration at whatever it was she was doing and as he silently watched her work he could tell from her body language that she was purposefully working hard on her project in order to keep her mind busy and distracted from other things.

The tension in her neck and shoulders, the knitted eyebrows and the way the corners of her mouth turned down all betrayed her otherwise calm, studious, outward appearance. Anyone else who observed her would assume she was completely absorbed in her work… To anyone else. To Vegeta, her body language said her mind was miles away from this place and what she was doing. To him she looked sad, tired and defeated but she was trying her hardest to not have it show and it hurt him to his core to see her like that and know that there was nothing he could do to help her or even comfort her.

Oh, what he wouldn't give to be able to take her in his arms and go someplace far from all of this. Someplace where they could lose themselves in one another, forgetting about this hell they'd been sent to.What had he been thinking back on Vegeta-sei? She had made so much of an effort to spend time with him, for them to spend time together as a family and he had put her and Trunks on the backburner. His training and trying to make sure his men were ready for battle had been more important for some reason; and what for? If he could go back and do it all again, he would spend as much time with them as possible. None of the training and conditioning he had done had made a difference anyway.

She had warned him of that even and he had been too prideful and stubborn to listen to her. She had been so afraid that something would go wrong and they would be separated or worse; how right she had been in her instance on spending time together and he had carelessly rebuffed her and sloughed off her worries as those of an overly emotional female and nothing more.

He had always thought that she was too good to be true; that he was living some sort of dream with her. His life before her had been full of violence, disappointment and rage. So many horrible things he had done in his youth under Frieza’s command and he had still been blessed to somehow cross paths with her when he had.

Maybe it had been a test?

A test from the gods to see if he had the integrity to walk away from something so perfect laid in front of him. If such was the case, he had failed miserably. If it was a test he had failed for taking her as his own because he had fallen so impossibly for her instead of walking away, maybe this was his punishment. The gods had cruelly given him two years, two nearly blissful years with her in his life where she had been his, and he had been hers completely and

He had stupidly allowed himself to fall into a false sense of happiness and contentment with his woman and son and when he was sure he had nearly everything he could ever want for the rest of his days, that was when everything had come crashing down around him, slowly and cruelly ripping everything he had held dear apart right in front of him, reminding him that he wasn't allowed to have anything or anyone because of his past crimes.

It apparently did not matter that he had done those things in the name of a tyrant or under the command of a twisted ruler or that he had reformed. The woman had been like a lifeline, rescuing him and bringing him in before he had irreparably damaged any hope of a life other than madness and destruction. She had been dropped in front of him before he had passed the point of no return where salvation and redemption were concerned. She had saved him from becoming the monster that Lord Frieza and his father had shaped since he was a young boy.

He had grabbed onto her and had held onto her for dear life, foolishly thinking that the gods had placed her in front of him as a salvation where instead he saw it now for what it really was: A test to walk away from. A test of his integrity. He wasn't meant to have someone or something so pure and precious. He should have turned away and shunned it. Instead he had not been able to resist and he had been fooled and now he had dragged her down with him. The gods mocked him.

As he watched her and let the musings of his mind drag him into a further pit of despair and desolation, he succumbed once more to the blissful state of unconsciousness…

-0-0-0-

A week had passed since Gero’s attempt at opening Vegeta up had failed; he was still in the regeneration tank and Bulma was beginning to worry that he may never fully recover. It had also been a week since Jeyice had left. True to his word, the boys were allowed to come to the lab to visit Bulma once a day after their training. They usually showed up in the late afternoon or early evening and were able to stay for a few hours.

They continued on with the game of asking questions back and forth and learning about each other that way. Bulma loved it; it kept things light and kept her from getting too emotional around them. Honestly, their presence each day was the only thing keeping her sane at the moment.  She looked forward to their visits each day and began thinking up ways to slowly start planning a method of escape with them.

It wasn’t going to be easy, but with their help and her careful planning, maybe it would be doable. She had begun carefully considering and weighing their options out, preparing the groundwork for a possible escape while she worked on one of Gero’s projects. He had been more irritable and bad tempered than usual the last few days for reasons which she couldn’t figure out.

Bulma, she heard Vegeta’s voice whispering weakly through her mind.

"Vegeta," she replied, dropping what she was doing and walking up to the tank where he was still floating in the green liquid, awake and looking at her, but he still looked groggy. Her heart leapt as she made eye contact with him and smiled her best smile in an effort to give him some encouragement. It faltered somewhat and her breath caught in her throat as she saw the look of desolation and anguish in his eyes and knew her eyes reflected the exact same look no matter how bright her smile.She put her hand on the glass and offered him another small smile. Are you alright?

Hmmn, he replied, placing his hand on the other side of the glass opposite hers. Her bright smile should have been like a breath of fresh air to him but as he looked at her, he noticed her smile didn't reach her eyes. As always, it was her eyes that betrayed her true feelings. He looked at her, wishing he could fix this. What happened? Did I-?

Yea, she nodded once. You died, again; technically anyway. I didn't know what to do, I.. The pain and grief I was hit with even knowing it was what you wanted. I shut down, I was useless. I couldn't help you, I couldn't help or prevent Gero from bringing you back. I couldn't think or do anything.

He didn't say anything, just looked at her and noted how ragged and worn she looked.

I um, I saw Trunks, she said, uncomfortable with the thorough look of assessment he was giving her and wanting to change the subject. And Tarble.

How are they?

Okay, I guess, she shrugged.

What is it? He asked, not liking the look on her face.

Nothing, they, they're... they have matured, I guess, she replied, still trying to wrap her brain around the logistics of how her ten month old son was now eight years old. Apparently they have been training them in some kind of time chamber that ages them? So they are a lot bigger and older than what they should be.

One day to us amounts to a full year to them while inside, he said.

Oh, you know about this thing?

I do, he nodded once. It is a very effective way to train for a battle if you are pressed for time or if you have young warriors such as the boys, and you wish to advance them a bit quicker. I myself was made to use it during my time as Frieza’s soldier.

What? She exclaimed in shock. How many times? Wait, how old are you then?

He thought for a moment. Three times, he replied.

So how old are you really then? She asked with a slight frown. Are you 22 or are you 25 years old? No wait, you could be 19 too if you don’t count the three years.

He smirked at her. I am 22 standard years from my actual date of birth but technically I am 25 years old if I was to take into account my three years total spent in a hyperbolic time chamber. I do not count those years.

Why not?

Why age myself unnecessarily? He asked dryly.

Interesting, she thought. I can live with that. Though I always thought that you were too mature for your age.

I was always mature for my age, he countered somewhat playfully. Now tell me of Trunks. How old are they?

Well, they have spent 2 days once a month in there training since they got here so they're both eight years old.

Vegeta nodded, taking that in for a moment, angry that he had missed the opportunity to see his son. They are alright?

I think so, she shrugged. For the most part.

Do you know who is training them?

Jeyice, she answered, trying to keep her feelings of hatred towards that man to herself. Or he's the one that they train with in that chamber and the majority of the time when he isn’t sent out on missions. I don't know who they train with then.

Hmmmn, he growled mentally and she assumed he wasn't overly pleased.

Trunks is strong, she told him. Tarble not so much from what I gather. Oh, Vegeta, you’d love them both! They’re nice boys despite everything. They don’t hate us even though they have been told nothing but lies about us, I don’t know how they don’t hate us, but they don’t. I wish you could see them both! Trunks reminds me so much of you! Tarble too, though that isn’t all that surprising. He looks just like you did as a little boy.   

How was it that you were able to see them? he asked.

I saw them because, oh god, Vegeta I don't know how to tell you; Cold gave Trunks a beating because he is hiding his true potential away from everyone to protect Tarble, who apparently isn't progressing anywhere near as quickly. There were no regeneration tanks because of the mess in the barracks, so Jeyice brought Trunks here to recover in the other tank here. I didn't really get to talk to him much at the time, just Tarble.

She could see his jaw muscle jutting out rapidly despite the fact that he had on oxygen mask on and the vein in this temple throbbed in rage at the thought that his son had endured such a thing. He himself had been nine years old when he had been sent to serve Lord Frieza and had endured his first of many beatings for various reasons or another.

How bad? He asked finally.

It was pretty bad, I think, she replied, now wishing she hadn't told him. He was unconscious and was in the tank for about forty five minutes. I didn't get to say much to him because Jeyice came and took them away again almost immediately. I did converse with Tarble while Trunks was healing so that was good. Trunks remembers us.

Of course he would, Vegeta said, still trying to swallow back the feeling of rage and helplessness at his inability to protect his family. In that moment, he felt something he hadn’t felt in months; not since he had been taken captive here. It was a flicker, like a small spark trying to build into a small flame and something more beyond that. As soon as he attempted to touch it to manifest it, it was gone. Just like that. Instead of feeling discouraged at its sudden disappearance, however, he took heart in it and was glad he hadn't died this time. This just reminded him that he needed to hang in there and stick this out for them. Can you see them again? Is there a way?

Bulma looked at him and noted the determined look in his eyes. I have been able to, yes, she started cautiously.

If Trunks remembers you, this is to our advantage. You can get them to help you plan a way out. It will take some time but they will know how to get around and the best way out, he said. Then all you will need to do is bide your time, take the boys and go. You said before that you have the ship I prepared for you?

I've got it capsulated and well hidden away, yes, she nodded.

Good. He said.

She looked at him a long moment. I’m working on it, Vegeta, she shook her head to herself.

What is it? He asked, her hesitancy and overall demeanor starting to scare him as red flags flew up in the back of his mind, warning him that something was very wrong. What the hell happened while I have been in here?

Bulma looked at him a long moment, debating about telling him or not. It had been her plan to keep this to herself for as long as possible but what was the point? She couldn’t keep this from him. He would figure it out on his own the moment he got out of there anyway and if he didn’t she didn’t want to risk Jeyice coming back and taunting him with it; that was no way for him to find out.

Bulma, what happened? He pressed her again, this time almost frantically. The longer she was silent the more afraid he became that something truly horrible had happened in his absence. He had already suspected as much, but now he knew it absolutely.

Oh, Vegeta, I… Jeyice, she started quietly, trying to keep her composure as a wave of nausea hit her again. She covered her mouth with her hand a moment before attempting to try again.He, he propositioned me a while back, offering to let me see the boys on a regular basis if I would have sex with him.

What! He exclaimed in disgust.

She nodded, looking away from him in shame.

You didn't…? He asked quietly in anguish as he looked at her, really looked and reached out to her through the bond they shared. He knew he already had the answer as he looked at her and his heart broke. No, he said as realization hit him like a ton of bricks. No, no, no, no...

She opened her eyes and nodded silently at him, wiping away tears, unable to form words or a coherent thought.

Vegeta felt as though he had been punched in the gut and the wind had been knocked out of him as he struggled to breathe despite still wearing an oxygen mask. The thought that someone else had touched her. That someone else had...

I didn't have a choice, Vegeta, she said softly, unable to bring herself to look him in the eye. It was either go along and willingly let it happen and he would grant me permission to see the boys, or take me by force anyway and I not be able to see them at all. What was I supposed to do?

He felt numb and broken all at the same time and had no idea how to react to this. He was angry, that much he was certain of. Once again, he felt that small flicker from deep within him again and tried to harness it ever so carefully so it wouldn’t elude him again; maybe it was his chance to break out of this tank and maybe grab Bulma and go; come back for the boys after he brought her some place safe. The thought that someone had touched her or taken her by force or even manipulated her into doing such a thing by the sound of it broke something dormant within him right then.

He tried to calm himself down enough to reach within himself and focus on that small flicker of ki he felt; he hadn’t felt anything in months, and wondered if maybe his body had built up a resistance to the damned ki collar it had been on so long. Perhaps this recent turn of events hearing about Trunks being beat and Bulma having to… He couldn’t even finish the thought in his grief and barely restrained fury.

As quickly as he had felt it, it was gone again and he snarled and punched his fist against the glass of the tank in frustration, causing Bulma to jump, mistaking his anger and frustration as directed at her and she began to cry, not trying to hold it in any longer.  

This feeling of dormant suppressed power was very much reminiscent of back in the day when he was trying to unlock the elusive ability of Super Saiyan only this felt somewhat different. This was something stronger than that; he wasn’t sure what it was, but he was certain it was something greater than what he had already achieved, he could feel it in his bones and at the core of his very being.

If he could only just…

Vegeta calmed himself down somewhat, reaching within himself again, trying to tap into this new, unused source ever so carefully, and closing his eyes in an attempt to regather his thoughts. He needed this. It was their only hope.

When it didn’t return, he opened his eyes and looked at her through the glass and stretched out his mind, touching hers with the bond. The feeling of guilt and self-loathing from her nearly sent him reeling and he knew without a doubt that if she had allowed something to take place, it hadn’t been at all willingly; even if it was to have a connection with Trunks.

Did he hurt you? He asked her in concern once he had calmed down somewhat to form a rational thought other than murderous rage.

Bulma shook her head. Not in the physical sense, no. But- she looked down to the ground. I let him and didn’t fight him so he wouldn’t hurt me and he promised I could see the boys. So far he’s made good on his end but…

Vegeta clenched his jaw again in helpless misery. He wasn’t sure what was worse, that it had happened and she had passively allowed it or if he had taken her by force; either way, someone had touched, tainted and maimed what was his- not even that; it was more than that, so much more. Someone had preyed upon and desecrated his mate and that was not alright with him. When did this happen?

A week ago, she answered, finally looking back up at him again. The same day you went in there. Jeyice is gone on a mission. It could be months until he returns though, if he returns at all.  

Have you seen the boys since then? He asked.

Yes. They are able to see me once a day. So far, that’s not been an issue. I’m glad for it but sometimes question if it was worth it at all. Vegeta, I-

Do not apologize, he said softly to her trying to convey as much comfort and solace to her through the bond as possible despite the nearly overpowering emotion of outrage threatening to take over everything else. While he wanted nothing more than to burn and destroy every living breathing piece of life on this damnable planet, he needed her to know that he was not angry with her. Instead of saying anything else in his inability to even know what to say to her and his inability to even know how to grieve over this new development, he simply looked at her, hoping to send her comfort and strength through their bond. It wasn’t much, being that he couldn’t physically touch or embrace her or tear Jeyice apart limb for limb, but it was the only thing he could offer her at the moment.

He wondered if it worked when she nodded and offered him a weak smile that still did not reach her eyes. How are you feeling?

Tired and angry, but not in pain, he replied, still feeling the effects of the sedatives trying to pull him back into the calmness of sleep.

Well that's something at least I guess.

Never mind me, he said softly, placing a hand on the glass again wishing he could actually reach out and physically touch her. His anger at the situation slowly being replaced by sadness that she had been put in such a position.  Are you alright?

She nodded, fighting to keep herself composed in front of him. I’m fine, she lied. She felt completely numb once again and for several minutes did not move or think or do anything. After several moments, she began to tremble again in her grief. She choked back a sob and shook her head at him. I am so sorry I… I betrayed you. I didn’t mean it. I thought only about being able to see the boys and I thought you would be more upset if he’d actually hurt me. Now I don’t know if I can live with myself. I shouldn’t have let him… I should have-

Bulma, she heard him softly in her mind. His heart shattered once again as he reached out to her through the bond and he was hit with an overwhelming tidal wave of remorse and devastation from her and he still could not think of anything to say to her or how to help her. For a long time neither one said or thought anymore words. There were no words to be said. Nothing could comfort either of them.

She looked at him and her breath caught in her throat at the empathetic look in his eyes and instead of making her feel better, it made her feel worse than if he had judged her and cast her aside. She could have collapsed from the feeling of pain, sorrow and understanding coming from him on her behalf and it made her love him even more than she thought possible.

I will get you out of here, he said to her finally. You and the boys.

What about you?

I will try, but you and the boys need to get out of here.

Not without you.

Woman, this is nonnegotiable.

And me being able to go on without you isn’t negotiable, she replied weakly. I can’t, Vegeta.

Yes, you can. Do not be weak! Not now.

Vegeta, I was just-!

He grit his teeth in blind fury as he was reminded of what had happened with Jeyice. I know.

I have been strong for too long. I just can’t be anymore. I’m sorry. I know that’s not what you want to hear, but…

Once again, he tried to send her strength, as though it were possible to be passed the same way thoughts were through the bond.

Gero came into the lab suddenly and narrowed his eyes suspiciously at Bulma who was crying and standing by the regeneration tank facing Vegeta.are you doing?" He demanded, walking up to her.

"Nothing," she snapped back, wiping her cheeks. "Vegeta just woke up."

"Hmmm," he grunted, shoving her away from the regeneration tank and looking at the status screen. "Why is he awake? Have you been tampering with this?"

"No!" Bulma answered. "I haven't done anything and I don't know why he's awake. Maybe because he's ready to come out?"

"You are aware that I have this system rigged, are you not?" Gero asked, content with the readings on the display, indicating that she had not tried to play with it to get Vegeta out. "Unless you know the pass code I have set for it, it will shut off. Life support, oxygen, every function keeping him alive will be cut off from him and he will drown."

Bulma rolled her eyes at him. "Why am I not surprised?"

"In any case, he should not be awake," Gero went on back to looking at the status readings on the screen. "He's not fully recovered. In fact according to these readings, he has only recovered about thirty percent of his strength."

"Well I've only said this at least a thousand times since I've been here but if you take that fucking thing on his neck off, maybe then he could recover."

"While I agree, I cannot remove it,"Gero said absentmindedly, playing with the settings. “As much as it would advance my findings and studies about his amazing anatomy and functions, I cannot take the chance that he would not beak free and murder us all.”

Bulma sighed. It was true, Vegeta would do exactly that. “Well, I’m no expert, but you do realize that you’re killing him slowly with it on, right?”

“How do you mean?” he asked, looking up suddenly from the status panel on the regeneration tank.

“Think about it,” Bulma rolled her eyes at him. “Ki is such a fundamental part of his genetic makeup. He needs it to fly and relies on it to achieve his incredible strength and abilities. Without it, as you should have noticed by now, he’s just ordinary.”

I am far from ordinary, woman! Vegeta bellowed in her mind in offence.

Yes, I know that, Vegeta but he doesn’t! She replied. Maybe I can talk him into removing it or at least shutting it off.

“Hmmm,” Gero hummed in consideration. “A very valid argument, but unless I can figure out a reliable method of containment for him, I am afraid I must leave things as they are. Nice try though, I sometimes forget how clever you actually are.”

Damit! She cursed mentally, trying to think of something, anything that she could use to convince Gero that they needed to shut that damned collar off. So far this was the umpteenth time she had brought it up and he never wavered on it. Even when she would threaten him that he would never be able to complete whatever master mission he had for his reason behind these experiments. She was beginning to think there was no reason to them. They were just to amuse the madman.

Bulma was about to bring up another point of persuasion on the matter when King Cold himself waltzed into the lab.

“How nice to see the both of you working so diligently this afternoon,” he greeted coolly.

“My lord,” Gero bowed in respect. “How nice of you to pay us a visit!”

Bulma shot a glance at Vegeta before taking a seat at the table just a few feet away from the regeneration tank. She had a feeling being seated was probably a good option for the moment.

"So he's still alive, I see," King Cold snorted in amusement, walking up to the regeneration tank and looking at Vegeta as though he were nothing more than a spectacle.

Vegeta felt his stomach drop at the sight of King Cold’s presence. Today just seemed to be getting better and better for him, didn’t it? He found himself torn between being glad that he was awake and wishing he was still knocked out.

"How long has he been in here for?" King Cold asked casually.


"A week." Bulma answered quietly.


"A week!" Cold exclaimed, looking at the status readings. "My goodness, Gero! What the hell have you done to him that after a week he is only at thirty percent recovery?"


"Everything," Bulma replied bitterly.


"You shut up! Nobody asked you!" Gero snapped at her. "I have been studying everything I can on him from his anatomy and physiologyso naturally, he’s been through quite a bit.”


"I see,” Cold commented and Bulma wasn’t sure but she thought she may have detected the smallest hint of sympathy. “While I am glad he is keeping you sufficiently amused, I want you to take a break from your passion project for a while and focus your talents and my resources on something more pressing.”


"I'm afraid I am going to have to respectfully decline and ask that you pass the project along to the woman. She is more than capable of taking on any projects that you may have." Gero replied dismissively.


"While that may be the case, I do not trust her and I still want you to oversee the project." Cold said firmly and in a tone that said it was not up for debate.


"Very well," Gero sighed in annoyance. "What would you have us do?"


“I need for you to design for me a cloaking device for all of our ships and the androids. I am planning a hostile takeover on another quadrant of the universe that has been in an uproar since my son’s passing. There are several districts attempting to take his place and that most certainly will not do.” Cold said, still looking at the status screen on Vegeta’s regeneration tank.


“It would seem that my son’s untimely execution combined with the destruction of the entire Saiyan Empire has caused somewhat of an uproar,” he elaborated. “The planets that your father kept in check seem to be trying to pick up the scattered bits of your fathers territory from his quadrant and there are others warring with them over who gets the little seemingly useless but beneficial trade and goods planets who cannot defend themselves. I will not elaborate, but it has become something of a headache and I must do something soon to exert my authority and remind everyone that the Ice-jin are the true rulers of this galaxy. Frieza was so good at inspiring loyalty out of fear that this was never a problem.


“Especially with Saiyan muscle around to settle the odd issue here and there and keep things in line; no one dared cross your father and his people. Such a shame that our collaboration came to such a brutal end, Vegeta. It was fruitful for the most part until you came along and destroyed all that,” Cold said, directing his tirade towards Vegeta despite the fact that he more than likely could not hear him.


Vegeta was still coming off of the sedatives and so while he could only hear Cold’s speech if he concentrated on the bond and heard it through Bulma, he was still impaired enough that he was only able to fully comprehend a little more than half of what the Ice-jin King was saying.


Civil war has broken out in different parts of the galaxy, Bulma filled him in quickly as Cold ranted on and on about specific planets and races of which she had never even heard of. Frieza’s death and the destruction of Vegeta-sei has left everyone your father had alliances with scrambling to either find protection or some of them are trying to rise up and take over.


Of course, Vegeta scoffed. Cold is an idiot. He has no clue the influence my father had throughout. He had allies and agreements throughout the galaxy beyond our empire that were hidden from Frieza and Cold. My father may have stupidly kept up his alliance with the Ice-jin, but he was not a complete idiot. He had other prosperous dealings with many other planets and kept it hidden.


Do you think there’s a chance any of these allies may come here because of Cold destroying Vegeta-sei?


Doubtful. Vegeta scoffed again bitterly.


Why do you say that? Surely there would have been some sort of contingency plan for all of them that should something happen to one, all the rest would go after the trouble maker.


There was, but aside from the Ice-jin, the Saiyan race was second in the universe. No one in the right mind will come here and wage war against King Cold just to avenge us. Not even those planets of which we had good relations with.


No one in the right mind but you, huh?


Shut up, he deadpanned. Besides, news of my failure and Vegeta-sei’s destruction will have reached even the most back water planets by now. Anyone whom we had been aligned with will assume we are all but wiped out completely. Why put yourself and your planet at risk to go after a dead race?


But what if they knew you were here? Bulma asked, an idea striking her right then. What if word got out that you are alive and being tortured by Cold?


So what? He replied dejectedly. I am the prince of a dead race. I do not even have a planet to reside on, no soldiers to command or people to rule over anymore.


But you said your father had positive relations out there! She insisted. You said in the few years after you got out of Frieza’s service and before we met that your father had sent you out in his place on most of the diplomatic missions in his stead.


Not all were diplomatic, he chuckled. Some were purges under Frieza’s or my father’s orders.


Alright, fine, but the ones that were, you’ve told me time and again that you began your own campaign with these people to support you when it was your time to rule; that you had wanted the empire to be something so much greater than what your father had built it up to be. You wanted to be respected, not feared and that you had slowly, unbeknownst to your father, been making that known while on your missions so that when you came to power, your alliances would be stronger and even greater than they had been with your father. Surely you could call upon some of those now, couldn’t you?


Yes, I did all of that, but who cares now. I went up against Cold to do the impossible out of arrogance; an arrogance that my father fed and encouraged either knowingly or not that I would fail. At this point it does not matter, the bastard is dead and I am nothing more than the laughing stock of the entire galaxy for thinking that I could rid the universe of the scourge that is the Ice-jin race. He ranted bitterly. Even if anyone were to discover that I am here, no one would take the effort to avenge me or my father or my race. They are too afraid.


Well give me some names, Vegeta. Give me names of planets and their leaders or advisors. Maybe I can send out a message somehow to let them know you’re here. So they don’t know me, but that shouldn’t matter if they have word that you’re being held hostage here.


It does not matter, Bulma. Just leave it. They will not come.


What about Raditz and Asia? She asked desperately, annoyed that he was completely shutting her down on this. Sure, he may be right, but she still had to at least try. This was the first good idea she had come up with, or small chance of hope she had been able to come up with since she had come here. She was determined to run with it either with or without his enthusiasm. She had no idea how she would be able to leave the confines of the lab to contact anyone, but it was something at least in the last four months of dead end ideas she had thought of up to this point. Now that she had the boys though, maybe it was possible to get them to contact someone on their behalf.  


What about Asia and Raditz? He asked.


You said they went to Callisto.


I told them to go there, who knows if they actually did or not; for all I know they went back to Vegeta-sei and perished along with everyone else.


But there’s still a chance. Can I somehow contact them and tell them that we are here? Asia would do something if for no other reason that her son is here and she would come for him, I know she would.


Maybe, but if I failed with one hundred of the best our military had to offer, how the hell do you think Asia and Raditz would succeed?


Because Asia was the queen! Bulma mentally screeched at him in her desperation. She would have contacts and the rapport, I would assume, to maybe pull some strings here!


For a whopping three Saiyans, Bulma. Three Saiyans, a child, and a half-breed.


But what if she was able to put together an army, Vegeta! She cried. She could rally all of your father’s allies on your behalf! Maybe they would take that chance if they knew it was you they were coming for! It’s a slim chance, I agree, but still a chance all the same!


Woman, what you are suggesting would take months, maybe even years for her to accomplish, assuming you are able to contact her and on the assumption she could even manage to do such a thing. I hope to be either out of this shithole by then or dead if it turns into years.


“Are you even paying attention, Bulma?” Greo bellowed at her.


“I am, sorry,” Bulma replied, turning her attention to Cold. “I’m very tired, you see. My apologies.”


“Understood, but what are your thoughts on the matter?” Cold asked her, looking at Vegeta suspiciously.


“Of a cloaking device?” she asked. Truthfully, she hadn’t been paying attention at all to their conversation.


“Exactly,” Gero barked as though it were the most obvious thing in the world.


“Well, it is do able,” she shrugged. “To a point. My father and I designed stealth bombers for our military and they were a success. I suppose I could find a way to replicate that. Just how invisible do you want your ships to be?”


“As invisible as possible,” Cold answered.


“I can create an external coating for them so that they would be untraceable on any ultrasound or radar frequency,” she said. “But once they reached their destination they would be visible. I could apply the same exterior coat to the androids if you want, it would be simple, however the same principal would apply; once they arrive at their destination or confront their target, they will be seen.”


“That is a start, I am impressed,” Cold nodded favorably. “However I want it so that they can remain unseen if I wish for them to remain unseen.”


Bulma paused a moment as she considered his request. “What you are asking me is out of my realm of expertise and for all I know, not even possible.”


“As I said, what you have suggested is a start,” Cold said again. “From what I hear, you are a genius. This is what I want and I expect you to find a way to accomplish it. I am sure that between Dr. Gero and yourself, the two of you should be able to come up with an appropriate solution."


"Yes, sir, I will do my best." Bulma nodded, feeling torn between excitement at the prospect of a brand new project and anxiety at the thought that what Cold was asking for was more than likely impossible.


"I know you will," he said, looking at Vegeta again.


"And what am I to do with him in the meantime?" Gero asked in a clipped tone, not at all happy with having to divert his attention and energy to something else.


Cold looked at Vegeta with interest as he seemed to be deciding just that. Bulma held her breath, unsure what she was hoping for. So long as it was to Vegeta's advantage and would minimize his current suffering, she would be alright with it, she told herself.


"Leave him in there," Cold shrugged finally. "I am under the impression that you have other plans for him, do you not?"


"I still have much to learn," Gero nodded.


"Then leave him in there for the time being," Cold suggested. will give him time to fully recover so that when you do resume your work the result may be better. As well, it will keep the woman in line."


"Quite right," Gero nodded in agreement. "He will be alright in there for a prolonged period of time?"


"He will be fine," Cold assured him. "You can put him into a deep prolonged sedation until you are ready to use him again."


"You mean like a coma?" Bulma asked suddenly, being broken out of her inner thoughts.


"Precisely," Cold nodded.


"Is that going to be bad for him though?" She asked in mild panic. "Like are you sure he'll be able to come out of it?"


"He should," Cold shrugged. "If he doesn't, he will make for a lovely decorative trophy fixture," he chuckled. "Perhaps I may display him in my throne room as an example of what happens to disloyal traitors."


Bulma did not laugh at his joke, only looked at Vegeta as Gero and Cold laughed as though Cold had said the funniest thing ever.


They want to put you into a coma and leave you in there indefinitely while we work on a project for Cold, she told him, torn on this decision. While it was good in the sense that Vegeta would get a much needed reprieve from Gero while she looked for a way out, what if the drugs put him into such a deep coma that he couldn't be brought back out of it?


Hmmm, he replied. I need to recover and then get this collar off.


So far Gero has kept anything to do with you so restricted that I haven't been able to find a single thing about it. If I can I will see if I can shut it off remotely so while you heal you can get your ki back.


Yes, he replied. If you can do that I will be able to get out of here. I am certain my strength, power and abilities have doubled if not triple since before I was captured.


Wow, you think?


No. I know, he replied absolutely. The only thing in my way is this collar.


I guess with everything you've been through, she said thoughtfully. I’ll see what I can do to shut it off.


“That settles it, then.” King Cold said. “He is to remain until further notice and you two will work on this for me.”

“Yes, sir,” Bulma nodded, frowning deeply, fighting back tears as she watched Gero program the tank to initiate the sedatives again.

“Any deviation from my plans from either of you or any show of noncompliance from you,” Cold threatened, pointing at Bulma specifically, “and it’s Vegeta and your boys that will suffer the brunt of your foolishness.”

Bulma simply nodded to show her understanding, unable to say anything more to Cold, nor did she want to even look at him. She walked up to the tank and lightly placed her hand on it. I love you, she said Vegeta. I will find a way out of this for us, Vegeta. I promise.

Be safe, he replied and she could tell already that the sedative was working.

Its better this way, she said trying to sound optimistic. He will leave you alone now and you can fully recover from everything; you’ll be as good as new. Just sleep until I figure this out.

Do not lose yourself, he said looking at her so intensely it made the hair on the back of her neck stand up. Do whatever it is you need to do to survive this and get yourself and our son out of here but do not lose yourself in the process.

"I won't." She replied out loud.

Love you… and Trunks.... Was his last thought before the sedation knocked him out completely.

We love you too, Vegeta. She replied not knowing if he could hear her or not, but it made her feel better to say it to him nonetheless.

Bulma didn't say anything as the moments ticked by and she could even feel the shift in their connection, like he was leaving her. It didn't hurt like it had when he'd died on Gero's table or when he had been consciously trying to sever their bond way back when, but it did not feel comfortable.


It was different than the other times they had put him in there. She wasn't sure if it was because he was pretty much dead the other two times and so he being revived and sedated was almost a relief compared to him being dead.


This was going to be different than before. When he was in before he had been sedated but she could still just feel him on the outskirts of her mind. He may have been unresponsive but he was still there. This time they were putting him in a coma with the expectation that he would remain in this state for a prolonged period of time. He was as good as a vegetable.


As she felt him sink deeper and deeper into a drug induced coma, she began to feel more and more anxious the further he fell from consciousness until she could not feel him at all. It felt like a void. Like something crucial was missing from herself.


Bulma placed her hand on the tank as she tried to gather herself and keep her emotions under control.


"I'm assuming I don't have to remind you that if you tamper with this in any way he will die." Gero's voice cut into her inner turmoil.


"No, you don't," she said quietly, still looking at Vegeta. I'm alone, she thought to herself. Truly and completely alone. Despite her independent nature, the thought terrified her.