Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Changing Horizons ❯ A New Destiny ( Chapter 2 )

Just to clear up any confusion with the author's notes: I have posted this story on Fanfiction.net under the penname JungleKitty82, so disregard any comments about reviews and such although I would love some here as well…

Disclaimer: I don't own DBZ or any of the characters seen in the show, manga, movies, etc. But I do hereby hand my soul to Vegeta and his son to do what he will with it.

A/N: Hey guys. Here is chapter 2. For those of you who have liked the idea of Vegeta staying in character, you might be just a little disappointed, but realize it is a bit necessary to further the story. Not much else to say other than at the moment I think geocities SUCKS! It keeps erasing my web pages and I'm getting sick of fixing it. But on a lighter note….enjoy….

Changing Horizons

Chapter 2 - A New Destiny

Vegeta touched down in front of the transport ship gingerly, carefully clutching the precious cargo he held in his arms. He passed through the large opening of the ship's entrance and headed towards his quarters hastily to avoid running into any of his men. He was unsuccessful. He saw Kakarrot's muscular form rounding the corner just as he approached the door of his quarters, and the spiky-haired man jogged briskly to catch up to his prince. Kakarrot stopped short when he noticed the curious-looking bundle in Vegeta's arms. He looked back up at the Saiyan no Ouji questioningly.

"Do not tell anyone of this, Kakarrot. Not until I have properly announced it to all of the men. I don't want her to be molested in any way by them."

"With all due respect, your highness, the men are not so honor-less that they would disturb such a sad, dirty…" he paused briefly to get a closer look, and his eyes widened as he gazed at the tear-streaked face and aqua-blue hair that was tucked within Vegeta's cradling arm. "…beautiful creature." He met Vegeta's obviously perturbed gaze and nodded briskly. "I see your point, your highness. They will not hear of it from me." Vegeta nodded in stony approval and shifted the girl in his arms so he could key in the access code to his room. Kakarrot moved to follow Vegeta in, but suddenly stopped, hesitating at the doorway. "Permission to enter your quarters, Ouji-sama?"

"Permission granted. Close the doors behind you," Vegeta called out over his shoulder as he arranged the sleeping girl on his bed. Her hair spilled over the pillow in every direction as she began to toss and turn, emitting small whimpers as her hands clutched at the blanket beneath her.

"What happened to her?" Kakarrot was watching the girl intently, his eyebrow twitching each time she moaned in her sleep.

Vegeta kept his voice low as he spoke. "We destroyed her planet. I found her when I was looking for survivors. She tried to attack me, but after she realized it was futile, she collapsed and fell asleep."

"She looks as though she's reliving something. Did you kill someone in front of her?"

"Not to my knowledge. But she did know that I was partly responsible for her planet's destruction. That's why she attempted to kill me." Both Saiyans' eyes shot over in the girl's direction as she suddenly bolted upwards, her chest heaving and a panicked look in her eyes. Vegeta and Kakarrot stepped back to give her room to breathe, and she quickly backed up against the wall, curling her knees into her chest and unknowingly exposing the backs of her smooth, creamy thighs to the watchful men standing beside the bed. She stared up at them, her indigo eyes flickering with alarm.

"We have not harmed you, girl. Nor will we, if you behave." Vegeta tried to keep his tone as calm and soothing as was possible for his deep, husky burr. "You are on a ship, traveling away from your home planet of Chikyuu."

She paused her frantic movements for a moment, recognition of the man in front of her dawning in her eyes, then began to push herself further against the wall. The two Saiyans stared at her observantly, as it was almost a full minute before she spoke. "Where are you taking me?" Her voice was tiny and faint and if it were not for the Saiyans' exceptional hearing, they would have missed her words. Kakarrot looked at Vegeta inquiringly but Vegeta was too busy gazing into the girl's deep blue eyes to notice. He didn't look away when he answered her.

"We are going to a planet called Derouse. That will be your new home."

"Prince Vegeta…" Kakarrot said hesitantly. Vegeta glanced over at the larger man. "Do you think that's wise? I mean, I understand that you were probably trying to save her from demise, but taking her to Derouse might be putting her right back into danger. What do you think Frieza will do if he--"

"Enough Kakarrot. I know the dangers involved and I didn't plan on bringing her directly before Frieza. Do not think to question me again before you weigh the consequences of your disrespect. I do not answer to you." Kakarrot immediately straightened up and took a stance of respect for his prince.

"I apologize Saiyan no Ouji. I meant no disrespect." Vegeta gave a nod of acknowledgement and waved his hand at Kakarrot to signal he could ease his stance.

"There is no where else I can take her. We are due back at Frieza's palace within a day to report the mission and we do not have time to drop her off anywhere else that will not endanger her life. At least on Derouse she will be close so that I can keep her from harm." The two finally looked back at the blue-haired girl and were surprised to find that she was no longer backed against the wall. She was looking curiously at them, had even leaned closer to them to hear their conversation, and all Vegeta could think of at that moment was that she looked even more beautiful when she was not frightened.

"What exactly will you do with her?" The girl's eyes bore into his as she waited for him to answer Kakarrot. The frighten look was returning, and even though Vegeta wanted to ease her fears, he was not sure how to answer Kakarrot. Vegeta had not been thinking clearly when he spared the girl and now that he was asked to explain his reasoning, he was at a loss for words. Why had he spared her? All he could remember from that moment when he had first saw her was that he had been stunned by the deep blue of her eyes. She had stood up to him, even in the face of what should have been her death, and had attacked him twice without any hope of survival. But he had encountered countless individuals who had risked their lives in order to pay him back for his murderous deeds. Why was she any different? He didn't know. All he did know was that he didn't want her to die, and the only way he could successfully do that was to take her with him. He had been stretching the truth when he had told Kakarrot he knew what dangers were involved in letting her live. If Frieza learned of her existence, he would most likely have her killed, or worse, use her to taunt and torment him by holding her life above his head. It would be the perfect opportunity for Frieza to take advantage of him, and Vegeta had no clue what sick game Frieza would revel in playing with him. He would have to keep her away from the palace, he resolved. Frieza was hardly ever there anyway, as he was away most of the time battling for control in the frequent power struggle the bulk of his armies were involved in on the far side of the galaxy. But if he were to return and find the girl's presence was Vegeta's doing, things with Frieza could get a whole lot worse.

"I will take her to a place far away from Frieza's palace. There are a series of caverns west of the mountains in the lower hills. She can stay there for the time being. When I have the means, I will take her someplace safer. "

"That is a good plan, Ouji-sama. People rarely go that far into the wilderness. But how will she survive out there? I doubt she could hunt for herself, let alone defend herself against the wild beasts out there."

"As long as she doesn't leave the cavern, she will be safe. And besides, it is only temporary. I will come by occasionally to make sure she has everything she needs." Kakarrot nodded in agreement, and the two Saiyans turned their gazes on the girl. "Well?" Vegeta said as he folded his arms across his chest and looked at her expectantly.

"You actually care what I think? I'm surprised; I thought you guys were enjoying planning out my future. I didn't think I had a choice in the matter." The girl mimicked Vegeta and crossed her arms over her chest and stared at him boldly. Vegeta was glad that her once timid appearance had change to that defiance, but her cheeky tone was not lost on him.

"You have two options girl: you either come with us and do as we say, or we will jettison you off of this ship. I will not tolerate disobedience from you, and if you turn out to be more trouble than you are worth, then I will dispose of you." He noticed Kakarrot, out of the corner of his eye, regretfully shaking his head.

"The way you did my family and friends, you murderous son of a bitch?" she hissed at him. The tears welling up in her wide, blue eyes made Vegeta think twice about reprimanding her for her disrespect. He spoke to her less harshly.

"I cannot undo what has already been done, girl, nor can I tell you that things will be better once we get to Derouse. But I can tell you that this is the best I can do. You can either take it or leave it. I am trying to give you a chance to transcend all of this. Would you still rather have died on your home planet?"

"Yes," she breathed. Her eyes were sorrowful when she spoke again. "But I promised someone that I would try to live, if given the opportunity, so I can't very well pass this up. But know this: I might accept your help, but I don't have to like you. You killed everyone I ever loved. You killed Yamucha. You deserve to burn in Hell for what you've done, so don't think this little gesture will make amends. I will do what you say for the moment, but if I think for one second that you would hurt me further, I'll take my own life without hesitation. Do we understand each other?" Her eyes burned with anger into his, and Vegeta now realized that he had been wrong in his thinking when he had thought her beautiful in defiance. Rage suited her much better, and even though her words had significant meaning to him, he couldn't help but focus on the beautifully shaped lips that were speaking them. He realized just then that he had been staring at her instead of speaking, and he was suddenly angry with himself for being affected so much by such a small, pathetic slip of a girl. She was beautiful, of that he could not deny to himself, but that was not all that piqued his curiosity. She was only a child, yet she carried herself like a full-fledged woman, and his desire to see the passionate nature she had so briefly revealed, made him all the more fascinated with her. He gave her a brusque nod and turned away to give a command to Kakarrot.

"Go and get a change of clothing for her then meet me on deck." He turned back to the girl as Kakarrot left to follow his orders. "You may stay here in my quarters until we reach Derouse. When we arrive, you must remain on the ship until I come for you. You must keep out of sight of my men. Though they are trust-worthy, I do not want to take any chances. If you are found out, the consequences will be severe." Vegeta turned to leave but the girl stopped him.

"Who are you afraid will find out about me? If I heard correctly, you are a prince. Royalty usually does what it wants."

"I am a prince without a throne, from a kingdom that no longer belongs to me. If you are lucky, you will only hear of the name Frieza in passing gossip and hearsay. To know him, is to be in fear of him, especially by someone like you. You do not want to be found by him." Without another word, Vegeta walked out of the room, locking the doors behind him.

He met Kakarrot on the bridge of the ship minutes later, and stopped beside him in front of the large view-screen projecting an image of the vast, unending universe stretching out before them. They didn't look at each other as Vegeta joined him, but instead continued staring out at the beautiful nothingness that surrounded them. After a long moment of silence, Kakarrot spoke first.

"Permission to speak freely, your highness?"

"You always manage to do so anyway."

"Why did you spare her? Are your intentions purely honorable? Or does she posses something that interests you?" Vegeta had known this question was coming, yet he still was not prepared to answer it. Kakarrot side-glanced Vegeta, but Vegeta still refused to look at him. Something about Kakarrot's eyes made it hard to lie. Every time he looked at the man, his mind would always replay that fateful day when he had surrendered to Frieza. Vegeta had sensed his men's hesitation when Frieza had told them they were free to leave. He had even heard the shuffle of a few men's feet and a faint whisper of regret, but for some reason, he had known that Kakarrot would not leave him. The man was more loyal than any man Vegeta had ever known, and even in this moment of betraying his true feelings aloud, Vegeta felt that whatever he told Kakarrot would not change the man's degree of loyalty for him.

"I don't know. I am tempted to call it pity for another's plight, but I have long since allowed that sentiment to fade out in my mind. She does...interest me, but I am not one to pursue impossible ideas. I plan to keep my word and I will take her some place safer when I get the opportunity. She needn't fear I would harm her." Kakarrot seemed to ponder this for a moment before speaking again.

"Ouji-sama, it isn't wrong to want the contact of another, especially after enduring the life we've had to live. In a way, you two are very alike. You have both lost your home world in the name of that bastard Frieza, and you both seem to be determined to survive, even in the face of such hardships. She tried to kill a man who single-handedly destroyed a couple million people. That alone speaks of inner strength. She doesn't understand the way it is with us and Frieza, but I'm sure if we explain, she will see reason. She's lost everything and she needs someone to lean on, and you Ouji-sama, are a pillar of strength that needs something uncorrupted by Frieza's hand. Besides, she's got a temper to match your own, Ouji-sama, or at least she hinted at it. I'd say you two were the perfect match." Vegeta snorted at his comments.

"That's where you and I differ, Kakarrot. I think it foolish to involve someone else in my misery. And do not presume to know what I do and do not need. She is a girl, Kakarrot, a simple girl, and she can no more help me than I can her, with the exception of getting her to safety. She may have suffered by losing her world and all the people in it, but she would never be able to handle Frieza and his wrath. I would be a fool to involve her in any of this."

"Where will you take her, Ouji-sama? Once you get her off-planet, where will she go? She has no friends or family anywhere now. We killed them all."

"Don't you think I know this? I don't know where, but I will find a place. Anywhere is better than letting her stay on Derouse. Even you voiced your doubt about that, Kakarrot. She would not be safe. Why have you changed your mind all of a sudden?"

"I think it was your words that inspired me, Saiyan no Ouji. We cannot undo what we've already done. So, I think we can only start from here. And besides, I think she would be good for you."

"Shut up, Kakarrot. I think letting you have free reign of your mouth was a mistake." Vegeta grumbled, crossing his arms and turning away, but not before he caught the smile twitching at Kakarrot's lips.

"Very well, your highness. Do you want me to check on her?" he said to Vegeta's back.

"She will be fine. I locked the doors and unless she's a technical genius…" Vegeta's words tapered off as he thought of the mechanical weapon she had shot him with back on Chikyuu. It had been much more powerful than that of the other humans' weapon. "Perhaps you should check on her…hourly. Report back to me if there is any trouble."

"Yes, Ouji-sama. One more question, Prince Vegeta?"

"Out with it."

"If she is using your quarters, where will you stay?"

"In the second largest quarters, of course."

"But your highness…" Kakarrot sighed resignedly and saluted Vegeta before turning away. "I'll go move my things into Celdras' room. And perhaps I'll bring an extra pillow. The man snores louder than an army marching in tin armor." Vegeta smirked at the man's disgruntlement and turned back to the view-screen ahead. They would be on Derouse within a few hours, and Vegeta sincerely hoped Frieza would be late from the intergalactic council meeting he had planning on attending. Frieza would most likely be perturbed when he arrived. Vegeta still didn't know why Frieza even bothered to be part of the intergalactic alliance. He knew Frieza was planning to systematically destroy all of its members in order to expand his empire, so why even carry on the pretense of peace? He was sure Frieza had the man power, not to mention his "pet Saiyans." Whatever Frieza's reasoning, he obviously didn't enjoy his dealings with the council, as Vegeta had grudgingly observed from the palace dungeon each time an angered Frieza returned from meeting with them. He would have to be quick about taking the girl to the caverns and even quicker about visiting the storerooms and getting out before anyone suspected anything. If for some reason he couldn't get her off-planet, he would have a bit of difficultly trying to get her supplies on a regular basis, but it would not be too problematical. She could live quite comfortably in the cavern for months, years even, if he were sneaky enough. He could picture her awaiting his weekly arrival with supplies, embracing him as he entered the warmth of the fire-lit cavern, her hair shimmering in the orange light, his name falling from those soft, full lips…

Vegeta abruptly stopped his train of thought. He didn't even know her name, yet here he was, already planning a future with her. She would be off-planet as soon as he could make possible. And after that he would never see or think of her again. "Out of sight, out of mind," Vegeta mumbled to himself. Sighing, his thoughts reluctantly drifted back to the smooth skin of her legs and the delicate curves that had so keenly caught his attention on Chikyuu. Damn, this was going to be hard.

Next Up: Vegeta and company arrive on Derouse. Will Frieza be there to greet them? Find out in the next chapter.