Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Feeding Genius ❯ The Commanders Ball ( Chapter 13 )

Feeding Genius

Chapter Thirteen

Disclaimer: Yes, I don't own it. *sobs*

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Trunks did not want to leave me. It is so thoroughly annoying how clingy he has become. It as not as if I have ever encouraged the sentiment, but I suppose it must be some natural instinct, ingrained on him from his mother's genetics. I wonder how it will affect him in later life. Part of me has a foreboding that it will be his undoing, but another unfathomable portion does not wish it chased out of him as it was with me. Feh! Why is this parenting thing so goddamned confusing?

Such idle thoughts! I will have to stop thinking on the child, especially when I have so much more important things to focus on. How bizarre! I can almost be persuaded that the constricting of my stomach is more than just hunger pangs. It almost feels the same as when I am heading into battle. A mixture of anxiety and adrenalin all muddled into one. Only the woman could possibly elicit such disorder in me. This is drawing on the preposterous. I should not be experiencing this. It should not affect me in this manner. I am a warrior.

In some vain manner I pull the fabric of my gloves a little higher in an attempt to quieten the turpitude of my mind. It is not as if the woman will be there - but then again she might. Damn this! I have to stop thinking. It's far too dangerous… impeding judgement and clouding my ability to reason.

I am outside the large quarters that encompass the commander's vast rooms. He has an entire level of this pathetic station to his own and I confess that I am a little disgruntled that those whom chose my quarters should consider his ease higher than mine. He is powerful, that much I can sense, but nothing in comparison to me. I let out a chuckle… in all fairness, who is?

There are several guards stationed outside the large metal doors, accompanied by a large figure, dressed in one of the higher-ranking uniforms for the stations security. The guards move to an alert stance as I near, the large projectile weapons they are carrying, trained on my torso. I smirk at them, and flash a hint of ki as they approach. It does not make the weapons lower, but I relish the fact that they come no closer.

"If I were you I would call the muscle off." I say to the other larger man who has not moved, and whom I recognise as an attending at my arrival at the station. "I do not want to have to socialize, with their blood on me."

He moves from the door and not losing eye contact with me tells the guards to stand down. "Vegeta Ouji. We were not anticipating your attendance."

"Obviously." I snort.

He is quick to smooth over the affront. "The commander will be happy to have you attend."

"Of course he will."

"Protocol demands that all weapons are left at this point."

I chuckle, "Then you are in an unfortunate position," I look at his lapel, "Lieutenant, because I am the weapon."

He doesn't look sure how to take my words, but after a tension filled pause, steps to the side and bows, gesturing to the door. "Have a nice evening Ouji sama."

"I'll try not to." I reply, walking nonchalantly on.

The room I enter is large. It is decorated in a familiar fashion, befitting to any creature that has gained rank and seniority in the military. There is a large crest of arms on the far wall, with guards attending the flanks. Long windows line those to the side and give a very open aspect to the entire room. The flickering of the stars adds to the ambience of the room, and compliments the dimmed manmade light. The number of creatures that have already made their entrance is the only down point. It gives a sense of confinement to me, no matter how open the room is.

I swallow down the disgust, and shoo away the servant that instantaneously appears by my side, though not before I have taken the drink that he offers. I think I might need the intoxication the brew will give before the evening is over. Sipping on the cool liquid I look around to see if I can see any familiarity in the faces of those attending. I am relieved to see that there are only a few I recognise, and only one that I would wish to socialise with.

Maek Suh is in the corner, speaking to some acquaintance that I do not recognise. Her figure is striking, no doubt owing to the achievements she has made in the martial arts. She carries herself well, with all the dignity and pride that is her due. The man she talks to could almost be described in the same light. He is tall and has good build, which suggests that he is adept in the martial arts himself. He looks as a warrior should, the prominent scarring which crosses over his right eye adding more weight to the assumption.

Of all the rest I can only discern those that greeted my arrival, but I presume that the figure clad in a gleaming red and gold uniform at the head of the main table is the commander. Formality dictates that I should wait for someone he is familiar with to introduce me, but I am not a creature that is directed on such frivolities and so ignoring my old master, for now, I head in the commanders direction.

I stop two yards in front of him, ignoring the fact that he is in deep conversation with a pretty, yet obviously vacant and feeble female.

"You are commander of this station."

He looks angrily up from the female, obviously annoyed at my intrusion. "That is correct." He says and not knowing to whom he is speaking, turns back, leaving a snarl in my direction.

I can feel my blood boil. "I will let that affront slide for now," I rasp dangerously, "Because you do not know with whom you are dealing, but let me set your mind at ease, that if you ever show such disrespect to me again I will have great pleasure in ripping your testicles off and serving them to your whore on a silver platter. Is that understood?"

I chuckle, deep and low. That got his attention. He looks back to me, confusion on his brow. "That is a bold threat…" he looks at a loss to place me.

"Vegeta Ouji." I snarl.

He grows three shades lighter, and quickly whispers something into the female's ear. She leaves very swiftly.

"You know me now." I smirk.

"Yes Vegeta Ouji. I apologise for my disrespect. If I had known with whom I was speaking…" I send him a withering glare. "It will not happen again." He assures.

"It better not." I reprimand.

"I hope you're enjoying your visit to my humble space station. The rooms I made available for you are to your liking?"

"They are adequate, but I think these would have been more to my taste."

He gulps nervously. Fool! Can't he tell I'm just messing with him? I frown. Won't anyone on this monstrosity (with vocabulary enough) deign to show some backbone! The conversation had started well and I find I am disgusted with so much simpering compliance.

"Enough with the small talk." I chastise, suddenly in a rush to get this encounter over with. "I did not come here to socialize I have a reason for seeking you out."

"Just let me know what you want, and so long as it is in my power it will be yours."

"All I need from you is information." I look around to make sure no one is going to interrupt or is close enough to listen in. I cannot have the onna's name associated with mine any more than is necessary. The threat it could hold for her is immeasurable, and very real. "I need some information on a Chikyu-jin that I have reason to believe has been resident on the station sometime in the past three months. Her name is Bulma Briefs. Do you know of her?"

His face is unchanged, but something moves in the glint of his dark brown eyes. Intriguing. It appears her name holds some emotion over him. I wish I knew better how to decipher it.

"Well…?"

"Yes," he replies. It almost seems as though he is reluctant to say more, "I know of Miss Briefs."

"So I am right, she has been here. Tell me how you know of her?"

"I know of every trader on this station." He states simply, "I have to approve every applicant. It is part of my job."

"I already know that she has set up an outlet here."

"She is president of the Capsule Corporation. I am led to believe it was a very commercial and viable business on her home planet up until recently."

"So I believe." I add, in an attempt to get rid of the sickening bit of conscience that will let me feel guilt in association with the 'up until recently' part of his speech. Damn it! This is not the time or place for considering my share of blame! I still can't see the wrong in my actions that she would attribute. "I am not interested in the business. I wish to find her."

His eyes sharpen slightly at this, and he runs a hand thoughtfully through his short dark hair. "If I may Vegeta Ouji…" he begins nervously, "Why do you wish to find her?"

"That is none of your concern. Is she still on the station?"

He runs a hand over his eyes. "You're putting me in a very awkward position. It is against station policy to give out details of its inhabitants."

"So she is still here."

He curses under his breath. "Yes." He admits. "She is here."

My patience is all but worn out. "Tell me where I can find her!"

"Vegeta… I…" He takes a step back.

"Tell me!" I demand more persistently, pinning him to the wall by the neck.

A collection of the more assertive guards rush to his aid, but I turn and bring my free hand to face them, pointing a finger and firing a ki beam through one of the soldiers knees. I point it to the next guard, and quite rightly he stops dead in his tracks. The rest follow suit.

"It is my job to protect those on the station. It would be unthinkable for me to give her whereabouts out to you." The commander sputters.

I lean in closer. "That would be very correct of you commander, if it were not so grossly misplaced. You see you have two options available to you as of this moment. You can forget your stupid position as head of this space station and give me the information I need…or…" I smile manically. Now no longer restraining my anger I let a couple more ki beams escape my fingers. Each one is carefully placed to inflict the most suffering, without actually causing immediate death. "Or you can keep to your precious protocol and watch your soldiers bleed to death in front of you, and however many more it takes before you comply with my wishes. It is your choice to make."

I curse silently to myself. I got too caught up in my anger. Now the whole room is watching. I have to be careful how I proceed I cannot let the reason for my violence be known.

"Tell me…" I whisper, "but raise your voice and I will have no option other than to rip you to shreds."

His face is as pale as the glove that squeezes his windpipe for inducement. "She…" He gulps for oxygen, "She resides on level forty-two, in suit number thirty."

"How do you know so certainly?" I threaten in a whisper, not relaxing my grip. "There are hundreds of traders on this station, you cannot possibly know them all. You had better not be lying to get rid of me."

"She…" he replies in a similar hush. "That is… I have… come to know her as a friend… please… please don't hurt her."

Instantly I let him go. He falls to the floor, taking large lungs full of the oxygen that was denied him. "There." I say pulling my shoulders back and crossing my arms over my chest. "That wasn't so difficult now was it?"

As my senses reign back onto the right path I realise that I needn't have worried about being overheard. The screams of the injured soldiers a few metres away would have more than covered our speech. I look down on them, relishing their cries. It has been too long since I last bathed in that sound. I flash a glance at one of those not injured. "I would get these men to regeneration tank as quickly as possible if I were you. I give them ten more minutes at most."

Not sparing a glance backwards I walk away. "Thank you for a very entertaining evening commander." I chuckle. Picking up a glass from a now abandoned table, I down the contents in one, and leave the room.

I make it halfway along the corridor, before the ki expulsion I was expecting, glances over my skin. "What took you so long?" I snarl, as the apparition of my old master phases into being in front of me, blocking my path.

She glowers at me under heavily made up lashes. "Are you going to tell me what that was all about?"

"No." I retort pushing past her.

"I didn't expect you would, but I'm guessing there's a woman involved somewhere. Right?"

"You don't know what you're talking about. Now leave me alone. I'm not in the mood for this shit right now."

"Who is she?" She asks, not listening to my plea to be left alone.

"That is none of your concern."

"So it is a woman?"

Shit! I hate it when my rage gets so out of hand that I lose my ability to think straight. I don't reply.

She runs to catch me up. "Trunks' mother?"

I stop my course, putting a hand forcefully over her mouth. "For fucks sake be quite woman. Do you have any idea who could be listening?"

She nods slowly and I remove my hand. She gestures me to a room aside from the main corridor. When I am satisfied that we will not be overheard I speak. "How did you figure it out?"

"Trunks was talking to me about her after the class had finished."

"He told you, or was persuaded?"

She shrugged her shoulders, "A little of both."

"And what are you planning on doing with this information? Sell it to the highest bidder?"

She just glares at me. "I'm not that stupid Vegeta. I do actually value my life."

"Well it had better stay that way, because if so much as a whisper of this gets out I am holding you responsible!"

"After your performance back there I doubt it will remain a secret long Vegeta, that is why I had to follow you. Did you see the man I was speaking to when you first entered the room?"

I nod.

"That was Faylorn. I don't trust the man as far as I can throw him, but I know his senses are acute as even yours. It is probable that even through the commotion he heard your exchange with Commander Teash."

I fall back against the wall. The wind knocked from my body. "Shit!"

"Precisely. I'm not sure what he is up to, but suffice to say that he is not a fan of yours Ouji…"

My blood thumps loudly through my veins, making me insensible of the rest of Maek Suh's speech. All I can think of is that if he overheard, not only does he know that Bulma is important to me, but more importantly… where to find her.

"…Are you listening to me?"

"Shit!" I expostulate, my ki flickering dangerously over me. "Fuck!" I turn to Master Suh, "Get Trunks from the crèche and me at my quarters in thirty minutes."

"Wait Vegeta, where are you going?"

I yell, expelling my ki onto the floor, propelling me into flight. "To find my wife!"

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A/N - Well things are getting interesting now. See you soon for the next chapter.