Feeding Genius

Chapter Twenty

Trust's Dilemma

Disclaimer: Dammit! How many times do I have to say this? *Mumbles* Vegeta and DBZ aren't mine! There… are you happy now you've reduced a grown woman to tears? *Bawls*

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The screen goes blank for the third time in the last ten hours as my father keeps me up to date with his progress. I'm not sure what to do with myself. I can feel the emotion as it shakes through my fingers, travels over my arms, turning the apex of my shoulders to tumble onward, and explode across my chest. I try to stand but my legs feel weak under me, wobbling and forcing me into my seat once again. Aching to give a release to the powerful onslaught of emotion that has overcome me since his first communication.

My hands dig into my scalp. My breath seems to choke in my throat and I can't exhale fast enough to tame the feeling. Tears pool, springing from nowhere to roll down my cheeks. He's alive. That's all I have been able to focus on. He's alive and he's close to home, but this isn't the end to the nightmare, no. I have to think straight. I can't let the emotions I have been sinking under for the last week get to me any more. I have to be active, have to think through the emotion.

Clearing the drops from my eyes I sit myself upright, looking out of the window and at the stars which guide my way to Mantion. I'm overwhelmed by their sheer scale and eternity. As I watch them, studying their constellations and basking in their heavenly light, realization strikes me. It is strong and sobering, showing me there is still a long way to go before this is anywhere near resolved and that I have to act quickly.

It lets me see through all the troubles, the unknowns, and idioms, and that I actually have a massive dilemma to face.

Do I stay with Vegeta when we reach planet, or do I go to earth and help in the search for my beautiful little boy? I feel torn. I'm only one woman and yet my heart yearns to be in both places at once and with equal force. Dad said I should stay with Vegeta and that he'll get in contact with the Son house and take things from there.

He reassures me that Gohan is the most powerful warrior on the planet and that with the help of Piccolo, Krillin and Yamcha it won't be a problem finding Trunks. Of course I know better. There is something about this whole situation that doesn't settle well in my tummy.

It's Faylorn. He is the untested quantity, the variance to the whole equation that could send it spiraling into disaster. Just because Trunks is on earth doesn't mean that he is free. Faylorn doesn't know about the chip imbedded in his body. It would stand to reason that he could move freely around the universe without fearing detection, and eerily plausible that he could be hiding out on earth.

From the shots I have seen on the grainy station video system, he is of humanoid appearance, almost Saiyan looking with pronounced eyebrow ridges and a powerful looking, athletic body. He could easily pass for being human to the ignorant eye.

I want my son back, more than anything in the universe, but that doesn't mean I'm willing to send my friends into a possibly explosive situation like that, blind. I mean shit! Look what he did to Vegeta. Gohan may have been stronger than Vegeta at the Cell Games but he hasn't done any training since then. However much I want it to be otherwise, I have the unsettling feeling it would be damn near suicidal for Gohan to take him on right now. I have no way of ascertaining how strong Faylorn really is and it's that which makes me impatient to learn more about him and right now there is only one person who can give that information to me. Master Suh. I need to speak to her and I need to speak to her now!

With the flick of an index finger I turn the vid-screen back on, select the call destination, and wait. Trying to calm my breathing I tap my finger nervously on the panel, hoping the repeated motion will somehow miraculously speed the process up.

"Yes?"

He hasn't even looked up. Damn that man works too much!

"Nice to see you too Rian." I huff.

He looks surprised, his eyes glancing to the side once before fixing on me. "Bulma!" he exclaims. "I wasn't expecting to hear from you. I told you if I had any more information I would call you."

A hand touches his shoulder, male and gloved. Rian looks busily away to the shadow behind his chair, and I can just about hear, "We'll speak about this when you're less busy," croaked from unfamiliar lips.

He nods curtly, "As you wish," and then his attention is completely given up to me.

"Sorry," he apologizes, "but you know how it is… now how can I help you Bulma? Have you reached Mantion already?"

"No there's still a couple of hours to go. Have you spoken to Master Suh yet?"

"No…I…"

"Good!" I interrupt, not wanting to hear his reasons for not doing something he promised me he would. "I need to speak to her on a secure line, something's come up… some new information that could be very important. I need to ask her about it, can you arrange for me to do that?"

"What new information?"

I look up with a raised eyebrow. His voice was suddenly very direct and urgent, something I have not heard in him before, but his face is still the complaisant calm of always. "That doesn't really matter right now. Can you do it?"

He leans in closely to the monitor, his head hanging low, "You know I'd do anything for you Bulma so long as it was within my power, but I'm afraid I can't do that. Master Suh is no longer on Glea."

"What…? Where is she?"

"We don't know, and that's what worries me. By all accounts she left about an hour after you and Vegeta did. The doctors in the regen lab said she stormed the room as was her usual morning habit, but became extremely angry when she was told Vegeta had been discharged. Apparently she knocked a staff nurse unconscious when the poor girl wouldn't tell her where he'd been taken. Unfortunately the information was given to her by a security med in fear when she threatened him with castration. A couple of loud explosions rocked the station shortly after your departure in the lower docking bays, and on further inspection it was found that the airlock had been completely melted out, along with the arm of one guard, and to the disablement of two others. She took Vegeta's space pod. We traced it as far as we could, but seeing as the technology isn't fully integrated into our system yet, about all I can tell you is she headed north."

"North?" My head is set in a whirl with this new information. "But that's in the opposite direction to Vegeta and I… "

"Precisely!" he says with greater importance. "If I was to take an educated guess I'd say she's heading to Earth, but don't worry. We've sent out some of our best ships to intercept her."

I feel a chill skitter down my back. Rian is looking nervously from side to side.

"Look," his voice is dead quiet. "I didn't want to say anything before, because its true that I knew her connection with your husband, but I can't let it go unsaid any longer. As your friend it is my duty not to let you be deceived in this way. Master Suh is not to be trusted. You… Vegeta, you only know part of her past. She's a manipulative woman, Bulma. The ice-jin rule changed everyone and not necessarily for the better."

"By all accounts she had a rough time of it. After Vegeta-sei was destroyed King Cold took her. It was a time when beauty was much sort after, and a creature with the looks desired and the stamina essential for the ruler's pleasure was hard to come by. Much of her time during those years was spent on the Cold home-world, abused and forced into prostitution in order to survive. Now I can't say for certain how it affected her, but you can bet your ass it didn't make her a well-adjusted woman. You have seen her penchant for gossip, she makes no disguise of it. It has been said that she's a spy. I've been investigating her for a while now. It's possible that her companionship with Faylorn during his visit was more than just a valuable source of income."

"What are you saying?" I whisper, even though I know it won't be overheard, "That Master Suh could have something to do with Trunks' disappearance. That she was in league with Faylorn?"

"Calm down," he soothes, but my fingers still disobey him, clutching the desk panel almost to breaking point. "I'm not saying anything with any certainty, but you must admit that it's a big coincidence. Especially with how little she was injured during her fight with Faylorn. Vegeta was beaten to within an inch of his life and yet from the doctors report the ki beam that was fired at her was placed with such precision as to completely by-pass any internal organs."

Dammit! Won't this shit ever end? Just when I get the tiniest glimmer of hope it just as quickly swims away! "Fuck!" I curse, not knowing what else to do. "Rian… why didn't you tell me any of this before!"

"I'm sorry Bulma. It wasn't my place to shit on her character when no good could come of it. I thought I was doing the right thing, giving her the benefit of the doubt. I didn't want to be so cruel as to make her desperate if her intentions were good. As for after the incident - I couldn't say anything because it was part of an on-going investigation. I… I'm sorry."

I shake my head numbly, "I still… I still think you should have warned me. I…"

"Bulma…"

"I'm sorry Rian I can't cope with this right now. I'll call you back when my heads a little clearer."

"I understand. Keep an open mind, Bulma, but be careful."

"I will be."

Not having the power of cohesion I turn the computer off before he can answer. With the weight fully back on my shoulders I set the autopilot and slink back down the staircase and to the beautifully deadly Saiyan, still lying there hauntingly under the spell of drugs.

Carefully I climb on the bed next to him, picking up his hand and resting my cheek on it. Vegeta would have a fit if he knew what I was doing with his body without his permission, but I don't care. I need to feel some comfort, some slim reassurance that things aren't as desperate as I'm beginning to believe they might be. I'm hoping that through that large calloused hand, the Saiyan that is unconscious will suddenly rise to my need and give me the boost of power I need to get through this.

It doesn't.

I sigh replacing the limb where it originally rested. Instead I look over his strong features with completely drained eyes, running a thumb along his broad forehead. "You asshole." I chide, but the only feeling it bursts with is affection. "What would you do, huh?" One thumb is replaced by an index finger as I let it glide over his strong cheek, "If I go back to earth what can I do. I've got no strength. You Vegeta… you're the only one that can do this. You've fought with Faylorn, you know Master Suh." Tracing his jawbone, "I don't know what's going to happen, but… I can't wait for two hours to find out. Trunks needs you now. I need you now."

I close my eyes. My courage is high and I know what I have to do. "Please come back to me Vegeta." With more urgency my fingers now hurriedly traverse his arms. Taking one huge breath and holding it, my fingertips come to rest over the drip in the back of his hand. Curling them around the plastic I turn the valve and take the tube away, instantly stopping the sedative.

I can feel my heart pounding strong against my ribcage. Kami! Please let this be the right thing to do! If he wakes up hell bent on destruction I have nowhere to run, no one to help me, and no desire to try and defend myself from him. My body aches with apprehension and dread as I sit and watch. It will be a while before the sedatives wear off enough to make him conscious - half an hour, maybe more. I will stay with him.

Beep.

I ignore it. I don't want to move.

Beep, Beep, Beep…

I let it call for over five minutes, looking for the slightest of movement in Vegeta's features. Waiting for the first signs of consciousness returning.

The beeps still invade my comfort. It could be important. I don't want to leave Vegeta, but it could be dad telling me he's found Trunks' exact location. I check my watch. Five minutes won't hurt.

Laying a kiss on Vegeta's warm forehead I leave again to answer. As soon as I reach the monitor I know something isn't right. I can't tell where the communication is coming from and the encoding is… alien to me. Part of me says I shouldn't answer, but curiosity gets the better of me. Who in the hell can it be?

Intrigued I press the button.

"Well finally!" a familiar voice chides onto the screen and at once I can feel my body ice in anger and fear. "Didn't your parents teach you any manners child? I've been trying to call you for the last ten minutes. A girl of your age should really know how to respect her elders!"

I can feel my defenses sprouting up, firm and determined, my lips quivering in anger at her reprimand. "Master Suh!" I accuse.

"Of course, who were you expecting? I have the feeling you have a lot of questions for me, but at the moment I'm not in the mood to answer them. I'm just calling to let you know I'm on my way to Earth. I have reason to believe Faylorn is there."

"Of course you do!" I spit, "After all wasn't this what you two had planned? I don't know what you have against Vegeta, but I'm telling you right now that if you so much as step foot on my planet I will gladly let my friends kill you."

"Oh!" she exclaims with a grin, "Is that a fact. I don't see that happening."

"Yes it will. Gohan is just as strong as Vegeta. He'll beat you senseless the moment you land."

"I doubt it."

I snarl at the camera. There isn't even a trace of feeling in her words. No guilt as to how she's treated and betrayed her pupil.

"From what I hear," she continues, "Gohan is nothing more threatening than a ki whipped mommies boy, but don't worry I plan on changing that."

"Gohan is a good and kind person. Something you wouldn't know about, but rest assured, he will do anything to protect his family and friends."

"That is what I had hoped." She smiles, but her eyes sharpen in acknowledgement. "I see. It's ok my dear there's no need to act like a wild animal around me. I already know you have spoken to the Commander. What did he tell you? Not to trust me - that I'm dangerous and probably in some sort of negotiations with Faylorn?"

I am rendered silent.

She smiles, "Look child. I may be blunt, and I can't deny doing some pretty low things in my time, but I am not the only one. You love Vegeta, even despite his faults, you see through them and to the real man that is underneath, effortlessly forgiving him for a time when he was lost to madness. I do not expect you to do the same for me. No one is faultless in this universe, at least not those that lived under the Ice-jins tyranny. We all have been affected, tainted, and we all have demons we wish to lay to rest."

"Don't try that shit with me! I'm not going to be fooled by you any longer. You know it's really low bringing my affection for Vegeta into this. You're just trying to throw me off the scent because Trunks is on Earth and you want to get there before I find him. Isn't that right? For your information Rian did tell me to be wary of you and I plan on being just that. One pathetic speech isn't going to change the fact that I don't trust you."

She closes her eyes and nods her head in acquiescence. "Trust me or not as you will, Bulma. It doesn't matter to me. But I am going to Earth and I am going to do what I believe is right. Take care of Vegeta and tell Rian that I will snap his neck next time we meet." She paused for a second before sending me a look that previously only Vegeta had managed to equal in intensity, "And Bulma… if I were you I would spend more time fretting over those that appear to have no faults than to judge those so harshly that do. Remember that."

With that, and with those piercing red eyes fixed meaningfully on me to the last, the screen goes blank.

"Bitch!" I snap, smacking my fist onto the keyboard in frustration. How dare she! How dare she say things like that? "Fuck!" I knew that woman was trouble right from the off. I mean shit! Why didn't I listen to the little warning lights going off in my head when I first saw her! I knew she was bad news but no… I had to give her the benefit of the doubt. She deceived me by giving me a glimpse into Vegeta's childhood; blinding me with his nostalgia and making me think she was his friend.

What did she think she would accomplish by threatening my friends. What had Rian ever done to justify her wanting to break his neck? During my stay I saw nothing but his affluent generosity and kindness. How dare she accuse him, how dare she try to turn me against him!

I give into this anger for a good ten minutes, me calling her every derogatory name under the sun. Finally my anger abates and my hot temper falters into exhaustion and the beginning of a migraine.

Slowly I get to my feet, ready to find some kick ass pain-relief tablets before they're rendered useless. A loud thump, however, draws my attention away from my pre-planned course. It comes from the lower deck and as if to confirm its reality it's quickly followed by "Fuck!" growled in a low masculine voice.

Eyes wide and pulse racing I forget about the impending migraine, and in an instant I'm running towards the bedroom. As I get closer a chill rush of air blows against my face and I stop, suddenly realizing what it means. That is all the preparation I am given. The rush of air ceases. All I can see is a blinding white light that shakes the ship from the bulkheads up, and spills through the open top of the stairwell. I can't stand upright. The force of power plucks me from the floor and flings my body backwards, crashing me into the metal hull.

The only thing I can think is, "Shit! I'm going die!" as I feel the impact shatter through my body. Then… against a numb and distant pain, everything goes black.

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AN - Ok… here comes another fork in the story. I need your help to decide the outcome. I have three possible POV's to choose from for the next few chapters. I could continue in Bulma's POV, switch to Vegeta's, or even do a short stint as Master Suh. What do you think? Please let me know.

*hugs*

Ember