Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Full Spectrum ❯ Homecomings ( Chapter 14 )

Special thanks to my muse for this chapter, Pixelgoddess. She kick started my butt and got this fic moving again.

This chapter was beta read by the wonderful katlynne - and a what lovely job she did! Thanks sweetie!

*blah* = italics

Full Spectrum

By Ginia

Part 14
Homecomings

Vegeta's deadly glare leapt from the wall screen, which now revealed a countdown timer, to Yamcha's stricken face.

"I didn't know! How was I supposed to know that thing was some kind of body-snatcher?!" Yamcha's face blanched as Vegeta stood, eyes still locked on the only target still within his reach.

"Come on Vegeta, we don't have time for this," interrupted Goku stepping between the enraged prince and his intended victim. "Piccolo, Tien! Push some of that stuff over here! The first load is leaving NOW!"

Within seconds they were laying one hand on various pieces of equipment and the other on Goku's outstretched arm.

"Vegeta! Grab hold of one of those cabinets, we need your help on this." Moving to cooperate, Vegeta never saw Goku's small smile as he turned his back towards him, requiring Vegeta to place his connecting hand on the larger warrior's back.

The IT delivered them onto the open grounds of CC where Goku simply stepped away from Vegeta's hand and IT-ed the rest of the team back to the ship. Vegeta stared at the empty space furiously, fully realizing he had been manipulated and once again left without a target for his anger.

The second load arrived only moments later, some of the items with wires still swinging from the force of having been torn from their wall mounts - since even damaged equipment had more potential to yield information than anything blown to bits with the rest of the ship.

As Goku made a third and final solo trip to the doomed ship to grab whatever he could, Vegeta began his own hastily made plans to protect his family. He almost smiled at his current condition. While definitely not ready for a spar, the adrenalin of the countdown to destruction had given a beneficial boost to his body's attempt to clear itself of the drugs. He was finally thinking clearly - at least he hoped he was.

"Piccolo," he said, "you are the only one of these weaklings with the guts to pull this off. With Brietoth still alive I'm more dangerous than you can even imagine. I'm locking myself in the GR. Don't let anyone in. If I set foot outside it - kill me. Don't hesitate, don't question me, just do it. You won't get a second chance. Do you understand?"

Piccolo looked at him for a moment then nodded.

When Goku returned moments later it was to see Piccolo and Vegeta walking towards the GR, Yamcha and Tien solemnly staring after the pair. * * * *  *  *  * * * *

Goku and the others walked down the silent corridors leading to the protected bunker that held their families and friends. He could have IT-ed them inside but a few minutes peace seemed to be silently accepted as the better choice. Goku rubbed his eyes as he thought back over the past few minutes… Had it really only been 5 or 6 minutes since Tien had brought Vegeta into that computer filled room? He sighed, but didn't say anything when his companions glanced at him. *  *

As soon as 'strange things' started happening topside, Professor Briefs had of course, been notified. Regrettably, since he had been *forbidden* by *Chichi* from leaving the bunker - all he could do for now was fidget around the infirmary while he waited the arrival of his newest project -err- patient. He had no idea what condition Vegeta would be in but from what Bulma had told him there were some amazing technologies involved.

So the professor waited… after all, he was responsible for everyone still in the infirmary and couldn't just go gallivanting off. Just ask Chichi, who had (unfortunately) recovered the quickest from the effects of the gas. To keep her from driving him crazy with her insistent demands for 'something to do' he had put her 'in charge' of the other patients' care. He hadn't planned on putting her in charge of himself as well - but *try* saying no to Chichi…

Professor Briefs was pacing near the door when the three men entered.

"What happened?" He asked. "Where's Vegeta? Didn't you get him out? Did Piccolo stay topside?"

Every face in the room was pinned on the men and, as if a switch had been thrown, Goku's face lit up as he caught Bulma's worried eyes.

"We got him, Bulma!" Goku beamed while rubbing his neck nervously. "He wanted to stay in the GR for the time being… uh… Piccolo is staying with him!"

"Goku - Why would he do that? He should be here in the infirmary or the hospital wing… What aren't you telling me?" Bulma asked as Goku's smile faded.

"Tell them all of it, Goku." Tien said quietly.

With the failure of his attempt to put a positive face on the day's events, Goku's frustration began to leak into his voice and movements.

"Vegeta killed Brietoth. As messed up as he was, he still killed her. Only he didn't. She-he-NO - *IT*! *It* was some kind of body stealing monster. When Vegeta killed the first body, it just waited until it was alone and then… then it moved into another available body. We didn't know it was Brietoth in a different body until after it had gotten away." Goku ran his hand through his hair. "We saved as much equipment as we could out of that room but… Bulma - When Brietoth escaped he - I mean *it* set off the ship's self-destruct. What we saved is all there is left to work with."

Bulma took a deep breath and shuffled this new information into what she already knew.

"This isn't all bad, people. From what she said and what I saw, Brietoth used implants in the body she occupied in conjunction with some kind of master control system to manipulate Vegeta's implants - to attempt to control him." She smiled at the dejected Saiyan. "You guys took away her master control system - her ship, *and* her remote system - the implants in the body she was occupying. You bought us time. Maybe a lot of it."

"The real question is - Will Vegeta give me the time I need to help him?" Bulma's smile faded as she asked the question that had just occurred to her. "Goku, why is Piccolo with Vegeta?"

Goku opened his mouth but closed it again, unable to share the information he had received. Bulma was right. Vegeta might not give them enough or even *any* time.

"Piccolo's up there guarding the door to the GR because Vegeta believes the only way he'll come out is under Brietoth's control. He's asked Piccolo to kill him if that happens." Tien grimly answered for Goku. * * * *  *  *  * * * *

Vegeta knew that Brietoth had only been inconvenienced, nothing more. Whether in days or years, the damn monster would be back and if the implants weren't neutralized first - he would be used to destroy… everything. The best way Vegeta could think of to avoid that end result was, at least for the moment, to stay at a safe distance from everything he cared about… which was also an option he no longer had.

Vegeta surveyed the condition of the flight deck and once more considered the sanity of Bulma's father. When Professor Briefs had announced, several weeks before, his plans to upgrade the guidance system of the ship also know as the GR, Vegeta hadn't thought that much about it. Bulma's upgrades were always precision works - quick and too the point. Her father's…? The wreckage spread before him could be better described as a disaster zone than a work zone. So much for leaving the planet until Bulma could get the equipment out on the grounds sorted out.

Moving his inspection to the galley, Vegeta wasn't any happier. The current food stores would last maybe a few days, maybe a week at normal training levels - he could stretch it to two weeks if he went on minimal rations. At least fresh water would not be a problem. The GR was currently hooked up directly to the compound's water supply since Bulma deemed it 'unnecessary' to fill and maintain stored tanks shipboard until they needed to be prepped for flight. Vegeta smirked and confirmed that the tanks were actually full and in pristine condition - Bulma's fresh water hookup kept her happy and let her foolishly think she had that *little bit* of control over when he went off world… which brought his thoughts back to the condition of the flight deck.

If he had to stay planetside, the GR was the best place available for him - but he would need considerably more supplies than he currently had. Once, all the improvements Bulma had made to the GR had made it seem nearly indestructible - at least for him - but not any more. The GR alone would not be adequate to contain him if he were to power up in an *uncontrolled* manor. Vegeta found it a very strange sensation to resent finally having the strength he had always desired *just* because it could pose a threat to his *family*. His tail flicked behind him as he sat down and began writing a list of his requirements, both for daily supplies and for the new devices Bulma would have to develop. As specifically as possible Vegeta described the hated things, what he knew of their technology, and what he had seen and experienced with them under Frieza. * * * *  *  *  * * * *

"This isn't enough! Remote procedures in the GR are unsuitable for the type of testing this requires, Vegeta! I need you in the lab!" Said Bulma in exasperation.

"We've already discussed this!" Vegeta snapped. "Your lab is unsuited for any measure of safety for the kind of full function testing you want! If you want another drugged session, Kakarot can supervise again but without those Ki suppressors, I will NOT return to the lab while conscious!"

Shouting at each other through monitors was not accomplishing anything except adding more strain to an already stressful situation. Having Goku IT back and forth between the lab and the GR applying sensors under Bulma's careful guidance and Vegeta's baleful glare could only accomplish so much. Taking the equipment to the GR was a good compromise but without Bulma being able to personally oversee its use, the limits of those benefits were fast being approached.

The two stared at each other stubbornly for several moments before Bulma looked away and sighed. "OK, I know… I know." Turning to Goku she continued. "Goku, why don't you go get some lunch and then we'll work on the suppressors again in about an hour." After Goku left the room Bulma turned back to the monitor and Vegeta. "I really don't see how I'm going to make something in a reasonable size, you'll probably get stuck wearing a backpack or something."

"As long as it works - and it's not pink… or orange." With a straight face, Vegeta cut the connection. * * * *  *  *  * * * *

Even though Goku had not participated in the raid that had resulted in Bulma and Trunks' rescue, he had been tracking the group's progress using their Ki patterns. Vegeta's 'demonstration' had been of particular interest to him since it showed his fellow Saiyan to be stronger than Goku had realized and from the way it had cut of, he was convinced that Vegeta had not fully powered up. Added to that discovery was the information that Brietoth's goal - at least one of them - was to increase Vegeta's strength as drastically as possible in a minimal amount of time. And Bulma had said they'd had Vegeta long enough for quite a few of those strength inducing 'procedures'. While part of him would be very happy if Vegeta finally gained the strength he had always wanted, a larger part was worried by this turn of events and was more than happy to help Bulma develop her Ki suppression device. Just-in-case.

The decision to have the Son family stay at CC was even approved by Chichi - considering the last attack was at their mountain home. This allowed Goku to spend *almost* as many hours as Bulma wanted working on her projects. Nearly two weeks had past since that attack and things had settled into almost a routine. Using Goku's approximation of Vegeta's power level as their starting point, Goku and Bulma worked to find a way to 'contain' Goku's energy. Preferably one that wouldn't explode if overloaded - like all the prototypes so far had done.

Bulma nearly swaggered as she led the way to the field where they had moved their tests after the first one had nearly shaken her mother out of bed. Goku was a little confused as he looked around. It was obvious she was excited but by what? There was nothing here for him to hold or wear like there usually was; there was just the regular array of shielded equipment for Bulma to monitor the test with. The only new items at all were six brick shaped boundary posts…and a large white 'X' painted on the ground.

"Um, what's up Bulma? Where's the new thingy I'm going to test for you?" Goku asked.

"After I went to bed last night it hit me - I wasn't doing my own type of research on these Ki suppressors I was re-doing Freiza's." Bulma stood with her hands on her hips and a huge smile on her face. "Let's be honest, I'm a genius, so why was I making myself crazy trying to recreate something to someone else's specs? I got up, shelved everything Vegeta had given me about Frieza's technology and started over. My way. This will work and it will get Vegeta into the lab - or at least part of the lab - *today*. I can increase the load efficiency, if needed. Since I put this together I've even had several improvement ideas. I can develop a unit that can be worn from *this* prototype, I *know* I can!"

Bulma beamed as she directed Goku to stand on the 'X' and began adjusting her equipment. "What I want you to do, is to start out slowly. Simply try to raise your power a bit…"

"Now?" Goku asked, stretching his arms in preparation, already infected with Bulma's enthusiasm.

"NO!" She yelled. "I'll tell you when. I just wanted to let you know what to expect!"

"Oh… Sorry… What do you want me to do?"

Bulma sighed as she continued her final adjustments. "It's alright, just stand there for a minute… OK… Now…" She looked at Goku expectantly. "*Very slowly*… start to power up."

Nothing happened. Goku was trying to power up - he could *feel* his energy gather but - *nothing*. He looked at Bulma in amazement. "I'm trying, Bulma…"

"Try harder Goku! Really try!" She exclaimed.

Goku broke into a sweat as he strained against the unseen forces Bulma had created for several long minutes. When he finally yielded he was slightly frustrated that he had not defeated another of Bulma's creations but satisfied that this would contain Vegeta if necessary.

He smiled at Bulma. "I think you have a winner here, but I doubt Vegeta would stay on an 'X' if he were under Brietoth's control."

Bulma smiled right back at him. "Try to leave the area."

Goku's ego was just not meant for any good news today. Try as he might the simple drawn lines between those posts might as well have been impenetrable walls. There was nothing there and yet there was. The harder he pushed, the harder the invisible something pushed back - at one point knocking Goku flat on his ass.

Now pissed and frustrated, he was more than ready for Bulma's next request. "Just one more thing to try, Goku. Shoot straight for Super Saiyan."

Damn. Bulma 3, Goku zip… this was just not starting out to be Goku's day at all. * * * *  *  *  * * * *

Now that Bulma had a working Ki suppressor, she needed to convince Vegeta it worked well enough to get him into the lab. That would require setting up a demonstration in the GR. Again Goku set up everything to be remotely handled by Bulma from her lab. Again Vegeta scowled and Bulma directed. Again there was a shouting match… and it wasn't pretty. Goku did his best to ignore the pair as he set up the boxes at the corners of the design that had already been laid out.

"How can your Ki restraint work if it doesn't even touch?!" Vegeta stormed. "I *told* you the basics of the damn things, what more did you need? You've had two whole weeks! You're always claiming to be such a damn genius, are you telling me now that you were too stupid to build a proper Ki restraint device?"

"First of all, this is a Ki suppressor, not a Ki *restraint*! It operates as a *suppression field* - a completely different technology from that cruel stuff Freiza used! PLUS it happens to be an enormous improvement over what you described."

"I'll believe it when I see it. I'm not going anywhere until I have full confidence in the equipment that will be *suppressing* my Ki." Vegeta said the word so callously that Bluma stamped her foot in fury.

"Oh, you'll believe it all right!" Bulma snapped. "I tested it on *Goku*! Not only did it stop him from normally powering up, it even stopped him from reaching *Super Saiyan*!"

Goku froze when he heard Bulma bring him into their argument. The last thing he wanted was to add more fuel to Vegeta's fire. It was embarrassing enough to remember the specifics of this morning's test without it being brought up in an argument with Vegeta… especially with Vegeta. Glancing towards Vegeta he saw exactly what he expected… a smirk.

"Is that so…" Vegeta's smirk widened as he caught the momentary flash of Goku's eye. "Well, maybe he was having an *off* day."

Ouch. That was worse than an insult. Goku quickly brought his attention back to finishing the positioning of the boxes as Bulma specified.

"Is this equipment set to its maximum?" Vegeta turned the conversation back to his immediate concern. "Can you make a device that can be worn? Working remotely in the lab won't be much of an improvement over working from the GR."

"I already have several ideas for improvements on this design. Using my own technology, I'm sure I can come up with a small unit that when worn will allow direct testing in just a few days." Bulma spoke calmly and smiled proudly at her husband, as if moments before they hadn't been yelling at each other.

"All the readings look good at this end. You ready Goku?"

Goku nodded and stepped clear of the design on the GR floor. Goku watched as Bulma went through the same initial steps with Vegeta as she had with Goku, playing silent witness to Bulma's triumph over yet another Saiyan. Vegeta cooperated for all of about three minutes. Then he started his own test. A test of destruction - either himself or the device. *  *

Once Vegeta had a general feel for the device Bulma had designed he ignored her instructions and positioned himself in the 'corner' facing Goku. Brietoth would not let breaks be taken for readings to be recorded and perhaps give the device a chance to recover - No - the monster would go all out from the start until something gave.

Vegeta closed his eyes and pushed at the sharply curved non-surface beneath his hands, leaning into the opposing forces of the corner gave him something to brace against so he wasn't simply pushed back into the center of the field. From this stable position he focused on his hatred of Brietoth and what the monster had put him through. Everything… the recent pain and insults she had dealt him, the threat she represented to what was his, even their encounters in Vegeta's distant past fueled his determination. He concentrated and fought to raise his energy. The stress of his effort was visible as every muscle bunched and rolled with his resolve.

"Vegeta! You can stop now! That's enough!" Bulma's cries might as well have been cheers of encouragement as Vegeta's visibly increased his efforts. "Goku make him stop before he kills himself! Please!"

When Bulma called to Goku for help, Vegeta's eyes snapped open - locking on the only other living Saiyan, his *subject*, his only true rival… the only one who could beat him. Fury anew washed over Vegeta and he let that feed the upwelling of energy he could feel just barely out of his reach.

Goku made no move towards Vegeta. He could only stare as the prince's previously concealed tail dropped into view and began snapping from side to side. He watched in awe as the eyes which were locked on his - eyes so full of hatred - began flickering from deepest brown to vibrant teal and back to brown again. And still Vegeta fought to free his power. Bulma's boxes which had been silent all morning, were now whining loudly. The box at Vegeta's feet was beginning to spark. Goku had no doubt, Vegeta was doing what Goku, himself could not.

When it happened, there was no loud explosion, just smoke and sudden silence.

"Bulma?" asked Goku in a hushed voice. "Is the monitor still working? You're going to need to boost those box things before Vegeta will come to the lab."

Smoking and sizzling, the cubes stood defeated at the corners of the outline. Back in the design's center stood Vegeta, panting and triumphant - finally a Super Saiyan glowing golden with his tail snapping behind him. * * * *  *  *  * * * * End Part 14