Disclaimer - I don't own DBZ! *pouts*

Chapter Three - No Stone Left Unturned

Fatigue drove the nerves, but under a sleep that should have been as welcome as any envisaged, there wasn't anything close to the calmness it promised. Black silk sheets, which usually lay undisturbed in the occupant's almost trance induced slumber, were now being ripped to shreds by the violence of an unrequited hold. Sweat gleamed in the demi-light, entering through the open window, and flowed to add extra debilitation to the creature wrapped up in their depths.

With a start Vegeta's eyes were flung open, his whole body tensing as the waves of nausea ripped at his stomach. In a rage of forgetfulness his ki burnt its impression onto the small room, blackening the walls and completely disintegrating the bed that had cradled his dreams not five seconds ago.

There was a moment of confusion, a haze filled anger that rushed with his blood as the dream still invaded his thoughts, the images that they brought, blanketing the reality he was living. Vegeta found himself trapped in a state somewhere between wake and sleep. His senses were alert, but his mind had yet to catch up and palliate the memories it brought.

A passionate scream managed to strangle its way through tightly clenched teeth, controlling the situation and scolding his body into reality. In an instant the arms that had been pulsing with the strain of muscles tensed to breaking point were relaxed, automatically replacing the agony of anger with a welcome sigh of relief.

Blinking a couple of times to clear his head, and rolling his forehead in the comfort of open palms, Vegeta finally became cognisant of the situation, peeping through his fingers to see the destruction he had unwittingly created. What remained of the curtains fluttered away from the open and miraculously undisturbed glass windows, and blew a gentle breeze across his heated and sweaty body. Cursing under his breath, he sucked in the cool air as it gave extra relief to his over strained nerves.

There was no escaping it! What a complete fool! As if sleep was going to help! Nothing ever helped, and sleep hadn't been a comfort when he was completely at ease with himself, let alone right now.

Leaving the starkness of his room behind, Vegeta felt the unabated urge to get outside and headed for the small first floor balcony and the reprieve it offered. He had known that however much his body ached, sleeping was not right, he had declared so not four hours ago. The night was his time. Sleep during such precious hours was impossible. The darkness of a star filled sky was the only view that brought him, if not some mediocrity of comfort, then at least some normalcy. He had lived in space for so long before arriving on this small planet, and he found it especially disturbing that the daylight was as alien to him as the whole essence of her race was.

Purposefully he slung one leg over the side, his upper body leaning back against the curved walls as he balanced gracefully on the iron railings. It was only now that he realized how low the temperature was, but he didn't mind, even when the flaring of his ki wasn't enough to keep the frosted air from seeping through to his skin. Instead he held his chin high and defied the cold to revel in the clarity it always brought.

The landscape before him was a sight that he had become unnervingly familiar with, but the peace of mind he sought still couldn't be obtained. The domed structures of the Capsule Corporation compound, stretched out neatly in front of him, tucked in with precision to fit with the rest of the Western Capital City infrastructure. There was, however, one of the rounded structures that (despite being purposefully avoided in the beginning) couldn't help but draw his attention with more acumen with each passing second.

Vegeta had promised himself that he would remain distant, not making anything more of the moment than would be consistent with his normal disinterestedness, but under some sort of spell, one that repeatedly invaded all sense and logic, his eyes were bound to the gravity room. There they stayed, narrowing into slits of consternation as a pale flicker of light, seeped out from the circular windows and eased its gentle glow on to the darkness around.

It was out of his hands now, but it wouldn't stop him from wondering what exactly she was watching at that minute. There was a feeling, which despite all of his carefully regulated walls of impartiality, still managed to inflict an impression. It wasn't regret, fear or conscience, but more akin to resignation. The resignation that once again the Prince of all Saiyans would return to reap the ill rewards of his demonic ways, and yet again be seen through the eyes of an innocent.

There was a stubbornness to Bulma's character which was as dangerous as it was beautiful, and he had seen it from the earliest moment of their acquaintance. In the beginning there had been fear, a very real fear, he could smell it on her body whenever she was near him, despite the façade she masked her face into, or the smiles that she lavished in his direction. He could see through them all, and it had pleased him, but it wasn't to last.

If only it had, because after that fear, came the reality of his empty threats and as soon as they were tried to exhaustion, the fear was replaced with something he had been wholly unprepared for… curiosity. Not a simple passing interest, but persistent questions that shook to the very roots of his composure. The tune of her mind had been completely swamped by the mysteries that his background had captured. The thirst her brain had for information, neglected its normal routine of the inanimate, and turned instead to the revelations and complexities of his mind.

If the truth be told then Vegeta wasn't as angry or repulsed at the questions as he portrayed himself to be. There was something in her behaviour towards him that he liked, and perhaps this was why he had tried and still continued to push her as far away as possible. The questions she asked were of a nature that could not be answered without giving a large amount of his guilt away and so he had preferred to remain silent.

Unfortunately this only succeeded in doing one thing, blanking her mind from all reality and allowing her to make up one of her own. She piled all his misgivings on Frieza's shoulders instead of where they should lay… his own. Blindly she forgave him, because of course Vegeta hadn't wanted to do all the despicable things that Frieza had ordered. No, to her mind it was incomprehensible that he might actually enjoy killing. So here he was, the Prince of all Saiyans, forced into the mould that she had carved for him, and now that she had strapped all her human emotions onto his character, it was high time that she stopped deluding herself.

He had seen the flashes of emotion in her eyes before, it was as though she was desperately searching for some sign that his past hadn't been as bad as he made out and that it was all some big misunderstanding. Despite his protests to the opposite she had still clung to his actions being a result of Frieza's culpability. Then it came, the day when his patience had worn out. It all came tearing up from the gut because he couldn't take it anymore. Almost in passing she had referred to him as her friend. Friend…the statement had been so ridiculous that he had burst out laughing.

His words would perhaps by the end of the night be enough to haunt him for the rest of his life and he could remember them with crystal clarity, "You are no friend of mine, you are friends with what you want me to be - but this friend of yours, Bulma, is imaginary. It's a creature of you own making, and you can sculpt and mould it as much as you want, but it will never be me. There are only two things I regret; one that I died by Frieza's hand and two, that I never achieved my wish for immortality. The blood on my hands, the lives lost in my search for the power to take Frieza or any other opponent down, they mean nothing to me - I enjoyed experiencing it. I was forced in my servitude, but that does not mean I did not sometimes take pleasure in it."

He had seen the shock in her eyes but had continued nonetheless.

"Your emotions are embarrassing! Do you think you would be sitting here today, feeling them if the Z senshi had not been able to stop me? No… because I would have made my wish to the dragon for immortality and destroyed this whole fucking planet along with you and your precious multi million zeni ass, without a second thought and completely independently from any orders given to me from Frieza. I came to earth of my own free will. I killed because I wanted to, when the fuck are you going to understand this?"

The look she had sent him was full of astonishment and dawning realization, and she had continued staring at him until at length the deception that she had been living under for several months, came crashing down. The words seemed to give her mind the direction it needed, and he had regretted them as soon as they fell from his lips because the life that usually shone in her eyes when she looked at him had disappeared. It was at that moment he realized just how much he had fucked up.

It had been two weeks ago since he had said them and from that day she had been, if not distant, then at least guarded in his presence. She had purposefully stayed away from him and there it had started, the tiny hint of emotion that sparked determinedly within him. He couldn't lie to himself, he had always found her attractive, but at that moment full awareness hit. He actually missed her attentions, had partially enjoyed her delusions because they resulted in an interest that no one had bothered to take in him before. His body had told him that he missed the occasional touches of affection she bestowed on him. The way her mouth curved into a smile when he entered the room, or how she would purposefully lay into him, just so she could get a rise and flicker of emotion to stir through his body.

His words were enough to distance her forever, and when she had asked for the key card, her inability to face him as she asked had been confirmation that her Halloween party had shit all to do with anything. The fact that her body had experienced a brief relapse was mild relief, but not enough to make him change his mind about letting her watch his actions. The absurdities that they were both feeling demanded that she see it, then maybe he could leave these startling revelations about his own body's insubordination to rest once and for all, and to forget that the thought of her body pressed up against his own had felt so damned right, and perhaps the worst of all…good.

The iron underneath him dipped, and he cursed his own musings as his grip on the metal bars loosened, allowing them some leverage before they suffered the same fate as his bedchamber. However much he hated the fact that she would see him at his worst, he had to suffer it, because there was no way he could stomach the thought of her liking him so blindly. His resolution stuck firm, it had been the right thing to do. Reluctantly he made peace with the fact that he wanted her, but not under a cloak of disillusions. She had to know once and for all what she would be letting herself in for. He could not be easy with anything less.

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The night waned on, and with every passing second Bulma's unrelenting interest was being pushed to the very limits of its composure. She knew full well that it was all a result of her own inquisitiveness, but that didn't make any of the things she had seen fall any easier into line. In the last few hours she had witnessed more destruction and loss of life than she could have possibly envisaged. Vegeta hadn't relented at all in the subsequent tapes. Every landing had its different strategic interest, nothing had been safe from him, no stone left unturned. Fuelling depots, weapon plants, prison planets, warships, training camps, they had all suffered the same fate. Most of the planets had been largely left in tact, only the core areas feeling the Saiyan's wrath, but others had not been so fortunate. His total tally of destroyed planets on the trip had equalled three. Two had been extremely small, with barely enough habitat on them to support the life they held, indeed one of them hadn't even been that.

Charolian had been little more than an orbiting asteroid; only the most technically advanced of force fields had secured its rich Tamoria mines to the rock that was being relentlessly quarried for the rich ore streams. By this time Bulma was in as fair a way of hardening her heart as Vegeta could have wished; she had cried her tears dry through the first five tapes, now she sat in a stunned but strangely calm stupor. She had been especially attentive during Vegeta's speech on this raid though, as it promised well for the new propulsion system her father was currently working on. By the sounds of it, the fuel could revolutionize the future of space travel and exploration, if only they could culture stores of it themselves.

The third had been completely opposite to the others. The size of the planet could easily have dwarfed Jupiter in comparison. It was the most immense thing she had ever seen, the light didn't reflect off it, more like dissolve around it. Even the twenty odd moons that surrounded it seemed to stand in celestial awe of its presence. Unlike the other two, which Vegeta had merely orbited around until he could power up to extract the brute power required to big bang attack them into another dimension, he had actually landed on this planet. He revealed a side of himself that she had always seen potential for, but would never have believed he had tried and perfected so carefully. It was that of the diplomat.

After the ship had set itself down, and with the camera rolling right from the start, the planet's Ambassador had met him. The creature had certainly been an oddity. Its obese body was lathered up into what little grandeur a profusion of aging robes could muster; the fur-lined underhang of its face was peeping conspicuously out from the ruffled neckline. Vegeta had been very cordial as the weird creature ran off a list of ceremonious bullshit, and enquired of him if Frieza had sent him because he was unhappy with the production rate of multi-phasing laser cannon, adding with great sharpness that he would need to be sent more slaves if the order to the Vanarlian nebula were to be ready in time.

Vegeta had been very quick to assure him that this was not the case and that he was there under no instruction of Frieza's. He let the creature know in no uncertain terms that the contract was void anyway. As may be expected there was a certain amount of astonishment as the universe's true situation was relayed, but Vegeta seemed to have the skill to waylay any fears quickly and precisely, throwing in a request to meet with all the differing dignitaries of state within the next two days to discuss their future role.

There had appeared to be a certain flicker of fear in the eyes of the ambassador, which Bulma instantly realized was an unspoken understanding between the two of what would happen if his request was not swiftly granted. This understanding was eventually voiced and the tape had skipped several days. When it restarted Vegeta was no longer on the planets gaseous surface, but inside what appeared to be a very old wood clad room. Touches of forgotten elegance gleamed in gold and red rosettes on the ceiling, but realistically the main focal point were the rows of upon rows of well-dressed dignitaries that lined the wooden gallery.

Vegeta stood in the centre of a raised stage-like platform, with an intricately carved lectern as the only furnishing to give the eye direction. There was a multitude of whisperings and after clearing his throat a couple of times in vain, Vegeta was forced to fire a small ki beam at the ceiling to get attention. It succeed with honours and not one of the members dared to speak a word, despite the fact that this meeting was now alfresco.

Now he had everyone's undivided attention he spoke. "Ladies and gentlemen of the Jororian combined government. This speech is going to be short and quite definitely to the point. As, no doubt Ambassador Gorlrian has informed you, Frieza is dead. It is not the point of this meeting to discuss the matter. It is merely to let you know your own situation. As Frieza's main weapons outlet, my interest of course is extremely piqued in this planet. There are two options available to me, one is to let you keep on producing and to leave you undisturbed to find another investor. This, I agree, might well be a reasonable solution to the problem you are facing right now, but it does not suit me. I know your allegiance to Frieza was strong; just because he is gone, does not mean that his empire is lost. Cooler and King Cold are equal forces to be reckoned with and as such, I cannot let A grade weapons of mass destruction fall into their hands. So you see this leaves me with only one option. Destroy the planet, before it comes back to bite me in the ass."

Gasps could be heard from every corner of the room, and Vegeta allowed himself a dry chuckle at it. From the back, well hidden from view, a small voice drowned out the noise and asked the question that was foremost at all of their minds, "If you plan to destroy us, why set up this meeting?"

"Because simpleton, not even a Saiyan elite is completely safe from A grade weapons, those damn things sting when fired at range. Also the planet is too large to destroy in one go."

"Why destroy the whole planet, surely you need only to destroy the weapons facilities!"

"Don't play me for a fool! I know full well that the factories on the surface are only decoys. I might well have planned my attack differently though if I had not done my full research. Project Anekea is an interesting concept. I must admit that despite the crappy name, the files made pretty good reading. The underground weapons and testing facilities of Jororia were especially compelling. How unfortunate for you that you inhabit such a dead hunk of rock, no mantle, no core, just cave systems that wind their way completely through it, housing all the armouries imaginable, because it will mean your entire planets destruction. I am not, however, an unreasonable Saiyan. I am giving your pathetic hides a fighting chance. On this visit to space I have not the time to hunt for either Cooler or King Cold. I will give you all two hours to get off the planet, so that you can let them know who is responsible. Now, before you all start plotting and collaborating to each other I want you to understand two things, one that I will not allow any other than single pod unarmed spacecraft to leave, and secondly that this entire session has been taped in full support of the Samorian United Alliance, and I think you all comprehend why?"

The ambassador turned with quick speed his face paling. "We understand and comply with all your wishes Lord Vegeta. The Jororian council thanks you for your mercy."

In mock gallantry Vegeta returned the bow, only to right himself, pulling his shoulders proudly back and letting a stream of energy fly from his fingers, which easily pierced the ambassador's skull, creating a shower of gore which splattered colourfully against wood cladding.

"Your thanks has been noted, but I am no longer a lord of Frieza's empire, I am a prince, and as such demand the respect of my true title. You!" he pointed to the creature that had spoken before. "I recognise you from the Anekea file. You are the chief weapon designer. You will accompany me to Samoria."

After these words the tape had gone blank, only resuming to show the several pointed ki attacks, each begun from exact angles, triggering a chain of explosions that would ultimately prove the giant planets destruction. Vegeta's voice was as clear and precise as always. "Jororia has been neutralized, the threat removed, and the lead scientist captured. Next destination Samoria, to meet with the first council and show them that I have succeeded in the task at hand."

Again the tape went blank, and with more than a little irritation from Bulma, it had stayed that way. It had been the last tape available to her, and she had hoped to have been permitted to see his visit to Samoria, but it seemed as though Vegeta had not needed to tape that meeting. It was logical therefore to presume that his trip to Samoria had been his last before returning to earth, and that all the footage up to that point had something to do with the reference he had made to the Samorian United Alliance.

It was totally infuriating, like reading a truly engrossing book only to find that the last chapter had been completely ripped out. There was no way that Vegeta would willing give her the information she craved, and so there she was, stuck with all these conflicting theories and the more she tried to piece them together, the more twisted and outlandish they became.

Then something clicked in the back of her mind. The personal files she had avoided looking at before. Wasn't it possible that he had mentioned his true purpose in those, rather than the openly displayed footage? It was an intriguing idea, and certainly one worth looking into. Carefully she pulled herself up, her previous ethics completely demolished as she sought the files, deliberately avoided before. Nervously she clicked on one of them.

For a moment there was nothing save the whirring of the computer as it processed her request. Bulma could feel the anticipation knotting in her stomach, but she was doomed to be disappointed. It appeared that Vegeta had experienced some foresight with the importance of his personal logs and instead of allowing her straight access to the files, the computer demanded that she enter a password.

"Shit!" she expostulated, ramming her hand down on the keyboard, "Son of bitch!"

Vainly she tried entering an assortment of passwords, ranging from 'Vegeta' to 'Stupid fucking monkey prince' in her desperation for the information promised in them, but all to no avail. Her frustration grew, as her mind clawed for the meaning of it all.

As for Vegeta himself, it was hard to tell exactly how she felt about him now. Her mind was in complete disarray. She wanted so badly to hate him for all the destruction and suffering he had caused, and it was clear that he wanted her to as well, but there was this nagging feeling at the back of her mind that still persisted. Didn't all his motives have a good foundation? Surely taking out the very heart of Frieza's empire was a logical and reasonable step. In fact it showed an insight into his mental awareness that the rest of the Z senshi had missed. They had not fully appreciated the repercussions that may well be inflicted and the shock waves the death of such a tyrant as Frieza would create, but Vegeta had. Carefully covering his tracks so he would not have to face anything so formidable again.

The reference to a creature by the name of Cooler had come as a surprise, and concern. It was obvious that this being had close connections to the Frieza family if not being a member of it himself, and although she knew King Cold had been appropriately dealt with, Cooler it appeared had not. So many loose ends… so many untold connections. How was she ever to sleep easy again?

Sighing in resignation and finally feeling the shrill pain of pins and needles that raced through her legs she admitted defeat and turned the central computer off. Looking at the small clock positioned to the left, the time now read 6am and as if to confirm this a small orange glow of autumn morning sunshine slowly defused through the curved glass windows. As it did so a determination sprung through her chest. Vegeta would not get off so lightly. He could not show her all of this and get away without letting her know why he had taped it all. Despite the tiredness that seeped through her entire body she would find him out at the first appropriate moment, and she would make damned sure that he would tell her all that she needed to know.

****************

For the past two hours Vegeta's position had remained unchanged. His interest was solely engrossed in the gravity room, the exhaustion his whole body was a victim of, was not allowed to give precedence over more important matters. He knew that he would not be able to avoid her when she eventually emerged. The pointed stubbornness he had contemplated earlier would not be put aside. The fascinating female would more than likely demand the answers that would be tearing through her mind, to be related to her the instant she left, and for once in their acquaintance he had no wish to ignore them. Their whole understanding from this point on would depend on it, and even though it might mean the loss of something that was indecipherable to his hardened countenance he was determined that she would at least hear him out.

He wasn't destined to wait long. Not many minutes after these musings fluttered through the mind, his sensitive hearing captured the well-known hiss of the gravity room door opening on the breeze. His eyes sharpened with precision onto the female as she made her graceful exit, his pulse beating double as the adrenaline and apprehension swirled through him. She stayed still at the foot of the ramp and closed her eyes, taking in the early morning freshness, her body shivering at the drop in temperature. When the moment was over her eyes opened, and the cerulean orbs wandered, looking pointedly up to the house. It didn't take long for her gaze to fall on him, and he returned it with equal vigour, as neither could find it within themselves to look away.

Vegeta was the first to break it, and easing himself from the railings, floated down to stand in front of her, his arms crossed haughtily over his chest. "Did you get all you needed for your party?" he inquired sarcastically.

"Um… I guess." She answered, but it was clear her mind was on something completely different, and this was realized as a rush of composure settled over her features, "You have my promise that I will not use any of it." She continued. "I never intended to."

"I know." Was all he offered in reply.

"Oh."

"Well now that's all settled," Vegeta continued, disliking her silence, "Was there anything else you wanted?"

"Vegeta…" her head tipped up letting her eyes bore into his own, "Please, I need you to tell me what happened on Samoria."

"I understand," he replied simply, "but I am no orator; let us go into the gravity room and I will show you all you wish to know."

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A/N - Happy Halloween! (I'm sure that expression doesn't fit lol anyways…) When I started I had hoped that I would post the last chapter on Halloween, but it seems as though I will have to write one more. The next chapter will be out in two weeks time. Other commitments mean that it can't be any sooner. Until then I hope you enjoyed this chapter and if you have a spare few minutes then go check out my website at http://www.angelfire.com/anime4/ember I have completely overhauled it. My B/V fanmanga is now on there in order and up to part 50, also I have completely upgraded the fanart section, with nice new thumbnails and separate sections for both my sketch and CG DBZ artwork! Until next time… stick a fork in me, it's been grand.

*huggles*

Ember