Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Project: Vegeta ❯ 3rd Mission: Impossible? ( Chapter 7 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

A/N: Another Week, another Chapter. Thanks again to all of you that have reviewed or added me to your favorites. You are the reason I write. This chapter is kind of an inbetweener, but fear not, we’re getting to the good stuff. Now, on with the show.

Disclaimer: The events in the following are true. The names have been changed to protect the innocent. Okay, we all know that’s not true. The characters are the property of Mr. Toriyama and a bunch of other lucky bastards. The events were just made up by some twisted weirdo. Namely Me.

Chapter 7:
3rd Mission: Impossible?


Clarity. In a split second everything changed, and Vegeta slid back, realigned. He was floating in a tank of salt water, and he could feel the effects of the injection receding, burning as they faded. The scent of the water stung his eyes. He could feel some of it dried on his skin. And he could stand.
The darkness was suddenly slpit by a blinding light and the creak of heavy metal being moved. He squinted his eyes as he rose from the water, standing on his feet cautiously. Above him, in the doorway he could see a shadowy outline.
“Vegeta?” a voice asked gently and he thought that it sounded odd. He couldn’t help but turn his head and put a hand over his eyes. “Take it slowly. Careful. You’re going to be fine.” He tried to look again, shielding his eyes from the painful light with his hand this time.
Bulma watched Vegeta squint up at her and struggle to get his bearings. She couldn’t even imagine how he must be feeling right now. She stepped down into the water and looked him over. “Vegeta, can you hear me? Are you okay?
Vegeta listen to the question, sounds and images coming together, making sense, forming words and... “Don be s-s-s-stupid, Woman. Of cours-s-s-se I’m not okay. You tried to k-k-kill m-me!” His lips felt like putty. Her face came into focus. She looked worried.
“I didn’t try to kill you, Vegeta. I fixed you. Come on, lets get you out of here.” He registered the pressure of her hand as it wrapped around his arm. She led him up the stairs. He let her. Once outside, on dry ground, she helped him into some kind of garment. It’s softness seemed very foreign to him. He still felt a little stunned.
Bulma tide the robe closed for him and then began double checking his vitals. Pulse was sluggish. Which was to be expected. Pupil dilation was only slightly delayed. His skin felt cool to the touch and a bit gritty from the water. It was all as she’d predicted. Looking into his face she studied him for a second. “How are you feeling now?”
Vegeta forced himself to get it together. He still felt drowsy and light headed. He recalled why he’d undergone that little bit of hell. “How long was I in there?” he asked, the words forming normally.
“Only a couple of hours. Things went really well. I think... well, I think it worked.” She sat on the edge of a tall stool. He looked around the room, grateful when the lab and everything in it made sense to him.
“How will we know?” he squeezed a fist.
Bulma shrugged. “As soon as you’re feeling better, I’ll just, you know, scan you, like I did last time.”
Vegeta looked at her sharply. “I’m feeling better now,” the last word came out almost a growl.
Bulma’s look of concern deepened. “Are you sure, Vegeta? You should probably give it a few. That was quite an ordeal. I can’t even imagine...” her voice drifted into nothing at the look Vegeta gave her. “Okay, I’ll get the scouter.” She tried to remain calm. She walked around the desk and pulled the head piece from the drawer. She’d made sure she’d remember she’d put it this time. “Lets go outside.”
Vegeta led the way, his back straight despite the fact that he still felt as if parts of him were made of jell-O. If Bulma noticed him walking funny she didn’t say anything. Once outside she put the scouter on and nodded to a patch of bushes. “Let’s see what you got.”
Vegeta raised a hand, aimed, and fired.
The scouter beeped, the reading filling across the screen. It was a very long few seconds for both of them.
“33.7 exactly,” Bulma whispered. “Woo hoo! We did it!” She screeched, jumping up and down. “We did it, Vegeta!” She grabbed his shoulders as she continued jumping up and down. “Isn’t it just amazing!?” She smiled and stopped jumping.
“Don’t touch me,” he said feeling uncomfortable with the entire situation.
“OH, sorry!” She gasped, pulling her arms back as if she suddenly realized she was petting a venomous snake. Her smile faded for only a second, but it wouldn’t stay away for long. “But aren’t you excited? This means you’ll be able to go Super Saiyan now!” She kept smiling at him, searching his face for any kind of response.
Vegeta couldn’t put a finger on how he was feeling. He just felt different. Less angry but still confused. He could feel more of his strength returning, and with it a new intensity of power at his core. Something that burned brighter then before, as if he were now more alive then ever. He looked down at his hand, suddenly eager to test the limits of this strange new power. Without a word he turned and walked as quickly as he could manage. Every step was stronger, surer. In seconds he was back in the lab, looking around for his clothes. His training shorts were folded neatly on one of the desks. He untied the belted garment and reached out for them.
Bulma had followed Vegeta back into the lab. She’d barely had time to register that the robe was coming off in time to turn around before he was exposed completely. “What are you doing, Vegeta?” she was blushing a little now and wondered what had happened to his modesty.
“What does it look like I’m doing, Woman? I am going back to work.” He was dressed quickly and started for the door.
“But, are you sure that’s a good idea? Maybe you should just, take it easy for a few minutes?” Bulma was worried about the side effects her little cocktail might have on him and was hoping to keep a close eye on him.
“I didn’t allow you to put me through such a heinously uncomfortable process so that I could take it easy, now did I?” He sneered as he ripped the wireless diodes off his chest. Then he was out the door headed for the Gravity Simulator.
Bulma chased after him. She was pretty sure there was nothing she could say or do to change his mind, but she was still worried. “Okay, but, just... don’t overdo it, okay?” She caught up to him as he was waiting for the door to open on 2.1. She reached up and pulled the diode off his back.
He looked at her surprised by her assistance. He had expected much more resistance. Then he turned and walked inside. With one final smirk he turned to her as the door was closing. “Would I do that?” he asked her with a gleam in his eye.
After the door was closed Bulma stood there, waiting to hear it power on. “Yes, in a heartbeat,” she whispered. When the familiar whirl of electronics kicked on she returned to the house. She needed to call Goku and let him know it was okay for her parents to come back. She’d called him before and asked him to Instant Transmission them to his house for a while. She didn’t want her mother and father accidentally saying something about the Dragon’s summoning to Vegeta. As far as they knew they’d been invited to lunch by Chi Chi and that was it.
She had to explain a little bit to Goku about what she was doing. He knew she was going to make a wish. And he knew she wanted her parents away while she conducted an experiment to help Vegeta. He’d even smiled a bit when she’d told him about that part. She was relieved that he was okay with it. She didn’t know what she would have done if he’d refused to help her because of Vegeta. She should have know he would be fine with it, though. That was just the way Goku was. He wanted to help everyone.
An hour later her parents were back and Goku had returned to his training. It seemed everything was going to go back to normal. For everyone.



For the next few days Vegeta holed himself up in the GS again, not coming out for food or sleep or anything. After the second day Bulma had taken it upon herself to take food to him. He accepted it quietly and then shut the door in her face, going right back to work. His face had been a total blank.
Bulma told herself that he must be dealing with some pretty intense stuff and forced herself to let him do things his way. She went back to work on some new things that had come up with her dad. She helped him as much as she could, but her heart just wasn’t in it.
A week later Vegeta pulled himself away from the GS and shuffled into the house. He went to the kitchen for food and ate in silence. Bulma noticed the silence of the simulator and went to the kitchen to investigate. She entered cautiously.
“Hey, Vegeta? How are things going?” she made herself sound casual, but interested. She was met with a paralyzing glare. The rage that burned behind Vegeta’s eyes belied the blank expression on his face. She froze. She’d seen that look before. It was not a good sign. “What?” she asked, fear creeping into her voice. “What’s wrong?”
“Why would anything be wrong?” Vegeta spat as he stood. “Everything is just fine. After all, you fixed me, right?” The bitterness stung Bulma’s ears. And then he was gone, up to his room to sleep. Bulma didn’t dare follow.
And on it went. Vegeta had at least started coming in at night to sleep, and he was eating at least two meals a day, but he just seemed to be so angry all the time. Getting angrier by the day. His strength had increased slightly at first and he’d been able to increase his training to 800 G’s, but then he had quickly plateaued again. He had also failed to ascend. Still.
After everything the Woman had told him about his condition and the way it had limited him he’d actually begun to hope that it was really going to be as simple as a quick cure. He couldn’t believe he’d let himself be deceived by that lying imbecile of a woman. It was clear that she didn’t really know anything about him, or the Saiyan race. He found it hard to believe that she considered one her best friend and yet knew so little about them. Stupid bitch.
Day after day he pushed and pushed and nothing. It seemed even closer now then ever before, and yet still so far away. And he was losing patience. Everyday that he beat himself to a pulp he grew more and more exhausted. Physically, mentally, emotionally he was draining slowly.
Bulma watched Vegeta’s suffering increase. She was sure it was because he still hadn’t become a super saiyan. She ached inside at his pain and she yearned for a way to help. There didn’t seem to be anything she could do. Any attempt she made to get close to him, or do anything for him was met with a progressively colder resistance.
It seemed that, not only was mission 3 becoming more and more impossible, but missions 1 and 2 were quickly unraveling with each passing day. Mission 3 was get Vegeta to smile. Not smirk, not grin his evil grin. Truly smile. Bulma’s hope that such a thing were even possible was fading rapidly. She had always been one to thrive against impossible odds, but this seemed beyond even her. The only person that could possibly help Vegeta with his quest was the one guy that Vegeta would never ever go to for help. If it weren’t for his damned pride! She’d never met anyone more egotistical, stubborn, stuck-up...
The only way Vegeta would do anything was if it looked like his own idea. There had to be someway to get him the information he needed and still let him save face. She smiled as an idea began to form in her head.


Vegeta felt himself giving out and decided to call it a night. His muscles ached, his head hurt, and his stomach was empty. He powered down the GS and headed for the kitchen. As he walked down the darkened hallway he heard a voice. The Woman was apparently in the kitchen, and she was talking to someone. He couldn’t sense any other power source. She was probably talking on the phone again, it was something she did quite frequently. He would have barged into the kitchen to fulfill his sustenance needs and simply ignored the Woman as he’d taken to doing lately, but her next statement stopped him in his tracks.
“I know, Goku. It scares me a little how grumpy he’s gotten. I mean, with Vegeta, grumpy is relative, but lately he’s been really bad.” Her voice sounded... concerned. Probably for her own life. He couldn’t believe she was discussing him with that fool Kakarrot. “I don’t even know what it is that’s crawled up his ass this time, either. I’ve given him Kami-knows everything he could ask for. What has he got to be so fucking upset about?”
He felt the urge to run in there and strangle her, bashing her head into the wall and scream into her face just what he was so fucking upset about, but he forced himself to stay hidden and listen.
“And I think he’s really overdoing it with the training, too. I mean you never trained like that! You’ve always known that food and rest are just as important as the training and exercise. You’ve always been the strongest person I know. How do you do it, Goku?”
Vegeta wanted to scoff. That scum Kakarrot wouldn’t know the first thing about real training. He’d lost all his Saiyan conditioning when he’d hit his head as a child. He’d only ever done things the weak, pathetic human way. He didn’t know any better. He...
“Soothing hot baths and Massage?” Bulma asked. “I know I love a good long soak, but Massage? Is it really that great for you?” Vegeta stopped his mental ranting. What was this thing, Massage? He’d never heard of it before. Bulma continued after pausing to listen for several minutes. “Really? Wow, I would have never guess it could do so much to rejuvenate sore and tired muscles and rebuild tissue after a good work out. And the circulation enhancement. That’s really amazing, Goku.” Bulma paused momentarily and then laughed. “I think you’re right about that, Goku. It’s too bad Vegeta would never have the guts to try it. I’m sure it’d help him immensely. Well, that just makes it easier for you to stay on top of the list of Universe’s Strongest Warriors.”
Vegeta was fuming again. They were laughing at him! How dare they?! Who did she think she was, that Woman, discussing him with his greatest enemy, and all. And she talked about trust and friendship. He’d been right to think it was all a load of bullshit.
“You know, Goku, honestly, I’d do anything to help Vegeta. He’s just too prideful to accept help from anyone. I’ve tried to let him know that I would be his friend, if only he’d let me. Deep down inside I don’t think that he really wants to be alone. I’m just not sure he knows how to care about anyone other then himself. And he just pushes me away. I suppose I’ll have to stop trying eventually. I don’t want to make him hate me. And I certainly never intended to do anything but enable him to reach his goal. I just don’t know what else to do.”
Vegeta listened, not sure what to think now. “No, I know he doesn’t need me. Given enough time he can do anything. I see what a powerful, prideful prince he is, and I know he can be so much more. I just don’t want anyone to be that alone. It doesn’t have to be that way. But you’re right. I should just get out of his way. I’m sure I’m just a nescience to him.”
‘At last!’ Vegeta thought, but part of him heard the sadness in her voice and it... it didn’t make him feel good. Could it be that the Woman had been sincere this entire time. For whatever reason she honestly seemed to care about him and his success. It was madness. Obviously a sign of her infinite weakness.
“Well, thanks for letting me talk to you, Goku. Good luck with your own training. We’re going to need everything we’ve got for those androids. Okay. You, too. Good night.” she hung up and then sighed.
Vegeta listened for the sound of her movement and then hid himself in the shadows of the dark hallway. Bulma walked slowly out of the kitchen and then headed for the stairs. Once she was out of sight Vegeta continued on his way to the kitchen. Again he found his thoughts and emotions conflicted. He hated that the Woman made him feel this way. She should be nothing to him but a means to train and supply him with food. And yet, the fact that she seemed to be concerned with him made him pause. It made something in his chest stir. Such a strange sensation he’d never experienced before. And he was at a complete lack of knowledge on how to deal with this new development. He ate quickly and then retired to his room. To think.



(Next Chapter: We’ll find out if Bulma’s newest shenanigans work out the way she hoped...)