Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Revenge: An Earthling's Retribution ❯ Chapter 9

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

For Aquestra: Thanks for all your invaluable help earlier this week!!! If you guys haven’t checked out her awesome BV fic yet, you should! The Saiyan Ascension

For all those wonderful reviewers who always leave such encouraging words after every update and for the inspiring PM’s that keep me motivated! Thank you!!!

WARNING: BAD LANGUAGE, VIOLENCE, BLOOD AND GORY MENTIONS OF TORTURE AHEAD!!! READ AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION.

Chapter Nine

Frieza, the youngest son of King Cold, sat calmly in his hover chair that currently kept his short stature floating mid-air between his two right hand men.

A glass of the bloodiest wine was held almost gently in his deceptively small hands as he surveyed the Planet before him. ‘The time has come.’ He thought with an evil tilt of his lips that were darker than the red of his wine as he lifted the glass goblet to his mouth.

“So the King really isn’t amongst us then?” Dodoria, a fat blob of cerise pink, asked uncertainly. Frieza sighed as he was certain that he had already had this conversation with his two minions before. So Frieza held back the sarcastic retort – that was trying to slither its way out from the tip of his tongue – as he continued to eye his latest conquest on his way to Universal rule.

Dodoria may not have been the brightest star in any galaxy but his stupidity and willingness to follow Frieza’s every whim was what ensured his position at Frieza’s side. That and his incredible power and the pleasure he took from preying upon weaker beings with heartless enjoyment.

“No. They have obviously infiltrated our systems and not our kind. They only seem to know what we have on file.” Zarbon, a strikingly beautiful male answered Dodoria, his face set in a contemplative frown.

Zarbon was possibly stronger than Dodoria and he had the advantage of a sharp mind as well. Therefore he was allowed to stand currently where he stood, on Frieza’s left. Not that the side he stood at made him any less favoured than his pink companion. Zarbon also made Dodoria’s moronic ways bearable at times like these when Frieza was not in the mood to answer imprudent questions.

Frieza nodded in approval at Zarbon’s answer without removing his blood red gaze from his ship’s window. King Vegeta had made the dire mistake of reneging on his deal with the Ice-jin and had therefore made himself a dastardly enemy.

For years now Frieza had taken pleasure in outsmarting the monkeys and watching as their Empire crumbled around their ruler. However when Vegeta’s monkeys had started to outwit him at his own game Frieza had realised it was time to put an end to this. All the Ice-jin ever wanted was Vegeta’s co-operation in his military force, but no, the fool had chosen to remain independent in the Universe. And Frieza would not have that in his Universe.

When the Saiyans had begun turning his own game on him in the past year Frieza knew the time for games were over. He needed to wipe the Saiyans out from existence. They were a threat to his masterful plans of becoming the supreme ruler of the entire Universe and usurping his meddling elder brother once and for all.

And he had been doing pretty well until the Saiyans started to increase in numbers. Their strength almost unrivalled in their alternate states. Frieza would hate to think if the legends were true and their third state was more encompassing than the rest what influence they could have in his Universe. Something else he couldn’t have traipsing around without a firm hand around it.

There was only place for one powerful race in the Universe. Yet he couldn’t help himself in seeking revenge against the King because that was who he was. No one offended the Ice-jin, especially one weaker than him, and became exempt from paying for it.

Now the time had come for these idiotic monkey’s to learn the nature of his true powers.

Frieza sipped the remnants of his wine calmly before he tilted the glass towards Dodoria who took it instantly. “Inform me when you find him. Kill anyone who tries to get in your way.” Frieza could barely contain the unrestrained glee at the thought of bloodshed to follow and of collecting something he had been denied years ago. “Then I will deliver the final blow.” Frieza gave an evil chuckle of maniacal proportions as Zarbon and Dodoria verbalised their understanding before going off.

Frieza could feel it in his bones, today was going to be a glorious day.

~~~o0o~~~

Bulma could feel it in her bones, today was the day.

The day that Frieza finally struck. Well she could feel it as well as the damning information she possessed on the matter as well. Of course no one but herself knew this. She was a genius after all, and although she had shown Bardock how to interpret and hack into Frieza’s databases she had kept much information privy to herself alone.

She didn’t know why the Ice-jins and the Saiyans had this egotistical vendetta against each other but neither did she care. A year had passed since she had started helping Vegeta and now she knew the time had come to finally help herself alone. There was only one problem though. Kakarot.

What was she going to do about him? He barely left her side anymore after the incident with Vegeta. Even though, after much self-epiphanies and pep talks, Bulma didn’t plan on sleeping with Vegeta it was like Kakarot didn’t trust her to stay true to her words. Not that that would have posed any problems though. Vegeta had rarely been on Planet anyway. Immediately after that night, Bulma had learned that Frieza’s men were striking a pretty valuable galaxy under Saiyan rule and Vegeta had rushed off to intercept them. It seemed that the Gods themselves saw fit to keep them part. Not that Bulma was complaining about it, she had long since lost faith in Gods and so she let it be. It was something she could deal without anyway.

Ever since Vegeta had surpassed Frieza’s power level he had been blatantly challenging the Ice-jin by insulting Frieza anyway he could. Vegeta had taken the game to a whole new level. So Bulma wasn’t surprised to find Frieza’s mother ship en-route to Vegeta-sei.

The Saiyan Prince was on a war path and he was in his element. After four months of being off Planet he had finally returned, more smug and arrogant than she had ever seen him before. Whenever they were in the same room together the atmosphere basically crackled with the intensity of the vibes they emitted towards each other. Neither one of them had made any attempts to act upon the sexual tension that was as obvious as an elephant in the room between them though. Bulma knew why she didn’t want to engage in any liaisons with the Saiyan Prince but she was curious as to why he hadn’t made any advances on her.

Not that she wanted him to, she was just naturally curious as to why he was suddenly holding back. Vegeta was not the type of being who didn’t take what he wanted. And she was pretty sure he still wanted her. Even with all their new found insults and more vicious arguments. She was no fool, they were both acting, pretending. She had half prepared herself for him to summon her to him the moment he had returned and fucked her where she stood before him. Not that she wanted him to of course, it was just something she expected from the likes of the Saiyan Prince, and so she had prepared her rejection as well.

‘Yeah right.’ Her conscious snorted at her half assed lies about not wanting to make all those steamy dreams and fantasies about Vegeta a reality. They were pretty good thoughts though, she had to admit. But she’d bet her Planet on it that the reality would be a zillion times better than her pathetic wet dreams and daydreaming. Bulma sighed as she thought about Earth.

About a month ago Vegeta had re-purged Earth for her after much angry arguments and empty threats from her. It must have worked though because she had managed to steal a full report on Earth’s status before he had even given her the information. He should know by now that nothing ever escaped her notice.

However he had told her that under no circumstances was she to leave until he told her so. Or he would blow up that “mud ball” she so foolishly pined for. He was becoming greedy now and honestly she realised the only reason he had re-purged Earth was to pretend to be keeping his end of the deal. He had no intention of ever letting her go. Her value had increased tenfold with all the developments she had made on Vegeta-sei.

Bulma paced her room, trying to figure out how she was going to get out of this. She could shrink herself but that would mean she could only move at a snail’s pace in her reduced size. That was the only hindrance about her device. It only helped her to hide herself. She could use the shield against Kakarot but she really didn’t want to hurt him, especially after what had happened to Vegeta the last time. Plus she didn’t know how many Saiyans, and possibly non Saiyans, she would have to fend off and her wrist watch couldn’t produce more than five shields without running out of power yet. She had then contemplated sedating Kakarot but the thought of leaving him defenceless during an attack did not sit well with her. So she was at a dead end.

Bulma’s thoughts flew out her mind when the ground beneath her shook. “Shit.”

Just as she was about to run to her door Kakarot burst in. “Bulma.” He looked harried and nervous, yet slightly excited too.

“What’s going on Kakarot?” Bulma asked innocently as she raised an eyebrow at his excited demeanour. Ships had obviously just landed; enemy ships.

Ever since the night Kakarot had attacked Vegeta and held her in his almost bone crushing hug he had become withdrawn from her. He spoke less and smiled even lesser. She honestly hated the change but she couldn’t bring herself to ask him what was wrong. In fact she was afraid of his answer. She saw the way he would stare at her when he thought she wasn’t looking, or remain attached to her side whenever he could, even taking to sleeping on the floor of her room. Emotionally he had withdrawn from her, but physically he had become her shadow. Bulma sighed; he didn’t know what he wanted, no matter how much he thought he did.

Although part of her did wish she could feel that lust she felt for Vegeta for Kakarot. It would have been so much easier to want someone you actually cared about, but apparently that was not how pure lust worked. Her first friend in the entire Universe. And yet, she knew she was too late. An image of innocence flooded her mind with the doting faces of Chi Chi and Gohan as they looked up at Kakarot and Bulma immediately felt contrite about her thoughts. No, Kakarot did not belong to her and he deserved better anyway.

“We’re under attack.” Kakarot spoke almost gleefully and for the first time in months Bulma smiled genuinely up at him before she frowned.

“Kakarot.” Bulma shrieked watching as he flinched at her high pitched voice. “Why the fuck are you smiling at that?”

“Bulma.” Kakarot gently spoke her name. “I get to fight. Really fight.” He told her as if this was the best thing ever. Well for him, it probably was. He was a Saiyan after all.

Just as Bulma was about to chastise him his scouter beeped. Kakarot pressed at it to allow the incoming communication and Bulma clearly heard Vegeta’s gruff voice bark at him on the other end of the communication link.

“Kakarot.”

“Yes Vegeta.” Kakarot answered. Somewhere along the line of attacking Vegeta, possibly harbouring some enviousness for the Prince, and all those sparring sessions the two Saiyans engaged in, Kakarot had become more familiar with Vegeta.

“I am ordering you to take the woman and go into hiding. No excuses! Tell her to hide in the third eye. She’ll know where that is. You are not to let her out of your sight until I come to you. Is that understood?”

“But Veg – ” Bulma heard Kakarot’s protests cut off quickly before Vegeta growled menacingly at him.

“Do not disobey me you idiot. When all this is over, we may need the woman more than we know.” Vegeta didn’t give Kakarot a chance to reply before the communication was ended with an official beep.

In a rare show of anger Kakarot punched his fist throw a wall and Bulma jumped back slightly. At seeing the fear in her eyes he immediately ran a hand through his hair and sighed.

“I’m sorry Bulma. I just wanted to fight and be of help. I wanted to finally prove I’m good enough.” Kakarot complained. “I thought after the past two months of sparring with Vegeta he would have seen that.” Kakarot couldn’t believe he was still being punished for one failed mission when he had only been fifteen.

Bulma’s chest constricted for him. He was twenty now but he’d always be that little boy she had met at twelve. “Hey.” Bulma coaxed as she placed a hand on his shoulder, squeezing him before she rubbed his back soothingly. “Vegeta never said you couldn’t fight.” Bulma winked up at him as he frowned at her.

“But you heard …”

Kakarot was cut off for the second time that day. “He told you to take me to a hiding place and not leave my side. He said nothing about fighting.”

“But …” Kakarot was confused.

“I have a plan. Come on.” Bulma smiled as she tugged at his wrist.

~~~o0o~~~

Vegeta smirked as he tossed another dead body over his shoulder. This was almost too easy he thought as he walked regally towards his next opponent, undeterred by the sheer size of the giant before him.

Vegeta could tell that Frieza hadn’t chosen his strongest warriors to come forth as he himself was lurking in the shadows. The ice-jin was waiting in the Planet’s atmosphere, waiting to strike. Vegeta felt proud that he had managed to do what his own father had failed miserably in doing for years now. Drawing out the Ice-jin from his cold towers. And soon he would defeat Frieza too.

He was completely ready. The strongest warrior in the Universe, Vegeta, Prince of all Saiyans.

He watched from the corner of his eyes as Nappa commanded some men to spread out and do what they were all trained to do in these circumstances. Especially since he and his Prince were fairing brilliantly by themselves, not even breaking a sweat against the barrage of Frieza’s soldiers.

Vegeta deftly managed to overcome his opponent. The giant possessed more brute strength than speed or brains. The giant swung his club sized fist at the Prince who ducked low before ploughing his own fist into the giants gut. The giant coughed up spittle as he struggled to breathe. He cowered with an arm around his waist as he stepped backwards.

“Pathetic.” Vegeta sneered before he aimed a ki blast straight for the giants face, decapitating him in a flash of sparkling blue light.

Vegeta’s blood sang in his ears as the scent of blood and battle flooded his nose. He licked his lips, revelling in the glory of dead bodies and heart pounding war cries that could be heard all over the planet. Smoke billowed from all parts of the land and a steady wind kicked up sand around them. The heat beat down on their backs causing them to perspire their mortal glory from the exertion of their victories.

Yes, this was a beautiful tribute to his races history. Nothing had been so glorious in his life. Not even the time when some Tuffle scavengers had tried to take over his Planet and his father had allowed him to fight by the King’s side, against their enemies. As a boy he had been slightly unprepared for the reality of a small war but as a man he had spent enough time conquering other worlds to learn what to expect. But nothing, nothing had prepared him for the exhilaration and superiority he felt today.

That was until they dropped down before him. Two of the most opposite paired beings he had ever seen. One was hideous and fat and the other was pretty and sleek. Vegeta smirked, tapping his scouter as he read their power levels. Finally a decent challenge.

They looked extremely unruffled by the chaos that surrounded them, neatly landing on their feet as the sand picked up around them for a dramatic appearance. The pink one’s purple lips pulling in a disgusting smile as the blue one simply tucked some loose strands of his green hair behind his ear.

“What have we here?” Vegeta mocked. “Frieza’s right hand men. Zarbon and Dodoria.” Seeing the shock on their impassive features was enough to make Vegeta smirk as Bulma’s advanced scouter enabled him to pick up specific character analysis on any one of Frieza’s men he came across. It made his life infinitely easier.

“Why you little runt, what are you, psychic?” Dodoria asked. His voice was thick and scratchy, like the rest of his fat, bumpy self.

“No. Just the Prince of all Saiyans.” Vegeta stated proudly as Nappa came to stand beside him.

“Aww Vegeta, you weren’t going to have all the fun now were you?” Nappa mocked as he too pressed his scouter to get a reading on Zarbon and Dodoria’s power level.

“Of course not.” Vegeta smirked wickedly as he crossed his arms over his chest, standing regally with his legs shoulder length apart, his majestic physique rippling power.

“Not to worry Vegeta, your bald headed friend will have company soon enough.” It was Zarbon who spoke this time. His voice silky and rich and the only thing masculine about him.

Vegeta was pleased that they knew of him. Believing they must know of his incredible strength as well. Surely his name was synonymous with terms like power, strength and fear.

Zarbon and Dodoria where no fools, they knew that the Prince was extremely strong that was why Frieza had specifically asked two of his best men to find the him. Just as Zarbon predicted a group of Frieza’s men landed behind Nappa. All weaklings of course but they were clearly outnumbered.

“Nappa, you take them” Vegeta shifted his head towards the seven warriors who had just arrived. “Leave these two to me.”

“Of course Prince Vegeta.” Nappa cracked his knuckles as he charged towards his target.

Vegeta uncrossed his arms as he adjusted his blood stained gloves. When this was done he would get Bulma to create battle wear that didn’t allow blood to seep through the material and dirty his hands. No matter how fun killing was, his hands were royal and therefore did not deserve to be sullied by the blood of weak scum.

As Vegeta raised his lowered gaze he smirked wickedly at Zarbon and Dodoria. “Have you decided who will go first or would you like this to be a handicapped fight? Believe me when I say, I can take on you two easily.”

“Why you little runt.” Dodoria spat as he stepped forward, a fist clenched menacingly towards the Prince.

An insidious chuckle crept its way towards the three fighters standing in the middle of the deserted land. Frieza himself floated towards Vegeta. Zarbon and Dodoria stepped towards their left and right respectively to make way for Frieza to halt between them. “My, my, aren’t we confident.” Frieza cooed in a slimy voice that was confusing to his male gender.

A slight sense of apprehension filled Vegeta at the sight of Frieza but he brushed it aside. “What’s this, the mighty Lord Frieza needs a chair to move around in. Pathetic.” Vegeta mocked.

He watched as Frieza’s crimson eyes flashed at his words before the lizard like creature before him gave a stilted smirk. His dark lips a flat line again when he spoke. His black tongue slithered from his lips slightly when he spoke, the slight hiss in his voice noticeable.

Then the Ice-jin stuck out his pink legs from his chair as he made to stand before Vegeta. He was puny. His scaly pink body draped in white and purple armour that seemed to be moulded to his chest and legs with a black underwear on. His face ribbed with thick white flesh where he should have had eyebrows and his head shone with a purple dome that sprouted two piercing black horns. He was hideous and short and Vegeta couldn’t help the small chuckle that rumbled in his chest as he set his sights on Frieza.

~~~o0o~~~

Kakarot swiped a hand across his mouth as he crouched into a fighting stance again. He smiled eagerly as he watched his attacker get up after a smarting blow from him.

Kakarot was thoroughly enjoying himself. The thrill of battle felt invigorating. He breathed in deeply, revelling in the way his blood strummed through his body. Every punch, every kick that he threw, hell even every blow he received made him feel like he had been reborn. It wasn’t something he could explain, it was just pure pleasure that made his heart race. Something that he could feel.

And the fact that he was winning was making this all the more sweeter. The lanky orange alien charged towards him again and Kakarot braced himself. He swiftly sidestepped his opponent, something he had learned from Vegeta, and cracked his elbow into his opponent’s back. While the orange alien arched in pain Kakarot pulled at the aliens long white hair and turned him over like a rag doll, effectively smashing the alien face first into the ground.

“My handsome face.” The alien cried as he sat up on his knees. He seemed more concerned about his broken nose than the fact that he was out matched. “Oh now you’ve gone and done it mate.” The orange being whined as he jumped up again, his skin coloured ki bursting around him.

Kakarot seemed slightly confused by the man’s complains about his face yet the Saiyan warrior shrugged it off before partaking in the battle once more. Blocking a barrage of punches and kicks Kakarot realised that the alien was becoming sloppier as he attacked. Growing increasingly bored with the fight, as he was too riled up to fight someone who didn’t pose a challenge to him Kakarot went straight for the jugular, knocking the white haired, orange skinned alien out.

Just as Kakarot was about to deliver his final blow a female’s screams had his head whipping around.

“Kakarot, that didn’t sound like someone powering up.” The thumb size Bulma, tucked safely in his armour, told him.

He nodded his agreement and entered the dilapidated building the scream had come from. Women of all sizes and colours ran from the house. Some screaming, some ducking and diving to avoid stray ki blasts and others just hiding behind broken debris, too afraid to move.

“Nion’s House.” Kakarot whispered and Bulma quivered. Even with her almost invisible size, Kakarot felt her shiver against his bare skin.

Bulma felt like Thumbelina hidden inside of Kakarot’s armour but she wasn’t complaining. She felt completely safe in her current position, even with Kakarot engaging in battle like a wild man, but the sight of the house that had tormented her for years suddenly had her heart pounding in her chest. Bulma felt dizzy as even the smell of death and destruction in the air couldn’t erase that lingering scent of overly strong, fragranced liquid that Nion made all the women bathe in before requested to work. She swallowed deeply, trying to rid her suddenly dry mouth from its ashy taste.

Bulma was turned upside down as Kakarot bent down to move away broken wood and debris so the woman caught up in the aftermath of the destruction could run for their lives. As she was righted by Kakarot standing again Bulma felt the armour she had been ensconced in shatter and crack. With her size she was slammed against falling metal before she fell away completely from Kakarot.

Bulma screamed as she fell. At her shrunken size she was sure she was going to die from the drop. It was like her normal self falling off of Mount Everest. Fortunately for Bulma though she was caught against a protruding beam that stopped her from plummeting to her death before she bounced off and tumbled amongst the debris. The fall didn’t feel any less hurtful though and she moaned from her back giving a sickening thud against the wood and her head feeling like she had an all weekend hangover.

“Bulma!” She heard Kakarot call out to her. She whined an incoherent response before her tiny fingers grasped at her wrist watch. She would have to return to her normal size or Kakarot would never be able to find her amongst the rubble.

She felt a moment of panic when she didn’t immediately return to her natural state, cursing all the while as her watch started to short circuit. Most likely damaged from her fall. Just as she was about to give up Bulma felt her muscles stretch as she was returned to her normal stature once again. She had to duck while a stray ki blast flew right at her head though and she shrieked while she crouched down, covering her head with her hands.  

Bulma only removed her hands from her dusty head and opened her eyes when she felt a gentle hand on her shoulder. Her blue eyes met with a surprising pair of dark brown eyes.

“Nion?” Bulma asked in surprise as she saw the strong Saiyan woman hovering over her.

“No time for questions Bulma. Let’s go.” The strong woman said as she grabbed Bulma’s wrist, lifting her to her feet and dragging her along. Bulma looked over her shoulder to see Kakarot engaged in battle and this one didn’t look too good for him.

“Kakarot.” Bulma called but Nion had a strong hold on her wrist and she had to run to keep up with the taller woman’s strides. “Nion, Kakarot needs your help.” Bulma pleaded.

But Bulma’s old mistress didn’t even look back as she continued to expertly manoeuvre her way through the fallen debris on the ground. Something Bulma was finding more difficult to do.

“Kakarot can handle himself. For now I must get you to safety as he told me to.” Nion said as Bulma lifted her free hand to shield her face from the dust and debris that fell from the broken ceiling.

“No!” Bulma screamed as she tried to dig in her heels and not move any further away from Kakarot. Nion was a Saiyan elite, there was no way she would follow orders from a third class warrior. There was no way she would save a simple sex slave. Something didn’t add up here.

Try as she might Bulma could not stop herself from being dragged through the old whore house. Her arms and legs were scraped as she was dashed against fallen stone and protruding wood and tears sprung to her eyes, blearing her vision. This was not good. Then they came to a halt. Bulma could barely make out the tiny hallway, that wasn’t as damaged as the rest of the whore house or catch her breath, before she was flung across the room with a thunderous smack to her face.

Bulma screamed as she felt her shoulder knock into a stone wall. The other woman was strong, even at her age, and Bulma was no match for her. It wasn’t long before Nion grabbed Bulma by her hair and pulled her towards a familiar floor board.

“No!” Bulma screamed as she saw the hatch already open. The all too familiar disgusting smells of faeces and urine assaulted her bleeding nose. “No.” Bulma screamed over and over again as she attached her arms around a wooden pillar trying to kick out at Nion.

She didn’t want to go back into the pit. She didn’t! But it seemed like she didn’t have a choice as Nion extricated her arms from the pillar, scraping her tender flesh against the splintered wood. As Nion took her by the hair, ready to shove her into the dastardly pit, Bulma knew she had to think fast and buy herself some more time. It was not easy to focus in her current situation and she wished she had had the foresight to carry a weapon with her. However her tool belt was still with Kakarot. He had been her greatest weapon.

“Shut up you stupid bitch.” Nion growled as she was about to throw Bulma inside the pit.

Bulma tried to shut her eyes to the terrible scene that was awaiting her. The stench was so dreadful it made Bulma want to heave out the contents of her stomach. After a trip to the pit Bulma always wanted to scratch out her own skin or dig out her eyeballs, no matter how much she scrubbed at her skin while she bathed. A trip to the pit left her traumatised and docile for weeks, sometimes months, depending on how long her stay in that foul place lasted.  “Wait, Nion, please. Tell me why? Why are you doing this?” Bulma pleaded. If it was one thing Bulma knew about Nion it was that she never did anything without a reason.

It was enough to stall Bulma’s fall into the pit as Nion stopped her incessant tugging to look at Bulma. Her dark hair highlighted with fiery auburn strands as they lay loose around her broad shoulders, from her normal hold, the overlong strands jutting out in every direction. Her chocolate coloured eyes were bitter as Bulma took in her strong face. Too strong to be considered pretty.

“Because you low class alien bitch, no one escapes Nion’s House.” Bulma looked at her vengeful stare, a frown marring the blue haired beauties face.

“What?” Bulma couldn’t help the disbelief in her voice. She was supposed to be coercing and kind, not outraged and annoyed.

“You took him from me. He was supposed to be my mate. I waited years for him to notice me, to fuck me and when he did I knew we were going to be joined together forever. Then you came along. And he just had to have you, had to fuck you. I told him he could keep you as a mistress, have you whenever he wanted, as long as he impregnated me and mated with me but he refused. Instead he bought you.” Nion’s voice was harsh and spiteful. Her words as disbelieving as Bulma’s had been but angrier. No, furious. Angry was too tame a word to describe Nion’s venting.

“Cabba?” Bulma whispered and was awarded with Nion’s fingers wrapped painfully around her throat. Bulma scratched at Nion’s hand as she sputtered for air, her face turning a worrying shade of blue. She was so close to Nion’s face she could see the rage that roared in Nion’s eyes, making them almost as dark as Vegeta’s. ‘Great, my last thoughts before I die are about that arrogant, short, monkey Prince.’

“Do not speak his name.” Nion snarled, her rough voice grating on Bulma’s nerves. “You took what was mine. And now you’ve moved on to some third class while you still live in Cabba’s house. How dare you?”

Bulma was quickly slipping into unconsciousness, her head feeling as if it were going to explode any second now from all the blood that rushed there. Then Nion threw her harshly onto the floor and Bulma’s shoulder felt like it was going to pop off its socket with one more hit.

She slid to the pillar in the room on her backside, trying to put as much distance between herself and Nion as possible, one hand massaging the skin on her neck as she tried to swallow while gasping for breath. Her starving lungs burning for air Bulma rested against the wooden pillar as if its solidity provided her with courage. Nion turned her back on her, pulling at her unruly hair, as she stared out the tiny porthole. “I could have made him happy. I had more credits than he did. I fucking owned this whore house. And I could have given him a strong offspring or two.”

Bulma blocked out Nion’s rambling as her eyes desperately searched for something to defend herself against Nion’s attacks with. However this room wasn’t as destroyed as the rest. It was simply just a little end of the hallway of the whore house. A special place that housed the hatch for the pit and a tiny laundry cupboard at the far end of it. Bulma’s eyes landed on a piece of wood, a loose floorboard, that was looming not too far away from her and her eyes widened for a moment as she took in the thumb sized nail that was sticking out at the end of the wood.

She looked over at Nion who was still rambling on about Cabba. Bulma couldn’t help the gasp of fear that rasped from her throat while Nion punched her fists against the stone wall, over and over again until Bulma was sure the entire thing would crumble into tiny pebbles. Bulma dropped to her side, trying to stretch her hand towards the sharp piece of wood without taking her eyes off of Nion. Bulma’s hand patted the wooden floor to try and find that loose floorboard she was searching for. She turned her head towards the floorboard just for a split second, her hand rounding around the loosened wood as she mentally crowed in triumph. ‘Just a little bit more.’ Bulma mentally encouraged herself as she tried to pull the floorboard out completely. She hadn’t realised that Nion had stopped speaking though.

It was a second too long Bulma realised as she cried in pain from having her hand stepped on. Nion’s large boot was trampling over her wrist, causing Bulma’s wrist watch to shatter into pieces that embedded itself into her soft flesh. Her fingers squeezed tighter around the floorboard from the excruciating pain she felt. She cried out in agony as she let go of the wood to try and wriggle her wrist free from Nion’s boot.

“Ah, ah, ah.” Nion viciously crowed, grinding her feet left and right as if Bulma’s wrist was nothing but a cigarette stub.

Just as Bulma was about to beg and plead for her life the pressure from her wrist was relieved. “Kakarot.” Bulma whimpered in relief when she looked up to see his tall figure standing above her, after he had blasted Nion away from her, tears uncontrollably falling down her cheeks.

Bulma sighed in relief as he crouched down before her. “Bulma, you ok?” Kakarot asked as his eyes and fingers assessed her injuries.

“I am now.” Bulma sobbed as she flung herself at his broad chest.

He didn’t embrace her though as he sat her gently away from him standing again. His eyes searching the tiny room they were in. Nion rose from the ground as she glared daggers at Kakarot.

“Not you too.” Nion groaned as she had watched Bulma and Kakarot interact. “I don’t know what spell that witch can wield but I can tell you now that she’s not worth it. Even for you. I’m telling you.” Nion lectured as she crouched into a fighting stance. “I will throw her into that pit even if I have to kill you first.” The deranged woman promised.

The room was too tiny for a fight and Bulma was glad when Kakarot just slammed Nion into a wall before she could attack him. He was good at that, Bulma absentmindedly thought. But it didn’t take long for Nion to recover from Kakarot’s hold and smash him into the ground. Bulma could see he was already weary from his previous battles and he was too bloodied and bruised for her liking.

Nion was now straddling Kakarot, her back to Bulma, as she throttled him while banging his head against the floor. Bulma felt panic rise inside of her as Nion was so immersed in her rage Bulma doubted she was aware of where she was or who she was in that moment.  Kakarot tried to put his own hand around Nion’s throat but he couldn’t reach her as he alternated between trying to wrap his hands around her neck and removing her choke hold from his own. Soon he’d be pass out. Fortunately Bulma’s brilliant mind formed a plan. She rushed over towards the same loose floorboard she had been trying to pull out before and accomplished her earlier goal.

Bulma ran towards Nion, screaming in the process, as she swung the floorboard at Nion’s head as if it were a baseball bat. The thumb sized nail made contact with Nion’s head with a sickening squelch. Blood sprayed Bulma’s face as she let go of the wood, the nail holding it in mid-air from being stuck into Nion’s skull. As fate would have it, Bulma’s old tormentor fell sideways into the pit she had meant to throw Bulma in, her eyes still staring lifelessly as she splashed into the shit she had brought upon herself.

~~~o0o~~~

“Why don’t you just give up Frieza?” Vegeta mocked as he tightened his strangle hold around Frieza’s neck.

The Prince had been enjoying this battle, it wasn’t as easier as the ones he had fought earlier on but he always did like a challenge that could test his strength. Besides, he hadn’t expected anything less from his lizard enemy. And right now, he was on top. He had been able to keep up with most of Frieza’s moves, even though the Ice-jin had moved at a lightning fast speed.

Frieza of course had made some harsh blows against the Prince but none of them were deadly. Vegeta pulled his right arm tighter around Frieza’s neck as he held the Ice-jin’s left arm backwards, viciously, all the while the Prince’s knee was fiercely arching his enemy’s back.

Vegeta ignored Frieza’s left claws that dug at his arm as he was basking in his power. He felt almost immortal, except for the taste of blood in his mouth, he felt undefeatable. He felt it. All his intense training had paid off. He was a Super Saiyan.

Weird though, he would have thought that becoming the Legendary would affect some outward change in his physical appearance but the Prince mentally shrugged. After all, it was the true power he had unleashed inside of him that mattered. Nothing else.

“Where would be the fun in that?” Frieza sputtered.

Vegeta raised an eyebrow at Frieza’s mocking tone as he realised the Ice-jin had stopped struggling in his hold. He felt Frieza start to vibrate in his hold. Was he having an aneurism or seizure or heart attack or … ‘What the fuck was going on?’ The Prince thought before his strangle hold was forcefully broken and he was thrown backwards by a blinding pink light.

~~~o0o~~~

“Kakarot, you have to listen to me.” Bulma pleaded as she dabbed some of her healing gel on Kakarot’s wounds after she had repaired her wrist and cleaned her face. Removing the shards of glass from her flesh had not been pretty though.

Right now she was trying to convince Kakarot to escape with her as they sat in the tiny hallway of the whore house.

“Bulma.” Kakarot flinched as she dabbed a particularly sore spot on his face. “I have strict orders from the Prince to keep you safe. I’ve already disobeyed them enough.” He was tired and sore and although he loved to fight he loved to eat more. And right now he was starving.

Bulma rolled her eyes at this. Vegeta really wasn’t concerned about her safety, he was concerned about losing his best scientist. He was concerned about her brain. “Kakarot I’m not just asking you to let me escape, I’m telling you to save yourself too.”

“We can take care of ourselves. This is not the first attack our people have been under.”

Bulma sighed at this. “Listen, I’ve helped Vegeta enough, I don’t want to live here any longer than I already have. He’s used me more than enough.”

“Tell me something Bulma, was it only Vegeta doing the using or did you get something out of this deal too?” Kakarot questioned wisely. Bulma averted her gaze from Kakarot’s probing one. “I thought as much.” He said in a rarity of bitterness. At that Bulma’s head whipped back up.

“Look, it was your kind that enslaved me on this bloody planet, to live this fucked up life, in the first place. As much as you pretend to care, you really don’t. You’re as selfish and cold hearted as the rest of them Kakarot.” Bulma spat indignantly. She was not done yet though, her anger had been bottled up for years now and the stopper had finally been popped off. “You go on some self-righteous path of protecting woman but from who? They’re the same woman you yourself captured. You’re a hypocrite. I watched you today. This is what you live for, bloodshed and war. And you don’t care that I’m caught up in the middle of it, unable to even defend myself.”

“Bulma, I’m not pretending. I do care about you.” Kakarot insisted.

But Bulma was too furious to hear him as she snorted at his words. “Not as much as you cared about her.” Bulma felt herself petulantly declare. She envied Chi Chi for having Kakarot to protect her while she had had to fend for herself. Then the other woman got herself pregnant with his child and was shipped off to Namek to live in peaceful safety. She wished someone had cared for her in that way.

Kakarot flinched at that accusation. “Chi Chi was taken by Raditz. He felt that she would be a good companion for me when he got promoted because she was battle trained. She was also around my age and she was female so she could serve as a house slave too.” Kakarot explained as if that justified Bulma’s less than kind feelings towards a woman she had only met twice now.

“And was getting her pregnant part of the plan too?” Bulma asked sarcastically before she could stop herself.

Kakarot looked stern. “It just happened. We were both young and curious. I was only sixteen. And you know that half-breeds are an abomination here, I had to send them away. What would you have me do? Let them kill her and the unborn child or should I have killed them?”

Bulma immediately felt some of her anger ebb away at his question. “Of course not. But …” she stopped, unsure of what she wanted to say anymore.

“But what?” Kakarot probed.

“But you didn’t take care of me ok. You weren’t there for me when I had to sleep with a different Saiyan every day. When my bad behaviour got me thrown into that pit.” Bulma pointed out to the pit that Nion had tried throwing her in earlier.

“I already explained to you why I brought you here that day in your cell. Once I had found out you were sent here to Nion what was I supposed to have done? What would you have had me do Bulma? I couldn’t afford to buy you.” Kakarot felt some self-righteous anger at their conversation rise inside of him. Anger at her and himself.

“You know what? Just forget it. I’m leaving this God forsaken planet and if you want you’re going to have to knock me out or kill me to make me stay.” Bulma challenged as she made to get up.

Before she could move though Kakarot grabbed her wrist and pulled her into him. He didn’t want to fight with her, he was drained. But neither did he want to knock her out. What he really wanted to do was show her he cared. So he did, in the only way he thought he knew how.

He kissed her. It wasn’t experienced or seductive like Vegeta’s, it was sloppy and desperate.

Bulma’s eyes widened at the feel of his lips against her own. After the day’s events if she had to sleep with one last person to escape this planet then she would. Even if it was Kakarot. That was what she thought when she immediately returned his kiss. But something stopped her. It was the way he kissed her. Tenderly and gently as if anything else would bruise her lips. He wasn’t demanding or harsh. It was almost innocent and soft and Bulma felt him pour words of care into her mouth.

She sobbed involuntarily into his mouth. Crying for her innocence and what could have been if she had been in Chi Chi’s shoes. But she also knew this was wrong and she didn’t want to play the part of a whore anymore. Today she finally wanted to leave who she had become behind, so that self could die where it had been born, scattering into nothing more but space dust.

Kakarot didn’t know what he was expecting to feel when he kissed Bulma but he was disappointed to find that it wasn’t there. The kiss felt wrong and he felt a rare surge of guilt at his actions swirl inside of him. Being trained for the line of work he did never allowed for emotions like guilt or mercy. But as she sobbed into his mouth, feeding her pain and sorrow into him, he tightened his hold around her.

Finally Bulma placed her palms against his chest and pushed at him. He broke the kiss and loosened his hold on her, but did not let her go completely.

“I do care about you.” He told her as if he expected her to understand what he was trying to say. And she did. She did, because she cared to.

“I know you do. That’s what friends are for.” Bulma gave him a hesitant smile.

The concept was as strange to him as the connection he felt and didn’t feel with her but the word made something in his chest tighten. His first friend. Saiyan’s had family and comrades, they didn’t have friends. They would even kill their own blood if they had to. It was who they were. Raised to be warriors first and everything else second. But that was what she was to him and he cared about her so much it ached. But he realised he didn’t have to express himself to her with intimate gestures or physicality. There were other ways to be friends too.

“Friends.” He tested the word out loud and was rewarded by a beaming smile from Bulma. She did understand.

Her smile didn’t last long though as she turned serious once again. “Kakarot, as a friend I’m going to be honest with you. Frieza hasn’t come here just to attack this planet. I think he’s after Vegeta.”

“Vegeta. Why?” Kakarot asked.

“Because I think he intends to take Vegeta for himself. I don’t know why Frieza wants Vegeta though, or what that monster plans to do with him, but I definitely know Frieza wants Vegeta. He doesn’t care about what happens to the rest of the Saiyans. He’s going to blow up the planet whether he gets Vegeta or not.” Bulma told Kakarot honestly.

“What? No, that doesn’t make any sense.” Kakarot shook his head at her.

“Look you have to believe me. I found this out from hacking into Frieza’s mainframe.” Bulma told him.

Kakarot frowned. “How come Vegeta or my father didn’t know about this?” He asked.

Bulma looked him straight in the eye as she held his face in her hands. “I didn’t tell them ok. I thought that I could escape using Frieza’s attack as a diversion.”

Kakarot sighed. “You really want to escape don’t you?” Bulma just nodded at his rhetorical question. “I can’t abandon my Planet Bulma.”

“And what will you do Kakarot? Die with this Planet?” Bulma asked.

“No, but we can stop Frieza before he does destroy it.”

Bulma shook her head. “The only person who can stop him is Vegeta. And if I didn’t know any better I think he must be fighting Frieza right now.”

At this Kakarot pulled out his scouter and pressed a few dials in it as he set it into his ear. “You’re right.” Kakarot said softly, his face marred by shock.

“Kakarot, what is it?” Bulma questioned as his face paled.

“Frieza’s power just keeps rising and rising. It’s almost a hundred thousand.”

“What?” Bulma shrieked. “But it was only around fifty thousand before. That was what I had found in his records. That’s what Vegeta knew. Vegeta’s been training to surpass that number ever since. Vegeta was only …”

“Sixty three thousand.” Kakarot supplied in a faraway voice.

Bulma shook Kakarot and his eyes focused on hers. “We have to get out of here.” Bulma pleaded. “There’s no way Vegeta will beat Frieza now.”

“I have to help him.” Kakarot said as he stood up, flexing his slightly sore muscles.

“Kakarot, you’re crazy.” Bulma grabbed at his hand trying desperately to make him see reason. “We have to get out of here.”

“I have a duty to my Prince Bulma.”

“Vegeta can take care of himself. I don’t think Frieza plans on killing him. Trust me.” Bulma promised.

“I can’t. What about everyone else? They don’t know what Frieza plans on doing to this planet.”

“Then send a message to every scouter you can. The message will spread.” Bulma said hurriedly. But the determined look in his eyes didn’t change. “Frieza has a small army here. Do you think he’s going to let you or anyone else stand in his way? We have to leave this one to Vegeta.” Bulma tried to reason but Kakarot’s expression remained unmoved. “What about Chi Chi and little Gohan?” Bulma played her trump cards. “What about me? The only way to help Vegeta is to escape and find a way to get to him later on. You heard him, he needs me.” Bulma reasoned.

She saw the internal war Kakarot was waging before he grabbed her wrist and pulled her to him. “Come on.” He said while tapping at his scouter trying to send a link to everyone else.

When they stepped outside the sight that greeted them left them speechless. It seemed there was no need for that message after all. The red skies of Vegeta-sei were a grim black, grey smoke billowed upwards to form thick black clouds that loomed ominously above them and the wind was becoming stronger and stronger. Thunder roared almost deafeningly around them and red lightning sparked and crackled to highlight the dark skies.

“It’s too late.” Bulma whispered. Frieza had most probably already sent a blast powerful enough to shake the core of Vegeta-sei. Even if he didn’t blow up the Planet it was going to self-destruct at any moment now.

“We have to go.” Kakarot pulled a stunned Bulma into his arms as he flew off into the dark skies as if he had finally understood the severity of the situation Bulma had been trying to convince him of.

Lava sprung from the ground, snapping at their heels as they flew, the planet shook violently, sand storms whirled in the air, making it impossible for even Saiyans to fight against nature at her angriest. The docking bay was a riot. Saiyans and aliens alike were trying to fill up pods and ships to escape in. It was of no use though, none of the pods were working with the Planet nearing destruction. They were all going to die.

Kakarot set her down behind a large ship that wasn’t in the midst of people running or fighting around. “I’ll be back. Just stay here ok. Let me see if I can get us a ship.”

Bulma just absent minded-ly nodded as she sunk down onto her knees without Kakarot’s strong hold to keep her standing. “I’m going to die on this planet.” Bulma said disbelievingly as she laughed hysterically. “After everything I’ve been through, everything I’ve done, I’m going to fucking die on this fucking planet.”

“Bulma!” She heard Kakarot scream for her just as a wave of molten hot lava was gushing towards her, consuming hundreds of people – who didn’t manage to fly away fast enough – and ships in its wake as it made its way towards her. People were trying to swim out from the lava but when they surfaced from the sea of fire they were nothing but melting flesh before their screaming skeletons were once again swallowed into the molten waves. Bulma closed her eyes, unable to breathe as she waited for the flames to engulf her. It would be a pre experience of the burning punishment awaiting her when she arrived in hell.