Surviving Together: A New Legacy

Chapter 7 - A Past Love?

It took an hour before Trunks finally lost consciousness. Vegeta put him in the regeneration tank, pacing back and forth while the boy healed. Vegeta suffered from bruises and lacerations, and possibly one broken rib, but it wasn't anything that required a tank.

He kept wondering about the boys' strength. It was unnatural. At this rate, the child could some day surpass even him. He clenched his fists; he'd have to speak with the mother soon. He needed to gain some information about the boys' heritage. It was obvious that the child was not Merighian as he believed. He couldn't be that strong with Merighian blood.

Vegeta frowned at the thought. The possibility of a species stronger than the Saiya-jin race scared and excited him all at the same time. It had been ten years since he felt the thrill of a real battle. The feeling of his own blood and sweat covering his body after a battle was exhilarating. For a Saiya-jin it was essential to life; that constant search for greater power and strength.

It took Trunks less than an hour to heal. After giving him a new training uniform, Vegeta ordered him to follow. Vegeta lead him into a room where Nappa was impatiently waiting. "So there's the little brat." Nappa hissed as he rose and crossed his arms.

"You again?" Trunks frowned. "Next time I'll have to hit you harder."

Nappa smirked at the boy. "You won't have such luck next time. I'm a pure blooded Saiya-jin, my energy increases after every battle. I will squash you like a bug next time."

"What's a Sai-gen?" Trunks asked, having never heard the word before.

Nappa turned his nose up at the boy's mispronunciation. "You've never heard of the most powerful race in the universe?"

"Is anyone unpretentious on this planet?" Trunks asked not believing the egos on some of these people. "Look Mister." Trunks ignored the taller man as he turned unknowingly back to his father. "My mom is probably back in our room by now so I really need to be going before she kicks my ass for being out late."

"Fine," Vegeta agreed as he was done with the boy for now. "I want you back here tomorrow. You have training to do."

Trunks blinked as he shook his head again. "Who hell do you think you are?" Trunks didn't like taking orders from anyone, much less someone he just met. "You show up on Durka's ship acting all high and mighty while my mother had just been through hell, and now you're ordering me around! I don't answer to anyone but my mother and I sure as hell am not going to start listening to some guy who hasn't had an ego check in what seems like an eternity!"

Nappa's jaw dropped as he watched Vegeta refrain from hitting the insolent child. The Emperor let no one speak to him in such a tone. Nappa was going to enjoy watching the boy get beaten for such behavior. "Show some respect brat, you're talking to--"

"Nappa." Vegeta cut him off. "I will be training you from now until I chose differently, that is all you need to know. Now be here by six tomorrow morning." Vegeta said as he looked down the boy.

"Sure, whatever." Trunks shrugged as he left the room. He realized that it was better to agree than to argue. Besides, he really didn't mind training with the arrogant man.

Raising an eyebrow, Nappa questioned, "Why didn't you tell the boy who you are? And why are you training the runt?"

Vegeta stayed silent a moment. He wasn't exactly sure why he felt the need to train the boy but there was just something about him. Something so familiar. "He's strong Nappa. A little too strong. I want to know more about him before he knows who I am."

"Oh," Nappa scratched his head, not fully understanding the Emperor's logic.

Vegeta frowned. If he weren't the last of his race, he would have killed him long ago. "Find Garock, Tell him to find out everything he can about this Bra woman. And tell him to get back to me immediately."

Nappa nodded as he scurried out of the room. Vegeta couldn't help feeling like he was missing something.

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After the tour of the palace, Bulma and Garock proceeded to dinner. Bulma sat across from Garock as they finished going over every detail. She was to begin her work early the next morning and there was much to discuss. However, she kept getting distracted by the unusual amount of stares she was receiving. She felt somewhat uncomfortable. "There aren't many woman on this planet are there?" She asked Garock.

"Well, aside from three women in the science department and a few female barbarian warriors, you may be one of twenty." The man estimated.

"Great." Bulma said nervously.

"Oh, please don't get the wrong idea." Garock replied quickly, trying to reassure Bulma. "Safety is not an issue on this planet. These men might be a little intimidating, but none of them are foolish enough to disobey the King's law. The Emperor's law states that any male who forces himself on a female will be executed. Plain and simple. So see, there is nothing for you to worry about. "

"Really?" Bulma asked thinking the man was merely humoring her.

"Why yes. The penalty for rape is even graver than murder. The King will not tolerate such dishonorable behavior." Garock explained.

"A woman lover, I see." Bulma chuckled. "I'm sure they just fall all over his almightiness."

Garock frowned at her insulting tone. "I would not speak so poorly of a man you do not know. He might not be perfect but he rules with more honor than Freeza ever did."

Bulma sighed. She hated to admit it but she had noticed a vast improvement. "I suppose you're right. This is a far cry better than the way Freeza ran things. Especially in the company he keeps."

Garock moved in a little closer as he was surprised by her admission. "You speak as though you have first hand knowledge of such."

"When do we eat?" Bulma immediately shot back making it clear to him that she would not discuss the subject further. The man nodded as he rose. "I'll see how the meal is progressing." The man spoke softly before heading down the hallway to check on dinner.

Bulma sat quietly rubbing her temples trying to block out the commotion that surrounded her.

"Something bothering you?"

Bulma looked up as she noticed a man had taken a seat across from her.

"I'm sorry, do I know you?" She asked as a dark, tanned man, decked out in leather, sat across from her. Although he had a large scar across his left eye, she would have thought him cute if he didn't look quite so young.

The man smiled a flirtatious grin as he pointed to himself and in a deep voice said, "The name's Stab." His intent was obvious

"Stab?" Bulma repeated trying to hold back a laugh. "Well I'm Bra."

The man smirked as he looked at her devilishly. "Bra? What color?"

Bulma couldn't hold back a laugh; as if that wasn't the first time she had heard that one. "I hope you didn't come over here just to hit on me." Bulma forced out holding back a fit of laughter.

"Actually…"The man motioned her to come closer as if to share a huge secret. "You see those men over there." He pointed to a group that looked just as ragged. "They bet me fifty dienna to----" Before he finished his sentence, he snaked his hand around Bulma's neck and pressed his lips against hers. Bulma could hear the cheers from across the room. She suddenly felt as if she was back in third grade. She grabbed the idiot by the neck and threw him across the room. All of a sudden, the room went silent with surprise. After he hit the wall, Bulma clapped her hands together as if cleaning herself from his filth. As she sat down again, she sent a deadly glare towards the table filled with foolish men.

"Bra, are you alright?" Garock asked, rushing quickly towards the scene.

"Yes." Bulma shrugged. "Don't worry Garock. Just some boys having fun."

"Oh, well I hope he didn't hurt you." He said as he sat back down.

"Hardly." She laughed as she ran a finger across her lips. "I never did mind a rough kiss."

Since she hardly seemed bothered by the situation, he started to believe she might fit in better than he originally thought. "How did you do that?"

"Do what?"

"Throw him across the room. I didn't know you could fight." Garock was surprised by her strength.

"Oh, I am not a fighter. I just know some basic defensive moves." She tried to justify.

"Well that boy wasn't weak and it seemed as if you didn't use much effort."

"I just caught him off guard." Bulma brushed off.

"I see, then I suppose you are the one that trained your son?" He began rather curious. He'd heard about the confrontation between her son and Cooler.

"Only a little, he advanced mostly on his own." Bulma shrugged. She knew her son's strength was due to genetics, not her instruction.

"Then I imagine his father instructed him with his training, right?" Garock stated having no idea the turmoil that his simple question would cause.

"You know, I am feeling pretty tired, and I think maybe I should be getting back to Trunks. Please have dinner sent to us." She rushed out leaving the confused man at the table.

'That was odd.' Garock thought curiously before he was interrupted. "Nappa?" Garock rose from his seat, surprised to see the man.

"Where's the science woman?" Nappa asked as he looked around.

"You just missed her. It seems I said something wrong." Garock shrugged as he and the Saiya-jin sat down just as the food arrived. Nappa selfishly started eating the meal without consideration for Garock.

"Vegeta wishes you to get some information from the woman. He thinks she's hiding something about her past." Nappa explained as he devoured the surprisingly large meal Bulma had ordered.

"About what? What does he think she's hiding?" Garock inquired rather intrigued by the prospect.

"Her brat. He's strong, too strong." Nappa growled as he cleaned off the plate. "Vegeta doesn't believe he is Merighian."

"I wouldn't be shocked." Garock nodded. "She didn't seem like the others. She's much stronger than a Merigh woman, and much more attractive for that matter."

"Really?" Nappa smirked as he sudden halted his feeding. "Maybe I'll interrogate her myself."

Garock's eyes narrowed. "You know the King's law. I'd watch myself if I was you."

Nappa huffed at the thought. "Vegeta was always too soft on the weaker sex; constantly interfering with my sex life."

"It's honor Nappa." Garock rolled his eyes.

"No." The bald man shook his head. "It's jealousy. He lost his favorite little whore ten years ago and has made the rest of us suffer because of it ever since."

"Nappa, what are you talking about?" Garock asked confused.

"You mean you didn't hear of the little enchantress." Nappa smirked.

Garock shook his head as this was all new to him. Nappa looked around the room to make sure that no one could overhear their conversation before he began. "Well old man, about eleven years ago when Vegeta still worked under Freeza, he, Radditz and I were given a concubine. Radditz and I found her more than appealing and were ready to fight to see who got her first, but Vegeta forbade us to have her, pulling the damn 'honor' crap. He actually kept the little minx around for six months, all the time vowing not to take her against her will. Radditz and I ultimately found out that the bastard was fucking her the entire time! Do you believe it!" Nappa paused a moment to control his anger. "Anyway the boy got possessive and refused to share her. He'd beat us if we so much as looked at her wrong. The fool was so blinded by lust that he was willing to take a beating from Zarbon in order to protect her. It was pathetic!"

"What happened to her?" Garock asked wondering why the he had never heard of this before.

"Dead." Nappa said flatly. "At least I assume, and the man's better for it. He did stupid things when she was around; including defying Freeza's orders to help her escape from his ship."

"He did that?" Garock asked shocked.

"Fool that he was. Honestly, if he were a lesser man, I would have thought he cared for the creature." Nappa tried to keep the vomit down at the thought. "She was a beauty and I imagine an amazing fuck, after all, it's not everyday you come across a female that is almost identical to Saiya-jin. She didn't have a tail and was physically weak, but her temper was truly Saiya-jin. Plus she was chaste, at least before Vegeta got to her." Nappa growled. "Selfish bastard."

"Hmmm." Garock was surprised by this startling information. He always wondered where Vegeta's deep sense of honor regarding women originated. He never thought Vegeta was capable of care and concern but this explained quite a lot. "Well if you'll excuse me Nappa," Garock shook himself out of a daze as he rose to his feet. "I believe I will be calling it a night."

"Whatever." Nappa brushed the man off as he went to join another table of warriors, leaving Garock with quite a few thoughts.

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"Trunks?" Bulma called as she quietly entered her room. She was surprised to find the lights off and failed to sense her son's ki. "Trunks?" She called again turning on the lights.

"Of all the selfish, arrogant, demanding, stubborn, cr-Mom!" Trunks coughed as he entered the room. "Hi."

"Where have you been?" Bulma stood straight with that "don't you dare try to get out of it" look on her face.

"Oh, I, um… I wanted to get some fresh air so I went for a walk." Trunks quickly explained.

"Is that so?" Bulma crossed her arms as her eyebrows perked up knowing quite well when her son was lying to her. "And that's all you did? Take a walk?"

"Yep." Trunks nodded believably. "I scoped out some training facilities. I thought I could spend my days training while you work."

Bulma frowned; worry overriding her annoyance with her son. "Trunks, this isn't like Merigh. The training facilities here are dangerous. If you anger the wrong person you could end up getting yourself killed."

"I know Mom." Trunks sighed as he walked towards the sofa. "I know this place is dangerous, but I can take care of myself. I'm not stupid, I'd never challenge someone stronger than me, and I'd never do anything foolish enough to get myself hurt. I just want to be able to fight, it's what I do best."

"I know." Bulma whispered as she sat next to her son. She wrapped a loving arm around the boy's shoulder, resting her chin on his head. "I know you feel the need to fight; it's a part of who you are and I understand. I have always known it would be like that, but Trunks, you have to understand that you're all I have left. I lost my family and friends as a young girl, and then I lost your fath.. I lost your aunt Arraz. I know it's selfish, but I need you alive and healthy. I couldn't bear to lose you too." She sniffled, holding him even tighter.

Trunks sighed as he wrapped his arms around his mother's waist. "I won't leave you Mom." Trunks offered assuredly. He knew very little of his mother's past, but he knew her parents were killed when she was young. Aunt Zarra had given him only a bit of information but that explained why his mother would spend one day a year weeping in the quiet of her room. Aunt Zarra had said the ritual was out of respect for the life his mother once had, and that someday when he was old enough to understand his mother would explain the truth of her past to him.

Trunks always hoped that the person his mother was mourning was his father. Not because he wished his father dead, but because at least he'd know that his parents actually loved one another. Yes, the fact that he never knew his father was painful, but the fact that his mother never spoke of him was even worse. The fact that his mom never mentioned his father made him feel as if he was the reason his father abandoned them. Maybe his father didn't want a son. He hoped, with all his heart, that was not the case but why else would his mom never speak of him? Trunks instinctively knew that the mere mention of his father would cause her great sadness and reawaken unpleasant memories so he never asked about him.

Trunks frowned. He hated seeing his mother like this. She was a good woman and deserved nothing but the best. She deserved a real family. A family like the one that she lost long ago. In truth, Trunks wanted a family as well. He wanted a father. Oh how he longed to have a real family. One where he could have a father and his mother could have a husband that treated her like a queen. 'Perhaps I'll look into that.' Trunks smiled as he finally pulled away from his mother. "So if I promise not to get into trouble can I train?" He asked once and for all wanting to put the issue to rest.

Bulma took a deep breath before she looked down at her son. There were times when it pained her to look into his eyes. Although they are a blue reflection of her own, his eyes held an intensity that she had only seen in one man. She knew she would hate herself if she ever tried to put that fire out. "Alight, but swear to me you'll never do anything stupid like pick a fight with someone who won't care of he kills you or not?"

"I promise." Trunks nodded, feeling a little guilty since he had already done that.

There was then a knock at the door and Trunks ran to answer it. Three men brought their meal into their room.

"Thanks."

Trunks smiled as he immediately dug in. As the three men left, they were wondering how one little boy and a thin woman were going to finish so much food.

"Come on Mom, dig in." Trunks smiled as he pointed to her seat.

Trunks enthusiasm started to rub off on Bulma as she shared a quiet meal with her son. Her work was going to start bright and early tomorrow and she knew life for them was going to be drastically different from anything they had experienced before, but as long as that boy could keep a smile on his face so could she.

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Author's Note: Ok, lets see. In the next chapter fists will be flying when Trunks has his first 'lesson' with Vegeta, and Durka's crew begins their training as well. What will come of some 'innocent' sparing matches? Should be fun… Next chapter soon.