Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Surviving Together: A New Legacy ❯ Thirty Minutes ( Chapter 19 )

Surviving Together: A New Legacy

Chapter 19 - Thirty Minutes

A month had come and gone in what had felt like swift illusory flashes. An existence of perfection was something neither Vegeta nor Bulma had ever considered, and yet they were now experiencing a life with their other half, and the offspring of their union. The impossibility had suddenly become a reality, and the surreal events of those weeks became too much to take in all at once.

The newly reunited family spent few moments apart; everything from meals to training was shared among the family. The latter of course was imperative, had Trunks not been present when Bulma began to teach Vegeta how to control his ki properly, the pair would have never achieved any success. Having been denied contact for ten years, the intensity of the others presence had made it almost impossible for them to keep their hands off one another. However, thanks to Trunks' oral protests to the 'grossness' his parents displayed, the pair made the conscious effort to keep their hands to themselves… Of course, that only applied to daytime.

At night the bar was dropped and the two went at each with a sweltering passion. To say they were simply freeing themselves from years of suppressed sexual tension would have been a mild assessment. The physical release they experienced each night was meager in comparison to the emotional liberation they each brought the other. The ability to simply see, smell, touch, and taste one another was a privilege not taken for granted by the lovers. Both knew the alternative, life without the other, and that knowledge made them cherish even more potently every second they were so humbly granted.

They each drank greedily of the other as their nights were spent retracing the perfection of one another's bodies. Not an inch of flesh was left in ignorance of the other's burning touch. With what seemed like an endless supply of stamina, the pair spent hours simply basking in the existence of one another. Whether their movements were deliberate and tender, or desperate and passionate they devoured each other; striving for that fulfillment an eternity together could never completely envelop.

Even as each night of bliss threatened to end with the shroud of sleep overpowering the couple, their bodies would never separate. Each would close the evening, or morning more often than not, to the soft sound of one another's breathing; never once severing the euphoria of the most intimate union of their bodies. Throughout what little sleep their mortal forms forced upon them, they would sustain an embrace that challenged any force to separate them. As if the fear of losing one another in less than the blink of an eye was too much to bear, both seized one another in the most possessive cuddle the two lovers had ever joined in; neither willing to consider the possibility of waking without the other within their arms.

Each night passed as such. The only deviation the pair ever experienced was when Bulma would part to finally perform the work she had originally come to the planet for, her scientific abilities. After hours of explanations to her friends about all that had been going on, and settling back into her work, Bulma's life had reached some calming sense of normalcy. At least as much normalcy as a complete upheaval of reality can develop into.

The adjustments were strange for Vegeta as well. Having a mate and son was a new experience all in itself. Getting used to sharing a bed once again, and waking to train his offspring was a pattern he found peculiar, yet calming. He once thought all chances for having a family had died along with Bulma, when he made the mistaken assumption her life was lost to him. But now, now he had a real life, and adjusting to it, though strange, was an experience almost as thrilling as the moment he killed Freeza. It simply gave him a sense of… Rightness.

For Trunks, however, the change seemed almost too easy. Perhaps, through a child's eyes things are just simpler. A boy now had his father, a father who happened to be the most powerful being in the universe, a father who actually loves his mother, a father who… who wanted a son. Perhaps that was enough for the boy to fall cozily into a new life with a complete family. To him his father and mother were finally together, it was a dream come true, nothing could possibly make him wish to destroy such a 'good thing.'

To put it mildly, the newly formed family believed life to have reached a paradise none of them had ever thought possible. But as history foretells us, even paradise has its fair share of snakes, and in this paradise, that snake went by the name of Cooler. For as blissful as that month of togetherness had been for the trio, it had come at a price. While they became engrossed in one another, a foul plot had been set into play by their snake, a scheme that held no mercy for the three; and even worse, it was set by one of their own.

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"Aphara." Durka stroked a few lose hairs out of the face of his new mate to gently wake her.

The raven-haired warrior moaned lightly before opening her eyes. "Well good morning." She chuckled before taking a quick glance at the clock beside her bed. "Or, good evening I guess is more accurate. I seem to have slept in rather late."

"Late? You slept through the entire day! I was getting worried. You didn't show up for training… I knew you were tired from last night but it is unlike you to miss an entire day of fighting. I was beginning to think you were off somewhere hatching my demise." He finished with a wicked grin.

"You're demise? And just why would I want to see you dead?" She asked coyly.

"Isn't that what your kind does?" Durka smirked before placing a light kiss upon her lips.

"And just what kind would that be? " She asked suspiciously, almost a little nervous.

"Why black widows of course. You mate and kill." He chuckled, as he pulled away from the now frowning female.

"I'm not a black widow. If I were I would have killed you after the first time we slept together, not a month later!" Her voice suddenly became testy. Without further comment she pulled her naked self out of bed and walked to the bathroom. "You had better watch yourself captain… I may not be a black widow, but that doesn't go to say that I won't kill you once I get bored with you."

"Is that so?" Durka raised a brow. "And here I thought you were falling for my charms."

The sudden shift to humor surprised even Aphara, but she was never one to be shaken so easily. "Be careful Durka." She warned honestly. "I am not a woman to be trifled with." She didn't give Durka the chance to respond as she slammed the bathroom door behind her.

Durka shook his head before muttering something angrily about the opposite sex, and not understanding any of them. Then, parting from the room himself, he headed towards the science wing of the castle. Since Bulma began working once again in the science department, he made daily visits to see her progress, along with checking up on her personal life. Though Bulma is normally a private person, she found trust within the captain and seemed to find great joy in being able to confide the bliss in her life with someone. Durka gladly absorbed everything she would say in detail; or, at least as much as he could under the watchful eye of the suddenly overbearing Emperor.

In a very short time, every being that lived on the planet had quickly become violently aware of exactly how OFF limits the head of the science department was. The night after Aphara and Bulma had their little 'sparing match' rumors started flying that the Emperor and the science woman were having an affair, which of course explained why he rushed to the woman's rescue on more than one occasion. It seemed ridiculous at first, considering most had thought the apparently celibate Emperor was of a different sexual orientation. It wasn't until after a rather public interlude between the pair, on the middle of the communal training grounds that the existing rumors were practically beaten to death. The sudden 'disappearance' of the morons who were actually stupid enough to witness the entire intimate exchange, and then have the gall to brag about their discovery, also gave credence to the belief that there was more going on than met the eye.

Of course that was just the first example the residents were given in regards to interfering in the Emperor's personal life. In all his life, Durka had never seen a man so possessive of a female. Any man who dared to look in Bulma's direction in an even slightly ambiguous fashion would be ordered to a one on one sparing match with the Emperor the next day. He wanted to make it clear very quickly that absolutely no man touches what is his. And his actions were rewarded with exactly such a consequence. Every man on the planet, save Vegeta, Garock, Durka, and a few of Bulma's male science friends became more frightened of Bulma than the Emperor himself.

And Durka of course could only add his name to that pathetic list because of Bulma's close friendship. Though that wasn't to say he felt any comfort around the Emperor. On more than one occasion Durka recalled very clearly getting the 'you touch my woman you die' look from him, but his almightiness never followed through. Durka assumed Vegeta was concerned Bulma would discover exactly how possessive he was being and a certain blue hair fire would have burned him for it. But that has yet to happen, though Bulma has mentioned the bizarre behavior of the men around her, she has been too wrapped up in her new life to notice what her mate had been doing. Had, being the operative word of course, as the month wore on. Vegeta began to have less and less 'Bulma' related sparing matches, the men very quickly wised up; well, save one foolish soul whom the Emperor caught referring to Bulma in a particularly derogatory manner. To say that was a bad idea would have been an understatement. The poor guy is still in a regen tank at this moment.

Few incidents have followed; a great comfort to Durka who entered the science wing to find Bulma without the presence of the Emperor, a rarity indeed. "How did you manage to ditch your watch dog?" Durka asked playfully.

"Not that I think referring to your Emperor as a dog is a particularly bright idea, but to answer you question, he is training late with Trunks." Bulma spoke with a light chuckle herself as she halted her work to greet her visitor. "Did you come to join me for dinner?"

"Only if you aren't too busy." Durka looked around to find the room almost completely deserted. "I had intended to take Aphara out, but she seems to be upset with me… again."

Bulma sighed, silently wondering what he could possibly see in that woman. "You know Durka… My friend Lyie is available, I think the two of you could make the cutest co--"

"Don't start Bulma." Durka quickly cut off her objections. "I know your reservations about my relationship with Aphara, but in all honestly, you're hardly anyone to be giving advice about choosing mates."

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Bulma snapped quickly.

Durka released a soft laugh before quickly changing the subject. "So how about that lunch?"

"Alright." Bulma decided to let his debatable comment go. "It will save me a trip. I was looking to speak to you anyway."

"Really?" Durka questioned as he and Bulma headed towards the dining hall. "I hope it's not more complaints about my personal life."

"No." Bulma was quick to brush off. "You already know how I feel about that, what I really wanted to talk to you about is a vision you had."

"A vision?" Durka looked rather surprised. "What are you talking about?"

"The Emperor mentioned something about Aphara claiming that you had a vision of an Oozaru--or a giant monkey violently stomping over the planet. He seems to think Aphara was lying to him about your vision, but I don't know that I agree with him. I mean, is it true? Did you have such a vision?"

Durka nodded rather somberly in confirmation. "You know, it's funny you should mention that actually. I have been having that same vision repeatedly for the last month. Each time the scene is longer and clearer."

"Really." The worry in Bulma's eyes was apparent. "Could you tell me about it, in detail."

"Are you serious?" Durka blinked rather surprised. "Aphara seems to think I am nuts whenever I tell her about it. I mean, a giant monkey? It is a little ridiculous, isn't it?"

"Ah… Yeah." Bulma forced a chuckle. "But… Could you tell me about it anyway? Please, I mean your last vision did come true, there's no reason to assume this one won't as well."

"Well, I don't see the harm." Durka spoke calmly as he and his counterpart finally reached the dining hall. Almost immediately upon entrance three-fourths of the room cleared out, while the few that remained shakily kept their backs to the pair.

"Uha… That's really getting annoying." Bulma noted as she watched the spectacle. "I bet Vegeta has something to do with this." She muttered both flattered and insulted at the same time.

"Well, just remember it could be worse." Durka tried to laugh off. "He could assign an around the clock guard to you."

"Don't even suggest it." Bulma cringed at the thought before taking a seat across from her lunch date. "I suppose I shouldn't be surprised though. He was always protective of me, and after the Nappa thing… I guess I can't really complain."

"Perhaps not." Durka agreed hesitantly. "So, you wanted to talk about my vision."

"Oh… Yeah… So spill it. What have you seen exactly?"

"Well," Durka paused reflectively to bring the memory to the forefront of his mind. "I'm standing outside of the castle, on the training grounds to be accurate. It's dusk, and you're in front of me, absolutely horrified by the sight before you. I see that you want to go and help, but I hold you back. Then the vision ends there."

"And what we're both watching is a giant monkey on a rampage?" Bulma wanted to clarify that point.

"Yes, as bizarre as it sounds, that's what we are both watching, a huge brown raging ape. I mean, it's just stomping on everything in sight, and even firing ki from its mouth. The power I can feel it emanating is beyond intense."

"Is their anything else? Any clue as to when this could be happening?" Bulma's nervousness was becoming more apparent by the minute.

Durka shook his head. "I can't say… But if you ask me, the whole thing sounds ridiculous. I mean a rampant monkey? Even if it was real, I am sure it's something the Emperor can take out with little effort."

'Not if the 'Emperor' is the one on a rampage.' Bulma thought worriedly. "Durka, are you sure there is nothing else you remember that could be useful?"

Durka paused a few moments to replay the vision in his mind. "Not really… I mean there is this one thing that I thought was a little weird, but it's probably nothing."

"Tell me." Bulma demanded wanting to know every detail.

"Well, the giant ape… I know this is going to sound bizarre, but it had… blue eyes. Weird hun? I mean a big brown hairy ape with crystal blue eyes just doesn't seem right-Bulma… Bulma… what's wrong?" Durka shook his hand back and fourth in front of the suddenly dazed female.

"Oh no…" Bulma whispered as she practically jumped out of her seat. "It's not Vegeta." She suddenly put together the horrifying truth. Without bothering to enlighten her completely perplexed looking partner, Bulma sped out of the room in search of her mate.

"Bulma!" Durka sped up to halt the unnerved female before she made it very far past the dining hall. "What did I say?" He asked with picturesque confusion as he turned Bulma to face him.

"I have to find Vegeta!" Bulma said in a near panic, wanting nothing more than to be reassured that this vision could be avoided. "If what you say is true, then my son is going to be in danger-or at least the people around him are going to be!"

"Whoa…wait a second!" Durka stopped the woman before she could escape his grip. "What does this big ape have to do with your son?"

"Durka, what do you know about Saiya-jins?" Bulma questioned quickly.

"Um… You mean other than that the Emperor is one… Not much." Durka raised a brow in confusion.

"Well, then let me enlighten you. Saiya-jins have the ability to transform into something called an Oozaru; the giant ape you were describing. When Vegeta mentioned what Aphara had told him, we both assumed he was the one who could transform. And since he can control his Oozaru form, he wasn't worried about your vision if it proved to be true. However, if the Oozaru you see in your vision had blue eyes, it has to be Trunks. That's why you described him as being out of control. Since Trunks has never transformed, he probably will spend his 'playtime' trampling the planet!" Bulma's gasped for breath as she tried to calm herself.

"Unbelievable." Durka said a little numbly as he thought about the information he had just been told. "But why now? How come your son has never transformed before?"

Bulma sighed exasperatedly as she just wanted to run and find Vegeta, and gain his assurance that Trunks' transformation could be avoided. "It's only under the view of a full moon that a Saiya-jin can transform. Merigh doesn't have a moon, so Trunks was never in danger of transforming. But, planet Frost does! Which means the next full moon is probably going to be the night he transforms. I have to find out when that is and make certain Trunks has absolutely no chance to view the moon. It's the only way to prevent this!" As soon as Bulma finished her thought she broke from her companion's grasp and turned to rush towards the training area, but didn't make it too far before she was halted once again.

"It's tonight." The alarming words touched Bulma's ears with demoralizing shock.

"What's tonight?" Bulma whispered as her eyes locked with the gold orbs of her counterpart, her mind seemed to be refusing to consider the truth.

"There's a full moon tonight."

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"Is everything ready?" Cooler just barely managed to hide his excitement, as he demanded confirmation of his arrangements.

"Yes, sir. Your undercover operative just contacted us with affirmation that everything is going as planned on the ground."

"And exactly how long before our little monkey's life is obliterated before his eyes?" Cooler asked smoothly as he eyes drifted to a nearby window, displaying a crystal view of his home planet.

"Thirty minutes until Planet Frost's full moon, sir."

"Excellent." Cooler's lips curled into a smirk. 'Just half an hour Vegeta… Half an hour before you lose everything.'

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Author's Note: All right, so it seems Cooler's plan is working in conjunction with the full moon. What does that mean for the happy family? Will Cooler get his revenge? Will Durka's vision come true? I guess you will all just have to wait to find out… Till next time…