Surviving Together: Retribution

Chapter 2 - Déjà Vu

"Don't you just look so cute," Bulma chuckled as she bounced her baby girl on her knee. Radditz had told her they would be meeting planet Frost's king tonight, so they should be prepared to look their best. Though the blue haired woman was not sure whether her 'best' meant formal or attractive, she opted to blend the two. Selecting a midnight blue cropped shirt that exposed her recently re-firmed tummy and arms, she complimented it with a tightly fit knee length navy skirt that was nicely accented by her knee high black boots. She pulled her hair back in a loose ponytail, leaving a few free strands to cascade daintily down her face. All things considered, she thought the outfit was a fine model of her 'best.'

"Yes, just like you look." Bulma kissed her daughter on her forehead as she examined her powder blue gown. "I think you will be the real eye stopper," she chuckled while rising to her feet and doing a quick turn in front of the mirror with her now laughing daughter in arm. When she stopped, she began to wonder about this evening.

"So, Bra, your daddy seems very excited about meeting this old friend of his. What do you think it is all about?" she asked her unresponsive companion as she set her momentarily on her bed. She shrugged to herself as she allowed her questions to drift from her mind, knowing she would have all of her answers in due time.

Before his departure, Radditz had given her very few instructions. He had told her to ready their daughter, for the young girl could be present with them for introductions, and advised her of only one further note, that she should make certain to cover his bite mark whenever in public. She had accused him of being ashamed of their connection, but he disagreed sternly, insisting it was merely for her own protection. After all, should anyone find out she was bonded to him, his Achilles' heel would obtusely be revealed.

With a low sigh, she reached to the foot of their bed, grabbed a pale blue scarf, and wrapped it around her neck for proper protection. 'He is lucky it fits so well with this outfit,' she smiled to herself as she picked up her daughter once again. "So what do you think, Bra? Shall we go meet up with your Dad?"

The small child only yawned as she rested her delicate head against her mother's shoulder. Placing a gentle kiss upon her daughter's forehead, Bulma set out to meet her mate's 'old friend.'

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"Nice ship," Garock could not help but gasp rather impressed as he entered docking bay H16 along with the Emperor. "Do you recognize it?"

"No," Vegeta shook his head immediately; he could not distinguish the technology. It was neither like his fleet nor that of the Ice-jins. Whoever this trespasser was, he could not decipher whether it was friend or foe.

"Emperor," a soldier quickly knelt and rose as he greeted his commander. "My squad has had the ship surrounded since the interloper's first attack. He has taken no further act of aggression since we informed him you were being summoned."

"It seems he wishes very much to gain my complete attention," Vegeta raised a partial smirk. "And just where is this mystery intruder?" The emperor did not have to look far before a resounding answer was offered to him.

"Right here, my prince," a husky voice came from the shadows of the boarding platform of the unidentified vessel. "It has been a long time, Vegeta."

As soon as the figure emerged into visibility, two shocked expressions spread across both Garock's and Vegeta's faces as they suddenly saw the walking dead. "Radditz," Vegeta stuttered the Saiya-jin's name, utterly bewildered.

"But it can not be, he was killed after the botched Garchian attack," Garock noted, terribly confused.

"Not killed, just grossly disabled, of course you would not have known that since neither you nor Nappa took the time to search for me." The large man took it upon himself to fill in the embittering gaps. Walking towards his former prince, Radditz stopped just a few feet before the stunned pair. "But luck was on my side that day, and I have now lived to experience a full and impressive life."

"Is that so?" Vegeta asked with a half chuckle. "Then why are you here? I assume you think because you are the last of my people I will show some pity for you and welcome you into my home, but you are unfortunately gravely mistaken. We were never comrades, merely men of similar situation forced to work together. I owe you nothing, and your appearance here, though dramatic, was quite pointless." Vegeta swiftly turned on his heel, having no interest in further dialogue. He had a dinner date with his son to get to. "Congratulations on your resurrection, Radditz, but it is no concern of mi-"

"Radditz," a soft feminine voice that Vegeta eerily recognized immediately snapped his head over towards the boarding platform of the second class's ship.

Déjà vu overtook the Emperor as a second, though graphically more shocking sight entered his line of vision. "Bulma," he could barely bring his lips to whisper the name as he saw the spitting image of his mate depart from the ship with a child, that save for her size and the furry brown tail wrapped around her carrier's wrist, was almost the spitting image of his deceased blue angel.

"I am sorry," she apologized as she walked over to join her mate and his associates. "I do not wish to interrupt your exchange, but we have been cooped up on a ship for several months, I just wanted to take a walk to get us some fresh air," she directed her intentions more specifically towards her mate, seemingly oblivious to the gawking eyes plastered to her angelic form.

Radditz used all of his strength to withhold a smirk. Her timing could not have been better. "Well, I am sorry my darling, but it seems Vegeta here has no interest in my continued presence on this planet."

"Vegeta?" Bulma turned her head to finally acknowledge the handsome man before her. Shifting Bra, so she was more securely in the hold of one arm, Bulma used her now free hand to extend it towards the emperor Radditz had just mentioned. "You must pardon Radditz's lack of manners. I am Atae, his mate, and this is our daughter."

Powerless to do anything else but clasp her delicate hand in his own, he thoughtlessly raised her wrist to his lips, kissing it softly. 'It can not be, she even smells like her,' Vegeta had merely a moment to think before the gentle hand was ripped away from him.

"Enough of that, Vegeta, find your own mate to fondle." Radditz pulled his favorite possession a step back from the intrusive ruler. The man could gawk at her in jealousy, but not dare touch. Atae was his, regardless of how he chose to use her to manipulate his former enemy.

"Radditz, do not be so cruel. He was only being cordial," turning back to her new acquaintance, she continued, "Please excuse him again, he is very protective of my well being."

"I can understand why," Garock responded quickly, since Vegeta was clearly unable to do so. "I am Garock, an adviser to the Emperor. It is a pleasure to meet you, Atae." The elder man clasped Bulma's hand in a similar gesture as was taken by Vegeta. "And your little one as well, she is adorable," he added as he moved his hand to touch the toddler's nose, who in return clasped his finger with a joyous laugh.

"I think she likes you," Bulma decided as she watched Garock and Bra exchange amused glances.

Radditz stood back and watched as the three enjoyed one another's company with a scowl on his face; he did not like all the male attention his woman was getting. For a split second, he could have regretted his decision to come to planet Frost in the first place, but after gazing over at the still shell-shocked Emperor, he knew he had been right. Taking a few discreet steps over to the former prince, he casually mentioned, "She is beautiful, isn't she?" His voice was low enough so that only Vegeta could hear the goading remark. "I could not believe my eyes the day I found her. The blue hair, those bottomless sapphire orbs, the creamy porcelain skin, save for a softer disposition, her appearance was unequivocally comparable to that of the slave you once found so fetching… Oh, what was her name… Bulma… Yes, I think that was it. When I found Atae, I thought perhaps the two were one and the same, but no, my mate had been living under the tyranny of a horrid prince for many years. You would not believe how grateful she was for my liberation of her heart, mind, body, and soul. All, of which, she has subsequently given to me. It is because of her I am now a better man, she is truly my most precious possession," Radditz repressed the smirk he felt forming as he watched his former prince's face contract under the vocalization of each sting laced word.

"You do not deserve a creature so fair," Vegeta hissed as he shot a deadly glare towards his subordinate. "Any man who sees his mate as a 'possession' is an unfit lover. I feel a swell of pity for the woman," he finished, icily ignoring any further comment from Radditz as he walked towards the woman who bore an uncanny resemblance to his deceased mate. "Atae, it is?" Vegeta said somewhat hesitantly as he watched her turn to face him.

"Yes, that is right," Bulma agreed as she noticed the uneasy look upon the emperor's face. "Is there a problem?"

"No, not at all," Vegeta was quick to clarify. It had been so long since he had seen the face of his mate; it was an indescribable blessing to experience the awe-inspiring sense of deja vu. Even if it was not his true love. "I was merely going to suggest that if you are so worn from space travel, you should spend a few nights in the comfort of my castle. Your mate and I," he twisted his head slightly to glance briskly at Radditz, "can catch up on some business while you do so." He finished by returning his gaze to her; the resemblance was truly uncanny.

Nodding with a bright smile, Bulma agreed happily. "That is very courteous of you, I would be more than thrilled to spend a few nights on solid ground, and I am sure this little one would as well." Bulma looked down at her daughter who entrancingly had her eyes glued to Vegeta. "This is her first time off ship," the blue haired beauty explained as she watched her daughter extend her arms towards her unknowing father. Giggling heartedly, Bulma drew an amused conclusion, "I think she wants you to hold her." Slowly walking closer to the bemused emperor, Bulma began softly, "have you ever held a child before?" Her voice had to be raised for the inquiry to be heard since her impatient daughter had begun crying due to not getting the attention she desired.

"Ah… I… No," Vegeta stumbled answering, unsure why the child would hold any interest in him. In his very limited experience with babies, all he had come to learn was that he was very good at making them cry.

"Well, that is about to change," Bulma raised her voice even louder than her now wailing daughter. Placing Bra into the uncertain man's arms, she helped him position her appropriately. And then, almost the split second Bra was secure in Vegeta's grasp, the infant stopped crying and simply began staring at her father with a slow forming smile on her face. Reaching out her closest arm to him, she began patting him on the cheek, laughing happily as she did so. "Yep, I definitely think she likes you," Bulma explained as she skimmed her hand over her daughter's head.

"All right, that is enough," Radditz startled the group as he walked in front of Vegeta, having had more than enough of the 'family' scene, he moved to rip the girl from his enemy's arms. And, to Bra's possible detriment, he would have succeeded had Vegeta not instinctively spun to avoid the man's greedy hands.

"I may not be an expert, but I doubt an infant should be handled so roughly," Vegeta scowled at the warrior, for someone who claimed to be so deeply infatuated with his woman, their child together seemed of much less consequence to him.

"He is right, Radditz," Bulma turned to glare at her temperamental mate. "Bra looks perfectly content with Vegeta."

As if yet another person believed dead had descended from Radditz's ship, an utterly stunned Vegeta and Garock shrieked in unison, "BRA!" It was several moments before either man could speak, Garock being the first, "Did you just call that child Bra?" The elder man voiced the question as he stared back and forth from child to mother in disbelief.

"Yes, that is what we named her, what of it?" Radditz voiced angrily. He knew allowing the woman to have her way in naming the child would come back to haunt him. Damn his weakness!

Garock grabbed Vegeta's shoulder to stop him from saying anything further on the matter; the coincidence would be left at that. "It is nothing, the name is just familiar. It must be common among various planets."

Bulma closed her eyes as she nodded in understanding, "well, yes, it is a beautiful name; it would not shock me to hear so." Opening her eyes, she was surprised to see her mate and the proud man holding her daughter exchanging angry glances. What was she missing? "Um, you know what, if we are going to stay here, then perhaps I should grab some things off of the ship to bring to our temporary chambers." Deciding to remove her daughter from the increasingly hostile situation, Bulma lifted her arms to retrieve the girl, but Vegeta's sharp voice halted her.

"There is no need," Vegeta stopped her abruptly as he explained, "I will have my staff retrieve the items." Carefully noting Radditz's reaction to having foreign soldiers on his ship, he watched the all too expected volatile reaction.

"Not without my accompanying them," the larger man demanded. He knew Vegeta would have his ship searched during the process.

"Very well," Vegeta smirked as he turned to look upon Garock. "Take these ten men," he pointed to the squad next to them, "and have them follow Radditz aboard to retrieve our guests' belongings and have the ship registered." Vegeta turned back to his fellow Saiya-jin to clarify. "It is protocol."

"Fine," Radditz glared at the man before moving back towards his vessel. He could control himself for now; all too soon he would be the one giving the orders. "Come on, Atae."

Bulma glanced back towards Radditz briefly before looking upon her daughter. "If it is all the same to you, Radditz, I would rather take Bra to our new chambers. Check out the new digs," she explained playfully.

"Atae," he said her name in a somewhat threatening tone, immediately erasing the smile upon the woman's face. Seeing her reactions, he quickly corrected himself. "Very well," he opted to be more compliant. She would not be gone from his side for too long. Turning back to his ship, Radditz, followed by Garock and the squad boarded the craft, leaving Bulma, Bra and Vegeta to themselves.

"I wish he would not be so difficult all the time," she mumbled to herself before turning back to the very much eavesdropping Vegeta. "Um, so, would you mind terribly showing us to our room?" Bulma asked a little nervously. She was not certain why he continued to stare at her so intensely. Silently nodding, Vegeta gestured her to follow him. After no more than a few paces, she covered her lips to hide a chuckle. "You know, you do not have to keep holding my daughter. I think she has quieted down now."

Vegeta raised a brow as the woman moved up to walk next to him. "I fail to see the need to alter the status quo. Especially since the alternative is a shrieking child. My acutely sharpened ears can not handle such noise," he paused to briefly glance at the Bulma like clone. "Unless you feel I am handling the task inadequately," he asked, he surely would not have known otherwise.

"No, no," Bulma was fast in her assertion, "You are doing fine, it is just… I do not know. The man Radditz described you as was not one who could be so gentle with an infant. He led me to believe you were highly dangerous." Bulma calmly stroked her drowsy daughter's back as she watched her little eyelids float open and closed. She seemed fully contented in this stranger's hold.

"Well, I am very dangerous," Vegeta insisted. He did not take well to having his all around 'evilness' questioned. "Just not to women and children who pose me no threat," he explained briskly, as he felt her delicate hand accidentally brush against his cheek while caressing her daughter. It was eerie how perfect the resemblance was.

"I see," Bulma half chuckled as she took the man's words as only being limitedly sincere. It was not long after that, the trio arrived before two massive doors that Vegeta opened to guide them into a plush room. Once inside, Bulma took in the darkly toned chamber, which had only meager sunlight shining through several windows that aligned the gloomy walls of the room.

"Is the room to your satisfaction?" Vegeta was not certain why he was asking, let alone actually cared, but for some reason he did.

"Very much," Bulma was quick to agree, "You spoil us with such lavishness." Turning back to gaze upon her daughter, Bulma noticed the now sleeping form of her child. "I guess I should put her down," she walked over to gently take Bra from Vegeta's arms. To her surprise, the moment the girl was no longer within her father's grasp, she awoke and began to cry as she reached towards the person she wished to be held by once more. "Shh, Bra," Bulma bounced the young girl, hoping she would calm down. "I do not understand why she is acting like this," Bulma tried to rationalize as she frowned towards her unknown lover. "She hates to be held by anyone besides me, I mean she weeps every time Radditz tried to hold her! And yet, she seems to prefer you."

The former Saiya-jin prince was far from being able to offer a solution to the rather perplexing predicament, but he did know one thing, his ears would not be able to handle the screaming for long. Retaking his position as the girl's means of transportation, he lifted her back from his mother's arms, not too surprised as she halted her crying almost immediately. "Much better," Vegeta released a sigh of relief as the wailing ended and the infant girl in his arms reached her tiny fingers up to grasp at his face. Touching his cheek, nose, and then finally resting on his bottom lip, she laughed as she pulled it up and down playfully.

Bulma could not help but chuckle as a small child was overtaking the seemingly stoic man. "I am truly sorry about this, I am sure you have better things to do than play babysitter to an infant you just met."

"Actually," Vegeta, against his better judgment, offered slyly, "I was on my way to have dinner prior to your arrival. I do not suppose you would be interested in joining us?"

The suggestive note in his voice was not lost on Bulma as she questioned lightly, "and just who exactly makes up the 'us' part?"

"My son and I," the confession seemed to elicit some shock from the woman as he looked down to meet her crystal blue eyes. They were just identical replicas of hers.

"I knew it!" the petite woman snapped her fingers in recognition. "You are too good with Bra not to have any children of your own. So, how old is your son?"

"Eleven," the answer was swift, "he only recently came into my life though. I had not known of his existence much more than a year ago." Vegeta was not sure why he was telling her this, but for some uncertain reason, he felt comfortable doing so.

"Wow, that must have been difficult for you. I can not imagine being kept from Bra for a minute, let alone ten years of her life," the empathy was evident in her tone. "You must have been infuriated with his mother to have such a secret kept from you for so long."

Vegeta flinched as he heard his deceased mate mentioned, "Much to the contrary, she had thought I was dead, and so she raised our son in my absence. She deserved my praise, not my fury for all that she had done for him."

Raising a brow, the blue haired woman picked up on a regretful tone in his voice. "You speak of her in the past tense; does she no longer live with you and your son?"

Closing his eyes, Vegeta's entire facial expression fell as the question reverberated throughout his mind. "No, she was killed not long after we finally found one another again." Silence filled the room as his confession sparked an intense moment of awkwardness, but it was soon after snuffed by the young girl in his arms who released his lips to wrap what she could of her small arms around his neck, as if she could sense the pain welling inside him, and in appeasement she wanted to comfort him.

"I am sorry I brought up the subject, I did not wish to bring you pain," Bulma whispered as she tentatively touched his shoulder, startled when he shivered under her gesture. Retracting her hand, she felt a crimson cover her cheeks. "I am sorry again," she apologized thinking his flinching had to do with her invasion of his personal space. Little did she realize the mere touch of her delicate fingers invoked passionate memories of what he once shared with his mate.

"We should be heading to dinner then, my son is already expecting me." Vegeta thought a fast change in subject was in order to drown out the ominous tone suffocating the room.

"Sure," Bulma followed in silence as they departed from her new room quietly. Feeling guilty about her insensitive question, she opted to remain quiet for their next journey. She was not certain what it was about the Saiya-jin emperor, but she felt something drawing her to him, and it seemed whatever it was had ensnared her daughter as well.

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Author's Note: Ah, so Vegeta has met 'Atae' and Bra. How will Trunks handle seeing his mother's 'look-alike?' And what about Radditz? Will he be able to handle seeing his 'mate' and 'daughter's' attention being stolen by his former prince? And just what does the bulky man have up his sleeve for his enemy? Some of these questions and more will be answered next time…