Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ The Hybrid ❯ Bonding? What bonding?? ( Chapter 19 )
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
By: Ravenreux 
Find out what happens when the elusive 'bond' enters the mix.
Anime/Manga: Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Angst / Romance / Hentai / Action | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 03.24.2007 | Pages: 4 | Words: 5.5K | Visits: 512 | Status: Completed
Find out what happens when the elusive 'bond' enters the mix.
Anime/Manga: Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Angst / Romance / Hentai / Action | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 03.24.2007 | Pages: 4 | Words: 5.5K | Visits: 512 | Status: Completed
Disclaimer: I do not own DBZ...Akira Toriyama does...and that's not my name...so bad luck for me.
Chapter 19
"Do you have a better answer for me now?" Zarbon examined the thick crimson blood as it crawled it's way down his hands. He lifted a finely arched brow and turned his flashing amber eyes at his unfortunate captive. "Well?"
The hapless soul cringing before him whimpered pitifully. "I know nothing." His body quaked in the shallow pool of blood surrounding his emaciated frame.
Zarbon glanced over at Dodoria, who was busy devouring the strips of flesh he'd just flayed from the creature before him. "Do you mind?" The loud sucking noises coming from him made his stomach turn.
Dodoria snorted and kicked the mutilated being in front of him. "No, I don't mind at all."
He's not going to be anything but a nuisance. Shaking his head, Zarbon grabbed the squalling creature by the neck and lifted him up from the floor. He eyed it's wounds before choosing a large, oozing tear in the flesh. "Now, tell what you saw!" He dug his already bloodied fingertips into the wound, earning a screeching yelp from it's throat.
"Please!" It moaned pathetically as the pain subsided. "I saw..him...the one to fear."
"The one to...ah, you mean Veggie." Zarbon rattled the man-beast before throwing him down. "Tell me what Vegeta did."
The pain caused the beast's hide to spasm uncontrollably. "He stalked!" The man's green eyes rolled about wildly. "The other two...he followed them!"
Dodoria sidled up to his partner and nudged him in the ribs. "That one's not gonna last much longer."
"I'm aware of that." Zarbon gritted his teeth and clenched his fists at his sides. "Who's 'them'?"
"The Saiyans!" The creature hissed as it ducked out of the light and into the neighboring shadow of the cell. "The twin Saiyans!"
"What were the Saiyans doing there?" The tall mutant kneeled beside the creature and stroked back the long hair that hung damp with blood over it's face.
"Ship parts...food....supplies for a journey." The animal jerked away from Zarbon. "The Feared one looked on from the alley."
Zarbon frowned and glanced at Dodoria. "Why would he hide and not attack them as ordered?" The portly alien just laughed in response. The mutant turned his eyes back to the retching beast. "What happened next?" The animal whimpered and Zarbon stood up and stomped hard on it's leg, the bones shattering. "Answer me!"
The creature howled. "The Blue Hair! The Blue Hair attack him!"
Zarbon lifted his foot and the animal clutched it's broken limb, scuttling back toward the wall. "Of course...the girl." Vegeta had been tailed as well. "And?"
"The Feared One fight back and carry The Blue Hair away."
Dodoria stopped his feasting. "He took the girl?"
His disbelief was shared as Zarbon crossed his arms in thought. Vegeta has never been one to bother with women. "What about the other Saiyans?"
"Went about their business...left." The beast's voice was barely audible from it's dank corner.
Zarbon strode toward the cell door. "He's of no use now, do as you please with him. I must consult Lord Frieza."
Dodoria slapped his hands together and rubbed them. "At last.."
He started for the squealing creature as Zarbon swept out. He paid the workers no heed, pushing them aside as he rushed to the communications station. He ascended to the upper deck and whirled into the bridge. "Get me Lord Frieza on the communicator now!" The soldiers scurried about swiftly and the screen popped up quickly, the pale lizard looming over all of them. Zarbon bowed. "My Lord."
Frieza didn't move. "Yes?"
He straightened up. "From our interrogations we've come to learn that Vegeta did indeed come into contact with the Saiyan Raiders, on Station 12."
"So he did disregard my orders." Frieza reached up and held his chin in thought. "Were my assumptions correct?"
"Yes, Milord. He allowed them to go, but took with him the two female Saiyans." He swallowed. "Specifically the blue-haired one."
Frieza's brow furrowed. Blue-haired? Why does that seem familiar? "This is the same woman that was involved in the massacre on Lycondra?"
Zarbon nodded. "Yes, she and a male retrieved the other female that Vegeta took with him. We found that she actually went with them voluntarily though."
The thoughts nagged at him. I've seen this before...Vegeta and the girl, but where? He narrowed his eyes at his subordinate. "There was a blue-haired girl on Vejitasei, correct?"
Zarbon glanced at the floor for a moment. "Yes, she was with Bardock." Who's supposed to be dead!
Frieza glared at him. "It's her. She's the girl." He turned away from the screen to pace. "It seems that you didn't kill that monkey Bardock after all." He whirled back to the screen and cracked his tail like a whip behind him for emphasis. "Find them!"
The screen went black and Zarbon sighed. This isn't good.
On a vacant desert planet
Bulma ignored Nappa's leering as she taped up his shattered wrist. She twisted the broken joint as she ripped the tape off, managing to at least break the trance he seemed to have with her breasts. "Finished." She stood up and strode over to table where the medical supplies were spread out like food at banquet. "You can go back to having your ass handed to you."
He remained in his seat and gripped his bandaged arm while licking his lips. "I'd much rather handle your ass."
She rolled her eyes as she cleaned up the supplies. "Are you seriously talking to me like that?"
"I've never been one to deny anything, especially-"
Bulma threw down the pack of wraps she was holding. "Enough!" She crossed her arms over her chest and stalked out of the room. "Saiyans are disgusting." She could hear him shouting at her from the infirmiry, but she didn't feel like getting into another verbal sparring session. Especially one so dumb. Her stride hesistated a moment before she resumed her quick pace. I don't remember Nappa ever being like this before...he was much more intelligent and intellectual. She chewed at her lip as she guided herself from memory to the outside. Vegeta said that they recieved some sort of torture...but what could they have possible done to Nappa? The possibilities made her shiver. I know what can be done to the mind, but the methods could be horrifying. Her imagination brought out a number of gruesome thoughts that made her blood run cold. She grabbed her upper arms and started rubbing. "Everything about this makes me go cold, I can't stand it anymore!" She bolted the rest of the way and burst out of the ship and into the scorching desert sun.
The warmth was instant and she could even feel the beginnings of sweat beading on her forehead. So much better. She lifted a hand to shade her eyes and focused on the swirling figures in air. "Raditz and Celipa." As far as she knew, this was the first time since being on the bridge that the two of them were together in the same place. She smiled wryly. It seems they can't stay away from each other. Turning away so the sun was at her back, she sprang up onto the ship's surprisingly cool roof and settled down to watch the fireworks. The fight wasn't exactly intense in it's ferocity, but even from her distant seat she could make out cuts and bruises. She glanced down at her own arms and ran her fingers along the skin. Been awhile since I got that used up from a fight.
A stupidly dreamy smile split her face as she remembered Vegeta's fearsome Galic Gun that day on the beach. She snorted. Definitely got my ass handed to me that day. Vivid memories of her days on Vejitasei swirled through her mind as the sun tanned her back. I miss the days where Kakarrot, Vegeta, and I would raise hell through the streets of the palace city. Her bright smile faltered as the memories faded to ones that came later. The memory of a child that had to become an adult before her time and where the ruthlessness of reality wasn't sugar-coated. Bulma felt her sweat drip down along her spine. Most of her life before her Kaasan's death was a blur, practically faded from her mind entirely. And now I'm having trouble remembering my own Tousan's face... Her eyes burned as she scratched her neck. And he's still alive! I wouldn't even recognize him if I smacked into him face to face! She slammed her fist down angrily on the ship, leaving a slight dent in the metallic hull. "Stupid ship."
She pulled up her legs to sit indian-style when a shadow fell across her back. A corner of her mouth hitched up as she stared at the shadow, all her depressing thoughts disappearing. "Having fun battering your soldiers?"
Vegeta merely sighed. "They lack the power it takes to make me want to exert myself. I've hardly gotten anything done."
"Oh." She distinctly remembered him saying something about her power the last time they'd fought. "Is that all?" Pushing herself to her feet, she cocked her head to the side as she walked around him slowly. "Not as challenging as I was?"
He smirked at her remark. She may look human, but there is some definite Saiyan attitude running through her veins. He watched her tail as it made small swirling motions in the space behind her. "I have no reservations saying a hybrid Saiyan has more strength than a pureblood, and female no less." He cast an aggravated glare toward where the other two were sparring. "They've allowed themselves to weaken while on this ship." And I as their commander have allowed them to do so. His senses piqued as Bulma's female companion flew in quickly.
Bulma jumped to her feet as Celipa landed beside them, an unconscious Raditz slumped over her shoulder. She kneeled down next to the K-O'ed Saiyan after the dark-haired woman threw him down. "What the hell did you do to him?"
Celipa snorted. "Absolutely nothing."
"What?"
She started to pace. "We were sparring and I went to send my heel into his nose when he just passed out and dropped like a rock. I didn't do anything."
Vegeta went down next to Bulma and pushed her aside. "Move."
She glared daggers at him. "Why? What's going on?"
"His own ki is fighting him." He checked his vitals and pressed his right hand over Raditz's heart.
Bulma blinked with confusion. "How..How is that even possible?"
Vegeta carefully measured his energy and started streaming it slowly into the unconscious fighter's body. "While we were still juveniles, Raditz was a student of the master torturer Dodoria." He felt him stirring and pulled his hand away. "He learned the art, but not from study." He sighed and rocked back on his heels waiting. "He learned through experience."
Celipa's heart thudded heavily in her chest as she stared down at his ashen face. Oh Kami. "How...?"
"Oh," He turned away from them and strode down the roof to perch on the edge of one of the wings. "A normally deadly mixture of poisons were adminstered to kill him." He could feel his rage slowly rising to the surface. "But a Saiyan is very hard to kill that way. Instead of death the poison's radioactive properties altered the genetic make-up of his ki, making it extremely toxic and unstable if not controlled with specific chemicals."
Bulma slowly watched the color return to both Raditz and Celipa's faces, fully knowing how much the woman was hurting to see him like this. She glanced over at Vegeta's extremely tense shoulders and couldn't begin to fathom what was flashing through his mind. Okay, right now isn't the time to be worrying about Vegeta. She turned back to the fallen Saiyan and laid the back of her hand against his forehead. "Lemme guess? He needs to take the same poisons to control the fluctuation?"
Vegeta turned around and smirked. "Right again." He could see the wheels turning in her genius mind. "Go on."
She frowned at how high his temperature had risen. "It remains at a managable level until something radically changes, like a major increase in energy expenditure." She snapped her fingers at Celipa. "He needs water." She nodded and jumped down to the ramp. She grabbed the hem of her snug t-shirt and ripped off the bottom half, exposing her flat stomach to the burning rays of the sun. Balling it up, she pressed it to Raditz's brow. "He's been living with this for years and he knows what will happen if he doesn't take care of it. Why would he risk his life and ignore it?"
"He's a Saiyan." Vegeta barked out.
Bulma jumped when she realized he was standing right behind her. "So?"
"How would you feel if you're own body was constantly turning on itself?" He didn't wait for her meager reply, but pushed onward. "A Saiyan takes pride in his physical strength and fighting ability and if it were stripped away..." He trailed off.
He didn't need to finish, she knew what he was trying to say. It would leave him nothing but an empty shell. He'd rather risk death than the demands of his own wayward body. Raditz lurched forward, a hacking cough shaking his entire body. Bulma grabbed the back of his head and steadied him. "Take it easy."
The cough subsided and Raditz brushed her hand away. "Enough, I don't need your help." He stood up and brushed off his clothes, the only remnant of the episode was the sweat that ran down his face.
Bulma crossed her arms. "Apparently you do because you won't even help yourself." He only glared at her from beneath his heavy hair, turning to accept the water that Celipa had just returned with. Frustration made her growl. "Let me help you." She stepped closer and spun him to face her. "Let me look at the serum and run some tests on you-" He shot a fist at her face, but she managed to catch his wrist.
"Don't you think I've already tried that?! I've been living with this for years trying to figure out a cure!" He pushed forward until she had to jump off backward and hang suspended in the air. "What makes you think you'll do any better?"
Vegeta congratulated himself on excellent self-control. She can hold her own quite well. He'd expected Raditz's outburst, it occured perdictibly after every episode. What he hadn't expected was the physical attack as well, although it seemed she had. Perhaps she knows my own crew better than I do. He watched her eyes burn hatefully at him while fighting her own urge to return the favor. Time to mediate. He stepped between them both and spoke with his eyes shut. "She doesn't, but that doesn't mean she won't try anyway." He glanced to see her rolling her bright blue eyes and smirked.
Bulma lifted a brow. "So now you think you know me?"
"No." His tail lashed out to snag her ankle and drag her back down to the ship. "But I know a persistent scientist when I see one." He released her leg and she stepped closer. "Besides, you are you're Tousan's daughter."
Bulma huffed. "He's right."
Raditz wasn't slow in any figment of the word. He saw through the unspoken conversation and knew he'd lost this battle before it had begun. "So be it." He didn't delight in having to brush off Celipa's supportive touch, but he brushed her aside just the same.
Celipa watched him leave and whirled back towards the others. "So you two make all the rules and call all the shots?"
"I just want to help him." Bulma stepped up beside her cohort.
She shook her head, dark hair shaking in the hot desert air. "No." It wasn't until just now that she finally understood what Raditz had been trying to convince her of the past few days. She laughed suddenly and it shocked the other two as they watched. Raditz, I finally understand. I'm doing it right now. She knew Bulma as well as anyone could, despite the tension between them, and knew logically that her answer was truthful. But I'm still going to fight her. She laughed even harder, looking very much like she'd lost her mind. Who knew Saiyans could be this irrational? She dropped her chin toward her chest and stared out from under lidded eyes. "You...this is your doing." She launched forward and blazed her fist towards Vegeta's face.
Bulma's eyes narrowed into small crystaline slits as she stepped between and caught the fist tightly in her own. "I don't think so." She pushed her ki through her hand to throw the other woman back across the ship.
Vegeta stepped up behind her back and whispered in her ear. "Onna, that was meant for me."
"No, it was just another tactic to get me to fight her." She glanced down at the floor a moment, almost nervously. One I don't completely understand. Why did I just do this?
He felt her uncertainty as it mirrored his own. Could it be? His eyes fixed on the pulse at the base of her throat and knew immediately to step away. Yes, it is. "Very well." His tail touched hers lightly and he strode away to watch from the other side of the ship. They wasted no time diving right in and he only just barely paid attention. His focus turned inward as he searched his own mind for the answer. The only plausible explanation would be... His head jerked up and his dark eyes narrowed as he watched Bulma rebound off the roof to scissor-kick her opponent. The longer he watched the more convinced he became of the force that was pulling him towards her. No! I can't have this kind of distraction! The muscles in his jaw worked overtime as he fought to calm his inner rage. That's why she plagues my thoughts.
Celipa landed a strong back kick to Bulma's chest and she slid across the roof until Vegeta's foot stopped her. She looked up into his face and knew instantly that something was wrong. Ignoring her fight, she stared up into his obsidian gaze. "What is it?"
His lips curled back to sneer. "You. It's you." He shot off into the desert sky.
Bulma leapt to her feet to follow, but Celipa tackled her from behind. "Not so fast, I'm not finished with you yet."
Chikyuu
"We have leaders working in every quadrant of the galaxy, all recieving the same information and orders." Krillin clicked the small remote in his hand until the space map filled the screen. "Basically, we have forces from every corner of the universe."
Bardock stood off-center and held his chin in his hand. "So why exactly am I needed?"
The diminuitive human set down the remote and smiled. "We've done all the hard work for you in gathering the forces, now we just need your help teaching them to fight and commanding them in battle." He steepled his fingers over his stomach.
The news wasn't exactly unexpected. "And did the good Doctor have a plan for this as well?"
"Not exactly." Krillin slid from his seat and crossed the room to a large computer console. "He made contacts on the biggest trade planets in each quadrant and had the most trustworthy appointed as the leaders there. We aren't strangers to wars or battle, but only to the type of warfare we're likely to encounter."
Bardock nodded. "This war won't be fought on planet, but up in space."
"Yes." His fingers danced over the keys, bringing up a document. "These are roughly the number of recruits that each quadrant has enlisted. We need seasoned soldiers to teach them, and the Doctor recommended you."
He squinted at the screen and nodded. "That's a good size force." He scratched the back of his neck before crossing his arms. "Well, I can't be spread four-ways." He lifted a brow.
"You have others with you with the same knowledge. Combined with our own leaders here on Chikyuu, there are two for each quadrant." He rested his elbows on the console. "I would allow you the final decision as to who goes where."
Yes, that sounds about right. There were eight of them, split across four quadrants, leaving two for each one. "Give me some time to access my men."
Krillin nodded. "Of course."
Bardock started to turn for the door, but halted mid-stride. "I do have one question though."
"By all means, speak it." Krillin held out a hand.
"If we are to be fighting Frieza's forces, who exactly would be fighting him?" Bardock's arms rested across his massive chest. There's no one person strong enough in the entire galaxy, and I doubt even an entire army could stop him.
"That, my friend- if I may use that term," He continued after Bardock nodded. "is the only piece of this master plan that has me worried. I do not know if we can trust him to keep his word."
"Who?" Bardock leaned in closer.
"The only other being in this world that can breed fear into a race without lifting a finger." His eyes slid shut as he sighed. "The Saiyan no Ouji."
Back in the desert
Alright, I've had it with you! Bulma struggled against the hold Celipa had on her, but it did little to budge the larger female. Her right arm was twisted painfully up against her back while the other uselessly tried to free her neck from the arm smothering it. "I promise you won't remember what happens after I break lose!"
"Oh?" Celipa moved her head to set on her right shoulder. "I'm just shaking so bad."
Bulma gritted her teeth and swung her right leg up parallel to her torso, her boot effectively slamming into her opponent's face. The hold was immediately broken as the Saiyan dropped to the ground unconscious. Bulma rolled her right shoulder around in it's socket, hissing at the pain slowly faded away. "Dammit, I hate when she does that." Floating back down to the ship, she strode over to Celipa's limp form and nudged it with her foot. "Hey, get up."
The other Saiyan growled softly before flopping over on her back. "What?"
Bulma ignored her waspish attitude and kneeled down beside her. "Why?"
She snorted. "Don't you feel it?" She sat up and dabbed at the blood drooling down from her nose. "It figures you wouldn't. You've always been self-absorbed."
"What the hell are you talking about?"
"I didn't believe in it either when Raditz told me, but now I know different. I remember my Tousan speaking of it when he would tell me stories of my dead Kaasan." She sniffed and winced painfully. "Did you have to go for my nose?"
"Yes!" Bulma stomped her feet. "Now quite being so damn cryptic!"
"Alright already." She stood up and dusted off her pants. "Did your Kaasan ever tell you about bonding?"
Her brain started working immediately. Yes, she used to talk about it all the time. That she was bound to Papa. That means- "Holy crap."
Celipa smirked. "Need I say more?"
Bulma knew what she was implying and it scared the living daylights out of her. Her palms started to sweat and she started rubbing them together as if getting ready to hit something. Celipa's eyes darted to them and she hesistated. Bulma smirked. "What, no more snide comments?" She suddenly remembered what she'd said earlier and laughed. "So how's it going with Raditz?"
Her lids drooped until she was glaring. "Fine." Turning swiftly, she dashed off.
Bulma didn't really care what Celipa thought, but this definitely explained Vegeta's earlier behavior. Not that I'm exactly fond of it either. She refused to go through another week of tension. This is ridiculous! We aren't little kids anymore! Leaping up into the sky, she followed the pulsing swell of his ki in the distance. The sand dunes rushed past her as the sun left it's burning mark on her fair skin. Whether it was physical or emotional, she was in for a lot of discomfort. She smiled wryly. Maybe I'm a glutton for punishment. There was never a time in her life that she could ever remember herself taking the easy road, an apparantly genetic inheritance from her Kaasan. Trouble, it seems, is my middle name.
It didn't take her long to spot his destructive trail...it was as wide as a gorge. Someone seems to be frustrated. She figured she'd use up her smart-ass-comment-quota before finding him as they seemed to always infuriate him. She eased up as dunes shifted beneath her, the vibrations so strong she had to fight to stay airborne. "Damn!" The shaking subsided and she increased her pace, zeroing in on a single glowing beacon. "Vegeta.."
Dropping low in the sky, she noticed that the terrain had grown harder, with craggy rock formations jutting out from odd angles in the sand. The rumbling in the hills vanished and the silence made the hair on the back of her neck stand up. She slipped slowly down onto the peak of an ugly shaped piece of rock, crouching low as she surveyed the horizon. He knows I'm here. Her breath quickened as a small wriggle of fear crawled up her spine, seemingly synonymous with the sweat that rolled down it. It suddenly felt as if she was being hunted and she knew to tread softly. Vegeta hadn't earned his mass-murdering reputation just by kicks. She swallowed as her mouth went dry and scanned the terrain for any sign of her hunter. She choked back a sigh when she found nothing. I suspected as much.
Forgoeing the use of her ki, she slipped from her perch and started her descent into the hillside. What she thought would be easy turned out to be extremely difficult when a sudden barrage of ki blasts started to vaporize the landscape around her. She dodged as well as she could considering she didn't have any time to discern his location. A cavern beckoned to her right and she dove inside, rolling back onto her feet in one smooth motion. "Ok, so you're not going to make this easy for me are you?" She examined a few minor burns and cursed. "That's it!" Throwing caution to the wind, she strode out of the cave and into the center of the valley between the cliffs. "Show yourself you coward!"
She didn't have to wait long. The battered form she knew as Vegeta stalked out from the end of the cliffs and bore down on her head on. To say the least, her heart was racing madly as she took in the blood and grime smeared across his face. His tail wavered through the air like a panther's, and his entire body was posed to pounce. Dusted poofed out from under his boots as he approached, catching in the wind and swirling about his body as if he were other-worldly. Bulma's jaw stiffened as she stared him down and she allowed her rage to billow to the surface. It was the only way she'd be able to stay focused. She remained motionless as he stopped in front of her. "Is there something you wanted to convey to me?" She gestured toward the scarred mountainside. "I know you're a much better shot than that."
He knew her goading tone when he heard it and ignored it completely. His gaze hardened like steel. "It seems I've made a mistake." His eyes trailed down her lithe form admiringly, pleased at seeing her bleed from the burns he'd given her. "And I'm not one to make mistakes."
The fear wiggled it's way back into her belly. "And what mistake would that be?" She congratulated herself on sounding cool and collected despite the chaos running through her brain.
"I allowed myself to be distracted and distraction can kill you." He advanced on her slowly. "Do you by any chance know what that distraction might be?"
Bulma couldn't stop herself from retreating away from him. "I think I have a pretty good idea, yeah."
A wickedly crooked smile split his slightly deranged appearance. "Then you know what comes next don't you?"
She now knew firsthand what millions of others had known right before theirs deaths. "You kill me." Just uttering the words seemed to snap her spine straight and she stopped retreating. He won't do it. He can't. The bond. She felt her moxy return as she stepped into his space. "You can't do it."
He chuckled. "Really?" His eyes narrowed. "Just watch me."
He spun faster than she expected and found herself on the receiving end of a viscious roundhouse that sent her sailing into the outcrops behind her. The impact was brutal as stars erupted in her vision. The rock crumbled around her quivering form until it could no longer hold and she was sent rolling down the side of the mountain, limp as a rag doll. Pain exploded anew through her body as she slammed into boulders, finally landing heavily in a pile of gravel. Her vision blurred as she gazed up and saw him standing over her, her patron saint of death. "..No."
He extended his hand as if to help her up, but a light soon spun forth from it instead. "Oh yes."
She managed to smile as the blackness descended.
A/N: First off, I seriously apologize for the wait for this update. I could give you a bunch of excuses, but in the end it all adds up to bullshit anyway. So, I hope the last section surprised you a bit...I had an idea, but no real plan...I just flew by the of my pants. Anyway, this is a nice long chapter that will hopefully make-up for some of my foot-dragging. Oh, and don't worry, your lemon is coming...prolly in the next chapter....so much for that cliffhanger *shrug*. I guess the real pickle is how it'll come about ^_^.
Thanx to:
AAHH! No new reviews. Shame on you people!! ........uh, yeah....so, um....please review?
Chapter 19
"Do you have a better answer for me now?" Zarbon examined the thick crimson blood as it crawled it's way down his hands. He lifted a finely arched brow and turned his flashing amber eyes at his unfortunate captive. "Well?"
The hapless soul cringing before him whimpered pitifully. "I know nothing." His body quaked in the shallow pool of blood surrounding his emaciated frame.
Zarbon glanced over at Dodoria, who was busy devouring the strips of flesh he'd just flayed from the creature before him. "Do you mind?" The loud sucking noises coming from him made his stomach turn.
Dodoria snorted and kicked the mutilated being in front of him. "No, I don't mind at all."
He's not going to be anything but a nuisance. Shaking his head, Zarbon grabbed the squalling creature by the neck and lifted him up from the floor. He eyed it's wounds before choosing a large, oozing tear in the flesh. "Now, tell what you saw!" He dug his already bloodied fingertips into the wound, earning a screeching yelp from it's throat.
"Please!" It moaned pathetically as the pain subsided. "I saw..him...the one to fear."
"The one to...ah, you mean Veggie." Zarbon rattled the man-beast before throwing him down. "Tell me what Vegeta did."
The pain caused the beast's hide to spasm uncontrollably. "He stalked!" The man's green eyes rolled about wildly. "The other two...he followed them!"
Dodoria sidled up to his partner and nudged him in the ribs. "That one's not gonna last much longer."
"I'm aware of that." Zarbon gritted his teeth and clenched his fists at his sides. "Who's 'them'?"
"The Saiyans!" The creature hissed as it ducked out of the light and into the neighboring shadow of the cell. "The twin Saiyans!"
"What were the Saiyans doing there?" The tall mutant kneeled beside the creature and stroked back the long hair that hung damp with blood over it's face.
"Ship parts...food....supplies for a journey." The animal jerked away from Zarbon. "The Feared one looked on from the alley."
Zarbon frowned and glanced at Dodoria. "Why would he hide and not attack them as ordered?" The portly alien just laughed in response. The mutant turned his eyes back to the retching beast. "What happened next?" The animal whimpered and Zarbon stood up and stomped hard on it's leg, the bones shattering. "Answer me!"
The creature howled. "The Blue Hair! The Blue Hair attack him!"
Zarbon lifted his foot and the animal clutched it's broken limb, scuttling back toward the wall. "Of course...the girl." Vegeta had been tailed as well. "And?"
"The Feared One fight back and carry The Blue Hair away."
Dodoria stopped his feasting. "He took the girl?"
His disbelief was shared as Zarbon crossed his arms in thought. Vegeta has never been one to bother with women. "What about the other Saiyans?"
"Went about their business...left." The beast's voice was barely audible from it's dank corner.
Zarbon strode toward the cell door. "He's of no use now, do as you please with him. I must consult Lord Frieza."
Dodoria slapped his hands together and rubbed them. "At last.."
He started for the squealing creature as Zarbon swept out. He paid the workers no heed, pushing them aside as he rushed to the communications station. He ascended to the upper deck and whirled into the bridge. "Get me Lord Frieza on the communicator now!" The soldiers scurried about swiftly and the screen popped up quickly, the pale lizard looming over all of them. Zarbon bowed. "My Lord."
Frieza didn't move. "Yes?"
He straightened up. "From our interrogations we've come to learn that Vegeta did indeed come into contact with the Saiyan Raiders, on Station 12."
"So he did disregard my orders." Frieza reached up and held his chin in thought. "Were my assumptions correct?"
"Yes, Milord. He allowed them to go, but took with him the two female Saiyans." He swallowed. "Specifically the blue-haired one."
Frieza's brow furrowed. Blue-haired? Why does that seem familiar? "This is the same woman that was involved in the massacre on Lycondra?"
Zarbon nodded. "Yes, she and a male retrieved the other female that Vegeta took with him. We found that she actually went with them voluntarily though."
The thoughts nagged at him. I've seen this before...Vegeta and the girl, but where? He narrowed his eyes at his subordinate. "There was a blue-haired girl on Vejitasei, correct?"
Zarbon glanced at the floor for a moment. "Yes, she was with Bardock." Who's supposed to be dead!
Frieza glared at him. "It's her. She's the girl." He turned away from the screen to pace. "It seems that you didn't kill that monkey Bardock after all." He whirled back to the screen and cracked his tail like a whip behind him for emphasis. "Find them!"
The screen went black and Zarbon sighed. This isn't good.
On a vacant desert planet
Bulma ignored Nappa's leering as she taped up his shattered wrist. She twisted the broken joint as she ripped the tape off, managing to at least break the trance he seemed to have with her breasts. "Finished." She stood up and strode over to table where the medical supplies were spread out like food at banquet. "You can go back to having your ass handed to you."
He remained in his seat and gripped his bandaged arm while licking his lips. "I'd much rather handle your ass."
She rolled her eyes as she cleaned up the supplies. "Are you seriously talking to me like that?"
"I've never been one to deny anything, especially-"
Bulma threw down the pack of wraps she was holding. "Enough!" She crossed her arms over her chest and stalked out of the room. "Saiyans are disgusting." She could hear him shouting at her from the infirmiry, but she didn't feel like getting into another verbal sparring session. Especially one so dumb. Her stride hesistated a moment before she resumed her quick pace. I don't remember Nappa ever being like this before...he was much more intelligent and intellectual. She chewed at her lip as she guided herself from memory to the outside. Vegeta said that they recieved some sort of torture...but what could they have possible done to Nappa? The possibilities made her shiver. I know what can be done to the mind, but the methods could be horrifying. Her imagination brought out a number of gruesome thoughts that made her blood run cold. She grabbed her upper arms and started rubbing. "Everything about this makes me go cold, I can't stand it anymore!" She bolted the rest of the way and burst out of the ship and into the scorching desert sun.
The warmth was instant and she could even feel the beginnings of sweat beading on her forehead. So much better. She lifted a hand to shade her eyes and focused on the swirling figures in air. "Raditz and Celipa." As far as she knew, this was the first time since being on the bridge that the two of them were together in the same place. She smiled wryly. It seems they can't stay away from each other. Turning away so the sun was at her back, she sprang up onto the ship's surprisingly cool roof and settled down to watch the fireworks. The fight wasn't exactly intense in it's ferocity, but even from her distant seat she could make out cuts and bruises. She glanced down at her own arms and ran her fingers along the skin. Been awhile since I got that used up from a fight.
A stupidly dreamy smile split her face as she remembered Vegeta's fearsome Galic Gun that day on the beach. She snorted. Definitely got my ass handed to me that day. Vivid memories of her days on Vejitasei swirled through her mind as the sun tanned her back. I miss the days where Kakarrot, Vegeta, and I would raise hell through the streets of the palace city. Her bright smile faltered as the memories faded to ones that came later. The memory of a child that had to become an adult before her time and where the ruthlessness of reality wasn't sugar-coated. Bulma felt her sweat drip down along her spine. Most of her life before her Kaasan's death was a blur, practically faded from her mind entirely. And now I'm having trouble remembering my own Tousan's face... Her eyes burned as she scratched her neck. And he's still alive! I wouldn't even recognize him if I smacked into him face to face! She slammed her fist down angrily on the ship, leaving a slight dent in the metallic hull. "Stupid ship."
She pulled up her legs to sit indian-style when a shadow fell across her back. A corner of her mouth hitched up as she stared at the shadow, all her depressing thoughts disappearing. "Having fun battering your soldiers?"
Vegeta merely sighed. "They lack the power it takes to make me want to exert myself. I've hardly gotten anything done."
"Oh." She distinctly remembered him saying something about her power the last time they'd fought. "Is that all?" Pushing herself to her feet, she cocked her head to the side as she walked around him slowly. "Not as challenging as I was?"
He smirked at her remark. She may look human, but there is some definite Saiyan attitude running through her veins. He watched her tail as it made small swirling motions in the space behind her. "I have no reservations saying a hybrid Saiyan has more strength than a pureblood, and female no less." He cast an aggravated glare toward where the other two were sparring. "They've allowed themselves to weaken while on this ship." And I as their commander have allowed them to do so. His senses piqued as Bulma's female companion flew in quickly.
Bulma jumped to her feet as Celipa landed beside them, an unconscious Raditz slumped over her shoulder. She kneeled down next to the K-O'ed Saiyan after the dark-haired woman threw him down. "What the hell did you do to him?"
Celipa snorted. "Absolutely nothing."
"What?"
She started to pace. "We were sparring and I went to send my heel into his nose when he just passed out and dropped like a rock. I didn't do anything."
Vegeta went down next to Bulma and pushed her aside. "Move."
She glared daggers at him. "Why? What's going on?"
"His own ki is fighting him." He checked his vitals and pressed his right hand over Raditz's heart.
Bulma blinked with confusion. "How..How is that even possible?"
Vegeta carefully measured his energy and started streaming it slowly into the unconscious fighter's body. "While we were still juveniles, Raditz was a student of the master torturer Dodoria." He felt him stirring and pulled his hand away. "He learned the art, but not from study." He sighed and rocked back on his heels waiting. "He learned through experience."
Celipa's heart thudded heavily in her chest as she stared down at his ashen face. Oh Kami. "How...?"
"Oh," He turned away from them and strode down the roof to perch on the edge of one of the wings. "A normally deadly mixture of poisons were adminstered to kill him." He could feel his rage slowly rising to the surface. "But a Saiyan is very hard to kill that way. Instead of death the poison's radioactive properties altered the genetic make-up of his ki, making it extremely toxic and unstable if not controlled with specific chemicals."
Bulma slowly watched the color return to both Raditz and Celipa's faces, fully knowing how much the woman was hurting to see him like this. She glanced over at Vegeta's extremely tense shoulders and couldn't begin to fathom what was flashing through his mind. Okay, right now isn't the time to be worrying about Vegeta. She turned back to the fallen Saiyan and laid the back of her hand against his forehead. "Lemme guess? He needs to take the same poisons to control the fluctuation?"
Vegeta turned around and smirked. "Right again." He could see the wheels turning in her genius mind. "Go on."
She frowned at how high his temperature had risen. "It remains at a managable level until something radically changes, like a major increase in energy expenditure." She snapped her fingers at Celipa. "He needs water." She nodded and jumped down to the ramp. She grabbed the hem of her snug t-shirt and ripped off the bottom half, exposing her flat stomach to the burning rays of the sun. Balling it up, she pressed it to Raditz's brow. "He's been living with this for years and he knows what will happen if he doesn't take care of it. Why would he risk his life and ignore it?"
"He's a Saiyan." Vegeta barked out.
Bulma jumped when she realized he was standing right behind her. "So?"
"How would you feel if you're own body was constantly turning on itself?" He didn't wait for her meager reply, but pushed onward. "A Saiyan takes pride in his physical strength and fighting ability and if it were stripped away..." He trailed off.
He didn't need to finish, she knew what he was trying to say. It would leave him nothing but an empty shell. He'd rather risk death than the demands of his own wayward body. Raditz lurched forward, a hacking cough shaking his entire body. Bulma grabbed the back of his head and steadied him. "Take it easy."
The cough subsided and Raditz brushed her hand away. "Enough, I don't need your help." He stood up and brushed off his clothes, the only remnant of the episode was the sweat that ran down his face.
Bulma crossed her arms. "Apparently you do because you won't even help yourself." He only glared at her from beneath his heavy hair, turning to accept the water that Celipa had just returned with. Frustration made her growl. "Let me help you." She stepped closer and spun him to face her. "Let me look at the serum and run some tests on you-" He shot a fist at her face, but she managed to catch his wrist.
"Don't you think I've already tried that?! I've been living with this for years trying to figure out a cure!" He pushed forward until she had to jump off backward and hang suspended in the air. "What makes you think you'll do any better?"
Vegeta congratulated himself on excellent self-control. She can hold her own quite well. He'd expected Raditz's outburst, it occured perdictibly after every episode. What he hadn't expected was the physical attack as well, although it seemed she had. Perhaps she knows my own crew better than I do. He watched her eyes burn hatefully at him while fighting her own urge to return the favor. Time to mediate. He stepped between them both and spoke with his eyes shut. "She doesn't, but that doesn't mean she won't try anyway." He glanced to see her rolling her bright blue eyes and smirked.
Bulma lifted a brow. "So now you think you know me?"
"No." His tail lashed out to snag her ankle and drag her back down to the ship. "But I know a persistent scientist when I see one." He released her leg and she stepped closer. "Besides, you are you're Tousan's daughter."
Bulma huffed. "He's right."
Raditz wasn't slow in any figment of the word. He saw through the unspoken conversation and knew he'd lost this battle before it had begun. "So be it." He didn't delight in having to brush off Celipa's supportive touch, but he brushed her aside just the same.
Celipa watched him leave and whirled back towards the others. "So you two make all the rules and call all the shots?"
"I just want to help him." Bulma stepped up beside her cohort.
She shook her head, dark hair shaking in the hot desert air. "No." It wasn't until just now that she finally understood what Raditz had been trying to convince her of the past few days. She laughed suddenly and it shocked the other two as they watched. Raditz, I finally understand. I'm doing it right now. She knew Bulma as well as anyone could, despite the tension between them, and knew logically that her answer was truthful. But I'm still going to fight her. She laughed even harder, looking very much like she'd lost her mind. Who knew Saiyans could be this irrational? She dropped her chin toward her chest and stared out from under lidded eyes. "You...this is your doing." She launched forward and blazed her fist towards Vegeta's face.
Bulma's eyes narrowed into small crystaline slits as she stepped between and caught the fist tightly in her own. "I don't think so." She pushed her ki through her hand to throw the other woman back across the ship.
Vegeta stepped up behind her back and whispered in her ear. "Onna, that was meant for me."
"No, it was just another tactic to get me to fight her." She glanced down at the floor a moment, almost nervously. One I don't completely understand. Why did I just do this?
He felt her uncertainty as it mirrored his own. Could it be? His eyes fixed on the pulse at the base of her throat and knew immediately to step away. Yes, it is. "Very well." His tail touched hers lightly and he strode away to watch from the other side of the ship. They wasted no time diving right in and he only just barely paid attention. His focus turned inward as he searched his own mind for the answer. The only plausible explanation would be... His head jerked up and his dark eyes narrowed as he watched Bulma rebound off the roof to scissor-kick her opponent. The longer he watched the more convinced he became of the force that was pulling him towards her. No! I can't have this kind of distraction! The muscles in his jaw worked overtime as he fought to calm his inner rage. That's why she plagues my thoughts.
Celipa landed a strong back kick to Bulma's chest and she slid across the roof until Vegeta's foot stopped her. She looked up into his face and knew instantly that something was wrong. Ignoring her fight, she stared up into his obsidian gaze. "What is it?"
His lips curled back to sneer. "You. It's you." He shot off into the desert sky.
Bulma leapt to her feet to follow, but Celipa tackled her from behind. "Not so fast, I'm not finished with you yet."
Chikyuu
"We have leaders working in every quadrant of the galaxy, all recieving the same information and orders." Krillin clicked the small remote in his hand until the space map filled the screen. "Basically, we have forces from every corner of the universe."
Bardock stood off-center and held his chin in his hand. "So why exactly am I needed?"
The diminuitive human set down the remote and smiled. "We've done all the hard work for you in gathering the forces, now we just need your help teaching them to fight and commanding them in battle." He steepled his fingers over his stomach.
The news wasn't exactly unexpected. "And did the good Doctor have a plan for this as well?"
"Not exactly." Krillin slid from his seat and crossed the room to a large computer console. "He made contacts on the biggest trade planets in each quadrant and had the most trustworthy appointed as the leaders there. We aren't strangers to wars or battle, but only to the type of warfare we're likely to encounter."
Bardock nodded. "This war won't be fought on planet, but up in space."
"Yes." His fingers danced over the keys, bringing up a document. "These are roughly the number of recruits that each quadrant has enlisted. We need seasoned soldiers to teach them, and the Doctor recommended you."
He squinted at the screen and nodded. "That's a good size force." He scratched the back of his neck before crossing his arms. "Well, I can't be spread four-ways." He lifted a brow.
"You have others with you with the same knowledge. Combined with our own leaders here on Chikyuu, there are two for each quadrant." He rested his elbows on the console. "I would allow you the final decision as to who goes where."
Yes, that sounds about right. There were eight of them, split across four quadrants, leaving two for each one. "Give me some time to access my men."
Krillin nodded. "Of course."
Bardock started to turn for the door, but halted mid-stride. "I do have one question though."
"By all means, speak it." Krillin held out a hand.
"If we are to be fighting Frieza's forces, who exactly would be fighting him?" Bardock's arms rested across his massive chest. There's no one person strong enough in the entire galaxy, and I doubt even an entire army could stop him.
"That, my friend- if I may use that term," He continued after Bardock nodded. "is the only piece of this master plan that has me worried. I do not know if we can trust him to keep his word."
"Who?" Bardock leaned in closer.
"The only other being in this world that can breed fear into a race without lifting a finger." His eyes slid shut as he sighed. "The Saiyan no Ouji."
Back in the desert
Alright, I've had it with you! Bulma struggled against the hold Celipa had on her, but it did little to budge the larger female. Her right arm was twisted painfully up against her back while the other uselessly tried to free her neck from the arm smothering it. "I promise you won't remember what happens after I break lose!"
"Oh?" Celipa moved her head to set on her right shoulder. "I'm just shaking so bad."
Bulma gritted her teeth and swung her right leg up parallel to her torso, her boot effectively slamming into her opponent's face. The hold was immediately broken as the Saiyan dropped to the ground unconscious. Bulma rolled her right shoulder around in it's socket, hissing at the pain slowly faded away. "Dammit, I hate when she does that." Floating back down to the ship, she strode over to Celipa's limp form and nudged it with her foot. "Hey, get up."
The other Saiyan growled softly before flopping over on her back. "What?"
Bulma ignored her waspish attitude and kneeled down beside her. "Why?"
She snorted. "Don't you feel it?" She sat up and dabbed at the blood drooling down from her nose. "It figures you wouldn't. You've always been self-absorbed."
"What the hell are you talking about?"
"I didn't believe in it either when Raditz told me, but now I know different. I remember my Tousan speaking of it when he would tell me stories of my dead Kaasan." She sniffed and winced painfully. "Did you have to go for my nose?"
"Yes!" Bulma stomped her feet. "Now quite being so damn cryptic!"
"Alright already." She stood up and dusted off her pants. "Did your Kaasan ever tell you about bonding?"
Her brain started working immediately. Yes, she used to talk about it all the time. That she was bound to Papa. That means- "Holy crap."
Celipa smirked. "Need I say more?"
Bulma knew what she was implying and it scared the living daylights out of her. Her palms started to sweat and she started rubbing them together as if getting ready to hit something. Celipa's eyes darted to them and she hesistated. Bulma smirked. "What, no more snide comments?" She suddenly remembered what she'd said earlier and laughed. "So how's it going with Raditz?"
Her lids drooped until she was glaring. "Fine." Turning swiftly, she dashed off.
Bulma didn't really care what Celipa thought, but this definitely explained Vegeta's earlier behavior. Not that I'm exactly fond of it either. She refused to go through another week of tension. This is ridiculous! We aren't little kids anymore! Leaping up into the sky, she followed the pulsing swell of his ki in the distance. The sand dunes rushed past her as the sun left it's burning mark on her fair skin. Whether it was physical or emotional, she was in for a lot of discomfort. She smiled wryly. Maybe I'm a glutton for punishment. There was never a time in her life that she could ever remember herself taking the easy road, an apparantly genetic inheritance from her Kaasan. Trouble, it seems, is my middle name.
It didn't take her long to spot his destructive trail...it was as wide as a gorge. Someone seems to be frustrated. She figured she'd use up her smart-ass-comment-quota before finding him as they seemed to always infuriate him. She eased up as dunes shifted beneath her, the vibrations so strong she had to fight to stay airborne. "Damn!" The shaking subsided and she increased her pace, zeroing in on a single glowing beacon. "Vegeta.."
Dropping low in the sky, she noticed that the terrain had grown harder, with craggy rock formations jutting out from odd angles in the sand. The rumbling in the hills vanished and the silence made the hair on the back of her neck stand up. She slipped slowly down onto the peak of an ugly shaped piece of rock, crouching low as she surveyed the horizon. He knows I'm here. Her breath quickened as a small wriggle of fear crawled up her spine, seemingly synonymous with the sweat that rolled down it. It suddenly felt as if she was being hunted and she knew to tread softly. Vegeta hadn't earned his mass-murdering reputation just by kicks. She swallowed as her mouth went dry and scanned the terrain for any sign of her hunter. She choked back a sigh when she found nothing. I suspected as much.
Forgoeing the use of her ki, she slipped from her perch and started her descent into the hillside. What she thought would be easy turned out to be extremely difficult when a sudden barrage of ki blasts started to vaporize the landscape around her. She dodged as well as she could considering she didn't have any time to discern his location. A cavern beckoned to her right and she dove inside, rolling back onto her feet in one smooth motion. "Ok, so you're not going to make this easy for me are you?" She examined a few minor burns and cursed. "That's it!" Throwing caution to the wind, she strode out of the cave and into the center of the valley between the cliffs. "Show yourself you coward!"
She didn't have to wait long. The battered form she knew as Vegeta stalked out from the end of the cliffs and bore down on her head on. To say the least, her heart was racing madly as she took in the blood and grime smeared across his face. His tail wavered through the air like a panther's, and his entire body was posed to pounce. Dusted poofed out from under his boots as he approached, catching in the wind and swirling about his body as if he were other-worldly. Bulma's jaw stiffened as she stared him down and she allowed her rage to billow to the surface. It was the only way she'd be able to stay focused. She remained motionless as he stopped in front of her. "Is there something you wanted to convey to me?" She gestured toward the scarred mountainside. "I know you're a much better shot than that."
He knew her goading tone when he heard it and ignored it completely. His gaze hardened like steel. "It seems I've made a mistake." His eyes trailed down her lithe form admiringly, pleased at seeing her bleed from the burns he'd given her. "And I'm not one to make mistakes."
The fear wiggled it's way back into her belly. "And what mistake would that be?" She congratulated herself on sounding cool and collected despite the chaos running through her brain.
"I allowed myself to be distracted and distraction can kill you." He advanced on her slowly. "Do you by any chance know what that distraction might be?"
Bulma couldn't stop herself from retreating away from him. "I think I have a pretty good idea, yeah."
A wickedly crooked smile split his slightly deranged appearance. "Then you know what comes next don't you?"
She now knew firsthand what millions of others had known right before theirs deaths. "You kill me." Just uttering the words seemed to snap her spine straight and she stopped retreating. He won't do it. He can't. The bond. She felt her moxy return as she stepped into his space. "You can't do it."
He chuckled. "Really?" His eyes narrowed. "Just watch me."
He spun faster than she expected and found herself on the receiving end of a viscious roundhouse that sent her sailing into the outcrops behind her. The impact was brutal as stars erupted in her vision. The rock crumbled around her quivering form until it could no longer hold and she was sent rolling down the side of the mountain, limp as a rag doll. Pain exploded anew through her body as she slammed into boulders, finally landing heavily in a pile of gravel. Her vision blurred as she gazed up and saw him standing over her, her patron saint of death. "..No."
He extended his hand as if to help her up, but a light soon spun forth from it instead. "Oh yes."
She managed to smile as the blackness descended.
A/N: First off, I seriously apologize for the wait for this update. I could give you a bunch of excuses, but in the end it all adds up to bullshit anyway. So, I hope the last section surprised you a bit...I had an idea, but no real plan...I just flew by the of my pants. Anyway, this is a nice long chapter that will hopefully make-up for some of my foot-dragging. Oh, and don't worry, your lemon is coming...prolly in the next chapter....so much for that cliffhanger *shrug*. I guess the real pickle is how it'll come about ^_^.
Thanx to:
AAHH! No new reviews. Shame on you people!! ........uh, yeah....so, um....please review?