Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ The Price You Pay ❯ Chapter Twenty-Nine ( Chapter 29 )

Insert standard disclaimer here.

 

The Price You Pay: Chapter Twenty-Nine

 

“I don't know what idiot thought that lowering the gravity field would be acceptable but when I find him he will learn to never make such a mistake again!” fumed Vegeta. “If this ever happens again you and the rest of your line will be wiped off the face of Vegeta-sei. Do you get me?” The Saiya-jin no Ouji's body began to glow faintly and Radditz couldn't help but cringe as the feisty young Saiya-jin burned him slightly with his ki.

 

“Yes, sire.” Radditz stood at attention and tried to ignore the Prince's proximity to him as well as the searing pain of his aura. He really had no idea what had happened and it certainly wasn't his fault that the gravity machine failed, but in situations like these, when the Prince was all fired up, sometimes the only way to survive was to get up and shut up.

 

“Good.” With a final ki flare, the Saiya-jin prince left on the way to his quarters.

 

What is he so set on protecting?

 

~~~~~~~<(((((|||)))))>~~~~~~~

 

Having placed the young Chikyuu-jin in her bed, Zarbon stared down at her sleeping features. She was, besides certain other member of his own race, one of the fairest creatures he had ever seen. And, in all honesty, he was surprised at how well she'd taken the news of her planet's destruction. Something wasn't right with her.

 

Where are you really from, little one?

 

Zarbon's features relaxed as he watched her stir and roll onto her side. She was still wearing the black gown from earlier that evening. More “appropriate” attire, as Vegeta had put it. Zarbon didn't even want to fathom the origins of that comment. Vegeta was definitely going to need a talking to about his relations with this strange creature who…

 

Ye gods, don't tell me…

 

The alien's thoughts became a muddled mess as he carefully exposed a greater portion of Bulma's back. While the sleeping woman was turning, the black material of the gown had disheveled, exposing a tiny sliver of black scarring.

 

Oh, Vegeta… what have you done?

 

~~~~~~~<(((((|||)))))>~~~~~~~

 

'Please, don't go, Vegeta, please…' she pleaded, begged, would have gotten on her knees if she'd thought it would help change the Saiya-jin's mind.

 

'You know I cannot. The fates beckon me.' The compassionate look he gave her was one of understanding but of strength as well. There was nothing she could do. 'He's destroyed my dreams once before, and now, I'll crush his. For the future of Vegeta-sei, for my family, for you…' His voice trailed off.

 

'Leave me.' He whispered softly.

 

'I won't.' Bulma looked out the window, staring at the red sky turned dark crimson. It was as if all the bloodshed had caused the planet itself to cry tears of Saiya-jin blood.

 

'Go, now!' The eyes greeting her were shimmering gold.

 

'I'm leaving, Vegeta,' Bulma paused and then added, `You know how much I love you, just please, try not to leave your son fatherless.'

 

Bulma woke from her dream. Drenched in sweat and trembling slightly. It was difficult for her to determine her location in the dim light of the room. It had been days since she'd had that nightmare and the repetition of that scenario shook her now more than it ever had before. Whether the reason for her reaction was her sudden arrival on Vegeta-sei, being informed of the Earth's destruction, or the fact that she'd spoken of her son, she had no idea.

 

“Nightmare?” Zarbon's voice pierced the darkness of the bed chamber startling her. Bulma gave him a short, nervous smile.

 

“Yes, I'm afraid my dreams have been littered with them lately.” Bulma began to rub her temples in an attempt to ease away her fledgling head ache.

 

“Mates usually do have nightmare about the deaths of their partners on the brink of war. It's not uncommon.” The alien's voice turned menacing as he approached her weak form on the bed.

 

“How did you—“

 

“Who are you?” questioned the warrior as he eased his scaled hand around Bulma's throat. “Who are you?” The grip tightened slightly when she failed to answer. After a few moments, his golden eyes became more hostile and he released her throat with some force, throwing her head to the side.

 

Shit, Vegeta never told him? No, of course he wouldn't.

 

Bulma's thoughts became desperate. What should she say? As far as she knew, Vegeta was even oblivious to the origin of his own marked back.

 

When in doubt, go with honesty, I guess.

 

“I'm Bulma Briefs, President of the Capsule Corporation, and until two days ago, I was living on Earth.”

 

“That's impossible,” spat the alien at her response. “Earth was destroyed years ago. The treaty with Capsule Corp was made void under Freeza's rule. You should be dead along with the rest of your family.”

 

“Listen to me,” started Bulma with strength and authority. All those years dealing with condescending bureaucrats had finally paid off. “That is the truth. One minute I was on Earth and the next, in the forest being threatened by Radditz.” Bulma sat straight up, every bone in her body demanded that Zarbon believe what she was saying.

 

Sensing that Bulma's aura was one of complete honesty, Zarbon began to relax but kept up his guard just in case.

 

“Alright,” Zarbon began, “but I want to know the whole story from the beginning. And if you omit anything, I'll know,” he threatened.

 

“Okay then. In the universe, reality, planet, whatever you want to call it, that I cam from, Vegeta-sei no longer exists…”

 

~~~~~~~<(((((|||)))))>~~~~~~~

 

“My sources tell me that you have visitor on Vegeta-sei.” The words seemed to slither from the small speaker beneath the comm unit's screen. “I would hate to think that you were with holding information from me, your Highness. That would be, shall we say, unfortunate.” The Ice-jin sneered. Nothing in the universe irritated him more than a bunch of Saiya-jin monkeys who thought that one day their “savior” would come. The Legendary was, now, nothing more than a myth. He'd made sure of that.

 

“I know nothing of any 'visitor', Lord Freeza,” responded the Saiya-jin King. He didn't like where the conversation was going. The last thing he wanted was Freeza's attention during the war with Dokar-sei.

 

“Perhaps you should ask your son. Oh, and Vegeta, I want this problem dealt with immediately. I would hate to have to personally intervene.”

 

The King stared at the blank screen.

 

Ask my son, eh? Well, Vegeta, I hope you know what you're doing, because when this is all over with you're going to be begging me to kill you.

 

~~~~~~~<(((((|||)))))>~~~~~~~

 

“We need to talk.” The Saiya-jin no Ouji wasn't even to his chamber door before Zarbon confronted him.

 

“Not now, Zarbon,” replied the Prince in irritation in an attempt to blow Zarbon off. “And I've told you. Do not address me so informally when we're not alone. I've already had to deal with enough rumors. Whatever it is, it can wait.” As he recommenced moving toward the door he was stopped by a firm grip on his right arm.

 

“I know about you and the girl.” Zarbon's tight words seemed to resound in the hallway.

 

“You will remove your hand from my arm, Zarbon, or lose use of it for the remainder of your pathetic life.” Vegeta was beyond anger. How dare Zarbon presume to understand anything that had happened over the past few days when Vegeta himself didn't understand any of it.

 

“When did the mark appear, Vegeta?” demanded the alien.

 

“Get back in my quarters or I swear, trainer or not, I will kill you where you stand.” Vegeta growled as he shoved Zarbon into his chambers.

 

“Ye, gods, Vegeta. How in Kami's name could you be so careless? Radditz knows? Don't you understand that the entirety of the Saiya-jin empire is at stake here. You took a mate?” Zarbon tried to keep his voice down as to prevent Bulma from completely overhearing their conversation.

 

“What do you think I am, a complete idiot? Mind who you're speaking to Zarbon or those words will be your last.” This was no bluff. Defensive, angered, and Saiya-jin, Vegeta's ki had started to rise and his body glowed an alarming shade of red.

 

“Vegeta, I think there's something you need to know. That woman, Bulma, she isn't from this world, she isn't even from this dimension.”

 

“That's impossible, Zarbon.” It was amazing how Saiya-jins could still find a way to sound like they were going to murder someone even when speaking softly. A small part of Zarbon couldn't help feeling amused. Here they were discussing the future, or lack there of, of Vegeta-sei and the two warriors were more concerned about waking the sleeping woman in the next room.

 

“I think you need to talk to her. And soon. Whether you're willing to accept it or not, Vegeta, she is your mate.” Zarbon could barely even believe he'd said those words. Never in a thousand years did he think the words “Vegeta” and “mate” would go in the same sentence together. “And she is from another world. I know you can sense it. The way she looks at you alone shows her strange attachment to you. There's no way that could have developed so suddenly without some inexplicable history.”

 

Vegeta glanced at the door to his bed chamber and mused about how somehow Zarbon had known to bring her there instead of to her own chambers. Although slightly sickened by the idea of it all, Vegeta was certain that what Zarbon had said was true. Bulma was not from his dimension, and, worst of it, they were irrevocably mated.

 

It would explain the strange visions I've been having to an extent.

 

Vegeta was at a loss. Barely two days had gone by and already his mate's life was at stake. The gravity malfunction had not been an accident. If someone on Vegeta-sei already knew, then it wouldn't be long before Freeza found out as well.

 

If he doesn't already…

 

“We need to think of something soon, Vegeta. Or Freeza will find out and I'm really not looking forward to seeing what he'll do about the prophecy this time.”

 

“I know. For now let us hope my father hasn't found out. And if he has, well then, Vegeta-sei just might find itself with a new king decades before anyone expected.” Vegeta began to move toward his bed chamber door.

 

He's sacrificing everything for this. For the girl, the prophecy. Everything's changed within two short days. What are you going to do, Vegeta?

 

“Oh, and Zarbon,” said Vegeta as he turned back to the other warrior, “I want you to find Radditz and have him stand guard outside my chambers. If the onna is going to stay here he'll need to know where she is at all times. In the mean time, I'd feel much more comfortable if you were investigating the nature of the equipment malfunction from earlier. I would really love to see the severed head of whoever is responsible within the next 24 hours." With that final remark, Vegeta turned back to his bedroom doors and entered, his tail lashing wildly behind him as he went.

 

May Kami have mercy on us all.

 

Thought Zarbon. It was going to be a really long night.