Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ The Strength of Love ❯ Despair ( Chapter 4 )

Disclaimer: Nope, Dragonball Z isn't mine. Believe me, if I did own it, I would not be writing this disclaimer. . . I would be out celebrating!

Quick Note: Hey, guys. . .I didn't think that so much Yamcha bashing would be so. . .admired! I admit, I love a good bashing now and then, but the ones in the past, and in the future have purposes.

Oh, and Mediaminer readers, the fanart that appears for this fic was a result of an error that my stupid computer made. Now if someone could tell me how to take it off. . .

Anyway, I'll stop now and let you all read the newest chapter of:

The Strength of Love

Chapter Four: Despair

The blackness was slowly vanishing; why was it so dark?

Light flooded his vision when he opened his eyes. He was in some sort of room, nothing was familiar in it. He looked down and saw that he was lying in a bed of some sort, a small end table next to him. The room itself was small, and the walls were painted a painfully blinding white. Where was he?

"So. . .you're awake."

Kakarrot's head whirled around while he sat up in the bed. The blue-haired woman was standing in a corner, her arms crossed and her light blue pupils staring at him. His eyes searched for any other occupants of the room and located the blonde from his eariler fight. Then the truth hit him. He had failed trying to defend himself.

Kakarrot watched as the blue-haired woman walked towards his bed. His arms automatically came up to shield himself from whatever the woman was planning. She chuckled.

"Do you really think I would harm you after I went through great lengths to obtain you? Please, do not consider me to be so low."

"Can you blame me? I basically have no idea of what happened after the fight with her," he gestured towards Eighteen. "And to how I got here, it's still a mystery to me."

"Well, allow me to fill you in. The reason that you don't remember is the fact that you have been unconscious. During your match, Eighteen gave you a blow to your head and then we took you back to the ship. You've been out cold for three hours now."

"And what happens now?" Kakarrot asked, his black brows lowering to form an indignant expression on his face.

Bulma smiled at the swift change of his mood. "Don't become upset, Kakarrot. You have been chosen to help the universe. You should be honored."

"Honored? Tell me, what was honorable of the way you stole me from my own planet?!" he yelled.

Bulma slowly backed away when she noted the amount of fury rising in him. Eighteen materialized between the two, also sensing the sudden lift of his ki. "There's no need for any hostility. Whether you like it or not, monkey, you will be working for us."

His arms crossed as he smirked. "And just how are you going to make me do that?"

Eighteen's eyes narrowed. "It will not be us, rather Master Cambrion will be ordering you to. You have yet to meet him. But once you do, you will understand the full impact of your predicament."

"I'm not going anywhere."

Bulma stepped forward, feeling a little braver. "I don't think my father will be happy when he is notified that he must travel to a different wing of the ship just to speak to you."

"Frankly, I don't give a damn of what your father-"

Bulma reached forward and roughly grabbed him by the dark, coarse strands of his crown and yanked his head forward so it was but mere inches away from her own. Her blue eyes quickly turning into a deadly glare. "You will give a damn, Kakarrot, because I give a damn." Her tone was calculated and almost silent. "And you will treat him with some respect, you overgrown lout."

Kakarrot nodded, paying close attention to her power level rise as a result to her anger. This woman before him was strong, her level was virtually near his own! He couldn't believe it, since she had been in the room, he detected such a low level. However, he knew that she could fight; she had dared to challenge the prince. But he never would have guessed that she would be this strong.

Bulma counted backwards to ten, feeling the fury seep out of her. It would do her no good if she ripped his head off right then and there. Once she was certain that she had calmed herself, she unhanded Kakarrot. "That's very wise of you. My father is the greatest man in the world, and I love him dearly. But if you ever degrade him or insult him, you'd better be prepared to deal with me." She composed herself. "Anyway, now that you're awake, I think it's time for you to meet my father. Eighteen," she called out to the blonde android.

"Yes, Bulma?"

"Give Kakarrot back his armor." She watched Eighteen give her an affirmative and leave the room. Bulma managed to give the Saiyan a smile. "We've modified it to match the style of that of the ship."

Kakarrot rose an eyebrow. "Modified?" She nodded as Eighteen came back in, throwing her bundle to the dark haired man. Kakarrot suddenly took notice that he was naked, save the sheets of the bed thankfully covering the lower portion of his body.

"We'll be outside while you put it on," Bulma said, noticing his discomfort, as she and the blonde andriod walked out of the door.

Kakarrot looked at his armor. It was clear of all of the nicks and gashes that it received during combat. However, the mark of the palace of Vegeta-sei was replaced by a shiny golden cresent, the insignia, he supposed, of this Cambrion Valarte. He sighed and looked up at the ceiling, his mind focusing on one question.

Just how was he going to get back home?

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"How is his progress?"

The man looked down at the panel. "Most of his bruises are gone. He had a broken rib and some broken bones. But they, for the most part, have healed as well, Ou-sama. He's about ready to come out."

"Get him out, then."

The Saiyan medic nodded and pushed a few buttons. The liquid drained from the tank as the door opened. The king watched the prince's eyes open and yank off his oxygen mask. Prince Vegeta ignored his father's presence as he walked to his apparel and proceeded to put them on.

There was silence before the king started. "Vegeta. . ."

"What the hell do you want, father?" the prince asked as he pulled on a glove. "Let me guess. You want to tell me how humilating it was to get my ass beat in front of the entire royal court?" He pulled on his second glove and frowned. "Well, spare me the long speech. I don't need it." He walked past his father, never giving him a moment's glance.

"No, Vegeta," his father began. "I was just going to remind you of your duty."

Prince Vegeta turned around at that. "You would dare try to lecture me on what it is to be a prince? I know my place, father, so stop breathing down my fucking neck!" He continued to walk to the exit.

"So, you will be boarding the next ship, then?"

Vegeta stopped and whirled around, his crimson cape floating around him as he narrowed his eyes. "What?"

"If you knew your duty so well, then you would remember that as a royal member of Vegeta-sei, you are obliged to see to the well-being of the planet." The king took a step forward. "Without Kakarrot present, Vegeta-sei is prone to more devestation than even your vast imagination could conjure up. I cannot, in good faith, allow that to happen. You are compelled to retreive Kakarrot and bring him back here."

"For the sake of the planet, is that right?" Prince Vegeta sneered. "Have you forgotten, father, that it is also my duty to become the legendary? What about my destiny? I am weary of hearing the lies that Kakarrot is better than me. He does not have any prophecy attached to his name. I will become the strongest Saiyan that ever lived, not him. So as far as going after the bitch and her fellow dogs, you can get your fat ass of off your throne and into a ship to `retreive' the idiot your own damn self!"

"Cease your whining, boy! I am not asking you to go, I am telling you! And so help me, Vegeta, if you refuse me one more time, I will see that you are bound, gagged and flying you way into space, whether you like it or not." The king turned on a heel and stomped out of the room.

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She pushed the doors open, not even bothering with a greeting. "Father, may I present to you, Kakarrot of Planet Vegeta."

Cambrion looked over the rim of his goblet to his daughter. She was smirking at him, her sky blue eyes challenging him. He smiled as he set his cup down and rose from his seat. "I trust that the mission was extremely successful, then?"

"Oh, come now, father. If I am the one on the job, it could be nothing but successful." She signaled to Eighteen, who pushed a relutant Kakarrot forward. "This is the warrior you requested me to bring you."

Cambrion examined the averse Saiyan in front of him. He was tall and intimidating; definitely built for fighting, if the muscles of his arms and legs weren't proof enough. The boy that he had heard about was now a man, however, Seventeen had informed Cambrion that Kakarrot was no challenge to him. His smile grew wider at that thought. Nothing was challenging to that android.

"So, you are Kakarrot?" Cambrion walked towards the Saiyan and peered into his dark brown eyes. His sandy brows rose slightly when he saw the amount of barely concealed fury in them. He shook his head and moved towards his seat. "Are you as strong as I have heard you to be?"

At that statement, Kakarrot smirked. "I don't know the rumors you've heard, old man-" He heard Bulma growl and watched as the man named Cambrion gave her a look that instantly told her to stay where she was. "-but, I can assure you that I can handle myself and stop whatever it is that you're intending to do."

The older man laughed. "And what makes you think that I am going to do something that is wrong?"

"The fact that I'm here against my will. If you were so bent upon creating peace in the universe, then you would release me."

Cambrion glanced at Bulma, who shrugged. "Peace, is that right? When the universe is within my hands, there would be no need for war and violence. When everyone acknowledges me as their superior and obeys me, then will be the time for peace."

Kakarrot's eyes widened. "You are like Frieza! You want control of the universe, just like he did!" He lowered himself into a fighting stance. "Well, I'm not going to let you. I will not let you destroy innocent people!"

Eighteen appeared in front of him and crossed her arms, her icy blue eyes set into a glare. "I don't think that you want to threaten our Master. He isn't one to take them lightly."

"Eighteen, that is not necessary." She nodded and returned to her place next to Bulma. "Now, Kakarrot, I do not expect you to become used to your new position so soon. I am willing to give you time-"

"-And be thankful for that," Bulma added, giving the Saiyan a dark scowl across the room.

"Bulma," Cambrion looked to her, his expression warning her to be silent. She turned her head away from him, not desiring to see the display of disapproval clear on his face. He moved his gaze back to Kakarrot. "You will be part of my operation, even if you do not agree with my methods. I will let you leave, to consider my generous offer. Just think! Once I have succeeded, you will become one of the well renowned fighters in the entire universe!"

"I already am," Kakarrot said, a half-smirk on his face. "I defeated Frieza, remember?"

Cambrion smiled back at him. This man was not completely stupid, and for that, he was glad. "Correct. Eighteen, would you show Kakarrot to his room?"

"Yes, Master. Come on!" The blonde android shoved the large Saiyan out of the room.

Bulma took a few steps towards the door until her father stopped her. "Bulma. . ."

She turned around, regarding him with inquiring eyes. "Yes, father?"

"I want to place you in charge of Kakarrot. There is a fire blazing inside of him, rebellious no doubt. If he tries anything of any sort, I want you to take care of it."

Her hand rested on her hip as a smirk crept across her lovely face. "So in other words, you want me to baby-sit him and take full responsibility if he manages to escape."

"You could say that. I preferred to put it into a more professional tone, but. . ." Cambrion sat down in his chair. "I know you will do well. I also request that you show him the advantages of associating with us."

She turned and moving to the door, she threw over her shoulder, "Whatever you want, father, you shall have. Kakarrot will be eating out of my hand soon enough."

"I did not want you to accomplish the feat that way, Bulma," he said as he looked up. However, his daughter was already gone. Cambrion let out a deep sigh and shook his head. "I hope that she will at least be gentle on the boy. . ."

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Vegeta tapped his finger against the silcon panel of the round space pod. How in the world did he get talked into this? He could care less about the idiot named Kakarrot, he was actually reveling in the dream of never having the Saiyan in his sight ever again. Nevertheless, here Vegeta was, tracking their ship solely by Kakarrot's ki, doing the one thing in his life that he was loathe to do.

Despite the fact that he detested this little mission of his, he smirked. The ship that carried Kakarrot was not nearly as fast as his own. He was already close enough to see the metalic exterior of their ship. They didn't even know that he was coming. `This is going to be simple,' he told himself. He would enter their vessel, retreive Kakarrot, anihilate the occupants, and use their ship to return to Vegeta-sei. It would be too easy.

The alarms of his pod sounded, ringing in his ears. "What. . .what's going on?" He checked the readouts on the monitor. His eyes widened in shock. He was being pulled in by some magnetic force, and according to the readings, it was coming from their ship! Suddenly, his plan didn't seem so simple any longer. They were going to find out that he was coming, if they already did not know. He sighed and prepared himself.

This was going to be a long day.

Author's Note: Well, there's the forth chapter. What's going to happen, now that Vegeta's coming? All in the next chapter. See ya later, and as always, I hope you will review!