Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ TOSOV (THE OTHER SIDE OF VEGETA) ❯ RECOVERY / DISCOVERY ( Chapter 3 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

     




The
Other
Side
Of
Vegeta
By Elanya

Disclaimer: I do not own DBZ. These masterful and wonderfully created characters remain the property of Akira Toryama, TOEI ANIMATION, BIRD Studios, and FUNimation. I do not own X-men. They remain the property of 20TH Century Fox Studios, Marvel Comics and the creator, Stan Lee. So, please, no law suits. This is
just a compliment in appreciation to their genius and inspiration. Any resemblance between themes in this fic and others are purely coincidental and accidental.

CHAPTER III

RECOVERY/DISCOVERY

Once Piccolo's two children, Pan, Bura and Vegeta had been placed into the regeneration tanks, their families sat with them. Bulma was agitated and the fact did not go unnoticed by her eldest offspring. She eyed the tank containing the Saiyan no Ouji as if for the first time. Her mind flash backed to the first time she had set
eyes on him. She was on Master Roshi's Island and the news crews were attempting to film the battle between the Saiya-jin and Earth's Special Forces as the Z Sensi had been know in the early days. Goku had been dead nearly a year as the Saiya-jin had arrived earlier than expected. The two aliens had begun their reign of terror the moment
their pods crashed on earth, then they had picked up the power levels of the Sensi and had flown off to meet them. It had been when the television crews had flown over the desert area and captured glimpses of the aliens, that Bulma caught her first sight of the warrior prince. She actually didn't pay much attention because her heart lay
in pieces at the death of her first boyfriend, Yamcha. She hadn't really paid Vegeta any mind until after the adventure to the planet Namek to retrieve that planet's dragon balls as Earth's db's had been destroyed when Piccolo was killed which caused the death of Kami-the Earth's Namekian guardian with whom the dragon balls were tied. As long as Kami was alive, the db's existed. When Kami died along with Piccolo, so did they.

After a tremendous battle, the db's were finally gathered, the wishes were made to revive all those beings killed by Frieza and that those same beings be transported to Earth as Frieza had set in motion the events that would destroy Namek. Of all the beings that had been revived and brought to Earth, Bulma was surprised to find that Vegeta was among the crowd-she didn't like him at all. He had still been a threat, but she felt compelled to show compassion to the stranded alien and offered him a place to stay. He didn't stay long for as soon as he spied a space pod in the Briefs' yard; he jumped into it and zoomed into outer space. His goal was to track down Goku and find out how he had become a Super Saiyan. When the prince returned, he immersed himself into rigorous training-this was just
after the warning the boy from the future (Trunks) had issued about two killer androids that were destroying his world.

Bulma returned to reality after her memory and looked at Vegeta again. What had she ever seen in him in the first place? There was no question that he was the best looking being she had ever seen with a body so sinfully proportioned that it could make a body builder sick with envy. That when he kissed her, she'd melt away
like ice in the sun and when they coupled! There just weren't adjectives in the language to describe how wondrous that was, however, she always felt he was holding back on his full excitement until she got brave enough to ask him. His response was, "If I let go, even for a hair second, woman, your brains would be scattered about this room!" he snapped at the end of one of their love making sessions.

Bulma sighed. He was only gentle during the physical act of coupling, he just wasn't gentle any other time and she wished that he had been. Now, it was too late. Their mateship had come to an end, not that she regretted it. She was a woman who needed love and affection and Vegeta just could not present her with those things, unfortunately, and all the gifts in the universe from him could not make up for that fact. So, four years ago-not that she had meant to do it-she had an affair. She had been sent to Europe to open a new plant and wanted to take the kids, but her mom counter manned that action and sent Bulma off by herself. This had been after a big fight she had with Vegeta for missing Bura's second Christmas (Bura had been born on October 13, before Christmas) and she had thrown him
out of her home and her life. However, she had to concede and let him use the gravity trainer to train Trunks. She didn't want Bura to be trained, but that child had her own mind and let mom know that she was Vegeta's daughter and she wanted to be trained with her brother. Bulma knew her daughter had incredible powers, so she agreed Notwithstanding, Bulma had gone off to Europe and met a very attractive and very sympathetic young Irishman whose ear she bent half the night with how her mate cared only for his training and not for her. She also told him how her mate never showed her any affection and that even in the mateship how lonely she felt when he wasn't around. Bulma related the fact that she had tossed her mate out just before she had ventured over to Europe to open the complex. She had been in Europe three months and she and the young Irishman, whose name was Jeffery Coles, had gotten very close. One night after a dinner date, the inevitable happened and they coupled. It was only
because Bulma was in such burning need that she threw herself wholeheartedly into the act but realized that the intensity wasn't there. Well, she had to admit, Jeff was human and Vegeta a Saiyan who seemed like he knew what she liked in the lovemaking act. Vegeta had seemed to know instinctively just where and how to touch her,
whereas she had to almost put Jeff's hand or finger over her pleasure zones. Bulma shook her head. She and Jeff had become a couple and were discussing plans to get married, then Vegeta had had the gravity room accident a few days ago and now he had been caught in an earthquake with her baby. This totally cramped her style. She would rather have stayed at CC where she met Jeff every afternoon for lunch then a little fun before they went out. However, she had called her lover to let him know that she would not be home for a while and that she would meet him at a restaurant for dinner later that evening.

Trunks sat beside her and looked at Outusan and the chimp, his sister. He had his dad's sensitive olfactory organs and picked up a scent that seemed to hang in the air at CC and it wasn't Vegeta's. Oh, the young man knew that his parents had called it quits following Bura's second Christmas, but he didn't want to admit that she was cheating on his dad even though the two were no longer one. The younger prince sat in silence as he tried to decide whether or not to inform Outusan. He should and the news would send Outusan into a state. No one but Trunks knew how Bulma's tossing the prince out like yesterday's trash had affected the softening alien, who tried very hard to rebuild the wall of granite he had once hidden behind and which had been destroyed after that fateful post Christmas four years ago. Bulma had all but destroyed the prince; however, his highness bore his sorrow well and left the planet to regain himself.

"Bulma, why do you hate dad so much? You know he'd never hurt you," Trunks said after the silence threatened to
drown them.

Bulma cringed. No matter how often they talked, it seemed that Trunks was bound and determined not to call her mom. He either addressed her by her first name, 'woman' or worst yet, 'bitch.' It was the fault of that widow-peaked monstrosity in the tank that he'd turned both children against her, somehow and she couldn't understand why. Bura was a difficult child from birth. She was hard to deliver and even harder to care for until Trunks came in from school during that time.

"Be-because he has never shown any affection to me. He's never said a kind word the whole time we had been together. He's so mean! I would have thought that twenty years in an atmosphere where the beings were not afraid to show their emotions would have changed him from the cold hearted being he is, but I guess that was too much to ask for," Bulma explained. "Trunks, what happened after Bura was born? The nurse told me that I was so weak that I couldn't care for the baby. She also told me that the baby had been released into the Outusan's care. Is that true? Did Vegeta take care of my baby while I was in the hospital?"

Trunks sat silent for a moment before he responded. He mentally asked Outusan Vegeta if he should inform the woman of the events following Bura's birth. 'Just don't give too much detail or she might keel over and die from cardiac arrest or whatever these weak pathetic specimens of creation expire from,' Outusan responded
in like manner.

"Yes, dad took care of Bura for the first three months of the baby's life. Bura was uncontrollable after birth and wouldn't settle down. After dad had shared his energy with you to aid in your recovery, he went to see the baby. He spoke in Saiyago and the chimp quieted down. Amy, the nurse in charge of your case, was very grateful and let dad have care of her. Dad brought her home to CC and your parents along with the both of us took care of her," Trunks explained in a nonchalant manner.

"Amy told me that I was wrong about him and that he wasn't the monster I knew him to be! Huh, I wasn't born yesterday to fall for that crock of horse crap! A leopard cannot change his spots and I'll never believe Vegeta capable of caring for anyone other than himself or that he could be anything other than a self-serving, stubborn, arrogant ass!" Bulma retorted with an edge in her voice as she got up to leave. "I have to go. I have a business
meeting to attend to."

"I might have known. You've had business meetings every night since I was sixteen years old and since your return from Europe! That's why you'll never be privy to dad's inner most being the way Bura and myself are!" Trunks' retort was sharp as he left the room to go find Goten and ask Piccolo where the kitchen was located so that he could get a bite to eat.

Although they were unconscious, Vegeta and Cilvanti could still communicate telepathically.

'Daddy?' Cilvanti asked.

'Yes, my princess?' Vegeta replied.

'Can I blast her six ways from Sunday when I get outta here?' the baby asked and Outusan chuckled.

'As tempted as I am to say 'yes,' I think I've caused her enough hardship by giving both you and Trageta to her. Cilvi, you be good for the onna when you get outta here and that's not a request. Your prince orders this of you, so make me proud of you, my little girl,' Outusan said, as he knew that the baby would be recovered within the week.

By week's end, Cilvanti had recovered and was released from the tank and sent to be with her mother. Trunks was there to take her to CC and Cilvanti was not a happy camper.

"I wanna go with you, Geta, or stay at New Namek and wait for daddy! Piccolo wouldn't mind! I could get to know Nyricco and Naila better. C'mon, don't leave me with that bitch! I don't like her and she doesn't like me over much, either. Besides, I gotta bad felling about this. She's gonna hurt me to get back at daddy, I just know it," the baby cried in despair.

"Honey, I'd love to take you with me, but I'm going to a planet where the natives don't like females or children. They eat them for breakfast and Outusan would kill me if anything happened to you. I know Bulma can't hurt you unless...No, even that's too extreme for her and she doesn't strike me as one of those women to try and kill her kids just to have her lover or be rid of her ex-husband. Hey, hun, ask Gohan to let Pan come play with you! You two
are such good friends," Trunks suggested as they reached the complex of Capsule Corp.

"Who's gonna take me to see daddy while you're gone?"
"I'm sure Uncle Kakarrot would be happy to take you. He really likes Outusan, even though dad tries to hide the fact that he likes Kakarrot as well. I'll call you every night. I'll even sing you to sleep if you like," Trunks offered.

Bura Cilvanti shrugged her little shoulders. "Okay, but you know you don't have a voice like Outusan. I mean, you can carry a tune, but you don't have the quality. I could listen to dad forever! I'm so glad that he made that CD he gave me for my birthday," Bura sighed as she remembered the CD she constantly played, which was entitled 'Music from Vegetasei.'

"Well, it's about damn time the two of you got here! Get in here and go sit down!" Bulma ordered and the kids went
into the family room. The kids seated themselves on the sofa and Bulma stood in front of them in full command. "Now, listen and listen good. There's gonna be some new rules around here from now on regarding you two! First of all I am placing a continuous guard on you my young miss. There will be no company. I have hired a private tutor for your lessons. There will be no calls to New Namek to check on the state of that accursed thing you two refer to as Outusan. The very thought of that being sickens me. Oh, I've taken the liberty of cleaning up your bedroom and have discarded all the junk that SOB gave you and replaced them with things appropriate for a young lady and that I want you to have," Bulma droned to the shock of her two children.

"Bulma! You can't do that! Outusan had most of those things specially made fore C-chan off planet! They cannot be replaced!" Trunks spluttered in dismay.

The baby flew out of the house to the area where garbage dumpsters were located. A moment later came the most
earth-shattering scream ever heard from one so young. Trunks ITed to see what was wrong. On the ground sat a completely heartbroken little demi-Saiyan princess as she cradled the remains of a doll.

"NO! Oh, Vanti, no, she didn't! Outusan had Sanna made just for you on Minerva. I know she can't be replaced at all!" Trunks couldn't help crying, himself, as he looked at his sister in tears over the loss of the doll Vegeta had given her that Christmas Bulma had thrown him out of their home.

"I want daddy! I hate her, Geta! I wanna blast her into the next dimension!" Cilvi cried as Trunks took hold of her
and tried to console her, but she would not be comforted.

"Oh, Outusan, hurry and recover so we can skip this planet before I blast that woman six ways from Sunday!" Trunks
exclaimed as he picked up the baby and carried her into the house.

Bulma was impatiently waiting for the children. She was not gonna tolerate that spoiled brat daughter and the chit was gonna learn who was in control and it certainly wasn't that one who had mated with her. Anyway, Bulma sat in the kitchen of Capsule Corp with her back to the rear entrance of the complex.

"Never sit with your back against a door like that or some maniacal five year old whose most favorite doll in the entire universe had just been destroyed might blast you into the next dimension!" Trunks roared as the entered the house after setting Cilvanti on the floor.

"Listen, mister, you may be nineteen years old, but that gives you no right to sass! Don't worry, I won't kill that precious child, but I can't guarantee that some other person might not try. Oh, and another rule, there will be no Saiya-jin spoken within these walls or on this property and neither will you address one another by those ridiculous vegetable names. Oh, and tomorrow, young child, that unsightly appendage on your backside is coming off permanently!" Bulma hissed in triumph through clenched teeth.

"Now, Trunks you go off to whatever assignment that you have and leave that brat to me!"

This bit of news sent shock waves through both children. "NO! First my toys, now my tail! You must really hate my daddy to wanna take away my Saiyan heritage!" Bura screamed, then ran up to the second level of the complex where the bedrooms were located. She ran to the only room in which she would have felt safe. However, when she tried to enter the lock code, her access was denied and the door remained closed. Thus she ran into a room in which Trunks had slept and dove into he closet for comfort.

Reluctantly, Trunks left the complex with a heavy heart and a bad feeling that his sister was in grave danger and he could do nothing about it except pray to the God of all creation that He protect Vanti from all harm, especially her mother.

Even though New Namek II (which was the name of Piccolo's home) was miles away form Capsule Corp, Vegeta could sense Cilvanti's distress in his mind. He knew that she was gonna have a rough time and there was nothing he could do until he recovered. He talked to her telepathically and prayed for a miracle. That miracle presented
itself a few days later in the form of a mutant telepathic physician from America. She had just been assigned to work at NNII along with four others. They were known as the X-Men, who were human beings with strange powers.

Nadine showed the group around then lead them to the treatment room where just one patient remained from the Cerulean City earthquake. The group drew up short when they noticed a body floating in a chamber and the girls drew a sharp breath. Just then, the Z-Sensi and Piccolo entered the room. The other members of the sensi had become regular visitors to Piccolo's home since the day of Vegeta's entrapment in rock Tunnel.

"Oh, sorry, Nadine. We didn't know you had company, heh, heh," Goku snickered as he entered the room.

Nadine turned to the group. "Guys, these are the X-men from America. They are mutants with strange powers. This is Jean Grey, Ororo Monroe, Scott Sommers, Logan, Marie and the one in the wheelchair is Professor Charles Xavier, their leader," Nadine introduced.

The two groups shook hands then Professor X told the sensi why he had brought his team over to West Island.

"We heard that you all possess fantastic super powers as well as outstanding martial arts skills. We would like to be trained by you for defensive purposes. You see in our country there are many that hate us because of our powers and only a few of us can defend one on one. I thought that if you all could train us, that our powers would increase ten-fold. We've studied your battles and your strengths and weaknesses and find each one of you possess a skill
that would enhance our chances of winning the war being waged against our kind by our own kind. In return, we'll assist you in any way that we can," Prof. X nodded, then turned to the tank.

"Who is this? I sense that he's not doing so well. Jean, would you like to take care of him?"

Jean walked over to that tank, put her hand on it and felt a low-level shock wave run up her arm. She jumped with a start and a frown on her pretty face. "Yes, I'd like to take care of him," she replied.

"Hey, Vegeta, how ya doin', guy?" Goku spoke out loud to the being in the tank.

"Well, hello, there. I guess you're the one I'm being assigned to, Vegeta no Ouji, Vegetasei. Says you were in the Rock Tunnel collapse about a week ago. Poor being, well, I'm Jean Gray and I'm gonna try and get you back on your feet," the telepath smiled

'The sooner I get outta here, the better, then I can rescue my baby girl from the maniac she's with, get her brother and skip this God forsaken mud ball!' Vegeta said in his mind. 'Kakarrot thanks for asking. I'm not doing too well. S… something m...must be wrong with Cil...with Cilvanti. I...I feel like I'm being eaten alive! Like my energy's been turned outside in and is attacking me! The only way I can feel this would be if something was wrong with my
baby girl,' Vegeta spoke and Jean and Professor X picked him up as if he were talking face to face.

"Professor did you hear him?" Jean exclaimed.

"Yes. Warrior, you spoke to him out loud but he replied telepathically. How is that possible?" Prof. X asked Goku.

"Well, heh, heh, we can all communicate telepathically! Piccolo, he's not gonna hold out much longer unless we find what's wrong with Cilvanti," Goku said in a stern tone that none of the others had ever heard from the sweet natured Saiyan, when he was not in Super Saiyan mode.

"How dad? Last time I was home, Bulma had CC on lock down like Fort Knox! She has military everywhere and motion-detectors so sensitive they can pick up mold growing," Goten informed the group.

"Why in the world...I gotta call Chichi!" Goku muttered and flew over to a phone located on the wall of the
treatment room.

"Son residence, Chi-Chi speaking, how may I help you?" Chi-Chi's voice sounded over the line.

"Chi, hey, I need you to call Bulma and get her away from the house," Goku panted as if he had just fought a major
battle.

"I can't. I've been trying but the number's been changed to an unlisted one. The militia has been ordered to shoot
anyone trying to enter the place without permission, especially anyone who knows the IT movement. She's also installed radar to detect any one or anything that flies into CC airspace. I'm afraid, Goku. Pan keeps saying Bura's dying, but I don't know how she can be so sure," Chi replied.

Just then, young Trageta entered the room and he looked like death itself. He stumbled and Tien caught him. His color was sallow and his breathing ragged.

"I'm dying. C-can't contact Cilvi. Help. Please!" the young prince pleaded then passed out. He was
immediately placed in a tank.

"I hope that buys him some time. I don't like this! We gotta find out what's goin on at CC! Vegeta might not have been the model of perfection or the most caring being in the universe, but he has always come through when the odds were against us! He doesn't deserve to die like this-without honor!" Tien remarked his anger at the situation building.

Suddenly, loud gasps were heard and the team turned to see Jean, Piccolo and Prof. X wide eyed in horror.

"Chi, something's up! I gotta run! Take care!" Goku hung up from his wife and went to go see what was afoot.

"Piccolo, what's up, buddy!" Goku asked when he reached the others.

"I just caught a glimpse of Cilvanti!" Piccolo said, his eyes wide with horror.

"I heard her cry for help!" Jean added.

"She's in front of a huge round ball. I don't know what that means!" Prof. X shook his head.

'NO! It's...its the gravity chamber! Piccolo...if she can transmit...ask her if that woman is there,' it was Outusan Vegeta who had replied from his subconscious.

'I'll try!' Piccolo said, closed his eyes and instantly felt Cilvanti's energy. 'Cilvanti, this is Piccolo, can you hear me?'

'Y-yes, Mr. Piccolo, I...I can hear you,' was the child's mental reply.

'Is Bulma there?' the Namek asked.

'N-no. She...She left some time ago for a business lunch. Grandma...Grandma told me I could come outside. She...put my robot guard on charge. The military were called away and the alarms are unset,' Cilvi answered and Piccolo nearly jumped from his skin. H-help me, Mr. Pic... Mr. Piccolo...This...collar... is...killing
me!'

'NO! That bitch! That maniacal shrew! I'll kill her once I get outta here! I'll blast CC six ways from Sunday into the next dimension! I can't believe she'd stoop so low!' it was Trunks who had exploded in anger but was too weak to break from the tank.

"S-someone! P-please, go... rescue... my baby... Before that woman returns,' Outusan Vegeta replied in desperation.

"All right, team, let's go! Three lives are depending on us to save them from certain death. C'mon!" Krillin
exclaimed.

"I'll go. Out of all of us, Goten and are more attuned to the little one so we can IT to her exact location! We'll be right back!" Goku replied.

Goten and his dad materialized by the Gravity Chamber and Goten opted to go inside. The second he got inside, he body became dead weight and he realized the gravity had been increased. He called to Goku, who ITed inside. Goku had to fight to stand up in the intense gravity. He stumbled over to the controls and gasped at the settings. 650x! The child was trying to kill herself! If she succeed, two other lives would end with hers. Goku immediately reset the gravity to normal, picked up the baby and Goten, then Ited back to New Namek.

"I got her, but she's just barely here. She was in the Gravity Chamber with the setting on 650!" Goku exclaimed as he lay Cilvanti's unconscious body on a gurney then told Goten to sit down and catch his breath. Then everyone looked down at Cilvi and saw the black metal ring that circled her small neck.

"Scott honey, can you remove that thing without injuring her?" Jean asked the young mutant, which was wearing dark glasses to shield his eyes. Scott, who was known as Cyclops to the X-men due to his mutation of possessing laser vision, studied the collar. He closed his eyes, so that he could replace the glasses with special goggles, then he
emitted a hair sized beam of light from his eyes. The light cut through the metal collar like Future Trunks' sword had cut through both Frieza and King Cold.

"There, piece of cake! Anyone want it?" Scott asked.

"No, let's dispose of it so it can't harm the rest of us! Goten, can you put her in the tank?" Goku asked and his
youngest son complied, picked up Cilvanti, stripped her then went to place her in the smallest regeneration tank present, but Rogue stopped him.

"Wait, before you put her in there, I'd like to try something. It's risky and they may not survive, but I think I can
reverse the energy inside her and pull it outward. My mutation is the ability to drain energy from other beings. When I was younger, it was devastating and dangerous. Now that I can control it, I think I'll be able to reverse the energy that's killing her, thereby saving all their lives," Marie-Rogue-smiled.

"I'll help, too, kiddo. I can regenerate and heal. That is part of my mutation," Logan had spoken up.

"Are you sure? Remember what happens when we touch? You'll be in one of those tanks for a month!" Rogue cautioned but Logan replied that he was well aware of the risk to himself and asked Rogue to remove her gloves to begin the process.

Marie took her gloves off, took Logan's hand with her right, then placed her left hand over Cilvanti. Logan felt the life force immediately leave his body but a small gasp from the gurney indicated that the transfer of energy seemed to be working. After five minutes, Rogue stopped and let go of Logan who collapsed the minute his hand was released.

"Now, put her in the tank. I have a strong feeling that those three will be closer than ever once they pull out of this," Rogue smiled as she put her gloves back on.

Following the treatment, the Z sensi and X-team left the recovery area to discuss training. The X-team related how they had learned of the Z-sensi and how they had always admired their strengths in the face of adversity.

"You said that there are persons of your own kind who despise the fact that they are mutants and have declared war on the rest of you for acknowledging your differences. From what I understand, America is a land of free expression and free will. Aren't there laws against discrimination?" Goten asked.

"There's supposed to be, but we're finding out that even on our home turf, people hate us that aren't mutant. We have to
fight every second to try and stay alive and not get caught to be experimented on. In some places, mutants are put in concentration camps as if we were POW's or something. We have to leave our homes to find jobs only to lose that job if our mutation ever comes to the fore. It's not fair. Things got really hot over there about three months ago and a group of creatures with tails who resembled our patient in the recovery room, had to come and fight for a band of
mutant teens, who weren't faring so well against a gang of humans. Storm had been out that night with another rehabilitated mutant named Gambit, and they were bowled over by the fierce fighting ability of those other creatures. She went to thank them, but she said that they were rude, arrogant and obnoxious and said that the only reason they helped was to be taken to Prof. X," Jean explained.

"These other creatures, you said they had tails and resembled Vegeta? Did they happen to say they were from a planet called Vegetasei?" Goku asked and received blank stares.

"They told me they had no idea where they were from, but that they were being harassed by the people in the places where they lived because of their amazing powers. Street gangs were always trying to get them to join up, but those kids were smart and turned away. They said it was their parents' ideas that they come to me and that perhaps they would find others of their own race," Prof. X. continued the explanation.

Just then, a recovered Trunks Vegeta entered the room. He was soaked from having been in the tank. The others in the room were surprised to see him up so soon.
"Hey, hey, Trunks! How ya feelin' kid?" Krillin asked in a happy tone.

"I've been better. Listen, I'm goin' to the crib to change. When I get back does anyone wanna go out to eat? My treat?" the young prince asked.

"So what are you standing here for, kid! Get goin'!" Goku exclaimed and Trunks Vegeta ITed out of the den only to reappear ten minutes later with an arm full of clothes. He himself had changed as well into a white muscle shirt and black jeans and black sneakers. "Here, Piccolo, these are for dad and Cilvi when they get outta the tanks," Trunks handed the Namek the clothes then gathered those who wanted to go with him.

Marron was up and at Trunks' side. She wrapped herself like a second skin around his arm and hugged it possessively. "I'll go with you, Trunks, honey," she cooed in a flirtatious tone then cast a jealous eye at Rogue.

"Well, that's a good sign. Saiya-jin have insatiable appetites. We'd better get something for Outusan and the chimp when they wake up. I'm sure Vege-head will be ravenous. This is his second trip to the tank this month," Piccolo said.

"Hey, why don't we have a party to celebrate their return to life, so to speak? I'll call Dr. Briefs and have him and Adelaide come and bring Chichi to help set up? Krillin suggested.

The others looked at Krillin as if he'd lost his mind.

"Have you gone loco, short one? I mean, like really, a party for Vegeta? Get real. He'd probably blast us all to the next dimension just for the hell of it," 18 huffed as she played with her golden hair.

"We'll never know unless we try? I mean, Goku says that Vegeta's been acting different since the little one's birth. Let's see if it's true," Krillin argued.


"Krillin, I've seen Vegeta in a party situation and it ain't pretty," Piccolo remarked.

"It won't hurt to try, my friend. Get Chichi, Pan and the Briefs, anyway and we'll just have a dinner thing," Nadine said and tapped 18 to assist her along with the girls on the X-team.

Krillin volunteered to go get Chichi and the Briefs, but then remembered that Bulma may have returned and armed the place again, so he decided to call after his arrival to Goku's.

In the meantime, Trunks Vegeta, the Son males Goku, Gohan and Goten, Rogue, and Marron were all browsing the mall after their meal and passed by a store they had never seen before. They stepped in
and began to look around.

"Gad, what horrid clothing! Looks like something your dad would wear, Trunks. And this weaponry and artwork? Who would buy such distasteful items?" Marron screwed up her face.

"Marron, please! I don't make fun of your heritage, don't make fun of mine!" Trunks hissed, sounding like Outusan.

A rotund sales clerk entered the front of the store from a drawn curtain and was surprised when his eyes met those of his potential customers. "Hello, hello, my friends and welcome to Saiyan Pride. My name is Parsnip and I run this little venture with my parents. Feel free to look around," Parsnip invited.

"I hate to be rude, but how did you come across all these items? I was told that the entire Saiya-jin race had been
wiped out by a power hungry tyrant named Frieza some forty (Earth) years ago or so," Trunks stated, bewilderment on his face.

"Frieza! Never, ever mention that name around here! We lost my granddad to that horrible monster! Dad was a teenager on his first planet purge and they were sent to a planet that they were told, was inhabited by a weak race of beings. Out of thirty warriors, my dad and ten others escaped with their lives. My dad returned to Vegetasei, only to be sent back out by King Vegeta to Mars along with my mom and twenty others. The warriors found that they could do nothing with that hunk of rock, so the group cruised until they found a planet on which they could live without detection. They came here, learned the Earth ways and had me. All this treasure they found stored on their ship from the home planet," Parsnip smiled with Saiyan pride.

"So...Never mind, I can see it myself! You look like an old warrior partner of my dad's named Nappa. He and my dad came to purge this rock of its life forms when it was found that a certain Saiyan hadn't completed the task," Trunks rattled as he admired the store.

"Wait, I remember watching the news with my parents the day a city had been blown up. The news had broadcast events from some far away desert and showed two very strong Saiya-jin! One of them, dad told me looked exactly like the crowned prince of the race, but we all knew that was impossible as the planet had been destroyed. But you all don't want to hear about a long dead race of aliens good lookin' youngsters such as yourselves should be out having fun." Parsnip nearly laughed.

"Oh, yes we do! You see, I'm a Saiyan and the three boys here are half Saiyan," Goku acknowledged. "My name's Goku, but my Saiyan name is Kakarrot. My two sons, Gohan and Goten and the young man with the lavender hair is named Trunks Vegeta," Goku introduced and Parsnip nearly fell over backwards after hearing Trunks' name.

"D-d-did you say his name is V-V-V-Vegeta? As in Prince Vegeta?" Parsnip stammered in disbelief.

"This is the prince's son," Goku smiled.

"You mean he lives? Oh, wow, I can't wait to tell mom and dad! They are gonna freak! But how come he has purple hair and blue eyes? Dad said that the prince was twice as ruthless as his sire the king," the shop owner remarked.

"Frieza had taken my dad when he was very young away from Vegetasei and turned him into a cold-hearted killing machine. And to answer your question, the woman my dad mated with has blue hair and eyes. Lavender is the result. This is a nice place ya got here. I'll have to bring my dad and sister to view it when they get back on their feet," Trunks said in Saiyago, the native language of the Saiya-jin race.

"You speak our tongue? How about you other three?" Parsnip asked and Goku and sons, who nodded in affirmation.
"That's all my family speaks at home as well. My parents found the Earth tongue difficult to master. I can't blame them; it's such a dull tongue. It has no rhythm like Saiyago. Mom, her name is Turnipa, she sings while she's doing housework or making clothes for my sisters. She has a lovely singing voice. I could listen to her forever! I'm glad they live here so that she can sing and share her heart. Dad said that on Vegeta that to show emotion was a sign of
weakness," Parsnip related in the native language.

"I disagree. I show my emotions and I don't think it's a weakness! I show my boys love and affection and they haven't suffered any. In fact, it's made them stronger. Goten was almost born..."


"Kakarrot," Trunks shook his head as he sensed Goku was about to tell Parsnip about attaining the SSJ level of their
being. "Well, Parsnip, it's been great chatting with you. Like I said, I'll bring my dad around when he regains his health. This place is awesome!" Trunks raised the two fingers of his right hand in a gesture he'd seen the prince use many times when bidding him or anyone of his acquaintance farewell. Parsnip did the same, nodded to the young lavender haired prince then the group departed.

"Man, I have gotta go back to that store! I think your ad will love it, Trunks. Hey, why don't you go back and get him something, we'll wait," Goku suggested and Trunks nodded then asked Rogue to go with him.

"Back so soon?" Parsnip asked.

"My friend suggested I get something for my dad. I'll get something for my chimp, too," Trunks smiled and looked
around the shop for something his dad and sister would like.

Well, for Cilvanti, Trunks didn't have to look hard. In a corner sat a beautiful doll not unlike the one that blue haired hussy had destroyed. The doll didn't look like Vegesanna but she would make a half-decent replacement. For Outusan, that was a little more difficult. Outusan had everything a being could want, except maybe a planet full of Saiya-jin and himself, the king. Then Trunks found the perfect gift! It was a portrait of six persons in royal clothing. The female in the painting defied description, she was so beautiful. Beside her on her right side stood a little boy and girl about a year old who had identical looks and on her left side with his hand on her knee stood a little boy about six years old. Beside the little six-year old stood a lovely little girl about four who was holding hands with the little boy. The man who dominated the picture looked like Outusan with reddish brown hair, a beard and moustache and he was of a commanding height with a strong air of authority.

"Where did you get this portrait?" Trunks asked as he took both the portrait and the doll to the counter to pay for
them.

"If I remember, dad said that the king gave it to a guard my granddad was secret friends with. Almost everything in here once resided in the royal palace. Wanna buy them?" Parsnip asked and Trunks nodded.

"Dad's gonna freak when he sees this picture!" Trunks exclaimed when he returned to the others and showed them the picture. Goku gasped. "I've seen this man! In a vision I had on Namek as Frieza was trying to put my lights out. The man there, your dad and my own appeared to me and pleaded that I was the only hope of our race and that I had to defeat that tyrant, once and for all. That's king Vegeta, Trunks. That's your granddad and the woman is your
grand mother," Goku smiled and Trunks gave a shout of joy at having found a piece of his dad's history in a retail store and that he found a living member of their race in their home country.

The group returned to New Namek and the three Saiyans were full of excitement. They conversed in the native language of Planet Vegeta.

"Goku, my sons!"

"Dad, look it's mom, Videl and Pan! Hi all, what are you doing here?" Goten asked as he hugged his mom and the other two as did Goku and Gohan, then Gohan stayed by his wife and daughter.

Chichi returned their hugs. "I was invited. Dr. and Adelaide Briefs are here as well. We're preparing a dinner party for Vegeta and Cilvanti for when they get out of the tanks. Now, what language was that you all were speaking when you came in? It was so rhythmic!" Chichi remarked.

"It's Saiyago, the Saiyan native language," Goku replied as he grabbed a handful of popcorn and stuffed his face but
he didn't trash the whole bowl as he would have done a long time ago. He wandered into the treatment area and stared at Vegeta's still unconscious form.

Goku had been hanging around Vegeta ever since the post-Christmas night when he had found the arrogant prince on his knees in raw sorrow. The mighty Saiyan had never forgotten that scene. He had seen Vegeta and his son enter the house and a short time later saw the prince exit and head to the gravity room. Goku was in mid-air and had intended to ask Vege if he wanted to spar but he thought better of it. He saw the kids enter the room then heard a strangled sound come from inside the chamber. He floated down to investigate and found his prince in deep despair. His heart broke when the kids told him to leave and that it wasn't a good time to see their dad.

"I wanna help him, but he won't let me or anyone else into his world, except for you two. I wish he'd let us be friends
with one another. We are the only pure Saiya-jin left in existence," Goku had said before he prepared to leave the Vegeta trio to their despair.

"All right, all right! But if I hear word that you witnessed me in such a state of weakness, I'll send your heart to one
dimension and your body to another!" Vegeta had threatened and Goku agreed, promising that he would not even fight back. Vegeta then tried to explain what had brought him to such deep sorrow, but he found the words caught in his throat, so Goku read his thoughts.

Goku wasn't surprised when he found out that the reason for the prince's despair was that loudmouth Bulma had ordered him out of her life and told him that he could no longer see his daughter. That alone sent him over the edge and, even though he had gotten custody of the baby-Trunks had divorced his mom when he was seventeen-Vegeta had feared that the maniacal shrew would try something to permanently destroy him.

'Well, she almost succeeded with that collar, and friend or no friend, for you I would have put her in the hospital,' Goku said in his mind. As Goku watched Vegeta, he saw a slight movement of the prince's
right hand, then a voice said, "Patient is showing signs of mobility!"

From out of nowhere, all the Z-Sensi and the X-team converged on the room and Trunks looked over the controls and read Vegeta's vital signs.

"He'll be awake soon. I suggest you women finish getting' dinner ready. When he comes out of the tank, well..." Trunks trailed off.

"We understand. Bring him in as soon as he's ready," Nadine smiled and took the women back to the kitchen and a room in which they had planned to have the gathering. Just then, the lights on the front of the tank flashed from red to blue, which indicated the patient was ready to be freed. The same thing happened on the tank that held Cilvanti and both tanks were emptied together. Once the tanks had been drained and opened, Vegeta stepped out and took a towel that Goku handed to him. Trunks had picked up the baby to dry her off.

"Welcome back, my family! I thought we were all goners. God, it feels good to finally be outta that tank," Vegeta said as he stretched then began to dress in the clothes that Trunks had brought for him and Cilvi. "How are you feeling, little warrior?" Outusan asked his baby.

"Much better, now, daddy! I'm back with you and Geta!" she smiled and hugged both dad and brother.

"Man, Vegeta, I thought I'd have to rearrange some person's face if anything had happened...Hmph!" Goku doubled over and clutched his midsection into which Vegeta had rammed his elbow.

"Oh, s-sorry," he groaned.
"Grr, Kakarrot!" was Vegeta's response, however, mentally the prince said, 'I'm sure you would have, my friend, thanks.' Vegeta put the last vestiges of his attire on, which was much the same as his son's, only Vegeta Trunks had brought dad a short sleeved Hawaiian shirt that was printed with the prince's image on it in hues of bright orange and red. The last things were Vegeta's white boots and gloves then he looked at himself in a mirror and nodded.

"Daddy! Wow! You go, you heartbreaker!" Cilvi marveled as she herself was dressed in a short sleeved yellow blouse, blue jeans and white sneakers.

"How ya feelin', Vegeta?" Piccolo asked in his slow mannered speech.

"Better than I had a few weeks ago. How long was I in there, anyway?" Vegeta asked as he dried his shaggy mane, which had been growing over the years and his time in the tank. "Damn, I look like Raditz!" Vegeta remarked with a grimace as he noted his hair, like a black waterfall, cascaded down his back to his tail region.

"Ya gonna cut it, daddy?" Cilvi asked as she jumped into her Outusan's arms and took hold of his hair. Vegeta shook his head and his hair danced like fronds of anemone buffeted by the ocean current. A smile appeared on his face and the team had to look twice to make sure they were not seeing things! It was there! A genuine smile, not a smirk, and it reached his dark eyes, which themselves, seemed to gleam like onyx in the sun. Cilvi's little hands found a way to entwine themselves in the black mass, then she climbed over Outusan's shoulder and grabbed a handful with both hands. Vegeta winced slightly from the pressure, but then realized just what his pint sized warrior wanted. The prince swept the room with a glance of uncertainty but found no one laughing, the guys all nodded and he began to spin the tyke. He had to levitate to do it successfully and gyrated like a wheel, then he wound down slowly to a stop and Cilvi's laughter filled the air as she let go to fly through the air and her brother caught her.

"That was fun, daddy! You are really strong!" Cilvi remarked. She was one of the few people who actually believed Vegeta when he boasted that he was the most powerful warrior in the universe. Just then a growl filled the air and Vegeta cringed as he realized it was his stomach making such an awful sound the same as Kakarrot's did when it was empty.

"Heh, heh! Gee, Vegeta, sounds like your stomach's tellin' ya something," Goku laughed as Vegeta fought a blush of
embarrassment.

"I guess it's been sometime since I put something substantial inside of it. Well, kids, in that case, we ready to go
home?" Vegeta asked. At that time, Nadine returned to the treatment room.

"Oh, Vegeta, why don't you all dine with us? It'll be no trouble and the kids can play for awhile," Nadine smiled as
she hung on Piccolo's arm.

Vegeta nodded and asked the lady Namekian to lead the way. Nadine lead her guests to a closed door, which she opened to reveal a huge buffet styled spread and a banner that read WELCOME BACK VEGETA AND CILVANTI! Vegeta was stunned! Never had...No, he couldn't say that with a clear conscience. The woman had given him plenty but he had been so ungrateful to her he shuddered now at the thought. Even when the other sensi had given or saved his life in battle or assisted him, he'd been a total jerk in response, never once saying 'thank you.' He knew his personality had changed but he also felt his former self as well. He'd have to work on fusing the two halves of his nature into one equal being like the Piccolo, Nail and Kami trio-the Super Namek.

"Th-thank you, m-my friends," the prince stammered then Nadine led him into the room where a crowd was assembled. Vegeta hesitated. "I-is this some sort of party?" he screeched in shock.

"Nah, it's just some people gathered for dinner and to welcome you and Cilvi back from the brink of death," Goten
snickered as the Z sensi made their way into the room.

"Vegeta! Over here, my friend! A voice called in the crowd and the prince scanned the room.

"Prince Sonra? What are you all doin' here? Please, don't tell me Minerva's under attack or something?" Vegeta asked as he neared a group of physically beautiful beings, which were all dressed in Greek togas.

The group bowed to Vegeta and he bowed to them in acknowledgement, then he introduced the group to the Z-Sensi and X-Team. There were five beings, two males and three females whom Vegeta introduce as Prince Sonra, his wife Aphrodite, that prince's sister, Ariadne, his daughter Artemis and son, Trillion. Vegeta told the group that the Greek dressed aliens were of the royal house of Aegar on the planet Minerva, then the company sat down to talk.

"Now to answer your question, my friend. No, Minerva's not under attack or anything like that. Young Vegeta stopped by Minerva before he went off on his last destruction job and told us of the tunnel accident. I see you are no worse for the wear," Trillion smiled at Vegeta, the boy's manner of speech possessing a
French accent.

"I just got outta the tank a few minutes ago. I've told you all before that every time I have to enter that thing, my
personality changes," the Saiyan prince remarked to the crowd in general.

"Well, one thing's changed, and that's your hair. It was never so long, but then, it has been months since you were last on the planet," Princess Ariadne smiled as she boldly ran her hand over Vegeta's thick black locks.

The Z-Sensi held their breath in anticipation of Vegeta flipping into a rage at being touched, but the prince sat as if
nothing was happening.

"Ahh, Vegeta...She's...You're?" Krillin was having a hard time believing what he was seeing.

"What? I let her do that all the time. It means nothing to either one of us. She's like my sister," Vegeta sneered in mock disgust but a smile was in his eyes.

The team laughed then Vegeta Trunks stood up. "Hey, I got something for you two," he said and went to retrieve a
package he had lain in the front part of the house, then he returned two seconds later. He had wrapped them both while waiting for his family to recover. "Cilvi, this is for you," Trunks handed his sister the present he had bought for her.

Cilvi removed the item, tore the wrapping from it and shrieked! "Oh, Geta, thanks! She almost..." the baby's
face began to crumple, but she bit back on the emotion.

Vegeta Outusan sat open mouthed when he saw the doll his daughter held. "M-hmm-may I see it, chimp?" Outusan
requested and Cilvi handed the doll to him. As he held it, a sharp memory of a six-year old young Prince Vegeta on Vegetasei flashed in his mind.

<MEMORY>

Queen Sunrissa had been in her chambers with the twins, when the young prince sneaked in. "I can't stay long, Mommarissa. Here, this is for Kayla and this is for Kale. Happy birthday, you two!" he had smiled, watched momma tear open the gifts and the eyes of his sibs lighted up when they received the gifts. To his sister he had given a Saiyan doll and to his brother he had given a set of Saiyan armor. They were very happy, as was the young prince
himself.
<END MEMORY>

Vegeta sat silent for some long moments and stared at the doll. Clearing his throat, Outusan said, "She's beautiful. Where did you get it?" he asked.

"After I recovered from the effects of the collar, I was hungry, so I asked anyone if they wanted to go to the mall.
Kakarrot, his sons, Marron, and Rogue came with me. After we had dinner, we cruised the mall not looking for anything special when we entered a store that sold nothing but Saiyan merchandise. I found this for you," Trunks smile as he handed Vegeta a large package that the prince had to stand to receive.

Vegeta took his gift to a wide area in the room and stood behind it to unwrap it. The top of it came to Vegeta's chest and it was at least a meter wide. Vegeta carefully pulled the paper from the gift and when part of it had been uncovered, the prince heard gasps emit from the crowd in front of him. After the gift had been completely uncovered, Vegeta stood holding it.

"She's beautiful! Look, Cilvi, there's the doll!" it was Pan who had made the comment.

"Hey, why is that girl holding...Daddy! My daddy's in that picture!" Cilvanti exclaimed.

"That's not your daddy, kid. That guy has a beard and moustache and is a lot taller," Marron shot in her grown
teen-age fashion.

"No, stupid, not the big one, the little boy in front of him holding hands with that other little girl," Cilvi remarked
with a giggle.

This exchange made Vegeta lean what he had been supporting back against the unlit fireplace in front of which he stood, so that he could get a look at what his son had given him and what was causing such a stir. The prince moved to stand in front the object and saw that it was a portrait. The minute his eyes made contact with the image, Vegeta felt the blood drain from his body.

"No! This can't be! It's impossible! Only one of these ever existed and it hung in the royal palace in my Outusan's
private chamber," Vegeta felt his body begin to quake. He looked over each face in the portrait.

Commanding the portrait was a man whose very presence seemed to shout authority. He had reddish brown hair and black eyes. A beard and moustache to add distinction to his face and an air of arrogant pride which seemed to emit from the painting. This was King Vegeta; the prince's own Outusan. Next to him, seated on a velvet wing chair sat a vision from heaven itself. That vision was the female mate the king had chosen to bare his offspring. Her name was
Sunrissa and she was as warm and bright as any sun in the universe. She was the only Saiyan female who dared to express her weaknesses such as sorrow or joy. As the queen, her soul purpose was as the king's breeder. Heh, on Vegetasei, that had been the role of women period although there had been a few who had been trained to fight.
On the right side of the queen stood two chimps, who looked exactly alike and bore a strong resemblance to the prince himself. These were his brother and sister, Kale and Kayla. Vegeta put a tentative hand on the picture and ran his thumb over the twin images.

"You were just babies when that lizard tailed freak took your lives away as if they were nothing!" the prince bit down on the last word, and swallowed a lump that had formed in his throat. Vegeta continued is survey. He looked at the bigger boy child, who was beginning to resemble the king in features. The boy stood on the queen's left side. He smirked at his own image. "You tried so hard to please that tyrant but no matter what you did, he never
acknowledged your efforts," he muttered to himself, then his coal colored eyes met the image of the fourth child in the portrait.
Seeing her image caused his stomach to tighten and he shot to his feet. He turned away from the portrait and stood away from the gathering with his back to them all.

"Dad..." Trunks whispered but Goku put his hand on the boy's shoulder to still him.

'Your dad's hurt. Let him grieve,' Goku said via telepathy to the youth.

The prince stood shaking as he tried to control the raging emotional storm that was building inside of his being. Finding that he was fighting a losing battle, Vegeta suddenly phased out of view and was gone to the surprise of his friends and family. Once outside the house, the prince flew off at a blinding rate of speed, a cry of raw pain leaving his lungs just before he flipped into SSJ form.

"DAD! Kakarrot, he's gone! What happened?!" Trunks screeched.

"He went to let his sorrow have its reign. That portrait unlocked his past. That's his family. I never told anyone
this, but now I have no choice. The reason Vegeta is like he is, is because Frieza took him away from those very people when the prince was just a boy and made him into the monster who had come to threaten earth a long time ago. He witnessed the execution of our entire race through his senses. He learned that the king and the elite soldiers
were trying to rescue him and Frieza killed the entire group, then attacked the planet. My own Outusan was trying to defend the planet and our people. I bonded in a way with your dad after that memory he shared. He's such a lonely being. He tried to compensate by mating with the kids' mother, but then she grew tired of his selfishness and
threw him out of her life four years ago. He won't admit it, but Vegeta's been grieving ever since then. I guess that's why he only pens up to very few beings," Goku related.

"How do you know all this, Goku?" Tien asked.

"Remember when Bulma, Krillin and Gohan went to Namek to use that planet's dragon balls? I arrived six days later after the first round of battle between Krillin, Gohan, Vegeta and Frieza. Frieza acted as if he had a score to settle with Vegeta and fought the prince into the ground, literally. If it hadn't of been for Vegeta, I never would have known why I was so powerful. From him I learned that I had attained the Super Saiyan form. He was beside
himself with elation and boasted to Frieza that he was about to be taken down by the legend itself: the first Super Saiyan in three thousand years. Frieza, in all, his kindness, blasted Vegeta to silence him, but as the proud prince lay dying, he shared a vision of how our home planet had been destroyed and by whom. I saw my dad trying to save the planet and I saw the king trying to save his son who had been hidden away in Frieza's ship. I saw Frieza, in some kind of chair, hovering above the planet with a red fireball at the end of his finger and he was laughing maniacally. With every laugh, the fireball grew, then that piece of puke shit threw the ball at the planet hitting my dad and other warriors who were trying to hold my dad at bay," Goku had used language the others didn't think the kind hearted warrior knew.

"Goku! There are women and children present! Besides, I didn't think such words were in your vocabulary!" Yamcha remarked at Goku using foul language.

"When ya hang around Vegeta a lot, his speech kinda rubs off on ya. Sorry, y'all. As Vegeta lay dying on Namek and he related the fact that it had been Frieza who had destroyed our home, he pleaded with me to let go of my feelings and kill Frieza. Also during Vegeta's last farewell, he opened his heart and cried. His tears fell as fast as the blood which left his body and that was when I felt the bond of kinship and I understood him a lot more than I did
when I had first encountered him two years before the Namek adventure. Vegetasei's destruction was part of Vegeta turning inward, building that wall he hides behind and burying his own feelings. I feel Vegeta's a good soul turned bad by the circumstances in which he had been raised and he is trying to turn
back to the good side," Goku shared and the others gathered agreed.



 
CHAPTER IV

EGO BOOST

The prince cut through the air as a Gillette Mach 3 razor through a tough beard. Vegeta realized that whatever shred annals of history. He had to admit that had occurred at the time Bulma had thrown him out of the only place he had called home for so long and the woman he had chosen to be with-as if he had much of a choice. If he wanted to keep his secrets safe and buried, he had to live a straight lifestyle, even though it cramped his own style. Another thing that had destroyed his pride was seeing the images of those burned onto that piece of Saiyan wood the color of Earth
cypress. It hadn't been seeing his family in the portrait. Their deaths he had come to terms with although he had never grieved over the loss until now. His eyes had seen the image of the one person outside of his own family that he had had any true feelings for. It was the little girl whose hand was entwined with his own in that picture and right under the king's tight gaze. Her's had been the death he had yet to accept. However, it hadn't been the girl in the
portrait as much as what her image represented. A second young female the prince had chosen but had been forbidden to acknowledge he even knew existed because she was of third class status and had the most incredible power he'd ever encountered.

<MEMORY>

The name of the girl in the portrait been Parlissa Saturna and the young Prince Vegeta had been sent to find a sparring partner for his sister, Kayla. There had been a training facility on Vegetasei located outside of the royal palace and was a place where kids from both the upper and lower classes of Saiyan society trained. The king had told son that if he wanted the female chimp trained that the boy would have to provide an instructor for her. So the
prince inquired around and was taken by his personal elite guard named Angelair to a facility where kids were training. The prince walked boldly up to the reception desk and demanded that he be taken to the girls' training area receptionist did not hesitate to fulfill the chibi prince's request and led him and the guard to the training area. Possessing a scouter that was standard issue for all Saiya-jin to gauge power levels, the prince scanned the room in search of the highest level. Who was he fooling? Saiya-jin females had little to no power levels and were only used for breeding purposes however, there were a few in the lower classes who were warriors and then there was Princess Kayla whose power was tremendous for a female.

'Heh, if one of these chimps had a level equal to my own, she'd be the one I lifemate with," Chibi Prince Vegeta told
himself. Then it happened! The scouter on his face registered a power near to his own, which was around 10000 itself-pretty powerful for a kid.

The prince followed the arrows of the scouter to the source of the power and located a duo at the farthest end of the area, which was a large as three Earth football fields. There was a tall large trainer and a child no bigger than the prince was himself. Chibi Vegeta watched as the child charge at the instructor. She was engulfed in a blue-white aura of energy and, as she neared the trainer, a shaft of energy left her hands and sent the trainer flying. The instructor went whizzing past Vegeta and Angelair, hit the wall behind them, then slumped to the ground.

"WOW! Parlissa, you really nailed him that time! You are really strong!" one of her fellow students remarked.

The prince was stunned but didn't show it. "Angelair, get her! I want her to train Kayla," Vegeta ordered, 'And be
lifemate to me and rule the Saiya-jin with power!' he thought to himself.

Angelair bowed and went to tell a second instructor of the prince's request; however, the little girl saw the man's approach and flew to him. He caught her in a tight hug, which made the prince's eyes grow a size larger than normal.

"Uncle Angelair! Did you see that! D'ya think daddy will be proud of me?" Parlissa asked the guard.

"Well, if my brother, Fuyung, won't be, I am. Hey, I've brought someone for you to meet," the guard hoisted the girl
onto his shoulder and approached Vegeta.

Parlissa tightened her hold on her uncle as she yelped, "Uncle! Isn't he...isn't he...Oh, your highness, please don't
kill me?" the girl whimpered.

"Silly female chimp! You haven't given me any reason to do so. I'm impressed with your power and I want you to train my sister," Vegeta told her in a tone that booked no argument.

"I'll be with you, my little one. I don't think the prince will hurt you," Angelair whispered to his niece.

Vegeta regarded the two. If he was gonna have this little scrap for a lifemate, she'd have to get used to him. Well, no better time than the present. "Angelair, return to the palace. I'll return in a few hours," the prince told the guard.

"But, your highness, what will the king say? He told you to get a trainer for Princess Kayla and..."

"Right. He told me what to do. Mission was not accomplished, understand?" Vegeta told the guard all the while looking at Parlissa with dark penetrating eyes that could freeze concrete.

"But..."

Vegeta replied by telepathy, 'Look, I have not only chosen a trainer for Kayla, I have also chosen my lifemate. I don't want her to fear me. Now go before you end up in a new dimension,' and with that Angelair sat his niece beside the prince, bowed then left.

"Uncle!" the girl cried and went to run after the guard but Vegeta threw his arm out and stopped her.

"You'll see him tonight. Right now, I want to test your power out for myself. You will also be sparring with me and as you know, I am growing to be the strongest one of our race. Now, come, I don't have all day," and Vegeta turned on his heel to leave. Parlissa followed him wearily.

The prince stopped outside the training school to wait for his new charge. He turned to face her. "Look, I'm not gonna hurt you! You'll be the envy of all Vegetasei just being in my presence. Get used to being seen with me, because you will be by my side at all times when you are not training Kayla. Now, let's go," Vegeta grabbed her hand then took off at high speed.

Vegeta remembered that day and all the days that followed as if they had just happened. The day the portrait had been executed, he requested that Lahissa (he couldn't say Parlissa particularly well
at his young age) to be in the picture as she was doing a great job of training the princess. The king gave his approval but watched the two closely; however, the two found a way to clasp hands even under his tight gaze. However, the prince had silently wished he was holding the hand of another femme he had found at the training center as the first fight with Parlissa had been disastrous. The other young girl's name had been Ceraina Humizu, a third class warrior's spawn with incredible powers, however, being the prince, he had to convince himself he loved the first class warrior, Parlissa, however he grieved for the lower class chit.

<END MEMORY>

"Ceraina. Oh, Ceraina, why? Why did you have to leave me? I loved you from the moment I saw you fight in the training school. We only had five years together before that sorry ass Icejin destroyed everyone whoever meant anything to me. I may have been the most ruthless and powerful of our race. My name may have struck fear
into the hearts of the weaker races of the universe, around Mommarissa, the twins and you, that side of me vanished. I miss you, mate of mine! Seeing Lissa's smile in that portrait, so like yours, just did in what pride I might have had left in my being. Now, I have nothing. No home, no mate, no people to...Wait..." Vegeta's thoughts halted as he remembered what Trunks had said about the place where he had found both the doll and the portrait. The boy said that the proprietor was a Saiyan. Could it be? No, Vegeta, that's impossible. However, didn't that telepath from America named Jean mention that a group of Saiya-jin had been seen defending a group of mutants in her country? If that was true...He'd better start investigating these Saiyan sightings. If there were enough Saiya-jin on this rock...!' The prince could not contain the rush of excitement the thought brought with it and he burst into a fireball only to come suddenly to a stop.

"What the hell was that?" he asked himself for he had thought he had caught a flash of energy.

The prince hovered over a mist-enshrouded area and tried to pinpoint the source of that power and was rewarded when he sensed someone powering up, but it wasn't a power he was familiar with. He knew all of the powers at New Namek and this power was not one. Looking around, it hit him that he was no longer on West Island. Where the hell was he? Just then a shaft of energy pierced the mist, which enabled Vegeta to get an exact fix on the source of power. He noted the source was just a scant hundred meters away to his right. The prince landed when he was twenty-five meters from the source. He walked the rest of the way until he came upon a spot where two beings were engaged in battle. He neared the spot where he had detected the energy and found a huge boulder upon which he made himself comfortable and watched the pair.

<A/N: ANY MISSPELLINGS IN THIS CHAP ARE THE AUTHOR'S ATTEMPTS TO CAPTURE THE SCOTTISH BROUGH>

"That was a wee bit better, but next time, make sure ye hit the tree! What if I was being attacked or ye encounter a power level higher than yer own?" Vegeta heard one of the beings say. "Now, chimp, come at me and don't leave yourself open! I can hit ye like that!"

The pair was comprised of a young child and an elder man. The child was about Cilvanti's age and the man was about the prince's age. No, the older man had started graying in his spiked jet-black
hair. Spiked? Vegeta shook his head. Ridiculous, Vegeta, now get a grip on yourself! Vegeta gawked at the pair in surprise. He turned his attention to the battlefield in time to see the child flying in his direction. The prince caught the child and felt something fuzzy around his forearm. He looked and found that a tail had coiled itself around him. His royal blood froze in his veins.

"No way? It's impossible! This child couldn't possibly be a Saiyan!" Vegeta gasped out loud.

"Hey, can I have me charge back?" the taller being called and Vegeta unwrapped the tail and threw the child back to the elder man.

The child rushed at the elder, fists raised in front of his face. "Mistake number one, kid, you left your midsection open for attack!" the prince smirked and at that moment, the elder's knee connected with the youngster's chest. Vegeta couldn't help but laugh as the child ended up face down in the dirt in front of him.

"Get up, ye sorry ass piece of Saiyan trash! Fight me!" the elder commanded. "I swear, why yer mither waited
until ye were seven Earth years of age to let me begin trainin' ye is beyond me! Me daughter ain't never been the brightest bulb in the lamp!"

"Gr-grandda, c-can we stop. I-I need ta rest," the boy puffed, a good indication that he was out of breath.

Vegeta saw the old man shake his head the heard him curse...in Saiyago! "Ye're a wuss! If ye were bairn on the
home planet, ye'd have been shipped off as soon as yer power level had been gauged, if the king didn't decide to have yer hide fer lunch! I tell ye, it's that glad that I am we live in North Scotland and are in no need of defendin', 'cause ye're worthless!" the elder being spat and Vegeta fell off his perch in loud, hearty laughter.

"Angelair, don't work yourself into a fit!" Vegeta sputtered between laughs.

"Who dares laugh at the Great Angelair? Dog, I'll have yer guts fer garters and yer hide fer lunch!" the being the
prince had addressed as Angelair snorted as he stood over the prince.

'Great!? A five-year-old nearly separated your head from your body without much effort!' Vegeta laughed to himself. The prince jumped to his feet. "That smells a little bit like a challenge!" Vegeta smiled.

"Well, if ye're fool hearty enough to take it as one, aye, it is!" Angelair snickered.

Vegeta positioned himself for battle, "Bring it on, and I'll not only have your guts for garters, ancient one, I'll have your bones for lunch!" the prince declared.

"Eclair, find yerself a safe spot, this could get ugly!" Angelair told the boy who took off towards a clump of trees and climbed to an over hanging branch on which he sat.

The two combatants powered up and flew towards on another, however, Vegeta flew so fast that he disappeared from view and reappeared behind the older fighter. The moment the prince appeared,
his hands were joined in a fist, which was then pounded into Angelair's back. This sent the older man plummeting to the ground.

"Grandda!" Éclair flew from his perch to the old man's side trying to assist him, but the elder pushed the boy off and
gave him a cold hard stare.

"Ne'er coome between two fighters! When will ye learn that I heal quickly and get stronger after every battle! Ye have a lot to learn fer a Saiyan chimp! I was a Saiyan elite on Vegetasei, fighting is my life! Now, lad, away wit' ye!" Angelair ordered and the boy did as told. The elder Saiyan moved to get up, but fell forward. Vegeta descended and stood in front of him, hand extended, eyes looking down his princely nose at the fallen warrior.
Angelair snickered, "Now, how d'ye know I won't flip ye ifn I take yer hand?" he asked as he reached for Vegeta's outstretched hand.

"Because, ancient one, you're down there and I'm up here. I have a far greater chance of flippin' you, than vice versa," Vegeta replied, his tone mocking as he assisted the older man to his feet.

"I'm not ancient, brat! Me hair's always had shots of silver through it as I am a silver Saiyan by ancestry! Shall we
continue?" Angelair positioned himself once again for battle.

"It's your funeral, my friend, but let me ask you, how many spikes were you born with?" Vegeta asked in a nonchalant manner.

"I was bairn with six, but I was in charge of the king's brat on Vegetasei and he blasted one of me spikes into the next dimension! That chimp was hell on two legs! I took a lot of hell fer that boy! I even took the rap for him when he didna return to the palace after findin' his sister a trainer! That boy took off with mi niece fer
reasons of his own design! He was a chimp of six Saiyan years and mi niece just four! He never hurt her, though, that I can say. I'd catch the two sparrin' together and he held back a lot of his power so that he wouldna hurt her. He always told me that she was gonna be his lifemate and his queen. I always made sure the king never found out or the boy would have been toast," the warrior related and Vegeta was now convinced that this man was a Saiyan.

"W-was the boy tender?" the prince asked out of curiosity.

"The king considered him a weaklin' but didna send him off planet. He was one of the few kings of Vegetasei who raised his chimp along with the chimp's mither. Now, there was a Saiyan woman to be admired! She bore that old tyrant three verra strong whelps but he treated her like trash. No surprise, women were only seen as breeders. Verra few were warriors. Queen Sunrissa was one of the few women who taught her children that feelings were strengths to be drawn from. She told them that it was all right to cry and that she would always be there to comfort them. She loved her eldest son to distraction even though she knew he was destined to turn out like the king, she had instilled in him a sense of love and caring. At times, I enjoyed being his keeper. I always prayed that he wouldna turn out like the tyrant king but fate had deemed otherwise," Angelair related.

"I-I heard that all Saiya-jin had been obliterated. How?" the prince asked, fishing for information.

"It's said that a huge comet or meteor slammed into the planet, but I found that report hard to believe because there was nothing left where the planet had once been. Comets usually leave some trace of the planet they smash into. Why d'ya ask?"

Vegeta lowered his head and smirked. "What would you say if I told you that Vegeta was not destroyed by a comet," the prince kicked the ground with the toe of his boot.

"The hell you say! D'ye know how, then?" Angelair asked.

"You remember that tyrant called Frieza?" Vegeta asked in a solemn voice.

Angelair gaped in surprise, as it didn't take long for what Vegeta didn't say to sink in. "I knew it! I don't know how, but I just knew! I never did trust that pussy lizard freak!" Angelair declared. "But how d'ye know?'

"I was aboard Frieza's ship in a dungeon and felt a power like no other and I also felt the king. I knew the moment Frieza had taken him down, then turned his beam to our planet. From that moment on, I vowed that I would battle, get stronger, become a Super Saiyan and defeat that snake once and for all!" Vegeta roared not realizing that he had flipped into SSJ form. "That perverted ass bastard killed my father, my mother, my sibs and my lifemate!" Vegeta's clenched fist pounded down on the rock he had sat upon earlier, smashing it to smithereens.

Angelair looked over at Vegeta in stunned silence. "Wha-who-what are ye? Dinna hurt us? We mean no harm!"
the elder stammered.

Vegeta looked at the elder warrior then looked at himself and found that he was aglow. He immediately powered down. I-I'm sorry. You weren't meant to see that. Not yet, anyway. You don't recognize me? No surprise, I'm more surprised to find another of my race alive and on the planet I adopted as home. I'm the royal brat you were in
charge of and took a lot of hell for. I had feelings for Parlissa, from when I first laid eyes on her. She had an incredible power level. But enough of that, how did you survive?" Vegeta asked, asking silent forgiveness for having to cross Ceraina, the one he had truly loved.
Angelair sank to his knees in a bow. "Oh, my prince! I canna believe that ye're alive!"

"I'm glad to have found you, my old friend! I still can't believe it!" Vegeta could no longer contain his emotions as he motioned for the warrior to rise.

"What's this? Look at ye, now! Sheddin' tears like a tender heart! You always were though. Anyway, after yer tenth birthday and ye were crowned prince of the planet, King Vegeta secretly sent hundreds of pods and ships off planet instructing the occupants they were on planet purging missions and they were not to return under any
circumstances. He sent many of the lower class warriors and certain people from the royal house but I don't know who they were. Anyway, we reached the planets the king had preprogrammed the ships to go to but they were not weak planets as he had told us. We had to battle. We lost many brave warriors. Out of the troop I went with, only
twelve survived, so we came here. We met another group of survivors and told them where we were, so they came to join us. There were twenty of them. Now, in the village where the brat and I live, there are sixty Saiya-jin, my prince, including my grandson's parents! Oh, yer highness, 'tis a grand day this is! The Saiya-jin will once
again rule the universe!" Angelair declared.

Vegeta could not contain his excitement after the tears of joy had subsided. "Yes, my friend, we will, but I've been told of other Saiya-jin in other countries, and I have to check those out as well.

Will-

"Whatever ye ask of me, my prince, I will do!"

"Tell our people that their prince is alive and he's gonna unite them back into a force to be reckoned with! I need to get back to my own country and tell a few Saiya-jin of this discovery. I'll be back to continue our battle and bring my chimps to assist with the boy! Scotland, right?" Vegeta confirmed and the elder nodded. The two clasped one another's forearms then raised the first two fingers of their right hands in farewell and Vegeta took off at a blinding
rate into the mist. When he felt he was far enough away, he used IT to return to New Namek.

What had Bulma been up to since she'd left CC at lunchtime that day? Well, she had gone to meet her lover, Jeffery, then they went shopping for wedding clothes. Jeffery was nearly all that Bulma could have dreamed of, except a dynamite bedmate, however, he did provide the love and affection she had craved. Bulma returned home
after a delightful after lunch exchange only to find CC deserted. Well, that was strange considering she had hired the militia to keep close tabs on the place for anyone trying to enter illegally. Moreover, as she walked through the complex in search of life, she came across the security robot she had placed on Bura to keep that child from escaping. That piece of work lay scattered about her dad's lab. However, if the kid did manage to escape, the collar
Bulma had requested that Jeff put around her neck would have choked her and caused her body to explode, that was a horrid thought. She had learned that the three-person Vegeta family shared a very strong bond and Bura was the key link. Should anything happen to the little one, the bastard responsible for putting that little monster in Bulma
herself would go as well, but then again, so would Trunks! Had she been unfair in requesting that the energy suppresser be put on the child? No, it was the only way she could think of to be rid of Vegeta. Nonetheless, Bulma wondered where her parents were. It wasn't like them both to be gone in the middle of the day.

'Maybe they went shopping or something, but they knew the risk of removing Bura from this house was dangerous! How the hell could they have double crossed me?' Bulma thought then went to check the security cameras. She sat in front of a council that housed a number of cameras but strangely, they all seem to have malfunctioned at the same time. For something like that to have occurred the person would have to have her pass code and only one other person had that. No, he wouldn't have done that to her, would he? She had to find out what was going on. Bulma picked up the hand receiver of the phone and dialed the first number she could think of...The Son residence. The phone rang and rang but was never answered. That was weird as there was always someone in the Son family in residence, but today there was no one.

"Oh, I swear if that alien ass found some way to take my child from me, I'll have Goku kill him! Oh, wait, I haven't seen Goku much since Vegeta left. Strange, we live next door to one another and I never see my old friend. Then again, even when that vegetable monkey tailed wuss lived here he and Goku would be together along with Trunks and Goten. Then Piccolo started hanging around and that got to be too much! Somehow, they formed an alien male only club and I was kept out," Bulma seethed.

At that minute, the phone rang and Bulma answered it. "H-hello," she said in a slow voice.

"Bulma, honey, this is dad, how are you?" Dr. Briefs' voice sounded on the opposite line.

"Dad! Where are you and where's Bura, she's missing!" Bulma ranted.

"Now, now honey, calm down. We took the baby with us. Your mom wanted to go to a new boutique and we couldn't leave the little one unsupervised. A robot can only do so much," Dr. Briefs said. "Honey, I have to ask you something, but I don't want to sound like I'm meddling into your affairs. Is there something wrong between you and Vegeta?"

Bulma coughed on the intake of air that had just entered her lungs. "DAD! W-why are you asking me that?" she snapped in anger.

Dr. Briefs gave a sigh. "Sometime ago Vegeta came to talk with me. I could tell that he was scared and at his wits end. He'd never seek out help or advice and I knew how humiliating it was for him to even ask me. He had even called me 'dad' for the first time since the two of you got together and he cried like a baby. He said that you wouldn't let him see Bura and that you had thrown him out of here because he missed the holidays. Why?" Dr. Briefs asked in a quiet tone.

Bulma was silent. The news she had just heard had hit her like a fist in the gut. Vegeta had sought out her dad for a man to man and had even called him 'dad'? Dr. Briefs had also mentioned that Vegeta had cried because of her tossing him out and refusing to let him see Bura. That was definitely not the hard-hearted prince of Saiyan who had invaded her home all those years ago. His high and mightiness would rather to have died than show such weakness in the open. Overcome with curiosity, Bulma asked, "Did he discuss anything else with you?"

"Hmm? Oh, about how sorry he was that he had missed all your holidays and special days due to the nature of his work. He said that he had tried to make up for his lack, but your attitude turned him off. He said that it really hurt when he had found that first birthday gift he'd given you in the trash," Dr. Briefs explained.

"Dad, it was a gold chain. I have a hundred of those," she shot back. "I didn't need another one."

"He knew that you had plenty of chains, but that one he had fashioned himself from a chain his grandmother had given him back on Vegetasei. He said it had been for his lifemate, so I guessed that was you."

Bulma felt her heart sink into her stomach. What had looked like an ordinary gold chain to her eyes had actually been something that came from his heart. He had tried to explain what it was, but she was so incensed by the simplicity of the item, that she tossed it and him aside. Bulma felt a tear trickle down her cheek. No, he was
still a selfish ass with no care for anyone!

"You know that Christmas that both he and Trunks missed was one of the happiest Bura ever had. He'd given her a doll and a CD, which he had made especially for her. He had gifts for you as well, but you threw him out, so he just stashed them in the Gravity Room over the years. Bulma, he might not have been the most sensitive being in the universe. He might not have been overly kind and gentle like Goku, but one thing is certain and that's that he
loved you to distraction. He said that you had helped him find his heart again but that Christmas incident sent him back behind the all of granite he had built around his emotions. Listen, honey, I gotta run. I'll call you later," Dr. Briefs disconnected the call.

Bulma could not shake what she had just been told. That the prince had sought out her dad for a heart to heart and he had shown deep emotion to someone other than just the kids. She wasn't privy to his emotions and he seemed to close up after that Christmas incident, not that he'd been that open to begin with and not where she was concerned. Could his personality have been changing and she not have known it because she held missed holidays and such over his head? She sat in amazement and wonder, then logic kicked in and she remembered Chi-Chi had a cell phone, so she called the number.

A shrill ringing pierced the engulfing silence of New Namek II and Chi-Chi told the group that her cell phone was calling her. She got up, went out into the garden to answer the call. "Hello, Son Chi- hi speaking," she greeted in a low voice.

"Chi-Chi, have you seen my parents or Bura lately? This family's falling apart and I don't know why? Goku doesn't even come around any more. What's going on?" Bulma's tone was agitated.

"Calm down, girlfriend. No one can talk to you when you're agitated beyond the capacity for rational thought! Take a chill pill and listen to me. The reason you don't see Goku much is because we fell out of love and he left to live with Trunks and Goten at their home," Chichi explained biting emotions she wouldn't let surface.

"But Trunks has a home here at CC! He doesn't need a separate place!" Bulma said, her tone shocked. "And what do you mean you and Goku fell out of love?"

"Bulma, the boy is nineteen. He divorced you as his mother when he was seventeen. I was in court with them. Vegeta divorced you and was awarded sole custody of Bura," Chi-Chi informed her friend who nearly died on the spot. "Besides, Goku and I haven't been together much since you threw Vegeta out four years ago and since Goku had returned to life after the Majin Buu thing. Then he went off to train that kid, Uubu for five years. This was the first time in a long while that he and I had been in the same area and that was because Vegeta had gone over to CC to spar with Trunks at lunch time,” the black haired super female explained.

"He what?! I'll kill him! Damn his black alien eyes to hell!" Bulma seethed. Then she thought what Chi-Chi had said referring to the Buu incident. That was about the time she and Vegeta had begun moving farther apart than they had been before.

Chi-Chi then realized that her friend must not have known and she bit her tongue in half for rattling off like she just did. "Oh. Bulma, I'm so sorry. I thought you knew? Vegeta had been so hurt by your tossing him out like yesterday's trash that when Trunks partitioned to be set free to go live with his dad, Vegeta filed for divorcee and full custody. He knew that you couldn't raise Bura without him or Trunks being around. Goku told me the three of them share a very deep bond. Honey, I'm so sorry," Chi-Chi apologized over and over again.

"Thanks, Chi, I'll talk to ya later. Right now, I have a bone to pick with that son of mine," Bulma hissed through clenched teeth.

Well, that was that. So that alien ass thought to outsmart her by taking custody of the baby, heh? Well, she'd have to hunt him down and put a bullet in him to make sure he could never return to this plane. For one thing, he'd already been wished back from the grave once, so Sheron wouldn't grant that wish again and the Namekians were off on some unknown distant planet. Oh, she could taste her victory now! Despite a feeling of misgiving, Bulma dialed Trunks' cell phone number.

"Hello," a dry male voice answered.

"Trunks this is your mother! Where's my daughter?" Bulma demanded and her temper was hot.

"Safe and where she belongs," and with that Trunks hung up and turned off his phone. "Bitch! She has some nerve to call me! I'm no longer her son and she still finds a way to needle me!" Trunks hissed in anger.

"You know what she wanted, right?" Piccolo asked, his tone flat. Trunks snapped. "Yes, I know what the hell she wanted, but she ain't gonna get it! If there are more Saiya-jin on this planet and they find a way to dad or vice versa, we'll be leavin' here to start a new race!" the younger prince nearly shouted.

Bulma sat in shock but she shouldn't have been. The boy was that bastard's offspring after all. Bulma then called Jeff to make a dinner date then she went to get herself ready. After she had gotten herself together, she sat to wait for her new love.

"Daddy's back!" Cilvi cried in excitement then flew out of an opened window. The other guests followed. "Daddy!"
the baby flew straight into her daddy's arms and nearly knocked him out of the air. "I missed you! Why did you leave?" she asked as the two descended to the ground and landed in the midst of the other guests.

"You feelin' better?" Piccolo asked when he caught Vegeta's eyes.

Vegeta didn't answer straightaway, but held out a white-gloved hand to the green alien for a handshake. Piccolo was shocked but took Vegeta's hand and the two shook hands. Vegeta then went around and shook hands with the other Z warriors and hugged the women.

"I need to ask all of you for forgiveness. Don't stop me. I apologize for being such a jerk and such an ungrateful being. Very few of you know the reason behind why I'm so hard to know and only six of you are part of my world. Those same six beings know the real me locked behind a wall of granite. That wall began to come down some years ago, but I still kept it intact until I was presented with one of the most beautiful little girls ever created. Yes, I'm biased, but she's another big part of me. I had to come out from behind that wall in order to care for her when her mom was unable. The last vestiges of that wall came crashing down tonight and I owe a big thank you to my son and heir for finding a piece of my home and giving it to me. Come, I'll tell you all why I left," Vegeta headed back into the house followed by a dumbfounded crowd.

The guests reclaimed their seats and Vegeta took a post by the portrait. The prince drew a deep breath. "Only one of you know exactly how the home planet, Vegeta, was destroyed because I shared it with him as I lay dying on the Planet Namek so long ago, killed by the universe's worst nightmare. The five people in this portrait were my entire life. The woman was my mother, Queen Sunrissa. One of the most beautiful women on the planet and she belonged to me until I was two and a half years old, in Saiyan years, five by Earth years, and these two came along, but I'll get to them. Mommarissa taught me what love meant and took chances not many Saiya-jin women dared. She may not have been a physical warrior, but she fought for the right to show and share her emotions even if only in private with
her three offspring.

"The man, King Vegeta, one of the few Outusans to ever opt to keep his weak powered offspring on planet. Yes, I said weak powered and I'll get to that later. King Vegeta was the ruthless tyrant who was training me take over the planet some day. Deep in my heart, I felt he loved his family and his people very much, but Saiya-jin pride being what it is he never allowed such things to show. I'm his biggest disappointment, especially now that I show emotion at the drop of a hat, so to speak, huh, huh." Uneasy laughter and snickers met this diatribe. "Okay. Now, the twin little ones on the one side of Sunrissa, were my little brother and sister, Kale and Kayla. I helped to both deliver and raise them. We were very close and had no qualms about sharing our emotions. We never let anyone find out about such a weakness. I only had five years with them. When I was ten Saiyan years old, Frieza took me for his slave.
I don't need to rehash that nightmare. Here is yours truly. I don't need to go there. You see the end result," Vegeta drew another deep breath to steady himself and his rapidly beating heart as he pointed to the last person in the picture.

"This little chimp here I had chosen as Kayla's trainer and sparring mate. My sister was one of the few female Saiya-jin who had a power level to rival my own at the time and I was not gonna see her raised just to breed. So, my personal bodyguard took me to a training place where upper and lower class Saiya-jin kids trained. I ordered to be taken to the girls' training area. I told myself that if I found a power level near to my own 5,000 that I would have that young girl as my lifemate. I hadn't realized until I laid eyes on her image that I had formed a bond with her from time I had detected her power. Her name was Parlissa Saturna and she was the niece of my bodyguard, Angelair. Lissa was in a class by herself and when I saw her blast her instructor to send him flying like a rag doll, I knew she was the one. She was kindness itself and the best friend I ever had. The four of us chimps stuck very close together. That bond alone helped me to defy my Outusan when I wanted to, but he was usually the last one to know of my exploits even with the scouter, heh, heh. I never had any problem just being myself with those three. Whenever I had gotten hurt and was struggling to hold my emotions inside, Mommarissa would take me in her arms to comfort me and Lissa would hold my hand. It had been her death that I hadn't been able to accept until tonight. I had never allowed myself to grieve over the loss of my race, my family and my mate and tonight I did just that when I had left here," Vegeta blinked stray tear away.

"Now, as to where I went when I left. I just flew and didn't stop until I'd detected a power I was unfamiliar with. The place I stopped around was enshrouded in a fog-like mist, so I couldn't pinpoint the source of the energy until I saw a chi blast. I followed the blast and stumble upon two warriors who wore skirts over top their spandex. That was strange in itself considering the two were male beings," the prince snickered.

"You ended up in Scotland?" it was Ororo who had asked the question.

The prince shrugged. "I didn't know where I was at the time, but I sat and watched the two. There was a boy about Cilvi's and Pan's age, and an elder man at least ten Saiyan years ahead of me. As they fought, the elder sent the child flying and I caught the kid. Something no warrior ever does! As I held onto the kid, something wrapped around my arm. I had to look twice to make sure it wasn't a dream! The elder warrior requested I return his partner and approached me. I damn near phased into the next dimension from shock! Now, brace yourselves. Both beings were Saiya-jin!" the prince shouted, fist raised in the air in a show of triumph.

Those who knew Vegeta well were shocked by this revelation, then Trageta and Cilvi both shouted with glee! A few seconds later, the news hit Goku, Goten and Gohan.

"That's fantastic news, Vegeta!" Tien smiled.

"Wait, it gets better! The elder being turned to out not only be a Saiyan, but also the elite bodyguard who'd been in charge of yours truly. I told him how surprised I was to find that two more of my race had survived the destruction. Then he dropped the bomb. He told me that in the village where he and the boy resided were that chimp's parents and sixty other Saiya-jin survivors! I couldn't wait to return here with the news! I haven't been this happy since the
time I thought that Kakarrot and Frieza had parished on Namek and left me as he most powerful warrior in the universe, no offense, Kakarrot, my friend. I'm glad you survived. If you hadn't...Well, let's not go there. But imagine, sixty other full Saiya-jin congregated in this Scotland place, five here, four halflings, one
quarterling and...Jean, didn't you mention there were some in America where the X-team is from?" Vegeta asked the mutant telepath.

"How many were there, Professor? I know after the twenty that Ororo and Gambit had stumbled upon, many more sought us out for refuges sake," Jean stated in a matter-of-fact tone.

"I haven't checked since we've been here, but before we left, there were at least fifty," Professor X concluded.

"This is incredible! I-I can't believe it! All I need's a planet, gather all Saiya-jin together and teleport off this hunk of rock! Then I will truly be the Prince of all Saiya-jin once again! Whether you six join me or not, my kids and I will rule the race and will make the Saiya-jin the most feared race in the universe! Huh! Huh! Huh! Huh!" the prince howled in much the same fashion as he had ages ago when he had thought he was left to be the most powerful
being in the universe; thinking both Frieza and Kakarrot had parished when Namek exploded. Vegeta then settled down and asked, "Is this a party or a funeral? Let's celebrate!"

Music filled the silence and those who wished to, got up to dance. Vegeta sat and watched, however, he had become surrounded by the under ten year of age (in Earth years) generation with his baby girl and Pan sitting on his lap. Cilvi nuzzled her daddy's neck.

"I love you, daddy! I'm glad there are some Saiya-jin survivors. You know Geta and I will be with you. Maybe you'll find a mommy who'll love all of us and not torture us for the sheer hell of it," Cilvi sighed in a wistful tone.

"Thank you, baby, but there is no mommy for us, even among the remaining Saiya-jin. I had chosen twice and both times had my heart ripped out from my chest. The first time because my home planet was destroyed and the second time was by the woman who birthed you and Trageta. Hey, how would you and Pan like to train the Saiya-jin
chimps in Scotland, if there are anymore than the one I met tonight?" Vegeta asked the girls.

"Ooh, Uncle Vegeta, d'ya think my mommy and daddy would approve! I would love to! I'm glad my mom's not like Grandma Chi-Chi and makes me study all the time. She knows what I was born and she and daddy try to encourage me to attain my full potential. Thanks for training me with Cilvanti!" Pan smiled and hugged Vegeta.

"Hey, hey, Vegeta! Looks like you got stuck with babysitting duty, heh, heh!" Krillin and 18 had left the dance floor to rest.

"Yeah, well, he's gotta be good for something. Goodness knows, he stinks as a husband," 18 remarked in her waspish fashion.

Vegeta cut her a glance that could have sliced through Pluto.

"I'm gonna let that remark slide, 18. It doesn't warrant a reply," the prince said in a slow voice.

"Look, why don't you go reconcile with Bulma? It'll make you both happy?" the blonde suggested.

Vegeta's handsome face fell in disbelief. "I can't believe you'd suggest something as ludicrous as that? She's the one who threw me out, I didn't walk out, although, I had many opportunities to do so. I could have never returned after my jaunts to Planet Minerva. I could have found myself another more agreeable and less mouthy mate, but I thought of my offspring first. My own needs, I put on hold," Vegeta retorted, his tone edged.

What, Vegeta just admitted that he put himself and his needs after those of the kids? No, 18's hearing had to be going because the prince all mighty Saiyan never gave a thought to anyone but his own arrogant, pride filled being. 18 put her hand to Vegeta's head. He shook her off.
18 regarded him as if he had just landed on the planet. "Are you feeling okay? I thought I heard you say you put your own needs on hold and the kids came first?" she mocked.

"You dare to mock me? I said exactly that! My kids mean a lot to me as does Kakarrot, his brats and his brat's brat! Anyone with a hint of Saiyan blood in them is my first concern. Argument over!" Vegeta hissed then his countenance grew dark and brooding as he began to slip behind the dark mask he always wore.

"Daddy," Cilvanti turned his attention to herself.

"Will we get to meet the other Saiya-jin? The ones you met tonight?" she asked and Vegeta nodded.

The prince then turned his attention to the Minerva-jin prince, Sonra and the two began conversing in that being's native language.

"I thought your dad only spoke Saiyago and his Earth language. How is it that he can be talking to the other prince in his language?" Krillin asked Cilvanti.

"Daddy's a interplanetary linguist. He had to learn several dialects in order to negotiate Frieza's planets out of Frieza's control in order to liberate said planets and return rule to the natives. Those peoples are now his allies," Cilvanti explained to Krillin as she listened to the two princes, then Prince Sonra turned his attention to the little one.

"Little one, your brother stopped by Minervasei before he went of to Bartiers 8 and told us a most unfortunate thing happened to you. You lost Sanna and the first copy of your dad's CD," the prince said and the little princess hung her head as she cuddled closer to Vegeta.

"Yeah. Momma maxima prime destroyed my doll and somehow broke my CD. I wanted to blast her to hell when I found the things that Outusan had had made for me in the trash. That was a few days before she had her boyfriend put that control collar around my neck," Cilvi sighed.

"Her boyfriend? That woman had another male in residence while you were there?" Vegeta was having a hard time controlling his temper.

Cilvi nodded. "It was some geek with a funny accent, not like yours, but then again, he's an Earth-jin. She had him put the collar on my because she had promised Geta that she would do nothing to hurt me. But she was hurting me, daddy, and she was hurting my two favorite men in the entire universe? Why did you never blast her, daddy? She almost killed us?" Cilvi's bottom lip began to quiver and the prince of Saiyan held her close.

At that time, Trageta and Marron approached the group.

"I swear, that kid cries more than a grown woman," Marron huffed, an exact imitation of her own mother.

"My sister may be Prince Vegeta's daughter but she still has feelings and dad's doing a super job in letting us express
them," Trageta told Marron then turned to his dad and sister. "I told Prince Sonra about Sanna and the CD. I knew the CD could be reproduced, but I wasn't sure about the doll," he concluded as he took a seat beside Outusan.

Prince Sonra smiled. "Well, it pleases me to present these to your young highness, my princess," Sonra handed two packages to Cilvi and she took them with glee.

Cilvi opened a large rectangular shoebox shaped package and her little eyes grew as large as half-dollars. "Daddy! Trageta! Look, it's Vegisanna, the doll momma maxima prime destroyed! Oh, thank you, Prince Sonra!" Cilvi exclaimed then caught a look at Pan's long-eared, puppy-eyed face. The little princess looked to her Outusan for assistance. "Daddy?"

"Hey, she's your doll! It's up to you, chimp. Both dolls are one of a kind, but I think Pan would like to have at least one of them," Vegeta Outusan replied with a smile to the baby's unspoken question. Vegeta realized that he had been smiling a lot tonight. Mental note, prinny, smile sparingly. Too much gives the wrong impression.

Cilvi smiled and handed the doll that bore her face to Pan who's little face lit up like a tree at Christmas. "Here, I know how much you like her. Besides, I have my daddy's sister's doll,"
the little princess smiled.

"How did you know, Cilvi?" Outusan asked in disbelief.

"You taught me to read, write and speak Saiyago. I looked on her back after you left and found the name 'Kayla' written much like I would write. Besides, I owe you that much, daddy, and she is a much prettier doll than the one you had made. No offense, my prince," Cilvi kissed her Outusan.

"None taken, chimp, because I had that one made, as well," the prince smirked.

“Open this one, it looks like a CD or something," Pan handed the second gift to Cilvanti and she ripped the paper wrapping off a flat square shaped item.

"It's the CD! Geta, its daddy's CD!" Cilvanti exclaimed, waving the disk case in the air and all activity in the room ceased except for the music. All eyes on the prince in wonder.

"How did you get them replaced so quickly, chimp? I only just stopped by Minervasei the other day," Trageta gaped in shock.

"With our sophisticated technology, we were able to reproduce both the doll and CD with little effort and in a short time. Besides, your dad left the original demo of the 'songs of Vegetasei' on the planet as well as the schematics for Sanna. Your brother told us that both gifts had been destroyed by some female," Prince Sonra explained and he patted Cilvi on the head but she gave him a big hug.

"Thank you, again! Daddy, can we play it, please?" Cilvi looked at Outusan with large blue pleading eyes.

"Don't look at me like that, chimp. Even if I said no, you'd play it anyway. Beside, I haven't heard it since I recorded it for you," the prince smirked his approval and the kids ran over to the 25 disk changer to put the CD into an empty slot then waited for the music to start.

"You know, my prince, you have now become the most sought after male on the planet. Every Minervasei female who has heard this CD had fallen head over heels in love with you. Only a handful of us have had the privilege of seeing your handsome face," Princess Ariadne cooed into Vegeta's ear and ran a finger down the front of his chest.

Vegeta took her hand none too gently in his own and tossed it back at her. "Ariadne, please! You know I don't like being touched in that manner!" the Saiya-jin no Ouji remarked, disgust on his handsome face.

Prince Sonra laughed at his friend's predicament. "She only wants to be with her favorite music hero. Humor her, she's just sixteen in the years of this planet," the Minerva no Ouji laughed.

Vegeta's face fell. Sixteen? By her actions, he would have put her at least at twenty! She was just beginning to feel those urges that most females feel when in the company of men-namely himself. Was that why he and 18 verbally beat one another up? It was definitely why he and Bulma fought like two mad cats on a hot tin roof. Vegeta visibly shivered. Since Bulma had put him out of her life and since he had lost his blast partner, Ceraina, Emanu’s neice, that activity had lost its luster and appeal even though he could have had any female he wanted as a light flirtation, including Princess Ariadne. He had to get away from her. She was a child and he respected King Aegar far too much to give into his baser instincts. Vegeta excused himself, ITed out of New Namek and into the cool of the garden where he hoped to find some solitude to pull together his raging confusion. Besides, there was another to consider, but his having been raised with the values and prejudices of this planet made him as untouchable to the prince as the prince was to him.