Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ True Torture ❯ Chapter 4 ( Chapter 4 )

Chapter 4

Bulma bustled about, setting the last-minute items into place in the ship the soon-to-arrive Goku would take to Namek, including a stereo system complete with speakers positioned for 'the best possible sound'. Her father insisted it was 'an art form'.

Really, she didn't see a point in listening to music wile going into space, but there was no real rush. Goku would make it to Namek in a little over a month, and surely he wouldn't mind something other than training, eating, sleeping, and staring into space. Although, knowing Goku, there would be plenty of the first three and none of the latter. Bulma was even hesitant to show him how the stereo worked. He had, after all, never been good or interested in mechanics and the like. She'd just show Krillin.

Finally, she tightened the last screw and stood.

"All done?"

She turned with a half-shriek on her lips; hand on her chest to view Gohan behind her, smiling innocently. "Kami, Gohan, you scared-what are you wearing?"

Gohan tugged distastefully at the suit he wore then ran his fingers through his bowl-cut hair with a grimace. "Mom wanted me to look nice to see dad and Krillin off. They're talking to Dr. Briefs right now and your mom said something about drinks."

Bulma nodded absently and turned back around. "Well, it's ready. Let's encapsulate this baby!"

Gohan shared in Bulma's enthusiastic grin as they exited the ship. Bulma took out the appropriate capsule and threw it at the ship and they both watched as it disappeared in a poof. Bulma caught the capsule out of the air and slipped it in her pocket, patting it reassuringly.

She turned to see Gohan looking at her with one eyebrow cocked. It reminded her so much of Vegeta that she actually felt her breath catch. "How is he?"

Bulma nodded. "Fine as far as I can tell. He doesn't look happy at all."

Gohan nodded. "Yeah, he always seemed mad when I mentioned dad going to Namek and using the dragonballs." There was a short pause. "Bulma?"

She could tell this was going to be a tough conversation. "Yeah?"

"Are you sure you're doing the right thing? I mean," he shuffled one foot back nervously at the look she was giving him, "mom said it wasn't any of my business, but-I don't think it's-right."

Bulma sighed, smiling softly when Gohan's head rose to meet her eyes. "You might be right there, Gohan." He looked surprised by the admission and she chuckled. "Yeah, even I can admit when I've done something-not right. But," she shrugged, "what can I do now? He's here. Maybe-maybe he'll-I won't have to give him the medicine-forever."

Gohan beamed at her, making her feel as if the whole world was just fine. "Yeah. Maybe."

"Hey, Bulma! Ready?"

Bulma turned and returned the grin being given by a seemingly exuberant Goku. He approached swiftly, swinging her into his arms and spinning her around until she laughed. Putting her down, he looked around in confusion. "Where's the ship?"

She laughed, patting her pocket yet again. "Right here. Can't take off inside."

Goku chuckled, rubbing the back of his head with one hand. "Heh, that's right. Hey, Gohan, your mom's looking for you in the kitchen. And Bulma's mom made some really good cookies."

Gohan nodded, smiling brightly, and practically skipped off to the kitchen. As soon as he was gone, Goku turned serious. And Bulma knew what speech was coming up. "Bulma-"

"We'll be fine! You'll only be gone for two months at the most. Then you'll be back here and he'll still be drugged. See? No problem. In fact, right after you leave, I give him another dose. He's been-polite almost these last few days." She looked downward thoughtfully. "It might be working."

Goku's eyebrows furrowed. "I don't think anyone can change if they can't do anything."

Bulma stilled suddenly, her eyes wide. Finally, she put her hands on her hip and faced her long-time friend. "So what? You're saying I should just let him go? You're nuts!"

The Saiyan-turned-human actually had the audacity to roll his eyes. "No. I'm just saying that he isn't going to improve any, be one of the good guys, if he's never given a chance to act."

Sighing, Bulma turned from Goku and started outside. "You're probably right. But there's no help for it until you get back. Then-we'll decide something. Together. You know, a Z fighters' thing."

Goku grinned, practically skipping as he followed Bulma outside. "Yeah, should be great to see everyone again. Plus-well, we get to go to another planet. I wonder if the aliens are strong. Do you think they'll spar with me?"

Bulma smiled back, stepping outside and breathing in the cool air. "Sure, Goku. Just-ask them nicely or something."

As Goku spied his wife and Mrs. Briefs idly chatting, he left Bulma to go-well, snatch some of the pastries Mrs. Briefs held. Bulma shook her head, chuckling to herself, and brought out the capsule, pushing the button and letting it go in a puff of smoke that revealed the capsule spaceship.

She heard the sound of Goku and ChiChi coming up beside her and joined them in just looking at the ship, or delaying Goku's leaving. She felt Krillin come up beside Gohan, obviously having arrived a bit later than everyone else.

Bulma finally let out a snort reminiscent of her reluctant guest and turned toward them. "Well, Goku, Krillin, off you go."

ChiChi barely restrained her own snort at the dismissal and enveloped her husband in a hug. "You make sure you shower every day. I know how you are about keeping clean. And eat three meals a day and make sure to call every night, you hear me?"

Goku chuckled, squeezing his wife briefly, and a little too hard, if her muffled yelling could be interpreted. "Sure, Chi! See you in a couple months!"

Reluctantly, ChiChi released her husband and watched as he gave Gohan his goodbyes, admonishing him to mind his mother, which Gohan promised solemnly he would do.

Krillin gave a wave to everyone in general and climbed up the ramp, disappearing to make himself comfortable. Before they knew it, Goku was also boarding the ship.

They all watched silently as he waved, the door closed, and the ship slowly lifted off before rocketing into the air. The air wildly whipped up hair and dust, and by the time everything had settled, the ship was a mere speck in the air that they all watched disappear.

Bulma let out a sigh, brushing her hands on her pants. "Well, that's done." She turned to ChiChi. "I was hoping Gohan could help me with some odds and ends in the lab. He was a tremendous help on the ship, I'd like him to continue for a few hours each day before lunch."

ChiChi looked startled by the sudden change in topic, but should've known better. Bulma Briefs was never subtle about anything. "I don't know. He has his studies-"

Bulma waved a hand in the air. "And you think he isn't learning anything? Books and words and numbers are fine, but there's nothing like hands-on experience. Think what his resume will look like with Bulma Briefs' lab assistant on it."

As Bulma had known it would, ChiChi's eyes lit up. She turned to Gohan, practically bouncing. "That's a wonderful idea! Why don't you just help Bulma out some and then come home for lunch, okay? Make it-your first job!"

Gohan stared up wide-eyed at his mother. He couldn't believe that Bulma had just manipulated his mother so easily and was having a hard time not staring at the genius in awe. "Um, sounds great."

ChiChi's hands pressed to her chest as her eyes filled with tears. "My little boy's all grown up! His first job!" Luckily she seemed to contain herself and he was saved from being bodily caught up in an embarrassing hug. Instead, ChiChi said her goodbyes, admonishing Gohan to obey Bulma, and took off with her father in his car.

Bulma turned to Gohan, holding up a hand before he could speak. She smirked, not realizing how like a certain Prince she looked. "Hold the applause. Go get a snack and meet me upstairs, eh?"

Gohan nodded eagerly, rushing to the kitchen just as Bulma's mom exited. Mrs. Briefs spared the boy one fond look before turning to her daughter. "Oh, Bulma, your dad and I are going to go to bakery real quick. I simply insisted he take a look at the new pastries they have. They're shaped like planets and stars and I just thought our dear foreign friend would just love them." The hands clasped to her chest were reminiscent of ChiChi.

Bulma nodded with a slight grimace. Her parents knew Vegeta was an alien, but she didn't think he'd appreciate the gesture Mrs. Briefs was trying to give. "I'm sure he'll love it, mom."

Despite the lack of enthusiasm in the words, Mrs. Briefs merely grinned cheekily and went back into the house. Bulma said a silent prayer of pity for her father.

Shaking her head, she slowly made her way into the house. Staring up the stairs toward Vegeta's room, she allowed a slight frown to mar her features.

When she'd told Gohan that he was fine, what she meant was that he hadn't spoken in her mind at all since that day she had been so-disturbed.

She'd tried every way she could think of to provoke him, to get him to scream or yell or anything. She'd continued to stay with him at nights, but he had no more nightmares. And he ignored her too, as if she wasn't there.

She was worried. And-concerned?

Sighing, she trudged up the stairs, knowing the Saiyan would hear her long before she got near his door. But all was silent in her mind. She missed the company, surprisingly.

Opening his door, she stood in the doorway, watching him lay there, eyes turned away as if he didn't notice her. But she knew he did. She knew that he knew what she was there for. The needle filled with the drug that would keep him paralyzed was right across from the bed, on the metal table she could wheel over next to him.

Taking a deep breath, she pushed herself forward and toward the cart. She could feel his dark eyes on her back as soon as she turned away from him, but knew the moment she turned back he would be looking away.

She stood before the cart, staring blankly at the needle there. She was so tired. Tired of vengeance, tired of feeling the stinging emotion she was just now identifying as guilt, and tired of his silence. She'd get him to talk today….

Slowly, she reached down and plucked up the needle, turning to see that he had indeed averted his gaze. She walked steadily up to him, nerves just keeping the needle from shaking in her grasp.

She stopped by his side, drug poised above him. "Vegeta?"

He did not acknowledge her, merely seemed to be waiting. But for what?

She swallowed heavily, feeling caution drag her words. "Vegeta? Is-something wrong?"

His eyes turned to her, so slowly she felt a shudder run through her. They bored into her, dark and seemingly empty. Filled with nothing. She wondered if this was like looking at a black hole. Knowing that there was nothing there, that it would suck someone in and crush them without allowing them one glimpse of anything on the other side.

The gloved hand that shot out and grabbed her around the throat squeezed the scream from her body, stole the breath from her lungs with its suddenness. She barely blinked and found herself slammed into the wall, pain erupting along her senses as the plaster buckled beneath her.

A cruel smirk graced the features she had come to know over the last month, eyes glittering with malice and sadistic glee. He leaned in close to her, grin widening as her own hands clutched at the crushing grasp he had on her throat, trying to pry iron from skin.

She could dimly see the needle in the other hand, his movements so quick she hadn't even felt it taken from her hand. The lips moved then, and the voice that came out was not unlike the one she heard in her mind. What terrified her more was that it echoed in her mind, a strange double that sent tremors down her spine.

"Surprise…."

The needle arced down to meet her skin, breaking through the thin layer. A burning sensation preceded the liquid being forced into her veins, and Bulma's world exploded in pain.

A/N: Boy! That was cruel. Do not worry, there's lots more, and it'll be updated quickly. It took me so long to get the urge to get this chapter out. I had to get past a point and now *BAM* it's all ready to go. This'll be fun. And remember, rexpect the unexpected. Next chapter will be a surprise! Heehee. Sadist Kahlan gets to play!

This chapter is dedicated to Kichi, who has waited a long time for this chapter. Enjoy!