Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Unexplainables ❯ Chapter 8 ( Chapter 8 )

Chapter 8

Bulma frowned as once again the database informed her that her search showed no results. She wanted to slam a fist into the console she worked over, but knew it wouldn't help, probably hurt her hand actually.

Vegeta could have helped her, told her ways to get around certain time-consuming tasks that the database required. However, after getting him a comfortable place to rest, his old room, he had fallen into unconsciousness. Bulma had set him up to machines that would track his biological and mechanical parts at the same time, keeping the biological parts working even as the mechanical ones failed. It was keeping those parts working she was having problems with.

She had taken a few minutes away from that to see if she could find anything in the database that would help her only to run up against a brick wall. She had no idea how to use the database and it would take a few days to work it out. A few days Vegeta did not have. And only he could tell her how to work it. To do that, he had to be conscious, and with the virus eating at his system-She dropped her head into her hands, heaving a sigh that showed her weary state.

She was back at square one. She had to stabilize Vegeta's condition so she could find a cure.

She raised her head and steeled her spine, mouth thinning to a determined line. She wasn't going to do that moping around here. With that thought, she turned around and exited the ship, getting into her hoverplane and heading back to Capsule Corporation.

She was greeted by the sight of Goku leaning over Vegeta, holding down his hands, which were clenching and unclenching beside his body, which Goku was trying to keep on the bed as Vegeta struggled against the man's hold.

Bulma immediately moved to help, though there was not much she could do since Vegeta was strong even through the virus.

Sweat soaked his pillow and the sheet covering him and his harsh sharp movements were twisting them around his body, almost succeeding in immobilizing him. Bulma bit her lower lip, eyes filling up at the clenched jaw and furrowed brow, and the sight of even more cracks. She moved to his head and picked up the cloth on the table beside him, soaking it in the pan of cool water and wringing it out before applying it to his brow in slow, soothing circles.

Vegeta moaned at the contact, eyes tightly shut, his head moving toward Bulma. He mumbled something before heaving one last time against Goku's hold, falling back into the soaked sheets to a restless sleep.

Goku let out a huge sigh, dropping into the chair that was beside the bed. He looked as exhausted as Bulma felt, "I think it's getting worse. I could hardly hold him down."

Bulma swallowed the lump in her throat, "I've tried every pain reliever possible, but the virus is just adapting too rapidly to them. It's like it was created to give him pain."

"Any luck on finding out where it came from?" The deep voice had both turning around, although Goku was not as surprised as Bulma.

Bulma shook her head at Piccolo, who moved into the room to stand at the foot of Vegeta's bed, brows drawn down thoughtfully. "No. I can't use the database properly or efficiently without Vegeta's help." Bulma rewet the cloth and tried to wipe some of the liquid from Vegeta's body. More of the yellow liquid quickly came out of the cracks as soon as she removed the cloth. She let out an exasperated sigh and raised her head to look at Piccolo from weary eyes, "Please tell me Kami has some useful information."

Piccolo nodded, "The legend of the Hitori had to get around somehow, and someone must've wanted people to be warned."

He nodded at Vegeta. "When Vegeta followed the 'Imperfect One's' course he must've run into the people who started the legend, since this virus seems too specific to the Hitori to just have been made up one day. This also means that the 'Imperfect One' had contact with other planets. If we can narrow down anything from seven months and six days ago to when Vegeta began collecting the information, we might be able to pinpoint the planet that sent the virus."

Bulma gaped at Piccolo, "I hate to burst your little hopeful bubble, but that's two years, four months, and twenty-four days of information to sort through! With my limited knowledge of the database the Hitori use, which I might add is far more advanced than anything I've yet created or seen, and that's saying something, it'll take months to look through and eliminate all the planets that didn't come into contact with the Hitori, all those low in technology, those-"

Piccolo let out a growl to stop the female's ranting, which was growing in volume, "That's Kami's idea, not mine! I merely suggest you go to that 'thread room' and talk to him."

Bulma blinked, "Oh." She looked at Vegeta, who, although he was sleeping now, would occasionally toss his head or groan out something, "But surely he wasn't like this when we talked. He had to have been in a-"

Piccolo couldn't stand these humans always stating the obvious, and that included Goku and Gohan, although Gohan could be a little quicker to the point. "-Meditative state. Yes. He won't like it, but I can help him get there like Kami helped you there. Once he's there I can help you."

Bulma stood up, suddenly anxious to get started, "Well? What are you waiting for?"

"I'm waiting for you to sit down and shut up," Piccolo ground out as he moved to stand in between Vegeta and Bulma.

Bulma made a little sound, half embarrassed, half insulted, but sat down and shut up. Piccolo grunted at her compliance and put a green hand on Vegeta's forehead.

Vegeta moved his head away from the contact, brow furrowing in what looked to be anger, but Piccolo kept his hand there and soon Vegeta's face relaxed completely, his breath changing from the ragged intakes it had been to calm, even drags.

After a few moments, Piccolo moved his head; satisfied as the Saiyan did not pull out of the state he had been forced into. He moved his hand to Bulma's forehead with no forewarning; so that she had no time to struggle before she joined Vegeta, head sinking slowly to her chest.

Piccolo frowned as he moved away from the two and glanced at the other Saiyan in the room, greeted for once with a solemn gaze. Piccolo wondered if any of the three in the room knew that what was at stake was more than just a Saiyan Prince's life.

' ' '

Vegeta growled as he looked around the familiar room; a room that had haunted his dreams; what dreams a Cyborg could have.

He had been forced here, and here was where he could show his true Saiyan irritation and anger at such a move. He knew the Namek had been at fault but his Hitori side, still present even here, logically understood the necessity of the action. Truthfully, he was glad to get away from the Virus's grip for a few seconds. But he was still ticked.

He blinked at the familiar presence behind him and turned to gaze at the blue-haired woman gazing back at him with a look he couldn't explain.

Without the Cyborg part of him intruding into his conscious thoughts, he was able to notice just how blue her hair and eyes were and how they seemed to shine even in a place where the light was source-less. She smiled, her eyes suspiciously watery and surprised him by running full tilt into him, wrapping her arms around him and squeezing as hard as her small frame could.

He stiffened, arms slightly out from his body in shock, and stared at the head of the female that continued to hug him despite his own lack of response. She leaned back, arms still wrapped around him, and smiled up at him, eyes looking delightedly into black ones, "I missed you!"

He frowned at the strange comment, "You just saw me, woman. How can you have missed me?"

She shook her head, leaning her head on his chest and-snuggling into him. He grimaced as he found the gesture slightly uncomfortable. "No, I missed this you. The you without all the metal. The you who feels warm and has eyes that actually look like they're looking at you and not through you."

Vegeta's eyebrows rose, "But-"

She frowned as she leaned back again to look him in the eyes, "I know, I know. You're perfect, you're immortal, and you're all powerful. Believe me, I'm getting tired of Mr. Perfect, Powerful, and Immortal. I liked the Vegeta who had to work hard to even catch a glimpse of those things. He had an inner strength, a determination, I admired, even if he was a jerk of an arrogant Prince who thought every step he took on the ground was one that should be duly noted because-"

Vegeta cut her off, growling, "You're pushing it, woman." He seemed to notice then that she was still attached to his chest and removed her from around him, "I believe you wished to discuss something other than this?"

Bulma sighed, "Yes. I need to know the shortcuts for working the database. We've figured out how to search for the virus's origins but it will take forever if we do it the way the system says to do it. I know there are shortcuts to work around what the system requires. What are they?"

Vegeta chuckled, crossing his arms before him, partially in case the woman decided to-snuggle again. "The great and mighty super-genius Bulma can't figure it out?"

Bulma glared at him, "I could, but the great and mighty Prince Vegeta couldn't stay alive that long! That virus is eating up everything mechanical in you. The only reason you've lasted longer than the probes and automatons is you're part biological. It's only the shutdown of the mechanical parts that's hurting the biological ones."

Vegeta cocked his head to one side, "Telling you what to do will take too long. I can send the message another way though." She looked curiously at him, her own leaned head mimicking his.

He took the tilted head as a signal to go ahead and placed his hand on her forehead. The warmth of it was different than his Cyborg's chill hands. She actually wanted to lean in to it and opted for just closing her eyes.

He watched a slight smile cross her face and studied it carefully, wondering what she was thinking. He closed his own eyes and concentrated, sending her the information she needed by way of a little telepathy.

She frowned when the contact, both physical and mental, drew away and opened her eyes to see Vegeta looking at her with an unreadable expression. She cleared her throat, but he still didn't break his gaze. "Well, I think I've got it now. Um, thanks."

He nodded silently and stepped back, allowing her to draw in the breath she hadn't known she was holding. "Woman, if this doesn't work out-"

"It'll work out. Don't even think it won't. Then you can go find your answers." Despite trying not to sound bitter, the last sentence came out clearly that way. She glanced to the side, wondering if she should pinch herself to wake up, if that would even work in this place.

His voice sounded as if he was annoyed, "What do you mean by that?"

She turned back to find that familiar scowl on his face, arms still crossed, although tighter than before, "Nothing. Just that you can go find answers to questions you don't know and-" She cut herself off.

One black eyebrow rose, "And?"

Her lips stretched thin, "And nothing. How do you get out of this place? I need to go find that cure before you-" This time the sentence died of its own volition.

Vegeta uncrossed his arms, and stepped back toward her, causing her eyes to snap up into his, "Woman, you don't understand. I belong now."

Bulma shook her head, "To what? According to you, the Hitori are one. You belong to yourself? You could have stayed and belonged. That's why I offered you my home, so you would belong. Maybe you would have even found those answers right where you were."

Vegeta's eyes flashed, "I no longer have those-things to set me back. My power is absolute. I could go now and rule the universe. Even Kakarott could not stop me. I am better than that third-class and don't even feel a need to prove it. Isn't that what you wanted?"

"No! I wanted you to be you! I never wanted you to douse your fire. Don't you realize, Vegeta, that it's gone? You could defeat Kakarott and rule the universe, sure, but why don't you? You have no passion, no fire. You want an answer? I've got one for you. A man with passion can weather through any storm, and each storm he weathers through his flame gets brighter.

"Is that why you won't stay here? You know you can't take any challenges that come your way. You'll break. If Frieza came back right now, he'd break you as easily as I can break a nail."

Vegeta's face was a deep and angry shade. The only reason the human before him had been allowed to say so much was that he was shocked by her effrontery, to Royalty no less! Now he growled down at her, maddened further when she didn't even flinch. His growl turned into a snarl and he grabbed both her arms roughly, wanting to see her fear. Instead, she smiled.

He blinked and let her go, anger deflating when confronted by the shock she put over him, "You're crazy, human!"

She shook her head, "No. You just proved my point. That's exactly the kind of fire I was talking about. That look in your eyes that says you want something so bad you'll go to any length to get it. That's the Vegeta I know and-" She seemed to be cutting herself off a lot today.

Vegeta raised one black brow, "If I have that 'fire' here than I have it out there. You cannot have something in one state and not have it in another."

Bulma raised one finger triumphantly, "You can so. Take Goku as an example. When he goes Super Saiyan he has a vast amount of power, when he is not, he no longer has that power. He couldn't defeat any of the probes or automatons in regular form, only in Super Saiyan."

Vegeta's scowl deepened. This woman spent way too much time thinking. "I am not Kakarott and the Hitori is not Super Saiyan or Saiyan. And I do have a fire. Why do you think I left to go find answers? I'm willing to find them no matter what."

Bulma smiled softly, almost sadly, "Did you even think about-" Her voice caught and she took a deep breath before continuing, "So, you left behind the most important part of yourself? You gave up your heritage and destiny for answers? You gave up what could've given you those answers in the hopes that they would be handed to you on a silver platter? Vegeta, what you gave up for these answers are the very things that will give them to you. How can you find answers when they are inside of you and you refuse to look? Do you think some race has the answer for your purpose now that Frieza is dead, now that a third-class warrior had taken away your birthright? Now you won't even be able to claim your birthright, Vegeta. You gave that up when you became one of the Hitori."

Vegeta's hands unclenched and clenched. He took a menacing step forward, so close his breath warmed her face, "How did you know-?" His sentence died on the same tremulous note hers had yet his eyes were dark pits of fury.

"Kami told me right after we had our first talk here." She reached a hand up to his cheek, watching as he jerked away with a detachment she was glad she had. "Please, Vegeta. Let us get the dragonballs and wish away the mechanical parts. That will get rid of the Virus and you'll-"

"NO!" He screamed the word in her face and she couldn't help but flinch at the sheer amount of rage and pain in it. He suddenly vanished from in front of her and Bulma felt herself wrenched from the 'room', coming back to reality with a gasp and clinging to green, strong arms that kept her from falling forward. Beside her Vegeta's ragged breathing had continued.

As soon as she had regained her senses, Piccolo's arms let her go, although she surely could've used someone to hold her. It was all she could do to stumble out of the chair and push herself past both Piccolo and Goku. She heard Goku faintly asking her something, quieted by Piccolo, who could feel the confusion and hurt radiating from the human.

Bulma barely made it to her room, collapsing on her bed, before the floodgate opened to her tears. It was supposed to be good to cry, but why then did it feel so much worse?

' ' '

Piccolo paced the room with the moaning and tossing unconscious Saiyan. The human had been in her room for over an hour now. He didn't understand human emotions and knew he'd never come close to guessing what Bulma was feeling.

It seemed his want to at least partially understand was making his mind come up with the scenario of Gohan spitting in his face as he was dying, having taken the hit meant for the kid.

He winced inwardly. Gohan would never do such a thing he knew, but that was essentially what Vegeta was doing to Bulma.

He snorted. He even had a part of him that understood Vegeta's position. Although he suspected Vegeta's refusal to be helped came from more than just clinging to who he had been. It was ironic that by trying to escape his past, Vegeta was actually holding onto it.

He shook his head and sighed. He was becoming much too like Kami with all this intuitive crap.

"What're thinking about?"

He looked at Goku with a mocking grin, "How much I hate that old geezer up there."

Goku tilted his head to one side, grinning mischievously, "Who? Kami? Oh, he's not so bad."

Piccolo rolled his eyes, "You would think that." He glanced at Vegeta, "Status?"

Goku worriedly followed Piccolo's gaze, "Not good. He's not tossing around so much. I think he's getting tired."

Piccolo frowned, "Kami sensed a disturbance-"

The sound of the door banging open had Piccolo spun around with a sharp retort on his lips and Goku half out of his seat in surprise. Bulma forestalled both of them, her blue eyes dancing with a defiance and life that put both men aback. She tossed Goku a round, flat object and he raised both brows in recognition of the dragon radar. "Goku, go collect the dragonballs. I'm going to search through that database until I find what I'm looking for. Piccolo, you're in charge of Vegeta, unless you can get someone else to do it. Count Yamcha out. He's helping me."

Piccolo sputtered momentarily, "I'm not babysitting-"

"If Vegeta heard you say that, he'd kick your butt! Now, you either find someone else to do it or do it yourself. But, if you'd like to be difficult, be my guest! I am so in the mood to set you straight."

Piccolo blinked at the small female that was in his face and scowled at her, opening his mouth to tell how she was in no way going to 'set him straight'.

She smirked, cutting him off again, "I could always ask Kami for some favors. I'm sure he'd love to have you pay him a little visit because if you stay here without watching Vegeta I'll make sure to slip a certain 'piggy' pill in your drink. And since you don't eat anything-"

"Fine, fine! But you owe me, human!" It wasn't the threat but rather the female's screeching he wanted to stop.

Bulma smiled genuinely, thankfully not smirking her triumph, "But of course! Whatever you want, I can get you!"

Goku decided then to put in his two cents, "Not if he wanted a girl Namek."

Piccolo turned a light shade of red and whirled on the Saiyan, "Go find the dragonballs, Goku!"

Goku chuckled, a twinkle in his eyes and made his way past the volatile Namek before being stopped by a hand on his arm. He smiled reassuringly into worried blue eyes, made happier when some of the sadness left them. "You have no objections?"

He looked at the older Saiyan and then back at Bulma, quite serious, "No. He's not finding any answers this way. I'd rather have some of him back then none of him. I think you're doing the right thing. And I think you're very brave. He won't be happy."

She glanced at the one they were talking of, eyes wide with anxiety. "No. He definitely won't be happy."

Goku nodded as Bulma released his arm and took off, eager to find the dragonballs and correct all this.

Bulma turned back to Piccolo, face sternly set, and motioned to the seat beside the bed. Piccolo sighed, but remained defiant by standing instead of sitting.

Bulma grinned, "If there's any change, come get me."

Piccolo nodded and thought briefly of telling her what Kami had told him. However, he kept silent. She already had a time limit. Besides, the dragonballs would be found in plenty of time and all things would be set aright before anything could happen.

Bulma turned on her heel and went to go meet Yamcha at the ship, since she had already called him; blissfully ignorant of the important information Piccolo had not told her.

A/N: Well, that was better. Hmm, this story will end before the other…SHOULD end before the other. Sometimes my stories twist themselves into something else. Heck, I thought AD was going to end soon and it'll be going on for a while…. Anyways, wasn't that 'thread room' scene interesting? But what happened to that other voice? You know, the unknown one? Where could it be? Just thought I'd remind you of it…that's all. Ok, you might want to brace yourselves…. I'm no longer ahead of myself, so I'm as anxious as you to find out what's going to happen! Goody, goody gumdrops! <_<; Don't ask…just another Kahlan-phrase….

Well, ff.net decided to be mean and people can't see chapter 6…if this happens, go to www.mediaminer.org/fanfics and look for me there. Not only is it easier to look for, but it hasn't gone down since I've been there….

JadedBest: I went there and it said it was fine…. >_< Getting sick of it really. Everyone is. Well, if you're not paying for it, they probably don't care. Anyways, don't think I'll make it that easy. In fact…ah, Nevermind. Just-man I can't even tell you that, can I? Oh well. Remember ch 6 of WYWG…. Ok, think that!

Ssjprincess: heehee. Sorry, it took longer and DoY is coming…yes, I am a broken record, thank you. I'm working on it but I keep having to go back and add more to make it fit smoothly. Believe it or not, if I sat down and worked on it like I work on these two, I'd probably have it done, but I like these too. Ah, Nevermind. It will be done! You *beep*ed! Lol I told you it had to be done. See why? I went straight from there to three years later. No other way to separate it! Hee, I wish I could've taken a frying pan to Vegeta's head in Majin Saga when he killed all those people. Well, I'll warn you too, get ready…. Sorry Vegeta, it ain't going to happen in this fic. Wait for Pyrrhic. You're like Lord Emperor Vegeta there….

Susan: Vegeta had a Namek and his head popped off…. Heehee Ah, those questions are exactly what we'd like to know. What did happen to Vegeta? Where did he go? Are you sure those are the important question? ^_-

Dark Princess: Of course you can read more! Read to your heart's content.

Meow: Wow! Thanks! Now, I need to clear this up. I haven't read the mangas past Namek yet, so am I better than Funimation or Akira Toriyama cause they differ greatly! Akira, never, Funimation, if I wasn't I'd shoot myself! UGH! I've been watching even the Saiyan Saga and much prefer the scene where Vegeta turns the 'cultivar' (not Saibaman) inside out to Funimation's let's just blow him up…. Oh well. I like to be visceral! I'm glad you like it! Hopefully it will continue to meet your expectations!