Unspoken

Chapter 1 - Meeting

"Master!" the fierce rapping on the bedroom door jars me from the semi-unconscious state I am in. Brolli seems displeased as he roles out of bed and walks toward the door. I say a silent prayer for whoever is on the other side.

"What?!" the anger in his voice chills my body. Even after so many years the man's tone has not become any less intimidating. I hope the servant's message is important. "Give me one good reason why I should not end your worthless life right now!?" the Saiya-jin brute growls while hoisting the serf into the air; he holds a death grip on his neck. I want to help the poor soul, but I know there is nothing I can do.

"P-Please, Master Brolli," the green creature implores, "I would never defy your orders, but I was told to summon you by King Vegeta himself. He is downstairs, demanding your immediate presence."

My stomach tightens, King Vegeta, a particularly foul breed of asshole. Every time he frequents Brolli's home he always manages to set the staff on edge. He'll beat the servants and grope the women in Brolli's personal harem. He has mated with many of them, but fortunately, I have not been one. Brolli is more possessive of certain acquisitions, but after his anger at my rejection last night, perhaps I should not continue to feel my security is still safe.

Brolli releases a hiss deep within his throat before dropping the messenger. I send my fellow slave a sympathetic nod; he offers the same in return. Ignoring the exchange, the irate Saiya-jin stomps back over to his fallen attire and with lightening speed redresses. "Tell him I will be right down." The servant rushes off with the message, clearly relieved to still have his life. "The man has the worst timing," Brolli mutters under his breath before turning back to me. I do not like the look in his eyes. "Wash up. I am sure Vegeta will be quite happy to see you." I try not to read too much into his statement, so I look away as he stalks towards the entrance. "You had better be cleaned and serving us drinks in fifteen minutes, or there will be hell to pay!"

The door slams; it takes all of my strength not to scream my frustrations at him. Wrapping a sheet around my body, I walk towards the bathroom, more than happy to do as he demands. I want to be rid of the bastard's scent like I would the plague. And once I am, I will be sure to use up every single minute of my fifteen before serving them their damn drinks. I close my eyes and take a deep breath as I try to calm myself for the degrading task ahead.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Your, highness," Brolli stutters as he sees me. He is confused and staggered, a fitting combination for this early stop on my victory tour. "What may I do for you, sir?"

"You seem surprised to see me," I toy with him. He is uncomfortable. I like that. "Were you expecting someone else?"

"Well actually, I was. My servant informed me King Vegeta was here. I was expecting to see your father." His tone holds a sense of superiority, as if he is disappointed to be met by a lesser man. He will learn his place.

"Your servant did not lead you astray, I am King Vegeta. I claimed my title last night when I beat the son of a bitch to death." I pause to allow the severity of my words to breach his thick skull. Yes, he understands. The realization is clearly in his eyes. His ally is dead; he will no longer feel the financial and political benefits my father awarded him. I smirk. How long I have waited to see my father's cronies choke on all of the power they have squandered so recklessly over the years. They will feel the benefits no more.

I can see he is ready to bear the ki blast, so I wait for those ego-inflating words. "My king, it is an honor to have you as our new monarch. I am sure you will do our people great justice as our leader." The pain in saying those words is quite transparent, I enjoy watching him squirm. He deserves no less than my apathy for all the years he talked down to me, bullied me as my father had. Brolli and my father were two of a kind. Though I had to punish one swiftly, the other I could protract his castigation.

Nodding humbly, I turn my back to the man as I walk a few steps away from him. "Enough with the pleasantries. I have not come here to inform you of your comrade's death. I came to deliver your squad orders." I turn just in time to see his jaw drop slightly. That was certainly not what he expected me to say.

"My squad? But we have not left the planet for a mission in almost eight years. Why summon us now?" He knows why. I will not bother going through the long history, citing every time I had to leave the planet on a tedious diplomatic mission, or was forced to go on back-to back-to back purging operations while he stayed in the luxury of his home, being waited on by dozens of servants and bedding some of the most beautiful women in the universe. The bastard never once earned his keep, but I will make damn sure he does now.

"The Zryians have been threatening to close their ports to Saiya-jin access. As you know, we have several wars being waged in the immediate vicinity of Zry. If our ships are no longer able to dock there, at the very least to refuel, we will be put at a severe disadvantage. You can understand the urgency of this situation, so I want you to leave tonight for Zry. Take your crew and make certain the Zryians realize it is much wiser to remain an ally of the Saiya-jins than an enemy. Understood?" He wants to rebuff. He wants to tell me I could send a much less experienced team to handle the matter, but he does not. Fortunately for him, he is not suicidal like my father.

"I will alert my crew immediately." He nods his head and bows lowly before asking, "if that will be all." I answer in a swift affirmation then depart from his home without further word. I will leave the man to brood over the news. I have other, now former, allies of my father to begin punishing.

And I fully intend to savor ever minute of it.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

By the time I enter the meeting room, Brolli is alone, and he is thrashing items about. He is angry. Not an atypical emotion for the cold hearted son of a bitch, but I have never seen him act such a way after a visit with his favorite colleague, very odd indeed.

I stand still for several minutes with the tray of drinks in my hand, I do not know what has transpired, but I get the feeling I am about to find out when he spins around to see me. He walks over and grabs both drinks; he downs them swiftly and then grabs my tray and throws it aside. The next thing I know I am being pulled into his lap as he collapses onto the couch. My back is against his as he begins fondling my breasts.

"It just is not fair," he whines. Something bad as happened to him. This I want to hear. "My life was so perfect, Aoiro, but now that little bastard is going to ruin it!" He becomes rougher with me, but I bear it. I want so desperately to learn of whom has spoiled his life of sloth. "Damn that Vegeta! I should have been more cautious with the boy. His training should have been better monitored. He is so fucking unworthy to be our new king!"

Vegeta… Boy… New king… Could it truly be? Was King Vegeta dead? Though I was aware he had an heir, Prince Vegeta had only been spoken of in crude, deprecating terms. Never would I have imagined from the way Brolli and the former King spoke of him that the prince was near ascension. Yet, now it seems son has outshined father, interesting.

I cannot help but feel some sense of satisfaction knowing the man is dead. I, of course, have no doubt his son will not be a much better ruler, but then again, he could not be much worse. "A goddamn diplomatic mission! He wants to reactivate me! What the hell is that?!" My ears open as I begin to pay attention to his complaining again. "Tonight! He wants me to leave tonight! I have not been off this planet in eight years! I barely remember what supplies one needs on a mission!"

He's leaving. If I could cry, I think I might have. I hate Saiya-jins, but right now I could kiss this new king. It seems he must have some personal vendetta against Brolli to be ordering such an outlandish act. All the better; it will be nice to see Brolli squirm for a while, and even nicer to see him gone. Even for a few days would be adequate. Kami, I cannot even begin to imagine a few days of freedom from the bastard.

He thrusts me off of his lap. It seems he is finished his sulking and wants to attend to more pressing matters than me. I am thankful; I know I will have dark bruises on my chest before long. As he vanishes from the room, I smile partially, an odd sensation, one I have not experienced in a long time. He was leaving; I can only hope he will never return.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"So how did it feel?" Radditz asks me as he stands to the side of my throne. As much as I dislike the lower class warrior, he is my most loyal subject, the only Saiya-jin I feel no trepidation about speaking the complete truth of my mind to.

"If only you could have seen the look on his face." How could I begin to describe the pride I felt in bringing a man who once believed he was my better to his knees? Brolli, along with all of his crewmates will no longer live in the lavishness my father has spoiled the bastards with while I fought blood, sweat and agony to ascend to every level of power that I have reached. And by the gods, I will make damn sure they relearn their true place in the Saiya-jin hierarchy.

"It is wise to be asserting your authority so soon after your father's death. It will make things easier once you begin to implement those changes you have been planning for so long." A chill runs down my spine as low class reminds me of my plans. Since as long as I could remember, I had been observing my father, though not as a son who was worshiping or revering a parent, but as a boy who saw an enemy who needed to be crushed.

I learned at a young age that my father was a bastard. To go into his exploits would take hours, but at the most basic of levels he was a faithless, battering womanizer who had abused my mother countless times, many times in front of my own eyes, with the sick purpose of teaching me how to discipline my women in the future. Though my mother was not the most nurturing of creatures, not that any Saiya-jins are, I had one day taken a stand against my father's brutality, a costly mistake.

It was the first time I learned the agony of being flogged within an inch of my life. It was also the first time I learned what hate really was. And I hated my father so much that I devoted the subsequent years of my life to the sole cause of annihilating the man once and for all. It may have taken me years to do so, but I have finally won. And now that I have the chance to undo all of the dishonorable laws this former monarch has vulgarly implemented, I will.

"I should start by addressing the purging schedule," I thought aloud, trying to refocus my mind, "And then the Seriichi." The suggestion hangs in the air for several minutes before my companion sighs.

"Perhaps you should not be too ambitious. I doubt you will ever garner enough support to shut down the slave bracket."

My eyes narrow considerably. Never have I agreed with the Saiya-jin laws concerning slavery. Servitude was one thing, but the buying, selling, and trading of female bodies is without a doubt the most dishonorable indulgence my people have taken part in for generations. But, being as imbedded into society as the practice is, I know logically I cannot to alienate myself from my people by voicing my biased opinion on the matter. A king is only as powerful as the people who allow him to be. To lose their support would be a dangerous move, especially after having just inherited the crown from my father. "Perhaps you are right," I grant solemnly. "But that does not mean I have to tolerate it inside these walls. Have my father's women either relocated or killed. It's time this whorehouse returns to a place of political power."

"As you wish," Radditz bows lowly as he departs to begin cleaning out my father's closets.

Once I am alone, I find myself distracted by the realization that I am free, my father no longer charting out ridiculous timetables that keep me off-planet for weeks at a time. I no longer am the butt of every elite's joke-the prince who could never hack it-too soft hearted they always told me, softhearted because I gave a damn about my mother.

It was my father's fault. Saiya-jin boys are meant to be shipped off to purge a planet in infancy, but no, my father kept me by his side. He allowed his mate to corrupt me during years I should have been learning to be cruel and emotionless-not that I am incapable in that realm. I can massacre with the best of them, but I see the universe differently than most of my counterparts.

I hate the slave bracket, an opinion I inherited from my mother. She was forced to stand by and watch as my father purchased fuck after fuck. He humiliated her with his preference for alien women. Granted, Saiya-jin women are hardly considered beauties in the universe, but they are fighters and damn more respectable than the porcelain statues that are sold for ridiculously wasteful amounts.

If I had my way, I would end the entire trade. Unfortunately, that is not a realistic option in the face of mass opposition. I will have to start small. Increasing tariffs on the trade, restricting importation of certain species and perhaps one day I may at least end the selling of comfort women. My mother will be vindicated then, if nothing more.

I find myself tired from the day's events. My father is dead. I am king. The congratulations have come few and far between; that irritates me. I have no one to share my victory with. Radditz is supportive, but he would be, considering he has now been promoted.

I feel a growl pulling in my throat. I am sick of this castle, sick of residing in the place my father once claimed as his own. I suddenly feel the need to get away.

So I do.

I take to the air. Where I will end up, I am not sure, but I need to clear my head, accept what has now become of my life. I need to plan for my future. The planet, the universe, is now at my disposal, and by the gods, I intend to manipulate it just as I damn well see fit.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Aoiro, do you think it wise to go out like this?" Ezria eyes me suspiciously as I wrap one of her old her black servant's cloak over me. She handed it down to me almost two years ago, after she outgrew it. It is much too big for my figure, but I do not mind. It covers my petite body completely, that is all I wish for it to do-to allow me to remain anonymous.

I turn back to the homely woman. Sometimes I wish I were she, a simple servant. At least she still has her dignity. Picking up the paper I have become accustomed to using for translating with the woman, I write my response. "Since Brolli purchased me, I have never had a moment of freedom. Now that he is gone tonight, I intend not to lose a moment more."

She reads it, and frowns at me. I know she disapproves, but I will not back down. I have dreamed of escaping the walls of Brolli's fortress for more than five years. This is my chance. I have to take it. "You must be back before the gates are locked. That only allows you two hours. Use your time wisely, and do not make me have to report you as a runaway."

She would, if I did not return. I know that as well. Ezria is a kind person by nature, but self-preservation comes first. She would sell me out in a minute if it meant her own safety. That is why I have never shared my ability to speak with her. I cannot trust her to keep the knowledge sacred. I can trust no one.

I nod my head in a silent promise and then pull down the thick veil of the cloak's hood. The wardrobe was intended for the benefit of the Saiya-jin, so their precious eyes never had to lie upon the hideous creatures they enslaved. And many were, hideous that is, even more so than the barbarians themselves. Even though true beauty lay on the inside, no Saiya-jin would ever look for that.

Before I know it, I am outside of Brolli's home for the first time since I was purchased. I breathe in the fresh air. It's not so fresh, slightly toxic actually, but it will not kill me. It is unfortunate.

I am not sure where I am going. I have a basket on my arm, as if I am off to purchase supplies for my owner. It is a common practice, so I feel assured that I will not be stopped. I am glad, because I begin crossing paths with a few of the beasts. None of them acknowledge me; they just walk by, joking and pounding one another, a twisted method of affection they exchange.

I move past the market. I see woodlands. Nothing like on Chikyuu, which was dominantly shades of browns and greens. This planet is colored in blood reds, appropriate, I always felt. The trunks of the trees, if you wish to call them that, I pass are a rusty color, as if someone vomited on them, also appropriate.

I hear the sound of water falling up ahead, a lake, perhaps? I relish the thought. Nothing ever pleased me more than taking a swim. I cannot even begin to imagine the bliss of diving into cool liquid once more, behaving like a child, splashing in the water. I want it. I pick up my pace, until the waterfall is in my sight. The water is clear, but reflects red, like everything else natural on the planet.

I grasp my veil, intending to begin stripping so that I by the time I reach the water I may not waste a moment before diving in…

A splash.

I stop undressing, stop in my tracks. I force myself behind a thick stumped tree. My veiled eyes search for the source of water being disrupted. I swallow a thick lump in my throat as my eyes fall on the figure of a man-a very naked man.

He pushes himself out of the water and stands facing me, his firm body dripping with water. I close my eyes as I drop my head toward the ground. I do not know why I can feel myself blushing at the sight. I am far from a bashful virgin anymore.

Realizing tonight will not be my chance to relive a moment kindred to those that now feel like distant memories of Chikyuu, I raise my head, intending to leave. My breath catches as I look up. He's gone.

I cry in shock, for the first time in five years, my vocal cords are exercised as my body is slammed against a male body. Oh gods. His arm is around my throat, his lips near my ear. I hear his raspy voice grumble, "Spying will get you killed."

It's hard to breathe as he crushes my body. I think I might pass out. My lips part, it's too late, sound is rumbling in my throat. Silence will not save me at this moment. This beast will not understand that I am mute, or at least that those who know me believe I am. Grasping for breath, I hear the sound of a voice alien to me for more than five years. "Forgive me," I plead. "I was just passing through on my way back to my owner and I-and I saw you." It feels odd to speak, almost unnatural. I can only hope he will release me. I have to survive. As optimistic as the thought death is, Ezria will curse my soul if I do not live. Brolli's entire household will suffer. I will not be responsible for their pain. "You-You have a beautiful body." Saiya-jins are egomaniacs; I know it will only help to stroke his a little. "I-I could not help myself."

He does not make any immediate move to release me. I fear he may kill me anyway. The thought both panics and excites me. Death would be a sweet release, but life holds the possibility, all be it slim, of sticking it to these bastards one day; that, if nothing else, I want to live for.

"You lie," he announces as he pushes me away. I fall to the ground, turning around only in time to see him towering above me. His arms are crossed as he glares down at me, "Your scent is a mixture of fear and anger. Arousal is not a part of that."

If he could see through my veil, he would notice my jaw drop. I did not believe there was such a thing as a Saiya-jin who could think beyond his own self-perfection. Pushing myself to my feet, I want a better look at this man. He is Saiya-jin, of course. The tail is a dead give away. He is not particularly tall, very short in comparison to Brolli, no more than an inch or so taller than myself. His hair is jet black, as are his eyes, not uncommon features among Saiya-jins. He is not particularly attractive, nor is he terribly ugly by Saiya-jin standards, but something about him is familiar. I do not realize it until his wet hair begins to rise back into its gravity defying state.

Vegeta.

His hair is darker and he does not have the goatee, but otherwise, it is the same being. I feel my stomach tighten. So this is the man I owe my thanks to for giving me this night out. How bizarre that by some twist of fate I would encounter him. "I said I thought your body was beautiful, not arousing." I do not know what makes me say it. It sounds insulting and above my station. I expect him to hit me for my defiance, but he does not.

"What are you?" There is no emotion in his voice as he speaks to me. I do not know what to infer from this.

"I am a gejo," I state my position and then I realize he might want my species. I give him Ezria's to match her station, "I am a Qreatin." He visibly cringes. He must be familiar with the species, knowing they are rather mutated looking in comparison to the Saiya-jin kind. Short, plump, four eyes, small mouth and a vomit shade of furry skin. Ezria's kind may not be the most to look at, but what they lack in physical appearance they certainly make up for with intelligence. If her people only had even a few days warning of the Saiya-jin attack, they may have beaten them with their technology. It was a true pity.

"Whose household do you serve in?" I am becoming more unnerved by the minute as he stands so casually in his nudity above me.

I close my eyes as I answer, "Master Brolli." I can feel my teeth gritting as I announce the bastard's name for the first time in my life. I wish I could run to that lake and immediately wash the foul taste out of my mouth.

My companion growls and my eyes rise to look up at him. His passivity has completely disappeared from his face. He looks angry. He grabs my arm, pulling me to my feet. "Tell me, woman, how long have you been in service to Brolli?"

I stutter, trying to determine what is the wisest amount of time to give him: Ezria's or mine. "About five years." I decided to use mine, in case he has a question beyond that time frame that might give me away.

"And how do you find your service, tolerable?" I am taken aback by the question as well as his change in demeanor. He is not concerned, of course, but he is looking for a particular answer, of that much I am certain. What that answer is, however, I have no idea.

"Pleasing, I am honored to serve a member of the great Saiya-jin elite." To answer any other way is dangerous, or so I believe until he insults me.

He scoffs, and then hisses as he twists his back slightly towards me, "No wonder your race was conquered. If you believe what you just said, than you are one of the most weak minded fools I have ever met."

"Somehow I find that hard to believe of a man who lives among the Saiya-jin." It slips out. Lowly, of course, another ningen would not have been able to hear it, but I am not dealing with another ningen. One would think after five years of silence I would know how to bite my tongue.

"What did you say?" He turns back to me, I brace for him to hit me. Again he does nothing.

For a moment I consider a lie that may sound plausible, altering the words to sound as if I had said a compliment instead of an insult, but nothing comes to me, and I find myself not caring as I raise my voice. "I said it is hard to believe that you would be hard pressed to find a being less intelligent than me. You monkeys are notoriously among the most incompetent in the universe."

This time his hand is around my throat, my back slammed against a tree. For a moment, I relax; imagining my imminent release from life, but the feeling fades as he frees me and crosses his arms back across his chest. He has changed his mind. "The way you speak of my kind, I might assume you are not quite as fond of your master as your first confessed. Tell me the truth, and I will consider sparing your life."

I take a breath to compose myself. I am suspicious of his motives behind questioning me, but I have little to loose at this point by speaking the truth. I had little to loose to begin with. "The truth? The truth is that if I had one hour where I was given enough ki to torture any living being, I would spend every last second of it maiming that worthless, callous, wanton son of a bitch."

I suddenly feel as if years of repressed anger have finally had a moment to breath. As I allow my mind to drift from my own moment of detoxification, I look up at my captor. His lips are pulled in the most sinister of smirks. I am not certain whether I should be excited or frightened. "Follow me." I do, wordlessly as he walks over to the lake. I repress the urge to plunge in as I follow him to the edge. Suddenly he grabs my arms and I am in the air. It takes all my effort not to scream.

We do not remain off ground for long, before he lowers me onto a path that is tucked behind the waterfall, a cave. He pulls me inside. I cringe. He wants privacy. I suddenly feel less comfortable and so I ask, "are you planning on killing me or not?"

He releases my arm with a chuckle, "that remains to be seen." I see his discarded clothing in a pile. He walks over to it, dresses, and then comes back to me. He points to the ground by where I stand. "Sit," he orders, and I follow again. He paces in front of me for a few minutes before he begins to explain his intentions, "How much access do you have to Brolli?"

More than I ever wanted, I refrain from saying. "Much, he has spent the bulk of his last five years within the confines of his compound."

He continues to pace as he considers my words, and then asks, "During your time as a servant, would I be correct to assume you have overheard him in conversation with his comrades?"

My eyes narrow. Well, I'll be damned. He is pumping me for information. Well, if he wants dirt, I will be happy to give it to him. I would love to get the bastard in trouble. "Many times; since there are few people we servants may speak with, Brolli is usually uncensored with his comments, especially around me." I shall not tell him that is because the idiot thinks I am mute. It will make it harder for Vegeta to find me should the need ever arise.

He taps his fingers on his biceps, and then sits down directly across from me; one leg extended casually, the other bent, he crosses his arms over his chest again. "Tell me what you know."

I do. At points I feel as though I may begin to cry as I begin to hear myself speaking, communicating with someone who is actually interested in what I have to say. I ignore the fact that his purposes are selfish, I do not care; I simply want to speak, confess all that I have been keeping bottled inside.

I tell him about Brolli's sloth, his arrogance, and his overindulgence in, well, everything. I take careful pains not to give away any lies I have thus far told. I then speak of the late king Vegeta's visits, what Brolli and he discussed, as well as being certain to drop a few unsavory remarks that had been made about my listener himself. I see nothing wrong with fanning the flames that seem to exist between the men. "And then the prince, I mean the new king, apparently arrived this morning. I was in the kitchen when it happened, but I heard from other servants that when he left, Brolli was quite angry, calling him a bastard and unworthy of his new title. He was quite furious to be called for duty once more." I hear a low chuckle from the king and my lips pull into a smile. It seems Brolli has enemies not only among aliens, but his own kind as well.

Silence follows for what feels like hours as I wait for him to comment on what I have told him. I grow impatient, and begin watching the water pound against the rocks as I wait. I should have been back by now. Ezria will be furious with me, but there is little I can do now.

I hear him rise and I snap my head back to look at him. He seems much more massive from this angle, much more frightening. "How would you like a chance to gain a change of venue?"

I swallow, uncertain what he is offering me. "I do not understand," I admit as I rise to my feet. He elucidates.

"Let's simply say Brolli has been a thorn in my side for some time. It would behoove me to have an informant who can keep me apprised of his activities. In exchange for your meeting me here twice a week to keep me well versed in the man's behavior, I am willing to buy you from Brolli when your services are no longer needed. You can work in my estate, and will be treated better than you are currently."

I bite my bottom lip, stopping myself from laughing. That's his bargain? He wants to replace one master for another in exchange for showering him with pertinent information. "I am sorry, but I can not." I lower my head, "It is rare I am ever afforded the opportunity to escape without Brolli's or other staff members' notice. I would likely never be able to meet you."

I turn to walk away, hoping he will allow my retreat; he does not. "If you can escape notice of the staff, I can see that Brolli will be otherwise occupied every third and sixth evening of the week."

I stop in my tracks. He almost sounds desperate. That is interesting. I turn around, "You are this untrusting of Brolli?"

For a moment I ridiculously imagine him admitting all of his secrets, all of his reasons for wanting to deceive the man so strategically, but his jaw tightens and he merely nods sternly. "Will you do as I ask?"

Ask, also interesting. He speaks to me as if I have a choice. He is certainly much more diplomatic than Brolli, but I cannot agree. His part of the bargain could never be fulfilled. Once he learns I have lied to him about my identity he will either refuse to purchase me or actually will, and I see little benefit in changing from one man's harem to another. "It is simply too dangerous."

I again try to leave, but am stopped by his voice. He is right behind me, I can feel the energy emitting from his body. "Dangerous, little servant, is a disappointed Saiya-jin such as myself. Now either you agree, and wholly fulfill my demands, or else I shall have to implement other-less enjoyable means of changing your mind."

Shit, Saiya-jin philosophy always wins out in the end. If intellect cannot help you succeed in your endeavor, just start pounding it with your fist. My shoulders sag as I realize I have gotten myself in quite a bind on a night that was meant to be one of freedom for me. "All right," I say weakly. While on the bright side I will be sticking it to Brolli, on a more depressing note I have no clue as to what sort of negative-and there will be negative-repercussions this bargain will cause me. "I will meet you three days from this night."

I begin to walk forward again, this time truly believing I will be allowed to leave, but I am stopped yet again by the sound of his voice. "What is your name, woman?"

"My name?" I repeat in a sudden daze. Aoiro, I am tempted to say. I have been identified as nothing more since I was placed on this mud ball of a planet. I can give him Ezria's name, as I have given him mostly all of her other identifying qualities. However, something possesses me to use my ningen name, the one I was born with, the one I was recognized by before my freedom was stripped away from me by these beasts. "Bulma." The title seems strange, even more so than the sound of my voice. How much of myself have I lost over these years?

"Bulma," the sound of him trying my name out dissolves my moment of reflection.

As I look back at him, I want to chance the subject, so I ask, "And what shall I call you by? Do you prefer your Highness or King?" He visibly flinches, and I realize he is startled by my recognition. "You favor your father too much for me to hold any doubt. Not to mention, there are few men who could guarantee an elite like Brolli's whereabouts every third and sixth day of the week."

He nods, accepting my explanation. This is clearly a man of few words. "Vegeta shall be fine." I am impressed by his lack of insistence upon some bloated title before it. "I assume I need not warn you that everything said between us is not to be repeated."

"Of course," I answer easily. It was not as though there was anyone I could tell this to anyway. "Until midweek then," this time I am allowed to leave, and I do not look back as I traipse into Brolli's compound. Ezria spies me with a dirty look. I know she was more than ready to send the bloodhounds after me.

I hand her the covering I donned and head straight for my chambers. I will explain to her later why I shall now need to disappear regularly twice a week. How I will justify that, I do not know, but I have the night to reflect on it. Perhaps I can just not show up. This Vegeta fellow will be hard pressed to find me. No one knows my name, that I can speak, and he has no idea what I look like. It is unlikely he will try to find me, let alone be able to.

Falling atop of my bed, I glance numbly up at the ceiling, something I do frequently. Perhaps helping the new king, however, will not be such an awful choice. He seems to hate Brolli, which is certainly in his favor, and there is something about him, something different from the other Saiya-jin I have met which makes me want to learn more about him. Hell, it might even be a nice change of pace, someone to speak to, someone to learn more about the inner working of the Saiya-jin from. This could be my only chance to find some way of escape, to make some kind of difference.

My lips pull in a mocking smile, a difference, ha, a dream that is long since dead.

No, I will not be foolish in taking this chance. I will be cautious, calculated and by all means successful. If nothing more comes of this than my managing to piss off the man who has spent the last five years of my life humiliating me, then I will have spent my time pleasurably.

Closing my eyes I begin a repetitive dream in which I inflict various tortures I do not have the power to bring down upon my master. Strangely though, this dream ends differently. I am not alone as I stand laughing over the charred corpse of my captor. A man is next to me, his hands equally covered in blood as my own, his smirk as sinister as mine.

As his face crystallizes I realize it is the young King looking at me with eyes that eerily reflect Yamcha's when he was about to kiss me. A mixture of passion and affection overflowing within them, it makes me feel warm and loved.

Almost immediately the dream changes and we are in the cave together, his very naked body that I had become so accustomed to this evening is interlaced with mine as we listen to the sound of water pounding against rock. He kisses me slowly. I run my hands through his wet mane as I pull him closer.

We stay like that, frozen in time until I wake sweating from the dream. My head hurts, I am confused by this evening's events, and even more so by the emotions it has arisen in me, emotions I have long thought dead. "What does it all mean?" I whisper softly as I roll to the side, hoping for answers to questions I realize I will not receive.

All I know at this moment is in three days I will find some way to return to that lake. I will be defiant, traitorous and perhaps for a few moments recapture a feeling of life I have long since forgotten. And if that means I will have to use this new Saiya-jin King, the ruler of my enemies, to do it, then Kami forgive me, I will.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Translations: Gejo - Maidservant

Chikyuu - Earth

Ningen - Human

Seriichi - Auction Market

Aoiro - Blue