Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Vengeance So Sweet ❯ Unfathomable Pain ( Chapter 6 )

Chapter 6 Unfathomable Pain

While resting in the regeneration chamber the being within began to rise from the fog of suspended animation. Immediately thoughts began to circle through his head.

'The feeling is like being in the womb.  It's warm and languid.  I do not need to eat as nourishment is provided to me via IV.  Yes I am going to be reborn. As time passes my strength returns though not my limbs do not yet respond.  They will, I am confident. These are the most coherent thoughts I have had in...Well I am unsure since when.    Voices --one low growl the other higher pitched and imperious.  The exchange is brief then there is a slight movement outside --I can feel it.  I marvel at the shift.  It is quick yet smooth.  It seems I am a slave to simple pleasures, it shall improve with time.  As comfortable as I am, it will be time soon for me to leave this place.  There is much to for me to accomplish.  And I will prevail'

It was all Vegeta could do to not drop his head in his hands signaling his defeat.  Bardock, his most trusted advisor has delivered the options for recovering the Queen from the jaws of hell and none of them are good.  Ashen faced, Bardock dutifully outlined three options--all involved protracted war like engagements.  Bardock was sure the King would incinerate him on the spot. He swallowed hard and reviewed the listing.  The most successful campaign would be to confront the ice-jin bastard head on.  Everything else was even a greater risk to manpower and resources.  Head bowed. He waits for the ruling from the King.

'I must end this farce' thought Vegeta.  He knew that he must lead his troops into battle.  All his strategic skill may not be enough and odds are, he would not succeed.  On reflex Vegeta tried to find his Super Sayian and found nothing.  His heart sank further.  No Bulma, no power, no options.

Pacing back and forth, the solution evaded him.  Sadness ripped through his soul at the thought of being separated from his one true love.  He could have kicked himself for all the time he wasted "ruling" when he could have been cherishing his hard fought marriage.

Flashing back to all he and Bulma had to overcome just to be together.  The abuse Bulma had to withstand at the brutal hands of Dodoria was more than even he could stand.  Grace's deplorable machinations nearly ruined the chance at love they had.

Vegeta shook his head.  It was because of Bulma that he found the power to become Super Sayian.  Her love had been the key to unlock the path to unparalleled power located within.    But achieving those heights was secondary to goal.  He had to get her back if only to put his shattered soul back together. He felt his eyes sting with unshed tears as he averted his gaze to a nearby window.

"Bardock," he said with just a slight tremor in is voice.

"Yes my King?"

"Gather our most battle hardy warriors.  We are going to get our Queen.  It is high time we put that disgusting parasite in his place." Vegeta's chest was thrumming with the thrill of a coming battle and the knowledge that he would see his wife again--alive.

"As you wish, my Liege" Bardock answered.  With a deep bow he began to retreat from the throne room.  Just as he was exiting, he was nearly bowled over by a 3rd class warrior.  He curled his lip menacingly at the man causing him to quail under gaze.  

"Please, sir--a message!" said the 3rd class shakily.  He thrust a notice out to Bardock.

He read it carefully a couple of time though.  He gave a short nod to the messenger.  Then he turned on his heel and strode back to stand directly in front of Vegeta.  

"Sire." Bardock called.  Vegeta seemed to be startled out of his deep thoughts to acknowledge his faithful advisor.  

"What news, Advisor?"

The pallor of Bardock's face had gone gray making Vegeta's gut churn.  "Prime has returned, my Lord."

Vegeta was up like s shot, clinching his fists as he struggled for control of himself.  He knew the rest -- Bulma was not with him.  Vegeta nearly couldn't form words and swallowed thickly.  "And?"

Head bowed, Bardock stated the obvious.  "The Queen remained with the tyrant and..." Vegeta's look sharpened enough to cut granite.  "And what?" "Prime has brought back the Queen's father with instructions not to come for her and to please take care of him."

Any hope that had remained evaporated immediately.  Pain unlike any he had ever felt spread though his chest forcing Vegeta to half fall into his family throne.  "Leave me..." he breathed. “Alert the medical team to take charge of my wife's father.  Oversee his care, Bardock."  

Bardock worked to hide his own upset at this turn of events.  Huskily he answered "It will be done, my King".  With that he set off for the medical wing leaving a clearly broken Vegeta to his own thoughts.  If he were to be completely honest, he could have sworn a tear worked its way down the chiseled features of the most power Sayian in a hundred years.

Bulma was still surfing the endorphin high she experienced after doing away with Racoom.  She marveled at the ease in with which she dispatched the overgrown idiot.  She smiled but then thought of how inappropriate that was.  Her father was in danger and she had just horrifically butchered a person, though he probably did deserve it. 

Heart pounding, Bulma continued toward Frieza's chamber.  The click, click, click of her heels tapped loudly as she walked through the cavernous corridor.  She remembered how much she hated this place.  The last time she was here nearly broke her spirit.   She shut her mind against the onslaught of terrible thoughts that came racing from her subconscious before she became ill.   

With no more interruptions, Bulma finally made it to the throne room.  A nervous soldier announced her arrival and bowed her into the room.  She straightened her back and squared her shoulders readying herself for the challenge ahead.  

Frieza's eyes raked over the Sayian Queen as she came closer.  A finer female specimen, he had never encountered to be sure.  If indeed he were into women, she would never leave his bed.  Frieza quirked a smile at the thought.

"Well, well now.  It seems our guest has arrived, Zarbon."

Zarbon's heart was in his throat.  It had been 18 months since they had been in the same room.  Her beauty had only enhanced during their time apart.  He took the time to appreciate every curve her AE suit afforded him.  Zaron fought the urge to lick his lips at what he almost had.  She made such a large impression on him when she not only stood up to him but chose that Sayian piece of garbage over him.  Silently he seethed.  He had to make her pay through pain and only the most excruciating pain would do.

With swagger and over confidence, Zarbon glided over to Bulma who stopped in mid step.  "Ahh the reunion I have been waiting for, Lord Frieza." His hand graceful found hers and pulled her delicate fingers to his lips.  Many a woman had been utterly enchanted by this action but Bulma stared him down in the most unnerving way.

She flicked her gaze over to the ice-jin.  "Lord Frieza, as per our agreement concerning the release of my father, I am now your Master Tech... permanently."  She swallowed at that last statement.  She knew she was committing herself to an eternity of damnation but it was for the greater good. Bulma bowed deeply demonstrating that she would indeed willingly subject herself to Frieza's rule.

"It seems there may be some confusion here" drawled Frieza.  Bulma raised quickly her head to and looked him in the eye. Her stomach roiled as flashed her a look like the cat that ate the canary.  

"Confusion..?" she said.

Frieza tapped his finger on his chin. "Yes dear.  I may very well have lied about your father."

The words hung in the air like a black cloud of hate.  Bulma's vision began to blur with unshed tears.  "

...wha-t-t...?"

Satisfaction bloomed over Frieza's face at her obvious distress.  "Did you actually think I was trustworthy?" he let out a chuckle.  "You daft girl.  Come now, you cannot think I would have forgotten how you double crossed me, can you?"  

Bulma's face went pale.  She remembered the promise of unique and horrific revenge if she moved against him after she was allowed to return to Vegeta-sei. She had lied to get back to the planet without realizing what it would cost her.  Proud and arrogant as she was, she thought Frieza wouldn't dare take a step out of line now that she and Vegeta were united.  

Frieza nodded at Zarbon beckoning him forward.  He sidled up to Bulma.  "Your father..." he drawled "...was a very gifted man.”

"...was..?" she choked.

Zarbon quirked his lips up in smug smirk.  "He had no idea he was communicating with the most malevolent beings in the known universe.  So eager for information was he, that he--if you can believe it--invited us to his home planet."

Bulma began to sway but Zarbon's strong arms steadied her.  "Yes," he continued "what a momentous visit!  Your childhood home must have been quite delightful.  A shame he could not have stayed longer.  Lord Frieza does have a universe to run, you know." The smug look on his face was enough to make Bulma very sick.  She shut her eyes against the nausea as the inevitable became very clear.

Zarbon began to steer the dazed scientist towards a long paneled wall made of smoked glass.  "Sadly," he sighed "we needed to get your attention  Else we could have achieved amazing things together.  Very unfortunate, indeed." A sly smirk graced his lips and he placed his hand on the panel. Wall flashed and the then the smoke began to dissipate.  

"Now darling," Zarbon drawled "this welcome home present was chosen with a lot of care and was a fair bit of hard work.  I hope you appreciate it in the spirit it is given."

Bulma meant to turn a poisonous stare on him but her attention was caught by what was behind the now transparent panel.

A silent scream was painted on Bulma's face.  The horrible sight before her was a reflection of the worst type of cruelty.  

A very bloody and disfigured body was strung up like a horrible marionette with the head lolling about.   Its ribs were hacked from his spine, one by one, and the bones and skin on both sides pulled outward to create a pair of  what looked like wings from the its back. Then the exposed lungs were pulled out of the body and spread over his “wings'.

Her eyes filled with tears as she stuttered "B-b-blood eagle, you've - you - y..."

"Oh you DO know what this is then? Well of course you do...most brilliant woman I know after all.  Hard to surprise you."

Bulma's mind was trying to process the unnaturally hanging body.  "Beautiful is it not?" said Zarbon. He walked closer and admired his handiwork leaving Bulma to slowly sag to the floor.  "Mind you when we began to cut into his back there was a fair bit of screaming."

Bulma mumbled something almost unintelligible but Zarbon caught it with glee.

"Of course he was still alive, my girl.  One cannot enjoy the screams of the innocent while they are dead." he answered incredulously. "And scream he did especially when we rubbed Tularian salt into his back" he recalled fondly."

Tears flowed like rivers from her azure eyes.  Disbelief at such barbarism was engulfing her very soul.  Her father was gone...gone...gone.  She wrapped her arms around herself as an ear splitting scream issued from her mouth.

Watching from the throne, Frieza shut his eyes to soak up  Bulma's earth shattering, heartbroken misery.  "Almost there" he lisped.  He would show them all what it would cost to rise against he powerful Ice Lord.