Fan Fiction / Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Altiverse: Dawn of Time ❯ Point of No Return ( Chapter 5 )

Chapter 6

Point of No Return

After the banquet, Raditz and Nappa headed back to their rooms and Vaya went to meet Zarbon in the east wing. However, Vegeta wasn't too keen on letting her go on her own, so he went along.

"You know, Zarbon's gonna get suspicious if we stick together too much," Vaya warned her mate as they reached the main hallway of the east wing. "There's a line between friendly companionship and...you know, just weird."

Vegeta snorted. "I'm sorry, you seem to be under the impression that I give a damn about what that freakshow thinks."

"Watch that attitude when he gets here," Vaya said. "I don't want you to ruin my fun."

Vegeta smirked. "I wouldn't dream of such a thing," he muttered, putting his arms around her and pinning her against the wall.

Vaya had time for one quick smile before Vegeta was kissing her hard, twining his tongue in against hers. Vaya wrapped her arms around his neck so tightly that he couldn't have pulled back if he wanted to. He ran his hands along the sides of her body, delighting in the feel of the velvet along her sleek figure. She moved her hands to grip his arms tightly, just to make sure that he didn't let her go.

Suddenly, Vaya put a hand on Vegeta's torso firmly. "Wait...!" she whispered sharply. "Do you hear that?"

Vegeta pricked up his ears. Very faintly, he could hear someone walking down the hallway around the corner.

"Footsteps..." he answered. "Someone's coming!"

Very quickly he let go of Vaya and began straightening his cape. Vaya smoothed out her dress and Vegeta stepped back just as Zarbon came around the corner.

"Vegeta!" he said with surprise. "What are you doing here?"

"I felt like coming. You don't mind, do you, Zarbon?" Vegeta asked slyly.

Zarbon kept his composure. "Of course not. You are free to come and go as you please. But I did wish this conversation to be private."

"You already had your private chat, remember? At the banquet," Vegeta snapped. Suddenly he felt Vaya's hand on his shoulder.

"It's all right, Vegeta. Just wait around the corner, all right?" she said softly.

Vegeta blinked. He looked carefully at Vaya, and her eyes told him that she was serious, and confident that she could handle the situation. Zarbon was giving him a disdainful look.

"Fine, then. Just don't take too long," he consented.

Vaya smiled sweetly. "Thank you."

Vegeta strode quietly around the corner without looking back. But as soon as he was out of sight, he pressed his back against the wall and leaned closer to the hallway turn so that he could hear what was being said. Zarbon couldn't send, of that he was sure, and anyone who wasn't used to it simply wouldn't be able to withstand Vaya's sending...it was too overwhelming.

"So what do you think?" Zarbon was saying. "You've heard how I feel...what about you now?"

"I think it is an interesting idea," Vaya replied. Her voice never faltered.

"You know I would make it good for you," Zarbon smirked. "I am...experienced in this sort of matter."

Vegeta suddenly realized that anger sparked creativity...he had already thought up two hundred ways to kill Zarbon.

"I'm sure you are," Vaya said coolly.

Zarbon continued. "Think about it...would we not make the perfect couple? Unparalleled beauty such as we possess should not be alone. Think of how it would look if we walked together among the low-level soldiers. People would stop whatever they were doing to watch us go by."

"Strange. I was under the impression that they did that already," Vaya said. "You know, being an unparalleled beauty and all."

Vegeta muffled a snicker.

Zarbon stuttered and realized his mistake. "Of...Of course. But you see, they would positively drool with envy upon seeing us together."

"So you want to date me to make men jealous?" Vaya asked, raising an eyebrow.

Zarbon could have kicked himself. "No, that's not why at all..." He knew he was screwing up. Vaya was making him uncomfortable...almost expertly so. He decided to go right to an emergency tactic.

Vegeta decided to glance cautiously around the corner. He was just in time to see Zarbon smile and put his arms around Vaya.

Vaya gasped in surprise. Zarbon smirked.

"Do you see, now, how perfectly we fit? So what do you say? We-- "

But he never finished, for just then, a huge explosion sounded in the corridor next to them. Zarbon quickly let go of Vaya and sped around the corner. Vaya already knew what he was going to see.

Vegeta stood with his arms folded, gazing smugly down the corridor at the smoking ruins of the room at the end of the hall. Zarbon stared in horror at the destruction, then turned slowly to the Saiyan Prince. His voice was soft and dangerous.

"What...did you...DO?"

Vegeta shrugged. "I thought it could use some remodeling."

Quick as a flash, Zarbon seized Vegeta by the throat, lifted him up, and slammed him against the wall. Vegeta choked and struggled to get free, but he couldn't break Zarbon's grip.

"How DARE you, you ungrateful little worm! What do you mean by that? Does it thrill you to make everyone's lives into living hells? I swear, if I hadn't promised Frieza when you came here that I wouldn't kill you...I would KILL you!"

"Believe me, no one appreciates that more than I do," Vegeta managed to gasp out sarcastically. Zarbon only growled and tightened his grip.

"I don't have the authority to kill you, but I can make sure that you never breathe properly again!" he snarled. Vegeta tried to gasp, but his air passage was blocked and he could no longer draw breath. A red haze was filling his mind...

Just then, Vaya ran up and with telekinesis alone she broke Zarbon's hold on Vegeta's neck and flung him back against the opposite wall. Vegeta slid to the ground and leaned against the wall, his eyes shut, coughing and rubbing his sore throat.

Zarbon growled and shook his head. He looked back at Vegeta. Vaya stood in front of the Saiyan Prince, arms folded. Her angular eyes were narrowed and hard and cold as ice.

"Stand aside, you silly girl," he sneered. "You can't protect him, he deserves to be punished."

"You will go now," Vaya said softly, but her voice was laced with fury. "Or I will tell Master Frieza about your little plan to prove yourself. And I am quite certain that he will be most displeased with such unprofessional behavior."

Zarbon's eyes widened.

Vaya lifted her head slightly. "Yes, I know about that. You are so transparent. I don't know who you need to prove yourself to, but it is ridiculous anyway. And I'm sure that Lord Frieza would agree with me."

Zarbon looked like he was about to blow up at any second, but he could see in Vaya's dark eyes that she was hardly joking. Vegeta glared at him, putting every ounce of possible hate into his expression. Vaya didn't move. She waited.

Finally, Zarbon realized that there was nothing he could do, but he was at least going to maintain his dignity. Swirling his cape, he sneered disdainfully at the two of them. "You call yourselves warriors...phaugh! Saiyans will never be more than a dwindling bunch of pathetic little monkeys."

Neither of the other two replied. They just watched him, one calmly, the other with growing animosity. He sniffed, then turned with a huge sweep of his cape and stalked away.

For Vaya to have protected Vegeta like that... Zarbon thought to himself suspiciously as he headed back to his temporary quarters. That goes beyond mere Saiyan friendship. I shall have to keep a close watch on them tonight, and see where they go.

~*~

Vaya grabbed Vegeta's hand and helped him to his feet. "Are you all right?"

"Hurts..." he coughed painfully.

"Here, let me help. This is a new technique that I've been working on." Vaya placed her fingertips gently over his throat. Vegeta gave her a quizzical look, but she just winked at him. Then Vegeta could feel soothing warmth spreading from her hand, and he could just make out golden rings emanating from it. When she finally took her hand away, his neck didn't hurt, and his throat was fine.

"What the...how did you do that?" Vegeta asked, rubbing his neck. Then he looked at Vaya. She looked slightly pale. "What's the matter?"

She waved her hand carelessly. "I'll be fine in a minute. That was an energy transfer. I healed you using my own power. I've been trying to perfect it, because it always leaves me vulnerable after I'm finished. I'm hoping with practice that'll stop."

Vegeta's eyes threatened to pop out of his head. "You're a healer?"

"No, don't be silly. I merely discovered a hidden power within myself, that's all. Now come on. We should get back to our rooms. It's late, and we wouldn't want to make Zarbon any more suspicious than he already is."

Vegeta smirked. "Leave him to me."

~Later that night~

It was close to midnight. All was quiet in the halls of the north wing, where the bedrooms of the Saiyans were. After every third door, a dim light shone down from the wall to light up the dark hallway. There was not a sound to be heard, and there was no movement anywhere...until a shadow darted across a beam of light.

Silence again, and then the shadow appeared a second time. It was only visible for a second, but it was there. Someone was trying to sneak out in the dead of night.

Quick as a breeze, the shadow flitted across the hallway and around corners towards the main corridor. The silent shadow belonged to none other than Vegeta. He glanced back over his shoulder before turning down the last hallway to the main corridor. He didn't seem to notice that he was not alone.

Zarbon peered around the corner and watched as Vegeta sneaked along the wall. The Prince was no longer in his armor, but loose pants and a T-shirt reserved for after hours. He was barefoot, which made his steps silent.

Now where could he be going at this time of night? A secret rendezvous, perhaps? Zarbon thought to himself with narrowed eyes. I think I'd like to find out.

Zarbon followed Vegeta without a sound, always staying just far enough behind to be able to duck out of sight if Vegeta glanced over his shoulder. When Vegeta disappeared by slipping out the front doors, Zarbon quickly ran to keep up.

He stopped before going outside. Vegeta had paused, standing in the beam of a half-moon. His shadow was long and stark against the pale stone of the ground. He was looking around for signs of life. Once, he turned back to the doors, but Zarbon hid against the wall.

Finally, after what seemed like an age, Vegeta lifted into the air with the slightest of energy whispers. He started flying away in the direction of the hills.

Aha, thought Zarbon. Now we're getting somewhere. Lead on, little prince, I'll uncover your secret by your own carelessness. He opened the doors quietly and followed Vegeta through the air, flying close to the ground to stay unnoticed.

He eventually realized that Vegeta was headed in the direction of a huge, dark forest beyond the hills. The forest was murky and shadowed at night, the perfect cover for a secret gathering. It was also very, very big, and it was easy to get lost inside it without the right preparations. But it seemed to Zarbon that Vegeta knew exactly where he was going.

The Saiyan Prince reached the forest, and flew overhead a little ways. Then he made a loop in the sky and dived down into the depths of the trees.

Zarbon quickly landed on the outer edge of the forest. He would follow Vegeta inside, keeping just behind him until he arrived at his destination, wherever that happened to be. Zarbon shivered at his own cleverness.

Oh, the delicious perfection of it all, he smirked to himself. I will catch Vegeta right in the middle of his little secret plan, and finally get rid of those miserable Saiyans once and for all!

He started swiftly into the forest towards Vegeta's landing spot. There was not a sound to be heard...not even the snap of a twig or the rustle of leaves. Nothing was moving anywhere, and the absolute stillness gave Zarbon an eerie feeling. And, try as he might, he could not locate Vegeta.

He finally reached the spot where Vegeta had entered the forest from the air. He knew it was that exact spot, because there was a hole in the canopy above created from Vegeta's body. The ground was ruffled-looking, as if it had been disturbed recently, so Vegeta must have landed. But there was no trace of him other than that; no trail of footprints, no broken branches, not even a single leaf out of place.

Zarbon started to panic; he didn't want to lose his prey now that victory was so close. So he continued straight into the forest, lifting into the air so that he wouldn't be heard.

I'll find him if I have to search every inch of this putrid place! he vowed to himself, and he headed into the darkness.

~*~

Inside the forest on his search for the Prince of the Saiyans, Zarbon didn't realize that he was, at that very moment, being watched himself. Someone found his mission to be futile...and was quite amused.

Vegeta was lying on his stomach on top of a large hill overlooking the forest. His gaze rested on the canopy that he had just entered moments before. He could barely contain his laughter at the sheer entertainment provided by his plan. A lifetime of secrecy certainly had paid off.

He knew Zarbon would have been suspicious after the encounter in the east wing, and would keep an extra close watch on both Vegeta and Vaya, especially if either one of them tried to sneak out. Vegeta was also aware of the fact that Zarbon had been following him the whole time. He had planned everything out carefully, and the fool had fallen into his traps perfectly.

After flying Zarbon as far away from the base as possible, Vegeta had chosen a spot in the forest that was inside enough to keep Zarbon from getting suspicious, but close enough to the edge that Zarbon would have to search for hours. Vegeta had slipped through the leaves with enough carelessness to leave a trail, and he had landed hard to create an impression in the ground. As soon as his keen senses had detected Zarbon's approach, he had shot silently and lithely back into the sky through the same opening that he had entered through. From there he had retreated to the hills to make sure his plan worked out.

Vegeta snickered to himself as he imagined the look on Zarbon's face when he uncovered nothing. A very clever trick, if I do say so myself. This should keep the bastard busy until sunrise. Vaya will be most pleased.

He grinned smugly.

Speaking of which, I have a real rendezvous to keep...

Vegeta pushed himself up smoothly, rose into the air and flew back to base.

~*~

Vaya sat in front of her dresser, combing her hair in the mirror, humming lightly to herself. She was wearing a long lavender satin nightgown that hugged her curves and showed more than just a little cleavage. It was slit up to her hip along the left side and had straps instead of sleeves.

She was thinking carefully to herself, weighing the possible consequences of her decision. But she was very sure...yes, the time was right.

It had taken many nights of thinking and dreaming, and many excruciating and mentally painful days of psychic training that pushed her almost to the brink of insanity, but she had come to the final conclusion. This was what she wanted. She knew Vegeta would not disagree long with the idea...it would be, after all, something he had been waiting for less than patiently for years.

She briefly paused in her combing and smiled a little at the thought of her proud and argumentative mate.

Just then, her door opened and Vegeta slipped silently inside, cautiously locking the door behind him. Vaya glanced over her shoulder at him as he turned back and smirked at her.

"I swear, I'm so good I'm jealous of myself," he said smugly.

Vaya chuckled. Vegeta strode over to her bed, jumped up, and landed on the mattress. He bounced a couple of times, then flopped backwards with his head hanging over the side of the bed, and looked over at Vaya from his upside-down position. "So, you wanted to see me about something?"

"Uh huh," Vaya nodded, putting her comb in a drawer. "But first, tell me what you think of my new nightgown? I had it specially made, and it just arrived today." She stood up and spun around, causing the satin to swirl. Then she posed for him. "You like?"

Vegeta's mouth went dry, and it became rather difficult for him to breathe. He rolled over clumsily to see her better, and in the process fell off the bed.

Vaya giggled. "I'll take that as a yes," she said airily.

Vegeta scrambled up again. "Is that what you wanted to talk about?"

"No, of course not." Vaya paused. "Actually, I was kind of using that as a distraction for what I did want to talk about. See...It's kind of hard to say..."

Vegeta gave her a quizzical look. He noticed that she looked restless. "Why's that?"

Vaya turned away from him and started to tap her fingers together nervously. "Well, it's like this..." She took a deep breath. "Vegeta, you know that I love you."

Vegeta shrugged. "Yes."

"And you remember...that I didn't want to...to sleep with you...because of what could happen if something went wrong..."

A slight red tinge appeared on Vegeta's dark cheeks, but he nodded. "Yes..."

Vaya crossed her arms and rubbed her shoulders as if she was cold. "Well..." she said, her voice a barely audible whisper. "...I changed my mind."

Vegeta gave a start. "Really? Wow...that's great! I mean...But...well...why...?"

Vaya looked back at him over her shoulder. "Because...for us to truly be bonded to each other, we must do this...To bond physically as well as mentally and complete the connection...or else I will never truly be yours and you will never be mine."

The truth of that last statement hit Vegeta. He knew it, had known it all along. And he started to become a little frightened at the idea that Vaya might never be his. But, no, that just wasn't possible...He loved her, he had always loved her, and always would. He would die for her if destiny ever chose that road for them, and he would do anything to prove that to her, but he didn't want to feel like he had pressured her into this.

Vaya...are you sure this is what you want? Vegeta sent to her.

Vaya turned around again and took a few steps until she was standing right in front of Vegeta. Her eyes were locked with his, and the pure intensity of the gaze made them need to look away...but at the same time, they didn't want to in the slightest. Then Vaya took Vegeta's face in her hands and pulled him down to her. She covered his mouth with hers and gave him the longest, most sensual kiss they had ever shared. Inside their heads she sent to him.

Yes.

That was all. One simple word, but the exact answer Vegeta had been hoping for.

Vaya took hold of his hands, and guided them down the sides of her body, sliding them back over her hips to encircle her waist. Vegeta held her tightly and very close, and Vaya curled her arms over his shoulders to his broad back.

Vegeta led her to the bed. He let her fall first onto the soft blankets before following her down, never leaving her lips for more than a few seconds. A shiver of pleasure ran down Vaya's spine as she felt her mate's powerful arms around her, his strong body on top of hers.

Vegeta's kisses moved from Vaya's mouth, to her throat, to her shoulders. Then he kissed the bare skin just beneath her collarbone. Vaya moaned in pleasure. She ran her fingernails up under his shirt along the skin of his back. Vegeta's entire body shivered at the sensation.

One by one, articles of clothing were discarded, and under the blankets there was nothing to get in the way. Vegeta, nuzzling her neck, sent one thought to Vaya.

If this goes on, you're mine forever. No turning back.

No, she replied. No turning back, and no regrets.

Vaya wrapped her legs tight around Vegeta's waist and buried her face into his neck. Thoughts of Frieza and Zarbon and even the others were no longer of importance. All that mattered was that she was not separated from her mate in any way. He was handsome, and powerful, and wonderful...He was her prince, her mate...the thought was overwhelming.

Vegeta's mind, too, was far from the danger as he nuzzled his mate's warm body and listened to her gasp his name, unable to keep her self-possession any longer. He smiled inside at the knowledge that he was the only one who could break her defenses with just a few touches in the right place. With her torso pressed to his, he could feel her heart pounding as well as his own. The beautiful, incredible woman in his arms belonged to him. This was his heaven.

Their bodies curved lithely together when they finally bonded, sharp teeth piercing soft collar flesh. They were sending, but not a word passed...only sending emotion could express the feelings of bliss and absolute adoration and devotion. They continued until the hours just before dawn, when they reached their limits and slept in each other's arms.

~*~

The joining of two Saiyans was always a pastime taken for pleasure, but there was risk involved as well. The possibility of a child when a child was not wanted was always imminent, and over centuries Saiyans had subconsciously developed a way for protecting themselves against unknowing conception. It was a mental action performed voluntarily before the joining was completed.

This mental guard made it impossible to conceive a baby during the joining, and either Vegeta or Vaya should have made sure that it was done.

However, in the heat of the passion, they forgot...