Two Sides
Chapter 1: Sickness

This story occurs ten months after the attack of Hirudigen on East city. The Z fighters enjoy a breath of peace that this time has given them, but things are about to change…

Trunks let out another battle cry as he blazed his way through the air of the gravity room towards his father. Before his shoulder made impact, he phased quickly into a position behind Vegeta to surprise him, but to no avail. The elder Sayain batted the child's strike aside without even looking back and delivered a sharp backhanded blow that sent the boy spinning to the floor. The little demi-Sayain attempted to push himself back onto his feet, but even in his current Super Sayain form, the gravity was too intense. Vegeta's golden aura flared slightly in annoyance.

"Get up Trunks! We've been through this maneuver plenty of times already and I am not in the habit of repeating myself. Do it again and put some effort into it!" Vegeta scolded.

"But Dad…" Trunks groaned as he struggled to raise his head. "…we've been in here all morning! And I'm exhausted from the gravity. Can we please just take a break and get lunch? I promise I'll get it right after, I really will!"

"Nonsense!" barked Vegeta. "If you're going to be a Sayain, you're going to train like a Sayain and that means you act like a Sayain too! Now get up and do the maneuver!"
They young Super Sayain struggled into a weak standing position, but as soon as he tried to take off and fly even a little, he was dropped straight back to his knees. Vegeta saw how hard his son was trying and reconsidered what he'd said. They had been here for several hours at this point and a growing hollow feeling in Vegeta's stomach told him he would have to eat soon otherwise he would begin to perform poorly. Considering the difficulty of the maneuver and that this was the first time Trunks had trained with him at 600G intensity, perhaps he could cut the boy some slack. However, he couldn't let Trunks go soft and he hadn't performed properly yet. There had to be a way to make Trunks work for his reward. That's when the idea hit Vegeta.

Trunks saw the sly smile that was creeping along his father's face. When Vegeta smiled, it was rarely ever good news.

"Alright son, I'll make you a deal."
Oh no… Thought Trunks. Vegeta's deals were never good. The last one Trunks had make with him had resulted in one hour in the park in return for a really hard punch to the face that several Band-Aids had done nothing to cover the bruise.

"If you can catch me by surprise in three attempts or less, we'll break for lunch now with no training for the rest of the day and I'll let you invite Goten and Kakarot's whole family over for dinner."
Trunks jaw almost hit the floor. Not only no training, but Goten and his whole family for dinner! Vegeta hated guests, so to think he'd allow something like that was almost unimaginable. But of course there was the punishment still to come…

"But if you fail those three attempts, we'll train straight through dinner with no breaks until 10pm."
10pm?! That was eight hours away! That would be torture! No way would Trunks accept that. But then again, when would his dad ever give him the perfect opportunity to have guests over again. And not to mention the face Vegeta made when he had to be civil to Goku was priceless. He had to try at least.

"Okay Dad!" huffed Trunks. "It's a deal! But no backing out and I get to pick what's for dinner! I feel like barbeque tonight!"
Trunks knew how much Vegeta hated shish kebabs; but that was all Chi-Chi ever brought to barbeques.

"Very well Trunks." Smirked Vegeta. "But you still have to earn it yet!"
Both father and son dropped into fighting stances and watched each other's eyes carefully, waiting for them to betray the slightest weakness or hesitation. Trunks tried to stake out his father, but Vegeta's gaze was like steel and the gravity was sapping Trunks strength quickly. He broke into a mad dash straight for Vegeta, hoping to catch him off guard through reckless directness, but the charge was easily sidestepped and Trunks was slammed into the floor with a loud CLANG.

"That's strike one Trunks. Two more to go."
Ignoring his throbbing forehead, Trunks put on a brave face and pulled himself back onto his feet. Before he taken two steps though, he spun round and launched a volley of flying kicks at Vegeta. The Sayain barely managed to deflect the onslaught of attacks, but Trunks was running out of steam and couldn't keep up the intensity of his attack. Using the push for Vegeta's deflect of his downward hammer kick, Trunks back flipped and fired off a volley of Ki shots, but they pummelled the ground instead of Vegeta; sending up huge clouds of dust and smoke. Blinded by the sudden light and dust, Vegeta searched frantically for any sign of his son, but he heard or saw nothing. Vegeta felt a slight tremble go through his back foot; making him turn and launch a blind punch in the direction he'd felt the vibrations come from. A loud THUD echoed as Trunks came tumbling out of the cloud, holding his chest where Vegeta had punched him.

"That was better Trunks." Commented Vegeta. "You're aggression was good and your improvisation was clever, but you hesitated before the kill. A true Sayain never hesitates. He lives by his instincts and a never doubts them. You have one chance left."
Trunks sat up one last time. This was way tougher than he'd imagined. He'd need to do something really smart or really, really, really stupid to win now. And as he rose to his feet for the final bout, he knew something that might just be stupid enough to work. Play on his Dad's pride.

"Alright then Dad, I'll stop going easy on you." Trunks gloated. "Now I'll fight at full power and you're going to lose." Trunks pushed every last drop of Ki he had into amplifying his Aura, trying to make himself appear stronger and fresher than he was. "Get ready to taste the floor."

"How dare you hold back on me!" raged Vegeta, his power already building in anger. "How dare you presume that I need your pity! Today Trunks, your father is going to school you in the true strength of a Super Sayain and you're going to be sorry you mocked me! Now show me what you're made of!"
That's right Dad, get angry. Thought Trunks. He didn't have to wait long before the Elder Sayain rushed forward and began launch round after round of explosive punches and kicks. Trunks didn't try to block the attacks because of their strength, only avoid them. He knew from experience it was much more tiring to pummel air then a static opponent. All he had to do was fight smart and bide his time.
Vegeta kept up the pace for a long time, but his panting and the slowing of his bullet like punches were showing that his stamina was rapidly deteriorating. It was time. Trunks hopped back against a side kick Vegeta had launched and filled his fists with as much Ki as he could hold before pushing forward on the offense. With the Ki in his hand, each punch exploded on impact, forcing Vegeta to defend desperately and be wary not to get caught by a sideways blast. A heavy downwards punch literally blew Vegeta's guard apart, leaving him wide open to the finishing blow. Vegeta could already see Trunks winding up the payoff strike in the second his guard split. All he had to do was raise his hands, block the knee strike and slam him into a wall and it would all be over.
But something registered with him before he could react. He didn't want to be here as much as Trunks didn't. He was tired and hungry as well. Vegeta lived to train and fight, but even he knew when enough was enough and staying in one cramped, sweaty room for another seven or eight hours with no food wasn't going to put him in a good mood. Winning the bet would only make matters worse for himself. So what was his reason to win then? The answer was simple. There was no reason. But would his pride let him lose? Could he let Trunks have this one? But one look at his son and how secretly proud he was of him told him; Yes, Trunks could have this one.
Trunks knee crashed with almighty force straight into Vegeta's chin, sending him arcing through the air before thumping hard onto the floor. The demi-Sayain dropped into a crouch, panting and huffing as the realization began to set in with him.

"I won…" he whispered aloud. "I won." Each time he said it, Trunks became more ecstatic and overjoyed. He began whooping and cheering, careening cartwheels and somersaults around the room.
"I WON! I DID IT! I won I won I won I won I won I won! WOOHOO!"
But Trunks cheering ended abruptly when his back collided with a solid surface. Turning around, he found Vegeta glaring down at him eyes narrowed, rubbing his chin angrily. When he raised his hand suddenly, Trunks screwed up his eyes for the impending strike, but was taken off guard when he felt fingers gently tousling his spiky, golden hair. Looking up, Vegeta had his hand resting on Trunks head with a satisfied smile on his face.

"Good job Trunks." He said.

"So… you're not angry Dad?"

"No Trunks. You won fair and square and as a Sayain I am honour bound to keep my promises. Now let's go get something to eat. You can call Goten later and tell him about tonight." With that, Vegeta switched off the gravity field of the room and went to unscrew the door to the gravity chamber. Now with a smile to match his fathers, Trunks dropped to his base form alongside Vegeta and pushed open the heavy door that sealed off the gravity chamber. Bulma was already outside waiting for them, but she did not look happy.

"Boys!" she whispered as savagely as she could. "I just managed to get Bra asleep upstairs and you two start shouting and fighting! Do you know how long it's taken me to calm her down?! I swear unless you can keep it down I will take that gravity chamber apart with my own bare hands!"
Still too happy to be fazed by the lecture, Trunks immediately jumped up and wrapped his mother in a sweaty embrace.

"Guess what Mom? We're having guests tonight!" He told her excitedly. "Goten and his whole family! Dad said we could!"

"Did he now?" asked Bulma with her eyebrows raised, head turned to Vegeta. The Sayain avoided her gaze and instead went hunting for the rag he used to dry his sweat with.
"Trunks, honey, could you go take a shower and get cleaned up? Try not to be too loud so you don't wake Bra, okay?"

"Okay!" the young Sayain replied brightly before scurrying upstairs.

Trunks wasn't gone more than two seconds before Bulma slunk up behind Vegeta who was towelling off his face and arms. She gently traced the line of one of his many scars with her fingernail across his back before pressing her forehead against his spine. He froze on contact.

"Since when did you enjoy company hun?" she asked.

"I don't." he replied flatly before continuing to towel off.

"Then I'm guessing you made another one of your deals with Trunks?" she questioned as her arms wrapped around his sides.

"We reached a sort of agreement." He said as she maneuvered her way under his arm so she stood just in front of him, her arms still holding his firm body.

"And Trunks won, did he?"

"Yes. It's about time too. He's been on a losing streak with these deals of ours for the past while." Vegeta still wouldn't look her in the face. He was holding something back.

"Are you sure he won?"

"Of course I'm sure!" he huffed. "Do you not think I'm capable of knowing when I've been bested by my own son?! What is the purpose of all these questions women? Are you not content-"
Bulma's finger on his lips shut him up then and there. Her finger moved slowly, tracing the line of his jaw until it reached the tip of his chin and turned his head towards hers.

"You let him win, didn't you Vegeta?"
The Sayain Price whipped his head away already turning red, but did not push her away.

"The boy needed a confidence boost." He muttered unconvincingly. "A Sayain without pride or confidence in his own abilities is as vulnerable as any fighter with half his training."
Bulma pulled Vegeta near, pressing his solid, warm body close to hers.

"You're a sweet man Vegeta. Far sweeter than you'd have us believe."
There was a few seconds of silence before he too raised his arms and held his wife close. His bossy, demanding, vane, weakling wife. But she was his and like no one else in the entire cosmos.

"Thank you." Was all he said. The two broke apart as Bulma hopped up on her tip-toes and planted a small peck on Vegeta's cheek.

"You're welcome hun!" she said brightly before hurrying off. "I bet you and Trunks are hungry! I'll put some lunch on! Anything you'd like?" she called back from the Kitchen.
Vegeta went to call back when he felt a slight pinch at the back of his neck. Gripping the spot with his fingers, he pulled out what looked like a tiny feather that had lodged in his skin. Odd. Standard earth weapons had no effect on him. How had a simple feather broken through his skin? Vegeta flicked away the feather and began to make his way to the kitchen when he was suddenly hit by a wave of nausea. He stopped dead and slid down to the floor while leaning against the wall. This shouldn't happen. He didn't get sick. He was a Sayain. Earth ailments couldn't affect him.

"Mom! They're no towels left! Where do we keep the spares?" Trunks called as he thudded down the stairs. As soon as he reached the bottom, he spotted his father and rushed to him.

"Dad! What's wrong?! Come on, talk to me!"

"Nothing Trunks." Vegeta said weakly. "Just feeling a little woozy. It's nothing." He tried to stand again, but he couldn't even manage one step before collapsing. He was sweating. His veins felt like they were on fire. His left arm was going numb and his right hand was gripping the spot where his heart was.

"Dad! What do I do?! Just tell me what to do!"

"Trunks…" Vegeta panted.

"What?!"

"I… ugh… can't breathe…"
And with that Vegeta's world went dark.

"Dad… DAD! Wake up! Please dad, please wake up!" Trunks screamed, desperately shaking his father and pulling at his clothing.

"Trunks!" Bulma yelled, coming storming out of the kitchen. "In thought I told you to be qui-"
But the words died in her throat when she found her son crying over her husband's prone form.

"No…" she rushed over and fell to her knees next to Trunks. "No. No! NO! Nononononononononono!"

"Mom, I'm scared. What do we do?"
The simple sentence seemed to snap Bulma back to reality, getting her to take stock of the situation.

"Trunks pick up your father and follow me!" she ordered. Trunks obediently picked up Vegeta's limp body and followed her deeper into the house.

"Shouldn't we get him to a hospital mom?" Asked Trunks. "Or just give him a Senzu bean?"

"Earth medicines don't work on Sayains the same it works on humans Trunks." She said. "And Senzu beans only heal injuries. We don't know what's wrong with your father, but I have something that might be able to help."
Bulma burst into the lab and ordered Trunks to set Vegeta down on the table top. A few quick control codes punched into the super computer and the work top began to expand and unfold. It folded into a kind of bed with a soft glowing white light and a glass dome that surrounded Vegeta's body and sealed him off from everyone else.

"Mom, what is that?" Trunks gawked.

"It's a stasis pod Trunks." Bulma replied, her mind heavily occupied. "I based it on the designs in Vegeta's Sayain ship for healing tanks. It's not as advanced as the alien technology, but it'll stop whatever is affecting your father from worsening while I run scans to see what's wrong with him."
A sudden loud hissing noise made them both jump as a jet of warm, white mist blew into the lab, engulfing them both.

"A steam pipe must have ruptured!" yelled Bulma over the hiss. "Trunks, see if you can find the leak and then go get your sister and bring her down here. I don't want her on her own."

"On it mom!" Trunks quickly flew away to find the leak, but the hiss had stopped and he couldn't determine the source of the steam. Quickly giving up, he flew upstairs and picked up his baby sister as carefully as he could. He flew back down as quickly as he dared while carrying Bra and sat down with her in his lap on one of the lab stools. He sat morbidly transfixed as his mother laboured over the controls of the stasis pod, trying to keep his father alive.

"Please don't die Dad." He whispered as a single small tear rolled down his cheek. But he couldn't cry. He had to be strong. For his father. For his sister. And most importantly, for his mother. "Don't die Dad. I can't lose you. Not again."