AUTHOR'S NOTES: Thanks again for reviews and stuff. Much appreciated! Hope this next installment is enjoyed, though it might not be as exciting...


"Mail call! Vegeta!"

Not allowing his surprise to show, said man raised his hand, and a package was tossed to him. Taking it to his bunk for a semblance of privacy, he opened it. The first thing he saw were Capsule Cakes, tiny preserved cupcakes packaged for mass consumerism yet only sold in his hometown state. It was also a subdivision of Capsule Corps, a gift to the inventor's wife. As a frequent visitor and guest of the Briefs, Vegeta had always left their home with a package or two of sugary goodness.

And indeed, when he read the letter addressed to him, he found it signed by Mr. Trunks Briefs. It admonished him for not stopping by their home to say his farewells. Not three months away from home, and Col (ret.) Briefs had used his connections to find Private Vegeta. Vegeta smirked at the reproach, only hearing the befuddled old man's teasing rather than a firm rebuke.

The letter also spoke of the high school graduation, Bulma's acceptance into college with a full scholarship, and her managing well with her pregnancy, her father was proud to boast. Goku had joined a Jiu-Jitsu club, and Mrs. Briefs was trying new recipes to market. All said their hellos, and included was an updated ultrasound. Bulma was now seven months pregnant. With a boy.

Now the blue tissue paper packaging made more sense. After eating the cupcakes, he threw everything out (minus the ultrasound, which he pocketed along with the first one). He emailed the Briefs to thank them for the package, but didn't enquirer after anyone, or give news of himself.


The military would have granted Vegeta a pass to go home to see the birth of his child. It was not like he was in a war zone, or so very far away (he could be home in ten hours). He could have held Bulma's hand while she screamed, held his son mere moments after his birth, could have had a say on the name. And yet, he requested nothing, and only through social media did Vegeta know what his son looked like, was named, and how Bulma fared.

Mirai looked like his father, yet had his mother's blue eyes and hair. He seemed a cheerful baby, and already Vegeta knew the kid would never know the same hardships as his father. For that, Vegeta was thankful, and "liked" the one photo featuring only Mirai on CapBook. Vegeta had never "liked" anything before. He received a printed copy in the snail mail a week or so later, Bulma's lipstick kiss on the back. It joined the ultrasound photo in his pocket.


Boot camp was over, it was time to go to space. Again, the military would have given him leave to go home for a few weeks. Would have expected it, even. But Vegeta only stayed on base, patiently waiting for the ship to take him to his first assignment. Communication would be harder to achieve once he left earth's atmosphere, and he found he was looking forward to shedding all ties. He already felt like he was a new man; now it was time to lead a new life, one he could be proud of, and nothing holding him back.

When he had found out about Bulma's pregnancy, he had wondered at his apathy towards the news. Again, he wondered why he felt little attachment, except for three already wrinkly photos kept close at all times. The glossy papers could not help him with his goals, but he was finding out that he could never quite quit holding onto them. Perhaps it was enough that he remembered them, even if he couldn't give anything to them. Bulma, Mirai; he didn't do this for them, but they reminded him of what there was worth fighting for. An idea of family life. Perhaps, one day, he'd be worthy enough.

Before he left earth, he shipped a Space Marine Teddy Bear to the Brief's home; no explanation, no words of affection. Still, its appearance on CapBook (a photo of a sleeping Mirai hugging the bear closely) assured him that Bulma accepted his stunted emotion, and didn't hold anything against him. Or, at least, not where his son was concerned.


Joining the Space Marines had been the right decision. Vegeta thrived in the uncomplicated system. You either did your job, or didn't. Routine was a must, as were rules and regulation. If he made mistakes, there were punishments, but no punches to the gut, no broken bones, no physical torture delivered by a drunken and vengeful father; only someone who looked out for him with harsh, yet true, words and a lesson learned for next time.

If he did something right, or above and beyond, there were praises and awards, expectations for continued success, words of congratulations and advice; no more apathetic authority figure, the sneers and slaps, questioning whether Vegeta thought he was better than others.

He had earned the respect of his superiors, peers, and, after he had risen in the ranks, those under his command. All anyone knew of Corporal Vegeta was his dependability, no-nonsense, strength, and intelligence, and that was all they needed. No one questioned his past, family, or schooling, as no one wanted to be questioned themselves.

Assignments in the Space Marine program were roughly three years each, and not usually made by men with family, or who had good thing going on back on Earth. Most of Vegeta's fellow marines were lonely people, bastards or bitches with nothing better to do, or even young kids with the choice between jail and military. But once boot camp was over and the uniform was donned, only service mattered. Service before self.

If there was one thing Vegeta regretted, it was the timing of his and Bulma's relationship, of Mirai's birth. However, they were never far from his mind, and everything he did, to his surprise, was to make them proud of him. Not that they would ever know of his deeds, but still, he knew of them. He would not go home until he could prove he could stand on his own successes, and not by her or her family's charity. It surprised him how little of his reasons for service were self-centered; yes, he was there to better himself, but it was for others, in the end.

Communication in space was difficult, but not for renowned scientist such as Col (retired) Briefs. Every few months he would receive a space-wave. Bulma graduated college in only two years, at the age of 18. She was now a grad student working at some random university away from under her father's wings. Vegeta smirked, knowing exactly how she felt, needing to prove herself, not ride on her father's coattails. It is exactly what he is doing: refusing his father's dour shadow, or riding on the Brief's generosity.

Goku had by now graduated high school too, and was joining the Space Marines as well. Vegeta tried not to feel anything at that.

Mirai never slept without his teddy, the bear his absent father had left him. The latest photo he received showed Mirai eating his third birthday cake, grinning like a fool at the camera. Vegeta grinned like a fool too, and placed the pic with all the rest.

He never sent any word to the Briefs, yet every now and then Dr. Briefs (it was always the old man who did the writing) would congratulate Vegeta on some achievement, award, or promotion, that Vegeta knew the retired Air Force Colonel was making use of his contacts. Wily old man! No doubt Bulma would learn too, and though he had originally wanted a clean break, Vegeta could not find it within himself to be too angry.


Friends were not wanted, or needed, and yet Vegeta found himself with a few. Unwillingly, he might add. But smelly marines sharing quarters, combat and dangers tended to make bonds, even of the most cold-hearted bastards. After serving in the Space Marines a total of nine years, along with a few others who chose space rather than the confines of Earth, some acquaintances were made, and even survived after reassignments or retirements.

Gunnery Sergeant Nappa was one of Vegeta's first mentors; rough bark, rougher bite. Yet there was a gleam in his eyes that proved, mission after mission, that humanity could prevail time after time, and no amount of horror could erase the Gunny's laugh or sense of honor. He was the only other man in space who knew that Vegeta was a father, had seen the photos and shared his own of his little girl, named "Mai", who looked nothing like her father, thank goodness.

Radditz, who shared Vegeta's rank of Sergeant, was one of those men who shared everything, like how he was one of those boys who chose service rather than jail time, and who had eventually come to appreciate how his life came out to be. He was a bloodthirsty fellow with an eye for the fairer sex, and yet when put to a task, he was first to finish, and without cutting corners. He may have liked his looks a little much, but when all was said in done, it was good to have him at your back.

And, yes, Goku became their friend as well. The little brother thought of as nothing more than a punching bag rose to be their superior, if in rank only. Bulma's brother was their Lieutenant, at the moment, in his third year of service. He had an uphill battle gaining their friendship, as his bubbly personality clashed with their dour attitudes. The fact that he had an officer's room (roomier and he didn't have to share) and a hoity-toity college degree from the Naval Academy didn't help his image, either.

(Bulma had also graduated: with honors and had already made her first invention [the miniaturization tool]. She now held a reputation all her own so had rejoined her father's company and was set to take over when the old man retired from the lab as well.)

Young Goku thrived under the harsh reception; the little officer listened to his Gunny's advice, never belittled his men, just asked for plenty of friendly spars (of which there was no shortage of volunteers to bust the Lieutenant's ass). He never waved his good fortune in their faces nor flaunt his fancy ass degree, or expect obedience for the mere sake of it. No, he had earned the right to lead them, strange as it seemed. Goku had never been a smart boy, or man as he'd become, yet even Vegeta had come to see that Goku had an uncanny gift at battle strategy; apparently the dunce had inherited some form of brilliance by osmosis from his ex-military, genius-scientist father.

Vegeta took longest to win over; he originally wanted nothing to do with Bulma's little brother. Especially when the brat had the decency to marry the woman he had knocked up, and regularly wrote to her via his father's connections. It was a comparison that was not appreciated. After a few years of this, though, when Goku hardly ever mentioned their shared history, Vegeta became less tense and wary, going so far as asking the boy for information on the Briefs.

After Vegeta's tenth year of service, Goku came with further news seemingly out of the blue, as relayed by Dr. Briefs: Vegeta Sr. had died.

This time, when the Space Marines offered him leave to settle family affairs, Vegeta went home.