Disclaimer: I do not own any of these DBZ characters.
Chapter Three
Nine years later
Vegeta was training in his private training room when a servant knocked on the door. "Sire, the King wants you in the throne room." The Prince floated down to the ground and let out a breath. He only had on his training spandex shorts and a sheen of sweat covered his muscles that have filled out even more through the years. He grabbed a towel and put it around his neck. "Tell them I'll be there soon." The servant nodded and left with a flirtatious smile on her lips. Vegeta didn't care though. He knew the effect he had on women. It was a well known fact that he hadn't had a woman yet and all of the females were trying to get into the running to be his first. He became annoyed with those women who would openly flirt with him and be as forward as they were. He was a prince and he thought it disrespect. He would choose only one to bed and that would he his mate.
He quickly put his training spandex suit on and went to the throne room to find his parents. "Ah son, it's nice to see you."
"What you do need so badly as to interrupt my training?"
"Vegeta," His mother started. "We have been getting more and more offers from elites for their daughters and we find it's time that you find someone to mate."
"WHAT?" He yelled. He hadn't thought about mating yet. He had no time for silly females. Then a name that he had thought about recently came to mind. His parents had given up almost seven years ago now on looking for Bulma. He hadn't stopped and was always wanting more information on to where she could be.
"Now son, you have been of age for a year now and haven't even found courtship." His mother pointed out.
"I will find someone when I find her." He said as he stormed out of the room. Only his father knew who he was talking about. It was a thing among Saiyan males to find someone that could challenge them and thought the King agreed that he should mate. He knew that the only one who has challenged his son was the blue Saiyan.
"Darling," The Queen said questionably to her mate. "Who is he talking about? Her?"
"The blue Saiyan." The Queen slightly gasped. She had almost forgotten about her. "Our son has caved to his Saiyan instincts."
"What?"
"It's something that only Saiyan men can comprehend. In Vegeta's eyes, whether it be consciously or subconsciously, the Blue Saiyan is the only one for him."
Vegeta went flying, needing to clear his mind. He really needed to find her because if she were to get in the wrong crowed again then it would be a catastrophic disaster filled with death to all good. It was hard to believe that that girl could be the cause of the entire universe's destruction. What if she had already gone bad? If she had, then how long had she been on that track of becoming that way? How long would it take for her to turn from her ways and if she had already gone bad, could there be a way for him to get her back on his side? These questions plagued his mind as he flew and when he came back, he went to the stables and saw her horse and took care if his needs, fed him a carrot or two while brushing him. "Don't worry. We'll get her back. You'll see." He whispered to the horse but mostly to reassure himself. Of what the report of the horse's memory said, he hadn't lost any memory that had been seen by Vegeta. When walking back to his training room, another servant came to him and said that his father wanted to see him in the meeting room. Vegeta couldn't believe this. Why all of a sudden did his parents seem to want him to stop training for every time he tried, he would get interrupted. The prince stormed through the hallways to the meeting room where his father was and as he opened the door, he saw his father sitting at the table looking over paperwork. "What is it old man?"
"Son, I realize that you're not too thrilled of what your mother wants but…" He wasn't able to finish his sentence as a robotic female voice said Incoming transmission. The screen then flashed a symbol that neither knew. It was purple with a white head and had the same purple eyes with lines going from the eyes to connect with the purple background. There was also a purple oval shape that went from the purple background to the middle of the assumed head. (AN: If you want to know what it looks like, Google image search "Frieza's symbol" and it should be about the fifth one. Though it looks more red violet than purple, I like it to be more purple.) Not knowing who it was, they answered the call and saw on the screen now a live being that resembled the symbol only the being had horns and some pink. The lizard type creature sat on a hovering chair and had two beings standing next to him. The one on his right was tall and muscular with pale blue green skin and leaf green hair that was tied in a loose braid and flopped lazily over his shoulder. The being on the left was shorter and fat with bubble gum pink skin and short, dull spikes covering his body. All three beings had on the same type of armor on but different colors. They looked similar to the Saiyan's armor but didn't have any design on them like the Saiyans did.
"Who are you?" The King asked, not threatened by the look of the three.
"I am Lord Frieza. These two don't matter." The blue man looked slightly taken back that this Lord Frieza guy said he didn't matter. The King nodded but Vegeta looked closely at the blue man. He looked familiar but couldn't place him. "I have heard of you Saiyan's abilities being a warrior race and I ask you join me in my conquest."
"Your conquest?" the King asked.
"Yes, you see, You Saiyans control lots of planets and rival my own in numbers. Here is what I ask of you." The Prince listened to what the lizard was saying connecting the dots before Frieza could continue. He'd finally placed where he had seen the blue man and knew that if he worked for this guy, he couldn't be any good. It then hit Vegeta of what Frieza was saying. He was planning on taking over the universe.
"No." The Prince said so that only his father could hear but then the pink blob leaned over and whispered something in Frieza's ear.
"What was that?" Frieza asked the Prince, not entirely sure who he was but by the looks of it was the son of the King he was talking to.
King Vegeta turned to his son confused and Vegeta shook his head. "I said no." He said clearly so that the lizard could hear him.
"But I didn't even say anything. How could you possibly know what I was about to offer?"
"I know what you're up to." Prince Vegeta said stepping up beside his father.
"Son, I am the King and I shall listen to what this Lord Frieza has to offer. You aren't King and so you will not have final say in my doings." The King snapped. "Never mind him. Finnish what you were about to say."
The Lizard nodded and all the while, the Prince starred daggers into the blue man. "What I am offering is that if you join me in my conquest of the universe, and if you do, I will spare you. If you refuse my offer as your prince here wants to, I will gladly wipe out your entire race without using but one finger." The King thought it over. He had to be joking right? The Saiyans helped the planets around them, not conquer them. And he, this little alien Lord was going to wipe them out using a finger? HA! Unlikely. "I am not fooling with you King Vegeta. You have twenty-four hours to make your decision." The screen then turned black and the King turned to his son. "Why did you say no?"
"Why would you even think about it?! They are the ones who took her!"
"How would you know?"
"I saw Zarous's memories. He was the one that took her."
"Son!" His father boomed. "Listen to me." He then took a deep breath as to calm himself down. "I have a plan but you better listen to it."
Prince Vegeta rolled his eyes and then looked at this father. "What is your plan old man?"
"I will agree to his terms but only because we need to be on the inside. Keep your friends close and your enemies closer you know." Vegeta nodded. His father was coming up with a plan that he might not like but if it meant saving Bulma, he would have to go through with it or cause a sudden war that they might not be able to win. The Prince nodded and left the room. At least he would be one step closer to having her back.
Bulma sat up on her bed quickly when she heard a knock on her door. She was always on edge on the ship. "Bulma darling. You up?" Bulma rolled her eyes and stood to go to the door. Opening the door, she saw Zarbon leaning against the door frame.
"What do you want Zarbon?" She asked walking back into her room.
"We were wondering if you were up for a game of cards." He said moving to her bed to sit down.
"And we includes…?" Bulma then pulled out a brush from her drawer. Her long blue hair now reached the small of her back and then she pulled it into a tight braid.
"Me, Captain Ginyu, Burter, Dodoria," He took a second and Bulma scuffed about to say something but before she could, he continued. "And Jeice." Bulma hated playing cards with Dodoria but Zarbon knew that she wouldn't miss a chance to be with her long time best friend Jeice. There was something going on between them and Zarbon could tell. Despite the trouble that this girl put him through for seven years, ever since she got her memory taken, he liked her. She had a devious mind that also seemed so innocent from time to time.
"Ok, just let me change." Zarbon nodded and left to just outside of her room. It was two minutes later that she came out in her black spandex top and shorts. Bulma also wore her black boots with white tips and black, fingerless gloves. The white tips of her boots showed her high ranking. "Alright, I'm ready to go win another round of cards." She joked as they went to the lunch room and it was almost completely empty saying as it was almost midnight. There were a few at the bar drinking but in the middle of the room, the round table was set up with the guys, as that's what she called their little group, around it setting the drinks on the table, setting up the game of cards they were about to play. "Alright boys," Bulma said taking a seat between Zarbon and Jeice, "What game do you want it to be tonight?" She took the cards and began to shuffle as so that there weren't any cheaters that rigged the deck.
Dodoria looked around the group and they all nodded, except for Zarbon, who hadn't been there for the discussion, and Jeice, who was averting his eyes from the female beside him. "I think that we've all agreed on Texas Hold 'um."
Bulma nodded, glad that they hadn't agreed on what they usually play when Dodoria plays with them. "Alright." She then finished shuffling and gave everyone their cards, going around the table. Bulma looked at her cards: a five and a two of spades. She, along with Dodoria, Captain Ginyu, and Burter, gave their cards back in and she handed out the new sets. This time she got an Ace of diamonds and nine of clubs. The three cards were played: Six of spades, nine of hearts, and ten of clubs. She started it off with the bare minimum for first game that they agreed on a long time ago: 5 grand. It went around the table and Jeice, Dodoria, Zarbon, and she stayed. After it went around, Dodoria folded. The fourth card placed was the nine of diamonds. She then bet 15 grand with her chances of winning looking good. Jeice folded along with Zarbon and Bulma took the pot.
The game went on for two hours until Dodoria, who she didn't want to play with in the first place, lost all of his money and left. Burter left, saying that he needed rest, and Captain Ginyu leaving because he didn't want to lose as badly as Dodoria. Zarbon, Jeice, and Bulma were the only ones left. "Bulma, I swear, you're almost as good a poker player as Frieza."
"I wouldn't know, I've never played him. I didn't even think that he played." She said as she dealt the new cards.
"I've played with him only a few times." Zarbon said looking at his cards. Bulma looked at hers and got a new pair. Now she had a King of hearts and a ten of spades. The three cards were placed: Four, Six, and Ten of hearts. Zarbon folded and Jeice bet thirty-seven hundred. Bulma called the thirty-seven hundred. The two of diamonds was placed down. Jeice bet 11K and Bulma called it. Zarbon looked between the two and tried to read their motions. It was hard and he just couldn't do it. They both had great poker faces. A six of diamonds was placed down and Bulma felt good. Jeice checked and Bulma bet 26K. Jeice called it and Bulma flipped her cards. To show them and Jeice did the same. He had an Ace of spades and a Queen of hearts. She had won. "Ok, I think I better call it a night." Zarbon said as he stood and left the two.
"I guess we otta go too." Jeice said and Bulma nodded, picking up her chips and making sure to get all the money that she was owed from the guys. They both walked to her room and Jeice wished Bulma a good rest. She bid him a good night and went into her room closing the door behind her. She changed into her white spandex short shorts and white spandex top that was long sleeved that went up her neck slightly but cut off a few inches above her belly button and the shoulders were cut out. It was her normal sleeping outfit when she bothered to change for bed. As she slipped under the covers, her door opened and she was about to throw an energy ball at the intruder until she saw it was Lord Frieza.
"Frieza, My lord." She said as she fell down to the floor and kneeled in front of the lizard. "What do I owe this pleasure?"
"I have just come to chat." He said walking further into the room. "It seems that Dodoria has volunteered for more purges and the Ginyu force is wanting a few extra assigned to them as well." He said sitting in a chair at a small table in the room.
"Maybe they need that little bit of extra money in their paycheck." She said as if it were nothing to her.
"Though Zarbon already gets a high pay, he has signed up for two purges in the next couple of months." He said interestingly.
Bulma couldn't help but smirk. She knew that she had gotten everyone. "And the reason that you are telling me this is?"
Frieza shook his head. She had always been like this. "I was just wondering why all my best men, who are all highly paid, wanting 'that little bit of extra money in their paycheck' and my left hand lady hasn't purged in over a year."
Bulma poured two glasses of some expensive wine. "Well, I don't feel that I need that extra bit of money in my pay."
"I am no fool Bulma so don't try and get one off of me. They have all lost money and you seem to have gained it." Bulma sipped her wine and Frieza tasted it noticing the familiar taste. "Otherwise, you wouldn't have this lovely selection you've acquired."
"You're right. You are no fool."
"So how did you do it?"
"Poker, it was Texas hold 'em this time."
Frieza smirked. "Really? You know, I do believe that I've played that once or twice."
"Frieza." She said smirking on the inside. "I am no fool." The blue haired woman said with all seriousness but almost dying of laughter from the inside though she didn't show any of it on the outside. "So don't try and get one off of me."
"How about a game. You play with the money that you've earned from the game you just played and I play with the same amount. We play until one of us has no money left."
"Fine with me but what do you plan to do with all of that money you have gotten back?"
"Spend it on concurring the galaxy of course."
Bulma rolled her eyes and then got out her deck of cards and set them on the table. "Shuffle 'em." She said as she stood and got some food. She knew that Frieza didn't eat much but she felt as if she were starving. Frieza shuffled the deck and when Bulma came back, she then shuffled them to make sure it was fairly shuffled. What happened in the next few hours amazed both parties. The money had gone back and forth between the two and when there was a knock on the door, Bulma yelled to come in forgetting what she was wearing. Jeice and Zarbon walked in thinking that Bulma was counting her winnings before breakfast but were shocked with the amount of playing chips on the table and the game between the two. There had been many times that Bulma had gotten up to get a snack to eat and many other times that they reshuffled the deck to keep playing.
"Look at 'em go." Jeice said whisperingly. "What has she gotten into?"
"I don't know but I'm not leaving to miss anything." Zarbon said sitting on the bed almost right next to the table that was in the room. Jeice sat next to him. More hours passed and a large group had gathered in the room as time went on. It had seemed that Bulma was winning and then Frieza. The money went back and forth. "When do you think they'll stop?"
"I don't know but if I know Bulma, she's determined not to let him win." Burter said. He was sitting next to Jeice. The whole Ginyu force was there along with Zarbon and Dodoria and a few other elites.
"Would you two shut up?" Bulma asked as they had just finished another round of the deck. Frieza started shuffling and Bulma stood to get some more snackage. "I mean, it's bad enough that I haven't won yet and I've gone too long without sleep. I don't need your annoying voices in my head."
"That wasn't very nice." Dodoria said.
"It's my room. I don't have to be." She shot back and as she walked back to the table to shuffle the deck, she tripped but didn't let a crumb hit the ground as she quickly caught all of the food. It was then that she noticed that she was wearing a very revealing piece of clothing. She looked up and saw that the random elites that had gathered in her room to watch the game were now gawking at her. The blue haired vixen's face turned red in anger. "Everyone but the guys, leave." Everyone in the room knew that when she meant the guys she meant the guys that she often played cards with. "Now." She said coldly and everyone but "the guys" left.
"You didn't need to tell them to leave, although I do wonder what they were thinking." Frieza said giving her the deck to shuffle. "I don't pay them to just stand around."
"Maybe they need some work to do." Zarbon said, taking a few chips that were in Bulma's bowl.
"I don't give a fuck. As long as they aren't gawking at me, I'm totally fine with them doing whatever they please. I'm no one's eye candy."
"Oh I wouldn't say that." Frieza said as they started another round. "You have to wish for someone to want you sexually."
"That doesn't mean that I want random elites to bed. I'm no concubine." Zarbon's ears picked up at that. He knew that she had the hots for Jeice.
Frieza noticed this fact as well. "So whose eye candy do you want to be?" Bulma blushed and saw that Frieza was going up in their starting amount again. She felt good in her cards and went up even higher. Her cheeks were a light pink and Frieza loved the embarrassment he was causing her. "Certainly he must be in this room but it couldn't be all of them for you are both better than that and are not a whore." Bulma's cheeks got a couple shades darker to where it was more noticeable. The bids went up and the cards were starting to be put out. Bulma lost all faith in her cards but hopped it to be better, not caring anymore if she lost her winnings, as long as this conversation got over with the game.
Frieza noticed that with getting her more uncomfortable, she was showing less and less of her poker face and showed her emotions more. He decided to up the ante. "So let's start eliminating shall we?" He looked at his men that were still in the room. All of the Ginyu force, Dodoria, and his right hand man Zarbon. "It can't be Dodoria. You have never liked him." The two kept playing as more cards were laid down and noticed Bulma not only blushing but bluffing. "I'm all in." He said as he knew that he had a good chance of winning. Bulma looked up at him determined but couldn't hide the embarrassment from the earlier conversation.
Bulma knew that she would lose now and so she stood, tiredly, and looked over at the guys. "Alright, I lost. Game over." She said and stretched tiredly. "Now, if you don't mind, I'm going to go to sleep." The guys nodded a little disappointed and left.
As the door closed, they started to whisper. Well, all but Zarbon and Jeice did. "Who do you think it is?" Guldo asked.
"I couldn't be you. You're not her type." Recoome said.
"What do you know about her type?" Burter asked.
"I don't but do you think that Guldo over here is the one that she got all flustered about?"
"No but I don't see you with her either."
"Please." Recoome scuffed. "Recoome is the most compatible here."
"Oh yeah, I forgot that she's into total idiots." Burter said sarcastically.
Ginyu listened to the three members of his team argue about who Bulma might be into but realized that Zarbon, Jeice, and Dodoria had left. Zarbon and Jeice were walking down the hall but Dodoria was no wear to be found. Not that he cared but was slightly curious. He walked over to Jeice and Zarbon. "What is it capin?" Jeice asked.
"I was just curious as to why you two weren't over there with the others on who Bulma wants."
"Oh please." Zarbon said. "As if it isn't obvious."
"You think it's you then?"
"No way." Silence was all that was passed between the three and Ginyu got to thinking. Jeice had yet to say anything on the matter.
Back inside the room, Bulma was putting away the food and drank the last of her wine along with Frieza. "Since I lost, here are my earnings. You can get the cash money from the accounts that owe it." She said handing Frieza a piece of paper. She never did get the cash from the guys but did get a receipt that showed how much all of them owed.
"Bulma." Frieza said as Bulma sat on her bed and once again stretched. She looked up at him tiredly. "I have a mission for you."
"Can't it wait?" Bulma sighed as she fell back on her bed.
"I need you to check on some old friends of mine."
"Old friends?" Bulma scuffed. Frieza didn't have friends. He had temporary allies.
"Yes, we are currently on good speaking terms and I need you as a spy."
Bulma, tired of everything, sighed. "And who are these people?"
"The Saiyans."
"Ok, give me more details after I get some sleep." Frieza nodded and left the exhausted female to sleep.
Vegeta was in the middle of throwing punches when someone came bursting through the door. He was about to blast the intruder until it spoke. "If you do that, you will be in a tank for a week." It was his father and unfortunately, Vegeta had yet to surpass him in strength but he knew he was close. So close that he could feel it.
"What is it with you and mother interrupting my training?" He said, turning to face his father.
"I have important news. You have been summoned at Lord Frieza's ship. This could be the break we need as the inside man. You are to be there as a trail for a month."
Vegeta smirked. Bulma had to remember him. She couldn't be happy there even if she had chosen to 'join' their side. "A month is all I need." He said and his father nodded.
"You are to be joined by Nappa and Raditz as guards and training buddies. It's not good to be a lone Saiyan. There will be a need to be with other Saiyans."
"Napa and Raditz?" He said doubtfully. "As training buddies?" He stopped and looked at his father asking if he was serious. "Why?"
"I can't send Turles or Kakarot with you because if Frieza saw how powerful you three were, he would think us a threat and if he saw that only our prince was strong, then he wouldn't think us as much as a threat. Especially if he saw how you and Turles are both strong and intelligent."
Vegeta understood his father and held up his hand to silence his further explanations. "When do we leave?"
"Tomorrow. Nappa and Raditz are already packing and are briefed on everything. It will take you only a day of travel for you three to dock on his ship." The King turned and started walking out and when he reached the door, turned his head and spoke. "And Vegeta, don't do anything hasty or stupid when you see her. Your hormones will be something to worry about as she is the only one that you want." He then left ad Vegeta cursed to himself that his father knew what he was talking about. Bulma was the only one that he did want, does want, and will ever want but he wouldn't be a sick little puppy when it came to her. She would be the one to come after him.
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Guest: I cant understand how the horses can seem unnecessary right now but they will play a big role in the plot in future chapters.