Chapter Six
Tainted
Vegeta entered the throne room and sat down next to his father. Bardock, (who was receiving his newest mission at the time of the prince's arrival) felt his nostrils flare and his nasal cavity pick up on a familiar scent. He felt the laughter rising in his throat and he smirked in a vain attempt to suppress it. King Vegeta's sensitive nose picked up on the same scent and he turned to his son. "You - you didn't!" Vegeta smirked at his father, "Oops." King Vegeta felt his anger flaring. "With who?" Bardock burst into an uncontrollable fit of deep, hearty laughter. Vegeta leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms behind his head, "Does it matter?" King Vegeta took a deep breath through his nose. "I recognize that smell… it's different it's… not Saiyan…" King Vegeta's face glowed red and he burst into a screaming frenzy. "Not the healer woman! Why would you – you should – you know- you were the good son. You tainted the royal bloodline!" Bardock's laughter continued and between laughs he choked out, "He – did- say he would- keep her- haha- under-" The laughing fit consumed him again and his sentence became unintelligible. He stopped laughing and continued, "his constant-haha- supervision." Bardock was consumed by laughter yet again. King Vegeta glared down at him. "Bardock! I think it's time you go assemble your team." Bardock without bowing left the room still in his state of laughter. King Vegeta turned his attention back to his son. "I can't believe you! You had your choice of any Saiyan woman and… of course it would be the healer woman… that's my son." Vegeta simply continued to smirk. King Vegeta dropped his head to his hands. "You couldn't even do it properly with the ceremony… of course you couldn't… why would you?" Vegeta shrugged, "I don't know why I would… that's why I didn't." Vegeta stood up and walked to the door. Before he exited he turned back to his father. "Look on the bright side father; at least I didn't pick a Tuffle. Healers have use." He exited the room letting the door slam behind him. King Vegeta groaned and dropped his head farther. Hemlock patted him on the shoulder. "At least the healer women are very beautiful and delicate." King Vegeta groaned. "Hemlock you idiot! What use does a warrior have for beautiful and delicate?" Hemlock shrugged. "I was only trying to help." King Vegeta resigned to defeat. "I'm surrounded by incompetent idiots…"
Vegeta approached Bailey's healing room and leaned in the doorway watching her clean. "Soon, you won't have to do this anymore." Bailey stopped and looked up at him. "Yes, I will. It's a responsibility. It's my purpose." He felt himself swell up with pride that she was his as he eyed his mark on her collarbone. He approached her and brushed back her hair before running his fingertips gently over his mark. Bailey leaned in and kissed him lightly. Vegeta smiled down at her. She titled an ear toward the door hearing approaching footsteps. Elizarc poked her head in the doorway and noticing the prince quickly brought a hand up to her mouth covering it. Vegeta's tail circled Bailey's waist and dragged her into his side. The servant woman dropped in a bow. Vegeta waved a hand. "Stop, there is no need." The servant woman stood and eyed the two confused. Bailey peered at the confused servant, "The reason you are here Elizarc?" The woman snapped from her confused trance. "Yes," she bowed, "King Vegeta wishes to see the prince and … you… in the throne room." She bowed again and scampered off. Bailey glanced up at Vegeta. "He is taking this all remarkably well you know."