A/N: Slightly expanded for a better explanation. This chapter is a bit disturbing, fair warning.

Chapter 6: The Saiyan Healers

There were no words exchanged between the fighters as they let the information about this new visitor sink in. Moments passed without a word exchanged before Bulma opened the door and stepped into their space, wiping her hands on a washcloth.

"She's going to be fine, guys." She informed everyone. "She lost a lot of blood, but she should be ok, she seems to be healing much quicker than I would have expected, even for a Saiyan. She's just going to need lots of rest and food and she should be ok." Bulma scratched her head in thought, and spoke as though she were thinking out loud, "I just don't get it, though. Even if she left from the closest planet to us, she still would have been in that pod for at least five months. How could she have sustained an injury like that and not bled to death?" Absent mindedly she looked towards Vegeta, as if unconsciously asking him for an explanation.

Vegeta made eye contact with the human woman, not wanting to continue discussing the Saiyan female. 'Why can't she just wake up and tell them all this herself.' He thought, becoming more aggravated with each passing second. The look on Bulma's face pulled at Vegeta. He didn't really care about Kakarott or the Namek having a full explanation, but Bulma, he couldn't say no to her, whether he liked it or not. His eyes softened for a second as he looked into her pleading deep blue eyes and gave in to her non-verbal question.

"Litha is a Saiyan healer. She must have been nearly cut in half when she went into that pod. She's probably been awake the whole time, trying to heal herself, keeping alive. It would explain why her Ki was so low."

Piccolo looked more shocked by this news than anything else he's heard all night. Saiyans were a race of warriors, he thought it made some scene that there would be a sect of their society that healed the warriors, but this seemed unusual. "What do you mean she's a healer? Saiyans are supposed to be a race of warriors."

"Yes Namek, we are. But even a race of warriors needs healers. Every generation a few female Saiyans were born with a gift to heal. In Saiyan society they were considered holy, often livening in a temple near the royal city. They were not only healers, but advisors to the crown and leaders of the people. They are regarded quite highly in society, what you humans would consider sacred…" He trailed off as he struggled to find a human comparison everyone could understand, "I guess the best comparison on earth would be like a human high priestess."

"Healers were every bit as Saiyan as anyone else. They enjoyed fighting and transformed at the full moon, but they had something different. They were much more powerful, a different kind of power, one that did not necessarily translate to battle. They had more self-control that other Saiyans, were vastly more intelligent than the general population, and much more compassionate. They traveled a few different paths in society. They either moved from village to village offering their healing services, mated someone of authority in different villages or in the Saiyan Army, acting as a confident and guide, or, the strongest one lived at the castle and studied under the queen to later become the Prince's mate and become the new Queen."

"Healers were known for being exceptionally beautiful, strong willed, and intelligent. They came with a power that was unrivaled and usually increased the power of their mate not only in battle but it society as well. Freeza didn't know what he had. He only saw an exceptionally beautiful girl when he came to my father's palace. He immediately wanted her." Vegeta abruptly stopped speaking as if the subject was coming to a place he didn't want to go.

Vegeta was only eight years old when Litha was brought on the ship. "Vegeta…" A bone chilling high-pitched voice called across the throne room as the doors opened. The young boy walked in to see Freeza sitting on his chair with a small bundle of hair and a tail sitting on the steps below. "Come look at this wonderful creature I found on your home planet. When I get tired of her, and if you serve me well, perhaps I will let her be yours one day." A small face popped up from the huddle. She was all eyes and a tail and wore an expression of anger mixed with fear. He knew that look; he'd had the same one when he was first brought on the ship.

'Who are you?!' a voice snapped in his mind as the small creature stared at him. He looked at her confused, then back to Freeza to see if he noticed the change in his demeanor. His eyes narrowed when he looked back at the girl. 'You will address me as Prince Vegeta! Who are you! What clan do you hail from?' He answered, watching her eyes narrowing as she listened to his response. Vegeta watched her; sure this was how his mother use to communicate with him before he left the planet. She remained quiet for a moment until her heard her response in his mind.

'I apologize my Prince, I did not recognize you. I am Litha of the healers. Please forgive me.' Her expression became solemn and she lowered her gaze, acknowledging his status. He stood there and starred at her. She looked familiar but couldn't place where he knew her from.

"Do you like her Prince Vegeta?" Freeza's cold voice sliced through the air of the room, shocking the children back into reality. "She is quite lovely, isn't she?" Freeza stretched his hand out in front of him, smoothing out the girls hair, a visible shutter moved through her body as a response. "She should grow up to make me very happy one day, don't you think…" he continued to pet her, his hand moving from the crown of her head down her back, then across the length of her tail. "Very happy…" His mouth opened as a sick smile spread across his face.

Vegeta could feel her tremble in his mind, still too young to fully understand what Freeza was suggesting. "Until then, little Prince, I am leaving her under your charge. I don't want her to grow into something weak and pathetic… well I guess she already is a Saiyan, so do what you can." He scoffed and dismissed both of them with a wave of his hand. Vegeta saluted Freeza and turned to leave the room, Litha followed him out with her head lowered.