A few hours later finds me, along with my fellow ward Raditz, in the makeshift sick bay my father has sanctioned off in the shuttle. Raditz lays unconscious, snoring slightly. I understand, through the conversation between Kakkarot and Dr. Briefs that I've overheard, Raditz will be fine. Vegeta's shuttle did not come equipped with a regeneration tank, which had evidently become popular among Freiza's lackeys as a quick healing agent. This tank filled with this foul blue substance, covering every inch of the patient inside, subsequently healing the individual at a very fast right, wholly and completely returning him to normal. Because the shuttle is not equipped with this ingenious piece of equipment, Raditz will have to suffer through the time wasted, and sleep soundly through the sedated stupor. I on the other hand, am unfortunately fully aware, lying in a comfortable surface, next to Raditz.

I've overheard some of the conversation between Kakkarot and my father. The two of them are actually getting along quite nicely. I've underestimated my father's ability to remain calm and collected in serious situations such as this. And here I was worried about his feelings concerning my safety as well as his own. He seemed perfectly fine to me when we all came aboard the shuttle for the first time. The two of us have not yet discussed my display involving my former captor before said captor left me here alone on the shuttle in order to save my life.

Seeing that I'm fully awake, my father comes over to check on me. "Still feeling poorly, my dear?" His soft British accent coming through. He gently rests his hand over my forehead. I don't respond vocally, but he nods his head in recognition of the fresh set of tears that have escaped my eyes.

"Alright then." He steps to the side for a moment, and I can hear him rattling around in a drawer somewhere. I close my eyes, then no sooner have I felt his shadow near me, that I also feel a tight pinch in my upper arm. I wince slightly. "There," he says. "That oughta do it. Try and sleep a little, dear."

I hear him shuffle off back toward the control panels of the shuttle, where Kakkarot is leaning nonchalantly.

"Do you think they are alright?" asked my father in a concerned tone. I didn't need confirmation of who they spoke, I knew.

I peek through my heavy lids to see Kakkarot slowly shaking his head. "It's hard to tell," was his response.

I hear myself moan softly, then I drift off into sleep again. Unfortunately my mind does not rest. My dreams are filled with images of him. I am dreaming of the slight twitch of his mouth when I disobeyed a direct order, or angered him in some meaningless way. I'm picturing that stupid, perfect smirk that seemed etched on his features at every turn. His body, his words. I feel so heartsick that he's not here with me now.

I used to swim in the thought of him. Now it felt like drowning.

XXXXXXX

What must have been days later found me in the same bed, with my father next to me. I glance over, expecting to see Raditz in much the same state as before, but he's not there. In fact, the whole crash cart is gone.

"Wh-" I start, my throat is still thick with sleep. "Where's Raditz? Is he OK, dad?" I try lifting my head, he assists me in sitting up.

"He's fine. He's up and at 'em. Barely feeling anything anymore. Saiyans heal very quickly, my dear." He replies.

I shake my head wonderingly. I look at my father, wanting so badly to give him an explanation of the past events that must have been confusing to observe. "Dad, I-I don't know what to say about all this. I'm so confused right now. All that's happened… all that happened before he… he…." I stop and clamp my lips shut, afraid of uttering his name aloud again. I might break down and start sobbing. I rein it in as best I can, and look bravely again at my father. "I'm sorry."

He shushes me and places one of his hands securely in mine. "It's been days. You should be up. I can't see you like this, it's killing me. Get up, please." He pulls my hand to his lips and places a soft kiss there. He smiles a sad smile. "We're almost there and we have work to do, you know." Then he winks at me, and leaves the room.

I sit there for a few more moments, waiting for the onslaught of the pain to grapple with me, when I hear a soft, padding footstep coming closer. Raditz' tall frame peeps around the corner of my "privacy curtain." He just stares at me, and I stare back, saying nothing. He's the first to break the silence.

"Bulma," he hesitates. "Bulma, listen to me. You've got to snap out of this, right now."

"I've barely been awake five minutes Raditz." I snort exasperatingly. "Give me a break."

"I can see it in your eyes. You've got to stop this. Stop those emotions from taking over."

"You don't know what you're talking about." I reply angrily.

"Vegeta is one of the strongest fighters I know. He-"

"Don't! OK? Just stop it! I don't want to hear it."

He takes three determined strides toward me, and plants himself next my cot. I glare at his audacity. He places both arms on either side of the bedrails and leans in, not six inches away from my nose. "Do you think he would have wanted you like this? Cowardly and feeble? Or would he have wanted you to be strong, and go on with the mission?" He asks firmly. "I know Vegeta better than anyone, I know exactly what he would say." He straightened up and turned his back to me, making to quit the room. I'm still glaring at his retreating form when he glances sideways and pointedly asks, "Do you?"

When he's left, my face crumples and I viciously tear the bed clothes from me.

Of course he's right. I must press on. For his sake, if anything. I owe him my life, and the life of my father. Also my sanity. I don't know what I would've ended up as, had it not been for his intervention. The least I can do is fulfill the mission.

I make my way towards the low voices I hear in the other room, what I come to find is the cockpit. My father is situated right in among the ginormous, Saiyan brothers, without a care in the world. My father is a short man, nowhere close to the average male height for a human.

He's a little older than a father ought to be, in fact, he could be my grandfather. My mother was a young model, and obviously attracted to the riches he provided. Eventually an affection bloomed, but she died when I was little from a car accident, after dropping me off at the academy where I was attending advanced classes.

My mother was blonde, as the picture my father still carries of her in his wallet indicates at least, and tall with blue eyes. I inherited my blue hair from my father. He's entirely gray now, but in his youth, his hair was nearly the same color of mine, the same texture even.

I notice now that he's smiling a little to himself. He looks up and catches sight of me.

"Ah, Bulma! You're up. Good thing too, you should hear Kakkarot's tactic for waking you! That is, if Raditz had not succeeded. It's quite effective, I dare say."

I glance at Raditz who stares stoically back, not uttering one word.

"I suppose Raditz maneuver was successful enough though, so on with the plans!" He reaches behind him to pull a bunch of rolled blueprints from the side cabinet and tosses them onto the floor. I follow him in sync, and lower myself without a sound onto the floor of the craft. Kakkarot takes his position back at the helm, seemingly a little embarrassed at having attention drawn to him, even though I ignored the jab issued.

"Dad?" I ask, as I assist him in holding down a corner of the paper, while he applies a mild adhesive tape. "What do you think about all this?"

Raditz stalks past me, and out of the room without saying a word. "You've never once said anything about all of this. How do you trust them as implicitly as I do?" I ask uncertainly.

"Because of Kakkarot, surprisingly." He throws a thumb over his shoulder, gesturing to the tall Saiyan with the goofy countenance. Kakkarot does not hear the compliment, or pretends not to. "He told me of how Vegeta protected you." Dad continues. "I was surprised, and of course, very grateful. I don't know what I'd do without you, Bulma." I cringed at hearing his name, but was able once again to rein it in. I was happy my father felt the way that he did about these new-found friends of ours. I suppose I should have expected Kakkarot to be the one to win him over, slow-witted and compassionate as he is. Well, what could be considered compassionate among the Saiyan race.

"We're sure there is no one following us?" I ask with a slight tremor in my voice.

"We're sure," my father responded with confidence. "Kakkarot saw to that. Immediately after we strapped his brother to that gurney, and I took care of you, he took control of the vessel and expertly weaved us through the turmoil surrounding the battle." He seemed to pause and catch himself at the mention of the 'battle,' knowing very well the participants in said battle. "He's an excellent pilot," he finishes.

"My brother is the pilot, sir. He taught me." Kakkarot piped up.

"It must run in the family then." My father chuckled. "Raditz shouted how to activate the coordinates before I could totally put him under, blinding him from the pain, and Kakkarot did the rest. We wouldn't be here without his and…" Here he pauses again. "Well, without the combined efforts of the crew."

My heart lurches at this term. "Crew." I shield my thoughts from him, condemning them to silence.

I was eager to change the subject. "How were your days in the lab, dad? On the ship, I mean."

"I missed you terribly, of course. Working just wasn't the same without you. The days in the lab were uneventful. Working on projects my heart wasn't in, shuffling by day to day pretending to be doing something constructive, but really just biding my time until Ve-… well, until I received the daily status report regarding you."

"He came to you?" I nearly shrieked. This conversation was simply killing me. I couldn't bear to say or hear his name, but I couldn't get enough of him. He was everywhere.

My father looked at me carefully, Kakkarot even turned in interest. "Why, yes. Every day since you came on board. I was feeling dejected and depressed because I had no idea what had happened to you. If you were alive, if you were even hear on the same ship, and I prayed incessantly that you were not." He shook his head to rid himself of the feeling of not knowing. Then continued, "After Vegeta told me that he had acquired you, and that you were alright, I was so relieved that I readily agreed to his plan, not caring about the possible dangers and consequences. Vegeta seems to have that effect on people. After speaking with him and each member of his crew in turn, I trusted them immediately. What else could I do. They were the…. Well, the lesser of the two evils, if you will. No offense." He throws over his shoulder in the direction of Kakakrot.

"Hey, none taken, you're right you know. Freiza is way more complicated. You made the right decision," He opens his palm out to the shuttle, pointing out our safe conditions. "Obviously."

"Vegeta is very… well very commanding, certainly, he's got that air of authority about him. Very commanding, but very respectful about it, I appreciate that myself." He smiled to himself in remembrance.

I waved my hand in dismissal and studied the prints in front of me. My father seemed to get the hint and we continued working through the problems and difficulties that could arise from said plans were they put into action. We continued like this for the next several hours, before arriving on Lileena.

XXXXXXXXXX

"This planet is governed by a King, dear, so make use of the facilities here and clean yourself up a bit, eh?" My father heaved himself off of the floor, gathering his notes and the blueprints in the process.

"What do you mean a 'King?' Royalty? Out here?"

I hear Kakkarot chuckle at my insolence. "You really gotta get out more."

Ignoring the jibe I focus my attention on Dr. Briefs. "Why yes dear." He starts. "Freiza has made himself royalty, but from my understanding, these people have been governed by royals for… well for years."

Kakkarot leans around his seat and grins. "That means longer than anyone cares to calculate."

"You mean, 'Longer than you're able to calculate,' Don't you?" Raditz strolls into the cockpit from behind us. "I've already spoken with the Princess on the comm, she's expecting our arrival within moments." He levels a gaze with me. "Don't you think you should clean up a bit?"

"What is wrong with the way that I look?" I shriek, slamming my fists down on the steel tiles. All of the men look at me wide-eyed as if I'm unstable, which obviously, I am. Everyone, that is, except for Raditz.

"You're wasting time." He says now.

I snort, a very unladylike gesture, and stalk towards the doorframe where the tall Saiyan is leaning. He throws a thumb over his shoulder, in the direction of a few separate rooms sanctioned off to the side of our makeshift sick bay. "It's over there," he continues.

I stalk past him, find the facilities and slam the door to announce my indignation. The nerve! I take one look at my face in the mirror and shudder. My hair is a tangled mess, my face blotchy and tear streaked and dirty. I have no clothes to change into, so I have to make do with what was left to me by… but I won't think about that now. Only what's ahead, the mission.

In one of the drawers I find a long, plain black comb. It'll have to do. I wash my face, and emerge not only with a clean face, and semi-straight and controllable hair, but with a new countenance. One of determination.

I'll not think of him, not shed not one more tear for him until he comes back. Until then, my main focus now is to help Kakkarot, and that infernal Raditz, to complete his mission. The only mission that will allow us all to be free again.

"I'm ready." I announce to my new crew.

I look down on the new planet that is to be my home for the next year or two.

It's a beautiful place that shines with two bright orbs for suns, a gorgeous turquoise sky and dense jade forests. A beautiful city sprawls out in front of us, as Kakkarot brings the shuttle in for landing. All of the buildings are squat and only two stories at the maximum, the stucco a bright sunlit yellow.

The city shines so brightly in the mid-afternoon sunlight. What echoes outwards from the thick forestry and dark canyons beyond is not something I've seen in a great while.

Hope.