Disclaimer: I do not own DBZ
Vegeta took the better part of four hours to negotiate a trade with the local merchants. It took another two hours to pack it all into the ship. The most difficult thing was figuring out how to get the food it an empty capsule. Everything he used already had a capsule to it, but getting something new was more of a challenge. He had a set of unused capsules that Bulma brought with them, most of them were for the materials that they were bringing back, but he was unsure of how to use the food capsules that they had, and this pack actually had directions. He couldn't read what they were because they were not in a language that he could read. The pictures did help slightly, but still didn't actually show him how. He was tempted to leave it for Bulma to figure out, but unfortunately, she might not remember either.
In his first few attempts, he broke the buttons off the tops of the capsules, and he tossed them aside, useless. This was the only time in his life that he actually wished he listened to the woman more. they needed the food, but there was no place to store it, with the technology that she had, there wasn't any reason to keep large store spaces. He threw another capsule and looked at the pictures on the directions again. His irritation was only magnifying the issue, and he was tempted to just pack it all in the ship and hopped to whatever god was out there that Bulma at remembered how to use them.
His mind made up, he stacked the packages in the middle of the main room, and then left the ship. Bulma would probably be finished with her treatment soon, if not already, and he hopped that they could leave. With the potential of the full moon, which truth be told, he would love to experience again; he knew that it would set them back, and he was unsure of her reaction to it. in typical circumstances, on the first transformation, you lashed out at anything and everything, primal instinct taking over with a serious case of paranoia. That was not something he would be prepared for, especially not in a place that was overrun by people who were prepared for the worst as it was.
Vegeta finished packing everything in the main room. once done, he couldn't help but laugh at the genius of the woman, how she even came up with the idea was beyond him, but he was sure that there wasn't anyone like her in the while galaxy. He then sneered as she walked towards the door, disgusted with himself for even being proud to know such a squawking weakling, and yet he couldn't help but be hopeful that she was recovered enough to get off this mud ball of a planet so that they could continue the mission so he could finally ascend to the legendary. with that thought in mind, he closed the doors to the ship and took off in the direction of the hospital.
Vegeta touched down minutes later in the front of the hospital and was immediately curious as to what the commotion was inside. The alarms were going off, and people were running up and down the halls. There were several people pushing others on the medical beds. He walked in and took a moment to survey the commotion, once he did, he could see that the people being wheeled around were actually other medical staff. Confused, he tried to find out where they were coming from. He looked left, then right and found that they seemed to be running away from the right. He shrugged and decided to investigate, curiosity and all.
He walked down the hall, and the farther he walked, the louder it got. He could hear people screaming and shouting, things were being smashed and broken. Were they being attacked by something? He stopped and frowned. The noise was coming from Bulma's room. he turned the corner and the door to the room was hanging wide open. Standing in the door way he surveyed the scene before him in shock. Bulma stood stark naked, her blue tail lashing angrily as she had a male medical attendant pinned to the wall as high as she could reach, which was just enough to have him dangling off the floor. Her face was scrunched in rage as she snarled at him. there were two others behind her and they were trying to stick her with a needle, something filled with a sedative he was sure. Dr, Malaka was to the left, trying got reason with her, but he words fell on deaf ears.
The nurses behind her were getting closer, and she used her left had to grip the hair of the man she held pinned to the wall, while her left stayed fixed to his neck. She pulled his body and used it as a barricade against the others, and then threw him at them sending them all flying to the corner of the room. once done, she turned on him and crouched, ready to defend herself.
Vegeta couldn't help the smirk that formed as he saw her, crouched and ready for him to attack. He folded his arms and stood tall, which always seemed taller then he actually was. "well, looks like a party in here." He said, amused. Dr. Malaka snapped his head in Vegeta's direction.
"thank the gods you are back!" he exclaimed, arms in the air as he back away. "she woke up and started attacking everything in sight!" The Doctor explained, "We couldn't control her." he added. Vegeta found himself extremely proud to hear that. "no?" he asked, as he kept eye contact with her. Bulma didn't move, instead she just sat there at the ready. "maybe you can assist?" the doctor asked.
Vegeta chuckled, "I thought you had ways of dealing with the strong ones." the doctor glared at him. "I wasn't expecting this strength from her." he defended himself. "she took be off guard." He added quickly.
Vegeta laughed and raised his hand to indicate the doctor to stop. "I don't need your excuses." He said, the amusement not leaving his voice. he continued to stand in the door way, Bulma's only way out. He watched as her eyes flicked around the room quickly, but only for a second or too, never taking her eyes off of him for long. She was expecting him to attack her, and she was alert and ready. He looked her over. Her form was perfect, which he was surprised to see, she was always sloppy when they trained, but today was different. She didn't care about her nakedness, she only cared about was her life, and everyone in this room threatened it.
He contemplated what to do. he could beat her into submission, and then they could leave, but he didn't think that would work out well. He wasn't sure how much her strength had grown, with the ZenKai at work here. He could already tell she had increased in strength and power, and she wasn't anywhere near her full power. He looked around the room quickly then back at her. She may not remember anything, but she was a scientist, and her way of thinking wouldn't have changed, at least he hopped it wouldn't.
He leaned slightly against the door frame and waited, continuing their staring contest. Bulma was catching her breath, still trying to find a way out of the room, but she wouldn't be able to beat him, and he was sure they both knew that. "Are you going to attack me or what?" She growled. Vegeta gave her a shrug. "why would I do that?" he asked her. she narrowed her eyes at him and crowned lower, placing her knee on the floor. She couldn't maintain that position for long, and she didn't want to move out of her spot, just in case he came at her when she least expect it. "I don't know!" she spat at him. "all the other came at me with needles and things." She said. Vegeta looked at the men in the corner, and then back at Bulma. "I don't have any needles." He said. She frowned in response. Vegeta thought he should take a different approach. "what is your name woman?" he asked her, she frowned and looked around the room and then back at him. "I don't know." She said, "why don't I know?" she asked. Vegeta pushed his body off the door jam and stood. "I know your name." he told her, taking a step towards her. Bulma raised herself back into her ready position and moved a couple paces back, right in the wall. She growled once she touched it. "tell me what it is!" she demanded.
Vegeta shook his head. "there are two ways to do this." He told her, "the easy way, and the hard way." He said, taking another step forward. "I can tell you your name, and then we can discuss how we know each other, and then we can leave, or you can fight this and I will just take you anyway." He said, standing in front of her. frowning, Bulma looking around the room again, trying to find a way around him, but he was directly in front of her, and his confidence showed that he was sure he could stop her if she tried to get out.
Vegeta watched as she contemplated, he hopped she choose the hard way; he really needed to blow off some steam. She backed up to the wall, and looked at him as she slowly sifted her feet and her weight. Vegeta couldn't help the grin that appeared at realizing that she chose the hard way.
She used the wall to kick off and boost her speed to try to get past him, but instead of going around, she tried to jump over him. He moved to the left as she seemed to be moving that way, but he corrected himself once he realized she had jumped. She was much faster than before, but that was still much slower than him. he reached up and grabbed her left ankle and pulled. She hit the floor with a crunch, but instead of favoring her pain, as she did during training, she recover instantly, and kicked out with her right foot, right into his face. He let her ankle go and she darted out the door. Vegeta wiped his face with a laugh, that actually hurt a little. Oh this was going to be fun. he headed out the door, he could feel her energy, and he knew exactly where she was.
"wait!" Dr. Malaka called as he went out the door. "The hospital!" He shouted. Vegeta stopped for a second, "this is the only medical base for light years, and we cannot afford to lose it!" Normally Vegeta would ignore the plea, but he was right. It was a necessity. He nodded once and headed in the direction that Bulma went. He would lure her out of the hospital.
Bulma was running as fast as she could through the hallways. They just kept going and going. She couldn't figure out which way was out, and there weren't any windows. All the doors only lead to another hallway. She finally got fed up and picked a way and started breaking through them. If she broke down enough walls, she would get outside and then she would be free. She was sure that guy was on her heels, and she didn't want him to find her or catch up to her. she hopped she was fast enough to lose him, but in this maze, it was only a matter of time before they crossed patch.
Just as she thought that, she broke through a wall and right into the body of someone. Once she stopped moving she snapped her head up and was looking right into the black eyes of her pursuer. She reacted quickly and tried to use the heel of her hand to break his nose, but he blocked her hit easily. She used her elbow to his ribs as a way to get off him, but he barley register the hit. He had her wrist in his hand and he yanked her towards him as he stood. "you are being a child." He told her, but that only pissed her off. "You have a stranger running after you to do who knows what and then see how you react!" she snapped, using her foot to kick his knee, he didn't even flinch at the kick, and she frowned. "let me go!" she shouted at him. "we have things to discuss." He told her and threw her over his shoulder. he bare ass was in the air as he made his way back towards the room. she started beating on his back as they walked, but he continued to ignore it.
Once they were back in the room, he threw her on the floor, and then tossed a sheet at her. "first, I am much stronger then you and no matter how many times you try to run or fight I will always win." He told her, "second, you and I are companions, and we have a mission to complete." She frowned; there was no way she knew this arrogant jerk! "now, would you like to know your name?" he asked. Her frown turned into a scowl, yes she would, but she didn't want to hear it from him. She wanted to just know it, like everybody else; you should just know your name. "why don't I know it myself?" she sneered. He couldn't help but feel like he was at him, on his planet talking to a real saiyan woman having this conversation. She was every bit the stereo type of a saiyan woman at this moment. "you had a treatment, and this is the side effect." The doctor explained, "I don't know how long it will last and it could be permanent. If you would only just calm down, we could explain everything." He said.
"I am in an unfamiliar place, with strangers who are trying to perform experiments on me, and I am naked, and you are asking me to calm down!" tossed the sheet on the floor, and stood, she needed to get out of here, the walls were closing in on her, and these men were not trying to help her but control her! she looked around the room again, the man standing in front of her, just her high but somehow taller, was smirking at her, as if he was amused by this whole display. She growled at him, she wanted to swipe that smirk right off his face. She looked at the doctor who was still speaking, but she was too busy trying to find a way out. She looked around and then looked up. She squatted on the floor, her hands supporting her as she tried to decide what to do.
"…do you understand me?" the doctor asked. She turned to look at him as she tried to figure out how she could execute her plan without the smirking one following her. she realized that would not be the case. She wrapped her tail around her waist and was ready to power up to the max. she just needed to do it at the right moment.
The doctor watched as Bulma seemed to calm down some, and he hopped that his words were actually getting through to her. she didn't respond to his question, but she seemed to accept his words. Vegeta walked over to a cabinet, but made sure never to put his back to her, and pulled out a set of medical scrubs. "here, cover yourself." He finally said. Not that he didn't enjoy the view, but he thought that she might feel more comfortable dressed, rather than naked and cowering in the corner of the room, more like a wounded animal rather than the confident scientist he knew.
She snatched the cloths from him and dressed quickly. She gave a curt nod in thanks, while Vegeta went back to his place between her and the door. Now that she was dressed, she felt much more calm, being surrounded by men, and naked was not a good feeling, and she was sure that there was a reason for that feeling. She decided to try to redeem some of her dignity and stand, mirroring Vegeta's stance with her arms folded with her back to the wall, she wasn't going to leave that spot, the farther away from them the better.
"now, I can tell you have questions, what do you want to know?" the doctor asked her. Bulma didn't look at him; she kept her eye on Vegeta, as he seemed to be the enforcer here. "what is your name and his?" she asked, lifting her chin in Vegeta's direction. "I am Doctor Malaka; I am a physician here and provided you treatment for a parasite that you contracted while on another world. Your companion here, Prince Vegeta, told me that the only other planet you were on a planet known as Sector 349. Fortunately we were able to find the result of the parasite that your contracted. During your injuries, and before you were placed in the regen tank for healing, you must have contracted it then, your immune system was focused on healing your body more than keeping anything out." The doctor explained.
Bulma didn't have anything to say to that, so she went on with other questions. "and my name?" she asked Vegeta. He considered her silently for a moment. She was calm but she was ready to run if she had to. Her body language was all "flight or fight", this was something he had never actually seen her do, and with her knew found strength, he was sure that she could cause damage while she did it. what amazed him was that she instinctually knew how to use her strength and power to her advantage. Even with the small amount of training he gave her, she was already much more advanced then when they were on the ship. She was aware of everything going on in that room, and she was not allowing anything to distract her, even when listening to the doctor's explanation she didn't take her eyes off him. He found this most interesting that she realized, without even understanding how to feel another person's energy that he was the stronger of the two. This could be because he was the one who brought her back, or she might have already known that from the start.
"Your name is Eruca." Vegeta lied, it was best to keep with the store he told the doctor, for her own protection, internally rolling his eyes at the prospect of even trying to protect her. "your father was a subject of mine. Your mother was human, and she died in child birth, your father raised you, and once we broke away from Frieza, we were companions up until his death. You and I are now companions; you have been my pilot and engineer." He gave the story easily, but the look she gave him told him she was skeptical. "you built my ship." He said. That at least was the truth, and it seemed to allow her to believe what he said. Not that he cared; he was going to come clean to her once they left anyway.
Bulma looked around the room one more time. "I don't recognize that name." she confessed, disappointed. "I would have thought that once I heard my name I would recognize it." Vegeta gave a nod, that made sense. "it was the name your father gave you. He thought it would suit you having a saiyan name." he said. She frowned again. "the doctor said that you are a prince, a prince of what?' she asked. He frowned, irritated that he had to explain, and even more irritated that his title was all but useless here. "I am prince of all the saiyans." He stated matter of factly. She frowned, "is that what I am then, and why I have a saiyan name? so I am half human and half saiyan?" she asked him. "our planet was destroyed, and there are few saiyans left. There are probably a whole band of half-breeds out there. You should be proud and thankful that I took you in after your father perished. Any other would have cast you out once he did." Vegeta snapped. "why? Because I have something you want?" she sneered. "exactly." He confirmed. "don't mistake my hospitality for anything other then what it is." The doctor frowned at Vegeta for that comment; he knew that Vegeta knew that that was a lie.
"well, now, back to more important matters." The doctor interrupted. "now, you have been cleared to leave, which is what I was going to tell you when we came in and you attacked us." The doctor pointed his glare at Bulma, but she only shrugged and looked away. "You were coming at me with needles, what was I supposed to think." She said. "We were only trying to confirm our last test, which was that the parasite had been eliminated. But it seems to be the case as not only are you awake, but you are stronger then when you were admitted, and being saiyan I can summarize that this is due to ZenKai." He said.
Bulma frowned as she thought over that. it was clear on her face she didn't know what he was talking about. The doctor decided not to explain. "now, if you would just let me get one last blood sample, then you can be on your way." He said, he didn't move and waited for her reply. Bulma looked at Vegeta, and then back at the doctor. "We can force it out of you if we need to." Vegeta added. She glared at him. the doctor raised his hand to indicate that Vegeta stop talking. "Humph." He said, folding his arms and looking away. "I don't have all day." He added. The doctor gave him a glare and then turned back to Bulma. "It won't take long and I promise that will be the last time." he said.
Bulma sighed, "Fine, but I don't want any of those luckiest doing it, just you." She said, opining to the medical assistants standing outside ready to either come running in or away from the area. "They won't even enter the room." the doctor promised. Bulma nodded, and the doctor went the cabinet and took what he need. Getting her arm swabbed and the tourniquet, he tried to work as quickly as possible. Getting the sample he needed he bandaged her arm and stood to leave. "I'll just go make sure you are clear and then you can leave."
The doctor left the room and Bulma held her arm staring daggers at Vegeta. "you said I built the ship?" She asked, curious. Vegeta glanced at her, but didn't move, "yes." He said. "what else have I built?" she asked. "All sorts of things." He said vaguely. "what are we doing out here, don't we have a home?" she asked. Vegeta finally looked at her. "we currently reside on Earth, but we are on a mission to gather materials for a better training facility." He said. "Training facility for who?" she asked? Vegeta gave her a look saying that she should know. She shook her head. "are we friends?" she asked, "because I am finding it really hard to believe that I like you enough to call you my friend." She added. Vegeta smirked at her. "no?" he said, walking towards her. she automatically went on the defensive. He stood in front of her, "I trained you." He said, leaning in, "taught you everything you know about hand to hand combat." He said, taking notice of her reaction of his close proximity.
Bulma couldn't help the reaction she had to him, her breathing hitched, and she could feel the heat of his body at being so close to him. Vegeta knew of her attraction before and he was using this to his advantage. "feeling a little out of sorts?" he asked her huskily as he put his hand on the wall behind her. she glared up at him, but couldn't help the flush that had started to creep up her neck and into her cheeks. "I don't know what you're talking about." She said, "oh I think you do." he countered. "Just because someone doesn't like another, doesn't mean they aren't attracted." He said, trailing his finger down her face. Bulma held her breath, afraid that any other action would only make him press forward with his little mind game.
Vegeta looked into her eyes, cold and determined, confident and aroused. He started to lean. He was so close to her, he could smell her breath. He suddenly remembered himself and walked back to his spot at the door. Bulma finally started to breath, and was trying to catch her breath without being noticed, while Vegeta was mentally beating himself for his weaknesses. How could he even think of doing anything with her!
What was wrong with him? crossing that line like that? He was determined, no matter how attracted he was to her to never allow his sexual urges to make his choices for him. If he at any time decided to move forward with anything with that woman, it would be because he consciously chose it, not because he allowed his body to choose for him. if he were alone he would have blasted an entire mountain in his frustration, but he couldn't escape right now because he was waiting for those damned test. Now that he thought if it where was that damned doctor?
Bulma was still trying to understand what had happened; she was having mixed feelings about it all. She wanted him to stop but didn't want him to. She had a feeling that she had wanted attention from him like that for a long time, but for some reason she wasn't getting it. but why? Why be attracted to a man as arrogant and rude as him? She shook her head, where did she get these feeling she obviously had for him, and why did she have them?
The doctor walked in and paused; noticing the shift in tension in the room, but then shook it off and sat in his chair. "the test results were interesting and I think that there is some explaining that needs to happen here." He said, turning to Vegeta. "it seems that your DNA has shifted drastically since we first admitted you." He said, "any reason as to why that would be, Vegeta?" he asked. Vegeta pinched the bridge of his nose; this was getting worse and worse. "No doctor I don't.," he almost sighed. "well, it seems I might have the solution." The doctor said, letting Vegeta know that he didn't believe a word he just said. "Based on the rate of the change, and the way that things are changing, I would have to say that at some point someone put you in a regeneration tank and didn't choose the correct DNA." He said, turning his glare back to Vegeta. "because it seems that human and saiyan DNA are similar, and someone knew it would be compatible, they chose that instead." He said, still glaring at Vegeta. "In most cases, using the wrong DNA on a patient in the region tank can cause death, the body will reject the DNA and they would die, however, for some reason, that I can't explain, this didn't happen to you." He said, Turing to look at Bulma. "you are very lucky." He added. "now, what is her real name and what actually happened."
Vegeta slammed the door behind him and locked it. "this was to protect her." he ground out, hating that he was even saying the words out loud. "her name is Bulma Briefs. She is a scientist from Earth, and we are on a mission to collect Lignite." He said, frustrated. "Why would you need to protect her?" The doctor asked, "The more saiyans together the stronger you are. If anyone thought she was raised that way they would think twice before attacking two adult saiyans." Vegeta grumbled. He was particularly irritated that he had to even admit any of this to anyone. It was one thing to choose to do things on his own, but the doctor wouldn't have let it go, and he was serious when he agreed that this facility had to remain intact. There were only a few of friezes medical bay's left that could actually treat any race there was out there. The doctor nodded. Then sat down. "I assume you are talking about Turles?" He said. Vegeta growled at the sound of that name. "That bastard wants to reinstate Frieza's army; I have no intention of actually participating in that farce!" He snapped. "Walking in his footsteps…" he sneered, "as if I would want to be a successor for a tyrant like that!"
"Your father wasn't much better." The doctor added, "He was already on his way to being a tyrant before he made any treaties with Frieza." Vegeta took a step towards him. "My father was a great king!" He said, "And he was only doing what he needed to in order to expand his empire!" He said, shaking his fist at him.
"Like sending his young son and hair to learn under such a monster." The doctor added. "Enough!" Vegeta Bellowed, "I will not discuss this now or ever." He raged, "Now, you know what truly happened, we are leaving." He said with finality. The doctor sighed. "There are things you don't know or realize." The doctor said sadly. "You can go, you won't be able to leave tonight, we are passing through the sole systems asteroid belt, getting off the planet now will only cause more damage to your ship. I suggest you use this time to get stocked up on what you need and leave at first light." He said, standing.
The doctor opened the door and turned, "your secret is safe with me girl." He said, and left. Bulma was giving Vegeta a look he couldn't place. "What?!" He snapped, she frowned. "Thank you." She said. "Shut up." He said, turning to leave. Bulma followed quickly.
They were out of the hospital and Vegeta naturally went to pick up Bulma but she backed away glaring at him. "We need to fly." He said, taking another step, but she evaded him again. "Woman, stop playing games" he snapped. "You are not carrying me!" She said, backing up again. Vegeta was already angry, and her stubbornness was not something he needed. "Fine!" he said, turning his back on her. "Find your own way to the ship." And he took off in the direction of where he left the ship.
Bulma frowned after him. What a jerk! Leaving her there, couldn't even wait for her to follow. She sighed, flying? She wasn't sure she knew how to do that. She looked around her and saw that there were people around. She didn't want to embarrass herself, so she tried to find a place where she wouldn't be seen. It was best to practice before just jumping in the air.
Taking a deep breath, she jumped as high as she could. She made it a few hundred yards, but still landed on the ground. She tried again, but found she could only jump and not actually stay air born. She decided that she would just go in the direction that Vegeta went and hope that she found him.
Each time she jumped she tried to jump higher than the last, and stay in the air as much as possible. That only caused her to jump higher, not really stay air born. She finally stopped to rest and contemplate what she needed to do to actually stay in the air. After a few moments, she was ready to start again when she smelled something. She looked around, whatever it was it smelled delicious, and from the sound of her stomach, she hadn't eaten anything in some time. She decided that investigating would be best. So she followed her nose to find the culprit of the wonderful smell.
After a short time she found herself in the woods. She could see the fire in the distance and a person sitting on a large log. She stopped and hid a bit as not to alert the person. "Don't lurk, it's not very saiyan like." He said. She frowned. "I wasn't lurking!" She snapped, as she walked over and sat down on the log next to Vegeta as he took another bite of his kill. She looked at the large beast he had somehow chopped up and was rousing in pieces on a large fire. "Wow" she said, her mouth watering. "Eat." He said. Bulma didn't need another invitation, she grabbed the closest thing to her and devoured it. Her moans of pleasure made Vageta shake his head in amusement.
They sat there, for better part of two hours, cooking and eating. The lack of food Vegeta had had on their trip there, and Bulma being unconscious really took a toll on their appetite. Once finished, Bulma stretched and sighed. "That was delicious!" She completed. Vegeta didn't answer, he only stood and started stretching. Since they weren't going to be able to leave tonight, he thought a good training match would be in order, and he had just the right opponent. "Get up." He ordered. She turned at looked at him. "We are going to train." He said as an answer to her unspoken question. "Might as well make the most of our time until the morning." He added. Bulma sighed but got up and stretched. She looked down at her feet. She forgot she was barefoot. "I don't have shoes." She said, offhandedly as she stretched. Vegeta shrugged and remove his battle armor, his boots and his gloves. They were now as equal as they could be.
Bulma sat on the floor to stretch her body, reaching her toes, and then laid down to pull her lags up. She looked up at the sky and saw the shooting stars. She smiled at the beauty of it, and then looked at the moon. It seemed strange, and she got up and walked a few paces out of the forest to see. "Is that an eclipse?" She asked, Vegeta was suddenly beside her, "what?" He asked as he looked up at the sky. "Wow." Bulma said, excited. Vegeta frowned down at her, and then back up at the moon. "Shit." He said, and went back to the fire to collect his things. This was bad, really bad. "That damned doctor!" he snarled putting on his boots, armor, and gloves. If he hurried he could get as far away as he could, and then he would kill that doctor. With that he took off back in the direction of the hospital. Couldn't anything go right on this damn mission? Of course not, because that was always his luck.
AN: Thank you all for the reviews, they make me happy! :) I hope you like this one, we are getting close to some really good stuff, please be patient!
Also, just in case you wanted to know Eruca is a saiyan name I came up with. It is an edible plant known as Eruca Sativa. Trying to keep with the tradition! :D