10
Breakfast the next morning was fairly quiet and subdued until it was time for Vegeta and Bulma to go down to training. Piccolo spoke as he walked them to the elevator, "Don't show off. You'll want something special to show the Judges at the end of the week. And stay close to each other. I want you two to stick together until I tell you otherwise. I know that ya'll aren't supposed to fight with the others until the Arena, but that rule doesn't always stop Competitors from trying to make their opponents an easy target. Or easier in your case Blue." Bulma nodded as she stepped into the elevator and as Vegeta moved to follow her, Piccolo grabbed his arm and whispered in his ear, "I've got a good idea on your plan. You better be a really great actor, so pay attention to her." Grunting as he jerked his arm away, Vegeta glared at their Sensei until the doors blocked him from view.
There's no way he knows. Not yet anyway. But he's right, if this is going to work I'm going to need to… play Her. Vegeta scowled to himself, As much as I hate admit it, if she knew the plan she might not let me die so she can win. She'll have to be kept in the dark 'til the last possible moment; and I'll have to bring the Drunk in on it so he can help us in the Arena. Vegeta jumped slightly when Bulma put her hand on his arm, "Are you alright? If you're upset about Piccolo telling us to stay together then we don't have too. I'm sure I'll be ok on my own." "No." Vegeta growled, "Not with the way that Zarbon from Region 2 was looking at you last night. It'll be best if we stick together. I'm just trying to figure out how I'm going to train without showing what I can do." Her eyebrows furled at that, "Wouldn't the simplest way be to avoid anything archery related?" Glancing at her out of the corner of his inky black eye, he smirked, "I know more than just how to shoot, Woman." With that he stepped out of the elevator, not looking to see if Bulma had followed but still knowing that she was.
Around the huge cavernous-like room there was different stations scattered around the outer edge of the room. In the middle were training obstacle courses to test and improve one's strength, speed, and flexibility. On one side there was a railing and a plush-looking lounge area with a buffet table along the back wall for a bunch of men, some old and some young but they were all unmistakably Capitalists. Vegeta eyed the archery station and the obstacle courses approvingly but his usual scowl kept in place, It's a crying shame I'll never get to truly use those. Or show these losers what a true Saiyan warrior can do.
Bulma pulled a reluctant Vegeta towards the group of competitors standing around a platform in the middle of the room. The woman on the platform noticed them coming towards the rest of the group, "Finally. Now that 12's Competitors are here, we can get started. My name is Maron and my job is to prepare you for the Arena." Maron had blue hair, similar to Bulma's, but if was obviously a dye-job since her blond roots were beginning to show. She was fit and used to fighting and training, seeing as this was not her first Game as Training Instructor.
"Now pay attention to what I'm about to tell you, it might just save your life." Maron continued in a solemn, bubbly voice, "In two weeks, 23 of you will be dead. One of you will be the Winner. Want some advice? Don't ignore the survival skill stations. I know everyone want to grab a weapon, but the Arena may kill you before you can use it. In the past, 10 percent of Competitors have died from infection, another 20 percent die from dehydration. Exposure can kill you just as easily as a knife. And finally, there is to be NO fighting with the other Competitors. Save that for the Arena. At the end of these four days you will go before the Judges," Maron gestured towards to lounge, "one at a time and you will get to showcase a special skill you learned to them. Remember, the more impressed they are the high your score and a better shot at Supporters. Good luck and remember to have fun!" Maron quickly hopped off the platform because she knew that the Competitors from Region 2 usually liked to start on the sparing platform to intimidate the others.
Just like Maron expected, Zarbon, the boy from Region 2, jumped onto the platform where a trainer in a padded body suit was waiting to spar with whoever wanted to fight. Vegeta watched as Zarbon traded blows with the trainer, the poor trainer taking more hits than he was giving because of the padding. He's definitely going to be a problem. Vegeta mused as he followed Bulma to the campfire station. It annoyed him that even the instructor assigned to this station didn't know how to build a proper fire or any other way to light one without a match, so Vegeta set about teaching Bulma the best way to place the wood, the different types of materials that can be used as kindling, and how to start it with both flint and friction. Once Vegeta was sure that she could light fire even in the rain, they moved on to the snare station. Even Vegeta knew that he would need to know this skill; especially if he didn't get a bow.
The two teens moved around the different stations and courses throughout the four days they could train, specifically avoiding anything that remotely had to do with archery, strength, or inventiveness. Although they kept returning to the camouflage station because of Bulma's persuasiveness. And she was actually really good at it too. On the last day of training before the Judging, Vegeta found her at the camo station again.
"Why are you back here Woman? Shouldn't you be spending your time learning something that will actually be of use?" He scowled at his blue-haired companion while she was bent over a table doing something to her arm. "This could be useful Vegeta. See?" Bulma snapped back as she stood up and walked over to a tree a few feet away, placing her arm against it. Vegeta thought he must have blinked, because one moment Bulma's arm was there and the next it wasn't. Staring wide-eyed at her, he stammered, "Wha… I… Wh… How?" How did you get so good so fast?
Coyly smiling at his shock, Bulma shrugged, "It's not too much different then inventing. And I always did kind of liked painting when we did it in school. Think of it as painting and inventing got married and had a baby and named it Camouflage; that's what I do." Just then Vegeta felt unfriendly eyes on him, he turned to see Zarbon and Dodoria glaring at him and Bulma.
Vegeta had subtly watched his two biggest threats the whole time during training. He knew that Zarbon had not only brute strength and size going for him, but he was also adept at almost any weapon, especially swords. And while Dodoria looked like she would be slow, she was rather fast despite her wider than-most-girth, and very accurate when throwing knives; even if they were not balanced correctly for throwing.
Grabbing Bulma's non-camouflaged hand, Vegeta practically dragged her to the elevator. As they were waiting for their ride back to their floor, a bubbly voice called out, "And where do you two think you're going?" Unsuccessfully trying to yank her arm free, Bulma questioned, "Where are we going Vegeta?" Vegeta kept his tight grip on Bulma as he turned to answer Maron, "It's the last day of training, if you can call this training, and I'm not going to be the one to break the rules. So it's either let us leave early or risk three Competitors fighting before the Game." Well, that shut the Training Instructor up and just then the elevator arrived, Vegeta quickly jerked Bulma inside with him and punched their floor number with his fist.
Finally releasing his constricting hold on her wrist, Vegeta crossed his arms and scowled. He didn't have to wait long for Bulma to start asking questions. "Why did you make me leave?" "Because if those two from 2 were going to fight me, I wasn't about to lose. But I would've been hurt and then I wouldn't've been able to protect you. Plus I would have had to show everyone that I know how to fight." He shrugged, not sure why she would ask such a thing.
"But why did you make me leave?" She pressed again. Vegeta slammed his fist against the metal doors and growled, "You were the reason we were about to fight! Don't tell me you weren't paying attention! Zarbon has been eyeing you like a cut of prime meat since the Parade!" Bulma shrank back, even though she knew he would never hurt her, mumbling at the floor, "I hadn't noticed." Taking a deep breath to calm down, Vegeta ground out as the doors opened, "Of course not."
Vegeta ignored Bulma the rest of the day, spending it either training in his room or up in the rooftop garden. But as they sat next to each other in the hallway the next day, awaiting their turn to show their skill to the Judges, Vegeta found that he could ignore her no longer. When the boy from Region 11 left, Vegeta knew it would be fifteen minutes before he would have the quiet he needed to get ready.
"Why have you been ignoring me Vegeta? Was it something I said? Or did?" Bulma inquired. Man am I glad you're not a mind reader. Vegeta sighed, "You haven't done anything Woman. I needed to have some peace and quiet before I blew up and hurt someone." He paused for a beat before shaking his head and continued, "When you get done, wait for me by my door. There's something I want to show you." Bulma nodded, "Ok." An electronic voice called out, "Bulma Briefs." Slowly standing, Bulma started towards the door at the end of the hall. "Bulma." Vegeta called out, causing her to turn and look at him, "Knock them dead. Show them what a Briefs can do." Smiling at him, Bulma nodded and walked through the door with a confidence only she could possess; because she was Bulma Briefs.
"Vegeta Saiyan." Now's my time to shine. I'll just stick to the bow. No need for them to know everything I can do. Vegeta sauntered through the door like he owned the place, as he should; he the Prince of All Saiyans after all. Barely sparing the Judges a passing glance, he noticed that the Game Master was there today. But they were of no consequence, Vegeta's goal was the metallic royal blue bow in the center of the room. Picking it up, he nocked an arrow with practiced ease, pulled the arrow back, took aim, and fired.
There was mumbled words from the Judges but Vegeta couldn't hear them as he stared, mouth agape, at the arrow… that was nowhere near the center of the target. NO! How did I miss? I never miss! He shot another arrow and this time he hit his mark. Smirking proudly, Vegeta gazed up at the Judges lounge and saw that they had missed his perfect shot. They were more interested in the roasted pig that had just be brought to the buffet table. If they're so interested in that stupid pig, then I'll just have to show them how much better I am them some dead, stuffed pig!
Unable to control himself, Vegeta unleashed one last arrow. Straight at the apple in the dead pig's mouth. All the Judges jumped back, exclaiming in shock at the arrow pinning the shiny red apple to the wall. Now that he finally had their undivided attention, Vegeta stood tall, proclaiming, "I am the Prince of all Saiyans! And I will not be ignored! Especially in favor of a dead pig!" With his peace said, Vegeta stalked out, slinging the bow to the ground as he went. The green-haired man with pale skin and clean-shaven face smiled at the teen as he left. This would be a very good Game indeed.