CHAPTER 9

Chaos. Just total and widespread chaos.

Bulma flew through what looked to be a war-torn battlefield. Everything that was once standing was now reduced to rubble. Buildings gone. Mountains leveled. Trenches blown into the ground for kilometers on end. Bulma knew with such devastation around her that she must be close to finding Goku, and given the amount of destruction around her, Frieza.

Oh dear Kami…look at this place…

You could almost hear the whispers of death from all around. It was so ominous it sent chills up Bulma's spine. Every ounce of her self-preservation screamed at her to flee, to run, and to get away as fast as possible, but she had a mission to accomplish. She needed to find Goku, and she needed to be the buffer when Vegeta found out the truth about the dragon balls. It had been about an hour now since she departed the area where she was stranded, and something felt very wrong.

Something's wrong…something's just not right…

Bulma scanned the terrain around her as she slowly kept traveling low. She came upon a ship, one of Frieza's, but it was obviously deserted. This was evident because the bodies of the original occupants where laying all around it. They were mangled and blown to bits. Bulma choked back the sight, and made her way towards the ship. She gazed upon the dead, and inwardly she felt just a hint of sadness for them.

Bulma whispered, "All these races of aliens…and they're all subservient to Frieza." She looked them over a bit more and shook her head. Her mind wandered to Vegeta, and she thought about his resolve to kill Frieza, and to become a free man out from under Frieza's tyranny. Vegeta was Hell bent on claiming freedom, and as Bulma looked around at the sight before her, she felt her inner cheerleader actually rooting that Vegeta made good on his promise to kill Frieza in case Goku wasn't able to do so. For everyone's sake.

So sad. Probably enslaved young, and given no hope of ever knowing what freedom felt like.

Bulma continued her advancement on the ship. If things went bad, this would be a good contingency plan to get off the planet. Bulma closed in as she carefully looked around for any signs of survivors, but she could tell that no one was left alive. She stood at the entrance and listened for any sounds of life. Nothing. Bulma surveyed the outside of the ship. It wasn't round like the characteristic ship that Frieza had, so this may have been a ship commandeered during their travels. It looked more modern, shuttle-like, comparable to the ones she crafted at Capsule Corps. Bulma entered the ship and looked around cautiously. She didn't understand any of the inscriptions, but she was able to figure out that this ship was a cargo scouting ship. As she went through she took note of the inventory, and concluded that it was only meant to accommodate 4 persons at max. As she moved inside she found herself in a corridor, or something like a staging area that had the most space when compared to the rest of the ship. To her left about 3 meters was a step that led down into the pilot's area.

Alright then…

There was the flight deck where a pilot and copilot seat were placed, with a window directly in front to see where the ship was heading. It looked comfortable for long trips, and wasn't much room across—maybe 4 meters. On the right side of the co-pilot's chair, once you stepped up out of the cockpit was an opening the size of a standard door which led to a small hallway lined with was could be best described as glass. It was a small area that looked to be a lookout on the side of the ship with only one way in, and the same way out. She imagined what the view would be from this small dead-end corridor looking out into space. "I bet that this was aesthetic for the crew in a way…a change of scenery—maybe?"

She backtracked through the ship and found a room directly in front of the main gathering area. As she entered, she noted that it was full of crates. "I wonder what's in here." Bulma's curiosity got the best of her as she opened a few of the crates. They held armor, textiles, and a few other unremarkable items for use on long journeys. There was an adjoining room which looked to be some sort of shower and perhaps a restroom. Surprisingly for a communal ship, it was quite private. There was a shower head, and an area that could best be described as a toilet.

A space toilet…huh…

It only made sense. Even in space when nature calls, you answer. Bulma turned around and exited this room and found herself back into the main area. She headed to the back of the ship where she discovered another room that housed 4 giant columns of water. Next to that was a column with a few buttons on it, a keypad, and a slot about the size of a microwave oven. Bulma looked it over, careful not to touch it. It was also seated next to a few other pieces of unidentified machinery. There was a door that led back into the room with the cargo, but had so many crates piled up you couldn't see it.

"I wonder what this is…" As much as Bulma stared at it she couldn't quite figure out what it was for. "…doesn't matter I guess."

Across that room was an area that was definitely a utility room. The functions and operations of the ship could be found there, as well as a floor panel that could be removed to access underneath the ship to repair, replace, or perhaps upgrade equipment as needed. She took a peek at the deck below, and found it was a small area good enough to use as a work bench, but nothing more.

She moved to the last room which was blatantly obvious to be the quarters for anyone on the ship. It contained 2 bunk beds, one on each side of the room no larger than a twin sized mattress. The room wasn't big, and maybe the size of a small dormitory bedroom. It was approximately 4 meters by 3 meters wide with the far wall also comprised of a transparent glass substance. Obviously it was optimized for space travel. Bulma went back to the piloting area and took a glimpse of the controls. She held in a giggle because they really did look like the controls out of every space movie Earth had ever produced. Who knew Earth would get it right? The craft seemed in excellent condition which bode well in case of emergency.

Silently Bulma exited the spacecraft, and marked its position via GPS with her bracer. If shit went down, then she was headed this way. "Alright ship…looks like you're my Plan B if all goes insanely bad at once!" The out of nowhere came a rumble, and then the rumble turned into a vibration, and that vibration got stronger, and stronger, and stronger. It became so strong that Bulma flew into the air a few feet just to get away from this massive quake. But it didn't stop. Even the air held a violent vibration. Bulma's stress levels began to rise.

What is that?!

A light exploded in the distance, and the shockwave blew across the terrain and hit her before she had time to even react. She was tossed through the air like a paper bag in a hurricane, and landed tens of meters away. Bulma sat up as the dust and debris rolled off her suit. "What the Hell was that?!"

Bulma took to the air to see where this energy had come from. It wasn't hard to pinpoint once she gained her bearings. In the distance she could see a fight ensuing, and it was a powerful fight at that.

Goku…

Without hesitation Bulma sped in the direction of this battle. There was no doubt that it was her friend, and that meant that there was a good change that Frieza was behind that attack that blasted her from so far away. Bulma placed her hands on the pocket which contained the senzu beans, and kept her focus to getting to her friends. She didn't fly long before another shockwave blasted at her, this time she made it to the ground just in time to take cover behind a large mound of terrain that had been carved through by a large blast of energy. The air sped around her as she stayed low avoiding unnecessary flying debris, and potential hazards flying through the air at breakneck speed.

It wasn't long before the fight that was quite a distance away was now practically right on top of her. This time for sure it was Goku in heated exchange with Frieza, except he looked different. His hair…and his eyes…is he a Super Saiyan? The ground ripped apart from underneath them as lakes and streams were blasted into oblivion at each passing blow. The planet began to rumble. It looked like an apocalypse, and she was right in its epicenter. Once more Bulma found herself looking for the one right opportunity to engage with her friend, without being discovered by Frieza. "Regardless…Looks like I'm teleporting…again…"

Bulma looked at her bracer. She was at 100%. Good. Now, she just needed to find her opportunity. She could see Goku as he unleashed everything he had on this monster named Frieza. It didn't seem to do any good, but she knew that all Goku had to do was outlast Frieza, especially given his newfound power level. This senzu bean could be the difference between failure or success. Bulma reached into her pocket, and pulled out 1 bean. There was no point in trying to give Goku 3 beans because if Goku couldn't defeat Frieza with 1…then 3 might not even make the difference. All it would do is just keep him alive long enough to die later.

Blasts came out of every direction, and it was all Bulma could do to juke and dodge incoming fire from around her. She looked up once again to see a break in the action. Goku's face was tired, but he still has so much resolve in him to win. She could see it in his face that he knew he'd win the fight, but he just didn't know how. She grinned a bit. I'm gonna be your 'how' Goku! Then it appeared almost as if the angels themselves where spreading apart the Heaven's for her entry. She saw her opportunity. The battle had ceased as Frieza began to lecture Goku. She had to go now.

Now.

NOW.

NOW!

In an instant Bulma teleported in front of Goku surprising him, and Frieza. She looked him in his big blue eyes, and stuffed a senzu bean in his mouth. "Go get him, Goku!" In another flash she was gone, teleporting back to the ground to an area away from her origination. Goku rolled his tongue in his mouth, and felt the familiar presence of a senzu bean. Goku smiled, and looked at Frieza with a newfound resolve. Bulma…you crazy, crazy, genius! He didn't chew it, yet, but he sure felt revived knowing he had an ace up his sleeve. Frieza on the other hand was not happy about this sudden appearance of a woman, and then as quick as she appeared she was gone. He concluded that her interference did not bode well for him, and he was determined to snuff her out for even getting in between his fight with Goku.

Bulma was now back on the ground hiding behind anything that she could find cover. She looked at her bracer: 50%. Well, 2 teleportations, and half her energy was spent. She had to be smart about how she used the rest of her energy especially that she was in Frieza territory. She could see—and feel—Goku and Frieza begin their battle once again. She jumped over a few more large mounds of dirt before she felt another shockwave of energy coming her way. She moved to the side and crouched down as the wind and debris was blown past her at blinding speeds. She opened up her com-link, and called out to her friends, "Guys, it's done! Summon the dragon! Hurry!"

There was no reply. Once again she radioed her friends, "Krillin…Gohan…do you read me?!" Nothing once more. Another blast sent dirt and debris her way. She needed to put some more distance between her and this fight, but she was still well hidden enough to wait for a better opportunity to flee. Her radio crackled to life, and to Bulma's relief she heard the familiar voice of Gohan, "Bulma! We are here! We ran into trouble—bad trouble—!" Bulma's relief turned back into a panic as Gohan was cut off from the radio. "GOHAN?!" The radio crackled alive with the sound of his voice, "Sorry Bulma…we need to summon the dragon!" Bulma was in agreeance, however, probably for different reasons. Both groups ran into trouble, and it was obvious that they could wait no longer. "Yes, Gohan, go for it!"

Bulma crouched once again to avoid the rushing blast of wind that escaped the ferocious battle in the sky. But when lifted her gaze up her eyes rested on a figure lying roughly 50 yards away. The figure was motionless, and lay there covered in dirt and debris. She squinted her eyes, and gasped when the realization of who it was hit her.

"Vegeta…"

Bulma saw the Saiyan Prince lying on the ground covered in blood. She looked up at Goku and Frieza to see how far away they were, and fortunately they had moved far enough away that she felt she was not in any imminent danger. She moved cautiously over to his body, lying motionless across the dirt and stones. Finally, she made it to his right side only to witness one of the most horrific sights she had ever seen.

Vegeta was torn up. Blood covered much of his body, and his armor was in ruins. Any and all exposed skin was covered in blood and dirt, his left cheekbone was broken from blunt force impact, and she could visibly see where his ribs were broken. His eyes were closed, his mouth barely parted open. His left arm was draped to his side, and his right hand clutching the dirt underneath. She studied his face and body for any signs of life, and she found none. She examined his chest, and just over where his heart would be a large hole was blown through as if a laser had punctured him from the front. It wasn't bleeding since it was cauterized from the blast, but there was no way that a wound like that wouldn't be fatal.

Bulma felt a wave of sadness wash over her. The only full-blooded Saiyan left aside from Goku was now gone, and now there would never be a chance for Goku to learn of the planet that had forsaken him so many years ago, assuming Vegeta would ever disclose such information without trying to kill him. She knelt beside his body, her feet underneath her as she sat and surveyed the Saiyan Prince. Her left hand pressed against the hard ground, and with her right hand she gently touched his chest.

"You were fighting for your freedom, weren't you, Vegeta?"

She guided her hand up to gently move the hair away from his face that was stuck to him by his own blood. She felt so much sadness for the Saiyan Prince. Multiple times he had attempted to kill them and failed. Then, he had multiple chances to kill her and her friends, but didn't. She didn't know why he chose to spare them—most likely to aid in finding the dragon balls. One thing that was obvious was his resolve to kill Frieza became his top priority.

"Enslaved by a tyrant for all these years—it's no wonder you weren't anything like Goku…" She spoke to his lifeless body as if she was waiting for a response she knew would never come, "…at least Goku was given a chance…you never had a chance, did you?" Bulma wondered what Goku would have been like if they had never met, if he would be a warrior destined to destroy Earth, and follow orders blindly. She looked at Vegeta, and shook her head softly, "I wonder if your life would have been different if you had us, instead of them." The wind blew without prejudice as the dust swirled in the air, and the planet continued to pulsate from the ensuing fight behind her.

"How about I get you off this stupid planet…even I can't let this be your final resting place."

Without any warning her statement went answered when Vegeta's right hand grabbed Bulma's startling her almost to death. She would've screamed, but it was even more shocking that he was still alive. He's alive?!

She looked at him in complete shock, and he was barely able to open his eyes to look at her.

"…y-you…"