After saying good morning to Kakkarot, Chi-Chi slowly opened the doors to the Princess' suite. She was thinking about the great discussion she had with Kakkarot when she turned around and caught sight of a bedraggled Bulma.

She jumped. "Oh, dear. You scared me." She smiled. "Did you have a good run?" She threw down her light jacket. "I finally, finally convinced Kakkarot to leave you be. I knew you wanted some time alone. Although, I can't imagine why after hearing the story about that poor woman and her children." She shook her head at the thought.

"I heard you and I thank you." Bulma stated while staring straight ahead.

Chi-Chi paused and then placed herself within Bulma's line of vision. "You OK?" She knelt in front of her. Bulma was sitting on the bed. "You look a little... stressed." The Princess narrowed her eyes. "No," Chi-Chi corrected herself. "Angry. What's the matter?"

"I ran into him."

Chi-Chi sighed heavily. "Is that all? Goodness, girl, you had me worried."

"Is that all?" She repeated. "Isn't that enough?"

"But I thought you two were getting along..."

"No, not really. He's still as stubborn and prideful as anything."

Chi-Chi rolled her eyes to the ceiling. What has that man done now?

Bulma answered her unspoken question. "He asked me for my help in building something. I-I'm not sure if I'm at liberty to say or not. It's for Freiza."

Chi-Chi's eyes widened. "Lord Freiza? Oh my."

"Exactly my thoughts. It was strange for that monster to request this kind of help fromVegeta-sei, of all planets. Sure, they're strong, but they're not the smartest people in the Galaxy."

Chi-Chi nodded.

"Anyway, I suggested that my father come here and help me. I couldn't work on a projectthat big alone."

Chi-Chi interrupted. "And why not?"

"I-It's just too big. I wouldn't even know where to start! Anyway, there seemed to be something he wasn't telling me. His eyes were... different. Almost like he was... flat out lying. Which I wouldn't put past him." She scoffed.

Chi-Chi took a seat beside Bulma on the bed. "Hmm, interesting."

"My thoughts exactly."

Chi-Chi shuffled her feet a moment and tried not to look too happy. She still had Kakkarot on the brain. With the Princess so down-trodden it wouldn't be polite to be ecstatic. "So... are you confined here then?" Guessing why the Princess was looking all angry and upset, sitting quietly on the bed instead of out running, after she had seen the Prince was something easily done.

The Princess shrugged. "For the time being. Apparently Freiza will be arriving here soon. Vegeta didn't want me wondering the halls alone."

Chi-Chi nodded in understanding. "I see."

"I must confess that I'm a little worried."

"Why?" She asked.

"Well," Bulma stood and began pacing. "I'm worried because of what Vegeta said. He said that Freiza ordered him to work on-" she stopped herself and glanced at Chi-Chi who was looking on expectantly. "To work on this project. He said it wasn't done yet. He had asked me to help. What do you think will happen when Freiza arrives here and finds his project not even started? I assume it's not even started yet, that is."

"Not anything good." Chi-Chi confirmed quietly.

"No. Definitely not." She sat back down. "I-I don't even know where to start. This machine, this project, can't be built in a few days time! Why did he stall and wait until the very last possible moment?" She looked to her companion to provide the answer.

Chi-Chi shrugged. "I don't know, honey. It doesn't make sense. Kakkarot didn't sayanything. Those two are constantly together, or aware of each other, from what I gather. It's Kakkarot didn't say anything to us. To me."

"Strange how? What if he was 'sworn to secrecy?'" Bulma scoffed.

Chi-Chi grinned. "Did you see how well he was keeping the other secrets we weren't supposed to know about?"

Bulma laughed. "I suppose that's true. Except for the big secret about the former Queen."

"Yes, he didn't sayanything about that. In fact, after he mentioned it, he almost looked pained. Like he was going to hang for even bringing it up. Even though he didn't say anything!" Chi-Chi exclaimed.

Bulma nodded and crinkled her nose in concentration. What's the big deal? You'd think a Queen of her caliber would be honored... It must be a sore subject indeed for the Prince, if his right-hand-man won't mention it. Even when he's not present. Strange indeed... Thought the Princess.

Chi-Chi clapped her hands on her thighs and said, "Well, I suppose all we can do is wait and see. We're stuck here for the time being."

"Yes." Bulma breathed. "Yes, I suppose."

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"So?" Raditz asked as Vegeta stormed into the training room. "What did she say?"

"She can't help. Sorry, friend, your plan seems to have failed."

Raditz threw a weight over his shoulder and exhaled heavily. "I thought for sure she'd be able to help us." After that outburst at breakfast, he had been almost hopeful. Almost. He had learned neverto rely on or trust in others. He was going against his own Cardinal rule. He was almost hopeful.

Vegeta grunted and took Raditz' place at the bench press. He started with a grueling amount of weights. Raditz spotted, needlessly, lost in thought. He opened his mouth and shut it again several times, wondering if he should persist. He decided, 'Yes.'

"How did you approach her with it?" In reality Raditz was really fishing for how much information Vegeta had passed on to her and if she was to be trusted with it.

"She thinks it's the project Freiza wanted done nearly a week ago."

"Oh," Raditz said. As sudden realization struck him, though, and he was shocked. "That still isn't done yet?"

Vegeta closed his eyes in frustration and slammed the bar that he was lifting down hard.

"Vegeta!" Raditz continued. "Do you realize that you bring this down on all of us?"

Vegeta sat up and looked at the man positioned behind him. "I'm aware."

"Really? Because I don't think you are. This could mean our asses, Vegeta. No, scratch that. It does mean our asses."

"That lizard doesn't need any more advantages over us." The Prince stated sharply. With that he got up and began pacing the floor. "He's already legions of times stronger and commands an amazing army."

"You can't be serious? You're doing this deliberately?" Raditz was astonished. "I-I can't believe this! I could give you a little sympathy, not much, but a little if it was simply your being apathetic. But, damn it! Stop being so damned stubborn."

Vegeta, for once, was at a loss for words.

"How dare you bring this on us. Kakkarot, my father,yours." Raditz scoffed. "Even that pretty young Princess you've brought here. Do you have any idea what Freiza will do to her given the circumstances?"

Vegeta stopped pacing and stared at him, his mouth slightly open.

"Exactly." Raditz finished. "You didn't think this through very well. Although, I give you some credit. You didn't know the girl before you decided to do this. You were, however, planning to screw us over!" Raditz lifted the entire weight machine and thrust it into the air. It crash landed into the nearest support beam, shaking the entire room.

Vegeta didn't say a word.

Raditz just stared at him hard. There was a long silence stretching across the unusually cool room. Without constant movement, you nearly became an icicle in there. Finally Vegeta sighed out loud and began to speak.

"I have our techs working on it now. What else do you suggest?"

Raditz let out a small, bitter laugh. "Nothing. What can be done about it? We've exhausted all possible means. I assume our intelligence is far fromintelligent enough to pull this off in a few days. And the Princess is useless here, as you've said."

Vegeta winced. "Well, at least that tyrant won't live forever." He mused.

"Yes, because we sure as hell won't. Our life span is dwindling. I suggest you pack up that girl of yours and ship her out." Raditz stalked out of the room and down the hall.

Vegeta let out a frustrated yell and slammed his fist into the nearest wall.

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Idiot! Raditz thought. How could he be so senseless? He was outside now. Pacing along a riverbed. What are we going to do? Freiza will be here any day now. Raditz thought back on all the times Freiza had shown up either late or early, just to shake them up. They were constantly on their toes when something involved that tyrant. And rarely anything else in the Universe didn't. There was virtually no set arrival time when it came to Freiza.

"What the hell has he done?"

I should tell Bardock.Raditz decided. Vegeta isn't going to like my revealing our plans to him. He thought.

He'll get over it. He decided. This needs to be sorted. Now.

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Vegeta walked into the throne room expecting to find his father. Instead he came face to face with Marie.

Great. He thought.

"Why, young Prince." She addressed him. "How nice of you to visit me."

Vegeta ground out the proper words to appeal to this impostor. "I was looking for my father, actually." He said with a slight bow. What he really wanted to say was, 'What the hell are you doing here?' but that would have been rude. He mentally rolled his eyes.

"Oh?" She questioned. "Why?"

"Freiza is due here soon. I was seeking his arrival date."

"Oh, right." She waved a hand dismissively. "He'll be here sometime next week. You're father should be home then too."

Vegeta's eyes widened. "He's left again?"

"Yes. He left after second breakfast. Why do you think I'm the one in here?" She held out her open palms for emphasis.

Great. Vegeta thought. Wonderful. That idiot probably got wind that the project wasn't done and split to avoid confrontation. 'Let the son deal with it all.' Coward. Somewhere in the back of the Prince's mind, someone reminded him that it was his project all along.

"Do you have anythingother than a guess?" Vegeta snarled at the woman.

"No. I don't. That is all I overheard. Your father was communicating with him and then shot the feed when I walked in. Sorry, dear." She turned away from him and glanced at her nails. Vegeta didn't ever feel that she actually meant the endearments she saddled him with.

He sensed that that was all he was going to get out of her. He left the throne room, intending to collect his woman down the hall. The datewith his future wife would come early. I need a day of distractions. He looked up at a passing clock. How did I miss first lunch? It's already twenty-fourth hour. He sighed, approaching her door. Only eight hours left of daytime. A short day will have to do.

Turning a corner he made it to her quarters. He knocked loudly on her door.

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Fifteen minutes later, Bulma found herself in the center of a rather large arena positioned about three meters from a small door exiting the back end of the Palace.

"This is where all the fighting takes place? You actually hold tournaments?" She was astounded. She didn't know the Saiyans had a sport. Of course, if it was anything it would be fighting.

"Yes. The Royals don't get involved." Vegeta answered. "This is for the soldiers and others who wish to partake."

She ran her hand along one of the corner posts. The area was huge. About five times the size of her room. It was all open, the only things standing erect being the four posts on either corners.

"Just two opponents?"

"Yes." Vegeta was watching her from a distance. Admiring her, like he always did. Loving the way her hair circled around her hips. He was so lost in thought, he almost didn't hear her next question. In fact, she may have repeated herself.

"Do any women ever fight?"

He walked towards her. "There are separate leagues for women, yes." He confirmed. "Why? Thinking of trying out?" He chuckled.

Bulma had forgiven him, for the moment, their encounter in the hall. She was determined not to be upset until she uncovered some things about his character. Why he was the way he was. Perhaps he has reasons to be so over-protective...

"Royals aren't allowed." She smiled teasingly.

"That's right." He replied. "So, don't even think about it." He smirked, enjoying their bantering.

She paused and turned slightly so that he could see her face. "One thing should be clear between us." Her eyes flashed with humor. "When you tell me to do or not to do something, I automatically either will do what you told me not to, or refuse what you demand of me."

He smiled and replied, "That's why we're destined to be together." He stepped up closer to her. "I push,"

"And I push back." She finished, placing her hand on his chest and giving him a light shove.

He let her push him away and he chuckled as she sauntered out of his reach staring up at the beams.

"What else goes on here? Just fights?" She turned to him curiously. "And be honest," She said, holding up her hand before he could utter a word.

Sighing heavily he turned and looked out over the hard metal tiles that made the flooring of the arena. "I don't know if you'd want me to be." He muttered.

"I heard that. And I'd like to know."

He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye.

She had gained his attention. "However horrible it may seem." She gave him a smile for reassurance, but what she was really doing with preparing herself for the harshness of the reality that she expected. Again, the stories of the Prince and what occurred on Vegeta-sei came rushing back to her, clouding her mind's eye with images best not described.

Vegeta completely turned his back on her, not daring to look at her beautiful face, while thinking back on the events that prevailed upon the flat landscape. "I think you've likely heard the horrible stories." He mocked.

The pause hung in the air so long that Bulma felt the need to urge him on, thinking he wouldn't continue. Impatience was one of the virtues she just could not smother. "Are they true?" She asked timidly.

He uttered one simple word, so quiet, Bulma wasn't sure if she had heard it or imagined it. "Yes." He said, but he seemed distracted. Vegeta looked over towards the back door from which they had exited

Bulma had no time to dissect what he said or ask any more questions. She glanced in the direction of what had captured Vegeta's attention. Exiting the back doorway were a trio of rather large Saiyans, clad in armor, heading right for them. She felt a thrill of fear rising in her chest, but it slowly ebbed away after she realized it was Kakkarot, Raditz, and Bardock.

Bardock looked upset.

"What are you three doing here?" Vegeta barked. He didn't like being interrupted. Things were going rather smoothly. She seemed to have forgotten the way he treated her in the hall. It was obvious to her that she'd get no apology, but he could tell that he was winning her over. Slowly but surely. He was trying to make her forget the incident in the hallway had ever happened, or any incident before that for that matter. He had to, considering what the old man standing before him had said... and threatened.

The old Vegeta would have said a few more choice words to him and then did whatever he wanted with the girl on his wedding night, Bardock or no. Of course, it wasn't likely that she'd resist anyway...

"Raditz informed me of something." Bardock answered. "Something of importance that needs to be discussed." He snapped.

Bulma stayed quiet and in the background. If she interjected, or made herself known, she'd likely be towed back to her room. She wanted to stay and listen. After all, in a couple of days, what concerned Vegeta-sei and Vegeta himself concerned her too.

Vegeta glared at the taller, more intimidating man. Bulma didn't think that any other Saiyan, or being, could be more intimidating than the Prince. She was proved wrong. Raditz looked very intimidating... and well-built... from where she stood.

"Traitor." Vegeta accused him.

Raditz just deepened his glare.

"Come off it, Vegeta!" Bardock yelled. "How could you be so senseless as to leave that project hanging?"

Bulma fought the urge to cover her ears.

Vegeta broke the stare with Raditz and snapped his eyes to the older Saiyan. "That's twice now someone has in sulted me. The next one who does it, gets their jaw broken."

No one said a word for a while. Bulma could tell that Bardock was trying to calm himself down, perhaps to avoid saying anything that might upset the Prince. Raditz still said nothing and Kakkarot stood in the background, arms crossed, and dumbfounded.

He has no clue. She thought.

Bulma recognized the shock on his face. It wasn't from being indignant or upset. He was genuinely surprised that he didn't know something that the other two had known.

It's only a matter of time before he breaks in. Bulma thought. She smiled at him, loving his innocence. He was too preoccupied to notice.

"And instead? A gravity machine?" Bardock asked incredulously. "Really? He had to tell me a couple times." He threw a thumb back at Raditz. "I couldn't believe it." Bardock glanced at his son standing beside him. "I mean, I knew that you two always had strange ideas dealing with science, mathematics, and the like. I never expected this. I gotta be honest." He paused. "I'm quite impressed. I just wish the two of you would have thought of it sooner..."

Bulma pulled her eyebrows together and gasped. They invented the idea?They came up with it? It's not Freiza's project...?

Vegeta looked stunned. He was expecting another insult, or more yelling. He didn't expect to be rewarded with congratulations and praise. He bowed his head slightly in Bardock's direction. He stood there, waiting. What to do now? More yelling?

Kakkarot stepped up and held up a finger in pause. "Wait a minute..." He stood there, thinking. He began to speak many times but faltered and glanced between everyone. He settled on Vegeta. "You mean to tell me, that you and my brother worked on a project alone together and didn't include me!?"

"That's right." Raditz replied.

Kakkarot scoffed and sputtered not knowing what to say in response to that. He was always included. "Well, that blows." He muttered.

Bulma very nearly coughed into laughter.

"You can't keep a secret." Vegeta stated simply.

Kakkarot's mouth dropped. "Who says?" He asked indignantly.

"Everyone." The two young Saiyans said in unison.

Bardock burst into loud guffaws and Kakkarot looked as if he'd stamp his feet and walk away. He didn't though, deciding to stay and voice his frustration at the other two.

"It's not your thing, you wouldn't understand. It didn't involve fighting," Vegeta smiled. "Or the insides and guts of people. That's more your speed."

Hmm. Bulma wondered. A doctor in the making?

"And we weren'tworking on it, brother. No building involved yet." Raditz chimed in. "We just created the schematics."

"You're a little too young for that kind of thing anyway, son." Bardock teased him mercilessly.

Kakkarot looked at him weirdly. "Vegeta's the same age." He protested.

"Oh..." Bardock placed own hand on the back of his head and smiled goofily. "I guess I sort of forget that sometimes..."

"How old are you anyway?" Bulma spoke up, looking into the group. "In my years. In Earth years." She clarified. Something I'll understand.

All four glanced to one side or the other, Bulma could nearly see the smoke coming out of their ears. She hadn't even done the calculating of how old she'd be as a Saiyan. A lot less younger and less developed she imagined... considering the days were nearly twice as long as Earth's. She likely had the body of a...

"Thirty-six." Kakkarot and Vegeta replied in unison.

Bulma felt her jaw drop.Thirty-six!? No way... They looked in their early twenties... at least.

The next thing that happened was so strange from where Bulma was watching. Both Kakkarot and Vegeta knit their eyebrows together and pulled their heads back, uttering the same word: "What?"

They then looked at each other and Bulma saw Vegeta raise his eyebrows to his companion, who's head had turned away, facing him. She then noticed Bardock's smile fade into a frown, seemingly not really knowing where in the world that had come from. Raditz stared on blankly, a smile cracking his features.

Bulma shook her head back and forth. "You Saiyans are all alike." She muttered placing her hands on her hips. "Weird."

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AN: I know. I know. Ya'll hate cliffhangers... sorry 'bout that... but not really. ;) I had to stop it here. You see, I like ending the chapters when you're least expecting it. However annoying that may be, it always keeps you coming back, don't it?

lol Anyway, the next chap should be up soon.

Until then,

Thanks always for readin',

Talleen