After parting from Bulma, Vegeta followed the route that she had laid out for him so he wouldn't be seen by any of the security cameras. He made his way to the Saiyan quarters he shared with Radditz and Nappa with ease, no one wants to go down there anyways.
Vegeta opened the door and saw the two of them sparing, "Pathetic, I'm gone for a few days and you start slacking?!" Nappa and Radditz stopped their fighting and looked at Vegeta with surprise. Despite their loyalty, both of them didn't believe that he would return from H18-8, and certainly not in one piece.
"How the fuck did you survive?" Radditz asked while trying to catch his breath. After Vegeta was sent off, he and Nappa had been training excessively for fear that Frieza might try to do something similar to them out of retaliation. Vegeta wasted no time and powered up to Super Saiyan.
"That's how." Vegeta had a cocky grin as Nappa and Radditz stood in awe of his accomplishment. Nappa grabbed his scouter quickly and looked at Vegeta to get his power level reading.
"IT'S OVER 150,000,000!" Nappa shouted in astonishment as Radditz's jaw dropped.
"How did you do it?!" Radditz screamed at him after his initial shock passed.
As Vegeta told the story of his transformation, Nappa couldn't help but question him, "You've been pinned down by enemies on numerous occasions, what was different about this time?" Nappa was skeptical. Turning into the Legendary was only that, a legend, he didn't think it could actually be done.
Vegeta didn't know how to explain it to them. Rage was a very common emotion for Saiyans but they couldn't truly understand because they didn't have mates, like him.
"I exploded with rage and it erupted out of me."
"But what happened that made you explode with that amount of rage? I've seen you angry loads of times, why was this time any different?" Radditz was starting to question it all as well.
"I, uh… its--" he tried to explain further until it started to click in Nappa's head and he interrupted Vegeta.
"It was the woman wasn't it?"
Vegeta didn't want to admit that feeling Bulma's fear and hearing her screams was the key to his transformation. "Wha-- No-- Of course--"
"You felt something from her, didn't you? Through the mating bond?"
Vegeta looked at Nappa surprised by what he was hearing. He cleared his throat, "Fine, yes. How did you--"
"Your bond with the human is new and it appears to be incredibly strong for you two to be able to sense one another from across the galaxy. I heard about the incident she had with Cooler, perhaps that's what the trigger was."
Vegeta thought for a moment, "I should kill you for allowing her to come to harm," He gave him a malicious look then phased in front of Nappa and punched him hard in the gut which sent him flying across the room.
"I believe I specifically left instructions to keep my mate safe! You failed me, Nappa."
Nappa coughed up blood, "F-forgive me, Vegeta, I had no idea she was in any danger until I heard her attack on Cooler."
Radditz came over and stood next to Vegeta, "Yeah that was...unexpected. I knew that humans possessed the capability of using ki but that was beyond what I thought they could do."
The impact of Vegeta's punch was still affecting Nappa and he struggled to speak, "Th-the bond makes you both strong."
"Does it now? How?" Vegeta powered down and pondered Nappa's words.
Struggling to stand, Nappa managed to speak, "The mating bond targets your strengths and, if need be, shares them with your partner. Since she is a human, it's likely that the bond is making her stronger to make you better equals."
"Equals? There is no way the woman could become my equal in power. It's impossible for her to become a Super Saiyan."
"What I mean is that you're so overpowering compared to her that the bond is giving her power so she won't die the next time you fuck." It wasn't an elegant way of explaining it, but Vegeta was starting to understand.
He knew now that Bulma's attack on Cooler was a result of his ascension and his recent surge in technical knowledge must be a result of the bond as well.
Raditz spoke up, "Well that's all well and good, but we heard from one of Frieza's guards that Cooler is taking the woman with him when he leaves in 3 days."
A smug grin crept across Vegeta's face, "Don't worry about that. In fact, my mate has a plan that will get all of us out of here." Both Nappa and Radditz wanted nothing more than to escape the clutches of Frieza so whatever plan was formulated they would follow, gladly.
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Bulma walked quickly through the corridors of the ship, on her way to the science labs to see her father.
Bulma.
She stopped in her tracks.
Vegeta? Is something wrong?On the contrary, I have information for you. About our bond.Can it wait until later? I need to concentrate and I can't do that when you're in my head.
She needed to get to the labs but it was incredibly dangerous for her now. Everyone on the ship heard of her attack on Cooler and they all knew of the celebration happening soon. She had to be very careful walking around the ship.
No. Now.Ugh, fine. She looked around and found a small closet she could hide in. Once inside, she continued her mental conversation with Vegeta.
What's going on, Vegeta?I must tell you what I've just learn about our bond. He proceeded to tell her what he found out from Nappa and how it had affected them.
I kind of figured it was something like that.Of course you did.Thank you for telling me, Vegeta, but I really need to get back.And I need to resume my training. Go.
Bulma took the scouter she had been using and checked the security feed to make sure no one was outside the closet before she exited. Once she knew she was in the clear, she made her way to see her father. She crept into the lab, not wanting any other scientists to see her.
"Bulma? It's so good to see you!" Her father surprised her with a very tight hug that she gladly returned.
"You too, dad. Listen," she looked around suspiciously and kept her voice low, "I don't have a lot of time, I need the explosives."
"Right, here you go." He handed her a single capsule, "Inside, there are 50 bombs and a detonator. They need to be placed in integral parts of the ship to do the most damage."
Bulma pocketed the capsule, "I know, daddy. Just because I don't work with you on a daily basis anymore doesn't mean I've lost my intelligence."
He chuckled lightly, "Of course. I'm sorry, Bulma, I just desperately want this plan of yours to work."
"I know you do, daddy. I do too." She sighed deeply, thinking about all the people who were counting on her to make it work. "When the time comes, I want you to meet us outside the hangar."
"I'll be there, don't you worry." He hugged her one last time, "You should be heading back now, Bulma."
"I know." She said solemnly. She did not want to leave her father, especially here where Frieza was forcing him to work and help make him instruments of evil.
"I love you, daddy."
"Love you too, Bulma. No go!"
Begrudgingly, she slipped out of the lab and made her way back to the performers chamber. She made it there without any problems and entered to see the band waiting for her anxiously.
"Did you get them?!" 17 asked impatiently.
"Yes, I got them." Bulma took out the capsule, pushed the plunger, and threw it next to her. Once the smoke cleared, they saw 50 neatly stacked explosives and a single detonator. All of them breathed a sigh of relief. The whole plan counted on having the bombs so to see them first-hand was comforting to them.
"Alright," Krillin clapped his hands once to get everyone's attention, "we've got the bombs. Now we need to work on recording the music for Bulma."
"Right." Everyone started to set up their instruments to begin when they heard someone entering in the code to come into the chamber. Looking at the pile of bombs laying on the floor, Bulma frantically pushed the button to encapsulate them all again before the mystery person entered. The door opened and everyone was both shocked and frightened to see Cooler and a guard enter the chamber.
"Well, well. Hard at work for my celebration, are you?" Cooler stepped into the chamber followed by his guard, who was holding a skinny, white box.
"What do you want, Cooler?" Bulma knew he was pissed off but she was not going to let him try to intimidate her.
His wicked eyes slanted down and he grinned, "I realized that if you are to perform for me, this uniform is not what I want to see you in." Bulma's breathing hitched as the guard presented her with the white box. "Open it."
If looks could kill, the one Bulma was giving to Cooler would have eviscerated him. She stepped forward and opened the box. Inside was an outfit that Bulma would liken to a bathing suit. It had long sleeves but the bottom was bikini cut. There was a diamond-shaped cut-out on the stomach and it was a deep shade of purple. Bulma didn't say anything and looked at the outfit dreadfully for she would have to wear this in front of the entire ship.
Cooler glided over to stand next to Bulma as he whispered darkly into her ear, "You'll look absolutely ravishing in this. Continue with your practice, pet, and I'll see you at my celebration." He licked her face, sending shivers of disgust up her spine.
"Until then." He walked out of the chamber with his guard in tow. The band looked at Bulma as she stared at the box holding her new outfit.
She dropped the box on the floor and looked to her bandmates, "Let's get to work."
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AN: thank you all for you patience as I slowly write this. And thanks to everyone who has written a review, i appreciate it more than you know. There's not much left to this story, maybe another chapter or 2, but I'm working on something new!
Please review!