Disclaimer: I don't own Dragon Ball Z or Dragon Ball, Akira Toriyama does. The only thing I own is the Idsarjin and the OC Tomic, which mean no harm to the series. This is for entertainment only!
Vegeta's Celestial Gambit
Awaiting Reunion
Light-years away, two space pods sliced through the upper layer of atmosphere of an unsuspecting planet. Thundering through the viridian skies, they whistled past the spires of what appeared to be a large city, before blasting over a cracked plane of scorched desert. Later they checked their progress over lush fields laden with spiky succulent plants. Far below in one of the spired cities, two blue eyes looked up from her work and she yawned deeply in the twin suns light.
On the planet of the Idsarjin, Idsar Prime, Bulma Briefs was lost in a daydream, standing there over the circuit panel she was welding. Light flashed from the soldering iron across the lenses of her goggles. She remembered the anger in Vegeta's face. How could she have been so stupid she wondered, to reject him that night? It had been not but a month since she had last seen him, and already she missed him. Life went on as she worked with Bardock and the Idsarjin science team on the new Gravity Room technology. It had been a combined effort between the two of them to come up with this new method of training Saiyans to become stronger.
"Bulma, pay attention," came the voice of her coworker. She blinked over at the long tresses curling around the hair of the Idsarjin.
"Bharbera, I am," Bulma swallowed.
"Don't be too hard on her," grunted another voice leaning over a long worktable. Pieces of an intricate device were being assembled under his watchful eye by the two females, one human, the other Idsarjin. The laboratory was high in the Idsjarin Central research station, and for what seemed like two months, Bulma had finally come close to achieving what they all wanted. What the Prince had demanded.
Raditz wasn't far away, standing guard outside the chamber door of his father's research unit. Only Nappa and Vegeta had gone on another mission, with some of the other Saiyan units. Bardock's team leader position had been given to Fasha, and she had proved herself a capable leader in his place. Tora, Shughesh and Borgos were aghast that they were led by a female, but better it be Fasha then anyone who was a stranger. Inside her stomach Bulma felt a knot tensing, wondering what Vegeta would say and think if they were brought face to face. He had not bothered to see her after Raditz escorted her and summarily whisked her from his service. Except his cold indifferent gaze when she saw him the next day in her lab. He had gone past her, his face twisting up in an angry frown demanding her to defer. Then he was gone.
"Finally I get allowed to TOUCH my own work and you're still bitching," Bulma wiped her forehead off with one hand.
"That's not what I'm complaining about, Milady," said Bharbera. "You should be aware of the time of day."
Other scientists wearing thin white smocks moved about, their bodies still visible through the diaphanous material. Only a few were Saiyans, and they were the silver haired half-breeds she often saw more than the full bloods lately.
"He's coming back," Bardock said, peering at her through the green lens of his scouter. Other scientists, Saiyan and Idsjarins and tensed up, hearing the voice of their Weapons research director.
"Who?" Bulma feigned innocence.
"You know what I mean, lady," said Bardock with a sobering look. "Two months standard. He asked us to give you what you needed… we've only just finished the first GR chamber… and his Majesty's due back today!"
"Oh shit I forgot," Bulma cursed, her shoulders tensing. For the longest time she had lost herself in the intricacies of building a vast Gravity chamber for the soul purpose of training the Saiyan Prince.
Bardock however could not be fooled. He snorted impatiently, "You know you will have to face him eventually. He seemed quite taken with you at first, and then quite angry…"
"I had forgotten," Bulma whispered.
Things had barely been done when this bit of news crept back. That would mean HE would demand her attention. Ever since that night she had struggled to forget, Bulma dreaded a face to face. After rejecting his Highness attentions she had found her world turned upside down.
Bulma had crept back to her room, only to find Raditz there patiently waiting. In soft tones he had explained he was escorting her to a new duty. Nervous she had been ordered to pack her things and leave the Prince's chambers. She followed Bardock's elder son to a set of small rooms where Bardock and his mate lived, and was told that this was her new place. Serving him as an assistant. The Prince no longer had need of her services.
At first Bulma was relieved Vegeta had not killed her. She knew that pissing off the Prince was treason. Yet he must have decided she was no longer concubine material and had relegated her to a slave. Surprisingly Bardock allowed her to touch the electronic plans she had drawn up, and even bade her due most of the work.
"You're far better at electronics than I'll ever be. I'm just a fighter who can see circuit panels," he huffed that day. "What do you think I use Bharbera for? She's my real technician, as are the whole crew. And as long as nobody else knows or cares, you should be the one getting your hands dirty since Tomic's gone."
"Bulma," Bardock said again.
"What?"
"Curses Woman wake up. Look, I can excuse your daydreaming only so much..." Bardock sighed.
"I'm sorry I just... I'm anxious about seeing the Prince again. He was angry when I left. What if he..."
"Perhaps if you show him more concentration he will be pleased with what we've accomplished. But do try to watch your tongue," Bardock said not unkindly.
"Bardock... I said things that night that I regretted... I..." she trailed off.
Blinking at her, the scientist shook his head. Leading her away to a remote corner of the lab he then glanced around. Sighing he whispered, "Bulma, what did you say?"
"I rejected him," she whispered.
"Rejected him?" Bardock frowned. "What did you say? You know well the penalty for treading lightly with him..."
"I... I'm so confused..." she trailed off.
"What exactly DID you say, woman, answer me," Bardock asked, grasping her shoulder gently.
Haltingly she told him, trying not to blush of what had transpired. Silently Bardock nodded, his frown ever increasing. Just why she was spilling her private details to this Saiyan she did not know. She hadn't even had the courage to tell Raditz. Tomic was nowhere to be found, and she felt she could no longer hold it back. Her throat burned and she felt something choking up inside when she reached the part about the morning after, and how she had felt confused and embarassed. Bardock grasped both her shoulders and gave them a squeeze. Not firm enough to hurt, but enough to get her attention. Clearing his throat he said, "Bulma, you know this is a very serious matter. Don't you realize what his Majesty gave you?"
"He wanted me," she whispered. "And I said no... what does it mean? Is it something that means life or death?"
"It means, woman, that you had best apologize to him when you next see him. Because you won't get another chance," Bardock said gruffly.
"Is he going to kill me? That seems like a stupid custom," Bulma swallowed hard, her heart pounding suddenly.
"You have one last chance I said, Bulma. You must accept him, and apologize and admit your folly, for your own sake. You are lucky he didn't reject you fully. Because by all rights you could have been slain by him or anyone else's hand," Bardock said quietly, his dark eyes filled with warning, and sadness.
"How was I supposed to know!" Bulma snapped back.
"You really don't think before you act, do you, woman?" Bardock shook his head in frustration. As much as he admired her spunk and intelligence Bulma often did plunge right into things and expected someone else to bail her out.
"Don't give me that! It wasn't my fault!' Bulma gritted, her blue eyes filling with anger.
"Look, Bulma. Just take my advice and swallow your pride. You've got a good thing going here. Do you want to throw away all you've tried to fight for? For the Prince to offer what he did to a non Saiyan is beyond belief, but he has his reasons. You sealed your fate and now you must follow through, for the sake of your friends and your world," Bardock explained, boring right into her soul with that gaze of his.
"I'm scared... I didn't choose it to happen, it just did... and then..." she trailed off.
"You'd better make up your mind Bulma. Either way he's coming. And I'm sure it's just a matter of..." Bardock trailed off.
"He's right," came another voice.
In the corner on guard just inside the door stood Bardock's older son Raditz. He had been assigned the task of looking after Bulma in the Prince's absence, making sure nobody approached her. Bulma had not taken long to figure out that it was Raditz that chased away any Idsarjin males from courting her. Idsjarins had multiple sex partners, so open relationships were quite the norm. Only when breeding did they settle down and become monogamous. Then when the breeding season was over, they resumed their ways. It was not uncommon for a female to have different children by different fathers.
"What's going on?" Bardock frowned, glancing up from his lab work to shot a glare at his longhaired son.
"I just got a transmission from Turles ship. He's returning from his latest mission. Seems he's gotten word that the Prince's latest survey mission was a success," said Raditz.
"What mission WAS he on?" asked Bulma.
"Should we tell her?" Raditz asked.
"She might as well know, since she's had the privilege of building the GR technology. If it wasn't for her we wouldn't' have gotten it done in enough time," said Bardock.
"Fine, Father," mumbled Raditz. He cleared his throat and glanced down at the frail but defiant human girl who assisted his father with an intelligence that rivaled and surpassed the Saiyans and even the Idsarjin. Slowly he strode over; h is massive black boots pressing a bit violently into the floor. Bulma was grateful Idsarjin gravity was only a bit more then Earth's or she could not stand up on her own as she did now.
Impatiently Bulma folded her arms over the chest of her almost see through lab coat. "What's the deal? I worked HARD for this! What's Vegeta doing? And what's the deal with Zarbon? I mean LORD Zarbon. Last I heard Turles was running some mission for him, and Vegeta went on some purging mission. How were the two related?"
"Turles had been following certain legends. About an incredible treasure found on a far distant planet that the Cold family was possibly after. But nobody knew its location until a short time ago. The Mantissan database had a few accounts, but they were sparse. Turles was bartering for information from any other space pirates to find out if they were rumors," said Raditz.
"And…" Bulma asked, leaning back against her lab counter, one hand bracing her body away from it.
"Turles found a goldmine. And the Prince and Nappa have finished their latest mission for Zarbon. They're returning from Zarbon's home planet with the Lord himself to have a victory feast on Idsar Prime," Raditz said.
"A purging mission?" Bulma asked, her blue brows knitting in anger.
"No girl," said Bardock with a shake of his head. "Let's just say the Prince and Nappa are VERY good at being galactic enforcers. Zarbon had some… trouble from some of Freeza's former henchmen. They didn't want to accept that he was being sympathetic to Saiyans. So Zarbon send them a message. And Vegeta was the messenger."
"They haven't bothered them since," Raditz grunted with pride.
"How many people died?" Bulma asked quietly, biting her lip.
"Enough. Zarbon's built quite a case to keep the Saiyans as his allies. It makes us look good so he can protect us from Frosta's whims. If she shared Freeza's fear that the Saiyans were uncontrollable…" trailed off Raditz.
"You told me that Frosta defeated your 'Master Brolli'. Is that what made her scared of the Saiyans?"
"Yes. Till Lord Zarbon found out that Brolli was being manipulated by his father," Bardock said.
"You never SAID that," whispered Bulma fiercely. "How many people know?"
"Just those loyal to the Prince. We suspected it, but had no proof. But Vegeta and Nappa's mission brought the necessary evidence. Seems that Paragus did a little deal with Freeza's henchman Dudoria. He gave him a mind control device that brainwashed our Legendary," Raditz confessed.
"That's one of the pieces of technology I was trying to fathom," Bardock confessed. "And why I authorized you to help us on the GR project. You took up the slack and proved your worth. And for that you have my gratitude and that of the Saiyan race…"
"Or what remains of it?" Bulma couldn't resist adding.
"Granted we are reduced to a precious few. But it's hoped that Brolli can be 'cured' of his mental breakdown. Zarbon has ties to psychic doctors on his world, who are thorough," said Bardock.
"You told me he was 'sent away' for a year," Bulma blinked at him.
"We didn't say where. But you deserve to know, after what you've accomplished. And it's best you're in the loop before his majesty returns," Bardock said. "If I'm right, Raditz?"
"Indeed. This is why you should ready yourself, Bulma. I'm supposed to take you to rendezvous with Turles ship with the GR prototype," Raditz said.
"I know you discussed that, but I still don't see why we can't bring him here," said Bulma.
"Hasn't your time here taught you anything girl?" Bardock sighed, shaking his head. "The last thing we need is for something to go wrong. You know well why we're sending you and I'm staying here to continue work. This is the only working prototype, and the Prince will be meeting you on Turles ship. Vegeta wasn't coming back HERE…"
"But…"
"No buts. You'd better get started. Raditz will take you to your quarters. How long does she have?" asked Bardock.
"A twelfth part of a planetary rotation," Raditz glanced at the hourglass nearby.
"All right. Sheesh everyone's so damn paranoid around here," Bulma grumbled.
She wandered over and pressed a button on the side of the spherical space capsule they had constructed. Oddly enough she had fought the urge to paint the Capsule logo on it, but was pleasantly surprised to see it was there, under the Vegetasei pitchfork styled logo. Smoke flooded the room, clearing to reveal a small capsule that lay in Bulma's palm. She slipped it into the case hanging at her hip, and then walked over to where Raditz stood tapping his foot. Bardock waved his goodbye, and then returned to what he was doing.
Along the way, they passed through the marble column corridors of the bright science complex. Pools of purple water reflected the light green sky, illuminated by two huge bright stars gleaming down. In some of the pools Idsarjin slaves splashed and entertained their higher-ranking royals. Only the upper class and soldiers bore the ceremonial stripes, their fur shaved to a thin coat that glistened gold. Slaves had their fur much longer, indicating they had not the time to attend to evaluating their status such. Long leashes trailed behind them, attached to gold or silver collars around their throats. Raditz grasped the end of Bulma's leash, though she was well behaved. He had to keep up appearances for the sake of their Idsarjin hosts.
Bulma strode ahead of him, her body gliding under the light gauzy veil skirt covering her leather shorts and tall hip boots. A halter-top of blue leather encased her bosom, over which another veil was loosely wrapped. The ends trailed like a comet's tail behind her. All female slaves and servants dressed in the minimal leather bustier tops and short pants. Males wore loincloths and a minimal veil wrapped around their bared chests in an X. Royalty wore even more scant leather briefs, hip boots jointed to the pants by a chain, and then a band of leather encasing the breasts, without any veil to hide their curvaceous figures. The higher up you were the more flesh you could show. Male royalty only wore loincloths, their legs, and arms painted with the red stripes on their shaved fur. Only their black and silver hair was left long to stream down their backs. Bulma's blue hair was similar in hue to many of the purple and aqua of the female Idsarjin royalty and upper class, so it wasn't too much of a distraction.
Only occasionally did she see a Saiyan wearing full armor, or an Idsarjin male similarly dressed. All Idsarjin females wore no armor unless actually on guard duty. Female Saiyans, usually half-breeds with bluish black hair wore armored vests and brief spandex shorts, along with tall white boots or leg cuffs. Fasha was an example of this. Raditz long h air swayed back and forth, his grip on Bulma's leash at the bare minimum.
"I bet you miss Tomic," said Bulma softly.
"I have. It will be good to see her again. When she has called me she has said she's increased her power considerably," Raditz nodded with pride.
Bulma shuddered inwardly, realizing what that meant. She had read up on how Turles increased his power. Usually they scoped out worlds with civilization on the brink of collapse, or who were enemies of Zarbon's people. Then the life force would be sucked out as his Shinseju trees took root. It was a grand scale Purge, leaving the planet a dry desert. Then the terraformers could rebuild it into any sort of villa a member of the Cold Family could want.
All Saiyan teams were at their own discretion to purge in any manner they saw fit. Bulma felt a lump in her throat at the thought of what Vegeta and Nappa were doing. She pretended indifference, but Raditz knew better as he saw the disgust on her face.
"We do what we have to, Bulma, to survive. Like you humans did. Consider Earth lucky they had enough to pay their ransom," said Raditz.
"But not for the Dragon balls you mean," she whispered. He nodded sternly. The corridor took them towards the spaceport, where a pod awaited their departure. Bulma knew she would have to be cramped in a small tin baseball with the tall warrior, but it hardly fazed her. Raditz was already mated, and being around him was almost as reassuring as being around Goku.
How she missed him. Yamcha either had moved on, or was wrought with grief. Bulma sniffled, feeling the absence of the locket she had lost a while ago. Raditz sighed, realizing that the female still mourned the loss of her home world for the choice she had made. If only she could realize how privileged she was to be one of Vegeta's personal slaves. It was far better than death or being sold to Zarbon's people. Even Turles would treat her well, if he was still interested in dallying. Ever since he mated for life, he had still kept a few female slaves for his crew.
"All ready for you, Sergeant!" waved one of the pod techs, a tall Idsarjin male with a helmet and armored green vest.
"Good. Now beat it," Raditz grunted, tugging Bulma's leash towards the nearest pod resting in its steaming alcove.
Like a large bowl, the spaceport's walls curved up in three dimensions. At the middle of the bottom was a resilient soft landing pad. Pods launching were contained in cradles along the upper walls of the rounded shelves above. He had to lift Bulma and levitate to its open door, and then set her on the small access ledge before contorting himself to sit. Bulma was forced to sit across his lap crosswise or between his large knees on the seat. She chose to sit on the pod floor however, because there was just enough room to do so, with her back resting against the bottom of the seat. Raditz shrugged, pushing the control to allow the door to swing shut. Bulma gritted her teeth and squeezed her eyes shut, waiting for the thrust upward as the engines fired.