Misconstrued

Summary: Her world had turned upside down since the day Vega, Princess of all Saiyans finally up rose against Frieza and escaped to Earth. Though now her child is six years old, growing stronger day by day, she wonders if she'll ever be able to defeat the evil tyrant. Unbeknownst to her Nappa has betrayed her and the Saiyan race to save his own life and now makes his way to lure the Saiyan Princess out into the open for Frieza to grab hold once again.

Chapter 25: Confusion

Chichi clutched her kerchief to her face as she watched Goku struggle with his pain. They'd already administered the antidote but it appeared to take awhile to kick in. "Oh I can't stand seeing him like this, Yamcha!"

"I know Chichi, but you gotta hang in there. Look Goku's a tough guy he can take pain we just have to be patient and let the antidote do its thing okay?"

"Are we sure that it'll work? Are we sure that the medicine is okay I mean it has been three years what if it's no good."

"Don't say that, of course it'll work we just gotta stay positive!" Yamcha pat her shoulder staring down at his friend with a heavy heart. He hoped the others were having better luck on the battle field. He didn't mind missing out on the fight but he hadn't really expected to soothe a fretful Chichi. "You've gotta have faith."

Piccolo held the Android's arm tightly in his grasp. It had been a big turnaround in the search for the disappearing robot. Android 20 had been so securely hidden but had made the mistake of stealing energy from Piccolo putting a homing beacon for everyone else to follow and gather round him.

Gohan had managed to knock the android off Piccolo before he could be drained and a quick Senzu bean had done the trick to get him back on his feet. Still the attack had made Piccolo sore for revenge and he'd cut in on Vega's action.

Now Android 20 stared helplessly as his arm was removed limiting his energy absorption technique useless.

"It's a shame, you could have put this hand to good use, what a waste of technology."

"Hurry it up, Namek." Vega complained standing cross armed in the air impatient. "Finish the loser off or do I have to step in and do it for you?"

"No way, I'll finish this, if the shoe was on the other foot I know he wouldn't hesitate." Piccolo readied himself, debating which way to end him and he supposed Vega's decapitation and limb removal was the best way before exploding apart the metal chunks left over.

"Alright!" Gohan clutched his fists excitedly in the air. "We're gonna get through this without losing anybody!" He laughed happily and looked to Xena who just gave a calm smile.

"It's a shame… this was almost too easy, we barely got a punch in."

"Yeah, but that's a good thing… isn't it?"

"I suppose… I guess it just means we'll have to entertain ourselves by battling each other."

"What? You mean it? You'll come and spar with me again?" Gohan turned to her fully ready to celebrate all over again… then his senses picked up two strong energy signals coming right at them. Their two heads whirled in the direction of the oncomers and they both let out sharp gasps as Xena the Elder and her young companion popped right in front of them.

"Hey! You're back!" Xena exclaimed as she stared at her future self with wide eyed anxiousness.

"Zee…" Tarble, AKA Squirt, stared down at the crippled android with dread pitting in his stomach. "I don't recognize this one either… what could this mean?"

"Calm yourself, kid, we'll get to the bottom of this we just have to analyze the situation."

Everyone around was both stunned and confused by their sudden arrival. Vega in particular wasn't sure what to make of their conversation. "What the hell do you mean you don't recognize him? Isn't he one of the androids you two warned us about?"

"No, this one is different." Xena explained. "Both of them are, it so happens we got a look at the trash heap in the previous battle sight. Neither of them are the androids we've faced in the future. What that means we're still not sure."

Her ears perked up at the sound of a jet… Her eyes flicked over and up to spot Bulma's capsule plane zooming overhead and a shout as she waved at them. "Hello!"

"Blast that woman! What the hell is she doing here?"

Perfect, Android 20 thought with a sinister smile… his eyes met Bulma's. Bulma paused her waving and she leaned into the window getting a good look at the android and she whispered in curiosity. "Huh? Dr. Gero?"

"Enjoy this short lived victory while you can, for soon I will unleash 17 and 18 to finish you all off!" The man shouted and laughed as his body pushed power out causing a huge blinding explosion. Zee and Squirt hear the screams from Bulma and didn't bother to hesitate before jumping to the rescue. As the plan spun out of control Zee stopped it and grabbed hold of Bulma while Squirt caught the baby from Yajirobe's flailing hands and yanked the plump fighter by his scarf. The plan crash landed to the rocks and the bodies of the survivors were carefully lowered safely down. Tarble wailed in the arms of his savior, and the small group of them huddled together all taking a breath of relief that they were all alive.

Vega looked around inwardly torn. Every logical cell in her brain was yelling at her to go after the disappearing android, but the wail of her baby had both her motherly instincts and rising temper to lash out. She whirled around snatching Tarble from the future boy and she snarled at Bulma who still sat on the ground. "You idiot! This is all your fault! How dare you bring him here? Are you looking to kill yourself AND my offspring?"

"Hey don't yell at me! Tarble wanted to see his mommy fight, it's the whole reason why we came in the first place!"

"You claim to be a genius yet you run into danger like some sort of single cell brained lemming!" Vega looked to her crying son and bounced him lightly with a grunt. "I knew I should have just left him with your parents, they dote on him."

Bulma seethed and stretched out her hands looking ready to claw Vega's eyes out but Zee placed her hands on Bulma's shoulders. "Now, Now let it go, Aunt B. At least she cares enough to scold."

She had a good point, Bulma admitted. Though she wondered why Vega hadn't just attempted to save her son herself at least she showed concern and care for the babe. "Grrr fine, I'll take him home. We've run out of supplies anyway."

"Xena," Piccolo approached the girl from the future with a serious expression. "That other android mentioned something about awakening androids 17 and 18, are those the ones in which you were in reference to?"

"Those are the numbers that were used, yes." Xena bit her thumb frowning over what has happened. How had time drifted so drastically?

"Perhaps you should tell us what these androids look like so we don't make the same mistakes again."

"Very well… android 18 was designed to look like a beautiful young blonde woman, and 17 is a handsome young man with long dark hair and a scarf around his neck. They share the same cold blue eyes though…" Yes, Xena thought with a glance to her brother. It was the eyes that haunted them most.

Bulma now holding baby Tarble watched Vega's face as the woman cautiously looked at the scenery with a slight frown. "Hey, what's up, you look like you're in another dimension."

"Shut up, I'm trying to think. I'm certain I would have seen that android if he'd taken to the sky… which means he's using the canyons to cover his escape, going on foot and if that's the case then he couldn't have gotten far." She moved forward her eyes scanning ahead.

"Androids… huh that's strange… that Android kinda looked like Dr. Gero. I've seen his picture in one of my dad's science books." She bounced Tarble to soothe him.

"What?! Are you serious?!" All eyes were on Bulma now and they crowded around to get more information.

"Of course I'm serious. Although he's changed a little I know what I saw." Bulma argued trying to keep her temper in check.

"You know what he looks like… Do you know where his lab is then?" When Bulma stared blankly Vega's temper rose and she snarled. "Answer me woman do you know where his lab is or not?"

"Well now that you mention it the article did say he had a secret lab in the mountains near North City."

"North City… perfect. The good Doctor is on foot, I can fly right past him and meet him face to face, he won't get away from me this time."

"Good idea, if we can get to the lab before he does," Piccolo continued. "we can intercept him before he has time to raise those other two androids."

"I would never do something so cowardly." Vega snarled at the suggestion. "I disagreed with attacking an opponent without their knowledge from the beginning, just what makes you think I'll take that sort of play in now?"

"You mustn't underestimate the power of the androids." Squirt countered her flawed logic trying to see the danger in her statement. "These creatures are powerful, we must wait for Goku to recover, before-"

"I've never needed Kakarott's help to defeat an opponent before and I"m certainly not going to wait now. He's in bed where he belongs and I'm not going to sit here and twiddle my thumbs waiting for that clown to wake up!" She pushed past the kid her super saiyan power flaring with temper. "I'll handle this myself!"

"No! Wait please!" He tried to cut her off holding his arms out as he got in her way. "I'm begging you please wait."

"No! I don't care what sort of training Kakarott has done, i don't care if his poor performance before was due to his illness or what have you but I know I'm stronger than him and I don't need his help. Now get outta my way!" She shoved him aside and pushed her energy out zipping by him and into the distance.

"Geez what a bitch," Tien complained watching Vega take off.

"I have to admit though, Vega has always been the one to finish the job… for the most part. She's always been able to step up to the plate when we need her to. Perhaps she can do this on her own." Piccolo theorized feeling sore that the woman may still outmatch him even after all his hard work.

"No… she can't." Squirt said catching Zee's attention. "I know she can't handle this on her own because in our time Vega doesn't make it. She dies in a battle against these androids…" emotions flared and he removed his glasses his eyes black as night staring hard in the distance. "I won't let it happen again!" He tossed the specs to the ground. "I won't let my mother die!"

"Whoa hey wait Bro!" Damn it, Zee thought with a grunt as Tarble took off after his mother… the cat was out of the bag. She looked around at the pale shocked expressions and she gave a heavy sigh. "Oh well… I guess there's no use in hiding it anymore since he's no longer in danger of not being born,"

"What do you mean? What did he mean when he said mother… does that mean…" Bulma looked down at Baby Tarble, raised him up to eye him and they put the boy in her mind comparing the two and she let out a shriek.

"That's right… the boy you're holding in your arms, and the one who just went gallivanting off are one in the same. My brother, Tarble has always been a little spontaneous and emotional."

"What?!" Gohan gawked and stared wide eyed. Young Xena too was a bit jolted by the fact she'd just seen her kid brother all grown up. Shocked expressions were shared all around and opinions on the matter murmured.

"I'm a little fuzzy on the details…" She looked to Bulma now. "Do they know Tarble's parentage, who his real father is yet?"

"Huh? Oh, uh…" Bulma looked around getting the narrowed eyes.

"I'll take that as a no?"

"What do you mean? Isn't Tarble supposed to be Yamcha's son?"

"No, don't you remember, Yamcha denied the kid was his." Tien corrected Gohan. and watched Xena rub her forehead. Why had she opened up her big mouth.

"Well I suppose all of you would find out sooner or later," Bulma began, "but no one can tell Goku or Chichi, and that includes you Gohan." Bulma looked down at the boy.

"Aww man, more secrets?"

"Yes… Tarble is your father's son. Tarble is yours and Xena's little brother." She held the baby out to Gohan with a cute giggle. Gohan let out a strangled gasp staring at the baby who gave him a big curious stare and then laughed and wriggled.

"Whoa…"

"What? Do you mean to tell me that Goku and Vega did the deed and had a baby together?" Krillin shouted in shock. "Oh man, I can't take much more of this. Please whatever other secrets you've guys got bottled up just keep it to yourselves."

"As fascinating as this is don't you think we have more important matters to attend to. We need to go after Dr. Gero before he releases the androids." PIccolo rationalized trying to break up the party.

"Right, hey Bulma do you think you can go check on my father and tell him to hurry back as soon as he's better?" Gohan asked.

"I wish I could, Gohan, but it looks like I'm stuck here. That android totaled my plane."

"Hey Chibi me," Xena the elder looked to her younger self and Gohan. "you and Gohan take Bulma and Yajirobe home. They'll just be in the way and while your at it check on kakarott and see how his recovery is doing. With My brother and I here we shouldn't need your help."

"Why do I get stuck on babysitting duty?" Xena complained.

"You're the big sister aren't you?" She smirked and pat her little self on the head. "Watch the kid and do your job. Make sure they get back safely, then you can find your way back to us, okay?"

"Alright…" She grunted in complaint and hefted Bulma up in her arms. She then looked to Gohan. "You get the big guy."

"Yeah, sure… you guys be careful, and let us know if you need us." Gohan picked up Yajirobe and the five of them take off slow and steady.

The rest of the crew blasted off after Vega and Tarble. It hadn't taken the grown up son of the Princess of Saiyans to catch up to his mother. Once in sight Tarble made sure not to lose her, matching pace and letting thoughts clutter his mind of the past.. and of his Aunt B telling stories of his mother.

~Flashback~

"You want to know about your mother, Tarble?" Bulma was bent over a machine, a young Tarble barely 9, stared up with his big eyes. "Well there's plenty to tell. She was a complicated woman… tough and proud, arrogant to be sure, and very beautiful. Her and your father had this special bond that no one understood, they seemed to fight all the time and yet they cared for each other so deeply that you were inevitable in their lives. She had the hardest time admitting her feelings for him but when she set her mind on something she was determined to do it. It destroyed her the day he died… so much so I thought she'd just fade away… but she didn't… she picked herself up, started training again I really saw the fire come back in her eyes."

She twisted the bolts on the machine. "It's still hard to believe… that woman could do such incredible things. I didn't want to believe that those androids were capable of killing her… but I guess none of us saw that coming."

~End of Flashback~

"Will you stop following me, boy!" Vega turned her head back to glance at him. "You're getting on my nerves!"

"Sorry but there's no way I'm letting you face those androids on your own!" Tarble called out.

"Just what do you plan to do to stop me? It's going to take more than that little sword of yours to stand in my way." Vega said with a smirk.

"How many times do I have to tell you before it sinks into your thick skull!" Tarble said with a grunt. Aunt B had been right about her being proud and arrogant, "Never underestimate the power of the androids."

"And how many times do I have to tell you not to underestimate the power of an Elite Saiyan Princess who loves a challenge?" She said with a humph. "Well if you're going to stick around you may as well help me find the lab."

"grrr, you're totally impossible." There was just no talking to her. He would just have to find some other way to get between her and the androids… he supposed when they find the lab he'd just destroy them before they're activated… that would have to be enough. "Man I've got a bad feeling about this."

So here's a question for the fans. Who do you think should Goku find out the truth about his son from? I've got a couple different scenarios in mind but I want to hear from you and you've got a few chapters to give me answers before I set it up. Leave your answers in the Reviews, Okay?

Next Chapter: It's all just a bad dream!