Chapter 28. The Z Warriors

Vegeta was about to burst out laughing when he found the pathetic scene before him and he would have if he hadn't been in such a bad mood. As he emerged from the Marauder he was welcomed by the full force of the Z warriors. They all stood there waiting for him to come out, the looks on their faces serious or even downright provocative, except for of course Kakarot with his idiotic happy face and Piccolo who stood a distance from the rest with his arms folded and his stare fixed to something in the distance.

Vegeta's laugh sounded more like a snarl and he abhorred the bitterness in himself. It was his little concubine. Lately she didn't seem to just piss him off but managed to keep him in that state permanently. He hated the way she closed herself of from him. If it had been difficult to read her before, now it had become impossible. She saddled him with a constant feeling of perversion, nothing he did seemed to please her and the Good Mother knew how hard he was trying, but the more effort he put into it, the more it seemed to infuriate her. They had soon reached an impasse and eventually stopped talking altogether. Now she avoided him and he on his turn ignored her completely. If she thought he was going to continue pursuing her, she was seriously mistaken. He didn't even know where this ill-will between them came from and if she in fact did, she hadn't bothered to enlighten him.

Vegeta shoved her out of his mind and focused on the pathetic gathering in front of him. The serious looks were soon wiped from the Z warriors faces as Saiyajins started spilling out of the Marauder. Surely those weaklings had known how many occupants the ship counted prior to their little visit here so what else had they expected than to be greeted by a large group of Saiyajins? It was in fact quite hilarious and Vegeta could even afford a modest smirk.

From the corner of his eye a sudden blood-red appearance caught his attention and his mouth went dry when he found that this breathtaking figure was none other than his very own little concubine. She marched out resolutely with her calculating hard eyes swiftly taking in the whole scene and Vegeta was unable to do anything but stare as she froze at his shoulder. Her battle suit was of a supple material that covered her body like a second skin and was fastened across her chest by a row of long horizontal straps. Her battle-boots were of the same crimson colour and had steel buckles. Her small hands, resting loosely on her curvy hips, were protected by mean-looking armoured gloves which were crimson as well.

Vegeta cursed her out internally because the reluctance he had felt about trying to make things right between them was relentlessly stripped from him at the marvellous sight of her.

"May I ask what this circus is about?" Akane asked the gathering of Earthlings. She laughed roughly. "Or to put it clearer: should I prepare my men for battle?"

Vegeta tore his attention away from her with difficulty and regained his composure as his eyes fell on the pathetic warriors across them.

"We didn't come here to fight." Tien hollered over to them bravely.

"Then why did you come here, doormat?" Vegeta asked with a haughty grin.

"We came to make you leave our planet." Krillin answered in the other bald warrior's stead.

Akane folded her arms and drew a brow up. "Oh really? And how would you bring this about, little man?"

Goku placed a hand on Krillin's shoulder. "Calm down, Krillin. Like Tien said: we didn't come here to fight."

"Do we have to wait here all afternoon, Kakarot?" Vegeta demanded. "Quit fannying about and get on with it already. I have better things to do than watch these half-wits make even bigger fools of themselves."

"Who are you calling a half-wit, you monkey trash?" Yamcha hissed.

The Saiyajin gathering started to stir and sounds of distaste and disbelief rippled through the crowd. Vegeta had to grab Akane's wrist before she could lunge at the scar-faced weakling with a furious snarl. Whatever this feud between them meant, it didn't stop her from defending his honour and no matter how hard he told himself that he didn't give a toss, it tended to ease his swimming mind.

"Keep your men in check." He ordered quietly.

His little concubine threw him a displeased glare but at the same time obeyed by simply lifting her hand and her men instantly fell silent and motionless.

"You want to come over here and repeat that, weakling?" Vegeta provoked mockingly.

"With pleasure." Yamcha replied savagely.

"Are you kidding me?" Akane asked giving Vegeta a brief look, the curve of the scar at her mouth enhancing the wicked smirk that lifted the corner. "I have seen some miserable two-bit warriors but this dolt takes the biscuit. He wouldn't even be able to take it up against my unborn kitten."

Vegeta snickered. "I know. Isn't it brilliant?"

"It's bloody hysterical." Akane was laughing so rough and hard that it rendered her breathless.

Vegeta cracked up at the sight of her and from the Saiyajin crowd behind them sounded contained snickers.

"Oh fuck, I need to sit down." Akane howled as she wiped the tears from her marred face and fought to regain control over herself. "Do finish this cretin off, Vegeta. He is killing me here."

"I think you should do the honours." Vegeta chuckled. "You know, for the sake of symbolism."

"I didn't know you had a thing for symbolism." Akane threw him her typical fierce smile and Vegeta dared to hope that the air was beginning to clear between them.

"I do." He assured her.

"Why don't you both stop laughing and just fight me together?" Yamcha hollered furiously.

His threat was met by jeering laughter and Akane threw her head in her neck barking with such violence that she nearly toppled over. Even his fellow Z warriors looked at Yamcha as if he had lost all his marbles.

Piccolo finally moved and pushed Yamcha aside roughly before he had a chance to act. "Bloody hell, Goku. Is this what you call having everything under control?"

"I… ano…" Goku said intelligently.

"Vegeta, can we talk?" Piccolo asked though it sounded more pressing than inviting.

Vegeta took a deep breath to steady himself but the smirk was still fixed to his face when he motioned Piccolo away from the crowd wordlessly. The green warrior followed with Goku hot on his tail.

"I reckon this is her?" Piccolo asked with a frowned look on Akane as she joined up with them still laughing roughly.

"What do you care?" Vegeta retorted.

Piccolo smirked. "I don't."

Vegeta returned his smirk. "Let's just cut to it then."

"Alright. This is up: they want you and your people to leave Earth and since this is their planet, I think you should." Piccolo spoke plainly.

"I can't." Vegeta replied just as plain. "Not until I've made another wish with the dragonballs."

"You could wish back your home planet with the New Namek dragonballs." Goku suggested as benevolently as ever.

"Vegetasei is your home planet as well, Kakarot." Akane, finally done laughing, pointed out and the scowl returned to her marred face immediately. "And why are you in such a hurry to see us leave?"

"I'm not Akane." Goku hasted to say. "But Piccolo is right. This is their planet. They are afraid of all these Saiyajins. I tried to tell them that they have nothing to worry about but I can't change their minds. Look at it from the bright side: you don't have to wait a whole year when you use the New Namek dragonballs. Your… Our planet would be back in a couple of weeks."

"And just how would you suggest I do that, idiot? I do not speak their language and I seriously doubt that any of the Namekians will be willing to assist me after what went down on the old planet Namek." Vegeta snapped irritably.

"I will help you." Piccolo simply said.

Vegeta examined the green warrior's expressionless face. "Why would you help me?"

"Why not?" Piccolo refuted. "My people were given a second chance, why shouldn't yours? Besides that, I was already planning to pay my kinsmen a visit, this way I can bum a ride."

"Fair enough." Vegeta threw Piccolo a sharp glance. "Can you guarantee that the New Namek dragon will grant my wishes? The Earth dragon wouldn't do it."

"You managed to bring back this lot, didn't you?" Piccolo motioned at the gathered Saiyajins in front of the ship. "I trust you'll find a way."

"And if it doesn't work I will take you back here after a year so you can make a wish with Earth's dragonballs." Goku promised.

Vegeta gave in with a careless gesticulation of his hand. "Agreed then. Tell your men to back down, Captain." He grinned wickedly. "Unless one of those weaklings still wants to fight."

"They don't." Goku assured him.

"Too bad." Akane muttered before barking at her men to resume previous activities.

"When will you leave?" Goku asked.

"As soon as the ship is ready." Vegeta answered.

"I will see to the provision." Akane announced before she marched off in her stunning crimson attire.

"Captain." Vegeta hollered after her because he simply couldn't help himself.

His little concubine turned with a rough: "Yes, Prince."

"I expect you at my quarters when you're finished. There is something important we need to…" Vegeta remained silent for a very brief but unmistakeable moment before continuing: "…discuss."

He was pleased to see her pick up his message, even if it did manage to seriously piss her off, that was made quite clear by the way she balled her little armour gloved hands to fists.

"As you wish." She spun with a jerk and marched off.

Vegeta returned his attention to Piccolo and Kakarot telling himself that he would never understand what moved his little concubine and that therefore he would do well to stop beating his brains out.

Piccolo gave a moody hmpf and walked away with the announcement: "I'll return in the evening."

"Fine." Was Vegeta's gruff reply as he turned to re-enter the Marauder.

"Fine." Piccolo echoed and with that it was settled.

Goku stayed behind with the other Z warriors looking sheepishly from one retreating back to the other and Yamcha unbidden heaved a deep breath of relief.