Disclaimer: I don't own DBZ or the characters

So, I wasn't going to update until I had another chapter written, but I had to. The "You complete me" line is actually a reality now, and I couldn't be happier. My cousin just got married on Sunday to a wonderful man, and the rabbi told us all that he had them write their stories and send them to him separate, and not only where their stories near identical, but they both wrote the same thing about each other, and they hadn't even known. "S/he is my life partner. S/he completes me." When I heard that, I nearly cried (forced myself not to…don't know how I managed). And because of that, I had to update the story and let everyone out there know that that line, that feeling, it's an actual thing :D

Thank you for all the reviews on last chapter, including guest reviewers Jay Youngblood. I'm so happy everyone is getting excited for what's to come :D I am too! Also, I have to say that TheWonderfulShoe's review really impressed me. When you read this chapter, you'll see why. This chapter has been written for over a month and yet she made some very accurate guesses on some things. I must say I'm impressed!


"Unbelievable."

That was the first word spoken since Trunks had transformed, spoken by Bardock as he landed outside the broken Capsule Corp. building.

Trunks was still panting, still reigning in his own power. He was overwhelmed by it, having never had complete access to his energy. Now, he had all of his ki and strength returned to him and his body did not know how to handle it. Something else had happened, he knew, for everyone was staring at him in shock and awe, his father included.

As Vegeta kept his hand on his son's shoulder, another father-son pair was interacting. "Dad?"

"Hello, Kakarot… Raditz…"

Raditz's expression grew serious. "Why are you here?"

"I need to tell you and Kakarot something…before the purge team arrives."

"How do you know-"

"Kakarot…" Bardock interjected, interrupting the former Saiyan general. "You did not cause your mother's death."

The young Saiyan's expression faltered. He had never confided that in anyone but Chi Chi and her father. There was no way it would have gotten back to his father, but he said it as if he had always known.

"The king has sent me with the pods," Bardock explained. "I know, Prince Vegeta, that you are in a hurry to take my son with you on a suicide mission, but there is something I need to discuss with my sons before the battle ensues."

Vegeta nodded, but still was looking at his own son, waiting for the boy to get ahold of himself. Thankfully, Vegeta could still feel his Bulma, because his son's transformation had ended up annihilating the crystal ball. He could hear the old witch flipping out in the background. Bunny took a seat next to him, also placing a hand on the boy's shoulder. Vegeta looked away only for a moment to see Dr. Briefs staring at the scene in front of him in shock.

"What's so important that you're delaying the rescue?" Nappa snapped.

Bardock was undeterred and looked to his two sons before glancing at Raditz's Saiyan mate and Kakarot's human intended. "You mother was a good woman, not a fighter by any means," Bardock began his tale. "We met when she was introduced to my squad, but she ended up quitting, getting a job processing meat. Her life, along with the members of my squad, was lost at the hands of Frieza's third in command, Dodoria."

"Dodoria killed mother?" Raditz asked, his fists clenching. "That bastard. Now I know what all those jabs were about. I wish I had known that-"

"I've been hard on the both of you, because you both remind me of her," Bardock interrupted his son's outburst. "Raditz, you look like her, and Kakarot, you act like her. The pain I went through losing her nearly killed me, and I never wanted you to understand that pain. I never wanted you to find mates of your own."

"You couldn't have changed that," Kakarot stated, looking at his father in pity, somewhat understanding now why he had always acted like such an ass to him. "Just because something like that happened to our mother…it doesn't mean we can live in fear. If that were the case, every race would die off."

"Surprisingly, brother has a point," Raditz stated, amazed by the teenager's insight. Being on Earth had certainly made him grow in a way that Planet Vegeta could not. "How…how did you know a purge team is being deployed?"

"How did you know about my guilt?" Kakarot inquired.

"Dodoria asked Frieza if he could be the one to go after my team and mate," Bardock recounted, "all because he just didn't like third-classes going to the top. We were supposed to take out Kanassa, but it never happened because people in our team kept falling ill, your mother included when she became pregnant with Kakarot. Our deployment date kept changing, but in that time…after Kakarot was born, all hell broke loose on Planet Vegeta.

"Dodoria attacked my team on Planet Meat, but my squad would not tell him that I was with Gine. He murdered them all, and the worst part was he found us anyway. He came to Planet Vegeta and was able to track us down…I never figured out how.

"He found us in the infirmary, your mother recovering from giving birth. It had been very hard on her, but she was going to recover. But Dodoria showed up and in an instant she was gone. The pain of losing a mental connection with anyone is so intense. I share that quality with the young prince… After that, I had blacked out from the pain, only to awaken feeling a rage that I could not describe consuming me and fueling me. I had become a Super Saiyan that day and was ready to kill Frieza for giving Dodoria the order to harm my family.

"Before that, the Nameks and Kanassans contacted us, informing us of Frieza's plan to destroy us regardless of us following orders. We needed a plan. During that time, a Kanassan approached me and explained that he knew I was meant to lead the destruction against his race, but that I had chosen my woman over their deaths and that he was grateful. He granted me the 'gift' of vision, that was more like a curse if anything else. I know Dodoria will be leading the purge team here and that Kakarot would have been stunned to learn how his mother really died in the midst of a one-sided battle."

"Today has been a lot to take in," Kakarot stated. "Learning our past and our future all in the scope of a few hours…and Bulma's been kidnapped."

"I didn't mean to destroy the ball," Trunks said to his father, turning everyone's attention to him. He was still on his hands and knees, but now, he had finally stopped shaking. His body had finally accepted his power.

"Don't be," Vegeta returned. "You've just become a Super Saiyan. To be truthful, I was starting to believe it was just a myth."

"It's no myth, prince," Bardock stated, meeting Vegeta's eyes. "It just takes an emotional trigger to occur. Anger and need, that's what causes the transformation."

"This is all just too much." Vegeta looked over to his father-in-law and narrowed his eyes. "H-How is any of this possible?"

"Why don't you ask your 'contact?'" Vegeta sneered, standing up tall. "You put your trust in the wrong person."

"I know," Dr. Briefs said, accepting his mistakes. "I know that I caused a huge mess, and I know you will do this regardless of what I say. Make sure you get her out of there. Make sure that my daughter who suffered this life I caused for her…make sure her death wasn't in vain."

"It won't be," Trunks stated, looking at his grandfather. The hatred the teenager felt towards the human was evident. He then faced his father. "I want to go with you and Kakarot."

"You may be needed here," Vegeta tried to deny him. Honestly, where that was true, with Bardock, Raditz, and Peppan, the purge team would be easily handled. He didn't want his son to accompany him, just in case he failed, he would need to be the one to fall back on. "Trunks, we need to discuss what will happen if I fail."

"You won't," Trunks countered. "Mom believes in you and so do I."

"And I appreciate that, but we need to make plans. If I fail, you are not going back to where you came from. Kakarot would understand. Your mother is not there anymore to protect you. You could not take on King Cold and his fleet with just the two of you."

"Isn't that what you're doing now?" Trunks argued. "Let me go with you."

"If we fail I need you to take my place on Planet Vegeta."

Trunks faltered as he looked into his father's cold eyes. Though hardened, Trunks could feel his emotions and knew that the man needed to know that someone he trusted could help protect his people from the Arcosians. He needed someone to assist his parents with strategy and lead the remainder for when the enemy king decided to attack them.

Trunks had never led anyone before.

"I don't know if I can…especially knowing Kakarot is back on the ship."

"Hey," the Kakarot of this time called out, walking right up to the now blonde-haired prince, cupping his shoulders and staring into his eyes. "I know myself. I can tell you that I'd be fine. It would probably be easier for me to find my way out without you there. You'd be much safer here."

"May I make a suggestion?"

Everyone turned to the Namek, surprised that he was speaking up regarding the Saiyans' political discussion. "If Prince Vegeta and Kakarot fail, Trunks, you will go to Planet Vegeta. If, however, they manage to win, not only will you undergo training, but you will return to your time, defeat the bastard there, and then you and Kakarot will go to Planet Namek. Tell them you are the Saiyan prince and that you have need of something called the Dragon Balls. Tell them you will wish your parents back from the dead."

"What?" Trunks said in a whisper. "Is that even possible?"

Piccolo nodded, his eyes meeting Vegeta's skeptic orbs. "Remember, our race has strange powers as well. The Dragon Balls were created by the planet's elder, and they grant three wishes. The wishes would be to transport your parents to the check-in station in Otherworld and then wish them back to life with the other two."

"You're not joking," Trunks stated in shock. "If this works…I could actually do this…"

"Yes," Piccolo assured him. "For now, remain with us here and fight. We don't know how many men he's going to send for the purge."

"Dodoria is mine," Bardock ordered, "so stay out of that fight, kid."

"Wouldn't dream of getting in the way," the young prince snarled. He then looked to his father. "Tell mom I love her when you see her."

"You'll tell her yourself when we get back," Vegeta declared. He then took in the boy's features once more and smirked. "My son…a Super Saiyan. I can hardly believe it."

"Yeah, about this…does anyone know how to turn it off?"

"Don't," Bardock stated. "You'll return to base state when you're exhausted enough. The first time transformation is always the hardest. It gets easier as time goes on to transform, but the first few are a challenge and we need that raw power if we're going to save this mudball planet."

Vegeta regarded Bardock momentarily before he said, "I'm trusting my son to you. You have a personal vendetta and I respect that, but you instruct the boy in how to use this new power of his. Do not leave him to completely fend for himself."

"I ask the same for my son."

The prince gave a nod before he clamped his hand on his son's shoulder. Trunks looked at him with saddened, tired, nervous eyes. Despite his completely Saiyan transformation, he saw his mother's softness in him. "We'll be back as soon as we can."

"Be careful, father," Trunks pled. "You may be able to get in undetected but…"

"I won't do anything that puts your mother in danger," Vegeta guaranteed. "Getting the two of you out of there is my priority."

"We're running out of time," Kakarot said. "Before the invasion."

"I know. Let's-"

The sound of Bulma's voice interrupted him and he looked back to the witch who had yet another, intact crystal ball. "How?"

"I'm used to these things getting destroyed by now. I had to bring a spare," Baba spoke. "Your mate is handling herself well."


It was true. Bulma had worked on a shield prototype that she fitted for her wrist that could be covered by her sweater, no problem. The sound of a door was heard, and she quickly turned off the flashlight and hid the rest of her belongings.

The dungeon door opened to reveal a smirking man with light blue skin and green hair. The stranger, well, most woman probably would have swooned over. In another life under different circumstances, Bulma would probably be able to admit he had good looks. But as she saw standing in front of her was pure evil, and that disgusted her. "Well, isn't this interesting? It's seems we have the monkey prince's bride in our possession."

Bulma's eyes narrowed at the alien as a scowl appeared on her face. "Do not insult my mate," she ordered darkly. "Who the hell are you?"

The alien's smirk became a sickening grin as he crossed his arms. "So, the monkey hasn't told you about me, has he? I thought they liked to share everything with their 'mates.'"

The way he said the word "mates" angered Bulma so much. It was as if he was mocking the bond the Saiyans shared with those close to them. "Maybe he didn't think you were important."

The amusement left the man's face. "You better watch your mouth. King Cold demanded you be kept alive, but that doesn't mean I can't have my fun. I bet your bones would break easier than his."

Pain struck Bulma's heart as she thought about her mate hurt, especially knowing he was a young child. She refrained from putting her hand over her stomach. If she did, this creep would know she was pregnant. She needed to be careful and play her cards right until Vegeta finally got to her. "Who are you?" she asked again, this time her voice saddened instead of firm.

The grin returned at her meekness. "My name is Zarbon, princess," he sneered. "I used to be Frieza's second in command. I narrowly escaped with my life when those barbarians attacked the ship, but I did manage to escape before the main ship was destroyed. I am much stronger than I was back then. If you step out of line, I won't be afraid to show you why your pathetic prince feared me."

He didn't fear you, Bulma wanted to say, but she bit her tongue. Her first instinct was to defend Vegeta, but she felt his consciousness trying to hold her back. He wouldn't want her defending him at the cost of her safety, no matter how much she wanted it.

"Nothing to say?" the alien teased, goading her into slandering him just so that he could attack her.

She glanced at him defiantly. "It's not worth it."

Zarbon hated the way the woman looked at him. It was as if she felt that she were superior to him despite his lack in strength. He moved to attack her. Bulma knew it was coming. She was about to activate her shield prototype, but Zarbon was too quick and had her by her neck against the dungeon wall. "You're nothing but a weakling, yet your eyes say you think you're better than me. The stupid monkey used to give me that same look. You will cower the same way he did by the time I'm done with you."

Bulma attempted to catch her breath, but the alien refused to allow it. She was starting to feel lightheaded as she fought his grip. She sensed Vegeta's panic and rage, as if he could tell what was going on in that moment. How was he feeling whatever he was in response to something he couldn't see? "S-Stop," she managed to choke out. But Zarbon didn't listen. Her plea only made his anger disappear as cruel enjoyment was reflected in his eyes.

"What was that?" he questioned putting more pressure over her windpipe. "I don't think I could hear you. Why don't you try again? This time, call me master."

"N-Never," Bulma hissed, spitting in Zarbon's face.

It didn't deter him, but he closed his eyes not having expected her reaction before he threw her down to the cold ground. Bulma's hand instantly went to her throat as she struggled to breathe. She didn't notice that an irate Zarbon was encroaching upon her. His shadow caught her attention, and she tried to move to activate the shield, but instead she heard a beeping sound and she froze.

She looked up to see her enemy glaring down at her covering his eye with a piece of glass. The beeping was coming from the device and, when it stopped making noise, Zarbon became even more enraged. "Not only to you have a pitiful power level, but it looks like someone is keeping secrets from the king. Does he know that you're pregnant?"

Not being trained to conceal emotions, Bulma audibly gasped before covering her mouth. "How…how do you know that? I haven't told anyone-"

"The scouter," Zarbon answered while tapping the eyepiece, "allows me to track another's power level. You have two emanating from your body, and I can tell that one ki is much stronger than any human could be even with years of training."

"What are you going to do?" the human inquired, now feeling fear for her unborn child.

"Nothing for now," Zarbon sneered. "It's only a matter of time before King Cold finds out." The alien started to head back towards the door. He turned his head at the last moment and flashed her an annoying, self-satisfying smile. "And when he does, I will make sure I am the one to personally handle your punishment."

He left her alone after that, and Bulma felt true terror. She knew Vegeta would come for her and find a way around King Cold's cowardly plan, but her mind couldn't help but wonder if she would even survive long enough for that to happen. All she had going for her was King Cold's desire for her mind, but what if she pissed off enough people before her mate could reach her.

Her hand rested against her abdomen and she sighed. "Well, your mother certainly knows how to make friends, huh? Let's hope you don't take after me or your father on that front."


Vegeta could not contain his anger. Moments after he had to watch as one of his old adversaries took advantage of his mate's physical weakness, he had taken off to the launch pad and sent his registered pod out into space. Kakarot had gone with him, making sure the other pods were prepared. Nappa touched down moments later so that he could return to Planet Vegeta. First, though, he needed to tend to his charge.

"Vegeta, relax," he tried. "She's fine."

The prince snapped his attention and anger towards the formal general. "Bullshit," he snarled. "Bulma is with that bastard. He's already threatening her, just because of her connection to me. I swear; I will make him pay for laying a hand on her."

"I know you will," Nappa assured him, "but you need to have your wits about you. She's okay, Vegeta. She's going to be okay, regardless. She survived past this day. Whatever happens…it won't destroy her. Just relax."

Though his expression softened, Vegeta still looked cold and calculating. "I will not relax until my mate is safe." With that, he boarded the ship, and he and Kakarot took off to the skies.