14

Bursting in to the Command Center, Vegeta's mouth dropped at the sight of Goku on the screen with the rose covered crater in the background. The Saiyan teen was dressed in a navy blue shirt under an orange vest, orange pants secured by a navy sash, and black boots. His coal black eyes held an odd sparkle to them, as if he was trying to hold his excitement in, his bubbly voice rang through the speakers, "Hi! Goku Son here, Winner of the 72nd Dragon Games, coming at ya from Region 13. I'm still alive, as you can tell, even after Freezer tried to bury us with bombs. Although, I have a better reason for being here then just updating you guys on what's happened."

"Who's bright idea was it to film Kakarot?" Vegeta bellowed to the startled room. "Mine." Tienshinhan answered coolly, explaining, "In order for the rescue to be a success, I needed something to fill what few communicating channels their using. With the main power supply off, their running on emergency generators which leaves them wide open to me. As long as Goku keeps talking, Freeza won't even know what hit him." Pouting as his crossed his arms, the teen scoffed, "Tch. Still should've asked me about it."

The youngest Winner of the Dragon Games continued on, he knew his role in the rescue of his Chi-Chi was vital. "I'm here to tell everyone the truth of what really happens after you survive the Game. An easy life? Fame and honor for yourself and your Region? How about just because you want to fight? Lies. Every last one of them." A grin stretched across Goku's face, but it wasn't his normal happy smile; it seemed more… sad. "It's a piece of cake to make it out of the Arena. It's surviving what happens afterwards that's hard." His voice cracked, but the Saiyan pressed on, "Freezer used to sell me; my body. Don't think I was the first or even the only one, I just happened to be everyone's favorite. Life's funny like that."

An empty laugh shook the spiky-haired teen's muscular chest, "Our President made a killing off me but usually I'd be given as a reward. I even took Chi-Chi's place… when he let me. It's not like any of us could refuse, he'd kill everyone we had ever cared about and then still make us do it." Clutching his necklace, Goku's next words were clipped, hollow, "I took my… fans 'gifts' to let them feel better about what they'd done. But I quickly found a better currency then money or jewels. Secrets; enough to bring the Capital to its knees."

Shaking his head, an amused smile on his lips, Goku sighed, "I'm afraid I only have time to tell one person's secrets, so I'm going after the big fish. Freezer. He was my age when he came into power. How has he managed to keep it for so long, you wonder? Poison mainly, but he's not afraid to get his hands dirty either. Freezer would drink from the same cup as his perceived enemies, that's why he likes the flowers you see around me and wears dark lipstick; to hide the blood from wounds that won't heal.

"But poison's not the only weapon he's used." Goku's smile disappeared, a determined frown in its place, "That lizard has killed many with the pistol he keeps on him at all times. Us monkeys are his favorite targets; no one was safe from his wrath or boredom. Not even our King." Anger overcame the teen, the ground rumbled as he snarled, "Murderers can't hide forever. Fear is what has let Freezer rule this long, but no longer. I stand beside my Prince, knowing that our only hope of defeating you is to work together. You've toyed with us for too long, Freezer; and we're taking back what's our!" The disheveled black hair flashed gold before reverting back, but his usually coal black eyes stayed teal.

At Goku's last statement, everything started going haywire. Goku's voice cut out, the rescue teams helmet cameras turned to static, and Tienshinhan started typing furiously. "What's going on?" Vegeta growled but everyone ignored him. "Someone answer me!" He demanded, clenching his fists as he turned into a Super Saiyan.

Finally Tien gave up on fighting the inevitable and focused on restoring communications with the rescue squad, hurriedly answering the volatile teen, "They must have restored the power. I'm being shut out, we've got another minute at best before they shut our feed down." "Put me out there." Vegeta said. Shenron and Bardock stared at the teen as if he grew two heads, causing the Prince to snap, "Freeza won't resist the chance to mock me. Put me on, he'll answer."

Shrugging, the tall, broad-chested bald man set up a small camera and hit a few buttons before nodding to Vegeta. Everyone cleared out of the line of the camera as the black-haired teen began to speak, "Freeza? If you're there, I think we need to have another talk." Nothing. Vegeta tried one last time, trying to not sound desperate, "President Freeza, we need to talk." A pale face appeared on the huge screen in front of him, the man's platinum white hair was slicked back against his skull with dark purple streaks in it; his high-pitched voice grated on Vegeta's sensitive ears, "My dear Vegeta. To what do I own the pleasure? Surely this isn't a social call." Give them time… That's all I have to do…

"Why'd you let me live?" The question came unbidden from his lips but Vegeta rolled with it, "If you'd just killed me like my parents then none of this would be happening." Dryly chuckling at the teen's question, Freeza sounded genuinely amused, "Your mother was simply getting in the way of your father doing his job, which was to control you monkeys, so I removed the problem. I didn't want to kill your father but he gave me no other choice. The reason I left you alive, Vegeta, was because I thought I might need a puppet to bring your monkey brethren back under control." A deep scowl marred his features, "I now see my mistake."

Mirroring the lizard's scowl, Vegeta crossed his arms, growling, "Did you honestly believe that I wouldn't grow up under your rule and not dedicate my life to killing you to avenge my parents?" Freeza's voice dropped an octave, losing its annoying scratchiness, "Trust me Vegeta, I never make the same mistake twice." Fear flooded through the Bond and Vegeta took a second to tell Bulma, You're being rescued. Don't fight them.

"You know I don't like being ignored, Vegeta." The murderer's voice brought the Saiyan back to the present. Got to keep him talking… "I'll walk away… from everything. The Revolution, being the Lost Prince, my title, everything; if you'll just give me my Mate back." Laughing at the teen's poor attempt at bargaining, Ee-arth's President shook his head, "You can't abandon this path Vegeta, no matter how much you want too." "Then take me instead. Just let the Woman go." Vegeta begged, clutching a fist to his chest; trying to appeal to Freeza's sadistic pride.

Slowly rolling his red eyes, Freeza sighed, "You and I both know that monkeys don't do 'noble sacrifices', Vegeta. Besides, we're well past that point; I assure you." "Then what you want from me?!" Vegeta shouted, fighting to hold back the tears that threatened to fall, "Just tell me. I'll do it, whatever it is." "My dear, dear Vegeta…" Freeza tutted, pursing his purple-tinted lips, "I understand you can't help your genetics. What was it you said? 'Saiyans don't make peace. We make war.' Surely you remember how important peace is to me?"

"Yes…" The young Prince was visibly shaking as the imposing man glared at him through the screen, "I convinced the Regions that I love the Woman, wasn't that enough? I gave up everything to convince you! Don't you see Freeza? Me and the Woman are Mates, she can move on if I die but I can't… What good is a broken puppet if no one wants to watch it dance?"

Cruelly grinning at the once proud Saiyan Prince, Freeza hummed happily, "Oh, I know Vegeta. I've found that the thing one holds most dear tends to be the very thing that destroys us. You can quote me on that. I think I've given your little followers enough time. Maybe I'll go pay them a visit? They are in my Training Center after all." He made a slashing motion over his throat and the feed was cut. Reeling from this new information, Vegeta staggered back, clutching his side, "He knew… He knew… That lizard knew the whole time…"

Practically dragging the distraught teen from the Command Center as everyone flew into action, Piccolo made a beeline for the only people who could help. The former Winner knocked on the door and walked away, leaving Vegeta to the mercy of the curly-haired blond woman who opened the door. Her petite hands flew to her mouth at the sight of the watery eyed teen, whispering, "Oh, no…"

Not waiting for an invitation, the teen stepped inside and closed the door softly. Only then did he let his resolve break as he cried on Panchy's shoulder, "I may have lost them both tonight." He kept repeating those words over and over as he wept. When his tears stopped and his cries became hiccups, Bulma's mother sat her daughter's Mate down and set about making a nice, soothing cup tea.

Vegeta nursed his tea 'til it was cold and bitter, but still he did not speak. Eventually Goku joined him and he was made to sit with a warm cup of his own; Panchy Briefs was not one to be defied on a good day and this was far from a good day. "Have you heard anything 'Gete's?" Goku wondered quietly, staring at his cup like it held all the answers he seeked. Sighing, Vegeta raised his red-rimmed eyes, his deep, gravelly voice rougher than usual, "Not a word, Kakarot. But the Bond is still there, so She must still be alive." "Good. That's good." The other Saiyan nodded, a small glimmer of hope starting to dance in his coal black eyes. Please still be alive Bulma…