"So, this is what Earthlings consider a trading station." Nappa remarked flatly, his shoulders slumping as he, Raditz and Vegeta stood at the mall kiosk, carrying a multitude of shopping bags. Their eyes flickered, and tails twitched as they watched all the mall goers swarming around them.

"Something like that. If this were any other planet, I'd say it's more like a containment cell, and blast them all to hell." Vegeta grumbled, glancing around himself with disgust. Launch, Bulma and Kannon had been shopping around for some time now, out one store, and into another.

"I wonder when we'll get to go to the food court like they promised?" Raditz questioned, and Vegeta huffed.

"Probably in another 100 years of this torment. I don't know how much longer I can stand it!" He bristled, his fists tightening on the many bags of clothes and shoes acquired for Bulma and her friends.

Raditz hummed, then turned and looked at the mall directory curiously.

"Look here, Your Highness, it's a map." He motioned with one hand, and he moved to join him.

"If we blast straight down, there's the food court right below us." Nappa pointed out, and Vegeta nodded.

"Let's find the stairs. I'm not sure making a hole is a good idea, that might get dust in the food." Vegeta reasoned, and the others nodded, not wanting to chance that either.

"Good thinking, Your Majesty." Raditz said, then took a capsule out of his pants pocket and began encapsulating everything.

"Tch. Would you two stop calling me that, already?" Vegeta snapped with irritation, dropping his bags. The other saiyans looked shocked, blinking. Some people stopped and gawked as they walked by, whispering to themselves.

Vegeta steamed with agitation, then pulled Nappa and Raditz in close by their tee shirts.

"It's not Earth custom, don't you want to blend in, you idiots?!"

" 'Blend in?' Are we on a covert mission?" Nappa whispered conspicuously, and Raditz turned his head to hiss at him.

"Of course we are! We need to sneak off to the food court and eat before the women come back!"

"He's right, so just call me Vegeta now!"

"Ok, Prince Vegeta." Both nodded, and Vegeta released them, pinching the bridge of his nose with agitation.

"Good enough. Let's get going, men."

"We'll get to eat twice if this works out!" Nappa nudged Raditz and the two grinned, then all three flew down the stairs, over the heads of the people using them as intended.

...

Bulma tented her hands to her lips with her excitement, giggling through her smile as Launch and Kannon walked into their respective fitting rooms. She already had her own gown, so she didn't necessarily need to buy anything else, but a girl has to have the perfect heels, clutch bag and make-up for such a special occasion! Not to mention, Launch and Kannon had to look great as well, and Bulma had always been generous with her friends.

Bulma sighed and checked herself out in the fitting room mirror, adjusting her green headband, which matched her fuzzy blue sweater with a pleated green-blue plaid skirt. She already hooked up Miyuki with the hottest dress in her closet from last season, but Launch was too petite to fit in her clothes, and Kannon a bit too... athletic, or too buxom given her stage of transformation. Bulma thought it best she got something with a bit of 'give' for her special situation.

"Come on! I'm not getting any younger, guys!" Bulma blurted out a few moments later, looking on with interest as one of the doors swung open. Launch came out, and she gasped, her eyes sparking as she admired Launch in the dress she'd chosen.

"Well, what do you think? Is it pretty?" She said, then spun around to show the back, and Bulma nodded eagerly.

"It's gorgeous! I think we found a winner!" She enthused, then the two of them turned to see what Kannon was wearing. The blonde came out in a soft black sleeveless bodycon dress, with criss-crossing halter straps to flatter her toned back and shoulders, with some ruffles at the hips to give her a bit more of an oomph and girlish figure.

"So, how bad is it? I don't fill it out, do I?" Kannon pouted, crossing her arms.

"Oh, not at all, you look stunning!" Launch reassured her, and Kannon looked to Bulma for approval as well.

"Nappa will love it! Let's check out. You guys just need some cute jewelry and shoes to match now." She giggled, herding them back into the dressing rooms. Launch pouted, looking out towards the exit.

"I hope it doesn't take too long, I am eating for a half-saiyan, let's not forget!" She sighed, then went in to change back into her normal clothes.

"Don't worry! We'll head out soon to meet up with the boys!" Bulma said, and felt satisfied that the both of them had picked out stellar dresses to wear for the gala. One thing weighed heavy on her mind, though, and she wasn't sure when the best time would be to approach it.

I have to tell the truth to Launch. But how? I don't want to ruin her entire day... She thought with a sad sigh, bringing her hand up to nibble on her fingernails nervously.

...

The diners in the food court paused to stop and stare at the three odd men sitting at a table overloaded with food, so much that the legs of it were bowing outward, but it seemed to be kept up by the powerful thighs beneath it. Raditz, Nappa and Vegeta feasted on fast food: pizza, burgers, fries, wings, tacos, fried chicken, milk shakes, soda; anything deemed edible by their discerning tastes, which meant pretty much anything that the food court had to offer with its multiple mini restaurants.

"Gods, the sheer excess of this planet is stupendous," Raditz gushed, holding a cheeseburger in one hand, a slice of pizza on the other with a glazed over look in his eyes.

"Mmm, what do you call this stuff? It's even better than that chicken Pinchie makes!" Nappa moaned with each bite off the fried chicken legs he was double fisting.

"Its even better than sex." He chucked, pounding one fist on the table. Vegeta snorted as he sucked down a large chocolate milkshake, a loaded cheese burrito in his other hand.

"You obviously haven't been laid recently, Nappa, this food is pure garbage. Lard, chemicals, sweeteners, there is no nutritional value." Vegeta huffed, then sucked down the rest of the milkshake until the straw sputtered, draining it completely.

Nappa and Raditz cracked up laughing as Raditz carefully stuck his finger in Vegeta's taco when he wasn't looking. Raditz moved it back and forth, making a dirty gesture for Nappa to snicker at before pulling his finger away and licking the sour cream off it. Vegeta set down his cup and groaned, clutching at his skull. Fuck, what is this pain in my head?! The others seemed oblivious to Vegeta's pain, still laughing.

"This is pretty good, but I prefer the flavor of Launch's 'taco'." Raditz said suggestively, smirking.

"I bet she likes meat in her tacos!" Nappa chuckled roughly and elbowed him, Raditz nodded his agreement. "She sure does!"

"RADITZ!" A shrill scream, followed by a bag flying at his head, made him have to duck quickly, catching the bag just in time before it exploded in Vegeta's face across him. Launch glared at him, infuriated. Bulma and Kannon were to the sides of her, looking just as angry after hearing their filthy conversation, and the fact that they hadn't had the patience to wait for them!

"Ridiculous... that a mere frozen treat could best me, the Prince of All Saiyans!" Vegeta bellowed, crushing his cup. The diners around them gasped as Vegeta stood up quickly, his anger radiating out around him as he experienced his first brain freeze from cold ice cream; infuriated that a simple milkshake could cause him such pain.

Bulma rolled her eyes and shooed off the other diners, "Mind your business people, nothing to see here!" She smiled sweetly, and the others looked away, losing interest as Vegeta seemed to be recovering from his headache, rubbing his scalp aggressively.

"Fuck! Why do they make those drinks so cold!?" He growled, Bulma shaking her head.

"Sheesh, I can't believe you haven't tried out ice cream yet, Vegeta. We have gallons of it at home. It'll go away. Want a coffee?" He nodded, and she sauntered away, leaving him to his own devices.

Vegeta aimed his hand at the table and incinerated his garbage, then sat and crossed his arms begrudgingly.

"Aww, Vegeta had his first brain freeze, the big mighty pwince brought to his knees!" Launch teased, Kannon cackling at his expense. He fumed, glaring holes into the others.

"Control your hair changing harlequins, would you?... Buffoons." He snarled, and the others obeyed, going to join the two blondes as Vegeta steamed.

Bulma came back not long after, toting beverages for them both.

"Here you are, a fresh cappuccino will fix you up!" Bulma chirped happily, setting the cup before him, before plopping in the chair beside him, sipping on her own latte. He picked up the cup and took a deep inhale of breath, closing his eyes as he sipped gratefully.

"So, did you enjoy shopping with Nappa and Raditz?" Bulma asked sweetly; aware they had most likely done nothing of the sort. That wasn't completely true, they did wander into a few various departments and trade tender for clothes and whatever shiny objects they thought interesting.

"It was fine. Did you find suitable clothing for their companions?" He questioned, sipping his liquid relaxation.

"Yes, I did." She responded, squeezing his hand. "I just... Have one thing left I haven't finished today, but..."

He looked at her seriously; sensing a wave of dread coming over her.

"There is no time like the present, as they say. Best to get it out of the way." He advised her, then went silent as Launch and Kannon sat at the table.

"The guys are going to go fetch us some food. Didn't you want anything, Bulma?" Kannon asked, and she nodded hesitantly.

"I'll purchase your meal." Vegeta said and stood, walking off with purpose. Bulma thought about his words, and how he seemed to have such command in his presence, so much that others felt subservient. She decided that he was right, and looked at Launch across the table from her, all blonde curls and sparkling green eyes lit with her joy from their entertaining day.

"What's up, Bulma? You look so serious all-a sudden." She remarked, her tail flicking suspiciously behind her back. Bulma let out a shaky exhale, clasping her shivering hands around the warm cup as she thought on it.

"Well, uh... You see, there's this thing..." She began, gulping anxiously.

"You remember how I was with Yamcha?"

"Course I do Bulma, but what's he got to do with anything?"

"Well, no matter what happened, I still can't shake the happy memories we shared before things went bad... Before I met Vegeta, I thought Yamcha was the best it was going to get." She said, tapping her nails on the cup. Launch raised one eyebrow, confused.

"Sure... Where are you going with this? I don't have all day, darlin."

"Ok, ok..." Bulma nodded, taking another breath. "You're the type of girl that likes to get straight to the punch, and I really admire that about you. That's why... I know that you will be strong enough to hear what I have to tell you." Bulma said bravely, taking a note from Launch, or rather; imagining she had her gun pointed at her chin to give her courage.

"Spit it out then, dollface. I can handle it." Launch said with a perfunctory fist on the table, Kannon glancing from her daughter to Bulma in mild confusion.

"You had a baby with Tien." Bulma said, getting straight to the point. Launch froze, her eyes widening.

"Wha- No, I... What the hell are implyin'!?" She shouted, her angered reaction barely covering the pain in her voice.

Bulma clutched her friend's fist tightly with both hands, tears running down to her chin, jaw quivering as she looked deep into Launch's eyes and nodded.

"That day, in the emergency room... The blood.. it turns out it was.. was a miscar-. I can't say it. I-I can't.." Bulma began, then burst into tears, sobbing. Launch was still frozen in place, just beginning to understand what she was trying to say to her.

Raditz came up beside her, and dropped to his knees, setting a bag of take out to the side as he shook her to get her to respond. He had heard everything, and at last he knew the answer once the pieces all fell together.

"Little Launch...my mate. I knew... I knew that I felt a ki like his growing inside of you. From the time I urged you not to go with the Gemini, I... I had sensed a change in you. It doesn't change anything we have. But now I fully understand why when the planets moved, you began to bleed..."

"There's no other humanoid species in this galaxy that could survive gestation with a saiyan." Nappa answered what Raditz was attempting to say bluntly, looking to Vegeta for confirmation.

"A saiyan infant, even in its most embryonic form, will absorb anything it can. That, or destroy it. Sudden Infant Death, it's what I told you happened, blue brain."

"Shut up, Vegeta. You'll make it worse." Raditz spat, glaring at him from where he held Launch close to him.

"Wait, just listen to me for a moment before you traumatize my little girl, Saiyans." Kannon huffed, standing up.

"Raditz was onto something... a Gemini woman can become pregnant twice at once, as you've all figured out. I've seen it for myself during the times Propel was made to breed during the high tides.

And yes, if in a split second between her transformation, one infant could have jumped from one womb to the next, but, I still have one more suggestion for you all to consider. What if, during the movement of the planets, the force of that power was enough to.. To harm the child inside, and in defense of its mother, it eliminated itself to keep her from harm. It was too much power Vulcane was trying to contain. All the Geminis feel a huge surge in strength when the tide comes, and our home planets are drawn closer to the surface." Kannon finished, nodding her head in shaky confirmation to Launch. She didn't want the memory to be muddled with savage images of cannibalism. If she could spare her from it, just that bit, that she hoped Launch could heal from it.

"I see.." Launch nodded, and Bulma sighed in relief. "I... almost wish you never would have told me if it was gonna hurt this bad, but... now I have something to tell Tien, if he ever gets home, he has to know too. No matter how mad I am at him." Launch said as she clung to Raditz, hiding her face, before looking up at him. Raditz nodded, and kissed her on the forehead.

"Yes. This is your grief to bear, but I shall be here, no matter what happened in the past. We have this one gift, and we shall cherish it." He said softly, and rested his hand on her swelling stomach. Launch nodded quickly, wiping her tears away.

"Well, would everyone stop staring at me like I'm some kinda spectacle? My eyes might be leaky, but I still have a baby to feed." Launch huffed, reaching around her back for her concealed weapon.

"First..." Launch sighed, then turned to Kannon. "Thanks, mom. And everyone. Except you, Vegeta. Oh what the hell, I appreciate you trying to tell me, no matter how bad you are at being nice." Launch chuckled huskily, and threw her arms around her mother, squeezing her tight.

Vegeta snorted, his only response to the woman giving off a stench of tears, that and his woman leaning against him to wipe hers on his shirt. He rose one hand, and placed it gently at the center of her back to comfort her.

"Well, let's eat then. Best not to keep our little saiyan waiting." Raditz said, and set his bag on the table before her, smiling as she sobbed on her mother's shoulder. A far away look came over him, and a tension arose in his throat that he couldn't swallow.

There was nothing I could do... But, if it were any other way... I would always stay with her. Even if I were to father a Gemini spawn. Imagine my surprise, how times have changed. He thought somberly, back to the dying face of her lover, now gone from this world. You certainly left your mark on this world, Tien. So, when that day comes, and you walk the earth again... Though I wish deeply to slaughter you for making her hurt, I know with certainty that this is not your fault... I must pick up each piece of her, as I always have where you could not, Tien Shinhan.

That is why, though we love to mask with self-sacrificial laments, instinctively I know, and dread without a doubt that my seed did indeed devour his offspring. It's the saiyan way. Eat, or be eaten.

The next day when Gohan awoke, he felt much better than before. He was able to leave bed rest, and began exploring around the palace at Kami's Lookout, a little-known area that he found very intriguing. He had peeked around a few cracked doors, and saw not much but dusty rooms lacking a bed, or any ornament, yet in the darkness the length of the walls seemed endless. He was about to walk into one of these rooms, when he was quickly pulled back by an unforeseen force, the door closing immediately along with it.

Gohan yelped in surprise as he was lifted into the air by a disgruntled Piccolo, coming face to face with the green man he thought he would never see again.

"What are you doing, kid? Don't poke around places where you don't belong, things aren't as predictable here as they are on earth." He grumbled, holding Gohan in mid air with his telekinesis.

"H-How are you doing that?! P-Put me down!" Gohan squawked nervously, glancing around for something to take hold of, his eyes wide with fear.

"Are you afraid of heights?" Piccolo questioned with confusion, the boy had never seemed this nervous before when he was flying.

"N-No! What would make you think that?" Gohan whimpered, then became even more anxious as Piccolo looked up, and in turn he floated up higher. He continued to let him go higher, and higher, until he was nearly touching the ceiling, screaming and wailing all the while.

"You're not coming down until you stop crying, Gohan." Piccolo warned, continuing to manipulate his movements in the air a bit; figuring the boy would get over it once he realized he wasn't going to let him drop.

"And just what are you doing?" A familiar voice intoned dangerously, making Piccolo swear under his breath in Namekian.

"I heard that." Calliope growled, coming around to face him, her face matching her tone, glaring right through him with her golden eyes.

"Don't think about meddling in my business, ænäixa. I know what I'm doing here." Piccolo growled back, avoiding her gaze, only focusing on Gohan, who was now sobbing uncontrollably.

"The child is unwell. He should be resting!" He snapped, stepping forward once; threatening to cut off his telekinesis with force. She despised being called the Namekian word that most closely meant female; 'ænäixa' thus referencing only the organs, not her as a person, which she found incredibly rude. They had stopped calling one another sister or brother after learning their names, and yet he still insisted to call her as such.

"Physically, he is now fit to continue training. Mentally, unfit. But that's his problem." He grunted out stubbornly, ignoring the ringing in his ears that was Gohan's cry.

"How could you, Piccolo? He is your pupil. Shouldn't a Master train the mind, and body?" Calliope pleaded, setting her anger with him aside for the sake of the child, she inched closer, placing her hand on his bicep and squeezing it urgently to gain his full attention.

Piccolo glanced at her for just a second, dreading to see if there were tears running from her eyes, but he found none, blinking in bafflement. So, perhaps Namekian women weren't as sensitive as he'd assumed from what he knew of Earth women.

"Ha! You blinked!" She cackled, and held her arms out to catch Gohan, having broken his concentration, she released his hold on the boy. Gohan fell into her arms; stunned by the change in gravity, his cries almost all abated.

"There, there little one, you're on solid ground once again." Calliope soothed, wiping his tear soaked cheeks with the sleeve of her wrap around halter top.

"He is too large to carry." Piccolo snarled, despising the way she coddled the boy, it would only make him more soft.

"I am strong enough to carry his weight." She replied with an air of confidence, hefting Gohan up easily with her toned arms, the planed muscle of her pink abdomen easily visible through the criss-crossing chains she wore as a garment.

"Suit yourself. He knows how to fly. Or at least, he did. Now he's regressed backward." He spat angrily; feeling his training had gone to waste, and would further be undone by Calliope's meddling. Piccolo's cheeks deepened to an angered burgundy hue, following behind as she walked out of the palace, and into the fresh air.

"Now, child, tell me why you have become wary of heights. You can tell me, I won't allow that kašełlis to toss you around again." Calliope cooed, making Piccolo stop dead in his tracks, eyes wide. She had one upped him in his own game, instead of calling him some sort of internal male reproductive organ, she'd called him a scrotum.

"Uh.. ok... Miss Calliope... what's a... kap-cell-ees?" Gohan asked timidly, peeling over her shoulder to see Piccolo fuming in anger. Calliope laughed and was just about to tell him what it was, before Piccolo rushed up behind her and covered her mouth with both hands.

"It's nothing for you to be concerned about! Don't let this ænäixa fill your head with filthy thoughts!" Piccolo snarled, then his eyes went wide when Calliope backed up into him, her eyes glinting with a malevolent yellow hue. The woman's soft bottom bumped into his groin, an unexpected, yet pleasant movement that made him stiffen, his hands clasped around her mouth frozen in place.

This 'ænäixa' as you say is more than just a set of organs that you can classify. Yes, I am a woman, but I am a Namekian just like you.

A whisper reached Piccolo's mind, and he gasped as he realized Calliope was using their shared ability for telepathy to speak privately with him. She then giggled, and snaked her tongue out to lick his hand. Piccolo released her quickly, wiping his hands on his pants with a grimace.

Childish fool. Keep your tongue in your mouth, next time you dare to lick me, I'll cut it off. He threatened, sending her a lovely image of him holding her by her tongue, the other fingers posed with a laser beam ready to slice it off.

Kašełlis. You wouldn't dare. In front of the saiyå youth? She scolded, sending him an image of Gohan crying that made him flinch back. She turned her head and glared at him with those golden Tiger's-Eye gemstones, reminding him of the powerful Sabertooth tiger that had taken in Gohan as a cub.

Intolerable tigress. I am more than just a sheath of skin that holds male organs.. Take it back. Or else, I take the kid. Piccolo smirked deviously, and Calliope huffed at his response, her cheeks violet from his almost affectionate nickname.

You don't get it, îdy•øt! The child needs to be nurtured to grow. He's delicate, he was near death, just as you were. I cared for you, just as he, until you were ready to walk again.

Calliope responded lastly, stroking Gohan's hair back from his brow where it was pasted with perspiration. Piccolo looked on for a moment; seeing how Gohan looked frightened and pale, and regretted his harsh treatment of him, and her.

Maybe ænäixa was right. Calliope, I mean. His brows relaxed their furrowment, and he released the tension from his chest, his arms coming around Calliope to examine Gohan's face and neck with his hands where he had once been injured.

"You took a great fall, bearing the weight of it on your head. How did this happen, Gohan?" He asked, feeling frustrated as more tears fell down the child's cheeks. A flurry of images invaded the minds of both Namekians as Gohan remembered the fall he had suffered down the side of the tall mountain, where he had been flushing sand out of his eyes in the natural spring that Piccolo had shown him.

"I see. You poor child." Calliope soothed, drying his tears with her sleeve.

"You shouldn't have been up there when you could barely see, boy! You're just as foolish as your father." Piccolo scolded, then faltered. "There's more, though. What happened after that?" He asked, but quickly was met with a flash of black, blood splatter, Son Goku's wife screaming out in terror with the horrible discovery of her son with a broken neck. Afterwards, it was blank, Gohan blinking in question.

"I don't know what happened after that. That's where the memory ends." He said softly, lowering his face and smothering his tears on Calliope's chest. Piccolo moved away from his closeness with the woman and child, finding the warmth a bit too comfortable for his tastes, he walked away.

"Come find me when you stop that crying." He simply said, and walked towards the edge of the lookout where Kami and the others stood.

Calliope watched him walk away, frowning. Why is he so angry?

Piccolo cursed to himself as he approached the edge of the lookout, seeing a waterfall down far below.

This is all my fault.

A lone speck of white drifted through all-encompassing space around it, fiery stars passing over the ruby porthole where a woman's face could be seen, her head tilted forward as she rested, her brows furrowed together in a troubled expression as she remained deep in stasis sleep.

"Tyurni?" A familiar voice called from across the field where she was lingering, watching the violet grass swaying in the wind. Tyurni picked the last of the wild tyurnïe grapes they used on Vegeta to make a sweet wine from, placing them in her wicker basket, then licking one of her purple stained fingers.

"I'm coming, Chanā!" She called back, forgetting to undo her long modesty skirts tied in knots around her thighs to better walk through the tall grass.

Her sister Rachanā approached her, a frown clear on her gentle face. "We should be heading back to the village before it gets late, little sister." She urged, taking her sun bronzed hand with her darker brown one, they walked down the dusty trail, barefoot as dashmi peasants like themselves commonly did. "I've got lots of tyurnïes to make wine with, they're so ripe this time of year." Tyurni said with a shrug, swinging her basket; not catching on to the urgency her sister seemed to be walking with.

"Do you have enough to make wine for the market, then? We have to find some type of income while Bdakka is away. Ruuter isn't very happy. He came by looking for the rent today." Rachanā said in a low whisper, squeezing her hand tighter as they made their way back into the outer edges of North Vradashmi, once a great kingdom, it was now a place that harbored bandits, deserters, and thieves. Many had turned away from the Saiyan Army once it became Frieza Force, or suffered unimaginable trauma from their first purging missions, and came here to The Blue City to hide.

Long ago, the cobbled ground they walked upon was made of blue lapis bricks that lined each street in the colorful city; but now each brick had been dug from the earth to be sold for a smudge of mung tar, made from the musk secreted from the anal glands of feral pigs that some less battle worthy saiyans could get a high from by smoking. You could find these once great men, now languishing on the street corners, huddled around a fire where they could light their tar cigarettes. Tattered tails, sunken in eyes that told of great sadness, of horror stories they'd never utter of the hell they'd seen; with eyes glazed over by the mind altering drug.

Death was left in the wake of their Galactic Emperor, Lord Frieza, who had taken over the Planet Vegeta three years ago now, leaving King Vegeta only a figurehead to give such saiyans a glimmer of a fighting chance. During these three years, the planet had suffered some great losses, resources, lives, their Pride. Some ragged, street preaching zealots yelled about The Order of Öozaru as the women walked by, clutching close to each other.

"THE RACE OF SAIYANS IS THE GREATEST, IN OUR BLOOD FLOWS THE SUPER SAIYAN OF LEGEND'S POWER!"

"DO NOT LET THEM BUY YOU WITH BATTLE PRESTIGE AND EMPTY PROMISES, ONLY THE GREAT GOD, MEGA ÖOZARU CAN GRANT YOU ETERNAL PEACE!"

"SEEK A RESTFUL DEATH WITH US, SO THAT YOU NEVER HAVE TO SEE THE FIRES OF ETERNAL HELL! BECOME ONE OF US BEFORE THE WORLD'S ENDING, AND WE SHALL ASCEND TO THE GREAT WARRIOR'S REST WITH OUR LOVED ONES!" The red robed zealots cried to the skies, shaking their pronged sigil scepters, unafraid of death, they sought to give you peace at the end of a blade so that you could be spared from war, famine, and inevitable suffering.

But those cursed men knew better, they had seen with their very eyes the blood of the great saiyan race spilt, and poured into a crystal wine glass. Too many of them had committed great, unforgivable sins, Mega Oozaru was not a God of benevolence like Zaiyå Pritsypaiyä, the one Vradashmi people had once prayed to, he was a war God, a God of death.

Before the infiltration of the Eraknïs; the flesh eating insects that had decimated the royal family and the former inhabitants of the blue city, it had been named after the one remaining blue blood princess. Kalabrylea, who now came to be the mother of Broly, and second wife courtesan to King Vegeta.

Years later after the city was abandoned, traveling bands of saiyans from all over the planet had reclaimed it, the tall castle left to fall into ruin, for fear of its haunted halls.

"I want to go home, Chanā.." Tyurni whispered, then gasped as a man made a grab for her bare leg, making her drop her basket.

"Payment time, Lord Ruuter's orders." The soldier disguised as a mung bum chuckled as he shook off his rags, another coming around the side to ensnare Rachanā by her long, braided locks.

"What's the meaning of this? You told me I had three days to pay up!" Rachanā cried out as she struggled to get away, still gripping Tyurni's hand.

"We'll take these as a gift to our master," The soldier purred as she had the basket of grapes torn from her hand. Tyurni was slung over the shoulder of a large man, kicking and crying as the same was done with Rachanā, though she scratched and kicked to escape.

"Master had a better idea, he did. Didn't your mate read his contract when they enlisted him to work the outpost?" The soldier laughed, Tyurni and Rachanā shaking their heads. "He signed a paper stating that he left his belongings under the control of Lord Ruuter, and in turning over his lease, you little bitches were included."

"Bdakka would never do that! You're wrong, you tricked him!" Rachanā argued. "We aren't anyone's property!" Tyurni snarled, beating on the breastplate of the soldier. He gripped her by her backside and slapped it, the other men guffawing at the display that left her bottom bared by her upturned skirt reddened.

"You are now, one man can't have two women to himself under one roof, you're whores as far as our Lord's considered, and the most comely of dashmi peasants."

"Bdakka's not my mate! He's bonded to Rachanā!" Tyurni argued, but the soldier wasn't having it. "Well, an unmated bitch is even better to consort for the lord and pass around the barracks, isn't she?"

"NO! PLEASE, DON'T HURT MY LITTLE SISTER!" Rachanā screamed, and managed to scramble away, falling. She made a slash for the soldier holding Tyurni's ankles, then was booted hard in the face.

"For that you can go first, once we get back i'll make sure you're raped the hardest, stupid bitch." He growled as he kicked her in the head, Tyurni sobbing as she watched her sister's torment.

"STOP, STOP IT, PLEASE!" Tyurni screamed, then her eyes burst open, and she was freed from the terrifying memories, gasping for her breath. She looked out the window, her breathing rapid, noticing how she had broken out into a sweat during her night terrors, the small window foggy with condensation. She took a deep breath, somewhat relieved that it had only been a dream, but it was just how it happened in the past. Her mind was once again tormenting her with the same recollection of events she has suffered with for the last 12 years since she was imprisoned. Tyurni wiped the moisture off the window with her hand, looking out to see the vast expanse of the galaxies before her.

Her gaze softened, and she smiled as she looked out, her hand resting on the window. The part of the dream that her mind failed to let her see before waking up was how they had been saved by Bdakka, and escaped the planet when he commandeered an outpost ship, and flew them far away from planet Vegeta before it's inevitable explosion. There were few, small happy moments she could recall of their space travel that kept her going. She could always remember those times before they were captured by the Gemini's after receiving a surprising call in saiyan over the radio, saying that there was a secret saiyan haven, and they were welcome to join them on their oasis. They shouldn't have taken the bait, because the Gemini Cult fortress was just on the shore of East City, where they were later tricked, then tortured.

That's another story for a different day, Tyurni reflected with a sigh, and glanced down at the map on the control panel to see how far she had travelled while in stasis. Her eyes widened in alarm, as she quickly realized why she had woken from stasis. Red lights began flashing, signifying an emergency.

"Energy is dangerously low. Battery will soon deplete, please make an emergency landing." The robotic female voice announced, warbling a little from the lack of power. What little charge had remained in the tanks of the ship was now depleted, and the ship would soon be dead, and she left floating helpless in space. Her eyes widened, and she picked up the radio, dialing the sister ships. The resulting tone she received from Faranna and Guyéthar signaled that their ships had already fallen, the elder saiyans likely incapacitated by the lack of air in the ships. Tyurni gasped, and began to click on the control panel to see what her oxygen level was at.

"Oxygen, 5%. Please refill air supply on a suitable planet. Battery death is now imminent."

"No…" Tyurni breathed, looking up into the window to see a massive white ship flying overhead, it's legs extending from the base to make an opening below deck.

"10, 9, 8…" Tyurni felt her ship begin to shudder from the suctioning motion, hanging onto whatever she could, looking on helplessly as the first two ships were sucked in.

"3, 2...1...0." Her ship lost all power, and the lights inside all died. She felt the weight shift, then gasped as the small pod began to tremble from the force of the larger ship's gravity field. There was nothing she could do but squeeze her eyes shut as Frieza's ship pulled her in. She'd been captured… again.

…

The lower deck of Frieza's ship swarmed with henchmen and soldiers filled with anticipation; all curious about the three space pods caught in the gravity field now docked beyond the air-lock, trapped with no escape.

"Back up, back it up, ya ingrates. Make way for Lord Frieza." Dodoria shouted, shoving gawkers out of the way to make a clear path for the small, yet deadly overlord. The crowd parted, and the hovercraft was allowed to pass with both of his highest ranking soldiers walking dutifully behind to protect his back from attack.

"Is it those flea-ridden saiyans? They should have never dragged their rat tails back here." Zarbon seethed lowly. Besides that one, Raditz. I rather liked to toy with him. He snickered, reminiscent of the times he would torture the long haired mass of muscle into submission.

"Those ships are the old model." Dodoria clipped, not wishing to speculate, he'd rather just see it now, at present. As far back as he could recall; being in service to the Cold's as long as he had, these were indeed the old ships the army used to utilize. But, how? All those old ships have been retired and used for scrap metal. How did they escape our radar for all this time? Dodoria thought, a bead of sweat rolling down his pink, thorny temple in the balmy deck, filled with hot breaths that made him perspire even worse than usual. With the radar they were able to track scouter readings, and ship locations with technology they had preserved to keep in the headquarter ship, keeping track of all the soldiers at all times.

As of late, they'd been floating on a straight trajectory, blasting whatever lie before them to make way for the fleet. Frieza had gathered his ships and was determined to make the long distance count by conquering and draining each planet in his path for valuables. Perhaps those ships have been floating stagnant since before the destruction of Planet Vegeta...

"Dodoria. Zarbon. Pry open the ships." A scathing voice hissed, causing Dodoria to pause his train of thought as he nearly ran into Frieza's hovercraft.

"Dotard. Clean the wax from your ears and attend to his Highness' command." Zarbon whispered sharply, giving him a little push.

"Pry them open? How? Won't they self-destruct?" He hissed back, but was then answered as one of the dock men that had been witness there before them answered.

"We tried the master control pad. Even tried detonation, but these ships are dead. That's why they were caught up in the gravity field, because they hadn't been recharged in so long." He said with a shrug, showing the control pad to him. Dodoria took it, and jabbed the command button hard enough to open the ships, but there was no response. He tossed the control pad, snarling, and stormed up towards the ships.

"Hands off, weaklings. Sire's orders." Dodoria snarled, swiping one to the side with just a brush of his hand.

The deck workers that had been attempting to pry open the ships with crowbars and their bare fingers suddenly scurried away as he came forward, cracking his knuckles. Dodoria placed his hands on either side of one of the ships. Zarbon followed, and planted one boot on the other ship, pulling up with a grunt of effort. Dodoria dug his fingers into the old ship, making indents in the metal, then peeled back the door with a grunt of effort, opening it like a tin can. Zarbon managed the same, breaking his open wide enough to see what was inside.

"Drag them out!" Frieza slavered viciously; his eyes blazing to see just what lied in the pods. Dodoria reached inside and dragged out the lifeless looking passengers; whispers of confusion making a din in the oblong tunnel that was the lower deck.

"Shut up and return to your rooms." Frieza ordered, scowling as the elderly pair were pulled from the ships; still in stasis it seemed. His officers set them down gingerly, afraid to break the ancient beings. Just how long had these crones been drifting through space?!

The hall cleared out and they were left alone, besides the workers that needed to be there, now disinterested. Two elderly humans were no challenge. Frieza was highly disappointed with this, and reached for the control to turn his craft around.

"Wait- they have tails, your lordship. What remains of them." Zarbon said urgently, lifting one of them up by the arms to show a stub of a tail. The lilac skinned Lord pulled back his lip in a scowl.

"Those withered old corpses... are Saiyans? How?" He growled, eying the beings up and down, and confirming his suspicions by examining the cracked armor they wore. It was crumbling to dust, but it was of the old world, Sadala. How they had managed to avoid detection from him for so long, he couldn't imagine.

"I'm not.. sure. Shall we take them for questioning?" Dodoria questioned, hiking his up, and seeing that this one was male.

"Yes. You can put them in a containment cell.. But first, show me what's in the third pod." He grumbled; finding himself rather disappointed his monkey crew hadn't returned. They were overdue for a lashing.

"Right away, Sire." Dodoria obliged, strolling over, and punching a hole in it. Frieza dragged his hand down his face and sighed, Zarbon pushing his fellow officer aside.

"Not like that! Really." He sneered, then crouched, peering through the hole.

"Oh... my." He murmured, citrine eyes widening.

"Well? What do you see?!" Frieza crowed, lunging forward from his chair.

"It's a...ah.." Zarbon said softly, then reached inside, and grasped something, a hand coming out, and forcing the metal back with one hand easily.

"A.. girl." Zarbon murmured as he escorted the woman out, in a princely fashion becoming of himself as the last passenger floated down to the ground. She was black amethyst haired, with dark olive skin; bearing all the marks of a dashmi saiyan.

"What is... the meaning of all this?" She said meekly, glancing around herself anxiously, half of a tail with a blunt end tucked between her space spandex covered thighs.

Frieza removed his hand from his face, and stared aghast at the sight before him, one eye starting to spasm.

"Who are you?" He said evenly, his fingernails making dents in the armrest. The girl turned away from gazing at Zarbon, and lifted her chin up proudly as she addressed him, taking a deep breath before speaking.

"I am the one named Tyurni." She announced, the three glancing back and forth to one another.

"Is she someone of importance?" Dodoria asked, not recalling anyone with her name being someone important.

Frieza rested his pink striped cheek in his palm and grinned; smiling down at her, his tail curling around in the air as it dangled off the chair, swaying almost... happily.

"She is. Tyurni, my dearest. You've just made my day..." He intoned slyly, then tilted his head back, and laughed heartily.

Tyurni tilted her head, her asymmetrical bob exaggerating the innocent gesture as she wondered who this pale skinned being was, and why he was laughing.

Zarbon and Dodoria glanced at each other from their peripheral, their faces slack of expression, tight-lipped as if apprehensive.

"Take her to the most luxurious quarters we have. Spare no expense making our saiyan guest feel at home, with all the amenities. She must look her best."

His henchmen nodded without question, roughly taking her by the arms.

"Tch! Have you no delicacy? Be gentle, you barbarians!" Frieza scolded, and the two let go, completely flummoxed by this change in commands.

"I shall like to dine with our guest once she is bathed and dressed. Find a female soldier, perhaps Vacaodo can attend to her. No man's hands shall touch her." He intoned darkly, then turned around, and glided off. The two exchanged silent glances, then Dodoria picked up the two inert saiyans, carrying them underneath his arms as Zarbon clicked a button on his scouter.

"Vacaodo. Yes. Come to the lower deck at once. Lord Frieza requests your assistance." He informed her sternly, then turned back as he ended the call to glance down at Tyurni; who was eying him curiously, her round eyes suddenly widening at the sound of his Lord's name.

"Do you not know where you are? Have you lost mental faculty?" He asked sharply in a low hiss, moving his elbow for her to take, her hesitantly grasping his lilac brigandine.

"I..." She murmured, large doe eyes gazing up at him. "Yes...and no. I don't recall." She spoke softly, walking with him.

"Well, you'd better shape up. This is no place for a saiyan." He sniffed, and didn't give her much more to go on. Tyurni gulped, seeing the woman that was to attend to her approach. Vacaodo was a tall, muscular woman with green and yellow skin, wearing black, bumpy armour with spikes, a long, whiplike tail with two prongs swaying behind her. She stopped before Zarbon, of whom she stood a bit taller than. A true Amazon, with a shock of braided black hair that hung between two round muscles... or breasts, encased in sharp looking armour.

"Commander Zarbon." She purred, bowing at the waist to him.

"Vacaodo, you've been called to duty. Our Lordship's orders, you shall attend to our guest's every need, and keep close watch on her. She dines with him once you've made her look decent... pretty." He corrected; not sure what Vacaodo's species was, if she really was a woman, what her idea of attractiveness was, and why in all the Quadrants Frieza had requested this. But, he must be subservient to every whim of his Lord, lest he be eliminated and replaced.

Vacaodo slowly nodded, understanding. She glanced down at Tyurni, and beckoned her with one large, claw tipped hand.

"Come, little saiyan girl. I shall not hurt you unnecessarily." The amazon alien said with an almost reptilian rumble, as Tyurni stumbled away from Zarbon, and scurried behind Vacaodo. He huffed; not caring whether or not the saiyan bitch feared him. She should fear him.

Tyurni's heart raced, gazing up at the tall woman, before her two pronged tails wrapped gently around her wrists, and began to escort Tyurni to her room. Her heels squeaked a bit on the glossy floor with resistance, but she was soon forced to fall into step, or be dragged, her head hanging as a look of terrible dread dawned over her.

Rachanā, Bdakka... I hope to all the gods, that you shall not discover my fate, if I do live... What is the meaning of it?

Raditz smoothed his hands over the sleek suit that had been tailored to fit his size, admiring it's sleek design, yet feeling it unfamiliar. In his mind, saiyans would traditionally wear their best armour to any special event. He sighed, and zipped up the protective bag, hanging it back up in the closet where he'd put it. Beside it, Raditz saw something even better than a tuxedo, and grinned. Dr. Briefs had put his new armour in the closet, as he'd promised. It was even fitted to a plastic model the same size as him so that the stretchable suit would retain the same size, instead of shrinking. Raditz gazed at the armour, but seemed less quick to touch it, gulping.

"Don't even think about it." A husky voice said from behind him, and Raditz opened his mouth to object.

"But, Launch… Can't I try it on?" Raditz questioned, turning to see the blonde behind him as she sat down on the guest bed.

"If you try it on, I'll never get you out of it! I told ya, you have to take a little break from fighting now." She said, rubbing her back and wincing.

"Rest is important, Raditz. How can your muscles grow if you're constantly pushing them to the limit? You never let yourself heal up!" Launch shouted, and he flinched a little. She was right, after all. It was a big reason why he had to wear resistance bands on his arm and leg. There was a deeper reason for this, one he didn't want to go over with her right now.

Raditz frowned and closed the closet door, then walked over to rest one knee on the bed, rubbing her with his ki warmed hands to relieve her lower back pain.

"I understand. ...I just want to be dressed how I always have." He reasoned softly, but she shook her head.

"Rest. That means, no armour. It reminds me too much of battle." She huffed, and he nodded, supposing he could see her point.

"Ok. But, afterwards… when we're training.." Raditz said even lower, trying to weasel his way into wearing it, he increased the heat to his hands, hoping to make her feel more relaxed.

"Training for what?" Launch said sharply, and Raditz's eyes widened. He paused, scratching the back of his head.

"Well, for… uh, unfinished business."

"Don't tell me!" Launch growled, and he growled back at her, clutching her back. This makes no sense, if she didn't want to know, why did she even ask? Raditz thought, then grimaced as Launch continued to yell at him, wishing he could just calm her down right now, but how?

"I had a long day, Raditz! My feet hurt, and I can't even have a beer to relax! I was just told that I lost my baby, and now you tell me you have more battles to fight- that you wanna leave me!" Launch shouted, slapping his hand away from her back with her tail, and crossing her arms angrily.

"I do not want to leave you, I would be a disgrace to my kind if I left you now, with no protection." Raditz affirmed seriously as his hair prickled down his back, and his tail ticked. His primal instincts were enjoying the challenge she was presenting, but his more reasonable side was more logical, and felt conflicted by her clearly upset state. It is after all, my fault she's pregnant, no doubt about it..he reasoned, and frowned. It's also my fault I can't relax either. There's just too fucking much to think about.

Raditz let out a long exhale, and reached down, picking Launch up, right off the bed, and holding her in his arms.

"What are you doing?!" She shouted as she slapped at his chest, tears falling down her face as he looked down, a hurt gaze in his eyes. "I'm sorry, Launch. I want to fix this." He whispered, then walked them towards the window, and jumped out.

To be continued !

A/N: Thanks for reading, everyone! So sorry for the wait with this chapter. As I've mentioned, if you were following other stories, I was struggling with an illness for the last few months (It began around October) It was mentally and physically draining for me, and I was unable to stay awake long enough to read fanfic, let alone try to write it, though I did manage to push out some fics. I'm glad to say I'm back to about 100% health now, and I've got the writing bug once again.

I have also been updating a new story called Escape, which is a dark horror fiction dealing with a Saiyan takeover of Earth. I should warn that it may not be for everyone, but it will be an ongoing story. I'm sad to see I have lost some followers and faves during my hiatus, I hope that I didn't disappoint anyone for being gone so long. I definitely intend to finish this story. The next installment will be something of a special Launchitz chapter, so you can look forward to that.

P.S: Huge Congrats to my friend BeckyLSly for completing her fanfiction, "What If: Namek", and also MarilvyFenta for completing "How It Happened!" She also has written "Finding Home", the continuation of How it Happened! - Love, RoyalBlueRoses