Disclaimer: I don't make any profit from this work of fiction. I don't own the Dragonball characters.

Warning: The strong bias opinions of a fictional character does not represent my own views and may trigger anyone with trauma from any discrimination based on who you are and where you come from.

Chapter 56

Never Underestimate

In Pao Pao hill a small secluded cabin was the home of Special Agent Tao. He had returned home late last night after dealing with the traitorous woman. She should be held accountable for her previous negligence. They had been planning this move for weeks. Her ability to attract their target was invaluable. He had hoped she would be sent to the chaos at Central City but Piccolo had foreseen the risk. The HQ was far too monitored to make any moves directly. They might have been caught by an unknown surveillance camera if they had kidnapped her there.

The ambushing of her car on the highway was the best option. As soon as she had left the HQ, they had been alerted. She was so pitifully weak that without anyone guarding her she was an easy target. Even the lowest members of his team could defend themselves, but her reflexes were so slow, she couldn't even shoot her gun in time. He wished he could have broken her some more but she had to be unharmed. Only the scratches from the broken glass and his choke hold, gave him some satisfaction.

The morning light was beaming into his cabin. He had to clean up the aftermath today. Piccolo would no doubt be back and demanding answers. He coddled her too much.

Tao had tried to discipline her but it was considered bullying by his superiors. Piccolo never let her under his charge unless it came through Chief Director Kami. He agreed to let her into his team to investigate Biscotti. That alien bitch was a threat that needed eliminated. The Central City camp would be too easy for her to escape again. She had already begun breeding so it was a double pleasure for him that the spawn had also died.

Dr Gero's plan to get Bulma in trouble to lure out the Prince had been such a great idea. The woman had such pride and morals, she dove into the situation just as they had expected and her face was deliberately spread over the news. The Saiyan scum showed up only a few days later, a sign that he had killed. It was in a dramatic fashion and unfortunately one of his old students. It had saved Bulma as she was called in as an expert. What they hadn't expected was that he would come to her so easily. They almost had him.

He escaped for now but he would be lured in again. She was the perfect honey trap.

He checked his messages, as he assumed, a morning meeting with Piccolo was scheduled for all team leaders. That weak willed dog that followed Bulma around, Yamcha would be there. Along with the witch alien Beri. He would need to hold in his grudges. He had a mental blocker that was required to keep any secrets. As a double agent he had found she was the only one that could break into his thoughts and emotions by just being in the same room. She had such an undisciplined manner about her. She scanned people without their consent all the time. It was her alien way to check for dangerous people but it caused her to skim through minds like they were open books.

He knew why she was in the force and not in an internment camp. She was an S class psychic unlike his own team member, Magenta. The C class psychic on his team was also a double agent and he was still waiting for her report. He guessed she had found nothing in the Briefs' home. Her last phone conversation had eluded to the fact that it was unlived in. Bulma hadn't been home for a month. If she only confirmed her theory from her scan then her reconnaissance was finished and he would receive a report soon. Vegeta hadn't arrived there as far as they were aware.

He poured his first coffee of the day and paused. He could hear a car nearby. He chose his house as he was an unabashed hermit at heart. Solitude was his haven. The cabin was off the main road and there was rarely cars travelling by unless it was a hunter or a hiker. He never had visitors.

His suspicions grew as he felt a small spike in ki. It was familiar, his student... 'Which one?'

He went outside to scan further. The engine sound was still approaching. He tried to catch a glimpse through the trees and saw the passenger had short light purple hair.

"Violet!" He cursed, she was his weakest student. She still relied on guns most of the time rather than her ki. It was no wonder why he didn't recognise the power.

'Why is she raising her ki now?' He wondered. The pathetic woman never showed such power before.

'I need to teach her manners.' He snarled. He had always told his students never to disturb his private home. Violet was looking to impress him and her powerless driver were just asking to be strictly dealt with. He would be leaving the Force soon, once Vegeta was captured there was no longer any reason to continue with an organisation that's main goal was not just to protect Earth but to integrate the alien maggots. To pollute the world with such filth would be an insult to their ancestors that were born here. He would join the Neo Red Ribbon under the leadership of Commander Black and force these invaders off their world. Dr Gero would be the mastermind behind their group, giving support and funds with also his new android army he was slowly creating.

Vegeta was Gero's only goal he could focus on and when he died at the army's hands they could move forward with their ultimate goal.

To eradicate all aliens.

That would need more discipline from his students. Tao's temper flared and he rushed out to greet his unwanted guests.

Her ki was impressive but she had no control it was shining out from the vehicle she was in it was almost blinding.

He swiftly moved and smashed into the side of the car stopping it dead as it collided with his fence. He wrapped his hand around her arm to pull her out but he felt something shock right through him. He tried to let go but his hand had clenched tight in some kind of spasm. His head began spinning and he could only hear his student's voice cry out.

"Helllp... Mee..." Her voice was hoarse and broken. He looked across to the driver as he felt his power fading.

Why was he feeling so weak?

He was the strongest on Force 2. The driver was holding onto Violet's other arm and filtering through whatever attack he was using. It made no sense, it wasn't a psychic attack or a physical one. He glared at the man and recognised those dark eyes staring back.

"You...!"

The driver had now placed both of his hands onto his student, before he could accuse him Violet screamed as her body finally burnt up and Tao stumbled back, shaking himself loose, trying to catch his breath and not be caught by the surge of energy. His hand was burning but it could have been his whole body if he had held onto Violet.

His hair was different and even his muscles but there was no mistaking who this was.

"Vegeta!"

"Nice to meet you." The man leered stepping out of the car.

"What the hell did you do to her?" Tao shouted pointing to the ash that was a leftover from his student.

"I don't feel obligated to tell you." Vegeta retorted. "You took something of mine."

"I knew it! Bulma was your puppet." Tao snarled. He was sizing up the enemy waiting for him to make a move.

Vegeta however was calmly walking away from the car and not replying to him.

"How did you kill Violet?" He asked again. 'The drug he was given should have neutralised his ability to produce ki. He should be powerless.'

Vegeta only turned and shrugged. That was not anything he needed to reply to.

"Are you willing to share information?" Vegeta said in a quiet voice. "I prefer the quid pro quo style."

"I share nothing with the likes of you." Tao snapped.

"Then try to get it from me, beat me up. I am totally open to any attacks." He taunted waving his arms around to show how open he was.

Tao clenched his fists, he was being egged on he knew. It was a trap. He could sense the total lack of power coming from Vegeta. He had to have some tool or some kind of alien technology that let him kill his weakling student.

He paced back and forth in front of the open armed bastard. He was wearing a shirt and suit trousers, there could be a few places to hide a weapon. He should disarm him and bring him to Dr Gero personally. The reward would be immense and the self satisfaction would be even greater.

Tao kept his eyes on Vegeta, he could be bluffing. He might have already used his one way to kill and was trying to get him to escape or call for back up. There was no hint from his steel gaze, not even a glisten of sweat. He had to take the chance.

He lunged at Vegeta following his slower movements he grabbed his arm to stop any attack from any hidden weapons. He heard a low thud and saw a type of tazer land on the ground. That was his one weapon! He had him!

He planted his feet ready to swing Vegeta over his shoulder but the scum clasped onto his arm. He felt numb, something was off. Vegeta kicked his legs making him loose his position and balance, cancelling his throw. Tao tried to roll forward to counter but the numbness continued to move through his body. He stumbled and swung a kick to let himself break free but, Vegeta wasn't letting go.

He could feel the crushing sensation as Vegeta's strength increased. He heard a pop and his arm was pulled from its socket. An old injury that was being used against him. He winced and struck some quick rabbit punches with his free arm to release himself from his opponent's grip. His strikes held no strength and he flopped forward.

"What... have...you done?" He panted. He was supposed to be powerless, now he was being held up by his throat.

He glared back at his attacker. His stubborn pride refusing to beg for mercy. He could no longer form words as he felt his energy being drained. He finally understood the type of attack. His ki was being taken from him. It was too late for Tao now. He was almost an empty cell.

"You're daring me to kill you?" Vegeta gloated. "Do you think you'll get it that easy?"

Tao slumped over as he lost consciousness. Vegeta wanted him to suffer more. He inwardly cursed as he let go and pinned him down. He was still breathing fortunately. His plans for revenge could still be visualised but the fight had not been as enjoyable as he had hoped. Vegeta handcuffed his opponent with similar restraints that he had back in prison. His helpful assistant Violet had them in her car alongside a few other useful things.

He didn't know if his draining effect was permanent or if his victim could recover and how quickly that would work. It was at least 6 hours before Violet woke up. But she was obviously a weakling. She only required a few ropes to keep her still, draining her had been like a warm foot bath compared to the depth of power he felt from Tao. It made him thirsty for more powerful warriors. A Force 2 special agent was delectable but someone like Piccolo would be a great feast. It was especially tantalising when the body finally gave in and he could absorb everything. The rush was electric and completely addictive.

The burn mark in Tao's arm was different from if it had been hot oil or metal. It looked like an electrical burn. It was similar to corpses he had created when killing aliens with a pure energy beam. He had never examined a body he had executed and he had to rely on the corpse room to compare. He would need to meditate later to add to his evolving room he was creating about these new powers.

For now it was a better idea to keep moving. A special agent like Tao would more likely be missed and he previous execution would be discovered by now. He had to keep moving, he didn't want to keep the lady waiting. He reached out in his mind searching for her, where did he need to go next?

000

Bulma sat alone in her cell looking at the plain white walls and trying to quell her growing fear. She hadn't slept much last night and was finally feeling calm after the terrible day before.

Those android twins were not something that she could fight directly. They moved too fast and could easily kill her if they chose to. There had been a look however in the boy android's eye that resonated with her.

He was a tool made by Dr Gero and his cronies but he was a prisoner too. She couldn't be sure and had to doubt if she was perhaps projecting her own emotions onto what was just a machine.

There was something in the schematics that she had viewed for only mere moments but she could recall the main issue. They were mostly organic. They were children that had been changed into a type of cyborg. She needed to get a full copy of it to fully analyse and interpret how they were made.

She looked at her pale arm that had bruises from the mere touch from the android. If she hadn't flipped the EMP on she could have broken her arm or more likely found herself in the same state as Mr Black.

They had dumped her back in her cell and after a quick check over from the nurse she was left to her own thoughts. Those thoughts were becoming darker and she couldn't shake the hissing voice of Vegeta. Her unwanted imaginary friend.

It was bad before but since North City the dark whisper was now more like a devil sitting on her shoulder. If she kept herself busy she could ignore it but in a room alone with nothing to do it haunted her constantly.

The blood from Mr Black was still on her red jumpsuit. It had darkened and had that metallic smell that usually made her nauseous, but she wasn't disturbed by the smell this time. Only that she had no other clean clothes to change into. She had become numb to it which was making her shake more. She couldn't say what day or year it had started but the more she worked with murder scenes the more she felt numb and unaffected by it all.

Her body was still shaking, she knew how close she had been to a similar injury. There was also the adrenaline from her provoking her guide. She had seen the alarm flashing as he had risen his ki. The Android boy had awoken because of the power he'd felt and reacted to it. Bulma was glad she was so powerless for once. If she had any kind of warrior strength she'd have been seen as a threat.

The Androids were obviously built to react to any high power level. Mr Black in his hubris had ignored any warning he had been given. He seemed to want to show her desperately how the Prince would be killed. They were under the delusion that she was conspiring with the prince. The stigma of being the princess of Saiyans still stuck to her even after all this time. She lived for her work, it was all that drove her forward. This kidnapping was helping her view her life on a whole and how empty it was when she didn't have an investigation or any reports weighing on her mind.

The ice wall she had built up around her finally seemed to show how very alone she was in this world.

'But I have work to do. My own escape, it will be impossible for anyone to find me here.'

She concentrated and fell backwards into her inner mind world. The starting base had changed a little. Before it seemed to be stark white with frosted glass and a few odd doors that lead to her other created spaces. Now the floor was like a block of ice and the frosted glass looked more like ice blocks.

It was similar to ice hotels she had seen on TV a few times. A giant igloo like building made of only snow and ice.

It copied her feelings, that she was now the ice queen for real. A person all alone in a world she had built up to keep everything and everyone out. The blood splatter now stained the snow and still led to the heavily bolted and locked door. That was the darkness within her and she needed to not allow it to distort her mind.

She ignored the low whispering and went into her Science room. The snow was gone and replaced with steel flooring and walls. There was no windows but the light shone down brightly illuminating the separate analysis tables. The android dogs had been thoroughly explored and assessed by her last night. She looked at the whiteboard and nodded, it was very similar to the android twins.

An organic brain with mostly a machine body. They were more complex, but she highlighted the board and swept it across to a newly forming area. She could imagine using the boards not as actual writing whiteboards but as partial computer screens or spread sheets. The copied information shrunk and she wrote across it with her finger. There was no need for pens, she was able to create the text she wanted instantly.

They were called by the numbers, 17 and 18. Physically, they appeared 11 or 12 years old but because of the machine parts she could never be sure. She built up her impression and let a model version form. The boy was the easiest since she'd seen him out of the pod. The girl could only be completed from the head up. Her eyes closed and the lower part of her body was fused with the pod.

This was enough for now, she needed to return. She stepped back and noticed the swirling darkness around her feet.

'Tell us where...' It hissed. 'Where are you?'

"In the Frypan mountains..." She answered confused. She sensed the danger and she didn't want to answer but she felt compelled to say it anyway. There was no chance that a swirling black presence would be able to spirit her away.

She ignored the black fog that was invading her space and focused on creating a duplicate of the android male. He was as tall as her with straight black hair. The other thing she noted and had written on the board was that there was no aura. A warrior able to fight and move at a high level but without any ki.

Bulma looked down at the spiralling mass and wished to be left alone. She couldn't concentrate, something was wrong.

"Wake up!"

The black swirled around her and she struggled free into a blinding light and a person shaking her.

"Miss Briefs? Are you okay? It's time to get up now."

She was back awake in her cell a concerned Marron was looking at her. Bulma shook her hand away, "I'm fine." she lied the dislocation was making her dizzy. She had been too absorbed by her meditation that she forgot they would be coming in the morning.

"You saved Mr Black's life." Marron told her. "He is in intensive care at the moment but I think he will be okay."

"I only did what I thought was right." Bulma answered. She wasn't as calm as she thought she was and could feel her body shaking.

"Looks like mild bruises, you need another shower and clean clothes."

Bulma looked in the small mirror over her cell sink and could see the splatter of blood. What was more concerning was the familiar black swirling fog behind her. She looked back and could only see a concerned Marron.

"I think I have shock too." Bulma said looking back at the mirror. The swirling mass still there. She turned to the nurse and tried to ignore the feeling of the presence. She was more convinced than ever that she was suffering a form of mental breakdown. Now was not the time nor the place. She had to escape for the sake of her life and now her mind. The darkness that was in her mind was slowly invading her sense of reality.

000

Author's Note: Well, I am still surviving. Hope everyone is coping well. I keep getting distracted from writing, but I am slowly getting my speed up. Finding somewhere to escape is leading me down the gaming path atm more than writing.

In the story, Tao is finally getting what's coming to him. He reminds me too much of a racist but it's towards other aliens. I still thought I should put a mild warning but his way of thinking may be a trigger or bring out some bad feelings. I have no pity for him and Violet is dead, I can stop getting myself confused with my OC Viola. Violet was part of the Red Ribbon army and was just a side character that fought Bulma at one point in the old Dragonball story. Bulma now is finding it hard to separate her dream world and reality or is a hint of something else? I know a few commentators of my story that are pretty much on the nose of where this is going.