"Kira! Kira, wake up!" Vegeta shook my shoulders. "Get dressed, quickly!" He had a terrifying urgency in his voice that shocked me awake. I got out of bed and quickly slid my bodysuit and armor on. I began to wrap my red cloak around myself as Vegeta stopped me. He handed me a black one instead. As I secured it around me he pulled the hood over my head, making sure my hair was completely tucked in.
"What's going on?" I asked. He paused a moment and looked at me.
"Frieza has taken over...my father is dead...and Frieza wants you dead, too." He whispered. My heart pounded in my chest. "I have to get you out of here." He grabbed my wrist and pulled me from the room in a daze. As we left the room, Nappa, who had been standing guard outside, followed behind us.
"Vegeta-"
"Kira, if you want to live, shut the hell up." Vegeta growled. The cold tone of his voice sent a shiver down my spine. He hurried me down hallway after hallway. I could hear large ki explosions and distant shouting. Eventually I realized where we were heading; the pods. He typed a code into the keypad and the doors opened. He peeked into the room before pulling me through the doors, which shut behind me. Nappa stayed outside.
"Vegeta-"
"Shut UP!" He growled, opening a pod. I panicked, my heart raced. I felt tears running down my face before I realized I was crying. "Unbutton your cloak." He left me standing in front of the open pod unfastening my cloak and returned after a few seconds. He ripped my necklace off and put it inside his cloak.
"My necklace?" I whispered.
"I'll keep it safe." He promised. "They have to believe you're dead." He fiddled with a small device in his hand and I felt his thumb finding the edge of my collarbone. He pressed the cold device against my skin beneath his thumb, pausing to make eye contact. "Take a deep breath." I did as he said before I felt the device burrowing under my skin. My husband quickly covered my mouth before I could scream in pain. I tried to catch my breath as Vegeta pulled me to him, holding me tight.
"Leaving is the only way to keep you alive. That device in your chest will keep you from being tracked." He kissed my forehead. "Even by me." My heart sank.
"Vegeta please." I begged. "Come with me!" I felt something sharp pierce the side of my neck. "What did you-" I felt myself getting weak and drowsy. He fixed my cloak, guided me into the pod and secured me inside. "Please, Vegeta."
"Goodbye, Newo." He said quietly, kissing my forehead. "I promise I will find you." He quickly retreated from the pod and closed the door, and I faded into a deep sleep waiting for the pod to launch.
Chapter One: The Refugee
I woke up in a bed. I tried to move but I was too sore. I pushed through and sat up in the bed, groaning in pain. I looked around the room and quickly realized I was somewhere I'd never been before.
I guess it wasn't a dream after all….
I heard footsteps approaching the room I was in and the doorknob turned. A young saiyan-looking woman with blue hair entered.
"Oh good, you're awake." She said cheerfully, smiling. "I was starting to wonder."
"Who… are you?" I asked. Too weak to be a Saiyan. "Where am I?"
"I'm Bulma, you're safe. You're in Kame House." She said. Someone knocked on the door. "She's awake, Piccolo!" Bulma called. The door opened and a Namekian entered.
"Am...I on Namek?" I asked.
"No," the Namekian said in a low gravelly voice. "But I can sense that you're not human, either, what are you?" He crossed his arms.
"Human?" I asked. Human….Earth? "Am I on Earth?" He nodded. I wonder what happened to Kakarrot. He should be on this planet somewhere.
"I found you when your ship crashed and I brought you here." The Namek said. "We found this in your cape." He handed me a small note.
'If someone should find me, please keep me safe.'
"Vegeta…" I whispered, reading.
'I am a refugee from my home planet, and am in need of protection.
I had to be sedated for my escape and will need time to sleep it off.
My name is Kira. Please help me.'
"It's Kira, right?" The Namekian asked. I nodded. "Can you tell me what happened? How did you end up here?" I took a deep breath.
"Our planet was taken over, our king murdered. The new ruler wanted me dead, too."
"Why did you need to be sedated for your escape?" Bulma asked.
"I um...I didn't want to go. My husband drugged me and put me in the ship…"
"What planet are you from?" The Namekian asked. I panicked.
Should I tell them? I looked at the note Vegeta left. He wouldn't want me to be so careless.
"I'm from Telixa." I lied. The Namekian studied me. He couldn't tell if I was lying. Is he... struggling to read my energy? I felt for the device in my chest. Small, but still present.
"I noticed that when I was checking for wounds, is that supposed to be there?" Bulma asked.
"No, but it needs to stay." I said quietly, remembering the pain involved in its placement. "It's supposed to keep them from tracking me."
"That's why I can't sense any energy coming from you. You're cloaked." The Namekian said. I nodded.
"We'll keep you safe." The Namekian said. "If they should find you." I nodded.
"Thank you. Though I have to wonder if a Human and a Namekian would even stand a chance."
"There are more of us. Our friend Goku is the strongest fighter in the world!" Bulma replied. Hmm.
"We're stronger than we seem." The Namekian said. "I'm Piccolo, by the way." Before I could respond, someone knocked on the door. Bulma opened it slightly and slipped out.
"Have you ever heard of a man named Kakarrot?" I asked. "He came here from my world many years ago."
"Can't say I have." Piccolo answered. What happened? The door opened and Bulma returned, with two bags, one larger than the other.
"Krillin is finally back from The Lookout." She said.
"It's about time." Piccolo responded, taking the smaller bag from her. "Eat this," He poured the contents of the bag into his hand, and dropped a small nut into my palm.
"What is it…?" I asked, confused.
"It's called a Senzu bean, it'll heal your remaining injuries and restore your strength." He explained. I hesitated, examining the bean and sniffing it. It didn't smell like much of anything. Is this a trap?
"How...how do I know it's safe?" I asked. My heart raced. "How do I know you don't work for Frieza and this isn't some elaborate trap?"
"Hey, listen, I know you're scared, but really, it's okay. We don't want to hurt you." Bulma reassured. Piccolo put the remaining beans back into the back except one.
"It's a waste, but look," he said, popping the bean into his mouth. "See?" he chewed and swallowed the bean. I hesitantly put it in my mouth and bit down, crunching the hard bean.
"It's like eating a rock." I said, grinding the bean with my teeth. Bulma chuckled and I swallowed it. As soon as it hit my stomach I felt...better. Normal, even.
"Frieza...is that the person that wants you dead?" Piccolo asked. I stood from the bed and stretched my no-longer-sore muscles, feeling like myself again.
"Yes." I replied quietly. "He's...exceptionally powerful." Bulma removed some clothes from the larger bag she held.
"Here, these should fit you." She said, handing them to me. I took them and looked down, noticing my armor had been removed and my bodysuit was damaged.
"Where's my armor?" I asked, panicking. My heart raced. If they come for me I don't stand a chance without my armor.
"It's right over here." Bulma said, motioning to a table in the corner of the room. "I noticed your...thing was ripped, I can fix it for you." She motioned to my bodysuit.
"Oh um...thank you."
"I'll give you some privacy. You should come out and meet everyone when you're done changing." She said, leaving the room. I sat on the edge of the bed, the clothes on my lap. I guess this is my life now.
"I promise I will find you." Vegeta's voice echoed in my head.
"You better." I thought in response, as if he could hear me.
I took a deep breath and stood, taking my ripped bodysuit off. I changed into the pants and shirt Bulma had provided. I laid my bodysuit on the bed and headed for the door. I might as well make the most of my time here. Maybe this friend of theirs would make a decent sparring partner.