"Get up you worthless excuse for flesh and bones."

Vejita groaned as he came back into the realm of consciousness. Pulling himself up off the ground, he silently vowed to rip the heart out of the person that attacked him. He of all people should have been more aware. "Damn woman plaguing my thoughts," he grumbled as he looked up, only to be met with obsidian eyes glaring at him.

"Whats the matter boy? Never thought you would see your dear old dad again?" King Vejita sneered, earning a round of chuckles from the shadows.

Jerking his head around expecting to be attacked at any moment, Vejita realized his torture now. He was surrounded by his failure to avenge his kingdom, and knew that he would be ridiculed from it. Coming out of the shadows, the entire saiya-jin race stared him down with hatred.

"No father, I did not expect to run into you again. It seems like eternity has passed since I saw you last. I did not expect our race to meet its demise the way we did," Vejita replied casually, unsure of where this discussion was leading to, but all the while remaining wary of the approaching warriors.

King Vejita extended his arms towards the warriors, as if he was speaking for all of them. "You were well aware where our race was headed. All of us died with honor, fighting to preserve what we believed in. Warriors to the end, yet you on the other hand turned weak. Do you know how it felt to watch your only son turn into a weakling? You became soft hearted to the point where I do not acknowledge you as my own son anymore."

Vejita growled as his father continued to berate him on his actions. He was becoming irritated at everyone analyzing him, whether he was good or evil. To him it didn't matter, he just wanted to exist, nothing more. Clentching his fists, he reminded himself to calm down as his father lashed out insults.

"Look at you, you are not even worthy of carrying the name of a Prince. You did not even avenge us! Bardock's half witted brat did what you could not. What did I train you for? To settle down with a human, spawn some half breeds, and lose touch with what it means to be a saiya-jin? You even lost your tail for cripes sake! What were you trying to do? Become a human in every sense of the word?" the King continued as he advanced on his son with anger lacing through his words.

"Thats enough! You have no idea what I have been through father, how the hell was I supposed to avenge us when I was surpassed constantly by Kakarotto? I hate to inform you but you destroyed yourselves. You knew what Freiza was capable of, yet you followed him like loyal dogs. You should have plotted against him, the entire saiya-jin race could have stood a chance. But no, you decided to wait for the golden fleece of our race to show up before you stood against him. Its no wonder you failed father. Face reality and get over yourselves."

Trembling with rage at the flagrant display of disrespect, King Vejita stormed over to his son and knocked him across the room. "How dare you talk to me that way! I upheld what it meant to be a warrior, you fool." He stopped in mid-sentence as one of his guards came up to him, whispering something into his ear. An evil grin spread its way across his face as he learned of some interesting news. Pulling back away from the saiya-jin, King Vejita looked at his son with malice. "Looks like there is hope for you yet."

Vejita growled as his father motioned for two saiya-jins to come forward. He instantly recongized the two and groaned.

"Radditz, Nappa. Secure this idiot to where he cannot escape. I think I have the proper tourture for this soft hearted fool."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Padding softly down the chasm, Bulma turned to Goku curious as to what happened on earth during her absence. Pulling her wings around her body, she played with the feathers, wondering how she should start the conversation.

"Thanks for saving me back there. I don't know what I would have done, if he kept that up."

Goku nodded solemnly as he walked beside her. "Bulma, you do know that you put yourself in grave danger by coming down here. If I had not shown up when I did, Freiza would have made an angel shish kabob out of you. I know you love Vejita, but he would not have wanted you to come here. We both know that this is not a place that you would be able to survive in."

Bulma rolled her eyes as she was scolded by her best friend. "Goku I know that but I would not be able to live with myself if I did not at least try to get him into heaven. During the time that I was gone, I did a lot of thinking about my relationship with him. Do I love him? Yes. Do I forgive his evil deeds? Yes. I know he changed for the better, but only I saw his good side. Everyone else saw him for the way he wished to be seen. For that, he was sentenced to hell, just by they way he was portrayed."

Sighing, Goku knew that she had a point. Running a hand through his thick hair he tried to think of a way to get him out of here. "I know Bulma, but it is going to be difficult to prove otherwise. You know how he is, stubborn as a mule. If he thinks that people look at him as if he is evil, he will certainly oblige to play the part. That is just how Vejita is though."

"True," Bulma paused as she thought of her lover. "Goku, how did Vejita react after I had passed on? He didn't go ballistic or anything of that nature did he?"

"He became distant and cold after you passed away." He saw the snicker that threatened to leave her lips. "More than usual, Bulma," he laughed with her then becoming solemn. "He did miss you terribly, he didn't have to say a word, it was felt. Like me, he slipped into a temporary depression. Its hard to get over a loss of a loved one."

"I know exactly what you mean," Bulma sighed as she recalled her feelings of leaving Vejita and coming to the afterworld.

Bulma continued to walk down the chasm, her slippers sliding across the floor betraying her sadness. She opened her mouth to comment but decided otherwise as she heard a soft scuffling off to her right.

Raising a finger to her lips to denote silence to Goku, her wings bristled as her eyes darted back and forth, looking for the source of the sound. "You heard that right?" she mouthed to Goku, earning a nod of agreement.

Again the sound echoed in the chasm, drawing thier attention to it. Raising a hand implying that she should stay back, Goku crept towards the sound, hoping to find that it was a small minion or minor demon. Rounding the corner, he noticed the sound became louder and increased his pace. As he drew nearer he heard Bulma scream in terror and stopped in mid step.

Goku broke off into a run back towards where he left her. Suddenly her screams became silent, making him fear the worst. "BULMA! Stay where you are, I am coming!"

"No you are not, you are coming with us Kakarotto. She is out of your protection now, I am sorry for what is going to happen." With one punch to the gut, Goku doubled over in pain as he snarled at the newcomer.

"Get out of my way now, you hurt her and I swear you will regret it..." Goku stopped in mid-threat as his attacker came into view.

"I already regret what is happening son."