Disclaimer: I do not own anything DBZ, except for a really cool Vegeta wall-
scroll.
Warning: Angst, Humor, and of course violence. Really, what else did you expect?
Archive: Stormy and FFN. Otherwise just ask. I won't say no.
Thanks go to Stormy and those who wrote to me with encouragement and most of all to the great reviewers! I appreciate each and every one of them.
A Killer in Me
Part 9
Vegeta stalked through the Tsufuru-jin ship, scowling, with Trunks and Goten were right on his heels. As they made their way through the ship, he realized that he recognized a lot of the technology. It made sense. Much of the Saiyans' technology had been stolen from other races. The Tsufuru-jin were probably the first race they had stolen from.
They came to the end of the corridor to a set of closed doors. Vegeta figured that the control room was behind them. Along with his kidnappers. Lip curled in a classic Saiyan sneer, Vegeta tried to open it, but it was locked. He was considering his options, mainly along the lines of blasting the doors down when a voice came over the loudspeakers, echoing through the corridor behind them.
"What do you think you are doing, little monkey?" it asked condescendingly. It was obviously the one called Papaya.
Not looking at his companions, Vegeta answered cockily. "We are here to take over the ship. Let us in," he ordered. Behind him, Trunks and Goten grinned at each other in anticipation. It was just like how it was in the movies!
"Yeah, right kid! Like we are just going to hand over our ship to an evolved monkey with an atrocious taste in clothes, and two human children. Don't make me laugh. Tell you what, why don't you and your little friends just go back to your room and stay there until your new owners get here. If you're good, I'll tell them to give you lots of bananas."
Growling with irritation, Vegeta retorted. "Why don't you come out here and say that? Or do you prefer to crouch like a dog behind your door and yap at your betters?" He definitely didn't like it that the Tsufuru-jin had insulted his Furious George shirt. He liked that shirt!
"Oh, that's a good one," Trunks said in admiration of the insult.
Vegeta shot him a thin-lipped smile. "Of course!" Unfortunately, the insult did not have the desired effect on the Tsufuru-jin. They stayed locked in their control room. Glancing at Trunks out of the corner of his eye, the Saiyan prince asked, "Can you unlock this door as well?" Wielding ki blasts in an enclosed ship in space was not highly recommended, no matter how irritated one was.
Trunks studied the controls and grinned like a maniac. "Of course!" he answered in an unconscious imitation of his father. Much of his life, the demi-Saiyan had to fight for his father's attention. But now his father was asking him to take an active part in a great adventure, listening to his advice and treating him almost like an equal. Trunks felt his heart swell with love for his proud father, and at that time, felt that he could move a planet out of its orbit if Vegeta had requested it.
It didn't take long, and before the two Tsufuru-jin could react, the doors were open and Vegeta, Trunks and Goten were strolling into the control room like they owned it.
"How did you get in here?" Kiwi yelped, spinning and pinning Papaya with an accusatory glare.
"That is for us to know and you to find out!" Goten piped up. It wasn't fair that Vegeta and Trunks got to deliver all the good lines; he felt it was his turn. In response, Trunks shot him a quick grin and even Vegeta curled his lip in approval. Goten beamed.
Papaya was standing now with his fists clenched in anger at the insolence of the Earth child. "You little brats!" he shouted. "Kiwi! Shut them up!"
Even as Kiwi hit the switch that activated the sonic weapon, Vegeta was reaching up to his scouter. For a split second, a horrible noise split the air. But even as defending hands were reaching for sensitive ears, the noise…simply stopped. In its place was kind of inaudible pressure on their eardrums. The Tsufuru-jin gaped in horror.
"I will not tell you again, we are taking control of the ship. You know that you don't have a chance without your weapon, which is rather useless now," Vegeta said, looking smug. He could smell just the slightest scent of fear coming from the Kiwi and Papaya, and it made his heart beat faster. "It is ours now, get off before we throw you off without the benefit of a space pod."
"Like hell…" Papaya started but was interrupted by Kiwi.
"Look, kid. Don't get excited. We are out in the middle of nowhere. You can't just dump us out here."
"Sure we can," Vegeta answered mockingly. "Trunks, where are the escape pods and how many?"
Trunks strolled over to the main control panel and frowned. "I can't read this," he said.
Catching the triumphant exchanged glances between the Tsufuru-jin, Vegeta shook his head. Walking over to stand behind his son, he looked over the purple-haired boy's shoulder. Scowling, he realized that he couldn't read it either, but that was no matter. He reached up and activated his scouter. Taking it off, he opened a port and plugged it into the control panel. After a few seconds, the readouts changed to normal English.
"Cool!" Trunks exclaimed.
Reclaiming his scouter, Vegeta just smirked.
After calling up a map of the ship, he found where they were, noting the 'You Are Here" marker. After that, finding the location of the escape pods was simple. It turned out there were three of them. Two of them were located nearby; the third was near the engine room.
"Lets get rid of this trash and be on our way," Vegeta suggested.
Kiwi tried to reason with Vegeta again. Unfortunately for him, Piccolo had put it best: "The only way to reason with Vegeta when he's got the upper hand is with a wrench." Ignoring the protests, Vegeta ordered Trunks and Goten to stuff them into the two nearest space pods and eject them.
Seeing that reasoning wasn't getting them anywhere, Papaya tried to take a swing at Goten, who was nearest to him. Goten blocked the punch easily, looking a bit mystified. "Why'd you do that?" he asked, not bothered in the slightest by the Tsufuru-jin's attempt to knock his block off.
But Papaya was staring at Goten in near-terror. "You aren't a human!" he said.
"Nope," Trunks grinned. "Me an Goten are part Saiyan too."
Kiwi covered his eyes and groaned. "I told you to keep an eye on them!" he snapped at his partner. "This is all your fault."
Looking embarrassed, Papaya tried to defend himself. "How was I supposed to know? You're supposed to be the smart one."
Tapping his foot, Vegeta had enough. "That's enough. Get them out of here!"
"Okay, Dad." Trunks said. "Goten, get the other one."
"Dad?" Kiwi asked Trunks as he was herded out the door, Papaya and Goten on his heels.
"Yeah, he's my father." Trunks said proudly. Before he could ask, they came to the two nearest escape pods and the two demi-Saiyans unconcernedly shoved them in.
"Bye!" Goten waved as they shot out away from the side of the ship.
All three boys trooped back to the control room. Vegeta studied the instruments for a moment, his tail twitching from side to side. Then, looking eminently satisfied with himself, laid in a course and engaged the engines.
"Where are we going?" Trunks asked.
"You'll find out," Vegeta answered.
At that time a loud growling noise interrupted them. They turned and looked at Goten, who blushed. "I'm hungry," he giggled.
Trunks was about to jeer at his friend when his own stomach sounded off. Smirking, Vegeta shook his head. "There is a galley on board. Go find some food," he said.
Both Trunks and Goten thought this idea was great and after consulting with the map of the ship, raced off to find something to eat. Vegeta stayed in the control room, however. Now that it was quiet he had one more thing that he had to do. Closing his eyes, he reached inward, past his conscious mind into the back part of his mind that ruled instinct. Concentrating, he sought that other presence.
1 'Kakkarott,'
The response was instantaneous. 'Vegeta, are you alright?'
'Of course!' was Vegeta's smug answer.
2 'Thank god!'
Snort. 'Why? He had nothing to do with it.'
3 'Whats happening?'
'Myself, Trunks and Goten have taken over the ship. We got rid of the two pests that took us and now we are going somewhere that I need to check out. So you needn't bother coming to get us.'
4 'What?'
'You heard me, go home. We don't need you.'
'Vegeta, listen to me. You are not out of danger. The Tsufuru-jin contacted several governments about you. They will be coming to look for you.'
'So? Let them come. I'm not afraid of them.'
'Vegeta, you don't understand. Some of these people are very powerful. Remember Captain Ginyu?'
'What does that moron have to do with anything?'
'His species' government is sending a ship to get you. They are much stronger than you.'
'Hn, whatever. I don't intend to be here anyway. I have other fish to fry.' And speaking of fish, the Saiyan prince realized that he too was hungry.
'Vegeta, wait for us! I mean it, you are in a lot of danger.'
'Kakkarott, go home. Your presence is not needed or welcome.' And with that, Vegeta severed the link. "Fool," he muttered. "I am the Saiyan prince and have been taking care of myself for years. I don't need a babysitter." Vegeta glanced at the map and located the galley.
As he left, he failed to notice that the proximity alarm was turned off. And that another ship was in their vicinity and closing in on the two pods floating unprotected in the middle of nowhere. He didn't see it engulf the Tsufuru-jin and then take off like a half-seen shadow.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Goku nearly growled in frustration. Vegeta could be so stubborn sometimes!
"You mean they took over the ship and now they are off to god-knows-where. Just the three of them?" Piccolo asked, incredulous.
Nodding, Goku was still tuned inward, trying to find Vegeta.
"I don't know who to feel more worried for, the kids, or the rest of the universe," Piccolo grumbled.
"C'mon Piccolo, they are three kids. How much trouble could…" Gohan didn't get the chance to finish his thought, however. He remembered that this was Trunks and Goten they were talking about here. And add Vegeta into the mix, for whom causing chaos on a planetary scale was routine, it was a recipe for disaster. "Oh, shit. We are in trouble. What do we do?"
Piccolo looked solemn. "I'm leaning toward blind panic myself."
"That's not funny, Piccolo. Dad, can you still find Vegeta?" Gohan asked, his voice thick with urgency. He knew Piccolo was joking, but part of him agreed with the Nameckian's sentiment. Their only hope lay with Goku and the tenuous bond he shared with the Saiyan prince.
Goku nodded slowly. "I think so. He closed his mind off, but the link is still there, weaker maybe, but I can still follow it."
Breathing a sigh of relief, Piccolo folded his arms over his chest, his cape billowing gently behind him. "Is this ship going as fast as it can?" he asked.
Studying the controls, Gohan nodded. "Yeah, we are at top speed now," he reported.
"Are we any closer?" the Nameckian asked Goku.
Goku nodded. "Yeah, they stopped for a while, and we closed the gap pretty good. I don't think they are too far away."
"Well then. It seems that all we can do is wait until we catch up with the brats. Until then, we should mediate." Following his own suggestion, Piccolo gathered his legs under him until he was floating once again in mid air.
Goku and Gohan looked at each other. While mediating was necessary, it wasn't exactly fun. Then, as if on cue, both the Saiyans stomachs growled loudly. Grinning, Goku suggested to Gohan that they get something to eat. After all, it was after their dinnertime.
Piccolo just shook his head, his cape billowing behind him. 'Saiyans,' he thought.
TBC
Note: sorry this was so short and a bit boring, but there are some things that need to get set up before the main action can begin. One more thing. I am an admitted EverQuest addict. That is why I am not really fast updating my stories, (as the GW fans well know) so please be patient. Its hard to find the time for all of my interests. Thank you once again!
Annabell
Warning: Angst, Humor, and of course violence. Really, what else did you expect?
Archive: Stormy and FFN. Otherwise just ask. I won't say no.
Thanks go to Stormy and those who wrote to me with encouragement and most of all to the great reviewers! I appreciate each and every one of them.
A Killer in Me
Part 9
Vegeta stalked through the Tsufuru-jin ship, scowling, with Trunks and Goten were right on his heels. As they made their way through the ship, he realized that he recognized a lot of the technology. It made sense. Much of the Saiyans' technology had been stolen from other races. The Tsufuru-jin were probably the first race they had stolen from.
They came to the end of the corridor to a set of closed doors. Vegeta figured that the control room was behind them. Along with his kidnappers. Lip curled in a classic Saiyan sneer, Vegeta tried to open it, but it was locked. He was considering his options, mainly along the lines of blasting the doors down when a voice came over the loudspeakers, echoing through the corridor behind them.
"What do you think you are doing, little monkey?" it asked condescendingly. It was obviously the one called Papaya.
Not looking at his companions, Vegeta answered cockily. "We are here to take over the ship. Let us in," he ordered. Behind him, Trunks and Goten grinned at each other in anticipation. It was just like how it was in the movies!
"Yeah, right kid! Like we are just going to hand over our ship to an evolved monkey with an atrocious taste in clothes, and two human children. Don't make me laugh. Tell you what, why don't you and your little friends just go back to your room and stay there until your new owners get here. If you're good, I'll tell them to give you lots of bananas."
Growling with irritation, Vegeta retorted. "Why don't you come out here and say that? Or do you prefer to crouch like a dog behind your door and yap at your betters?" He definitely didn't like it that the Tsufuru-jin had insulted his Furious George shirt. He liked that shirt!
"Oh, that's a good one," Trunks said in admiration of the insult.
Vegeta shot him a thin-lipped smile. "Of course!" Unfortunately, the insult did not have the desired effect on the Tsufuru-jin. They stayed locked in their control room. Glancing at Trunks out of the corner of his eye, the Saiyan prince asked, "Can you unlock this door as well?" Wielding ki blasts in an enclosed ship in space was not highly recommended, no matter how irritated one was.
Trunks studied the controls and grinned like a maniac. "Of course!" he answered in an unconscious imitation of his father. Much of his life, the demi-Saiyan had to fight for his father's attention. But now his father was asking him to take an active part in a great adventure, listening to his advice and treating him almost like an equal. Trunks felt his heart swell with love for his proud father, and at that time, felt that he could move a planet out of its orbit if Vegeta had requested it.
It didn't take long, and before the two Tsufuru-jin could react, the doors were open and Vegeta, Trunks and Goten were strolling into the control room like they owned it.
"How did you get in here?" Kiwi yelped, spinning and pinning Papaya with an accusatory glare.
"That is for us to know and you to find out!" Goten piped up. It wasn't fair that Vegeta and Trunks got to deliver all the good lines; he felt it was his turn. In response, Trunks shot him a quick grin and even Vegeta curled his lip in approval. Goten beamed.
Papaya was standing now with his fists clenched in anger at the insolence of the Earth child. "You little brats!" he shouted. "Kiwi! Shut them up!"
Even as Kiwi hit the switch that activated the sonic weapon, Vegeta was reaching up to his scouter. For a split second, a horrible noise split the air. But even as defending hands were reaching for sensitive ears, the noise…simply stopped. In its place was kind of inaudible pressure on their eardrums. The Tsufuru-jin gaped in horror.
"I will not tell you again, we are taking control of the ship. You know that you don't have a chance without your weapon, which is rather useless now," Vegeta said, looking smug. He could smell just the slightest scent of fear coming from the Kiwi and Papaya, and it made his heart beat faster. "It is ours now, get off before we throw you off without the benefit of a space pod."
"Like hell…" Papaya started but was interrupted by Kiwi.
"Look, kid. Don't get excited. We are out in the middle of nowhere. You can't just dump us out here."
"Sure we can," Vegeta answered mockingly. "Trunks, where are the escape pods and how many?"
Trunks strolled over to the main control panel and frowned. "I can't read this," he said.
Catching the triumphant exchanged glances between the Tsufuru-jin, Vegeta shook his head. Walking over to stand behind his son, he looked over the purple-haired boy's shoulder. Scowling, he realized that he couldn't read it either, but that was no matter. He reached up and activated his scouter. Taking it off, he opened a port and plugged it into the control panel. After a few seconds, the readouts changed to normal English.
"Cool!" Trunks exclaimed.
Reclaiming his scouter, Vegeta just smirked.
After calling up a map of the ship, he found where they were, noting the 'You Are Here" marker. After that, finding the location of the escape pods was simple. It turned out there were three of them. Two of them were located nearby; the third was near the engine room.
"Lets get rid of this trash and be on our way," Vegeta suggested.
Kiwi tried to reason with Vegeta again. Unfortunately for him, Piccolo had put it best: "The only way to reason with Vegeta when he's got the upper hand is with a wrench." Ignoring the protests, Vegeta ordered Trunks and Goten to stuff them into the two nearest space pods and eject them.
Seeing that reasoning wasn't getting them anywhere, Papaya tried to take a swing at Goten, who was nearest to him. Goten blocked the punch easily, looking a bit mystified. "Why'd you do that?" he asked, not bothered in the slightest by the Tsufuru-jin's attempt to knock his block off.
But Papaya was staring at Goten in near-terror. "You aren't a human!" he said.
"Nope," Trunks grinned. "Me an Goten are part Saiyan too."
Kiwi covered his eyes and groaned. "I told you to keep an eye on them!" he snapped at his partner. "This is all your fault."
Looking embarrassed, Papaya tried to defend himself. "How was I supposed to know? You're supposed to be the smart one."
Tapping his foot, Vegeta had enough. "That's enough. Get them out of here!"
"Okay, Dad." Trunks said. "Goten, get the other one."
"Dad?" Kiwi asked Trunks as he was herded out the door, Papaya and Goten on his heels.
"Yeah, he's my father." Trunks said proudly. Before he could ask, they came to the two nearest escape pods and the two demi-Saiyans unconcernedly shoved them in.
"Bye!" Goten waved as they shot out away from the side of the ship.
All three boys trooped back to the control room. Vegeta studied the instruments for a moment, his tail twitching from side to side. Then, looking eminently satisfied with himself, laid in a course and engaged the engines.
"Where are we going?" Trunks asked.
"You'll find out," Vegeta answered.
At that time a loud growling noise interrupted them. They turned and looked at Goten, who blushed. "I'm hungry," he giggled.
Trunks was about to jeer at his friend when his own stomach sounded off. Smirking, Vegeta shook his head. "There is a galley on board. Go find some food," he said.
Both Trunks and Goten thought this idea was great and after consulting with the map of the ship, raced off to find something to eat. Vegeta stayed in the control room, however. Now that it was quiet he had one more thing that he had to do. Closing his eyes, he reached inward, past his conscious mind into the back part of his mind that ruled instinct. Concentrating, he sought that other presence.
1 'Kakkarott,'
The response was instantaneous. 'Vegeta, are you alright?'
'Of course!' was Vegeta's smug answer.
2 'Thank god!'
Snort. 'Why? He had nothing to do with it.'
3 'Whats happening?'
'Myself, Trunks and Goten have taken over the ship. We got rid of the two pests that took us and now we are going somewhere that I need to check out. So you needn't bother coming to get us.'
4 'What?'
'You heard me, go home. We don't need you.'
'Vegeta, listen to me. You are not out of danger. The Tsufuru-jin contacted several governments about you. They will be coming to look for you.'
'So? Let them come. I'm not afraid of them.'
'Vegeta, you don't understand. Some of these people are very powerful. Remember Captain Ginyu?'
'What does that moron have to do with anything?'
'His species' government is sending a ship to get you. They are much stronger than you.'
'Hn, whatever. I don't intend to be here anyway. I have other fish to fry.' And speaking of fish, the Saiyan prince realized that he too was hungry.
'Vegeta, wait for us! I mean it, you are in a lot of danger.'
'Kakkarott, go home. Your presence is not needed or welcome.' And with that, Vegeta severed the link. "Fool," he muttered. "I am the Saiyan prince and have been taking care of myself for years. I don't need a babysitter." Vegeta glanced at the map and located the galley.
As he left, he failed to notice that the proximity alarm was turned off. And that another ship was in their vicinity and closing in on the two pods floating unprotected in the middle of nowhere. He didn't see it engulf the Tsufuru-jin and then take off like a half-seen shadow.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Goku nearly growled in frustration. Vegeta could be so stubborn sometimes!
"You mean they took over the ship and now they are off to god-knows-where. Just the three of them?" Piccolo asked, incredulous.
Nodding, Goku was still tuned inward, trying to find Vegeta.
"I don't know who to feel more worried for, the kids, or the rest of the universe," Piccolo grumbled.
"C'mon Piccolo, they are three kids. How much trouble could…" Gohan didn't get the chance to finish his thought, however. He remembered that this was Trunks and Goten they were talking about here. And add Vegeta into the mix, for whom causing chaos on a planetary scale was routine, it was a recipe for disaster. "Oh, shit. We are in trouble. What do we do?"
Piccolo looked solemn. "I'm leaning toward blind panic myself."
"That's not funny, Piccolo. Dad, can you still find Vegeta?" Gohan asked, his voice thick with urgency. He knew Piccolo was joking, but part of him agreed with the Nameckian's sentiment. Their only hope lay with Goku and the tenuous bond he shared with the Saiyan prince.
Goku nodded slowly. "I think so. He closed his mind off, but the link is still there, weaker maybe, but I can still follow it."
Breathing a sigh of relief, Piccolo folded his arms over his chest, his cape billowing gently behind him. "Is this ship going as fast as it can?" he asked.
Studying the controls, Gohan nodded. "Yeah, we are at top speed now," he reported.
"Are we any closer?" the Nameckian asked Goku.
Goku nodded. "Yeah, they stopped for a while, and we closed the gap pretty good. I don't think they are too far away."
"Well then. It seems that all we can do is wait until we catch up with the brats. Until then, we should mediate." Following his own suggestion, Piccolo gathered his legs under him until he was floating once again in mid air.
Goku and Gohan looked at each other. While mediating was necessary, it wasn't exactly fun. Then, as if on cue, both the Saiyans stomachs growled loudly. Grinning, Goku suggested to Gohan that they get something to eat. After all, it was after their dinnertime.
Piccolo just shook his head, his cape billowing behind him. 'Saiyans,' he thought.
TBC
Note: sorry this was so short and a bit boring, but there are some things that need to get set up before the main action can begin. One more thing. I am an admitted EverQuest addict. That is why I am not really fast updating my stories, (as the GW fans well know) so please be patient. Its hard to find the time for all of my interests. Thank you once again!
Annabell
