Vegeta leaned his temple against the cool, unforgiving wall of his cell. The woman had come by twice, neither time missing an opportunity to taunt him for being caught. Seeing that it was apparently safe, some of the other False Saiyans had also begun making snide, pointed comments. Vegeta amused himself by slowly dismembering them in his mind. Last was the woman. She was always last. And he was always the most careful when he dug out her heart with…
"So, Veggie, having fun yet?"
Growling, Vegeta hauled himself up to a standing position in an attempt to stare down the mocking blue-haired female. "When I am freed, your blood shall be my first drink."
Bulma shook her head. "Temper, temper. Must work on that. No way for a prince to behave, now is it?" she smiled sweetly.
Vegeta pounded his fist against the cell front, only to have the energy rebound him. "Damn you!"
"Right, right, right. Damn me all you want, seems to me you're still the stuck one. Oh, hey Yamucha." The warrior had come up behind her and slipped his arm around her waist.
"It's time, Bulma," Yamucha muttered regretfully.
Bulma's eyes dropped to the floor, saddened. "I wish you didn't have to. Can't it be Krillin?"
"He's needed for any battles, and a fighter has to go on the ship to ensure our survival."
"But…"
"Don't make this harder."
Vegeta sneered. "Aw, how touching. A pair of sentimental fools. You're perfect for each other. Would you like for me to bury you in the same grave once I'm done killing you?"
Bulma turned, furious, but Yamucha restrained her with a hand on her shoulder. "Don't let him bother you, Bulma. It's not worth it."
Bulma forcibly released her breath and glared at the Prince before throwing her arms around Yamucha and burying her head into his broad chest. "Don't leave me."
Yamucha remained silent as he looked down the curving, metallic walls of the hall. After a moment, he spoke. "It'll be all right. Eventually. You'll pull through just fine. You're a survivor."
"Not when I get through with her."
Bulma stiffened and prepared to turn before Yamucha dropped his head on top of hers. "Don't let it become personal for him. No fighter's as dangerous and reckless as when it's personal."
An impassive voice sounded over the loudspeakers wired throughout the complex. "Ten minutes until Sovereignty One launches. Everyone scheduled to be aboard please make your way to Terminal Five. I repeat, ten minutes until launch."
Bulma broke out into sobs that racked her small frame. "Why?"
Yamucha smiled a sad smile. "Because it's for the greater good. I love you, Bulma."
He pulled her down for a long kiss, and Vegeta retched in the background. As they broke, Yamucha smiled. "Goodbye, my love. I won't forget you." He turned and began walking away, towards the hangar where the spaceship lay.
Bulma called out, making Yamucha pause. "What will you name that blue planet?"
"Earth. I think I'll name it Earth."
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"Damn it, where's the Prince?"
"How am I supposed to know? It's been a full day since he left for that damned False Saiyan base. He could be anywhere on the planet by now!" Nappa growled, and hurled a chair into the side wall, splintering it into pieces. His frustration lessened a bit by the violent action, he took a deep breath. "Why don't we just blow them all up?"
Cauli rolled his eyes before grinding out, "You know they have defenses, you idiot! We can't just go blasting our way in there!"
"I've never met a defense that can stand against an Elite."
"And I've never met someone with as thick a skull as you, Nappa! Maybe we can crack their shield with your head!"
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Yumiko swirled and placed her hands on her hips. "Roshi! You planning on…oh…training me anytime soon?"
Krillin stepped in to try to defend his master and calm down the currently furious Yumiko. "In your condition, do you think it's wise?"
Eyes rolling and hands waving, she huffed, "I'm pregnant, you twit, not disabled! And it's still going to be a long while before she's born. You know that humans take longer than Saiyans, usually."
Roshi ducked his head in now that he no longer heard his wife yelling. "She?"
Yumiko shyly smiled. "She. I think she's a girl."
"Really?" Krillin exclaimed. "That's great! What are you going to name her?"
Eyes alighting with fire once again, Yumiko poked Roshi in the chest. "Nothing if I don't get training to help us survive! Damnit, I'm a fighter, not a bloody cheerleader!"
"What if the Saiyans kill you in battle?"
Flopping down on the couch, Yumiko noted Krillin's hasty departure before speaking again. "And if I'm not killed in battle? If the Saiyans win? Would you rather I die a prisoner? Or be a slave? Or raped and left for dead? I wouldn't put anything past those bastards!"
"Even more the reason you should stay here! Count on Bulma, she's got it under control."
"She's got an evil Prince of a powerful empire locked away in a tiny box." Yumiko snorted ungracefully. "I don't give it three days before it all blows up in her face."
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"Your food, Princey-boy." Sliding a metal tray through the barrier, Bulma served the Prince a mixture of gruel and corn, mashed together to create a sick gray substance. "Eat up," said Bulma in a perky tone.
Vegeta turned up one corner of his upper lip. "Let me guess. Your best meal that you can prepare?"
"Fine. I'll take it out and you can starve. I know that Saiyans will eat anything if they're hungry enough."
Snorting, Vegeta lifted his chin imperiously before glancing at the barrier that separated him from the woman. "How is it that the tray can come in, but I cannot go out?"
"Tray doesn't have a DNA structure," she stated proudly. "Only your DNA sets it off."
"How did you get my DNA? You're hardly Saiyan in looks. In fact, you're quite ugly."
"I'm the most beautiful thing you'll ever see, Buster!" she yelled before calming down. "You bleed enough in your daily sparring matches. We just had someone steal one of the towels you used to mop yourself off."
Nodding, Vegeta then turned his head away, indicating that the conversation was finished. Once she had left, he looked down at his wrist cuffs. He had just enough ki to survive, not enough to form a ki blast to escape or even cut the cuffs. Slouching against the slick wall, he cradled his head against his knees. He both wondered why the Imperial Guards had not arrived, and was glad they hadn't. Their arrival would set him free, but at the price of his pride and honor. Being bailed out was not something the Prince of all Saiyans required. Especially from a weak female.
"Damnit!" he swore out loud before collapsing into a heap. Damn her and her technical strengths. Damn her and her intelligence. Damn her altogether. Maybe he wouldn't kill her. Perhaps she could be coaxed to work for the Palace. Everyone has a price. It would just take finding hers.
Of course, he would need to get out first. And before the bargaining started. If he were used as a bargaining chip, he might as well kill himself. He would never be regarded as a true leader, for respect followed power. His kingship would decimate the country, and win the battle for the False Saiyans in the end.
Looking down at his hand, Vegeta sighed as he looked through it, trying to see something beyond his weakened power. Then, and just then, he smirked. Leaning back against the wall, he curled himself up into a protective ball. Picking up the tray, he wolfed down the gruel, grimacing at its contents. He needed his strength, though. Tossing the tray away, he ducked his head and brought his hands into his lap before covering them with his drawn-up knees.
Stilling his mind, he stared at his index finger. He would escape, and he knew how to do it.
AN2: No reviews? Awwww…*sniff*
But, now we have my version of how people got to Earth, how they called themselves human, and how two distant populations can actually have kids together.