Disclaimer: I don't own any DBZ or anything about them. But it has me, lock, stock and barrel! As far as I know, this is an original storyline. If it's something similar to what you've seen elsewhere, tough noogies! lol!
Last Chapter: Seven goes to Vegeta's throneroom wanting to battle to the death, then she is taken into a cell-like place. When she escapes, she's discovered. By her long-dead father.
Honorbound
Chapter 2
Seven awoke to find her stomach had ceased its complaining and was content. She also found herself in a very soft bed. Nothing like the hard plank-like things that she was accustomed to. (How would anyone sleep on this thing. I'd be worried that I was going to fall through it!)
"I didn't think you'd remember that much about that day, but thankfully, after I was put in the bedroom and you were taken away, I was found and brought to another ship like this to heal." The winged person was still there. It seems that he had been watching her while she slept. She didn't know whether to feel safe or freaked out. Wait. Hang on!
"Ship?!" Seven was suddenly very nervous about this place. She'd never been outside the city walls before, let alone- "Are we ... in the stars?" almost child-like she said.
The being called For laughed until tears nearly came to his eyes. Steadying himself on the wall, he said, "I will explain all in time. But, for now, yes. You are on board my ship, the Seven. I named it after you after I was told you hadn't survived the attack on our house on Vegeta so long ago." He beamed now, "But here you are! Our family is together again. Come with me. There's something I want to show you. And I'll tell you more of what happened when we get there."
As he left the room, she rose from the bed. She dressed (How did I get to be wearing this gown??) and as she walked the corridors and tunnel-like halls of this place with the one calling himself her father, she began to remember that day on Vegeta....
It had been like any other. Her mother, Avoca, was tending to the cooking and laundry, as well as to her as Seven was very young still. Then a loud boom from the front of the house shook the walls. A younger For stumbled through the entry, bloody and bruised. He looked as if he'd just ran a very long way, Seven thought to her self, and got caught in the thorns. Avoca almost bodily put For in the bedroom, to keep him safe. With her saiyan senses, she could hear the impending arrival of those who did this. Seven would always be proud of her mother for the way she stood her ground, protecting her loved ones. But even as graceful as she fought, taking down nearly three of them, the others swarmed over her like ants over a kill. Seven could still see Avoca's tear-stainded face illuminated by the balls of ki crackling in her hands, now leaning against the wall after they were done with her. Her clothes were torn, her face had none of its beauty left.
Seven ran to her, "Mamma! Mamma! It's gonna be otay Mamma! It's gonna be otay! No you cry, Mamma!" Then facing her parents' attackers, with all her fighting lessons as far as a three-year old could take them, she powered up small balls of energy in her tiny hands.
"You go 'way! NOW!" little Seven screeched at the big scary men. But they didn't, and one of them actually laughed at her bravery. Two of them walked up, one grabbed her shoulders, and the other let one heavy fist rise and fall on her head.
Seven leaned on the squishy walls, shaking her head to clear the memory from her mind. For came closer, concerned. She looked at him very deeply for several minutes.
"Pa- Papa?", she whispered.
"Yes, my angel?", he whispered back, grinning widely. She lunged for him, and held him close.
"They told me you were dead, but I was proud of you ... it was so evil ... I tried to stand up for our family, Papa, I really did!" Seven now wept openly into her father's shoulder. For could do nothing but hold her.
Several days and several generous meals later, For and Seven had pretty much caught up on the events that each had missed. For had never re-married. That is not the way of his people, of their people, he'd said. He now led a large fleet of ships that patrol the galaxy, and strive to maintain some semblance of peace. They were led to check out Vegeta. It was said that even though Vegeta-sei had never actually fought with the forces of another planet, it was only a matter of time for the fledgling conquerors. And For knew that if there were any sign of his former family, he would stop at nothing to find it out. And that's when he found her.
Sitting in the arboreum, (Seven had never seen a tree beofre this) Seven told For all about Jared, their strong friendship, and the ban placed on her from seeing him so long ago.
"There is something that I'm worried about though.", Seven admitted.
"What's that?", he father asked.
"When you found me, I was in the middle of a pretty intense bat- uh,... sparring session. It was with Jared. We were throwing ki left and right at each other, but neither getting anywhere. Especially me. Then I found myself here, or in that room. Why did you keep it shut for long anyway?"
"Well, Seven, I had to be sure that it was actually you. I'm so sorry that we couldn't get food to you. I know you were very hungry when you found the way out. I just couldn't take any chances. I had to absolutely sure."
"I guess I understand, Papa." she smiled. "However, I'm pretty sure that Jared thinks I'd run out on him. He's probably stopped looking for me by now. But I gotta tell him ... I gotta talk to him."
For cocked his head to the side. "Well, now that King Vegeta is gone, what's keeping you from seeing Jared? I mean, the Prince isn't the one that prevented it, right?"
"Right, but even though his father is gone, if I went against Jared's dad's edict, then it show that I would have no trouble dis-obeying one of Jared's commands. Besides, we just grew apart after all that anyway. I don't think he wants ... a friendship anymore." Regret was obvious in her voice.
***************************************************************
Jared, however, was still trying to figure out what's been going on. He stood on one of the balconies that led from his suites in the palace. The breeze was hot and dry and made him squint. All he could think about was the day after she'd gone to see his father, when they were young.
I hadn't seen hide nor tail of her all last night, and I was getting worried. Making up my mind and on my way to see my father about the matter, I bumped into her in one of the corridors leading to the throneroom. She didn't say a word, but her eyes told me everything. For the first time ever, I thought, there was fear in her eyes when she looked at me. Fear! I got so angry I didn't say a word to her. I just folded my arms and walked away. Where the HFIL does she get off being afraid of me?? Something tells me if I had looked back I would have seen her standing there still watching me. Logically, I know she couldn't have said anything to me. I was told later that day what kind of interaction her and Father had. But, I still wanted to see you, Seven! Not your fear, dammit!
His head down and mind swirling with memories, Jared Vegeta didn't see the large fleet of dark starships that was forming on the horizon.
*******************************************************************
General Kale was monitoring the situation closely, however. He sat in the seat closest to the window.
"Put the ships in window, Captain." Kale folded his hands together.
"Yes sir." Reaching a few inches from where he sat, the captain pressed a few buttons on the console he manned and the image of the alien fleet flashed onto the screen.
"Can you identify these ships?"
"No sir. Our systems have never seen their like, and neither have I. They seem to be waiting for something, sir."
"I can tell that, son!" Kale fumed. It also feels like they are prepared to take it if necessary. But why didn't they attack? They brought their whole compliment of soldiers, but are they just going to pull out when they get what they want? Hopefully not. If they had something that was ours, I certainly wouldn't stand around until I was given it! They would all scream for mercy before the great Saiyan Empire!...
"Sir??" The young captian could see his superior's knuckles blanching as he gripped the arm of the chair. "You alright?"
"Ahem... Uh, Yes. I'm fine." Kale leaned his head back on the headrest, and continued to watch the enemy.
***************************************************************
Jared Vegeta paced back and forth in front of the door. Soon, two men in labcoats emerged. One held up a glass jar with hair and bits of clothing.
"This should be enough for what we have in mind, Sire. All we have to do is extract enough of her DNA off of it to be able to run a tracer. If she's anywhere on the whole planet, we'll find her, your highness."
"Good." Vegeta nodded. Excused, the two men bowed low and left for the laboratories.
The door to her apartments still stand open and Vegeta could not resist going in for one more peek. Aside from a few articles of clothes spread out on the bed for the labcoats' samples, there was really nothing out of place. He sat on the bed. Next to it was a small sidetable with a drawer. He tugged it open and surprisingly, it was empty. Wait. There was a small folded bit of paper stuffed in the back. He took it from its place and looked closer. In tiny, sharp handwriting, it read "To Jared Vegeta"
Confused as to whether or not he should read it, he put it in his pocket for later. On a larger piece of furniture in the corner of the small room sat a group of little pictures. One image was of her family. Well, her mother and her. She never spoke much of her family, and after her transformation, he could see why. Is that what happened that time the vent system was ruined? Did she get into a battle lust and transform? No ... I remember...
I stood my ground as best I could, but this new opponent was far too much for me, I hated to admit. He was faster, bigger, stronger, and possesed of a lust for fighting I'd never seen. I would hit him a couple times and he would me for six or seven. I was being worn down, and I knew that if I didn't do something soon, then I would be moved down in rank for losing a match. Then out of the blue, a huge rattling boom shook the walls and totally distracted my foe. I really didn't care what it was at that moment. All I knew was that I had found my opening. I aimed as big a blast of ki as I could manage at his head, and he fell. His hair smoked and he coughed all the way out of the arena. I looked in the direction of that blast, and I thought I could almost see someone trying to squiggle out of the way while the smoke cleared. But that's impossible...
Seven's letter almost seemed to burn a hole in his outfit. Jared removed the folded paper and looked at it. Still sitting on the bed, he carefully unfolded the note. At the top, it had in her small consise hand the date and time. The day after her audience with my father, just after we met in the hall, Jared thought.
It read:
"Jared ...
I don't know if you'll ever read this. But if you do, please don't be angry with me for not talking to you earlier. I couldn't have. Not after what happened in the throneroom. Your father, Jared, King Vegeta, told me that I couldn't ever talk to you again because I am different. I'm not a real saiyan. I'm half-saiyan. My mother was killed when I was three. They killed my father, who came from Planet Sum, too. After that, they sent me to live with my mom's sister, Reuta. Thing is, she and I don't look anything alike. I'm beginning to think ther's something else going on here. But that's not what I wanted to say to you.
I don't hope for you to forgive me. I just want you to understand why I had to let you go my friend. ..."
There was an appendage to the letter further down the page, but the hand was sloppier, and he could see the tear stains on it.
"I can stand it no longer. I've got to tell him. I've got to tell him I've been lying to him. I can't go on like this, Jared. I've gotten a lot older and I know that the friendship I felt for you grew with me. I love you Jared Vegeta. That's why you have to know the truth. I'm going now... "
Jared could barely understand the words as she'd written them. "I love you?" he said to himself. His mind reeled and his chest hurt like he'd been crushed, for in fact that's what was happening. The walls he'd put up when ever she happened to pass by him in the hall, or see her in the training yards, sparring with other girls. They came tumbling down now.
"I. Swear. I. Will. Find. You. Seven." he hissed through his teeth as he stood and strode out the door and towards General Kale's offices.
Last Chapter: Seven goes to Vegeta's throneroom wanting to battle to the death, then she is taken into a cell-like place. When she escapes, she's discovered. By her long-dead father.
Honorbound
Chapter 2
Seven awoke to find her stomach had ceased its complaining and was content. She also found herself in a very soft bed. Nothing like the hard plank-like things that she was accustomed to. (How would anyone sleep on this thing. I'd be worried that I was going to fall through it!)
"I didn't think you'd remember that much about that day, but thankfully, after I was put in the bedroom and you were taken away, I was found and brought to another ship like this to heal." The winged person was still there. It seems that he had been watching her while she slept. She didn't know whether to feel safe or freaked out. Wait. Hang on!
"Ship?!" Seven was suddenly very nervous about this place. She'd never been outside the city walls before, let alone- "Are we ... in the stars?" almost child-like she said.
The being called For laughed until tears nearly came to his eyes. Steadying himself on the wall, he said, "I will explain all in time. But, for now, yes. You are on board my ship, the Seven. I named it after you after I was told you hadn't survived the attack on our house on Vegeta so long ago." He beamed now, "But here you are! Our family is together again. Come with me. There's something I want to show you. And I'll tell you more of what happened when we get there."
As he left the room, she rose from the bed. She dressed (How did I get to be wearing this gown??) and as she walked the corridors and tunnel-like halls of this place with the one calling himself her father, she began to remember that day on Vegeta....
It had been like any other. Her mother, Avoca, was tending to the cooking and laundry, as well as to her as Seven was very young still. Then a loud boom from the front of the house shook the walls. A younger For stumbled through the entry, bloody and bruised. He looked as if he'd just ran a very long way, Seven thought to her self, and got caught in the thorns. Avoca almost bodily put For in the bedroom, to keep him safe. With her saiyan senses, she could hear the impending arrival of those who did this. Seven would always be proud of her mother for the way she stood her ground, protecting her loved ones. But even as graceful as she fought, taking down nearly three of them, the others swarmed over her like ants over a kill. Seven could still see Avoca's tear-stainded face illuminated by the balls of ki crackling in her hands, now leaning against the wall after they were done with her. Her clothes were torn, her face had none of its beauty left.
Seven ran to her, "Mamma! Mamma! It's gonna be otay Mamma! It's gonna be otay! No you cry, Mamma!" Then facing her parents' attackers, with all her fighting lessons as far as a three-year old could take them, she powered up small balls of energy in her tiny hands.
"You go 'way! NOW!" little Seven screeched at the big scary men. But they didn't, and one of them actually laughed at her bravery. Two of them walked up, one grabbed her shoulders, and the other let one heavy fist rise and fall on her head.
Seven leaned on the squishy walls, shaking her head to clear the memory from her mind. For came closer, concerned. She looked at him very deeply for several minutes.
"Pa- Papa?", she whispered.
"Yes, my angel?", he whispered back, grinning widely. She lunged for him, and held him close.
"They told me you were dead, but I was proud of you ... it was so evil ... I tried to stand up for our family, Papa, I really did!" Seven now wept openly into her father's shoulder. For could do nothing but hold her.
Several days and several generous meals later, For and Seven had pretty much caught up on the events that each had missed. For had never re-married. That is not the way of his people, of their people, he'd said. He now led a large fleet of ships that patrol the galaxy, and strive to maintain some semblance of peace. They were led to check out Vegeta. It was said that even though Vegeta-sei had never actually fought with the forces of another planet, it was only a matter of time for the fledgling conquerors. And For knew that if there were any sign of his former family, he would stop at nothing to find it out. And that's when he found her.
Sitting in the arboreum, (Seven had never seen a tree beofre this) Seven told For all about Jared, their strong friendship, and the ban placed on her from seeing him so long ago.
"There is something that I'm worried about though.", Seven admitted.
"What's that?", he father asked.
"When you found me, I was in the middle of a pretty intense bat- uh,... sparring session. It was with Jared. We were throwing ki left and right at each other, but neither getting anywhere. Especially me. Then I found myself here, or in that room. Why did you keep it shut for long anyway?"
"Well, Seven, I had to be sure that it was actually you. I'm so sorry that we couldn't get food to you. I know you were very hungry when you found the way out. I just couldn't take any chances. I had to absolutely sure."
"I guess I understand, Papa." she smiled. "However, I'm pretty sure that Jared thinks I'd run out on him. He's probably stopped looking for me by now. But I gotta tell him ... I gotta talk to him."
For cocked his head to the side. "Well, now that King Vegeta is gone, what's keeping you from seeing Jared? I mean, the Prince isn't the one that prevented it, right?"
"Right, but even though his father is gone, if I went against Jared's dad's edict, then it show that I would have no trouble dis-obeying one of Jared's commands. Besides, we just grew apart after all that anyway. I don't think he wants ... a friendship anymore." Regret was obvious in her voice.
***************************************************************
Jared, however, was still trying to figure out what's been going on. He stood on one of the balconies that led from his suites in the palace. The breeze was hot and dry and made him squint. All he could think about was the day after she'd gone to see his father, when they were young.
I hadn't seen hide nor tail of her all last night, and I was getting worried. Making up my mind and on my way to see my father about the matter, I bumped into her in one of the corridors leading to the throneroom. She didn't say a word, but her eyes told me everything. For the first time ever, I thought, there was fear in her eyes when she looked at me. Fear! I got so angry I didn't say a word to her. I just folded my arms and walked away. Where the HFIL does she get off being afraid of me?? Something tells me if I had looked back I would have seen her standing there still watching me. Logically, I know she couldn't have said anything to me. I was told later that day what kind of interaction her and Father had. But, I still wanted to see you, Seven! Not your fear, dammit!
His head down and mind swirling with memories, Jared Vegeta didn't see the large fleet of dark starships that was forming on the horizon.
*******************************************************************
General Kale was monitoring the situation closely, however. He sat in the seat closest to the window.
"Put the ships in window, Captain." Kale folded his hands together.
"Yes sir." Reaching a few inches from where he sat, the captain pressed a few buttons on the console he manned and the image of the alien fleet flashed onto the screen.
"Can you identify these ships?"
"No sir. Our systems have never seen their like, and neither have I. They seem to be waiting for something, sir."
"I can tell that, son!" Kale fumed. It also feels like they are prepared to take it if necessary. But why didn't they attack? They brought their whole compliment of soldiers, but are they just going to pull out when they get what they want? Hopefully not. If they had something that was ours, I certainly wouldn't stand around until I was given it! They would all scream for mercy before the great Saiyan Empire!...
"Sir??" The young captian could see his superior's knuckles blanching as he gripped the arm of the chair. "You alright?"
"Ahem... Uh, Yes. I'm fine." Kale leaned his head back on the headrest, and continued to watch the enemy.
***************************************************************
Jared Vegeta paced back and forth in front of the door. Soon, two men in labcoats emerged. One held up a glass jar with hair and bits of clothing.
"This should be enough for what we have in mind, Sire. All we have to do is extract enough of her DNA off of it to be able to run a tracer. If she's anywhere on the whole planet, we'll find her, your highness."
"Good." Vegeta nodded. Excused, the two men bowed low and left for the laboratories.
The door to her apartments still stand open and Vegeta could not resist going in for one more peek. Aside from a few articles of clothes spread out on the bed for the labcoats' samples, there was really nothing out of place. He sat on the bed. Next to it was a small sidetable with a drawer. He tugged it open and surprisingly, it was empty. Wait. There was a small folded bit of paper stuffed in the back. He took it from its place and looked closer. In tiny, sharp handwriting, it read "To Jared Vegeta"
Confused as to whether or not he should read it, he put it in his pocket for later. On a larger piece of furniture in the corner of the small room sat a group of little pictures. One image was of her family. Well, her mother and her. She never spoke much of her family, and after her transformation, he could see why. Is that what happened that time the vent system was ruined? Did she get into a battle lust and transform? No ... I remember...
I stood my ground as best I could, but this new opponent was far too much for me, I hated to admit. He was faster, bigger, stronger, and possesed of a lust for fighting I'd never seen. I would hit him a couple times and he would me for six or seven. I was being worn down, and I knew that if I didn't do something soon, then I would be moved down in rank for losing a match. Then out of the blue, a huge rattling boom shook the walls and totally distracted my foe. I really didn't care what it was at that moment. All I knew was that I had found my opening. I aimed as big a blast of ki as I could manage at his head, and he fell. His hair smoked and he coughed all the way out of the arena. I looked in the direction of that blast, and I thought I could almost see someone trying to squiggle out of the way while the smoke cleared. But that's impossible...
Seven's letter almost seemed to burn a hole in his outfit. Jared removed the folded paper and looked at it. Still sitting on the bed, he carefully unfolded the note. At the top, it had in her small consise hand the date and time. The day after her audience with my father, just after we met in the hall, Jared thought.
It read:
"Jared ...
I don't know if you'll ever read this. But if you do, please don't be angry with me for not talking to you earlier. I couldn't have. Not after what happened in the throneroom. Your father, Jared, King Vegeta, told me that I couldn't ever talk to you again because I am different. I'm not a real saiyan. I'm half-saiyan. My mother was killed when I was three. They killed my father, who came from Planet Sum, too. After that, they sent me to live with my mom's sister, Reuta. Thing is, she and I don't look anything alike. I'm beginning to think ther's something else going on here. But that's not what I wanted to say to you.
I don't hope for you to forgive me. I just want you to understand why I had to let you go my friend. ..."
There was an appendage to the letter further down the page, but the hand was sloppier, and he could see the tear stains on it.
"I can stand it no longer. I've got to tell him. I've got to tell him I've been lying to him. I can't go on like this, Jared. I've gotten a lot older and I know that the friendship I felt for you grew with me. I love you Jared Vegeta. That's why you have to know the truth. I'm going now... "
Jared could barely understand the words as she'd written them. "I love you?" he said to himself. His mind reeled and his chest hurt like he'd been crushed, for in fact that's what was happening. The walls he'd put up when ever she happened to pass by him in the hall, or see her in the training yards, sparring with other girls. They came tumbling down now.
"I. Swear. I. Will. Find. You. Seven." he hissed through his teeth as he stood and strode out the door and towards General Kale's offices.