Part 4: One Last Chance

Mrs. Briefs was watering the flowers in her front yard when Vegeta landed at Capsule Corp. He had no idea why she was bothering with the flowers: the weather was turning colder and the first real frost of the season was expected any day now. Still, she went right on cheerfully watering the flowers, as it was a warm summer's day and not the end of fall.

"Hello Vegeta," she greeted him, her smile never faltering, "How are you today?" She spoke she had just seen him the day before, which surprised Vegeta.

"Where is Dr. Briefs?" he asked, "Which hospital is he in?"

"Oh, he's not in the hospital anymore," she replied, "He got out just this morning and he's in his lab, I think. I hope he's not smoking again. I told him that all that smoking wasn't good for him and did you know it gives you wrinkles. I never wanted to smoke after what I saw what it did for my Aunt Lilly. She was…"

Vegeta left her prattling along as he went inside to look for Dr. Briefs. Since leaving Melissa's home earlier, Vegeta had thought long and hard as he tried to figure out a way to save Bulma. Finally, he thought of something that might work. There was no way to be sure, but he was determined to try.

He stepped inside Dr. Briefs' lab and found the older scientist sitting in front of his computer, a cigarette dangling from his mouth. At the sound of Vegeta's footsteps, Dr. Briefs quickly put out the cigarette and whirled around, probably expecting to see his wife standing there. His face darkened when he saw that his visitor was Vegeta.

"Oh," he said in a hoarse tone, "It's you."

Vegeta didn't respond at first. He knew that Dr. Briefs held him fully responsible for Bulma's death, and the fact that Vegeta had left before the funeral didn't help matters in the least. "I didn't think you were supposed to smoke anymore," Vegeta finally said.

Dr. Briefs shrugged. "I'm an old man and I've already lost a lot in my life," he responded, "I don't think giving up these old cancer sticks are going to make that much of a difference. So, what are you doing here?"

"Kakarott and I learned some interesting things today," Vegeta answered, "about Bulma."

All the color drained from Dr. Briefs' face at the sound of his dead daughter's name as his eyes filled with tears. "What about her?" he managed.

As Vegeta launched into the story that Melissa had told him, Dr. Briefs began to tremble. With a shaking hand he got another cigarette out of a hidden pack and lit it. After taking a couple of long drags, he still looked as if he was about to cry, but he seemed a bit calmer.

"So," he said once Vegeta was finished, "This Melissa recreated Cell and he is the one who killed my Bulma."

Vegeta nodded. "That's what it looks like."

Dr. Briefs stood up and walked a few steps towards Vegeta. "And just what is that supposed to change?" he demanded, anger creeping into his normally calm voice, "Bulma is still gone. There's no way to change that. It's too late to wish her back."

"But there still may be a way to save her," Vegeta said.

Dr. Briefs' eyes grew wide. "What? Are you serious?"

Vegeta nodded. "I don't know if it will work," he added, "but I'm going to try. However, I will need you help." Vegeta inhaled deeply. It was still hard for him to ask for help, even in a serious matter such as this. Normally, he would have just demanded the assistance, but Dr. Briefs had already lost so much that threats probably would have little effect.

Dr. Briefs took a final drag of his cigarette before crushing in an ashtray that was hidden in a drawer. "What do you need me to do?" he asked.

After Vegeta explained his plan to Dr. Briefs, he left the old scientist alone in his lab. He still had a few things he had to do before he could set his plan into motion. Stepping out into the hallway, he turned only to see Trunks standing a few feet away from him.

For a few minutes, the two silently stared at one another and Vegeta could almost hear the 'stand-off' music from one of the ridiculous westerns Dr. Briefs seemed to like so much. He shook his head slightly, pushing back the image of a rolling tumbleweed, as he looked at his son. Trunks had grown a few inches since he had last seen him, causing him to look too skinny and awkward. His eyes were blazing and Vegeta could feel the anger rolling in waves from his son. "Trunks," Vegeta finally said in way of a greeting. He didn't know what, if anything, he should add. To ask, "How are you doing?" seemed somehow insensitive.

"What are you doing here?" Trunks demanded.

Vegeta paused. He didn't want to tell Trunks of his plans to save Bulma. What if the plans didn't work – then the boy would have to go through all the pain again. "I just stopped by," he lied.

"Why?" Trunks asked, "No one here wants to see you."

"Trunks," Vegeta repeated, "There's…"

"Why did you come back?" Trunks cried, tears streaming down his face, "Why? I hate you!" After his explosive declaration, Trunks turned and ran away from Vegeta, his cries echoing in the hallway.

Vegeta stood there as he watched Trunks run away. At one time, he would have thought he would be furious if Trunks had declared that he hated him, but he wasn't angry. Instead, it just made him more determined than ever to save Bulma.

Dr. Briefs was standing in the doorway to his lab; he had been watching the conflict between Vegeta and Trunks. Turning slightly, Vegeta made eye contact with the old man. "We have some work to do," he said.

"Yes," Dr. Briefs agreed, "But, what if this doesn't work."

"That's not an option," Vegeta announced as he walked out of Capsule Corp and flew away.

**************

The next few days went by almost painfully slow as Vegeta put his plan together. Finally, four days after speaking with Dr. Briefs, everything was ready. Together on the ground were six dragon balls and the seven was in his hand. In his other hand was the Dragon Ball Radar, which had been fixed by Dr. Briefs. An envelope and a vial were tied unto a small belt. He took a deep breath – it was finally time to go.

"Vegeta!" a voice called out.

Vegeta turned around. "Kakarott? What are you doing here?"

Goku had been flying above by now landed on the ground next to Vegeta. "What are you doing?" he asked.

Holding out the seventh dragon ball, Vegeta said, "I'm going to save Bulma!"

"But I already told you that you can't wish her back. She's been dead for too long." Goku's face fell slightly, no doubt still blaming himself for telling Vegeta they couldn't wish her back when they could.

"I'm not going to wish her back to life," Vegeta replied, "I'm going to go back in time to save her!"

"Can you do that?"

"I don't see why not."

"But won't it just create another timeline?" Goku asked, "Like when Trunks traveled from the future?"

"There are already at least two timelines," Vegeta explained, "Cell traveled from the future to kill Bulma. But, I think if I could save Bulma, then maybe this timeline will have never even happened. Besides, I'm going to use the dragon balls to go back in time and not a time machine."

"Do you think this will work?"

"There's only one way to find out," Vegeta replied, "You never did answer my question: what are you doing here?"

"Mrs. Briefs called," Goku answered, "And said you were up to something. She thought you had gone crazy."

"Oh," Vegeta said, "I thought you were just following me again."

Goku smiled slightly and held out his hand. "Good luck."

Vegeta considered Goku's outstretched hand for a moment. At one time, he wouldn't have even dreamed of shaking hands, but a lot had changed. Taking Goku's hand, he shook it one time. "Thanks."

Turning, he threw the seventh dragon ball on the ground with the others. The sky grew dark as lightening bolts danced about. Finally, the dragon appeared before the two Saiyans.

"What is your wish?" Shenlon demanded.

"I want to go back in time," Vegeta responded, "To the morning just before Bulma died. After five minutes, I want to return here."

"An unusual request," Shenlon said, "But so be it."

Vegeta disappeared completely from sight and didn't reappear until his five minutes were up. He seemed a bit stunned from the trip.

"Did it work?" Goku asked.

Before Vegeta could respond, the ground beneath began to shake like the mightiest of earthquakes was upon them. The sky became ebony as the winds began to howl. "I think so!" Vegeta responded

"What's going on?" Goku yelled.

"This timeline is being erased," Vegeta answered, "It never even happened. It never happened." Vegeta smiled as the darkness enveloped everything.

**************

Vegeta awoke early and went downstairs to train before breakfast, but he couldn't stop smiling. Perhaps he should have agreed to marry Bulma sooner, he thought as he trained. Finally, he finished his morning routine and went to the kitchen for breakfast.

Mrs. Briefs was just putting breakfast on the table when he entered the room.

"Oh, Vegeta," Mrs. Briefs said, "Will you go upstairs and wake up Bulma? She seems to be quite a sleepy head this morning." She giggled as she poured a hot cup of coffee for her husband.

"Bulma," Vegeta called out, as he opened the door to their bedroom, "Are you up?" Bulma was sitting in their bed and Vegeta instantly noticed how pale she looked. "Are you okay."

She managed a weak smile. "I'm fine now," she said, "Thanks to you."

Vegeta was confused. "What are you talking about?"

Bulma frowned slightly. "Weren't you in here a minute ago?" Vegeta shook his head. "I could have sworn you were right here. You kissed me."

"I was in the gravity room training until a few minutes ago," Vegeta explained, "When I went to breakfast, your mother asked me to come and wake you."

"How strange," Bulma mused, "I guess it must have been a dream." She turned to Vegeta, her eyes sparkling and he was relieved to see the color coming back to her cheeks. "I was lying here in bed when suddenly, it became hard for me to breathe. It was like there was a strong hand in my chest just squeezing my lungs and heart. I tried to call out to you, but I couldn't.

"But then, you were right there. You looked different – you weren't wearing those clothes but that wasn't all. You looked older somehow too, but I knew you were there to save me. I closed my eyes and I felt something cool upon my lips. It was like a soft, sweet kiss and soon the pressure began to fade from my chest. I could breathe again. I opened my eyes, but you were gone."

"You had to be dreaming," Vegeta insisted.

"I guess," Bulma said, "it seemed so real. You say breakfast is ready?"

"Yeah, it's already on the table."

"Then let's eat! I have a million things to do for the wedding. I never knew there was so much to plan."

She continued to talk about the wedding as they walked downstairs. Neither of them noticed the small vial that had rolled underneath the nightstand. It was the small vial that had contained the antidote created by Melissa. It was the vial that had touched Bulma's lips – Vegeta's saving kiss.

**************

"Are you sure this is the right house?" Goku asked.

"Yeah, I'm sure," Vegeta mumbled, but he checked the letter one last time. Right after Bulma's 'dream', Vegeta had found an envelope in the front hallway addressed to him. According to the letter, a scientist by the name of Melissa was recreating Cell in her basement laboratory. This woman was even supposedly the daughter of the now infamous Dr. Gero. Originally, Vegeta had planned to go alone to confront Melissa, but Bulma had told Goku who had wanted to come along.

They landed in the front yard of the small, white house and walked over to the door. Vegeta knocked loudly several times, but no one opened the door.

"Looks like no one's home," Goku said.

"Then we should just blast the whole thing," Vegeta snarled, as he prepared to do so.

"Can I help you?" a woman asked.

Both Vegeta and Goku turned around and saw a blond woman standing there, her arms full of newly bought groceries. "Are you Melissa?" Vegeta demanded.

"Yes. What do you want here?"

"You're the daughter of Dr. Gero?" Goku asked.

Melissa's face paled slightly. "How did you know that?"

"That's not your concern," Vegeta growled, "We've come to destroy Cell."

"Cell?" Melissa voice was genuinely confused, "Who's Cell?"

"A creature created by your father, Dr. Gero," Goku explained, stepping forward slightly so that he would be between Melissa and Vegeta, "We've heard you're growing this creature in your basement."

"Why do you want to destroy it?" Melissa cried, "That's the only thing I have of my father!"

"I would be more concerned about my own life, if I were you," Vegeta said.

"Your father made Cell to destroy all of us," Goku explained, slowly, "This creature might kill a lot of people if it ever came to life again. I know it's all you have of Gero, but I don't think it's worth it, do you?"

Melissa's eyes filled with tears. "I'll show you the creature," she said softly, as she walked over and opened her door. Laying the groceries in the kitchen, she led the two to the basement where she kept her makeshift lab. There, in one of the large containers, Cell grew. He wasn't very big yet, but he was still growing. Vegeta and Goku destroyed Cell, making sure there wasn't a trace of the monster while Melissa watched. Once their job was done, the two Saiyans turned to leave, but Goku paused by Melissa.

"I know you wanted something of your father," he said, softly, "but you have to understand that he wasn't a very good man. You're a good person, so you should just live your life for yourself and not worry about him." Melissa nodded slightly as she wiped the tears from her eyes.

As they were flying home, Goku turned to Vegeta. "Are you going to be at the store this evening, or have you already been fitted for your tux?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Your tuxedo; for the wedding. Bulma told Chichi that she wants Gohan and me to be fitted for ours this afternoon. Are you going to be there?"

Vegeta snorted. "I am not going to wear some ridiculous suit."

Goku laughed as he flew ahead. "That's what I thought when I was going to marry Chichi, but you've seen our wedding pictures."

"I'm not going to wear a tux!" Vegeta yelled after him, "Do you hear me, Kakarott?"

"Whatever you say Vegeta," Goku said, still laughing, "Whatever you say."

The End