Chapter Seven: Vegeta's Past
So after Yamcha made a desperate attempt to go Super Saiyan, Krillin walked on stilts on top of Capsule Corp., and Pan dressed up in a pink tutu being "graceful", the "It's Not My Talent Show" was over and everyone started leaving.
"Hey, Adrienne!"
"What is it?" Adrienne looked at Goten.
"Well, I was wondering if you wanted to go to the park and look at the stars with me…?" Goten asked, blushing. Adrienne smiled.
"Sure! Just ask my Mom for some blankets, and I'll go wash my mouth out, brush my teeth, that kind of stuff!" Adrienne's nose scrunched up. "I don't want to taste like worms!"
Goten laughed. "Alright!" Adrienne ran inside and Goten went to get some blankets from Bulma.
*~*~*
"They're beautiful, aren't they?" Adrienne asked.
"Yeah." Goten nodded. "There's Scorpio!"
"I didn't know you knew the names of stars!"
"Yep!"
"Then what's that one?" Adrienne asked, pointing at the sky.
"Uhhhhh…. which one? Goten asked. The two started laughing.
"Um…. The stars sorta shaped like a 'w'!"
"Cassiopeia?" Goten asked.
"Yeah!" Adrienne smiled. "I can never remember the name of that one! Hey, look, a shooting star!"
Goten turned in time to see the shooting star Adrienne was talking about. "Did you make a wish?"
"Did you?"
"I asked first!" Goten exclaimed.
"Well… yes." Adrienne said. "Want me to tell you?"
"But if you do it won't come true." Adrienne shrugged.
"Then I guess I won't tell you. You wouldn't want to know *anyway*!" Adrienne looked back up at the stars. Goten sighed.
"What was your wish?"
"I wished that you and I-" Adrienne stopped. "I can't say it!"
"No, come on, I wanna know!"
"Alright!" Adrienne smiled. "I wished that you and I could be alone forever. I know! It's stupid! Go ahead and laugh!"
"It's not stupid!"
"Yes it is!" Goten started laughing. "See?"
"I think I would miss everybody else."
"Yeah, I guess so." Adrienne nodded. "Now what was yours?"
"Mine?" Goten asked. "I didn't make one!"
"What would it be?" Adrienne asked. "If we saw another shooting star?"
"Hm……" Adrienne closed her eyes. "I would wish that I could hold your hand forever, and be with you every day and *every* night."
"Really?" Adrienne asked, flipping onto her side to look at him.
"What?" Goten looked at her.
"Would you really wish that?" Adrienne asked.
"Wish what? I didn't say anything." Adrienne stared at him in confusion.
"Oh." Adrienne flipped onto her back and looked up at the stars. "I guess I must have imagined it."
"Imagined what?"
"I just… imagined what your wish might be, that's all."
"What did you imagine I would say?" Goten inquired. Adrienne blushed. "You can tell me! I won't tell anybody!"
"I imagined that you wished… that you could hold my hand forever, and be with me every night and day. There!" Adrienne's cheeks flared. It was a good thing it was dark, because Goten couldn't tell. Goten was silent. How did she know…? "Well…?"
"You're just *drooling* over me, aren't you?"
"I am not!" Goten laughed. She sat up and turned to hit him, but Goten was already sitting up beside her. He looked her in the eyes with a piercing gaze. Adrienne leaned backwards a little bit. "What are you-"
"I'm ending our friendship and creating our relationship." Goten said. He leaned forward to kiss her when they were interrupted by an angry voice:
"DON'T YOU TOUCH MY DAUGHTER!!!!!!" Goten and Adrienne sighed and turned around to see Vegeta's silhouette appeared, standing on the hill above them.
"Alright, Vegeta! Stop *right* there!" Came Bulma's voice and she appeared, dragging herself up the hill. "I've been chasin you for half a block!"
"*Come* on, Dad." Trunks said. A hand grabbed Vegeta's leg and pulled him off balance. Trunks was obviously dragging him back to Capsule Corp.
"NO!!!!! NO, YOU CAN'T MAKE ME! NOOOOOOOOooooooooooooooooo………..." Vegeta's voice trailed off. Adrienne and Goten shook their head. They spotted each other and laughed.
*~*~*
"Well, I guess this is goodbye," A girl with medium-length brown hair told the boy across from her. She was wearing a tight, sleeveless, navy spandex outfit with white gloves that came up past her elbows and white boots that came up to her knees and had golden tips at the toe of them.
"I guess so." Vegeta said, nodding. He, also, wore the same spandex outfit, only his gloves stopped at his middle forearm.
"The first thing I do when I get outta here is get out of this uniform!"
Vegeta smiled. "Maybe I'll see you around, Lita."
"See ya, Veggie!" The two took flight towards where the other stood, flying off in opposite directions.
*~*~*
"Another opponent…" Vegeta thought as he flew along the ground to Midiasgar on Planet Juneir. He smirked as he flew over Midiasgar. "Almost there…!"
He suddenly felt a ki coming swiftly towards him and someone came into view. A feminine scream rang out in his ears, when he collided with them. Vegeta landed on the ground with a "thud", and then the person who had ran into him landed on his stomach, creating an "Ow". He growled and opened his eyes. He froze, recognizing the woman on top of him. "Lita?"
"Vegeta, you-" Lita stopped. "What are you doing here?"
"I heard there was a strong opponent here," Vegeta told her as they stood up. "I never thought it would be you!"
"It's been a long time, hasn't it?" Lita asked. Vegeta could only stare. His foolish childhood friend had grown into a beautiful woman. She wore a pair of baggy burgundy pants that hung loosely from her hips, and a tight tan long-sleeved shirt that showed off her curves. She was wearing white boots with yellow tips like his, but he couldn't tell how high up they went.
Lita smirked as she watched her serious childhood friend observe her fully developed body: from her behind, to her hips, to her breast. He wore blue Battle Armor, his gloves, and his boots. She couldn't help but notice he had become handsome and very masculine. Just his scent told all. "Vegeta, what do you say we spar for old times sake?" Vegeta pulled his mind away from La La Land and back into reality. "You came her for a fight, so I'll give you one!"
*~*~*
"Why do you have to go?" Lita asked her husband.
"I'm sorry I can't stay with you," Vegeta told her. "But I can't stop and create a family until I have my revenge on Frieza." Vegeta paused before he left through the door. "I have to train."
The door closed and Lita sighed. "Oh, Vegeta…" Lita looked out the window and watched Vegeta take flight. "You always had a lust for power…"
*~*~*
"Vegeta, prepare to die!" A man exclaimed, arms outstretched, hands formed to fire a final blast. Vegeta growled as he sat there in the field full of marigolds. Most of them had been singed or burnt to a crisp from the devastating battle. The man started charging his blast. There was no way he could possibly move in time! "HA!!!!!"
The blast was shot and Vegeta prepared for impact. "Vegeta!" The next thing he knew, a figure jumped in front of him, the blast going through their chest.
"Lita!" Vegeta jumped up and caught her.
"What have I done…?" The man asked himself. Vegeta gently laid his wife down.
"Look what you've done to her!" Vegeta stood up. "How dare you!?"
Vegeta started charging his blast. "Lita…" The man shook his head, flinging a tear and disappeared. Vegeta dropped to his knees and looked down at his love.
"Lita, you'll be okay!"
"Vegeta…" Lita groaned and tossed her head. Vegeta took her hand in his, which seemed to relieve some of her pain. "Vegeta, I know you were never there, but I love you! And I have one thing to ask-"
"Lita, you're not gonna die!" Vegeta shook his head. "You're not gonna die!"
"Vegeta, I want you…" Lita swallowed. "Will you please take care of her…"
Lita's grip was no longer there as her body went limp. All Vegeta could feel was the lump in his throat, the pain in his heart, and the tears in his eyes as he stared at her lifeless body. "Lita…" Vegeta shook his head, flinging tears from his eyes, and stood up, dropping her hand: "LITA!!!!!"
Vegeta took flight, leaving his wife behind on the planet. He wished he could leave all of his memories and thoughts on that planet as he landed on the mountaintop of another planet. He looked down at the locket in his hand and gripped it firmly in his fist as he felt the tears coming back. "LITAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!"
Sparks were sent flying everywhere in Vegeta's anger as he turned Super Saiyan. "COME BACK HERE, YOU COWARD!!!!!!!!" A strong blast of energy emitted from his body, causing the planet to blow up in white light.
*~*~*
Vegeta woke up to light coming in through the window. He glanced downward, spotting his wife, Bulma, hugging him. He smiled and ran his fingers through her hair. He sighed with relief as he looked at the ceiling. It was all a dream. He turned to look out the window. A memory. One that he wouldn't have to look back on for the rest of his life. At least… he hoped. He got out from underneath the covers and got dressed.
Vegeta opened the cupboards and started pulling stuff down to make himself some breakfast. "It took me forever to figure out what you meant," Vegeta thought as he continued to pull stuff down. "'Will you please take care of her?' Of course I would. I remember swearing that I would never love again…Now look at me! A wife and three kids! Well…" Vegeta glanced at the locket hanging around his neck. "*Two* wives."
"I know you're still alive," Vegeta thought. "Your legacy lives on in Adrienne. Oh, if only you could see her… She looks exactly like you. She's beautiful, although she doesn't like to show it." Vegeta smiled. "Not only does she look like you, but she acts like you. Stubborn, joking, stern, dangerous, but caring and sensitive all at the same time. Sometimes I think she's just trying to act tough, but maybe not. Whatever it is, I'm sure it's genetic!"
Vegeta opened the locket on his neck and smiled at the picture of Lita. "I miss you." He said out loud, almost hoping that somebody would hear and come comfort him.
"Hi, Dad!" Adrienne greeted her father as she skipped in, holding some blankets covered in grass. She stopped, hearing no response from her father. He seemed to be glaring at his cereal, again. Last time he was angry at it because Trunks had formed the Alphabet Cereal to say 'you suck', but this time he looked different. "Dad?"
Vegeta tightened his grip on the spoon as he continued to glare at the cereal.
*~*~*
"'Day one: We have gotten all of the needed materials for the experiment.'" Vegeta read from a journal. "'Day Three: We have introduced the "Saiyan Prince's" sperm to the "Speed Demon's" egg.'" He was wearing his usual outfit: the sleeveless blue spandex with the white gloves and boots, only he wore a black cape over it. He skimmed over the page in disgust. "Oh, dear *Kami*, it's revolting! "They're talking about us like science projects! 'Egg is fertilized'…?" Vegeta continued skimming the pages until he caught something out of the corner of his eye. "Huh?"
Vegeta walked over to the object that had caught his attention: a tank. He ran his hand along it. "What this?" The tank had a little girl inside. She looked around the age of five and she had dark brown hair flowing in the green liquid. But for some *odd* reason she reminded him of Lita…
"Hello, Vegeta." Vegeta turned around quickly to see a man dressed in a white lab coat. "I knew you'd come around sometime. So what do you think of your daughter?"
Vegeta looked back at the tank. So that's why she looked like Lita! Vegeta looked back at the man. "Let her go!"
"I'm afraid I still have many tests to perform," The scientist told him. "The outcome of her stats should be very interesting, being the daughter of the *fastest* Saiyan and the *second* strongest Saiyan around."
"You're talking about Kakarott, aren't you?"
"Well he IS stronger, is he not?"
"Shut up!" Vegeta yelled. "One day I will surpass his strength and be King of the Universe!"
"Of course you will, Vegeta. That is…" The scientist paused. He held his hand out and pointed at the tank. "If your daughter doesn't beat you to it."
"What do you mean?" Vegeta asked, glancing at the tank with his daughter.
"Haven't you been listening?" The scientist asked. "She is the descendant from two of the *strongest* Saiyans in the universe! We called her Project Ryoku because of her unlimited power."
"I will *not* have you performing tests on my daughter!" Vegeta yelled. "And I *won't* have you naming her, or using her as a killing tool, either!"
"Then I guess you'll just have to learn the hard way." The scientist said, going into a fighting pose. Vegeta could tell this would be an easy fight.
"Ron!" Vegeta jumped up as a blast was shot at him, barely dodging it. Vegeta shot a Ki blast at Ron, sending him backwards into the control panel. The Ki went through the mad scientist's stomach, hitting the control panel. Ron reached over to pull a switch, but he was electrocuted. Vegeta shot him with another Ki and watched his blood flood onto the floor beneath the control panel. He smirked. "That was too easy. Now for you…"
Vegeta turned to the tank and put his hand against the outside. A yellow glow came from his hand, cracking the glass tank. The tank shattered and Vegeta caught the little girl as she fell forward, but he was thrown to the floor by the force of the green liquid rushing out at him. The little girl opened her eyes and blinked. She saw Ron and stared blankly at him. "You killed him…?"
"Yes." Vegeta wasn't going to lie to her.
"Who are you?" The girl asked. Vegeta smiled at her.
"I'm your father." The little girl stared at him, then passed out. Vegeta pulled his cloak off and wrapped it around her cold, naked body.
*~*~*
"Dad, what's the matter?" Adrienne asked. Vegeta held out his fist. "What-"
"Take it." Vegeta said. Adrienne opened her hand and Vegeta dropped the locket into it. "I don't think I can explain right now, but just take it."
"O……kay." Adrienne walked out of the room to put the blankets up. Vegeta swallowed as remembered Bulma's expression when he brought her home…
*~*~*
There was a knock on the door and Bulma stood up immediately. "It's about *time* you got ho- Vegeta?" Vegeta was standing outside Capsule Corp., holding something in his cloak. "What is-"
Vegeta stepped inside and Bulma closed the door. She decided to change the subject: "Vegeta, where have you been? I've been worried to *death*!"
"You're still alive." Vegeta said with a smirk.
"Not funny." Bulma said. "Now what are you holding? Don't tell me it's a dog!"
"No," Vegeta shook his head. "*Better*."
Vegeta let the cloak fall from his shoulder, revealing the little girl he had rescued earlier, who was still asleep. Bulma gasped. . "Vegeta, is she!?"
"She's still alive." Vegeta assured her. "Bulma, this is my little girl."
"But how?" Bulma asked. "Where!?"
"You remember the wife I was telling you about before we got married?"
"But, Vegeta, she died *years* ago!"
"I know," Vegeta nodded. "She was made in a tank. In a laboratory." Bulma shook her head. "Still not enough proof, eh? Well look at the resemblance!"
Bulma looked at the photo inside of Vegeta's open locket, then at the girl. Bulma shook her head. "Alright, even if she's not your daughter, I'll take care of her, anyway."
"Really?"
"Of course! You don't actually think I would send her to an adoption center or something, do you?" Vegeta smiled.
"Thank you."
*~*~*
"Now let me see…" Bulma was digging through a box of the clothes she had as a little girl. The little girl was hiding behind Vegeta's leg. Vegeta started tapping his foot.
"She's definitely got some Vegeta in her looks!" Mrs. Brief exclaimed.
"Yes," Mr. Brief nodded. "But she looks so much like her Mother it's uncanny!"
"Really?"
"Yes!"
"Let me see." Mrs. Brief took the locket from Mr. Brief and examined the picture. She looked back up at the girl and smiled. "Definitely!"
"*Here* we go!" Bulma pulled a dress out of the box and looked at the girl. "Come here, little girl." The little girl shook her head and stayed behind Vegeta's leg. "Vegeta, give her a name!"
"What?!" Vegeta yelled. "Now you want *me* to name it!?"
"Of course!" Bulma hit herself. "Your brain can't comprehend what I'm saying, can it?"
Vegeta growled. "How about Adrienne?" Mrs. Brief suggested.
"How about it?" Vegeta asked the little girl. She looked at him, then hid herself completely behind Vegeta's leg. Vegeta looked up. "Alright, we'll name her Adrienne. You and your stupid earth names…"
"Okay, come here, Adrienne!" Bulma gestured for Adrienne to come to her. Adrienne shook her head. "Come here!" Bulma crawled over to her, but Adrienne ran to Vegeta's other leg. Vegeta sighed as the two ran around him in circles. He held his foot out and stopped Adrienne. Bulma picked her up and she started crying and reaching for Vegeta. Vegeta took a step forward in concern. Bulma finally pulled the dress on over Adrienne. "There!"
Adrienne looked down at the dress. "*Yuck*!"
"We'll have to take her shopping tomorrow." Bulma stated. Vegeta crouched down and Adrienne ran into his arms. Vegeta lifted the giggling Adrienne into the air with a smile and spun her around.
"She's definitely going to be Vegeta's child." Mr. Brief said.
"Mm hm!" Mrs. Brief nodded.
"What's with all of the screaming?" Trunks was standing in the doorway, rubbing his left eye. "I'm trying to get to sleep, you know!" He spotted Adrienne, who was looking at him. "Huh?" Adrienne jumped down from Vegeta's arms and started examining Trunks. Trunks only watched her in confusion. "Um…"
"I don't think she's ever seen another child before." Vegeta whispered. Bulma nodded.
"I'm sure." Adrienne smiled and hugged him.
"What are you doing!?" Trunks seemed almost scared. Everyone in the room just laughed at him.
*~*~*
"Dad, why did you give me a locket with a picture of me?" Adrienne asked. "Although I *do* look older…"
"Never mind." Vegeta said. "Just leave the picture in there and go put a picture of your boyfriend beside it."
"Are you in your *right* mind?" Adrienne asked.
"Yes, of course I am."
"Okay! I'm gonna go get some sleep!" Adrienne ran off. Vegeta shook his head.
"Something about Trunks had to have triggered one of her memories that day," Vegeta thought. He sighed. "Because I *know* she wouldn't of warmed up to him like that. If only I knew *what*…"
So after Yamcha made a desperate attempt to go Super Saiyan, Krillin walked on stilts on top of Capsule Corp., and Pan dressed up in a pink tutu being "graceful", the "It's Not My Talent Show" was over and everyone started leaving.
"Hey, Adrienne!"
"What is it?" Adrienne looked at Goten.
"Well, I was wondering if you wanted to go to the park and look at the stars with me…?" Goten asked, blushing. Adrienne smiled.
"Sure! Just ask my Mom for some blankets, and I'll go wash my mouth out, brush my teeth, that kind of stuff!" Adrienne's nose scrunched up. "I don't want to taste like worms!"
Goten laughed. "Alright!" Adrienne ran inside and Goten went to get some blankets from Bulma.
*~*~*
"They're beautiful, aren't they?" Adrienne asked.
"Yeah." Goten nodded. "There's Scorpio!"
"I didn't know you knew the names of stars!"
"Yep!"
"Then what's that one?" Adrienne asked, pointing at the sky.
"Uhhhhh…. which one? Goten asked. The two started laughing.
"Um…. The stars sorta shaped like a 'w'!"
"Cassiopeia?" Goten asked.
"Yeah!" Adrienne smiled. "I can never remember the name of that one! Hey, look, a shooting star!"
Goten turned in time to see the shooting star Adrienne was talking about. "Did you make a wish?"
"Did you?"
"I asked first!" Goten exclaimed.
"Well… yes." Adrienne said. "Want me to tell you?"
"But if you do it won't come true." Adrienne shrugged.
"Then I guess I won't tell you. You wouldn't want to know *anyway*!" Adrienne looked back up at the stars. Goten sighed.
"What was your wish?"
"I wished that you and I-" Adrienne stopped. "I can't say it!"
"No, come on, I wanna know!"
"Alright!" Adrienne smiled. "I wished that you and I could be alone forever. I know! It's stupid! Go ahead and laugh!"
"It's not stupid!"
"Yes it is!" Goten started laughing. "See?"
"I think I would miss everybody else."
"Yeah, I guess so." Adrienne nodded. "Now what was yours?"
"Mine?" Goten asked. "I didn't make one!"
"What would it be?" Adrienne asked. "If we saw another shooting star?"
"Hm……" Adrienne closed her eyes. "I would wish that I could hold your hand forever, and be with you every day and *every* night."
"Really?" Adrienne asked, flipping onto her side to look at him.
"What?" Goten looked at her.
"Would you really wish that?" Adrienne asked.
"Wish what? I didn't say anything." Adrienne stared at him in confusion.
"Oh." Adrienne flipped onto her back and looked up at the stars. "I guess I must have imagined it."
"Imagined what?"
"I just… imagined what your wish might be, that's all."
"What did you imagine I would say?" Goten inquired. Adrienne blushed. "You can tell me! I won't tell anybody!"
"I imagined that you wished… that you could hold my hand forever, and be with me every night and day. There!" Adrienne's cheeks flared. It was a good thing it was dark, because Goten couldn't tell. Goten was silent. How did she know…? "Well…?"
"You're just *drooling* over me, aren't you?"
"I am not!" Goten laughed. She sat up and turned to hit him, but Goten was already sitting up beside her. He looked her in the eyes with a piercing gaze. Adrienne leaned backwards a little bit. "What are you-"
"I'm ending our friendship and creating our relationship." Goten said. He leaned forward to kiss her when they were interrupted by an angry voice:
"DON'T YOU TOUCH MY DAUGHTER!!!!!!" Goten and Adrienne sighed and turned around to see Vegeta's silhouette appeared, standing on the hill above them.
"Alright, Vegeta! Stop *right* there!" Came Bulma's voice and she appeared, dragging herself up the hill. "I've been chasin you for half a block!"
"*Come* on, Dad." Trunks said. A hand grabbed Vegeta's leg and pulled him off balance. Trunks was obviously dragging him back to Capsule Corp.
"NO!!!!! NO, YOU CAN'T MAKE ME! NOOOOOOOOooooooooooooooooo………..." Vegeta's voice trailed off. Adrienne and Goten shook their head. They spotted each other and laughed.
*~*~*
"Well, I guess this is goodbye," A girl with medium-length brown hair told the boy across from her. She was wearing a tight, sleeveless, navy spandex outfit with white gloves that came up past her elbows and white boots that came up to her knees and had golden tips at the toe of them.
"I guess so." Vegeta said, nodding. He, also, wore the same spandex outfit, only his gloves stopped at his middle forearm.
"The first thing I do when I get outta here is get out of this uniform!"
Vegeta smiled. "Maybe I'll see you around, Lita."
"See ya, Veggie!" The two took flight towards where the other stood, flying off in opposite directions.
*~*~*
"Another opponent…" Vegeta thought as he flew along the ground to Midiasgar on Planet Juneir. He smirked as he flew over Midiasgar. "Almost there…!"
He suddenly felt a ki coming swiftly towards him and someone came into view. A feminine scream rang out in his ears, when he collided with them. Vegeta landed on the ground with a "thud", and then the person who had ran into him landed on his stomach, creating an "Ow". He growled and opened his eyes. He froze, recognizing the woman on top of him. "Lita?"
"Vegeta, you-" Lita stopped. "What are you doing here?"
"I heard there was a strong opponent here," Vegeta told her as they stood up. "I never thought it would be you!"
"It's been a long time, hasn't it?" Lita asked. Vegeta could only stare. His foolish childhood friend had grown into a beautiful woman. She wore a pair of baggy burgundy pants that hung loosely from her hips, and a tight tan long-sleeved shirt that showed off her curves. She was wearing white boots with yellow tips like his, but he couldn't tell how high up they went.
Lita smirked as she watched her serious childhood friend observe her fully developed body: from her behind, to her hips, to her breast. He wore blue Battle Armor, his gloves, and his boots. She couldn't help but notice he had become handsome and very masculine. Just his scent told all. "Vegeta, what do you say we spar for old times sake?" Vegeta pulled his mind away from La La Land and back into reality. "You came her for a fight, so I'll give you one!"
*~*~*
"Why do you have to go?" Lita asked her husband.
"I'm sorry I can't stay with you," Vegeta told her. "But I can't stop and create a family until I have my revenge on Frieza." Vegeta paused before he left through the door. "I have to train."
The door closed and Lita sighed. "Oh, Vegeta…" Lita looked out the window and watched Vegeta take flight. "You always had a lust for power…"
*~*~*
"Vegeta, prepare to die!" A man exclaimed, arms outstretched, hands formed to fire a final blast. Vegeta growled as he sat there in the field full of marigolds. Most of them had been singed or burnt to a crisp from the devastating battle. The man started charging his blast. There was no way he could possibly move in time! "HA!!!!!"
The blast was shot and Vegeta prepared for impact. "Vegeta!" The next thing he knew, a figure jumped in front of him, the blast going through their chest.
"Lita!" Vegeta jumped up and caught her.
"What have I done…?" The man asked himself. Vegeta gently laid his wife down.
"Look what you've done to her!" Vegeta stood up. "How dare you!?"
Vegeta started charging his blast. "Lita…" The man shook his head, flinging a tear and disappeared. Vegeta dropped to his knees and looked down at his love.
"Lita, you'll be okay!"
"Vegeta…" Lita groaned and tossed her head. Vegeta took her hand in his, which seemed to relieve some of her pain. "Vegeta, I know you were never there, but I love you! And I have one thing to ask-"
"Lita, you're not gonna die!" Vegeta shook his head. "You're not gonna die!"
"Vegeta, I want you…" Lita swallowed. "Will you please take care of her…"
Lita's grip was no longer there as her body went limp. All Vegeta could feel was the lump in his throat, the pain in his heart, and the tears in his eyes as he stared at her lifeless body. "Lita…" Vegeta shook his head, flinging tears from his eyes, and stood up, dropping her hand: "LITA!!!!!"
Vegeta took flight, leaving his wife behind on the planet. He wished he could leave all of his memories and thoughts on that planet as he landed on the mountaintop of another planet. He looked down at the locket in his hand and gripped it firmly in his fist as he felt the tears coming back. "LITAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!"
Sparks were sent flying everywhere in Vegeta's anger as he turned Super Saiyan. "COME BACK HERE, YOU COWARD!!!!!!!!" A strong blast of energy emitted from his body, causing the planet to blow up in white light.
*~*~*
Vegeta woke up to light coming in through the window. He glanced downward, spotting his wife, Bulma, hugging him. He smiled and ran his fingers through her hair. He sighed with relief as he looked at the ceiling. It was all a dream. He turned to look out the window. A memory. One that he wouldn't have to look back on for the rest of his life. At least… he hoped. He got out from underneath the covers and got dressed.
Vegeta opened the cupboards and started pulling stuff down to make himself some breakfast. "It took me forever to figure out what you meant," Vegeta thought as he continued to pull stuff down. "'Will you please take care of her?' Of course I would. I remember swearing that I would never love again…Now look at me! A wife and three kids! Well…" Vegeta glanced at the locket hanging around his neck. "*Two* wives."
"I know you're still alive," Vegeta thought. "Your legacy lives on in Adrienne. Oh, if only you could see her… She looks exactly like you. She's beautiful, although she doesn't like to show it." Vegeta smiled. "Not only does she look like you, but she acts like you. Stubborn, joking, stern, dangerous, but caring and sensitive all at the same time. Sometimes I think she's just trying to act tough, but maybe not. Whatever it is, I'm sure it's genetic!"
Vegeta opened the locket on his neck and smiled at the picture of Lita. "I miss you." He said out loud, almost hoping that somebody would hear and come comfort him.
"Hi, Dad!" Adrienne greeted her father as she skipped in, holding some blankets covered in grass. She stopped, hearing no response from her father. He seemed to be glaring at his cereal, again. Last time he was angry at it because Trunks had formed the Alphabet Cereal to say 'you suck', but this time he looked different. "Dad?"
Vegeta tightened his grip on the spoon as he continued to glare at the cereal.
*~*~*
"'Day one: We have gotten all of the needed materials for the experiment.'" Vegeta read from a journal. "'Day Three: We have introduced the "Saiyan Prince's" sperm to the "Speed Demon's" egg.'" He was wearing his usual outfit: the sleeveless blue spandex with the white gloves and boots, only he wore a black cape over it. He skimmed over the page in disgust. "Oh, dear *Kami*, it's revolting! "They're talking about us like science projects! 'Egg is fertilized'…?" Vegeta continued skimming the pages until he caught something out of the corner of his eye. "Huh?"
Vegeta walked over to the object that had caught his attention: a tank. He ran his hand along it. "What this?" The tank had a little girl inside. She looked around the age of five and she had dark brown hair flowing in the green liquid. But for some *odd* reason she reminded him of Lita…
"Hello, Vegeta." Vegeta turned around quickly to see a man dressed in a white lab coat. "I knew you'd come around sometime. So what do you think of your daughter?"
Vegeta looked back at the tank. So that's why she looked like Lita! Vegeta looked back at the man. "Let her go!"
"I'm afraid I still have many tests to perform," The scientist told him. "The outcome of her stats should be very interesting, being the daughter of the *fastest* Saiyan and the *second* strongest Saiyan around."
"You're talking about Kakarott, aren't you?"
"Well he IS stronger, is he not?"
"Shut up!" Vegeta yelled. "One day I will surpass his strength and be King of the Universe!"
"Of course you will, Vegeta. That is…" The scientist paused. He held his hand out and pointed at the tank. "If your daughter doesn't beat you to it."
"What do you mean?" Vegeta asked, glancing at the tank with his daughter.
"Haven't you been listening?" The scientist asked. "She is the descendant from two of the *strongest* Saiyans in the universe! We called her Project Ryoku because of her unlimited power."
"I will *not* have you performing tests on my daughter!" Vegeta yelled. "And I *won't* have you naming her, or using her as a killing tool, either!"
"Then I guess you'll just have to learn the hard way." The scientist said, going into a fighting pose. Vegeta could tell this would be an easy fight.
"Ron!" Vegeta jumped up as a blast was shot at him, barely dodging it. Vegeta shot a Ki blast at Ron, sending him backwards into the control panel. The Ki went through the mad scientist's stomach, hitting the control panel. Ron reached over to pull a switch, but he was electrocuted. Vegeta shot him with another Ki and watched his blood flood onto the floor beneath the control panel. He smirked. "That was too easy. Now for you…"
Vegeta turned to the tank and put his hand against the outside. A yellow glow came from his hand, cracking the glass tank. The tank shattered and Vegeta caught the little girl as she fell forward, but he was thrown to the floor by the force of the green liquid rushing out at him. The little girl opened her eyes and blinked. She saw Ron and stared blankly at him. "You killed him…?"
"Yes." Vegeta wasn't going to lie to her.
"Who are you?" The girl asked. Vegeta smiled at her.
"I'm your father." The little girl stared at him, then passed out. Vegeta pulled his cloak off and wrapped it around her cold, naked body.
*~*~*
"Dad, what's the matter?" Adrienne asked. Vegeta held out his fist. "What-"
"Take it." Vegeta said. Adrienne opened her hand and Vegeta dropped the locket into it. "I don't think I can explain right now, but just take it."
"O……kay." Adrienne walked out of the room to put the blankets up. Vegeta swallowed as remembered Bulma's expression when he brought her home…
*~*~*
There was a knock on the door and Bulma stood up immediately. "It's about *time* you got ho- Vegeta?" Vegeta was standing outside Capsule Corp., holding something in his cloak. "What is-"
Vegeta stepped inside and Bulma closed the door. She decided to change the subject: "Vegeta, where have you been? I've been worried to *death*!"
"You're still alive." Vegeta said with a smirk.
"Not funny." Bulma said. "Now what are you holding? Don't tell me it's a dog!"
"No," Vegeta shook his head. "*Better*."
Vegeta let the cloak fall from his shoulder, revealing the little girl he had rescued earlier, who was still asleep. Bulma gasped. . "Vegeta, is she!?"
"She's still alive." Vegeta assured her. "Bulma, this is my little girl."
"But how?" Bulma asked. "Where!?"
"You remember the wife I was telling you about before we got married?"
"But, Vegeta, she died *years* ago!"
"I know," Vegeta nodded. "She was made in a tank. In a laboratory." Bulma shook her head. "Still not enough proof, eh? Well look at the resemblance!"
Bulma looked at the photo inside of Vegeta's open locket, then at the girl. Bulma shook her head. "Alright, even if she's not your daughter, I'll take care of her, anyway."
"Really?"
"Of course! You don't actually think I would send her to an adoption center or something, do you?" Vegeta smiled.
"Thank you."
*~*~*
"Now let me see…" Bulma was digging through a box of the clothes she had as a little girl. The little girl was hiding behind Vegeta's leg. Vegeta started tapping his foot.
"She's definitely got some Vegeta in her looks!" Mrs. Brief exclaimed.
"Yes," Mr. Brief nodded. "But she looks so much like her Mother it's uncanny!"
"Really?"
"Yes!"
"Let me see." Mrs. Brief took the locket from Mr. Brief and examined the picture. She looked back up at the girl and smiled. "Definitely!"
"*Here* we go!" Bulma pulled a dress out of the box and looked at the girl. "Come here, little girl." The little girl shook her head and stayed behind Vegeta's leg. "Vegeta, give her a name!"
"What?!" Vegeta yelled. "Now you want *me* to name it!?"
"Of course!" Bulma hit herself. "Your brain can't comprehend what I'm saying, can it?"
Vegeta growled. "How about Adrienne?" Mrs. Brief suggested.
"How about it?" Vegeta asked the little girl. She looked at him, then hid herself completely behind Vegeta's leg. Vegeta looked up. "Alright, we'll name her Adrienne. You and your stupid earth names…"
"Okay, come here, Adrienne!" Bulma gestured for Adrienne to come to her. Adrienne shook her head. "Come here!" Bulma crawled over to her, but Adrienne ran to Vegeta's other leg. Vegeta sighed as the two ran around him in circles. He held his foot out and stopped Adrienne. Bulma picked her up and she started crying and reaching for Vegeta. Vegeta took a step forward in concern. Bulma finally pulled the dress on over Adrienne. "There!"
Adrienne looked down at the dress. "*Yuck*!"
"We'll have to take her shopping tomorrow." Bulma stated. Vegeta crouched down and Adrienne ran into his arms. Vegeta lifted the giggling Adrienne into the air with a smile and spun her around.
"She's definitely going to be Vegeta's child." Mr. Brief said.
"Mm hm!" Mrs. Brief nodded.
"What's with all of the screaming?" Trunks was standing in the doorway, rubbing his left eye. "I'm trying to get to sleep, you know!" He spotted Adrienne, who was looking at him. "Huh?" Adrienne jumped down from Vegeta's arms and started examining Trunks. Trunks only watched her in confusion. "Um…"
"I don't think she's ever seen another child before." Vegeta whispered. Bulma nodded.
"I'm sure." Adrienne smiled and hugged him.
"What are you doing!?" Trunks seemed almost scared. Everyone in the room just laughed at him.
*~*~*
"Dad, why did you give me a locket with a picture of me?" Adrienne asked. "Although I *do* look older…"
"Never mind." Vegeta said. "Just leave the picture in there and go put a picture of your boyfriend beside it."
"Are you in your *right* mind?" Adrienne asked.
"Yes, of course I am."
"Okay! I'm gonna go get some sleep!" Adrienne ran off. Vegeta shook his head.
"Something about Trunks had to have triggered one of her memories that day," Vegeta thought. He sighed. "Because I *know* she wouldn't of warmed up to him like that. If only I knew *what*…"