Not So Quick Note: Readers, readers, readers ::LavenderGoddessV sighs deeply::  I thought since ninety-nine percent of the reviews I received for the last chapter said something to the affect of, the suspense is killing me… Make Bulma and Vegeta meet… Etc… I should address the 'reuniting' issue. Though I am not disclosing the point at which they will meet (meaning it could be anytime from this chapter to the last) but, I shall tell you all that the suspense is NECESSARY for the plot, and though the wait is painful I promise not to make it eternal. And as a sign of consideration for the torture I'm putting you all though, I am speeding my writing, so I hope to have chapters out faster (hoping) and I make the length a bit more substantial until the pair meet. I know you want them to just to meet now, but that would be boring, and I hate boring, so I hope you enjoy the extra speedy & chunkier chapters in the mean time…

Surviving Together: A New Legacy  

Chapter 7 – Planet Frost

"Euran!" Bulma screamed joyously as she was reunited with her friends after landing on Frost. "I was worried you wouldn't make it." She hugged the man tenderly. She was relieved to see him still alive.

"Me, what about you? Lyie told me what happened, are you alright?" Euran asked rather worried.

"I'm fine." Bulma forced a smile as she leaned back to look the scientist in the eyes. "Where is Lyie?"

"Here." The woman said as she joined the group hug. "I can't believe you're alright." She said as if it was too good to be true.

"I was lucky." Bulma said sadly. "Though Zarra wasn't so fortunate."

Euran went silent and tears graced Lyie's face. "I'm so sorry Bra."

"Tell that to her son." Bulma whispered as she looked at them, knowing they would be quite surprised by the statement.

"SON!" They both shouted simultaneously. "Zarra had no son!"

"Not one you ever met." A deep male voice offered as he joined the group.

"Durka?" Bulma said, pleasantly surprised.

"Hello again." He smiled as he stood next to Bulma. "It seems we're going to be seeing more of each other since my ship has been ordered to stay longer."

"Really?" Bulma asked, a little shocked. "Well that's wonderful! I mean it's wonderful for you since you can learn about your mother from those who knew her."

"Right." Euran cut in a little confused. "So you're Zarra's son, huh?"

"Yes." Durka nodded as he finally acknowledged the man. It felt good to acknowledge Zarra as his mother. Like a part of him was complete. 

"Really?" Lyie said rather flirtatiously. "Well I'm Lyie and I'm very happy to meet you." She batted her eyes hoping to get his attention.

The captain held back a blush as he turned back to Bulma. "I've been ordered by the Emperor to escort you to your new living quarters."

"Alright." Bulma nodded as she waved to her friends. "Then I'll see you guys later." Bulma smiled before she followed the man back to his ship to retrieve her son. Hating to disrupt Trunks while he slept, she had let him remain asleep on Durka's ship. Once they entered the ship, Bulma very gently picked up her son as she held him protectively in her arms. "Lets go." She whispered as she once again followed the captain back towards the grotesquely large palace.

"Why don't you just wake the boy up? He can walk." Durka asked a little surprised by the woman's tenderness.

"He's been through so much." Bulma whispered as she looked down at her precious cargo. "He deserves some sleep and I won't interrupt that."

"The Emperor would call that weakness." Durka said flatly.

Bulma let out a soft laugh. "Then the Emperor clearly isn't a parent."

"No, that he is not." Durka returned her chuckle.

"Here are your chambers." He nodded as he opened the door to their room.

Bulma smiled thankfully as she carried Trunks into a bedroom and lay him down quietly. After tucking Trunks in, she gave him a quick kiss on the forehead before heading back to the entrance where Durka stood. "He's a lucky boy." The man acknowledged, a little jealous.

"Yes." Bulma smiled as she watched her son sleep so peacefully. "Thanks to you."

"I already told you, you owe me no thanks." Durka reiterated.

"I know what you said." She stated as she looked back up at him. "It's just that your average soldier wouldn't take pity on a small boy or injured woman. You have a kind heart. I think that's something you should be proud of, and deserve acknowledgement for."

"Then I shall accept it from you." He nodded before stepping outside the door. "My room is the third door down the hall." He pointed for Bulma to see. "If you need anything, feel free."

"You better watch it, I might just take you up on that." She smiled as she stepped back inside her room. "Then I guess I'll see you around?"

Durka nodded as he turned to leave. He stopped suddenly as though he forgot something. "Bulma." He spoke softly as he whispered her name. "Would you join me tonight for dinner? So we could talk about my mother, of course." He justified, as if to prevent her from thinking the request was anything more.

"Oh, I'd love to," Bulma said sadly, "but I am to meet with Garock tonight. Perhaps tomorrow instead?"

"Tomorrow then." Durka agreed before he slowly turned and left.

Bulma watched the man's powerful figure disappear down the hall. She felt her hand shake. For a split second, the man held a striking resemblance to a monster from her past that she'd much rather forget. 

Strangely enough, her new surroundings reminded her of the cage she was forced to live in for eight months.  Eight months of Hell under Freeza's rule.  She swore she'd never suffer that kind of fear again, and never would she allow her son to be subjected to it. Yet, here she was. Living under the rule of the man that took over Freeza's empire, the same man responsible for the death of her former lover. She suddenly wondered if this was some sick cycle that would continue to repeat itself. How was she to trust the beast that now ruled anymore than she trusted Freeza?

A young voice interrupted her thought process. "Mom?" Bulma turned surprised to see her son awake. "Where am I now?" The boy yawned as he sat up in the bed.

"Our new room." Bulma explained as she sat next to him. "Nice, huh?" She said sarcastically as she looked around. It was rather dark and drafty, but size wise, it was impressive.

"Ya." Trunks chuckled. "So this is planet Frost?"

Bulma nodded sadly. "Should be interesting..."

"That it will be." A new voice entered the room. Bulma snapped her head around as she saw an older man with dark features walk towards them. "Pardon my interruption, but I am Lord Garock."

"Oh." Bulma gasped surprised as she rose to her feet. "I've been told you are to show me around."

Garock nodded. "The Emperor has asked me to see that your stay is as comfortable as possible."

"Did he?" Bulma asked sarcastically making it clear that she wasn't naive enough to fall for any of his bullshit.

"Ah. Yes." Garock coughed out. "Well I thought I would start by giving you a tour and then we could go straight to dinner where I shall explain the specifics of what is expected of you."

"Alright." Bulma nodded. Turning back to Trunks, she asked, "Want to come with us?"

"No, that's ok." Trunks forced a yawn. "I think I'd rather go back to sleep."

"Alright then." Bulma smiled as she gave him a quick kiss on the forehead. "I'll bring you back some dinner."

Trunks nodded as he lay back down to sleep as his mother quietly left with Garock. Once the door closed Trunks opened one eye to make sure they where actually gone before he jumped out of bed. He smirked as he flew up to one of the windows in the room. 'Back by dinner, ay? Well I'll just have to be back by then too.' Trunks thought deceptively as he took off to do a little touring himself.

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"You're lucky I'm so benevolent." Vegeta said with his classic smirk as he glared condescendingly down at the kneeling Durka and Aphara. "Now I may have allowed your ship to stay, but I expect your crew to utilize this opportunity wisely. I want the crew in constant training. Is that understood?"

"Yes, sir." Both soldiers said in unison.

"Then, I assume all else is taken care of?" Vegeta asked Durka. Durka knew that Vegeta was referring to the safety of the science woman.

"Yes, sir." Durka nodded. "I escorted the science woman and her son to their room. Garock arrived soon after to show her around."

"Good." Vegeta said still maintaining his holier than thou attitude. "I am ordering you to guard her in the meantime. Although I have strict policies regarding the safety of women, I wouldn't trust the soldiers on this planet. She's weak and wouldn't hold much hope of protecting herself, so I expect you to make sure she stays safe." Vegeta paused a moment as he ordered Durka to look up at him. "So that means captain, should anything happen to her prior to completing this project, you will be personally held responsible, understood?"

"Yes, sir." Durka nodded having no problem with the responsibility. "Will that be all?"

"Yes." Vegeta said coldly. "Now both of you can get out of my sight."

Aphara and Durka rose as they sauntered out of the room with their heads down, very much to the liking of Vegeta. 'Ah, nothing like scaring the shit out of people to reawaken the blood in a man.' He smirked as he headed to his training area. Having been idle for the last twenty-four hours, he was in the mood for some exercise. 


Only a handful of elite fighters were allowed to train in his facility. He was hoping to unleash some pent up anger from Cooler's cowardice actions and he knew some fighters would be ripe for a beating.  As he got near, he heard a ruckus coming from the training room.

"Look you overgrown freak, I was just looking for a place to train. All of the other facilities were filled with nothing but weaklings. I mean, not that this one is much better, you are still pretty pathetic." Trunks said, insulting the entire room.

"Why you insolent little brat! Who the hell do you think you are to challenge an elite!" The bald giant demanded.

"A what? I don't know what 'elite' means, but if your one then they are clearly a weak group of people." Trunks smirked, loving the rise he was getting out of the man.

"You've never heard of an elite? Then clearly that explains your foolishness." Nappa, mocked condescendingly. "Because anyone with a ki as weak as yours wouldn't dare challenge an elite."

"Oh?" Trunks asked innocently. "My ki might not be that impressive, but it makes yours look like nothing." Trunks snickered as he crossed his arms in a familiar pose. 


Nappa's blood began to boil and his ki began to rise. "That's enough!" Nappa hissed. "You need to be taught some manners brat!"

Trunks smirked as he strolled into the middle of the training room and glanced back at Nappa. "Do teach me." The boy challenged.

The entire room looked on in awe. The child was either incredibly stupid or hiding an insanely large amount of energy; everyone assumed the first. "You arrogant weakling!" Nappa screamed as he walked out into the training area and crossed his arms. Nappa decided he was going to have fun beating the boy senseless. "To attack you would be too simple. Why don't you attempt the first attack? Then you will see how foolish you were to challenge me!"

Trunks rubbed his chin a moment, as if in deep thought. "I don't think that's going to work. You see if I attack you first then the battle will be over too quickly, so I think you should attack me first. In fact…" Trunks smirked as he watched the guard go a rare shade of red. "I'll even turn my back, that might help you."
 
The entire group laughed uncontrollably as they watched the child demean Nappa. "Enough with your insults, boy! How dare you talk like that to an elite!" Nappa lunged at Trunks, hitting nothing but air. "What the--" He felt a tap on his shoulder and then turned around to see Trunks' fist punch him in the face. The punch sent him flying across the room and slammed him into a wall. The entire room was silenced into shock as they tried to figure out how the boy flattened Nappa with an effortless punch.

"Where did this kid come from?" One of the men in the crowd asked as he looked on in shock.

"Where indeed." Vegeta echoed as he strutted into the room. The entire group dropped to their knees in respect.   

Trunks rolled his eyes as the group bowed down to the short man. 'Not this guy again.' He thought not wanting to deal with "Mr. Arrogant" again.   

"You." Vegeta nodded to a man standing by the defeated Saiya-jin. "Take the fool to a regeneration tank." Glancing back towards the group, he ordered, "Everyone out." The soldiers couldn't run fast enough.  


Trunks watched a little dumbfounded as the men rushed out of the room. Turning to the man, he asked, "Why do they cower like that?"


"If you possessed power as I do, they would cower to you as well." Vegeta smirked proudly.

"Right." Trunks found himself rolling his eyes again. "Well now that I'm finished here I think I'll be..."

"Not so fast." Vegeta stood in front of the boy. "How did you do that?"

"Do what? You mean take out that ogre?" Trunks smirked as he stood proudly before the Emperor. 


"Ogre? You mean Nappa?" Vegeta asked wanting to get to the real issue. "And how was it exactly you managed to defeat him so effortlessly?"

"I punched." Trunks stated the obvious.

Vegeta began to laugh as the boy's arrogant manner reminded him of his younger self. "You punched, ay?" He repeated as he eyed the boy suspiciously. "What species are you?"

"I'm from Merigh, you already know that." Trunks said annoyed by such a stupid question.

"I didn't ask what planet you're from." Vegeta brushed off the boy's smart remark. "I asked your species."

Trunks looked at the man as if he had lost his mind. "What do you mean? I just told you I was from Merigh, so logic would tell you that I am Merighian."

Vegeta frowned at the boy's evasiveness. "You did, but a five year old Merighian child could never take out an elite with one punch."

"FIVE!" Trunks growled as his crossed his arms over his chest trying to control his temper. "Look Mister, I don't know what to tell you. I was born on Merigh. I have lived and trained there all my life. I don't know why you are so suspicious of me."   

Vegeta knew something wasn't right with the boy's story but his curiosity was focused on the boy's strength. "Fine, then lets talk about your training for a minute. Exactly what is your strength level? Nappa might have gotten lazy over the years but his power is still significantly high, at least fifteen thousand. So that makes you…sixteen, seventeen?"


Confused, Trunks asked, "What do those numbers mean?"

Vegeta shook his head. It seemed as though the boy's power had been improperly bestowed upon him. "Lets try something simple, punch me."

Trunks raised an eyebrow. "You want me to fight you? Why?"

"Because I want to test your strength." Vegeta said rather curious.

"No." Trunks shook his head as he turned to leave. Before he could get very far, Vegeta blocked his path. "Where do you think you're going?" Vegeta was shocked that the boy would have the audacity to walk away him…twice!

"Look." Trunks crossed his arms and scowled. "I don't know why you find the fact that I beat that weakling up so impressive but I told my mother I wouldn't leave our room. So, if she comes back to find me beaten up then she's going to know I was out. So if you don't mind, I've got to go."

Vegeta looked curiously at the boy. "You can sense my power?"

"Yes." Trunks nodded. "You're not suppressing any of it in this state and I sense that you can transform."

As the boy spoke, Vegeta couldn't help being intrigued. "How can you sense such a thing without a scouter?"

"My mother taught me to control my ki." Trunks shrugged. "The Merighian people are peaceful and if I flaunted my power like you do, I could accidentally kill someone."

Vegeta felt another smirk grace his features as he crossed his arms. "Are you claiming that you can raise and lower your ki without transforming?"

"Yes." Trunks nodded. "How have you managed not to? I mean, you could break an arm with a hand shake."

"I'd never keep someone who couldn't handle a simple handshake." Vegeta said rather smugly.

"Really?" Trunks glared. "Then I guess you don't have many friends because I haven't met many people that strong."

Vegeta frowned at the insult but remained stoic. "If you're stating the truth then show me. Raise your ki."

Trunks rolled his eyes as he lowered his arms. "Fine, then can I go?"

"Just do it." Vegeta impatiently demanded.

The half Saiya-jin shrugged as he stood in a fighting stance and clenched his fists. He began focusing his energy and gradually raising his ki.

At first, Vegeta was not particularly impressed but as the child focused harder his strength began to skyrocket. Soon, Vegeta could feel the ground shaking as the training equipment and mats in the room started to fall to the floor. The ground began to split apart with the force of Trunks' energy. Vegeta watched in awe. He couldn't understand how a boy from Merigh could get this powerful.

Trunks stopped raising his ki when he felt the roof began to crack.  He took a deep breath before he spoke. "That's about half of my power." Vegeta almost fell over in shock. The child was stronger than he was at that age. "Come here, boy." Vegeta crossed his arms with a scowl on his face.

"My name is Trunks, not boy." He narrowed his eyes.

Vegeta ignored the boy's comment as he removed his cape. "I assume you know how to fight?"

"Yes." Trunks nodded. "But I'm not fighting you. If you beat the crap out of me my mom will kill me when I get to our room."

"That's why we have regeneration tanks." Vegeta pointed to the room where Nappa was healing.   

"Oh, right." Trunks nodded a little embarrassed he hadn't thought of it. "Well, I suppose if you promise not to kill me."

"I don't make promises, boy, but we'll see…" Vegeta smirked as he lunged at the boy. Trunks managed to dodge the attack and flip over the man's head and swing around, kicking him in the back. Vegeta groaned as he felt the pain from the boy's kick. Angered, he swung back around. His fist made contact with the child's face sending him flying across the room. Vegeta crossed his arms and watched rather impressed as the boy quickly got back on his feet. 'Perhaps this boy might be worthy of being my pupil. I suppose someone deserves to learn from my vast knowledge.' Vegeta smirked arrogantly.

Unfortunately, as Vegeta was stroking his ego, Trunks dematerialized and rematerialized in front of Vegeta using the same move to knock him across the room. The Emperor immediately rose back up and began to laugh. This is going to be fun, Vegeta thought. 

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Author's Note: Awe… Father and son bonding time, you have to love it! Ok, so next up we find out how the match between the Saiya-jin and Half Saiya-jin went, and how well Nappa fared in recovery. Then we have Garock and Bulma dinning together, and an interesting conversation comes about. Who or what is the focus of this conversation? You'll have to wait and see in the next chapter...