Surviving Together: A New Legacy  

Chapter 9 – Mesmerized By Who's Ass?

"About time boy." Vegeta snarled as Trunks arrived half an hour later than expected.

"So sorry." Trunks rolled his eyes sarcastically. "I wanted to make sure my Mom got to work alright, next time I'll try to be more considerate."

"See to that." Vegeta smirked at the boy as they were joined by a group of soldiers.

"Durka!" Trunks smiled as he found the warrior among them.

"Trunks?" Durka stepped forward rather troubled to see the boy in the training arena. "What are you doing here?"

"I am training the boy." Vegeta explained as he interrupted the exchange.

"Yes, sir." Durka said hastily, knowing he should keep his mouth shut.

Trunks was surprised to watch Durka back down so quickly. He wondered why Durka feared the spiky-haired guy. Especially when Durka's own ki wasn't that much lower, at least before he transformed. "Um, am I training with all of them?" Trunks asked the short man, whose name he still did not know.

Ignoring Trunks' question, Vegeta turned to address the twenty-crew members. "You should feel grateful that I am allowing weaklings like yourselves to take advantage of my facilities. You will be here for a few weeks so you had better not waste your time. Is that understood?"

There was a collective nod, as three men entered the room. The first was Nappa looking as arrogant as ever, the second was a seven-foot barbarian man who had orange skin and a yellow Mohawk, and the third was a midget-sized creature with a fishlike appearance. "Allow me to introduce Nappa, Jarvice, and Ercha. Ercha and Jarvice will begin the instruction and for those who survive the day will receive training from Nappa." Vegeta chuckled. "Though I don't expect any of you to make it that far."

Trying to hide his resentment, Durka began to grind his teeth.  He mumbled beneath his breath, 'We'll see about that.'

"Then lets begin." Before taking the center of the arena, Jarvice bowed in front of Vegeta. "We will start with simple sparing matches to warm up." Jarvice began instruction as Vegeta, Nappa and Trunks moved off to the side of the arena.

Trunks levitated so that he could be eye level with Vegeta.  Hitting Vegeta's shoulder he hissed, "Hey buddy…when the hell will I get to fight?"

Vegeta growled. How dare the boy hit him! He grabbed Trunks by the arm and slammed him back to his feet. "I want you to watch them fight, now do as I say and stop pestering me!"

Trunks growled at the older man as he levitated back up into the air and crossed his legs in a meditating position. He figured he'd humor the man for now and kick his ass later.

"Partner up." Jarvice ordered as Aphara and Durka paired up along with the rest of the crew. "Now attack!" Ercha called as the fighting began.

Most of the crew was unconscious after only a short period except for Aphara and Durka. They went after each other awfully hard. They were almost evenly matched. "Not bad Aphara, but you won't be able to keep up this intensity much longer."

"You're breathing pretty heavily yourself captain." Aphara smirked as she managed to land a punch right in the center of his chest. Durka responded by twisting her around and bracing one arm around her neck and the other around her waist. "Tell me Aphara" he started as he pressed her tightly against his chest, "what's with the impassioned fight? Are you trying to impress me, or someone shorter?" Both sets of eyes glanced towards the Saiya-jins.

"Jealous?" She asked snidely as she failed to elbow him in the stomach.

Durka genuinely laughed. "Hardly. I just think you're wasting your time."

"Oh? And why would that be?" The warrior purred as she got the captain right where she wanted him.

"I hear he prefers men." Durka whispered. Aphara growled with anger and broke free of the captain's hold. She somehow managed to capture him in the same hold he had just used on her.

"That's not funny Durka!" Aphara refused to believe that Durka's statement might be true.  

"Just repeating what the buzz is around the ship." He chuckled as he grabbed her arm. "It seems the star of your wet dreams has NEVER been seen in the company of a woman."

"Maybe he just hasn't met the right woman." Aphara justified as she tightened her hold on the captain. "Why else would he keep watching us so intently? He's clearly mesmerized by my amazing ass."

"Maybe." Durka smirked as he elbowed Aphara in the stomach and then swept her feet out from under her. He pinned her to the ground as he finished his thought. "But more likely he's mesmerized by my amazing ass."

"AHAHAH!" Aphara hissed.  She was angry at Durka for making her lose concentration and the match but most of all, she was angry because she couldn't imagine losing the man she lusted over to another…ahem…man. 

"Not bad." Jarvice nodded as the pair rose from the ground. "Now let's see how you fair with a greater challenge… Ercha!" The warrior invited the smaller man to join them. "You fight the woman; I will fight the captain." The warrior looked at Aphara with certain disgust.

"The woman?" Aphara snarled under her breath as she listened to the demeaning tone he used in addressing her. She then charged at the small man, though much preferring to take out the larger one. Durka followed suit as he attacked Jarvice.

"Ya Durka!" Trunks cheered as he watched the man fight. He'd only known Durka for a few days but he saved his mother and he was Zarra's son so he had to root for him.

Vegeta watched the display with anger. "This isn't a game boy!"  He had no idea why Trunks' cheering irritated him.   

Trunks halted his cheering before glaring back up at his father. "Oh? Well it sure seems like one. I'm learning nothing from watching them fight other than the fact that Durka and that bitchy lady seem to be the backbone of their crew. The rest wouldn't survive a day without them."

Vegeta smirked. "You noticed that in just a few sparing matches?"

"I'm not as naive as you may think! I may not be an adult, but I'm not some foolish little kid who doesn't know the way of the world. I've been trained for as long as I can remember. I have battle skills and savvy. I'm more than ready to take on a real challenge." Trunks argued.

"That's a mighty large assumption coming from a boy who has been raised by a woman all his life."

Trunks eyes widened. "How…How did you know that?"

"You proved it. Your weak, sentimental heart gives it away." Vegeta covered up expertly.

"How dare you!" Trunks almost screamed as his protest captured the attention of the entire room, even stopping Durka and Aphara in midair.  "My mother is an amazing woman, not a weakness! She didn't raise me to be weak; she's raised me to be strong! If it weren't for her I wouldn't know how to fight! I wouldn't know how to sense ki, and I sure as hell wouldn't have been able to fight Cooler! You think I'm so weak? Well tell me, how stronger were you as a boy? Could you form a ki blast strong enough to send Cooler through a wall? Is that weak? Is taking a blast or a punch to protect someone else weak? Tell me mister, have you ever willingly suffered pain in order to protect another? Did that make you feel weak!?"

"No." Vegeta said boldly, much to the shock of the room. He allowed a smile to cross his lips. The boy was right. He wouldn't be a Super Saiya-jin if it wasn't for his 'weakness'. He hadn't reached his full potential until he met her. It was only when his heart began to feel that his power level increased. No wonder the boy was so strong. If he had been given that opportunity in his youth, who knows the kind of power he might wield today. The boy, even at his young age, already realized what took him almost twenty years to figure out. The child was truly worthy of his presence.

Meanwhile, Trunks tried to stop himself from falling over. "Did you just agree with me?"

"Nappa." Vegeta turned to the bald, angry man. "See they finish their training."

"Yes, sir." Nappa nodded as he strolled over to Jarvice. Nappa felt more anger than surprise by the man's admission. He knew exactly whom the Emperor was talking about since Vegeta had only stuck his neck out for one other living soul in all his life. He wasn't sure if it was envy or jealousy that made him so furious, either way; it made him want to kill something.

After Nappa left the pair, Vegeta ordered Trunks to follow.  "Boy, come with me."

Trunks followed without protest, he was curious as hell to know what completely changed the man's demeanor.

The pair walked into a private training room about two doors down. "Alright, do I actually get to fight this time?" Trunks asked as he started to stretch.

"That won't be necessary." Vegeta stopped him. "I've haven't brought you here to spar."

Trunks raised an eyebrow. "Are we watching more matches or something?"

"No, I…" Vegeta paused a moment trying to suppress his pride enough to complete the demand. "I want you to teach me how to control and read ki as you do."

Trunks smiled childishly. "You mean you want me to train you?"

"You know what I want, now show me!" Vegeta glared at the boy.

"Ok, Ok." Trunks gulped as he realized that Vegeta was truly angered. "I'll try to teach you but I think it might be easier if you just ask my Mom, she's much better at teaching this than I am."

Vegeta growled. It was bad enough he had to ask a child for help, but at least the child had a respectable ki. Being trained by a pathetic Merigh woman would be even more shameful. "Just show me."

"Fine." Trunks stroked his chin as he tried to figure out the best way to teach the proud man.

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"Not bad." Nappa smirked as he watched the weak group get back to their feet. By lunchtime, Durka's crew was all but beaten by Jarvice and Ercha. However, Durka was still standing proudly ready to take on Nappa.  He couldn't wait to get his hands on him after his arrogant display earlier. "We break for lunch." Nappa ordered before the man had a chance to attack. "I'll finish you immediately after." Nappa said assuredly as he and the others left.

"Asshole." Durka growled as he walked over to help Aphara to her feet.

"Tell me about it." She hissed as she brushed herself off. "Lets go eat."

"Wait a sec, I want to stop by the science lab first." Durka walked in front of her towards the lab.

"You have got to be kidding! You actually want that annoying woman to come with us?"

"Jealous?" Durka smirked as he glanced at the scowling woman.

"Hardly, I just think you're making a mistake!" She protested in the same snide tone he used with her earlier.

Durka began to laugh. "She has a son so don't try telling me she's a lesbian."

"Ha, ha!" Aphara 'laughed' forcedly. "But I know her type, bitch through and through."

"I thought that was your type?" Durka shot back quickly before he entered the science lab and eyed the blue beauty.

He broke from Aphara and walked over to her desk. His intended to 'surprise' her by covering her eyes, but much to his shock he received an elbow in the stomach for the attempt. "Durka!" Bulma turned around to see the man bending forward. "Oh, I'm so sorry, you just startled me." She tried to hide a laugh but failed miserably.  The situation was definitely more comical than tragic.

"Thanks a lot." Durka coughed as he slowly stood up. "I came to ask you to lunch and I get elbowed for my trouble."

"I'm really sorry." She reiterated. "It's just been one of those days."

"What do you mean? Has someone tried to--"

"No, nothing like that. It's just that I've had thirty-two proposals in the last seven hours, and none of them were marriage." Bulma sighed deeply trying to shake off her headache. 

"I can't see why. You're awfully plain if you ask me. But then again some men on this planet are really hard up." The raven-haired woman added as she came over to join the exchange.

"Oh, Aphara it's always a pleasure to see you. Have you come to spit fire or spew venom this time?" Bulma asked as she rolled her eyes at the woman.

"Lunch Durka." Aphara ordered as she ignored the scientists comment.

"Right, I was hoping you'd join us." The man offered politely.

"Sure." Bulma smiled warmly. "I could use the break." The three proceeded to the dinning area where they found one empty table. After placing their orders, they waited and exchanged mild banter about their day. Bulma and Aphara exchanged snide remarks every few minutes but the conversation was mild until a certain half Saiya-jin was mentioned.

"After lunch, I should check on Trunks.  I want to make sure he's adjusting to his new surroundings." Bulma casually mentioned as their food arrived.

"I'm sure he's fine. If the Emperor is taking the time to train him then I'm sure he wouldn't want any harm coming to h--"

"What!? Who is training my son?" Bulma cut him off as her eyes widened.

"Didn't you know?" Aphara smirked evilly. "And you call yourself a mother!"

"Relax." Durka placed an assuring hand on her shoulder. "You're son is fine. The kid yelled at the Emperor right in front of us and he didn't do anything about it. I think he's impressed by the boy."

"Well, I don't give a damn what he thinks of my son, he will not train him!" Bulma shot back furiously.  She started to rise from her seat.

"Bulma." Durka tried to calm her by speaking softly.

"Who is Bulma?" Aphara interrupted, confused since she had only heard the woman referred to as Bra.

Durka ignored the question as he nodded for Bulma to sit. "Look, I highly suggest you reconsider confronting the Emperor until you speak with your son."

Bulma sighed as she slowly sat back down. Causing a scene right now would accomplish nothing. "Fine."

"Hmph, most mothers would jump at the chance to have their little brats trained by a man like the Emperor."

"Oh yes Aphara, every mother would want to see her son trained by some psychopath who can make some of the most feared men in the universe piss in their pants!"

"Captain Durka." A small man interrupted the trio. "We've been ordered back to the training arena."

"It's only been half an hour! We just got our food!" Aphara protested.

"Well the bald guy is ready to beat something." The man gasped out before rushing out of the dinning area.

"Great." Durka growled as he picked up the rest of his food. "I guess we'd better go."

"Had to bring the science woman!" Aphara growled under her breath.

"You owe me dinner, remember?" Durka confirmed as he looked down at the still frazzled mother.

"I'll meet you tonight." Bulma nodded in agreement. 

"Oh come on, I'm going to lose what little lunch I ate!" The angry warrior barked before she and the captain rushed back to the training area.

'So much for lunch.' Bulma frowned. She lost her appetite when she heard her son was being trained by the Emperor.

Bulma couldn't help getting a sick visual at the thought. She could still here Zarra telling her of when Freeza decided to take a certain eight-year-old boy under his wing. The thought was too terrible; she had to stop it immediately. She rose from her seat and headed out of the dinning area in search of her son's ki. She headed to the most obvious place, their chambers. She kept hoping to find him in his room but, unfortunately, she found it empty. She decided the next logical place would be to search the training area. However she didn't get very far when she felt a rough hand cover her mouth as an arm wrapped around her waist, slamming her body roughly against a hard chest.

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Author's Note: Hmmmm???????? Who could it be? Well in the next chapter Durka and Aphara head back to their matches. You'll find out how well Trunks teaches his dad to control his ki. Oh, and I suppose you might find out who grabbed Bulma! All in the next chapter.