The Deception--Ch 12
By Elbereth in April
"Zarbon!" Ginyu shouted. "How could he saddle us with that pink freak?"
"Well, he is strong. Stronger than Guldo," Recoome said.
"That's not the point," Burter hissed. "Frieza will use him to report on us."
"Well. . . it's not like we're up to anything."
"That's not the point either."
Recoome frowned. "So what *is* the point?"
"The point," Ginyu interrupted, "is that he's not really one of us. He can't even pose. And I wanted to pick Rye. I should have been able to pick."
"He killed Rye," Burter said sadly.
"We know!"
"Well, there's nothing we can do about it. Master Frieza is our employer," Recoome reminded them.
"So we just have to put up with Zarbon, I guess," Burter sighed.
"Maybe we could discredit him."
"How?"
"Set him up to fail at something."
"What?"
"Our next mission."
"Which is?"
". . .We don't actually have one lined up in the near future."
Recoome and Burter looked at each other.
"Oh."
"Let's just jump him," Recoome suggested.
"We can't do that! Frieza would be angry."
"Well, if you can come up with something, Captain, let us know. We're gonna spar." They went to the far side of the room and did just that while Ginyu fretted.
'Somebody tried to blow us all up. Somebody killed Guldo. Now Frieza insults us with Zarbon. I don't know who is behind all this, but they will pay.'
___________ __________
Vegeta hesitated outside the door of Bulma's science lab. He couldn't deny he was attracted to her, but he was not about to ruin his plans and throw away his Royal heritage for some alien, no matter how pretty.
So he didn't understand why, after he strengthened his resolve and shut off his emotions and opened the door, why the very sight of her gave him warm goosebumps and butterflies and other strange feelings.
She looked over at him. She was holding what appeared to be armor. "Hey," she said, still slightly annoyed at the way he'd run out last time.
"Hey," he returned. "What's that?"
"I think I've discovered a way to make your armor stronger--better able to withstand attacks. I'm experimenting."
He nodded. She had moved in too close again but if he backed away it would look like he was afraid of her. "So. . . um, I have another mission for you, Woman."
"What?"
"There's a nurse named Lorimaya. She's Zarbon's girlfriend."
"And?" She put her hand on his chest. He started to sweat.
"And. . . I need you to cozy up to her and see how loyal she is to Frieza."
Now her other hand was at his waist.
"Why?"
His mind was getting fuzzy. "Because. . . because. . . we want to use her to influence Zarbon. He's almost on our side, but he's too afraid of Frieza. He just needs a little. . . push. . ."
Her hand was running along his tail. His eyelids drooped. "Woman, what are you doing?"
"I just wanted to know if it was as soft as it looked."
She kept stroking his tail, noticing how it made him tremble. She suppressed a triumphant smirk.
"Woman. . ." he breathed softly. She leaned forward and kissed his lips. His arms went around her. He ran a hand through her hair, marveling at the color. She kissed him again, a little more aggressively. "Vegeta," she whispered in his ear.
'Vegeta. My name is Vegeta. I am the Prince of all Saiyans. I should *not* be doing this. It is weak.' He started to push her away. "Woman. . ."
"It's Bulma. Try saying it," she teased, licking his ear.
If she just wasn't caressing his tail in that. . . marvelous way. . . he'd never let anybody touch it before. He took a shaky breath. "I need to go. . ."
She stopped. She stepped away. "If you really don't want to do this, Vegeta, I'm not going to make you. I'm not some seductress." She pouted, sticking her bottom lip out in a cute and tantalizing way. He stared at in longing.
"I'd just--hate to damage our professional relationship. . ."
"Whatever. I'll talk to that girl. Now I should get back to my work." She walked away and faced her work table. He stared at her back.
'Why do I feel so deeply?' This wasn't just physical. It was almost like a soul-bond. The very first time he'd seen her he'd felt it. He'd tried to pretend otherwise, but now that she was taking matters into her own hands, he wasn't sure what to do. Should he keep denying? Or should he give into this. . . emotion? 'Tangerine, I'm going soft! Trusting her, trusting Kakkarot. . .'
He would marry whoever the Queen dictated, if he married while a prince. Once he was King, he would still have to marry according to what would best serve and further the Saiyan Empire. He didn't see how a blue-haired alien could. . . although they could use her technology. . . but how would the public react to a non-Saiyan?
Why was he thinking about marriage anyway? That wasn't what she was asking. Not yet. If it came to that, he'd deal with it later. In the meantime, he couldn't afford to alienate her. Besides. . . '*Can* one fight a soul- bond?'
"Work," he heard himself say. "Hn. Forget that. You know you want me."
She spun around. He was grinning at her. And her arms were around him again and he was kissing her. "I knew you couldn't resist me, Vegeta."
He smirked. "Woman."
__________ ___________
Sekot was in his room with three of his followers: Ryok, Rabin, and Thenesen. "They're up to something," he growled. "I don't know what. But why would Frieza think I was plotting with the Ginyu Force to blow him up if *they* hadn't put the idea in his head?"
"You don't know it was them, though," Thenesen pointed out uncomfortably.
"Well from now on, I want all of you to be watching them. We *will* find out what's going on."
__________ ____________
"Vegeta, what are you smiling about?"
"I'm not smiling, baka. Now quit blocking the hallway, I want to get to my room and take a shower."
Kakkarot didn't move. "You *were* smiling, big brother."
"Kakkarot. . ."
"It's that Woman, isn't it?" Kakkarot was bouncing up and down excitedly, grinning like a fool.
"I don't know what you're talking about." Vegeta shoved his way past him and walked quickly towards his room. Kakkarot followed.
"Vegeta and the Woman, sitting in a tree. K-I-S-S-I-N-G!"
"What? What sort of lame, childish song is that?"
"First comes love, then comes marriage. . ."
"If you don't shut up, I am going to break your jaw!"
Kakkarot stopped, but only because he was laughing too hard to finish. Vegeta scowled at him, really annoyed.
Traigo and Nappa came out of Traigo's room and stared at them. Kakkarot was almost doubled-over and slightly hysterical, Vegeta was clenching and unclenching his fists and looking like he was about to throttle his brother.
"OK, what's up?" Traigo demanded, smiling.
"Vegeta--Vegeta is. . ."
"I swear, Kakkarot, if you dare tell anybody you think that I'm in love-- I'll never speak to you again."
Kakkarot sobered and looked up at him. He meant it. He gulped back his laughter and straightened. "Um, never mind."
Vegeta stormed into his room. Kakkarot decided he'd better go hide in his for awhile. He didn't know where he'd picked that rhyme up from, but it'd sure made his brother mad. He chuckled.
"I know you're still thinking it!" Vegeta thundered in his mind.
Kakkarot burst out laughing again.
___________ _________
Lorimaya was taking a break from her nursing duties in a small room near the med center. She was filing her nails and reading a romance novel.
Bulma walked in and sat at her table. "Oh, what a lovely shade of nail polish!"
"Thank you. I love your hair. Is it natural?"
"Of course! Say. . . you're Zarbon's girl, aren't you?"
Lori blushed slightly. "Yes."
"Is that a good book?"
"Oh yes! It's about a woman whose true love fell overboard off an ocean liner and lost his memory and they were separated. She thought he died but years later they meet again!"
Bulma smiled. "True love is so cool. Do you believe you have one person you're destined for?"
"Yes."
"Are you and Zarbon in love?"
Lori giggled and looked at her nails. "Well, yes."
"I wish there was a way to know for sure if you were in love--and if that guy was *the* one!" Bulma sounded so frustrated that Lori blinked and closed her book. She became serious; she was a nurse because she liked helping people. "Are you having man problems?"
Bulma sighed, eyes misting. "It's just that he's so different from what I thought my ideal guy was. And so different from any other guy I've known! I don't know how to take him. I don't know what to think."
Lori sighed too. "All men are strange, you know that. But warriors are a *really* strange breed. Let me guess. You're one of Frieza's captives, right? Me, too. This is a weird place. It does weird things to people-- especially men, who have trouble with emotions anyway. They have to hold back a part of themselves to live here. The real part, that they don't want Frieza to see--or break. If we could get away from him, then we and our men could truly be free. Then we'd see what our men were really like inside."
Now it was Bulma's turn to blink. This girl was more insightful and intelligent than she seemed. Bulma smiled, then frowned. "It doesn't look like we'll be free any time soon."
Lori looked at her hands again. "No," she murmured.
"What I'd give if we could be!"
"Me, too!" Lori cried.
Bulma leaned forward as Lori met her eyes. "You mean that?"
________ _________
It was three in the morning when Kakkarot heard a pounding on his door. Afraid something was wrong, he rushed to open it.
"Did you and Vegeta put my girl up to this? Lori wants me to join 'the Saiyan Faction' to overthrow Frieza!" Zarbon hissed at him, whispering so no one could overhear.
Kakkarot stared at him. Zarbon flung up his hands and went to knock on Vegeta's door. "Wake up, brother. Zarbon wants to talk to us."
Vegeta opened his door, wide awake. "Don't stand in the hall. Both of you come in." They did.
The Saiyans sat on the bed while Zarbon paced. "What is a Saiyan faction? Are you crazy? What do you think you're doing, playing around with Frieza? And advertising it! And how did you get my girl involved in all this?"
"We could beat him, Zarbon," Vegeta stated, quietly but intensely. Zarbon stopped pacing and looked in his eyes. That fire that always burned there was stronger than ever, a wild unstoppable blaze. You couldn't scoff at a fire that could over-run you like that.
"Think about it," Kakkarot said. His eyes were clear and pure, with an idealistic vision and drive that seemed to burn you to ashes almost as quickly as Vegeta's raging fire.
"He'll kill you. He'll kill us all."
"We have a plan. We *will* beat him." Vegeta stood up and faced him. Zarbon couldn't look away from those eyes.
"The Saiyan faction, as you put it, is working together to overthrow him. We're starting with the Ginyu Force."
Zarbon's mouth fell open. "That's all been you?"
"Throw your lot in with us Zarbon. We're going to take him down."
"Can I trust you?"
"Yes. Can we trust you?"
"Yes. I won't cave under pressure. But to actively work against him. . ."
"He'll kill us all eventually anyway, Zarbon," Kakkarot said. "Or if not, we'll stay alive. Like this. Til we're old. Can you stand it that long? Is this really life?"
"That's sort of what Lori said."
"She's smart. And she's brave," Vegeta said.
"So am I!"
"Then what's holding you back?"
Zarbon thought about it, and realized he'd made up his mind before he'd come knocking. "Nothing. Let's take him down. What do you need from me?"
____________ __________
"What's this?" Zarbon asked Lori later that day.
"It's a bug. They want you to bug the throne room."
"Where did you get it?"
"My new friend. One of Frieza's scientists." She wiggled her eyebrows suggestively. "Vegeta's love interest."
"No way!" Zarbon shook his head, eyes widening, then he grinned. "Who?"
She laughed. "Brains!"
"What?" He looked confused.
"It's a little joke we have. A woman needs brains and beauty. She's Brains and I'm Beauty." She frowned. "It sounds weird now that I try to explain it to someone. . ."
Zarbon laughed.
___________ ___________
"So how do we stand, Vegeta?" Vanyar asked. They had just gotten done with a group training session and now they were holding a planning meeting.
"Zarbon planted the bug in the throne room this morning," Vegeta told them. "Everything it picks up gets transmitted back to the Woman and recorded. She'll let us know if anything particularly interesting crops up."
"I crossed some wires in Dodoria's space pod," Vegan reported. "I'm sorry to say he crash-landed this afternoon on Planet Ponah and is stuck there."
"Any injuries?"
"Bashed his head a bit, but nothing fatal, I'm afraid."
"Sekot is trying to spy on us, so be careful," Kwil advised.
"Zarbon and I will both be doing our best to put more seeds of doubt against the Ginyu Force in Frieza's mind," said Kakkarot. "He'll make a move soon. You know he's not very tolerant of rebellion."
"Really?" Traigo laughed sarcastically.
"In fact," Kakkarot continued, "the Woman has inserted an interesting little computer file into the mainframe, apparently written by Captain Ginyu. It has some fairly treasonous record logs and other lies in it, guaranteed to make Frieza awfully mad."
"That lady is a genius," Vegan sighed.
Vegeta eyed him and Kakkarot laughed. "Careful Vegan," he said. "Vegeta's got first dibs."
"Kakkarot, shut up!" Vegeta hit him on the arm, none too lightly.
"What's this?" Traigo demanded, everyone perking up and sensing a secret.
Kakkarot successfully kept himself from laughing by keeping his eyes on the ground. "Nothing."
"Nothing!" Vegeta reiterated forcefully, glaring at them all.
"Methinks he protests too much," Nappa smirked. They were all smirking, Vegeta noticed with mounting fury.
There was a knock on the training room door. They all sobered and went silent. Vegeta motioned for Capran to go unlock it while they got back into fighting poses.
It was Zarbon. They all relaxed back down. "I'm delivering a message from Frieza," Zarbon announced with distaste. "Kakkarot, you're going purging tomorrow."
Kakkarot frowned. "With Vegeta?"
"No. With Murdin and Lishing."
"Oh, you'll have a great time with those two traitors. Be careful what you say around them," said Valkan.
"Kakkarot, you hesitate in front of them and you're dead," Vegeta told him with real alarm.
"I won't." Kakkarot sighed. "OK, whatever."
Zarbon turned to go. "Wait, Zarbon!" Traigo stopped him. "What do you know about the lady scientist?"
Zarbon looked at them. Everyone was grinning except Vegeta, who was advancing on Traigo with a scowl. "Lady Brains? I've never met her--but I hear she's hot on Vegeta!" He laughed and ran out the door.
Kakkarot started dancing in a ring around Vegeta. "Vegeta and the Woman sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S. . ."
Sparring was inevitable after that.
___________ __________
Vegeta went back to his room before supper to tape his wrist and wash his bloody lip. He took great satisfaction in knowing that everyone else was much more beaten up than him (mostly by him), and in fact Traigo and Vegan wouldn't be out of their rejuv tanks for several hours yet. Of course, he'd only managed to bruise Kakkarot.
It was infuriating that he still couldn't beat Kakkarot in a fight, and yet the sting wasn't there anymore. Besides, he really didn't want to hurt him. He sighed, counting it a weakness.
He was worried about him purging tomorrow. If Kakkarot had trouble killing people, those Saiyan lackeys would tell Frieza. Kakkarot was a valuable spy now, though, and probably safe. He hoped. He'd instructed Kakkarot to bring up the Ginyu computer file after the purge if Frieza seemed to be mad at him. That should change the tyrant's mind. Otherwise, they'd let Zarbon bring it up. At least they had the throne room bugged now. Vegeta could listen in and give instructions if need be.
'We're getting so close to the end.' But they still didn't have a chance to beat Frieza. If only he could turn Super Saiyan! Then he could show his brother how and they could kill Frieza!
'I called him my brother again.' He sat down in his chair and stared at the picture of Frieza on his wall. The one in every Saiyan chamber that they weren't allowed to take down.
He would have to come to a decision about Kakkarot. And Bulma, too. They were inside his heart now. He'd never meant for it to happen, but he had to admit that it had. He was a complete baka for letting it happen but now he just had to face the consequences.
'I am vulnerable.' That was why emotions made one weak, he knew. And it scared him. He had to focus entirely on defeating Frieza and winning back his throne. He'd promised his mother when he was six years old and his whole life had been aimed for it. To restore his family's pride and his father's honor. To re-establish himself and his mother in power and luxury. 'Did she mention luxury? It seems like she did, but she was probably bitter at the time. I'm sure luxury wasn't a serious goal.' He realized he was forgetting some of the things she had taught him. He couldn't let that happen.
'Have I been believing the lies Frieza told me in place of what my mother taught me? Did she ever tell me emotions were weak or was that something I picked up here?' Suddenly he felt overwhelmed by feelings and memories. Everything was growing confused just when he thought it was coming right. What did he feel? What did he believe?
He had learned when he first arrived that if he let Frieza know who he cared about, he was sure to kill them. And with people dropping on all sides, it had seemed better to distance himself. But now he was going to have to readjust his thinking. His mother had admitted her emotions--her passion to succeed, her love for her family and her people. So now he had admitted his feelings to himself. But to actually tell *them*? How would that help, anyway?
'Kakkarott--I owe you. I know I'm using you, but I'll reward you for it later. And meanwhile, I'll look out for you. I feel responsible for you somehow, anyway.' But did he owe him the truth? Did he owe him--love?
Hn. Not if he kept on with that ridiculous rhyme. . .
As for Bulma--he'd just have to wait and see. The secret of their relationship was out amongst the group now. As long as it didn't reach Frieza, there was no real harm. If they stayed together, he could even talk to the Queen about the benefits of marrying her for her technology. 'If she loves me. If we do have a soul-bond.'
And if Frieza killed either of them--if Bulma decided she didn't love him-- if Kakkarot found out the truth and turned against him (which of course he would, if he knew the truth)--what would he do then?
'What would I do? Hn. Emotions make you vulnerable.'
By Elbereth in April
"Zarbon!" Ginyu shouted. "How could he saddle us with that pink freak?"
"Well, he is strong. Stronger than Guldo," Recoome said.
"That's not the point," Burter hissed. "Frieza will use him to report on us."
"Well. . . it's not like we're up to anything."
"That's not the point either."
Recoome frowned. "So what *is* the point?"
"The point," Ginyu interrupted, "is that he's not really one of us. He can't even pose. And I wanted to pick Rye. I should have been able to pick."
"He killed Rye," Burter said sadly.
"We know!"
"Well, there's nothing we can do about it. Master Frieza is our employer," Recoome reminded them.
"So we just have to put up with Zarbon, I guess," Burter sighed.
"Maybe we could discredit him."
"How?"
"Set him up to fail at something."
"What?"
"Our next mission."
"Which is?"
". . .We don't actually have one lined up in the near future."
Recoome and Burter looked at each other.
"Oh."
"Let's just jump him," Recoome suggested.
"We can't do that! Frieza would be angry."
"Well, if you can come up with something, Captain, let us know. We're gonna spar." They went to the far side of the room and did just that while Ginyu fretted.
'Somebody tried to blow us all up. Somebody killed Guldo. Now Frieza insults us with Zarbon. I don't know who is behind all this, but they will pay.'
___________ __________
Vegeta hesitated outside the door of Bulma's science lab. He couldn't deny he was attracted to her, but he was not about to ruin his plans and throw away his Royal heritage for some alien, no matter how pretty.
So he didn't understand why, after he strengthened his resolve and shut off his emotions and opened the door, why the very sight of her gave him warm goosebumps and butterflies and other strange feelings.
She looked over at him. She was holding what appeared to be armor. "Hey," she said, still slightly annoyed at the way he'd run out last time.
"Hey," he returned. "What's that?"
"I think I've discovered a way to make your armor stronger--better able to withstand attacks. I'm experimenting."
He nodded. She had moved in too close again but if he backed away it would look like he was afraid of her. "So. . . um, I have another mission for you, Woman."
"What?"
"There's a nurse named Lorimaya. She's Zarbon's girlfriend."
"And?" She put her hand on his chest. He started to sweat.
"And. . . I need you to cozy up to her and see how loyal she is to Frieza."
Now her other hand was at his waist.
"Why?"
His mind was getting fuzzy. "Because. . . because. . . we want to use her to influence Zarbon. He's almost on our side, but he's too afraid of Frieza. He just needs a little. . . push. . ."
Her hand was running along his tail. His eyelids drooped. "Woman, what are you doing?"
"I just wanted to know if it was as soft as it looked."
She kept stroking his tail, noticing how it made him tremble. She suppressed a triumphant smirk.
"Woman. . ." he breathed softly. She leaned forward and kissed his lips. His arms went around her. He ran a hand through her hair, marveling at the color. She kissed him again, a little more aggressively. "Vegeta," she whispered in his ear.
'Vegeta. My name is Vegeta. I am the Prince of all Saiyans. I should *not* be doing this. It is weak.' He started to push her away. "Woman. . ."
"It's Bulma. Try saying it," she teased, licking his ear.
If she just wasn't caressing his tail in that. . . marvelous way. . . he'd never let anybody touch it before. He took a shaky breath. "I need to go. . ."
She stopped. She stepped away. "If you really don't want to do this, Vegeta, I'm not going to make you. I'm not some seductress." She pouted, sticking her bottom lip out in a cute and tantalizing way. He stared at in longing.
"I'd just--hate to damage our professional relationship. . ."
"Whatever. I'll talk to that girl. Now I should get back to my work." She walked away and faced her work table. He stared at her back.
'Why do I feel so deeply?' This wasn't just physical. It was almost like a soul-bond. The very first time he'd seen her he'd felt it. He'd tried to pretend otherwise, but now that she was taking matters into her own hands, he wasn't sure what to do. Should he keep denying? Or should he give into this. . . emotion? 'Tangerine, I'm going soft! Trusting her, trusting Kakkarot. . .'
He would marry whoever the Queen dictated, if he married while a prince. Once he was King, he would still have to marry according to what would best serve and further the Saiyan Empire. He didn't see how a blue-haired alien could. . . although they could use her technology. . . but how would the public react to a non-Saiyan?
Why was he thinking about marriage anyway? That wasn't what she was asking. Not yet. If it came to that, he'd deal with it later. In the meantime, he couldn't afford to alienate her. Besides. . . '*Can* one fight a soul- bond?'
"Work," he heard himself say. "Hn. Forget that. You know you want me."
She spun around. He was grinning at her. And her arms were around him again and he was kissing her. "I knew you couldn't resist me, Vegeta."
He smirked. "Woman."
__________ ___________
Sekot was in his room with three of his followers: Ryok, Rabin, and Thenesen. "They're up to something," he growled. "I don't know what. But why would Frieza think I was plotting with the Ginyu Force to blow him up if *they* hadn't put the idea in his head?"
"You don't know it was them, though," Thenesen pointed out uncomfortably.
"Well from now on, I want all of you to be watching them. We *will* find out what's going on."
__________ ____________
"Vegeta, what are you smiling about?"
"I'm not smiling, baka. Now quit blocking the hallway, I want to get to my room and take a shower."
Kakkarot didn't move. "You *were* smiling, big brother."
"Kakkarot. . ."
"It's that Woman, isn't it?" Kakkarot was bouncing up and down excitedly, grinning like a fool.
"I don't know what you're talking about." Vegeta shoved his way past him and walked quickly towards his room. Kakkarot followed.
"Vegeta and the Woman, sitting in a tree. K-I-S-S-I-N-G!"
"What? What sort of lame, childish song is that?"
"First comes love, then comes marriage. . ."
"If you don't shut up, I am going to break your jaw!"
Kakkarot stopped, but only because he was laughing too hard to finish. Vegeta scowled at him, really annoyed.
Traigo and Nappa came out of Traigo's room and stared at them. Kakkarot was almost doubled-over and slightly hysterical, Vegeta was clenching and unclenching his fists and looking like he was about to throttle his brother.
"OK, what's up?" Traigo demanded, smiling.
"Vegeta--Vegeta is. . ."
"I swear, Kakkarot, if you dare tell anybody you think that I'm in love-- I'll never speak to you again."
Kakkarot sobered and looked up at him. He meant it. He gulped back his laughter and straightened. "Um, never mind."
Vegeta stormed into his room. Kakkarot decided he'd better go hide in his for awhile. He didn't know where he'd picked that rhyme up from, but it'd sure made his brother mad. He chuckled.
"I know you're still thinking it!" Vegeta thundered in his mind.
Kakkarot burst out laughing again.
___________ _________
Lorimaya was taking a break from her nursing duties in a small room near the med center. She was filing her nails and reading a romance novel.
Bulma walked in and sat at her table. "Oh, what a lovely shade of nail polish!"
"Thank you. I love your hair. Is it natural?"
"Of course! Say. . . you're Zarbon's girl, aren't you?"
Lori blushed slightly. "Yes."
"Is that a good book?"
"Oh yes! It's about a woman whose true love fell overboard off an ocean liner and lost his memory and they were separated. She thought he died but years later they meet again!"
Bulma smiled. "True love is so cool. Do you believe you have one person you're destined for?"
"Yes."
"Are you and Zarbon in love?"
Lori giggled and looked at her nails. "Well, yes."
"I wish there was a way to know for sure if you were in love--and if that guy was *the* one!" Bulma sounded so frustrated that Lori blinked and closed her book. She became serious; she was a nurse because she liked helping people. "Are you having man problems?"
Bulma sighed, eyes misting. "It's just that he's so different from what I thought my ideal guy was. And so different from any other guy I've known! I don't know how to take him. I don't know what to think."
Lori sighed too. "All men are strange, you know that. But warriors are a *really* strange breed. Let me guess. You're one of Frieza's captives, right? Me, too. This is a weird place. It does weird things to people-- especially men, who have trouble with emotions anyway. They have to hold back a part of themselves to live here. The real part, that they don't want Frieza to see--or break. If we could get away from him, then we and our men could truly be free. Then we'd see what our men were really like inside."
Now it was Bulma's turn to blink. This girl was more insightful and intelligent than she seemed. Bulma smiled, then frowned. "It doesn't look like we'll be free any time soon."
Lori looked at her hands again. "No," she murmured.
"What I'd give if we could be!"
"Me, too!" Lori cried.
Bulma leaned forward as Lori met her eyes. "You mean that?"
________ _________
It was three in the morning when Kakkarot heard a pounding on his door. Afraid something was wrong, he rushed to open it.
"Did you and Vegeta put my girl up to this? Lori wants me to join 'the Saiyan Faction' to overthrow Frieza!" Zarbon hissed at him, whispering so no one could overhear.
Kakkarot stared at him. Zarbon flung up his hands and went to knock on Vegeta's door. "Wake up, brother. Zarbon wants to talk to us."
Vegeta opened his door, wide awake. "Don't stand in the hall. Both of you come in." They did.
The Saiyans sat on the bed while Zarbon paced. "What is a Saiyan faction? Are you crazy? What do you think you're doing, playing around with Frieza? And advertising it! And how did you get my girl involved in all this?"
"We could beat him, Zarbon," Vegeta stated, quietly but intensely. Zarbon stopped pacing and looked in his eyes. That fire that always burned there was stronger than ever, a wild unstoppable blaze. You couldn't scoff at a fire that could over-run you like that.
"Think about it," Kakkarot said. His eyes were clear and pure, with an idealistic vision and drive that seemed to burn you to ashes almost as quickly as Vegeta's raging fire.
"He'll kill you. He'll kill us all."
"We have a plan. We *will* beat him." Vegeta stood up and faced him. Zarbon couldn't look away from those eyes.
"The Saiyan faction, as you put it, is working together to overthrow him. We're starting with the Ginyu Force."
Zarbon's mouth fell open. "That's all been you?"
"Throw your lot in with us Zarbon. We're going to take him down."
"Can I trust you?"
"Yes. Can we trust you?"
"Yes. I won't cave under pressure. But to actively work against him. . ."
"He'll kill us all eventually anyway, Zarbon," Kakkarot said. "Or if not, we'll stay alive. Like this. Til we're old. Can you stand it that long? Is this really life?"
"That's sort of what Lori said."
"She's smart. And she's brave," Vegeta said.
"So am I!"
"Then what's holding you back?"
Zarbon thought about it, and realized he'd made up his mind before he'd come knocking. "Nothing. Let's take him down. What do you need from me?"
____________ __________
"What's this?" Zarbon asked Lori later that day.
"It's a bug. They want you to bug the throne room."
"Where did you get it?"
"My new friend. One of Frieza's scientists." She wiggled her eyebrows suggestively. "Vegeta's love interest."
"No way!" Zarbon shook his head, eyes widening, then he grinned. "Who?"
She laughed. "Brains!"
"What?" He looked confused.
"It's a little joke we have. A woman needs brains and beauty. She's Brains and I'm Beauty." She frowned. "It sounds weird now that I try to explain it to someone. . ."
Zarbon laughed.
___________ ___________
"So how do we stand, Vegeta?" Vanyar asked. They had just gotten done with a group training session and now they were holding a planning meeting.
"Zarbon planted the bug in the throne room this morning," Vegeta told them. "Everything it picks up gets transmitted back to the Woman and recorded. She'll let us know if anything particularly interesting crops up."
"I crossed some wires in Dodoria's space pod," Vegan reported. "I'm sorry to say he crash-landed this afternoon on Planet Ponah and is stuck there."
"Any injuries?"
"Bashed his head a bit, but nothing fatal, I'm afraid."
"Sekot is trying to spy on us, so be careful," Kwil advised.
"Zarbon and I will both be doing our best to put more seeds of doubt against the Ginyu Force in Frieza's mind," said Kakkarot. "He'll make a move soon. You know he's not very tolerant of rebellion."
"Really?" Traigo laughed sarcastically.
"In fact," Kakkarot continued, "the Woman has inserted an interesting little computer file into the mainframe, apparently written by Captain Ginyu. It has some fairly treasonous record logs and other lies in it, guaranteed to make Frieza awfully mad."
"That lady is a genius," Vegan sighed.
Vegeta eyed him and Kakkarot laughed. "Careful Vegan," he said. "Vegeta's got first dibs."
"Kakkarot, shut up!" Vegeta hit him on the arm, none too lightly.
"What's this?" Traigo demanded, everyone perking up and sensing a secret.
Kakkarot successfully kept himself from laughing by keeping his eyes on the ground. "Nothing."
"Nothing!" Vegeta reiterated forcefully, glaring at them all.
"Methinks he protests too much," Nappa smirked. They were all smirking, Vegeta noticed with mounting fury.
There was a knock on the training room door. They all sobered and went silent. Vegeta motioned for Capran to go unlock it while they got back into fighting poses.
It was Zarbon. They all relaxed back down. "I'm delivering a message from Frieza," Zarbon announced with distaste. "Kakkarot, you're going purging tomorrow."
Kakkarot frowned. "With Vegeta?"
"No. With Murdin and Lishing."
"Oh, you'll have a great time with those two traitors. Be careful what you say around them," said Valkan.
"Kakkarot, you hesitate in front of them and you're dead," Vegeta told him with real alarm.
"I won't." Kakkarot sighed. "OK, whatever."
Zarbon turned to go. "Wait, Zarbon!" Traigo stopped him. "What do you know about the lady scientist?"
Zarbon looked at them. Everyone was grinning except Vegeta, who was advancing on Traigo with a scowl. "Lady Brains? I've never met her--but I hear she's hot on Vegeta!" He laughed and ran out the door.
Kakkarot started dancing in a ring around Vegeta. "Vegeta and the Woman sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S. . ."
Sparring was inevitable after that.
___________ __________
Vegeta went back to his room before supper to tape his wrist and wash his bloody lip. He took great satisfaction in knowing that everyone else was much more beaten up than him (mostly by him), and in fact Traigo and Vegan wouldn't be out of their rejuv tanks for several hours yet. Of course, he'd only managed to bruise Kakkarot.
It was infuriating that he still couldn't beat Kakkarot in a fight, and yet the sting wasn't there anymore. Besides, he really didn't want to hurt him. He sighed, counting it a weakness.
He was worried about him purging tomorrow. If Kakkarot had trouble killing people, those Saiyan lackeys would tell Frieza. Kakkarot was a valuable spy now, though, and probably safe. He hoped. He'd instructed Kakkarot to bring up the Ginyu computer file after the purge if Frieza seemed to be mad at him. That should change the tyrant's mind. Otherwise, they'd let Zarbon bring it up. At least they had the throne room bugged now. Vegeta could listen in and give instructions if need be.
'We're getting so close to the end.' But they still didn't have a chance to beat Frieza. If only he could turn Super Saiyan! Then he could show his brother how and they could kill Frieza!
'I called him my brother again.' He sat down in his chair and stared at the picture of Frieza on his wall. The one in every Saiyan chamber that they weren't allowed to take down.
He would have to come to a decision about Kakkarot. And Bulma, too. They were inside his heart now. He'd never meant for it to happen, but he had to admit that it had. He was a complete baka for letting it happen but now he just had to face the consequences.
'I am vulnerable.' That was why emotions made one weak, he knew. And it scared him. He had to focus entirely on defeating Frieza and winning back his throne. He'd promised his mother when he was six years old and his whole life had been aimed for it. To restore his family's pride and his father's honor. To re-establish himself and his mother in power and luxury. 'Did she mention luxury? It seems like she did, but she was probably bitter at the time. I'm sure luxury wasn't a serious goal.' He realized he was forgetting some of the things she had taught him. He couldn't let that happen.
'Have I been believing the lies Frieza told me in place of what my mother taught me? Did she ever tell me emotions were weak or was that something I picked up here?' Suddenly he felt overwhelmed by feelings and memories. Everything was growing confused just when he thought it was coming right. What did he feel? What did he believe?
He had learned when he first arrived that if he let Frieza know who he cared about, he was sure to kill them. And with people dropping on all sides, it had seemed better to distance himself. But now he was going to have to readjust his thinking. His mother had admitted her emotions--her passion to succeed, her love for her family and her people. So now he had admitted his feelings to himself. But to actually tell *them*? How would that help, anyway?
'Kakkarott--I owe you. I know I'm using you, but I'll reward you for it later. And meanwhile, I'll look out for you. I feel responsible for you somehow, anyway.' But did he owe him the truth? Did he owe him--love?
Hn. Not if he kept on with that ridiculous rhyme. . .
As for Bulma--he'd just have to wait and see. The secret of their relationship was out amongst the group now. As long as it didn't reach Frieza, there was no real harm. If they stayed together, he could even talk to the Queen about the benefits of marrying her for her technology. 'If she loves me. If we do have a soul-bond.'
And if Frieza killed either of them--if Bulma decided she didn't love him-- if Kakkarot found out the truth and turned against him (which of course he would, if he knew the truth)--what would he do then?
'What would I do? Hn. Emotions make you vulnerable.'