The Deception--Chapter 16
By Elbereth in April
The Saiyans and Zarbon stared at Lori. "There is a Saiyan named Wold," Zarbon responded slowly. "Short guy with a mustache. But he's not a friend. He's not part of our faction."
"Then we've been compromised. Someone who called himself your friend--who is not, in fact, Wold as he claimed--visited us in the science lab and said he'd heard we brought down the Ginyu Force."
"Sekot," Vegeta snarled. "Was he thin and tall, with shoulder length wavy, black hair?"
"Yes!"
"We're in trouble," Zarbon said.
________ ________
When Lori, Vegeta, Kakkarot, and Zarbon entered Bulma's lab, she was gone. Vegeta pulled up the latest conversations in Frieza's throne room, and there it was.
"So my dear," the tyrant said, "I hear you belong to Vegeta."
"I don't belong to anybody but myself!" she shot back.
"Tsk tsk. What an attitude. At the very least, you belong to me." They could hear his smile.
"You. . ." she wisely trailed into silence.
"I believe you've been living in the Science Quarter. That's much too harsh and sterile an environment for someone as lovely as you. I think I should move you to better quarters."
"Where?" she demanded.
"Where I can keep an eye on you," Frieza purred.
"Why?"
"Because Vegeta would be a corrupting influence on you, my dear. I think it's for the best if you didn't see him again. And because. . . I don't trust that mangy little monkey. You're my ace in the hole. I have something now that's his. If you suffer, he suffers. And I want him to suffer. Understand?"
"Yes. But I think you're making a mistake, Frieza. Despite everything, Vegeta and I are loyal to you."
Frieza simply laughed. "Take her away."
The recording ended. They all looked at Vegeta. His face was completely and totally blank.
Zarbon swallowed. "I'll go find her right now, Vegeta." He looked at the other two and departed hastily.
"I'll--I'll make sure she didn't leave anything incriminating accessible," Lori said, scurrying around the room.
"Why don't we go back to my room and wait for Zarbon." Kakkarot smiled nervously, pulling on Vegeta's arm. Vegeta allowed himself to be pulled.
Kakkarot's heart was thumping and his mind was racing. If anything happened to the Woman, he didn't know what his brother would do. This was bad, this was very bad. And Vegeta was all closed up and quiet, completely still.
Vegeta was trying to reach Bulma with his mind. He couldn't do it. It must be because she was--tangerine, what planet was she from, anyway? He'd never asked; she'd clearly never wanted to talk about it.
He didn't stop trying, though, until they reached Kakkarot's room. Then he slumped down onto the bed and put his head in his hands.
Kakkarot sat next to him. "Vegeta. . . it'll be OK. He hasn't had enough time to do anything to her. We'll rescue her. It'll be OK."
Vegeta raised his head and looked at him with dull eyes. His hands were clenched in his lap so hard his nails had drawn blood. "I'm not sure we should."
That wasn't what Kakkarot had been expecting. "What?"
"If he just puts her in a cell, we can put a guard on her, around the clock. That way if he tries to hurt her, we can pull her out. But hopefully he'll just ignore her, happy because she's locked up. If we rescue her, he'll scour the ship for her and not stop until he kills her. But if he thinks he already has her, she'll be safe."
Kakkarot's eyes went wide as he thought this through.
"It all comes down to how he 'intends to make her suffer.' If he. . . if he tries. . ." Vegeta couldn't finish.
"Then we'll send her away. To the Queen, maybe."
"In one of his own ships. He'd trace her."
"We'll think of something, brother. Or *she* will. She's the genius. I bet she can make herself untraceable."
Vegeta looked a little bit brighter at that thought.
"We have to go Super Saiyan," Kakkarot whispered.
Vegeta stood up and paced, his tail whipping back and forth.
"You really do love her," Kakkarot mused. "I honestly wasn't 100 percent sure."
Vegeta stopped dead and looked at him. "Kakkarot. . ."
"Sorry."
"There's. . . there are a lot of things I can't say. Kakkarot. . ."
Kakkarot stood, went over, and put one arm around him. "Big brother," he said fondly, gently. "It's all right. *I* know. I love you."
Vegeta's whole body tensed up. Kakkarot felt it. "When we were little, did I follow you around everywhere? I bet I did. I'd still do anything for you, Vegeta."
Vegeta pulled away, breathing unsteady, pain lancing agonizingly through his heart. "Kakkarot--I. . . there's something I--I should tell you. . ."
There was a loud knock on the door.
Kakkarot frowned, frustrated by the timing, but went to answer it. Vegeta stared at his back, actually dizzy with so many conflicting emotions. His very blood was a razor blade, slicing the insides of his body, riding through his veins, bones scraped bleeding and hollow. 'He loves me! But only because he thinks I'm his brother! I have to tell him. Everything. It's not--it's not fair to him. Just thinking about doing it makes me want to throw up. But I want him to--I want. . . I don't know, I don't know what I'm doing!'
Kakkarot opened the door. "Zarbon! What did you find?"
Vegeta pushed Kakkarot to the back of his mind. Bulma first, now.
"He's got her in a secured room, not a cell. She's comfortable enough. The door's locked, she's alone, but for one guard outside. Interestingly enough- -it's Colyte. One of the ones we thought we'd audition."
Vegeta sat down so rapidly he almost missed the chair.
"Has he done anything to her?" Kakkarot whispered.
"She's fine so far," Zarbon reported. "He hasn't touched her. I think he wants to gloat to Vegeta first."
"All right," Vegeta said softly. "This is the plan. . ."
___________ __________
It was only a few minutes later when a low-level henchman came to tell Vegeta that Frieza demanded his presence.
He went. Sweat trickled down his back, but his spine was straight and his head was high. 'Just try me, Frieza. Maybe I can't out-fight you yet, but I can still out-act you.'
Zarbon followed him, and Kakkarot was running to the room where he could eavesdrop. Sekot was standing just outside the doors of the throne room and it took all of Vegeta's will not to attack him, especially when he smirked. Zarbon "accidentally" swung the door open too hard, slamming it against Sekot's nose. His pained yelps faded as the door closed.
Zarbon moved around to stand beside Frieza. Vegeta faced him.
Frieza was positively glowing. It had been a great day for him all around.
"So, Vegeta. The thorn in my side. How are you, my monkey?"
"Fine."
Frieza examined his fingernails. "Surely better than fine? Word is, you have a lover."
"Oh no, my lord. I would never take a lover before marriage."
Frieza stared at him, mouth open, then he frowned. "Do you deny having a girlfriend?"
"Oh, there's a girl I make out with sometimes," Vegeta admitted. "We've never gone any further."
Zarbon was making choking noises.
Frieza laughed. "What should I have expected from a monkey? Can't even satisfy a woman. . ."
Vegeta smirked. "Oh, she's plenty satisfied. She's a *nice* girl, after all. For a peasant. And an alien."
"She's probably getting it on the side," Zarbon sneered, eyes twinkling.
Vegeta shrugged, still smiling. "Could be. She's there when I call. That's all that matters. I'm not the jealous type. We're hardly a serious item."
"I think you're lying," Frieza hissed.
Vegeta shrugged again. "I've lived under you seven years, sir. Now how many times have you seen me form attachments?"
"Just your brother," Frieza answered slowly, thinking. "And now this girl."
"Well, my brother is my *brother*. And a girl is just a girl. I've had a number of girls. Discreetly. Fun for awhile. Then they get boring. I'd never truly invest myself in any one girl. Especially a non-Saiyan one."
Frieza was frowning.
"I've learned to be distant," Vegeta smirked bitterly, "since I've been here."
They locked eyes.
"She's still your woman. You'd feel *some* sadness if anything happened to her," Frieza insisted.
"Oh, some. But I'd get over it." He wore the perfect air of indifference.
Frieza stood up, suddenly furious. "Get out."
Vegeta hesitated the briefest of instants. 'He's bought it. Has he bought it?' Then he left.
"Do you think he meant it, Zarbon?"
Zarbon pretended to think. "Yeah. He's an ice-hearted imbecile. I'd keep the girl locked up, but I'd leave her alone for now. Isn't she one of your top scientists? Give her computer back to her and let her be, but she'll be there, just in case."
"Good. See to it. But Zarbon. . ."
"My lord?"
"Go introduce yourself to her. I think she'd be interested in knowing what Vegeta thinks of her."
"Yes, sir."
"And don't leave her completely untouched. We want her to understand her situation here."
"Sir."
"And I want an excuse to beat Vegeta up again. Help me think of something."
"Um. . . my mind's a blank, I'm afraid."
"Oh well, just tell him I want to spar with him in half an hour."
"I--I will."
"Now go."
____________ _________
Vegeta looked for Sekot, but he had made himself scarce. Probably just as well, for now. He had to wait for Zarbon to be done with Frieza, so he could go to Colyte and set things up. And Kakkarot should be coming. He waited.
Zarbon came out of the throne room. "Well?" Vegeta demanded.
"*I* am to go 'explain the situation to her,'" Zarbon announced with a smile. "If only he knew! But it's all set up. She'll stay there, but he's not going to hurt her. She's even getting her computer back."
"You're smooth."
"So are you! I could have sworn you meant every word."
"And Colyte? You remember what to tell him?"
"Yes. . . one thing." He stopped smiling. "Frieza wants to 'spar' with you in half an hour."
Vegeta's expressionless face never twitched. He just shrugged yet again.
Kakkarot slipped into their hiding place. "I heard."
"I'm off to talk to Bulma and her guard," said Zarbon.
Kakkarot looked at Vegeta after Zarbon left. "So, I guess we'll hold those auditions tomorrow instead."
"I guess."
"I don't want Frieza to beat you up again."
"I'm used to it."
Kakkarot cursed in Saiyago. Vegeta raised his eyebrows. "I didn't know you even knew those words."
"I don't want him to beat you up, Vegeta."
"Well, neither do I. But he's going to. There's no need for you to grieve for me."
Kakkarot frowned. Why did Vegeta emphasize that last sentence? He shook his head.
Vegeta dropped his gaze. "Just come get me when he's done."
_________ __________
He was creepy-looking, Zarbon had to admit as he surveyed the guard outside Bulma's door. He had a segmented body, like a bug, but claws and paws and blue-grey fur. And a wolf's tail and head, with a muzzle full of sharp teeth.
"Hello, Colyte," Zarbon greeted him.
Colyte curled his lip. He'd never liked Frieza's henchman.
"How loyal are you to Frieza, Colyte?"
Now he had his attention. He was afraid he was about to be executed. "Oh, very, Zarbon, sir."
Zarbon smirked. "Good. I feel the same way. That girl you're guarding. I don't want anybody touching her. Not Dodoria, not Sekot, not Frieza himself. Nobody goes in her room but me, Vegeta, Kakkarot, or my girlfriend Lori. Understand?"
Eyes narrowed, Colyte nodded.
"Good. Because someday the tyrant will be brought down, Colyte," he said, quoting Colyte's words back at him.
"I. . . what?"
"Some of us are making sure that day comes pretty quick," Zarbon whispered. "That girl in there is one. Keep her safe. If anyone orders anything to be done against her, let me know immediately. If anyone tries to hurt her, stop them."
"Like I would trust you! In league against Frieza! Impossible!"
Zarbon shrugged and pointed at the door. "Ask her. You know she's locked up because she's Vegeta's woman, right? You know Vegeta hates Frieza. You know he wants him brought down. Well, he convinced me he could win, so--I switched sides against that ugly, sadistic lizard. Come on, Colyte. Join us. Ask her."
Colyte looked at him long and hard. Then he unlocked and opened the door. Bulma stood up and stared at them.
"Hey, Lady," Zarbon smiled at her. "How are you?"
"I've been better." Bulma crossed her arms, wondering what was going on now.
"Well, Vegeta doesn't dare come, but he sent me to tell you the plan. After Frieza called him in to say he had you, Vegeta disavowed all affection for you, but I talked Frieza into keeping you here and letting you get back to work. I'll be bringing your computers over pretty soon. I hope this place is comfortable."
"Good enough. But why is he keeping me?"
"Because if he thinks he has you, he'll leave you alone. But if you escape, he won't rest until he's got you back, and then he'll have to make an example of you. But be thinking up a way to make one of Frieza's ships untraceable, in case we have to run."
Bulma pointed at Colyte. "And is he an ally?"
Colyte was standing there with his mouth hanging open. "It's really true? You're really all trying to take down Frieza?"
Bulma glanced at Zarbon. "Um, yes."
Colyte grinned, beaming, then grabbed Zarbon's hand and shook it. "This is great! Of course I'll help! I'm here to guard you, miss! I'll keep you safe 24 hours a day, because my race doesn't need to sleep. This is so great!" Then he ran over and hugged Bulma.
Bulma patted him on the back. "Well. I'm glad you could join us. Colyte, right? Good. OK, Zarbon get my computer right away! I'm in the middle of something important! And get my tools and stuff. Then give the one computer program to Lori, so she can listen in to the throne room, and I'll bug my room, so she can listen here, just in case. . . and an untraceable ship. . . I've got work to do!"
Zarbon grinned. "All right. I'll go back and tell Frieza I roughed you up some and you're in tears because I said Vegeta doesn't love you. How's that?"
"Good, good. Hurry up."
_________ __________
Vegeta slammed into the far wall. He pushed himself back up as Frieza stalked toward him, taking his time. That was how little of a threat Frieza considered him to be.
Vegeta wanted to power up as high as he could go and blow the roof off the place. Instead he smirked, an "I know something you don't know" kind of a smirk. 'Let him underestimate me,' he thought. 'So when I go Super Saiyan, he won't have any clue what's about to hit him.'
He was still smirking when Frieza broke his nose. "Wipe that insufferable smile off your face," Frieza hissed.
"But I'm just so happy to spar with you," Vegeta said. Frieza growled.
"Are you mocking me?" he screamed, and his ki blast almost killed the Saiyan Prince right there.
_________ ___________
A huge thank you to all my wonderful reviewers! But, um. . . I still don't have 100 yet. Hint, hint: Review! (No pressure)
By Elbereth in April
The Saiyans and Zarbon stared at Lori. "There is a Saiyan named Wold," Zarbon responded slowly. "Short guy with a mustache. But he's not a friend. He's not part of our faction."
"Then we've been compromised. Someone who called himself your friend--who is not, in fact, Wold as he claimed--visited us in the science lab and said he'd heard we brought down the Ginyu Force."
"Sekot," Vegeta snarled. "Was he thin and tall, with shoulder length wavy, black hair?"
"Yes!"
"We're in trouble," Zarbon said.
________ ________
When Lori, Vegeta, Kakkarot, and Zarbon entered Bulma's lab, she was gone. Vegeta pulled up the latest conversations in Frieza's throne room, and there it was.
"So my dear," the tyrant said, "I hear you belong to Vegeta."
"I don't belong to anybody but myself!" she shot back.
"Tsk tsk. What an attitude. At the very least, you belong to me." They could hear his smile.
"You. . ." she wisely trailed into silence.
"I believe you've been living in the Science Quarter. That's much too harsh and sterile an environment for someone as lovely as you. I think I should move you to better quarters."
"Where?" she demanded.
"Where I can keep an eye on you," Frieza purred.
"Why?"
"Because Vegeta would be a corrupting influence on you, my dear. I think it's for the best if you didn't see him again. And because. . . I don't trust that mangy little monkey. You're my ace in the hole. I have something now that's his. If you suffer, he suffers. And I want him to suffer. Understand?"
"Yes. But I think you're making a mistake, Frieza. Despite everything, Vegeta and I are loyal to you."
Frieza simply laughed. "Take her away."
The recording ended. They all looked at Vegeta. His face was completely and totally blank.
Zarbon swallowed. "I'll go find her right now, Vegeta." He looked at the other two and departed hastily.
"I'll--I'll make sure she didn't leave anything incriminating accessible," Lori said, scurrying around the room.
"Why don't we go back to my room and wait for Zarbon." Kakkarot smiled nervously, pulling on Vegeta's arm. Vegeta allowed himself to be pulled.
Kakkarot's heart was thumping and his mind was racing. If anything happened to the Woman, he didn't know what his brother would do. This was bad, this was very bad. And Vegeta was all closed up and quiet, completely still.
Vegeta was trying to reach Bulma with his mind. He couldn't do it. It must be because she was--tangerine, what planet was she from, anyway? He'd never asked; she'd clearly never wanted to talk about it.
He didn't stop trying, though, until they reached Kakkarot's room. Then he slumped down onto the bed and put his head in his hands.
Kakkarot sat next to him. "Vegeta. . . it'll be OK. He hasn't had enough time to do anything to her. We'll rescue her. It'll be OK."
Vegeta raised his head and looked at him with dull eyes. His hands were clenched in his lap so hard his nails had drawn blood. "I'm not sure we should."
That wasn't what Kakkarot had been expecting. "What?"
"If he just puts her in a cell, we can put a guard on her, around the clock. That way if he tries to hurt her, we can pull her out. But hopefully he'll just ignore her, happy because she's locked up. If we rescue her, he'll scour the ship for her and not stop until he kills her. But if he thinks he already has her, she'll be safe."
Kakkarot's eyes went wide as he thought this through.
"It all comes down to how he 'intends to make her suffer.' If he. . . if he tries. . ." Vegeta couldn't finish.
"Then we'll send her away. To the Queen, maybe."
"In one of his own ships. He'd trace her."
"We'll think of something, brother. Or *she* will. She's the genius. I bet she can make herself untraceable."
Vegeta looked a little bit brighter at that thought.
"We have to go Super Saiyan," Kakkarot whispered.
Vegeta stood up and paced, his tail whipping back and forth.
"You really do love her," Kakkarot mused. "I honestly wasn't 100 percent sure."
Vegeta stopped dead and looked at him. "Kakkarot. . ."
"Sorry."
"There's. . . there are a lot of things I can't say. Kakkarot. . ."
Kakkarot stood, went over, and put one arm around him. "Big brother," he said fondly, gently. "It's all right. *I* know. I love you."
Vegeta's whole body tensed up. Kakkarot felt it. "When we were little, did I follow you around everywhere? I bet I did. I'd still do anything for you, Vegeta."
Vegeta pulled away, breathing unsteady, pain lancing agonizingly through his heart. "Kakkarot--I. . . there's something I--I should tell you. . ."
There was a loud knock on the door.
Kakkarot frowned, frustrated by the timing, but went to answer it. Vegeta stared at his back, actually dizzy with so many conflicting emotions. His very blood was a razor blade, slicing the insides of his body, riding through his veins, bones scraped bleeding and hollow. 'He loves me! But only because he thinks I'm his brother! I have to tell him. Everything. It's not--it's not fair to him. Just thinking about doing it makes me want to throw up. But I want him to--I want. . . I don't know, I don't know what I'm doing!'
Kakkarot opened the door. "Zarbon! What did you find?"
Vegeta pushed Kakkarot to the back of his mind. Bulma first, now.
"He's got her in a secured room, not a cell. She's comfortable enough. The door's locked, she's alone, but for one guard outside. Interestingly enough- -it's Colyte. One of the ones we thought we'd audition."
Vegeta sat down so rapidly he almost missed the chair.
"Has he done anything to her?" Kakkarot whispered.
"She's fine so far," Zarbon reported. "He hasn't touched her. I think he wants to gloat to Vegeta first."
"All right," Vegeta said softly. "This is the plan. . ."
___________ __________
It was only a few minutes later when a low-level henchman came to tell Vegeta that Frieza demanded his presence.
He went. Sweat trickled down his back, but his spine was straight and his head was high. 'Just try me, Frieza. Maybe I can't out-fight you yet, but I can still out-act you.'
Zarbon followed him, and Kakkarot was running to the room where he could eavesdrop. Sekot was standing just outside the doors of the throne room and it took all of Vegeta's will not to attack him, especially when he smirked. Zarbon "accidentally" swung the door open too hard, slamming it against Sekot's nose. His pained yelps faded as the door closed.
Zarbon moved around to stand beside Frieza. Vegeta faced him.
Frieza was positively glowing. It had been a great day for him all around.
"So, Vegeta. The thorn in my side. How are you, my monkey?"
"Fine."
Frieza examined his fingernails. "Surely better than fine? Word is, you have a lover."
"Oh no, my lord. I would never take a lover before marriage."
Frieza stared at him, mouth open, then he frowned. "Do you deny having a girlfriend?"
"Oh, there's a girl I make out with sometimes," Vegeta admitted. "We've never gone any further."
Zarbon was making choking noises.
Frieza laughed. "What should I have expected from a monkey? Can't even satisfy a woman. . ."
Vegeta smirked. "Oh, she's plenty satisfied. She's a *nice* girl, after all. For a peasant. And an alien."
"She's probably getting it on the side," Zarbon sneered, eyes twinkling.
Vegeta shrugged, still smiling. "Could be. She's there when I call. That's all that matters. I'm not the jealous type. We're hardly a serious item."
"I think you're lying," Frieza hissed.
Vegeta shrugged again. "I've lived under you seven years, sir. Now how many times have you seen me form attachments?"
"Just your brother," Frieza answered slowly, thinking. "And now this girl."
"Well, my brother is my *brother*. And a girl is just a girl. I've had a number of girls. Discreetly. Fun for awhile. Then they get boring. I'd never truly invest myself in any one girl. Especially a non-Saiyan one."
Frieza was frowning.
"I've learned to be distant," Vegeta smirked bitterly, "since I've been here."
They locked eyes.
"She's still your woman. You'd feel *some* sadness if anything happened to her," Frieza insisted.
"Oh, some. But I'd get over it." He wore the perfect air of indifference.
Frieza stood up, suddenly furious. "Get out."
Vegeta hesitated the briefest of instants. 'He's bought it. Has he bought it?' Then he left.
"Do you think he meant it, Zarbon?"
Zarbon pretended to think. "Yeah. He's an ice-hearted imbecile. I'd keep the girl locked up, but I'd leave her alone for now. Isn't she one of your top scientists? Give her computer back to her and let her be, but she'll be there, just in case."
"Good. See to it. But Zarbon. . ."
"My lord?"
"Go introduce yourself to her. I think she'd be interested in knowing what Vegeta thinks of her."
"Yes, sir."
"And don't leave her completely untouched. We want her to understand her situation here."
"Sir."
"And I want an excuse to beat Vegeta up again. Help me think of something."
"Um. . . my mind's a blank, I'm afraid."
"Oh well, just tell him I want to spar with him in half an hour."
"I--I will."
"Now go."
____________ _________
Vegeta looked for Sekot, but he had made himself scarce. Probably just as well, for now. He had to wait for Zarbon to be done with Frieza, so he could go to Colyte and set things up. And Kakkarot should be coming. He waited.
Zarbon came out of the throne room. "Well?" Vegeta demanded.
"*I* am to go 'explain the situation to her,'" Zarbon announced with a smile. "If only he knew! But it's all set up. She'll stay there, but he's not going to hurt her. She's even getting her computer back."
"You're smooth."
"So are you! I could have sworn you meant every word."
"And Colyte? You remember what to tell him?"
"Yes. . . one thing." He stopped smiling. "Frieza wants to 'spar' with you in half an hour."
Vegeta's expressionless face never twitched. He just shrugged yet again.
Kakkarot slipped into their hiding place. "I heard."
"I'm off to talk to Bulma and her guard," said Zarbon.
Kakkarot looked at Vegeta after Zarbon left. "So, I guess we'll hold those auditions tomorrow instead."
"I guess."
"I don't want Frieza to beat you up again."
"I'm used to it."
Kakkarot cursed in Saiyago. Vegeta raised his eyebrows. "I didn't know you even knew those words."
"I don't want him to beat you up, Vegeta."
"Well, neither do I. But he's going to. There's no need for you to grieve for me."
Kakkarot frowned. Why did Vegeta emphasize that last sentence? He shook his head.
Vegeta dropped his gaze. "Just come get me when he's done."
_________ __________
He was creepy-looking, Zarbon had to admit as he surveyed the guard outside Bulma's door. He had a segmented body, like a bug, but claws and paws and blue-grey fur. And a wolf's tail and head, with a muzzle full of sharp teeth.
"Hello, Colyte," Zarbon greeted him.
Colyte curled his lip. He'd never liked Frieza's henchman.
"How loyal are you to Frieza, Colyte?"
Now he had his attention. He was afraid he was about to be executed. "Oh, very, Zarbon, sir."
Zarbon smirked. "Good. I feel the same way. That girl you're guarding. I don't want anybody touching her. Not Dodoria, not Sekot, not Frieza himself. Nobody goes in her room but me, Vegeta, Kakkarot, or my girlfriend Lori. Understand?"
Eyes narrowed, Colyte nodded.
"Good. Because someday the tyrant will be brought down, Colyte," he said, quoting Colyte's words back at him.
"I. . . what?"
"Some of us are making sure that day comes pretty quick," Zarbon whispered. "That girl in there is one. Keep her safe. If anyone orders anything to be done against her, let me know immediately. If anyone tries to hurt her, stop them."
"Like I would trust you! In league against Frieza! Impossible!"
Zarbon shrugged and pointed at the door. "Ask her. You know she's locked up because she's Vegeta's woman, right? You know Vegeta hates Frieza. You know he wants him brought down. Well, he convinced me he could win, so--I switched sides against that ugly, sadistic lizard. Come on, Colyte. Join us. Ask her."
Colyte looked at him long and hard. Then he unlocked and opened the door. Bulma stood up and stared at them.
"Hey, Lady," Zarbon smiled at her. "How are you?"
"I've been better." Bulma crossed her arms, wondering what was going on now.
"Well, Vegeta doesn't dare come, but he sent me to tell you the plan. After Frieza called him in to say he had you, Vegeta disavowed all affection for you, but I talked Frieza into keeping you here and letting you get back to work. I'll be bringing your computers over pretty soon. I hope this place is comfortable."
"Good enough. But why is he keeping me?"
"Because if he thinks he has you, he'll leave you alone. But if you escape, he won't rest until he's got you back, and then he'll have to make an example of you. But be thinking up a way to make one of Frieza's ships untraceable, in case we have to run."
Bulma pointed at Colyte. "And is he an ally?"
Colyte was standing there with his mouth hanging open. "It's really true? You're really all trying to take down Frieza?"
Bulma glanced at Zarbon. "Um, yes."
Colyte grinned, beaming, then grabbed Zarbon's hand and shook it. "This is great! Of course I'll help! I'm here to guard you, miss! I'll keep you safe 24 hours a day, because my race doesn't need to sleep. This is so great!" Then he ran over and hugged Bulma.
Bulma patted him on the back. "Well. I'm glad you could join us. Colyte, right? Good. OK, Zarbon get my computer right away! I'm in the middle of something important! And get my tools and stuff. Then give the one computer program to Lori, so she can listen in to the throne room, and I'll bug my room, so she can listen here, just in case. . . and an untraceable ship. . . I've got work to do!"
Zarbon grinned. "All right. I'll go back and tell Frieza I roughed you up some and you're in tears because I said Vegeta doesn't love you. How's that?"
"Good, good. Hurry up."
_________ __________
Vegeta slammed into the far wall. He pushed himself back up as Frieza stalked toward him, taking his time. That was how little of a threat Frieza considered him to be.
Vegeta wanted to power up as high as he could go and blow the roof off the place. Instead he smirked, an "I know something you don't know" kind of a smirk. 'Let him underestimate me,' he thought. 'So when I go Super Saiyan, he won't have any clue what's about to hit him.'
He was still smirking when Frieza broke his nose. "Wipe that insufferable smile off your face," Frieza hissed.
"But I'm just so happy to spar with you," Vegeta said. Frieza growled.
"Are you mocking me?" he screamed, and his ki blast almost killed the Saiyan Prince right there.
_________ ___________
A huge thank you to all my wonderful reviewers! But, um. . . I still don't have 100 yet. Hint, hint: Review! (No pressure)