Hi this entire chapter should be interesting. We finally get to know some stuff about how Vegeta's past works into all of the villains we see. Just how will Vegeta's past affect his rescue mission? That's for me to know and for you to find out as the story unfolds. Enjoy!
All previous disclaimers still apply.
Chapter 13: Past and Present Revisited
Trunks wrapped his small hands around the slender pinkish wrists of his captor breathing in deeply trying to get as much air as he could through her steel grip. His mind raced desperately as he found himself powerless in the changeling's grasp. He was at once paralyzed by the fear he felt and the shame for feeling it at all. It was then his mind called up something his Father had said the day before "Fear is only a weakness if you allow it to cripple you instead of using it". He couldn't let this helpless feeling take over, he had to get away and his eyes turned to the stern android before him. For one moment he wondered at his friend's lack of action but he also understood. As long as this tsirijin held him 16 couldn't do much that wouldn't endanger him so he had to create an opening. It was up to him, Trunks Vegeta-Briefs to do something. With new resolve he found the calm place within the tossing sea of his emotions and there found the courage to act on the plan forming in his mind. Tightening his grip on his captor's wrists he pulled himself up until he was supporting his own weight with his arms. This released enough pressure on his neck to allow him to take a breath and just enough space to grab her pinky in his teeth.
"Little baka!" Snow screeched in surprise dropping her burden her eyes narrowing in anger taking a moment caress her marred flesh. She growled and viewed her quarry scrambling to his feet.
Blizzard huffed disappointed in her sister's loss of composure and rushed to intercept the now charging android. Snow's temper definitely would make her opt to go for the boy. So it was up to her, like usual, to step in on the other front.
Trunks cried in surprise as something wrapped itself around one of his ankles and hoisted him into the air upside down. He found himself at eye level with an evilly smirking pair of wine colored lips. "So you think you can get away with that little half-breed?" they questioned in a deceptively smooth voice. He looked up towards his feet and found it was the tsirijin's tail that held him aloft.
"Let me go you bitch!" he shouted spreading his palms and fingers before his face.
"Why would I do that?" Snow chuckled. This definitely was the son of Vegeta. The only child that ever had the temerity to call her bitch to her face had been the Saiyajin no Ouji.
"Solar Flare!" the demi-saiyajin shouted releasing the brilliant flash of light. He giggled evilly as the shocked woman's grip released pleased that the trick he learned from Gohan worked adding a kick for good measure.
Snow stumbled back cursing again feeling the boy kick her elbow disabling her grip again. "Kuso" she muttered realizing her sight wouldn't return quickly. "Now isn't the time to let your temper get the best of you" she reprimanded herself. She smiled as she thought of the easy solution. She could bypass her sight in a different form. She grinned feeling as her features began to reorganize themselves into a shape more conducive to capturing little brats that thought they could out smart her.
***
"So you see, Bulma," Dr. Kougou said excitedly "this new particle beam suppresses ki energy. That way it ensures damage. No matter how strong the individual they will become powerless and unable to deflect the lasers."
"I never knew there were so many ways to kill people" Bulma said half-bored and half in disgust. She nervously returned the mad scientist's smile as he gently pressed her hand in his trying not to concentrate on how her stomach twisted.
"I have so much more to show you," he beamed a charming smile placing her hand at the crook of his arm.
Wrench scowled pushing against the cool steel wall at his back before following. He was really getting sick of his employer's fawning over the human woman. He was all charm and gentlemanly touring with her this morning trying to flirt with her and persuade her with flattery. If the good doctor thought this was the way to win Bulma over to work willingly with him as his assistant then he was sadly mistaken. Wrench was beginning to suspect Kougou wished to win her affections as well, although her being of a voluptuous build and having a pretty face as well as intelligence made his attempt understandable it was misguided. One could not mix business with pleasure without it blowing up in your face. That he had learned long ago at the hands of a treacherous female. A female he hoped to pay back soon.
"So, this is what you expect me to help you with?" Bulma questioned incredulously.
"Of course" the orange-skinned teen replied brightly "I know you will undoubtedly be able to further improve on our technology." He turned more directly gazing into her eyes. "I know you and I will do great things together," he said in a heated whisper.
Wrench smirked when the aqua-haired female jumped back an angry scowl on her lips.
"I'm doing nothing to help you supply death weapons to the highest bidder," she hissed. "You are deluding yourself if you think I'll be your assistant."
"More than an assistant" the daidairojin continued undeterred "my partner in everything. We are so much alike, you and I, and we can rise above the rest of the mental midgets in the galaxy together."
"I don't want to control the galaxy," Bulma snapped. "My answer your ridiculous proposal still is no."
"Think again" he said desperately grabbing her arm. "I could give you anything your heart desires even eternal life. Think of it, instead of dieing old and feeble you merely step into a new body as your loveliness begins to fade."
"Look" she spit nastily "I told you I wasn't going to create weapons to kill people and I meant it. You might as well send me home right now. Maybe if you do Vegeta will be easy on you and let you live."
"I don't think you understand Bulma" the Doctor said sternly "you will help me willingly or by force."
Wrench smirked as the woman attempted to pull away again. The doctor may not know how to deal with the woman but he did. "Doctor" Wrench spoke up brightly "the problem is that Mrs. Briefs here is not won over by smooth talk and flattery. She doesn't yet appreciate just what loosing her freedom of thought means and I think I have just the way for her to appreciate it."
Bulma turned her attention to the boy curiously. He seemed quite pleased with himself and she couldn't help but feel the same foreboding she had the night before during her attempted escape. She didn't want to know what he was thinking but knew she soon would find out whether she liked it or not.
***
Vegeta and 17 sat observing the goings-on of the refugee camp. After being led through a pitch-black passage Zenac and his strange band had led them to this hide-away in a nearby catacomb of caves and long abandoned mines. Perhaps 50 families were living there under the Commander's care along with his 20 or so "freedom-fighters". It was not unlike the countless of such camps Vegeta had seen in his servitude to Freeza. The resistance leader rescued them and then tried to care for their needs while fighting a useless guerilla war against a foe they had no chance of defeating. Often these would be saviors found the challenge of placating the starving and suffering brood under their care their downfall sapping their strength and ultimately used against them by their foes. He little doubted that it was only a matter of time before these encampments were discovered and squashed for he had often been on "clean-up duty" for Freeza witnessing many like movements meet a similar fate.
"So when do you think this Zenac will see us?" 17 said with a bored yawn.
"Shortly" Vegeta said curtly watching the refugee females and children trying desperately not to stare at he, the infamous saiyajin prince, and his companion. "They are now doubtlessly arguing about whether they can trust us."
"I say we just crash their little meeting" 17 said smoothing his ebony hair behind an ear.
"That would not gain us their cooperation" Vegeta answered, "We need their assistance to find the Machine Planet. I dislike being at their mercy but it cannot be helped if we wish to reach my mate."
"You really have changed" 17 chided "my data shows the old you would have forced them to help and blown them away afterwards."
Vegeta's eyebrow twitched slightly. "I still have no qualms about blowing them away if they refuse to cooperate," he snapped quickly.
17 smirked and decided to let the subject rest with this small victory. The saiyajin was obviously sensitive about his change in behavior and he strangely enough could relate to his discomfort on some level. The changes he had witnessed in his own sibling gave him pause to do so. He wondered if he ever fell in love that it would cause him to change as well. He had already begun to change for his sister's sake not taking part in meaningless killing. He still had to find an outlet for his destructive impulses, which he found in the underground fighting societies who paid to see blood and entertainment, but he had yet to kill any of his opponents. Besides it was difficult to stay out of the spotlight if you were involved in murder let alone mass murder and he rather liked being left alone to his own devices. The reaction of all of these people to Vegeta was enough to illustrate that point. Yet the Z Warriors seemed welcoming enough to 18 despite her bloody past. The behavior of emotional, fleshly beings was all quite perplexing. His programming was unable to puzzle it out.
"The council will see you now" a soft, melodious voice said suddenly. Both men looked up to see the woman from before with the odd eyes standing with her arms crossed waiting to escort them.
"Lead the way wench" Vegeta proclaimed gracefully rising to his feet accessing her more closely. She was not a pureblooded kyouryuujin most definitely. Her build was more lithe; in fact all of her features were soft, and not muscular like the female gender of kyouryuujin were. Her unabashed hatred leapt to life as he met her eyes, one violet and the other gold, with his.
"I'm only doing this for Zenac" she said coldly "your orders mean nothing."
17 smirked at Vegeta as the woman turned on her heel and ran to catch up to her. Vegeta grumbled under his breath as the android fell into step with the girl with an obvious intent.
"I see you are another member of the Vegeta fan club" said with a disarming smile.
"I have nothing to say to you either," the woman snapped.
"Now that was uncalled for," 17 said with mock hurt "I was only trying to make friendly conversation."
"I don't make friends with assassins and mass murderers" she retorted nearing a make sift lean-to. Snapping the burlap flap to the side she slid in. As the flap neatly snapped closed behind her 17 turned around and shrugged his shoulders holding his arms to the side feigning innocence at her behavior and followed.
Ignoring his companion Vegeta took in a deep breath and drew himself up into a dignified carriage entering the meeting. A dozen eyes immediately turned towards him as he stood in the doorway with obvious trepidation. These kyouryuujin obviously knew of him and he could use that to his advantage. Those standing, including the young odd-eyed woman and the other fighters, were obviously commoners but the three men and one woman who sat in crudely made chairs at the center of the room were also nobles wearing the identifying circlets and jewelry.
"Prince Vegeta" Zenac said rising to greet him "welcome to what is left of kyouryuujin government." The soldier stopped and gestured towards the 4 seated individuals in the tent as he continued with a courtly flourish of his well-muscled arm. "Your Highness I would like to introduce you to Lord Melik, Lady Meshan, Lord Belok, Lord Telin and myself Lord Zenac. We are what remains of the High Counsel of Kyouryuusei. Will you have a seat?" This said he gestured to the only empty chair in the room.
"Giving up your chair to me? That can only mean you are planning to ask something of me that requires buttering me up first." Vegeta commented shrewdly. "Am I right?"
"We only hoped to show you the respect of your station Saiyajin no Ouji" Lady Meshan said in a voice strained with age.
"I would think you'd be grateful for the royal treatment Vegeta" 17 said "after all you don't get any back home."
Vegeta shot the android a pointed look that screamed shut-up to which 17 merely smiled.
"Forgive the interruption" Vegeta growled, "He is only a second-rate machine and not programmed with proper court etiquette. He is of no consequence and can be removed if you wish."
"If you expect to get any help from me saiyajin I would think twice about having me thrown out. I can just as easily find my own way off this planet and beat you to the rendezvous point" the cyborg retorted.
"I never asked for your help android" Vegeta spat passionately indigent "it would be no loss to me if you left this mission altogether so either shut-up or leave. Otherwise I will destroy you here and now before you endanger anything that is mine with your flippant attitude."
17's smirk turned to a frown as he saw the desperate look in the saiyajin's eyes. He was dead serious and he decided to remain silent. After all the saiyajin was much stronger than he and self-preservation was a high priority for him.
Turning his head back to the somewhat bewildered group Vegeta crossed his arms and stood ready. "Now I will hear what it is you have to say," he said with a commanding air.
"Very well," Zenac said inclining his head slightly. "As you know our home world has been under tsirijin control since Freeza annexed it long ago. I'm not sure how much of the universe's events you have followed over the years but the Cold's control of several sectors waned for a period after the disappearance of Freeza, King Cold and Cooler. Once Cooler reappeared he seemed only concerned with his own holdings and his father's so we were most happily forgotten for quite sometime."
The kyouryuujin man's gaze became intent and he continued. "We rebuilt everything, reestablished the monarchy, and even began to rebuild our reputation in the galactic community only to have it all destroyed 3 years ago. Frigid began his insane campaign to expand the Frost Clan's holdings and easily defeated our still handicapped world with his army of clones. He began systematically decimating our rich resources and even moved here once he fell out of favor with his home world. He has decimated Kyouryuusei and its people to a point we even wonder if restoration is possible."
"And what does this have to do with me?" Vegeta asked.
"The only way to stop his stripping of this planet and free my people from his slavery is to kill him and we need you to do it" Zenac said seriously.
Vegeta chuckled. "You need me to kill him," Vegeta said with a smirk. "You truly are pathetic if you cannot kill him. He is a laughable warrior at best even against your inferior forces."
"It may be hard for you to believe but he is not as helpless as you think" Zenac began gravely. He has had Ki boosters implanted in his body and has enough skill to kill any of us easily. As you know my people are not warriors and we never have learned anything of hand-to-hand combat."
"Why not take him out from a distance with one of your weapons?" Vegeta queried.
"He has some kind of shielding on himself at all times and none of our artillery has been successful."
"So you need someone that knows how to fight hand-to-hand to take him out" Vegeta said with a nod "and you want me to do it."
"Of course we would give you what you want in compensation," Zenac continued. "We will download the location of the Machine Planet for you from his computers."
"If you can have the information I require by tomorrow afternoon I will do as you ask" Vegeta said in a tone that left no room for argument.
"By tomorrow afternoon" the kyouryuujin protested, "surely you can give us one or two days. Security will be doubled and…"
"That is my stipulation" Vegeta said waving his hand in dismissal "and I will not budge on it."
"But Prince Vegeta" Zenac protested only to be met with the back of the saiyajin's black head.
"Let him go Zenac" Lealia called out viciously "he doesn't give a damn about us or anything else. He probably has a date to butcher someone he can't miss or he won't get paid extra blood money."
17 saw the hitch in Vegeta's step as he listened to the woman's biting words. He stopped dead as she finished his hand clenching briefly before he spoke as the older kyouryuujin scolded her.
"Tomorrow afternoon" Vegeta said in a steely tone slipping out of the tent.
17 turned his ice-blue eyes on the odd-eyed female. She seemed consumed in an aura of hatred. She despised the Saiyajin no Ouji.
"We don't need him" she shouted "Pern's new laser almost got through the shield last time. How could you even think he'd be willing to do anything for us? He helped Freeza kill man of us including my father. He'd sell us out in a second."
17 frowned. It didn't look good for their cause the way the assembled group was agreeing with her. "Look I don't know who you are or what vendetta you have against Vegeta but an innocent person is likely to be hurt if we don't get to the Machine Planet as soon as possible. Time is of the essence. I'm sure your father wouldn't want someone to die because you harbor a grudge."
With this said he quietly made his escape just as the noisy din of voices erupted in the room.
***
It only took a moment for 16's electronic brain to process the action as Trunks blinded his captor and fell to the ground. The servos in his legs tightened and then propelled him forward with an explosion of power. It took 2 seconds for him to change course as the boy scrambled away from Snow and her sister lunged for him barely avoiding her fists. Her reflexes, equally quick, only took a moment for her to twist her body and slam her tail into his arms crossed before him in a strong block. He felt his organic skin layer tear and his interior metallic casing dent in with the blow. Surprised that a fleshly being could damage him, he looked back up as she rounded on him to strike once more to see her flesh turn to stone and at once understood her danger. This one was clever and would change into whatever she had to defeat him. Unfortunately his archives contained no information on the best tactic to use against a shape shifter so he would just have to discover weakness through trial and error.
Trunks gasped and paused as he witnessed the tsirijin damage his friend. She had morphed into stone to batter the android and a strange guttural growl from behind told him that his trick hadn't slowed his pursuer for long. He had to do something but what? Right now the only thing that came to mind was to run so run he did. That is until a massive beast leapt in front of him cutting him off. The demi-saiyajin leapt up avoiding a slashing hand with razor-sharp claws. The gray beast rose to its full 9 feet in height chucking maniacally its pupiless black eyes neither blinked or stared as it opened its mouth revealing a double set of pointed teeth.
"Thought you could escape me half-breed?" it asked in a feminine voice that seemed so entirely alien to it. The boy stopped cold in shock. "That's a good little monkey" Snow cackled in delight "if you come along willingly I promise not to hurt you…much."
"A saiyajin never gives in without a fight," Trunks muttered preoccupied looking around himself. He had to think of something to do. 16 was fighting the other twin so he wouldn't be getting any help. It was just he against this thing, a one on one battle, and his first one for real.
"Trunks" 16 shouted throwing a right into the rock-hard face of his opponent "get to the escape pod and go! Get to the rendezvous point!"
Trunks hazarded a glance behind himself at the pod. Maybe he could make it but what about 16? He couldn't leave him alone to face both the Cold Sisters, could he?
"Yes turn tail and run little coward" Snow chided, "Daddy would be so proud of that wouldn't he?"
"I'm not a coward!" Trunks declared taking a fighting stance.
"Trunks go now!" 16 shouted blocking a series of kicks and punches.
"I won't leave you here to fight them by yourself" the boy declared. There had to be another way, there just had to be. 16 was getting more and more damaged by the second.
"Yes the odds are much better of escaping with you here" Snow chuckled. With this she lunged forward slamming her massive fist down toward his head. Trunks ducked towards the side narrowly avoid her hand as it smashed into the metal deck. He thought desperately through all his father had taught him. Use all your advantages against your opponent. What was an advantage he had? Well right now he was smaller than her and maybe faster?
16 gritted he teeth and tried not to stumble as the stone tail smashed into his shoulder. Grabbing the tip of her tail he clamped down with a crushing force and was rewarded with a piercing shriek as the appendage began to crumble. Quickly its form changed into something squishy and formless as she kicked out with left foot to his arm.
"You'll pay for that," Blizzard said calmly morphing the twisted limb back into stone.
Trunks ducked under Snows massive leg and dove under her. Rolling out he charged the biggest ki blast he could muster and sent it straight at the large target in front of him. Snow screeched as the blast neatly connected with her back and she stumbled forward. He looked up and saw the cargo bay doors and a bright idea occurred to his. With a very Vegeta-like smirk he took off flying towards the door.
16 smiled mysteriously raising his fist parallel to her abdomen. To Blizzard's shock the limb detached and launched towards her exploding on impact shattering part of her stone belly before she could recover and change into something more explosion absorbent. As the trunk of her body became liquid she hit the ground watching as the android turned and ran in the same direction as the boy that had just sent her sister sprawling forward and onto the ground.
"16 the doors!" the boy shouted as the android headed toward him. The two met in the front of the control panel just in time for Snow to get to her feet. "I'm going to send them out the airlock" she proclaimed proudly.
"Sister" Blizzard groaned as she unmapped. She clutched at the large wound pouring out purplish blood.
"Hurry" the android said turning towards their opponents.
Seeing her sister's state the tsirijin's eyes narrowed in hate at the pair as she changed back to normal. Raising her hand she charged a massive blast.
Trunks ran into the ship and turned to see 16 hit the controls to the door.
"Once the doors are closed open the airlock!" the android shouted as the doors began to come together. Burying his hand in the circuitry of the console 16 managed a small smile of contentment as the shower of sparks hit him.
"No!" Trunks shouted futilely pounding on the doors. "No! Damn it! You can't leave me alone!"
At that moment the boy turned his eyes to the view panel and was met by the calm smile of the android. His eyes clearly reminded him of what he had to do. 16 had promised to get him safely back to his father and was making the ultimate sacrifice to do so. Sniffing lightly the demi-saiyajin slammed his palm on the control panel opening the cargo hatch. Venturing a brave smile in his companion's direction before wheeling around and bolting straight towards the cockpit.
"What's happening?" Snow questioned looking at the bay doors as they began to creek-open.
"By the Gods!" Blizzard shouted "that little baka is expelling us into space!"
As air began rushing out Snow circled her sister's body with her arm Snow flew towards the escape craft.
"Not so fast" the giant android said blocking they're way. 16 set down in front of them magnetizing his boots to the floor nonplussed by the objects being pulled into space around him. "You won't be using our escape pod."
Suctioning her feet to the floor Snow grimaced against the pull of the leaving atmosphere. "I wasn't going to steal it. I just wanted to be sure you couldn't."
"We can breath in space," Blizzard informed him "we don't need the escape pod."
Lifting one finger and swaying it in a casual arch Snow sent a sharp blade of energy toward the craft. "And since we can get Vegeta's mate I suppose the boy isn't of much use either" she cackled sending an identical blade to the cargo bay doors.
The android immediately sped towards the ki blade aimed at the doors trying to adjust as the environment around him began to depressurize. Swinging his arm towards the energy blade he switched on Bulma's new ki deflecting force field and sent it flying through the bay doors. The other blade hit its mark slicing through the pod like a hot knife through butter and barreled through the far wall of the bay.
"Not bad machine" Snow sneered. 16 watched in disbelief as the tsirijin allowed the last of the vacuum to tear her from the ship and the battered pieces of the escape pod. Turning slightly she sent a final barrage of blades toward him aimed perfectly to slice at the floor beneath his feet.
Looking down he saw the weakened floor begin give under his weight. It only took him a moment to access his situation. There was nothing he could do to get away from the weakened sections of floor before they broke free so he released his magnetic lock on the floor as the weightless atmosphere took effect. Floating in the soundless vacuum of space he couldn't hear the engines announce their jump to light speed as he was carried out of the bay. As he slipped into the blackness outside the ship suddenly leapt forward and disappeared. The android smiled to himself. At least Trunks was safe. That was all he needed to know.
The tsirijin also watched the departure of the ship as well only with a partly curious lack of concern. The reason for this was their father's early training. It seemed he frequently had to use this means of escape into open space and had prepared them to use it as well. All of them carried a small device under the skin of their left arm. All that was required was a quick cut to the wrist and it could be removed. It contained an emergency beacon that was keyed to a ship nearby and could be called to retrieve them. Using their unique physiology to advantage was an ingenious means to get out of sticky situations.
At this time both sisters clutched a rescue device in her hands. Blizzard smiled as the information she sought flashed on the screen; she now knew the direction the half-saiyajin child had headed. Having accomplished her task Blizzard smiled weakly up at her sister. Taking the subtle cue Snow hit the emergency button on her device giving her twin a reassuring smile. Seeing her sister pale and weak from loss of blood caused her to feel the closest emotion to pity she was capable of. Even though her family had always been rather cold and detached from one another she and her twin had always been close. They relied on each other for companionship during their Shadow Sister training and supported each other over the years while they resided in the enemy clan. It had always been the two of them against the universe sharing the sublime secret of their treacherous manipulations of others.
After the loss of their siblings and father they stood united against society. Slowly they had taken over both the most powerful clans of tsirisei, playing both sides so they appeared to be working against each other, while all the time they were pursuing the same goal. It had been easy to wrap the Frigid around their little fingers giving him visions of universal domination, making themselves indispensable to him, so that he would back their defiance of the traditional retiring to the harems at full maturity. Taking the place of Cooler continued to be a marvelous juggling act they both excelled at. Taking turns at impersonation careful that they each were seen enough to avoid suspicion. Frigid soon controlled one sector of space while Cooler the other. The bitter rivalry of the Cold and Frost clans seemingly continued as it for centuries only it was they that held the cards. Now they were united once again, working together for one mutual goal, revenge against the Saiyajin Royal House and conquest of the universe. As they floated silently neither had to look at the other to know she was smiling. They had the exact same vision and as long as the two of them were together they would succeed.
***
Bulma stared uneasily at the stark cold walls of the operating room trying to fathom why she had been brought there. It was directly adjacent to Doctor Kougou's lab and doubtless had some dark and barbaric purpose. She gazed uneasily down at Wrench who cast her a knowing smile laced with anticipation. He had an especially eerie aura about him as he had led her there. She felt almost sick with foreboding.
"Bulma" Doctor Kougou said brightly "you are being honored with seeing a sight seldom witnessed by my scientists. Wrench thought you would enjoy seeing the fate that those who resist me face and I was only to happy to oblige."
"So that's what this is about. I'm not easily intimidated," she asserted.
"That's why you're here," Wrench said evenly. "I knew you'd need to see the horror of the whole thing for yourself to be swayed."
"We shall see what you think after you see the show" the mad scientist concurred twisting his face into a cold smile.
The doors to the chamber hissed open and two large robots dragged in a semiconscious figure across the cool, sterile floor. What mostly caught her eye were the to enormous white wings, one that flopped uselessly as he was dragged across the floor. On closer perusal she saw he was a man, an old man with white hair and delicate blue skin encrusted in many places with dried black liquid. The mechanical slaves of the doctor flung his prone body onto a cool metallic platform at the room's center with as little ceremony as a butcher throwing a piece of meat onto a chopping block making Bulma wince in empathy. The man groaned lolling his head to the side as the robots pushed him into a seated position.
"Awaken him," the doctor command.
Obediently the robot extend its arm and grabbed hold of the one good wing with its claw. Almost immediately upon contact the man cried out jerking as electricity arched through him. He weakly lifted his head and glared at the doctor with bleary bloodshot eyes. The creature was one she didn't recognize, doubtlessly from some distant world she had no knowledge of, yet she couldn't help but feel outrage as it was hung by its arms dangling like a limp doll above the floor.
"Bulma, " Kougou said with his back still to her "not two days before you came this man, a scientist who had been a faithful employee for 20 years betrayed us. He offered to pay a group of alien ambassadors that came to us seeking technology to smuggle him off planet. What he didn't count on was that I always include a hefty bonus to everyone I do business with to inform me of any such plots."
"Money and a contract for exclusive technology" Wrench added.
"Yes" Kougou said irritably. "As I was saying, he was turned in and after being detained and interrogated we are now here for him to be attached."
"Enslaved you mean" the creature gasped.
"So you can still find a voice" Kougou said disdainfully "that will soon be remedied."
Bulma shifted uneasily as the broken man gazed at her.
"Who is this?" he wheezed.
"You have no business…." Kougou began to chide.
"Doctor" Wrench butted in "I would like for him to know. I think it would be highly entertaining."
"Wrench do I have to remind you that you are my employee and have no right to interrupt me at anytime" the diadorijin shouted.
"I'm sorry I forgot my place" Wrench yawned "but I only thought with his connection to Vegeta he'd be interested to know who our lovely guest is."
"Prince Vegeta" the man fairly hissed looking more closely at the blue-haired woman before him.
"Very well" the doctor stated irritably "tell him but be quick about it."
"Chancellor Hane I'd like to present Bulma Princess of the Saiyajin, mate of Vegeta Saiyain Prince" Wrench said snidely.
The man's eyes became sad and wide as he intensified his perusal of the woman before him. Bulma felt at once cowed and outraged. Yet again her connection to Vegeta was being used as a weapon of torture and alienation. She could see the painful despair shining from his eyes with his memories of some tragedy and it was more than she could face so she turning her eyes away.
"He took a mate" the man stated in a calm low voice "that's more than I thought him capable of, unless she too is here because of his treachery."
Bulma felt the familiar ire rise once again and looked up at the man to defend herself but the fire within her was quickly dowsed by the lack of malice present in the man's face. Only intense sadness rested on this man's shoulders and weighed down his wings that now drooped in defeat.
"Whatever Vegeta did" Bulma ventured apologetically, "I'm sure he regrets it now." Part of her twisted as she wondered at her statement's truth.
"I hope to the gods that is so," the man stated with a little more fire. "I cannot place the blame entirely on him though. I and my foolish Lady brought about the destruction of my world more speedily."
Bulma shuddered at the words the man spoke feeling the shame of knowing yet another of Vegeta's crimes weigh heavy on her chest.
"Don't forget my hand in it" Wrench said almost peevishly.
"How could I forget your hand" the man spat. "The bloodguilt lies mostly with you and Frigid. You were the ones that made Freeza destroy us."
"ENOUGH!" the angry Kougou silenced. "I'm tired of your pitiful sobs stories over the past." This said the scientist lifted up a black case before his now fiendishly grinning face. Flipping the lock he tossed an object to the floor that crashed with a metallic ring. As Bulma stared at the object curiously she suddenly recognized it as the object she had dubbed the "receiver" 4 years before. Its unmistakable oblong body and mass of twisted tentacles at the base were unmistakable. Despite countless hours of research she had never determined its purpose but now she feared the same discovery she had eagerly sought those years ago. Suddenly the light on its small domed top flicked on and she started as it's metal tentacles unwound and, with 4 tiny clicks, they struck the floor. She couldn't suppress the wave of goose flesh as it advanced at the man appearing very much like a large spider stalking its prey. Her mind instinctively recalled the clatter of its feet as a sound she had once heard behind herself in her lab after she had succeeded in activating the device. It was at that moment she came to the frightening realization that the receiver must have been hunting her then as this one now stalked toward it's victim.
She couldn't help but shudder as it leaped at the man like a hungry animal and scampered up his back. His eyes grew wide with fear as it wrapped two of its limbs around his throat. In horror she watched as it drew back it's other two appendages and stabbed the man on either side of his spinal column. She could only stare in sick awe as the man began screaming in agony, straining against the vice like grip of the robots, as they were shoved deeper and deeper, black blood oozing down his neck onto the floor. At last she closed her eyes unable to watch trying to ignore the continuing shrieks of the man and the pictures it brought to her mind knowing that this was what Vegeta must have gone through when he was assimilated. His anguished cries abruptly died with a strangled gasp leaving the only the sound her heart thudding wildly in her ears.
"I never thought you to be the squeamish type," Wrench taunted. "The messy part is over by the way."
Frowning Bulma opened her eyes to the site of Chancellor Hane slumped over barely breathing the flow from his neck further staining his snowy wings with inky black. Feeling the bile rise into her throat she wrinkled her nose in disgust at the sweet metallic smell in the air as the man's limbs began to twitch.
"The device is testing his nervous system briefly before taking full control. The adjustment period is remarkable fast," Kougou explained excitedly.
Hane abruptly, and without incident, pushed himself up and off of the floor. Gathering his body up rigidly the man stood at attention, his arms at his sides, vacant eyes blinking out before him.
"Hane" the doctor said evenly "I want you to go and rest now and allow yourself time to adjust."
"As you wish doctor," the man's toneless voice answered.
Bulma nearly fell into tears at the sight. She couldn't help but mourn for him although he'd briefly known him. No she didn't know him just like she didn't know herself at this moment.
"Now that you know I trust you won't be trying to escape" Wrench startled her gazing at her intently.
Bulma repressed the wave of fear she felt at the unuttered threat. He would surrender her to the dogs if she didn't behave and keep her little escape attempt secret if she behaved well.
"Bulma" the doctor said coming up to her "are you alright? Did this upstart say something to upset you?"
"No" Bulma said lightly. "I'm fine. I just need some air." Quickly leaving the two behind she walked unseeing through the twists and turns of the hallway she had memorized to her quarters feeling humbled and lost. She wasn't sure what had shaken her more the man's possession by the probe or the fact her had been yet another of Vegeta's victims from the past.
Closing the door behind her Bulma flung herself onto the bed too emotionally wrought to even allow tears to run from her eyes. Far too much strain had been on her that day pushing her quickly into the abyss of a dreamless sleep.
***
Vegeta leaned against the cold wall of the cavern only partly aware of what surrounded. He had slipped away to collect himself, to calm himself through meditation away from the exasperating android and the ridiculous kyouryuujin. He tried to empty his mind as he had been taught as a child, he tried to push all emotion aside and focus on his goal. He was finding his task impossible this time because his goal was deeply entwined with his emotion. It was impossible to think of finding his wife and now his son without feeling anxious, angry and uncertain. All his life he had tried to purge his soul and mind of all feeling only to fail time and again. Since he had allowed Bulma in his life he found himself dancing precariously on the edge trying desperately to be in two places at once. Wanting to feel as deeply as possible and yet not let it control his actions. At first he had been disgusted by his longings, but slowly he had begun to accept them, even welcome them and the contentment they brought. Now these very same emotions were a torture driving to irrationality but he could be irrational, not if he wanted Bulma and Trunks back. Sitting there, in the silence of the cave, he had come to an epiphany. His Father had been wrong, it was not the weak who lived with emotions but the strong, only those strong enough not to allow their heart to tear them apart.
Bulma, his Bulma, she could be lost to him forever and his last words to her had been cold. The last image he had of her was blue eyes haunted by pain and soft, porcelain cheeks stained by tears because of his selfish actions. He had pushed her away and denied her the bond she deserved because he was afraid to give that much of himself to another. He could not allow that to be the end of things. She was alive and he would find her. He would complete the bond no matter what he feared the consequences might be. Just to hold her one more time, to have her cling to him fiercely as she murmured her sanguine words of devotion while he ravened her, would be enough to bear whatever came after.
Trunks, was another matter. He was entirely exasperating and confusing. He had not had a moment's peace since the first night his shrieking had awakened him from sleep. The boy continued to disobey him and challenge him but somehow the moments he looked at him, his sapphire eyes sparkling with pride, he could forget all injuries the brat inflicted. The mere thought of never seeing his mischievous smirk, or his smiling face again twisted his heart. The tin can had better of kept his word. The boy had to be okay.
Suddenly the Ouji's keen senses snapped his into consciousness. Freezing in place he concentrated on the dark, looking for the source of the disturbance. His keen eyes noticed two forms approaching. His muscles stiffened preparing to fight or flee.
"What is it you needed to speak to me about in private" a melafous voice inquired. Peering deeper into the dim Vegeta's eyes confirmed the speaker as the antagonistic odd-eyed female.
"I'm sure you already know what I'm about to ask" Zenac's deep stately voice said calmly.
Vegeta pressed his back to the rock wall standing straight and still.
"You want me to go and retrieve the location of the Machine Planet for the Saiyajin Prince" she said in an easy tone.
"You are the only one who can go in and out without any worry of being seen" he explained.
Vegeta smirked. What a perfect opportunity to learn of his host's true intentions all he had to do was eavesdrop.
"Yes" Lealia said in an unmistakably bitter tone "I'm the only one that can do it swiftly and safely in the amount of time his highness so graciously gave us."
Vegeta nearly chuckled out loud at this. She had a sharp quick tongue, a quality he admired.
"Lealia" Zenac said soothingly "I know this is difficult for you but it's for the greater good."
"Whose greater good?" the female spat. "More than likely we will be sentencing another person or even a world just so we can get this hell-hole back. He could even turn on us after we get him what he wants. You've heard the stories of his infamous murders of trusting fools."
"He was Freeza's soldier and did no more than his other high ranking soldiers, which included your father," Zenac said gravely.
Vegeta puzzled for a moment…a kyouryuujin in Freeza's service. He knew of none who joined the army except Zarbon…
"My father was victimized by Freeza how dare you compare him to the saiyajin butcher."
Vegeta leaned out a bit and squinted in the dark trying to make out the girl. Her back was to him and his nocturnal vision could barely make her out. She couldn't be Zarbon's daughter, she looked nothing like him. She turned and began to pace purposefully back and forth in front of the Commander.
"Zenac he is nothing like Vegeta no Ouji" she insisted wringing her hands as she went.
"Think before you pass judgment. I'm merely pointing out the fact that Zarbon killed millions and destroyed worlds in the name of Freeza as well as Vegeta, and what's more he did it with pleasure" Zenac continued passively watched her distress.
So she was Zarbon's daughter.
"My father was a good man" she said angrily pausing before Zenac. "How can you, his own brother, say such things? He had no choice but to serve Freeza. He did it to keep me safe."
Vegeta cocked his eyebrow at this. That didn't sound like the self-absorbed ass he knew for the better part of his life.
"Lealia," Zenac replied placing a fatherly hand on her shoulder "as much as I loved Zarbon, he went into Freeza's service by choice. He left home with the good intention of learning to fight and use his ki for our movement but he stayed because he loved the lifestyle being Freeza's trusted right-hand man gave him. After you were born he had every chance and opportunity to leave but he chose not to. The Prince was taken and forced into Freeza's army when still a child. Of the two of them I think the saiyajin had the least control of his life."
An odd feeling formed in the pit of Vegeta's stomach hearing a total stranger defend him. This man who had helped him escape and was offering help was Zarbon's brother.
"I won't listen to this!" Lealia cried pulling away "How can you say that about the man that killed your own flesh and blood?"
"You will listen!" Zenac said urgently staring into her eyes "Like it or not the only way any of us will have peace and freedom is to kill Frigid. We have no choice."
Yes, they all had little choice. He had little choice but to trust these kyouryuujin, who had every right to exact a blood debt from him.
"Why must we kill him uncle?" she questioned. "He's sick and those two vultures are manipulating him. You know what we've seen! The Cold sisters are the true danger. If he was removed from their influence I'm sure he could be reasoned with."
"Damn it Lealia!" Zenac snapped "I curse the day I told you who he was. You've had unrealistic expectations ever since then. Have your attempts to talk to him, to reason with him, as a soldier worked?"
"But if I were to tell him who I am…" Lealia began.
"Enough!" Zenac said pointedly with a note of finality. "Your thinking such things will get you killed! You are like a daughter to me and I won't see that happen."
"For my part I think that between the Frost King and the Saiyajin no Ouji that Frigid is the lesser of the two evils!" she said viciously. "I refuse to help the man that killed my father and my mother to murder another member of my family!"
Vegeta watched in stunned silence as the woman disappeared into thin air and suddenly it occurred to him where and on whose lips he had heard her name and the thought made his chest feel heavy.
"Vegeta please trust me," she begged softly "I want to take you away far away from Freeza. I have a daughter, her name is Lealia, and she needs to he safe from Freeza too. I'll keep you both safe, I swear on my life. Just find it in your heart to trust me one last time."
Slumping back against the cave wall Vegeta closed his eyes. He felt positively sick at the thought of what had occurred next, after she had said that, and as always, it shamed him. What kind of sick joke were the gods of the universe playing on him by dragging out all of the specters of his long dead past to torment him once again? First Wrench, then Frigid and now the daughter of perhaps the only person he had regretted killing. No he mustn't think that way, it was right and just for him to kill her after what she had done to him.
Well, that's it. What didya think, huh?
I'm pretty sure you've got enough information from this and Cold Accord to put together all of the relationships. Of course you will be seeing exactly what happened in the final chapters of Part 1 of the Vegeta Trilogy.
I think I've left you with some pretty good cliffys. Lol. What will happen to poor 4 year-old Trunks all by himself in the hostile universe? What of 16 floating out in space? What will the twins do? How will the realization of whose daughter Lealia is affect Vegeta and the mission?