Bulma was still fast asleep when the door slammed open hours before she was ready to get up. The sun hadn't even thought of coming out yet and here was the king barging into the room like she did when she entered her lab on a bad day. Of course SHE was the only one ever allowed in there so she never woke anyone up hours before dawn. But she did come to full awareness immediately all the same. On hand clutching the sheet to cover her from the king, the slips had fallen over while she slept and it revealed more than she liked, while the other hand was ready to throw a ki blast. She took comfort in the small bit of power glowing around her hand. She felt Vegeta doing the very same at her side, it was then that she noticed the unwelcome intruder was only the king. Glancing to Vegeta she saw that he looked anything but pleased. "Oh." She said letting a yawn come. "I thought it was an assassin or something dangerous and annoying like that." Flopping back down onto the bed she snuggled back under the sheets. Only to have them ripped from her, or attempted, she had such a good grip that she kind of went with them. Finding herself in a tangled heap in the sheets from the bed she looked up to the king. She was just barely able to keep her mouth shut, but that didn't stop her from cursing him out mentally.
"Get out of here wench." She opened her mouth to protest but when Vegeta told her to leave she closed it. Standing she used her ki to untangle the sheets enough so she could move. Limping to the bathroom she grabbed her battered clothes from the day before and disappeared. Once dressed she went straight to the ship, the engines were in a sorry state but that was about it, taking a look around she went into her room, there she found something she had long forgotten she put there. A small fraction of a senzu bean, swallowing it she felt her ribs, legs, and everything else heal. Her ki was still low but she could put up with that. Stripping down she unraveled all the bandages and took a shower. Finally clean she dressed in some of her clothes that had been in the ship. She truly looked normal. With no tail peeping out from her clothes she had been forced to sow the hole shut. Without further ado she set to work repairing the shot circuitry. But not before putting on some tunes. 'Dam I've missed my cd's. That's one thing I'm taking off before they leave.'
Vegeta had been as in a deep of sleep as the woman in his arms had been. But the moment the doors to his room slammed open both were in a sitting position and ready to blast whoever had came. But as it turned out it was only his father. Scowling he hardly heard Bulma's remarks. When she flopped back onto the pillows he almost smirked. Evidently her opinion of the king was the same as any other person she met. Not impressed. But when his father wrenched one of the cavers from her she went with them. He hadn't even been able to tell how viciously she had been holding onto the covers. One of the covers was still covering him from his waist down, but both were dressed so using the sheets for modesty was merely an act. She glared from the ground up but remained silent. Though he could lightly 'hear' what she was thinking. And all of it was enough to put some of his best ranting to shame. She defiantly had a tongue for insults. When she was ordered to leave he only agreed so that she wouldn't be there for his father to pick at. Once she was gone Vegeta had his father leave so he could dress. He had seen the little boy peek through the door to find out what all the noise was about, but contrary to his original opinions of the brat he gave one glance at the goings on and left before even being spotted by the king. Entering his outer room he glared at his father. "What are you doing coming in at this time?" He demanded.
"I've come to tell you that I'll be leaving for Planet twelve in region eight. Their revolting again and this time I'm going to put an end to it once and for all."
'And spy on the woman and I.' Vegeta thought but didn't say. As soon as his father left Vegeta set out for his mate. 'Mate? I must be bonded.' Never had he considered any of the woman he had taken as anything more than a distraction. But Bulma was able to present a challenge even when she had been under control of the ki collar. She stood up for herself and refused to back down from whatever she said or did. His mind went back to the morning he had found her a hairs length from death the night she had been attacked. Someone had raped her beat her and used a blade on her. And worse of all she had said he had done it before. But she wouldn't tell him who he was. Only that it was none of his business. Well now he would make it his. When she had gotten sick he had only brushed his emotions aside. But the site of that strange woman getting ready to inject that needle into Bulma had scared him. Following her ki he found her working on the ship her friends had been captured on. She had something on her head and seemed to be humming. A small smile tugged at her lips as she worked. He also noticed that she was wearing clothes that HAD to have come from the ship. "Woman."
Bulma jumped when she heard Vegeta from behind. Briefly he told her what had happened. "Cool." She was still on a high from the little fragment of stale senzu.
"Why aren't you limping like before? Where are your bandages women?" She heard him demand after seeing her move from one part of the engine to the other.
"Found something in the ship. Well there was a small fragment of senzu in my room and I ate it. Not big enough to restore my ki all the way but enough to heal my bones and stuff." She then had to explain senzu beans to him and how only Koran had ever been the one to grow them. Vegeta soon left to go and destroy her latest gravity machine and she went back to work. Humming a tune she rolled back under the ship. The outer hull had some damage that needed to be fixed before take-off was even thought of. She nearly ripped out half the inner circuitry when she was pulled out from the ships underside. Once again she met eyes with Vegeta's father. "Uh yes?" She questioned wondering what the hell he wanted. But all he did was glare at her. He was about to say something when Gohan came bounding in. He screeched to a halt when he saw the king. He cast a worried glance to her but she only smiled. "Yes Gohan?"
Not taking his eyes off the king he spoke. "Mom says breakfast is ready and that she won't let us eat till both you and the prince are at the table." Using some of her ki she phased to his side. Casting a look back at the king she left.
'Close one.' She sent her nephew up ahead while she went to the training room. She stopped to watch him work. She didn't think he knew she was there so she took her time to admire him in action. It was only that reason that she nearly connected with one of his ki blast. Retaliating with a blast of her own she caught his attention.
"What are you doing here woman?" Vegeta barked but slightly surprised that she had deflected one of his more powerful blasts.
"Well breakfast IS ready and I thought you MIGHT want to eat it before Gohan and I get to it." She smiled charmingly and left for the kitchen. He noted how her movements were slightly uneasy.
"So how's life with out a tail?" He teased knowing she wouldn't like his reminder.
"How bout I cut yours off and we see?" He only glared at her. As they ate he saw how Bulma would keep glancing at the boy. She always seemed nervous when others were around him. But as soon as their meal was eaten Vegeta took her aside.
"What are you hiding woman?"
"N-nothing." 'Real' believable, crossing his arms he fixed her with a glare, one she returned full force. "Vegeta, what I know is my business and I won't tell you every detail of my life. You should know that by now." He knew what she said was true. Most of the time it was like pulling teeth to get information out of her. She hardly ever revealed major things in her past. And he could see she was VERY protective of the ones she had worked so hard to save.
Bulma wiped a tear from her face. It had been a week since the fight. She had finished the ship, unloaded some of her things so she would have something fun to do. And made sure the ship could travel through a star and still be able to fly. Helping Chi-Chi into the ship she showed them the adjustments she had made. "Bulma why can't you come with us?" She looked down to see her nephew looking up at her. He was pleading with his eyes and it broke her heart.
"Because, I promised Vegeta I wouldn't escape with you guys." She said kneeling down to his level of height. "But I'm glad I know you guys are alive. I promise I'll be back and we can be a family again." She pulled him into her arms. Even though he was thirteen now she would always think of him as her little nephew. She felt his tail wrap around her and she gave him her last good bye's. By the time the ship had cleared atmosphere she was numb. She had just given up a perfect opportunity to escape and be with her family again. She only came out of her mini depression when Radditz touched her shoulder. Turning she pushed passed him. He tried to grab her arm but she just slipped out of his grip. She was in no mood for whatever he had to say. Walking to her room she fell to the bed and buried her face into her pillow. Slowly sobs began to shake her body. She missed them already, and what hurt most was the fact that she didn't know if she would ever see them again. Eventually she curled into a ball and let sleep take her away from her misery.
Vegeta looked at her small body. She hadn't shown up for any meals after her friends had left. It was now night and he had found her. She had a tear-streaked face, making it obvious that she had been crying. She also looked very vulnerable, knowing he would have to talk to her in the morning; She obviously had used all her self-control to keep her word with him. Pulling her into his arms he fell asleep with the feeling of her head asleep on his shoulder.
Vegeta growled slightly as he woke. The light from the sun had reached that insufferable angle where it could reach between the drapes and straight into his eyes. Looking down to Bulma he saw that she was perfectly awake. She had yet to acknowledge him and her eyes held that spaced out look. "Woman." He said gently pulling her even closer. She looked to him and waited.
"What?"
"You shouldn't let yourself get depressed."
"I can do whatever I dam well please, anyway I'm not depressed I'm lonely. I've missed them so much Vegeta. They're the reason I survived my parents death." He felt her shudder in his arms', there were definitely painful memories in her mind.
'What are you hiding from me little one?'
Bulma grunted while she checked the gravity chamber. The setting was a 'little' too sensitive, and by a little she meant that she was hardly capable of breathing. She hadn't even tried to change the gravity setting and it had gone to the max. 'This is what I get for not unplugging the thing before repairs.' She thought sweat rolling off the bridge of her nose. Wondering as to HOW she was going to turn the room off. Just her luck she had upgraded the thing not long ago. Forcing air in and out of her chest she began to think. 'Ok first lets roll over.' Seeing as how she was flat on her back. 'One, two, three.' It took about fifteen minutes but she did finally succeed. Out of breath she took another five to gain enough breath to continue. 'Push up now.' She thought cheering herself on. Ten minutes and she was on her knees. Little by little she pulled, dragged, and crawled her way to the control system. It HAD to turn on when she was halfway across the room. She started to growl a chant she had invented when young and believed it to be true at times. "Life's a bitch and then you die." Another inch. "So fuck the world." Another. "Lets' all get high." Another foot to go. "And if at first." Only a little further. "You don't succeed." She couldn't stand the burning feeling of her muscles, and even with all her ki going into her strength she was still struggling. "Try a bigger, bag, of, weed." She had reached her destination. Now all that was left was getting high enough to hit the kill switch. It took about another half hour but she had almost gotten the thing off. Using the wall to help her stand, arm extended and fingers reaching she almost got the thing off when a white-gloved hand did it for her. Looking up she saw Vegeta. He was looking at her with an expression of anger mingled with surprise.
"What are you doing woman." He growled as she looked up to him. The sudden change in gravity forced her to collapse. She had exhausted all her muscles while moving under the g's; going limp she dropped to the floor. She could feel Vegeta lift her up growling things about a certain slave that had stupidly put the gravity room on high.
Vegeta had been looking for his lost mate. She just didn't know she was his mate…yet. Either way she was missing. Remembering her talking about fixing his gravity room he went there. He was shocked to find it on, and at a setting he had just begun to use. Heading in he saw her struggling to turn it off. Beating her to the job he looked back to her trembling form. She had yet to answer his question when she fell to the floor. It was obvious her muscles had gone under tremendous strain. Taking her straight to the medical wing he had Radditz start to check up on her. She had plenty of internal bleeding from the sudden force she had been under. She had been perfectly fine till she had been informed that she was to be placed in one of the regen-tanks. "No." She moaned still weakened from her unwanted exercise. He lifted her up and started to bring her into the other room when he heard her protests.
"Quiet woman, if you hadn't played with the settings this wouldn't have happened."
"I didn't you moron, how could I anyway? I was halfway across the room when the floor decided it wanted to get to know me better, the things been blasted so many times its busted, don't go in till I fix it." All the while she spoke she tried to get him to drop her. "Don't put me in those things." She said eyeing the tank with a glimmer of fear in her eyes.
But Vegeta only began to set the tank to test her so that it wouldn't harm her by giving her a stronger solution than she could handle. Placing her in he was thankful that she was too weak to give up a decent fight. "Calm down woman you'll only be in here for a few days."
"Days?" She squeaked, paling at the same time.
Putting an air cover over her nose and mouth he shut the tank. Soon a liquid began to fill the tank, but that didn't stop her from trying to get out. Frowning he told her to calm down, she wouldn't. "Woman what's wrong its only going too heal you?" She looked at him through the tinted glass.
"Ve-ge-ta, you-don't, get it." She said panting in fear. "I, hate, small-pla-ces." Her fear then reached through her barriers and he saw what she meant. "I'm claustrophobic." She panted between every word and he could see her heart readings rising steadily.
'No wonder she always healed the hard way. Instead of the tanks." Tapping a few buttons he released a sedative into the tanks healing waters. Slowly she calmed down and began to relax. But her eyes glared at him, she had known what he had done.
Bulma felt the drug take affect almost immediately. Here mind felt slow and her body unwillingly calmed down. She 'hated' small spaces. Always had. When under her cars or anything similar she could handle it. But then she could always get out and they were never completely enclosed. She had always been afraid of small enclosed, spaces. She had nearly broke down when she had been caught. But then the cell HAD been bigger and she had, had the gun to keep her from thinking about the small space. Eventually she fell asleep, her last thought being as to how she would hurt Vegeta when she got out.
Radditz came up from behind the prince. He had shut and locked the door, both of which Vegeta noticed. "What is it Radditz?"
"You, and her." Vegeta scowled, Radditz was probably the only solider that had enough gal to ask him and most defiantly the only one he'd let live after asking.
"What about us?" He growled knowing he would have to give a better answer than that.
"You care for her." It was more of a statement than question. Vegeta only grumbled in response. "You do, what is it a bond?" One look at Vegeta's eyes answered that question. "Does she know?"
"I don't even know if she can 'have' a bond." Vegeta muttered looking back to her sleeping form floating in the tinted waters. "But yes, I've bonded to the spitfire."
"Well at least you won't get bored with her, she wouldn't let you run her life even if her life depended on it." Vegeta nodded in agreement. And that was the last of his chat session. Warning Radditz not to speak of what they had said to anyone he left. It would only be a few short days before he would begin to learn more about the woman than he ever thought possible.
Bulma opened her eyes as the sleeping drug lost affect with her. But just enough to let her awaken, slowly her mind let her see Radditz on the other side of the glass. Evidently her facemask that allowed her to breathe also worked as an intercom. Because when she let out a growl of anger he turned. "You let him put me in here." She half growled half moaned. She could already feel the affects of the small place affecting her. "Get me out…please." Her voice was soft but the anxiety in it was growing.
"Sorry girl, you still have a few more hours in there."
"But I want out now." She said in a breath starting to push weakly against the glass. "Let me out." He was about to answer her when a transmission came over his scouter.
"I have to go girl. The tank will let you out in an hour or so." Before she could object he was out the door. Soon the feeling of claustrophobia began to ebb. She could still feel the feeling of being confined but there was something else taking control. But her drugged mind forced her to have to wait till her mind caught up with her instincts. It felt as if the bottom of her stomach had fallen out. Shivering she felt as if the temped waters surrounding her had dropped in temperature. Slowly her mind started to piece together her feelings. Closing her mind she let her mind go. Hands on her skin, the smell of burning flesh, pain, lots of pain. Suddenly a coherent thought shot through her foggy mind. They were here! Though it was impossible to sense their ki she had been able to tell whenever they were around, the hair on the back of her neck rising, the feeling in the pit of her stomach. And other subtleties that had told her they were around before they had even ruined her life. Eyes shooting open she saw him come in. Black hair cut way to even to be natural, cold angular face, and incapable of showing any kind emotion. Only cool arrogance and cruelty, 17 was the just as she had last seen him, only dressed. Fear filled her system along with anger. But she somehow managed to keep her ki down. He seemed to make it easy for her to think through the fog in her mind. Or maybe it was just pure survival instincts enabling her to keep her hysterics under control. She tried to break the glass but the tank seemed to keep her from using all her strength.
"Well, well we meet again Miss Briefs. And here I thought I had finished you off last time. I must say that I'm not terribly disappointed." Holding her tongue she was forced to bite it to do so. She wouldn't speak to him. Glaring murder at him she watched him through the glass. She was keenly aware that her overall-shorts showed more leg than she would like to around him and that her t-shirt fit her snuggly, not that he hadn't already seen her completely 'twice' but still. Faster than her mind could register his hand had shot through the glass and fastened itself around her neck. As the water began to flow through the hole she felt the beginnings of her mind clear. She gave a strangled cry when he pulled her out through the glass. Leaving many marks on her arms and legs from the broken glass. "It seems I get to have fun with you all over again." She then gave out a disgusted sound as she was pulled close to him and he licked a trail of blood from her cheek. Reaching behind her she grabbed a shard of glass. Without warning she slashed at his face. He dropped her. Backing away she had her back to the door. 17 looked up at her with murder. Chest heaving she fought to keep control of the rising fear inside of her. The small victory of marring his face and making 'him' bleed for a change helped.
"Stay away 17." Her voice shook and she could feel the pounding of her blood in her ears. He had yet to notice that she was missing the very collar that had made her so vulnerable last time. Slowly he came up to her. But she was thinking too. Slamming the door open she made a mad dash through the halls. Hopping and gliding over fallen guards, she knew that they would be fine and that she had only to worry about herself. Locating Vegeta's ki she broke the sound barrier.
Vegeta looked up from the pesky man in front of him. He couldn't even feel a ki from the man, which was a bit unsettling. But when Bulma came in like a bat straight out of hell he was startled. She slammed the doors behind her and forced them to stay shut when something slammed into them trying to force them open. What was up?
Bulma looked up at Vegeta and then noticed the bearded man before him. Eyes narrowing to blue slits she felt the pound of 17 trying to break down the door she was busy blocking. Letting the unwelcome guest in she appeared next Vegeta who had just stepped down from the thrown. "Gero." Her voice held every drop of hatred her being felt towards him.
"Miss Briefs." He said sparring a glance to 17 who had calmly walked up beside him. "How surprising to see you, alive." He growled the last word giving a stern glare to the android beside him.
"Ya, well I'm just full of surprises Gero, I destroyed your lab didn't I?" Though she neglected to acknowledge that she had no memory of actually doing so. "It was the least I could do and it still isn't enough after what you did."
"Woman what's this?" Bulma had forgotten about the prince standing beside her, as it was that all her attention was focused on the abominations before her.
"Something that needn't concern you."
"Yes well Miss Briefs as charming as you are I must say ado." And with that he threw a glowing sphere at the pair of them.
'NO!' Were the last thoughts Bulma had before blackness took over her enraged and terrified mind.