I wish I owned DBZ, but I don't. I own DVD's and tapes, but it just isn't the same. I also don't own the right to any of the music pieces you may see selected, just copies of merchandise, such a shame. The artists that created them are geniuses and we all must bow to them.
Chapter 5: A New Family
I woke up in a dark room, lying on a couch. I heard a voice coming from a door on the other side of the room. I stood and walked towards the door and listened to the sound of Vegeta's voice barking at someone, but that someone I could not hear.
"Listen woman, I need you to come back tonight ...no its not for sex! No its an important matter not to be discussed on the phone...no just come back and leave Trunks with Kakarot's woman...no its not for sex! Fine, if I tell you, will you come back and not say a word about it to anyone yet? I discovered another Saiyan...no it arrived this afternoon...no its a boy...what do you mean did I cheat on you? Argh, just get here woman...fine!" SLAM! "Damned woman is going to be the death of me..."
He opened the door and I fell forward. "Well well, back from the dead already! Took you long enough, there went five hours of training time I could of had rather than looking after your corpse while you slept!" he yelled in a mocking tone.
"Thanks for caring," I muttered, getting up and sitting back down on the couch. Vegeta flicked a light switch to lighten the room, then sat in a chair directly across from me and stared me down once again.
After a minute or two he spoke up, "The woman is on her way back here. We need to discuss things about your arrival, and where you will be staying."
"Okay, whatever you two decide," I said in an ugly tone that I knew he would notice, but I didn't care.
"You still sour about the transformation?" he asked, a little lighter now.
"Yes and no, I didn't really want to find out that badly. But I am sort of glad you did it, because now I know I wont turn into a giant killing machine without regard to life," I said, lightening up a little myself.
"Humph, soft hearted. For what its worth, I apologize, but I had to know what you may be capable of. I have a better idea now, and I know I can get a Super Saiyan out of you. That was made clear to me after the gravity incident," he said. Vegeta, apologizing, I must have hit him harder than I thought.
"So when do we start my training?" I asked, a little anxious to explore the depths of my potential once he mentioned the Super Saiyan part.
"Most likely tomorrow, maybe the day after. The woman will probably want to run a bunch of stupid tests on you rather than taking my word for it."
"Oh joy, just what I needed," I said in a sarcastic tone.
He snorted a bit, "I agree, it is a ridiculous waste of time." With that said, he clicked on the TV on the far side of the room, just in time for the news. After hearing the story of some convict gone to jail, he suddenly sat up.
"Perhaps you can answer something for me since you know what it is to be a human, I still don't understand why human news reporters are so damned nosy. On any other world they would die for some of the things they do to get a story. The only thing that saves this planet's reporters is my mate. If I had my way about it they would've all been destroyed by now."
"Another mystery of life I guess, reporter's piss me off too, but now that I can do something about them..." I laughed a little, rubbing my hands together.
Vegeta smirked, "Good, there is a mean streak in there somewhere, you and my brat may get along rather well." I returned the glance, which had Vegeta suddenly flashing with slight fear for some reason, then turned back to the TV for the sports.
All of a sudden Vegeta turned his head, toward the door, then back to the TV, "What the hell is that coward's girl still doing here?"
"Coward's girl? Oh, you mean Videl?" I asked.
"Yes that's it, damned harpy is wondering the halls. She did that last time when she saw me hand out punishment to my brat on the front lawn, and then I drug him inside for training. She had all kinds of child protection people out here the next day, damn girl is going to get herself killed snooping around like that!"
I glanced back at the door, and then to Vegeta again, "I didn't know Videl was a reporter."
"HAHAHAHA, good one boy, your a regular comedian," Vegeta laughed.
"Me and my father used to make fun of random things all the time. Reporters were a common target, along with just about any idiot that walked by. Ah, those were good times," I smiled at the memories.
"Sounds like more than my father ever did with me, all I got was severe training, and if I misbehaved I was taken to the courtyard and beaten to show me that royalty does not have time for childhood," Vegeta scowled. Is he going to be this out of character the whole time? Talk about changes in the timeline. Maybe he's just getting to know me or something.
"I don't know if I could've been able to stand that, but I only saw my father every two weeks or so, my parents were divorced," I explained, keeping with the topic.
"Divorced? I don't think I'm familiar with that earth term," he said, confused.
"Well you understand marriage right?" A nod followed. "Divorce is like permanent separation, the marriage isn't working out and the couple drifts apart and eventually fight with each other. The couple splits and each moves on in life without the other, quite often the child or children are caught in the middle. My parents separated when I was four, my mother raised me for the most part, but me and my dad were so alike that she got sick of me sometimes."
"If you were a natural born Saiyan on our home planet, your parents would be mates forever. The only separation that was legal was by death, and in most cases the other one died within two years. When I get around to explaining Saiyan bonds I will include the mating rituals," Vegeta said. I raised an eyebrow at the term mating rituals, but he shrugged it off.
A knock came at the door, but Vegeta didn't even turn, "ENTER!" Videl stormed in, Mrs. Briefs right behind her, trying to get her to turn around and failing.
"So Vegeta, when is Miss Bulma going to be here?" she said in a stone cold voice, glancing over at me, then back to Vegeta.
"Why is that any concern of yours?" he barked, not looking up from the news. Okay, he's feeling better now.
"Well I am a member of West and Satan City SWAT teams so I have certain flexibility when it comes to investigating questionable situations! And I brought this boy here to see Bulma, not you. I saw you drag him back in the building, and he looked quite roughed up. I want to know what you did to him. You beat him up like your own son didn't you? If so I will arrest you right now, the news and police may consider you the most dangerous man in the world, but you got nothing on me!" Oh boy, I thought to myself, realizing how much danger she just tossed herself into. So I jumped up to explain, hoping to appeal to her martial arts side.
"No Videl you got it wrong, we were having a sparing match and I slipped and hit my head on a rock, just an accident," I said, holding my hands up.
"You sure about that? This guy has been known to beat up random people for no reason at all. The only reason no one has ever brought him in is because all of the police around West City are afraid of him after he blew up the city park with one of his tricks. He claimed to be sparring with his son then too. In case you forgot, I was there to see you tear up that crook earlier, I doubt a little rock would knock you out!" Videl proclaimed as she looked me straight in the eye, searching for a hint of false information.
"Well I did spar with him, I just slipped and hit my head on a big rock, that's all!" I lied, unfortunately my tail was beginning to twitch around my waist, but not unraveling just yet.
"Okay, but if there's a problem, you call me up. I would love nothing more than to put Vegeta here in his place behind bars," Videl said loudly, handing me a card with a phone number on it.
"Alright Videl, thank you." I said, sitting back down, trying to mentally calm my tail down before it did something it shouldn't.
Unfortunately, Videl wasn't finished, "So kid, you know where you're staying? I can give ya a ride home if you want?" she asked, in a slightly sweeter tone.
"The boy is staying here, no need for a ride in that contraption of yours," Vegeta snarled, coming back into the conversation.
"What about his parents? What will they think of that?" she fired back.
Vegeta was very quick on the reasoning though, "The boy is my nephew, he is staying here because his parents passed away not long ago," he said, twisting the story a little, but partially true.
"I find that hard to believe that the richest couple in the world couldn't have sent a car or plane for him to get here then. Besides I thought you didn't know who he was," Videl said, showing that she sure didn't miss the facts.
"He lived out in the country side near your Satan City and they did not have a vehicle or a means of communication set up yet, and I have not seen him for six years. So obviously at his age I would not recall his face right away. You want any more information, or will you finally mind your own damn business?" Vegeta growled an answer.
"Excuse me for caring, see you later kid. I'll drop by sometime to check on you, never know what this maniac may do." Videl gave me a wink, and then exited the room, stomping down the hallway.
"Well, that could've gone better, thanks for coming up with that story." I said.
"Better I make that up, then for her to see your twitch crazy tail down there. Just what I need, the woman breathing down my neck after blowing up another human for seeing something they shouldn't. I really don't care if someone finds out that I'm not from this world, but the nagging of those reporters and the pathetic excuse for an army will pester me," he snarled, ending the subject.
I heard another door open and slam in another part of the huge house, followed by a loud feminine scream, "VEGETA!"
I winced at the noise, he just scowled, "Here we go, stay here for now. I'll bring her here after explaining the situation," Vegeta said, getting up and leaving the room. While he was gone, I flipped through the TV stations to find a football game on, something I wasn't sure they had on this world. Unfortunately the playing was very sloppy compared to my Earth. Hell the runner made a break away and slipped on his shoelaces, then the defense caught up with him and fell before they got him, it was that pathetic. While watching the game, I kept hearing random shouts and screams, some were female in nature, others belonged to Vegeta. This could take awhile.
After about ten minutes of sloppy offence vs. sloppy defense, I simply shut it off. Almost immediately, Bulma herself walked in the door with Vegeta. I stood up quickly as she came in. Right away I saw why most people tried to get a date with her, she was gorgeous, much more so than her older counterpart. Unfortunately she had the husband from hell and most of them probably didn't get much of a glance without getting killed. The age difference sure had a big effect on my mind though and I paid no real heed to her appearance, though it was very noticeable. While I had seen the future version of her not long ago, the lack of age was very apparent.
"So this is the Saiyan, Vegeta? Where'd he come from?" she asked while looking down on me a sharp glare. That told me that Vegeta didn't get much of a chance to explain anything to her.
Vegeta turned and left the room, "I'm going to get your precious evidence woman, and he can explain himself to you."
"ARGH! Sorry he can be a royal pain sometimes, literally. Have a seat and explain how you got here," Bulma said, still being cautious, but gentler.
"You remember your future son? He and the future you ran across me three days ago in on my world..." I began with our meeting, then my transformation, then the space battle and ending with running into Videl and getting to Capsule corp. Through it all I did my best not to reveal anything that I knew about this world other than what Trunks could have told me. She took it all in quite well before asking any questions, then of course she drilled me for a solid five minutes. She hit me with everything, my name, what I was like before, how many fights I had been in, and so on. Finally she stopped the questions about me and started on information on Trunks.
"So where is my future son now?" she asked, calmer now.
"Sorry, I don't know. He practically threw me into the time machine and hit the button, all I saw was Frieza's goons coming after him before I was thrown into the dimensional stream."
She looked down then back up, "He's ok, I know he is, Trunks can take care of himself, future and present." Just as she said that, Vegeta came back in with the time machine capsule and Trunks' dresser with his sword and armor. She took them and placed them in a tiny container full of capsules put it on a table.
Then her face- hardened again, "Vegeta, I want that tail removed," she demanded. I cringed slightly and backed away.Fortunately I didn't have to run for my life...errr my tail as Vegeta spoke up.
"Woman, he wont transform like that, we tried already. Nothing happened with my fake moon ball, and he does not get paralyzed when you squeeze his tail, so just leave it on," he claimed. Bulma kept her look on me before turning to him, obviously looking for fault in that statement. I didn't dare turn my head to Vegeta to show how false that lie was, but then again, not much did happen so there was barely anything to hide.
When finally she did turn to Vegeta, she didn't buy it at all, "I've never heard of a Saiyan that didn't transform with his tail, I can always tell when you're lying Vegeta. You're frankly not good at it, plus I can sense your thoughts thanks to that mystic mojo crap you always talk about!" she shouted at him.
Vegeta growled at his failure, "Woman, there is no danger, he did not transform like he should of, will that do? He didn't turn into a giant ape or destroy anything, and no one saw a thing so there is nothing to worry about! Besides, it is dishonorable for a Saiyan to lose his tail for such a pitiful reason."
Bulma couldn't find a lie embedded in the truth that time, "Fine, he can keep the tail, he just better keep it hidden whenever he is out of the house! Got that!" she yelled the last one directly into my face.
I gulped, "Yes ma'am."
"Good, now if you will come with me, I require a blood sample," she said, turning and motioning for me to follow.
Great, needle city. Mind you I am not bad about needles like some people, I will actually stay still until it's done, but that doesn't mean I like them any better. I followed her slowly, Vegeta did as well. Soon we reached what looked like a medical lab, mostly the typical things, but also two round tanks in the middle of the room.
"Are those regeneration tanks?" I asked not realizing I may have just slipped badly.
Vegeta chuckled, "Maybe he is my kid, he's damned smart."
Bulma scowled, "Doubt it Vegeta, you have to have a brain first to claim that kind of genetic intelligence!" Vegeta's eyes shot open, but quickly closed again while he growled random words under his breathe. "Okay kid, hop up on this table." I did as she asked, noticing there were arm restraints on the table, but paid no heed as I wouldn't need them. Then of course she wrapped them around my limbs.
"Um Bulma, you said its just a blood sample right? I've had those before, and they may not be fun, but I wont thrash around either," I said.
"You had them when you were human, not a Saiyan! You will be thrashing because all of you Saiyans do it, not to mention the fact that it may take twenty broken needles before I even break your skin. Even the prince himself thrashes to a needle, isn't that right Vegeta?" She glared up for an answer.
Vegeta scowled, "Only because you stab all your patients, reckless woman!"
"Stay still next time and I wont thrust so hard!" she screamed back while tying the tourniquet around my arm and finding a vein quickly. "Now take Vegeta's hand and just squeeze it, just don't break it off. I wouldn't want to have to deal with his bitching for a month while it heals," she continued. I took Vegeta's hand and held on tight as she lowered her first needle down to my skin. She was right, my body wanted to thrash, no matter how much control I had. My legs began to shake before I remembered to just squeeze Vegeta's hand like a bite down stick. As soon as she tried to push the first needle, it shattered, as did the second. The metal fragments stung me sharply as they tried to get into my skin pours. My other arm was shaking sharply because I was squeezing Vegeta's hand so damn hard. I couldn't understand why I was shaking so much either, it didn't hurt that bad. After four more broken needles, Bulma finally got what she wanted as needle number seven got through, by that time I was sure that I couldn't control myself much longer. But she finished quickly and pulled the needle out, a fresh sample of blood in the tube.
"Why don't I just beat him up next time, its what we had to do to Trunks when he flew away from it," Vegeta suggested, releasing his hand from my now iron like grip.
"Do you want to go through another month without sex again?" Bulma asked him.
That shut him up, "I'll be in the gravity room, we start training in two days boy, get your rest," he said, turning to leave. As he walked out of the room, I saw him look at his hand in question.
"Typical," Bulma snorted, "Well I promised Chichi, Goku's wife, that I would be back to her house by supper time, want to come with? You'll have to meet her sooner or later, that and Gohan, Trunks, and Goten. I needed a replacement for Vegeta anyway, all he ever does when he's over there is beat up the boys with their training matches."
"Yeah sure, guess I don't have anything better to do right now," I said as she unlocked the restraining bars.
"Good, I'll just go call her back and tell her to prepare for another guest, she has to cook a ton of food anyway," Bulma squealed a bit as she went to a nearby phone that lay hung on the wall. As she began talking to Chichi, I suddenly got a very eerie feeling that something wasn't right. Very quickly I felt as if something was trying to attack me from behind, so I spun quickly and somehow blocked an incoming foot aiming right for my head. The foot had a bootie for a shoe, followed by dark blue pants. The person whom the foot belonged to was huge, as I kept looking up I saw a blue colored belt and then a white cape. On top was a green head with a turban on it.
"Piccolo! What are you doing here!" Bulma shouted from the background, having just hung up the phone.
"Just checking out the new power level I felt down here, are you and Vegeta not satisfied with one child?"
"Very funny, I'll remember that line when you want to borrow the dragon radar! Don't worry kido, he's all talk and bad looks," Bulma said, coming up beside me. I was still frozen in awe of the awesome Namek, he just smirked slightly, back stepping.
"So where did he come from then? He does not resemble Vegeta or you. If anything he looks most like Gohan and maybe Trunks."
Bulma frowned, "Well with his brains he should! But anyway he arrived here by the help of the other Trunks, surely you remember him." So story-telling part fifty continued, this time for Piccolo. He too wanted to cut my tail off before being assured I wouldn't transform.
"Well kid, welcome aboard, who will be training him?" Piccolo asked, as if that was the most important thing to know.
"Vegeta wants to I guess, his new pet project for now," Bulma answered.
"Well, I could lend out the Hyperbolic Time chamber. We used the dragonballs a few months ago to remove the limitations on it so anyone can stay in there as long as they want. I figured why not since most of us had used it once or twice already. That way it won't take very long for him to get trained, you never know when there will be a battle. I'll let Vegeta know." With that said, Piccolo turned and floated down the hallway toward the gravity room.
"Well, let's head to Goku's house. We can take my plane, I doubt you know how to fly yet anyway," she said with a grin. I shook my head no, and followed her out the lab door and toward the main lobby. Out the front door we went to the street, where she pulled a capsule out of her pocket and opened it, revealing a small, two-seated plane.
"Hop in Verto," she said. I paused at the new name again as I climbed in, but shrugged it off. She fired it up and took off into the air, and I relaxed in my seat once she got to the altitude she liked.
"So, the other me turned you into a kid again so Trunks could have a brother? Is that really what she said?" Bulma laughed.
"Afraid so, she tried to back it up with the unstable theory also, guess I'll never know which one is true. Honestly I think maybe she missed having a small child around, I know some mothers are like that," I said, head down.
"Well you can certainly call me Mom if you want, and Trunks will be excited to have a brother. He's always jealous of Gohan and Goten. Plus you're right around their age, so this will cheer him up quite a bit. I'd love to have you as an honorary son, its kinda my fault anyway right?" She smiled.
"Afraid so, MOTHER." I said in a sarcastic tone.
"Okay SON! Its official, Verto Briefs, has a ring to it," Bulma...err Mom said. Somehow it felt right to call her that. While she couldn't replace my real mother, she could at least fill the gap.
Power levels not an issue