The Empire Romance

Chapter 2: Armor and Truths

Vegeta had arrived at the residential wing of Capsule Corporation a half an hour before requested. Everything had to be perfect. Everything needed to be secured and he'd be damned before a single error occurred that night. There had been too many slip-ups in security in the past few years and he did not need a repeat. If anything were to happen during the king's visit to Earth, he would have to take responsibility for it. The old man had been breathing down his neck as of late. It was also necessary for the next prince to act the part of a king if it killed him. The armor was a necessity in respect to their ancestry and Vegeta would not take no for an answer.

Vegeta had left his guards, Radditz and Nappa, in the living room and walked the all too familiar halls of the residential wing. He had to speak with his favorite brat before the gathering. Upon reaching Trunks's apartment, the sounds of a struggle could be heard. The screaming could only be that of Bulma, the rustlings of clothing, and a few bangs. He opened the door to find Bulma with a Saiyan who looked strangely familiar holding the armor that he had sent over earlier and Trunks sitting in a chair wearing a tuxedo.

"What is going on in here?" Asked Vegeta as he stomped inside the room. All sounds stopped as all eyes turned towards him as he made his presence within the room known. The unknown Saiyan who was in the room automatically bent on a knee and bowed his head down in respect for the prince as Vegeta entered the room.

"Get up Goten," said Trunks flatly, "you don't need to treat him any differently right now. Save your lowly ass kissing for later." Each word dripped with venom.

"What the hell is going on in here and why aren't you dressed yet?" Vegeta's rage only escalated at his son's words.

"We were just trying to coax Trunks into the armor," said Bulma as she walked over to Vegeta. "Now just calm down and let me introduce you to someone. Get up Goten," she said to Goten as she approached him.

"Who are you?" Asked Vegeta. His regal demeanor never faltering.

"I am Goten your majesty, youngest son to Kakarott." Said Goten as he stood up. "It is truly an honor to meet you."

"What did I tell you about kissing peoples asses," said Trunks glaring at Goten. Goten only shrugged it off. "Father, this is my friend Goten. He has been off world for the past three years now and is on vacation here on earth visiting some people. Me included."

"Now Vegeta, don't be a smart-ass and say something nice. Save your usual attitude for the party and the rest of the guest." Said Bulma.

"Well then, I better not say anything at all." Said Vegeta with a smirk directed towards Bulma.

"I will leave you three alone. I don't expect any fights to take place while I'm gone." Said Bulma as she left the room eyeballing the trio.

"Put on the fucking armor Trunks so that I can leave," said Goten; "I have some stuff to do before the damned party."

"There is not enough power in hell to make me wear that thing."

"Yes you are Trunks," said Vegeta butting into the conversation. "I don't care about anything but you getting into the damned armor."

"I don't see the point to it." Said Trunks sounding like a three-year-old.

"You will wear that at the party. I knew that I should have taken you off world to Neo Vegeta when you were born. You wouldn't have been corrupted by these Earth customs."

"I guess that that means that I would have ended up like you, right?"

The anger and power radiating off the two extremely powerful Saiyan could be physically felt by Goten, he had no other chose but to run before things got even more ugly between his friend and the all-mighty prince.

"You know what," said Goten slowly edging towards the door, "I think that I should go now." He quickly left as both enraged Saiyans glared at each other. So enrolled were they with the other that nither even noticed the loss of Goten or even the sound of a heavy door slamming shut.

"I can believe you father. Why are you trying to turn me into something that I do not want to be?" Asked Trunks.

"If you just put on the fucking suite we wouldn't be having this conversation," said Vegeta. He was absolutely burning with rage. It was taking all his strength to keep him from transforming.

"That's it!" Screamed Bulma reentering the room. "You," she said pointing to Trunks, "get in the damned suite before I get your sister to post those pictures on the Internet. And you," she pointed a finger to Vegeta, "either go hold on with your guards or you can wait for me in my office so that we can go over the plans for tonight."

"Fine mom," said Trunks reluctantly picking up the suite and walking into his bedroom.

"Your trying my patience woman" said Vegeta.

"You always were a charmer Vegeta," said Bulma as she hooked her arm onto Vegeta's and led him towards her office as Trunks changed into more suitable clothing for the occasion. At least it is considered to be more suitable when in the presence of his least favorite grandfather.

Vegeta ignored her comment as she led him away. She was one of the few people who could calm him down. Only she knew why that was, but she would never reveal her secret. She cared for him even though they were no longer together, though it was more friendly or even motherly rather than that version of love lovers shared. Age had affected her more than him thanks in large part to his Saiyan blood.

The many guests had started to arrive as Vegeta and Bulma walked into the ballroom after having reviewed the plans for the evening. Vegeta walked over to a dark corner to brood all by his lonesome as Bulma walked over to greet her guest. That was when a very familiar face came into view.

"Gohan," she called as she slowly, gliding over to him and Videl. "Videl, Gohan, it's great to see you guys."

"Its good to see you too Bulma," said Gohan with a smile.

"I swear Bulma, you don't look a day over thirty-five," complemented Videl as she gave Bulma a hug. "And that dress looks wonderful." Bulma couldn't help but blush at the comment. She had long passed thirty-five but looked relatively young thanks in part to the best cosmetics money could buy and her mother's genes.

Bulma was dressed in a simple, but elegant gown. It was a beautiful black cocktail gown with a low neckline to accent her cleavage. It fell down to below her ankles. She wore them with high-healed black pumps.

"Thank you Videl," said a glowing Bulma, "you pretty good yourself. I have seated you in a wonderful section between the Saiyans and the humans. Videl will be seated next to Goten for obvious reasons. Saiyans where known to misplace their hands when women were in the area.

"Why thank you Bulma for the consideration. Pan will be here. I haven't actually seen her in so long and her little sister can't wait to meet Pan. I heard that she has made it to one of the highest rankings. She spoke about something to do with... oh I don't remember. I guess that's even more reason to talk to her." Said Videl with a dreamy look on her face.

"I haven't seen Pan since she was thirteen. It will be great to see her again. She will be seated with the king. You are right; she is one of the highest-ranking female Saiyans in the Empire. You should be proud, right Gohan?" Gohan had remained silent during the conversation once Pan was mentioned. Bulma had picked up on that. A solemn look appeared at the mention of his only daughter.

"They haven't really been on good terms since she left." Said Videl trying to cover Gohan's apprehension over discussing the topic.

"Well then," said Bulma trying to lead the discussion in another direction. The topic seemed to be developing into a taboo subject, "why don't you two just socialize while I speak to some of my other guest," said Bulma. She walked away from the couple and waved to another group of important ranking people who just happened to be some leaders of some important country.

"Get over it Gohan," said Videl as they walked over to a balcony for some privacy. Things had changed since Pan had left. He would have to learn to live with it sooner or later.

"There is nothing to get over Videl," said Gohan in a cold mechanical voice.

This only aggravated Videl. His reluctance to accept what had happened was still ever present. How could he just stand there and act as if nothing was wrong with him? He had changed ever since Pan had left to accomplish her "Saiyan duty" as she had so eloquently said back when she was fourteen. That was when Radditz was sent for her so that she could complete her training at home base. Without any hints as to what the King was planning. She had just packed up her things and told them of her plans a day in advance when nothing more could be done. Then right on schedule, she was taken from them and there was nothing they could do to stop it. Pan had left them only a month before the birth of their last child.

"Damn it Gohan, why are you such an ass? What happened was bound to happen sooner or later." Asked Videl as she walked away from him. He pulled her back before she could reenter the ballroom and held her close to him. Holding her waist, he kissed her deeply. All she could do was sink into his kiss and give up all thoughts of fighting him off. He pulled away and looked into her eyes.

She could see everything in his eyes. His disappointment, regret, anger, and love. She could see his disappointment in himself for his inability to keep his family together. Regret for not being the perfect parent that he so strived to be. Anger towards the Saiyan Empire for all they had caused him. Love for the daughter that was taken from him, for the daughter that lay asleep safely in their home, love for his family, and love for the woman he held in his arms at that very second, his wife.

"Why can't you just talk about what you feel? She was and still is your daughter. She writes letters, calls, and even sends pictures of her life to use. She remembers you and I though sometimes I wonder who is more stubborn because neither of you can stand to be around the other."

"That isn't true," said Gohan, "at least that wasn't always true."

"You're right about that," said Videl pulling away from him as she crossed arms and looked into his eyes, "but you do know that she was never a normal little girl. You couldn't change that."

"They didn't let her be normal Videl," Gohan's voice rose as he continued to speak, "They wanted to take her from us from birth and they would have if I didn't fight for it. What child was given a personal guard only hours after birth? She was trained from the moment she turned six months old. Since when is that normal?" It really hurt him that he was not able to give Pan everything that she deserved. The simple things like a normal childhood with friends. He cursed his Saiyan blood for making her into what she was.

"Yes, but it wasn't your fault honey," said Videl in a soothing voice as she held him close. "It was her destiny and because of it she lives a good life. She doesn't struggle for the simple things and has the respect of a whole race. Just be happy for her, please."

"Damn it Videl. Why the hell was I born part Saiyan? We would have gotten the chance to raise Pan as our own without having to consult with the king and his advisors for the smallest details like where we could take her and with who she could associate with."

"Relax Gohan, please. Lets just go inside and mingle, the royal guests will be arriving soon." Said Videl as she lead Gohan back inside to face all that arrived.

The time had come for the Royal Shuttle to land. Unlike the other shuttles that had landed in a Capsule Corporation airfield and from there, the passengers were then transferred to the party by car. The Royal Shuttle was to land in the Capsule Corporation private landing platform in the back yard. The shuttle was retrofitted with the accessories needed to land in the small landing platform so that it landed vertically rather than a shuttle that would need a runway to land without scaring the land.

As the shuttle slowly landed, thrusters allowing it to slowly descend to the ground created a very powerful wind. Very few people were allowed on the high clearance level of the private living area of Capsule Corporation. This was officially an off limits area. Very few people had access to this since mainly only family and close friends were allowed to land here or even visit the area.

Behind the glass that protected the viewers from being exposed to the fumes, heat, and radiation emanating from the ship stood only scientist, Saiyan guards, along with Bulma, Trunks, Bra, and Vegeta. They all stared in awe as the ship descended. The bright crimson insignia gleamed in the hues of dusk, which only helped to make the magnificence of the ship even more apparent to the viewers.

The shuttle had finally landed on the platform, though no attempts were made to open the doors. Scientist and attendants dressed in white protective gear scurried out of the protected environment to prep the ship for opening. They wore large white helmets with tinted viewing glass, thick protective white suites, and boots. They were completely sealed into their protective clothing. Some carried heavy metal tanks while others only carried electrical equipment to test the atmosphere, and to prepare the shuttle for opening. All of them carried equipment that allowed them to speak with those inside of the cockpit of the shuttle, those in the protective room, and with each other. Those carrying the heavy tanks sprayed protective foam covering the engines to stop the radiation and fumes protruding from the planetary transport vessel. After final checks were made, and the air was free of toxins, the hatch of the ship slowly hissed began to open. An unusual fog was present as ten beings came into view.

AN: So, review if you please. Not much to say, just wait a day or two for my new chapter in which Vegeta meets the lovely Sentenal Pan!

Love'n Hugs, SaiyanGoddessBX