A HUMUNGOUS apology to all my readers, I know I've been away for a LONG time but my computer's hard drive malfunctioned a while back and I lost all my files. You guys must think I'm such a rotter. Thankfully I'm back online now. This chapter was written in record time and just to show I'm really sorry I'll post another chapter later this weekend.
Vegeta sat waiting, albeit impatiently, in the lounge of the Briefs household while Dr Briefs tried to revive Ranorik. On his lap, face buried in his chest, was Bra. Usually Vegeta would have avoided such a display of emotion but for once the prince was content to let his daughter draw comfort from him. Upon entering the lab the little girl had instantly known that her real daddy had come back and had abandoned her grandmother's lap to run to Prince, crying all the way.
Vegeta had immediately adopted the expression he always did when Bra was crying. An equal mixture of anger and discomfort. Anger at whomever had upset her and discomfort over the presence of tears.
Even after calming down Bra still clung to his shirtfront like a limpet and Vegeta allowed it because he too was drawing comfort from his daughter just as she was from him. The prince had tried to avoid thinking of Bulma when they'd arrived, courtesy of Goku, at the Capsule Corporation but the looks that had appeared on both Mr and Mrs Briefs faces when they saw him had almost sent him running for the door. The expression had been fleeting as they realized he wasn't the one who'd killed their daughter but Vegeta had never imagined the mild mannered couple could hold such malice.
Across from the prince, on the opposite sofa, sat Goku with his counterpart and to his left Trunks. It had been decided that the three full Saiya-jins should travel to Ranorik's timeline since Mr Briefs envisioned a three man craft and being that they where the strongest save Vegeta. Trunks had tried to argue that he should be allowed to go as well but his father shot him an affective glare which quietened him, at least for the moment. Mirai Goku had asked if Ranorik was going too and Vegeta had replied, rather harshly, the advisor could travel in the boot. The other Z Senshi had taken the dragon radar and where using their combined efforts to find the Dragonballs in record time.
Goku looked bored but the Saiya-jin seemed to be able to deal with boredom pretty well. Usually by switching off and staring into space. Mirai Goku looked pensive, which was quite unnerving since it was not a common expression for any Goku. Trunks looked as impatient as his father but gave a strained smile as his grandmother entered carrying a tray of tea and biscuits. Mrs Briefs seemed to cope with loss and grief by making tea. Vegeta didn't know if he could possibly drink another cup. He didn't even like the stuff, he preferred coffee.
Goku grinned at Mrs Briefs and readily accepted his cup but was probably more interested in the biscuits. Mirai Goku took his cup with a smile and sipped it slowly. Trunks tactfully set his fourth cup of tea to one side when his grandmother wasn't looking. Vegeta took his cup of tea avoiding Mrs Briefs' eye then downed it one gulp, wincing slightly.
Mrs Briefs didn't seem to notice as she fussed a bit more with the tray then sat down next to Vegeta and stroked Bra's hair. The little girl had since fallen into an exhausted sleep.
"Poor girl," her grandmother murmured then looked at Mirai Goku, "She probably wouldn't have made it if you hadn't stopped..." she trailed off her eyes welling up.
Vegeta scowled and clenched his fists quite inadvertently crushing his empty teacup.
"What exactly happened?" Goku wanted to know.
Mrs Briefs gave the powdered teacup a momentary frown before answering, "You don't remember?" she directed her question at Vegeta who shook his head looking interested despite himself, "You felt a strange presence arrive, very suddenly. You said it was close, so you and Trunks were going to go and find it. Before you could, he arrived here," she explained, staring into memory.
"You arrived about the same time, Goku-san," Trunks continued, "With Goten and Gohan. That guy seemed weak," he looked toward the Laboratory where Ranorik was being treated, "So when he attacked Dad we didn't think it would be a problem. But he was using all sorts of weapons and he was wearing this armour that almost seemed alive," Trunks struggled to explain, "I still don't get how weapons could be stronger than us."
"What then?" Vegeta demanded.
"You and Goku-san decided to fuse," Trunks went on with a slight frown, "But when you were doing the dance that guy fired that molecular gun you brought back with you. By the time the beam hit you, you were already Gogeta," he paused.
"That's when we switched," Mirai Goku surmised, "I was in jail on Vegeta-sei and next thing I knew I was sitting on the ground staring at the King."
"Bulma went to see if you were okay and before I could stop her Bra followed," Mrs Briefs whispered as tears spilled onto her cheeks.
"I'm sorry I didn't react in time," Mirai Goku offered.
"It's not your fault," Vegeta said unexpectedly and without sympathy. He scowled in the direction of the laboratory and stood abruptly. Since Bra refused to let go of him, he shifted his daughter onto one hip and stalked into lab.
The others shared a look before following. If seeing his son-in-law barging into the room surprised Dr Briefs, he didn't show it. Straightening from the table on which Ranorik lay he gave Vegeta confused look.
"What-" he started.
"Is he awake?" Vegeta interrupted.
Mr Briefs shook his head, "Not yet."
"Is he likely to wake up in the next five seconds?" Vegeta demanded.
Mr Briefs shook his head but Vegeta hadn't been waiting for an answer. The prince walked to Mrs Briefs and handed her Bra. The little girl resisted and looked about to start crying again when her father gripped her chin firmly and looked her in the eye.
"Do you trust me?" he asked her.
Bra nodded immediately.
"Then sit with your Grandmother for a moment," Vegeta told her, "This won't take long," the prince looked at Goku, "Come with me."
The younger Saiya-jin followed without question, "What are you going to do?" he asked as Vegeta took up position on one side of the bed where Ranorik lay.
"Something he's not going to like," the Saiya-jin prince told him, "You'll need to hold him down."
"You're not going to hurt him are you? He's still my patient," Dr Briefs said hurriedly.
"Unfortunately, no," Vegeta said nastily then held a hand out to his father in law, "Give me your hand."
The doctor wasn't the only one confused, he hesitated.
"It won't hurt," Vegeta told him, misinterpreting his reluctance.
"What are you going to do?" Dr Briefs repeated Goku's previous question.
"Show you how to make a time machine," the Saiya-jin prince said simply. Dr Briefs gave his hand hesitantly as if afraid Vegeta would crush it.
Goku narrowed his eyes at his rival, "Is this dangerous?" he wanted to know.
Vegeta held his stare for a beat, "No," he lied evenly.
Goku chuckled and shook his head but took up position next to Ranorik nonetheless.
Vegeta looked down at the advisor's face with a look of reluctance then placed his bare hand on Ranorik's forehead. The prince closed his eyes, his brow furrowed in concentration. For a long few minutes nothing happened, save a light sheen of sweat appearing on his face.
A split second before Dr Briefs gave a yelp of pain and sat down hard on the ground, breaking his hold on Vegeta, Ranorik arched his back violently with a feral hiss.
Vegeta didn't seem to notice the loss of contact between him and his father-in-law but grimaced as Goku easily held the advisor's arms down. Trunks came forward and helped his grandfather to his feet.
"That hurt," Mr Briefs said peevishly, massaging his temples.
Trunks looked worriedly at his father as Vegeta clenched his now free left hand in obvious discomfort.
"What happened?" Goku asked as he held Ranorik's arms in place. Mirai Goku had since come forward to pin the advisor's legs down.
Mr Briefs opened his mouth to reply when Ranorik gave a sudden scream. Vegeta's eyes popped open as he snatched his hand away from the advisor's forehead as if burned. The prince gave a curse, which earned him a reproachful look from Mrs Briefs.
The prince backed up a few involuntary steps as Ranorik settled down again. The two Gokus released the advisor warily.
Vegeta glared at Ranorik's now still form then looked at Mr Briefs, "What did you see?" he demanded.
The doctor hesitated for thought, "A lot," he said, "But not everything."
Vegeta nodded, "Enough to replicate the time machine?" he wanted to know as he steadied himself on the edge of a nearby worktable.
Dr Briefs nodded, "Yes," he said, "I think so," he added truthfully.
"You'd better," the prince said bluntly and shot a wary look at Ranorik, "I'm not going in there again."
"What happened?" Trunks asked.
"Yeah," Goku added with his usual candour, "You look pale."
Vegeta ignored his rival, "I didn't count on him having psychic training," he all but growled, "And with good reason."
"Psychic training?" Dr Briefs questioned with interest.
"Just as it sounds," Vegeta explained showing rare patience, "Mind reading, communication, control and the like. I have some training myself but it was banned before I could complete it."
"Why?" Goku wanted to know.
Vegeta gave him a half-hearted smirk ran the back of his hand across his forehead, "It's dangerous," he said simply, "Imagine a bunch of Saiya-jins able to kill with a thought."
"You can think someone dead?" Trunks asked incredulously.
"It would take immense training," Vegeta told him looking at Ranorik, "but you could do it."
"Is that what he did?" Dr Briefs asked, "He mentally attacked you?"
Vegeta nodded carefully, "Good thing you let go," he told the doctor, "Otherwise he would have killed you."
"Oh for goodness sake," Mrs Briefs suddenly cried. She shifted Bra onto her hip and marched up to Vegeta, "You're not fooling anyone young man," she told him bossily.
Vegeta looked taken aback, "What-" he began to say.
"Sit down before you fall down," she commanded wheeling a desk chair behind him.
"I don't think-," the Saiya-jin prince started heatedly.
"Yes, I know you don't," Mrs Briefs continued, "You wouldn't have the sense to come in out of the rain."
Even Dr Briefs look surprised at the sudden outburst from the usually benign and ditsy elderly blonde woman. Trunks had quickly overcome his shock however to make way for amusement and the lavender haired teenager had to cover his mouth with a hand to keep from laughing out loud.
Vegeta was at a bit a loss. For the second time since waking up on Vegeta-sei somebody had completely disregarded his authority or, failing that, strength. The Saiya-jin prince wouldn't have raised a hand to his mother-in-law these days but still had to admire the woman's nerve.
"I'll live," he told her impatiently.
"I've no doubt," Mrs Briefs retorted with a stern frown. Abruptly her face crumpled a bit and she pressed her lips together, "My daughter is gone, Vegeta," she said quietly so only he could hear. Impervious to his sudden glare she added, "Put aside your pride and grant me this."
Vegeta looked her in eye and beyond the shimmer of tears he suddenly saw exactly where Bulma got the strength he loved her for. The prince sat down.
Mrs Briefs smiled as a shocked silence settled over the others in the laboratory, "Good," she said, "Now, how about a cup of tea?"
Instead of tea Vegeta pleaded weariness and went back to the sitting room on the pretence of sleeping while the others stayed to watch Dr Briefs' progress on the inter dimensional time machine and if necessary lend a hand.
Knowing sleep was out of question Vegeta changed tack and headed upstairs to shower and change out of the king's clothing. Instead of his usual jumpsuit, which was the most practical for training, he donned a blue long sleeved v-neck t-shirt and a pair of black pants. Over them he wore a pair of yellow utilitarian boots that his son usually favoured. As he dressed he noticed with a certain amount of revulsion that his new body had none of the scars he had acquired through his life.
Sitting on the edge of the bed to pull on his boots Vegeta was suddenly and irrevocably reminded of Bulma. The feeling drove him to his feet intent on leaving the room but he found himself sitting down again. The prince glared over his shoulder at the other side of the bed and the bedside table which all manner of creams and perfumes that he would never understand.
We'll wish her back, he reminded himself but the same time wondering if this were true why it still hurt so much.
The hurt invariably incited anger and Vegeta welcomed it. It was the one emotion he could understand. He'd never had a problem suppressing his unwanted emotions before but it was becoming increasingly difficult. He didn't understand grief and why humans placed a kind of value on it. They took grief to mean you cared for the person who had died but he'd always understood grief to be selfish.
In his own presence he allowed himself a small weakness and lay back on the queen size bed, his expression did not soften but rather fell into a bleak mask of introspection.
He gave a smirk at the irony of the Prince of all Saiya-jins feelings more at home in the room of some human than the royal bedchamber he'd been born to sleep in.
"Vegeta!"
The Saiya-jin prince sat up abruptly and came face to face with Goku, leaning over him.
"Kakarot? What the hell?" his head felt oddly fuzzy.
"Dr Briefs sent me to fetch you," Goku explained cheerfully backing up as Vegeta stood.
"Why?" the prince wanted to know.
Goku gave him a confused half smile, "The time machine's ready," he said simply.
Vegeta gave a snort of disbelief, "I know the man's a genius but even he couldn't build an inter dimensional craft in less than half an hour," he stated.
Goku gave an uncharacteristic smirk, "No but he could build one in five hours," he said.
"Your point?" Vegeta demanded as he walked to the door.
Goku chuckled, "That's how long you've been asleep," he clarified.
Vegeta paused and looked over his shoulder at his rival, "I wasn't asleep," he said immediately.
Goku just sniggered again, "Dr Briefs is waiting," he reminded his rival, "Oh and I think your mom-in-law made you a cup of tea."
Vegeta cursed, "What the hell has that woman got against coffee?"
No action per se I'm afraid but the next chap will be up soon. R&R always appreciated.