To Catch a DragonBall
Chapter 8
Escape from Vegetatraze
Disclaimer: See previous chapters, 'cause I'm getting tired of repeating myself. ^_~
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With her eyes tight shut Bulma couldn't see the fatal blast as it hurtled towards her, or rather as she imagined it must be hurtling toward her. As she waited for Vegeta to kill her, Bulma began to wonder about Goku and what he would do when he found out she was dead. She wondered about her family, but she already knew what would happen to her father once she was dead. Her poor mother would be left all alone though, and it struck Bulma how deeply unfair this situation was.
In the few seconds it took her to think such things her mind continued to circle to her father. He was always so calm, he accepted anything that fate sent his way. He was even prepared for his own death, an event which Bulma had refused to allow. At least not for quite some years more. Thinking of her fathers own bravery in the face of his sickness and impending death made Bulma feel a coward for the way she was facing her own death.
Quite suddenly Bulma had reached a decision. She would not die with her eyes closed afraid to face her executioner. She may have failed to save her father as she had promised, but she would not shame him with her cowardice. Bulma opened her eyes, and it was at that second that she realized that since she had been standing there for at least half a minute, it was quite possible that Vegeta had changed his mind. Even so she looked at him over the energy in his hand with calm regard. It was amazing how good-looking she could think he was even when faced with the prospect of being killed in cold blood by him.
Vegeta held his hand where it was for a minute more before dispersing the energy into the wall beside her and dropping his arm to his side. Bulma jumped and looked to the now demolished wall and gulped for air. The man really could have killed her!
"I want those DragonBalls and until I get them you aren't going anywhere, not even to death." A pair of guards walked into the room and moved to stand by her, each taking one of her arms.
"Take her to new quarters, these ones will no longer be sufficient. Think about what I've said. You will show me where those balls are, and then I will kill you. Or, you can remain stubborn, and I'll still kill you. Have it whichever way that you want it."
Having said that Vegeta stormed from the room. The two guards dragged her through the doorway and down a dimly lit hall. She was being moved so quickly that she barely had time to glimpse her surroundings, but she got the overall impression that the building she was in could even rival her own magnificent mansion.
She was tossed unceremoniously into another room, much the same as the last but without the magnificent view of the plateau. Bulma threw herself down on the bed and looked up at the ceiling, trying to formulate a plan that would ensure she lived past the next few hours.
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Goku made it to the large building that was pointed out to him, and he could hardly miss it, just in time to see a large blast of energy go shooting through one wall. Goku was amazed and curious about the blast so he jumped to the ledge below the gaping hole and listened into the room. He heard a man's voice talking about Bulma's DragonBalls and wondered if she was also in the room. Once everyone cleared the room he ran inside and darted through the door into the hall. The slightest sound of footsteps reverberated back down the hall to him and he could just catch the gleam of aqua-blue hair in the dusty light far ahead of him.
Goku took off silently down the hall in pursuit. He hoped that Bulma hadn't been harmed in anyway, she was his friend now and he wouldn't let anyone hurt her.
As Goku hurtled quietly down the hall two dark eyes watched from a small recess in the corridor and the owner of the dark eyes smiled mercilessly to himself.
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Bulma was just about to nod off to sleep, still staring at the ceiling, when she heard a soft grunt and thud outside her door. She bolted upright and stared warily at the wooden barricade, hoping it, and the guard, would protect her from whatever fiend might be outside. The door handle began to rattle slightly and so Bulma grabbed the closest and deadliest thing she could find in the room: a small brass bell. It was really a rather useless weapon, but the best defense that Bulma could offer up.
Goku stepped cautiously into the room and Bulma sighed with such utter relief that it felt as if all the air went right out of her and she sank to her knees. Goku ran to her and she embraced him for a few seconds before he wriggled away from her.
"Bulma! Are you ok? You're not hurt are you?" Bulma shook her head and gave him a very condenced version of the events of the last few hours. Once they had both shared their brief stories they left the room and headed to the one recently occupied by the young blue haired woman. Just as they began to climb down the face of the building the door to the room burst open and a group of men ran in, headed by the dark haired man responsible for Bulma's kidnapping.
The two young people finished their climb quicker than they started it and made a dash for the gates surrounding the building. Shouts were heard all over the grounds and from behind them. Bulma was very certain that their escape would not be easy, if it was anything short of impossible. Goku lead Bulma directly to a spot in the gates where the metal had been bent back, it was just enough for the both of them to squeeze through it.
As she stood up on the other side of the gate Bulma came face to face with the man who had escaped before her. He grinned self-consciously at her before indicating that they should follow him. The three fugitives set off at a fast run away from the building until they could no longer hear the sounds of pursuit and were far enough away to allow them to catch their breaths. Before Bulma could ask him any questions the young man led them inside an abandoned looking building only a few yards away from where they had stopped.
Inside the building wasn't as shabby and unkempt as outside. There were three beds located in the room and Bulma sank gratefully down on one. Goku and the man regarded her silently, Goku with mild worry and the young man with shy wonder. When she had had enough of them looking at her Bulma narrowed her eyes, sucked in her breath and demanded to know what they were looking at.
The young man immediately dropped his gaze to the floor, but Goku smiled at her before waving his hand at Yamcha.
"This is Yamcha, I met him on the streets and he told me where you were."
"Really?" Her eyes wide with surprise Bulma's mouth turned itself to a little smile. "Thank you. I honestly thought you were a worthless coward when you refused to help me get out, but thanks for sending Goku for me."
"Oh, it wasn't a problem. I met him in the street trying to find out where you were and no one else would give him any information."
"Yeah Bulma, the people in this city are really rude. They only stared at my tail and avoided me."
"Really? I know a tail is a bit strange but the people must be really anti-social to avoid you like that."
"No actually miss, it's because of his tail they avoided him. Or rather, because his tail reminds them so much of Vegeta, and Vegeta scares anyone in this city smart enough to realize how dangerous he is."
"Are you saying that Vegeta has a tail? I didn't even see it!"
"Well, he keeps it wrapped around his waist most of the time, and he's such an imposing guy, it can be easy to miss, unless you've been around him long enough to notice. You see, Vegeta came to this city a few years ago and started throwing around all of the local officials. Soon enough he had driven them out of town and was building up his lackey force. If you're associated with Vegeta around here, then you're always given the proper deference. Anyone who doesn't will be reported and killed."
As Yamcha talked Bulma pictured Vegeta in her mind's-eye. Certainly she could believe him capable of such atrocities, but she still didn't want to hear about them.
"That's really horrible, it truly is. I feel sorry for the people of this city. But now, tell me, do you think that Goku and I will be able to get back to the plateau and my capsule house and away from this city before Vegeta can try to kill us?"
"It's really doubtful, but...I suppose I can help you. It would probably be better if you just took off and left the house."
"I can't. I have something very valuable stashed there and I need to retrieve that before I can leave this area."
Bulma looked at Yamcha with a slight pleading look and he found himself saying yes and casting his gaze away from her quickly. Once he said yes Bulma clapped happily and crawled under the covers of the bed, falling instantly asleep. Yamcha was a little amazed that she could fall asleep so quickly after such a day, but once Goku crawled into one of the beds and did the same he figured he might as well try to sleep too.
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Vegeta paced angrily through his room and cast furious glances at the men kneeling on his carpet.
"You let her get away! I should just get rid of you all as the worthless slugs that you are, but you're spared for now. Get out of my sight!"
The men all scrambled to get out of Vegeta's way, and he was under the private suspicion that if they had moved that quickly while chasing the girl then she wouldn't have gotten away.
The dark haired man stepped forward and grinned at Vegeta before whipping the expression off his face.
"You're sure that this is taken care of? I won't tolerate any more screwing up."
"Yes Sir, I've got everything handled nicely. Miss Briefs may think that she is safe, but she'll soon learn a lesson in trusting strangers."
~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~
AN: Hey all, first off I want to apologize for leaving such an evil cliff hanger on the last chapter and then taking this whole week to update. From now on I'll try to update quickly if I leave a particularly evil cliffy. ^_^ Second, I want to say I'm sorry that I only have one chapter out. I perfectly intended to do two today but I was busy with my friends this afternoon and then had some trouble with the disc I have this story saved on earlier, so I've only been able to do this one chapter. I may do the second one, but I might not. I'll try to do it tomorrow if I can. ^_^ Also, if you would like to be notified of updates, then send me an e-mail at hibari_heza@yahoo.com. Or leave your e-mail address in a review and I'll put you on the list. ^_^
Mizzkitty9886: Thanks, I'm glad that you like my story. ^_^
Akuji: Thanks!! I took your suggestion, so we'll see if it works. I'm so glad for the praise. It's hard to know
if you're doing well if you're not told. ^_^
V.J.: I was hoping it would be particularly evil. I'm really getting into this fic as it progresses and I'm glad
that you like it too.
Selenity Jade: ::blushes:: Thanks so much. I never knew people liked my writing that much. I'm glad to
know it. I'm glad to see that you're back on your fics as well. ^_^
firestarsolo: I don't want you to get Insomnia. I'll try to update quicker after evil cliffhangers.
Sally: Yes, it had to be a cliffhanger. It's more fun for me that way. ^_~
Chapter 8
Escape from Vegetatraze
Disclaimer: See previous chapters, 'cause I'm getting tired of repeating myself. ^_~
~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~
With her eyes tight shut Bulma couldn't see the fatal blast as it hurtled towards her, or rather as she imagined it must be hurtling toward her. As she waited for Vegeta to kill her, Bulma began to wonder about Goku and what he would do when he found out she was dead. She wondered about her family, but she already knew what would happen to her father once she was dead. Her poor mother would be left all alone though, and it struck Bulma how deeply unfair this situation was.
In the few seconds it took her to think such things her mind continued to circle to her father. He was always so calm, he accepted anything that fate sent his way. He was even prepared for his own death, an event which Bulma had refused to allow. At least not for quite some years more. Thinking of her fathers own bravery in the face of his sickness and impending death made Bulma feel a coward for the way she was facing her own death.
Quite suddenly Bulma had reached a decision. She would not die with her eyes closed afraid to face her executioner. She may have failed to save her father as she had promised, but she would not shame him with her cowardice. Bulma opened her eyes, and it was at that second that she realized that since she had been standing there for at least half a minute, it was quite possible that Vegeta had changed his mind. Even so she looked at him over the energy in his hand with calm regard. It was amazing how good-looking she could think he was even when faced with the prospect of being killed in cold blood by him.
Vegeta held his hand where it was for a minute more before dispersing the energy into the wall beside her and dropping his arm to his side. Bulma jumped and looked to the now demolished wall and gulped for air. The man really could have killed her!
"I want those DragonBalls and until I get them you aren't going anywhere, not even to death." A pair of guards walked into the room and moved to stand by her, each taking one of her arms.
"Take her to new quarters, these ones will no longer be sufficient. Think about what I've said. You will show me where those balls are, and then I will kill you. Or, you can remain stubborn, and I'll still kill you. Have it whichever way that you want it."
Having said that Vegeta stormed from the room. The two guards dragged her through the doorway and down a dimly lit hall. She was being moved so quickly that she barely had time to glimpse her surroundings, but she got the overall impression that the building she was in could even rival her own magnificent mansion.
She was tossed unceremoniously into another room, much the same as the last but without the magnificent view of the plateau. Bulma threw herself down on the bed and looked up at the ceiling, trying to formulate a plan that would ensure she lived past the next few hours.
~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~
Goku made it to the large building that was pointed out to him, and he could hardly miss it, just in time to see a large blast of energy go shooting through one wall. Goku was amazed and curious about the blast so he jumped to the ledge below the gaping hole and listened into the room. He heard a man's voice talking about Bulma's DragonBalls and wondered if she was also in the room. Once everyone cleared the room he ran inside and darted through the door into the hall. The slightest sound of footsteps reverberated back down the hall to him and he could just catch the gleam of aqua-blue hair in the dusty light far ahead of him.
Goku took off silently down the hall in pursuit. He hoped that Bulma hadn't been harmed in anyway, she was his friend now and he wouldn't let anyone hurt her.
As Goku hurtled quietly down the hall two dark eyes watched from a small recess in the corridor and the owner of the dark eyes smiled mercilessly to himself.
~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~
Bulma was just about to nod off to sleep, still staring at the ceiling, when she heard a soft grunt and thud outside her door. She bolted upright and stared warily at the wooden barricade, hoping it, and the guard, would protect her from whatever fiend might be outside. The door handle began to rattle slightly and so Bulma grabbed the closest and deadliest thing she could find in the room: a small brass bell. It was really a rather useless weapon, but the best defense that Bulma could offer up.
Goku stepped cautiously into the room and Bulma sighed with such utter relief that it felt as if all the air went right out of her and she sank to her knees. Goku ran to her and she embraced him for a few seconds before he wriggled away from her.
"Bulma! Are you ok? You're not hurt are you?" Bulma shook her head and gave him a very condenced version of the events of the last few hours. Once they had both shared their brief stories they left the room and headed to the one recently occupied by the young blue haired woman. Just as they began to climb down the face of the building the door to the room burst open and a group of men ran in, headed by the dark haired man responsible for Bulma's kidnapping.
The two young people finished their climb quicker than they started it and made a dash for the gates surrounding the building. Shouts were heard all over the grounds and from behind them. Bulma was very certain that their escape would not be easy, if it was anything short of impossible. Goku lead Bulma directly to a spot in the gates where the metal had been bent back, it was just enough for the both of them to squeeze through it.
As she stood up on the other side of the gate Bulma came face to face with the man who had escaped before her. He grinned self-consciously at her before indicating that they should follow him. The three fugitives set off at a fast run away from the building until they could no longer hear the sounds of pursuit and were far enough away to allow them to catch their breaths. Before Bulma could ask him any questions the young man led them inside an abandoned looking building only a few yards away from where they had stopped.
Inside the building wasn't as shabby and unkempt as outside. There were three beds located in the room and Bulma sank gratefully down on one. Goku and the man regarded her silently, Goku with mild worry and the young man with shy wonder. When she had had enough of them looking at her Bulma narrowed her eyes, sucked in her breath and demanded to know what they were looking at.
The young man immediately dropped his gaze to the floor, but Goku smiled at her before waving his hand at Yamcha.
"This is Yamcha, I met him on the streets and he told me where you were."
"Really?" Her eyes wide with surprise Bulma's mouth turned itself to a little smile. "Thank you. I honestly thought you were a worthless coward when you refused to help me get out, but thanks for sending Goku for me."
"Oh, it wasn't a problem. I met him in the street trying to find out where you were and no one else would give him any information."
"Yeah Bulma, the people in this city are really rude. They only stared at my tail and avoided me."
"Really? I know a tail is a bit strange but the people must be really anti-social to avoid you like that."
"No actually miss, it's because of his tail they avoided him. Or rather, because his tail reminds them so much of Vegeta, and Vegeta scares anyone in this city smart enough to realize how dangerous he is."
"Are you saying that Vegeta has a tail? I didn't even see it!"
"Well, he keeps it wrapped around his waist most of the time, and he's such an imposing guy, it can be easy to miss, unless you've been around him long enough to notice. You see, Vegeta came to this city a few years ago and started throwing around all of the local officials. Soon enough he had driven them out of town and was building up his lackey force. If you're associated with Vegeta around here, then you're always given the proper deference. Anyone who doesn't will be reported and killed."
As Yamcha talked Bulma pictured Vegeta in her mind's-eye. Certainly she could believe him capable of such atrocities, but she still didn't want to hear about them.
"That's really horrible, it truly is. I feel sorry for the people of this city. But now, tell me, do you think that Goku and I will be able to get back to the plateau and my capsule house and away from this city before Vegeta can try to kill us?"
"It's really doubtful, but...I suppose I can help you. It would probably be better if you just took off and left the house."
"I can't. I have something very valuable stashed there and I need to retrieve that before I can leave this area."
Bulma looked at Yamcha with a slight pleading look and he found himself saying yes and casting his gaze away from her quickly. Once he said yes Bulma clapped happily and crawled under the covers of the bed, falling instantly asleep. Yamcha was a little amazed that she could fall asleep so quickly after such a day, but once Goku crawled into one of the beds and did the same he figured he might as well try to sleep too.
~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~
Vegeta paced angrily through his room and cast furious glances at the men kneeling on his carpet.
"You let her get away! I should just get rid of you all as the worthless slugs that you are, but you're spared for now. Get out of my sight!"
The men all scrambled to get out of Vegeta's way, and he was under the private suspicion that if they had moved that quickly while chasing the girl then she wouldn't have gotten away.
The dark haired man stepped forward and grinned at Vegeta before whipping the expression off his face.
"You're sure that this is taken care of? I won't tolerate any more screwing up."
"Yes Sir, I've got everything handled nicely. Miss Briefs may think that she is safe, but she'll soon learn a lesson in trusting strangers."
~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~
AN: Hey all, first off I want to apologize for leaving such an evil cliff hanger on the last chapter and then taking this whole week to update. From now on I'll try to update quickly if I leave a particularly evil cliffy. ^_^ Second, I want to say I'm sorry that I only have one chapter out. I perfectly intended to do two today but I was busy with my friends this afternoon and then had some trouble with the disc I have this story saved on earlier, so I've only been able to do this one chapter. I may do the second one, but I might not. I'll try to do it tomorrow if I can. ^_^ Also, if you would like to be notified of updates, then send me an e-mail at hibari_heza@yahoo.com. Or leave your e-mail address in a review and I'll put you on the list. ^_^
Mizzkitty9886: Thanks, I'm glad that you like my story. ^_^
Akuji: Thanks!! I took your suggestion, so we'll see if it works. I'm so glad for the praise. It's hard to know
if you're doing well if you're not told. ^_^
V.J.: I was hoping it would be particularly evil. I'm really getting into this fic as it progresses and I'm glad
that you like it too.
Selenity Jade: ::blushes:: Thanks so much. I never knew people liked my writing that much. I'm glad to
know it. I'm glad to see that you're back on your fics as well. ^_^
firestarsolo: I don't want you to get Insomnia. I'll try to update quicker after evil cliffhangers.
Sally: Yes, it had to be a cliffhanger. It's more fun for me that way. ^_~