Chapter Eight - Desperation
As her glider took off, Bulma tried to remember the direction Vegeta had chosen when he left. That was all she needed to follow his tracks, wasn't it? Saiyan princes didn't zigzag around the countryside. Over there, I'm sure…
She didn't turn on the headlights until the silent glider was a little away from the Capsule Corp. buildings. She wasn't sure if she could fool Vegeta for just one second if he came to ask where the hell she was going in the early evening, so she saw no point in raising his interest by disappearing lights… Vegeta, nice to see you. Where I'm going? Oh, I'm just doing some shopping, mind you. Why I didn't take the car as usual? Well, always try something new, right, ahaha…No, it would be better if he didn't notice her leaving.
Soon, there was nothing underneath but solid rock and a few specks of sand. That's Vegeta for you, she thought. Always trust him to find a godforsaken desert when he needs some time off. She was beginning to feel bored. What was it that she could possibly hope to find here? An offensive rock that had changed the Saiyan prince completely within a second? Just as she thought about getting back home, something caught her eye.
There was a shape in the distance, barely a silhouette against the evening sky. Round and squat lines became the walls of a badly designed spaceship settled in the midst of a flat crater, as the light of her glider finally touched it. It looked as though it had once been created to be round, and then someone with a very large fist had decided that he didn't like it. The outcome was a ragged oval, visibly battered by time, most certainly war, and also some meteorites. An open door appeared in the circle of light, along with some piles of fresh soil that had tumbled down the walls of the crater. So whatever it was that had landed here, it obviously saw no point in observing the TV program for some years before finally getting in touch with the population.
Bulma looked around. Dusk had claimed the stone desert, and although it was still possible to make out indistinct shapes in the vanishing light, she'd better turn on some more lights in order to find a safe landing place. Her fingers danced along the control panel, and suddenly thick rays of pure white illuminated the ground. There was a glistening, just at the corner of her vision. She frowned, and changed direction. A flicker of white appeared in the dark, along with a golden sparkle. A tension she couldn't quite explain was holding her tightly in its grip, making her tremble when the light moved on, over white-gloved hands and golden armour. Her hand flew to her mouth, shaking heavily.
No… this isn't… this can't be… oh, Kami!
The alien really enjoyed this. It had to admit that there could be bodies much worse than this strong, muscular one to be stuck in. That Saiyan had been a good choice, indeed. Not only was this body a weapon of it's very own kind, it also seemed that he held the perfect tool to get at the human woman. That little scene the other day… This Vegeta could hurt her. Too bad he'd be dead by now. Two days in the desert, without food or drink… enough to kill even a Saiyan, oh yes. Making the human weak at heart, that was the next step. Those full of doubts were so easily to take over. He had to destroy her faith in him as quickly as possible. But that should prove to be no problem. What was a human heart against his experience? And then… the false prince's lips parted in an evil smile.
Goodbye, Miss Bulma Briefs.
Bulma had landed the glider so fast it had almost been a crash. She ran out into the falling night, her heart hammering against her chest. What is this? What is happening here! She stumbled over the rubble, finally reached the body of Vegeta and sank down beneath him. And then she just knelt there, trying to cope with the chaos inside her head. This is Vegeta… isn't it? But how can that be, I just left him at Capsule Corp.… didn't I? Perhaps he passed me and… But no. Although she was no doctor, even she knew the signs of dehydration if she saw them. He had been here at least one, rather two days. And he was lying on his back, so still… Fear began to take over, a fear she had felt before. Slowly, hesitantly, she reached out, until her fingers gently touched a warm face. He is alive! Relief struck her – and faded immediately. Yes, the face was warm… too warm. Fever!
It no longer mattered to her that she didn't know who she was dealing with. This man needed help, or he would die – soon. But here, in the middle of nowhere, how could she…? The senzu! My emergency senzu! Bulma shot towards the glider, reaching it, and rummaging through her handbag. Her trembling hands almost dropped the small bean when she finally found it. Thank you, Goku-kun, thank you so much! She raced back, dropping to her knees beside the unconscious figure, and took his face into her hands. The soft skin burned under her fingers. The usual scowl had faded away, leaving him to look so… so helpless that she wanted to cry. She parted his dry lips and shoved the bean into his mouth. Nothing happened. Fool! Of course nothing happens, he's unconscious! Oh, think, Bulma, think
She took the bean back into her hand, staring desperately at it. Then an idea struck her. She threw it into her own mouth, chewed, closed her eyes, and leant down, her lips meeting Vegeta's. Her tongue forced the mash down his throat, until reflex finally took over. He swallowed. Bulma began to cry, still not breaking the kiss. His smell… his taste… Vegeta…
She knew he was real. Her body remembered him. Her vision was a blur when she finally opened her eyes, raising her head. She wiped away the tears with the back of her hand. Seems like you always make me cry somehow, she thought, smiling. Bastard. Her hand caressed his cheek. The smooth skin felt cooler now under her touch.
"Well, I think it's time for some explaining," she murmured, gently shaking him to wake him up. There was no reaction. Bulma frowned. She knew he had a light sleep, so… She shook a little harder. "Vegeta?" Still nothing. "Vegeta!"
But her efforts were in vain. It wasn't just like unconsciousness, it seemed more like a…
"… A coma?" she mumbled to herself. But that's impossible, he's just had a senzu. His fever is gone, so what the hell is wrong with him?
With a calculating look, Bulma raised a hand. He's going to kill me for this… She brought it down, slapping him hard across the face, once, twice. Red marks appeared where she had hit him, yet Vegeta lay as still as before. Now she knew something was going terribly wrong.
"But…" She sank back, kneeling helplessly beside the unmoving Saiyan. But he had to wake up! He couldn't just leave her all alone like this, now that she…
"Damn you, wake up!" She hit his chest hard with her fist, then with the other. "I've come all the way just to get you, so wake up! Open your eyes, please…" Bulma's voice faded as she looked into the face she had come to know so well. It looked pale in the light of the glider.She blinked away the tears that were starting to build up as realization dawned on her. I'm not going to cry again! Her tongue flew over lips that had gone dry in an instant. "I don't know why," she whispered. "But I love you, do you hear me?" She took his shoulders, and suddenly found herself screaming into his face. "Vegeta! Do you hear me? Wake up! Vegeta!"
