Set Me Free
A/N: I don't own DBZ. Writer's block is a killer. Yeah, it took so long but I finally got chapter four out. I'll be working on Stolen Kisses, Forget me Not and One Heart and hopefully I'll have another chapter for all three and Set Me Free before summer is over. I still have a bit of writer's block, suggestions are welcomed.
A computer came to life. Several beeps could be heard.
"Searching…searching…searching…Planet no longer exists."
"The bastard…" The woman slammed her fist into the hard metal and cursed underneath her breath. She pushed a button and the computer shut down. "So it is true then."
She turned away. "I guess this will make things all the more interesting. Let the games begin."
It was about three hours after Planet Earth had been destroyed. Satsuma, Bulma's personal maid, held out two dresses for Bulma. One was a red dress that looked simple enough and would stop just above the knees. It matches the new pair of ruby earrings I had brought earlier. Bulma thought. The other was a pale blue with short sleeves and almost seemed to flutter to the ground. Perhaps another evening, I presume it's nothing fancy.
"…the red one." Bulma finally decided. "It's lovely."
"Indeed, a lovely choice, my mistress." Satsuma held out the garment and nodded.
After a moment Bulma said, "I don't think I will be in the need of your help for the rest of the night."
Clearing at a lost, the older woman blinked. "But if I maybe so bold, what shall I do? I am here to serve you, mistress."
"Oh there must be something. I'm sure Hazier can think of something." Bulma tossed her a knowing look.
Satsuma blushed from head to toe. "I…I don't know what you mean."
"Ok." Bulma trying to act as if she hadn't notice, merely shrugged. "Perhaps Trunks—"
Oh no! Not that demon child! Satsuma thought frantically as she remembered the last time she was assigned to that child and his little friend had unexpectedly arrived. She had to cut off half her golden locks to get out all that paste out of her hair.
"Uh…that reminds me. I think Hazier did ask me to help him groom those horses…if I may…" she looked up now and saw Bulma was dressed.
"Yes, you are dismissed." Bulma said and headed for the mirror. Not wasting even a single second, the older woman scurried out. The door closed silently behind the maid and a few seconds later it opened again. "I that I told you I wouldn't be needing your—"
"What?"
Bulma turned around and stifled a gasp. "Vegeta!"
"Your what….?"
Bulma blinked. "What?"
"Finish what you were about to say." He smirked. "By that blush it must have been interesting."
"Don't sneak up on me! And it's none of your business."
Vegeta ignored her comment and said, "Secrets are not good for the soul."
"And since when did you care about the soul Vegeta? If I remember clearly—"
"You look nice."
"Huh…uh…" Bulma paused, blinked and blushed. Then she frowned. "Oh no you don't, you're going to hear this, mister." She tugged him and placed him on the bed. "Now as I was saying…"
"You look really, really nice."
"Flattery will get you nowhere. Wait a minute." She eyed him suspiciously. "What did you do?"
Vegeta scoffed, "Oh so it's a crime that a husband compliments his wife?"
"Oh a regular husband sure, but let's say a husband named "Vegeta"—"
"—well my father's marriage was a bit—"
"—JR." She glowered at him, hands on her hips and her frown deep and disapproving.
Why does this remind me of mother? Vegeta winced slightly but made little effort to hide it.
"Shh…" Goku tiptoed throughout the house. Gohan followed but had an annoyed look on his face and his arms crossed in an arrogant way. Unknown to them, they had a curious follower.
Bored and obviously annoyed, Gohan demanded, "Dad, where are we going?"
"Well, you're a grown boy now; you should be able to have a few servants to help around your corridors. Ours, though we have at least twenty, need a time off from cleaning up yours while you're away fighting those wars and since you're not so cheerful on the mating thing for a while you'll need a cook, a maid or two, or five, and a valet—"
"It's not that I'm not interesting. I just want to advance a bit on the Saiyan Elite board then I'll get myself interested in the mate finding. I mean, the top guys like a warrior who is also a family man, right?"
This family is full of late bloomers, but gees! Goku rolled his eyes. "Whatever. Just stop griping—"
"HI DAD, WHAT ARE YOU GUYS DOING WHISPERING ABOUT? ARE YOU GOING TO THE MEETING? OR ARE YOU GETTING TAKE-OUT? MOM WILL BE SO MAD 'CAUSE—"
"Goten!" Goku covered his youngest son's mouth and sighed with relief. "Why are you yelling? We're right here." Goten tried to speak but only made muffled words until Goku removed his hand but not far away just in case the hyperactive child decided the Quiet Game wasn't worth it.
Goten pouted. "Silence drives me crazy! Besides, I got bored playing those video games and stuff." He looked around. "So where are we going?"
"We aren't going anywhere. Dad's going somewhere; I'm going to take a nap." Gohan answered.
"We" Goku eyed his oldest son, "are going to a mall of some sort—"
"—mall my—"
"—a mall," Goku empathized. "Gohan's getting some servants."
"…servants?" Goten's eyes lit up, and then he frowned. "Ayah, why can't I get any?"
"You're too young." Goku said.
Angered and a bit upset, Goten said, "Why do I always have to be too young, too short, too this, too that? It's so unfair!"
"You can take my place. Bring me back whatever you find." Gohan turned to leave.
"One more step and I'll have that I-don't-take-no-for-an-answer girl over here." Goku threatened and was quite satisfied to see Gohan shutter in disgust.
Gohan paled but refused to be out maneuvered, he said. "You wouldn't dare."
Goku smirked and folded his arms. "Try me."
"Oh pulling out the old trump cards, huh Kakorat?" A voice said. The three turned around and saw Radditz leaning against the doorframe with his arms folded across his board chest.
"Radditz." Goku inclined his head, acknowledging his brother's presence.
Why does everyone call him "Kakorat" when his name is Goku? But then I call him daddy…why does he have two names? Which one is the right one? Why am I asking myself this? They weren't kidding; kids do ask a lot of questions. Goten thought and decided he'd rather listen in on the conversation than have a debate with himself.
"So are we leaving?" Radditz asked impatiently.
"We?" Gohan asked. "What's with all the 'we' stuff? I never volunteered for this."
Goku rolled his eyes. "Radditz, what happened to the last three you just brought last week—"
"Humph, they died." Radditz said.
"Let me guess, bodily abuse I presume. Am I right?"
Radditz scowled.
Smugly, Goku continued. "How many is that, brother? Thirty in one whole month? That's a record. Goten, break out the champagne."
Goten blinked. Champagne…oh yeah, that bubbly stuff that makes Grandma start dancing on the kitchen table…or is that tequila? That stuff is soooo good—the champagne, I mean. Again, I'm talking to myself! "Ok."
"—right, brother?"
"Shut up, Carrot boy."
"Radish head."
What the hell is this? Gohan thought.
"Unlike you, Carrot breath, I know how to handle my slaves. If they misbehave then that's their damn faults."
"A good master knows a better way to handle misbehavior. Unlike you brother, I haven't punished one slave nor have I ever had to wonder about their loyalty." Goku said in a matter-of-factly tone. "They're not stupid; they know a good master when they see him. But then…you wouldn't know much about that."
Radditz tried unsuccessfully to make another comeback so he glared at his brother, and clenched his fist until he drew blood. Damn you.
"Can we go now children?" Gohan asked sarcastically and started to leave not caring if they went at each other's throats again.
"W-we'll make it through this…won't we?" the young woman asked.
"Of course we will…of course." A man responded. His voice filled with dwindling hope.
"You promise?" the man didn't respond. "Promise me!" the woman cried.
"I promise…"
Liar!
"Got ourselves the last set, boss." A large saiyan entered the room and stretched.
A saiyan, thinner and older than his companion scoffed, "Heard Kakorat was coming."
The other saiyan didn't comment. "Let's get those wrenches out and prettied up for the showcase."
Where the hell was she? Leaning on a block of what she presumed was iron, Videl looked up towards the nearby wall and saw a woman shackled to it; she seemed quite relaxed and almost excited to be there. Her brown hair flowed freely over her exposed breasts and her knee-length skirt was torn in several areas. At times she wiggled a bit to show a bit more skin to the highly appreciative guards. She smiled cloy at them and her green eyes dared them to venture closer. Only one word came to Videl's mind when she'd saw what the woman was doing. One word she'd only used for Maraca, the senior class's 'adventuress.' 1
A foul smell caught Videl's attention. The largest and ghastly looking man she'd ever seen came forward and tried to grope the woman with his hairy hands. The woman, to her credit, didn't flinch or hurl with disgust. She instead had smiled politely and wiggled again in an inviting manner.
"Koki," a man boomed. "Leave the damn merchandise as it came."
Koki pouted and removed his large hands from the woman and frowned. "Gees, I was only having fun with the human. Come on."
"Put her back down. We haven't gotten any bids on her—today."
The happiness in Koki's eyes had died as quickly as it came to life by his words but his lust was as clear as day. Koki winked at the woman and did something else, Videl was glad she hadn't been looking, that had made the older woman squeal in delight.
Where was a barf bag when you need one? Videl thought.
"I thought I'd never see a new face around here."
Videl glanced up; it was the woman who'd been shackled to the wall. As if reading her mind, the woman said. "It's not so bad. If you do it right, you can get into a pretty decent place." She held out her hand. "The name's Sharon."
Videl hesitated, which was a first for her, but eventually shook the woman's hand. "I'm Videl."
"Nice to meet you, Videl." Sharon smiled. "Didn't think I have much competition going on here but then, half those old girls were at least fifty pounds heavier and a boob size smaller than me. But if you got some more food in you and get all that mud off of you, you'd be quite the catch."
Videl murmured something underneath her breath that sounded like a disagreement but she nodded anyways.
"Never doubt the magic of a nice hot bath and the right amount of cleavage."
Videl deciding she didn't want to comment. "About earlier…"
"Oh that thing?" she waved her hand in dismal of the event. "He reminds me of my ex-fiancé, Monty—Kami knows what the hell I saw in that jackass. I just pretended he's one of those hot babes from those modeling agencies and I'm all sent. The mind can be a great thing, that and the ability to 'fake it' if you get my drift. Monty never knew the difference and by the looks of it, neither did that ape."
"All right you little weaklings, get up here. We've got customers waiting." Koki growled. His cold expression didn't even flaunter when it landed on Sharon, if anything it intensified. Koki used his index finger to point out those who were the "chosen one." Among them was the princess of Planet Aquaria, a shallow woman from Planet Emirs and Videl, from Planet Earth. The princess from Aquaria held such an aura of authority and a I'm-here-look-at-me expression it clearly outshined any qualities the shallow woman from Emirs might have had. The woman from Emirs, not being one to be outdone, swung her lengthy red-hair behind her back and strode up the stairs like a runway model.
Caught up in her observations, Videl didn't know what had happened next. One second she was standing on the small stage, the next she was pushed onto her knees in a bowing form. Through the veils of black silk she saw three tall men enter the room and a young boy no older than seven or eight walking in beside them. Koki and the other guards were on their knees and saying something that sounded like praises.
Radditz scowled. "Get off your damn knees. He's not worth it." He spared his brother a glance and continued to scowl at the now bumbling Koki.
"O-of course." Koki gulped.
I thought saiyans never showed their fear. Perhaps it's his high ki reading why that big oaf is so nervous. Videl thought. Then she shook her head. It has to be his ki and that horrible attitude of his. Hah, and Tory said I have a bad attitude.
Tory… Videl felt her heart tighten and her vision blur with forming tears.
Videl clenched her fists. No, you wanted this chance to avenge them. You swore you'd destroy the saiyans. No more tears. You're made of stronger stuff. So much pain, so much lost…so many lives—too many. You're the only one life.
"Get on your feet." Koki snapped. All three of them scrambled onto their feet and did as they were told. Prior to this they'd been taught the "proper" way to grab their potential master's attention. All three stood up tall, their hands at their sides, thrusting out their chests forward and looked as seductive as possible.
Videl tried not to frown. What would be worst? Living here or getting a master and staying with your master? Each had a high potential of getting beaten and violated. The stories she'd heard were so horrendous that it made her almost shudder in fear and disgust. If she'd shuddered she'd surely draw too much attention, mostly annoyance. The second youngest of the four walked towards the group and began to look at the females. He looked intently at them as if analyzing their self-worth. He'd commented that the princess was too 'high mighty,' he'd then complained Videl was 'too skinny' and then when he'd reached the voluptuous woman from Planet Emirs he didn't comment. His scowl had spoke volumes.
"You're a picky boy." Radditz stepped forward and looked at the Aquarius princess carefully. His expression was similar to Koki's expression when he'd looked at Sharon when she'd been tied to the wall moments ago. Radditz ran his tongue along his lips and continued to look at the woman. "Interesting material you've got there, Koki." He said not breaking his gaze with the woman.
"I-I" he cleared his throat and said strongly. "I aim to please."
"Yes, you are but a low class. It is what you do." Radditz added. He reached for the blue-skinned princess and ran his index finger down from her lips to her collarbone and then between her breasts. He smirked devilishly and looked up at her as if asking her if she'd enjoyed it as much as he had. The princess smiled prettily. She closed her eyes for a moment and then she let him have it. She'd spit right into his face! Sadly though, she'd missed his eyes—her intention mark and it would be a costly mistake.
"You witch." Radditz snarled and wiped the spit from his face.
Goku, not being one to miss out on a good laugh, chuckled. He chuckled! Radditz scowled. I am not one to be made fun of.
He snapped his fingers. "Teach the wrench what it means to respect your superiors."
From behind, the princess's assigned guard grabbed her hands into one of his and soundly with the whip, which was once attached to his belt, beat her.
WHACK.
WHACK.
WHACK.
Cruel heartless bastards! Videl flinched inwardly every time the whip came in contact with the woman's flesh. The princess held her tongue and had yet to cry out for mercy or crumble in tears from the pain. Videl could see blood spurning from the woman's skin. The once petty woman from Emirs continued to flinch over and over again until she became intoned to each whack.
"That's enough." Gohan spoke and glared at his uncle. "You've had your fun." He looked at a female saiyan who was about his grandmother's age and the nurse for the women was sitting in her assigned area. "Have her treated and cleaned up." His tone left no room for argument. The woman nodded and with the guard, pulled the princess out of the room.
Radditz sighed and closed his eyes and decided to play a game. Eventually he pointed to the woman from Emirs. The woman, who couldn't be more than twenty-two, turned blue as if all the air in her lungs had rushed out all at once. "He has that affect on all the ladies, don't you, brother?" Goku said in a cool manner. "I'm sure she'll be falling to her feet to please your ever whim." That or trying to commit suicide…
Radditz merely grunted. "Come woman."
The woman's eyes grew so small that they were no bigger than pebbles. That poor woman. Videl thought sadly. No one would be as cruel to wish such a fate on even their worst of enemies…right? No fate could be any worst…
"Well then, I guess then you're mine." Gohan grinned.
A/N: 1 Adventuress means "A woman who seeks social and financial advancement by unscrupulous means."
Past Reviews (thank you everyone for reviewing)
icupcake: wassup. great story as always! i was planning to review your story a LONG time ago(In Fact, im not sure if it was this one...), but me being lazy didn't do it right away.:3 so anyways, i put you on my favorite story list and put you on my favorite author list as well. so that i can check up on whatever stories you have. so, lastly, on behalf of all your other fans...HURRY UP AND UPDATE ALREADY:)
... (anon.): I want more.
Honey Nut Loop: what? how can you leave us hanging there? You better update soon.
Shadow Dreamer 27: Awesome! I can't wait for the next chapter! Keep up the awesome mork!
Sakuramsm: Good again! And I´m glad that you keep writing it. Keep doing it please. Matta Ne!
Noryale: can't wait to see things start developing! good job
fireeyes: OH this story is so good I really want to know whats going to happen next. Please update soon.