Chapter 15

Ice Storm

As Vegeta struck out to the faster pace, he found it harder to see through the falling snow. The ice started to blind him, but still Jerone pushed him to continue at the run. Half blinded already, he strove to keep pace when a ball rolled out to the street, the dull white against the pure white of the snow gave it away as he tried to dodge the ball only then to see the kid running out after it. He tried to slow down quickly, his feet struggling for traction as he fought to maintain control of the cart. A sickening sound of crushing bone and the sliding of the cart was all that could be heard until a large crunching blow could be felt, and the world faded to black.

A sharp crack sounded as he started to come to once more. Vegeta tried to move, to find himself incapable of it for that moment. Faint shouting could be heard with the cracks, and a light sobbing could be heard. The Saiyan Prince didn't move, he couldn't. He lay there as if dead, his body numbed by the cold winter storm.

Slowly he became aware of the sharp pain that kept him immobile, though his breath was frozen by the dry winds that still hit him. Quietly he stayed there as a few people came out to check things over, the boy was in his mother's arms as she neared the fallen Prince. The lady convinced Jerone to go for a rest in a hotel for the night as she gently began to unbind Vegeta from the cart.

Dully aware of the coaxing to get up, he quietly fought to rise, and only then did the fires of the agony strike him at last. Fighting to rise up the woman would help him gently to his feet as she led him to the stall by her house, in which was one other slave. She placed him inside then threw down an extra bedding of straw upon the floor then helped him to lay back down. Only then did he finally relax enough to take a deep breath.

This other slave looked down at him disgustedly. "So a cart puller wannabe are ya? Well, from sight of that mishap, I don't think you'll ever be called for again."

Quietly, Vegeta looked up at this other slave. "I don't care if I'm ever a great cart puller. This task is menial and cruel, humiliating for a Saiyan Prince to have to fuss over. Besides, I have more important issues to deal with than broken slaves who always do as told."

Vakor shrugged. "Better than being beat all the time, and sorry to say, you aren't a Prince of anything. Does that illusion of being a Prince help you sleep at night?"

Vegeta scoffed and then at that time Tora was brought into the back into the next stall. The Dark Prince looked over at him and then raised a brow. "Tora? How are things looking out there?"

Tora looked up at Vegeta and grinned. "Not too bad right now Sire. That blizzard has us blocked and the Mistress can't get the needed food tonight to feed us. Jerone is pissed off, because of the incident, but he's out cold by booze. How are you doing my Prince. That was a nasty accident you had."

Vakor listened to the both of them. "Wait a sec, you both know each other?"

Tora nodded. "He's my Prince, from Planet Vegeta. He is the only one I will kneel to of my own accord and of my own will."

Vegeta looked at Vakor and then to Tora. "I ache like crazy, the pain intense and I'm pretty stiff and sore right now. Other than that, I've had worse scrapes from the battles I've been in."

Tora nodded. "Yes, we have. You are already the more experienced out of all of us on cart pulling. You may want to offer the Mistress your services to get food so we can eat. Sound fair enough to you? She really is good hearted and will treat you with respect."

Vegeta lowered his head lightly and when he did Vakor began to laugh. "He couldn't pull a cart if his life depended on it."

Lashing out, Vegeta held Vakor by the throat. "I can pull cart better than you think bastard. Now either learn to quit your insulting or your Owner is going to be one slave less."

Vakor looked at him. "I call your bluff, old man."

Vegeta gripped him tightly as a ball of energy flared up in his hand. "Do you really want to find out if I do or not? I've destroyed entire planets without second thought. I can kill you with out even losing any sleep over it."

Vakor choked and then nodded rubbing his throat when Vegeta finally released the powerful grip on his throat and reabsorbed the ki ball in his hand. "Damn that's a grip for such an old man."

Tora shook his head. "You're lucky he didn't kill you. On the Saiyan planet, he is the strongest. If he wanted to, he could make this place nonexistant and not even break a..."

Vegeta waved him off. "Its alright Tora, let the fool believe what he will. Where is this 'Mistress' you keep talking about? Is she inside?"

The other warrior nodded. "Yes my leige. She would be inside right now taking care of a sick child."

Vegeta's gaze lowered again lightly as if in deep thought. "How old is the child?"

Tora shrugged uncertain. "Don't know Prince Vegeta, but if I had to take a guess I would say about seven or eight oldest. He's really ill, unsure if he'll survive another night right now. She has no money for care and they are reduced to nearly wearing rags."

That was all that was needed to be said as Vegeta jumped the gate and then placed a hand on Tora's shoulder. "Rest easy friend, we'll both be needing our strength. I want you to be a backup puller should something go wrong."

Tora nodded and then finally he watched as Vegeta went to the house and peeked inside, stepping lightly as possible as he searched around. "M'lady, its Vegeta, I have something to offer you if you want to hear it."

She gasped lightly and tried to shoo him back. "You're a beast, stay away from my boy, since you nearly ran him over."

Vegeta lowered his head but didn't move. "M'lady, just listen to what I have to say. It'd be either a yes or no and I'll leave you alone as well as your son."

She held a fear in her eyes with his very presence, a common reaction that he had frequently come across. Her eyes gazed to his coal black and he averted them purposely, letting them lower once more. The woman stood and then began to near him slowly. "What is your offer?"

He looked up at her again, his head not lifting. "I can take you and your child to a doctor even now in this storm. Also, I can stop at a store and get food for not only us out in the barn, but for you as well. I'll work off any debt that will be brought on if Jerone will allow it."

Meritha looked at him quietly. "You, a slave, would do that for me? Why?"

Vegeta held his ground, not moving. "Because I know what its like to lose a family. I never knew my mother. The child is innocent of any hardships brought upon those of us working for the Free and Owners. I'm not a born slave m'lady, but a born Prince."

Meritha looked at him as tears began to fill her eyes. He could see the pain and burdens she held back. His gaze turned curious as her expression changed but she went to the room and brought out the boy he had nearly struck. It drove into him a deeper hatred for the Owners of this City but he remained quiet as she grabbed her warmest clothing and threw them on. Shortly after she had her son ready to go and she looked at him. "My son's life hangs in the balance."

Silently the woman looked up into Vegeta's battle hardened eyes and expression but once more she seen something there, a nobility and she swallowed hard before speaking softly, just barely above a whisper. "I'm greatful you would offer this attempt even in such adverse conditions, Prince Vegeta."

He finally raised his head up and then felt a breath catch in his chest. He hadn't expected her to call him by title and name catching him completely off guard. The Dark Prince though would note that as he nodded once then headed out for the barn once more. As he reached the door he paused but didn't look back. "Thank you, for calling me by my name. I'll pull the cart forth but we must make haste."

Vegeta finally opened the door and then walked out. Tora and Vakor could see the urgency of the new mission the Saiyan Prince had found. Vakor had never seen such grim determination in his life and he looked to Tora as Vegeta left the barn with the cart, unharnessed and unbound. Tora looked to the other. "He's on a mission now, a self-appointed task. The Prince does not allow for anything to stand in his way when he has his sights set on a task at hand that he deems worthy of his attention."

Vakor nodded quietly as he watched the blinding snow become a blizzard. White fog started to settle in and ice was fast to form to immobile objects. The man shook his head. "He's insane, facing a blizzard like this."