Chapter 19

Small Rumors

As he walked into the grand entrance through the tall wood doors decorated with glass designs, Vegeta gazed to the white stone that made the tall, thick pillars and the outside of the mansion. It would look like a dream home for any who gazed upon it. For those unfortunate enough to be forced into a collar in Jronia, this place was more like a dark and dreaded nightmare waiting to consume it's next victim. He was to be the next victim as he walked fearlessly behind Jerone, his gaze though did not lower as had many others before him. He refused to give them the pleasure of truly breaking him.

Sweeping from one wall to another, it would look like a large marbled throne room with a lonely desk at the front of the room and banners strung up on the otherwise bare walls. He itched under his left hand glove upon which was branded four numbers, 3607. That number was what he was called by, what he was to answer to, and in that manner he was to somehow lose semblance of who he was. It didn't work and nor would he let it work.

Jerone turned around and with Vegeta's hands bound behind his back and his feet hobbled with short shackles he pounced on the Saiyan with a ferocious appetite to devour whatever spirit was left in the proud Prince. However, after each beating, he stood back up and this time Jerone had him transferred into a cage outside. The time had come for him to be isolated from all others except for Jerone.

Vegeta though would have none of it as he worked for the next several nights trying to pick pocket a guard that stood at the door of his prison. After a week of beatings from the guards and Jerone, he finally succeeded in getting a thin metal shard and he tucked it away in his right hand glove letting it set crossways on his palm so as not to arouse suspicion that he had it even if he did move his hand. That shard would be his ticket out of that hellish cell.

-One Year Later-

During this past year Vegeta had secretly married Blue, but he still pulled the carts on the lonesome trek through the City of Jronia. His wife had been caught by this point and enslaved whether by choice or forced he didn't know, though Vegeta had perfected the cold outward appearances of an uncaring individual, even when he felt most insecure. Vegeta's performance was flawless as he showed an unfeeling gaze whenever they struck his wife before him. He would not let that become a weakness, he couldn't afford to if he were to survive. He simply acted as if her suffering had no meaning to him at all.

Blue would be given the treatments of rape and so many other things he had been through before. His eyes didn't even show a flinch when a whip was cracked down on her back. Vegeta gave no sign that he was affected at all by her torments. He would stick to his mind's written script. Tonight though would be different as he watched the rise of a half moon from the window of the mansion as he was shoved down the hall to his cell.

Once inside, Vegeta turned but made no attempt to get out, instead resorting to an impatient pacing in which they had gotten used to by now from him. His two guards out front of his cage thought nothing of the pacing which he had done from the first month he had been placed in this confounded prison. Night after night he had made it a habit of trying to pick the lock when the guards were fast asleep.

This night though, he made sure to not wake a single person as he silently inserted the shiftable yet sturdy piece of steel into the lock and with a swift and quiet clicking sound, the door to his cell pushed open with ease. He walked over to Blue's cage and then picked her's as well, his footfalls silent upon the stone. Picking up his beaten wife, he soon left the mansion without trace that he was even gone. The doors had been locked back, straw was placed under the thin blankets, making them look like they were where they were supposed to be.

Vegeta stole immediately up the side of a building and then climbed to the rooftops and there leapt from roof to roof. After all, what native ever looked up to see what could be stealing through the shadows. He ran fast and hard to the Southern Forest and there he would find paths, going this way and that as he came upon a cave, opened with a boulder to one side. He looked to it and then entered.

Gazing around silently, he rolled the stone to cover the front of the cave and then when all was secured, he built a small fire. Upon its walls, he began to draw out the life he had lived before this City and then what had gone on scene for scene what had happened to him and whoever allied themselves with him upon its silent and unspeaking walls. This place would be his home now, his lair. Little did he know at the time that this lair was not only unknown, but there would be much more to the twisted and shifting maze that hid behind the wall of this first entrance.

Taking care not to step out too far yet, he scanned the dark forest with his black penetrating gaze. He heard someone tramping out in the brush and he stood alert, his eyes fixed on the direction of the sound. There was nothing else around otherwise as he quietly moved to the brush, cautiously making sure that he was not heard. He peered out from the brush to a figure that stood just a little taller than he was, a guess about five foot nine. The orange gi and cobalt blue shirt with the small emblem on it drew attention and his eyes narrowed more.

Goku stepped through the forest looking around for something or someone. He was unmistakeably a Saiyan as well as he walked closer and closer to the place where Vegeta hid so carefully. Kakarrot stopped and looked at him, and Vegeta lowered his power nulled by the drug, he wouldn't be sensed so easily. Goku sat down on a log and pulled out an apple from his pocket and Vegeta licked his lips. He hadn't eaten in nearly a week as his coal eyes gazed to the single apple Kakarrot held in his hand and he watched him and it.

Vegeta waited for just a bit when Goku was not on guard as he then launched out at the other Saiyan. The surprise attack worked as he snatched that apple and stood there ready to fight if need be as his tail cinched about his waist a little tighter. Goku looked to his empty hand and then the figure standing partially in the shadows. "Who's there? Come out and show yourself before I am forced to take action."

Softly he growled as Vegeta stepped more into the light. Kakarrot looked at him and his eyes became excited and Vegeta grew more leary of his actions. Slowly, Goku turned to face him more fully. "There you are, Bulma's worried sick about you!"

Vegeta raised a brow. "Bulma? Who the hell is that? Another damn Jronian Free? Have I been already sold?"

Kakarrot tilted his head. "Bulma's your wife Vegeta, don't you remember?"

Vegeta scoffed. "I think you got your Saiyans crossed. Who the hell are you anyway?"

Goku was again taken by surprise. "Come on, you've always called me by my Saiyan name Kakarrot. You have to remember that much."

Vegeta only glowered and shook his head giving a light snort to the side. "No I don't. I've had the last 9 years in this hell hole."

Walking casually up to Vegeta, he shook his head. "No, you spent it on Earth. You took off and didn't return. We kind of missed your temper and all."

Not wanting to be closer to this person, Vegeta matched him step for step back to keep his distance from Kakarrot. "I'm not the Vegeta you seek. Now leave me the hell alone."

Quickly Vegeta turned and bolted headed for the lair a good half mile off. However before he could go ten yards, he was again looking Goku face to face. He growled and began to charge at Kakarrot doing what he must to get through with his prize in hand as he gave a quick headbutt. Goku however came down with a sharp snap to the back of his neck, forcing the Saiyan Prince to land hard on the ground, he lay there quietly as Goku approached him, and for the first time the other Saiyan glimpsed the black steel collar about Vegeta's throat.

Quickly, Vegeta snapped up again and tripped Kakarrot then finally he pinned the younger Saiyan under him, holding him with a grip even Goku seemed surprised he had. Vegeta growled quietly as his coal eyes fixed on the larger Saiyan in his hold. "Give me one very damn good reason I shouldn't snap your neck here and now Kakarrot."

Kakarrot struggled in the Saiyan Prince's grasp gaining no headway, being effectively pinned and forced to remain where he was. An arrow grazed his shoulder and Vegeta growled again, leaving the apple as he bolted once more the shoulder wound dripping blood from time to time. He had to veer them away from the lair he had just found. They were out to catch him if possible, but to the Jronian Free, dead was acceptable.

Goku stood up as soon as he could but by that time, Vegeta was gone from sight and sense. He looked to the apple on the ground and then looked back to the lead hunter. The man looked at Kakarrot and then to the brush. "Watch that beast, he's quite a vicious one. Don't let him steal anything of your's either, he's been noted to have turned into quite the pick pocket thief. Rumor has it a ghost sprung him from his Owner's home."