Chapter 12
Strangers Like Me
Mai watched as the city passed below. She twisted the hems of her sleeves with her fingers. The flier had left the damaged part of the settlement behind, the scene below appearing more calm and normal. Various types of vehicles moved up and down the streets. Natives walked along the sides of the roads, going in and out of buildings. They didn't seem to care much about the damage that was evident several streets away.
Are they used to such things? she wondered. Did Frieza land here and cause so much destruction the people are no longer shocked by crashing ships?
She shook her head a little. Mai didn't really want to think about what they had done. The destruction she had witnessed after jumping from the hatch still tore at her conscience. The path they had taken on their descent was clearly marked by the tumbled and scarred buildings, the long trench cut into the earth. Their escape had cost so many lives already she was beginning to question whether they should have stayed at the seraglio.
Brussi shifted a little on the seat. Mai cast her a sideways glance. The Saiyan still had her weapon in hand. She cradled it against her chest, her eyes staying fixed on the two people in the front. Her muscles were tensed and ready to react.
Mai decided not to disturb her. Brussi hadn't been happy about her slip regarding the state of their ship. No doubt the woman believed they should show as few weaknesses as possible.
She supposed her friend was right. The information in the computer files had been corrupted. All they did know was that the planet had life and that the natives weren't prone to traveling off-world. The rest had been too garbled to be reliable. They didn't know how friendly the natives would be and she was sure Brussi was taking the current assistance cautiously. It was a stroke of luck that these people spoke Common, even if it was with a strange accent.
A weak vibration rippled through the flier as it was brought to a halt. Mai looked out the window again. Below them was a grouping of domed buildings. The largest had some sort of symbols on front, but she didn't understand what it said. A green lawn surrounded the grouping and walking paths bordered the whole thing.
With a slight bump, the blue-haired woman landed the vehicle. She turned in her seat, smiled at Brussi and Mai, saying, "All right, here we are. Everyone out."
Then, she and the boy opened their doors and climbed out. Mai opened her door, hoping Brussi wouldn't do anything to antagonize these people. She gave her friend a quick look.
Brussi shrugged. She nodded to the opening. "I'm coming out this side, brat. These two have a strange scent about them. No point in taking my hands off the weapon more than needed."
The older woman used the handle of the object to nudge Mai in the back. Mai resisted a sigh and stepped down out of the flier. She moved far enough away from the door for Brussi to come out without being hindered. The Saiyan wiggled out a bit, scanned the area and came the rest of the way out, her feet thumping on the ground from the short drop.
The native woman, Bulma, regarded Brussi with a tight little smile. Walking over to the flier, she pressed a hidden button on the outside. The vehicle vanished in a puff of smoke.
Mai's eyes widened and Brussi swung the tip of her weapon around to point at the native. She said in a suspicious voice, "What was that? How did it disappear?"
Bulma bent down and picked up a small round end cylinder that had appeared in place of the flier. She smirked, waving the little thing, "It's called a DynoCap. We use them here to store things. My corporation makes them. They're pretty handy to have."
Brussi kept the weapon in position for a few seconds longer, then nodded and lowered the tip. Mai silently released her pent up breath. The boy had moved closer when Brussi had taken aim at his mother. Even without a weapon, he had seemed ready to defend Bulma. He relaxed again, scowling a bit.
Mai wished Brussi weren't quite so reactive, though she was glad it had been nothing more than storage trick. Nameks used magic sometimes to tuck away items they didn't need right away. She supposed they both needed to expect some surprises.
"Well then, come on you two," Bulma gestured towards the largest building. "Come inside and I'll be able to tell you what you need to know."
Brussi considered it. Finally, she shouldered the weapon and walked to what looked to be the entrance. Mai quickly followed, glancing back at Bulma and Trunks. The two hung back. She saw the woman whisper something to the boy but couldn't hear what was said. The boy nodded.
When Bulma noticed Mai watching, she smiled pleasantly and caught up with her visitors. The boy stuffed his hands into his pants pocket. He frowned, turned and walked to the edge of the lawn. She didn't see where he went next since the three had reached the doorway.
Bulma had the entrance open in a second and ushered the two aliens inside. Mai looked around the rooms they were led through. The furniture was different but not too foreign. There were wooden tables, flowers in pots, chairs, pictures hung on the walls. There wasn't much sound. A faint whirring, like a motor running, carried along with currents of cooled, fresh smelling air.
Finally, they stopped in a room that had a long table skirted by thin cushioned chairs. Two bowls holding carefully arranged flowers sat on the top. Bulma said, "Have a seat and I'll get you two something."
Brussi tapped the barrel of her weapon against her shoulder guard. Without replying, she pulled out a chair and sat down, keeping away from the table enough to use the weapon if she had to. Mai took the chair next to Brussi.
"Thank you. If I could have some water?" said Mai. She hoped Brussi wouldn't make a fuss over accepting the hospitality. Her throat was still dry from the heat inside the ship, making her voice whispery.
Brussi just grunted a little. Bulma glared at the woman, then tried to smile again. She stepped over to the wall where there was a small box with a grilled front. She pressed a button on the front and said, "Kaju, we have a Saiyan and Namek visitor. Bring some refreshments to the dining room."
"Right away, Miss Bulma," answered a tinny voice from the box.
Bulma didn't respond. Instead, she returned to the table and sat in a chair opposite of Brussi and Mai. She clasped her hands on the top and opened her mouth to speak.
She didn't get a chance. Footsteps approached from the doorway that she had led her two visitors through. Brussi sprang out of her chair. Whirling around, she aimed her weapon at the intruder only to stand in shock at what she saw.
A man, shorter than she was but with a tall mass of black hair, stood inside the doorway. He wore a sleeveless black top and matching pants. Her nose twitched as it caught the scent of a fellow Saiyan. The same smell she realized now that she had detected on the other two in a lesser degree. She swept her gaze over him, trying to pin down why he looked familiar and how strong he was.
The man crossed his arms and directed his unflinching gaze into hers. His brows were drawn down in a disapproving expression. "I don't know who you are but you seem to be forgetting you're in the presence of your Prince."
Brussi gasped. That's it! That face... I remember the image my parents showed me.
A rebellious voice in the back of her mind told her to stay standing. For too long she had been beaten in attempts to teach her "proper humility" for a slave. Whenever it happened, she had always forced herself to keep standing until pain or drug had caused her to collapse. She struggled with the thought, the idea of kneeling on purpose left a bitter taste in her mouth.
Brussi clenched her jaw and slowly knelt down on one knee. The distasteful sensation of submission gradually gave way to one of excitement, similar to what she had felt when her and Mai were on route to her homeworld. When the annoying native woman had mentioned other Saiyans, she hadn't expected royalty!
Placing her weapon at his feet, she bowed her head a little and said, "Prince Vegeta, you resemble your father, the king. My only excuse for not recognizing you sooner is that I was not born and raised on Vegetasei."
"Hm," was his response to her disclosure. She could feel him staring down at her. She couldn't resist raising her head again so she could look him in the eye. He smirked, looking somewhat amused, and motioned for her to get up. He said, "I didn't think any other Saiyans had survived the destruction of our world."
Brussi stood, feeling more relieved than she cared to admit, and secured her weapon to the side of her waist. Her parents had told her of the young prince they knew, his power already at an advanced level. She doubted her weapon would do very well in a fight if it came to that. The charge on it was dangerously low.
An assortment of delicious smells drifted by, some savory, others sweet. Prince Vegeta tilted his head a fraction. Apparently deciding the conversation was over, he strode around Brussi and took the chair at the head of the table. He barely glanced at Bulma. He didn't acknowledge Mai at all even though she had stood when he had mentioned his title.
A troupe of straight backed men in black suits came into the room carrying platters heavy with food and drink. Steaming dumplings sent swirls of vegetable scented mist into the air. Roasted chicken and beef added their meaty aroma. Light pastries topped with icing were piled high. There were also noodles in sauce, rice, pickles, fresh fruit, pitchers of iced water and spouted pots that contained some sort of hot drink.
Brussi's mouth watered. She hadn't had a decent meal since the escape from Dokusei. The ship they had stolen had been stocked with odd tubes of paste and packages of dried foodstuff. It had been edible but not very satisfying.
She quickly returned to her seat. Her stomach was beginning to rumble in anticipation. The heavy platters thumped as they were set down. The porcelain dishes and cups clinked together occasionally when they were placed before the guests. Brussi and Mai both doubtfully eyed the pair of wooden sticks that were placed in front of them.
Almost before the suited men were done, Vegeta began piling food onto his plate. Bulma tapped her fingers impatiently. When it looked like he was intent on stuffing his face first, she questioned, "Vegeta, where's Goku? I thought you two were sparring today."
"Hmph, I'm trying to eat, woman, and you want to discuss that-"
"Yes!" Bulma flicked a grin at the visitors, then glared at Vegeta. "He might go right to the ship instead of here. He won't know the people inside aren't here to cause trouble."
Vegeta chewed on his food, he gave Bulma a questioning look, then shrugged. "He had already left to go back to that desolate village he insists on staying in when that fool Yamcha found me. Trunks turned up a few minutes after he left. If the two don't waste time, he might be here in an hour."
Brussi stayed silent, though she absorbed the conversation. "Goku" didn't sound like a Saiyan name. She was a bit disappointed. The native woman had said "Saiyans," as in more than one. How was she supposed to calculate their chances of defeating Frieza if they didn't all show up?
She pushed aside the concern. No use brooding when there was a fine meal to be eaten. And if she didn't get some soon, it looked like the Prince would eat it all. He wasn't gorging, exactly, but his cheeks puffed out a little. Turning her attention back to the supper, she skipped the fruit and rice, electing to go for the beef instead.
Navigating the food to her plate proved a little tougher than she had expected. She hadn't watched how the Prince had done it and the utensils were different than the ones on Bukisei. She shrugged, guessing the forked metal object on the platter was the tool to use, she snatched it up. Stabbing the slices of meat seemed to secure and transport them fine. Getting them off the metal utensil, however, took some shaking.
Finally, the beef slipped off the tines and plopped onto her plate. She lightly tossed the utensil back onto the platter and picked up a bowl of noodles. It was a little messier, there being sauce and the slick pasta wanting to slide off the utensil, but she got most of it where she wanted it. Those were followed by some cooked vegetables of some sort and a few pieces of the pastry.
Brussi surveyed the other dishes and decided that she had a good start. Her gaze caught the expressions on the two planet inhabitants. The Prince had stopped eating, stared at her for a few seconds, then went back to his food. The native Bulma blinked, wide eyed. The look was quickly replaced with a normal one and she sipped from a cup.
Brussi resisted the urge to challenge them. Her pride was stung that they had looked at her like some sort of child who didn't know her manners. She knew the rough ones of the shipyard she had grown up in and the fine ones of the seraglio. But neither had included being taught how to use these sorts of instruments.
Intent on burying the uneasy warmth inside, she glanced toward Mai. The Namek hadn't taken any of the food. She was drinking contentedly from a glass of water. Brussi picked out a fat orange fruit from a bowl and set it on Mai's empty plate. She said in a stern, low voice, "I know you have eaten anything for the last three days, brat. Don't make me force this down your throat."
Mai protested in a whisper, "Brussi, I-"
Choked laughter interrupted. Both Brussi and Mai turned to Vegeta to see him swallow his food and smirk. He seemed fairly amused. "You really have been cut off. Nameks don't need to eat."
The warmth inside Brussi's chest rose to her throat and threatened to sneak into her cheeks. She was disgusted with herself. She had endured worse taunts from both Old Nobe and his cronies as well as the pig Seisan and his lackeys. Any shame she had once possessed had been burned away long ago.
Yet this short Prince managed to dig in those embers and stir a small portion of its ghost. She didn't like that weakness at all.
"Nameks can eat, if they choose to," said Mai firmly. Brussi looked at her from the corner of her eyes. Mai didn't return the glance but kept her intent gaze on Vegeta. Her face was serious as she continued, "I eat quite regularly, or used to. I happen to enjoy it."
Vegeta didn't appear at all convinced. He chuckled again as if it were some joke. Mai picked up a bowl of rice and scooped some of it into a smaller one beside her plate. Picking up the smaller bowl, she gave the Prince a thin smile. She hesitated only a second before picking up the wooden sticks. Her grip on them was clumsy, so she ate slowly.
Vegeta stopped chuckling. He grimaced and said, "If you die from that, I'm throwing your body outside! Don't think we're going to be bothered with burying your green corpse."
He pushed away his plate, not seeming too happy with the sight of an eating Namek. Mai continued for that reason alone. Her love of food had diminished, though possibly it was temporary, so she didn't actually care much for the taste of the plain rice. But she couldn't resist tweaking Vegeta's nose for his comment.
The Saiyan Prince scowled at her, then faced Brussi again and stated, "My son said you came here looking for Frieza."
Mai inhaled some bits of rice. If Brussi had been eating, she might have been in the same predicament. As it was, she covered her surprise by slapping the coughing Mai on the back, though she quickly returned her attention to Vegeta.
"That's right," she ground out. "I don't care how long ago it was he destroyed our planet. I want revenge for that!"
"Heh." The Prince grinned almost wickedly. "Well, I'm afraid you're a little late for that. He was killed years ago."
Brussi stopped pounding Mai's back, an occurrence the Namek was very grateful for. Mai sipped at her water and winced at the stinging her friend had caused. She didn't think Brussi had realized her slapping had become much harder when Vegeta had mentioned Frieza. She was also reeling a bit from hearing the enemy that had spent weeks travelling to find was dead. She was both disappointed and relieved.
"Killed?" Brussi leaned forward. She flattened her palms onto the table top. "How? By who? Was it you?"
The grin faded, leaving a more solemn look behind on Vegeta's face. "No, he was first thought killed by another Saiyan. He came back, a half machine freak, and was truly defeated by my son."
"Our son," Bulma put in. She set her cup down and frowned at Vegeta.
Brussi tried not to show her confusion. The lavender hair boy, if that was the only son in the family, certainly didn't seem strong enough to defeat a powerful enemy. She also felt cheated. She clenched her fists. The greatest enemy of the Saiyan race and he gets defeated by a boy?
"I don't understand," Mai said, having recovered from her accident. "Do you mean the youth Trunks we met?"
Bulma nodded, then commented, "It was his future self. That is, he came from an alternate future to warn us about another danger and defeated Frieza at the same time."
Mai didn't have any qualms about showing her uncertainty. Before she could ask anything more, Vegeta stood. He stated, "It's over and done. If this little circus is finished, I'm going to train."
Whether or not anyone else's objections would have mattered to his decision, the Saiyan Prince didn't stay to hear them. He strode quickly from the room.
"That man," muttered Bulma. She went back to sipping from her cup.
Brussi stared after him for a moment. She didn't like the somewhat lost feeling his announcement had inspired. Feh... so Frieza is dead. We'll just move on... Though where they would move on to, she didn't know. It didn't seem there were too many Saiyans left. The cooling food on her plate drew her attention again. Picking up the wooden sticks, she did her best to imitate what Mai had done. After a few tries, she got it well enough to get the food to her mouth.
Mai sat silent again. She abandoned the rest of the rice and drank her water instead. More footsteps approached from the doorway the Prince had left by. These, she noticed, were heavier but quieter. She wondered who else they were about to meet. Putting down her glass, she turned to look at the newcomer.
Mai nearly fell out of her chair as an imposing green skinned figure stated, "Trunks said there was something here I should see."