The only person in my life
The person who taught me love

Life isn't easy
But it's beautiful
You're the person who taught me that

Rather than light words
You're the one who gave me your warm hand

When I was lost
You're the one who called me
Like a star shining in the darkness

That person is calling my heart
Because of that, my flower is blooming
In my life that had no reason
You became my meaning
The only person who I love

- Kim Greem, "One Person"
- (Ruler, Owner of the Mask OST)


Episode 23
Pride Goes Before Destruction


Doctor Gero remembered the day when he was taken by force before the Prime Minister and his lackeys the day he first met Prince Vegeta. He couldn't help but question the king's true motives for this cloning serum at all. He was told that King Vegeta was planning on creating an army of clones based on Prince Vegeta's DNA so they could help in overthrowing the Galactic Emperor and easily conquer the entire universe. Of course, Paragus wouldn't answer his question in truth but Gero could feel that the king's plans were not good at all.

The instruction was just to make specific changes on the serum which would allow them to create the perfect clone of a being. From the physical aspects down to cellular and their abilities as well, without any other modifications to each copy's genes. It was a confidential information but Paragus allowed him to get some help from other alien scientists he knows if he needed to so long as it would make his work faster. He seeked the help of his wife, Nijuichigo and his friend, Doctor Briefs.

They worked together for days and nights on his laboratory, barely getting any sleep at all. At first, Nijuichigo asked Doctor Briefs if his younger daughter, Bulma could give them a hand on this. She was sure the girl who was hailed as a scientific genius as a kid could be of great help to them. However, Doctor Briefs, doubting the motives behind this experiment, told her that he wants to stay Bulma out of this. He believed that he had to and that Prince Vegeta has no idea on this. He also doubts the Prime Minister, he doesn't want to trust the man at all.

It has been weeks since Paragus ordered Gero and they were getting closer to their objective. Finally, they were done with it and be free. But Gero suspected that given the ruthless nature of the Saiyans, they will be killed after this. He never trusted any single one of them, not even Prince Vegeta, who destroyed their home planet years ago.

Growling to himself, he reached out for a communication device on the counter. As much as he hated following that bastard Paragus, he had to report to him. As of now, he was powerless against the might of these Saiyans. But he had some plans for the future. And using their own weapon against them sounds like a perfect idea.

Nijuichigo watched her husband on the corner with cold, pale blue eyes. She hated the Saiyans as much as he is but had no other choice as of now. Until their savior decided to join them, they must not become reckless again. She made a wrong move once, didn't expect that Vegeta was that good, and caused a few lives and a revelation of their existence. (See Episode 12) She knew she had to wait for the right time to attack again.

~=o-O-o=~

Bulma stared at the piece of white parchment paper at her hand with big, shocked eyes. Her fingers shaking along her heart pounding with perturbation. On the corner of her eyes were tears threatening to fall.

'Come and meet me. I'll be waiting for you.'

Those were the words written on the letter. There was a coordinate of a place along it. The meeting place.

Who is this person who dared to kidnap her family? Why?

Dreading for her family, Bulma turned around to go to where these coordinates lead, however, Raditz was quick to grab her left arm before she could leave. Bulma flinched, his grip hurt, feeling as if he just grasped her arm with an iron clamp.

"Just where do you think you're going, woman?!" Raditz demanded.

Bulma turned to glare at Vegeta's battle partner and General, "To my family!" she said. She tried to pry her arm away from his hand but was unable to. "Let go of me!"

"Don't panic. Calm down and let's think first," Raditz told her.

"Calm down?!" she bawled. "How the hell am I supposed to calm down when my family is in danger! Let me go!" she once again tried to pry her arm away but Raditz impatiently and roughly pulled her back.

"No!" Raditz sneered as he glared at her directly in the eye. "You will stay right here and let me report this to Vegeta. Don't be a fool! I already told you to be careful of your actions! The enemies are probably using your family as hostage to lure you into coming to their trap! And when they get their hands on you, they will make Vegeta submit himself to them! Remember the new prophecy, if anything happens to you it would trigger him to return to the way he was before! Do you want that to happen?"

Of course, she didn't want that to happen.

"B-But..." she stuttered, anxiousness and panic for her family's lives swirling at her head.

"Don't worry. We will find another way to save your family. Trust us and let's await for Vegeta's royal command on this." Raditz told her.

Bulma reluctantly considered Raditz's words for a moment. Yes, he was correct. Whoever was behind this must have a vendetta against the Saiyan Prince. Even if she comes there to rescue her parents and her older sister, she knew she could do nothing but only add herself to the problem. She lowered her eyes and nodded.

"You are right." she sighed.

Finally, Bulma perceived Raditz's firm grip earlier loosened as she looked up to his dark eyes. "Good for you to understand." he said, turning away and raising a finger to press a small button at the side of his scouter to make a contact. He frowned when nobody seemed to answer.

Why isn't Vegeta answering the call? Raditz wondered. He sighed and made another call.

When finally the call was answered, Raditz hissed. "It's me, Kakarot. I have an urgent report to Vegeta for you to send." There was a small pause. "No, he's not answering his scouter. You have to find him immediately, Bulma's family is missing. We found a letter at the ruins of her house." He reached out for Bulma to give him the letter and read. "There's a coordinate written here... Yeah. It's S0768 SW3638287. Did you get that?" another pause, Raditz grunted. "Take note. It's S0768 SW3638287. Tell that to Vegeta immediately. I'll be waiting for his command." And then Raditz hung up after that.

"Vegeta's not answering?" Bulma asked Raditz who was rubbing at the back of his head in annoyance.

"He has probably left the palace again and left his scouter. That little rascal." Raditz grunted.

"Really? Where would he go to?"

Raditz shrugged his shoulders, not entirely sure although he suspects that the prince must have gone to hunt down someone or something on his own. Probably putting a stop to the Military Clone Project.

"Don't worry about it. Kakarot will find him." he assured her.

~=o-O-o=~

After receiving Raditz's report through his scouter, Kakarot, who was together with his girlfriend, Chichi, let out a whine. He and Chichi were having a date together when Raditz's urgent call interrupted their supposedly second kiss. Why do these things always happen when he's out on a date with his girlfriend?!

With his back turned on her while he was talking to his older brother earlier, Kakarot finally turned to face Chichi with an apologetic look.

"I'm sorry, Chichi. Something urgent has come up." Kakarot muttered.

"Is it because of the Crown Prince again?" Chichi asked.

At that question, Kakarot couldn't help but think that Chichi was getting annoyed. Almost every time they were together like this, they end up having to cancel whatever they were doing because of Vegeta.

"Yes." Kakarot responded in an apologetic tone as he lowered his eyes.

At that moment, Kakarot learned the reason why it was not allowed for the Generals and Protectors of the Crown Prince to have any romantic relationship.

Chichi diverted her eyes and gave him a sidelong glance, pursing her lips, thinking whether she should say something or not.

Knowing she was upset, Kakarot apologized, "I'm sorry, really. But I have to go."

Chichi sighed angrily, "Fine. You can go now." then she looked at him sharply. He was gone. Chichi felt hurt, thinking he was unaware about how upset she was by this turn out of events.

Chichi's tears fell down on her eyes. If he'll always be this way every time he was supposed to spend time with her, then their relationship may be useless after all. Kakarot was a soldier of the Saiyan Royal Army and the General and protector of Planet Vegeta's Future King. He has a great responsibility to his people and his Crown Prince that he cannot just turn his back on because of her. He was loyal to his duties and he'll be willing to give his life for the sake of it.

He'll always be leaving her this way. Was she supposed to just accept all of that?

She does love him. He was a handsome, strong man who was sweet, cheerful, pure and naive at times. He loved her cooking and told her she was a beautiful creature. She liked those things about him. But are these feelings worth it if they cannot stay together because of his duties to his people?

For the meantime, she wondered if Bulma was feeling the same way as her. She heard from Kakarot that Bulma has a mutual relationship with the Saiyan Crown Prince. How could they keep up with their men being on their duties whenever they needed them?

Saiyans probably don't have the intelligence to understand Earthling women's feelings.

Kakarot was brought by his ki senses in front of the Crown Prince's private quarters. He frowned. If Vegeta was here after all then why isn't he answering his scouter?

Nappa, who was standing on the side, had a laughable look on his face upon finding Kakarot there.

"Damn it, Kakarot, you brat! Don't just appear like that! You almost gave me a heart attack!" Nappa chided.

Kakarot grinned sheepishly and apologized, "Sorry, sorry but I have something urgent to tell Prince Vegeta."

Nappa gave him a doubting look before he exclaimed at the door. "Your highness! Kakarot is here."

"Your highness, I have urgent news to report." Kakarot said.

The Prince took quite some time to respond. "Come in."

Nappa gave the servant girls the signal to open the doors to allow Kakarot to enter the Crown Prince's quarters. Kakarot stepped inside and found that the Crown Prince was sitting on his cushion seat behind a thin, white curtain. He can clearly see the Prince's silhouette behind the curtain. Kakarot raised an eyebrow, wondering why the Crown Prince was hiding. Doubting that it could be the Sadara doll behind that, Kakarot sought out the Prince's ki on the figure and was able to recognize it. It was him, indeed. If Vegeta was here all along, why isn't he responding to Raditz's message?

Kakarot bowed down before the Saiyan Royal and knelt on the floor.

"Report. What is it that you want now and you dare interrupt me on my activity. I am quite busy decorating, you see." Vegeta snapped, annoyed.

Kakarot tried to stifle his laughter at the Prince's words. Busy decorating his room like this at this time of the night huh? No wonder why he was unable to answer Raditz's call earlier. He was busy.

"I received a message from Raditz. He said that Bulma's family was missing. They have found a letter on her house pertaining that they could have been kidnapped. There was a coordinate in the letter. Uh... I... Uh... I think I forgot the coordinates. Maybe you should call on Raditz immediately."

Kakarot was expecting Vegeta to go ballistic and scream at his ears, 'What did you say?!' but he was surprised to find the prince being quiet. The figure behind the curtain moved, showing a poise of Vegeta thinking deeply.

"Must be Paragus' doing." Vegeta muttered to himself. "What was he supposed to do in this situation? Should I confront the Prime Minister about this and threaten him to let go of the woman's family or should I go meet him first and let him take care of this matter? No... I cannot say something which would hinder him from his plans. I'll report it later. But what's he supposed to do? I cannot kill Paragus, that's a given. Should I torture him? Ah, I think that's a good idea. At least I could get a chance on that bastard!"

Kakarot was thinking why Vegeta was muttering words to himself instead of exploding into a reckless madman. He almost jumped out of his skin when Vegeta suddenly slammed his hands over his table and stand up from his seat.

"Tch! What a nuisance. That bastard Paragus is going to pay for this!" he snarled.

Vegeta stomped out of his hiding place and marched towards the door.

"Where are you going, your highness?" Kakarot asked.

"To wherever Paragus is!"

Kakarot sighed, just as he thought he would surely go after Paragus this way - but why isn't he going to use his teleportation ability?

"Come now, Kakarot. We are going to make a scene now!"

~=o-O-o=~

About an hour earlier, Paragus visited the dolorous Nasu on his jail cell. At the sight of the displeased Prime Minister's hardened expression, Nasu became pale with fear.

"Prime Mi-Minister! Pa-Paragus-sama! You have finally... Come!" the rueful Minister of Science and Technology cried out as he tried his best to crawl towards Paragus.

Paragus simply watched with an icy glare as his former ally grovel against the straws covered with his blood before him.

"Help me... Please... Help me... The Crown Prince has left me for the dead... He'll probably come at me tonight... My daughter, Kinoko has also abandoned me for that brat. I am sorry. I didn't mean to expose our plans like that... The Crown Prince forced me into saying that... I didn't dare to betray you. I cannot do anything... The Crown Prince will kill me." Nasu cried.

Paragus snorted. The nerve of this fool to be a two-faced bastard. Which side is he really on?

"So you feared that the Crown Prince would kill you? Aren't you even afraid of my son who is more fearsome than the Crown Prince himself?"

"... Of course... I am afraid of Broly-sama. B-but the Crown Prince, he was right in front of me. His domineering presence is just irresistible I cannot help but be submissive. He... He has a strong force of the alpha within him. I can't help it."

"Alpha?" Paragus scoffed.

The Alpha is the highest rank among Saiyan social status, which is highly associated to being a royalty. The Alpha, like those of the wolves, is the true leader of the Saiyans. Only the king and the Crown Prince, who are the leaders and have the royal blood of the Saiyans running through their veins, can have access to this rank during their first Oozaru transformation after they were presented to the presence of the full moon, the true source of the Saiyan Power. (This was done to Vegeta on Episode 14) Being an alpha or the next alpha gives them absolute power and control over all the Saiyans. Once an Alpha uses his power to demand a direct order to any Saiyan, they are forced to submit to his orders because of a compulsive need to comply to the command. Any Saiyan cannot disobey even if they don't want to do it.

"Paragus-sama..."

"Hmph! I have no use for such a useless traitor like yourself. I could have blasted you to bits by now and put you out of your misery but you can rot in that prison for all I care." Paragus said with a leering look. He turned around to leave the dejected Minister behind but before he could step out, he whispered something to one of the guards.

Paragus received a message from Gero that they were done with the ATIK-903. The news made him glad so he asked Gero to tell him the names of the people involved so that the king could reward them. Gero told him that he got help from his wife and his friend, Doctor Briefs.

"Doctor Briefs? Do you mean the father of the blue haired woman working at the Crown Prince's Palace?" Paragus said.

"Exactly. He is quite a genius like his daughter. A kind man, too."

Paragus smiled maliciously. A tenacious plan working in his mind. What perfect opportunity this is!

He told Gero to meet him at Kabu's place. He contacted Kabu and gave him specific orders to command his men to take Bulma's family to him by force and leave a letter behind with specific coordinates. He was planning to catch two birds in one stone.

While he was on his way to Kabu's place, he unexpectedly met Prince Vegeta, who was going to Okura's office. The prince made fun of the scar he caused over the Prime Minister's left eye. Paragus insulted him back. Vegeta then warned him with words that send chills across his spine for an unknown reason at all. (see Episode 22)

Humiliated, a livid Paragus proceeded to his original destination, to visit Kabu at his residence. A typical Saiyan noble home among the streets that surrounded the Royal Palace. It is an extensive house made from mud bricks with a flat roof. It has at least 6 bedrooms, a living room, a storage room to keep preserved food, a courtyard in front, a garden at the back, front and back doors, and a balcony. The walls are painted with white and there was a plaque by the gate bearing Kabu's family Crest, a green turnip leaf.

As soon as Kabu saw him, he was immediately greeted with a report that the facilities and laboratories that were involved with the Project Denzetsu were being rendered useless by an attacker. Paragus immediately suspected that it was Vegeta's doing.

"According to the witnesses, the attacker was wearing a strange set of clothing that is commonly seen on detectives and investigators. A brown checkered deerstalker hat, a trench coat. It was obvious that he was trying to cover up his true identity." Kabu told him. He felt a bit uncomfortable at the Prime Minister's new look and thought it would be very dangerous to press his anger button now but he had to know.

"It must be that royal brat's doing. So that was where he was going. I met him on the way here. He must have gone to Okura's office to get something to wear as his disguise." Paragus grunted as he sat down in front of Kabu's dining table.

Unsure if he should be relieved that Paragus' response was surprisingly calm, Kabu reluctantly poured him a drink as he asked, "What are we gonna do now? We cannot stop Prince Vegeta by ourselves, you know. If he continues his onslaught then we will lose everything we worked so hard for!"

"Forget about it. It doesn't matter now." Paragus said.

"What are you saying? But the clones!"

"The Atijebu Military Clones are of no use to us anymore. They have already served their purpose of raising Broly to become the Legendary Super Saiyan. They are useless to us now."

"B-But..."

Paragus smiled wickedly, "Do you really think that Prince Vegeta has a chance to catch up to Broly within these nine days?"

Kabu made a doubting look as he shrugged his shoulders. "I doubt it. It took Broly two months to achieve that form since he trained with the Crown Prince's clones. If that was the case, Prince Vegeta won't be able to make it in nine days even if he trains non stop."

"Thought so..." Paragus muttered. He cupped his right hand over his chin to think deeply. "Hmm..."

"What's the matter, Paragus-sama?" Kabu asked.

He suddenly remembered Vegeta's words to him earlier.

'I am the Crown Prince of all Saiyans, including you and your precious Broly. I am the heir to the royal throne, the next alpha of the pack. I have the irresistible commanding power over all of you except for my own father.'

By Nasu's words, 'strong force of the alpha', meant that Prince Vegeta, even if he was just the next in line, already possessed preeminent abilities that surpassed even the previous Kings and Alphas of their race. Perhaps, knowing this is the reason why Prince Vegeta was being hubristic on his upcoming match against Broly.

The Alpha of the Pack... How could he forget about that absolute power a Saiyan Royal has? He wouldn't have any problem about it if Vegeta has never transformed into an Oozaru and was never presented to the full moon as the next in line to the throne, but it was too late to do anything about that now.

He better not await for eight more days. With that alpha ability, there is still a chance for Vegeta to win against Broly. He has to kill the Crown Prince now. His only way to bring down that arrogant prince is to manipulate his greatest weakness, which is his emotions for that Earthling girl named Bulma.

And so he commanded Kabu and Soi to do some more things for him.

"What is taking that Earthling Scientist so long?!" Paragus snapped.

"He's on his way. He'll be here soon enough." answered Kabu.

"Also, did you do what I ordered you to do?"

"Yes, I sent some of my men to take Doctor Briefs and his family by force. It was good that the blue haired woman wasn't with them so I guess she must have gotten the coordinates by now."

"And of Prince Vegeta?"

"The Crown Prince must have received the letter by now but yes, as you said, he was attacking our facilities that are involved with the Project Denzetsu so probably not yet."

"Alright then."

"Paragus-sama, I was wondering... If you simply want to catch the woman, why did you not do it directly and ordered for her family to be arrested instead?"

Paragus chuckled at the question. He shook his head at the thought and responded, "I was planning to use her family as a bait to catch the woman and make her come to my trap by herself. Of course, the Crown Prince will probably meet her there to be on her aid. Now that Gero has revealed that her father helped him with the modifications of ATIK-903, what do you think will happen if Prince Vegeta learns that the Briefs had assisted us on our plans?"

"He will think of them as his enemies?"

"And what if rumor spreads that Prince Vegeta is meeting up with the daughter of his own enemy instead of killing her and her family because he is in-love with her?"

Nasu laughed boisterously. "Ah yes, of course. The Crown Prince will be considered a traitor to his own people! Such a crime is punishable by death. The Crown Prince would die in humiliation. Ha! Ha! Ha! You are such a genius, Paragus-sama!"

"His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince is here!"

Kabu's eyes went wide at those words that resonated from outside his home, cutting off his laughter and he stared at Paragus with a dumbfounded look.

"That voice. That's Bardock's son. What are they doing in here?" asked Kabu in a hushed tone.

There was a crowd outside bowing and kneeling down at the future king. Prince Vegeta, still in his royal attire, impatiently kicked the gates and the servants behind it who were about to open it for him. The destroyed gate and the servants flew a few meters and crashed into a nearby wall. The prince walked confidently and haughtily into Kabu's residence with Kakarot tailing behind him.

The people inside the house all scurried outside to fall to their knees to pay their respects to the Crown Prince.

"Kabu! I know you are with Paragus in there! Get your cowardly asses in here before I decide to burn all of your precious properties!" the Prince commanded imperiously.

Paragus and Kabu came out afterwards. "Your highness, what brings you out of the Palace at this late hour?" Kabu asked.

Oh that rage on his expression was absolutely ominous. But he was ignoring Kabu, his rage was directed towards the Prime Minister.

"I am warning you now, Paragus. Let go of Bulma's family." Vegeta told Paragus with a deadly tone.

"I have no idea what you are talking about, your highness." Paragus responded, feigning ignorance.

Vegeta snarled, "Tell that to someone who are stupid enough to believe your fucking lies. I am telling you, let Bulma and her family alone. That is a royal command! If you dare drag them into this mess I will enjoy killing you and your son slowly and painfully at the Annual Power Assessment!"

Paragus rolled his one and only eye. "What if they are truly part of this mess? What are you going to do? Are you willing to kill them, slowly and painfully too?" he smiled.

"I will." the prince responded as if he didn't give any second thoughts about it. Much to the surprise of Kakarot and the others. "My father once told me that in order to win, I must set aside any foolish emotions. If it is what it would take for me to rid of scumbags like you, then I will have no problem with it."

I am sorry, Ouji-sama. I had to answer them with such cruel words. I know you may disapprove of such a response but I cannot let them think she's your greatest weakness. They will probably leave her alone after this.

Or if worst comes to worst, we can still bring her back using the Dragon Balls on Planet Namek, right?

"He must be bluffing!" Kabu thought to himself. But they cannot see any hesitation on the Prince's smug expression.

"But that is if you have proven that their family is indeed part of the rebels. Without proper evidence, they are deemed as innocents. Let them go now while I am still in the mood to show you some mercy. I'm warning you."

He was about to return to the Palace when he decided to leave another message. "Ah... And if you want to play games with me then I will gladly give it to you. But you should be careful or you will lose." and he gave them a wicked smile before he disappeared into thin air along with Kakarot by Hibiktus.

"That's Prince Vegeta, isn't he?" Kabu asked, as if demanding someone to tell him that he wasn't thinking it was someone else.

"Of course, he is." Paragus said.

"If that is the Crown Prince then who the fuck is the one attacking our facilities?!" Kabu yelled.

Paragus frowned. If it wasn't Vegeta's doing then it must be the clones! Could it be the commander of the Atijebu Military Clones, ATI 9001?

Paragus eyes widened in shock upon a realization he had.

ATI 9001 is Prince Vegeta's perfect clone among all of the Military Clones. He looks and acts exactly the same as the Crown Prince it was hard to realize the difference. Does this mean that the clones joined forces with the Crown Prince to go against them?

Feeling completely aggravated by this turn of events, Paragus turned to Kabu and said, "Kabu. Contact Turles! We have to kill that rotten ATI 9001 now!"

"What? But didn't Nasu said that if ATI 9001 is destroyed then the remaining Clones will become uncontrollable?"

"Forget about it! I will have Broly hunt the remaining clones and finish it once and for all. If they joined forces with Prince Vegeta, it will be troublesome, especially if they decide to use their ability to combine their powers and pass it on their original!"

Kabu paled at the thought of that. Even if the remaining clones combine their powers into ATI 9001, he posed no threat to them but if Paragus thinks that they have joined forces with their original. And if they pass on their combined powers towards the Crown Prince himself, then that will make Vegeta a very formidable opponent. He could be forced to transform into the Legendary Super Saiyan too since they shared the same ki components.

"Alright. I understand."

Not far behind them, Gero has been hiding behind a tree, watching over at the scene playing right in front of him.

~=o-O-o=~

Vegeta stared down at the five storey building that stood before him with an austere gaze. This is the last of those filthy facilities that's greatly involved with the creation of the Ajitebu Military Clones. A Pathologic Analysis Laboratory.

The entire evening, he busied himself with his ferocious attack on all the offices and facilities that's directly involved with the Project Denzetsu. He has destroyed each and everything he could find, rendering them unusable. This way, no more clone of his shall be created to be used in such a gruesome way to make a killing machine who would overthrow him.

By now, Vegeta assumed that news must have already reached Paragus and his lackeys' ears, and they must be livid knowing that it was him doing this. However, little did they know, there was a bit of surprise he had prepared for them.

Filled with unfettered determination, he stepped inside the seemingly quiet office. He noticed that there was no one in this place unlike those he demolished earlier. He created a scene within each of those places so that the people could escape before he tore those buildings apart. There was no need to do that in here. The place was empty of any people. They have probably heard of his attacks that's why they have already evacuated the place before he arrive. He thought it was better, for it would be easier for him to finish his job.

Or so he thought.

Vegeta inspected the main lobby on the first floor, the first place one will see upon entrance to the building. He searched for a map of the place and found an enormous diagram of all the five floors nailed to a wall next to a bulletin board within the lobby. He quickly scanned the entire floor plans, memorizing every detail and his way towards his target area. The main computer room.

Yes, it would be easy this time. He was sure of it. So he turned and dashed towards the main computer room. He wanted to finish this right away so he could go back to his training.

As he rushed forward towards an empty yet spacious hallway, a sudden explosion erupted right above him.

"What?!"

That caught him by surprise but he quickly recovered and leapt backwards as huge debris from that explosion almost damn near squash him. (As if he could easily be squashed by that).

Landing softly on the floor with a defensive stance, Vegeta growled with an irritated look.

Not even a second had passed and he heard a crackling sound. Turning around, he saw small waves of ki energy passed by like fire quickly spreading over a line of ki combustive tapes. Those things are paper tapes that are combustible when ignited by ki energy. As he jumped away from the impending detonation, he realized that every inch of the floors and walls are covered by these tapes. If he gets too careless of his powers, he could cause damage to himself using his own abilities.

Evading that one explosion, the shock waves pushed him into a nearby metallic wall that easily crumpled underneath him. He slid down the floor, feeling a slight but sharp throbbing at his back muscles.

Of course, everything would be too easy for him if he assumed he could just go and destroy this one without any problems. Whoever had set the traps in here to kill him was one sneaky bastard.

"Damn it. I was reckless!" he cursed to himself. It looked like he shouldn't be using his ki while there are those tapes sticking around but Vegeta knew that he was just being careless earlier. How could he not anticipate such traps when he found out that the place was empty of people earlier? Now that he knew, it's time to show these bastards that there's no way they could stop him from destroying any traces of the Project Denzetsu.

He stood up and scanned the floor, finding the spot where most of the tapes are connected. Once he found it, he walked towards it and stopped right there, glaring down at those tapes with an austere gaze.

These traps are only meant for those in the lower ranks. They are enough to render any low class Saiyan greatly injured by those explosives. However, Vegeta was not a low class Saiyan soldier. Even if he uses his powers and ignite those tapes and explosives with it, he could protect himself from harm if he creates an electromagnetic barrier around himself.

He scowled. He was quite disappointed by these people's attempt at strategy. He flexed his arms on his sides and closed his hands into fists.

"Haaaaah!"

With a single shout, he flared all the ki combustive tapes around him, causing the place to shake upon the burst of destructive energies.

When the smoke finally cleared, Vegeta stood with his eyes closed at the center of an incinerated hallway. Sparks of blue electricity snapped off a thin layer of energy barrier sphere he had created around him. He opened his eyes, before he smirked viciously.

"Come out now you cowardly fool! Unless you want me to roast you along with this entire place!" he announced. Those things earlier cannot be ignited without a source of ki energy. Of course, someone was left behind here to ensure his death.

His ki senses tell him that his enemy was hiding behind those metallic pillars below those stairs that would lead to the second floor. Without hearing any response, the prince said, "Fine. If you wanna play that way then I guess I have to hunt you down."

"My my... You don't have to be so impatient, old man. I am coming out."

Vegeta heard a child's voice resonating from where he could sense the ki signal. A child with such a significant power level. The child eventually came out of the hiding place in the shadows. The dim light from the fluorescents revealed a young Saiyan girl, she could be around ten years old, with dark wild hair and sharp, narrowed eyes adored with long curly eyelashes. She wore a pink set of strapless battle armor with a matching skirt over navy blue leggings and white boots. She had a light pink lensed scouter over her left ear and eye. She was cute and adorable, looking like a harmless porcelain doll. However, as beautiful as she was, she could be quite dangerous. Like a poisonous flower.

A child? How could a mere child be involved with this? Was she even aware of these crazy experiments or was she just hired to assassinate him? From what he heard, there are underground syndicates who deploy elite Saiyan soldiers, even children to kill their own kind given by the orders of some client. Most of those Saiyans are against the royals, rebellious and traitors to the kingdom, probably biding their time to grow and become strong enough to assassinate the royal family.

"You..."

Feeling angrier at the thought of more forces Paragus could gain against him and his family, Vegeta growled to himself.

"Oh, so you are the target, huh?" the child said, scrutinizing the prince she was failing to recognize. "I guess the tip about you being capable of causing an insurmountable destruction is correct. Your power level is quite impressive, though you're quite a reckless and impatient one. "

What a kid. That kind of battle analysis wasn't normal for someone as young as her. The Saiyan Prince was impressed for quite awhile but that was quickly replaced by anger. "I don't care if you are directly or indirectly involved with this project or if they hired you or forced you against your will. I will never forgive anyone that condones this kind of foolishness!"

At Vegeta's furious words, the girl's expression changed. She began to panic, jumping around like she didn't know what to do.

"Oh my! He sure is a scary one with that furious look upon his ugly face!" she whined.

Vegeta growled. "Who are you calling ugly, you stupid girl!" he thought angrily.

After jumping around for quite some time, she suddenly stopped. She straightened herself and looked at the prince with a leering stare over her shoulder.

"But you cannot intimidate Pea-chan with that. Do you think Pea-chan cared about any of your words?" the girl, whose name was Pea, said with a childish tone. She giggled, like an exultant child adoring her Teddy bear given to her on Christmas day. Slowly, her expression was turning psychotic. "It doesn't matter to Pea-chan what you think about the Project Denzetsu or what you do with it. Pea-chan was only sent in here on a mission to kill you!"

Announcing her bloodlust, the girl smiled a toothy, crazed grin and then crouched down like a tiger preparing to pounce at her prey. Her black irises slowly giving off a crimson glow, giving the prince a show of her primal desire.

"Now, prepare yourself for your incoming death!" she shouted. She quickly kicked off the floor lightly to fiercely charge at Vegeta, who simply snorted with a calm and confident look.

At the girl's incoming punch, Vegeta crossed his arms in front of him to block it. A cocky smirk spread across his lips. The force of her punch had pushed him backwards and they were gliding together against the ceramic floor.

Not bad. The force of that punch was impressive. This girl could belong to the elite class, probably a daughter of some nobleman. Vegeta didn't expect to be forced to fight while on his job and as he was on a disguise, he decided that he will try to suppress his full strength.

With a short yell, Vegeta pushed his crossed arms away from his body, along with the wild girl. Vegeta watched at the girl with a cold look, crossing his arms over his chest. The young Saiyan girl was able to halt her momentum quickly and started to attack him by throwing many hard punches and kicks. However, Vegeta easily evaded them all, looking like he was dancing around.

"Aren't you even going to attack? Are you just going to dance around?!" Pea demanded as she striked the older Saiyan with a fist engulfed with ki. Vegeta easily dodged to the side, and attacked with a swift but powerful kick to her stomach. Pea slid backwards, and posed in a sudden defensive stance, ignoring the pain.

"Not bad." she chuckled. "Your fighting skills are indeed impressive. I felt the force on that. No wonder they say you are as good as the Crown Prince himself!"

"Hmph! I don't need your praise!" Vegeta said. He was correct about suspecting these people were thinking that he was one of his clones after he sent ATI 9001 to cover up for his presence in the Royal Palace. That clone of his was indeed the perfect one. Using him to confuse his enemies was a good plan on his part. He wondered if Paragus sent this girl to kill him thinking that he was ATI 9001.

Vegeta was blocking Pea's ferocious assaults with his hands, trying to control the flow of his ki to at least the girl's level. Now that he think about it, he has no idea what ATI 9001's power level was. If he knew then he could limit his strength to that level so his true identity wouldn't get spoiled.

Finding an opening to her stance, Vegeta quickly used that to his advantage. He launched a powerful punch to Pea's solar plexus before he gave her an uppercut that sent her blasting through the ceiling into the second floor.

When Pea didn't show up, Vegeta wondered what she was doing up there. Soughting out for her ki, Vegeta knew Pea was not unconscious yet. He could feel her trudging around the second floor. If he let her go, she'll probably set up some traps to get him. Vegeta sighed. He levitated off the floor to enter the second floor through the hole Pea had made upon her impact earlier. He found her standing with her back on him. There was a bitten, light orange, durian like fruit on her hand.

"What's the matter, I thought you said you would kill me?" Vegeta taunted her.

Pea bit into the fruit on her hand, chewed and swallowed before she chuckled darkly on her opponent. "You're good. I have never fought anyone as good as you. Honestly, I am having a hard time fighting you. I am an elite Saiyan warrior, I should be able to keep pace against you if that's truly your level. However, I could clearly tell that you are holding back most of your strength. That fact is pissing me off."

Vegeta grinned. This girl, as young as she was, had the pride of a true Saiyan warrior in her.

"What do you think of me?! Don't treat me as if I am a helpless little girl!"

"Heh! Do you honestly think I was holding back simply because you are a girl or a child? I do not care about any of that. I am fighting you because you are getting in my way, yet I have no intention of shedding any blood while on my mission."

"So you are holding back because of that?! Fight like you are going for the kill! If you don't do it then I will kill you!"

Putting her fists on her sides, Pea let out a roar as she released her ki, a purple aura immediately exploded around her body.

"Haaaaaaah!"

Vegeta was astounded by her sudden increase of her power, her ki was skyrocketing at a rapid pace. She powered up, her muscles bulking as her powers rose and rose.

Without any warning, she leapt off the floor and charged at Vegeta once again. This time, there was a killing intent on her. Vegeta instinctively went on the defensive at first before he began to attack her. They started to trade blows, shock waves of energies exploded around them due to the power contained in their punches and kicks. Vegeta realized that the girl was stronger and faster than earlier. How could she quickly improve in such a very short amount of time? Even he was taken aback by this sudden change. Her anger could be the catalyst to her newfound strength and he knew that he must quickly adapt to her level or he'll be in big trouble.

Soon enough, Pea was beginning to think the older Saiyan was quickly adapting to her assaults. She was finding her attacks unable to connect. Just what kind of guy is he? Not even her increased power after eating the fruit of the Tree of Might twice was no match for this guy.

Pea was going for the final blow. She concentrated her ki into her right hand, pulled it to her side and thrust her fist towards Vegeta as she yelled, "Die!"

Sparks of purple ki erupted around them. As a loud booming sound similar to that of a thunder resounded. As the smoke cleared, Pea was completely stunned when she felt Vegeta's hand grapple her fist tightly and he was not struggling at all!

"W-What?! How is this possible?!" Pea freaked out on her thoughts. "By eating the fruits from the tree of might, I should be able to outclass him! But... But what is the meaning of this?! Not even the commander of the clones is supposed to be this strong! He's better than any of the elites I had fought and killed before!"

Vegeta, irritated by Pea's earlier persistence, raised his voice. "You're starting to annoy me! Don't get in my way!"

Using her fist he was firmly grasping, Vegeta harshly yanked Pea towards him, almost damn near tearing her arm from her shoulder. He raised his right knee to send a brutal blow into her abdomen, causing her to gag a mix of saliva and blood and sending her rolling on the floor in excruciating pain.

Vegeta watched at her suffering with a cold and stoic look. After becoming bored of her pitiful state, he decided to walk away and proceed to where he was supposed to be going.

However, Pea wasn't giving up. Using this chance of an opening to her advantage, she concentrated her ki into her hands and slammed them on the floor. There were pre-installed explosives under the floors and she just ignited them.

Vegeta already sensed what was happening so he simply snorted in silence as he continued walking away, looking like he didn't care about what's about to happen to him. Explosions burst around them and Pea watched in anticipation as among the bombs she planted earlier was a dangerous Lazalic Bomb, which was notorious for being able to render those hit by its detritus incapacitated and dying a slow but painful death.

She carefully observed a piece of the Lazalic Grenade shoot forward towards the seemingly unaware Saiyan. In her chest, a feeling of victory is about to make her heart burst with overwhelming joy, even eclipsing the pain on her abdomen. She tried her best to hold it back until she saw her opponent's corpse.

At point blank range, a spark of red electricity snapped off a not-so-in-the-least-surprised Vegeta's left temple and the piece shoot backwards into the smoke. As calm and confident as ever, he created another electromagnetic barrier made from his ki without even looking.

"You gotta be kidding me! He didn't even flinch! No one could deflect that thing at that short range at such a short amount of time! That's almost point blank!"

Vegeta halted his footsteps and turned his head over his shoulder, giving her a much ominous glare than earlier. He was inwardly fuming with ire by now. Finally running out of patience on the child's persistence, he decided that he'll knock her out for good.

"Quit wasting my time. I already warned you. Don't you ever try to stop me. Get lost!"

With those icy words, he abruptly sent a deadly bolt of red electricity supposedly enough to render a Saiyan of her level unconscious towards Pea, who instinctively staggered backwards and barely evaded that ferocious attack.

Narrowing his eyes, Vegeta scoffed in irritation and he twisted around, prepared to pounce like a famished tiger, and charged forward. Pea, knowing that he's finally on the offensive, screamed for her life. She turned and dashed away from him, flabbering through her pockets to find something she hoped could save her from his impending wrath.

"Oh no! Oh no! Oh no! Scary! I'm in trouble now! Gaaaah!" she shrieked in panic.

When she finally found what she was looking for, she quickly turned back to face him with a pixieish smirk. Distancing herself from the charging prince, she flicked a silver coin in the air. It was about the same size as of a typical arcade coin. It has a shiny surface and an ability to create light once enough ki was transmitted to it. Pea hastily raised both of her hands to the side of her young, pretty face and spread all four fingers open with the palms facing inward. Her thumbs were also extended but stayed inside her palms. She shut her eyes as she yelled, "Blinding Flash!"

There was an abrupt burst of blinding light that erupted from the coin like a flash bomb. Vegeta's reaction was too late and he hollered in agony when he felt his retinas burn because of that blazing light.

"Graaaaah! My eyes! My eyes! Gwaaaah! Damn it all!" the prince screamed in distress as he staggered backwards while pressing and rubbing his palm over his painful and watery eyes. Why that snivelling little trickster! How dare she do this to him? Damn it! He was careless once again!

When the light faded, Pea opened her eyes to see Vegeta yelling a string of curses. Debating to herself whether she should go and run back to Turles or use this one opportunity to win, she decided to choose the last one.

"Ahahahaha! Ahahahahaha! Your overconfidence and recklessness was your weakness after all! You had the chance to finish me off earlier yet you decided to show me mercy! What a soft hearted fool you are!" she cackled. "Oh well, maybe that's the bug on your programming being just a mere clone! I bet that if I was fighting the real deal, he wouldn't fall for such a trap! You're maybe the Crown Prince's perfect clone, but you're only meant to be used and killed in order to destroy your original!"

Her words rang through Vegeta's ears and that made him shut up from all those screaming he was doing earlier. Those words hit him like an unacceptable insult to his pride. Yes, she was definitely correct when she said that there's no way he will fall for such a trap. He's notorious for being a merciless and savage warrior prince not just among his people but the entire Universe! Vegeta inwardly berated himself for being so careless. Also, the way she had spoken about ATI 9001 made his anger boil. Not to mention his displease of her childish tricks and his own foolishness. Everything.

Unaware of Vegeta's seething wrath, Pea exclaimed, "Now that your usefulness is over, I guess it is time for me to finish the job I was sent to."

She raised her hand and charged up her ki to create her most powerful attack. A giant ball of energy.

"Nothing but a programmed dummy, you say? Don't mess with me! Programmed, fake, useful or not, these clones are living creatures who have the right to make their own decisions! They're not puppets or cultivars for that monster to use to become stronger! They are of my flesh and blood and they carry the same Saiyan Pride I have within them! I know, they fought like true warriors, they fought for their own survival! They are not just my clones, they are my brothers!"

"This is the end for you! Now die!" Pea yelled as she unleashed several yet rapid ki blasts originating from her ki ball, all of which are concentrated on the Saiyan Prince. This will reduce him to ashes!

Several eruptions followed after that, one after another. Pea was laughing like a psychotic mad girl, enjoying her imagination of the clone's body being pierced several times until it's reduced to atoms. The only disappointing thing was she never heard his final, desperate scream as he writhed in agony.

A minute later and the smoke dissipated, Pea excitedly peeked to see the remains of her target but it looked like even his ashes did not survive such a devastating attack. He just cannot withstand her enormous power! Seeing that nothing remained of her nemesis, she started to cheer upon her victory.

"Yes!" she hollered in joy. "I won! I won! I get all the money! Yeah! Woo-hoo!" she jumped around excitedly. "Now, what should I buy with all that money? A new dress? Or the latest explosives? Or maybe lots of chocolate and candies! Kyaaaah!" she squealed happily.

As someone who gets assigned on discreet assassination missions, she will be paid an enormous amount of sum by her client. Just daydreaming of herself spending all her money to buy whatever she wants was making her thrilled.

However, it was a short-lived victory. All her excitement faded away and turned into horror when she heard a cold and angry voice behind her, "How about an urn as to prepare for your early funeral?"

Hearing that, Pea automatically whirled around. Wide eyed and astonished when she found out that her most powerful attack did no effect on her opponent at all! Vegeta stood there, with his eyes still closed after being blinded by her trick earlier. He looked so calm and composed, yet deep inside his wrath was brewing.

"What the?! How come you're still alive?! You're supposed to be dead after taking my full powered blast head on!" she hollered.

"You wish!" he snorted haughtily.

"This guy's impossible! He's not just on par with the elites! He's even greater than any elite! Could he be a super elite? But..."

"Judging by your poor fighting skills and pathetic attempt at strategy, it looked to me that your claims of being an elite class warrior is nothing but a joke."

Pea gasped as she stepped back, wondering how he was able to tell that.

"I found your power level quite impressive at first but that is useless if your fighting skills and strategy are a failure. You do have a few childish tricks upon your sleeve and I do commend you for using your enemy's openings and weaknesses to your own advantage. However, you still lack the skills and experience to be called a true warrior. Do you honestly think that someone of my level could be easily killed by an attack like that even if I am blinded?

"I am indeed just a clone of Vegeta Ouji-sama, but do you even know that his royal highness has the ability to use the energy around him for spatial sensing? If Ouji-sama can do it, should I be able to do it as well? Especially if I am his 'perfect clone'."

Finally realizing that she's no match against him, Pea stepped backwards in trepidation. Vegeta outstretched his left hand and pointed his index finger on the direction of her head. The tip of his finger glowed with bluish white hue that sparked with electricity.

"I will not move if I were you. On this range if you become careless then my Galick Beam could decapitate you in the blink of an eye."

The girl immediately froze at his words.

Finally feeling the stinging pain in his eyes subside, Vegeta squinted them open. His initial blurry vision gradually adjusted to his surroundings until he could finally see clearly. His vision has finally returned.

"Ah... Finally..." he smiled in relief. "Just so you know, I am not fighting you at my full strength yet. You should give up now before you humiliate yourself even further."

"You lie!" Pea shouted back, unable to believe his words of not yet using his full power on her. "You're bluffing! You are nothing but a mere clone! Even if you possess fifty percent of the Crown Prince's power you shouldn't be able to survive my finisher move!"

The Prince smirked, "Hmph! Then let me show you whether I'm bluffing or not." his smirk grew and turned malevolent. "As a little present for you before I send you to Rushifa."

Vegeta braced himself for power up. He spread his feet apart, squatted down and put his fists on his sides.

"Haaaaaaaaaahh!" he started to bellow lengthily. Not knowing how strong ATI 9001 is, he decided to let out his power bit by bit and base his power up accordingly to Pea's reaction.

Pea's scouter lit up to life immediately as Vegeta's power level soar, higher and higher. High pitched beeping resonated from the earpiece of Pea's scouter while the Saiyan numerics which appear on the surface of the pink glass lens increases rapidly.

"Impossible!" Pea gasped in apprehension a little later upon reading the power level she's getting from her scouter. "How did you become this strong?! You were only supposed to have a power level of over nine thousand!"

Vegeta growled to himself, though it still looked like he was still powering up. Learning that he overdid it, he quickly searched for an acceptable excuse on his mind to make up for the damn mistake.

"Foolish girl!" he said with a nefarious grin. "You have no idea, do you? Three thousand clones are subjugated under my command and are bonded to me by AJI-07! Those who were mercilessly killed throughout the course of the Project Denzetsu's revival had their powers transferred on to me! In other words, the more clones are killed, the more powerful I become!"

It was just a bluff to make an excuse for his lack of knowledge of ATI 9001, yet Vegeta praised himself inwardly that it was a good one. Who would have thought that the girl would fall for it? Now that he knows what ATI 9001's power level is, he will make use of this information to threaten this girl.

And so, Vegeta powered up even further, carefully controlling and calculating the ki he was releasing while observing the alien numbers on Pea's scouter until his power level reached 367,380 karos, which is barely quarter of his current level.

Once that was reached, Vegeta ended his power up with a loud battlecry. Pea was completely flabbergasted by the reading she got and she instinctively stepped back in apprehension.

"Also, they don't just handed over their powers to me, they have also conveyed their feelings to my system. Imagine all the rage and hate every single one of them harbored for being treated like a helpless dog. Their indignation combined within me. I am not just their commander, I am the embodiment of all their fury!"

Vegeta pulled his lips away from his bared teeth, his black eyes gradually lit into a bloody crimson. A ferocious snarl resounded from his chest into his fangs. A wild, livid look.

"I hope you've already said your prayers because I don't care about you being a girl or a child, I will crush you for getting in my way!"

Recognizing the fact that she's completely outmatched by this Saiyan clone, an upset Pea had no other choice but to retreat. Vegeta knew this but he wasn't going to let her escape and have her call on some reinforcements. He outstretched his left hand, pointing his index and middle fingers at her short, lean legs.

In the blink of an eye, she lost both of her legs, which burst like a dirty firework, scattering blood, muscle, tissue and bones that used to be her lower extremities. Her upper body, severed from her thighs, dropped face first on the floor with a loud thud. Aside from the dumbfounded look upon her face, her reaction of crying out in absolute agony was bit tad late. She only came to realize that her legs were gone when she couldn't feel them anymore, just the excruciating pain on the bleeding stump where her lower extremities used to be.

With a frigid gaze, Vegeta stared at Pea as she squirmed and whimpered in pain. He sauntered towards her and stomped his boot over her spine. He bent down with his right arm stretched at her head, his palm facing the right side of her face. Pea immediately felt a searing heat on that side as Vegeta formed a deadly ki ball near her temple.

However, before Vegeta could blow up her head with that ki orb, he abruptly sensed an incoming potent wave of energy blast originating somewhere from his left. As if on cue, a large, purple ki blast burst outward through the wall and sped towards his direction. Luckily, Vegeta was able to sense it coming so he was able to dodge it on time by skipping backwards. The blast went through the wall on the other side and exploded in there.

"Ah... I thought you were taking so long so I decided to see how you were doing."

A cold, high-pitched voice of a man resounded from the darkness where the blast came from. Vegeta narrowed his eyes as he waited for the newcomer to appear. Not long enough, a Saiyan walked in. He looked exactly the same as Bardock and Kakarot, only he had darker skin tone. He wore a black and grey armor, complete with boots, crouch pads and gauntlet of the same color.

Pea raised her head, her tear filled eyes finally brightened when she saw the Saiyan. "Turles-sama!" she hollered in joy.

Turles? This is the scientist connived with Paragus and Nasu in the revival of the Project Denzetsu?! Vegeta scowled, looking at the face of the man remind him of the annoying looks on Kakarot, a face he wanted to punch every time he's in one of his worst mood swings.

"Saved by the bell, are you?" Turles smiled as he turned to his comrade. "Although you look like you're at a dead end."

Even his voice sounded exactly like Kakarot's or Bardock's when he's being sarcastic.

Pea lowered her eyes in humiliation as she mewed in a low tone, "I'm sorry."

"Oh well, that's enough. You've embarrassed us too much. I guess I have to step in and finish this pathetic clone by my own hands after all-."

Triggering the Saiyan Prince's bad side with just everything about him, Vegeta fired a potent ki blast towards Turles.

Without even flinching, a confident Turles simply flicked his wrist to deflect the incoming blast away from him. This made Vegeta completely dumbfounded.

"What the hell?!" the prince thought to himself in shock. "If he is truly a scientist then he shouldn't be able to deflect an attack with such power!"

The lower class society of the Saiyans are given the chance to either become civil workers, or combatants if they are able to become successful on the purging mission they were sent to as a baby. Given that Turles is a scientist, it could only mean that he is not a combatant at all. However, Vegeta could sense that the Saiyan before him was not as weak as a typical low class Saiyan, even that of the combatants. Turles was powerful, probably with a strength that's on par with an elite Saiyan warrior. But how is that even possible? Once a Saiyan served the Kingdom as a civil worker, he will never be a combatant at all. There's no way Turles could be this strong!

"Just what the hell is he?!" Vegeta wondered to himself, suspecting Turles' identity.

Turles turned his head to give Vegeta a cold, disinterested look. "Ah, finally the traitor showed up. So you are the rumored attacker after all. It has been a while, ATI 9001-san."

Seeing the scowl over the clone's face, Turles laughed. "Ha! Ha! Ha! Now what's with that look on your face? Did you not miss me?" and then he shoot another but much quicker purple blast on Vegeta's direction, which the prince he thought was a clone easily evaded.

"Ooooh! Not bad! I guess you did learn a few tricks while you were hiding all this time. And I could tell that you grew stronger too. It's just a shame that you dared to turn your back against us. Otherwise, I will not be forced to end you."

Vegeta inwardly cursed to himself. He was terribly displeased that more pests are getting in the way of his plans. He did not expect that he will be forced to fight. He has to finish this quick!

With an annoyed grunt, Vegeta kicked off the floor and assailed at Turles with rapid hand to hand clash. Soon the two of them were engaged on a fierce combat that made the both of them quite impressed at each other's abilities.

Pea watched in amazement as the two Saiyans skirmish with each other, stunned by their unbelievable fighting skills. "That's Turles-sama for you. He is able to keep up with that clone's prowess with no sweat at all!"

Vegeta soon finds himself unable to keep up with Turles' might, he was clearly stronger than his own restrained powers. He's being pushed beyond what he's supposed to be capable of while acting as ATI 9001. He had to be extra careful not to get damaged.

Soon, the two of them had locked hands, trying to push one another back. Growling like wild animals along their strenuous effort, they tried their best to overwhelm the other. Feeling himself being pushed back, Vegeta instinctively powered up. The ki he's trying to hold back gushed out of his body as it began to envelop him in a bluish white glow. Both Turles and Pea's scouters beeped as the numbers focused on the Prince's power level sped up at a rapid and alarming rate.

Not long enough, the beeping sound came louder and faster, a signal of danger. Turles and Pea's eyes widened at the reading they're getting before both of their scouters exploded on their faces.

"What the?!"

"Ruuaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!"

Vegeta roared like a primordial beast looking out for blood, and upon seeing an opening on his opponent's guard, he pulled Turles towards him and sent a powerful knee on his groin, causing the dark skinned warrior to be folded in half, and then he plowed his fist on the scientist's face, sending him launching backwards through the wall across the hallway and further into the office rooms. His momentum just didn't stop there, Turles was sent even beyond. Outside the building, into the gate, through the empty road and the trees. Turles only stopped when his back hit a boulder beyond the forest. His impact caused the boulder to crack on its surface.

Back to the Pathologic laboratory, Pea's jaw dropped as her eyes almost fell from their sockets upon her disbelief. Vegeta, still in his punching stance, was quivering. The fist he used to punch Turles was trembling, not just out of rage but of a desperate effort for control. He could feel his primal beast clawing its way out of him again but he had to restrain and push away its bloodlust from his mind.

He knew that attack had totally blew off his cover up and that he may lose control any second now. He had to get out of there real quick before he could do something he may regret later. Cursing to himself, he ignored Pea as he turned to dash away with his superhuman speed to effortlessly reach the place where he's originally headed to. He has to destroy the main computer now and return to the Royal Palace immediately. He has to go back to his training and meditate in order to further control his primal urges.

~=o-O-o=~

Meanwhile, Turles was in a frozen state, wondering what the hell just happened to him. The power of those attacks wasn't ordinary coming from a clone created for the Atijebu Military at all! Something was wrong. No clone was this powerful! Not even ATI 9001! If he wasn't sent this far by that one punch, he wouldn't believe the reading on his scouter before it exploded on his face. The scouter measured a power level of over a million, that's why when the sensor reached the 999,999+ digits, it beeped at an alarming pace. Turles was sure that if he was fighting with ATI 9001, the clone has no way of matching him on battle after he ate six fruits from the Tree of Might.

Turles thought it over. If that's the case, then this would only mean that he was not fighting with ATI 9001 or any clone at all.

An evil smile crept over his lips, "Ah, I see it now. It all makes sense. That prodigious ability. That exceptional power. It could only belong to one person."

Prince Vegeta!

~=o-O-o=~

Finally, Vegeta reached the main computer room. It was dark and as spacious as that on the Ministry of Science and Technology. The room was only lit by the lights coming from the turned on monitors. He cautiously scanned the room with his obsidian eyes and after ensuring that everything was clear from any dangerous things, he stepped inside the room. Looking to his right, his eyes were glued to one lit monitor screen. His jaw dropped and his mouth dried as his eyes dilated with fear upon realizing what he was watching on it.

There was a lone clone of his, trudging against the wall of a narrow alleyway as he tried to run for his life while the gargantuan beastly form of Vegeta's former General chased him like a predator moving the catch his prey.

The clone tripped into the ground in his panic as Broly, whose white eyes glowed against the darkness of the place, sauntered towards him. His hair spiked into wild neon green arrays. Vegeta's copy tried his best to stand up, but it seemed that he was completely exhausted and beaten from a battle the Saiyan Prince was unable to watch.

The clone had no time to show weakness in front of such enemy. He rolled into the ground, gathered ki in his hands and fired a powerful, purple blast towards Broly. The blast burst forward at more than the speed of light. It held a destructive force that was enough to destroy a large island. However, Broly simply held his ground and grinned crazily at the face of such power.

He flared his green aura to life and reflected the incoming ki blast back to its owner by his sheer energy alone. The blast propelled back to Vegeta's clone and almost vaporized him. Badly charred by his own attack, the ATI military clone dropped to the ground. It still moved, and tried to crawl away from his soon-to-be killer.

Broly pointed a finger towards the clone and fired a thin blast on his shoulder. The clone froze in shock and pain as he slid forward to the ground. Broly stepped forward, slowly approaching his new victim, taking joy at his suffering.

Watching this dreadful scene and knowing what will become of his clone, the Prince of all Saiyans shambled towards the monitor screen. His shaking hands reaching out as he pleaded, "No. No. No! Don't do it! Broly! Stop it!"

The moment the monstrous Saiyan inserted his huge index finger on the clone's bleeding hole on his shoulder, the clone exploded to pieces of gore and blood. Broly had reversed the clone's flow of blood and ki using his own energy. Regurgitation. If one's blood and ki flow are reversed and in a severe manner, not only will the pressure cause agonizing pain and cardiomegaly but also myocardial infarction. If too much ki energy is reversed, it will cause the body to burst open. As if all of the clone's veins were torn apart from the inside out and his head had exploded, looking like a smashed pomegranate.

Blood had spattered in different directions, even the CCTV camera recording the gruesome murder and sending it to the computer within the facility where Vegeta was watching in horror. Blood had covered the screen, making it impossible for him to see the grisly corpse of his clone. But he could only imagine how ghastly it would be. It was like watching his own death once again.

The terror, the disgust, his fear of death. It all came back to haunt him. The mixture of these emotions that suddenly burst within him was staggering. Feeling a jolt in his chest, Vegeta's knees hit the floor as he slid down in distress, feeling like he had suddenly become feeble and cold. He was helpless and afraid, knowing he was not able to save another innocent clone of his from this madness.

Why?

Why was Broly doing this? He couldn't understand. How could he become such a savage beast that cannot be controlled? That guy... Someone he always knew was a pure, innocent Saiyan had snapped and became that bloodthirsty monster.

He closed his shaking hands into angry fists and gritted his teeth together in anger, cursing repeatedly to himself.

Damn it all...

This was all Paragus' fault for being a controlling father to Broly. Or his father's because if he didn't try to kill Broly then there will be no reason for Paragus to have a grudge against the royal family. Or perhaps, it was his own fault for being a fool by showing mercy to a possible threat to his own birthright.

Damn it all... They are all going to pay for this...

~=o-O-o=~

Meanwhile, Broly let out a gasp as green irises faded in his completely blank eyes. He heard a voice in his head, pleading for him to stop what he was doing. The voice called out to him, waking him up from yet another nightmare. He knew that voice all too well, but to him, it sounded quite odd. He never heard that voice speaking in that manner before. It always used to be imperious, intimidating, arrogant, confident or sometimes cold and angry. However, this time, it sounded afraid, as if the owner was in great danger. Broly turned around, looking for the source of the voice. There's only one person he could think of right now.

His Prince.

"Vegeta-sama..." he muttered to himself.

Recalling what happened in between them that morning, Broly's worried expression changed. (See Episode 21) A sorrowful look replaced it. He turned around to see the grisly corpse of his victim. Gasping in shock at the sight, he stepped backwards, shaking, whimpering. A look of absolute terror in his face.

He did it once again.

He grimaced upon remembering Vegeta's betrayed reaction when he found out that Broly was the one doing such rampant murders of his Clones. His disappointed look hurt Broly so much deep in his heart, piercing it to thousands of pieces with invisible icicles. Knowing he did it once again, Broly could imagine Vegeta's displeased look and disapproval.

He sensed his father walking beside him. He heard him asked, "What's the matter, Broly?"

He doesn't sound like he was worried at all. Moreover, Paragus sounded like he was mocking him.

Broly turned around and shouted, "Why did you make me do this again?! I already told you I do not want to kill Prince Vegeta! I don't want to do this!"

Paragus glared at him. Broly realized an upcoming Omen. He automatically reached out for the golden crown over his head, trying to ready himself for what would come. However, Instead of electrocuting him like Broly was expecting him, Paragus simply smiled back at him.

"You lie, my son. I know you. I know that you thoroughly enjoyed the blood feast you just did."

Broly was struck by his father's words. "Wha... What are you saying?! I just said I do not want it."

"No. You know you wanted it. Your inner Saiyan instinct will tell you that. Your emotions for him could not make you kill the real deal. Instead, your primal drive makes you satisfied by killing his clones in his place. Your Saiyan instinct considers Vegeta as your greatest enemy, your rival for power, for what is supposedly meant for you."

"You are wrong!"

"Your weakness is that bond you treasure with him. Get over that stupid friendship now. Do you honestly think he'll still treat you as his friend after all of this? Son! Open your eyes! Wake up from that delusional dream! Prince Vegeta was never meant to be your friend! In the end, after all of this, he will come after us and kill us both for what we did. Friend or not!"

"Shut up!" Broly cried out. Tears fell down his flinching eyes. He didn't wish to do this. What did his father do once again in order to make him do this? He cannot take it anymore!

"Shut up! Shut up! Leave me alone!" Broly shouted before something inside of him snapped. Staggering backwards, his body started to quiver. Broly's body heat was being released as his body began to let his latent powers flow once again. He reached out for his head, shaking it fiercely as a primitive urge began to take control of him. His onyx colored eyes flashed into yellow as a wild look appeared on his face.

Knowing what was going on, Paragus reached out his right hand that has the controlling device on, activating its capacity to release volts of electricity more than enough to repress Broly's true Saiyan nature.

Broly collapsed on the ground when he felt his powers being sucked in by that damn restrainer, whimpering in pain as he quivered on the ground like a fish out of water. He was weakened. He tried to fight back fiercely, wanting to free himself from this controlling fate but no matter what he did, he was completely powerless against his father's restraining toys. He wished to be liberated from such a life. He wanted to do things the way he wished to. He loved his father despite how he loathed the way he treated him like a puppet of his.

Paragus snarled in rage as he pulled Broly by the collar of his armor and slapped him hard across the face, causing Broly to roll on the ground.

"You idiot!" Paragus screamed lividly. "Useless imbecile! You nearly damn kill me, you fool! How dare you?! How dare you disobey my orders! How dare you go against me! I am your father! If it weren't for me you wouldn't be alive at all! How dare you, you ungrateful brat!" he was kicking his son hard for many times.

Poor Broly tried his best not to cry out for help or his father to stop. He learned the hard way not to do so in front of his father. Squinting his eyes, he thought of his prince. If there was anything he envied and admired about the Crown Prince was his adamance.

Drawing out his valor inspired by Vegeta's pride, Broly summoned his power at his own will to resist. He roared.

Paragus found his son trying to fight back against his control and he increased the voltage of his electricity. Broly screamed in pain as he staggered back, yet he got off his feet immediately. With a howl, Broly pushed the electricity off his body towards his father using his ki. Paragus, who was frozen in shock, was unable to dodge. The electricity hit him hard on his chest and shoved him backwards, sending him across the alleyway and through the wall.

Finally free of his father's punishment, Broly turned around and blasted off into the night sky in a haste, leaving a disoriented yet seething Paragus on the rubble of the wall he just broke into.

~=o-O-o=~

Turles entered the main computer room and found who he was looking for the entire time. Unaware of the foreboding dark trance the Saiyan Prince was in despite the way he sees him silently kneeling on the cold floor with his head lowered, Turles said, "Ah, so there you are. You kept me busy looking for you. And here I thought your goal was to destroy this computer room but you're just sitting there. What are you thinking? Change of plans? Do you honestly think you can just save anyone? Even if you destroy everything and killed everyone involved with the Project Denzetsu, you won't be able to stop Irobu's growing strength anymore. He is completely unstoppable now, especially with that overwhelming power and bloodlust he has. Not even your prided strength as a super elite and your royal blood and status will save you from his wrath."

Turles waited for any response from Vegeta but he never replied.

"What's the matter now? Ah, you are probably wondering how I learned that you are our great and mighty crown 'princess'? It was obvious to me that you are concealing your strength when you were fighting me and Pea earlier, even if we ate the fruit of might to burst our powers to the absolute limit, even if we could destroy any elite Saiyan soldier with our power, we are still no match for you. Aside from Irobu, the only Saiyan capable of having such power that is overwhelmingly above the elites is none other than you, your highness.

"So come on now. I wish to be done with our battle. I am not done yet. Knowing who you really are made my Saiyan blood boil with excitement! If I could kill you in here then maybe I could prove my strength to everyone!"

Still, there was no response from Vegeta. Turles raised an eyebrow at his odd reaction. Earlier, the prince was reckless, confident and arrogant with his skills and power. Now, he seemed like a lifeless puppet kneeling on the floor whose strings had been cut off.

"Hey there. Are you even going to finish what you started? If you truly want to fight back then stop doing nothing!"

This time, Vegeta raised his head, slowly, and then creepily turning it over his left shoulder. His eyes were dilated and a glowing crimson. He didn't speak a word. He just glared at Turles like some madman planning to eat a person alive.

Fine, he will end everything in here.

For some reason, Turles felt a chill run down his spine upon finding that creepy and murderous glare of the Saiyan Prince. He immediately knew it that those eyes meant his own death is coming soon.

The Prince lost his earlier mood to show mercy to anyone who gets in his way. Blood had spilled already so why not show this fool how it feels to be the victim of a sadistic, heartless monster?

Abruptly, Turles staggered backwards as he snapped his head into the ceiling. His bloodshot eyes wide as his mouth gaped widely. He felt a powerful, invisible force began to take hold of him, lifting him off the ground and choking him.

"I will make you all pay... I will never forgive you... You will all pay with your blood... I will kill you all... Every single one of you. I will destroy everything. I will end you all..."

Vegeta was whispering those vengeful and hateful words mostly to himself. He sounded to Turles as if he was chanting some strange mantra though. While he was doing that, Turles began to feel an excruciating pain from inside of his body. His energy flow being constrained by that invisible force holding him. Just as what Broly did with that clone earlier, Vegeta was doing the same thing with Turles but without touching any part of his adversary. Total ki control, psychokinesis and his dominant power over all Saiyans as the next alpha in line was what the prince was using against him.

"Kkkkhhhkk!"

Turles wheezed as the pain grew more agonizing. Something within him were breaking apart. His bones, muscles, innards. He could feel his lungs tighten and his heart felt like something was gripping it harder and harder inside his chest. Soon, he was spewing blood out of his mouth.

Such a frightening power! Turles was finally beginning to understand what it meant to incur the wrath of the Prince of all Saiyans. He was ruthless, had no mercy at all, killing off his enemies with a slow, torturous death. No matter how much he struggled to fight him off he was simply too strong.

Despite this, Turles gave him a mocking smile, "Still, you cannot save anyone. Even with this power..." and then he exploded the same way as what happened to the clone Broly has killed earlier.

Vegeta's rampage was only beginning by that point. His breathing turned rapid, coming from deep in his chest. The aroma of Turles' blood and the sight of his grotesque remains had only made the animal in him go berserk. His heart pumped wildly, he could feel his latent dark powers flow within him. He winced, his breath suddenly got caught as if a sharp icicle had pierce into him. He dropped and curled on the floor, letting out a howling scream.

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhh!"

A dark purple aura exploded around his body as he slammed his fists on the floor to destroy the entire laboratory in a massive burst of energy, causing a deadly fire to spread on the place. The remaining explosives Pea had set up earlier detonated, ultimately causing her own death while she was crawling her way out of the exit where she put the most of the bombs.

Now surrounded by the flames of the destruction he just caused, Vegeta giggled insanely at the sight. It has been quite a while since he burned an entire place down and killed people in that fashion. The scent of burning flesh and blood was intoxicating him and he wanted more of it.

In a daze, Vegeta got off to his feet and shambled out of the burning building. His mind had completely shut off. His crimson eyes were lifeless as he stared blankly at what's in front of him. He tramped his way to the road until realization finally snapped him out of his own stupor. He abruptly collapsed on the ground as if he suddenly lost all of his strength. Panting hard out of an unexplainable exhaustion, he wheezed and whimpered on the grass as tears he was holding back earlier streamed down his eyes.

"Ouji-sama..." a voice called out behind him. The prince let out a soft gasp and upon realizing who could be behind him, he raised a hand to wipe away his tears. Then he got up to his feet, put on the best hardened expression he could muster at the moment and turned to face ATI 9000. His clone had a mini portable air conditioner about the size of a typical Rubik's cube on his hand, cooling himself with it. It was something Vegeta gave the clone before he left the Palace earlier.

"What are you doing in here?" he demanded the clone with an imperious tone.

"The commander sent me to pick you up. There was a critical situation that you need to attend to."

"And what of it?"

"It's about that woman. Her family has been taken away by your enemies."

Now that caught his attention. Without a second thought and with boiling fury, Vegeta disappeared into thin air. He teleported back to his private quarters where ATI 9001 waited.

The commander of the Atijebu Military Clones wasn't a bit of surprised at all when he appeared. After all, he was reading his movements through ATI 9000's perspective. He also knew of what the prince have done in that last facility and truth be told, he was afraid of his current mood right now.

Vegeta glared at ATI 9001, who lowered his head in respect. The clone handed him a letter exactly the same as what Bulma received earlier. ATI 9001 found it on the table when he returned after confronting Paragus and Kabu.

"Bulma and Raditz received the same letter with the same coordinates. As of now, Kakarot said that they are still awaiting for your royal command on this. I have already confronted Paragus but he claimed that he is innocent. I do not trust him at all." ATI 9001 reported.

Vegeta took the letter and read it. He frowned. "I have a feeling that this is a trap." he said as he scrambled the paper on his hand. "I'll take care of this. Thanks for watching out for me."

ATI 9001 simply bowed down. Vegeta contacted Raditz immediately through his scouter.

"Ah finally..." those were Raditz' first and only words before Vegeta heard Bulma's hysterical yelling.

"What took you so long to respond?! If it were not for Raditz in here who kept on restraining me from going, I would have gone by myself, you jerk!"

ATI 9001 sighed. There was a reason why he didn't try to contact them at all. He doesn't want to deal with such an infernal woman as of tonight. Although he understood by his nature why Vegeta adored this woman so much, it just doesn't interest him at all. In his opinion, the Crown Prince's feelings for the girl was nothing but a deadweight to him. She was a distraction to his path of becoming the Legendary Super Saiyan warrior. However, at some point, he thought that the same girl would also be a reason for him to tap into that strength, although it could be at the price of her own life.

"Would you stop your incessant yelling, woman and listen to me! I have an important matter to attend to that's why I was not able to respond immediately."

The truth was he didn't expect for him to be caught on a fight earlier. If he only knew, he would have finished it quicker.

There was a disparaging snort on the other line.

"Now, Bulma. Give the scouter back to Raditz and I have to give him my royal command."

There were a few mumbles of complaints before he heard Raditz's voice again.

"Yes, Your highness?" Raditz responded. Vegeta asked Raditz about the letter they found and he realized that they both received the same coordinates. He narrowed his eyes in suspicion. Something fishy is going on.

"Be on standby, I'll get Kakarot and Nappa on the line." he said. He pressed the button on the side of his scouter four times and said harshly, "If you hear this, respond!"

"Kakarot here."

"Nappa checking in."

"The three of you, hear my royal command." he said on his three Generals with the tone of an imperious royal prince. "I have received the same coordinates as Bulma. I am suspecting a foul play, I doubt that her family is in that place. Paragus must be planning something. But I will play by their game and go to their trap willingly. Now, Raditz, take Bulma on the place where the coordinates lead. Kakarot, I want you to follow Raditz's ki in there and scope the place for any suspicious activity. Nappa, prepare with the Royal Soldiers for a fight and be on stand by within the vicinity. Do you understand?"

"Yes, your highness!" the three Generals replied in unison.

"The coordinates are S0768 SW3638287."

"I got it here," Raditz said.

"Alright." Nappa said.

"Okay," Kakarot chuckled nervously. It was obvious to Vegeta that he was not able to get that at all that's why he ordered for him to follow Raditz's ki later.

"Then we'll meet in five minutes."

Vegeta hung up after that. He turned to see that ATI 9001 was removing the Crown Prince's royal armor he lent to him earlier.

"Ouji-sama," ATI 9001 said as he offered the armor back.

"What is it?"

"I have to apologize for not doing anything for her. I did confront the Prime Minister earlier, but aside from that I did not do anything else. I just thought that I do not wish to impede your personal decisions when it comes to her since I am just a cover up. However, Paragus asked me one thing earlier and I was wondering if I answered it correctly. He asked me, 'What if Bulma was indeed part of this mess? Are you willing to kill her, slowly and painfully too?' and I responded with a 'yes' if that's what it would take for you to rid of your enemies and win."

Vegeta appeared to be displeased at first when he heard ATI 9001 say, 'Yes' at that, inwardly questioning himself if he could actually go through such words.

"I just cannot have them think that she's your - ."

Vegeta cut him off, not wanting to hear anymore explanation. "That's enough for now. I understand. You did pretty well."

He understood exactly why ATI 9001 answered Paragus that way because he cannot have his enemies think that Bulma is his weakness. If it was him, he would respond the same way. However, Vegeta cognized that it would only be a bluff on his part. He knew that deep inside, he won't be able to do that. He took his armor back and changed his clothes.

"Ouji-sama..."

He cannot blame him. In fact, ATI 9001 did a good job on it since it won't appear he's bluffing when he said those words.

ATI 9001 helped him dress up, fixing his red cape on the shoulder pads of his armor. He let him do it anyways. After he was fully dressed, the prince turned to his clone and smiled.

"You are dismissed." he told him.

ATI 9001 tilted his head curiously, watching at Vegeta with a critical eye. "Ouji-sama..." he muttered.

"Hn?"

"Please don't blame yourself for not being able to save your clones. They were prepared for this. After all, they were programmed to be killed by Broly. The reason why I sent ATI 8990 to you that day is for you to see the darkness your father and his Ministers were trying to hide from you. Although I know that you will find a way to stop the Project Denzetsu, I did not expect for you to react this way. You've lost control twice already. If this keeps up, you'll be no different than what Broly has become. Don't let your emotions control you. Think of us as nothing but lab rats, cultivars made for an experiment. We all have short life spans anyways."

Vegeta scowled, recalling how Pea called him a 'programmed dummy meant to be killed' and those words pissed him off quickly.

The prince turned to give him a dark glare, "And here I thought you were different. How disappointing." he spat coldly. "They say that you are my perfect clone. As far as I know, despite the modifications and the programming you were forcefully put into, is that every single one of you carried the same blood as mine and I do expect that you carry the same Saiyan Pride as I have! What the hell is wrong with you?! You have your damn lives! Survive no matter what!"

"Easy for you to say. There are times when you cannot escape your fate. We are all destined to be killed, not just because we were programmed to. That's just the way it is."

"Fate?" Vegeta growled. "You've heard of the new prophecy, correct? At first I was destined to reach the Legendary Super Saiyan and save the entire universe from Freeza. Now all that has changed. Now I am destined to destroy everything I was supposed to protect. The first prophecy has changed because of an unexpected turn out of events. The new prophecy, however, is something I will prevent from happening. I could just live with the original but despite all the pride it brought me, I did not let it control me. I will not let even the new prophecy to dictate my life. I am the Crown Prince of all Saiyans and only I decide my own fate! Now, I expect better from you! I command you to fight against your so called 'fate' and stand with me! We will do everything in our power to change our destiny. Got that?"

ATI 9001 smirked. He finally understood and nodded. "As you wish, Ouji-sama."

The Prince turned his back on him. "Good. Now then, I have a date to attend to. I'll see you around." and then he disappeared using his Hibiktus.

He appeared in front of an abandoned cabin made from rough logs in the middle of a mountain. He could sense that Raditz and Bulma were inside already. That was good. He closed his eyes and extended his ki senses on the area that surrounded the house for about a mile. He perceived several soldiers around, encircling them and gradually stepping closer like a group of predators. He knew it but decided to ignore it for the meantime. He has to comfort Bulma at the moment.

In his mind, ATI 9001's words resounded, "I just cannot have them think that she's your - ."

Greatest weakness.

He halted his footsteps. Yes, that's it. He knew his enemies will finally make a move now that he knows the truth about their dirty plans of overthrowing him. He knew they would make use of her to bind him and make him obey his will.

But he prepared himself for this.

Silently snorting to himself, he stepped into the cabin. He found Raditz and Bulma there, waiting. Bulma was on hysterics, panicking when she did not find her parents on this place. When she found him, she yelled, "What took you so long, jerk?! We've been waiting for you!"

Seeing her in tears made his heart break in his tightened chest and he sauntered forward towards her, pulling her into an embrace that made her sobs even worse. He gently rubbed at her hair and back to help comfort her.

"Contain your tears. Do not worry. I can feel they are alive and fine." he said.

"How do you even know that?" she sniffed at his shoulder.

"I could sense them. Although they are afraid of the unknown, they are all right." he assured.

"Where are they? Why aren't they in here? Why did they do this?" she sobbed.

"Not far from here. I will take care of it, okay?"

Kakarot materialized from thin air with his Shunkanidou technique. He was initially taken by surprise when he saw the two lovebirds embracing each other and awkwardly bowed down.

"Your highness," Kakarot muttered. "It is as you suspected. You have to make a move quickly."

Vegeta pulled away from Bulma's arms and turned to Raditz, who was looking away from them with an uncomfortable look. Bulma turned her head to look at Kakarot in confusion, wondering what was happening.

"Also, I got word from Broly about Paragus' plan." Kakarot said.

The Prince turned to glare at Kakarot angrily. "You met Broly?"

"I'm sorry, your highness. I don't know if you would listen or consider his words but he came to me to give you a warning. He said that..."

Kakarot told the Crown Prince of everything Broly told him. Vegeta was displeased and suspicious of his words. Kakarot knew that Vegeta doesn't trust anything he's been telling him at all and he could also be angry that he chose to listen to the words of a traitor.

Yet, Vegeta considered Broly's warning. He knew that his former General won't do an effort to talk that much to Kakarot if it wasn't true or important at all.

"Raditz," he called his General with a commanding tone after Kakarot was finished talking.

Raditz bowed down in submission, "Yes, your highness?"

"Go and take Bulma with you. You have to escape from here as soon as possible. Go to the spaceship dock and leave Planet Vegeta. Proceed to the plan." Vegeta ordered.

"But..." Bulma immediately protested but the prince cut her off.

"I will send your family after you. Go. Now!" Vegeta commanded.

Bulma was not able to utter a word when Raditz pulled her arm towards him and ran to the back door. "Let's go."

Unsure of what was happening, she wanted to demand Raditz some answers but seeing that they are on some serious matters, she just decided to ask him later. She helplessly let Raditz drag her out and into the labyrinth of trees on that dark forest.

~=o-O-o=~

Saiyans dressed in black shinobi clothing inched closer to the cabin where the Saiyan Prince waited. Vegeta turned on his scouter and ordered Nappa to be on standby. He could sense them all, snakes slithering closer. They were led by the Minister of Justice, Soi, who was under the command of the Prime Minister. They silently stepped outside the cabin and burst in the door, to hopefully catch the Crown Prince and the woman by surprise.

However, it looks like they were the ones who were taken by surprise seeing the Crown Prince all alone in that small cabin. He was facing away from them, his hands behind him as he stood straightly and confidently.

Abruptly, Nappa and several royal guards appeared to surround them all, in fighting stances, with laser guns and ki swords. Much to Soi and his men's astonishment. They were clearly outnumbered.

"What is the meaning of this, Soi?" Vegeta demanded with a cold and displeased tone. "You don't think I can't sense you all coming, do you?"

Then he turned around to face them. The Minister of Justice shamefully bowed down before him, followed by his men.

~=o-O-o=~

Meanwhile, as Raditz and Bulma escaped, they were waylaid by Kabu's men. Raditz pushed Bulma back and fought them. Kakarot immediately came to his aid. Bulma couldn't do anything but watch them. Busy with their enemies, three soldiers were able to pass by them to capture her. She began to back away, putting on a brave fighting stance she learned while she was training with Vegeta a few months ago. She warned them not to touch her or she will never forgive them. The masked men laughed at her effort, knowing she won't stand a chance against them.

One soldier charged at her and she tried her best to evade his attacks. She could tell the guy was holding back his strength. Perhaps, he was preventing himself from killing her because of an order. She did put up a good fight until she tripped on a piece of rock and fell on her behind.

The man she was fighting with recovered, livid due to his humiliation of being cornered by a supposedly powerless human girl. Just as she thought that everything was over, someone appeared out of nowhere to kick the man away from her. Raditz, Kakarot and Bulma's eyes widened at the sight of the newcomer. They recognized the green pelt tied on the Saiyan's waist. Without a word, he disappeared to the air and made a quick job on the others, knocking them all out for good.

He gracefully landed on the soil, straightened his body and turned his head over his shoulder to glare at his former comrades.

"Broly!" Kakarot breathed.

~=o-O-o=~

Meanwhile, at the King's private quarters, a soldier, under the command of Paragus, came running on the Hallway, bringing urgent news with him. Once he was before the King, he collapsed to his knees as he exclaimed, "Your Majesty, my apologies for interrupting your evening but I have an urgent news to report to you."

"What is it so important that you dare to come to me at this late hour?" King Vegeta demanded.

"There was a report that the Briefs are indeed part of the rebels we have been looking for. Someone has confessed to the Prime Minister that Doctor Briefs was gathering forces for an all-out rebellion!"

The king frowned when he heard the name. At first he thought of the blue haired woman his son was so attached to.

"Briefs? I remember that name. Was he the scientist I told Vegeta to kill when he brought them here as a child? That man with purple bob hair?"

"Exactly, your Majesty."

"Then why is he alive?!"

"It turned out that the Crown Prince had faked their deaths and instead, he sent them off somewhere unpopulated where they currently lived and planned their rebellion against the Saiyans."

"And Yon knew it all along?"

"It appears that he knows about it as he frequently visit the place yet he denied it or tried to hide it because he was having affections for the daughter of the scientist. We received another report that the Crown Prince is currently meeting up with the rebels by now!"

Hearing that, the King furiously turned around.

"What did you say?! Are you telling me that my son is betraying his own people by meeting up with them?!"

"I cannot tell for sure, your Majesty. But Minister Soi is currently doing an operation to capture them as of now."

~=o-O-o=~

Back to the cabin where Soi failed to ambush the Crown Prince as directed by Paragus... The Minister of Justice was taken aback by the Crown Prince. Instead of capturing him on an ambush during a set up to accuse Prince Vegeta of treason, it seemed that they were the ones who were captured off guard. There was no other choice for Soi but to surrender himself and lower his head in shame.

"Your highness. I have no idea that you will be in here. I just received a report that the rebels are secretly meeting up on this place." Soi muttered. He could feel that Prince Vegeta was giving him a frightening evil glare and he couldn't help but feel like a guilty puppy with his tail in between his shaking legs.

With that answer, Vegeta became incensed and he raised his voice. "Who dared to accuse me, the Royal Crown Prince, of treason?!" Vegeta roared lividly. "You dare to send me a letter with coordinates leading in here only to set me up on a trap?!" he slapped the letter on Soi's face hard. He leered at Soi and said with a freezing and deadly tone, "I responded to your challenge because I was being curious, and now you tell me I am a traitor? Who was the rebel you were trying to make me meet in here?!" he demanded.

Soi swallowed nervously and answered reluctantly, "It... It was Bulma Briefs, your highness."

"And what makes her a rebel?!"

Soi gulped anxiously, feeling cold sweat on his forehead, as he answered, "Your highness... We found out that her father was involved with the Project Denzetsu. He was the one who helped modify the ATIK-903 for the creation of the perfect clones. We just received a report that they were planning an all-out rebellion along with other aliens who are against the Saiyan Kingdom that's why we had them all arrested. We were planning to arrest Bulma Briefs, along with her conspirator. They are the rebels we've been looking for all this time, your highness! We have evidence pointing to their treason. We have blueprints of weapons, prototypes of machineries, actual technologies and their so called 'hoi-poi' capsules on the list-."

"Enough!" the indignant prince cut him off.

For some reason, after hearing that, Vegeta had the urge to shut the man up by reducing him into atoms. Truth be told, he didn't want to hear it at all. He tried not to think of it the moment he had a cue when he came to her house that night because he didn't want her to be taken away from him. (see Episode 14)

Yet, he was a Crown Prince and she was a daughter of an alien who was aiding whoever was planning a rebellion against his kingdom (Who he suspected was Doctor Gero). He knew they were not directly rebels on some degree, yet Doctor Briefs was providing his aid to those people, whether he knew their purpose or not.

As the Crown Prince, he knew he had to prevent them from their plans of rebellion by severely punishing them.

But...

He clenched his hands into fists, his mind numb, unable to think of what else to do but to destroy these people who would dare take her away from him. At the back of his mind, ATI 9001's words resounded:

"You've lost control twice already. If this keeps up, you'll be no different than what Broly has become. Don't let your emotions control you."

Still, he had enough of these Ministers' stupidity for one day. He had to summon his former ruthlessness to instill fear on these fools. He glared at Soi with his most fearsome look, his black eyes slowly becoming crimson. Soi automatically stepped back.

In the blink of an eye, the prince hurled Soi towards him by telekinesis. His right hand clawing around the Minister's neck, choking him. The rest of the soldiers behind him froze, as the prince rendered all of them motionless with his ki alone.

Vegeta pulled his lips away from his bared teeth, growling lividly at the Minister. "It was so clear to me that this is a set up to accuse me of treason against my people! Now, whoever tells you this report and the person who sent that fake letter to my private quarters while I am away, have them all arrested and present them all to me in the throne hall in one hour! If you fail to do this, I will kill every single one of you in here! Do you understand?!"

Everyone along with Soi have paled at the threat coming from their notorious merciless future king.

"Yes... Yes, your highness!" Soi coughed. The prince then viciously hurled him across the wall. He released the others as well.

"This is your only chance to live... Now get out of my sight before I change my mind and eat your hearts for my midnight snack!"

Like scampered mice, Soi and his men flee in horror. Vegeta watched at them go with his angry red eyes. He knew Soi will fail on doing his command. He cannot arrest Paragus and Kabu.

His thoughts were interrupted when a call from his father came to his scouter. He was ordered to come to the King's Executive office immediately.

"Yon, I command your presence in my office now!"

He could tell that his father was livid and displeased, somehow.

"What for?" he asked.

"You will know once you arrive, boy! Get in here this instant!"

Vegeta growled to himself in annoyance as he took off his scouter. He was sure his father must have received a report about the rebels by now.

~=o-O-o=~

"You have to go, now." Broly said at his gawking friends after he saved them from his father's men.

"Broly... Are you alright?" Kakarot asked.

Broly smiled at him and nodded. "Did you warn his highness?"

"Yes. He may not look like it but I'm sure he appreciates the effort. Thanks." Kakarot said.

"Broly..." Bulma called him as she slowly approached him. "What exactly did happen between you and Vegeta?"

Broly lowered his eyes, a guilty look upon his face. He raised a hand and gave her a stop signal, which halted her footsteps. "This is no time for chit chat. Please, you have to go. Now. And quickly, before dad learns about this." he told her.

Nobody moved at all. Nobody listened to him. Raditz doubted his words and his anger immediately got the better of him.

"Did you really betray Vegeta by trying to overthrow him? Why are you trying to help us now? Which side are you really on?" Raditz demanded before he yelled irately, "Damn it, Broly! The four of us have been friends since we were little kids! We swore that we will always be on Vegeta's side no matter what it takes! Why are you doing this?! Why are you even listening to Paragus?!"

"I have no other choice!" Broly yelled back. "This! Do you even know what this contraption is?!" he pointed at the golden crown over his head. "This is something dad uses to make me submit to his orders even if it's against my will! You have no idea how much it hurts me! The burning electricity he put me on every time I tried to defy him! I have no other choice. Even if I do not want to kill the Crown Prince, he will simply awaken the uncontrollable Saiyan instinct within me just so I could do his bidding! Do you think I wanted this? No! I do not want this! I did not betray his highness!"

Tears streamed down Broly's face. Tears of regret, of self hate, of guilt. He had no idea if they will ever believe him or understand him at all. He knew it was completely unforgivable to them and he didn't have any idea how he could pay the price for his sin.

"I only wished to become stronger, not because I wanted to surpass him in strength or take away what's rightfully his. I wanted to become stronger so I could protect him with all I have! He saved my life and all my life I owe to him so I am willing to give it to him no matter what it takes!"

Raditz glared at the sobbing Broly on the ground. Kakarot touched his older brother's arm to calm him down.

"If what you're telling us is true then are you willing to kill your father for the sake of protecting his highness?"

Broly's breathing got caught in a loud gasp as he looked up at his comrade in surprise. He was unsure of what to respond. Raditz could clearly see the reluctance on his teary eyes.

"Thought so. I can see that you cannot go against Paragus entirely. If you cannot do that, then we have to treat you as an enemy." Raditz told him coldly. He walked to Bulma and grabbed her arm. "Let's go." he told her harshly and he dragged her away from Broly.

However, several more soldiers, including Kabu, stepped on their way. Raditz and Bulma backed away while Broly snarled at the newcomers. "So it seems Paragus-sama was correct when he suspected that you are coming in here. What? To help your friends who are in trouble? Do you honestly think you can just run away from us?" said Kabu with a smile at Broly.

Raditz released his aura and powered up but Kabu glared at him in warning before he tossed a red hoi-poi capsule on the ground. It burst with a low boom and green smoke rose out of it. Abruptly, Raditz, Kakarot and Broly felt a sudden, sharp pain on their chests as they realized their ki being sucked away by that poison. Bulma recognized that it was the same thing those masked men used on Vegeta when she was taken as a hostage. (See Episode 13) The three Saiyans fell to their knees, coughing and finding it hard to breathe.

"I wouldn't attack if I were you. After all, her family is our hostage. If you get too careless, what do you think will happen to them? With one command, I can order their deaths. And if that happens, will Prince Vegeta be happy about it?" Kabu said with a sly look, inwardly laughing at these pathetic little Saiyans.

Raditz snarled back at him and realized that these Saiyans had a mask over their faces to prevent them from inhaling the poison. He quivered with rage. Bulma pleaded for him to calm down for the sake of her family.

"Now, if you just come with us quietly, then I will bring you to them. Good?" the Minister said.

"No!" Broly shouted. He stood up in between Kabu and his friends, as if he was threatening the Minister not to touch his friends or they will suffer. He turned to Raditz and said, "You go and escape now. I will take care of them."

"Ha! Ha! Ha! Do you honestly think you can escape now that you are powerless? If I were you, I would simply surrender myself. You have no chance now."

Broly frowned, stepping up.

"Oh you cannot intimidate me this time, Broly-sama. After you were able to inhale the ki poison, you are powerless against us."

Kabu reached for his scouter to contact the boy's father. "Prime Minister, we found him along Prince Vegeta's Generals and the woman. We will capture them now." he turned to his men and silently ordered them to restrain their catches. "Yes. I shall bring them all to you."

Despite Bulma and the weakened Saiyans' protests, they were seized with ki enhanced handcuffs before they were dragged and taken away like criminals, marching in that dark forest towards the Prime Minister's location.

~=o-O-o=~

At the King's Executive Office on Planet Vegeta's Royal Palace. A displeased King Vegeta, donned in his majestic Royal Armor, impatiently waited for the arrival of his son.

"Your Majesty, His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince has come!"

Finally, it was Zorn's exclamation as the doors of the office opened up for the Crown Prince to enter. Prince Vegeta came in his father's office walking in his usually proud royal glory.

"Yon," the king said after finally seeing his son. "Where have you been all this time?! I just received two reports. One about the scientific facilities across the planet being destroyed! Explain to me the meaning of this! Did you do this?!" he demanded.

Vegeta gazed at his father with a hard look and crossed his arms over his chest. He wasn't exactly in the mood for arguments or explanations, not after what Soi and Paragus tried to do.

"I did, so what about it?" Vegeta said in a bored tone, rolling his eyes at his father.

King Vegeta pressed a palm over his face in distress. "Thought so." he growled. He ran his hand over his face and screamed lividly at his son. "Do you even know what you just did, fool?! Yes, you may have destroyed any traces of the Project Denzetsu but on the price of other projects of the Kingdom! Do you know how much it would cost to rebuild the facilities and resupply the technologies you recklessly destroyed?! Not to mention the other projects we funded for our kingdom and people!"

The Prince silently snorted, "Instead of letting the funds be corrupted by your Ministers, I think it is time to use it to renovate those old buildings after all. I simply helped demolish it for your future project. You should be glad I did you a favor."

"Favor?! You did nothing but give me a terrible headache!"

Vegeta yelled back, "Blame your own ambitions then! If it weren't for your Project Denzetsu, I wouldn't be doing any of this!"

King Vegeta sighed in exasperation. He decided to change the topic, knowing he won't win this argument. "There was another report that confirms Bulma Briefs and her father were planning a rebellion against our kingdom."

Vegeta tried his best to contain his reaction. But King Vegeta knew that this caught his son off guard.

"If I remember clearly, I told you to kill that old man when you brought them to me thirteen years ago. Why then, are you meeting up with them despite knowing what they were planning? And you dare to hide the truth from us all this time!"

The Prince was correct when he suspected that his father already received a report about his set up 'treason'.

"Before you accuse me of treason, let me tell you that I was set up for an ambush just now." Vegeta responded with an icy tone. "Someone sent me a fake letter, telling me to come to an abandoned cabin in the Longta Forest. Her family was taken as hostage, leaving her the same letter as I have. And before you tell me that Bulma and her father are the rebels, show me your proof first."

"Someone has confessed to the Prime Minister-."

"I will not trust the Prime Minister's words not after the treachery he's done against the Royal Family. Bring me that witness. I want to make sure that he was not being forced to confess because Paragus threatened him!"

Somehow, the king knew that the Crown Prince was right. They cannot trust Paragus at all but he could feel that something was off by the way his heir was defending the Earthlings.

"Yon, I do not trust the Prime Minister as you do. I never did." King Vegeta assured his son. "However, for some reason I get a hunch that you know what was going on with the Earthlings. You usually have a perfect intuition when it comes to suspecting who your enemies are. So I know that you also presumed that the Briefs are the rebels we've been looking for all this time. Yet, you were trying to deny it because of your feelings for that woman."

Vegeta didn't answer back, he felt something odd hitting his hardened chest. Was it guilt?

"Was I correct?" the King scoffed. "The same thing happened with Broly, isn't it? Yon, can't you learn a lesson with what happened between you and Broly? If you can nip a bud while you can, do it before it becomes a greater problem to you! Regardless of your personal attachments for that woman, you have to do something as the Crown Prince of Planet Vegeta. If a rebellion starts and you do not do anything about it despite knowing what would come, you will be considered as a traitor to your own people! Do you understand me?! You have to rid of your emotions and do what you must! Have her and her family arrested and execute them in front of your people!"

Prince Vegeta scowled and he faced his father with a stubborn look. "I will not do that without proper evidence! Take the witness to me and have him swear his testimony before us! I am not going to listen to any of these reports coming from Paragus or his lackeys!"

"The modifications she made to your training room. How did you know that she could make it for you? She was just one of your cooks when she began her work on your Palace and then you took great interest on her, you even made her your personal niehre and a secret engineer to lead your training room's modification. You knew she was capable of creating such technology which may become a threat to you or your kingdom and yet you... you trusted her and told me you were only making use of her talents to help you reach the Super Saiyan state. What if she sabotaged your training room so she could kill you?"

"She wouldn't do such a thing." the prince, who was getting tired and impatient of this conversation, growled back.

"How sure are you about that? If I remember correctly, you said the same thing with Broly. What about now?"

The younger royal gritted his teeth in irritation and he finally snapped back at his father.

"Enough of this!" Vegeta yelled lividly. "I know what I've been doing so don't tell me what to do! I will take care of my own problems! Stay out of my way!"

Before he could stomp his way out of the office, Vegeta's red lensed scouter abruptly made a beep, cutting off the King's words. The call was coming from Raditz so he decided to take it. However, the voice that greeted him was not Raditz's but of Paragus'.

"Good evening, your highness." Paragus greeted. That sarcastic voice made the Crown Prince's rage boil under his skin.

"What do you want now, Paragus? And why are you using someone else's scouter to make a call to me?" Vegeta growled in annoyance.

"Obviously, your dear battle partner, who is such a terrible failure as always, is at my hands now. Of course, with your beloved woman and his idiotic little brother as well. Also, her entire family."

With that, the Crown Prince's eyes widened in apprehension.

"What did you do to them?!" he harshly demanded.

Paragus chuckled on the other line, thinking of the Saiyan Prince's furious reaction. "Nothing, although I rendered your Generals powerless just as what the rebels did to you sometime ago. Now if you do not come to me in ten minutes, I will kill them all."

"I swear that if you do, I will kill-."

"I think it is not your turn to make the threats, your highness. Unless you want me to kill one of them for each threat or boast you make to me." and then he heard Paragus chuckled darkly. He could faintly hear Bulma and Raditz screaming for him at the background not to listen to whatever Paragus was saying.

Vegeta grunted in response and then growled in a low tone as he desperately held back his tongue.

Finding the prince silent, Paragus proceeded to mock him on his reluctance, "Not so arrogant now, huh? I guess after all those boasts, you still take after your foolish, cowardly father. One threat to your loved ones I could easily make you submit to my will."

"Hmph! Don't be so cocky!" the prince snorted.

He heard Bulma scream in pain as Paragus pulled her head back with force. Raditz roared for Paragus to let her go.

"Fine! What do you want me to do?!" the prince demanded.

"Come to me alone. Do not teleport in here. That's no fun at all. I like waiting, but there would only be a time limit for you. Five minutes. If you don't, I will kill them. Do you understand? "

"I will go. But promise me one thing, do not hurt anyone of them."

"I do not make negotiations without you facing me personally. Your time starts now." and then the call was cut off. Vegeta tried to contact him back, wanting to say something but he cannot reach it. Not even Kakarot's scouter. Vegeta cursed to himself and turned away to leave but King Vegeta grabbed at his bicep with an iron steel grip and pulled him back to his father's side.

"What's happening, Yon?!" the King asked in concern.

"Don't ask. I have to go!" Vegeta shouted at his father.

"Go where?!"

"To wherever that rotten Paragus is!" he screamed without any rational thought as he marched towards the door.

"Wait!" the King pulled his son's arm once again to prevent him from going anywhere.

"Let me go! I have to save Raditz, Kakarot and Bulma! He will kill them if I don't!" the prince protested.

King Vegeta pulled his son's arm the third time, harshly and desperately this time, forcing his heir to face him while glaring at him eye to eye. "Don't go! Let them be! It's dangerous for you to go there now! Paragus will kill you if you go!"

"Shut up!" Vegeta hollered as he shook his old man's hand off.

"Don't go! Don't be reckless, Yon! Calm down! Don't let your emotions reign your rationality, boy!" the King yelled.

"Let go of me, papa! I have to go and save them!"

For some reason, Vegeta felt as if this exact same scenario had played out before.

"Don't be a fool! Yon! Listen to me!" the king shouted before he lowered his voice, pleading his son to listen to him for once. "I know you wanted to save them but if this will put you in great danger, you have to restrain yourself. Remember, you are the Crown Prince of all Saiyans, the next King of Planet Vegeta! You are the prophesied one to become the Legendary Super Saiyan. Your people need you. The entire universe needs you to save them from the Galactic Emperor! If you are killed in there, then there will be no one to stop Freeza. I'm sure that Raditz, Kakarot and Bulma understand that sacrifices are to be made for the cause of the greater good. Three lives meant nothing in comparison to those you could save if their sacrifices are able to push you to become a Super Saiyan! You cannot save everyone, Yon! You have to make sacrifices! Harden your heart and become cold and ruthless! Your emotions could only make you reckless and foolish! Let it go or you will be killed!"

"No!" Prince Vegeta stubbornly shouted back. "I won't let what happened to mama happen again! Let me go, Papa! I'd rather die facing such danger than backing out on my word! I need to save my Generals and my dearest!"

King Vegeta's eyes widen in shock when he heard what his son called the Earthling woman, "Wha... What did you just call her?" he asked, breathlessly. Inwardly hoping he just misheard his son's words.

Realizing his own tactless words, Vegeta turned to his father. There was a guilty look that was unusually odd in his eyes.

"Yon... Do you even understand what you're saying? What it meant for you to call her that way?" the King asked in a low tone, his anger was obvious in his question.

The Prince was reluctant to respond at first but then, realized he had no other way out of this. Making excuses and lying were no use in this situation after all. He had to tell his father. In his heart, he desperately hoped that his father would understand and accept his decision, which he knew could be just a wishful thinking.

"Yes..." he finally said. "Bulma... She is my dearest and I already... Mated with her."

The King's eyes widened in shock. Mated? His heir, his only rightful heir had broken the rules without his knowledge by mating with an alien slave?

Vegeta raised his left hand to show his father the moonstone bracelet on his wrist. "And I made a promise to her that I will protect her no matter what happens. I cannot sacrifice her or anyone's life!"

The shock was too great that he loosen his grip on his son's arm. Vegeta used this opportunity to escape but not before apologizing to his disappointed father. He knew he had hurt him with the truth.

"I'm sorry, papa." he whispered and then he pulled his father's hand off him before he ran out of his father's office.

It took a while before King Vegeta had snapped out of his thoughts. That boy was insane! No! There was no way he will allow him do this! Nor he will accept that girl as his daughter-in-law at all! Bulma Briefs had to die, not his only rightful heir!

With an angry command, he sent his soldiers after the Crown Prince.

~=o-O-o=~

The meeting place was within a viridian forest, a labyrinth of darkness filled with tall, old trees that was famously known for being the hideout and the warzone of rebellious Saiyan Soldiers. Vegeta already knew that Paragus must have gathered all those who were against the Saiyan royal family by now and that they are going to obliterate him, the strongest one, the only threat they cannot control. The one who thwarted their heinous plans.

And because they knew about his only weakness, they have taken Bulma away so they could use her against him. A bait to catch him. Vegeta thought it was truly foolish of them to do so. Doing harm to his dearest would only trigger his wrath to blow up and punish those who dared. He has allowed himself to fall into the enemy's trap and he cannot turn his back and leave now. Despite knowing what may come when he arrives there and all the warnings coming from his father, Vegeta simply ignored the danger so he could save his dearest.

Before coming in here, he had already formulated a plan on how he would rescue her. All thanks to Broly's forewarning of the Prime Minister's plans. Vegeta made a back up plan along Raditz, Kakarot and Bulma back in the cabin, knowing that when the three tried to escape, Paragus' men may catch them. He only hoped he could buy enough time.

He smiled to himself. He was enjoying this game so far. He was impressed of his own acting skills, result of years of practice pretending as Sadara. He also liked the look on his father's face when he told him the truth. He knew his revelation of his relationship with Bulma would make his father furious and that he might send his men after him in a while.

Several soldiers, including both Nappa and Zorn, stepped in his way. He stopped on his tracks and glared dangerously at the warriors in front of him.

"Get lost and stay out of my way!" Vegeta shouted.

"Your highness," Zorn bowed down. "We did not come in here to stop you. His Majesty sent us to assist you."

"I don't need your help!" the prince snapped at Zorn. "I will go and face Paragus alone. Don't bother yourselves."

"But your highness!"

"I said get out of my way!" the prince roared. He gathered his ki to summon forth a gust of wind to blow them all away. They fell on the ground like knocked bowling pins. "Tch! How could papa expect them to assist me? Pathetic!"

He roamed around the black forest, alone and without any of his Generals to protect him. He could sense danger around him, some fools hiding themselves behind those trees are about to attack him. He ignored them at first, nothing about their powers were a threat to his after all. He continued to walk around. It was strangely quiet, the only sound in this place were his footsteps against the soil. Nothing more.

There was an abrupt sound, something ripped through the air coming from his left side. He darted his eyes on that direction and saw an arrow, engulfed with poisonous purple energy, blasting its way towards him. He simply tilted his head to avoid it. The arrow passed an inch away from his throat and hit a nearby tree branch.

A bunch of arrows followed next to that. Vegeta smirked. He evaded one arrow, grabbed it by its tail, neutralized its energy with his ki and used it to deflect the rest of the arrows coming at him. His reflexes were lightning fast and he effortlessly deflected each of it. His movements were quick yet graceful.

As much as he enjoyed showing off his speed and deflecting skills, the time was ticking off and he became impatient.

"Tch! Trying to waste my time, are you? Don't get in my way! Haaaaah!" he roared as he released his aura and sent a powerful shockwave around him for miles ahead, blowing away some trees and those archers hiding beyond the shadows.

He gave a cocky smirk as he straightened himself from his position. Somebody threw a vial across the sky to him.

"Hmph! How persistent!"

He snorted confidently as he raised a forefinger to fire a Galick Beam on it, shattering the glass and its powder contents puffed into the air, creating a cloud of green smoke. In an instant, Vegeta felt what it seemed like a heart attack and he collapsed on the ground, grimacing in pain as his hands shot up to his chest. A moment later, he howled in agony as he felt his ki being sucked away by what it seemed was a ki poison in the air.

"Damn... You... Cowardly... Fools... Come out... You..." he grunted as he pathetically picked himself off the ground but failing to do so. His knees felt like they were jelly. What is that thing? It wasn't just ki poison at all!

Several men wearing familiar dark Shinobi suits stepped towards him. This situation reminded Vegeta of what happened to him that night Bulma was taken a hostage on his quarters, only worse because he found himself unable to stand up or move at all. The leader nodded towards his men and they all grabbed him from behind, pushed him so he was kneeling on the ground. Vegeta tried to protest, shouting curses at these men but he was powerless. They pulled his arms on his back, tied them together him with a thick rope and pulled him up by the hair.

The Saiyan Prince flinched at the pain on his scalp. The men chuckled with sadistic glee.

"Powerless now, are we?" said the leader. Vegeta glared at the man, hoping to see his face but couldn't because of that damn mask. He snarled viciously at the faceless creature, like a rabid animal. "Don't worry about being late. We will take you where you wish to go. Paragus-sama is waiting for your... Royal arrival. Hehehehe..." then the leader turned to his men and nodded. They pulled him up and dragged him by force further into the mountain.

They brought him into a cavern where Paragus, Kabu, some members of the royal council, a few Saiyans and aliens, Raditz, Kakarot and Bulma waited.

Vegeta saw the surprise on everyone's face, except that of Paragus and Kabu's. He scanned the place with his dark eyes. Torches lit the darkness with a fiery hue. The inside was spacious enough to fit several people in.

Doctor Briefs, Panchy and Taitsu were hurdled on the corner with three men watching at them. Raditz and Kakarot were together, although they were beaten severely. He also found Broly in there, he was subdued with ki rings pinning his extremities against the rocky walls of the cave. Bulma was safe, although her arms were tied in her back and there was Kabu behind her, with a sword threatening to slash her head off.

Vegeta growled at what he saw. His anger rising but not his power at all. He cursed himself for his own weakness. Cursed Paragus and his men. All these people who dared to hurt his and her loved ones.

"He... He really did come..." some council member gasped in disbelief.

"You jerk! I told you not to come, didn't I? Were you unable to hear me?! You fool!" Bulma screamed at him.

Paragus smiled. "Welcome, your highness. Welcome!"

The men behind Vegeta roughly hurled him towards the ground closest to Paragus, who was sitting like a king on a chair with a high backrest. The prince gracelessly rolled on his back, grimacing and coughing.

"What's the matter now? You don't look good at all. How is the present I gave you tonight? I hoped you like it." Paragus smiled sarcastically, causing the prince to snarl back at him furiously.

"Damn you, Paragus! You're truly such a damn coward! Using other people for your own revenge? How pathetic of you!" Vegeta shouted.

"Pathetic? You're one to talk. Look who is powerless now? Sooner or later, you will kneel before me, begging for my mercy, crying out for help! I will take control of everything you prided yourself for. Soon, you will become my puppet, just as Broly does."

"You wish!"

"Your call. Even so, if you continue to be stubborn, your woman and your men's lives will pay the price."

Broly opened his eyes, hearing Vegeta's voice. Dazed and disoriented. He tried to look for the source of the voice. He could hear his father threatening the prince.

Vegeta questioned Paragus. "What do you really want, Paragus? Weren't you trying to kill me so you could overthrow me and my father and replace us as rulers of the Saiyans? Do you honestly think if you kill me now in here, that it would be something you should be proud of? Hmph! Don't make me laugh. Were you really that desperate for revenge and power that you used a dirty trick such as rendering me powerless so you could tell everyone that you killed me?"

Paragus smiled. "To tell you the truth, at your state right now, I do not plan to kill you. After all, you saved my son's life when your father ordered to assassinate him. I am not without gratitude. In fact, I do thank you for that. It is just sad that you are your father's son and you had to pay the price with him as well. You see... Your father has stolen someone who was very important to me. Someone whom I could have mated with if she was not the Selected one. Someone who could have lived a longer life if he wasn't some cowardly fool."

Vegeta's eyes widened at the Prime Minister's words. Paragus was in-love with his mother a long time ago? And his father technically stole her from him after she was Selected by his grandfather?

"Now, do you see why I hated you the most? You were the seed of that wretched fate. You looked just like your father and yet, your tongue, fiery temper and arrogance remind me so much of her! You are a child I cursed to the pits of hell!"

Vegeta snorted, "Knowing my mother, I think your story was a one-sided romance. She would never like someone as dirty, controlling and power-hungry like yourself. I bet when you tried to court her, she immediately dumped you."

Paragus was shocked at the Crown Prince's words. They turned out to be true. He had a desire for Saya back in the day, courted her many times but she refused his affections. At that time, he didn't understood why she was repulsed by him. She was a woman who was free-spirited, doesn't want to be told on what she must or must not do. She hated being controlled by others except her own will. She was a strong and beautiful woman and he wanted her. So he couldn't understand why she accepted being the Selected One when she initially refused to be. She and Vegeta the Third had an unlikely relationship when they first met, they used to argue and they hated each other. Not long, their hate turned into something romantic. Paragus didn't know why Saya changed her feelings and fell in love with him. Eventually, the two mated and she bore this little brat who thinks he's one perfect child being a prodigy and all.

Paragus, humiliated and angered, screamed in indignation. "Shut up!" and then he smacked the prince on his face. Vegeta refused to be affected. Instead, he glared back at him and smiled a cocky one.

"Oh my, did I just hit a nerve?" the prince chuckled. Paragus was red with seething fury. "You're pathetic! Just for that useless reason you kept a bitter grudge against the king for years, desired to steal everything that's rightfully his, wanted to kill his offspring using your own son and-."

"I would hold my tongue if I were you. I think you are forgetting that I hold the life of your woman in here." Paragus remind him.

Vegeta automatically turned his head towards Bulma's direction. Kabu, finding the Prince's sights on them, raised his sword at the fearful girl, threatening to cut her head off. The prince snarled in warning but eventually realized that he was being careless and he cursed himself inwardly.

"...Tch!" he scoffed. He knew he cannot use the same tactic he did when Bulma was hostaged before. Paragus, who he was directly addressing, doesn't have his hands on her. Rather, he will command Kabu to do his bidding for him.

Seeing the Saiyan prince back down due to the threat on his woman, Paragus laughed a boisterous one as he clapped his hand. "Hahahahaha! Hahaha! Now that's what I'd like to see from you! Helplessness! Fear! Indeed, she is your biggest weakness! Ahahahaha! You're just like your father, an emotional, overprotective fool! Hahahahaha!"

Raditz frowned, Kakarot lowered his eyes, Doctor Briefs expression was that of disbelief. Bulma screamed, "Idiot! Just what do you think you're doing?! Don't you do this to me again! Please!"

Paragus continued, "Just so you know, I have your father hostaged as well, also all of your guards and servants in the palace. Whatever is happening in here is being transmitted to them. They are all watching you humiliate yourself this way. And they will see the truth of your treason against them!"

With a shocked gasp, Vegeta's eyes widened in dismay as his head shot up at the Prime Minister standing in front of him. Rage and despair welled up inside him but was unable to release it.

Paragus smiled, he liked that look on the usually cocky Crown Prince. "Do you honestly think you could escape your punishment? You tried to run away earlier but we have another plan of capturing you. Now that you are in here, it is time to make you submit to my will!"

Paragus raised a finger to point at Doctor Briefs in the corner.

"This man, Your woman's father, and his entire family were ordered by your father to be executed by you when you brought him to the Palace thirteen years ago. You did not do what was told of you and instead, you sent them to a secluded island to let them be. Since you have destroyed their home planet and separated them from her, they have been secretly planning a rebellion against the Saiyan Kingdom for years, building technology behind everyone's back, except... probably yours. You knew what they were capable of doing, yet you refused to kill them off because you have feelings for that woman over there. Am I correct?"

"You are wrong!" Doctor Briefs answered, causing Paragus to turn his head on him. "We never planned anything such as a rebellion!"

"Gero already confessed to us! You've been aiding him with their technology, correct? You even helped him modify ATIK-903 for the Project Denzetsu!"

"But you said that was the King's order!"

"And you fell for it? Hahahaha! The king gave no such order, it was my plan! But technically, since I will be King sooner or later, I guess it is correct in one way or another."

"You crazy bastard." Vegeta muttered to himself.

Paragus returned his attention to Vegeta. "Such treason is punishable by execution. Now, if you admit your mistake before the royal Court, I will give you a chance. Two choices, boy! You only have two choices! Your first choice is to willingly submit yourself to my will. Pledge your loyalty to me and become my puppet! That way you may still retain your royal title and position in the royal house and we will forget about your treason but... you will do everything as I say without any complaint!

"Your second choice is to do whatever you want. You may execute us for treason against you and your father as you wanted. Prove yourself as innocent of your crime. Hold your pride and honor as the Crown Prince of all Saiyans." Paragus pointed at Bulma. "But before that happens, you have to kill her and her family in front of the royal court and your own father! The choice is yours, your royal highness!"

Broly, Raditz, Kakarot, Bulma, Doctor Briefs, Panchy and Taitsu's eyes widened as their hearts pounded wildly in tension. They all stared at Vegeta as he faltered while making his life depending choice.

"Your highness, it's a trap!" Broly shouted. "Don't be like me! Please don't listen to what he's saying!"

Paragus raised his left arm on his son's direction, and in front of Vegeta's eyes, electrocuted Broly with deadly voltage. Poor Broly could only scream in agony as he shook violently against the wall. The prince could not believe what Paragus was doing to his own son. This could be the reason why that monstrous Broly was created. Just how cruel does this man raise his child? He cannot fathom it. Vegeta finally understood why Broly just cannot refuse to disobey Paragus. He was helpless.

"Stop it!" Vegeta screamed. Paragus halted his cruelty at Broly, who was barely conscious.

"What is it? Did you make your choice already?" Paragus asked.

Vegeta glared at Paragus with unfettered determination. "Yes, I have decided." he responded.

Paragus smiled, one with malice. "Let's hear it."

It was as if the whole world had stopped spinning as everyone waited for his heart-pounding decision. Vegeta closed his eyes, his father's words resounded in his mind as he reminisced a memory he spent with him one night at the throne room after he has forgiven him. (See Episode 21)

"You may become this planet's powerful ruler, but you cannot just do anything you want. You must see and hear your people and must decide what's better for their sake or they will rebel against you. All of your subjects will give you different opinions, until you won't know which is right or wrong anymore. There will come a day when you must set aside your own personal emotions and decide with an iron heart for the sake of your people and kingdom.

"...Unlike the rest of our people who aren't particular with blood-relationships, I always believed against tradition, that as the royal family, we must stay bonded for the sake of our own security of the royal throne. However, when the day comes and you must choose between yourself, your loved ones, your people, how are you even going to fight back? What are you going to do if you have to sacrifice yourself or your loved ones for the sake of protecting someone else?

"That was the reason why I taught you not to have any affections for anyone. No matter what happens, you have to set aside your personal emotions in order to win. That is how a warrior should do things."

For some reason, Vegeta really couldn't understand the meaning of sacrificing other people's lives for the sake of gaining power or winning. He knew that the weak perishes and the strong survives by feeding on the weak. That's basically how surviving in this world works. But for one's pride, can you really call yourself a true warrior if you have no honor in the way you reached the top of your strength? Can you really be proud of it?

And then, he remembered the story Bulma has told him about the Little Mermaid while they were imprisoned. After he heavily criticized the mermaid's decision of sacrificing her voice and eternal life for such a man, Bulma told him...

"When you are in love, you will endure anything, even the greatest of pains, even give up your life for the sake of your beloved." (See Episode 16)

Vegeta thought that these kind of sentimental sacrifices were foolish to do so. But what makes him different now that he cannot do anything but sacrifice both his pride and power for the sake of his own loved ones? Now, he understood what he despised and initially called a foolishness meant.

Tears flowed out of his shut eyes as he collapsed on his knees. Everyone's eyes widen in incredulity as he said, "I shall pledge my loyalty to you. I will do anything as you tell me... But... Please... Please let go of them. My father, my Generals, my soldiers, my servants, Bulma Briefs, her family... Broly... Everyone you held as hostages because of me... Please let them all go... Please let them be, leave them alone and take it all on me. I will do everything you ask of me... Just don't do this to them..."

The tears he shed flowed endlessly, his pride, the hardened heart and mind, the foundations he stood in for years, crumbling to pieces. He could only imagine his father's disappointed look and he thought, "I am sorry, papa..."

On the background, his Generals, Bulma and her family, all shook their heads, telling him to stop.

"No! No, your highness! You cannot do this!"

"Fool! You don't have to do this! Even if it is for the sake of me. Don't do this! Please!"

"Your highness..."

Paragus turned to the group of men who brought Vegeta to him and said, "Bring it in here."

One of the men bowed in submission and picked up something they were hiding. There was a small tray table, with a black box over it. The man placed the table between Vegeta and Paragus and returned to his position. Paragus walked over the table, opened the box and raised a stainless silver metal collar from it.

"This," he said, showing the collar to the Crown Prince. "This will help me on subjugating you to my will. As you can see, this collar has the same capacity as that of the coronet on Broly's head. It is made of kachinko, the strongest metal in the universe. If you refuse to obey me, I will send a signal to this using my gauntlet and electrocute you until you are forced to obey me. This thing will also help me control your powers so you won't be able to use it against me. I think this one shall fit you, your highness. A collar for my new dog."

Vegeta held back a growl at such insult.

Paragus raised his hand and handed over the collar at the prince.

"I will only follow through your wishes to let them go once you are done putting this around your neck." Paragus told him.

"Do you promise?" Vegeta tried to reassure that Paragus will go through their deal.

"By your words, 'Do not make me repeat myself' only befits this kind of situation. How does it feel to choke on your own words?"

Vegeta ignored the insult and quickly reached out for the collar but Bulma and his friends' screaming "Don't do it, your highness!" made him hesitate at first. He stared at Bulma's eyes, she couldn't understand what he was trying to tell her at all. She was afraid, unable to think much or do anything else but to scream at him not to submit himself to this bastard. Paragus eyed him in warning, clearing his throat and Vegeta took the collar in his hands.

Bulma was yelling at him, "Idiot! Stupid garbage bag! Don't do it, especially if it is for my sake or I will resent you forever! Do not think I will forgive you for this! There are people willing to die for your sake so you could realize the prophecy! Doctor Huiston told me that prophecy, remember? You cannot do this! Forget about me! There are more people who need you!"

"Your highness, please listen to what she's telling you! Don't do this! You are the chosen one! We need you!" Raditz shouted.

Vegeta frowned and turned to Raditz to give him a glare, "Hate me all you want but I already made my decision. You should know by now that I do not back out on my words. Don't blame yourselves for this. It was my choice."

"No, your highness!"

"No! No! Urrgh! Raaaaaaaah! Y-Your highness! NO!" that was Broly's desperate words as he cried out. Everyone abruptly turned their eyes on his direction as Broly's scream turned into a beastly roar. Green aura enveloped his body as his black irises changed into golden. Broly was growling like a rampaging beast as his power started to rise, much to his father's disbelief. He wasn't supposed to tap into that strength as he was ki poisoned earlier! Broly struggled against the ki rings pinning him to the wall. He has to set himself free and protect his prince!

"Broly!"

Paragus raised a hand and Broly was pushed back by another wave of electricity on his burning body. Broly roared, struggled to fight back against his father's restraints. Paragus tried his best to control his rampaging son but he was failing. Broly was getting stronger and stronger!

Soon enough, the cavern was shaking due to Broly's power getting out of control. Broly's black hair was rising due to his exploding power, turning them neon green. His yellow eyes vanishing in his rage and his muscles started to bulk up as his roars turned beastly. Everyone watched in horror as Broly becomes the wrathful 'Saiyan of legends'. Electricity still racked his body but he cannot feel anything from it anymore. Just power, power he needed to save his best friend from getting the same cruel fate as he had.

"Broly!" Paragus shouted.

"Oh no... He's lost it! He'll kill us all!" Kabu whimpered in horror.

The enemies were panicking at Broly's upcoming rampage. Thinking whether they should run away or continue with their heinous plans. Paragus tried to control his son but couldn't. Nobody's voice was able to calm Broly down, except for one. The next alpha's voice, his Prince, his best friend.

"Broly!" Vegeta called Broly just once with a commanding tone. "Stop! That is my direct royal command!"

Broly suddenly quieted at that. His transformation fading as he stared at the prince in incredulity. Everyone stared in disbelief. The prince was able to calm Broly down in his rampage with just a single royal command from him?

"But... But... Your highness..."

"No buts. Stop. You heard me. It was my choice." Vegeta told him firmly.

For a moment, the two of them stared at each other in silence. In the end, Broly helplessly lowered his eyes in submission, "I understand, your highness."

Vegeta turned to Paragus and glared at him. "You promised me." he reminded. He pulled the metal collar's lock open, and wore it around his neck. Once he has secured it, he heard those people on his side, even his father, cry out a lengthy 'No!'. He saw Paragus smiled in victory.

That was the last thing he saw before he suddenly felt a jolt on his chest, a sharp pain suddenly stabbed him on his heart just as his hands slammed down on the ground. Vegeta panicked, confused on what just happened. He opened his lips slightly, red blood leaked out of his mouth and streamed down his chin and into the ground.

Bulma, Raditz, Kakarot, Doctor Briefs, Panchy and Taitsu stared in shock. Even those watching in the Royal Palace, including King Vegeta himself.

A loud gurgle escaped from Vegeta's throat as he stared down at the blood dripping on the ground. Blood. He was bleeding from the inside, and he could taste his own blood on his mouth, yet he couldn't swallow it back. He couldn't do it. All he could do was to stare up at Paragus with betrayed eyes, silently questioning him what was happening.

Paragus smirked, "You fell for it." he said. Vegeta's eyes widened in realization. Paragus didn't want to make him submit to his will at all. That was a trap to kill him! "Do you think I am a fool to believe your lies? Knowing you, you will find a way to rebel against me. I have Broly in here, just in case I needed someone to use after all. I have no need for your men or your father or your woman or her family after I used them as bait to catch and kill you.

"You knew that my goal was to kill you, but the reasons I gave you earlier were not the only reasons why I wish to rid of you. Have you heard of the new prophecy? That was my true reason. If I kill you in here, that prophecy where you become our Destroyer will never be realized. You will die in here and I will become the hero who saved the Universe from the evil you! Ahahahahahaha! Ahahahahahaha!"

Vegeta opened his mouth, trying his best to ignore the reflux of blood from his chest upwards. "Paragus, you fool!" he roared, before he coughed out lots of blood, feeling his chest tighten. Grimacing in agony, he collapsed on the ground and rolled to his back as he cried out. "You are a fool! You... Have no idea what you've done! You brought yourselves your own deaths! Gaaaaahaaahh! Aaaaaaaah! Graaaaaaaah! Uuuuurrrgghh! Ggghhhkk!"

The Crown Prince's howl was of rage and despair but no power had erupted from such emotion. His ki didn't rise at all. What he gained was another wave of pain. And then he spewed even more blood.

He was such a fool! Now he realized what the trigger for that new prophecy was and he was too late to do anything about it. He tried to outrun such a cruel fate, tried to deny and prevent it so many times. In the end, all his struggles meant nothing.

The tears he had earlier continued to fall. This time, it was out of betrayal, rage and despair. ATI 9001's resounded in his mind, "There are times when you cannot escape your fate."

"I could... Have saved... All of us... From that... New prophecy... But you... Brought destruction upon yourselves... You fools... Ahaaaaaahhh!"

"Huh? What are you saying? A dead man like yourself is no threat to us anymore." Paragus asked with mockery.

Broly panicked once again and Paragus saw him move. He released another wave of electricity, which eventually made Broly unconscious before he could tap into his power like he did earlier.

Vegeta turned to Raditz, and sent him a desperate telepathic message. "If you manage to escape, proceed to our plan. Collect the Dragon Balls on Namek. Find a way to save yourselves."

Raditz stared at the prince in confusion but decided not to ask so he sent back a telepathic response. "I will do as you command of me, your highness."

Paragus stepped towards the Crown Prince, blocking Vegeta's view of his battle partner and kicked him on the side as he laughed like a mad man. Bulma watched emotionally at what the merciless Prime Minister was doing.

"I am also doing this for the sake of all those people whose lives you had mercilessly destroyed. I am the harbinger of their vengeance, the justice they all seek! Now, how does it feel to be at someone else's mercy? How long have they waited for this vengeance? As I bring the justice they seek, they shall proclaim me their hero as well! I will be the hero of the universe! And soon, after Broly has destroyed Freeza, I will rule the entire universe!" Paragus was exclaiming as he beat Vegeta, who cannot even fight back anymore.

"Now, I want you to scream and writhe in agony! Beg for mercy, for forgiveness you don't even deserve! Beg for me to finish you off so you could be done with this torture! Ahahahaha!"

"I'm... I'm..."

"What was that? Say it louder so everyone could hear?"

"... I'm..." Vegeta said louder. He grimaced, squinting his eyes and coughed. "I'm not... going to beg... You for anything... You crazy bastard..."

Paragus seethed and kicked him once more. "You and your pride, you arrogant little brat! Here, take this!" and then he beat him again until he grew bored of it.

"Stop! Stop it! No!" she cried out as she stumbled towards Vegeta. Kabu, who was seizing her let her go, deciding that it wouldn't matter now since the Crown Prince was on the brink of death. Paragus gave her a disgusted look and she ignored him as she reached out for her Vegeta.

"Oh well, you are a dead man by now. I guess I'll show you mercy by letting you say your last words to your woman. Hehehe..."

Paragus shook his head and decided to walk away to let the lovebirds bid their goodbyes.

Bulma lifted Vegeta's upper body and cradled his head into her arms. Her sapphire eyes filled with tears.

"I'm sorry. This is my fault. I'm truly sorry." she sobbed.

Vegeta stared up at her hazily before he coughed out heaps of blood once more and wheezed. This made Bulma weep even more. He lifted his right hand to run his thumb over her left cheek to wipe away her tears. He remembered that creepy premonition he had a few hours ago after they ate ice cream on his bedroom. Was this the meaning of that feeling he ignored?

"No," he wheezed. "This is my fault... If I had not come into your life, you wouldn't have to endure years without your family and home planet... You wouldn't be in here, suffering like this and getting in the crossfire between me and my enemies... They know that they could use you against me because of my feelings for you... They know that you are my only weakness... My father called me a fool when he tried to prevent me from coming in here to save you... I defied him because I need to keep my promise to you... That I will protect you no matter what... Even if it takes everything I have..."

He reminisced all the memories he had with her. The day he first met her when they were children. When they met again when she tried to stand up for him against four drunken low class Saiyan Soldiers on Broco's barracks. Their first 'date' when they covered up for Tarble and Gure. When he picked her up the next day and brought her to the Royal Palace to serve him as his cook. The times he would disguise as Sadara just so he could meet her up at night and spend time with her. Her laughter at his jokes, her blushes and her angry reactions. Her undeniable beauty, brains and her courage to challenge someone like him. The time he told her of his true identity, being the man she hated the most and desired to kill so she could avenge the family she thought he killed a long time ago. Her tears of pain and despair. Her fear for her life when she was hostaged at his room. Her cries for him when she thought he had died when his Generals made a joke about it. When he claimed her as his dearest. Their official date, the time they were punished for being caught dating in public. Their break up. And then their lovemaking and the promise he made to her. Remembering all of that made him smile a genuine one.

"I regret nothing I did with you... The day I first met you and those times I spent with you... Those memories I truly treasured... I was grateful for it... My only regret was my failure to protect you and keeping my promise..." Then he smiled sheepishly. "I was wrong... I thought I could do anything because I am confident of my own abilities... However, it wasn't enough to protect you... I realized that even I have my own limits and that I couldn't protect anyone the way I am now... I was such a damn fool... I'm sorry, I couldn't keep my promise at all..."

Bulma continued to sob against his shoulder.

"Cease your tears, woman... I do not wish to see you weeping for me when I'm leaving you like this..."

Bulma shrieked as she fiercely shook her head, "No! No! Don't go! You can't do this to me! You will not die! Not like this! You always prided yourself with being the most powerful among your kind! You're tougher than this! A strong Saiyan Prince like you will not die like this!"

Vegeta's weak grin widened a little, snorting lightly. "I thought so, too."

She continued sobbing on his shoulder.

"Hey... Do you remember... what I told you a few hours ago? About the moon and star key..." he asked.

"Yes, You told me to keep it always, didn't you?"

He weakly nodded to her. "Don't let it go... No matter what happens... Remember... that from the moment I met you on Earth, I... I... Have always loved you. You... are always my one and only... dearest Bulma. Don't... forget that... I will place... everyone's hopes into your hands... "

He closed his eyes for a moment, thinking of slumbering while he was on his dearest's embrace. But instead, his head fell backwards and the hand he was reaching out to her slumped on his side.

There was a gust of wind that followed that. Raditz and Kakarot knew what it could mean. Unable to sense Vegeta's ki anymore, they lowered their heads, squeezing their eyes shut as they tried to hold back tears they were desperately ignoring.

Bulma's blue eyes widened in horror. She reached out to touch his face, alarmed. "Vegeta?" she called out to him, trying to wake him up. "Hey... Vegeta... Please stop joking around. Come on, please open your eyes... Open your eyes or I will block your Gravity Room so you won't be able to train for a month!" she screamed at his face yet he was not responding to her anymore.

Paragus couldn't help the victorious grin upon his lips as he clapped his hands in overwhelming joy. The seer he consulted fourteen years ago was correct about his predictions after all. That the Crown Prince would die at a young age protecting those he cared for. Truly, Prince Vegeta's forbidden emotions were his greatest weakness after all and it led him to his own death.

"Vegeta the Fourth's ki has vanished. The Saiyan Crown Prince is dead!" Paragus exclaimed.

"Vegeta! No!" Bulma cried out, shaking her head desperately as she repeatedly denied what she heard. She screamed 'No!' and the Saiyan Prince's name several times, refusing to believe Paragus' words yet her heart broke to millions of pieces, her subconscious telling her that her Vegeta has indeed passed away. Her grief was overwhelmed by the victorious cheers of the Royal Family's enemies surrounding her. Raditz, Kakarot, and her family lowered their heads, tears streaming in their eyes. Bulma wailed her heart out for her prince who gave up his life and pride for her and his loved ones.

At the Royal Palace, King Vegeta howled in rage after hearing Paragus' declaration. Celerie, Nappa, Zorn and some of the royal family's loyal servants and guards followed him. Soon, everyone heard of the Saiyans' unified howl across Planet Vegeta. Most of the Saiyans grieved the death of their Crown Prince.

Raditz and Kakarot lamented along the rest of their people.

The cheers were only loud in this cave, but the lamentation of the rest of the Saiyans outside was greater.

Paragus ordered some of the men who brought Vegeta in earlier to throw the dead Crown Prince into a nearby sea. The men snatched the prince away from his grieving mate who protested.

"Now, we shall come to the Royal Palace and finish off the King!" Paragus declared.

"What are we going to do to these people?" asked Kabu, referring to their hostages.

"Bring them along. I want to see how our King Vegeta would react to seeing the reason for his son's death."

~=o-O-o=~

Five men hurled Vegeta's corpse into the sea from the top of a cliff. After ensuring that the Crown Prince has sinked deep enough in their opinion, they laughed to themselves, thinking that his remains would soon be eaten by sea monsters and immediately left to follow Paragus.

Eventually, Vegeta got swayed into a nearby seashore. He was not dead yet, but he was close to it. He could feel himself fall into an endless pit of swirling darkness which may lead him to the doors of the afterlife.

Suddenly, clouds at the night sky above him slowly departed to reveal the magnificent beauty of a full moon.