The Worlds Smartest

This Is The Enforcer Speaking,

This one took me a bit longer to get out. As usual I struggle with action scenes because I want to write them well for you all. My readers are my world. Thank you all so much. I hope this chapter does not disappoint.

Now…On To The Story!

Game On

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The roar of the arena was deafening as black blood coat the sand and a reptilian alien lost its head. Tier upon tier of rabid Saiyan and alien citizen alike jeered for more. More violence, more blood, more death.

Bulma watch it all as if from a distance. Her world sat sideways on its axis. After hours of bloodshed, hours of watching aliens, and Saiyans kill each other for fame and freedom she'd grown weary. In all her life the only thing she could compare the carnage too was the Saiyan invasion of Earth. To Bulma the scenes before her were reminiscent of those she figured one might have seen millennia ago in ancient Rome when gladiators, slaves and criminals fought and died for the insatiable bloodlust of the freed citizens only with more rules.

Already two of her fellow Earthlings had fallen upon the sand never to rise again. This would continue for the next four days, each day seeing more and more death until only one winner stood within each division to be crowned victor.

Sweat beaded down Bulmas back despite the shade afforded to the royal pavilion. Best seat in the house. The noonday sun cooked the fighters and onlookers alike. Bulma drained the water from her mug for what felt the hundredth time that day and waved for a refill from a nearby servant. The heat was getting to her.

"I will put an end to this Vegeta." Bulma spoke in a hushed whisper. Doing her best not to draw the attention of the King and Queen. "I don't care what happens this will end if you sit me upon that throne."

"Woman-" He began but Bulma knew the argument and cut him off.

"If it causes a civil war than so be it. One of the greatest countries on my planet nearly destroyed itself in a civil war, fighting to do the right thing, but once the blood and dust settled it grew to be a force to be reckoned with. That country became stronger, better, an example for the rest of the world to follow. Perhaps we need to be our own example. If it is war the people need to get this message through to them then it is war they will get."

Vegeta's eyes widened in response but Bulma turned away from him, refusing to look at him any longer. This whole thing was wrong, wrong, wrong on so many levels. She could leave for the day but as long has her people were in danger she would stay and watch. Yet she couldn't let herself appear weak. Rule one on Vegetasai, might makes right, rule two, show no weakness…ever.

"I will be King woman not you." He snapped at her.

Not taking her eyes off the arena Bulma replied.

"And I'll be Queen and according to Vegetasai law we rule with equal power. Try to stop me."

Two "contestants" were being lead out to the field.

The two were obviously prisoners and Bulma would have recognized the one from a mile away. Yamcha against someone Bulma didn't know. Frowning she tapped the side of the scouter she'd taken to wearing. While it wasn't her idea to wear it initially she'd listened to Vegeta's insistence that her new role required her to be more accessible. She'd never admit it to him but he was right. The scouter also gave her quicker access to Vegetasai's databases. This was the easiest way for her to function within her role however unfortunate it was for her pride.

She focused the scouter on Yamcha's opponent. She could sense that the guys power level was slightly higher than Yamchas but not insurmountably so.

The scouter scanned him and his information began trickling across her screen. Reading with one eye and watching the approaching stranger with the other Bulma realized the man had a third eye at the same time as his history registered with her brain. Shit. This wasn't going to be easy for Yamcha. She may not love him any more but she didn't want him dead exactly either. Why hadn't she ever noticed this Tien Shinhan among the other Earthlings?

Competitors did not have to fight to the death but everyone match so far ended in the death of the loosing fighter. This Tien characters brutal track record on Earth was probably only heightened from his time on Vegetasai.

"Woman." Bulma heard Vegeta trying to get her attention but ignored him as Yamcha faced off with Tien. She'd kept her emotions locked down pretty hard from Vegeta lately as he had her. He called for her again. More ignoring. The signal for the fight to start was given. Her pulse hammered in her throat as the two powered up and launched themselves at each other.

"Bulma!" Vegeta snarled.

"What?" Bulma snarled back.

Tien and Yamcha were exchanging blows back and forth across the field. They were fast for Earthlings. Yamcha got in a good solid kick that dropped Tien to the ground. He stood over him, hands on hips talking as the three-eyed man lay doubled over on the ground. Bulma couldn't hear what he was saying but she could guess he was mocking the man.

"Come on Yamcha just shut the fuck up and kill him." She growled under her breath. "Talking gets you dead."

Sure enough Tien began laughing before shooting at Yamcha again. The fight continued.

Bulma yelped when she Vegeta jerked her around to face him.

"That is the would be mate of yours is it not?" His eyes flickered over to the pair as they shot up into the air, kicked each other at the same time and both flew into the ground head first. Bulma almost regretted letting Vegeta know about her past with Yamcha.

"Yes Vegeta but I don't like him like that anymore. Remember? We talked about this." She jerked away from him and back to the fight.

"I will not have you desiring another male." Hands grabbed her armor and snatched her back around. The threat in his voice was clear even as the words were quite. He obviously didn't want anyone overhearing him.

Bulmas mouth fell open.

"Are you fucking serious right now?" She pushed at his hands but he wouldn't let her go. "He is my friend. That's it Vegeta and maybe not even a friend really. Just someone I don't particularly want to see die. Now take your hands off me."

Bulma decided she didn't care if they were overheard. He would let her go and he would respect her or she was going to give him what for.

Vegeta's sharp features contorted in confusion before he slowly released her.

"Kaaaaame!"

"Oh shit." Bulma said turning back around. Yamcha was powering up a serious attack. It was too soon. Tien's defenses were nowhere near weak enough for such an attack to get through. It was powerful but slow and unless you were definitely stronger than your opponent it was a recipe for disaster.

"Haaaaaame!" She watched Tien smirk and then slam his hands together in front of himself. A golden aura began to glow around him.

"No!" Bulma screamed at Yamcha but it was too late. Besides he wouldn't be able to hear her over the thunder of the crowd.

"Haaaaaaaa!" Yamcha released the Kamehameha wave at Tien. The bright blue ball of energy zoomed towards the man but Bulma knew before it even got there that Yamcha had screwed up royally.

"You idiot." Bulma said more to herself than him as Tien screamed, released his energy and easily redirect the ki attack back at Yamcha who stood staring at it so long he nearly took his own attack to the face.

The Kamehameha wave blasted a hole out of the barrier around the arena, tossing spectators around and throwing debris into the air but nothing could quench the bloodthirsty Saiyans screaming for the fight to continue.

Bulma could tell Yamcha was gassed from the failed attack. He followed Tien up into the air but the stronger man quickly flashed behind him and kicked him back into the ground. Bulmas hand flew to her mouth as she watched Yamcha plummeted to the ground. He landed with a nasty sound and lay still.

"He lives." Vegeta said quietly. "It can end in a knockout or submission as well woman."

"But it never does." She whispered from behind her hand.

Tien plummeted from the sky toward Yamcha. Bulma stood preparing to intervene. She was stronger than that filth she could stop him. Strong hands yanked her back into her seat.

"No." Vegeta said. "You can not interfere. We are to remain neutral."

Yamcha screamed as Tien crushed is leg. Bulma could hear the bone snap. Neutrality her ass. Bulma made to move again only to be pinned into her seat by Vegeta. Who tried to make it look as nonchalant as possible as he knelt between her legs and pinned her to her seat with a single hand. From the vantage point of the spectators it would only look as though he were speaking to her, not forcibly holding her down.

"Let me go." She snarled from between clinched teach. "Let me go now."

"Shut up woman." He sounded truly annoyed with her now.

Looking over him Bulma focused back on the battlefield. Yamcha lay motionless with a crushed leg but the three-eyed warrior was walking away. He hadn't killed Yamcha. The commentator announced that Tien won by knockout and the Saiyans screamed for blood.

A medical team made their way out onto the field to remove the unconscious Yamcha. Slumping back in her chair Bulma gave Vegeta a look that would have quelled a lesser male.

"Let go of me."

Vegeta's hand stayed planted on her chest.

"This human is a friend?" He asked. The word sounded foreign on his lips as though he didn't understand the definition. Did Saiyans not do friends?

"Yeah." Bulma replied but Vegeta was obviously having none of it. Delicate lightening strikes of energy leapt off of him to tingle across her skin. It was a minor display but he was well on his way to a rage…in public…where anyone could see.

"I remember." Vegeta eyes burned into hers. She saw something flash behind his eyes, something dark, and angry. Something not even close to human. "I remember him touching you on my ship."

Bulma blinked slowly at him. Her interaction with Yamcha was what sparked his initial mating instincts. They'd gone over all of this already so why was he suddenly back on it?

"That was months ago Vegeta and it didn't mean anything. Again, we talked about this."

A barely audible snarl crept out from between his lips. The hairs on his tail bristled.

"You wanted to go to him."

"To save a friend not a…a mate." Bulma tried getting through to him by keeping her voice even but that new entity that lived inside of her began to stir at Vegeta's rage. They could feed off of each other's bad moods if they weren't careful and Bulma wasn't very good at tamping down her new instincts. Breathing Bulma willed her beast to chill out.

"Allowing him to live after he touched you was a mistake."

Vegetas face felt soft and warm under her fingers as Bulma cupped his cheeks in her hands. For the first time in days she let the barrier she kept up between them fall so that he could feel the truth behind her next words.

"I am your mate. You are my other half, the only one in my heart. I am yours Vegeta no one else's. "

Hot lips pressed against hers. Tongue and teeth met as Vegeta claimed her mouth. Her Oozaru purred at the contact. She opened her mouth to him tasting sweet fruit and spices. Vegeta buried a hand in her hair, ruining her bun; he gripped just hard enough to draw a gasp from between her lips.

Vegeta's emotions poured into her, desire, protectiveness, warmth, and possession. He felt so much.

Deepening the kiss she pulled him against her. Bulma ran her tongue along Vegeta's canines drawing blood. She'd forgotten how sharp they were but the blood only fueled their frenzy.

"Excuse me…children?"

The Kings voice broke through their fervor. Snapping back to reality Bulma pulled away from Vegeta. Snapping her defenses back into place. For his part the Prince rocked back on his heels away from her.

Bulma blushed so hard she felt lightheaded. How had they forgotten about them?

The roaring crowd cheered on the public display of affection. Apparently it was considered quite the treat to see one of the royals do something like that.

"While the show was a great moral boost for the people perhaps you should save that for the bedroom?" King Vegeta offered. Thankfully a small smile could be seen on booth the monarchs faces.

Vegeta found his way back into his seat with a slight wave at the closest Saiyans.

"So you can blush." Bulma said quietly. There was the faintest pink tinge to his cheeks.

"Hush your mouth woman." He grumbled, crossing his arms and staring off into the distance decidedly refusing to look at her or his parents. Apparently they were just going to ignore the situation. Pretend it didn't happen. Quite frankly Bulma was ok with that for the moment. Dealing with the Saiyans extreme possessiveness and apparent insecurity could wait.

The next group of fighters was up.

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A scream tore through the air, long and loud, followed by the dull thud of falling body parts. The older Saiyan fell to the ground, eyes glazed and lifeless. His challenger stood over him, chuckling in triumph as the referee declared him the winner and the commentator announced that he was now the proud owner of the old mans land.

These challenges were worse than the tournament portion of the Games. All challenges were to the death; there was a whole "keep what you kill" philosophy in the Saiyan culture. If someone wanted what you had bad enough or felt you besmirched their honor enough they could legally challenge you during the games, kill you, and take it. By killing the old man he'd also sealed the males mate's fate as well.

It was the second of the tournament and the sixth such challenge. It seemed as though these challenges were only ever issued when the chances of victory were near sure.

Bulma blinked gritty eyes and groan as she stretched her aching body.

"If you slept where you are supposed to you would not feel like shit." Vegeta snapped at her. Bulma clinched her jaw but refused to look over at him or answer back at his stab.

"If I didn't have to spend all day watching full sale slaughter maybe I'd sleep were I was supposed to." She snapped back.

The Prince sighed but kept whatever he was thinking to himself. The kiss they'd shared the day before was the last time she'd let him touch her. Ever since then Bulma kept him at arms length, refusing to even share his bed that night, choosing instead to sleep on a couch in her labs break room.

At first he'd thrown one of his classic "you'll do as I say or else" fits but when she'd called his bluff he'd simply stormed away from her leaving her to do as she pleased.

Challenges preceded the formal matches. Between competitors falling out in favor of being sold as a slave vs. killed in the tournament and the sudden decision by her Earthlings to leave their opponents alive the number of Earthling deaths dwindled significantly. Bulma supposed she had Tien to thank for that as his move to leave Yamcha alive seemed to spark the motivation to do so in others.

With a sigh Bulma watched the clean up crew pass by to remove the losers body. How could Vegeta be okay with this? Or anyone really? But again she remembered that centuries earlier Earth had been okay with this and more.

It made it hard to judge but just as the people finally put a stop to such spectacles and, centuries later slavery, on Earth so too would Bulma see it stopped here.

In that moment, where Bulma was paying little attention to the arena's floor, she heard her name. Or rather, her title.

"The Princess has been…challenged." The Saiyan announcer spoke over the loud speakers. "On the grounds of brining dishonor to the Saiyan people and being too weak to hold her title."

Heart hammering Bulma sat bolt upright. Her hand flew to her sword. Gods how she'd hoped to avoid another challenge. If she'd just made it to the coronation it would have been safer.

The announcer cleared his throat before calling for her again.

Eyes wide she looked to Vegeta. His face had gone pale and his hand gripped the arms of his chair so tight cracks in the wood appeared.

Might make's right. Echoed through her head. Show no weakness. Bulma stood.

"Your swords." Vegeta growled out. "You can not use them."

Glancing down at her weapons Bulma's skin grew cold even in the beating sun. That's right. All challenges during the games were weaponless as were all of the matches. More rules.

"That's why they did this." Bulma whispered tugging the weapons free as the she heard them call her forward yet again. "I'm coming!" She snapped out at the announcer.

She handed off her swords to Vegeta. A slight tremor ran through him that only she was close enough to notice as he took the weapons from her.

"I will not standby and watch you die." Vegeta said calmly. "Tradition be damned, this whole world be damned."

Fire burned in his eyes. Bulma believed him but she also knew that if he lost the throne someone else, someone worse, would take his place. The people would be a direct reflection of whoever ruled over them. If a tyrant ruled these Saiyans could become the universes most dangerous weapon.

"Don't do anything stupid." She leaned down and gave him a gentle kiss. Just a brush of lips. "Trust me."

She turned to the King and Queen. "If you can, make sure he doesn't interfere."

Vegeta snarled but his parents gave nods. They weren't as strong as Vegeta but Bulma gambled on him not actually wanting to kill either one of them. With luck they could restrain him if necessary.

With a small flicker of ki Bulma floated into the air and flew to the center of the arena.

Only the announcer stood in the center, a skinny blonde human of all things, and he looked nervous as hell. He must have amused the Saiyans for them to have given him the role.

"Where is my challenger?" Bulma asked. She really wanted to know who she was up against.

A blur shot across the sky before landing in front of her. Kicking up dirt into a cloud. Bulma shielded her face in the crook of her arm as she waited for the dust to settle. However it didn't take a genius to make out the distinct silhouette of the Saiyan before her.

Seven feet tall with shaggy hair down to his knees Raditz stood in front of her.

"You." Bulma hissed, her hands going automatically for swords that weren't there.

"Ah, ah little human. No weapons for you here." Raditz chuckled darkly. He glanced at the readout on his scouter. "Though I see I shouldn't have bothered with such precautions. 430. What a joke."

Gritting her teeth Bulma bared her teeth at the male. She fought her rage, fought to keep her power level suppressed, fought to keep her beast at bay. The element of surprise was going to be paramount to her success here.

"Is it you I have to thank for all the assassination attempts?" Bulma wanted to get him talking. He'd been a talker on Earth.

"Maybe." He gave her a sly look. "Maybe not."

"Why?" Bulma pressed him. "Why me?"

"If you die he dies." Raditz stated simply. "Our people need a more ruthless leader. Someone not afraid to do what needs doing. Not to mention we don't need our strongest bloodline polluted by your weak human blood. A human…as our Queen? Disgusting."

Frowning Bulma wondered if he knew about his brother's mate being with child. If he did Chi Chi might need more protection around her.

"And just what exactly is it that needs doing?" Bulma asked carefully. She could sense Raditz's power, she didn't need the scouter to tell her it as somewhere around eighteen thousand. Nowhere near Vegeta's or even his brother's power levels but troublesome for her.

"We can not win against Frieza. Our only hope is to side with him. I've been telling him that for years."

"You mean become his mercenaries." Bulma stated. "You're a coward."

"If you want to call it that." Raditz uncrossed his arms. "But I'm done talking. It's time for you to die. You tailless rat."

"What is with all the name calling?" Bulma let her ki shield go up. "You get all that Vegeta?" Bulma asked.

The growl in her ear let her know he had.

"Oh, you didn't think about that did you?" She said at Raditz's look. "Even the children know that scouters can transmit too."

Raditz snarled, his yellow ki burst out around him in a rush and he charged at her without waiting another moment.

"It won't matter once you're dead." He screamed at Bulma hurling a fist at her face. The fight was on.

Screaming Bulma dodged Raditz's attacks. They flew at her fast, almost faster than she could follow. Her chest burned from the effort to just stay ahead of him.

Spinning away from Raditz Bulma shot up high into the air. Ki blasts followed her as she turned back toward the ground in a free fall dodging the ki blasts as she went. But just as she drew close to the male a ki blast winged her sending Bulma into a spiraling crash.

She hit the ground hard before springing back up into the air. She smelled burning flesh and blood ran down her arm but Bulma regrouped mid air to launch her own ki blast back at Raditz.

Laughing he batted the attack away before hammering her with a kick too fast for her to dodge. The air left her as she flew back to bounce along the ground. Digging fingers into the dirt of the arena floor Bulma pulled her self to as stop.

Coughing she straightened up as best should could. A small crack ran through her armor.

"That all you got?" Bulma spit some blood onto the ground. "Bitch?"

Roaring Raditz charged her. Boosting her ki up just a little for extra speed Bulma shot out of his way like one would a raging bull and strengthened her ki shield. She heard Raditz scouter beep at the increase.

Spinning around Raditz glanced at the numbers on his screen, mumbled something about his scouter being broken and launched a volley of blasts straight at Bulma. Dodging as many as she could Bulma deflected the ones she couldn't dodge, launching them back at him.

A solid punch to her face whipped her head back but she recovered quickly and hit Raditz square in the face with a blast meant more as a distraction than anything else. Bulma fly back away from Raditz and readied herself for his next attack.

The ki blast came fast and hard. Moving out of the way just wasn't an option. Bulma threw her own ki back at it hoping to redirect the ball of energy. She screamed and poured more energy than was really smart into the attack. Her hair whipped around her face, she could feel herself loosing this battle of pure strength. Fear shot through her. This was the male that killed her family and she was about to loose to him.

Raditz's ki blast tore through her own and struck her. Bulma found herself flying through the air. Her chest hurt more than anything she'd ever felt. It burned so badly she hardly felt the impact of her body into the ground. Her chest plate shattered, chunks falling off around her. Her lungs burned as she struggled for air. She would not die here, not like this and not by his hand.

A roar caused Bulmas head to turn to the right. Vegeta was being restrained by not only the King and Queen but also his own elite guards Kakarot and Krillin.

"No." She tried screaming it but it came out as a horse whisper. "No!" She tried harder to sit up and wave him off.

The crushing weight on her chest was a quick distraction. Raditz stood on her ribs, stomped to be more accurate. She screamed.

"You are so pathetic. Such a disgrace to the Saiyan race. You as our Princess. Ha!" He stomped down on her again. Bulma felt something snap. "Beg me to stop Princess." He turned the title into a mocking thing. "Just say please Raditz. Please stop and I'll end it quickly for you." He laughed as he stomped down on her again.

Raditz held his hand high in the air. Energy began glowing in his palm. It was then Bulma realized how quite it was, how utterly silent the thronging masses had fallen. Only the sounds of Vegeta's snarling rage met her ears. The crowds had fallen silent.

They thought they were watching her death. They were preparing for the death of two royals. The utter silence. This was no victory for the people. Silent as the grave. They didn't want to loose their Prince.

Bulma wasn't sure how she knew but she knew. These people needed her to fight. Her parents images flitted across her face, alive and smiling, bloody and gone. Her friends, her family. All gone because of this monster and now he wanted to destroy her new home, her new family.

Over her dead body. The beast inside her roared. She was not allowed to die.

Bulma released all of the pent up energy she'd kept suppressed. Let it go like pulling the cork on a bottle of Champaign. Her power rushed outward, exploding around her, knocking Raditz back off of her chest. She floated up right. Energy bursting around her in a wave. This was her secret. Her power. Her victory. People always underestimated her.

Charging Raditz, using his shock against him, she buried her fingers in his chest plate, cracking through it, latching onto him.

His scouter beeped rapidly. The alarm sounding.

"You might recognize this one." Bulma laughed manically. She felt her Oozaru aiding her, adding to her power, giving her that push she needed.

"No." He said as the number ticked higher. "No, no way."

"Yes." Bulma seethed. She concentrated her energy, pulling it into her center, the power grew rapidly. Energy shot around the both of them. Her hair mingled with his. A tableau of purple and black. Blood ran from her mouth. Teeth clench Bulma increased her ki further than it'd ever gone before.

Raditz grabbed her hands, trying to pry them loose in his panic and reared back to hit her in the face…but it was too late.

"Double…Galick…Cannon!" Bulma roared in his face.

The huge pointblank blasts of purple energy shot from her hands overwhelming Raditz. He screaming face disappearing behind the massive explosion. The whole world went white.

When her vision cleared Bulma saw Raditz lying on his back, several meters away, with a huge hole blown through his chest.

"How?" He mumbled as Bulma staggered over to him. All of her energy had been poured into that final attack and she knew she was fading fast but this wasn't over.

"Say my name." Bulma growled down at him. He opened his mouth but nothing came out. He just needed the proper motivation Bulma decided before digging the heel of her boot into the open chest wound. "Say it!"

"Bu-Bulma." Raditz choked out around a foaming mouthful of blood. It sure took these Saiyans a long time to die.

"My full name." She dug her boot heel in harder. His back bowed and he screamed.

"Bulma…Briefs!" Fear flared in his eyes but she was beyond caring.

"That was for me." Bulma's veins burned with fury as she knelt next to the dying male. "This is for my family."

Bulma plunged her hand into the wound and tore his still beating heart from his chest.

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A/N: Well, there you have it. A note on power levels. Everyone's level are kind of screwy I know. I've got some sitting where they were in the Namek or Vegeta Sagas and others are sitting at the Frieza Saga levels. I figure AU means it's my party I can do what I want. Bulma is sitting around 20K now and well Raditz was only ever around 1500 in the anime which just wouldn't work for my story so yeah that's how all that went down. Please review if you have a moment as I greatly, greatly appreciate reviews and do my best to personally reply to each reviewer as long as you are signed in.

Lots of Love

~The Enforcer