Treachery

Her feet couldn't find any grip and with an angry snarl she demanded to be helped. 'What do you think you are doing!? You're hurting me!'

Hearing someone snicker in response, Bulma's heart began to race when hearing the unfamiliar voice. This person wasn't Vegeta.
Perhaps a Namekian or, worse, a Saiyan that had went along with Kakarot? Or perhaps it was this Cui guy?!

Terrified, she tried to think of something. Unlike all the other dreadful and horrifying situations, she had found herself in, she didn't have anything to arm herself with this time around.
With the chaos on planet Vegeta, she hadn't been able to pack the few capsules that she had hidden into her personal belongings.

Whoever it was, did not make her wait long and pulled her up with ease. When her back hit the ship, she turned around and climbed onto the deck. She saw the feet of her new captor. Boots.
The person on the other side of the rope, patiently waited for her to stand up, no longer pulling her body towards him.
Taking a deep breath and putting on a brave façade, Bulma stood straight and looked her new captor in the eye but her brave persona crumbled when her eyes widened in shock.

'Kakarot, you jerk! What do you think you are doing…?'

Stopping her ran midway when seeing that this man wasn't Kakarot, she took a better look at him.
Surely, the two were almost identical but the scars and the more serious expression told her this was someone else. Unnerved by the turn of events, and uncertain of what to do, she simply eyed him while waiting for him to say something first.

A smirk appeared on his face. Certainly related, she noted while staring warily at him.

'I'm not Kakarot, but you seemed to have just figured that out.'

Bulma stayed quiet, only arching an eyebrow. The two were related of that she was sure, they even shared the same taunting smirk and arrogant tone of speaking.

'I'm Bardock, father of Kakarot,' he enlightened. 'You,' his voice sounding almost as if he was singing, 'Must be the marvelous Bulma Briefs everyone is talking about.'

'Who is everyone?'

'Saiyans especially,' he snickered, amused by her curiosity. 'But who is most interested in you is none other than our king, Vegeta.' His dark eyes went over her, 'And I think you just became a lot more interesting, Bulma.'

'How so?' Bulma quickly asked, sensing he was up to something.

'Well, since my son is so fond of you, why don't you come with me? It would please him to see you again.'

'I'd rather stay.'

Bulma straightened her back, dug her feet into the solid material of the ship and crossed her arms defiantly. But the Saiyan only laughed in response. He shrugged, muttering under his breath he supposed he was going to have to do it the hard way. Before she could even figure out what that meant he stood before her in a flash and, just like his son, grabbed her without a warning.

Her feet left the ground, as if her weight was that of feather, and was lifted into the sky.

Scared, she held on to the broad arm that had snaked itself around her waist. The man gave her a stern look that warned her to be quiet and cooperative. Understanding immediately that father and son might look alike, and perhaps even shared a few traits, they were nothing similar in personality.
Bardock was obviously a more hardened, serious Saiyan. In a way he kind of reminded her of Vegeta's father.

A man who took charge and awaited no one's approval.

The wind blew her hair in all directions as he started flying. She held on tightly, not sure if her body could stand the speed he was going at. A field of energy passed through her and suddenly she felt more at ease, realizing he had made some sort of shield for her. Surprised, she looked up at him.

'Don't worry, not everyone is out to get you, Bulma,' he grinned. 'And believe it or not, a lot of other Saiyans have the potential to defeat Frieza.'

Bulma remained silent, not quite sure what to answer him.

'Vegeta, what you are doing is useless. Just surrender and maybe, just maybe, Lord Frieza will let you live.'

'Unlike you, Cui, I'm not a coward. Besides, I'm going to be victorious,' he arrogantly stated. 'Too bad you won't be alive to witness it,' he added with a vicious grin.

The purple alien seemed to be under the impression that he was bluffing because he didn't take him the slightest bit serious. An offending reaction to say the least.

'Is that so?'
'Yes.'

Vegeta's amusement had to make way for more serious matters. He couldn't just go out and kill the bastard. He had to find out first what Cui knew. Or in other words, what Frieza knew.

'Say, Cui, I'm curious. How did you manage to attach your ship to mine?'

Cui let out a roar of laughter when hearing him ask that question. Though it annoyed Vegeta, he tried to keep his temper in check. Knowing he'd couldn't take the bait so easily. Instead he gritted his teeth and waited for the foolish alien to answer him.

'Ilkm.'

Surprised to hear that name, Vegeta frowned in response. Too stunned to say anything back.

'You see, he has been working for us for… how long? A few decades? Not a very talented guy but very cunning. An impeccable liar too. Therefore, the perfect spy.'

'Ilkm was working for you this entire time?' Vegeta muttered, suddenly understanding this meant Frieza knew much more than he could ever imagine. The question was now, what didn't he know?

'Yes. We always knew of your whereabouts, Vegeta. Our ships were connected to all Saiyan ships. That's why your ship didn't pick up on mine. That's why I was able to block all interactions to the main ship. Although, right now I'm quite sure you won't be able to reach them because of other reasons.'

Unnerved, Vegeta took a step towards the vile and pathetic excuse of a man. 'What are talking about?'

'Well, Frieza was interested in seeing what you were up to. So, he played along with your little game of hide and seek… or is it cat and mouse?' he mockingly asked while laughing.
'Anyway, he's done playing games now. He has destroyed the Saiyan's main ship and now, he is on his way here… to kill the very last Saiyan! Haha!'

Vegeta's eyes widened in shock. Frieza is already on his way!? But this also means…

'The main-ship was… occupied and flying?'

This means… the woman's plan could've been a success if it weren't for that traitorous bastard Ilkm!

'Haha! Yes, it seems all Saiyans managed to escape the destruction of the planet and run like the cowards you are!'

Are they truly dead or is Cui just provoking me…? No, none of this matter... Frieza is coming! I need to focus on what is coming!

Cui, unaware of how the King was losing his patience, kept gloating on how Ilkm informed him of his training and how Frieza even knows at what level he currently is.

'Ilkm told us everything, he informed us daily of your progress. And as entertaining as it was for the longest time, it started to become more serious after some scientist started to help you. A woman, I believe. To let yourself fall so low, Vegeta! To let some woman—'

Vegeta released all his fury, not able to stand here any longer and listen to the useless creature talk. Having enough of him, he completely destroyed the alien with huge Ki-beam.

Looking up at the blue sky, he then took a deep breath and let the new information sink in.

Frieza knew everything up to the point of him killing Ilkm, so he still had a small advantage. Frieza might know of the GR but not of him training in it and the incredible results he had achieved in the last three months…

I should go back to the woman and inform her of Cui blocking our system… I was going to go after Dragon Balls first but with this new information… She might be able to figure out if the main ship is still operating.

In a blazing speed he took off and went back to the ship.

Luring Cui away to avoid her getting hurt had been useless. Cui hadn't even been worth the precaution. After talking to the woman, he would start his search for the Dragon Balls and finally make the wish that would destroy the tyrant.

I only need to have one of the Dragon Balls in my possession to prevent anyone from making a wish before I can. After all, only all seven can summon the Dragon!

Aware that he'd meet that traitorous Kakarot along the way, he became more determined. He would take his revenge. With his newfound power, the useless Saiyan would be defeated easily.
Yet suddenly he felt an uncertainty grow inside of him. But was this new power enough to defeat the likes of Frieza?
He highly doubted that. Even with all his intense training, he still felt that he needed more time in order to take on Frieza.
He couldn't die before having the chance to kill him. And Frieza needs to be destroyed…

He's is on his way… this is it. The final battle is near!

Bulma's heart sank when seeing that the Saiyans had already collected six of the seven Dragon Balls. Bardock abruptly let go of her. Startled, Bulma looked around. They were in the middle of a Namekian village and there had clearly been a fight. The houses got damaged and some people got injured.
Taking in the disastrous scene, she saw the frightened villagers staring back at her. Averting her eyes in shame, she looked back to the Dragon Balls, noting how much bigger they were then the ones on Earth.

The group of Saiyans eyed her suspiciously while Kakarot greeted her with his usual mocking tone of friendliness.

'Bulma! You made it!'

Letting her shoulders drop in response to his antics, and withholding a sigh, Bulma tried her best to not let him get to her straight away.
Taking a second to think things through, she found that she needed to play along the game should she want to get her hands on one of those Dragon Balls. After all, I only need one to avoid them from making a wish!

'Yes,' she calmly answered. 'I didn't know you were expecting me to be honest.'

'So you came with Vegeta?' Kakarot curiously asked. 'How did that go?'

'How is our dear king?' An unfamiliar Saiyan spat at her.

'He's stronger than ever,' Bulma answered without wavering. Her answer made a few of the men snicker in response.
With a frown, she focused her attention back on Kakarot. 'I don't understand, why are you doing this, Kakarot?'

'You don't' understand?' Kakarot humorously echoed. 'It's not that hard to understand, Bulma. People grow tired selfishness quite easily. You see, we don't need to spend our entire lives hiding just so Vegeta can be the one to destroy Frieza because he believes its his birthright to do so.'

'I don't belief he thinks like that—'You know him well now?' Kakarot asked on a sharp tone that made the group of Saiyans laugh.
'I'd like to belief I know him better then before,' Bulma bit back, not amused.
'Oh, I'm sure you do,' Kakarot said, followed by giving her an all too meaningful look.
Ignoring his insinuation, correct or not, Bulma made another attempt to get to the gist of things. Frieza was on his way, working together was perhaps not such a bad idea right now. But she doubted she could convince these Saiyans of doing that. Or Vegeta for that matter.

'I want to know where all of this is coming from. Your resentment towards Vegeta, Kakarot. Why? Why are you doing all of this? You don't seem like the type to care. Everything is just a game to you.'

'I admit that battle, in whatever form it takes place,' he gave her another look which she did not respond to, 'excites me. But you see, the battle between me and Vegeta, goes way back. Perhaps before we were even born. There would always be the Saiyans that followed the King blindly, purely because he'd be the more powerful one and then there would be those with the potential of becoming King themselves….'

He didn't need to continue for her to understand where this was going.

'Things have changed. I have defeated the Prince and then the King; the leader of the Saiyan race! Twice I was victorious! Why should we keep following his lead? All he cares about is getting his revenge on Frieza.'

'And don't you want to get your revenge?'

'I wasn't stuck on that ship, he was,' Kakarot coldly answered.
The answer made Bulma wince, realizing not everyone took sympathy on Vegeta for having to go through that.
'The point is, that his obsession blocks his capabilities as a leader. I'm very sorry for al the tragic trauma's he endured during his stay on Frieza's ship,' he said latter mockingly which made her blood boil, 'but that doesn't mean any of us should blindly follow his orders… just out of pure pity.'

'So you really don't want to take your revenge on Frieza!?' She asked again, not understanding how he didn't see everything was connected. Without Frieza, Vegeta would've been a different man.

'We want freedom. Freed from Frieza. But also freed from Vegeta and the royal court!'

With that said, she now saw that to these Saiyans simply did not care about revenge. To them it was about the longing feeling of freedom. Something she entirely not unfamiliar with.

'And what exactly are you going to wish for in order to make that happen?' She curiously asked.

Kakarot let out a deep sigh. His expression made it look as if he found the idea of making a wish quite ludicrous to begin with. Looking up at the sky, he stayed silent in thought until she made a noise to alert him of her growing impatience.
When their eyes met, she saw he'd hadn't gotten rid of that malicious humor of his. Taking a few steps towards her, he began to talk,

'What Vegeta is really looking for is a legend. To become a Super Saiyan, which powers are equal to that of a god. That is, I believe, what he is going to wish for himself. But unfortunately, we are going to be first. I'll be the one to destroy Frieza.'

'And the rest of the Saiyan race?'

'They died when the planet blew up and as unfortunate as that was, we'll be honoring their deaths by taking our revenge. Like true Saiyans, that is what we will do!'

'B-but you could wish them all back!' Bulma pointed out while being taken back by the coldness of the Saiyan before her.
Suddenly Kakarot had made his way to her and was now walking in a circle around her. Her eyes followed his movements and she was sure the scene looked exactly as it felt like; a predator and a prey having their last interaction.

'Warriors die,' he simply stated.

'And after you've defeated Frieza?' Bulma asked. 'Then what will you do?'

'See the universe. Search for the next thrilling fight,' Kakarot simply answered. He then leaned in closer to her. 'You can join me, if you want.'

'I don't,' Bulma curtly answered. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up and she had to fight off the urge to tremble.
'I bet it felt like fire,' he whispered in her ear. 'And I bet, you never experienced anything quite like that.'
'W-what are you talking about?' Bulma asked, embarrassed by his suggestive talk and fearing the other Saiyans would pick up on it with their good hearing.
'So you've gotten to know him a whole lot better now, huh?' He tauntingly asked. 'He just needed a woman to ensure his throne.'
Bulma's eyes widened, not quite sure if what he was saying held the meaning she think it did.
'I'm not…'
'Oh, yes you are.'
Now her blood ran cold.
'Barely a power-level but it's there.'
'Stop messing with me…'
'I'm not,' he said, amused by her discomfort.
'I got stronger after using the…' Bulma bit her lip, realizing that perhaps Kakarot did not know about the Gravity Room. 'I trained. I probably have a higher power-level— 'No, that's not it. When you were far away, I couldn't tell for sure but now that you are so close to me, Bulma, I'm certain of it.'

His arm snaked around her waist and her feet left the ground as he pressed her body against his. His hand rested on her back. In the background she could hear the other Saiyan snicker again.

'Perhaps this little twist can become our advantage…'

'Kakarot,' Bardock suddenly spoke up. His expression was stern, and it was obvious he disapproved of his son's behavior. 'Stop it.'

Bulma felt her feet meet the ground again but Kakarot did not let go of her.
Taking in a deep breath, she tried to grasp hold of what had just been said to her. I can't be… I mean… He's just playing another game, isn't he?

'H-how did you know about the planet…?' Bulma asked, trying to distract herself. Her question wasn't aimed at anyone. But it was Bardock who answered her.

'We heard the news via some of our informants and… Well, because we couldn't make connection to our home-planet anymore.'

'Good thing Vegeta got away,' a shorter Saiyan growled. 'Of course, he survives.'

'T-that's not why…' Bulma muttered in a daze. Her mind was spinning while the Saiyans started to ignore her presence and discuss their next move. It took her a second to realize she was holding on to Kakarot. Trying to escape him, she pushed his arm off, but he wouldn't budge. His expression had softened.

'Take it easy, Bulma.'

'How? Why! How can I take it easy! Why should I listen to you!?' She yelled in anger.
'Because, believe it or not, I don't mean bad.'
'Oh, really?!'

'I've never put you in direct danger, have I?'
'You are always manipulating people—'and you are a saint, Bulma?' he asked while grabbing hold of her wrist as she tried so slap him across the face. Her feet left the ground again, but she felt so much anger inside, she didn't feel fear anymore.

'Why would you not mean bad!? You never mean anything you say.'
'Because you got caught up in this mess for no good reason and now, I feel obliged to help you.'

Puzzled by him, she tried to really take in his expression this time and figure out what he was trying to do. Underneath that mask of maliciousness, there must be something else. A reason. A thought that drove him to act in such a way.

'I'm simply fascinated to meet a creature,' he calmly said while placing a few strands of hair behind her ear, 'that actually bothered to try and care for us after we had taken her from her planet, her home.'

'A lot of people worked to assist the Saiyan Empire—'and they all had their hidden agenda. Haven't you figure that out yet, Bulma?'

She let out a sigh in response while trying to think clearly but his words kept haunting her, messing with her mind. She refused to ask the same question twice. Knowing him, his answer would only be more enigmatic the second time around.

Everyone has a hidden agenda of some sorts...

Feeling daring, Bulma bluntly looked into his eyes; for once and for all she wanted to figure out what his agenda was.

'What about Libelle?'

To her surprise, he looked away when hearing her say that name.
Bulma saw a crack in his mask form and suddenly caught a glimpse of regret. Kakarot then simply shook his head, claiming that not everything always went as planned and proclaimed he had hoped for her to survive.

'Bulma, Libelle loved our race and our planet, I'm sure dying on it was something she had envisioned—'She died before the planet got destroyed!'

He fell silent and after catching a glimpse of regret, she now saw anger.

'Damn it,' he cursed while his eyes went to one of the Saiyans that was standing behind them.
Bulma could put two and two together, realizing that the other Saiyan must've been responsible for Libelle's injuries. She didn't care who had done it, she only knew who to hold responsible for it all, and that was Kakarot.
Mustering up all the hate she felt inside and pouring them into her eyes, as her body could not be freed from his grip, she hissed,

'Perhaps Saiyans will never change, no matter who is leading them. And she didn't love your race, just you! She liked you! Loved you in her own childish ways and you let her die without any sense of shame! You claim Vegeta is despicable for making you all suffer while he trains but you are no better!'

'All we want is the freedom to make our own choices,' Kakarot said, though for the first time not sounding anything confident.
'Then let all of these people make their own choices too,' Bulma said, gesturing to the Namekians.
'You take and take, and then whine how others take from you! And you know, I'm not a Saiyan but I'm quite sure that not one Saiyan would find any honor in being avenged by the likes of you! A man who turns his back on his comrades! Who has the chance of reviving his race but refuses to do so for selfish reasons!'

Seeing how the words affected him, as a mix of emotions passed on his face, Bulma added the final strike, 'Because he's a man who is too afraid to be a part of something bigger then himself!'

Stunned by her words, he abruptly let go of her.

Sensing something was going on, Bardock walked towards the pair. His son didn't acknowledge his presence, so he broke the lingering silence by asking him what his next step was going to be since that was what he and the other Saiyans had been discussing. Again, Kakarot did not respond.
Eying them both suspiciously, Bardock clearly couldn't figure out what was going on.
The woman crossed her arms in defiance while sending his son another glare. She was a feisty one, he'd give her that.

'I'll go look for Raditz now,' Kakarot quickly said while his eyes lingered on Bulma.
His voice sounding strangely dull.

As he moved to leave, he then hesitated and kept looking at her, as if he wanted her to say something.
Ignoring his strange behavior, Bulma turned to Bardock and told him that Frieza was on his way.
She expected a wave of surprise to follow but none of the Saiyans seemed to be taken back by the news.

'We are aware of that,' Bardock calmly said. He then looked up at the sky.

In the clear blue sky five space pods could be seen. They all landed on the planet, followed by huge white ship.
The air turned colder, the atmosphere more desperate and then an ominous feeling overwhelmed them.

Frieza was already here.

'I want every village purged; every person slaughtered. I want you to turn this place inside out. Only come back if you find one of those Dragon Balls. If you see one those monkeys, you are free to torture them before killing them. Except the King, the King is mine. I'll make that little monkey rethinks every action he's ever made. He's going to regret running from me…'

'Yes, Lord Frieza,' a blue haired man said while kneeling deeply. He couldn't hide the grin at the thought of Vegeta being tortured personally by Frieza.
'But isn't the Ginyu Force a bit too much, Sir? I mean they are just monkeys, after all…' he then said, using his utter most polite tone when talking to his master.

'No,' the white alien snapped as his tail hit the ground.
The sudden violent outburst struck all of men with fear. Even Zarbon decided it was wise to remain quiet from now on.

'No one is leaving this place alive.'

His red eyes gleamed dangerously as he gazed out of the window to the now still peaceful blue sky. Soon clouds of destruction would erupt. Perhaps a tinge of redness would reflect from the rivers he'd paint red with the blood of every living creature on this planet.
A smirk followed, delighted how he'd once again would succeed and from here on out would become an all-powerful, unstoppable being. With eternal life, he would truly become a god.

This chapter is just… everything. We found out Ilkm was a traitor, Frieza arrives on Namek and Kakarot returns and tells Bulma some interesting news… but does he speak the truth or is it another lie?

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