The doors to the med bay opened with a hiss as the saiyan king stormed in and over to the wall of tanks. A tall man in green and black armor with a red bandana around his head was waiting for him.

"What happened, Bardock!?" He demanded.

"There was an ambush." The other man said. "The mission should have been a simple base demo. Somehow it got out that Nappa and Vegeta were there, if it wasn't a trap to begin with." He frowned and looked at the massive saiyan in the tank. "It was bad, V. If I didn't know better I'd say Frieza just threw at least 2 battalions at Vegeta and Nappa before the Ginyu Force was involved. Nappa tried to contact us for reinforcement or at the very least an evac when we lost connection with them. We couldn't find your son and Nappa was nearly dead, buried in the rubble of their destroyed ship. Vegeta was taken."

"Damn it." The king snarled. "The chip?"

"Fully functional, we've got a reading coming from an out of the way planet in demon territory. We know he's relatively healthy at least, we can't get anything detailed on his health, but his vitals are mostly stable." The older saiyan sighed in relief.

"At least there's that. I need you present at the council meeting since Nappa is out of commission." The king called as he turned to head back out the door. "They are assembling now."

Bardock took one last look at the man still in the tank before following after his friend. It was only luck that his team had been on their way back when they intercepted the distress call, and Fasha was able to keep Nappa alive until they got back to Vegetasei. That woman was as good as any other member of the army, but she was also knowledgeable in first aid. She had saved his hide on more than one occasion after a mission had gone south.

All and all, the scene was reminiscent of one that he had experienced before, and the warrior's memories started to distract him.

"Tora!" Bardock shouted as they found the last member of their squad. "Fasha! Over here!" The alpha growled and ripped off his bandana to mop blood from his best friend's face.

"Bar….About damn t-time." The wounded man joked coughing up blood.

"What happened?"

"D-dodoria…he and a squad…c-caught us by s-surprise."

"Shit, you're bleeding so bad." Bardock said. For once he was afraid, he was powerless to do much of anything to help the other alpha.

"By the goddess…" Fasha whispered as she landed. "Damn it, Bardock, out of my way. Get me some clean water, bandages, just don't sit there."

The noise coming from the chamber up ahead pulled him from his thoughts, and he shook his head to get back in the present. It would do the prince nor his friend any good if he remained in the past.

"Enough!" The smallest member in the room shouted commanding silence as Vegeta and Bardock entered the council chamber. "Now if you are all quite done with your bickering and grandstanding, I would love to know how exactly you plan on bringing my son home."

King Vegeta looked up at the end of the table to see his beta smiling sweetly at the room, and he suppressed a shiver. The male was very petite with black hair that fell down to his mid back with it spiked up and a couple of pieces falling over his forehead. He wore the purple and white armor with a black full bodysuit he only put on whenever a war council was called. All and all, Yasi looked like he couldn't fight his way out of a paper bag, but Vegeta had the scars on his body to prove otherwise.

"Yasi-,"

"No Vegeta, they want to bicker and run their mouths so I want to hear their plans." The king frowned before taking his seat with Bardock sitting in the available chair a few seats down. The consort was a tiny man, almost delicate, but no one was fool enough to believe he was any thing but strong. "Don't all speak at once."

Bardock had to resist the urge to snort as the other members remained silent under the Royal Consort's steel gaze. While he hated to be on the receiving end of that look, he was amazed that so many of his fellow saiyans were cowed by the beta. After a couple more minutes of uneasy silence, the general sighed and spoke up.

"Sires, as I informed the king earlier, we are currently keeping track of the prince with the chip implanted under his skin. It's signal is coming from a planet that is deep in demon territory. There are not many significant planets to the Colds there, so it should be simple to retrieve him as long as we can pass the combat zone undetected."

"Hm. Is there any news on Frieza's whereabouts? He's been unusually absent from the zone, and none of our spies have reported any movement from his ship in past few months. This concerns me especially with the kidnapping of my son." The king said as he rested his elbows on the table and laced his fingers under his chin. Murmurs came from around the table as the other saiyans tried to see if anyone had more recent information that the monarch could use.

Bardock had to agree with Vegeta. The frost demon had been acting uncharacteristically lately, and his instincts were on edge. He hadn't shown his tail in the combat zone for almost six months, and due to that the Cold Empire had lost a few of their more lucrative worlds. King Cold and his oldest son, Cooler, were in grid eight at the time. They were trying to recover one of the planets they lost without much success at the present, but the other ice lizard remained a mystery.

The other generals and council members were all suggesting ideas to find Prince Vegeta and bring him home, but the green clad warrior tuned out the noise around him. His eyes narrowed unseeingly at the table as his mind whirled through the current facts.

They couldn't risk going into demon space without knowing just where Frieza was. If the rescue team ran into him, it could be disastrous for the team as well as the prince, and the Vegeta was on a planet deep in The Colds' area of the galaxy. It couldn't be a coincidence that the lizard had finally gone off the radar around the same time the prince was captured. If only there was some way-!

Bardock's head snapped up as an idea hit. He grimaced at the thought, but there was someone he could contact that might have the information he was looking for. The only problem was that he was hoping to use this favor to help him find…no. The prince needed help now, he could wait, as much as it hurt to use this favor for someone else.

"Your majesties." Bardock's voice cut another saiyan off mid sentence. "I may have an idea to help rescue your son."

The saiyan he cut off, an alpha with strangely tame hair that came to the nape of his neck with chunky spikes over his forehead and a scar over his left eye, growled at the interruption. He slammed his hands on the table as he rose from his chair.

"If you don't mind, I'd like to finish my report. You can wait your turn, 3rd Class."

"Your report? You actually did something instead of sitting on your ass here in the palace, Retaso?" The wilder man snapped back with a feral grin. "I didn't know you could talk so long about nothing, or are you detailing the pathetic excuse for training your command does."

"One of these days I'm going to put you in your place, mongrel." Retaso snarled back.

"Shut it." The consort barked before giving his full attention to his husband's friend. "Bardock, go on."

"Your Majesty-" Retaso protested only for Yasi to fix him with a sharp look and sweet smile.

"I'm sorry, I thought I was clear." The petite beta said softly. "I want to hear what Commander Bardock has in mind. Shut your mouth."

"With all do respect, your majesty, why would you place any faith in him to find and rescue Prince Vegeta?"

"Retaso." Vegeta warned him as a tense silence fell over the room. Bardock's bangs shadowed his face.

"And what is that supposed to mean?" It was cold and quietly spoken, with almost clinical detachment.

"Everyone knows what a failure you are." The other alpha snapped with near sadistic glee. "The great Commander Bardock, slayer of armies, and failure as a father. Why should you have any say in this rescue assignment when you were too incompetent to even find your own son."

The snarl from Bardock made the other council members jump as the alpha's fangs were bared dangerously, the table caving under his hands as his power surged blasting chairs back into the wall.

"Bardock, stand down!" the king shouted causing the larger alpha to tense up in reflex to keep from launching across the table and killing the other council member. "Retaso, that is enough. Bardock is going to plan the rescue mission with Brolly, Nappa, and myself. If I hear one word of what was spoken of in here Tarro's rite will be a mercy compared to what I'll do to you. Dismissed. Bardock, a word." The other alpha shook as he nodded and turned to face the wall trying to calm down while the council trickled out of the chamber. Yasi paused silently asking his mate if he should stay.

"Go see to Tarble, I'll be up soon. I promise you'll be the first to know of any developments, Yasi." He tenderly said kissing his husband on the cheek.

"I know, Geta." The beta said quietly before shutting the door.

Honestly Retaso should know better than to push Bardock when it came to his youngest. The last time someone had, the general had put the idiot in a healing tank where they stayed for almost a month. Everyone knew not to push when it came to Kakarot. It was a tragedy to lose such a young beta and the king had been beyond furious to find out the beta was given a solo assignment, let alone one near the combat zone.

"How long has it been?" Vegeta said picking up an over turned chair and taking a seat.

"Fifteen years and three months." The other alpha said softly. "Kakarot will be 29 soon, about three more weeks."

"Bardock, listen to yourself." Vegeta said quietly. "If this was anyone else would you still think they were alive? Maybe you should-"

"Don't you dare say let him go." He hissed glaring at his old friend. "Would you if it was your son?"

"If the facts repeatedly told me the same thing, yes."

"V, I can't give up on him. I know Kakarot is still out there. I've gone over every facet of his assignment and disappearance. Nothing says he died V. Zarbon was on that planet, he always brags about his kills and there's no mention of any kills by him on that planet. Kakarot even used his Oozaru form for Kalious sake; he has to be alive. It's my fault he was even out there, all because of that stupid fight…" He regret every word of that last conversation and there wasn't a day that went by where he didn't beg the goddess for the chance to take back his words. He would give anything just to apologize to his son. "I can't give up on him, Vegeta, not until I find him or…"

"I understand." The king said clapping the man on the shoulder. "And despite what any of those morons say, I'd rather have you going after my son rather than any one else."

"What can I say, the little brat grew on me."

+++KV+++

Chorri escorted a boy, almost a teenager, with short black hair that had a few spikes in the front and top. He was dressed in black scrubs with a lump he held under his shirt. A long brown tail was wrapped tightly around his waist. His dark eyes watched Cat Lady as she lead him down a familiar hallway.

Excitement bloomed in his chest, and his arms tensing around the bundle under his top caused it to squirm. The tips of black, spiky hair brushed against his neck, and the boy rubbed a hand over the lump as he chuffed at his armful. He could feel the small form wiggle, and the fur on his little tail tickled along his side where it was wrapped.

"Kome." A nervous whisper came from his load, and he chuffed again to keep his brother quiet. Seba just whined and squirmed a bit as he settled back down. He could see Cat Lady watching the two of them and let out a soft purr to help keep the younger boy silent. Seba didn't like being quiet lately, and it was getting harder to keep him calm and happy. Kome knew they needed to be with Tama some and hoped that's where Cat Lady was taking them and not to the Sick place.

Kome was slightly confused. It was too soon for them to go see their tama, and he was worried that something bad had happened. He remembered overhearing that they had brought another one to mate with Tama during his heat. Usually whenever that happened, Tama was upset and violent, and they would keep them away from him until he calmed down somewhat. The last time was really bad. Tama had been sick afterwards, he didn't want to eat much and just held them. Cat Lady had made them leave early when Tama lost the cub.

The boy's tail twitched at his waist as they got closer to Tama's space, and it was all Kome could do to keep from bolting to the beta. He had missed Tama, and so had Seba. It was hard not seeing him all the time like when he was smaller. Seba always got upset when they had to leave now which upset Tama.

The three turned down the corridor where the cells were, and the older cub started to notice some things that were different. The differences made him feel uneasy yet calmer and he couldn't help but bring the smaller boy closer to his body as his brown tail twitched anxiously.

'The air smells cleaner. Almost all of the bad smells are gone.' Kome's eyes darted around under his bangs. His nose twitched as he tried to figure out what was going on. 'There's another one here too. Why is he still here?' Dark eyes narrowed. The littler cub shivered a bit under his shirt, nervous about the new smell as well.

As the cell came into view, the boy was surprised to see it split in half with another person in new section. He couldn't make out what the other looked like since he was covered with a blanket like his tama would do if the smells made his head hurt real bad, but he didn't like that this one was so close to Tama. His tail fluffed as it unwrapped from his waist, and he felt his lip curl just a bit. He didn't want someone that hurt his Tama in the same space. He flinched at the hand on his shoulder and looked up at Cat Lady.

"Vegeta can't hurt you or your brother, its alright." She soothed. He gave a soft growl as his eyes shifted uneasily. He wasn't worried about him and Seba, Tama would kill someone before that happened, he didn't want Tama hurt. Cat Lady seemed to understand she hadn't convinced him, she was the only scientist Kome actually trusted since she had never hurt Tama or them, never treated them badly.

"He's in a separate cell; he can't get in with your mother or you. We aren't going to let him upset your mother." Kome hesitantly nodded and let her lead them over to the cell as she opened the door, his sharp eyes noting the numbers she typed in out of habit. They hadn't changed. He wasn't sure why he bothered watching that other than it was fascinating that little buttons could open a hole in the clear wall.

Their space didn't have a wall like this. They had a door with a window instead. Someone still needed to put in a code to unlock it though. As much as he hated that they were kept away from Tama, that space made it easier to look after his brother without being watched. For some reason the scientists weren't as interested in them as they were in Tama. Kome had an idea why, but he wasn't sure.

However, once the door opened, any and all thoughts fell away as a wave of Tama's scent washed over the pair. The beta's head jerked up from his food and he made an excited noise as soon as he saw the cubs. Seba squirmed in his arms, and Kome stumbled a little as he walked in the cell. As soon as Cat Lady closed the hole, the older boy kneeled down so his brother could get on the floor.

++VK++

Vegeta was dozing now that the smells had been removed. That was helping his head feel better, and he was almost grateful enough to thank the small alien. He managed to find a comfortable position leaning against the wall with his new blanket still covering his body. He'd fix up his bedding later, not like he had any but time on his hands.

A whine from the smaller saiyan had him opening his eyes again. The prince peered out the opening of his blanket to see a small boy dressed in black kneeling down in the space the beta was in. His brow furrowed in confusion and lifted in surprise as another boy appeared out from under the other's shirt.

'Wha…that boy looks like Bardock…' The tiny, and he was tiny, child looked like a mini clone of his teacher right down to his black…tail. 'What the hell?!' A mewling cry drew his attention to the beta and the two boys again. The littlest one was mewling and nuzzling the beta's face while he was picked up and cuddled. The older one was glaring at him, tense and alert as he watched the beta and cub. Toa noticed his staring and snarled before nudging the boys into his nest and "hiding" them with his body.

What the hell was going on?

"Woman, explain! How many more saiyans are here!" Vegeta snarled as his blanket slid back. The felian narrowed her eyes at the saiyan prince. She hissed at him as her ears twitched in response to her mood.

"You aren't in any position to demand anything from me, saiyan. Do that again with anyone else, and you'll find yourself on the floor relearning bladder control." The prince looked away growling softly to himself, she had a point.

"They shouldn't be here!" Vegeta snapped quietly in frustration. "They're cubs, its bad enough what you've done to him but nothing excuses involving saiyan cubs."

"Hybrids." Chorri said softly. "They're only half saiyan."

"Hybrids, you managed to mix the species?" The prince was shocked, only a handful of other species were compatible with saiyan DNA and most of those mixes didn't look even remotely like pure saiyans.

"You're surprised?" The medic asked noting the look on his face.

"Saiyans aren't the most compatible of species. Not sure why, but typically we don't reproduce in mixed species pairings. Those pregnancies tend to be even more delicate and dangerous." The cat nodded remembering all the numerous pregnancies that ended only days later or worse weeks later that resulted in violent bleeding or illness in 01.

"01 has only had two successful pregnancies in 15 years. They were the results of human saiyan breeding and were considered failures for Lord Frieza's project. We call them Gohan and Goten after their project codes. They keep 01, more or less functioning and are used to ...reward him." She said as if the words left a foul taste in her mouth.

The pupils in her eyes turned into slits as she glared off to the side before looking back at the small family huddled in the smaller saiyan's nest with a sad look on her features, and something about her expression confused the prince.

"Just don't disturb them, saiyan. 01 is very protective of his children, and he doesn't need any more stress. They aren't just his reward." Chorri gave Vegeta one last look before walking away and leaving the alpha to his thoughts.

'Does…does she care about them?' He watched her go before his eyes moved to see Toa's back, but he could tell that the beta saiyan had both cubs in his arms since he was too small to completely hide them from view. The only thing visible from the younger of the two were the tips of his spiky hair and the occasional glance of his tail.

The older boy…he was still watching Vegeta from over Toa's shoulder. The look that cub was giving him was unexpected, he was hostile, angry, and he bared his small fangs at the prince before Toa shushed him with a soft growl and nuzzled him

Both looked very small, so he had no idea just how old the cubs could be. It hurt to look at the boys. Cubs…he realized then that this wasn't Toa's first pregnancy and felt foolish for not realizing it sooner. His stomach heaved. How many times had the beta been taken against his will; how many times had he miscarried, that they finally kidnapped another saiyan just to get him pregnant. Frieza was using the cubs to control Toa. The beta would never think of escape so long as his cubs were still here. That's what the cat meant, they used to cubs to reward…and punish. Take them away to make him do what they want, let him see them when he became depressed or behaved as desired. It was sickening and made his blood boil. He swore to the gods the second he had the chance he was going to kill every last damn person involved on this forsaken rock with his bare hands and salt the earth with their remains. No one would dare to think about repeating this for the rest of all time.

The lights cut off then plunging the cells into darkness aside from the dim security lights in the hall outside. A soft whimper came from one of the cubs before the beta crooned softly. In the dim light he could see Toa settling his cubs in the nest, purring softly. It didn't mater that these new cubs weren't his, or were hybrids. Once they were out of here Vegeta would see to it they, like their tama, never wanted for anything ever again and would make doubly certain one ever hurt them again.

Sighing he grabbed the bedding before settling down in his own corner just like Toa. He needed to sleep of this headache off before he was any good to anyone.