Ruby skies were the first thing that greeted Vegeta as his eyes opened. His heart ached at the familiar beauty and for a moment he almost believed he was home. A hot arid wind blew threw his mane soothing him.

He knew better this was the Ao Tokonga, the illusion world. Sitting up he found this wasn't his mind. There were none of the trees or flowers of his tatama's garden, no water, just empty space and crystal sands belonging to the vast wastes of Vegetasei. They were beautiful in their own way. His teacher, Bardock was especially fond of them and as a result Vegeta had spent many days out in those wilds training his mind and body.

Bardock taught him to respect those wilds and it was for good reason. The wastes were dangerous, just surviving out there was enough to make a saiyan stronger. The older alpha told him that was how their ancestors grew stronger, that the brutal landscape was what it was and it was the weakness in the person that got them killed out there. If you could survive out there, you could survive anywhere.

It a way it was fitting that Toa's dream world would reflect such a wild place. Standing he looked around concerned. Where was Toa? It had been explained to him that mates could share this world, that the form it took reflected that of the partner in the most stress at times or became something they built together. Vegeta was pulled here because Toa didn't trust him enough to enter Vegeta's. His tatama and father shared that their world, while not used often was a blending of things.

The world distorted around him then, shifting to show him somewhere else. It was still the wastes, but instead of the endless expanse there were rock formations in the distance. Turning, Vegeta was surprised to see of all things a house, a traditional house that most of his race lived it and a rust colored wall of stone that sheltered it from the sun and sands.

Something inside the building called to him, and he moved past the wall to come within a few feet of the door. He narrowed his eyes as he studied the house trying to find something to help the prince identify what family this came from. Unfortunately, any sign of identification had been eroded or faded away, not that Vegeta had expected much to begin with. It had been a long shot since most saiyan families didn't have anything like that on their dwellings.

Maybe there will be a clue inside the house. Pictures of his family or perhaps what he looked like before Toa was captured. Vegeta needed to find out more information in his mate so he could inform his family back on Vegetasei. His eyes fell on the door and reached out to open it.

A low growl was his only warning before a weight slammed into his back, sending them rolling into the hot sands. Toa was on top of him, staring down at his face then. Snarling with fangs bared. Vegeta had a much greater appreciation for the strength held in the petite body. Muscles like corded steal covered the beta's body, designed for the most power with the least amount of mass. Vegeta was intimately familiar with that type of body considering his tatama used it to rule the council with an iron fist despite his own small stature. Sharp claws connected to equally strong fingers told Vegeta that Toa had no inclination to punch, no the beta used those claws to grapple and rend not having the power to do half as much damage with his fists. The black tail was flared and lashing the air showing his mate's hostility.

Even here Vegeta knew with or without his ki, he was more than a match for the beta. Oh, he'd be plenty cut up, but he could easily over power him if it came to it. Now that they weren't rolling he could feel just how small the beta was. Toa weighed little more than his younger brother, a horrifying fact given Tarble was 11 and half this beta's size. He had a sinking feeling the only reason the beta outweighed Tarble was sheer size. Toa wouldn't survive the pregnancy with twins if that didn't change. They would lose the cubs or Toa would starve to death.

The prince calmly lay there waiting for Toa to act or calm down. He finally got to smell his mate's scent, warm spicy cinnamon almost delicate in its aroma. No wonder he couldn't make it out in the cells. The beta was scenting him in return with a low rumble in his chest, and Vegeta could see the confusion on his face as he tried to comprehend something.

"What…?" The alpha's eyes widened at the word that was harshly spoken above him. The smaller saiyan was watching him with confusion and wariness in his dark eyes, and he seemed to have calmed some. Toa pulled back a little, but he still kept his hands ready to claw at the older saiyan at any threatening move he made. "What…you are?"

Vegeta just blinked a few times as he tried to process the broken question. He watched as the beta tilted his head as he waited for an answer. He licked his lips as he tried to keep the horror of realizing that Toa had forgotten almost everything about himself from showing. Just how bad was he treated to been pushed this far?

"I'm a saiyan like you." The prince used the most soothing tone he could in their native language. He wanted to keep the other calm and speaking, but he couldn't help but wonder if Toa could talk in the waking world as well. The saiyan tongue looked to help the younger one relax a fraction. "My name is Vegeta."

"Sai….yan." Toa looked confused at the word, but Vegeta could see flickers of recognition in onyx depth. His brow furrowed as he thought before he shook his head with a snarl. He glared back down at the pinned man. "How here? This my place."

Now that the alpha wasn't sure how to answer. How could he explain that during the heat, both of them had marked each other as mates? The alpha was sure that Toa wouldn't understand the concept at all. He growled a little in frustration as he tried to figure out what to say. Toa snarled above him making Vegeta wince at what he had just did.

"He sent you…Bad One! Won't stop, nothing left." Claws clenched digging deep into Vegeta's tan flesh. "Kill you, then him. My place! Get out!" The beta snarled.

"No one sent me." Vegeta calmly said wanting to calm Toa down. The broken words told him more than he expected. This "bad one" was responsible for the beta's current state. Sorbet said he wasn't needlessly cruel but that didn't mean some one else wasn't. Frieza or any of his officers could have done what ever they wanted to the beta, and would have to break his spirit.

"Lies!" He hissed angrily. "Can't get here, sent you, hurt me."

"I'm here to help you." Vegeta tried again ignoring the pain from his mate's claws digging into his shoulders and upper arms. "I swear by the goddess I won't hurt you. Alphas don't harm betas." He saw the hesitant flickers in those dark orbs as the words made him remember something.

"Alpha…..?" The claws released bringing fresh pain with it. There was a tiny flicker of hope in that tone, and Vegeta wanted to keep it there. "You…alpha?"

"That's right. Alphas protect betas, not hurt them. We protect cubs too." There was a low whine from the beta as he backed away curling in on himself. The prince slowly sat up so he could keep the other in sight.

"…Bad One takes cubs…" He softly said as tears filled his eyes, and Vegeta felt his heart twist at the sight of so much sorrow. "Good cubs, bad cubs….he hurts"

"Bad cubs?" Vegeta asked not understanding. The cat said Toa only carried two cubs to term, was he talking about the miscarriages?

"Sick….wrong…"

Suddenly it clicked, the hybrids, the mixes that didn't work. He could tell if some thing was wrong with the cubs from the crosses. It was clear he still loved them all the same and that their loss hurt equally.

"I won't take your cubs." Vegeta soothed as he shifted closer to the beta. "Cubs are special. I promise I'll do my best to protect you and your cubs."

"Alpha…." He shook his head before holding it with a whine like it hurt. "Hurts...Go." Toa's tail lashed as he growled and scuttled further away from Vegeta but still keeping between the prince and the house. Vegeta had a sinking feeling that Toa's memories were locked in that house to keep them shut away. After 15 years, what all had he shoved aside just to stay sane?

"Toa?"

"GO!" The beta snarled with tears leaving trails down his cheeks.

The world around the pair started to splinter and crack. The suddenness of the order and the world breaking apart had Vegeta falling on his backside and rolling in the sands. He scrambled to get upright, but a wail full of pain from Toa had the world shattering. The prince reached out to the smaller saiyan before darkness swallowed him whole.

The prince's eyes snapped open as he gasped in shock. He was awake. A soft whimper from Toa's cell made the alpha look over in worry, but all he could make out was the small form of the beta still sleeping as far as he could tell.

He leaned back on his mattress as the cold sweat blossomed on his skin from the adrenalin rush. He was growing more concerned for Toa. His mind was a mess, and it was affecting the Ao Tokonga in ways that honestly scared the prince. He had never heard of it shattering and pushing their mate out. The distorting of the space…

Was it possible for memories to bleed over into the Ao Tokonga? Had that been what happened to push him out? Toa had remembered something, something that he'd buried deep in his mind or tried to forget if the pained express and tears were considered.

Vegeta knew that no matter what happened after the rescue he would never forget the sheer sorrow in the beta's eyes. He'd seen betas and women that had lost cubs before. His tama often helped many of them whenever he could. But they were never this broken. It didn't make sense to him. They raped him and forced him to get pregnant. How could he feel so much love for the cubs he lost, even the ones that wouldn't survive after birth? Another glance at Toa revealed him curled protectively around the two cubs in his nest, there wasn't a way for anyone to move either of the boys without waking the beta.

Vegeta had a feeling they were Toa's whole world, that he was so resigned to being trapped here he focused on them, living for them. He had to wonder if the beta even remembered the outside world. No, he remembered it somewhere in his mind, if he didn't his illusion world would have reflected the inside of this cell.

Who ever Toa had been was still there, buried deep in his memories. Vegeta had seen the pain and fear in the beta and knew it was going to be difficult to even begin convincing him he was safe, and that no one would take his cubs away once they were out of here. With a sigh the prince got comfortable. He wasn't going to be sleeping anytime soon. A soft smile crossed his lips as he watched the sleeping beta, if only they had met before all of this. He might have asked to court him and none of this would have happened.

++VK++

Bardock took a deep breath as he sat down in front of a console in his house. He was looking at the code on the screen with mixed emotions. It had taken the alpha almost two years to find the right code, but now he wasn't sure he wanted to use it.

The last time he had talked to them, it nearly resulted in a fight that would have demolished the house. Ever since that day, he had tried to forget about him and live his live like he never existed. But he had exhausted all his resources and with the current information blackout from their spies they were stuck sitting on their hands unless they could get information from somewhere else. Did he really want to contact him of all people for that information?

He sighed wiping his tired eyes in frustration. He was breaking the law just doing this. If it was for Kakarot he wouldn't bat an eye, but Vegeta was right. Kakarot had been missing for 15 years, he would be fine another few weeks while Bardock did this. The selfless little brat was too understanding when it came to doing their respective duty. He wouldn't be able to ask for help a second time though, if he was lucky enough to get them to agree this time.

"Damn it." He muttered as his mind pulled up an image of his student his third son in a way, and he ran a hand through his hair. Bardock gritted his teeth and let his hand fall on the console initiating a transmission. "No going back now."

After what felt like an eternity, there was a blurry image that flickered to life on the screen above the console. The general bit back a growl as the image cleared up to reveal another saiyan on the other end of the transmission.

"Well, well. If it isn't little brother calling."

"Turles." His response was short and clipped as he looked everywhere but his brother's face. They could have been twins if it weren't for the grayish tinge to the other alpha's skin and cold eyes.

"Never thought I'd get a call from the mighty 3rd class commander, General Bardock." He said sitting back in a cushioned chair holding a glass of wine in his other hand. "It's only been what 20 years? 30? If I recall, your last words were "I never want to see you again." I'm paraphrasing of course. You had quite the mouth when we were younger."

The green clad warrior bit back a snarl, but he couldn't stop his tail from bushing up and lashing behind him. Kalious his brother had always been an asshole, and it looks like that hadn't changed over the years. He should have known that Turles would never help him.

"Forget it." Bardock stood in frustration. "This was a mistake, just forget this ever happened." His hand was fumbling for the button to end the transmission.

"Bardock." He froze at the concerned tone in his brother's voice not entirely sure he wasn't imagining it. "What happened?"

"I said forget it. Sorry I bothered you."

"You wouldn't have bothered to hurt down that code if it was nothing. I know you, little brother. You wouldn't have made this call unless you were out of options. So unless you want me to show up on your doorstep or on one of your assignments, tell me, what happened? Is it Raditz?"

"No, its not Raditz." Bardock said slumping back in defeat. His brother never bluffed, and the last thing he needed was for Turles to pop up like that. "Do you know where Frieza currently is?" The warrior decided to bite the bullet and just ask.

"Frieza? You mean you don't?" Turles was surprised to hear that. Even before he left Vegetasei they always kept close tabs on the Colds.

"He's gone off grid, we haven't seen him anywhere in the combat zone in months. We've taken several planets from the demons, but nothing has draw him out, none of the spies know anything."

"Why do you need to know so badly?" Turles wasn't stupid, he knew that wasn't enough to make his brother call him. "Something's happened."

"Prince Vegeta was captured, he's my student and I've been assigned to the rescue effort. We know where he is, but without knowing where Frieza is…"

"Any attempt to get him is suicide for your team and him." Turles finished. The older alpha narrowed his eyes as he studied his brother. "Why did you really call me?"

"I told you-"

"No." Turles cut him of with a growl. "You wouldn't contact me just for some spoilt prince, student or not. You spent two years looking for that code, and if I'm right, this kidnapping only happened days ago, weeks tops. You wanted something else from me."

"How do you know that?" Bardock asked confused. He was discrete the whole time.

"Who do you think let you find it?" Turles sighed seeing he was just hurting his brother. "Bardock…look at me, little brother. I know we don't have that great a relationship, but I would never not help you. That's why every few years I spread out codes you could find if you ever needed to reach me."

"You know I have another son, Kakarot right?" Even after 15 years, it hurt to talk about him, and Bardock had to suppress the tears that automatically came at the shear mention of his youngest's name.

"Yeah, a little beta. I was proud of you. I always wanted to meet the little blessing."

"He's missing." Bardock felt his throat closing up. "I've tried everything to find him, Turles."

The dark skinned saiyan blinked a couple of times as he tried to process what he had just been told. Turles felt ice spread in his veins at the look of loss and grief on his brother's face. He had never seen that look on the other's face.

"How long!" Concern thick in his voice as he leaned forward in his chair to get closer to the screen. Betas were precious, rare, and a blessing on the family by Tarro.

"Fifteen years." Bardock couldn't stop the few tears that fell. "He ran off after we fought about his continued service in the army. He was 14, Turles, and the fighting was bad. I wanted him to stop trying prove he wasn't a weakling because of his power level, but he didn't see it that way. Somehow….somehow he got a solo mission."

"How the hell did that happen!? Beta's never take solo assignments even when we aren't at war?!"

"I don't know, no one knows." Bardock said quietly rubbing his head. "His ship was destroyed, but it was empty. I went with the retrieval crew. We couldn't find a body, and there were plenty of Frieza's men left behind and dead. Scans showed a concentrated zone of blutz waves, and the destruction indicated he uses his oozaru form."

"They always leave bodies, and there's no way they could have incinerated it without leaving some traces of it." Turles said trying to ignore that this was his nephew they were discussing. "You think he's alive."

"Zarbon was on that planet, he always brags and makes a scene out of his kills. Nothing about Kakarot or that planet has ever been heard from him."

"Bardock, I don't want to give you false hope, but if he was captured…." As much as he wanted to tell the younger saiyan otherwise, the space pirate couldn't bring himself to be anything other than honest.

"I know." The grief was thick in his voice. "but I have to know I tried everything. I have to see him if he's alive…or not."

"I'll contact you in a week." Turles said finally. "I don't know where the lizard is either. And it will take some time to feel out things on my end. I'll keep an ear out for Kakarot too."

"Thank you, Turles."