Toa opened his eyes to see the ruby red sky of his Dream Space. He looked around and saw Alpha laying on the crystal sand curled up in a ball. He whimpered and quickly moved over to see if the older saiyan was alright.

He paused by his side to see the white still around his neck. It puzzled the smaller male since every time he came here, he never had his injuries here. Toa slowly reached out with a hand but hesitated about halfway to Alpha's shoulder. He didn't know if he should wake the other, but something inside him made him brush the bare shoulder of the Strong One with a barely there touch of the back of his hand.

"Alpha?" He called as he brushed the larger man more firmly this time. It made him feel nervous to see the other still sleeping. "Wake…Alpha."

Alpha groaned as he blinked open his dark eyes once the beta drew back. He hissed in pain as he uncurled his body. The tiny beta scurried back a couple of paces when Alpha sat up. Alpha was still stronger even hurt. He placed a hand on his head before looking over at Toa. He blinked a few times like he didn't know what he was seeing.

Toa looked up to see the sky begin to darken as the wind picked up, the Bad Flashes were out. They always came out after Cold One or Bad One was here. The beta whined as he saw Alpha slump back over as the air around him started to look wavy. Faint shouts came from the wavy air, and Toa rushed to grab Alpha before he fell into a Bad Flash. Alpha was heavy, but the smaller male managed to pull him away from the Bad Flash, only to see more wavy air around them.

"Alpha…we move." Toa said as he tried to get under one of the larger male's arms. Bad Flashes hurt and they weren't Alpha's. He didn't know what it would do to him. "Not safe. Must move."

Strong One groaned as he tried to get up, but his legs weren't working. The beta snarled in frustration as he watched Alpha clumsily try to move. They couldn't out run the Bad Flashes, and Toa wasn't strong enough to carry Alpha away from them. His eyes flickered over to Safe Place.

Safe Place was close. Bad Flashes couldn't get inside, but Alpha would have to go in there too. The beta bit his lower lip as he tried to figure out what to do. He needed to protect Safe Place, but Alpha protected him. Him and cubs from Cold One. Another wavy air came close to them with more screams coming from it, and Toa whined before lifting as much of Alpha as he could and headed to Safe Place.

Maybe Alpha won't look around. He's hurt, even here so it might be alright. Toa helped the older saiyan shuffle over to Safe Place door. More screams and cries were coming from the wavy airs the closer they got to the door. Finally the beta pulled both saiyans to the Safe Place and they fell inside just as another Bad Flash started to form in front of the door.

Toa wiggled out from under the heavy body just in time to shut the door to keep that last Bad Flash out. Baring his teeth at the door he turned his attention back to Alpha. The bigger male's eyes were clearing up. Had he seen a Flash?

Wind howled and shook the safe place making Toa look up in concern. One of the Bad Bad Flashes was loose. He couldn't leave it loose out there. Cold One must have woke it up. Grunting he pulled Alpha by the shoulders to the soft floor. He would be more comfortable there if he was hurt. He had to hope Alpha slept while he dealt with the Bad Bad Flash. Bad Bad Flash would hurt Dream Space, be slow to heal. Toa gave Alpha one more sniff and found he was ok and not hurt badly.

Moving silently he left Safe Place and shut the door behind him as he darted quickly into the building storm. If he was fast enough, he could get the Bad Bad Flash before everything broke loose.

++KV++

Vegeta opened his eyes and then shut them with a groan. His head was scrambled from…something.

Walls. Every way he turned there were more walls of black metal. Why couldn't he find the way out!

Darting left, he ran as fast as he could. His lungs felt like they were going to burst as he raggedly sucked in hot air. Turning right his heart dropped at the sight of another dead end. Barely slowing down he spun on his heal, skidding slightly as he bolted down the way he came.

There had to be a way out! That was the challenge. He would get out and he could go home!

"Time's up, monkey." The voice rang out through the maze causing him to panic. He thought he had more time! How far had he run from the center?

Desperation made him faster, his legs and lungs burning. He could still win, he had to out run the demon. The beta blindly threw himself down corridor after corridor. There wasn't time to stop or think, he had to move.

Pain erupted from his back sending him rolling before he slammed into the cold wall at full speed. A hand grasped his hair and painfully jerked him up and held him in the air as blood dripped into his eyes from where he hit his head.

"Oh, too bad, monkey. You made it almost half way through my maze. Better luck next time."

Shaking his head he finally pushed it away. Was it one of Toa's memories? Sitting up the alpha rubbed his pounding skull and looked around. This wasn't Toa's illusion, or was it? He was lying on a thick carpet in a living room of sorts. Was he in the house? Where was Toa?

He slowly sat up once more to look around in the low light. There were a few stone chairs in the room and a large thing that looked like someone had killed a saberwolf and used its hide to make a couch. The walls were sanded smooth and had little notches in them as shelves, and over in the corner was a monitor for entertainment on a stone bench.

There were a few doorways that were along the walls that must lead off to other rooms, and Vegeta could see what could only be a table through one door, but there was one hall that lead further into the house that had an odd glowing blue light. The prince narrowed his eyes at that light before he placed a hand to unsuccessfully help in pushing the pounding headache away.

There was a loud rumble that came from outside and Vegeta looked up at the ceiling only now noticing the loud wind and slight tremors of the house. If this was an accurate replica of a traditional saiyan dwelling, the building should be able to withstand the storm howling out there. Although, he did question why a storm was here in the first place. What was going on with Toa's Ao Tokonga?

"Toa?" He called out as he got to his feet using one of the stone chairs for support. He had to lean heavily on the piece of furniture so his legs could support his weight. Whatever happened to him when he got here had weakened his metaphysical self. Another thing which shouldn't be possible.

The light down the hall flickered as another gust of wind made the house rattle, and he was pulled back from his thoughts. The alpha's eyes were drawn to the wall, seeing faded pictures there. He had missed them the first time he looked around, and he moved on shaking legs over to the wall by the furry couch to try and get a better look.

Unfortunately, Toa's pictures were nothing but shadowy figures. Anything that could have identified these people was long faded away, except for one picture. Vegeta picked up the frame to look at it closer, and it tore his heart that his mate was forgetting his family.

The image was of three shadows two were smaller than the other, but all three were saiyans judging from what looks like tails and spiky hair. The larger form was in the middle of the two smaller ones holding his arms up. Each smaller shadow was holding onto the larger one's arms, and they were hanging from him. The alpha smiled at the image.

It must be Toa's parent, and perhaps a sibling? Are they alive or were they killed before Toa was captured?

A sob cut through his thoughts and Vegeta's head snapped in the direction of the sound. It had come from the hall with the blue light. Was Toa crying?

"Toa?" Slowly he entered the hallway and found another door at the end of it with the door cracked letting the light spill into the hall. Quietly pushing it open he was surprised to see a nest. It was massive, the kind meant for whole families, or at least parents and younger cubs. Soft whimpers drew his gaze to the small form huddled in the center. A growl behind him had the prince turning to see Toa crouched in the doorway snarling at him.

If that was Toa….who was in the nest?

"Alpha." He almost missed the word spoken by the beta. The feral beta moved past the prince and sat at the edge of the nest after a moment. Sad eyes looked over to the shivering and whimpering form and then back to Vegeta.

"Hurt." Beta said softly. "Alpha protects?" Vegeta nodded confused. Toa hadn't spoken to him in all this time and then he brought him into the one place he wouldn't let the alpha go.

"Why did you let me in here? Who is in the nest?" Toa tilted his head in thought and Vegeta could see him struggling to put words to what he wanted to say.

"You…protect us. Stopped Cold One. Make Seba happy, laughed. You…good." The beta said uncertainly. "Hurt, we hurt….you help?"

Vegeta just looked at Toa before he looked back to the form hidden under the furs in the massive nest. He moved to kneel on the side of the nest beside the smaller male, and he sighed as he ran a hand through his hair. In his peripheral vision, he could see the beta looking at him with a hopeful yet sad expression, and he knew that he must do whatever he could to help his mate.

"I'll try, Toa. Just…who is that?" His eyes fell on the other figure before he turned his head to watch Toa. He wasn't sure if whatever happened to him before was still affecting him, but his mind was struggling to keep up. "Please tell me. It'll help."

"Me, but not me." The beta finally said. The other form let out a loud cry and Toa nudged the alpha. He looked worried as more cries came from the furs. "Go help. Can't touch Other. Hurts."

"But how can that-!" Vegeta started to ask, but Toa must have gotten impatient because he shoved the larger saiyan right into the nest without warning. He let out a yelp as he landed beside the shivering form, and he gave a glare over his shoulder at the beta.

"You help now." Toa said completely unfazed by the look. He crawled to get closer to the other saiyan in the nest. A whimper came followed by shaking and sobbing. "Alpha. Help!"

"Alright! Just…just give me a minute to figure this out." Vegeta said trying to stay calm and not snap at the impatient beta. He didn't actually understand what the hell was going on. How could there be two of Toa? There shouldn't be anyone else in the Ao Tokonga. Toa couldn't touch them, why? What had he said "me but not me?" what did that even mean? He thought back on what he'd learned about Toa. The beta had been a prisoner here for fifteen years…and went feral 5 years ago. His mind broke from his treatment. His eyes widened as he recognized what "me, but not me" could mean.

Toa had split into two personalities. One who was feral and protective of himself and his cubs, able to deal with insults and pain in a primitive way and the other who couldn't cope with what was happening, the core so to speak. That's why Toa couldn't touch him.

"He's the real Toa." Vegeta said as his thoughts made the connection. "The one from before he was captured." The beta nodded sadly.

"Hurts Alpha. We hurt. Flashes loose. Make pain come back. Flashes try get in. Make hurt more." There was a sense of urgency to the beta's tone. "Alpha stronger, Alpha help!" Toa demanded with his fangs out. Vegeta wasn't mad, the beta, or this version of him, didn't know how else to ask. He just didn't know what to do. Another pitiful whimper pulled him from his thoughts.

The alpha pulled back one of the many furs hiding the small form from view. He found them curled into a ball, arms folded over his head and it buried in their knees, tucking as tightly as possible. Tremors wracked the small form. Not knowing what else to do the prince gently stroked the small piece of scalp he could see. He swept his tail in the air hoping his scent might help. Toa had been attracted to it, maybe this half was too.

Slowly, almost so much he missed it, the whimpering form relaxed. It wasn't until the head under his hand moved towards his touch. Vegeta continued to stroke his hair and make observations about his mate. He still had Toa's body type, but the hair and fur were better cared for. Seeing he was relaxing the prince was encouraged and gently extended the strokes down the little one's back. Vegeta knew if he was going to get a good look at the beta, he had to get the little one to uncurl on his own. Any attempt to force him would likely ruin any chance he had, and Toa would likely maul him.

Slowly but surely it worked. He ceased his whimpering, and his muscles relaxed until he lay sleeping peacefully, curled loosely on his side. Hesitantly, the prince gently grasped a wrist and moved it to this side while continuing his gentle strokes. His eyes widened as he took in the familiar features. Thick starburst locks of hair framed angular features. He knew who this was, he should have guessed it when he saw the cub. The beta's appearance was softer than his sire's but only a blind man wouldn't notice their identical features.

"Kakarot…" The name was barely a whisper in his shock. Everyone knew of this beta's disappearance…of his death. Bardock swore his son was still alive and many thought he was crazy, delusional even if most had sense enough not to say it within earshot of the powerful alpha. Kalious above…Kakarot had been in this hell hole for fifteen years! No wonder they couldn't find him, why Bardock couldn't find him. He remembered the fiery little beta, having seen him with his teacher while out and about and at practice drills later on. Toa was a shadow compared to what he remembered of the small beta. Kakarot had never been afraid, even as weak as he was. The beta never backed down from a fight during practice drills even knowing his opponents were much stronger. A sobering realization took place.

'Bardock is going to murder me.'