AN: Hey Everyone! CML here! If you couldn't tell already, I use a lot of inspiration from Avicii. He is my muse and his words always touch my soul. So when I am focusing on a chapter, I'll be jamming out to his work while I create my own masterpiece. If you are a fan of his and a fan of our work, feel free to leave me some love and we can totally geek out about it! But as for everything else, thank you fans for sticking with us and for giving Sanshilove and I drive to complete our work. Your words and you reviews do leave an impact on us! Thank you all for sticking with us and on this journey we are on! And for those just joining, welcome! We hope you enjoy our work and hope you will stick with us until the end of it! The song I have picked with this chapter is entitled "Take Me Into Your Arms" by Avicii. Honestly, I felt it captured the essence of what Bulma and Vegeta are going through. If you want to give it a listen while reading the chapter, I encourage you to. You won't be disappointed! Anyway, we appreciate you all and for reviewing! Enjoy the chapter guys!

Chapter 16 The Way Things Always Go

-Palace Lab Cafeteria-

"Of course, let's finish these terms with some coffee. I can go over all the source material and specifics from there." Out of instinct Vegeta holds out his hand for Bulma to take just like in the old days when he would carry her off somewhere.

The once proud heiress stared at that same hand. A million emotions swirl within her orbs as memories best left in the past surfaced. She could feel her own palms shaking. Her mind was screaming now and her heart was hammering. How could it be so easy for all of those feelings to pour over her like nothing had ever happened. The prince caught her expression before he retracted it. She wasn't ready, and, although he smoldered down the emotion, it still hurt. He awkwardly cleared his throat, "This way then." Quickly giving her his back he led her to the dining area reserved mostly for the nearby scientists. He felt her walk in step silently beside him. This was all so strange, and felt so wrong. It was as if for that one moment they were strangers again. There was a glimpse of what could have been, and he had to go and ruin it. Was everything his fault? He gave her his attention as she cleared her own throat.

"Sorry…" It came out as a whimper.

He eyed her, "what did you just say?"

"I'm...I'm sorry. Sorry...for not taking your hand."

"Don't mention it," he sighed inside, "I am sure I somehow deserved it." He continued getting the two coffee's just the way they used to drink them and chose a secluded table near the window.

The scientist couldn't meet the prince's gaze. What the actual fuck was wrong with her! How was after one stupid smirk, she turned into this pathetic school girl! No! She shouldn't have feelings for him! After he had shown his true colors, after they had gotten her! However, just one look and she was already ready to give in. Maybe she should talk to him...really talk to him. After all, he was sleep deprived, what were the chances he wouldn't remember their conversation? She took a seat and looked at him staring out the window with his chin resting on his palm. Her own hands were folded, trembling in her lap as she summoned what little courage she had left, "Vegeta, after...after we finish this negotiation. Can we talk...really talk?"

He looks a little shocked at first then looks at her, really looks, "yeah, I'd like that." He reached down and pulled out the tablet logs and begun searching for all the pertinent information about the case. All the broadcast videos in the gruesome collection, copies of the pamphlets, propaganda sheets that were scattered throughout the empire, and finally, all the information they had on Cooler's private vessel. This information he had been staring at for weeks unsure of how to proceed, he knew with her one glance, she would have a plan. She was reliable, he hated to admit it, but far more reliable than he could ever be.

Her azure eyes narrowed down in concentration as she studied the material before her. "Do you guys have a copy of Cooler's ship's log or maybe a list of places it frequents?"

"We have a basic list of the last hundred or so places the ship was spotted." He points out the ship notes in one of the main folders.

"There is something not quite right about all this...We are missing too much information here.."

"Look, I don't care about what stupid mudballs this bastard visits. I only care about where he is when I am on the mission to get that blasted girl back." He set the tablet down and folded his arms in annoyance. For the first time showing his old, true self. The scientist had to hold back a knowing smile as she caught a hint of the old Vegeta she used to know and love. Instead, she focused her attention of the matter of what she was clearly spotting, and he was missing.

"It matters, Vegeta, because I need to know which tech facilities he has visited and what upgrades his ship might have. Vegeta, do you have any idea the kinds of things I was forced to create in Cooler's research facility?"

"Weapons?" He ventured a guess which, in turn, earned him a deadpan expression from the cheeky woman sitting across from him.

"Life ending weapons, poisons, diseases, and shields and that is just the start of it. I was the best scientist he had at that facility. I am concerned because they are most likely going there to collect my work and possibly use it here." She pinched the bridge of her nose as she realized just how dangerous all of this had suddenly become. Why hadn't she listened to her instincts that told her to run with her son as far away as possible when he confronted her. Now she was looking into an impossibly dangerous situation with the person she hadn't dealt with in half a fucking decade in order to save an innocent girl.

"You know how to stop these weapons... right?" He raised an incredulous, signature eyebrow at her capabilities.

"In theory...but I am not sure where my old notes or even my old blueprints are. Kinda had to leave immediately. I will see what I can do from memory, but there is a chance you may have to send someone to go back and get my things."

"Are you kidding me? That facility already cost us six good men and now you wanna send more men there just to jog your damn memory." Letting out an aspirated sigh at the sheer ignorance the Woman seemed to carry with her. Some things never changed, the damn princess demanding everything at her sheer whim without any real knowledge of the consequences she was truly asking. Judging by the even look he was receiving, he made a mental note to slide back his sarcasm lest he rock the leaking boat they found themselves in.

"First, do we agree to the terms I set?" Choosing to ignore the slide comment from the prince, Bulma pushed forward with the reason they were talking in the first place.

"We wouldn't be having coffee, and I wouldn't be showing you classified information, if I hadn't agreed."

"You got a contract that you can make real quick?"

"I can do that while we talk." He reached in the bag and grabbed her out a pad of paper and a writing utensil. "Write and talk." He flipped the tablet back around and began to type up a rough draft version of the contract she wanted after setting the two items before her.

"Right." She picked up the pad and began to write out the items she was going to need for everything she may need to make. "Alright then, so first I'll need these items and deliver to Bardock's lab. I should get started on the planet's shield before any of the other projects. I don't want to waste time searching for his ship while leaving us out in the open like sitting ducks. We need to have some sort of protection already in place. So in total I will need at least 2 shields; one for a ship that will be used in the rescue mission, and the other for the planet. Maybe a third for the palace? We will cross that bridge when we get to it. We need to get better intel on his whereabouts. Do you have tracking devices we could use?"

"No tracking devices, but we currently have intel from inside the organization."

"Yeah, I don't trust that. I will find another way to track them, luckily for you, I just need a decent digital signal and a good computer to hack into his pathetic firewall. From there I can access a secure hidden server to run a tracking system program. OOoo I could also get all my blueprint and research from that as well. After all, it is what I used to do to create a serum to stabilize Trunks since he has that been so sick lately." She didn't bother to look up from her writing as the dark prince dropped his tablet and was staring at her with eyes wide and mouth ajar. The scientist paid no mind as she continued to work.

"You are gonna catch flies with your mouth open like that Vegeta."

"You can hack into his firewall? What exactly have you been researching?! Wait, you have no idea what he is sick with?"

The change in tone made her pause her writing as she looked back up at him, "Is there a problem?"

"Several, but woman, how can you be the most intelligent woman I have ever met, yet the most dense!"

"Keep up the insults, cause I am sure that will make me not walk away."

"First, if you can break into the system, you can get access to the universal-" He stops when Bulma puts up a hand.

"No I couldn't genius, I couldn't risk connecting to any outside source since it would cause flags to what I was doing. I am sure they have searched all over their network with a fine tooth comb, but unless you are me, you will never find my research server. It is where I keep everything to counteract, or cure everything I was forced to create...it was my way to make up for the lives that were affected by me. A piss poor way, but better than living with that on my conscience. Anyway, what is it to you!" She glared with defense.

"No. I am talking about the brat woman. What have you been researching?" He changed the subject in a way to end a fight before it got started.

"When Trunks got sick, I didn't have access to any information about sicknesses Saiyan's could get. It was a lot of touch and go in the beginning...there were a few close calls…"

"Close calls?"

"I almost lost him...more times than I like to admit..." An unsettling silence shifted the conversation as neither said a word as the statement hung in the air between them. For what seemed as eternity, Bulma decided to clear her throat and move on, "Luckily I was able to create something to keep his symptoms at bay for the most part."

"Woman, only one disease is known to affect Saiyans, it is called the Saiyan virus. Typically it is seen in adult Saiyans. The virus itself was created as a genetic way to keep the strongest and weed out the weak members of our race. There is no known cure, and certainly no way to 'keep symptoms at bay'. Woman, what you have created could be the most valuable thing to Saiyans to date."

"Not that I am complaining, but why is it your race doesn't want to stop the virus?"

"Because, someone once showed me life is precious, and being reminded that my entire race could be taken away in the blink of an eye, I am doing this new thing where I like to preserve my species."

"Goku really has rubbed off on you, huh?" She teased.

"Hmph, Kakarot didn't do shit. I just don't want to deal with with losing another Saiyan over an illness when the fucking Kold's are at our door."

"Awe Veggie, I didn't know you cared so much." She watched his eye twitch slightly at her old nickname for him in her sweetest, condescending tone of voice.

"Shut it Woman or I just might add my own conditions in your stupid contract."

"Yeah, yeah, we all know you are a big softy underneath all that angst, just admit it."

"You do not know me."

"Don't I?" She smugly brought the coffee cup to her lips as she sipped.

"Could have fooled me, but how did you end up with a son in the first place?" He dodge sideways as she spewed coffee in her coughing fit.

"Cheater!" She coughed.

"If you can't handle what you dish out, don't be talking shit. Now here, sign." He turned the tablet over as he watched her compose herself. Lightly she coughed while cleaning up the table with the spare napkins.

Glaring at him, she took the tablet from him as he piled up the napkins onto the corner of the table. She read over the information and gave a nod in approval. "I just have one more question before I sign this."

"What?"

"What kind of house are you thinking about?"

"Nothing ridiculous like your home on that mudball, but something like the other houses in the human settlement. Does it really matter?"

"Of course it does, Trunks and I have to live in it. Where would it be located? Near Goku and Chi's, or would it be closer to the palace?"

"Considering where you're working it would be best if you were closer to the palace, however, considering how nosey my sister and the rest of the council is it would be safer to keep you at the settlement."

"Chi-Chi has kindly offered to homeschool Trunks and Goku has offered to train him with Goten and Gohan. Probably at the settlement and near them would be best for everyone."

He nods, "of course. I will arrange a plot of land for you as well as a car." He starts working more on his tablet.

"Wow, I am actually impressed." She folds her arms, her gaze attempting to dig into him.

"I'm a prince not a child woman. This level of planning is no problem for someone like me." He looks almost insulted at her compliment.

"No, I just mean how adult you are acting. After all I said, not one peep out of you on how I am going to let Trunks be trained by Goku or educated by Chi-Chi. Just impressed is all."

"You won't even let me speak to the boy woman. I'm not such a fool as to try to argue my place in this since I haven't had a say since the beginning." His weary gaze trained on the tablet in his hands..

"Well, if you had a choice of who should train him, who would you pick? Who would be best for him?"

"Who I would pick doesn't matter at this point considering I would have to expose everything for it to happen." He rubs the bridge of his nose contemplating deeply.

"You are right, forget I mentioned anything. I shouldn't ask something like that of you. Anyway, are you ready for me to sign?"

"Sign away." His eyes watch closely for her to sign, his mind back on the main problem.

Taking her finger, Bulma reached over and elegantly wrote her name as she tried to advert his stare. "There, done." Suddenly her throat felt dry and she quickly finished the remainder of her coffee. She attempts to clear her throat while still avoiding Vegeta's stare.

"So back to the issue," he pulls up more information, "I need a way to get in and out of that ship without being noticed. Another problem is in these images the girl is clearly wearing a special collar, one I have never seen before." He pulls up the clipped video footage and zooms into the item in question. "I believe this will be the biggest problem during the rescue. As currently I have no way of completing this mission without both of us dieing."

Letting out a heavy sigh, she looks at the footage with great reluctance. It was one thing to see the broadcasting, but quite another to see the child in the clip again. This whole situation tied her heart in knots. As a mother, it was deplorable to watch a young child endure the torture, and as a scientist, it made her skin crawl to see her inventions be used to cause harm on an innocent. "Yeah, that one is mine. I created special collars I named ki dampers. Basically they inhibit your ability to use energy, rendering anyone who uses power useless. As for removing it, I know how to unlock it…" Guilt filled her as she dared not look away from her handiwork. She caused this, she had a hand in this poor girl's torture. It made her stomach sink and her blood icy cold, but that was nothing compared to what this girl was enduring. This no longer was a way to get income and to live on this planet, this had just became personal. "I can create a device to disable its effects. It won't kill her once you use it. I will also make it so you pull it off and turn it back on, so they think she is still in her cell to not raise suspicion."

He looks on amazed, "that easily?"

"Vegeta, believe it or not, I have gotten a lot smarter than I was back on Earth."

"Amazing . . . So this rescue is truly possible?"

"I will make it possible. There is no try for me. I want to hurt those monsters right where it hurts, but first I want to save her. So after we rescue her, I want to be part of the team to take them down, starting with the low-life piece of shit Frieza. The only reason he is alive is because of my technology and I want him dead."

"Easier said than done. I am still not strong enough."

"Look, all you need to do is get me in that lab, and I'll get you what you need. It will take me a few days, but as long as I know Chi-Chi can look after Trunks, I'll get everything you want and more." A few moments of silence pass and when Bulma looks up she sees Vegeta studying the picture closer.

"Something bothers me about this girl though." His gaze turning more serious at the picture, "never has the Saiyan census ever missed a first class member of our race, and yet, this noble girl pops up out of nowhere."

"Is she really from Vegeta-sei, or is she one that was born off planet?"

"Born off planet or not, our census is extremely thorough. We use DNA sensors to make sure as well."

The young mother could only scoff, "Your census is crap. Did it detect Trunks? No, and who knows where some Saiyans were when your planet was originally destroyed. All I am saying, is that it doesn't account for every single Saiyan. Maybe this one is different. And...you are right, there is something strange about her."

"I said first class woman meaning pure Saiyans only. What did you think was strange about her?"

"Just something...I can't place it. Are you sure she is a noble's daughter?"

"Well we know because she has distinct first class features," he points at the picture," her hairline, her muscle structure, all clear markers of all 1st class Saiyans."

Looking closer at the still frame, she narrows her eyes in concentration. Something didn't sit well with her, as if this child looked so familiar. Bulma could only shake her head at the notion. "It's nothing, I think it is because I have a child. I am imagining Trunks in her place. Okay, well like I said Vegeta, give me a lab and I will get what you want done."

He nods in agreement and looks over the contract.

"So is that all you need from me?" She finishes the rest of her coffee and looks at him. She slides the list of her needs across the table towards him.

He finishes his tablet work then looks over the list in silence, "I suppose...when would you like to get started? Bardock's lab has the majority of these items already."

"After I get settled into my home and see to my son. Until then, I think it is best to wait."

"You don't need to wait to get settled. Time is of the essence."

"And my son comes first, and so does our living arrangement."

"Stubborn wench."

"Could say the same about you, egotistical jerk." Both stared at the other silently until they both broke out into light laughing.

"Some things never change." He shook his tired head.

"To be honest Vegeta, it looks like you need a break. Why not get some sleep?"

"Some of us have a planet to rule, you know."

"Isn't that your father's job?"

"As of late, not really. He has passed this 'honorable' project onto me."

"So, in short, basically a big 'fuck you' to your face."

"Pretty much."

Letting out a sigh as she folded her arms, "You know Vegeta, why do you put up with that? You never used to take anyone's crap. So, why change that now?"

"Because I had nothing left to lose." He set the tablet aside and finished the rest of his coffee.

"You should take my advice, get some sleep or something. You look like Goku just beat you."

"Sure, I'll do that, after I save this girl, calm down the riots, build your house, defeat the Kolds and take of the empire."

"Snarky as ever." Standing up she dusted herself off. "Let me know when you've completed it. Once I know Trunks is settled, I'll come in and get right to work."

"That is wasting time."

"Trunks comes first. I thought we agreed to that." Her tone was final. He let out an aggravated groan, but there was nothing he could do as at the edges of his sense, he felt the familiar presence of the royal messenger approaching to collect him.

"Expect it to be finished in a few days."

"I don't expect anything less from the Prince of Saiyans." She gave him a wink and patted his shoulder as she made her way to the exit just as the royal messenger walked past her to approach the royal prince of his people. By now, the dark prince had collected his belongings and threw out the coffee as he faced the man.

"Yeah, yeah, I am coming. I am sure father is pitching a fit." Swinging his bag over his shoulder, he made his way with the messenger to the meeting room where he was sure his family was waiting. He had to prevent himself from looking over his shoulder as he felt her eyes burning into his back. He couldn't stop the smirk however as he inwardly chuckled to know that he could still predict her with the way he moved. The moment was short lived as he shifted his focus on the task at hand: meeting with council.

That broadcast had put everyone on edge and he was fairly certain that damage control would be long underway. Begrudgingly he pushed open the doors and beared witness to the chaos within the hall. He caught sight of his sister and father yelling while his mother sitting and shaking her head while the others in the room bickered amongst themselves. Feeling the weight of the tension in the room, he rubbed a calloused hand over his strained face and without as much as a word, entered into the room. He approached his spot and set his bag down, ignoring the look his mother gave him for his tardiness.

After situating himself, he glanced over at his mother who's glare only seemed to dig into him deeper. The prince chose at that moment to ignore her silent accusations and clear his throat. This had drawn the attention from those around him including his other parent and sibling.

"And where the hell have you been!" Bellowed out his father.

"Cleaning up the mess." He met his father's gaze with a dark one of his own.

"Now don't you dare start with me, Brat!"

"And why shouldn't he! He knows that this is bad!" His sister beat him to his own rebuttal.

"Enough of this." Came the calm, but deadly tone of his mother which silenced the room. She eyed her mate as he removed himself from their daughter's personal space and slammed himself back into his seat. The Queen of the Saiyans paid little mind to the tantrum of her mate and daughter. She turned her heated gaze towards her son that took his spot with his stoic expression. Once order had returned to the room, she cleared her throat once more. "I have had quite enough of the notion of entertaining this atrocious behavior any longer. We are going to act like the rulers we are; instead of arguing like sniveling 3rd class subordinates!" The authoritative tone rang out in the hall that left little room for argument.

"Mother! We cannot allow this to go on any longer! The people are crying out for justice! We need to move forward and-"

"I have heard quite enough of your incessant whining Kalei! That Saiyan brat, no matter what background, is none of our concern!"

"Then why are the Saiyan people beginning to rise up! Why is it that the Kolds have now broadcasted the torture of the noble girl twice now! We are going to lose faith with our people if we do nothing! A Saiyan is still a Saiyan! We cannot let our enemy play with us any longer!" Kalei's voice rang out in the silent hall as her mother gazed bored at her and her father tried his best to control his outrage.

Kalei, I am done playing this game with you, our decision is final. We will not give into the Kolds as we will also not give into the radical group using this as their opportunity for personal gain. I repeat, our decision is final. We will not hear about this topic again from you. You are far too old to be chasing a fairy tale where we are the heroes of the universe."

"Mother, she has a point." A new voice, the voice of her son, spoke up and now all eyes are on the future heir of the planet.

"Not another fucking word, Brat!" Came the low threat of his father as all could see the current ruler dig his nails into the throne and took a deep breath. "That brat isn't the real issue here and you know it, we are currently in a ceasefire agreement with the Kolds. Wouldn't things be just so peachy for them if we were to break the agreement first. Brat more importantly any word on those assassins?"

"None have made it past Frieza's dock father." Vegeta answers taking a worried glance at his sister who at the time had no idea that was the original plan.

"ASSASSINS!? Brother you can't be serious!" Her lip trembles with anger as she glared daggers at her brother. The look of betrayal turned to contempt as her gaze went from her brother to her father.

"Kalei, if we can't save her, then wouldn't you agree that it is a kindness to be killed by her own kind? A death by a Saiyan hand is more honorable than to be killed by some enemy?" He couldn't deny that the look she gave him made his chest suddenly feel tight, but he didn't have enough time to process it as he took in the temperature of the room.

"That worthless brat caused us enough time and money as it is! Even if we could get her back, I would have her locked up for all of eternity for the inconvenience she has caused!" The King promise echoed with the slamming of his fist on the throne. "How did it already come to this?"

"I believe I can answer that your highness," spoke up one of his councilman while standing up carefully. "In any normal situation, the public could care less about a single Saiyan life. However, since the discontempt for the royal family has grown, rebels are now using this girl as a poster child for how the royal family feels about the general public. Your highness they are gaining support at alarming rates."

"I am well aware." The King replies with a dark tone to which forces the counselor to quickly find his seat again. The slight tremble of the councilman made it clear he might be seeing his life flash before his eyes. Ignoring the fool, the King continued to intimidate those in the room with his regal power, "We cannot afford open war with the Kolds at this time, that brat is a curse." He could only stare down all those in the room in irritation. "It's more important that these broadcasts stop permanently, or else I will make them stop and we all know how it is when I have to get my hands dirty."

"Father," Vegeta speaks carefully keeping his eye off his mother, "I do not think we can get through this without rescuing that girl."

"I agree with brother," Kalei says hoping adding her opinion will add more weight.

King Vegeta's laugh echoed the suddenly still room. It was the kind of laugh that gave promise of death and sent chills down one's spine, "So my insolent children, clearly you wish to stand up against me? Fine, I'll play your little logical game, what do you propose we do instead? Should you even step foot on that ship you will have broken the agreement thus starting a war we just went over we are not prepared for? Say we do get this girl back without detection, in what fucking ways is she even good to us? The rebels will find some other poster child to rally behind. She is what she is; a means to an end and you two, with your bleeding hearts and sniveling noses, want to jeopardize the entire Saiyan race over some fucking child!"

"Father if we save her secretly, then use her as our poster child the rebels will lose some of their support. We want to save grace, and I agree with that. So, why not take the fuel out of their ship? I very well might have a way to save that girl undetected." The room goes silent, all eyes on the next heir.

The king stares his son down for a few moments, gaging the seriousness of his tone knowing full well if he is spotted they will be at war. "Fine, I am sick of this entire situation. I have had just enough from you and your sister. You think you can do any better than me? You think you can resolve this? Well, then if you think you if you have the means to follow through your little plan, then by all means do it."

"My precious mate," the Queen speaks carefully seething through her teeth, "are you sure this is the correct action? We don't even know if that girl is a Saiyan!"

"Either way, this incessant topic is finally put to rest. If he thinks he can handle a war, then it will be his mess to clean up. I am done trying to make sense and rule with him stopping me at every turn. He claims he can handle this and take on the bloody Kolds, why not let him put his ruling suit on. We have a spare heir and it will be the people's opinion he cares about most that will deem him worthy of leading us into a new era he desperately wishes to force us through. So why not let him have his little rescue plan. If he fails then he is dead, and if he succeeds, then that is at least one problem that can be eliminated. I've had about all I am willing to put up for today, dismissed."

The queen was furious, not only had her husband made a decision that would affect her children, he did it while undermining her. She followed him out with a purpose. Speaking of walking with purpose, Kalei followed her brother with equal passion out of the council room eager to catch him for a few 'explanations'.

"Brother!" She yelled following close as she could behind him, "we need to have a little chat."

"Kalei, not now. I have a rescue and a war to plan." He growled lowly as he continued to make his way down the hall. "If you hadn't noticed, Father just gave the reigns to me to start a fucking war with the Kolds. So whatever blowup you have planned for me, I don't have the time to fix right now." He turned the corner as he was heading towards the labs.

"Stop right now! You planned to send assassins after that poor girl!" She grabs his arm furious with his nonchalant attitude. "You also have to realize what you're asking to do is a suicide mission, that's the only reason he agreed to it." She now needed to understand his plan, what made him so sure he wouldn't kill everyone? What made him think he could do this safely?

"Kalei, I know you are feeling in the dark, but trust me, the less that you know the better it will be for you. Just trust I know exactly what I am doing. I know the Kolds better than anyone else. I have been behind enemy lines for years, and I certainly know how they fucking work. So drop this. I need to focus what little energy I have left on what needs to be done before the end of the day turns from a shit show to a fuck show. So can you just drop it and accept that I know what I am doing for once? I am nothing like that bastard." He yanked his arm back as he glared at her with determined eyes.

She felt the same eyes on her that mimicked her own. The older sibling was typically the voice of reason for the pair of them, and Kalei rarely went after him, but for some reason, this struck a chord with her. "I am sorry brother, but I can't let this go. How can you even claim to be nothing like father, but yet you attempted to kill her?"

"You think that I really sent anyone after her? Do you really think I would put our own in danger like that?"

"Whatever you need to convince yourself to sleep better at night."

"Dammit Kalei, would you stop baiting, I told you! I don't have time for this."

"But time to send out killers!"

"You want to take this to the training room?"

"Fine by me." She folded her arms with her narrowed gaze.

With a frustrated, inward groan, the Prince brushed past her from the direction of the labs to the training area. It seemed that any hope of getting a headstart wouldn't be happening today. Perhaps tomorrow, he could run his ideas with the Woman and have her make up for lost time. But, right now, he had a sibling he needed to put in her place. He couldn't have everyone questioning his motives at every turn. He felt her fall in step behind him as he made it towards the training area. They briefly separated to change into their attire and met at their usual spot. Her long hair was pulled back in a ponytail braid while he only changed into his training shorts; a habit he couldn't kick from Earth. He saw her smirk at him as he knew some cocky rebuttal was coming.

"Not wearing armor makes it easy to hurt you, you know."

"Clearly you know nothing about Earthling customs."

"It is talk like that, many could deem you a traitor, but then killing your own kind by sending them on a suicide mission just adds fuel to the fire."

"I plan to go alone in case you weren't listening." He gets some stretching in. He smirks as her expression changes from anger to worry only for a second.

"You're an even bigger fool if you think you can wander onto a Kold ship alone and do anything but die." The sparring match starts as Kalei tries to kick him in the face.

"Kalei this is stupid," he dodges her kick with ease moving to make a few strikes of his own, "I never sent any assassins after the girl, none of them would ever make it and we all knew it."

"Well . . . why didn't you tell me about father's plan?"

"Why should I? It doesn't concern you, besides you always act like a child if anyone says anything you don't like. For example, right now." He smirks dodging a few strikes from his angry little sister.

"That isn't the point! I thought we were a team! I thought you trusted me!" Her anger getting the better of her. For the Prince, it was something of deja vous, only that his sister would have blue hair and a more petite frame made for lab work. He couldn't help but chuckle, which only insulted his sister further. "Stop laughing! I am going to wipe that stupid smirk off your face!"

"Kalei, you are just too damn predictable." He easily sidesteps and dodges each of her attacks. She only grew angrier as he was now toying with her emotions. If she couldn't get her feelings in check, this match was only going to be one-sided.

"I said stop laughing! This isn't funny!"

"What? The fact you are throwing a tantrum instead of speaking to me as an adult?"

"I swear, you won't be laughing once I get a punch on you!"

"Aww, the baby of the family doesn't like it when I am right?"

"That's it!" She screamed and began to use her attacks more seriously. It gave her small satisfaction that he was now dodging more seriously.

They played this game now, she would attack and he would evade her maneuvers. He wanted her to get out her frustration, ironically he was very much the same way on Earth. Fight until he couldn't anymore and then talk it all out. He knew she was pissed, but he could hardly blame her. If the roles were reversed, he might lash out the same way. Then again, he wasn't a youthful brat anymore.

It was almost an hour of this game before he could feel her begin to slow down. "Kalei, think we can break for a drink, yet?" He pretended to be winded, as if he was struggling to keep up with her pace.

"Really? You think the Kolds would allow you a break if you needed water?" She chastise him without the humor. No she was using a tone that was full of concern. He could see her thoughts connecting; how was he going to go up against the Kolds if he couldn't last a few rounds seriously with her.

"Kalei, I just need a drink and last time I checked, this wasn't a life or death situation. So can we?" He asked again. He watched the guilt fill her expression as if maybe she took this too far; which only made him inwardly chuckle. She was more human than he liked to admit.

She finally stopped her advances and looked away with a sigh, "brother? How are you going to survive this? I know you're strong, but walking onto their ship to save that poor girl?"

"Because I have a secret weapon. You want to know my secrets, then I need to trust you fully. I need you to really be willing to put your life on the line if pressured to know how. So, you sure you want to know something that could threaten your life? Think carefully your answer, because once you know, you are bound to sacrifice it should it come down to someone demanding answers."

She looks up into his face, "Tell me after you save her, then you have more than enough reason to make it through alive."

"Kalei, I have many reasons to come back, and you are one of them. Besides, I can't let the old man run our kingdom into the ground; more than he already has."

"Just be careful alright? I'm not ready to be the heir." She gives him a small smile as she takes a bottle of water.