Disclaimer: I don't own DBZ or the characters. Just my OCs.

Wow, I can't believe it's been two years since I worked on many of my stories. I had a big project going on, in addition to finishing up school. I edited the majority of my stories and added them to AO3 also. It took quite a long time, but now I am back and ready to write. Can't wait to delve deeper into this story :D

Trunks walked into the medical ward and found Kuriza asleep. The prince's eyes narrowed at the frost demon. Although he had yet to discuss this happenstance with his father, Trunks knew there was already upheaval in his family. Something was amiss, something that came with this monster. His mother and Aunt Tights were already involved, though. They locked themselves in the lab earlier in the day. Whatever was going on was still kept quiet within the palace walls. If word got out, there would be panic among all on Planet Vegeta.

Kuriza started to stir, his eyes bleary from sleep. He could barely make out the visage in front of him. He squeezed his eyes shut and opened them again, but still could not see the person well. Whoever it was resided by the doorway. "Wh-who's there?"

The prince gave the Arcosian a sideward glare. The timidity in this frost demon's voice must be a front. There was no way the cretin was scared of them. They hadn't hurt him as of yet, not that they would stoop so low. Unless Kuriza was just scared of the Saiyans through hearsay as Frieza was, which was likely, there was no reason to behave so cowardly.

Trunks forced his expression to remain neutral, despite his anger and animosity toward the Arcosian, before he turned to face his patient. "Your doctor for the afternoon."

When he came more into view and Kuriza's vision cleared, the Arcosian's mouth dropped open in surprise. "Y-y-you're the—"

"Prince Trunks, at your service," the prince sarcastically replied. Unfortunately…

Kuriza's expression fell, and he seemed to try to back away. This cowardliness and fear were not the reactions Trunks expected. He was slightly taken aback, but only slightly.

"I had no idea you were a doctor," Kuriza remarked. "I…you don't need to treat me. Someone else can…"

Trunks's eyes narrowed, and his energy rose a bit in his anger. "Do you honestly think we're alerting anyone to your presence yet?" he hissed. "The intergalactic peace summit will be held here in just a few days, but I'm sure you knew that. Is that why you're here? To wreak havoc beforehand?"

"N-no, Prince Trunks," Kuriza replied. "I told your father… My people developed a virus that could seriously harm your people. I brought a sample so a cure can be developed."

The Saiyan prince was unconvinced. "I bet you're going to tell me that your people attacked you." Kuriza's expression fell when he heard Trunks's tone, and the doctor crossed his arms and smirked. "Nothing to say?"

Kuriza looked away and shook his head. "I know you have no reason to trust me," the Arcosian murmured solemnly, "but I'm serious. I mean you no harm. I'm… I'm not…" Trunks's brow furrowed when he took note of the Arcosian's hesitance. "I'm not my father."

The room grew a few degrees colder, and Trunks could feel a shift in Kuriza's demeanor. The Arcosian kept his gaze on the wall, but his eyes looked…sad? But that couldn't be right. The frost demons Trunks grew up hearing stories about and even met personally when he fought against Cooler… They never wore any emotion aside from anger or hatred, or in Cooler's case, virtually nothing at all. Trunks never expected to see an Arcosian look so…so…human.

The doctor relaxed his posture, arms at his sides. "You're really telling the truth," Trunks marveled. Kuriza flinched, and uncertain eyes met Trunks's. "About the virus at least." Kuriza appeared crestfallen, but he nodded a few times. "Why would your people attack you?"

Kuriza's tensed form lost only some of its rigidity. "I'm not the ruler they wanted," he admitted. "Honestly, I'm only 'in charge' because of who my father was. My people… They only coronated me to be a figurehead. I'm not really in power. There are so many secret projects in development that I don't know about, some started by each member of my family."

The Arcosian tilted his head so that he could look Trunks directly in the eyes. "Prince Trunks, I swear to you on my life that I am not like them. I'm here because I couldn't just sit back and let them harm others, especially not due to some personal vendetta. I need you to believe me. Someone has to believe me!"

Trunks froze when the Arcosian gasped from his own admission. Wet tears poured from his patient's eyes. A pit formed in Trunks's stomach, most likely from guilt. The prince was supposed to be a doctor, objective as much as he was the night before when the Arcosian was unconscious. Hell, this was his shift to treat and monitor the Arcosian's health, and yet he picked a fight and stressed the alien out more. No matter his opinions or disgust with the Arcosian race, Trunks needed to do his job.

"Kuriza," Trunks called out, his voice calmer than it was moments ago. The Arcosian was startled by the change in the Saiyan's demeanor. "Your body needs rest. I'll bring you some food now that you're awake."

Trunks left the room, and after the door closed, he leaned his head against it. He crossed a line, and he knew it. He'd have to talk to his uncle to get his advice on treating enemies before he returned.

Bulla sighed as she put down her paintbrush. She spent the entire morning immersed in her art. The room she used as her studio was filled with mats, paints, and drying canvases. It was her safe space away from the hustle and bustle of being the Saiyan princess, her not so secret getaway. Everyone knew never to bother her when she was in the zone.

"Hey, Bulla," Goten chimed, a warm grin on his face.

Bulla's expression brightened as she turned to her mate and smiled at him. There was always one exception to the rule. "Hey, you," the princess greeted. "I thought you had army drills today."

Goten shrugged. "Rescheduled," he returned. "Dad actually gave us the day off. It was weird."

That piqued Bulla's curiosity. "How so?"

Dark eyes furrowed, both from disbelief and confusion. "My grandfather showed up. For like, the second day in a row to see Dad."

Bulla could understand her lover's confusion. For the longest time, Bardock avoided his family like the plague. Even when they all reunited on Earth, Bardock kept his distance from everyone. Goten and Gohan barely interacted with the man, and they only spotted their father and uncle with their grandfather enough times to count on one hand or less.

"I don't really know what's going on," Bulla empathized, "but I know Cella, Tarble, and Little Gine are staying with him. Maybe it's helping him, to be around family."

Goten didn't look convinced and still felt wary. "I don't know. Dad barely ever mentioned his dad when I was growing up. I mean, Gohan and I hardly asked, but the times where we did, Dad would say it was complicated and he didn't really know the man despite living with him all those years. I just…"

"You don't want your dad to get hurt," Bulla observed. She stood up from her stool and cupped Goten's face in her dry paint-covered hands. "And that is very sweet. You're a loving son. But you shouldn't worry so much about your dad. He's a very strong person, and he knows how to handle himself."

"If he knew how to handle himself," Goten murmured, "then why did he keep me and Gohan in the dark about so much? I mean, didn't he trust us to support him?"

Bulla shook her head. "It's not about a lack of trust," the princess assured him. "Dad struggled to tell us about his past, and he really only did when we asked him directly. Did you ever ask your dad about his life as a Saiyan?"

"Sometimes," Goten replied. "Not often, because we knew he was trying to keep it hidden to protect us. I only got to see Dad let out his Saiyan side when we were dealing with everything with Cooler and now in these training sessions."

Bulla smiled and said, "Then you two have plenty of time to get acquainted with that side of your history. You can ask him why he kept it from you, you know."

A light laugh escaped her mate. "Yeah, you're right. I know. Maybe that's what he's trying to do now, connect with his dad to get some answers, or at least learn more about who he is."

"Your family has a lot to heal from and adjust to," Bulla reminded him. "There's no need to rush it."

Goten smirked seductively and whisked his mate in his arms. "When did you get to be so wise?"

Bulla grinned and leaned in to kiss the man. "When I saw that, with time, everything works out." She wrapped her arms around Goten and laced her fingers through his hair. "Just like with us."

Goten didn't question it. He knew Bulla was right. After so many years of talking through a screen, they'd both just about given up on the possibility of being together. There was always the hope, but no way to make it happen. Then it did; their families were reunited. His mate was right. There were so many secrets and so much pain in their family histories that they needed to heal from, and everyone was on their way toward that goal becoming a reality.

Tights found herself running for her life in a forested environment. The sound of her footfalls pounded in her ears; she struggled to catch her breath. She knew she had to be careful not to make a sound or she'd be discovered, but it was next to impossible with all these leaves and branches everywhere.

The woman chanced a glance behind her but could only see the surrounding trees and the shadows they cast. She was being hunted. She knew she'd have to fight back eventually. The cyborg took a deep breath to center herself and used her energy to attack the shadow rushing toward her.

The shadow disappeared and reappeared in front of her, and two fingers touched her neck, going for the kill.

Tights breathed out and turned to see Tomaren smirking at her, and she smiled right back. "Your guard was down," her son told her. "If you were completely human and I was really going to kill you, you'd be dead."

"True," Tights replied, "but my goal during this game of ours was to escape your senses. I did really well until we brought this into a forest."

All of a sudden, the trees blurred as the virtual simulation disappeared, the mother/son pair surrounded by white walls. When the forest disappeared, Tomaren surprised his mother and wrapped his arms around her for a hug. Tights returned the hug happily.

"Oh son," she murmured fondly. "I hope you know I adore you."

"Mother," Tomaren whispered. He said nothing else, but knew his mother felt his love for her through their bond.

When the two separated, Tomaren and Tights left the training room. Tights took Tomaren's hand as they walked through the quiet halls of the palace. There was a comfortable silence upon them, but Tomaren wanted to fill the silence with conversation.

"Your energy is coming to you much easier," the former assassin observed. "Have you been sparring with Father?"

Tights nodded, a sheepish smile on her face. "I'm still nowhere close to being at either of your levels. Celen suggested I spar with your aunt to work on developing my instincts."

Tomaren nodded in approval. "The queen is a very skilled fighter," he appraised. "The princess would also be a good sparring partner."

Tights chanced a glance at her son. She knew he'd spent most of his life on a ship of soldiers. He was a well-trained assassin whose life was his position at Cooler's side. His formality was slowly starting to shed. He was most comfortable around Trunks, and now his mother and father. With the rest of the family, he was still coming around.

"Don't look at me like that," Tomaren remarked without even looking at his mother.

"Like what?"

Tomaren paused and turned to face the woman. "You're concerned for me. I am fine, Mother. I only called Aunt Bulma by her title because we were discussing training. I see everyone here as family, as people I can trust. Just…old habits."

The former assassin felt Tights's relief wash over him, and that set him at ease as well. "I understand," Tights replied. "I'm sorry. I'm a mother. I'll always worry about you, no matter what."

Tomaren was taken aback by the admission as much as the emotions behind it. Although he'd been free for several months, he'd grown to understand emotions, and he experienced love and affection from several family members and his intended, the intensity of certain emotions sometimes made him uncomfortable. Even so, it did touch his heart, one he never knew he possessed.

"I appreciate that."

The two continued their trek and reached the kitchen to grab lunch. They decided to take their meals to go in some capsules. Celen was at his and Tights's place, the home they once lived in when they first returned to Planet Vegeta. It was a much more welcoming place than it was in those times, and as such was a comfortable place to spend quality time together. After lunch, Tomaren figured he'd spar with his father.

So far, Tomaren didn't know about the frost demon in the medical ward.

Kuriza was surprised when Trunks returned with food a half hour after their first encounter. The Arcosian assumed he'd be left to his own devices. Truthfully, he wasn't insulted. He knew his people caused so much pain and terror throughout the universe. If Kuriza were of any other race, he'd treat the enemy the same way. It was just a fact that Kuriza came to accept.

Trunks felt a little better after he talked with his uncle. Celen told the prince that had he been faced with Kuriza awake, he probably would have reacted similarly. It didn't ease the guilt, but at least Trunks was not alone in what he felt. He just needed to overcome his hostility in the scope of treating the frost demon. Still, there was something about Kuriza, a genuine sincerity that none of his relatives seemed to possess. It would have been easy to just assume Kuriza was playing them, but Trunks sensed there was more to the destitute Arcosian. Trunks was reminded of Kuriza's reaction earlier when the alien leader dared to mention his father.

"How's the food?" Trunks attempted to make conversation, despite how awkward it was.

Kuriza took a drink of water after he ate some puffy and colorful dumpling. "It's delicious," the Arcosian politely answered. Although he was still restrained to the bed, Kuriza felt a thousand times better now that he had a meal in his stomach. He had no idea how long he'd been on Planet Vegeta. It felt like weeks had passed since he escaped his world. "How long was I out?"

Trunks shrugged. "You showed up here in the middle of the night last night, and it's between lunch and dinnertime now."

Kuriza was shocked. "I… It feels like I've been in bed for longer."

The Saiyan prince grimaced. "It's probably the painkillers and the aftereffects from being in the healing tank in the condition you were in."

Kuriza grew sober and sat up as best as he could. "Um, what was the extent of my injuries." He closed his eyes and clenched them shut tight as if trying to force himself to remember a traumatic ordeal. "I know they were firing at me." His hand jolted to his abdomen which was now free of a hole but possessed a huge scar where he was hit.

Trunks put on his professional guise and discussed the injuries the Arcosian sustained. "When I arrived in the medical ward, my Uncle Celen had already assessed your injuries. You had several abrasions from the crash, mostly superficial, but the fatal injury you sustained was your abdomen. You lost a lot of blood. We could not perform surgery so we administered several pain medications so that we could sew you up. The rest of your treatment took place in the healing tank. That helped to heal your internal injuries, but there is only so much the machine can do. That's why we have continued to give you a painkiller."

Kuriza nodded, but he kept his gaze on the white sheet that covered him. "I appreciate the fact that you've been trying to mitigate my pain levels, but is it possible to stop the painkiller? I…I don't want it."

"If that is what you want, fine," Trunks replied. "You should be out of the woods for the more serious pain."

Kuriza perked up at that. "You mean, you're not going to try to keep me drugged here?"

Trunks's brow furrowed. "Of course not. Look, we may be enemies, but I took an oath to do no harm when it comes to my patients. As of right now, that includes you. I would never stoop so low as—" Trunks cut himself off. He was getting into dangerous territory again.

Kuriza smiled sadly, his form tense. "It's okay, you can say it. It's nothing I don't know or haven't heard already. I do not blame you for how you feel about my people."

Trunks's eyes narrowed at a spot on the floor. "Your family did a lot of direct harm to my family," he spoke candidly. "I'm trying very hard not to let that color how I speak to you. I don't wish to stress you out further. Don't tell me it's okay to say something that clearly makes you feel uncomfortable."

"No matter where I go, I have always been uncomfortable," Kuriza admitted as his hands twisted the sheet into a tight spiral. "My people don't accept me. My family terrified me. The universe is terrified of me. There's nothing I can do about it, so I just accept it."

Trunks observed a lot of nervous ticks in his day, especially when his cousin was recovering from his ordeal with Cooler. Kuriza never looked Trunks directly in the eye when he spoke about the Arcosians or his feelings on the matter. He fidgeted quite a bit. His eyes glossed over as he tried to look outside of himself. The part of Kuriza's speech that stood out to Trunks was his own fear.

"You mean to tell me you were terrified of your own father?" Trunks asked. "Of Frieza?"

Kuriza looked completely paralyzed with fear, eyes wide, when his father's name was mentioned. The Arcosian shook and shivered, and Trunks was completely baffled by his reaction, brows furrowed and mouth dropped open as he observed Kuriza's reactions.

"Please, Prince Trunks," Kuriza begged. "Please don't mention him." Kuriza trembled in fear as he shakily met Trunks's gaze. "I-I-I can't talk about him. Please…"

"Why?" Trunks asked, genuinely curious.

Kuriza closed his eyes again and drew in a shaky breath. "You don't know," he breathed out weakly. Trunks was about to counter and present the stories he heard, but he stopped himself when Kuriza added, "You don't know what it was like to have him for a father."

That thought alone gave Trunks a lot to ponder. It was not something the Saiyan prince could deny. His thoughts remained on the conversation with Kuriza for the rest of the day.

Thia sighed as she absentmindedly scribbled in her notebook. She was in the garden with a light lunch, and she did not know what to do with herself these days. It hadn't been that long since she mated Trunks and broke away from her people. The Saiyans all accepted her as their crown princess, praised her for her bravery and loyalty, and treated her with respect and adoration. Thia knew she was now free to make choices for herself and do whatever she wanted.

She had no idea what that was.

The princess loved her newfound freedom and her right to choose her future path. Still, when she chose against her people, she chose Trunks and his people, and since then, that's all she knew she had to live for. Trunks encouraged her to get out of the palace and see what the world had to offer her. He gave her the freedom to explore without being watched or hovered over, and his people looked out for her when they saw her. It was a vastly different environment. Thia still had no idea what her purpose was, other than to be a supporting lover to her mate and soon-to-be husband once the joint matrimonial ceremony was held.

"You can be anything you want to be." It was like the voice of her mate always hit her memory whenever she got like this and questioned herself, her worth, and her abilities. Trunks always valued Thia just for being her, for what she could become, but Thia really didn't know who she was. She was never given a chance to explore it. Even with this newfound freedom, she grew overwhelmed because she couldn't envision doing anything. She felt like she was trapped, sometimes.

"Wow, that looks really amazing," the voice of Bulla's mate reached Thia's ears. She turned to see her fellow princess and prince walking over to her. "I didn't know you drew too."

Thia was confused, but then she looked down at her book and realized she'd been doodling an idea for an outfit she had in mind, a severely less conservative look than would be accepted on her home world, but much more tasteful than other styles of fashion.

"I don't, not really," Thia hummed absentmindedly. She offered her sister-in-law a bittersweet grin. "Bulla, how are you?"

"I'm doing okay today," the Saiyan princess replied as she took a seat beside Thia. Goten sat across from Bulla, and both looked at Thia. "Goten is right. That does look amazing."

"Thank you," Thia replied politely. She closed the book and set it aside. "I sometimes get ideas on what I would like to wear, and I try to draw it to remember."

Bulla smiled widely at her sister. "That's a really great idea. Have you ever thought about sending the sketches to the palace designer, or any of the shops in the city?"

Thia shook her head. "No, the thought never crossed my mind. What would they want with them?"

Goten and Bulla exchanged knowing glances. Bulla was one of Thia's biggest confidants, so she knew Thia had been struggling with the idea of becoming anything more than a princess. The Needellen princess had a lot of talent and skills, many of which she didn't see or recognize due to the oppressive ways of her people. She'd never been taught to utilize those skills. Professions for women were unheard of on Thia's origin planet. Still, every so often, Bulla, enlisting the help of Goten, did whatever she could to build her sister-in-law up, so that one day she might be able to express herself.

Thia's clothes designs were the best way.

The princess didn't know much about the worlds she became a part of, which meant she had no idea that her clothes designs could be popular, especially on a hot, arid planet such as Planet Vegeta. Even more, as a princess, there would be more interest from the public in Thia's designs. Everyone on the planet seemed to love Thia; they would all want to support her growth and look great doing it.

"These sketches may be cathartic for you," Bulla began, "but there are people who make a living off of selling their clothes designs to the fashion industry."

Thia seemed surprised by the idea and looked at Goten for confirmation. He nodded in agreement with Bulla. "I bet your sketches would be a big hit."

"I…never thought of that," Thia remarked. "I still don't know what I want to do with myself. Trunks tells me all the time that I should try to explore different things, so that I can find out what I want to do. I just worry… With nothing coming to me, am I doing it right?"

"There is no right or wrong way to discover yourself," Bulla empathized. She placed her hand on Thia's shoulder. "It takes time to decide what you want to do, even with family encouraging you to do that. You were stifled for so long. It's okay to take time for yourself. With your talent, you definitely could become a fashion designer, but it doesn't mean you have to. I was good at a lot of stuff growing up, but I ended up choosing something I needed to work at."

Again, Thia was stunned. "I thought you were always an artist."

Bulla laughed out loud and shook her head. "If you saw my earlier drawings, you would understand." She looked at Goten when she heard him chuckle. "What?"

"My favorite was that sketch of a pig you drew," Goten teased. "When you showed that to me, I laughed for days."

Bulla smiled and shook her head. "Hey, give me some leeway. I didn't have a model to use, just your description of a pig and mom's basic sketch when I asked her to draw me one for a reference. It did not look at all like a real pig."

Thia felt the tension leave her shoulders as she laughed along with the two. Although she had no idea what a 'pig' was, their jovial natures were infectious. "You might be right."

"We are right," Bulla assured Thia. "No matter what, you'll figure out what you want to do. Just ask questions, read books, go out to the city and explore. Eventually, this solemnity you're feeling will melt away into nothingness."

There would always be some lingering doubt in Thia's mind, but that was okay. She knew she'd come a long way in the few short months she'd been free of her captivity. It would take more time for her than others to make a connection with something. She really didn't know or understand all that was out there. At least she had a true family to help her through her journey.

Vegeta was in his study later in the day finalizing the details for the summit. So many races planned to attend, including the Nameks, Kanassans, and Earthlings. In just a few days, the ambassadors would arrive. The person they chose to represent Earth last-minute was Chi-Chi's father, the Ox King. Raditz and Peppan would come with him, not only to protect the man but to visit their family and friends as well.

The king leaned his head on his propped hand as he familiarized himself with the travel details. A knock on his door alerted him, the ki of his son on the other side.

"Come in, Trunks," Vegeta called. His son listened and entered, a sullen expression on his face. "What's wrong?"

Trunks hesitated. "It's Kuriza."

Vegeta darkened at the mention of his tormentor's son. "What the hell did that cretin do to you?"

"Nothing," Trunks said. "Absolutely nothing." The prince closed the door behind him. "I… As his doctor, I had to talk to him. We talked about his people and the supposed attack that landed him there. It led me to mention Frieza."

Vegeta steeled himself as he asked, "And what did he say?"

"At first, nothing," Trunks explained. "I...never saw someone so terrified before… Aside from Tomaren during his recovery." Trunks let the words sink in for a moment as Vegeta met his gaze incredulously. "Later, I questioned him more about his reaction. Kuriza asked me what it says about him that he's afraid of his father, that just hearing his name brings him so much dread and his body trembles in fear."

"What was your answer?" Vegeta questioned as he pondered Trunks's observations.

"I told him that it was more of a testament of how evil and bad Frieza truly was. That it is not a reflection of Kuriza."

Vegeta's head dropped in defeat. From the moment he met the Arcosian, everything felt off. The king wanted so hard to believe that another frost demon was laying his trap and lying through his teeth. Even he could see the fear and timidity, but Vegeta told himself it was all an act. Kuriza was Frieza's son, and therefore he was the enemy.

Vegeta could understand Kuriza's deep-rooted fear. The king experienced the tyrant's abuse first-hand. If Kuriza really did have significant PTSD from merely hearing his father's name… Vegeta actually pitied Kuriza.

Vegeta didn't know what to do with that.

Bulma was working hard on her observations and creating an antidote to this deadly toxin. More study helped the woman to see that it was exactly what it was, not a virus like Kuriza declared. However, it was a strange toxin, contagious by the exchange of body fluids. In a way, it did make it like a virus, one that could be undetected. Creating an antidote would be much easier than developing vaccines and anti-virals on short notice.

The queen was alone in the lab, and it felt almost haunting. Still, she was happy to take the reins on this. Tights had plans with her son, and Bulma refused to let another crisis interfere with their together time.

Vegeta entered the laboratory, his expression somber. Bulma could feel his conflicted emotions all day. Her brow quirked in question, but Vegeta avoided her concern and curiosity.

"What do you have to report?"

Bulma sighed but gave him his answer. "Kuriza was, surprisingly, telling the truth. What's in the canister isn't a virus but it's a toxin that mimics a virus. It does attack Saiyan cells, and the effects are exacerbated by energy use in battle. I'm working on an antidote to neutralize the toxin. I have to say I'm relieved. An antidote will be much easier to develop and more fast-acting than viral treatments."

Vegeta was only mildly astonished by the confirmation. The confliction within him only seemed to grow, his emotions a storm of uncertainty and distrust. The king sighed. "What do you think?"

Bulma didn't need Vegeta to elaborate on his words. "I think we should hear him out. We can do our own fact checking as we go along."

As much as Vegeta was about to regret his words, he admitted, "I believe Kuriza is telling the truth."

Bulma's eyes widened as she asked, "What makes you say that? Is that the reason I've been feeling your uncertainty?"

Vegeta nodded. "I know the voice of a liar, Bulma," he told her. "I want to believe so much that he's lying, but my instincts are screaming at me to believe him. It's like when I fought Piccolo during the W-MAT matches and I could instantly tell he was a friend, as he said. I believed his warnings and yet I didn't even know who he was or his race. The only thing keeping me from accepting these instincts now is that Frieza's son… He's the one I have to believe. I don't… I don't know if I can."

Bulma took Vegeta's hands in hers. "Vegeta, you do," the queen iterated. "I'm sorry. I know this is difficult, but you wouldn't be this torn up if he wasn't an Arcosian. Their people have done our family wrong so, so many times. No one would blame you for how you're feeling. I certainly don't."

Vegeta stepped toward his mate, hands still in hers, and leaned his forehead against hers. "I don't want to trust him," he admitted in a whisper.

"But you do," Bulma figured as their eyes met.

"But I do…"

Bulma wrapped her arms around Vegeta to hug him and then pushed him back gently to meet his gaze. He looked lost and tired, emotionally exhausted from this whole situation. She held him by the shoulders and said, "I promise I will get you all the information I can by today. Then, you can talk to Kuriza again."

Vegeta felt a wave of nausea wash over him at the thought. He couldn't believe he was even considering this—that Kuriza might be someone they could trust.

A moment later, someone unexpected entered the lab. Vegeta and Bulma openly gaped at Kakarot's father and stepped away from each other to approach him.

"Bardock," Bulma greeted with a smile. "This is a surprise. What can we do for you?"

"I spoke with Kakarot," Bardock declared, meeting Vegeta's stern gaze. "I know about the…visitor."

Bulma turned to Vegeta, eyes wide. She expected her mate to tell Kakarot everything, but she was surprised that Kakarot would say anything to his estranged father.

"Kakarot is not one to betray confidence," Vegeta calmly spoke. "Which means there is a reason he told you."

Bardock remained stoic, but his eyes clearly held some disbelief. It always seemed amaze the Saiyan how close his sons were with the royal family. "There is," Bardock explained. "I'm here to offer my expertise as a scientist."

The two royals were stunned. The two barely saw Bardock much over the years, really only when he accompanied them to Earth. It was rare for him to take such initiative.

Bulma hesitated, and Bardock's eyes narrowed at her. "It's not that we don't want or need the help, but surely Kakarot explained the severity of this. This toxin is designed to kill Saiyans. I'm worried for your health."

Bardock looked to Vegeta for support, but the king appeared just as concerned. "I was once the head scientist here," he reminded them. "Where I might be a little rusty, I still know my way around a lab."

Bulma and Vegeta exchanged knowing glances. Ever since Tarble and Cella came to Planet Vegeta with Baby Gine, Bardock had started to try to be a part of his family. The fact that he and Kakarot had talked showed the king and queen that Bardock was finally starting to heal. Returning to work and actively engaging with more people were steps in the right direction. After all, Bardock used to hold himself up in his house, so the fact that he wanted to do anything needed to be nurtured.

"Sure, I could use the help," Bulma agreed, "but you need to wear a protective suit if we're going to do this."

Bardock nodded in agreement. "Deal."

Vegeta stayed with his mate and Bardock for a few hours but kept out of their way as Bulma explained to the Saiyan scientist what they already learned about the toxin. The longer Vegeta listened to the scientific evidence, how one could mistake it for a virus due to the toxin's transmissible nature, there was no way to deny it. The Saiyan king believed Kuriza's claims. If he wasn't lying about that, then there was probably a lot more truth in what he told them, including his own terror over Frieza's actions.

On his way to the medical center, Vegeta ran into Celen. He asked the doctor to see if he could find out anything more about Kuriza through the Galactic Patrol. Celen explained to Vegeta that he had already done just that, and Jaco confirmed that Kuriza asked to join the Galactic Alliance once he inherited the throne. Even Jaco observed that Kuriza seemed to be nothing like the other Arcosians and actually seemed really apologetic for the damage his people caused. Even Bardock pulled the Saiyan king aside before he left the research wing and told Vegeta that he had a vision that they would fight alongside Kuriza against his people. That Vegeta couldn't believe.

The Arcosians were still gunning for the Saiyans; that was clear. Vegeta knew he needed more information, so he entered the room which housed the son of his greatest adversary. Kuriza jumped the second Vegeta entered; he must not have expected anyone to come see him for the night. He stared at Vegeta wide-eyed. His timidity rubbed the Saiyan king the wrong way, but Vegeta understood. Kuriza knew he was on everyone's shit list right now. He was right to be wary, yet it once again disturbed Vegeta that Kuriza did not seem as evil as the rest of his kind.

"King Vegeta," Kuriza greeted respectfully. "I…"

"I spoke with my son," Vegeta remarked. "I want you to tell me everything you know of your father and his crimes against the Saiyans."

Kuriza went silent, and the energy of the room shifted. There was a certain terror in Kuriza's eyes, one Vegeta recognized. The Saiyan king had to swallow down his own rising anxiety from looking at a near spitting image of his tormentor. It was clear as day that Kuriza was not deceiving him. Kuriza was truly terrified of his own father.

"Please don't make me talk about it," Kuriza murmured warily, his voice full of anguish and pain. "I…I know you know as much as I do how frightening and vile he was. I-it was horrible, to be raised by him. He wanted me to be like him, tried to train me to be. The things I saw and experienced… Please don't make me go back there."

As much as Vegeta understood trauma, he still needed to know, to understand this Arcosian better. If not, he would never be able to do what he was thinking of doing. "I know he was a cruel and callous monster who had little regard for life. That bastard tortured me in ways that twist my stomach when I think about it. Your people have harmed my family and my mate's family too much for me to let this go."

Kuriza nodded weakly. He really felt for the Saiyan, and even though Kuriza didn't want to talk about his life with his father, he could understand that it might be what helped him bridge the gap between his father's victim. He took a deep breath and sighed.

"Growing up as Frieza's son, clearly everyone was afraid of me," Kuriza explained. "As a child, I never understood why. Then, my father started to train me." The Arcosian shivered. "I can't talk about what I endured in those training sessions. Too many…"

"Understood," Vegeta deflected. "Go on."

Kuriza swallowed and looked down at the sheet on the bed. "I rarely interacted with him outside of training, so I convinced myself, maybe it was just how he was with me. The fear of the maids and servants of the palace was so palpable, though, even when I tried to be friendly. I didn't know what our people were truly like then, that the people feared me because I was an Arcosian, and worse, Frieza's son."

The Arcosian tensed as he continued. "I had servants who never spoke, until one day, a girl around my age at the time…a child… She dropped a glass in my room and broke it. She got on her knees and begged me not to kill her. I asked her why she thought I would."

The atmosphere of the room changed again, and this time Vegeta could practically feel Kuriza's fear, not emotionally, but Kuriza was stick straight and looked like he'd seen a ghost, his eyes glossed over as he relived the past.

"That was the day I learned what my people were truly like," Kuriza recounted, "and what my father expected me to take part in. He happened to come by my room while the girl was begging for her life. He didn't even know what happened, why she was begging. He didn't care, just demanded I kill her. I refused, said it wasn't a big deal and that I had no problem with the girl, that killing her would be an overreaction."

Kuriza's haunted eyes met Vegeta's steeled gaze. "He murdered her right in front of me, eliminated her, and she was nothing but ashes…over a broken glass. I was horrified, but my father's expression lit up in sadistic glee after he killed the child. He turned to me and demanded I follow orders next time. Anger filled me, and I stood up to him and told him I would never follow those kinds of orders. I don't even want to talk about what he did to me after that."

Vegeta could already gather what he meant, knowing just how much Frieza hated defiance and the punishments he received. He granted Kuriza the courtesy of keeping whatever abuse he experienced to himself. "I can imagine," the king sympathized.

Kuriza relaxed, now that he was able to reach the Saiyan king in some way. "As far as his crimes against your people, there are too many to count. What he did to the universe with my uncle and grandfather… I hoped that when I took power, I'd be able to break down whatever was left of their horrid organization. Unfortunately, the majority of our people are just as enmeshed in pirating planets and killing innocents. The second I got there, I was told that I was only there because of my blood and if I ever got in the way of their plans, they'd eliminate me, and our people would not bat an eye at the loss."

It struck Vegeta, just how alone Kuriza was. After the king's return from Frieza's ship as a child, he thought he was alone, distrusted everyone around him, but his people truly cared for his wellbeing and over the years encouraged him to heal. His father tried everything he could think of with their bond of trust broken, even to send him away to learn other cultures. Vegeta hated him at the time for it, but it was the best decision his father could have made as Vegeta met the love of his life and truly began to come back from his past. To be told that one would be killed if they stepped out of line by a people who were supposed to serve and protect him… Vegeta could hardly imagine it.

"Where were you that you had to return to that place?" Vegeta questioned, mainly out of curiosity now.

Kuriza sighed. "When it was clear my father was getting nowhere with me, because I refused to kill others, I was sent away from the planet. I was considered an 'embarrassment' to my race, they barely ever talked about me. They only called me back once Cooler was destroyed."

Vegeta blinked, struck by another thing Kuriza said. "You won't say Frieza's name."

The Arcosian shivered. "I don't know how you can. It's ridiculous, I know, but his name just brings chills to me every time I hear it, like it freezes me in place."

Vegeta didn't know what to say to that, but he took everything Kuriza just admitted to him under consideration. He walked over to the hospital bed and disengaged the chains that kept Kuriza there. The Arcosian was shocked.

"You are free to walk around the palace," Vegeta invited, "but the ki restraints will remain. If you try anything funny against my family or the visiting diplomats, if you do anything to affect the peace talks, I will have your fucking head, got it?"

"I-I-I understand, King Vegeta," Kuriza stammered. "Th-thank you."

Vegeta was already at the door; he stopped and gripped the wall hard. His ire rose each passing second, ire towards himself and the situation. "Tch."

The Saiyan left Kuriza alone in the infirmary and went to inform both his family and the security staff. He also reasoned that he needed to warn the Namek and Kanassan ambassadors of his decision. He owed their allies that. After all, a frost demon would walk among them. No one needed any more surprises.

A/N: Probably one of the hardest decisions Vegeta ever had to make, right? I hope you all enjoyed the chapter. Until next time :)

nancy103: Kuriza is young, definitely. As you can see, you're on the right track. Kuriza definitely may be sincere, but the Saiyans continue to remain guarded.

Guest: Thank you.

Guest: ¡Muchas gracias! Aprecio tu entusiasmo. ¡Espero que hayas disfrutado este capítulo también!

jameslatimer9ooo: Thank you so much! Hope you continue to enjoy the story!