Vegeta sat awkwardly across from Gotu and Trunks. He had told them that their 16 year old son, Vegito, had stolen Bulma's time machine and gone back to the Saiyan planet, mere weeks before its destruction. Both sat staring back at him, dumbstruck for several moments before Gotu finally broke the silence.
"Do you think he will return?" She asked Vegeta.
"I don't know. It depends on how things go on the planet, I would assume. I am not sure what his goal was in returning. To prevent the planet's destruction, yes, but there must be another reason. His return depends on that, I imagine."
"Vegito has always been so… naturally power hungry. He's never experienced the evil of those desires like we have. I'm afraid he may want to become some type of leader with the Saiyans… I know he has been feeling like he belonged somewhere else recently…" Gotu trailed off as she continued to wonder what had possessed her son to leave without a word. It was true, he had always seemed slightly different than any of the other Saiyan children on Earth. His love of fighting and power were much like Vegeta's, but there were times when it also seemed much darker. The prior year, he had fought in the martial arts tournament and beaten an opponent to the brink of death even after the opponent was clearly unable to move. It had been like something else had taken control of him.
"Does mom know how long we have until the planet is supposed to be destroyed?" Trunks asked Vegeta.
"Vegito traveled to two weeks prior to the event. Your mother believes the only way we can bring him back is by creating another time machine and going back ourselves. We will need to travel back to a point between Vegito's arrival and the destruction."
"But why can't it be after? I mean, I understand not going before, because it's not like we can prevent him from doing it to bring our Vegito back. That would only create yet another timeline. But, if we get him back even after the destruction is prevented, what difference is that?" Gotu asked.
"If we allow Vegito to prevent the planets destruction, another timeline will exist that will include an entire race of brutal warriors who know the potential of a super Saiyan. There will be no Kakarot or I to stop them. Kakarot will be brought back or murdered by hundreds of them in his weaker state, and I will continue to be one of their leaders. It would be a dark timeline and while it won't affect us, I believe it should be avoided."
Gotu was taken aback by Vegeta's impressive foresight. "You're right… And Trunks and I…"
"Won't even exist, yes." Vegeta confirmed her thoughts.
"How long does mom think making a new time machine will take?"
"Perhaps a month; give or take a few days. Fortunately, she kept notes and blue prints on the time machine, so she is able to eliminate the months of research and trial and error. Now it's just a matter of getting the equipment, parts, and putting it all together. She requests that the two of you assist her. Bulla and Gohan will be assisting as well when they can."
Trunks and Gotu nodded seriously. Vegeta got up, walking towards the door to find Bulma. As he was about to exit, he heard Gotu let out a quiet whimper for her son. Vegeta turned to her, a calm expression on his face.
"I am sorry for the role I may have played in this, but I will ensure he is safe." He quickly exited the room as Gotu and Trunks looked up, astonished.
"Did Vegeta just apologize? I don't think I've ever heard that. I don't blame him… Or your mother… How could any of us have assumed that he would do something like this?" Gotu placed her head in her hands as her disappointment and hurt washed over her. She felt the strong arm of her husband wrap around her shoulders.
"We'll bring him back, Gotu. We will all work to create this time machine and we'll go after him. Even if it does take us the month, we will simply go back to the time a few days after Vegito's arrival. That's the one thing that's on our side; we aren't really in a time crunch." Gotu nodded and embraced her husband closer, allowing herself a moment of sadness before focusing her energy on reaching their son.
Vegeta made his way to Bulma's lab and noisily stepped into the room.
"And how did they take it?" Bulma asked, hearing him enter.
"Better than you." He glared as she spun around in her chair.
"Well, I'm sorry if I don't have superpowers that make me think nothing bad is ever going to happen. I live in a world of science and reality, and the circumstances aren't good here, Vegeta. Even if we do successfully complete this machine and go back to the correct time and place, there's no telling what those Saiyans might do to our grandson. I know he's strong, but I'm not sure that hundreds or thousands of aliens against him, especially as apes, is going to fair well for him."
"Damnit, Bulma. There is a good chance they will welcome him. He has the appearance and power of a Saiyan. They would be fools not to. But, regardless, fearing the worst is not going to change a damn thing."
Bulma's eyes softened. Steadily, she got up from her chair and made her way over to Vegeta. "You're right." She sighed. "He is prince Vegeta's grandson, afterall." She winked playfully at her husband.
Suddenly, Vegeta pulled her close and positioned his head next to her ear. "I will bring our grandson back to us, Bulma. I swear it. I will not allow you and Trunks to live with the pain of losing him." He whispered. They shared a quick kiss before Vegeta left to discuss the events with Goku and Gohan.
Bulma knew the truth. While she was sure Vegeta did want to bring Vegito back for the peace of mind of both Bulma and Trunks, she also knew that he wanted his grandson back as well. They had been close for all of Vegito's life. Not only had Vegeta done most of his training, but their personalities had always been so similar. Vegeta also refused to allow a timeline where he continued his past of brutality and pain, instead of the life here on Earth that he had grown to enjoy.
Bulma went back to her blue prints to begin compiling a list of all of the parts and equipment should would need. With the help of the other Z fighters and her assistants, it shouldn't be a long process to gather them, but she began to wonder how long it would take to put everything together properly. Many of the processes to assemble the machine were time consuming and tedious, no matter what. But that was when another idea dawned on her.
'Maybe if we gather all of the parts, we can just use the dragon balls to summon Shenron and simply wish for him to put them all together. We might be able to have the machine ready in just a couple of days!' She thought. She mentally congratulated herself for another genius idea.
