AN: Hello all! I hope you enjoyed the last chapter of Long Way Home. I know I left off at an intense cliff hangar, so without further delay, please enjoy! Best Path! :)
And a quick key to differentiate between King Vegeta and Prince Vegeta will be the following:
King Vegeta will be referred to as Vegeta the senior, Vegeta the elder, Vegeta Senior, Vegeta-ou, Saiya-jin no Ou, etc.
Prince Vegeta will be referred to as Vegeta the junior, Vegeta the younger, Vegeta Junior, Vegeta-ouji, Saiya-jin no Ouji, etc.
Hope this clears everything up. I know multiple characters with the same name can get a bit confusing...but we'll trudge through it, OK?
Long Way Home
THE COMMAND ROOM was a flurry of motion, as it always was, but their leader was seated comfortably in his pod chair, the only thing still amid the chaos. Each worker, not only consumed in their tasks, but fearful of their liege's current dark mood, did not tarry in their objectives. The reason for Freiza's dark temper was not entirely known, nor did anyone desire to risk their lives in an attempt to find out.
But Zarbon knew his master well, and thus knew the reason for his lord's disagreeable nature. "Sire, I assure you, I have a team of forensics out on Greatel-sei to discover the reason for the Saiya-jin's disappearance. They should be reporting within the day of their findings." he spoke gently in a tone that was usually calmed the Ice-ling.
"And what of those assigned to search the logs for any evidence?" Freiza snapped irritably. His mood was definitely not his best, for he loathed Vegeta's insolence and longed to hunt down his favorite monkey to administer punishment.
Zarbon coughed nervously. "They are searching through Vegeta, Nappa, and Raditz's logs to see where they hadn't covered their tracks, Lord Freiza." He always felt anxious whenever a dark mood came over his sovereign. It was hard to control the volatile part of his temper. Everyone around Freiza was at the whim of his temperament.
"Hn." The lizard snorted impertinently. No one on this forsaken ship possessed more than two neurons to rub together, it seemed. Vegeta's lack of report and appearance had only concerned him mildly at first. He had thought it was due to broken communications on Vegeta's ship, or atmospheric conditions that prevented him and his men from making contact. But then the days became weeks, and now he knew for certain that something was amiss.
In all likelihood, Vegtea and his men had left Greatel-sei and slunk to some back water planet in the galaxy. A feeble attempt to escape their lord and master, truly. Vegeta should have known better than to try to escape. Freiza owned him, body, mind, and soul. He had since the Saiya-jin Prince was a boy. Now it seemed that the slave was deigning to buck his master's rule.
An intercom buzzed, an transmission from Greatel-sei, and the face of the lead scientist appeared. "Freiza-sama," the alien bowed its head in respect, "I have news of the happenings on Greatel-sei."
"Speak." The Ice-ling intoned shortly.
The alien, its skin a golden hue, humanoid in form, nodded eagerly. "The three Saiya-jin have carried through with their purge as assigned, but there is no evidence of their pods, their personal effects, or their bodies. They have, in all likelihood, left the planet intact and have journeyed to some sort of prearranged haven."
Freiza scowled darkly. Vegeta...that brat Prince dared to defy him? He had spared his life, had honed the stupid monkey into the warrior he was this day! And that arrogant upstart sought to leave his services voluntarily? His fists clenching, his teeth grinding, his temper flaring, Freiza jumped out of his pod. The workers all paused to look at their master, observing his angry actions.
Zarbon apprehensively touched his sovereign's shoulder. "My Lord, you mustn't allow this to compromise your composure." The blue skinned being fought to keep from shaking. Frieza's temper usually caused severe damage.
Freiza frowned, tempted to kill his servant for his audacity in laying unwarranted hand upon him, but he resisted the urge. Zarbon was a useful and loyal soldier, not deserving of his wrath that Vegeta had inspired. "You're right, Zarbon. Vegeta has to have gone somewhere, and he will be found. There are only so many place in this universe that he could hide. And when he is discovered, he will be punished. By my hands, I will teach that insolent whelp the error of his ways."
Zarbon did not doubt his liege for one moment. "Perhaps the techs will discover where Vegeta and his companions have gone." As if on cue, the science wing hailed the main command. Zarbon dutifully answered, regarding the purple skinned alien who happened to be the best system hacker. 'What have you found?"
The alien wasted no time with formality. "Raditz is much more clever than we have given him credit for. He managed to conceal his queries, but it was only a matter of time before I unearthed them. He had searched for a planet out in a breach of space we haven't spread our control to yet. A small planet, third from their solar system's sun, planet 8675309, called 'Chikyuu' by the natives, seems to be their intended destination. How or why they chose that planet, I cannot begin to guess."
"Thank you for your accurate and timely research." Zarbon replied before disconnecting communication. He turned to the pale lizard whom had destroyed his own people and ruled his life with an iron fist. "So you have it, Freiza-sama, Vegeta have left a trail for us to follow." he reported neutrally.
"Prepare our ship for departure. I'm going to make a direct example of Vegeta for all to bear witness." Freiza ordered curtly.
Inwardly, Zarbon found himself almost rooting for the wayward Saiya-jin and his comrades. If only he himself could muster the nerve for such a task. But, he kept his features schooled and revealed nothing. "Yes, Lord Freiza." he replied softly, setting himself to the task of their new mission as the tyrant stormed from the control room.
Zarbon approached a control console and pulled up the statistics of the planet Vegeta had supposedly fled to. The planet was small compared to the other inhabitable planets throughout the galaxy, but it possessed quite the precious minerals and ores. But Chikyuu was quite far away, it would be months, perhaps even a year before they could arrive there. No wondered no one had sought to purge it for sale, it would be damn inconvenient.
And yet, Freiza was so enchanted with his errant pet that he was willing to divert his attentions away from his business per usual to hunt him down on a mission that was improbable. "Well all," he raised his voice to address the personnel in the room, "you've heard Lord Freiza. Prepare for our trip to planet 8675309, Chikyuu."
NAPPA WIPED THE blood from his mouth as he eyed up the four young whelps who had disgraced his race. He had unwittingly assumed that because these four teenagers were half breeds, their strength would be halved as well. It seemed that he had been mistaken, these demi Saiya-jin far more powerful than any other full blooded Saiya-jin youth he'd come across, save for Vegeta-ouji.
The spar had been more than satisfactory, coming close to an all out brawl on more than a few occasions. Rhuba's strength had been not only strong for a pup of his age, but for a half breed as well. The battle was more of a challenge than Nappa had expected. And when he'd fought Kale, the brat had been so clever and cunning that Nappa had been taken off guard on multiple occasions. It was eerie when a youth bested you mentally. Aspara had a lot of energy and a lot of will, so it was hard to break her morale during battle. Lechuga was very calculating and cool, not giving much away during her fights, instead constantly countering anything Nappa did.
But where these by-blows were strong, they were not as strong as Nappa himself, yet. So, slowly, he had worn them down. Though, when working in junction with two or more, they had come close to overwhelming him. They were quite accustomed to one another and were able to merge their fighting styles with near seamlessness.
It would be chilling to see what warriors they would become by young adulthood... and a small voice urged Nappa to see to it that the never made it to that. But, no, he could not cull these pups without severe repercussion from both Vegeta-ou and Vegeta-ouji, he was certain. And he wouldn't give Bardock the satisfaction either. Smug bastard...
The youths stood about, their sound stances belying their injuries. Nappa couldn't even insult them with their weaknesses, for they gave nothing away. Damned brats. He longed to punish them for their insolence. Their mere sullied blood line was offense enough, their overwhelming power was insult to injury. What would his once proud race become of now?
"Had enough, Nappa-san?" one boy questioned cockily, tossing his pale human textured hair over his shoulder. Despite his wounds from the more-battle-than-friendly-spar, his posture was conceited and narcissistic. Never had a Saiya-jin male been so vain!
This one, Nappa believed his name was Kale, was quite the upstart. Nappa's gaze narrowed. He didn't like this Kale one bit. He looked so...Chikyuu-jin that his Saiya-jin father must have disowned him with shame. "I think you all have had enough. I am satisfied as of now by Vegeta-ou's judgment, but I will keep a carefully trained eye on you." He kept the menace in his tone, his threat thinly veiled.
"Say nothing, Kale." Lechuga interrupted Kale before he could retort, holding up her hand before the smart mouthed teen could condemn them all. Rhuba nodded in agreement, not savoring the prospect of a no holds barred fight. No one was in any condition to fight, and no one could guess if Nappa was withholding his true power to lead them into their own dishonorable deaths.
Kale scowled, but stood down. Somehow, out of all of them, Lechuga always managed to control Kale's boisterous nature. No one could say why, exactly, for Lechuga was hardly soft or nurturing in any way. But the reasons why mattered not when the pale haired youth's nature got them into trouble countless times before and Lechuga had been the only one to rectify the situation.
The youths bowed rigidly and dismissed themselves. An argument with their elder would not reflect upon them well, and they had only just gained Vegeta-ou's respect in the past year. They were disciplined enough to know that revenge would be a dish best served cold. Nappa would have his comeuppance, even if it took several years for them to grow old, strong, and wise enough to defeat him in fair combat by their Saiya-jin sire's laws and honor bound society.
Nappa remained in the chamber alone for some time, wondering if perhaps it hadn't been better when he, for fifteen years, believed his race to be dead and gone. Because, when he had believed so, they had died with Saiya-jin honor and deed intact. This new...abomination that his people had become...it wasn't something he was certain he could bear. The new generations were unavoidably sullied...the greatest of his culture lost forever when their blood had blended with those of the Chikyuu-jin.
He knew a new level of despair in knowing this.
VEGETA-OU OPENED HIS office door with trepidation, knowing full well that the precious son he'd thought lost forever was in live flesh on the opposite side. He could at the very least admit to himself that he was nervous. The King laid eyes upon the mirror image of himself as a young man, though his son had not grown out his facial hair and he was a good deal shorter than himself. Vegeta-ouji's posture screamed authority, and the elder felt a streak of pride run through his very core. His son was every bit the competent prince he had predicted the younger would become.
On the outside, at the very least. Mentally, his son could be a rabid, raging dog who would need to be put down. But from what Vegeta-ou gleaned from Nappa and Raditz, Vegeta the younger was seemingly a competent leader, having kept both men alive in his service for fifteen years. Serving a maniacal tyrant no less.
Neither man spoke at first and merely observed one another. Fifteen years without having laid eyes upon one another called for prudence and patience. Vegeta-ouji looked upon his father, carefully keeping his turbulent emotions concealed and contained. There was so much to say, so much that had been lost in the space that was between them. The chasm between them, more like. Where could he possibly begin? What could the Prince vocalize to his long-lost father that could relay everything that was the sum and total of his life to this point?
"Vegeta." The King spoke softly, breaking the silence that was louder than the own explosion of their home planet had been. Would he have the courage to face his son, knowing that he'd abandoned the Prince in favor of preserving their faltering race? He'd have to, he owed his progeny this much.
"Otousama." The Prince replied evenly, bowing his head to show his filial piety and respect due to a King, though his kingdom had been burnt to ash. They had both lost their home world, had been in the vast breaches of space and back, only to arrive here, on this planet, fifteen years apart, to stand once more on the very same ground.
The elder clapped his hand upon his son's shoulder. "Come into my office. We have much to speak of." His tone was not harsh as a command would have been, though he had worded his speech as such.
The younger followed the elder into the office, closing the door behind himself and looking about the room. It was smaller, comfortable, calm. Decorated sparingly, seemingly meant for business alone, it was efficient and sufficient. He belatedly wondered if and when this office would become his own.
Vegeta-ou sat at his desk, observing as Vegeta took the chair before the desk, copying the straight posture that he himself sat in. "These years have been long and worrisome. We knew not whether you'd survived to manhood in service to Freiza. Let alone preserve the lives of Nappa and Raditz in the process."
The Saiya-jin no Ouji buried his burgeoning feelings and focused himself on the task at hand. "Yes, these years have been long and worrisome. I believed our planet and all of it's people to be long dead. That Nappa, Raditz, and myself were the sole survivors. We'd only just now had the resources to devise an escape plan. And our discovery of Kakarrot's existence brought us here. Needless to say, I was shocked to discover my father and the remnants of our once strong race tucked away on the very back water planet that Kakarrot had been sent to decimate." he replied carefully.
"As shocking as it is, I hope you are pleased to know the truth," the King observed the nod of affirmation in his son and continued, "Now that your mission is complete, what will you do next?"
Vegeta-ouji's brows narrowed. This was a test. His father wanted to discern whether he would lead their race to victory over their enemies, or if he'd become some weak, simpering fool content to spend his life safely concealed on an alien planet. His father was sorely mistaken if he believed that Vegeta the younger would just roll over or lie fallow.
"I plan to train. To become strong. To achieve the exalted position as the Legendary. I will reach across the galaxy and wring Freiza's neck in my very hands." Without realizing it, his voice had risen several levels and filled with passion and ambition.
Saiya-jin no Ou observed his son's vigor and leaned back into his chair with a smirk. "May the Gods strike me down for ever having doubted you, my boy." He allowed his pleasure to permeate his tone. He would not die without heir. Vegeta-ouji could yet reign as the next Saiya-jin no Ou. Of course, Freiza would have to be defeated and Vegeta-ouji still standing thereafter, but it was a strong potential.
King Vegeta had known since his son had been born that he was destined for greatness. And lo, here his race was in their most dire need, and their heir apparent had arrived serendipitously on the same planet as they themselves had. The Gods surely sought to see the Saiya-jin race prevail even in the most bleak of times.
Vegeta-ouji bowed his head. "I am humbled that you still place stock in me, Otousama." Inwardly, his emotions felt such as a roiling ocean storm. Outwardly his expression remained schooled. His father did not let on whether he knew of the exact misfortunes that had befallen his vassals and, more shamefully, himself. Vegeta-ouji also knew that his father, whether he knew or not, would not speak of such contemptible subjects, nor would he express any outward sympathy.
A prince, no matter what adversities he had faced in life, was not to be coddled and expected to take the Saiya-jin throne when deemed ready through victory in a death battle with the current king. Which, in simpler terms, meant he'd have to be strong enough to defeat his father in combat, ending in the death of either king or heir apparent. So, if an heir was wise, he'd take his father's life before his father was disgraced with old age, but not before the prince-ling himself was both strong enough and wise enough to lead his people.
"I had always hoped..." King Vegeta replied, trailing off, memories of the fifteen long years, wondering what had befallen his young progeny passing before him like an unending nightmare. How many nights had he lain in his massive bed, wondering if somewhere in the cosmos young Vegeta was alive, surviving, and perhaps even doing well.
Though Bardock's vision of the Prince's circumstances had made it all too clear that Vegeta-ouji had suffered greatly at the hands of Freiza. If King Vegeta did not know his son's stubborn nature, he would have gotten revenge of Freiza himself. But he would stay his hand. Revenge would be Prince Vegeta's alone.
"Otousama?" The Prince questioned, arching a brow at his father's silence.
The King shook his head. "I am glad to see you into manhood, despite how you have had to do so." It was the most he could say, truly, if he had any respect for his people and their lack of emotional vulnerability. He could not tell his son how much he cared for him, how much he'd feared for his well being, how he wished every single day that he'd forsaken his people for Vegeta. His son should have come first.
But Bardock's vision were spoken of with such clarity Vegeta-ou had no choice but to believe him. The gift of Sight was not something a wise king would ignore. And so, in the process, Vegeta the younger had suffered. And now, like Bardock had predicted, the Saiya-jin race could rally against their tyrant who had crushed their people beneath his heel.
"As I am relieved that some remnants of our race still breathe." Vegeta-ouji admitted, though his voice remained clipped and controlled. He inwardly wondered exactly how much his father knew, but didn't want to press the matter. It would be awkward and embarrassing for them both.
"It was all due to Bardock's gift of Sight." The King replied. He knew he would never have taken such action on his own, Bardock's advice crucial to the few of their people that could be saved.
"Ah...Intriguing powers..." the Prince quipped.
"Powers that have proven themselves time and again, boy. Do not presume to doubt Bardock's gifts or abilities." Vegeta-ou rose to the defense of his comrade and friend. Their race would not survive if Vegeta the younger tested or killed Bardock. The heir apparent had to place his confidence in the Seer as well.
Vegeta bowed his head, for whenever there was a disagreement between Prince and King, the Prince could defer to the king or he could challenge him. But that was not something he wanted or was capable of at the moment, though not because of physical disadvantage. His emotions simply could not comprehend the discovery that his father lived and that he had slain him with his own hand in the same day. "I trust your judgment." he acknowledged.
"Then allow me to guide you to your sleeping quarters." The King stood, conversation all but forgotten. He and his son could agree or disagree on the direction their race was to go tomorrow. But for tonight, enough emotions were experienced to leave them both a little raw. He himself could use some rest.
Since he'd arrived on Earth, he'd kept a bedroom suit available close to his own. It was a separate, small wing, and quite comfortable. Worthy of a prince, even. And its proximity guaranteed his objective observance of the young prince, while granting him enough privacy so as to not feel stifled. He guided Vegeta-ouji to this suite, leaving him with the access code to the door. The Prince could explore on his own, and come and go as he pleased.
Vegeta-ou was not a babysitter, and Vegeta-ouji was more than grown to look after himself. "I expect to see you in the morning for training. I will send a warrior to fetch you. Rest well." The elder dictated formally.
The Prince nodded and bowed, entering his quarters without sparing a glance for his father. He found the light switch, looking about the chambers that had been decorated to resemble a prince's quarters back on Vegeta-sei. The walls were a dark crimson, almost black, and lush drapes hung over the tall windows. The bed was large, canopied, and draped as well. All of the furniture was a dark, heavy wood, sturdy and reliable. The family tapestries and crests were hung upon the walls as decoration, as were heavy rugs thrown upon the polished wooden floor.
A bathing chamber was attached, however, and quite...human, he supposed. Every race always had their own idea of decor, and it appeared that this Chikyuu-jin styled bathroom was tiled, contemporary, and porcelain. It would do. He was not a man who had acquired a taste of luxury.
Another part of the room was a nook, with couches and small table for entertaining a small number of guests, he supposed. A desk was also included in the nook, though he didn't think he'd find much use in either the sitting area or the mini-office. He intended to spend the majority of his time in the training halls, working to achieve his next goal. Speaking of which...
The room was too quite for all of the thoughts in his mind, and he knew sleep was unlikely to find him, exhausted though he was. He left the quite of his room, taking note that even though it was likely nighttime on this sector of the planet, people were still awake, coming and going from training rooms, the mess hall, and their own respective wings which housed their barrack-like chambers.
His presence was noted, and shocking, to many but he ignored them. His was their Prince, and whomever chose to question him would be met with his fist, ki, or both. He located the training halls, and finding one of the rooms to be empty, entered it. A calm washed over his senses as the door to the room slid closed, effectively isolating him. Here, everything made sense. All he could think of was the next tier, the next level that could be attained. It kept him sane when everything else sought to drive him crazy.
BULMA TOOK REFUGE in her lab after she had left Vegeta in front of his father's office. To say that she was flustered was putting it mildly. She had nearly kissed Kakarrot earlier that day, had chased after a Saiya-jin Prince into the wilderness, and then had kissed the said prince on the cheek. It seemed that the older she got the more crazy and hair brained her life became, and she was only twenty one! Though her life would have probably never been 'normal', being the only genius daughter of the creator of Capsule Corporation.
But her life had definitely changed when the Saiya-jin race limped across the galaxy to Earth. Their appearance had stopped several of the enemies that had been threatening Chikyuu on a global scale. They had effectively defeated the Red Ribbon army when they had rose up, helping to unite the earthlings.
Capsule Corp was assigned specifically to support the Saiya-jin cause, receiving worldwide funding to feed and support the Saiya-jin cause. Her father built Capsule Corp into a Saiya-jin compound, laboratory, and corporation, in addition to it providing a home for his own family. Before he had died of emphysema he had begun to build the cargo and battleships that would be needed for galactic battle. They were waiting patiently in reserve for the moment when both the Chikyuu-jin and Saiya-jin deemed themselves worthy to wage war.
And now she had taken up where he had left off, filling in the details that her father hadn't had time to discover or had overlooked himself. She created in conjunction with Bardock's council and King Vegeta's experience. They simply knew space faring technicalities and politics that her people, as a world bound race, were ignorant to. And now Vegtea, with an updated education on current space politics and fleets, could fill in the rest.
The Saiya-jin Prince... he was going to be her undoing. She was completely reckless around him, gave away too many personal facts, and got herself into vulnerable and uncomfortable situations. He was an alien, raised by a galactic tyrant, surviving by the skin of his teeth, with no home planet, and a limited race to call his own. She had no business trying to help, befriend, interact, or kiss him. Though no Saiya-jin had ever been outright violent towards her, if she happened to get too involved with their returned from the dead prince, they might not take kindly to that.
She sighed, brushing errant strand of blue from her line of vision. Her brain was quite strained from the long day, and she probably should have been in bed hours ago, but there always seemed to be something else to do. As of now, plans for space sensors were underway, though she needed to build a ship capable of planting and securing them. In lieu of Bardock's Sight, it would be wise to place a tripwire of sorts around the outer perimeter of their solar system.
A sound, barely perceptible, caught her attention and drew her from her plans. "Who's there?" she questioned, not scared but more irked at the intrusion.
Kakarrot stepped out of the door frame that she'd left cracked open, negligence on her part, and entered the room. "Hey Bulma." his voice was slurred slightly, and she thought she could smell the heady red wine on him from her seat.
She relaxed slightly before she remembered their almost kiss from earlier that afternoon. She thought he'd meant to kiss her, at least. And she wasn't entirely sure she didn't want him to. He was certainly handsome enough. "Kakarrot. Don't sneak up on me like that." she scolded.
He laughed, walking closer, leaning up against her desk. "I wanted to thank you for all of your help today." he informed her, smiling much more than she had ever seen him. He wasn't pessimistic or grumpy by any means, but he was more serious most of the time, adhering to his people's confines of emotional expression.
She cringed as his wine sticky hands ended up on her space sensors blueprints. She stood, tactfully pulling him off of her desk and subsequent plans. "You're very welcome. Maybe I should help you to bed?" She grimaced yet again when she realized how suggestively her suggestion could be interpreted.
He laughed, almost with the glee of a boy. "Yes, please, I need your help."
She felt the tremble of nerves, but thought it would be best to see him to bed. This confining office was too intimate for her own good, nor did she want to potentially get hot and heavy in it. Her and Kakarrot's reputation would not be well preserved if they were discovered cavorting in her office.
His room, however, would be a more discreet option, since his quarters were quite the generous suite for a warrior of his breeding. His power level had elevated him to well reputed status, and so he reaped the rewards when it came to his bedchambers. The high-leveled warrior was not placed in barrack-style rooms with a battle squad, and instead afforded quite the amount of privacy. And she had often been seen coming and going from his suite, as he was her go between with Bardock and the King.
It took them some time to make it, what with Kakarrot laughing, stopping to lean against the wall, or attempting to initiate a serious conversation in the middle of the hall with her. And unbeknownst to them, a figure saw their progress through the hall from the shadow of the room he was currently in. But they made it to his quarters and Bulma punched the clearance code into the door. They entered, and the son of Bardock stumbled over to his bed, entering it clumsily.
This was where she should have bid him good night and left, but against her better judgment she came to his bedside to tuck him in. And unexpectedly he pulled her into his arms before promptly passing out. And the Capsule Corp Heiress found her stuck in the vice grip of a drunken, passed out Saiya-jin male. And she didn't know if he shifted in his sleep, or when she would be released. The night might be longer than she had initially anticipated.