Chapter 14
Devious Minds and Clever Swindles
Two guards pasted King Vegeta and walked towards Pan. Pan lost her proud stance and shrank back into the shadows in a futile attempt to hide, her eyes frightened and scared again. The grabbed her arms and hauled her up, dragging her out of the dungeons. Both of her arms were broken, yet she did not cry out, and only gritted her teeth against the pain.
King Vegeta watched, then turned to the solider still standing by his side. "Why does he wish to speak to her?"
"I'm not sure, sir. His orders were only to get her, and did not tell us why," the soldier answered.
King Vegeta pondered for a moment. "And… how is Trunks?"
"Same as before, sir. No improvement."
King Vegeta nodded gravely. "Dismissed."
"For the glory of Vegeta," The soldier said, putting his fist to his heart.
"For the glory of Vegeta," King Vegeta repeated with a nod and walked out of the dungeons, back to his quarters. He would let his son deal with the girl himself.
*******
The dragged Pan down the hallway, and by this time she had already blacked out and hung uselessly, her feet dragging across the floor unceremoniously. The guards didn't seem to care as they dragged her down to the infirmary.
Reaching the medical wing, the walked into Vegeta's hospital room and dumped Pan into a chair. They took their position by the door with their hands clasped in front of them, awaiting Vegeta's orders.
Vegeta watched the guards carry the girl in, but did not wince at the sight. He had known that she was going to look like this, though it was a little past the likelihood. Knowing that she was unconscious, he waited for her to wake up patiently. He himself had been unconscious much of the late, and today was the first day he could even sit up-and he would find out exactly what had happened. For some reason, he felt as if Son Pan could tell him. He couldn't say why he felt this way-it was one of those things that just was.
Tolerantly he waited, and when she awoke he was disappointed. She shied away from the guards, and wouldn't take her eyes away from them, watching them cautiously.
Pan watched the guards warily, waiting for them to make their move towards her, for she knew they would. Fear coursed through her, thought it did not show on her face-only in her eyes. She felt trapped in this small room, the guards blocking the only exit. Her eyes darted about, calculating.
Vegeta's tail thumped on the bed in exasperation, and crossed his hands in front of his chest. Suddenly an idea struck him- if he could get the guards to leave, Son Pan would be more willing to talk. "Guards, you are dismissed," he said.
"But sir," one protested, "She could try to attack you again…"
"Look at her," he snorted, amused. "She can barely sit, let alone walk. I can handle myself."
"But… she could blast you, sir…"
He snorted again. "She's just as powerless as any female. Besides, she wouldn't know how to make a ki blast anyway." The guard fidgeted, as if he wanted to say more. "Satisfied?"
The guards nodded reluctantly and walked out the door, leaving Vegeta to talk with Son Pan alone.
*******
Vegeta watched Son Pan eye the guards as they left, and he noticed that she relaxed-at least visibly. "So we meet again, Son Pan."
She stared at him for a moment, and he feared that she wasn't going to answer-or maybe she couldn't. She nodded her head once-if was a small, stiff nod, but Vegeta saw it.
"So how's it like to be the one who is vulnerable?" Vegeta asked with a smirk.
"You might as well ask yourself. You seem in no better condition then me," came Son Pan's rigid reply.
Vegeta narrowed his eyes. "I'd watch my mouth if I were you, girl," he snapped.
"Or what?" she asked with a taunting smirk.
Vegeta grinded his teeth together in anger, glaring at her. I do not frighten her! He thought, almost amazed. "You won't see the light of day ever again- you'll be down in those torture chambers. And you'll father will be as well," he growled.
She gasped-or tried to, with broken ribs. "You wouldn't!"
Now it was Vegeta's turn to smirk. "I would."
Her glower did not falter as she clutched her chest in pain. "How's Trunks," she managed in between breaths, hoping to change the subject.
"That's Prince Trunks to you," Vegeta snarled.
Her eyes narrowed to tiny slits. "I'll call him whatever the hell I want to."
"I don't think so."
"Well I do," she growled.
Vegeta glared at her once more, and she glared straight back at him, her tail lashing behind in anger.
"Trunks, Prince Trunks, I don't care who the hell he is, I want to know how he is!" she said in a surprisingly loud voice for one in her condition.
Vegeta was shocked, to say the least, and for some reason, he told her. "Not good."
She had seemed to calm down. "Are you serious?" she asked, and her voice sounded sullen.
"I kid you not," he muttered, confused about why he was doing this at all.
She looked up at him with a small smile. "Thanks. That's all I wanted to know," she murmured, and her chin fell forward to rest on her chest- she was unconscious.
Vegeta stared at her, both angered and impressed at the same time. Here, he was supposed to be finding out what he wanted to know, but all along she was manipulating him to answering her questions!
He had been tricked, and there was no way to get her up now.
Author's Note: lol, sorry about that cliffhanger (last chapter) I didn't think it was that bad. But, you guys convinced me otherwise so I updated as soon as possible, but it's a little short. I hope you like it!! I already have the next chapter planned out, so it might even be up today! It depends. I feel bad about not giving you guys any chapters on the weekend I went away, so this will make me feel better. ^-^
And as always, review!
THANKS!!!! ^-^