III. The Refueling Station.
Lost and Fondness
Shades of Crimson
The walls were lined with a metal that was foreign to her and the roof was constructed of the same rusting tin, despite this fact, however, the modern refueling station was rather nice.
She stood beside Vegeta and Kakerott and listened intently as they spoke of plans for their next mission. Though her face held no visible emotion, her insides were a knot of excitement. She was really interested in what the two men had to say and prided herself in the fact that spoke so feely about such important facts in front of her.
Also, she was rather relieved to have Radtiz gone for the afternoon.
As soon as the ship had docked, he had scurried off the ship. Vegeta had informed her that this was because refueling stations offered pleasure women for a small price in thanks for your service to them.
Bulma had frowned slightly at this news. She could only imagine the poor lives those women must lead in order to stoop to being hired by a refueling station only to put out for horny purgers and shipment men and travelers.
Kakerott had now switched the topic of their upcoming mission to where they would be eating lunch, and insisted on the all-you-can-eat buffet nearby.
Vegeta had remained silent, giving him no complaint, and Bulma merely shrugged. She had since gotten over her crew members strange eating habits and decided that if it were all you can eat, at least they would be getting their moneys worth.
The trio made their way into the dimly lit diner and Bulma's nose subconsciously wrinkled at the mixture of foul odors and dirty looking men and women cramming into the booths inside the building.
A pair of grey-skinned women walked by and sent Kakerott and Vegeta flirtatious smiles. Kakerott, being on the naïve side, as well as too friendly for his own good, returned the smiles with an energetic wave.
Bulma couldn't help but grin at his reaction, Vegeta, however, could only scowl at his shipmate.
"Kakerott, stop making a fool of yourself."
Her cerulean eyes shifted to the man whose gruff response made her knees go weak. She wasn't quite sure why her reactions were so whenever he spoke. She frowned, he didn't speak often.
After being seated at the table, Bulma smiled at their waitress, a yellow non-humanoid, and they trio was soon allowed to fill their plates.
She could only smile weakly, glancing from her own plate of a small salad and roasted chicken breast to the other people lining the buffet who were staring blankly at the Saiyans.
Bulma gently nudged Kakerott along, sending an apologetic gaze to a group of merchants who were about to cut off a piece of boar for themselves - only to have the entire tray overturned onto Kakerotts plate as he moved along swiftly.
The dinner conversation was rather stale and the trio split up, each given separate tasks with the intention of meeting back on the ship in two hours.
Bulma ran through her duties in her head. She was to pick up six capsules of food, two of water, and to gather any other mechanical supplies she deemed necessary.
She had been a little nervous when they initially split up. The two brawny Saiyans were what she had been relying on as her safeguards, the princess had never been anywhere alone before in her life. The lack of bodies made her slightly uncomfortable.
However, with a strong intake of breath, she reminded herself that she was more than capable of taking care of herself. She prided herself in this, and purchased the necessary food and water capsules with some of the coins Kakerott had handed her.
Now wandering around the market strips on the outskirts of the refueling station, Bulma simply watched the people around her interact with one another. The entire idea of buying and selling, bidding and haggling was foreign to her.
She tried her best to remain impassive as she passed a group of men who shouted things in her direction. Bulma raised her chin - she was beautiful, yes - she shot them a sideways glance, annoyance apparent in her eyes - but she was not easy.
Unfortunately, one of the men had enough gall to follow her.
She remained impassive as he caught up to her and strolled beside her.
"You are quite beautiful young lady."
Another blank stare was all she credited him with.
A haughty smile crossed his features, "Oh, come on babe - don't be so cold."
"Jackson!"
The loud, feminine voice caused Bulma to look. When she did, she was met with a tan, beautiful, raven haired woman.
The woman had a fierce scowl sewn across her pretty features, and her small arms were crossed over her chest.
"Aw, ChiChi." The man smiled, "Would you care to join the threesome I was just about to propose to this," his hand rose to stroke Bulma's cheek, "stunning specimen here."
Bulma's fist made contact with the man's gut after her had touched her own cheek.
He double over in pain.
Between laughs, the dark-haired woman spoke, "Well, I guess you don't need me to protect you then."
Bulma smiled at the woman, "Thank you very much though."
The man stood up and turned back to the group of men who were now laughing at their friend's misfortune.
"What a prick."
ChiChi sighed, "You have no idea."
The two women found themselves walking down the grungy streets, making small talk and laughing genuinely.
"-and so I just got fed up with having no one respect me at home so I joined a purging mission." Bulma smiled lightly, "I'm actually having fun." She frowned, "For once in my life."
ChiChi returned her new friend's smile, "It all sounds quite adventurous."
Another laugh escaped the blue haired woman's lips, "You know Chi, if you really are as miserable here as you say you are than … you should think about coming along!"
The other woman merely blinked.
"Bulma!"
The two women's heads shot up in the direction of the sound of Bulma's name, only to see Kakerott running in their direction.
"Hey Kakerott," Bulma smiled, "This is Chichi. ChiChi, Kakerott."
The two only managed to smile meekly and blush furiously when they each quickly turned away. Their exchange not going unnoticed by Bulma.
"Well, I think it's time we head back to ship." Kakerott said, "Vegeta and Raditz are already there."
A short nod of Bulma's head was her only response. ChiChi had told her how miserable her life here had been. Taking a job at a chief at a restaurant at a filling station hadn't exactly been what she had in mind for her future, but after her father's death she had to find some way to support herself.
It was a pity that women were still seen as a lower class in this sector in the universe. She had to deal with horny men questioning her constantly on why she was not a member of the pleasure slaves found just north of the main loading docks.
Bulma had soon realized that ChiChi's struggles were far greater than her own. She frowned, she also knew that there were millions of people in the universe whose problems were still greater.
However, there was nothing she could do to aid those people. ChiChi, on the other hand, she was able to help out.
"So ChiChi, what do you say?"
The raven-haired woman merely blinked.
Bulma smiled, "Would you like to join us?"
It was Kakerott's turn to express his confusion, "Us?"
"I know I haven't been a member on the ship for too long, but I've already noticed that we are going to need someone to cook for us!"
She had purposely brought up the mention of food for the attention of the Saiyan currently present.
ChiChi frowned, "Cook for you?"
"Yeah!" Kakerott smiled gaily, "Cook for us!"
Bulma smiled, "And you know the two of us together don't even add up to a fourth of what you Saiyans eat, she won't be any … baggage, of sorts."
"Bulma." ChiChi spoke, the corners of her lips falling into a small frown.
"If you would like, of course." The blue-haired woman smiled, "I'm sure it will be nice to have another female around."
Kakerott blushed slightly at this statement and ChiChi sighed.
"Well … alright. I am rather happy to have an opportunity to leave this place, but," She frowned again, "Do you think it will be alright with the others?"
The corners of Bulma's mouth slid into a frown, "I don't know. They'll be a little harder to convince than Kakerott."
"Just mention the cooking thing and I'm sure it will just fine!"
The two women laughed lightly at Kakerott's comment and the three made their way to the landing docks and to the future that awaited them.
"Princess Launch from Planet Tsnatsu, yes." The pink lizard-like creature spoke slowly, "And she is your final choice?"
"Yes sir." Tien bowed respectfully before his father, "She is the woman I wish to become my bride."
"Very well," The emperor raised his hand before the council before him, "Zarbon - see to it that it is announced. Princess Launch is now the empress of the entire universe, a party is now in order. Make sure everyone of a certain importance is invited and contact the Tsnatsian royal family."
"Yes my liege."
Zarbon's words were short; as was his exit.
The elderly men, each with strikingly different features and coloring - for they were of species stretched across all corners of the universe - began chatting about alliances and troops and all sorts of things that Tien didn't care about at the moment.
He smiled at his father and said that he would go to Launch himself.
Freeza tilted his head in response and watched as his son quickly fled the chaotic room.
That night, Bulma crept into the kitchen to pour herself a glass of water. A smile adorned her features as she pulled the glass out of the cabinet - it was very, very organized and all of the dishes had been cleaned properly.
The news of ChiChi joining the crew, proposed by a member that was hardly considered a crewmember herself, being apart of the ship for a whole two days now, didn't go too well. That is, until ChiChi whipped up a gourmet meal in half an hour. The food was the best Bulma had ever tasted - and she had been served food fit for a princess since she was born.
Kakerott had been for the newest member immediately, Vegeta, being his unresponsive self had remained indifferent between the entire ordeal (Bulma, however, could sense he was impressed by the meal), and Raditz simply muttered a few curses under his breath about having two gorgeous women onboard, and still no one to keep his bed warm.
Bulma smiled triumphantly - with that, ChiChi was in.
Filling her glass up with the cool liquid, the blue haired princess made her way into the sitting room, now having a hologram set before the couches. She had purchased it at the market earlier that day before running into ChiChi. She just couldn't fathom being locked up in such a small volume with no means of entertainment.
The hologram of an attractive newswoman began to speak about the progress Freeza's army had been making. Bulma frowned, wondering if there would be any news of her own disappearance.
Listening intently to the cheery woman who had obviously been brainwashed by her father's politics, Bulma had failed to hear the Saiyan prince who exited the training facility and was now standing behind her.
The 3-D image of the woman smiled brightly, "We would also like to take this time to inform you that the young, and handsome, Prince Tien is no longer single. Sorry ladies!"
Bulma's eyes snapped open, her mouth falling into a small 'o' shape.
"That's right, our own future Emperor Tien has taken a bride-" an image of her brother arm and arm with a petite, navy haired beauty was replaced as the woman talked, "Princess Launch from Planet Tsnatsu, located at the eastern tip of the Southern Coordinate."
The holographic woman continued to babble, but Bulma's focus had been skewed. Her brother had chosen a bride? A confused frown was present on her face. And it was a woman she had never met none the less.
She was rather pretty, Bulma credited, but it just seemed rather odd to her. Tien was most certainly not the type to fall in love so quickly.
Another frown. Perhaps he too feared that their father was planning on passing the reigns to Zarbon instead.
The hologram set was shut off, causing the blue haired woman to jump from her daydream. When she looked up she was met with the unfeeling eyes of Vegeta. Her breath was caught in her throat. How did he exude such darkness?
"This is what you saw fit as extra mechanical gear woman?"
Her breathlessness faltered and was replaced with an irritated frown, "Well, what else was I supposed to do for fun?"
The sarcasm from her whiney voice didn't cause Vegeta's face to show even a trimmer of emotion. His eyes were set, still devoid of all feeling.
"You could continue to chat mindlessly with that ignorant woman you invited, without my permission, to join my ship."
Bulma couldn't help but frown.
"Well who made you in charge, your majesty."
Her words had been sarcastic - she had only meant to mock his high-and-mighty attitude. However, she would never had been able to anticipate his reaction at her retort.
With a large, gloved hand around her small pallid throat, she caught her first glimpse of emotion in his onyx orbs.
Fury.
She swallowed against his palm; her eyes wide. She was surprised and confused. She had almost wished that he would have been as unfeeling as she had originally thought.
"Mechanic woman," his voice was a low growl, "learn your place."
When he released her hands immediately jerked to her soar neck, "I apologize. Vegeta - I … don't understand."
His nose was upturned and his lips were pressed flat. He had frightened her.
"Woman, I know you are of some high class. You probably came here to defy your father or escape your arranged marriage to some Hephaestus. Spoiled girl - not all of us are here by choice." He paused as he watched her features become a veil of confusion, "It's not a game to us all.
"Yes woman, I saw you in the market today. You felt those people so disgustingly below you that you couldn't help but raise your nose is abhorrence." A low chuckle, "You are not alone in your action though, woman. If you had watched me you would have realized that I do the same. Those weakling idiots are filth. Scum. Yes you are here by choice - but not all of us selected this life. Some of us had much higher expectations."
Bulma frowned, "I know of the Saiyans and of your people's genocide. Freeza was cowardly in his actions towards your race. It was only because he feared you."
He returned her frown, "You speak as if you have known my people. Well woman, we are not gone and we will have our revenge on that bastard soon enough."
"Freeza." Her voice was soft.
"Yes." He snarled, "I will avenge my people and ascend to my destiny." His voice rose with every syllable, "There may only be three of us left, but we have enough fervor for the entire Saiyan race."
She smiled now, "You're their prince, aren't you?"
Vegeta's face never faltered. He didn't have to answer her question. His anger, his passion, his need for vengeance. He was royalty.
She frowned.
"You don't need to bare the entire burden on your shoulders Vegeta," her voice was still soft, her cerulean eyes bright with compassion, "There are more than the three of you, you know."
"No." He scowled, "Freeza wiped out our planet and than went after those who had been on purging missions and living abroad."
Aqua locks spilled over her slender shoulders as she shook her head, "One of my friends is-" she paused, her eyes going wide.
Vegeta stared at her as realization swept over her features.
"What? A Saiyan?"
"Yes." She smiled, "Avacadria. Queen Avacadria. Your … mother."
His face showed no change. As if the news of a fourth, living Saiyan - a family member nonetheless! - had no effect on him.
"Go to bed woman."
His voice was short and gruff.
She looked up at him, her eyes full of confusion.
She sighed, knowing tomorrow that he would pretend as if they had never spoken to one another.
"Good night," She rose from the couch, taking one last glance at the man still standing with his arms folded over his armor, "Prince Vegeta."