Inner Workings of My Mind

Chapter 11

"Saiyans are capable of basic telepathy that does not manifest itself until full maturity. It is not as strong as in other races, but it is there. The main occurrence of telepathic ability will occur when a Saiyan mates." Vegeta smirked at the blush that spread across Gohan's face at the mention of mates.

"When a Saiyan mates, they form a permanent telepathic bond with their partner that will only disappear with the death of one of the partners. The bond allows for them to sense each other's basic emotions and communicate thoughts. Those with enough skill can regulate the thoughts and emotions that pass through the connection.

"Saiyans are able to use telepathy in other forms. However, it takes a large amount of skill and focus and only basic thoughts and images can be communicated. We only have enough telepathic skill to project to others, but not to read the thoughts of others. Unlike with humans, every Saiyan has the potential to be able to communicate telepathically."

"Can you do this, Vegeta?" Gohan asked. "Could my dad?"

Vegeta nodded. "I am capable of it, however, I prefer not to waste my energy on it. Your father could also do it. In fact, I believe he used his abilities in our first fight as well as on Namek."

Gohan nodded, remembering how his father had communicated with both him and Krillin in order to control the energy of a Spirit Bomb during that first fight against Vegeta.

Gohan reflected on all that he had learned. Truthfully, he was not looking forward to this. He stared out the window from his room and into space. The dark-haired boy missed Earth and he was glad that they would be returning tomorrow.

The hybrid was sure his mother had given birth to his new sibling and he reluctantly acknowledged that it would be safest if he remained at Capsule Corporation until he was finished with Saiyan puberty; he had no desire to put his family in danger. Gohan sighed in frustration. How the hell was he supposed to explain this to his mother?

Gohan had spent the last couple of weeks of travel focusing on controlling his emotions. It had been a challenge with Vegeta constantly badgering him and pushing him over the edge. They had landed on several deserted planets and most of those had nearly been destroyed when Gohan's volatile wrath erupted. Their return to Earth had been delayed by several weeks, but it was necessary. Gohan was not willing to put the innocents of Earth at risk.

Gohan had gained some semblance of control. He was, at the very least, capable of taking off the bracelet before he succumbed to his wild and extreme emotions. The Saiyan hybrid would then calm down and place the bracelet back on. This method was fine for everyday life, but Gohan was concerned at what would happen if there was a fight. The young teen couldn't sacrifice his ki control in a fight, but his loss of emotional stability could cause him to lose himself and do drastic things.

Gohan could only hope that there would be no confrontations in the near future.

Gohan followed Vegeta out of the Capsule Corporation ship to see the sun rising over the horizon. The dark-eyed kid took a deep breath and revelled in the scent surrounding him.

Despite the early hour Bulma was already awake, dressed, and awaiting their arrival. The blue-eyed heiress tapped her foot impatiently as they approached and arched a delicate blue eyebrow in annoyance.

"What took you guys so long to return?" she demanded. "Vegeta, you've been gone almost three months, not a few weeks! You missed the birth of your brother, Gohan!"

"We had more important things to deal with, woman!" the Prince of Saiyans declared with a scowl.

A glare equal to her mate's spread across Bulma's face. "It's not uncommon for you to leave for months at a time, Vegeta, but I expected you to return in a timely manner since you had Gohan with you. I really-"

Gohan interrupted Bulma before the fiery human could finish ranting at her husband. "It really was necessary, Bulma! We'll explain everything. I promise."

"It better be good!" the heiress declared as she stormed inside with a huff. The two Saiyans reluctantly followed in order to explain the situation.

"So Gohan is going through puberty, but Saiyan style?" Bulma asked after Gohan delivered an explanation with many blushes and stutters over the situation that he had found himself in.

Vegeta snorted at his wife's understatement of the situation. The Prince was moodily leaning against the wall and observed the conversation from a distance.

Bulma's eyes gleamed with barely concealed excitement. "Can I have blood samples?" Bulma gleefully asked Gohan. The young hybrid looked at Vegeta in panic, clearly asking for rescue. Gohan had no desire to become the blue-haired genius's lab rat. "I just want to run a couple of tests." Bulma pleaded.

Receiving no indication of support from Vegeta, Gohan reluctantly nodded. "Just a few tests, Bulma," the boy acquiesced.

"Fantastic!" the woman cheered as she grabbed her new test subject and forcefully dragged him to her lab.

Bulma frowned in thought as she viewed the results of the tests she had performed on Gohan. After taking numerous blood samples and scans the scientist had let Gohan leave to visit his mother and new brother and explain the situation. An emotionally unstable teenage Saiyan would not be the safest person to have around an infant and Chichi needed to understand why Gohan would be remaining at Capsule Corporation.

Bulma opened a program on her screen that allowed her access to the security footage throughout Capsule Corporation. She chewed on her lip thoughtfully as she searched the screen for her husband's location.

Bulma opened up a line to the Gravity Room as she found her Saiyan Prince. "Vegeta," Bulma called over the speakers, "I need you to come to lab three in order to assist me with interpreting Gohan's lab results."

Vegeta paused his push ups at Bulma's request and grunted his consent before standing and deactivating the high level of gravity in the room.

It didn't take long for the Saiyan to enter lab three, towel hanging over his shoulders as he wiped sweat from his face. "What do you want?" he asked with his usual scowl fixed upon his features. "I already gave you standardized data of the hormone levels he should be experiencing."

Bulma frowned and said, "Gohan's hormone levels don't match the data you gave me." The heiress gestured towards the screen displaying the test results and the Prince leaned over her shoulder to view the numbers.

"Damn human genes," Vegeta grumbled in barely concealed disdain. "Everything is fucked up."

The Saiyan then reached over Bulma's shoulder and typed in a quick command on the keyboard. An image of Gohan appeared on the screen, slowly rotating to show all angles. After a few more entered commands and the computer zoomed in towards the back. A portion at the bottom of Gohan's spine was highlighted yellow.

"This," Vegeta explained while gesturing at the image, "is the portion of Saiyan anatomy that produces all of the necessary hormones. It is located at the base of the spine where a Saiyan's tail sprouts and is vital for puberty."

Bulma huffed in annoyance and crossed her arms. "I know that, Vegeta, but according to these scans, the output of hormones from the gland is normal. His overall hormone levels should not be as high as the data says they are. Also, based on the timeline you gave for an average Saiyan puberty, Gohan should not be as far along as he is. He is progressing much faster than normal."

Vegeta rolled his eyes. "The brat is not normal, woman. He is a half-breed and is half human. In human anatomy, what produces hormones?" Vegeta asked as if Bulma was missing the point.

Bulma's eyes widened and the genius quickly typed commands into the keyboard. An image appeared in a separate window focusing on the brain. A portion towards the center glowed yellow, indicating the presence of hormones. "The pituitary gland..." Bulma whispered. "It's so obvious. Why didn't I notice it?"

Vegeta smirked. "Saiyans don't have a pituitary gland, but Gohan does. Because of this, he has an excess amount of hormones being produced, mainly growth hormones."

Bulma made quick notes on her computer and began to mentally calculate the changes in the rate of growth. She frowned at her conclusion.

With the increase in hormones and at the current rate at which Gohan had been developing there was no way that the puberty cycle would be completed in two to three years. No, it was much more accelerated. According to her calculations the whole process would take approximately 18 months and Gohan was already about six months in. It was going to be one hell of a year.

"This is going to be very painful for him," the heiress observed.

Vegeta smirked. "Immensely," he agreed.