Hello my lovelies!
Thank you for your patience with my sporadic updates. As I mentioned in the update for my other B/V fic When Vegeta Met Bulma, having a part time job, and a 13 month old does tend to keep one busy. ;)
I've been feeling especially motivated to write lately, which means more updates on my fics! Yay!
P.S Wildheart, I've taken some of your questions to heart and you may see the results of some of them in this chapter, thanks for your input!
If you have any comments or suggestions let me know! I'm all about improving my writing and the quality of my fics. :)
~Pamgie
Chapter 4: Puppetmaster
"No. No way, that's suicide." A gruff voice resounded. hushed agreements and murmuring reverberated around the dimly lit room.
Bulma looked around at the 15 or so people that were crammed into their makeshift 'war room' as they called it. Piccolo, Tien, Yamcha, Krillin, Goku, and Chi Chi were sitting at a round table with the scientist while the rest were standing shoulder to shoulder around them. This group of people were her team leaders and most trusted friends.
"We have to meet them though!" Goku chimed in. "There's two more Saiyans out there, possibly more and they could be the key to helping us take down Frieza! They're already on the inside, imagine what they know."
"How do you know they'd even want to help us." Tien asked. "They could like working for the tyrant."
"Yea, and I like eating rations that taste and feel like sandpaper morning noon and night." Bulma snarked. "I'm like 99 percent certain that everyone in the Frieza force is there because they have to be for one reason or another."
"That doesn't change the fact that trying to get their attention is a suicide mission." Piccolo grumbled again. "Frieza has that big baldy looking for you already Bulma. Who says that once they find you they won't just kill you? After all you did attempt to kill Frieza. We can't afford to lose even one from our ranks to a crack pot scheme."
Yamcha nodded. "It's too dangerous B. We can't afford to lose you to Frieza's clutches." Chi Chi also nodded in agreement.
Goku stood then and faced the room of anxious looking humans. "If we don't try then we'll never know. I think it's worth the risk to gain potential allies that have inside information on Frieza and are also Saiyans, which means they'll be strong like me."
"You don't know that Goku." Tien warned. "You could be putting all of us in grave danger."
Bulma sighed and looked to her best friend, she could see how serious he was, the glint of fire in his eyes that he only got before battle. This mattered very much to him. Even though Bulma agreed with the rest of her friends, she trusted Goku, always had, and today would be no exception.
"I hear your objections guys, but I'm with Goku on this one. If we want to have any chance of defeating Frieza, we need to see if these Saiyans can be turned, if they aren't already loathing their day jobs. Our last mission was our best effort and it only got us a bounty on my head. Worst case scenario...they capture and kill me. That still leaves all of you to continue our crusade against the bastard."
"Bulma! You're crazy! This'll never work!" Yamcha shouted, slamming his fist on the table, sending spider web cracks along it's surface.
She met his eyes, and saw fear there, concern. She wasn't surprised. She knew how much he still cared for her. And despite their rocky relationship these days, she would always care about him too. If she was being honest with herself, she was also fearful about all of this. But she had to push that fear aside. As their defacto leader of sorts, she needed to put up a strong front, give them hope for a brighter tomorrow, one without the disgusting lizard in it.
"Yea, well maybe crazy is what we need right now."
Chi Chi sighed heavily and looked over at her dear friend. She saw the determination, but also the apprehension in her blue haired friends features. She knew Bulma was having doubts about this herself, but she also knew that once she set her mind on something, she rarely ever changed it.
"So what's your plan then? I won't agree on this unless I know what it is you plan on doing." Chi Chi stated.
All eyes moved back to Bulma and she took a deep breath before straightening up and eyeing the room once more. "Well, we already know that they're looking for me. But they don't know it's me yet. The bounty is for a blue haired humanoid named Katrina Chase, so we have that going for us at least. However, I did see that the bald Saiyan accessed information on Earth, so they are narrowing their search down as we speak. So I'm thinking I'll leave them some bait. A bunny trail to follow so to speak. Then I'll be at the end of said trail, somewhere neutral that Frieza doesn't have a foothold in. I'd take Goku with me, since he'll be our best bet at convincing these guys to defect. The ideal situation would be that they agree. In that case we'd bring them back here and begin our next moves."
"And what if you find yourself in a not so ideal situation?" Piccolo asked.
"Well, then we'll do our best to get the hell out of there and we'll rendezvous with you all."
"I don't know Bulma, it seems pretty risky." Chi Chi sighed.
"Ok, look. I know this sounds crazy, and something we might not come back from. But look at everything we've tried the past few months. Nothing has seemed to make more than a small dent in Frieza's empire. This could be our only shot at truly destroying that bastard and I for one am going to take it."
Several heads nodded at her declaration, while those closest to her were still unsure.
She looked to Goku who nodded and smirked slightly. She smiled back then addressed the room once more. "We will do our absolute best to make it back in one piece with Saiyan reinforcements. Thank you all, you're dismissed." With that last statement she left no room for argument. This was their course of action.
The group began murmuring as they got up and left the room. while Yamcha, Tien, Piccolo, and Chi Chi stayed behind with Bulma and Goku.
Yamcha walked up to her and placed his hand on her arm. "Are you sure you want to do this B? There aren't any other options?" He asked concernedly.
"We've already tried everything in our power at this point. This is our only chance at truly getting rid of the cold empire. I'm not saying I'm not nervous or anything though." She looked down at the floor.
"Couldn't someone else go in your place? Maybe Piccolo or Tien?"
"I'm sorry, but no. They're looking for me. I have to be the one to go. Don't worry Yamcha, I'll have Goku with me." She said reassuringly placing her hand over his.
"That makes me feel better, but not by much." He chuckled nervously.
"I know." Bulma replied.
At the same time. Chi Chi was hugging Goku fiercely, holding onto his training gi for dear life. She knew her husband thirsted for battle and excitement, but after Frieza, she just couldn't help but be worried that he might not come back. She had so much faith in her palm tree haired hunk, but she didn't trust everything else, and that everything else was a big unknown right now, which really frightened her.
"Oh Goku, please, isn't there any other way?" She sniffled as she removed her head from his firm chest to look up into his sincere onyx eyes.
"Chi, you know I have to do this. There's other Saiyans out there! They could help us! And if I'm there with Bulma we'll have a better chance of convincing them to change sides."
"Please. Please come back to me." She kissed him deeply then curled back into his chest.
"I'll come back Chi Chi." He said as he gingerly kissed the top of her head.
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After all the commotion died down, Bulma went to work. She spent the evening putting her bait out there so to speak. She hoped the saiyans would find it, and not some other frieza force soldier.
She would make it look like a civilian who had heard of the bounty was calling in a sighting, that she'd been spotted on a neutral trading planet a few days away from her current location. She typed in the code to impersonate the civilian and enter the frieza force's online system. She made it so the post wouldn't actually appear in their system for four days, that would give her and Goku time to arrive at the trade planet Hatozu and get settled. She researched the shops and establishments there on the galactic net and found a hole in the wall bar that would be perfect for their rendezvous. Vic's Saloon it was. She smirked at her own genius.
Her fingers were flying across the keys as she coded the message and timed it to appear on the day she wanted. All she had to do was hit enter. She stared at the black key for a moment, her finger hovering over it. This was it, this one action was going to change everything, she just knew it. The part of her that enjoyed thrill and excitement was urging her to complete it, looking forward to the adventure that awaited. The other part, the more conservative and emotional part of her was nervous. She honestly didn't want to die, not yet. She was a beautiful, smart, and cunning woman who had her whole life ahead of her, and pushing enter could end that within a matter of days.
She took a deep breath to calm herself and let her finger fall to the key, pressing it quickly, like ripping off a band aid. She exhaled as she took her hand off the keyboard and slid her chair back, reclining in it and sighing heavily. It was done.
Bulma stood as she watched the loading bar on the screen progress. It would only be minutes until the program was set. She stayed until it reached 100% then walked off to find Goku and fill him in on the details.
After speaking with Goku, they both agreed that leaving the next day would be best. They both began packing what they would need, clothing, weaponry for Bulma, rations, money...Bulma also packed a laptop, and portable charger. She always felt better when she had access to technology wherever she went. Once everything was packed, and she finally had some peace and quiet to herself, she stripped down and changed into a pair of sweats and an old tshirt and flopped onto her bed, sighing deeply when she hit the mattress.
Sleep didn't come easy, she knew it wouldn't. She tried to tell herself that she'd have Goku with her, that her plan was foolproof. But she knew it wasn't, and that even though Goku's presence on this mission calmed her down a bit, she knew he wasn't invulnerable. She saw his defeat and narrow survival at the hands of Frieza, it sickened her to her core to even think about the memory. So instead, she intentionally changed the topic of her mind's late night ramblings. She thought back to her parents, and earth, her childhood before this shit show that was her current life ever happened. She drifted off to sleep with a smile on her face, dreaming of happier times.
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Morning had finally come, and it found Bulma drinking a cup of coffee in the common area, her lids still heavy from sleep. Her bags were sitting by the door, and as she took her last sip, she hummed in content. This could be the last time she drank a cup of coffee, so she wanted to savor every last drop. She internally scolded herself for being so pessimistic. This wasn't like her. Bulma had always been so confident in her abilities and plans, but this one was different. There were too many possibilities to plan for, so she did her best and prepared herself. 'Get your game face on girl, you've got a mission to complete.' she pumped herself up.
Goku came strolling into the common area with a loud yawn and leaned against the kitchen counter across from Bulma. "Why do we have to leave so early?" He whined.
"You were the one that was so gung ho about this mission, I thought you'd want to get going as soon as possible."
"Well...Yea, you've got me there. But couldn't we wait until noon? You said they wouldn't even be leaving to find us for another few days right?"
"The sooner we get there the better. It'll give us a chance to scout out the area and set up a game plan in case things backfire."
"Man, you've thought of everything, haven't you Bulma! I'm glad you're on our side." Goku chuckled.
Bulma smiled at his last comment. "Thanks Goku. There's some grey area with this plan, I've done what I can. Hopefully it works." She said as she rinsed out her mug and placed it in the drying rack. "I'm going to get the ship ready for departure. We should be outta here within the hour 'kay?"
"You got it!" Goku gave a thumbs up as Bulma grabbed her bags and headed for the docking bay.
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Sure enough, an hour had passed and Bulma was starting the ignition sequence and Goku walked onboard with a small knapsack strung over his shoulder. Chi Chi and Yamcha were standing a ways away, both hoping that this wasn't the last time they'd see either of them. Bulma waved through the cockpit glass, as did Goku. She finished the ignition sequence and started the thrusters, opening the bay doors above them and before they knew it, they were already leaving orbit.
"Geez Bulma! Give me a warning next time!" Goku complained as he held onto his seat for dear life. The gravitational forces on their bodies were getting heavier by the second as they went through the small planetoid's atmosphere. Even though that would normally not be a problem for the warrior, he was still startled none the less.
Bulma smirked as she looked over at her friend and noticed he didn't have a restraint on. "Not my fault if you forgot to buckle up bud!" She chuckled.
As the seconds ticked by, Bulma could see the countless planets and suns that dotted this part of the galaxy. This wondrous sight would never get old to her, the only part of living on the run she even remotely liked. Being in space and traveling to different worlds was always a dream of hers, she just wasn't planning on fighting for her life while doing it.
Once they left the system the planetoid was in, she set the ships control to auto pilot and sat up and stretched her limbs, Goku doing the same.
"So...we have some time to kill. Wanna train with me?" Bulma asked, a smirk tugging on her plump lips.
"Nothing else I'd rather do." Goku replied as they both walked to the reinforced shuttle bay in the back of their space cruiser.
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4 days later...
Nappa was getting tired of doing Vegeta's dirty work. How he got roped into keeping tabs on the bounty for the blue haired bitch he didn't know, but here he sat in front of a data console, checking to see if there were any leads. For the past few weeks every day he walked into the data department and sat down in the much too small chair, and there was never any news. Just an empty inbox. So since he assumed today was just like any other day, he didn't pay much attention as he signed onto the galactic net and into Frieza's cold empire system. As he attempted to adjust himself in the tiny chair he heard a strange beeping noise. His eyes returned to the screen and saw there was a message waiting.
"I've found what you're looking for"
The title of the message just sat there staring at him like an impatient child waiting for it's parent's response on whether they could get a new toy. It took the larger than life Saiyan a few seconds to register that he had a lead, and when the lightbulb in his head went off, he shouted in triumph.
"CHYEAAAAH!" He slammed his fist onto the desk, which instantly broke, and the data console crashed to the floor. The other occupants of the room all glared in his direction and Nappa rubbed the back of his neck in embarrassment before his brash personality took over.
"What the hell are ya staring at?" He shouted at the much smaller Frieza force soldiers occupying the data center. They all turned back to their tasks or scurried away immediately. Not wanting to stoke the flame of the Saiyans rage.
Nappa ambled over to another open console and logged in again. The message still sat there waiting to be opened.
He clicked on it and with baited breath read the message in it's entirety.
"I've found what you're looking for"
From: Glabus Frome
To: Frieza Force Bounty Alerts
To whom it may concern,
I have been made aware of the bounty for a strange blue haired female wanted by the Frieza Force. It just so happens that when I was on the trade planet Hatozu, I spotted a humanoid female matching the description mentioned. She was frequenting an establishment known as Vic's Saloon. I spoke with her and learned she's in the middle of negotiations with a supplier there and planned on staying for several days.
Here is my information. Once you have her, please transfer the credits as soon as possible.
Glabus Frome
Galactic Bank Promera Branch
Account #39874q_9q2384
In service to the Cold Empire,
Glabus Frome
Nappa reread the message just to be sure, but this sounded legitimate. He was familiar with planet Hatozu and had actually been to Vic's on numerous occasions. Their ales were some of the best he'd had, and it's side business, Vic's Vixens...that had definitely gotten him through some rough times after several purges. He transferred the message onto a datapad and practically ran out of the data center, much to the relief of it's remaining occupants.
Vegeta and Raditz were in the commissary eating their rationed slop for the day. The usual scowl plastered over the prince of Saiyans face. Raditz decided for his sanity...and health, he wouldn't bother with asking what was wrong.
They sat together silently, shoveling food in their mouths when the doors to the commissary burst open and Nappa lumbered over to them.
"Vegeta! Raditz!" He shouted as he bounded forward. He sat heavily in the remaining chair at their table, causing the ground to shake. He not so carefully dropped the datapad in his hand onto the table with a shit eating grin on his face.
Vegeta finally acknowledged his presence with a glare. His eating utensil slammed down onto the table causing their plates to rattle.
"What?" He finally spat out.
"We've got a lead!" Nappa said smugly.
"No way, really?" Radditz asked. He hoped that this news would cheer Vegeta up. He was tired of dealing with the prince's sour mood lately. Even though Vegeta was usually dancing on a razors edge of rage, he had been unusually testy lately.
Vegeta eyed the datapad and picked it up while eyeing Nappa skeptically. They had received a few other 'leads' since this search began, but they all turned out to be nothing but sleaze bags looking to cash in.
"This is the best one yet." Nappa supplied as Vegeta raised an eyebrow at him and began retrieving the message. As he read each line, his scowl was slowly replaced with an almost imperceptible smirk.
Nappa and Raditz looked to each other and nodded, knowing this could be what they were looking for, and also could maybe put an end to their prince's rotten attitude.
"This...looks, promising." Vegeta spoke after he read and reread the message.
"I told ya." Nappa smugly replied.
Vegeta stood with the pad in his hand. "Come, we have work to do." The fire in eyes had finally returned.
Raditz whined. "Come on man, I haven't finished eating here!"
Vegeta stared him down with a look that could kill. Raditz gulped and Nappa grabbed him by the scruff of the neck. "Looks like you'll have to eat later."
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Vegeta quickly strode through the hallways of Frieza's flagship. He actually had something positive to report for once, and that meant he wouldn't be getting tortured or beaten today, so all in all, this was the best day he's had in quite some time. At least since she appeared and turned his life upside down. He had gone from getting the occasional lashing for disobedience to being practically knocked unconscious on a near daily basis. Every time he reported there were no new leads...He shuddered just remembering it. His honor as a warrior had never been damaged so badly. He loathed the woman for what was being done to him. The logical side of his mind reminded him that he was the one that let her get away, so technically this was all his fault, but the warrior in him refused to listen. He was out for blood.
He reached his destination and stood in front of the gaudy gold doors that lead to the slimy lizard's chambers. Two soldiers stood on guard outside.
"I need to see Frieza." Vegeta grunted out.
"Well look who it is. Come for your daily dose of medicine Vegeta?" A purple skinned lizard like man cooed sickeningly.
Vegeta flashed over to the soldier and despite their height difference, the soldier clearly towering over Vegeta, had the man by the throat, taking him by surprise. "Just try me today Cui. I dare you." He spoke soft but deadly, his grip tightening by the second around the other man's throat.
The purple skinned alien grinned at his attacker despite his obvious discomfort. "Ooh, feisty are we? Maybe I'll take you up on that when I'm off shift." He was able to rasp out.
Vegeta huffed and unceremoniously dropped Cui on the ground. "Fuck you." Was his only response before he glared at the other soldier who immediately opened the gilded doors to Frieza's chambers.
He picked up the datapad that had fallen to the floor and walked through the double doors with confidence in his step. He wouldn't allow the humiliation to continue! Everything would change now.
Frieza looked up from his floating chair with boredom in eyes. He had obviously gotten done with a conference call because his telescreen was still up.
"What is it this time monkey? You're not due to report to me for several hours." He drawled.
Vegeta continued his swift pace almost right up to Frieza himself before Zarbon flashed in front of him. "What's in your hand?" There was a slight warning in his tone. He knew the Saiyan monkey despised their master.
"A lead, on the blue haired woman." Vegeta's lips turned up in a small smirk. His eyes looked fierce with determination once more.
Zarbon raised an eyebrow in slight surprise. "Is that so? Well, let's have Frieza make that determination shall we?" He snatched the pad out of Vegeta's grasp and casually waltzed over to Frieza, delicately placing the pad on the surface of his chair.
"What is this I hear Vegeta? Did you say...lead?" His eyes filled with a sickening gleam to them.
Vegeta nodded, the less he said in front of the bastard the better. He knew his smart ass remarks always got him into trouble. Today, he would withhold his words.
Frieza took the datapad and opened up the message. His face going from skepticism to delight in mere seconds. "This looks very promising indeed! You and your fellow monkeys will depart at once!"
Vegeta cringed slightly at the slur that erupted from Frieza's mouth. Were they on Vegetasai, he would have been killed instantly. Here however, all Vegeta could do was keep an emotionless face.
He nodded his agreement to the lizard. "We'll find woman and destroy her." He said like he was reading off a to do list.
Frieza's smile turned into a slight frown. "Yes, you will find her for me, but do not kill her."
Vegeta's eyes widened in surprise. This was definitely out of character for the overlord.
"No, no you won't kill her. But you will bring her back to me. You see Vegeta, even though she tried to take my life, she was able to bypass all of my ships security in the process, which no one else has ever done. I need that kind of resourcefulness in my ranks. Besides, I want to know more about that interesting technology she possessed. Don't get me wrong. She will be severely punished to the brink of death for her treasonous actions, but she will bow to me and learn her place in the cold empire."
The laugh preceding his statement hung in the air, making Vegeta almost sick to his stomach with the quality of it. Purely sinister and foul.
He nodded once again to show he understood.
"Now get moving my prince, we don't have time to waste." He made a shooing motion with his hands.
Vegeta turned heel and quickly left the lizards presence, not wanting to spend a second more in that room then he absolutely had to. That room was the stuff of his nightmares.
"Zarbon!"
"Yes my lord?"
"Make sure we have the tracking devices activated before they leave on their mission. All of them."
"Of course my lord." Zarbon bowed and left to make the preparations.
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Vegeta had barged into his barracks that he shared with Raditz and Nappa and hauled them over to the docking bay. He ignored their protests of what time it was as they walked through the corridors.
"Do we have to go this second? I mean couldn't we have gotten just a few more hours of sleep?" Raditz whined.
"You're pathetic." Vegeta spat back. "If you hadn't spent most of the evening at the ships brothel we wouldn't even be having this conversation."
"It was worth every credit. I regret nothing." Raditz smirked back.
"Shut up you fool. Vegeta's anger was rising by the minute. How this third class warrior came to be in his ranks on this hell hole of ship he never knew. At least Nappa had some sense to him.
As Vegeta was thinking that, Nappa looked at Raditz and both silently snickered at the younger Saiyan's antics. Both men enjoyed spending their free time with women. Very much so, unlike their prince who seemed to have nothing else on his mind besides power and bloodlust.
They made it to the docking bay and saw three pods all set for departure. Each man got into their respective pods and initiated the start up sequence. Vegeta spoke to the other two through the com system.
"Listen up. I don't want to waste any time. We're there to get the woman and bring her back. Understood?"
"Bring her back?! You mean we can't kill her?" Nappa asked, surprised.
"No, Frieza wants her alive. Now lets get this over with." He closed the com down and signaled they were ready for departure. A yellow thin alien with several tentacles opened up the bay door, and soon the three pods were nothing more than dots in the vastness of space.
As Vegeta settled in, he heard the tell tale hiss of the sleep gas entering the pod. "Space sleep initiated. Estimated time to arrival, 12 hours." As his eyes lids became increasingly heavier, the last thing he thought of was getting some semblance of his honor back.
I'm trying out a new spacing format. Let me know if you think it's weird or something. Don't worry, our main characters will finally meet in the next chapter. ;)
Much love,
~Pamgie