I'm so sorry it took so long! Thank you so much for all the amazing reviews!

The tension could be cut with a knife.

Bulla and Frieza glared at each other harshly, none even considering backing down. Nappa and Radditz stood frozen on the spot, perplexed, not knowing what to do. They didn't expect the young girl to have so much nerve. And a pity really, because they knew Frieza could kill her without even moving his body.

Vegeta didn't even know how to feel. A part of him was burning with rage and fear, because the plan was now blown. Frieza would kill them instantly and he'd be trapped in there forever. But he also felt relieved because she was a mild distraction from his current torture, and his body needed a desperate rest. Maybe they'd blurt everything out and Frieza would kill him on the spot.

Then he wouldn't have to suffer any longer.

He chastised himself for having such thoughts. What would his father think? Sayians never wished for death. They always fought on. He didn't have much time to dwell on the matter, though, because Trunks immediately materialised next to Bulla.

Trunks had been watching for a few seconds, before realising that Frieza could seriously harm Bulla, if not kill her. She wasn't a fighter, she didn't know the first thing about ki control, and she was clearly outnumbered. So he ran to her side, letting Frieza and his henchmen see him. He glared harshly at Frieza, clenching his fists.

Frieza was beyond confused. And he hated it.

"I will give you ten seconds to explain yourselves. Who the hell are you, what the hell kind of tricks are you pulling and what relationship do you have with the monkeys?" Frieza said. He sent a quick glance at Zarbon. and Dodoria, so that they'd be alert.

"No." Trunks said. "I give you ten seconds to apologize and run the hell out before I tear you apart."

Frieza's eyes widened for a moment before he burst out laughing, his men following along.

"That's cute." he answered. "Why don't you show me, then?" He whipped his tail and caught Vegeta harshly around his torso, trapping his arms against his sides. He squeezed, making him cry out. "Come and get the monkey trash."

"Trunks, no!" Goku said suddenly.

When Frieza noticed Trunks and Bulla looking momentarily to the side, his smile broadened.

"Are there more invisible people hiding there?" he turned his head towards the direction the newcomers were looking at. "Come out, come out, wherever you are."

Goku stared at him and then turned to Trunks and Bulla.

"Your energy has been depleted. I think it's because the machine wasn't ready yet, but you are now significantly weaker than Frieza." he explained.

Trunks swallowed and his eyes widened. A drop of sweat rolled down his face as his body froze. Damn, they had royally fucked up. He closed his eyes tightly as another scream broke from Vegeta's mouth.

"Well?" Frieza said. "Will you start talking?"

"Frieza, stop that." Trunks said, growling.

"It's Lord Frieza to you." Zarbon said.

A crack resonated and Vegeta screamed again, tears rolling again down his face.

"M-m-master…" he whimpered. God, he couldn't take anymore. He felt like throwing up from the pain. Not only were his bones breaking, but the injuries on his back were unbearable as Frieza put pressure on them.

"Oh?" Frieza said mockingly, pulling Vegeta closer. "Got something to say?"

"Leave him alone! Haven't you done enough to him already?" Bulla said.

"Who are these people, Vegeta?" Frieda asked. "Why are they trying to protect you?"

Vegeta looked at them with panic. His eyes rolled to Goku, who looked positively furious. Would he reveal himself as well? He looked stronger than the others. His thoughts got interrupted as Frieza dropped him to the ground and sent a ki blast at his injured back. He screamed and his eyes grew wide with pain.

Trunks couldn't control himself. He jumped at Frieza, but the overlord saw him easily and swatted him into a wall with his tail. He groaned and coughed, his eyes widening as Frieza sent another ki blast at Vegeta's brutalised back.

"Ahhh! Please!" Vegeta screamed. "Please, no more."

"Just talk to me." Frieza said softly. "Tell me everything and you'll be in a tank soon, healing."

Vegeta looked down at the floor and tried to drag himself away. It was a lie. Frieda would continue torturing him until he was inches from death. Or maybe he'd kill him just because he had tried to escape again.

Frieza didn't miss the pleading look Vegeta sent at Bulla. It had emotion in it. Hope.

"Dodoria." he said. "Kill the girl."

"NOO!" Trunks and Goku shouted.

Dodoria, faster than the eye could see, grabbed her from behind and turned her head to the side, as if he was going to crack her neck. He didn't though. He knew Frieza's tone very well. He was just trying to scare them.

Frieza didn't even blink as Trunks charged at him again. He simply kicked him down and slammed his foot onto his chest. Having him pinned down, he looked directly into his blue eyes. Trunks glared back at him.

He looked so familiar…

"Who are you?" he asked coldly.

"Your worst nightmare." Trunks answered.

"I'm guessing you're fond of the girl. Dodoria can kill her in a second. You wouldn't like that, would you?"

"You bastard." Trunks spat.

"You know," Frieza said, looking towards Nappa and Radditz. "I've always admired monkey loyalty. You adore your prince, as if he wasn't a worthless insect. And it looks like these two have also grown a sense of loyalty towards Vegeta. Maybe I have to crush that. Vegeta, get up."

Vegeta trembled. He could barely breathe.

He slowly tried to move, as his body begged to stay where he was. He sobbed as he got on his hands and knees, blood and sweat dripping onto the floor. He cried out as he tried to keep balance with his tail and pain ran up his spine like daggers. Shaking uncontrollably, he slowly straightened, stumbling backwards. His body trembled wildly.

He couldn't even move.

"Kill the girl." Frieza ordered. "Now."

Everyone's eyes widened.

"N-no." He muttered brokenly.

"Vegeta. It's an order." Frieza insisted.

Vegeta shuddered at the threatening tone and tears filled his eyes again. If he ever got out of that Throne Room alive and conscious, now they would hate him. He would have no choice but to stay with Frieza…

He suddenly remembered the hug Bulma had given him that night. He remembered the times they had woken him up after horrible nightmares to calm him down. He couldn't do that.

He couldn't.

"I-I… I don't…"

"Are you trying to disobey me?" Frieza asked. "Maybe we should bring some punishing tools. Like the time you tried to escape."

Cold fear invaded him and he slowly lifted his outstretched hand.

"Vegeta, no!" Trunks shouted.

Something punched Frieza suddenly, sending him flying into a wall.

Goku appeared before him. He wasn't as strong as always. Not by a long shot. He was actually as strong as he had been on Namek, but he didn't care. He had beaten Frieza then, he could beat him now. He wouldn't let them harm his friends.

"Your end is here, Frieza." he growled.

Taking advantage of the distraction, Trunks got up and ran towards Dodoria. He wasn't as strong as Frieza, but he could easily take on the pink freak. He punched him hard on the face, avoiding Bulla's by an inch, and the pink blob stumbled backwards.

"Bulla. Take Vegeta to the machine. We'll take care of this."

"I don't think so." Jeice. said, appearing in front of Bulla. "You'll have to fight me first, sweetie."

"Run." Vegeta said weakly from behind them. He was in so much pain and so dizzy that he was swaying on his feet, tears still coursing down his face. "You're no… match—"

He got interrupted as the orange man sank a fist into his stomach, which finally rendered him unconscious.

…

It had been too damn long.

Bulma was beginning to seriously worry.

She paced back and forth, biting her thumbnail. The control panel beeping twice before making a cracking sound didn't help either. Nothing was smoking, but she didn't like the sound of that.

A whirring sound made her jump. She whirled around to see a much better clone of her machine appearing out of thin air.

Gasping and tumbling backwards, her eyes widened as all kinds of scenarios crossed her mind. Frieza getting a hold of the machine, making it better and using it to go to the past and not just another timeline was one of those and she trembled as it finally materialized and the door opened slowly.

She didn't know whether to be relieved or more scared as the very angry face of her husband came through the door.

He looked down at her and she chose relief. She jumped to him and hugged him.

"Oh, honey!" she said excitedly. "You're here."

Vegeta rolled his eyes and put a hand on the small of her back.

"Yes, I am. Where are the kids and Kakkarot?"

"They went inside an hour ago and they haven't come out yet." she said. "It's kind of a long story, and—"

"Their energies." he growled. "They're weakened."

"What?"

"Crap." he growled.

He gave a long, cold glare at the structure that still haunted him at nights, before running towards it.

…

Trunks had been holding up fairly well against Zarbon and Dodoria, but when he tried to defend Bulla as well and Jeice had joined in, he began to lose. Now they were beating him up. Badly.

Radditz and Nappa attempted to fight Burter off as he also tried to join the fight, and he was playing with them as if they were a double-set of punching bags.

And Goku wasn't doing very well either. Frieza barely had a scratch and he was already feeling tired. Just like on Namek. He would be having fun, adrenaline pumping through his veins at facing his old opponent, but he was far too worried with Trunks getting beaten up behind him and Bulla trying to reanimate the brutalised prince.

Bulla tried to look for an escape route, but Burter was blocking the door as he fought the Saiyans and she didn't see any other way out. She looked down at the prince. He was shivering violently and blood covered his body.

She slid her hands under him, her throat knotting as he flinched and whimpered. She tried shushing him and lifted him into her arms, crying at the way his face contorted in pain and his body shuddered.

"Master, please, I'm sorry…" he whispered.

"It's okay." Bulla said, keeping him close to her.

Suddenly, the door burst open.

Everyone froze in their place.

The atmosphere heightened.

"King Vegeta?" Frieza said, narrowing his eyes.

"You wish." Vegeta answered, his muscles bulging as he called upon the energy. "Prepare to feel real pain, you overgrown lizard."