Chapter Twelve

"Gentlemen!" Nossoreg called to get their attention. "It's getting rather late, so if you'd please make your selections, we can conclude today's business."

"We'd pick the couch," Goku began, "but there isn't enough room."

"Easily remedied," Nossoreg said. He pressed a few keys on the computer and the back wall of the cell began moving. Soon, the room was twice the size it had started out to be. "Now there's plenty of room. And, remember, you have one more reward to choose."

Krillen took the bowl of fruit from the table and traded half of it for bread. Placing the bowl on the couch, Goten shoved it over to his mother.

"Excellent choices," Nossoreg said. "Now, if you don't mind, I'm ready to turn in. It's been quite a day, hasn't it? I'll give you a chance to say goodnight before you leave."

"Wait! What do you mean leave?" Gohan shouted.

"We're not going anywhere!" Goku said.

Nossoreg sighed. "I was afraid you would say that. Very well. Goku, Vegeta, and Gohan may stay."

"We don't want to leave either!" Yamcha said.

"My business is with these three now. I'm finished with the rest of you."

"Go on, guys," Goku told them. "We'll hold down things here."

"But, Dad..." Goten began.

"Goten, I want you to do me a favor," Gohan interrupted. "I want you to look after Pan. Can you do that for me?"

Goten nodded, accepting responsibility for his niece. If he couldn't fight alongside his brother, he'd at least make sure his daughter was safe and sound.

"Krillen, you need to go back and take care of your family, too," Goku said. "And let everyone know that we're doing what we can."

"OK, Goku," Krillen agreed. "Good luck."

Trunks looked over at his father, but Vegeta was still deep in thought. He wished he could get some words of encouragement as well, but knew none would come.

"Come on, Trunks," Yamcha said, placing his hand on the boy's shoulder. "We need to go back and let Bulma's parents know what's going on."

Trunks didn't respond, but allowed himself to be lead away. They said their goodbyes and flew off into the gathering darkness.

"We'll continue in the morning," Nossoreg said and headed for the door.

"Wait!"

Even though Nossoreg was in complete control, Vegeta's tone commanded obedience. Nossoreg stopped dead in his tracks and turned toward the Saiyan Prince.

"Tell me one thing before you leave," Vegeta said, walking as close to him as he could get.

Nossoreg noticed the change in Vegeta's eyes. The intensity of focus and the deadly gleam made him take an involuntary step backwards. He wasn't sure what was different about Vegeta, but found himself intimidated by his awesome presence.

"What do you really want?" Vegeta asked with a slight grin that didn't touch his eyes. "You obviously need something from us. What is it you hope to accomplish?"

Nossoreg took another step towards the safety of his door before answering. "Even if you knew, there would be nothing you could do to stop me," he answered.

"If it were something as simple as immortality, he would've used the dragonballs," Goku thought aloud. "He could've wished himself ruler of the world, too."

"He could've wished for anything," Gohan agreed. "So what could he be planning?"

Vegeta's patience with the other two Saiyans had just about reached its limit. He'd slept very little during the night, and his dreams were haunted with all the evil deeds he'd done. Now that the sky was lightening into dawn, he knew he'd delved deep enough into his memories. He was ready to shed all his compassion and think like an evil mastermind.

"What do you think, Vegeta?" Goku asked.

"I think all your endless prattling is annoying!" he snapped. "Why don't you just shut up for awhile!"

"Geez! Somebody woke up on the wrong side of the bed," Goku said, but decided to back off when Vegeta glared at him. There was a definite change in Vegeta, Goku knew. He just wasn't sure why.

Vegeta stood in the doorway, facing the new morning. Now that he didn't have to listen to any more talking, he could concentrate better. He closed his eyes and asked himself the questions again.

'If I had the enormous power of three Saiyans at my disposal, what would I do with it?'
'If I had the dragonballs in my hands, why wouldn't I use them?'
'What would I want most if I were Nossoreg?'

Vegeta kept the questions flowing, one after another, until his head ached. He was sure Nossoreg wasn't just out for revenge, or he would've killed their families already. He was also quite sure he wanted the Saiyan's energy, or he would have tried to kill them. What eluded him was what Nossoreg wanted their power for.

"If I had the three most powerful fighters in the universe under my control..." Vegeta said quietly to himself, "...I would use them to take over every planet. Then I could either take their most valuable resources as my own, or sell the planet to the highest bidder. I could be the ultimate ruler of the universe!"

The notion intrigued Vegeta, and he experienced his first real evil thought in many years. It would be so easy to betray his family and friends and join with Nossoreg. They could conquer the universe together. Then, when everything was under Nossoreg's control, Vegeta could kill him and take over as the supreme ruler!

Vegeta grinned. The plan was all too easy. Within a year, he could have soldiers under his command once more; people to do his dirty work for him. Then he could sit back and reap the rewards he'd deserved all his life. He could build himself an indestructible empire! A legacy to leave to his son!

His heart skipped a beat, and he felt like he'd been doused with icy water. His son! His family! He just couldn't abandon them for his own gain! What good would it do to have everything if he had no one to pass it on to? The thought brought him back to reality and he wondered if he'd ever truly be able to go back to his old ways. Until he could, he'd just have to stick it out with Kakarot to the bitter end...whatever that may be.