Chapter 116

Pain writhes in her gut and nausea runs rampant throughout her abdomen. Childbirth has braced her for enduring such discomforts yet she finds fear in her body's unwillingness to move and its terrifying weakness. Her head protests as she slowly rises and opens her eyes. Aches fill her joints and even sitting up is labouring her heart. Queen Vegeta bounds up to her feet and woozily staggers and stumbles with her head spinning, falling off of the sofa she was placed to rest on. Over her is a large looming shadow. She kicks up at it. The Ox-King manages to block her attack due to her weakened state and tries to calm her down as he sees panic building within her. Confused and startled, she hurries to scamper away first on all fours and then she finds her feet like a newborn deer and crashes out of the house. A paralysing wave of feebleness drains her and darkens her vision halting her motion and having her begin to pant.

In alarm at her sudden appearance Washu quickly takes a few steps past the entrance of the training room to be within Vegito's protection. Queen Vegeta sees her target's pink hair and can only blame her for this and whatever state she has found herself in. Her hands grip at her gut and a cold sweat beads on her brow thinking of the pain Tarble caused her and how little she lived following. Smugness appears on Washu's face at this revenge whilst seeking protection from that of another Saiyan. Vegito loudly states to Queen Vegeta what was done to her. The monarch understands even as her pulse drones loudly within her skull. She turns about and does what is necessary. Queen Vegeta forcefully makes herself expel the energy absorption gem from her mouth and wipes at her lips.

"I had you at my mercy, I muzzled you like a mutt with that gem and spared your life. This is my victory, Pranis." She proclaims her victory as the red mist creeps its way insidiously back within Washu.

The Ox-King lumbers out of the house following Queen Vegeta. She pants hunched over and just shakes her head side to side in what disagreement she can muster against Washu. Ox-King walks about the side of the humble house and gets a spade, digs a shallow hole besides the Queen and shovels her mess into the hole before filling it up as he pats her firmly on the back. Chichi reprimands Washu as this not being the time for her feud when her invention is going haywire and breaching security systems and attacking her husband. To this Queen Vegeta raises her head and focuses her eyes. That Saiyan stood there is not Kakarot. She does not understand. It looks somewhat like Goku yet to be honest most of the low ranking Saiyans are alike to her. She sees his tail. She sees a defeated Goku on the ground. Queen Vegeta spits the bile from her mouth and eyes this unknown other.

"Bow down … and swear fealty … under Queen Vegeta of all Saiyans." Looking an absolute wreck she growls out her order as she must for her station and eyes this fearsome warrior and wonders at who this is since her son did not mention him.

Vegito eyes her and lets out a small laugh at this show. Somehow she is almost managing to upstage himself in terms of arrogance. He crosses his arms and explains that he took down a Super Saiyan 3 without the need to transform to see how she counters this and as an easy way to deny his obeisance to her. Queen Vegeta blinks in alarm and visibly wavers. She then takes a few steps closer and asks his name as she stares at him.

"Vegito, and you don't need to introduce yourself to me. I'm-"

"So you are aware that I am the last remaining female Saiyan, good, that makes this simpler." Queen Vegeta smiles at him.

Vegito closes his eyes and grimaces. The insinuation is clear and if he managed to finish his sentence this could have been avoided. His face frowns in open disgust. Beside him this situation has tickled Washu fiercely. The scientist points and laughs mockingly at Queen Vegeta at how her creation has so spectacularly fooled her, counting this as another victory against the queen.

"I'm Vegeta and Kakarot fused together as one being and my existence is being simulated by these training rooms. So to answer what you are asking, just no." With chagrin Vegito explains the situation to her and how it is not in her interest to offer that invite to the mating season to him.

Queen Vegeta goes visibly green at the gills seeing her incestual mistake. She looks away in embarrassment and snarls at Washu deriding her for this. Chichi can only see this as karma for Queen Vegeta chasing after any prospect of a male Saiyan as she cradles Goku's head in her arms. The spade held by the Ox-King is grabbed by Queen Vegeta. She cannot wrestle it from his firm hold. It splints in half and she throws this small wooden spear at the Tuffle. Washu does not flinch as Vegito catches the weapon. She then flinches as he raps her across the head with it and insults her as to whether she now only changes her brain to that of a child's as she has no personal force field to defend herself with. Queen Vegeta eggs him on to beat her more with the stick whilst Washu tuts at the Vegeta half of Vegito. He does not.

The two irate women roar at the other: Washu shouting that she won and the Queen has to give into her demands and Queen Vegeta as to when their actual one on one match shall be since Washu failed to do anything to claim her victory at all by Saiyan standards. This provokes Washu into insulting the ludicrous Saiyan ways that because she did not kill Queen Vegeta this is not legitimate. Vegito gives her another rap with the piece of wood and then throws it back to hit Queen Vegeta in the head also. Fed up of this, Chichi leaves Goku and marches between the Saiyan and Tuffle and yells at them that her house is not their battleground for a grudge older than her and if they want to be children and still fight then to take it elsewhere.

"All of this puny planet is mine to do with as I will. No worm on this planet can say where I can and cannot fight." Queen Vegeta is quick to argue back.

"You want me to stop after all the evils this parasite has caused? She is a rabid animal!" Washu's ability to listen to reason is diminishing when in sight of Pranis.

"Yeah well I'm not the one making the death traps that caused that to happen neither am I the one making stupid mistakes so fusion fighter here can come over and attack my husband." Chichi counters Washu with her own blame in all of this.

"I am goddamn grieving over here because of-"

"Don't try to lecture me on grief. I have lived with the death of loved ones, and real ones at that not some weird simulations you designed for Saiyans to attack in the first place."

"Just because you are so lucky that you have an actual family to lose, unlike me – me who has no planet or people left! Gohan is within my-"

"Yes, Gohan, I had him stolen from me when he was 4. For a year I couldn't see him or even know if he was alive. He was taken to be beaten and abused for a full year by the same person who had just shot dead my Goku. Do you see me in absolute hysterics every time someone mentions Piccolo? You are endangering so many right now by not doing your job properly, whilst I easily welcome Piccolo into my home now, same with Buu. Stop seeking these petty vengeances and being your own kinda cold hearted monster by attacking her with her own dead children and people."

"I will not be the villain here! It suits you well to leave out Cell there for your hypocrisy comes to light then. Just because all you lot play nice and become friends with your enemies for some reason means I cannot do anything about that abomination there for all the hell she has done to me ..."

Washu has had enough of being insulted and being anywhere near Queen Vegeta. Since this security breach has been showcased to her she might as well leave to fix that rather than waste her time here. She pushes past in a huff to go back to her ship. Washu only gets a couple of metres from the exit of the training room. Leaving that threshold allows the coiled viper to strike. Arms and legs constrict about her body in a vice grip. On her back Queen Vegeta has jumped on with her face horrifically close to her own. She cannot move properly with the Queen on her and holding her. The full weight of the diminutive Saiyan's dense body is a lot for the weak Washu. A quick glance is shot from Queen Vegeta to Vegito and she sees that indeed he can take zero action outside of the training room and his power is meaningless in the real world. Neither Chichi nor the Ox-King are used to taking the initiative and are so accustomed to Goku or Gohan using their Saiyan reactions that they both stand there watching before it dawns on them there is no Saiyan to interfere.

"My son acknowledges me and calls me his mother, unlike yours who denied you. You fail even as a mother compared to me." Queen Vegeta squeezes tighter as she whispers evil into Washu's ear.

Those words are all she is allowed before Chichi begins wrestling her off of Washu and Queen Vegeta relents and releases her prey for she has done what is needed. She waits and watches in anticipation before she is rewarded. A girlish giggle and a giddy hop comes from her as she relishes in seeing Washu crumple and collapse on the floor in agony and tears. She proclaims this victory over Tuffle-kind.

"Mikumo ..."

Chichi lets Queen Vegeta to her own devices as she goes to the devastated Washu to comfort, with the Ox-King going to take her place to guard the Saiyan until she walks of her own accord into the training room. Queen Vegeta inspects Vegito and remarks if he were not tainted by being of Washu's manufacture she would be impressed. Her tail hangs over Goku and she presses its crooked tip against his. She watches and there is a faint motion of his tail half grabbing against her own which she takes as a positive sign. Chichi cannot console Washu. There is nothing she can say on the matter and she knows little about Washu's long history. That one fact of Mikumo's simulation not accepting Washu so mercilessly opens that 20 millennia old wound whilst Queen Vegeta has at least one son who knows who birthed them. The housewife goes to escort Washu into their home but gets shrugged off. Rubbing at her crying eyes she hurries herself into her transport vessel and jets over the horizon without further word. Chichi cannot believe the evil that Queen Vegeta is capable of as she looks appalled at the woman. In response Vegito transforms, his power scalds the weakened queen and drives her from the training room. His might shall not be questioned and she shall do well to stay away from him lest his own Vegeta-esque tendencies find her as a target. That power she has little trouble being able to sense.

He is in the way here. His time is short though not for the same reason as Gogeta. Vegito returns back to Vegeta's training room through Instant Transmission. He peers through the porthole of the training room to the outside world and sees that Ryoko is nurturing the still form of Vegeta, with him laying on the sofa, his head upon her lap and her preening him whilst Mihoshi stands away. Vegito tuts for he shall never get a challenge by fighting those two since he always exists better than both. He turns back to see Trunks who quickly repeats he will not fight him. Vegito nods understanding and stands watching Trunks. The fused fighter inspects his fighting style and gives many comments and pointers to his half-son – several of which run counter to what Vegeta has told Trunks. The lad gets taught in a manner not like the proud prince would ever do until several bleeps and warnings come from the central console. Vegito disappears without a trace and the main console powers down as Washu begins maintenance.

Live camera feeds show Mihoshi stood awkwardly in Vegeta's living room holding a stilted conversation with Ryoko. Washu watches. 'That is what Vegeta gets for threatening Mihoshi' she thinks to herself. Looking back at her scans of her security she sees the karma for her pettiness. She wants to call Mihoshi back to be safe in her laboratory yet she knows that even though the kind woman would agree she cannot treat her like some pet to call and comfort her when she needs it. Washu damns and curses Pranis. Kagato, Vegeta, Seto and even the father of her child join that list as her frustration grows. Orbital lasers are trained and locked on Queen Vegeta's position and were she not within Chichi's house then she could just open fire and be done with it. It is maddening and for all this the exploit between the two training rooms is not something her initial testing is finding. There is some loophole or connection port she is not able to see that is allowing free movement and access and she is spending most of her computer's processing power scanning the network between the training rooms and her own network in this realm for that is the large danger.

"She said she was a better mother than me."

"Maybe for a Saiyan, those are her standards, and you know it's not true. She hit her baby so it wouldn't cry. Babe, you can't keep beating yourself up over this." Yamcha stands behind her.

"... I don't even know what I'm looking at on screen now, I can't work and if I can't work then I think about it. My Mikumo … Can you do the thinking for me now? I don't know what to do." Washu weakly says. She swivels about on her seat and rests her head on Yamcha's chest. She is too emotionally exhausted to continue. She cannot face Queen Vegeta like that again.

Luckily her automated systems she has set running are picking up most of her slack. There is no way that by hand she could check the connections she has sewn between the training rooms. Several security based AI systems run the diagnostics tracking the routes that Vegito utilised and the logs from when Kagato took control. Because of her Gohan has had to multi-form and fly to his parents' house in a hurry with a secured container as she left her weapons and gadgets behind. Washu feels worthless. She tried for anger and rage and she is in pain over what it cost her.

"She gave a kind of an offer. I guess from there is where we have to take things. Some willingness to just talk, even if she was still trying to get at you is progress. I can come with you next time, hold your hand." He finds what silver lining he can.

"It'd be so simple to take advantage of her young and simple mind, then her son finds out and I get issues again. I don't want to help her. I don't want to give her anything." She shakes her head. Washu knows wanting only death for the Saiyan makes her no better than her but she cannot find any want for forgiveness over revenge.

"There's nothing else to appeal to though, I saw it with Vegeta – y'need to give 'em some reason to think you're useful. Bulma was a stepping stone for him, a place to gather his wits and plan and learn about Goku, at first, and then he got a training room and things spiralled from there. I can't see any other way to keep her occupied or busy for enough time for change to happen without giving her the same." Yamcha strokes her hair. His past experience with domesticating a Vegeta is what he can offer. It was not fast, it was not pretty and it sure as hell came with complications, yet despite all that it came with no violence. Vegeta was the strongest on the planet for a while then and he had no outburst nor aggression when Goku was still on Yadrat.

"She wants me dead. You want her stronger."

"For safety you'll have to limit the maximum gravity severely to only 100 times Earth, and no simulations for her. Vegetas don't train sensible and she'll kill herself if you give her one like her son, you can do that if you want but it ain't responsible." With 100 times gravity on Earth and barely a week Goku surpassed most of the Ginyu force in terms of sheer power. Yamcha knows it will be risky to increase her power but she will strive for it all the same. Either she has a place to seek her goal or she shall seek out fighting and combat to raise her power level as an alternative.

"I do the right thing and handicap her training room and she will detest me even more at the humiliation." Washu lets out a short laugh with no joy. What he says to her makes sense. It is sense she does not want to hear though.

"But then she gets stuck. You control those rooms, you are necessary for her. She becomes dependent on you like Prince Vegeta. Then, then you can swing your weight around in talking with her." He gives her a hug as his plan culminates in the entrapment of both. Washu gets stuck servicing the training rooms yet she becomes under the protection of Saiyans for their need in gaining power. It is a far better deal than Queen Vegeta hunting her down.

" … I … I don't want to be like what I- I know what I was doing there was wrong and Pranis has the idiotic Saiyan mindset that all her actions are right. She's right that I shot first. I asked you not to come so I had a chance to attack her and I wanted it. I'm sorry Yamcha. I can't be like that or- or she's right that I'm a bad mother. Please, you've been my rock for so long, but just a bit longer. I'm sorry."

Washu hugs him and grips his clothing. She wants forgiveness for her own actions, for her own evils. She can tell Yamcha suspected her motives and disapproves of her rage and she does not want to be thought of like that. His support she cannot do without. If he leaves her for seeing her darkness then she truly shall be left with nothing. The scientist apologises and speaks of her love for him but adds that she will need a while before she can heed his advice. He shushes her and calmly tells her to not put herself in danger like that again and to trust him. Her rage is spent and she holds him and holds tight onto her dream of another child to redeem her failings with Mikumo. In his arms the accumulation of stress wears her down and as she relaxes she falls into sleep.

Tracing his jawline and fiddling with his spikes of hair, Ryoko smiles down at Vegeta as she enjoys this time messing with him. Mihoshi has wandered off after having been asked to fetch lipstick for Ryoko and not wanting to stand around awkwardly with her and a knocked out Vegeta. Now Vegeta's face has a heart drawn on his cheek with red lipstick and a mark from her lips on his own. This will work to remind him to not be stupid when training and to not worry her. Gradually he begins to stir and she leans in close over him to surprise him as his eyes flutter open. She looks down at him and tuts disapprovingly. As his body aches from the beating he took she gives him a stiff telling off for being an absolute idiot in summoning Vegito of all things. Vegeta slowly sits up and she pushes him back down telling him to rest. Ryoko sticks her tongue out and says Vegito was mean to her which is his fault and he worried her so she wants to use her power to stop him training for a while. His black eyes do not look impressed. She then adds with a smile Washu has had to also shut down the training room as Vegito broke its security. He asks if there is any good news and her Cheshire smile grows as she says she has grassed on him being an idiot to Ayeka too.

"4 seconds isn't impressing me." Ryoko teases him.

"Do you have any idea how long 4 seconds is in a fight for me at my top speed?" He coldly states back against the insult

"Yep, it's 4 seconds long. Idiot. Why? Why attack a fusion who has to be stronger than you?"

"I needed to see, to see the power I singularly can never surpass. I hate fusion. Loathe its existence for that fact, that with it there shall always be warriors more powerful than me due to them containing my power and amplifying it with another's. I did not think the difference would be so vast." He gives his answer. His pride and ambition drive him towards being number 1, yet fusion shall always deny him that position, as his Saiyan blood demands he had to at least challenge it.

"Ayeka's worried about you. Maybe she's getting to wondering if you're doing reckless things to beat yourself up over her leaving the great Prince Vegey on his ass."

"And I was busy listening to you gossip about me. … What is on my face?" Looking up at Ryoko he spies something odd reflected in her golden ear cuff and they do not look like bruises. Vegeta dabs at his cheek to see. From above Ryoko cheekily raises her eyebrows at him.

"Kinda wanted you to call Ayeka with my little kisses on you. I can do worse with you when knocked out. Don't be an idiot Vegey, or next time you get lipstick in more places than your head." Ryoko tauntingly warns him. "Are you being real truthful answering those questions of Ayeka?"

"If what I remember is correct, yes." Vegeta sits up now and is not restrained by Ryoko this time. He thoroughly wipes at his face to rid himself of the lip stick marks. "Nothing I said to her should come as a shock to you. That business is what it was, and what it was grew stale and boring."

"I can't tell if Ayeka wants to give herself a reason to hate you forever for killing or if she's trying to find excuses for what you are. All I care for is that I know the truth. I know you don't want to hurt me or others like that, you want people to fight not people to kill."

"True. Though you … did you come to that conclusion through faith in me or by cheating and reading my mind?"

"Oh I cheated alright, but that's not to say I don't have some faith in ya. That's not what I was cheating to see anyhow. You got my kisses as a reward for having good thoughts on your lovely Ryoko." She smiles warmly at him. Vanity is what drove her telepathic search, and she found thoughts she likes. "But it's selfish Vegey. What you not killing is. You mainly do it 'cos you wanna be like Kakarot and keep your body to train after death."

"A goal we both need to strive for." Vegeta nods in agreement for hell is not a place he wants to languish in.

"Eternity together with my Vegey. And eternity together with your Bulma, right?" She pries.

" … According to Kakarot the fate of her spirit was not to keep a body, her actions for some reason to indirect in comparison to that bafoon's, so no that is not a possible future. He's said some nonsense about eventual reincarnation of a soul, damned clown even asked for Buu of all things to be reincarnated with his power."

"I'm sorry Vegeta." Ryoko gives him a sympathetic hug for even though it is good news to hear his ex shall not get in the way it would be downright evil and unsympathetic to celebrate that fact.

He nods. What is done is done and this is not news to him. The afterlife is an annoyance for him, given enough power he does want to see if he can stand up against their rule over the natural order. Vegeta stands and says he is off to talk to Washu about his training room since it is offline and when in there might as well call Ayeka. Ryoko suspects and asks if he is purposefully making the call in Washu's laboratory to hide things from her as she holds up the communicator she has been using in her hand. He half answers that a call from within the lab is far more secure and flies away.

Arriving back at Gohan's house he annoyingly finds that this time the front door is not unlocked. It has been a while since he last used the technique so he carefully uses Ryoko's phasing to enter the house. Once inside he starts walking to the cupboard. Vegeta then gets kicked in the back of the knee and someone grabs at his arm trying to lock it. A shout from a struggling woman accuses him of intruding in her house and to get out. Vegeta simply pushes her aside with his tail from behind him and looks back at Videl trying to defend her home from invasion.

"You? You're the one who broke in earlier and made strange sounds in here whilst I was in the shower?" Videl recognises him and gruffly asks him, not happy with this but relieved it is no strange pervert entering her home, just a strange warrior with no care for social etiquette.

Vegeta says he needs to get to Washu and he can only do so here. That does not excuse his entry so Videl rightfully asks why he did not knock or let her know. He walks on to the cupboard door and says he does not care to waste time. As he walks into where Washu resides he finds that Videl is following him saying she has business too now. The Saiyan briefly raises hi ki and impatiently waits the few moments it takes for Gohan to sense and arrive at where he is.

"Gohan, we're moving that door or your boss needs to get Vegeta a way in again or both because I'm not having this." Videl straight away makes a firm demand at her boyfriend bewildered by her appearance here and her apparent frustration at how he commutes to work. "He's breaking into our house whenever he wants so he can see your boss. Earlier I was in the shower when he did it and that is unacceptable since he left the door open for anyone to waltz in! Our address is in the news all the time! And anyone here has to go through our house to get anywhere. We could be sleeping or doing anything and someone just pops out into our home like its some arrival lounge at an airport. Change it Gohan."

With her distracted and Gohan occupied the Prince of Saiyans Instant Transmits away from them towards where Yamcha's ki is. Washu asleep is not what he expected to find. He sighs at this and looks to Yamcha. The desert bandit gives a signal to Vegeta to wait and gently lifts Washu and hovers away to lower her down into her bed. He returns and Vegeta right away asks about his training room, he gets the answer concerning Vegito being able to visit Goku and that Washu's programs are still running diagnostics to see the extent to which the software will have to be updated and secured. Vegeta adds that beyond that full testing shall have to be done so that no external force can influence his training room as otherwise all this fix does is stop Kagato targetting both he and Goku at once and instead has to do it separately. Yamcha admits Washu is not on ball or particularly up to that task right now and it is mostly all coming down to Gohan for the majority of the leg work.

"What did my mother do to break her like that?"

"The thing that got to her the most was kinda about you. Pranis-"

"That's Queen Vegeta to you."

"She said that with Washu's past and how you failed in the simulation to get her son to recognise her that Queen Vegeta is a far better mother than she is."

"... Tell your scientist woman that I would rather leave Trunks in her care than any other childless woman that has visited this planet recently, she can take that for what good it might do in getting her back on track. Even if not for you being Trunks' godparent, you 2 would be who I entrust him to."

Yamcha thanks Vegeta for those kind words and his support on the matter even though it is self serving. The two warriors look at each other with nothing more to say. Vegeta states he needs to get in contact with Ayeka, that she has been told about Vegito and is worrying. An unused computer is found which Vegeta seats himself at and Yamcha shows him the few buttons he will need for beginning and ending a call.

Many vast star systems away a woman sits relaxing with her feet hanging in the waters of an Olympic sized indoor swimming pool. Fountains and natural looking streams feed into the water with sparse foliage growing from the wooden walls. The light emits the same hue as that of the nearest star. A beeping sound comes from the belongings left beside several ornate pool loungers. She looks about the pool at the other occupants and stands and walks over. Taking her time to dry her hands and arms properly before searching, she finds the communication device. The caller ID is listed as a secondary device of Dr. Washu Hakubi however, it is also trying to dial for a video call that she is not willing to take when at a swimming pool. She accepts audio only as she sits down on the nearest lounger and wraps a towel about her. The video from the other side displays and she is confused.

"Hello? Haruna here. And who is calling?" She answers as she watches a deep frown set across this intimidating man's face.

"Is Ayeka there?" Vegeta is annoyed at this unintended recipient and does not remember or care for who this Haruna is. The fewer people he interacts with the better and the more time he saves.

"Lady Ayeka is swimming with her family. Do you want to leave me a message to pass on or-"

"No, I called her with the intent to speak so call her over."

"Once again, who is calling for her?"

Vegeta pauses and thinks. He is certain that Jurai are keeping things quiet and confidential about Saiyans. He does not know this woman or her involvement within Jurai. Needless to say he has few ways to identify himself that do not tie back to his race with his name being synonymous with his people. Since this woman is in view of Ayeka and at least close enough to her that she can answer her communicator on her behalf he reckons she might be in the know about some current events.

" I am calling from the planet Earth." He vaguely answers as Ayeka should be able to infer from that yet it makes no mention of the private dealings with the Saiyan race.

"Oh, Earth. OK, you don't need to be secret any-more with me, I know of Earth and Ayeka's travel there- Wait. Are you the one who broke Yosho's hand?" Haruna is marrying into royalty and as such she has access to the whereabouts of said royal family and its goings on. Her eyes narrow looking at this scary man and whether he was the one to hurt Yosho on his first landing on Earth.

"Is that weakling still mewling about that? Yes, I held back almost all my power and disarmed him after he tried attacking me. This is Vegeta, get Ayeka."

After this Vegeta hears ambient noises and footsteps and splashing water for a few minutes and muffled voices. It seems Haruna is not directly answering him. He guesses at this point she might be the woman Yosho swapped to after being freed from his engagement with his sister with her familiar tone of voice concerning him and how she is not speaking like any Juraian royal he knows, nor did she identify herself with a family name. He impatiently waits and taps his fingers on his crossed arms. A pleased and smug sounding Haruna comes back on the line to Vegeta's annoyance.

"Sorry but Lady Ayeka has said 'to not disturb her whilst she is exercising' and that you should 'know better than to rudely intrude on a princess and to sympathise with her position here'." She passes on this message and watches as veins pulse on Vegeta's forehead at this insult of karma.

After all the times he has pushed away Ayeka's want to talk for his training she now finally has found a way to turn it back on him. As Ayeka carries on swimming she feels extremely satisfied at having done that. She will not dance to her prince's tune and he shall wait for her or have to book her time in advance much like she had to incessantly wait for any time to talk to him. Now that she is aware he has recovered from Vegito there is little else for her to say to him. Haruna watches static fuzz the line, Vegeta's anger and energy distorts his image and voice.

"Who else is swimming there?" Vegeta asks since Haruna mentioned Ayeka's family. He will not be challenged like this and slink away to call later.

"Queen Misaki and Lady Sasami, along with myself, fiancee to Yosho. You are not offering a good first impression to myself if we are to be related through our marriages to Juraian royalty."

"Get Missy on." He demands.

That is a strangely intimate way to ask for the Queen of the Juraian Empire, by using a personal nickname of her when he is so standoffish and rude. Haruna can tease him if she wants however he is a Saiyan and she is aware that if he can take down Yosho with ease she might not want to aggravate him too much even if Ayeka does. She looks back to the pool and concedes to his demand and waves Misaki over. Ayeka notices and watches suspiciously for this has to be some plan of Vegeta's to manipulate her into answering him, she dives under the water pretending not to notice as her mother takes the call at the water's edge with Sasami at her side. Misaki is friendly as she greets her future son-in-law with this surprise of him calling her.

"Your friend here is failing after being at loggerheads with my mother. For her to keep doing her job and be smiling on her upcoming wedding day she will need more support from you lot on Jurai. Queen Vegeta is at Kakarot's place and so should have Kakarot and his wife keeping a watchful eye on her." The Saiyan tries this angle of approach to open dialogue with Misaki for he does have a stake in keeping Washu working with his training room being disabled currently.

To his surprise his screen in Washu's lab floods to life as Misaki is far less reserved than most on Jurai and enables the video element of the call. He has seen her in more compromising states of dress than a conservative one piece navy black swimsuit designed with sport in mind and her body being mostly underwater and concealed. She looks upset at this news though not surprised. Attached to her arm is Sasami bobbing along and she waves at Vegeta. Misaki says that her mother has had complaints about Washu's confrontational behaviour and anger and what few words Washu has said to herself have not been promising. She likens the relationship between the two like Vegeta and Frieza, how his anger is unabated over the years and how he still vents his rage against simulations of that overlord. Vegeta recognises that and agrees with that comparison. Wiping her wet blue hair from her face the Queen of Jurai offers what support she can for her troubled friend.

"Concerning your friend, what are Jurai's plans for returning for her wedding and that nonsense? Is my house to be overrun again or made a parking lot for your ships?" Those planned days that will disrupt his training he queries. His job then is likely keeping his mother as far from Washu as possible and conducting what reparations he can with Ayeka.

"She has said that we are to arrive at least a full day prior. There is an Earth custom that Yamcha is doing that she is going to do the bride's alternative of; a bachelorette party I think it was called that myself and other adult women have been invited to. This will take place on the eve of her wedding, though I do not know much about this. Do you know of this from Yamcha since he shall be hosting the men?" Misaki answers with what she knows of the plans at the moment with Washu not being talkative and having bigger issues at hand with running an empire. From her side Sasami speaks up annoyed that she was not invited to it and left out again for being a kid.

These Vegeta does know of. Not first hand however. As his first wedding was a surprise there was nothing of the like then even though he would not have put the pieces together even if Bulma celebrated one prior. His subsequent other pseudo marriage to Bulma to renew their vows following deaths she has held this party. It was loud, it was annoying, and there were people he did not know within his house at the time so his view is not positive regarding those parties – or really any party in general. The kick in the teeth comes with the stag do of Yamcha him not knowing about. No he would not attend if asked as that sort of social merriment he avoids like the plague yet out of all male humans on the planet Yamcha is one of the closest he holds to being on friendly terms with. Water under the bridge, that is a different matter that is inconsequential for him.

"From what Bulma did with her bachelorette party it was … a rowdy affair. Are raucous gatherings of drink and dance fit for Juraian nobility?"

"Oh rest assured we all know how to act in moderation and I shall be keeping an eye on Ayeka and that she stays away from the naughty alcohol." The protective mother is not going to let her child forget about her failing with alcohol. Across the pool Ayeka blushes and her ears burn at that reminder of how she got drunk and fell asleep on Vegeta. "Though, from what I have heard the only way to reach Little Washu is from where Gohan lives so I reckon our ships will harbour there so as not to inconvenience yourself. Is that reassuring?"

"Gohan lives close to a major city. Your ships will be spotted there. Maybe parking some of the most formidable warships over a populated urban environment is not the best idea for first contact." He counters that she cannot do so. "I riled up Gohan's woman anyway by traipsing through their house to get here so he shall be alleviating the issue of how to get into Washu's lab shortly."

"Is my son in a roundabout way inviting us to stay around his house again? If we cannot go where Gohan is, if Queen Vegeta is where Goku is, then surely at this point you are leaving us no choice but that lovely and quaint lakeside property you own." Misaki teases. "You'll have to work your charm harder than that to wipe the sullen pout off of my daughter's face."

"I have showcased both a security flaw in Washu's systems and the power of fusion that Kagato cannot hope to triumph against and I bet she is holding my actions against me of facing Vegito."

In the pool Misaki turns about to look for where Ayeka has swum off to in avoiding Vegeta. She does not know the answer to Vegeta's rhetorical question. Misaki asks Ayeka if she would like the call to play out of the speakers so she can join in, and her daughter replies with the same rebuke of not wanting Vegeta to interrupt her exercising. The mother sends Sasami off to go play with Ayeka and cheer her grumpy self up which the sister is more than happy to oblige in. Misaki answers to Vegeta that this sounds like more 'ends justifying the means' which he is rife to use to excuse his actions. He agrees that it is what it is since those were not reasons he summoned Vegito to fight.

"She has been looking in earnest into her education, troubling herself with many worries about her future, and she can come to no decision since you yourself have neither. Being an ambassador between our peoples is not an aspiration of hers yet-"

"I dictate no such role onto her. I asked her to think on her future. Her job within Juraian society I will not directly interfere with."

"The role would suit none better than her dependent on yourself, my son. With her place within both our royal family and-"

"Ayeka would become heavily troubled and riddled with guilt and depressing responsibility having to confer any diplomacy with the Saiyans. Any compromise made she would blame herself for and feel as if she has betrayed either side. That job is not for her, she is too personally connected to it and her biases and relationships would only exist to complicate matters for her. Besides she is young and impressionable as you will have noticed, being around myself and other Saiyans could negatively influence her decision making within that role."

"My professional role as bodyguard and my personal life-"

"There is at no moment that your own wants would ever contradict your maternal protective instincts. Never mind I have never actually seen you fulfil your job. Anyway, what kind of job is an ambassador to Saiyans for a Juraian if not a temporary occupation since I am the last generation of it that shall be born – despite my desperate mother's instincts."

She treads water for a moment on that bombshell of Vegeta's opinion. Though her role in Juraian society does appear like nepotism she did gain it prior to her marriage, though not by a large amount of time. Nepotism on Jurai is a thing, as is their classist behaviour and view. Misaki thought that in this Saiyans shared a similar view however their nepotism only extends through their genetic lineage of power and their meritocratic society. Born within the same family the lives and treatment of Tarble to Vegeta were radically different. Misaki looks about to her two daughters. For her want for Ayeka to showcase her independence and respect her want to not see Vegeta now this is something important she should hear.

Ayeka does not want to go to the call and speak to Vegeta. This looks like the ploy he began by aiming to speak to her mother is being sprung and she does not want to fall prey to it. Misaki becomes insistent and stern that it is of importance that she hears what Vegeta has to say if after that is said she wishes to leave the dialogue then she can. Ayeka asks for the camera to be switched off beforehand and then slowly and grudgingly makes her way over. She asks impertinently what she is being disturbed for as Vegeta relays what he just said to Misaki.

" … Don't you dare say it would be a temporary job ever again." With abject hurt on her face she denounces his statement on his mortality. Ayeka turns away from the communicator. "Do you partake in suicidally reckless actions to make a painful point of this to me?"

"I know myself, I know Kakarot, hence I know Vegito. There was no threat to myself from him, just disgrace in the fight. All I am doing is outlining our current situation, and the situation I was referring to is the population of 3 Saiyans not needing an overseer as it shall not grow more-so than me not being more powerful than death at the moment. Especially not an ambassador who will waiver on decisions due to personal influence." He explains to her that was not his intent.

"Then who would deserve of that role if not me, the Juraian who can hold diplomacy with Saiyans and knows most of its population of 3?" She is indignant in him not trusting her ability to do this job she was only thinking of due to loyalty to him.

"Who do you want me to say? Kaia is the only Juraian I know outside of your family and she will not be eligible for the role due to how the Queen of all Saiyans holds to the stringent beliefs of the Saiyan race concerning her blindness. Your parents can decide on which unfortunate soul has to get us to agree on things and talk, it need not be you."

"Is this you trying to entice me by you playing the hero of first freeing me from engagement to my brother now saving my future yet again by releasing me from an occupation I do not especially want to hold? It is not working Lord Vegeta." Ayeka does not trust his words or his reasons for saying these things to her for anything but some scheme to win her over the same way he first did.

"I am trying to help you and give you advice you seemingly need." He states not reacting to the growing emotion in her voice.

"To what end and for why?"

"For the same reason that I abide losing what little sleep I have to abate Ryoko's fears come night. Because I hold responsibility towards yourself and I have a want to aid you."

"Not enough responsibility by far when installing simple light bulbs seems abhorrent to you." Ayeka sneers back in response to him trying to excuse his actions by bringing up him sharing a room with Ryoko. How can she listen to his advice when logic leaves him for that solution.

" … And a message here would have sufficed over a call. I caused what Ryoko is now with my failings. I am to blame for what I did to her and my failed plan to prevent it. For every second she wakes up in cold dread during the night I shall share for it is my job to see this through. A light bulb cannot give her that, neither can Ryo-Ohki nor should my son be woken up by what horrors stalk her dreams."

"Likely reasoning by my noble prince. Are you not remiss in rubbing it in how I made you swear to do all you can to help Ryoko? Or how about how your actions here reek of petty bribery to reward her in not being sensible and distancing herself from you like I have?"

"So what if I have rewarded her loyalty to myself? Despite your wants princess I won't just be cruel to her and kind to you. My ego is not infallible, yes your leaving has struck me and so I am being careful around Ryoko and treating her how I should have done for a while." He argues back for her annoyance here is based only in envy.

There is silence from the Juraian side of the call at his rebuttal. She shall never accept his sharing of a room with Ryoko. He hears noises of water and faint splashing. At best guess that is Ayeka swimming away and leaving the conversation given Misaki's larger body though it could equally be the mysterious Haruna that he does not know. Vegeta waits. He hears Misaki call out to her daughter that leaving like that is rude and that forgetting her emotions she should take heed of Vegeta's advice on the matter of her career. The camera gets switched back on since Ayeka is no longer in view. Misaki apologises for Ayeka's behaviour to which Vegeta asks whether she has been spending any time focusing on her own failings in controlling her emotions or more on delving into trying to understand his psyche which she shall always fail at. The mother regretfully answers that it is the latter. He asks why she is not dissuading her from doing so given the coddled and sheltered upbringing previously given to Ayeka.

"She is 'Little Ayeka' no more is the short answer. If I start barring her and preventing her searching what amounts to recent history at this point she sadly would start to resent my interference. I understand why you would prefer her probing into your personal past to be more tentative yet you are the instigator into opening her eyes into the wider world I shielded her from in her infancy. Are you against her search?" Misaki forlornly explains.

"History and facts she can search and read up on. That is not what she is delving for. The battles and campaigns of the war interest her little. Her target is understanding the mindset of a killer." He denies that he is for what Ayeka is currently doing.

"The one she wants to understand is you."

"And she shall not."

The Saiyan is resolute in this stance. Bulma never reached a true understanding of the more Saiyan side of him, neither shall Ayeka. There are deeds he has done and decisions he has made that can only be understood through replication. For Ayeka to get to grips with the side of him that has led to his damnation she herself would have to sin herself, and gravely. His stance on death has been beaten, kicked, burnt and branded into him over more decades than Ayeka has lived. She will never empathise with his Saiyan psychology twisted by rule under Frieza, and she should not try to know what it is like to end a life – or end a planet.

"I know, yet she has to reach that end on her own and decide what to do from there. As I did upon reflection against both my parent's and my husband, there are places I shall not go, and acts I shall not experience. Faith and trust is all that is required instead." Misaki nods and agrees with Vegeta.

"... Have you read my answers? Ayeka has sent them across to Ryoko and Mihoshi, has her mother read into her future son-in-law?" He wonders what privacy he has left between Ayeka's investigation and Ryoko's mind reading.

"One of her mothers have, yes, but not myself. There is no need for me to read. I have seen who you are and no words will express your morality. Without thought or hesitation you shall take a shot for Ryoko, you will ensure my safety first in a life threatening fight against a mech and strive your hardest to protect those you care for. At the same time there exist those not under your care, those you view as insects you pay no heed if you step on and crush them. I know harsh combat and survival drives your pragmatism into those decisions, yet that cruel side of you is not buried deep." She passes her judgement. Grey is not how she will describe him, instead she perceives him as cuts of blinding white or darkest black with little in-between. Misaki smiles at him as he accepts this opinion of himself.

She asks if there is anything else, if he wants any message passed onto her daughter or to speak to someone else and he declines. So long as Ayeka thinks on her future as not having to be tightly strung and wound to Vegeta then that is fine for him. Neither his wife nor himself made any changes to their occupation or personal goals when together – beyond raising Trunks - so Ayeka should not have to nor allow herself to feel pressured into it. Misaki wishes him luck in training for the tournament and he coldly reminds her she should be doing the same. Vegeta hangs up the call. The Herculean task of earning Ayeka's forgiveness is a long way off from being complete. He teleports to Yamcha and questions why he is not in the know about this stag do – feeling slighted as a prince to have been overlooked. The answer he gets is a simple one, Goku is an older and closer friend and the two rival Saiyans exist as mutually exclusive guests. Vegeta darkly chuckles and says that he has made a smart decision.