Wow...so it's been years since I've sat down and started a FanFic….

I'm really excited for this project and I am thankful for anyone who takes this ride with me. I think you all know I most definitely don't own DBZ or their characters, but damn am I thankful they exist!

….

Everything hurt. Bulma knew she should have stayed on the damn ship, but the idea of walking around on silent ground and escaping the confines of these mundane gray walls was too much to ignore. It had been months since she had last had the opportunity and she didn't know when her next one would be. As a child she had found herself often eyeing the stars, imagining a life traveling planet to planet, soaring through the constellations where no other human had gone before. Bulma knew now though, dreaming it and living it were two completely different things. Space had long ago lost it's mystical appeal. Vast and never ending, she longed for Earth and everything she took for granted. She missed home.

"I believe you were supposed to stay on the ship Earthling." Bulma would have rolled her eyes at the unwelcome feminine voice had her head not hurt so much. She had found herself meeting a wide variety of Alien species in her last six years traveling through space, but none annoyed her more than the ones known as Saiyans.

"The name is Bulma, and what do you want Caulifla?" The dark haired Saiyan leaned casually against the Med bay's doors, her arms crossed over her chest as she looked the human over. Her dark eyes narrowed as a smirk graced her lips.

"You disobeyed Bardok's orders, I don't think he's very pleased with our resident scientist." Bulma said nothing as she continued leaning back against the white medical bed. She already knew Bardok was pissed, what the hell else was new? "He's going to want an explanation earthing, and he's going to want one soon." The word earthling flowed out of her mouth with disgust, her eyes narrowing further. Caulifla was by no means stupid, she understood why they sought other races to join the few remaining Saiyans in their resistance against the Cold family, but she never understood why anyone thought they needed a human. Such a weak and fragile race. Seeing Bulma would offer nothing else she turned to leave.

Saiyans, they held attachments to no one, offered no warmth or words of comfort. Such sentimental offerings were seen as weakness. Bulma had once heard that he himself had two sons and a mate long gone through his struggle with the Cold family, and if it bothered him no one would know. Bardok was calculated and ruthless, and as much as Bulma loathed to admit it, was exactly what the resistance needed. A great military tactician, he had a knack for planning things five steps ahead. It was almost like he could see every possible outcome well before it happened.

Bulma ran a hand through her tangled blue hair. Bulma winced, what would her mother say if she could see her now. Bulma couldn't help but scowl a little at the thought. Bulma opened her eyes slowly, her fingers playing with a few strands of hair in front of her face. Such unique hair. Even with all the different races Bulma had met through her years in space Bulma knew, her cerulean blue hair was highly unique. It was part of the reason she was supposed to stay on the damn ship. If Frieza got wind of where she was….Bulma shuddered at the thought.

Bulma was eighteen when the Cold family set Earth into their sights. The Ginyu force had wasted no time killing her planet's defenders before enslaving anyone Frieza might have found worthy. Everyone else...her parents, left behind before Frieza destroyed her planet, nothing left but dust and rocks. That first year trapped on Frieza's ship is a time Bulma will never forget. Tortured and humiliated, everyday it's own new nightmare. The only thing that kept her alive was her intelligence. She had a scientific mind even Lord Frieza could appreciate. Had she not made her escape when she did...Had she not climbed into that empty pod not knowing or caring where it might take her. Bulma refused to think of where she'd be now. What awful weapons she would have created all for the sake of staying alive.

Two days, Bulma rested for two days before Bardok summoned her to explain her actions. Not that it mattered, what was she going to say? Bulma had been given strict orders ever since the last time they had stopped for a resupply that she was not to leave the ship. Her decision to leave had been stupid, selfish even. Her actions put everyone at risk. She had been lucky it had just been some low level pirates that had stumbled upon her and not one of Frieza's soldiers and Bulma knew it. God did she know it. She took a moment to control her breathing, blue eyes narrowing on the set of gray doors before her. Gray….everything was so fucking gray. Still, no turning back now. Determined to accept her punishment, Bulma entered her five digit code on the keypad to her right. The doors immediately opened bringing her to the ship's bridge. She was thankful to see only Bardok waiting for her.

"Do you understand how stupid you were Bulma?" Bardok's question was both calm but rhetorical. Still Bulma nodded, the doors closing behind her as she stepped into the room. Her heart constricted just as it always did when she looked upon the man leading the charge head on against the Cold family. She never doubted one of his lost son's was none other than her childhood friend Goku. She knew the first time she accidentally stumbled upon Bardok five years ago. She never said so though...could never bring herself to mutter her friend's name allowed. Bulma knew it wouldn't help any even if she did, what good is the knowledge of a dead son you never knew to a Saiyan anyway? "What if you were recognized?"

"Would it help if I admitted I was wrong?" Bardok almost seemed to growl showing just how much it didn't help.

"You were given direct orders, and if you remember those orders were by no means made lightly either!" Bulma found herself staring intently at the ground feeling much like a small child being reprimanded by her father.

"I thought I was careful."

"For someone so fucking smart you're a damn idiot sometimes!" A chill ran through Bulma as Bardok's scathing words rang through her ears. He was right, and she fucking hated it. They stood in silence for what felt like an eternity before Bulma willed herself to look up into Bardok's eyes.

"What can I do to make this right?" Bardok was silent for a moment before bringing himself to the center of the room where there stood a standing console. Fingers typed quickly before planets whirled into view on the ship's holographic map. The room echoed with Bardok's typing before a large greenish looking planet came into view.

"Bulma….what if the dragon balls didn't truly die with your Earth?" Bulma almost wasn't sure how to respond at first. Of course they fucking died with her Earth. With Kami gone...well that was just it. But Bardok should know this, Bulma had told him this all before.

"I see no point in toying with the idea of what if's Bardok." Bulma's tone was almost angry, but Bardok's eyes never left the green planet before him. His hands were wrapped behind his back, his Saiyan tail wrapped almost permanently around his waist.

"Do you know what this planet is?" Bulma gave an annoyed glance at the floating hologram before her.

"Am I supposed to?" Bardok's eyes never left the floating ball of green, but at least his anger seemed to die down.

"The planet is called Namek. My sources tell me that this planet, unique like your own precious Earth, has it's own set of Dragon Balls." Finally Bardok's eyes met Bulma's very confused ones. Dragon Balls….could that really be possible. No...Bulma knew, it couldn't.

"But that's...Bardok that's impossible." Bardok remained expressionless, his eyes settling back on the hologram.

"I think most would find the idea of them existing anywhere impossible...but you know better than that." Bulma found herself almost speechless. She vaguely remembered that night, drunk as a skunk off whatever it was Zarbon had managed to get his hands on that night. She had talked and talked of her adventurous quests for these magical Dragon balls. Bardok, who had happened to walk in towards the end of it all had only sneered one word..."Impossible." Was the idea of them existing on Namek really so far fetched?

"Why….why are you telling me this?" Bulma tried to ignore the emotions that flooded through her. Oh what it would actually mean to her if these Dragon balls were real, Earth...her parents...home.

"I seem to remember you mentioning a radar, something created by your own design." Bulma's mind went back to her drunken tales, her mind still fuzzy on how that whole night had gone down.

"I'm a little surprised you remember."

"Can you build another?" Bardok's eyes met hers and Bulma found herself feeling the tinge of something she hadn't felt in a long time...hope.

"I can, but only, and I mean only if I get to be there, if I get to help collect them." Bardok nodded almost as if he expected nothing less.

"From what I gather Frieza has no knowledge these exist and the planet is far out of his usual control. You will however have to have someone with you." Bulma almost couldn't believe her ears. He was actually going to let her off the ship….just like that?

"What's the catch?"

"You save the other two wishes for me." Bulma frowned, what did he mean other two?

"Not trying to shoot myself in the foot here, but the eternal dragon only ever gives one wish." Bardok grinned, wolfish canines flashing before her.

"From everything I have been able to find...these balls give three." Bulma had to remind herself to breath...three, three fucking wishes.

"And...and you would just trust me." Bulma wished she could see something of what Bardok was thinking or feeling, but as usual he was blank.

"My trust is where it is needed...it has to be you. This is the only way the Cold family dies."

"So you trust me….to not just use all three wishes and disappear on my own?" Bardok's eyes bore into her and for a moment she saw something that reminded her so much of Goku's determination.

"No matter the outcome, it's the only way. It has to be you." For a moment Bulma was reminded of those wild rumors that Bardok could at times see the future, but that wasn't possible, and like she had before pushed those thoughts aside.

"Okay….okay." Bulma nodded slowly, her mind already going back to the inner workings of her radar on Earth. Each component, each computer chip, all ingrained to memory. "So who….who goes with me?" Bardok shrugged, his body almost relaxed as he gazed back towards the floating green planet.

"The choice is yours, I don't care who, as long as they can keep you safe." Bulma had to stop herself from smiling. She had been worried she would be stuck with a Saiyan entourage.

"Zarbon, I want it to be Zarbon." Bulma kept her voice steady leaving no room for argument.

"So be it, we reach Namek in what you would call three Earth weeks, I suggest you finish that radar and finish it fast."

…..

Zarbon hated a mess, well aside of the mess left behind of the enemies he destroyed, but this was his room and right now this was unacceptable. Before him sat Bulma crossed legged on the floor, computer parts scattered all around.

"Really Bulma, did you have to work on this here?" His voice held a bit of a whine as he lounged back on his bed, his hands folded behind his head.

"No one is supposed to know what I'm working on and absolutely no one is going to bother me here. Seriously Zarbon, it's not that much of a mess." Zarbon huffed showing just how much of a mess he thought it was.

"Still don't know why you had to drag me into this." Bulma couldn't help the small pout that instinctively took over, the one that always helped get her way back on Earth. She set her eyes directly on the only one she could slightly consider a friend.

"Come on Zarbon, it's a chance to get off of this fucking ship, where the hell is your sense of adventure?"

"That died on Nexus." Bulma tried not to cringe. Nexus is what got her glued to the damn ship in the first place. They were having too much fun drinking and gambling, Bulma had stayed too long. Frieza had come close, way too close to getting her back, and it was Zarbon who took the physical damage of it all.

"Bardok doesn't even think Frieza is even going to be an issue here, think he would let me go if he did?"

"I think it wouldn't matter to him either way if the ends justified the means. You know better than to trust a Saiyan." Bulma didn't trust herself to respond cause the truth was Zarbon was right, you couldn't trust a Saiyan. Still Zarbon didn't know what this meant, what the Dragon balls could mean, and unfortunately for Zarbon he was the only one of this ship Bulma did trust.

…..

Two pods moved quickly through the vastness of space, Namek coming closer by the second. While the Saiyan known as Nappa slept oblivious to what Namek could mean in his, the other Saiyan stayed awake. Dark thoughts flooding his mind as he imagined the blood that would be spilled when he got his wish. None would compare to what he would become, and finally he was get his throne

...

So uh….might have to review some stuff later when I haven't been drinking, but I hope everyone has enjoyed the start of this adventure!