Fifteen: Inherent Turmoil's

- 15 -

Inherent Turmoil's

Vegeta glared at the blue-haired heiress as she rested on her stomach on the top of the rebuilt space pod and leaned over a hole, hanging upside-down as she tinkered with some wires of a device as she connected it to the pod's wires. She had already connected three similar devices to the pod and he wondered what she was doing. Or at least he should be thinking that, but the way her pool dress was riding up... He gritted his teeth, focusing instead on the cascade of blue hair and the way her small, nimble hands worked the wires. The short conversation they had a few hours ago still left him confused and furious. Saiyans didn't have these friends. The word was as foreign to him as humans' sentimental word of love. What he saw this as was her hovering around him and trying to annoy the shit out of him. And it was working.

What was worse was now he found himself actually attracted to her. Ever since she fought back when he attacked her and she was able to do more than fight him off, he watched, deliciously devious daydreams plagueing his mind. He imagined pinning her in the grass when she was but a yard away before lunch, then against the table she had so casually sat on while going over that damn worksheet she gave Gohan earlier. And even now he could see himself striding over to the reconstructed pod, pulling her down to ravage her there. He realized... too late... that she was getting under his skin. That mental disease he tried to shake the other day had already infected him. Actually, if anything... it had gotten worse since their little scuffle. He had to get rid of it somehow. It was merely his Saiyan nature being idiotic. So what if the woman bested him... she was still a weak human who wouldn't last a second in his world. She would shatter like glass when her morals were tested against the darkness that life strictly was.

Finished attaching the device, Bulma lifted herself up and slid down the side of the pod. She landed lightly on bare feet and dusted her hands off, wiping her brow as she walked over to the storage container that contained the rest of the pod. As she pushed the button to encapsulate it and bent over to pick up it the up, the airheaded woman that was her mother came out of the house. With one of those cell phone things in hand, she walked directly to Bulma. To Vegeta's surprise, the older woman didn't look to happy. Well, she wasn't livid or anything, but the normal dreamy smile she held was not as big. He watched, trying not to let his curious nature get the best of him. Why should he care that something had managed to upset the blonde-woman? And yet he kept his eyes and ears on them.

"Bulma dear?" Mrs. Briefs said as she neared, not quite as loud as she normally would be, her voice pinched a little with some emotion Vegeta couldn't place.

Bulma turned and looked at her mother; she must have heard it too seeing as her brow rose in question and concern. "Yeah, Mom?"

"Yamcha called your cell, hon." She handed it to the heiress whose cheerful disposition swiftly vanished with the mention of the ex-bandit. Her mother gave her a comforting pat before turning to go back inside.

Vegeta's gaze flicked to Goku who noticeably slowed in his solo training. Memories from the other day flashed in the prince's mind, remembering how the younger Saiyan had been with the woman. A strange emotion akin to irritation surged forward and took him by surprise. Confused he examined it, wondering what it could mean. Having never felt something like it before he shrugged it off and shoved it away with everything else. What sort of relation did these two have? With the way Goku acted it was like he was protecting more than someone who was pack, but clearly he was bonded with the raven-haired harpy.

"What do you want, Yamcha?" Bulma snapped as she put the cell phone to her ear and tossed the capsule into the pod without pushing the button. Hand on the small of her back; she glared at the grass as she listened. "Oh? Am I still angry?" she replied sarcastically to whatever he said, "Let's see here, Yamcha. You don't call me in over three weeks to apologize after taking some hussy to the most expensive restaurant in town when you told me you couldn't go out that night? Yes, yes I believe I am still very much angry." Bulma stormed over to the pod and pushed a button on one of the devices she installed and it encapsulated the reconstructed pod in a puff of smoke as she continued her frustrated rant, "Then there's the little issue with you not coming to see what the hell was going on yesterday with the strange energy fighting Goku and Piccolo. Why is it that everyone but you came to see what was going on?"

She picked up the capsule and stood there, her lips formed a thin line at whatever excuse he came up with and her brow wrinkled with anger as she put her free hand on her hip. "Oh, so let me get this straight. You couldn't come and see if the world was in danger because you were in the middle of a fucking baseball game?" She snorted, "Stop being spineless, Yamcha, we both know you sensed Bardock's energy and hid like a worthless coward." Pausing shortly as he said something, she suddenly growled out, "It doesn't matter who the hell Bardock is or that his energy wasn't threatening for a whole day before or that Goku was present, if anything you should have come the day before since you live in West City and made sure everything was okay then!"

Crossing her free arm, she began to pace a little as she let him retort. "You know what, Yamcha?" Bulma stopped suddenly, her voice lowering, "Let me tell you what this really is about; you... suddenly coming to the realization that you can't go to the Expo now that we aren't dating and can't use that to boost your popularity anymore... Oh don't give me that shit, Yamcha. We both know the only reason you are on that baseball team is because of me pulling some strings for you... " She hissed, "Oh, that's rich, Yamcha. Well then ask one of them to take your ass because I'm tired of you using me just so you can have better girlfriends when we're on the rebound."

In a fury she hung up and tossed the cell phone against the house where it shattered. She glared at the biggest piece that survived, breathing heavily as her eyes watered, but refused to cry. Why was it that everyone used her? Everyone wanted something. Whether that be popularity, dating her for her beauty or her intelligence to make things... Goku and her parents were the only ones who never asked anything from her. She had thought that Yamcha had been different. Sure, he liked being popular and famous, but she thought he was with her for her. But these three weeks she hadn't genuinely thought about him and when she did she was starting to realize that he had been fooling her for a while. She angrily brushed away a few tears that leaked from her eyes. Maybe the ex-bandit had not been using her at the beginning... no she knew he hadn't been... but when had that changed? When had the girl shy bad boy she had fallen in love with turn into such a womanizer? And here she had thought she had gotten her wish without actually making one.

"Hey, Bulms..." She jerked at Goku's voice and the touch of his hand on her shoulder, remembering she wasn't alone. "Are you okay?"

Blushing slightly, she hastily wiped more of the rebellious tears away and forced a smile, laughing a little. "Yeah, I'm okay. You know how I get..."

Goku sneaked a glance at Vegeta, not liking the other Saiyan... or anyone for that matter... privy to seeing Bulma like this, but he had to get her to open up now or she wouldn't ever. "C'mon Bulms, you don't have to act all tough around me."

Seeing his worried but persistent look in his eyes, she knew he wasn't going to drop it. He had always been a nosy little guy. Curious and noticing things most wouldn't, you just couldn't get one past him. Or she couldn't in the very least. He was always the emotionally stable one and for those years he had lived with them during her teens -a time when she certainly needed something like that the most- she had relied heavily on him.

Bulma sighed as she looked down at the ground. "I'm not trying to act tough, Goku. I'm simply trying to not dwell on it."

He lowered his voice as he smiled sadly. "Not dwelling or bottling it up?"

Bulma met his warm black eyes, again nothing got past him. He was that one constant. There was, of course, her mother or her father... but her mother always seemed to be busy and Bulma never truly wanted the perfect answers Mrs. Briefs would give. Especially when she was a teenager, it was hard enough given it was a time most girls push away from their mother's to begin with, but when your mother had a doctorate in psychology and almost two decades of experience in the field... she never only got the loving motherly answer, but the psychologist. Even now, after retiring years ago from the field and demanding that everyone just call her Mrs. instead of doctor, Bulma knew that while her mother played up her natural ditzy blonde nature to the point of airheaded idiot, nothing ever got past the older woman. Almost everyone had forgotten or thought her mother had lost it, but Bulma and her father knew the truth.

"Fine," She tried to snap back and failed, shifting her gaze away again. "I'm tired, Goku... and... I just don't have anyone to talk to about it. You know how mom is... and it's best not to even get started on daddy..."

And then there was her father. Love him as she may, her father was purely too focused on his inventions and work to be any real source of stability, particularly back then. He had only recently started working from home and even then he was always doing something. Not that he would be a good person to lean on if he had been around more, he had problems with the simple emotions Bulma had and when they were the bigger ones, he tended to hide away in his lab until the coast was clear. No, only Goku had been there for her in effect and while it had only been about five years it had been enough to give Bulma a foundation of semi-normalcy. Without him, who knew... maybe she would turn into some crazed scientist hell bent on ruling the planet. As farfetched as it sounded Bulma could still put to paper the plan she had made as a child to do just that. Using economics and money, it would have been easy and still could be considering she had a few of those measures set up just in case. But those were more to protect her father's company from governments than to rule the world... And she certainly didn't want to rule it. It would be such a hassle.

"I thought as I got older and proved myself and got out of daddy's shadow that... things would get a little better... but if anything they have gotten worse." She ignored the welling of tears and instead concentrated on the blade of grass just before her foot. Her shoulders dropped a little as she hugged herself. She hated herself, knowing she was giving that lost weak little girl look, but just then she didn't have the strength to pretend anymore. "Now it's not hormonal girls viciously attacking me, but adult women who pretend to be nice right so they can gain some recognition in the world or simply get into the coolest clubs and restaurants. It's not boys trying to get in my pants and be able to boast that they did Dr. Briefs' (the most intelligent and richest man) daughter, but men wanting to boast that they did the most famous woman on the planet. Or worse they insult me by thinking they can get me to fall in love with them just so they can get to my family's fortune and company..." Her voice increasingly shook as she squeezed herself in a tight embrace until finally she trailed off.

She bit her quivering lip, trying to regain some control. But now that she had said the thoughts out loud after holding them for so long, she couldn't force them back. She closed her eyes, letting the tears fall freely as the rest spilled out of her mouth, "It seems I'm always having to prove myself, not because of my father but because I'm a woman... And then on top of that, other than you and my parents, everyone wants something from me. I had thought that Yamcha was different, but I've only been lying to myself. Making excuses for the longest time because I knew admitting it and facing it would hurt so much." She suddenly turned and leaned into him, balling his gi in her fists. "Everyone is just using me, Goku..."

"That's not true, Bulms." Goku tried to reassure her as he wrapped one arm around her, not realizing she was going to break down like this.

If he had, he would have pulled her away. His eyes met Vegeta's, who remained sitting under the tree, his face neutral as he watched intently. Goku started leading Bulma to her lab and away from the other Saiyan. He knew that the damage was already done, but he also knew she wouldn't like realizing she had not only broken down in front of Goku alone but her other houseguest.

"Not everyone is using you... What about the rest of the z-gang?" he offered.

She sniffled, "Master Roshi and Oolong only tolerate me because they like looking at my rack. Krillin is only friends because he knows I'm the only one who can twist everyone's arms to see each other and then he gets to see you. And they all expect me to keep them together and supply the ideas. I like being involved and needed, Goku, but why is it my job to keep everyone together? And why should I supply ideas when in the end I hear only your gratitude and the rest go about their way." She tried angrily to wipe some of the tears away, but that gave way again to the overwhelming sadness. "I mean, I'm not asking for much. All I would need is it said one time and I would be okay..."

Goku opened the back of her lab door and ushered her in, trying not to smile even a little bit at how conceited the last part sounded. Most would have merely mistaken this for Bulma simply thinking she wasn't getting the recognition she thought she deserved and was throwing a tantrum, when in truth her self-esteem wasn't that great, if truth be told. Yes, she was intelligent and she was beautiful, but she hadn't exactly seen it like that. She bragged about herself because she actually felt apprehensive about it. Was it her looks and intelligence that got her to where she was, or was it simply money and fame? He noticed how she said that everyone only used her because of her family's money and fame, the thought that it was also her attractiveness and astuteness that people tried to use as well hadn't exactly crossed her mind as much.

He never cared about these things, but he did have to admit that it was these insecurities she had that made him love her more as a person and his sister. Especially since she was so smart, normally able to see things and understand things faster than anyone he knew. But then that was it. Everyone else she got, but when it came to her life and herself, she couldn't seem to see things right. Yet wasn't that the case with most people? Goku mused over that as he gently pushed her to sit down in her lab chair and knelt before her, forcing her to look at him. He was going to have to make her see that in the least, the rest of the z-gang (excluding Yamcha, who he was tempted to hunt down and demand answers from) were not using her. They simply didn't show their gratitude thinking she already knew with the way she always spoke of herself.

Of course, this was going to be easier said than done. He may not be as stupid as he let everyone believe him to be, but that didn't mean he was ever dreadfully good at giving her pep talks. Then again, maybe that was why he helped her where no one else could? His words were natural and from the heart. Not something from a testbook like her mother.

.~-~.

Vegeta continued to watch them as they disappeared through her lab's back doors, somewhat surprised. Up 'til now he hadn't honestly seen much weakness from the woman other than physically when compared to Saiyan physiology. She was intelligent, clear headed for the most part, bold enough to call almost any bluff, and confident in herself and her abilities... or so he had thought. But now it seemed she wasn't as secure as she portrayed herself to be. Maybe the way the woman always announced her genius and appearance so conceitedly was because she was looking for confirmation? Or she could simply be some spoiled little girl throwing a tantrum because she felt she wasn't getting the credit she deserved. It was... interesting to say the least. But he wasn't sure what he should think about it or what he should do with this new knowledge about the woman. In either case, it meant she had a weakness. One that he could easily exploit if he so wished. Question was, how should he use it? She clearly knew it was a weakness, something she guarded against. If she had remembered that Vegeta was there he doubted she would have broken down like that. Especially if these were real insecurities and not just a tantrum of a woman used to getting everything she wanted.

Whichever one it was did not matter to Vegeta. Either way he would have no qualms manipulating what he witnessed a minute ago to get back at her. He may have been impressed with how she stood up to him and bested him, but he wasn't about to let the woman use what he accidently said to her in his drugged state against him slip by unchecked. Even if she had apologized. No one got away with that. Then there was the fact that he undeniably needed to put her in her place. At every moment she got she poked at him, simple little jabs at his pride, trying to prove she was his better. Intelligent as the woman was she was still a feeble, weak human and he the Prince of all Saiyans -a genetically superior race- could not stand by and let her get away with it. He had to teach her to think twice before taking another jab. He plainly had had enough of merely standing there and taking it without retaliating.

Vegeta sat there in the shade of the tree, dark thoughts swirling about as he plotted and planned for a few more minutes before he decided to merely store the information and use it accordingly. No use planning it out. Things never went as he planned with the woman; she always managed to do something he didn't expect so he didn't see the use. But he was going to use it, there was no doubt about that; it wasn't an 'if' but when. If anything he should be happy she was no longer there, unable to tempt- torment him with her presence. This was the peace he wanted and yet it seemed all he could do was think of her. Even if it was to get back at her, far too much time had already been lost because of her. He had to remedy this.

Forcefully he pushed the woman from his mind, instead trying to recall the last spar he had. He knew it was risky seeing as last night it only plunged him into memories of being tortured, but he was tired of doing nothing that even remotely helped him as far as fighting was concerned. Closing his eyes, he steadied his breathing as he concentrated, trying to look past the last five years and find something he could use. Who had been the last person he sparred? Raditz... His mouth twitched further down. The last time he had sparred had been with Raditz, not even two days before he betrayed him. Never had he thought the long haired Saiyan would do that. Sure, it was no secret that Bardock's son thought Vegeta was squandering his position... his title as prince. But they both loathed Freeza. He was the only one who fully understood the horrors.

Predominantly after Nappa had been killed when Freeza learned he and Raditz had escaped, hiding with the Saiyan resistance. Vegeta had never been the type to essentially trust, but never...

Yet here they were. Vegeta was stuck on some back-water planet recovering from five years of torture and waiting for his once trustworthy guard to come end him. Raditz may have had orders to take him alive by Freeza and the betrayers' leader, but the prince wasn't under any illusions. If he did find Vegeta, he was going to make sure he died on this worthless hunk of rock. Perhaps it was a show of mercy? More likely it served the older Saiyan's goals better. Vegeta still didn't know who the leader of the betrayers was, but he knew Raditz... he had difficultly following another's order that he even agreed with. Vegeta snorted. Fool thought he could rule the people better than him... that was the only reason he would do this. It certainly wasn't because of the other betrayers.

Gritting his teeth and letting those thoughts slide for the time being, he went back to concentrating on his last spar. They had been stationed on the trade planet Vern, though how it had become a trade planet was beyond the Saiyan prince. It was nothing but sand. At least... from what he could recall about Planet Vegeta... they did have an ocean and some plants. They had been awaiting Bardock's message for where to meet... Vegeta couldn't sincerely remember who they had been waiting on. Maybe someone to set up new supplies? No... no, that wasn't it. Vegeta remembered now. The whole thing had been set up by the betrayers. There hadn't ever been a contact. He could faintly recall Freeza telling him that when he personally collected him with the betrayers.

Mind once again going into dangerous territory, he forced himself to summon up the image of Raditz standing before him just before the spar. The sand lashed around them and the orange-blue sky was glowing with its four suns and two day moons. His ridiculously long hair had actually fluttered in the wind and an odd smirk had been on his lips. In hindsight, it probably was from him knowing what was to come. He never was good at keeping secrets that excited him. It was amazing he had managed to keep it from Vegeta. Looking back it was so obvious now. His behavior had been... off. Why had he not questioned it? Why had he not put up his guard?

Vegeta growled, frustrated that he was once again dwelling on the bitter topic. There were so many things he had failed to see. It was no use beating himself over it now. The damage had been done and he was here now. Again he pushed the thoughts away, recalling how the older Saiyan had been the first to start their little spar. After that Vegeta grew even more aggravated as he realized that once more his memory was too hazy to bring up what happened next. There had been a block on his part... and had he punched him? No... it was an elbow to the solar plexus? Damn it, why is it this difficult? Okay so he knew why he was having problems remembering it, but it definitely didn't seem right. Vegeta had always been tormented by Freeza. Why was now any different? Okay... he knew that too. Before, yes Freeza tormented him. Hurt him and mentally fucked with him, but at least he had breaks were he could go purge. Release some of that aggression on others and inflict his own pain upon the universe.

For the past five years he never got that release. Even when Freeza controlled him, making him kill and do things he normally wouldn't do. The fact still remained that it had been a constant hell. The time there seemed to stretch on for longer than eternity... They didn't let him sleep until he blacked out and nothing could arouse him. They gave him the bare essentials as far as food and water were concerned and even then he would go days without either.

He shook his head as unwanted images flashed in his head and he forced himself to think instead about Raditz betrayal... which was more preferred than reliving any memories of Freeza.

Vegeta was leaning in a bay window of the building they had commandeered from some poor merchant. His body was rotting in some garbage bin a few houses down. The alien had been a fool to open his home to them. You would think by now most would know never to trust a Saiyan without covering their asses. The thought brought a small, menacing smile to his lips as he looked out over the pathetic desert city.

His eyes went to the setting suns."Where the fuck is Raditz?" He was supposed to be getting them food and that was hours ago...

It wasn't like him to be late like this, but Vegeta wasn't going to fret over it. Knowing the older Saiyan he probably found some alien woman to have some 'fun' with. Shrugging it off, he let his eyes close as he concentrated on his body, his muscles still stinging from his last training session. It felt good. And knowing he was going to be all the stronger for it helped him ignore the slight discomfort. He was getting stronger every day. Making leaps in power he wouldn't have made while serving Freeza due to the lack of food and so much time spent in stasis. He never realized how important such things were until after Bardock freed him seven years ago and was able to see for himself the difference. He was healthy and training almost every waking moment -when Bardock didn't drag him to some boring meeting or tried to teach him something other than fighting, of course- he was sure to reach his goal. Obtaining the power he needed to overthrow his tormentor of those ten years during his childhood and get out of his shadow that still hung over him. It wasn't going to be anytime soon, but someday... someday he would kill that wretched lizard. It was the one driving force in his life. His need to kill him.

Vegeta must have fallen asleep waiting for his companion because the next thing he knew something painfully jabbed him in the neck. Blindly he lashed out at whoever it was and managed to hit them hard in the stomach before steadying himself on his feel. He blinked at the sight of Raditz hunched over, holding his gut. What was going on? Why didn't he wake up like he normally did when others came around him? More importantly, what the fuck did Raditz do to him? Vegeta stood there, shaking his head as the room started to move on him and become blurry. It had taken a few good seconds for his mind to even realize who he was looking at and a full minute for him to comprehend what he just did, his thoughts moving abnormally slow.

His stunned, slurred voice full of the betrayal he felt sounded odd to him, like he was hearing it from a great distance. "Y-You drugged me."

Raditz wasn't smiling, well not as far as his blurred vision could discern and he could see the way the older Saiyan's tail flicked with guilt. "If... I... had... another... route... I... would... not... do... this... but... I... don't... have... many... options," his voice was drawn out in Vegeta's mind as if someone had pushed the slow button.

Vegeta glared at him, not saying anything as he lunged at Raditz only to stumble into him and barrel both of them to the ground. His senses might be behind, but he still had enough speed to catch his enemy off guard. If he was going to die, he wasn't going to go peacefully and if at all possible he was going to kill the bastard. It felt like hours had passed as they scuffled on the floor when in truth it was only a good ten minutes at best, but Vegeta did give him a few scars to remember him for. He hit the wall behind him suddenly as Raditz threw him off and barely managed to stay on his feet as he leaned heavily against the wall. The room wasn't only moving, but spinning. Reminding him of a seriously bad case of intoxication he had once. He closed his eyes, hoping it would make it better, but only served to make it worse.

Growling, he opened his eyes again and snarled at Raditz, feeling the cage close around him. He took a step forward, planning to attack the offending Saiyan, but fell to his hands and knees as his legs could no longer carry his weight. Damn, it hurt to breath. He stared at the floor disjointedly. This was how he was going to die? How pathetic. In the least he could have died by Freeza's hands being tortured to muc-

"Ahhh..." Vegeta's eyes widened as he heard that high pitched voice that filled so many of his nightmares. "It's... so... nice... to... see... you... again... my... pet."

Why, why, why did he have to think that? Anything was better than being back with this... this... This wasn't happening. It couldn't be happening. Raditz wouldn't give him to Freeza, he hated him as much as he did.

"It's... been... such... a... long... time... Look... at... how... much... you've... grown."

Vegeta felt Freeza's hand weave through his hair before the tyrant jerked his head up to force him to look at the ugly pinkish blur that was his face. He could practically feel the twisted joy radiating off him. It made him sick. He didn't even want to imagine what grisly and unpleasant things the sadistic fiend had in store for him. Why hadn't Bardock seen this coming? Where was he? Vegeta was sure that the mentor he looked up to would have done anything, even attacking Freeza outright on this wretched planet ,to keep him out of the tyrant's grasp. Why wasn't he here?

"Yes... I... believe... we... have... a... deal." Vegeta noticed another figure in the room, but his eyesight had gotten far too blurry for him to make out who it was."I... will... support... you... and... when... the... Saiyans... are... back... under... my... control... You... shall... lead... them."

Vegeta growled lowly and barely managed to mutter, "Bardock won't let that happen."

"Like... he... was... supposed... to... protect... you... now?" Freeza laughed, even with everything sounding so far away, the noise hurt his ears. "He... may... have... freed... you... once... but... he... won't... save... you... this... time... my... pet."

Vegeta's vision started to close in, the black creeping along the outsides in his peripheral vision working its way towards the center. Fear churned in his gut. Afraid what he would find when he woke up from whatever Raditz gave him. He couldn't help it as he desperately tried to reach out to the only person he genuinely respected. The link came alive, but it was weak. Vegeta thought his name softly, sending it across it. Then a wave of emotions crashed through his mind, too difficult to understand seeing as he was too far gone in the folds of the drug. He could hear the old man's voice in his head, frantic... trying to figure out what was happening and told Vegeta that he was on his way. Vegeta might have been blacking out, but he had enough sense to know there was no way he would make it in time. He wasn't precisely sure what he was sending back to him. Thoughts? Feelings? Whatever he was giving Bardock it was upsetting him.

Freeza lifted him up by his hair as his vision blacked to hardly a pinprick and he closed his eyes seeing as it made no difference. The blackness was calling and all he could think about was, how was he going to survive this? For once he let himself actually acknowledge the fear, finding that when compared to his anger the latter was insignificant. He didn't want to go back... He didn't want to...

Vegeta jerked awake, startled as his ragged breaths were horribly loud around him. Well that wasn't what he wanted when he started thinking about the last time he sparred with someone. He rubbed his face, trying to shake off the lingering sense of fear and dread the memory had invoked. Definitely not what he had wanted. He had to get up... had to do something, anything to rid him of this memory and the ones that followed.

Rising to his feet he looked around him. No one was there, and judging by the sun he may have only been asleep for an hour at most. Pacing back and forth, he tried to think of what to do. He was tired of sitting around and doing absolutely nothing and considering sitting and meditating wasn't going to work he had to find something else. Pausing, he reached his senses out and right away found the woman's ki in her lab. Goku and the harpy were with her and...

What the hell is wrong with me? Why did he always go to her ki first? Furious he punched the tree, then cringed remembering a little too late that his ribs weren't completely healed as pain shot through him. But... Vegeta moved side to side, testing to see how far he could rotate before it became too painful. It wasn't as bad as he thought it was. Smirking to himself, he slowly slid his leg back. A few easy kata shouldn't put too much stress on his body and it was exactly what he needed to relieve this pent up tension.

.~-~.

Goku glanced back at Bulma, whom he got halfheartedly to work on something, as he closed the door. You would think with her being a genius and all it would be relatively simple to talk her out of a low, but people didn't realize that while she could make some amazing leaps in logic that no one would have gotten, her mind also worked against her in that aspect. That and he couldn't deny the fact that she was being used by almost everyone, for the most part. Sure, she may have taken it to the extreme, but there was a reason why the two of them had been best friends so readily. Goku didn't have much of an opinion about anything back then other than he disliked bullies (in the animal sense considering he didn't have much other contact, but the same had appeared to carry over quite well when it came to humans too.) There was also the fact that no one could understand her, all brains worked slightly different, but hers would look at the glass from below instead of either half empty or half full. She was strange by human standards, and he was the alien here...

He may not be anywhere as smart as her, but if he had to guess why she failed to connect with other humans it was because they did try to understand her and how her thought process worked, and then when they got nowhere they marked her as 'other'. An outsider. Whatever the reason he didn't like that it was hurting her so much. He knew it had all along... just not this much.

Closing the door completely, he paused glancing sideways at his wife who was leaning against the wall giving him a curious, bewildered look. "Where is my Goku?"

He smiled a little, but it wasn't quite the carefree happy one he normally did. He simply didn't feel like beingthat happy right then. "Probably back home out in the wilderness somewhere."

ChiChi lips turned up faintly as she grabbed his arm and they started to walk down the hallway. She was also hindered by what she overheard. "Why don't you ever go to that extent with me?"

"You don't need me to be even partly smart to talk to you and make you see reason." He glanced at her, having heard the small hint of jealousy in her voice. As he spoke, he kissed her forehead lightly, "That and you wouldn't like it after a while."

Her brow rose. "Oh?"

He shrugged, leading her up the stairs to the kitchen. "You like the forgetful carefree attitude because it makes it easier to forget about the issue and eventually see past it. Bulma can't do that because her brain won't forget. Even when she's concentrating on something else it's there in the back of her mind. When it's something that doesn't have a clear cut answer it worsens."

ChiChi simply stared at her husband. He wasn't smiling anymore, even frowning slightly as they stood in the kitchen, the afternoon sun filtering through the window above the sink. His eyes were downcast to the floor; he was obviously deep in thought. She had never seen this from him. Never knew there was actually something more going on in his mind when he acted so carefree. She never knew how observant he really was. And more surprising was that he was right. She did like that he acted like the problem was only a minor thing, not the end of the world or even that much of a problem. How had she not known that there was this side to him? He had been with her husband for five years... they had a son! Then again she remembered her father once saying that one aspect of marriage was that it always evolved because you kept learning things about your partner, even if you were together for twenty years they could still surprise you with something you didn't know. It was an adventure of sorts, one that hopefully brought you closer and made the love shared grow stronger.

"What was that about exactly, Goku?" she asked as she squeezed his arm. "It couldn't merely be because she broke up with that Yamcha guy."

He shook his head as if to shrug off his troubled thoughts. "I'll tell you later tonight..." She blinked when all seriousness was suddenly gone and the Goku she knew stood next to her again. "I was... er... hoping you would make me a snack before I went back to training."

"Can't you wait for three hours, Goku? When Mrs. Briefs gets back we will start making dinner..."

He pouted, free hand holding his stomach as he whined, "But I'm really hungry now..." When she gave him the small irritated look, he added swiftly, "Please, please, pleeeeaaaasssseee..."

ChiChi chuckled as she rolled her eyes. "Fine, fine... with you training so much now I guess you do need more food."

"Thanks, Chich." He beamed at her.

She sighed, going to the fridge and pulling out more sandwich fixings left over from lunch. "What are loving wives for but to sate their husbands' grumbling bellies?" As if on cue his own stomach growled a little and he chuckled, reaching behind his head as she gave him a look, brow rising slightly.

"I think my belly agrees."

Chuckling, she shook her head and started to make about a dozen sandwiches. She had to keep swatting his hand to keep him from stealing any lunch meat as she went. Trying not to laugh at his pathetic attempts, she glanced up and out the window to the back yard. At first she didn't see anything that really drew her attention and wondered what had made her look. When something moved in her peripheral again, she looked again, stepping slightly to the right to get a better look to the left half of the lawn.

"Oh wow..." she muttered as she caught sight of the volatile Saiyan she rightly didn't like doing a kata.

"Whut?" Goku asked with a few pieces of ham he had managed to steal in her distracted state filling his mouth.

ChiChi shook her head as she continued to watch the exotic kata, it was obviously deadly, but there was a beauty to it. "Vegeta's doing a kata."

Goku coughed on one of the sandwiches he had hastily shoved in his mouth, never one to waste such an advantage. Swallowing, he looked at her before moving behind her. "Really? I wanna see." His eyes widened a little, taking in the precise, fluid movements even after having been unable to train for five years. "So that's what it's supposed to look like..." When Chi Chi gave him a questioning look over her shoulder he clarified, "Bardock's been trying to teach me a few Saiyan kata, but we are only on the beginning level and haven't gotten very far since he's been showing me different moves and sparring."

Goku's eyes followed the Saiyan prince, seeing how Vegeta even used his tail. It stirred up the empty feeling he felt when it came to his tail and he forced his eyes on something else, knowing he would never be able to do the full kata since he no longer had it. If only there had been some other way... He would have gladly taken it, even if the tail made him stick out. He had loved that thing. Storing the pained thoughts away again, he turned back to the sandwiches, managing to wolf down two before Chi Chi regained her senses and slapped his hand. He whimpered a little.

"Honestly, Goku?" She gave him an annoyed look before returning to making his snack. "Can't you just wait a few more minutes?"

.~-~.

Bulma sighed, tired and still a little down as she looked to the clock on her big computer screen. It was almost six at night, which left her roughly thirty minutes before dinner and she didn't have much to show for her last three or so hours of time as far as technology was concerned. She simply didn't feel like working on anything. Her creative mind that normally generated new and wonderful things seemed to take a sudden hiatus without letting her know. So what had she done for those few hours? Never was she one to simply sit on her ass and twiddle her thumbs for hours on end doing nothing. She always had to have something to do with her hands or something that at least required some concentration, which was why she had decided to draw.

She shifted her gaze back to the pad, having just finished the huge sketch she had been making for Bardock the other day. With so much going on she hadn't had time yesterday after dinner or this morning to work on it, but since she didn't earnestly feel up to doing much of anything else it was better than nothing.

But now it was done. And now she had nothing to do. She thumped the eraser end of the pencil against the pad, mind abnormally blank. "Well this is no good..." she mumbled under her breath as she leaned back in her chair and looked up at the ceiling. "All I'm doing is sitting here... feeling sorry for myself and wallowing..." Absentmindedly she tucked a loose strand of hair from her face. "Not even in the least doing anything remotely productive..." Sighing, she closed her eyes as the emotions Goku had helped her get over earlier came rushing back. "And now I'm talking to myself... how pathetic."

She was tired of feeling like this. Feeling used and not wanted for who she was. So maybe she should do something about it. Maybe she should stop letting the world do this to her. She still had her parents, Goku, and yes maybe the rest of the z-gang. Did she truthfully need anything else? Not to mention she truly was starting to like Chi Chi and Gohan's presence. And then there was Vegeta and Bardock. Bardock didn't ask anything from her and certainly Vegeta didn't want anything from her... he had stated enough times to make that obviously clear. That made at least ten people who weren't using her. She really didn't have to feel like this. So what if the world was full of jackasses, Bulma Briefs was better than them and their stupid problems. And as for Yamcha... Yamcha who? As far as the two of them were concerned they were officially over. She was done trying to hold on to a relationship that clearly didn't work and had not worked for quite some time.

Bulma stood suddenly from the rolling computer chair, stating loudly to no one in particular, "Enough! Bulma Briefs get out of this depressed stupor and do something." She smiled to herself as her voice echoed around her, knowing she sounded like a crazy person talking like this to herself, but she didn't care. Already she felt better. Setting the pad on her work desk, she stretched and yawned. "I wonder if Daddy and Bardock need anything..."

With the depression momentarily solved, she strolled from her lab and the little part of hallway to her father's lab. If she couldn't come up with something to do or concentrate on the things she was working on, maybe someone else's problems would do the trick.

.~-~.

Vegeta put on a new change of clothes after showing off the small layer of sweat he managed to obtain from doing those kata. It was disgusting that such a small amount of work actually caused it, but at the same time he felt better than he had in a long while. Well... mentally. Physically he did feel good, but he also hurt more and not solely because of his wounded ribs. Since he hadn't done anything, even walking, in three years his unused body was protesting furiously. But that pain in itself felt good, simply having that sort of pain again and not the other kind of pain that was caused by another. It made it more real in a way. That he was really here and he was free again from Freeza.

Of course such thoughts were swiftly dismissed. He wouldn't ever be free until Freeza was dead at his feet. That and Raditz was moving closer every second to kill him... His fists clenched as he glared at the tile in the bathroom as the feeling of betrayal he had felt from the memory in his dream he came back to the forefront of his mind. It had been easy to dismiss it when he first woke from the crash. He had had the woman to distract him and was always on edge, but now... Now, that he found himself relaxing (something that thoroughly irked him) he couldn't help it that it was making its presence known. While he never absolutely held the older, long-haired Saiyan in as high regard as Bardock or even Tash... He still showed trust in him that not many received and while it may not have seemed like it, Vegeta had listened to his opinions on things.

With this betrayal brought other thoughts he never really got time to shove away into the deepest reservoirs of his mind. Or even the few thoughts it had stirred up that he had had stored away prior. His people detested him so much, the people he was born to rule over and guide, that some betrayed him to the very being that destroyed their planet, killed their mates and cubs, and made them into a dying race. When had he, the Prince of all Saiyans, become something that his people despised so much that they would do this to him? He wouldn't ever admit it openly to anyone or even fully to himself, but he in truth didn't like how they hated him and put all the blame for that one base he destroyed as a child. How the fuck was he supposed to know that Freeza lied to him? That he, Raditz, and Nappa had not been the only Saiyans that survived planet Vegeta's destruction?

He glanced up into the mirror. His dark eyes flashed with the faint sting that all this brought up and he swiftly squashed all these thoughts. They did him no good, and why did he care about their views of him? Some had openly called him a monster and there was no doubt about that, he was a monster. So why did it matter? He was simply acting as they expected him to, shouldn't be a surprise. More importantly, why was he letting it get to him now? He never gave it any thought before... It's this damn planet. Always he came to this conclusion. He had thought that if he merely left in time this disease of the mind would disappear, but he was starting to believe that this slight change might be a little more difficult to crush into nothing would be difficult. Then again, he wouldn't truly know until he got off this gods forsaken hung of space dust. Once more he found himself hoping Raditz would hurry up. It may be his death, but at the same time it was going to be the thing that saved him from this damn sickness plaguing him.

"Hn," he snorted at his image before turning away and walked to the door, revolted with himself for letting it even happen.

As soon as Vegeta opened the door, he cringed. The voices of the others echoed loudly up the stairs to him and he dimly debated if eating was precisely worth putting up with all of them. He wasn't even really that hungry... yet that was also somewhat worrying. He should be ravenous, especially since he did work out. Deciding it was best to force himself to eat some and simply ignore the others, he steeled himself for the assault on his ears and the annoyance of it all as he started walking again.

"No seriously, Bulma..." Kakarot's harpy said above the other voices, "This is an amazing drawing Bulma. Do you think you can do one for me?"

"Sure." Vegeta had to roll his eyes, hearing that she had obviously gotten over her breakdown that happened only a few hours ago with the way her tone was so unmistakably proud. "Do you want the same as Bardock's or different?"

"Hm..."

The black-haired woman seemed to be pondering it as Vegeta reached the bottom of the stairs; everyone was looking over something that lay on the table. And by everyone, meant everyone... even the doctor and his cat.

"Just surprise me?" The harpy looked back up at Bulma and actually had a smile on her lips, the first Vegeta had ever seen from the infuriating woman. When she wasn't glaring or scowling, she didn't look that bad.

"Okay! I'll do that." The heiress beamed back, overflowing with so much joy that it was sickening. Kind of like too much sugar, sickening.

Vegeta's brow rose, seeing a perfect opportunity to get back at the woman and walked over, stopping next to her. "Are you sure she's not using you?"

With all the noise in the room only the Saiyans and Bulma heard it, so the chatter continued, but the color drained from her face as she realized a little too late that he had been there and had seen her breakdown. It wasn't that it was overly stinging... it did hurt a little, but it was merely the sudden shock of it that got her. "What did you say?" She looked at him, not even knowing he had been there.

"Don't tell me you're deaf as well a-"

Goku was suddenly there, grabbing Bulma away before Vegeta could hit her with the insult he had wanted to say. "You remember this one, Bulms? Boy that was fun." Vegeta didn't miss the small warning glare shot his way by the younger Saiyan while the woman's attention was not on him.

"Goku... I drew this..." She gave him a puzzled look, wondering what he was getting at... he acted stupid, but rarely this stupid, forgetting for a few second what Vegeta said to her. "Which means I clearly do remember it."

"Oh..." He chuckled as he scratched the back of his head. "Right..."

Then it clicked. Goku had been trying to separate them and stop Vegeta, and he had managed that flawlessly without drawing any attention to them. She looked to her friend and met his dark eyes, mouthing a small 'thank you' before she glanced back at Vegeta, seeing a look akin to one might see from a child who didn't get their way. The mostly glare with a flare of a small pout... of course without the lip and his tail flicked with irritation on his hip. If she wasn't worried about bringing attention to him and having him continuing whatever he had been about to say, she may have openly laughed and called him out on it. Instead she just smiled at him, which made his scowl fall slightly with confusion. She turned back to the others, promptly ignoring him as she joined the discussion of other adventures she and Goku had.

Personally she was completely happy to let the jerk stew over why she smiled at him. She didn't owe him any explanation, particularly after he presently tried to use her little breakdown from earlier against her. It was, of course, worrying. She was going to have to be careful around him now and be prepared... Damn it, why did I have to go and breakvdown? Letting Yamcha get to her that much and not remembering Vegeta was there? That had been stupid of her. Exceptionally stupid.

.~-~.

Bardock watched Vegeta, Bulma, and Goku throughout dinner, curious and troubled by the strange interaction he had seen and that continued between them. Goku was very subtle, but for someone who had spent years reading people and a lifetime of being observant, Bardock did not miss the looks his son was sending the prince. Nor did he miss the tension between the three, a tension that might have even been noticed by the others if it weren't for Mrs. Briefs and her always cheerful chatter. Bulma wasn't ignorant of the looks Goku was sending Vegeta either whenever the older Saiyan looked as if he was going to open his mouth. And for once Vegeta actually had to comply. There was no doubt what those looks meant or that it might mean worse than bodily harm to him.

Unable to stand not knowing anymore, Bardock opened a link with the prince. "What in the galaxy is going on, boy?"

"Nothing." Vegeta promptly shut the link off and refused to allow access again.

He should have known it was pointless to ask him, so he went to his son. "What happened?"

Goku blinked, still not used to the whole communicating without talking thing. "Um..." He frowned before shoveling in some mashed potatoes. "Bulma got upset earlier and said a few things to me forgetting Vegeta was there... he's now trying to use them against her."

That made sense now... yes that really cleared things up. "What kind of things?" Bardock felt his hesitation over telling him so he added, "Never mind, simply tell me how bad would it be if Vegeta did use them against her?"

Goku actually paused in his eating and gave him a small pained look. "Bad. Very bad."

"I see..." This was problematic. Having the Briefs help them was a blessing from the gods. Something they shouldn't squander so frivolously, merely so Vegeta could feel like he was above the girl. "I'll take care of it."

"Really?" His surprise hummed through the link, not even thinking about Bardock doing anything to call Vegeta off. "Thanks..." Goku gave him a smile, something flashing in his eyes, before he started eating again and keeping an eye on the prince.

Bardock thought about telling him that it wasn't really for either his or Bulma's benefit, but what was best for the Saiyans, only to decide against it. He kind of liked having his son's confidence, even if it wasn't exactly the truth. What Goku didn't know didn't hurt him.

After that dinner passed too quickly for Bardock's taste. He had been trying to think of how best to approach Vegeta on this issue, but hadn't come up with anything good. Perhaps it would be best to be blunt. Vegeta didn't respond well when people beat around the bush and Bardock wasn't strictly one to do that. The boy would know right away something was up. That wasn't a good way to start things off. But... other than the subject of the issue at hand, this actually came at a good time. He had to talk to the boy anyway about the betrayers and how the younger Saiyan was going to stay on Earth. It was certainly going to be a rough talk with him, why not get that over with too?

Bardock sat at the dinner table, thinking it over one last time as everyone but Bunny and Chi Chi left the kitchen and disappeared to their respective areas. Goku was outside with his son, Bulma and her father were in the doctor's lab, and Vegeta had gone to his room. At least that was what he assumed having not yet learned how to sense ki. Arms crossed, he stared at the table, knowing he probably resembled the volatile prince right then. He didn't like being the bad guy with him. The gods knew the boy had enough people against him... hell; practically the whole universe was against him. Vegeta didn't fully grasp how much he lucked out landing here on Earth.

Sighing softly, he pushed the chair out and started for the stairs. Sitting down here thinking wasn't getting him anywhere and this had to be dealt with now. Putting it off for tomorrow was simply too long to let something like this go. Bardock had always been a man of action, even after getting these visions. He hated sitting around, and contemplating only got one so far until it killed them due to their inability to act. He sincerely hoped the boy would see reason... For the most part he was good, but when something was so thoroughly against his thoughts or views he could be rather bullheaded and something told Bardock he wasn't going to be as lucky this time around.

He stopped outside the closed door, pausing shortly before he opened his mouth to ask if he could enter when Vegeta sudden beat him to it. "What do you want, old man?"

Bardock blinked, wondering how the boy knew he was there as he opened the door. Stepping fully in and seeing past the door, the scene before him was a little unsettling. Vegeta stood in front of the mirror that was attached to a dresser, feeling his ribs; a mass of black and blue bruises covered his chest, but it was the wounds that clearly came from before the crash that upset Bardock the most.

"I wanted to talk to you about the betrayers... and a few other things." He stayed at the door, not wanting to push the boy... this different Vegeta was good, but it was difficult for him to know what the boy was thinking. "Unless this is a bad time."

The muscles in Vegeta's jaw clenched as he replaced the rib that had been knocked out of alignment a little from the training. He didn't realize something was wrong until dinner when he tried to reach for something farther from him and he nearly dropped the damn thing and what worse was that simple action seemed to aggravate it to the point that it would flare up on its own. Needless to say he had been careful after that; wasn't like he was hungry, so he didn't need the food farther from him. In truth, it had been far too difficult to eat and Vegeta felt like he was burning up. Maybe doing those kata was not such a good thing.

"No," he relented as he carefully tried to tug his shirt back over the mess that was his body. "Tell me everything."

Bardock closed the door before leaning against it. "Are you sure? I don't think you need to fret over it when you can't do anything."

Vegeta glared at his reflection in the mirror. "You have to tell me sooner or later, old man. Stop stalling..." Then he looked away as he finished putting his shirt on and muttered, "And I don't fret."

"Right, but you do stew over something to the point that you become explosive." Bardock grinned a little at the scowl he received. "I am merely pointing out that maybe it's best you don't know until later..."

Vegeta turned around, growling, "Damn it, Bardock. Just fucking tell me!"

He frowned, gaze going to the floor and getting straight to it. "Twenty-seven... that is how many defected. Ten elites, two belonged to the council and the rest were high-second class ranking." Bardock looked up and saw the shock the boy was trying to hide. That was a lot of high ranking members. "I only found out because a group of third-classes who should have the ranking of middle second-class were asked by them. They didn't know who it was that asked all of them and each thought they were the only ones asked, so they didn't know if it was something to tell anyone of authority and they only told me after they all realized all of them had been asked and recognized that it was definitely a serious situation."

The silence settled in the room as it sank in and Vegeta tried to figure out who on the council would betray him. He had speculations, but nothing that really set two out from the rest. Yet, it was more the way Bardock seemed hesitant to tell him that was unnerving.

"Wh-"

"Kellere is the second in command... and... Brolly." Vegeta's eyes widened, face paling. "Brolly is their leader. I caught one and... forced the truth from him personally and they unfortunately didn't survive. Most are rather loyal to him, but there are a few who were dragged by family members or... in Raditz's case, using it to his advantage so that one day they can gain enough power to kill the rest of the betrayers and Freeza."

Vegeta was a little anxious now. Brolly... Everyone knew of how he was born with an absurdly high power level. His father kept him hidden for years, saying he was sick. And if that in-itself wasn't suspicious enough, he always wore that necklace and those arm bands. Always. No one dared to call it out though, especially after the younger Saiyan killed his own father ruthlessly simply for fun. Vegeta was a monster, but he had good reasons to be one... Brolly grew up in the comfort and safety of the bases, hidden away from Freeza and the universe with the rest of the Saiyans. There was no reason for him to be so... bloodthirsty. Bloodthirsty to the point that even Vegeta had difficulties stomaching it... and that was something. Vegeta hadn't really thought much about it though, since the younger Saiyan was the only one who didn't disapprove of how Vegeta treated others or how he would snap suddenly and beat them to near death. Or blast them to the afterlife.

"Now you understand," Bardock sighed, "I would have rather had Chardin or even Liik."

Vegeta nodded numbly, he wasn't one to normally believe rumors, but this elite, he had been close to beating the prince a couple times during a few spars they had over the years and Vegeta always had this feeling he was holding back something... Frankly, he was fortunate Brolly had not sent any of the others in Raditz's stead or Kakarot would not have a chance in hell of beating them.

"But you should know that nearly everyone was furious over what they did." The older Saiyan started to pace. "There's a few on the council I've been keeping my eye on... and then the families of betrayers that stayed. I know there's certainly a spy or even spies, but I don't know who, which means they can't be on the council. I let the mental blocks down and they all came up clean other than some harboring a few things against you... and me, which isn't anything new." Bardock stopped and looked at him. "Why aren't you saying anything?"

Vegeta snorted, "Were you not telling me a moment ago that there isn't anything I can do?" He rolled his eyes at him as he walked to his bed and sat down, resting against the headboard. "Of course I'm furious, but I can't use ki to blast something and I truthfully don't feel like wasting energy on doing anything else."

Bardock studied him. He truly didn't know this Vegeta. Neither of the two things he said would have stopped him before. The older Saiyan had been an outlet enough times to know that. Maybe this would go better than he thought it would.

"There's another problem that does concern you, boy... and it's one that you can greatly affect."

Vegeta looked at him and retorted sarcastically, "Oh really, old man? I'm I going to miraculously pick up some weapon in the woman's unbelievably messy lab and find that I can shoot them from here?" He snorted, shaking his head as he looked back to the arm propped up by one of his bent knees. "How can anything I do right now seriously matter?"

The older Saiyan rubbed the back of his neck before crossing his arms once again, bracing himself. "I was not talking about affecting them directly, boy. It has to do with the Briefs and the girl..." Vegeta glanced at him sideways, noticeably stiffening. "We both have thought that perhaps having them as an asset might help us win this war, well I'm saying it's not if but a matter of how we use it and how long that will take until we win this war..."

His eyes narrowed the anger showing scarcely beneath the surface as his voice lowered slightly, "So you're basically saying don't fuck with the woman?"

"Yes." He knew merely by the look in Vegeta's eyes and that tone things were going to go downhill fast. "We need both Briefs happy and wanting to help us. You toying with the girl and upsetting her obviously goes against that."

Vegeta sprung from the bed (remarkably fast for someone who was as hurt as him) and squared off against him, fists clenched at his side and growling, "Let my guess, your weak, pathetic clown of a son asked you to do this, call me off like so-"

"No," Bardock cut him off. "I asked him what was happening; he never thought to ask me to do something about it."

"That is even worse, Bardock. You're now going out of your way to protect these humans, in particular the woman? Does this really have to do with the Saiyan people and the war?" Vegeta crossed his arms. "Or have you gotten soft and no longer serve for the good of our race. You have neither said nor done anything as the woman not only insulted me at every chance she has gotten, but even could have killed me yesterday. You only stood there and then berated me. Have you turned against me for your son? Is-"

Bardock moved swiftly, furious as he pushed the foolish cub down on to the bed, keeping himself from choking the living daylights out of him as he kept his fists at his sides. "How dare you accuse me of that, my Prince." He didn't let up on his tone or the dark glare he was giving him as Vegeta looked up at him somewhat startled that he would move against him. "I have sacrificed more than you will ever know to put our people above everything else and I have always put you before them. I have killed, spilt my own blood and would even die for you. And if I had thought the small insignificant jabs the woman took at you were real insult meant to harm you then I would have done something the second they happened." He backed up then, lest he actually let a current impulse he had get him and hit the boy. Maybe another time he would have, but such things could kill Vegeta in his state.

"You were in no danger of dying or being seriously harmed the other day and you better than anyone should know that I could have ended it in seconds if I wanted to. But I needed you to understand that I will not always be here to protect you while you heal." With Vegeta's horrified look, he continued quickly, "And yes, you are staying here until you are better. With the way things are at the base, any number of elites would simply love to take the opportunity and kill you. That and I can't help you like they can if something were to happened unexpectedly... so you are staying here and you better be fucking careful what you say, cub." With that he turned and went to the door, still livid to the likes Vegeta had never seen before.

Bardock knew the boy didn't understand, couldn't understand how much this actually hurt him. He didn't know. In a way it was the older Saiyan's fault for never telling him. Maybe it was time he did. After opening it a little, he stopped and said over his shoulder, "You should know that instead of collecting your mother and my life-mate like I was scheduled to, I followed a lead on you in the hopes that I could free you... they and many other important people died because I made a rash choice to try and save you. One that no one else but me made, even knowing that if I was able to, I would ultimately be forfeiting Raditz's life." The rage suddenly left him as he stared at the door frame, hand clutched at his side and pain evident in every word, "I sent a message to them that I was going to try and get you out and that I should be back on route a week later only to see their deaths in a vision and then live it as my mate died."

His shoulders dropped forward a little, defeated. "She died thinking I abandoned her since the message didn't reach them in time. In a way I did because I knew it was a strong possibility it would happen and yet I still went after you. I can't begin to describe the anguish one feels after losing a life-mate and that you probably won't ever understand how much I gave up due to this, but don't you ever question my loyalties again, Vegeta. I have and always will be loyal to that little boy who earned it far more than you ever have..." He sighed, "It seems you still have a lot to learn, boy."

He walked through the door and closed it, leaving a stunned Vegeta in his wake. Slowly he sat up, looking at the door his old mentor left through. He certainly had a lot to think about...

~~~~.~-~.~~~~

Beta'd by LPphreek