Disclaimer: I don't own DBZ
Here it is; Chapter 3! Sorry for the long wait! Thanks for all your reviews. You make writing fun!
Night has fallen
Chapter 3:
Bulma lay silently beside Vegeta, staring up at the ceiling. She was exhausted, both physically and mentally, but sleep eluded her. Vegeta was asleep though; his deep, regular breathing was a clear sign. She turned her head slightly to the side to look at him. His face was relaxed; for once, the scowl was gone.
He had flung an arm around her abdomen, and had pulled her tight against him. "Goodnight Woman," he had whispered, "sleep well." He had buried his face in her hair, and was now deeply breathing in and out, taking in her scent. She had been trying to get out of his grip for the last two hours, but even in his sleep, he wouldn't let her go.
The first light of a new dawn filled the room with a soft glow. Bulma looked at the magnificent sight of the sunrise and wondered if this would be the last she would ever see.
She felt the weight of his arm, pressing her down into the bed. It reminded her of what she had become last night, his possession. Bulma was trapped, with no way out. She knew she wouldn't escape him alive. But since last night, it seemed that there was no way out, ever. Even after death, there would be... something to bind them.
Last night, when he had asserted his claim on her again, and she had surrendered, her mind had been flooded with his feelings, his dreams, his thoughts... It had been so overwhelming, and frightening... But he had only showed her what he wanted her to see; he controlled what he let her feel. She, on the other hand, had no such control or defenses against him; he had invaded everything, and had occupied it; her childhood memories, her deepest wishes, her most secret dreams, the unconditional love she held for her friends, parents and for Yamcha. He had growled when he had felt the intensity, and he had sworn to her that soon her love for them would be nothing more but a vague memory.
After that intense exchange, she had felt completely empty; she had given so much, and had received so little. Bulma had fallen asleep right after it, but she had dreamt his dreams, and had woken up crying. Since then, sleep had not come for her. She knew she needed it, but was actually relieved; she couldn't handle his dreams, and she was afraid that they would haunt her sleep again.
Bulma had been awake since then, waiting for the morning to come. And now as morning was here, she still didn't have an idea how to deal with,... with anything! She was exhausted, and couldn't seem to get her mind working again. Everything seemed vague; her thoughts were jumbled. It seemed like after her exchange with Vegeta, she had trouble separating her mind from his own. Maybe he wanted some control up there as well.
She became agitated, and moved around in his grip. His arm tightened; he was awake now.
"Why don't you try to get some more sleep? You didn't get much last night, and you've been lying awake for a couple of hours." He moved his hand, to lay it possessively on her belly. "You need your rest, Woman."
"I can't sleep. I-I am hungry." A lie, but anything to get out of this bed, out of his arms.
He chuckled. "Of course you're hungry. You know what an appetite we Saiyans can have." He gave a twist to his words, making her feel dirty.
"I think I want a shower first." She quickly moved up from the bed, half surprised when he let her go.
He just laid there, enjoying the view she gave him. She stumbled along; she had to get used to the extra appendage. It forced her to change her balance somewhat.
Bulma quickly hid in the bathroom. She turned the water way up, until it should be burning her, but now it didn't seem to harm her skin. Another effect of the wish. She knew there would be so much more she would have to get used to. The increase of her ki was one of those things. Vegeta had told her that he would train her to properly use her ki. She didn't look forward to his lessons.
She absent-mindedly washed her body, and rinsed her hair. Bulma turned the water off, and stepped out of the shower. She wrapped a towel around her body, and moved to stand before the large mirror. Her reflection stared back at her. She looked at her body, painstakingly seeking out the differences, large and small. She also noticed some new bruises. But the older ones were almost gone. Saiyan healing, she thought.
She craned her head. The bite mark was all the more noticeable. She wondered why it didn't heal so fast... Maybe because Vegeta broke the tender skin every time he could. He seemed to consider it as a mark of possession, and he apparently loved the taste of her blood; he was always lapping at her spilled blood, softly purring as he did so. It scared her.
She searched her face for the signs of her aging, but they weren't to be found. Just as she had discovered last night. Her body was young again. How do Saiyans age, she wondered. Much slower than humans, that much she knew but Vegeta never told her how they aged, and what age they could reach.
She felt too old for her body. Bulma looked at her eyes; they betrayed her real age. She felt that she had aged a hundred years since the last two days. And only her eyes showed it all. Her worries and pain were easy to read in them.
She turned away from the mirror. No answers were to be found there. Bulma walked out of the bathroom, still only wearing the large towel; her clothes were nowhere to be found. She looked at Vegeta.
"Where are my clothes?"
He shrugged. " They should lie around her somewhere; although they maybe a bit damaged. I am not patient with your ridiculous clothing."
"O-ok... I'll go to my room, and get dressed."
"You do that."
Bulma hastily left his room, and hurried to her room. When she was inside, she breathed a little easier, relieved to be out of his presence. Bulma walked over to her enormous closet, and pulled some things out. She donned a large sweater, but when she tried to pull on some jeans, she was quickly reminded of her tail. For a moment, she hesitated, then, she took them off, and grabbed a pair of scissors, and cut a hole in them. That should do. She pulled the improved jeans on, and fiddled with her tail. Even the slightest touch made her shiver. Why were they so sensitive? To her, it seemed a large weakness; after all Vegeta showed her exactly what he could do to her, using her tail. She shuddered. Why was it so hard to suppress those memories?
Finally dressed, she walked back to Vegeta's room. He was already dressed in a brand new armor and spandex uniform, and was wearing a satisfied smirk; he gave her body an appreciating look, which made her feel even dirtier; the shower hadn't helped in making her feel clean again.
Together they walked downstairs and into the kitchen. The sweet smell of pancakes welcomed them, and Bulma realized she was after all quite hungry; she hadn't eaten for a while. She tried to remember the last time she had eaten something... Two days ago?
On the table were several plates, pilled up with pancakes and sandwiches. Large bowls of fruit and cornflakes stood next to them. Bulma flopped down into a chair, and started to eat. The pancakes were still warm; her mother had probably just left the kitchen. She was really grateful that her mother had cooked for her. She really hadn't feel like it. Tears burned in her eyes when she thought about her parents; they would be really worried about her...
Vegeta was sitting across from her, and was looking sharply at her, while he was eating.
"Stop that useless whining, and eat something! I thought you said you were hungry!"
Bulma looked at him, then she sighed and started to eat.
"Good. You need your strength Woman, especially now. Saiyan women eat a lot more than human women, but still much less than Saiyan males... So I don't expect you to eat as much as me." He shoved about ten sandwiches on her plate. "That's somewhere to start."
Bulma looked at her plate, taken back with the quantity. "I have to eat this much?"
"That, and about ten pancakes, or a large bowl of fruit... That's enough, perhaps. Now, eat."
Bulma started to eat, but suddenly her food didn't taste good to her. Still, she forced herself to eat all the sandwiches. Vegeta was right; she needed her strength, although maybe for a different purpose then he had in mind.
Something like a vague plan was forming in her mind. Revelations from the day before were finally coming together, like the pieces of a puzzle. Still, she had problems concentrating, and her mind wondered off to memories she rather had forgotten, but they did help her in some way; they made her even more determined to completely figure out the puzzle in her head.
She noticed all at once that her plate was empty. Bulma had eaten them all. Vegeta was looking thoughtfully at her, like he was trying to figure something out. Let him wonder, Bulma thought grimly, let him guess.
Vegeta frowned at her, and impatiently shoved his plate away from himself. "Let's get moving. I want to leave this place. I want you to get those supplies from your dad. We'll make good use of them. And say goodbye to your parents. You'll never see them again."
"Because we'll never return?" Bulma tried hoping against better judgment that he had forgotten about his desire of destroying Earth.
"I've told you what I'm going to do with this place. A simple ki-blast, and there'll be nothing left for you to return to." He gave her a cold smile.
"You have no right."
"I don't care what you say or think. Who'll stop me? Don't waste your breath, Woman."
Bulma looked at him, begging with her eyes. "Please Vegeta, leave Earth alone. Everyone you hate is dead. The planet itself has never done anything wrong to you. I'm- I'm begging you, please Vegeta. Not Earth too."
Vegeta glowered at her: "Begging doesn't suit you. Stop it, you won't change my mind."
Bulma fell silent, and that little idea in her head was making a lot more sense. It frightened her, but it was also the only answer for her, that would definitely make an end to it all.
An end to everything...
"I will stop you."
"Give it your best try. I love to see you struggle. But I warn you, Woman, it's hopeless."
He looked at her, and slowly a smirk formed on his lips. She saw the dark joy smoldering in the deepest black of his eyes. Black eyes that seemed to swallow her, that taunted her, mocking her. They both knew who was in control.
She stood up. "I'll go and look for my father, I'm sure he's somewhere in the labs... I'll be back as soon as possible." Bulma turned around and went for the door, and exited the kitchen. She walked through the gardens, and was suddenly reminded at Piccolo. She halted, and looked in the direction of the garden in which Vegeta had used the dragon balls yesterday. Would he still be there, slowly dying, suffering from his wounds? She made her way through the garden, to where he should be lying. When she got to the area, she saw to her surprise her mother sitting on a small bench, quietly crying.
"Mama?" She asked softly, as not to startle her.
"Bulma?" Her mother looked up, and gave her a weak smile. She stood up, and moved to Bulma to embrace her. "Oh, my baby... How are you? Are you... ok?" She took a step back, and looked Bulma over. She gasped when she saw Bulma's tail.
"That's- that's a tail..."
"Yes. Vegeta wished me to be Saiyan. I now am a Saiyan in flesh and blood... He made a wish," Bulma's voice broke, and her mother hugged her again. Together, they stood there for a while. Bulma felt safe in her mother's arms, always had. She snuggled a little closer, and smelled her mother's familiar smell, and memories of a long time ago filled her mind.
"Sssh, Bulma," Bunny said gently while she soothed her. "Don't give up hope, honey. You have to be strong. I know you have been through a lot... So much has happened... We saw Vegeta make his wish; when we suddenly saw the sky darken, we came looking for the cause of it. Your father already thought Vegeta was using the dragon balls... But we thought he would wish for immortality... But when we saw you fall to the ground, we were so worried."
Her mother stifled a sob, then continued: "Then, Vegeta picked you up and flew you to his room... I really wanted to go see you, but your father warned me not to; Vegeta is unpredictable... Then, he came back, and picked something up, at least I thought it was something, but it was someone! It was a man! It looked like Piccolo... But he was very mutilated, it was horrific! I had to throw up. Then, he let him drop... He did other things... He's evil! He smiled when he did it!! He... He killed him finally... I cried so hard... When he was gone, and your father returned to his lab, he was really shocked. He was really determined to find something to put an end to Vegeta's evilness."
Her mother stopped, and tried to calm down. But she looked quite angry and frustrated and sad. Then, she took a deep breath, and finished her story: "There was nothing left... only burnt grass and plants...And the dragon balls, which are now stones... I can't believe that he can do things like this; I always figured he had a hard time, and was misunderstood, but that he had changed... I thought he would be perfect for you, Bulma... How could I've been so wrong?"
Bulma smiled in a twisted sense of humor: "That's the question we all ask ourselves. I feel like I'm the blame for all what's happened. I constantly ask myself where I've gone wrong. I wonder all the time if I've missed the signs... Why hadn't I payed more attention to his habits, his training? I would have never guessed he could become this powerful. But, I can't think about that now. We have to find a way to stop him. *I* have to find a way to stop him." Bulma said with grim determination.
"Is it even possible? Your father said he had no weapons, *could* not design a weapon powerful enough to kill him. So do you know something that will kill him?" Her mother asked hopefully.
"I think I know a way. It's perhaps a bit... radical," Bulma said darkly. "But I think it's the only way."
Bunny looked at Bulma, worried and frightened. "I don't like the way you're saying that, Bulma. You're not going to do anything rash, are you?"
Bulma looked sadly at her mother. "Nothing rash; I thought it over many times, Mama. It'll be all right, I promise."
"Liar," her mother said sadly.
"I-I'm going to find Dad... Mama, I love you."
"I know that," her mother said quietly, while tears rolled down her cheeks, "and you know we love you, always. You're our daughter, and nothing will change that."
Bulma gave her mother a kiss, and said lovingly: "Thanks, Mama, you always say the right things to cheer me up."
"T-that's what we mothers are for. Now, go to your Dad. M-maybe he knows something."
Bulma walked towards the labs, leaving her mother sitting on the bench, crying quietly.
****
While she walked to the labs, she thought about Piccolo and Kami. Dead, and the dragon balls were useless. But even if they would still be alive, the dragon balls would still be useless! Vegeta made his wish, *after* he killed all her friends. And when the year would have passed, and the dragon balls could be used again, it would change nothing; her friends would be dead for more then a year. The only solution to this, would be other dragon balls... Namek... New Namek. But she didn't know the coordinates. They had decided that only a few people should know them. She had chosen not to know; she wasn't strong enough to defend herself when someone came looking for them. Now, she was very happy for the choice she made; she could never tell Vegeta. There were only a few that knew the coordinates... Goku, Piccolo, Kami... If Kami knew... Bulma suddenly felt a bit of hope for her friends. Not everything was lost yet...
She entered the main lab, and asked the computer to locate her dad. It said that he was in his personal lab. As Bulma headed for it, she came through her father's office. She stopped for a moment to write something down, and sticked the paper to her father's screen. There would be no chance it got lost in the mess on his desk. Her father was a bit... chaotic, to say the least.
When she entered her father's lab, she didn't see him. Bulma only saw Kitten, sitting on a half-finished robot of some kind. She petted the little animal, earning herself a purr. "So, do you know where dad is?" She asked the little creature, who gave a small 'meow' and jumped off the robot. It lazily walked through the crowded lab, until it reached a small door. It seated itself next to it, and gave another 'meow'.
"Aha. Thanks, Kitten."
Bulma knocked on the door. "Dad, are you in there," she yelled. She heard shuffling at the other side of the door, and some moments later, the door was opened. "Bulma?" her father asked smiling, obviously relieved to see his daughter. "Come in. Close the door behind you, will you?" Bulma went in, and closed the door behind her, and looked around. She had been here so many times. It was a room with many security measures; this was the room in which they stored their most dangerous inventions. On one of the workbenches lay a small gun. Bulma remembered it well. They had devised it after Radditz had come to Earth; they had tried to resemble ki-energy, and it had worked quite well. It could produce a fairly potent blast, but Bulma knew it could at best give Vegeta a tickle. But she could use it.
"How are you doing, Bulma," her father asked worriedly. He stood there, and was looking at her tail.
"I'm fine, considering the situation... And that's a tail. I got it after Vegeta made his wish."
"I see... We saw it happen."
"I know, I've spoken with Mama."
"She was very upset when we saw you faint. I was very upset too. And this whole situation... Vegeta has lost his mind. He's completely insane."
"No, he isn't. He isn't insane. He's evil, malicious... And that makes him far more dangerous... If he was insane, we could use that against him."
"But why? Why is he doing this? And why did he give you a tail... Wait, did he wish you to be a-"
"A Saiyan? Yes. He did."
"Mmm, for your life span?"
"Among others, yes. I think he likes the idea of having full blooded Saiyan children."
"Of course. How... typical of him. He was always so very arrogant when it came to his people. Maybe he's still in denial that his race will die out sometime."
"Maybe," Bulma shrugged. "I don't really care about the extinction of the Saiyan race. I wish I've never met them. Except Goku, of course, but as Vegeta says, he wasn't a 'true' Saiyan." Bulma said bitterly.
"I agree. But we now have to deal with Vegeta, and to tell you the truth; I haven't a single clue as to stop him. I think we'll never develop a weapon or poison strong enough to best Vegeta. I do think it's... hopeless." Dr. Briefs said, defeated. "The only thing I found which could have been useful once, was this gun," he gestured at it. "But there's no way it could even harm Vegeta. He would laugh at us."
"I know, but I might have an idea, although I don't know exactly if it will work. I just need some time," she looked at her father, who was listening at her with his full attention, but quickly averted his eyes. She couldn't look in them, afraid she might worry him.
"But, I need some time to figure it all out. And, Vegeta wants to leave Earth," she kept the fact that she was to go with him silent. "He's taking the new ship... Let him take it, we'll build another. But he,... he's planning something, and he wants some more supplies, like capsule houses, raw materials, research equipment and offensive and defensive weapons. It sounds like he wants to construct a base or something. Could you find them for me? Just give him everything you think will be handy. I don't want him to come back. In the mean while, I'll try to figure out if this vague idea of mine could work. I don't want to set him loose on the universe. He deserves to pay for what he has done."
Her father nodded. "All right. I'll be right back, then, maybe I can help you?"
She faked a smile, while she hated herself for lying to her father, but he would never agree with her. This one, she had to do without the help of her parents or her friends. They couldn't have helped her, this was one thing she had to do alone. She just had to be strong.
"I would like that, Dad. You're the greatest, but you already knew that."
"Yeah, yeah," he said, while he walked out of the room, into the main room. She could hear him mumble something about steel beams and laser cannons.
The minute he had closed the door behind him, she walked to the table and picked up the gun. This one should do; she didn't know how much ki she had now since she was a Saiyan, but this thing was strong enough, she figured. She knew what to do, what the ultimate solution was. It took an ultimate sacrifice from her, but she noticed that she didn't feel scared. Sad, yes; she knew what she was about to do to her parents. They would be grief stricken. Their only child, their reason for living... But they would, hopefully, understand it one day. They would know why she had done it when they saw Vegeta dead; her father should be able to make the link, she thought, but if he didn't...
She couldn't be selfish, she didn't want to. Bulma couldn't think of any reason to be selfish... Those reasons had left her two days ago. It felt so good and satisfying that she knew a way to save the world, for which her friends and she had fought for, time and time again. This time, she was on her own, and would not fail her friends. She hoped she would be allowed to see them, to spent her afterlife with them. Maybe by doing this, it would clear her of the blame she carried. But, at least she hoped for a certain kind of peace. And to be free of Vegeta. In her heart she cried for him. Why did this had to happen? He could have been a friend. She had wanted to give him a different life without the constant fighting and killing, but it seemed that was all he wanted...
She tried to clear her mind of any thoughts about Vegeta, but it became increasingly harder to do so, it seemed like he was pushing himself into her mind, trying to fog her brain, to make her forget her plans. Bulma fought it with all her might. She looked at the gun, and put in on his highest setting. That should do the trick...
She fingered the trigger almost lovingly, while a part of her mind urged her to pull it, before it was too late... Vegeta... Her mind struggled to emerge from the mist that was spreading. Vaguely she wondered what was happening. Alien emotions were flooding her senses. Anger, disbelief, fear, urgency...
Bulma squeezed the gun somewhat tighter. She wouldn't drop it. That was a ridiculous thought... Not hers! It was not her thought!
The door was blown open, and Vegeta appeared in the doorway, looking furious.
She gave him a cool smile.
"No, Woman!" His voice sounded... desperate.
Her smile grew grim. "Too late, Vegeta, too late." She looked at him, glowing in his Super Saiyan form.
"Farewell," she said softly, and pulled the trigger.
****
A force propelled her backwards, and she hit the wall. Slowly, she slid to the ground, making not a sound. Black spots danced before her eyes, and were slowly growing. She didn't feel any pain... Maybe her senses were numb. Vaguely, she heard an explosion, and felt the ground beneath her shake. Was this right? She didn't feel anything, except her back, which was hurting from her collision with the wall.
Something was wrong. Her senses weren't fading; she still felt her body, she could hear soft sounds around her, and now the black spots before her eyes were diminishing. What was this? She hadn't thought that dying was like this... Shouldn't she be dead already? She should have blown her heart out. She had pointed it right at her heart. Bulma looked down, and saw her chest, without a single scratch. Only the sweater she was wearing was slightly burnt. How was this possible? Did the gun malfunction?
She looked at the lab, with an unreal feeling. There was a hole in the ceiling. How did that get there? She frowned. What was happening? Slowly, the dizziness was disappearing, and her mind started working again, despite the headache.
Bulma looked up from her sitting position and saw Vegeta standing in the middle of the room. In his hands was the small gun. How did it get there? His face was turned away from her, and his whole body was tense. His almost white hair was rigid, like it mimicked his body. Suddenly, he crumpled the gun in his hands, and let the remains of it fall to the ground
She must had uttered a sound, because suddenly he turned around. Bulma gasped when she saw his face. It was contorted by emotions. The most prominent one was fury, pure and raw fury. It overshadowed his fear and worry, which she saw in glimpses.
He was coming towards her slowly. Vegeta was snarling, growling. He didn't seem to be in his right mind. Fury had clouded his senses. Worry had overtaken his mind. His Mate, almost dead. He didn't feel anything but primal urges. Fear for his Mate's life. Fury with his fear, and with the fact she wanted to leave him, even though it was impossible. The want was enough. She had much to learn.
She suddenly saw her father, standing in the broken doorway, looking shocked and scared. Vegeta must have felt him, because he turned around again, and started to growl louder. He lifted his arm up, and ki started to gather in his palm.
"No, Dad, run!"
Luckily, her father heeded her demand, and hurried away. Vegeta seemed satisfied with his disappearance, and turned back to her. She stared right into his eyes. He pounced on her, grabbing her arm, and dragged her up. He held her arm up, until she had to stand on her toes; he had immobilized her. Their faces were only two inches apart. His hot breath caressed her cheek.
"And what," he hissed at her, "did you think you were doing? Did you think I didn't know what you were doing? I felt you! I knew what you were thinking."
"Then why ask? You know what I was doing. I was trying to... kill myself!"
"I can see that! I thought you were stronger! Seeking a coward's way out!?"
"Do you think so? Then, you're thinking wrong. I've found a way to stop you! I can kill you! I can kill you, by killing myself." She said that, in a calm tone, but on her face the victorious feeling showed.
"I'm much faster than you think." He snarled at her. "You have to come up with something better!"
Bulma looked up at the ceiling. That explained it. The gun did go off but Vegeta had wrenched it from her grip, and pointed the gun in a different direction. Damn. Then, she lightened up.
"Next time, maybe you won't be near me!" She said defiantly. He glared at her.
"You've seemed to forget something!" He growled at her, while she was still hanging so close to him;.. She looked at him, with a fierce look of determination on her face, despite the frustration she felt that he had stopped her.
"And what's that, Vegeta? Trying to buy yourself some time?" Bulma taunted him, feeling confident and secure for the first time in two days. She would win, now, or maybe an hour later... She was creative.
He gave her a cold smile, when a cruel viciousness burned in his eyes. "I'll tell you." He whispered at her. Bulma felt a flicker of fear.
****
He noticed it in her eyes. Good.
"Don't be so confident of your plans, my Mate. Yes, you've used your information well, but it looks like you've forgotten something important... You will kill me... But, in a couple of days..." Vegeta looked at the slightly uncertain look on her face. He snarled at her; the disobedience and the scorn she had showed him. She would pay for them. But he loved seeing her struggle; he had never wanted a mate who would be a mere slave, always doing his bidding. No, he wanted someone he could tame, who would always seek and try to oppose him. Someone to compare to his strength. Bulma would never be his equal in physical strength, but mentally... She was as good as him. And he loved the fight, and he loved seeing her hopes being crushed, one by one... Nothing more she could cling onto... she would have to turn to him, to give her what she wanted; company, touches, love...
He moved in for the kill. "Remember that I told you so? And you know what I would do in those couple of days left to me, before I will join you in the afterlife? Because I would join you, mind you. A Bond will last until the Times run out, and all of the eternity's are over, and even beyond that. This bond is sacred, nothing can break it. Heaven or Hell, together forever. The most powerful essence in the universe...
But, I'm straying from the subject... Oh yes, those couple of days..." he noticed her look of inner worry and doubt, and cruelly used them. "I would make you pay for our untimely death,... by killing everything you love! I would set this Earth on fire! I'll make the oceans and seas flood! The atmosphere will be poison to your people! Ahhh...," he licked his lips with the for him appealing prospect. "I'll make sure they suffer, like no race has suffered before... Their own Earth will choke them, and burn, and drown and poison them... I will enjoy it! Every single second as I see those weak humans plead for their lives... And when they realize there's no hope for them, for a quick death... I will make sure your parents suffer the most... Would you like me to describe what I have in mind for them, or should I stop?" He smirked maliciously at the horror in her eyes. She had become very pale, and all of the earlier confidence had entirely disappeared from her. Again, he had beaten her down. He felt victorious; how this woman could make him feel... he felt alive when he was near her. Now that he had her, he felt like a God. He was invincible. She was his invincibility; he would overcome everything, just to stay with her.
"N-no... I had enough, you've made your point." She was no longer looking into his eyes, but was staring at the ruins of the small gun.
"I knew you would be reasonable. Now, can we go?" He pulled her along to the exit of the lab. First, she didn't object, then, she started to struggle. Vegeta stopped, to see what was up with her now. She managed to pull her arm out of his grip, and took a few steps away from him, and straightened herself. Vegeta looked at her, amused, and admired her for her guts. He loved this battle with her. The spoils of his victories were the sweetest he would ever taste.
"You think of me as a fool, or as a stupid woman you can smack around. But I'm not that. Ok, I'm nowhere, in comparison with your strength. But I'm smart. You had fooled me there, with your threatening. And I know you would do it, without hesitation. I've seen enough to believe you...
But, Earth is already dead. After all, you said it just now in the kitchen. You are going to destroy Earth. So what's the difference? Not much... ok, I admit, I don't want anyone to suffer, and maybe you could do it 'cleanly' with a ki-blast, when we would leave. But, there are two major advantages to my option... One, I won't have to be around and watch how you destroy everything I love; I'm already dead. Two; it will only be one planet. One race you will destroy. I doubt you'd be able to get to another inhabited planet in those few days. So, I think I go for my option. I don't care what happens after we're dead..." Vegeta smelled the lie on her when she said that, she was frightened for what would happen when they were dead.
"And maybe you're lying about that." She added.
"Don't worry, I'm not. The Bond has been given to us Saiyans, by who or what, we don't know, but the binding of the two souls can not be broken."
"Well, I won't be selfish. And it would happen after all, if we die now, or a thousand years later. Right? So, I'll go and kill myself. And maybe just to spite you, to pay you back for what you did to us. You deserve to die! You deserve to go to hell! Even if I have to go with you!" Bulma swore to him, calmly and resolutely.
Vegeta stared at her. He knew she was telling him the truth. She would kill herself, without any remorse; she didn't fear it; for her it seemed preferable to the future promised by Vegeta. He saw that he had driven her to such rigorous measures. He felt her pain and her grief, her despair and loneliness. Didn't she know he would make it all right? Didn't she think he would take care of her. If only she would take him for what he was... Regret for his actions, which always lurked around back in his mind, in the remains of what once was his conscience. His conscience which he crushed, until there was almost nothing left. There wasn't enough left to bother him, but somehow his Mate also touched that hidden part of him. It's a pity that it wouldn't help her.
She had no right to do this. Bulma had no right to threaten him with death. Her own Mate! He would teach her how to treat her mate right... He would show her how much he wanted her, and how much he cared. Because he did. He loved her, in a dark, obsessive and malicious way. Maybe you couldn't call it love, maybe it was much to consuming for it to call it love, but it was the most powerful feeling he had ever experienced. That he would ever experience, of that he was sure. She was his. He had given her their Bond, and she feared it. She would learn.
But he wanted her alive. Needed her alive. He wanted an empire. He wanted to make her Queen over a kingdom, so large and powerful, which had never been seen before. He wanted a new Saiyan Empire, a new dynasty, to last forever, or at least a very long time. He wanted to give her the spoils of it. He wanted to give her everything. He wanted to have her next to him, to see what he could achieve, although she would probably never appreciate it. Too bad. He would still get his way. He would still have his dreams come true... Nightmares for the universe...
He would make her a deal. He could give. And she couldn't do anything else but accept. Then, there would never be a way she could ever think about leaving him. Never.
"I see that you are determined to kill yourself, even with the costs. But, maybe I have a better option for you... I have a proposition." He searched for her reaction. She played it cool, but he saw the curiosity and distrust in her eyes.
"A proposition?"
"Yes... Would you care to hear me out?"
"G-go ahead," she said, unsure about his motives.
"This is it: You come with me, willingly. You promise me to not ever try something like this again. You swear to me to live out your life beside me, and you will never try to walk away. You'll never leave me. You'll never deny me. You will stay with me forever, out of your own free will.
If you do this, then I will leave Earth alone. I won't destroy, nor harm a single living being on it. Nor will I ever make it a part of my empire. Earth will stay as it is, deal with it's own problems, and life will take it's course." He saw her shocked expression, but also the doubt.
"Isn't this what you want? You would have died for less, won't you live for more? Because I don't want you to die. I want you living and breathing next to me.
And I swear it, on my honor as the Prince of the Saiyan Race, that I won't break my promise. As long as you won't break yours, I will honor our agreement.
So, what do you say?"
"But,... what about the rest of the universe?"
"Do you really care about that? That's in the future. The universe is a large place. Why worry?" His voice had dropped to a husky whisper, making her shiver.
"Be selfish now, Woman. Save the Earth. Be a real Z-fighter. Save Earth. Save your parents... The universe will be another fight."
Desperation, doubt, confusion, uncertainty; they were all visible on her beautiful face. "You aren't giving me a choice. You..." her voice died out, and she looked forlornly at him. "You know that."
He didn't reacted to that, just whispered to her: "What will it be... Bulma?"
She looked up, shocked. "W-what?"
"Now!" he growled.
****
"I... Ok! I will! She cried out, tormented, torn by all the responsibilities and possibilities. But saving Earth... She wanted that so much.
"Ok what? Say it. Promise me, swear to me, Bulma!" he commanded.
"I promise, and I swear that I will do everything you said, as long as you leave Earth alone!"
"That I will. We'll leave, and we'll never return. I will never lay a finger on it."
He laid an arm around her abdomen. Suddenly, she looked so tired, and empty. He was afraid she would fall.
"You have those supplies?"
"My father has them... I bet he's outside, worrying about me..." She told him, subdued, exhausted.
"Well, then, let's go."
He kept a strong hold on her, almost dragging her with him. He had a victorious smirk on his face, which Bulma couldn't see, but she felt it flowing through her. She shuddered. What had she done?
Had she made the right choice?
****
When they came outside, and walked towards the Capsule Ship, her parents stood there, waiting and worrying.
Her mother smiled, relieved when she saw her daughter walk towards them, seemingly unhurt.
"Thank Kami... I really thought she would do something terrible to herself, just to stop Vegeta..."her husband looked alarmed. "What do you mean?"
"I thought... I don't know what I've thought, but she had something over her, so... desperate... I don't know. What do you think happened in the lab?"
"All I heard was an explosion, and I saw a whole in the ceiling. But I don't know anything else. Well, he's leaving now... Hopefully he'll never come back."
Vegeta and Bulma stopped before their parents, who were standing before the opened door of the ship.
"Where are the supplies," Vegeta demanded.
"They're already in the ship." Dr. Briefs snapped back.
Vegeta smiled mockingly at him, then gave Bulma a soft caress over her cheek. "Woman, you have to say goodbye now."
Her parents gasped. What?!
Bulma looked to the ground, and she was crying softly. Vegeta sighed. "And didn't I tell you to stop your whining?"
Bulma said nothing, but walked over to her parents and embraced them.
"I'm so sorry," she mumbled.
"But, why," asked her mother, confused. Her father nodded, while he took a hold of one of her hands.
"I have to. I made a- a deal. I'm going with him, and in exchange for that, he won't destroy Earth. He'll never hurt anything on it. Because he was planning to, and I will do anything to stop him, and if this is what it takes..."
"But... No, please, leave our daughter here."
"I can't. I won't. She's my Mate. I'll never leave here."
"But, you'll come visit, right?" her mother asked pleadingly.
"No. We'll never return here. Earth will be left alone. You have to deal with your own problems from now on," Vegeta said, with a hint of foreboding in his voice. Dr. Briefs froze.
"You killed everyone that's... There will be nobody left to fight the Androids! Except the boy from the future..." he said shocked.
Bulma's eyes widened and she gasped for breath. She turned to Vegeta, disbelief and anger written on her face. "You... you knew this all along! You tricked me!"
Vegeta gave her a triumphant smirk. "Did I? I don't know."
Bulma said angrily: "I take it all back! You... liar!"
His expression darkened. "What did you say? You can't take it back. A promise is a promise. A vow is a vow. Are you going to break them?"
Bulma looked uncomfortable.
"The Earth will not be destroyed by me. The Androids... Well, maybe they'll kill a couple of people, and destroy a few cities. But I doubt they'll blow up Earth. Now, I don't want to hear anything from you. You promised me, and I'm going to keep you at your promise."
Bulma was hurt deeply, but looked him straight into his eyes. "I'll keep my promises," she said defeated.
She turned to her dad. "I think you have to find a way to deal with them. Maybe you have to start with cleaning your desk."
Her father looked oddly at her, but said: "Ok, I'll do that."
Bulma hugged and kissed her parents. She whispered to them: "We have the communication system. I'll try to keep in contact."
Then, she tore herself from them, and walked towards Vegeta, who was tapping his food impatiently. She heard her mother starting to cry, and her misery grew. She didn't know if her parents would ever overcome this.
She walked over the ramp, beside Vegeta. She stood at the entrance, and punched in the code to close the door. Bulma waved to her parents, trying her best to appear strong and brave. She knew she failed miserably.
****
She had strapped herself in a chair, and kept looking out of the window, when the mechanical voice of the computer made the countdown. When they launched, she stilled herself, as they shot through the atmosphere into space. She looked on, as Earth grew smaller and smaller, till it finally had disappeared from her vision. Only then, she unbuckled herself, and stood up out of her chair. She didn't spare Vegeta a single glance, as she made her way through the control room, automatically checking up on the ship. Everything was going well. A pity.
Bulma continued to ignore Vegeta, and walked into the room which was the kitchen and the dining room. She checked the room quickly, looking for anything that could point to problems. Bulma did that with all the rooms. Last, she moved down to the engine room. She checked the engines, and felt a detached kind of satisfaction that they were functioning so well. Her father would be very happy, if he could have seen the results of this... journey. Together, they would analyze the data from the computers, and figure out a way to improve their inventions. She leaned against one of the engines. Bulma felt exhausted. She wanted to sleep, and never wake up. To stay in an endless dream where everything was all right.
But she couldn't fool herself. She had to survive this somehow. Bulma had made a promise... She would keep it. And she would find a way to somehow deal with it. Deal with him. She didn't want to loose her mind.
"Woman, come up here," barked Vegeta. She sighed and climbed the staircase, which was located in a corner of the control room. She looked at Vegeta, wondering what he wanted. He looked back at her, not saying a thing. For a time, none of them spoke. Then, Bulma couldn't stand the tense silence, and spoke up: "What is it that you want, Vegeta?"
He gave her a hungry look. "I want a lot of things."
She was too tired to play his games: "Name them."
He grumbled at her answer. "First,, I want to send a message."
Bulma was surprised. "To who?"
"I want you to send it in every direction of the universe."
"Ok..." Bulma said confused, and walked over to a panel, from which the communication system was operated. "Just tell me what you want it to say."
"Ok. Just write this: 'Vegeta, Prince of all Saiyans, has achieved the status of the Legendary. He will restore the Saiyan Empire, and calls to all the loyal Sons and Daughters of Planet Vegeta to join him on planet XH 2761, the New Planet Vegeta. A new Saiyan Empire has been born'."
Bulma didn't really understand the message, but she obediently typed and sent it.
"What do you mean with this message?"
"I'm calling to all the remaining Saiyans out there to join me. I will gather them, and the Saiyan race will flourish again."
"But... you always said that you and Goku were the last remaining Saiyans."
"I did say that, yes, because I didn't know where the others were, I wasn't sure how many there were. You did think that Radditz, Nappa, Goku and I were the only survivors from the destruction of our planet. I wanted it that way. We weren't the only survivors. There were many squads out on missions, many Saiyan infants sent off to purge planets... Frieza killed them off when they reported to him; they didn't know he was responsible of the destruction! But the fact that he was killing them was quickly spreading, and many went into hiding. Still, Frieza tried to hunt them down, but he only caught a few... They hid themselves well. So well, that when I went searching for them, I almost couldn't find them. They are wary, of course, of Frieza, and that our search was a trick. The first one we found was Kakarot, and we decided to pick him up. Radditz was sent to pick him up... You know the rest."
"So, you're saying that there are perhaps quite a few Saiyans out there?"
"I'm sure of it. And I'm sure that they want to check out my message, to see for themselves that it is true, that I am indeed Prince Vegeta. They have heard about Frieza's and King Cold's deaths, I'm sure, and are curious as to what happened. And when they see I'm alive, I have no doubt they will join me."
"Really? You've been gone for a while... they have lived a long time without their king."
"Saiyans are very loyal to the Royal House of Vegeta. They will be happy to serve it again. Especially when they see that I've become the Legendary Super Saiyan. It's almost like being a God."
"Power is everything for your people, isn't it?" Asked Bulma bitterly.
"*Our* people. And yes, power is very important to us."
"How... empty lives you live." She thought out loud. She raised from her chair, while Vegeta followed her every move.
"Why do you think so? Power gets you what you want most. It gives you the opportunities to achieve what you want."
"That's even... sadder. You could use power to do things for others, instead of always thinking about yourself."
Vegeta started laughing, mockingly, cruelly, coldly... "How foolish, and naive you are." He chuckled at her angry expression. "You wouldn't survive for a week in this universe."
"I don't care," she said listless. She made a move towards the bedroom. She felt so tired... But before she could move, Vegeta was in her face.
He stared at her, eyes unreadable. "Where are you going?
"I'm going to bed." She said listlessly
"Stop it." His voice was unsteady. She looked up to his eyes, wondering what-
"You have to be stronger than this. I know you're stronger than this! You want to fight me, Woman."
"Maybe I've given up."
"You would never." He sounded so worried.
"Who says so? Everyone has his breaking point, Vegeta. I think you've found mine. But now, I'm really too tired to care. Maybe tomorrow... Or maybe you just have to live with what you've made me..."
He put his hands on her shoulder. "You're lying. I can still feel your fire, your hope and your care, although it is buried under grief and despair. But it will emerge. I would never go as far as to break you."
"Oh really," she huffed, getting irritated with his arrogance.
"Really. I know what I'm doing. I'm just... taming you."
"You, pompous son of a bitch!" Fed up with being used and manipulated with him, she raised her hand, and tried to hit him.
Of course, his hand was caught before it was anywhere near his face. She struggled, but she couldn't get loose.
"Let go!" She cried out. "Leave me alone! I hate you! I detest you! I wished Frieza had killed you too, along with your whole race! I wish you were never born!" Tears of anger and hurt spilled over her cheeks, but she didn't pay attention to them. She was focused on hurting him. If she could not hurt him physically, she would tear him apart mentally.
"You think you're so great, and powerful, and invincible! You think you have it al!. That you will have it all! You think you have me! Ha! What a joke! You think you will have my love! You are so sure! You were so certain of it when you told me I would once love you! You don't know anything about me!"
Vegeta had said nothing during her tirade. But his mouth twitched, and his eyes were storming. She looked at it, and mocked him. "What now, are you going to hurt me again? Maybe beat me into submission? Rape me? Go ahead. It will only make me hate you more!"
****
Vegeta had to restrain himself from hitting her. She had to keep her mouth shut. Did she think he didn't know these things already? Didn't she know he didn't care about it? The regret he had once felt, was completely gone, vanished in his anger. She wouldn't come quietly? Ok, they would do it the hard way. He would play hard. He would make her suffer for saying things like that, and he would make her suffer for what she had done today... trying to refuse him as her mate, trying to destroy herself, trying to destroy their future. He hadn't forgotten that. Of course, he knew that she would fight him, but like this?... First, he would make her aware of some certain parts of herself.
"You hate me now, that I can feel," he said with a deceptive calmness. Inside he was seething. He would lash back, and hurt her as much as she had hurt him. Why couldn't she tell he didn't know it any other way? Why couldn't she be a bit more compliant? A bit more receptive?. She was trying hard to shield her mind from him. Her defenses were laughable.
"But I know you better than you do yourself. I know how your mind works, and I know what your heart does. It is so soft. Even now, you have something there for me. Regret? Or is it grief for what I've become?
I've seen you forgive your worst enemies. Piccolo was easily accepted as your ally and friend. You forgive so easily... And, in time you'll forgive me. Maybe not for the things I've done to your friends, but for what I've done to you. And then...
You will have nobody else to turn to, but me. Nobody to comfort you, but me. Nobody to give you warmth, but me. Nobody to hold you, but me. You'll succumb slowly, and your heart will find a way to care for me, to love me, even when there are still parts of you screaming for your friends. You're a complex being, Mate, and I love seeing all your different emotions. To feel them. I had forgotten how good it felt...
You'll forgive, in time, and you'll love, in time. We have all the time in the world. And you aren't going anywhere. There's enough time for me to make you give me all the things I want. And I'll give you everything you want. Love, companionship, attention, challenges..."
She had averted her face, but she was shaking in his arms, which he had laid around her, and had pulled her against his chest. Bulma was shaking with fear. She did believe what he was saying, he knew. She felt his words held truth... Bulma had always been the one to give her trust and friendship easily. Good; maybe that would make her more accommodating to her new situation. It would make things so much easier for her...
He then decided to break her last defenses. He would tell her of what he had given her. He knew she would love it, no matter how it had come to her. She had wished for it such a long time...
"I have something to tell you, Woman. Last night... Last night, we made a child." He fell silent and let it sink in.
Her lips moved, but no sound came out of them. She looked helplessly at him.
It was a excellent move on his part. By being the father to her children, there would be another bond between them. Something that they created together, someone who shared both their blood...
"P-pregnant... M-me...?"
"Yes... he's growing inside you right now... He'll be so strong."
"N-no! It can't be!" She whimpered.
"It's true. I feel his tiny presence. And you smell different."
"B-but w-why... How..." she sobbed quietly.
"I know you want children... I want them to. An heir, to teach everything I know..."
Bulma started to cry harder. "I don't want it to become like you!" It was a desperate plea.
He smirked. "I guess you just have to do your best. But I will race him like a true Saiyan. I will raise him, like my father wanted to raise me... Don't worry, I won't..." he was looking for the right words. "Never will I treat him like Frieza treated me. I don't want him to be so... cold, like I am. I am what I am, but my son will never know my... humiliations." He was silent after saying this. The only sound that was heard was Bulma's desperate crying.
He lifted her up, and walked into the bedroom, and settled her under the blankets, and he laid himself down beside her, and held her, while she cried herself to sleep. Tomorrow, she would be more able to deal with it...
He pulled her as close as possible, and sighed with content. He laid there, while she slept. Vegeta let his mind wonder about everything that happened the last few days... He had gotten everything he had always wanted... He was the strongest Saiyan now, and possibly the strongest being in the universe. He had the prospect of a new empire and a reunited Saiyan race. But the most important thing was, that he finally had claimed the Mate he had wanted, since he laid eyes on her on Namek. How scared she was then, but also trying hard to be brave... She was his now, and he was hers, although she didn't realize it, yet. And, they had created a new life... A son, he knew. He would have an heir to pass on the secrets of his power, and his empire.
His Mate would finally get the children she wanted. He had seen her longing, whenever she saw a little baby smile, or children playing. His Woman had wanted so many things of her 'boyfriend', but he was much to weak to give her those things. He was much too *scared* of her. The weakling. Ha! Well, he wasn't scared of her. He admired her strengths and her intelligence. He wanted her for that. A perfect mate. He would never grow tired of her. He would never stop wanting her, needing her, or... Yes, he had admitted it a few times, mostly to himself, but still, it was hard to really say it. He loved her, although it was maybe not the right word... But why did he need to elaborate on it? He felt it, and that was enough.
Because what it all came down to was, that he now had his own piece of heaven, right here in his arms. The only way he could have a piece of light... He had stolen it, killed for it. And he wouldn't share. His love for her... nothing like love was supposed to be... too dark, too painful... wouldn't let it. He had her all for himself now. No one could take her away. She couldn't leave him herself; she had made a promise, and their unborn child was even a better way to keep her close... A child who shared both their blood.
He rested his head against her soft hair, and let her scent soothed him. And for the first time in his life he felt something like contentment. He felt something that could be... happiness? Whatever it was, it felt good. He wouldn't let anyone threaten this. He wouldn't let anyone take what was rightfully his.
A shudder ran through the body of his Mate. He stroke her cheek, while purring. Her mind was plagued by his memories. He reached out, and guarded her mind from them. She needed her rest now, she had been through much. He had put her through so much. Bulma hated him. For now. It burnt bright, showing him her inner fire. He knew she would love him with the same passion, one day. He had forever to make her love him. He closed his eyes, and let himself drift off, as his hand sought that of his Mate. Never to let go.
****
Dr. Briefs rummaged through his desk. What had she meant with 'cleaning up his desk'? She knew he never could find anything on it! Frustrated, he let himself fall back on his chair. He was tempted to just give up. His daughter, gone, their friends, dead. And a couple of very powerful Androids expected to appear next year. What was left to hope for?
Maybe he should search his files for something that could be used against artificial humans. Or at least he had to come up with some type of shelters, and storage facilities, and...
He stared at his computer screen, confused. There was a note sticked on it. He curiously read it.
"For the coordinates of New Namek, ask Mr. Popo."
Slowly, a tiny smile appeared on his face. All hope was maybe not lost yet...
*End*
Stop! Before you start throwing thrash at me, I have an important announcement: there will be a SEQUEL!!! But for me, this was a logical point to stop this story. Vegeta and Bulma have left Earth, to built a new life in space... and Dr. Briefs has to find a way to save Earth from the Androids... Well, you just have to wait for the sequel. Just let me know what you thought about this one. And many thanks for the reviews and emails. They are really appreciated. Just one thing; it seems that this story has many reviews, but that isn't right. Somehow, ff.net sometimes turns one (anonymous) review into fifty, or even more... It only happens to this story, and it is really annoying... I just hope it stays with this story...Till next time. Pallas
Here it is; Chapter 3! Sorry for the long wait! Thanks for all your reviews. You make writing fun!
Night has fallen
Chapter 3:
Bulma lay silently beside Vegeta, staring up at the ceiling. She was exhausted, both physically and mentally, but sleep eluded her. Vegeta was asleep though; his deep, regular breathing was a clear sign. She turned her head slightly to the side to look at him. His face was relaxed; for once, the scowl was gone.
He had flung an arm around her abdomen, and had pulled her tight against him. "Goodnight Woman," he had whispered, "sleep well." He had buried his face in her hair, and was now deeply breathing in and out, taking in her scent. She had been trying to get out of his grip for the last two hours, but even in his sleep, he wouldn't let her go.
The first light of a new dawn filled the room with a soft glow. Bulma looked at the magnificent sight of the sunrise and wondered if this would be the last she would ever see.
She felt the weight of his arm, pressing her down into the bed. It reminded her of what she had become last night, his possession. Bulma was trapped, with no way out. She knew she wouldn't escape him alive. But since last night, it seemed that there was no way out, ever. Even after death, there would be... something to bind them.
Last night, when he had asserted his claim on her again, and she had surrendered, her mind had been flooded with his feelings, his dreams, his thoughts... It had been so overwhelming, and frightening... But he had only showed her what he wanted her to see; he controlled what he let her feel. She, on the other hand, had no such control or defenses against him; he had invaded everything, and had occupied it; her childhood memories, her deepest wishes, her most secret dreams, the unconditional love she held for her friends, parents and for Yamcha. He had growled when he had felt the intensity, and he had sworn to her that soon her love for them would be nothing more but a vague memory.
After that intense exchange, she had felt completely empty; she had given so much, and had received so little. Bulma had fallen asleep right after it, but she had dreamt his dreams, and had woken up crying. Since then, sleep had not come for her. She knew she needed it, but was actually relieved; she couldn't handle his dreams, and she was afraid that they would haunt her sleep again.
Bulma had been awake since then, waiting for the morning to come. And now as morning was here, she still didn't have an idea how to deal with,... with anything! She was exhausted, and couldn't seem to get her mind working again. Everything seemed vague; her thoughts were jumbled. It seemed like after her exchange with Vegeta, she had trouble separating her mind from his own. Maybe he wanted some control up there as well.
She became agitated, and moved around in his grip. His arm tightened; he was awake now.
"Why don't you try to get some more sleep? You didn't get much last night, and you've been lying awake for a couple of hours." He moved his hand, to lay it possessively on her belly. "You need your rest, Woman."
"I can't sleep. I-I am hungry." A lie, but anything to get out of this bed, out of his arms.
He chuckled. "Of course you're hungry. You know what an appetite we Saiyans can have." He gave a twist to his words, making her feel dirty.
"I think I want a shower first." She quickly moved up from the bed, half surprised when he let her go.
He just laid there, enjoying the view she gave him. She stumbled along; she had to get used to the extra appendage. It forced her to change her balance somewhat.
Bulma quickly hid in the bathroom. She turned the water way up, until it should be burning her, but now it didn't seem to harm her skin. Another effect of the wish. She knew there would be so much more she would have to get used to. The increase of her ki was one of those things. Vegeta had told her that he would train her to properly use her ki. She didn't look forward to his lessons.
She absent-mindedly washed her body, and rinsed her hair. Bulma turned the water off, and stepped out of the shower. She wrapped a towel around her body, and moved to stand before the large mirror. Her reflection stared back at her. She looked at her body, painstakingly seeking out the differences, large and small. She also noticed some new bruises. But the older ones were almost gone. Saiyan healing, she thought.
She craned her head. The bite mark was all the more noticeable. She wondered why it didn't heal so fast... Maybe because Vegeta broke the tender skin every time he could. He seemed to consider it as a mark of possession, and he apparently loved the taste of her blood; he was always lapping at her spilled blood, softly purring as he did so. It scared her.
She searched her face for the signs of her aging, but they weren't to be found. Just as she had discovered last night. Her body was young again. How do Saiyans age, she wondered. Much slower than humans, that much she knew but Vegeta never told her how they aged, and what age they could reach.
She felt too old for her body. Bulma looked at her eyes; they betrayed her real age. She felt that she had aged a hundred years since the last two days. And only her eyes showed it all. Her worries and pain were easy to read in them.
She turned away from the mirror. No answers were to be found there. Bulma walked out of the bathroom, still only wearing the large towel; her clothes were nowhere to be found. She looked at Vegeta.
"Where are my clothes?"
He shrugged. " They should lie around her somewhere; although they maybe a bit damaged. I am not patient with your ridiculous clothing."
"O-ok... I'll go to my room, and get dressed."
"You do that."
Bulma hastily left his room, and hurried to her room. When she was inside, she breathed a little easier, relieved to be out of his presence. Bulma walked over to her enormous closet, and pulled some things out. She donned a large sweater, but when she tried to pull on some jeans, she was quickly reminded of her tail. For a moment, she hesitated, then, she took them off, and grabbed a pair of scissors, and cut a hole in them. That should do. She pulled the improved jeans on, and fiddled with her tail. Even the slightest touch made her shiver. Why were they so sensitive? To her, it seemed a large weakness; after all Vegeta showed her exactly what he could do to her, using her tail. She shuddered. Why was it so hard to suppress those memories?
Finally dressed, she walked back to Vegeta's room. He was already dressed in a brand new armor and spandex uniform, and was wearing a satisfied smirk; he gave her body an appreciating look, which made her feel even dirtier; the shower hadn't helped in making her feel clean again.
Together they walked downstairs and into the kitchen. The sweet smell of pancakes welcomed them, and Bulma realized she was after all quite hungry; she hadn't eaten for a while. She tried to remember the last time she had eaten something... Two days ago?
On the table were several plates, pilled up with pancakes and sandwiches. Large bowls of fruit and cornflakes stood next to them. Bulma flopped down into a chair, and started to eat. The pancakes were still warm; her mother had probably just left the kitchen. She was really grateful that her mother had cooked for her. She really hadn't feel like it. Tears burned in her eyes when she thought about her parents; they would be really worried about her...
Vegeta was sitting across from her, and was looking sharply at her, while he was eating.
"Stop that useless whining, and eat something! I thought you said you were hungry!"
Bulma looked at him, then she sighed and started to eat.
"Good. You need your strength Woman, especially now. Saiyan women eat a lot more than human women, but still much less than Saiyan males... So I don't expect you to eat as much as me." He shoved about ten sandwiches on her plate. "That's somewhere to start."
Bulma looked at her plate, taken back with the quantity. "I have to eat this much?"
"That, and about ten pancakes, or a large bowl of fruit... That's enough, perhaps. Now, eat."
Bulma started to eat, but suddenly her food didn't taste good to her. Still, she forced herself to eat all the sandwiches. Vegeta was right; she needed her strength, although maybe for a different purpose then he had in mind.
Something like a vague plan was forming in her mind. Revelations from the day before were finally coming together, like the pieces of a puzzle. Still, she had problems concentrating, and her mind wondered off to memories she rather had forgotten, but they did help her in some way; they made her even more determined to completely figure out the puzzle in her head.
She noticed all at once that her plate was empty. Bulma had eaten them all. Vegeta was looking thoughtfully at her, like he was trying to figure something out. Let him wonder, Bulma thought grimly, let him guess.
Vegeta frowned at her, and impatiently shoved his plate away from himself. "Let's get moving. I want to leave this place. I want you to get those supplies from your dad. We'll make good use of them. And say goodbye to your parents. You'll never see them again."
"Because we'll never return?" Bulma tried hoping against better judgment that he had forgotten about his desire of destroying Earth.
"I've told you what I'm going to do with this place. A simple ki-blast, and there'll be nothing left for you to return to." He gave her a cold smile.
"You have no right."
"I don't care what you say or think. Who'll stop me? Don't waste your breath, Woman."
Bulma looked at him, begging with her eyes. "Please Vegeta, leave Earth alone. Everyone you hate is dead. The planet itself has never done anything wrong to you. I'm- I'm begging you, please Vegeta. Not Earth too."
Vegeta glowered at her: "Begging doesn't suit you. Stop it, you won't change my mind."
Bulma fell silent, and that little idea in her head was making a lot more sense. It frightened her, but it was also the only answer for her, that would definitely make an end to it all.
An end to everything...
"I will stop you."
"Give it your best try. I love to see you struggle. But I warn you, Woman, it's hopeless."
He looked at her, and slowly a smirk formed on his lips. She saw the dark joy smoldering in the deepest black of his eyes. Black eyes that seemed to swallow her, that taunted her, mocking her. They both knew who was in control.
She stood up. "I'll go and look for my father, I'm sure he's somewhere in the labs... I'll be back as soon as possible." Bulma turned around and went for the door, and exited the kitchen. She walked through the gardens, and was suddenly reminded at Piccolo. She halted, and looked in the direction of the garden in which Vegeta had used the dragon balls yesterday. Would he still be there, slowly dying, suffering from his wounds? She made her way through the garden, to where he should be lying. When she got to the area, she saw to her surprise her mother sitting on a small bench, quietly crying.
"Mama?" She asked softly, as not to startle her.
"Bulma?" Her mother looked up, and gave her a weak smile. She stood up, and moved to Bulma to embrace her. "Oh, my baby... How are you? Are you... ok?" She took a step back, and looked Bulma over. She gasped when she saw Bulma's tail.
"That's- that's a tail..."
"Yes. Vegeta wished me to be Saiyan. I now am a Saiyan in flesh and blood... He made a wish," Bulma's voice broke, and her mother hugged her again. Together, they stood there for a while. Bulma felt safe in her mother's arms, always had. She snuggled a little closer, and smelled her mother's familiar smell, and memories of a long time ago filled her mind.
"Sssh, Bulma," Bunny said gently while she soothed her. "Don't give up hope, honey. You have to be strong. I know you have been through a lot... So much has happened... We saw Vegeta make his wish; when we suddenly saw the sky darken, we came looking for the cause of it. Your father already thought Vegeta was using the dragon balls... But we thought he would wish for immortality... But when we saw you fall to the ground, we were so worried."
Her mother stifled a sob, then continued: "Then, Vegeta picked you up and flew you to his room... I really wanted to go see you, but your father warned me not to; Vegeta is unpredictable... Then, he came back, and picked something up, at least I thought it was something, but it was someone! It was a man! It looked like Piccolo... But he was very mutilated, it was horrific! I had to throw up. Then, he let him drop... He did other things... He's evil! He smiled when he did it!! He... He killed him finally... I cried so hard... When he was gone, and your father returned to his lab, he was really shocked. He was really determined to find something to put an end to Vegeta's evilness."
Her mother stopped, and tried to calm down. But she looked quite angry and frustrated and sad. Then, she took a deep breath, and finished her story: "There was nothing left... only burnt grass and plants...And the dragon balls, which are now stones... I can't believe that he can do things like this; I always figured he had a hard time, and was misunderstood, but that he had changed... I thought he would be perfect for you, Bulma... How could I've been so wrong?"
Bulma smiled in a twisted sense of humor: "That's the question we all ask ourselves. I feel like I'm the blame for all what's happened. I constantly ask myself where I've gone wrong. I wonder all the time if I've missed the signs... Why hadn't I payed more attention to his habits, his training? I would have never guessed he could become this powerful. But, I can't think about that now. We have to find a way to stop him. *I* have to find a way to stop him." Bulma said with grim determination.
"Is it even possible? Your father said he had no weapons, *could* not design a weapon powerful enough to kill him. So do you know something that will kill him?" Her mother asked hopefully.
"I think I know a way. It's perhaps a bit... radical," Bulma said darkly. "But I think it's the only way."
Bunny looked at Bulma, worried and frightened. "I don't like the way you're saying that, Bulma. You're not going to do anything rash, are you?"
Bulma looked sadly at her mother. "Nothing rash; I thought it over many times, Mama. It'll be all right, I promise."
"Liar," her mother said sadly.
"I-I'm going to find Dad... Mama, I love you."
"I know that," her mother said quietly, while tears rolled down her cheeks, "and you know we love you, always. You're our daughter, and nothing will change that."
Bulma gave her mother a kiss, and said lovingly: "Thanks, Mama, you always say the right things to cheer me up."
"T-that's what we mothers are for. Now, go to your Dad. M-maybe he knows something."
Bulma walked towards the labs, leaving her mother sitting on the bench, crying quietly.
****
While she walked to the labs, she thought about Piccolo and Kami. Dead, and the dragon balls were useless. But even if they would still be alive, the dragon balls would still be useless! Vegeta made his wish, *after* he killed all her friends. And when the year would have passed, and the dragon balls could be used again, it would change nothing; her friends would be dead for more then a year. The only solution to this, would be other dragon balls... Namek... New Namek. But she didn't know the coordinates. They had decided that only a few people should know them. She had chosen not to know; she wasn't strong enough to defend herself when someone came looking for them. Now, she was very happy for the choice she made; she could never tell Vegeta. There were only a few that knew the coordinates... Goku, Piccolo, Kami... If Kami knew... Bulma suddenly felt a bit of hope for her friends. Not everything was lost yet...
She entered the main lab, and asked the computer to locate her dad. It said that he was in his personal lab. As Bulma headed for it, she came through her father's office. She stopped for a moment to write something down, and sticked the paper to her father's screen. There would be no chance it got lost in the mess on his desk. Her father was a bit... chaotic, to say the least.
When she entered her father's lab, she didn't see him. Bulma only saw Kitten, sitting on a half-finished robot of some kind. She petted the little animal, earning herself a purr. "So, do you know where dad is?" She asked the little creature, who gave a small 'meow' and jumped off the robot. It lazily walked through the crowded lab, until it reached a small door. It seated itself next to it, and gave another 'meow'.
"Aha. Thanks, Kitten."
Bulma knocked on the door. "Dad, are you in there," she yelled. She heard shuffling at the other side of the door, and some moments later, the door was opened. "Bulma?" her father asked smiling, obviously relieved to see his daughter. "Come in. Close the door behind you, will you?" Bulma went in, and closed the door behind her, and looked around. She had been here so many times. It was a room with many security measures; this was the room in which they stored their most dangerous inventions. On one of the workbenches lay a small gun. Bulma remembered it well. They had devised it after Radditz had come to Earth; they had tried to resemble ki-energy, and it had worked quite well. It could produce a fairly potent blast, but Bulma knew it could at best give Vegeta a tickle. But she could use it.
"How are you doing, Bulma," her father asked worriedly. He stood there, and was looking at her tail.
"I'm fine, considering the situation... And that's a tail. I got it after Vegeta made his wish."
"I see... We saw it happen."
"I know, I've spoken with Mama."
"She was very upset when we saw you faint. I was very upset too. And this whole situation... Vegeta has lost his mind. He's completely insane."
"No, he isn't. He isn't insane. He's evil, malicious... And that makes him far more dangerous... If he was insane, we could use that against him."
"But why? Why is he doing this? And why did he give you a tail... Wait, did he wish you to be a-"
"A Saiyan? Yes. He did."
"Mmm, for your life span?"
"Among others, yes. I think he likes the idea of having full blooded Saiyan children."
"Of course. How... typical of him. He was always so very arrogant when it came to his people. Maybe he's still in denial that his race will die out sometime."
"Maybe," Bulma shrugged. "I don't really care about the extinction of the Saiyan race. I wish I've never met them. Except Goku, of course, but as Vegeta says, he wasn't a 'true' Saiyan." Bulma said bitterly.
"I agree. But we now have to deal with Vegeta, and to tell you the truth; I haven't a single clue as to stop him. I think we'll never develop a weapon or poison strong enough to best Vegeta. I do think it's... hopeless." Dr. Briefs said, defeated. "The only thing I found which could have been useful once, was this gun," he gestured at it. "But there's no way it could even harm Vegeta. He would laugh at us."
"I know, but I might have an idea, although I don't know exactly if it will work. I just need some time," she looked at her father, who was listening at her with his full attention, but quickly averted his eyes. She couldn't look in them, afraid she might worry him.
"But, I need some time to figure it all out. And, Vegeta wants to leave Earth," she kept the fact that she was to go with him silent. "He's taking the new ship... Let him take it, we'll build another. But he,... he's planning something, and he wants some more supplies, like capsule houses, raw materials, research equipment and offensive and defensive weapons. It sounds like he wants to construct a base or something. Could you find them for me? Just give him everything you think will be handy. I don't want him to come back. In the mean while, I'll try to figure out if this vague idea of mine could work. I don't want to set him loose on the universe. He deserves to pay for what he has done."
Her father nodded. "All right. I'll be right back, then, maybe I can help you?"
She faked a smile, while she hated herself for lying to her father, but he would never agree with her. This one, she had to do without the help of her parents or her friends. They couldn't have helped her, this was one thing she had to do alone. She just had to be strong.
"I would like that, Dad. You're the greatest, but you already knew that."
"Yeah, yeah," he said, while he walked out of the room, into the main room. She could hear him mumble something about steel beams and laser cannons.
The minute he had closed the door behind him, she walked to the table and picked up the gun. This one should do; she didn't know how much ki she had now since she was a Saiyan, but this thing was strong enough, she figured. She knew what to do, what the ultimate solution was. It took an ultimate sacrifice from her, but she noticed that she didn't feel scared. Sad, yes; she knew what she was about to do to her parents. They would be grief stricken. Their only child, their reason for living... But they would, hopefully, understand it one day. They would know why she had done it when they saw Vegeta dead; her father should be able to make the link, she thought, but if he didn't...
She couldn't be selfish, she didn't want to. Bulma couldn't think of any reason to be selfish... Those reasons had left her two days ago. It felt so good and satisfying that she knew a way to save the world, for which her friends and she had fought for, time and time again. This time, she was on her own, and would not fail her friends. She hoped she would be allowed to see them, to spent her afterlife with them. Maybe by doing this, it would clear her of the blame she carried. But, at least she hoped for a certain kind of peace. And to be free of Vegeta. In her heart she cried for him. Why did this had to happen? He could have been a friend. She had wanted to give him a different life without the constant fighting and killing, but it seemed that was all he wanted...
She tried to clear her mind of any thoughts about Vegeta, but it became increasingly harder to do so, it seemed like he was pushing himself into her mind, trying to fog her brain, to make her forget her plans. Bulma fought it with all her might. She looked at the gun, and put in on his highest setting. That should do the trick...
She fingered the trigger almost lovingly, while a part of her mind urged her to pull it, before it was too late... Vegeta... Her mind struggled to emerge from the mist that was spreading. Vaguely she wondered what was happening. Alien emotions were flooding her senses. Anger, disbelief, fear, urgency...
Bulma squeezed the gun somewhat tighter. She wouldn't drop it. That was a ridiculous thought... Not hers! It was not her thought!
The door was blown open, and Vegeta appeared in the doorway, looking furious.
She gave him a cool smile.
"No, Woman!" His voice sounded... desperate.
Her smile grew grim. "Too late, Vegeta, too late." She looked at him, glowing in his Super Saiyan form.
"Farewell," she said softly, and pulled the trigger.
****
A force propelled her backwards, and she hit the wall. Slowly, she slid to the ground, making not a sound. Black spots danced before her eyes, and were slowly growing. She didn't feel any pain... Maybe her senses were numb. Vaguely, she heard an explosion, and felt the ground beneath her shake. Was this right? She didn't feel anything, except her back, which was hurting from her collision with the wall.
Something was wrong. Her senses weren't fading; she still felt her body, she could hear soft sounds around her, and now the black spots before her eyes were diminishing. What was this? She hadn't thought that dying was like this... Shouldn't she be dead already? She should have blown her heart out. She had pointed it right at her heart. Bulma looked down, and saw her chest, without a single scratch. Only the sweater she was wearing was slightly burnt. How was this possible? Did the gun malfunction?
She looked at the lab, with an unreal feeling. There was a hole in the ceiling. How did that get there? She frowned. What was happening? Slowly, the dizziness was disappearing, and her mind started working again, despite the headache.
Bulma looked up from her sitting position and saw Vegeta standing in the middle of the room. In his hands was the small gun. How did it get there? His face was turned away from her, and his whole body was tense. His almost white hair was rigid, like it mimicked his body. Suddenly, he crumpled the gun in his hands, and let the remains of it fall to the ground
She must had uttered a sound, because suddenly he turned around. Bulma gasped when she saw his face. It was contorted by emotions. The most prominent one was fury, pure and raw fury. It overshadowed his fear and worry, which she saw in glimpses.
He was coming towards her slowly. Vegeta was snarling, growling. He didn't seem to be in his right mind. Fury had clouded his senses. Worry had overtaken his mind. His Mate, almost dead. He didn't feel anything but primal urges. Fear for his Mate's life. Fury with his fear, and with the fact she wanted to leave him, even though it was impossible. The want was enough. She had much to learn.
She suddenly saw her father, standing in the broken doorway, looking shocked and scared. Vegeta must have felt him, because he turned around again, and started to growl louder. He lifted his arm up, and ki started to gather in his palm.
"No, Dad, run!"
Luckily, her father heeded her demand, and hurried away. Vegeta seemed satisfied with his disappearance, and turned back to her. She stared right into his eyes. He pounced on her, grabbing her arm, and dragged her up. He held her arm up, until she had to stand on her toes; he had immobilized her. Their faces were only two inches apart. His hot breath caressed her cheek.
"And what," he hissed at her, "did you think you were doing? Did you think I didn't know what you were doing? I felt you! I knew what you were thinking."
"Then why ask? You know what I was doing. I was trying to... kill myself!"
"I can see that! I thought you were stronger! Seeking a coward's way out!?"
"Do you think so? Then, you're thinking wrong. I've found a way to stop you! I can kill you! I can kill you, by killing myself." She said that, in a calm tone, but on her face the victorious feeling showed.
"I'm much faster than you think." He snarled at her. "You have to come up with something better!"
Bulma looked up at the ceiling. That explained it. The gun did go off but Vegeta had wrenched it from her grip, and pointed the gun in a different direction. Damn. Then, she lightened up.
"Next time, maybe you won't be near me!" She said defiantly. He glared at her.
"You've seemed to forget something!" He growled at her, while she was still hanging so close to him;.. She looked at him, with a fierce look of determination on her face, despite the frustration she felt that he had stopped her.
"And what's that, Vegeta? Trying to buy yourself some time?" Bulma taunted him, feeling confident and secure for the first time in two days. She would win, now, or maybe an hour later... She was creative.
He gave her a cold smile, when a cruel viciousness burned in his eyes. "I'll tell you." He whispered at her. Bulma felt a flicker of fear.
****
He noticed it in her eyes. Good.
"Don't be so confident of your plans, my Mate. Yes, you've used your information well, but it looks like you've forgotten something important... You will kill me... But, in a couple of days..." Vegeta looked at the slightly uncertain look on her face. He snarled at her; the disobedience and the scorn she had showed him. She would pay for them. But he loved seeing her struggle; he had never wanted a mate who would be a mere slave, always doing his bidding. No, he wanted someone he could tame, who would always seek and try to oppose him. Someone to compare to his strength. Bulma would never be his equal in physical strength, but mentally... She was as good as him. And he loved the fight, and he loved seeing her hopes being crushed, one by one... Nothing more she could cling onto... she would have to turn to him, to give her what she wanted; company, touches, love...
He moved in for the kill. "Remember that I told you so? And you know what I would do in those couple of days left to me, before I will join you in the afterlife? Because I would join you, mind you. A Bond will last until the Times run out, and all of the eternity's are over, and even beyond that. This bond is sacred, nothing can break it. Heaven or Hell, together forever. The most powerful essence in the universe...
But, I'm straying from the subject... Oh yes, those couple of days..." he noticed her look of inner worry and doubt, and cruelly used them. "I would make you pay for our untimely death,... by killing everything you love! I would set this Earth on fire! I'll make the oceans and seas flood! The atmosphere will be poison to your people! Ahhh...," he licked his lips with the for him appealing prospect. "I'll make sure they suffer, like no race has suffered before... Their own Earth will choke them, and burn, and drown and poison them... I will enjoy it! Every single second as I see those weak humans plead for their lives... And when they realize there's no hope for them, for a quick death... I will make sure your parents suffer the most... Would you like me to describe what I have in mind for them, or should I stop?" He smirked maliciously at the horror in her eyes. She had become very pale, and all of the earlier confidence had entirely disappeared from her. Again, he had beaten her down. He felt victorious; how this woman could make him feel... he felt alive when he was near her. Now that he had her, he felt like a God. He was invincible. She was his invincibility; he would overcome everything, just to stay with her.
"N-no... I had enough, you've made your point." She was no longer looking into his eyes, but was staring at the ruins of the small gun.
"I knew you would be reasonable. Now, can we go?" He pulled her along to the exit of the lab. First, she didn't object, then, she started to struggle. Vegeta stopped, to see what was up with her now. She managed to pull her arm out of his grip, and took a few steps away from him, and straightened herself. Vegeta looked at her, amused, and admired her for her guts. He loved this battle with her. The spoils of his victories were the sweetest he would ever taste.
"You think of me as a fool, or as a stupid woman you can smack around. But I'm not that. Ok, I'm nowhere, in comparison with your strength. But I'm smart. You had fooled me there, with your threatening. And I know you would do it, without hesitation. I've seen enough to believe you...
But, Earth is already dead. After all, you said it just now in the kitchen. You are going to destroy Earth. So what's the difference? Not much... ok, I admit, I don't want anyone to suffer, and maybe you could do it 'cleanly' with a ki-blast, when we would leave. But, there are two major advantages to my option... One, I won't have to be around and watch how you destroy everything I love; I'm already dead. Two; it will only be one planet. One race you will destroy. I doubt you'd be able to get to another inhabited planet in those few days. So, I think I go for my option. I don't care what happens after we're dead..." Vegeta smelled the lie on her when she said that, she was frightened for what would happen when they were dead.
"And maybe you're lying about that." She added.
"Don't worry, I'm not. The Bond has been given to us Saiyans, by who or what, we don't know, but the binding of the two souls can not be broken."
"Well, I won't be selfish. And it would happen after all, if we die now, or a thousand years later. Right? So, I'll go and kill myself. And maybe just to spite you, to pay you back for what you did to us. You deserve to die! You deserve to go to hell! Even if I have to go with you!" Bulma swore to him, calmly and resolutely.
Vegeta stared at her. He knew she was telling him the truth. She would kill herself, without any remorse; she didn't fear it; for her it seemed preferable to the future promised by Vegeta. He saw that he had driven her to such rigorous measures. He felt her pain and her grief, her despair and loneliness. Didn't she know he would make it all right? Didn't she think he would take care of her. If only she would take him for what he was... Regret for his actions, which always lurked around back in his mind, in the remains of what once was his conscience. His conscience which he crushed, until there was almost nothing left. There wasn't enough left to bother him, but somehow his Mate also touched that hidden part of him. It's a pity that it wouldn't help her.
She had no right to do this. Bulma had no right to threaten him with death. Her own Mate! He would teach her how to treat her mate right... He would show her how much he wanted her, and how much he cared. Because he did. He loved her, in a dark, obsessive and malicious way. Maybe you couldn't call it love, maybe it was much to consuming for it to call it love, but it was the most powerful feeling he had ever experienced. That he would ever experience, of that he was sure. She was his. He had given her their Bond, and she feared it. She would learn.
But he wanted her alive. Needed her alive. He wanted an empire. He wanted to make her Queen over a kingdom, so large and powerful, which had never been seen before. He wanted a new Saiyan Empire, a new dynasty, to last forever, or at least a very long time. He wanted to give her the spoils of it. He wanted to give her everything. He wanted to have her next to him, to see what he could achieve, although she would probably never appreciate it. Too bad. He would still get his way. He would still have his dreams come true... Nightmares for the universe...
He would make her a deal. He could give. And she couldn't do anything else but accept. Then, there would never be a way she could ever think about leaving him. Never.
"I see that you are determined to kill yourself, even with the costs. But, maybe I have a better option for you... I have a proposition." He searched for her reaction. She played it cool, but he saw the curiosity and distrust in her eyes.
"A proposition?"
"Yes... Would you care to hear me out?"
"G-go ahead," she said, unsure about his motives.
"This is it: You come with me, willingly. You promise me to not ever try something like this again. You swear to me to live out your life beside me, and you will never try to walk away. You'll never leave me. You'll never deny me. You will stay with me forever, out of your own free will.
If you do this, then I will leave Earth alone. I won't destroy, nor harm a single living being on it. Nor will I ever make it a part of my empire. Earth will stay as it is, deal with it's own problems, and life will take it's course." He saw her shocked expression, but also the doubt.
"Isn't this what you want? You would have died for less, won't you live for more? Because I don't want you to die. I want you living and breathing next to me.
And I swear it, on my honor as the Prince of the Saiyan Race, that I won't break my promise. As long as you won't break yours, I will honor our agreement.
So, what do you say?"
"But,... what about the rest of the universe?"
"Do you really care about that? That's in the future. The universe is a large place. Why worry?" His voice had dropped to a husky whisper, making her shiver.
"Be selfish now, Woman. Save the Earth. Be a real Z-fighter. Save Earth. Save your parents... The universe will be another fight."
Desperation, doubt, confusion, uncertainty; they were all visible on her beautiful face. "You aren't giving me a choice. You..." her voice died out, and she looked forlornly at him. "You know that."
He didn't reacted to that, just whispered to her: "What will it be... Bulma?"
She looked up, shocked. "W-what?"
"Now!" he growled.
****
"I... Ok! I will! She cried out, tormented, torn by all the responsibilities and possibilities. But saving Earth... She wanted that so much.
"Ok what? Say it. Promise me, swear to me, Bulma!" he commanded.
"I promise, and I swear that I will do everything you said, as long as you leave Earth alone!"
"That I will. We'll leave, and we'll never return. I will never lay a finger on it."
He laid an arm around her abdomen. Suddenly, she looked so tired, and empty. He was afraid she would fall.
"You have those supplies?"
"My father has them... I bet he's outside, worrying about me..." She told him, subdued, exhausted.
"Well, then, let's go."
He kept a strong hold on her, almost dragging her with him. He had a victorious smirk on his face, which Bulma couldn't see, but she felt it flowing through her. She shuddered. What had she done?
Had she made the right choice?
****
When they came outside, and walked towards the Capsule Ship, her parents stood there, waiting and worrying.
Her mother smiled, relieved when she saw her daughter walk towards them, seemingly unhurt.
"Thank Kami... I really thought she would do something terrible to herself, just to stop Vegeta..."her husband looked alarmed. "What do you mean?"
"I thought... I don't know what I've thought, but she had something over her, so... desperate... I don't know. What do you think happened in the lab?"
"All I heard was an explosion, and I saw a whole in the ceiling. But I don't know anything else. Well, he's leaving now... Hopefully he'll never come back."
Vegeta and Bulma stopped before their parents, who were standing before the opened door of the ship.
"Where are the supplies," Vegeta demanded.
"They're already in the ship." Dr. Briefs snapped back.
Vegeta smiled mockingly at him, then gave Bulma a soft caress over her cheek. "Woman, you have to say goodbye now."
Her parents gasped. What?!
Bulma looked to the ground, and she was crying softly. Vegeta sighed. "And didn't I tell you to stop your whining?"
Bulma said nothing, but walked over to her parents and embraced them.
"I'm so sorry," she mumbled.
"But, why," asked her mother, confused. Her father nodded, while he took a hold of one of her hands.
"I have to. I made a- a deal. I'm going with him, and in exchange for that, he won't destroy Earth. He'll never hurt anything on it. Because he was planning to, and I will do anything to stop him, and if this is what it takes..."
"But... No, please, leave our daughter here."
"I can't. I won't. She's my Mate. I'll never leave here."
"But, you'll come visit, right?" her mother asked pleadingly.
"No. We'll never return here. Earth will be left alone. You have to deal with your own problems from now on," Vegeta said, with a hint of foreboding in his voice. Dr. Briefs froze.
"You killed everyone that's... There will be nobody left to fight the Androids! Except the boy from the future..." he said shocked.
Bulma's eyes widened and she gasped for breath. She turned to Vegeta, disbelief and anger written on her face. "You... you knew this all along! You tricked me!"
Vegeta gave her a triumphant smirk. "Did I? I don't know."
Bulma said angrily: "I take it all back! You... liar!"
His expression darkened. "What did you say? You can't take it back. A promise is a promise. A vow is a vow. Are you going to break them?"
Bulma looked uncomfortable.
"The Earth will not be destroyed by me. The Androids... Well, maybe they'll kill a couple of people, and destroy a few cities. But I doubt they'll blow up Earth. Now, I don't want to hear anything from you. You promised me, and I'm going to keep you at your promise."
Bulma was hurt deeply, but looked him straight into his eyes. "I'll keep my promises," she said defeated.
She turned to her dad. "I think you have to find a way to deal with them. Maybe you have to start with cleaning your desk."
Her father looked oddly at her, but said: "Ok, I'll do that."
Bulma hugged and kissed her parents. She whispered to them: "We have the communication system. I'll try to keep in contact."
Then, she tore herself from them, and walked towards Vegeta, who was tapping his food impatiently. She heard her mother starting to cry, and her misery grew. She didn't know if her parents would ever overcome this.
She walked over the ramp, beside Vegeta. She stood at the entrance, and punched in the code to close the door. Bulma waved to her parents, trying her best to appear strong and brave. She knew she failed miserably.
****
She had strapped herself in a chair, and kept looking out of the window, when the mechanical voice of the computer made the countdown. When they launched, she stilled herself, as they shot through the atmosphere into space. She looked on, as Earth grew smaller and smaller, till it finally had disappeared from her vision. Only then, she unbuckled herself, and stood up out of her chair. She didn't spare Vegeta a single glance, as she made her way through the control room, automatically checking up on the ship. Everything was going well. A pity.
Bulma continued to ignore Vegeta, and walked into the room which was the kitchen and the dining room. She checked the room quickly, looking for anything that could point to problems. Bulma did that with all the rooms. Last, she moved down to the engine room. She checked the engines, and felt a detached kind of satisfaction that they were functioning so well. Her father would be very happy, if he could have seen the results of this... journey. Together, they would analyze the data from the computers, and figure out a way to improve their inventions. She leaned against one of the engines. Bulma felt exhausted. She wanted to sleep, and never wake up. To stay in an endless dream where everything was all right.
But she couldn't fool herself. She had to survive this somehow. Bulma had made a promise... She would keep it. And she would find a way to somehow deal with it. Deal with him. She didn't want to loose her mind.
"Woman, come up here," barked Vegeta. She sighed and climbed the staircase, which was located in a corner of the control room. She looked at Vegeta, wondering what he wanted. He looked back at her, not saying a thing. For a time, none of them spoke. Then, Bulma couldn't stand the tense silence, and spoke up: "What is it that you want, Vegeta?"
He gave her a hungry look. "I want a lot of things."
She was too tired to play his games: "Name them."
He grumbled at her answer. "First,, I want to send a message."
Bulma was surprised. "To who?"
"I want you to send it in every direction of the universe."
"Ok..." Bulma said confused, and walked over to a panel, from which the communication system was operated. "Just tell me what you want it to say."
"Ok. Just write this: 'Vegeta, Prince of all Saiyans, has achieved the status of the Legendary. He will restore the Saiyan Empire, and calls to all the loyal Sons and Daughters of Planet Vegeta to join him on planet XH 2761, the New Planet Vegeta. A new Saiyan Empire has been born'."
Bulma didn't really understand the message, but she obediently typed and sent it.
"What do you mean with this message?"
"I'm calling to all the remaining Saiyans out there to join me. I will gather them, and the Saiyan race will flourish again."
"But... you always said that you and Goku were the last remaining Saiyans."
"I did say that, yes, because I didn't know where the others were, I wasn't sure how many there were. You did think that Radditz, Nappa, Goku and I were the only survivors from the destruction of our planet. I wanted it that way. We weren't the only survivors. There were many squads out on missions, many Saiyan infants sent off to purge planets... Frieza killed them off when they reported to him; they didn't know he was responsible of the destruction! But the fact that he was killing them was quickly spreading, and many went into hiding. Still, Frieza tried to hunt them down, but he only caught a few... They hid themselves well. So well, that when I went searching for them, I almost couldn't find them. They are wary, of course, of Frieza, and that our search was a trick. The first one we found was Kakarot, and we decided to pick him up. Radditz was sent to pick him up... You know the rest."
"So, you're saying that there are perhaps quite a few Saiyans out there?"
"I'm sure of it. And I'm sure that they want to check out my message, to see for themselves that it is true, that I am indeed Prince Vegeta. They have heard about Frieza's and King Cold's deaths, I'm sure, and are curious as to what happened. And when they see I'm alive, I have no doubt they will join me."
"Really? You've been gone for a while... they have lived a long time without their king."
"Saiyans are very loyal to the Royal House of Vegeta. They will be happy to serve it again. Especially when they see that I've become the Legendary Super Saiyan. It's almost like being a God."
"Power is everything for your people, isn't it?" Asked Bulma bitterly.
"*Our* people. And yes, power is very important to us."
"How... empty lives you live." She thought out loud. She raised from her chair, while Vegeta followed her every move.
"Why do you think so? Power gets you what you want most. It gives you the opportunities to achieve what you want."
"That's even... sadder. You could use power to do things for others, instead of always thinking about yourself."
Vegeta started laughing, mockingly, cruelly, coldly... "How foolish, and naive you are." He chuckled at her angry expression. "You wouldn't survive for a week in this universe."
"I don't care," she said listless. She made a move towards the bedroom. She felt so tired... But before she could move, Vegeta was in her face.
He stared at her, eyes unreadable. "Where are you going?
"I'm going to bed." She said listlessly
"Stop it." His voice was unsteady. She looked up to his eyes, wondering what-
"You have to be stronger than this. I know you're stronger than this! You want to fight me, Woman."
"Maybe I've given up."
"You would never." He sounded so worried.
"Who says so? Everyone has his breaking point, Vegeta. I think you've found mine. But now, I'm really too tired to care. Maybe tomorrow... Or maybe you just have to live with what you've made me..."
He put his hands on her shoulder. "You're lying. I can still feel your fire, your hope and your care, although it is buried under grief and despair. But it will emerge. I would never go as far as to break you."
"Oh really," she huffed, getting irritated with his arrogance.
"Really. I know what I'm doing. I'm just... taming you."
"You, pompous son of a bitch!" Fed up with being used and manipulated with him, she raised her hand, and tried to hit him.
Of course, his hand was caught before it was anywhere near his face. She struggled, but she couldn't get loose.
"Let go!" She cried out. "Leave me alone! I hate you! I detest you! I wished Frieza had killed you too, along with your whole race! I wish you were never born!" Tears of anger and hurt spilled over her cheeks, but she didn't pay attention to them. She was focused on hurting him. If she could not hurt him physically, she would tear him apart mentally.
"You think you're so great, and powerful, and invincible! You think you have it al!. That you will have it all! You think you have me! Ha! What a joke! You think you will have my love! You are so sure! You were so certain of it when you told me I would once love you! You don't know anything about me!"
Vegeta had said nothing during her tirade. But his mouth twitched, and his eyes were storming. She looked at it, and mocked him. "What now, are you going to hurt me again? Maybe beat me into submission? Rape me? Go ahead. It will only make me hate you more!"
****
Vegeta had to restrain himself from hitting her. She had to keep her mouth shut. Did she think he didn't know these things already? Didn't she know he didn't care about it? The regret he had once felt, was completely gone, vanished in his anger. She wouldn't come quietly? Ok, they would do it the hard way. He would play hard. He would make her suffer for saying things like that, and he would make her suffer for what she had done today... trying to refuse him as her mate, trying to destroy herself, trying to destroy their future. He hadn't forgotten that. Of course, he knew that she would fight him, but like this?... First, he would make her aware of some certain parts of herself.
"You hate me now, that I can feel," he said with a deceptive calmness. Inside he was seething. He would lash back, and hurt her as much as she had hurt him. Why couldn't she tell he didn't know it any other way? Why couldn't she be a bit more compliant? A bit more receptive?. She was trying hard to shield her mind from him. Her defenses were laughable.
"But I know you better than you do yourself. I know how your mind works, and I know what your heart does. It is so soft. Even now, you have something there for me. Regret? Or is it grief for what I've become?
I've seen you forgive your worst enemies. Piccolo was easily accepted as your ally and friend. You forgive so easily... And, in time you'll forgive me. Maybe not for the things I've done to your friends, but for what I've done to you. And then...
You will have nobody else to turn to, but me. Nobody to comfort you, but me. Nobody to give you warmth, but me. Nobody to hold you, but me. You'll succumb slowly, and your heart will find a way to care for me, to love me, even when there are still parts of you screaming for your friends. You're a complex being, Mate, and I love seeing all your different emotions. To feel them. I had forgotten how good it felt...
You'll forgive, in time, and you'll love, in time. We have all the time in the world. And you aren't going anywhere. There's enough time for me to make you give me all the things I want. And I'll give you everything you want. Love, companionship, attention, challenges..."
She had averted her face, but she was shaking in his arms, which he had laid around her, and had pulled her against his chest. Bulma was shaking with fear. She did believe what he was saying, he knew. She felt his words held truth... Bulma had always been the one to give her trust and friendship easily. Good; maybe that would make her more accommodating to her new situation. It would make things so much easier for her...
He then decided to break her last defenses. He would tell her of what he had given her. He knew she would love it, no matter how it had come to her. She had wished for it such a long time...
"I have something to tell you, Woman. Last night... Last night, we made a child." He fell silent and let it sink in.
Her lips moved, but no sound came out of them. She looked helplessly at him.
It was a excellent move on his part. By being the father to her children, there would be another bond between them. Something that they created together, someone who shared both their blood...
"P-pregnant... M-me...?"
"Yes... he's growing inside you right now... He'll be so strong."
"N-no! It can't be!" She whimpered.
"It's true. I feel his tiny presence. And you smell different."
"B-but w-why... How..." she sobbed quietly.
"I know you want children... I want them to. An heir, to teach everything I know..."
Bulma started to cry harder. "I don't want it to become like you!" It was a desperate plea.
He smirked. "I guess you just have to do your best. But I will race him like a true Saiyan. I will raise him, like my father wanted to raise me... Don't worry, I won't..." he was looking for the right words. "Never will I treat him like Frieza treated me. I don't want him to be so... cold, like I am. I am what I am, but my son will never know my... humiliations." He was silent after saying this. The only sound that was heard was Bulma's desperate crying.
He lifted her up, and walked into the bedroom, and settled her under the blankets, and he laid himself down beside her, and held her, while she cried herself to sleep. Tomorrow, she would be more able to deal with it...
He pulled her as close as possible, and sighed with content. He laid there, while she slept. Vegeta let his mind wonder about everything that happened the last few days... He had gotten everything he had always wanted... He was the strongest Saiyan now, and possibly the strongest being in the universe. He had the prospect of a new empire and a reunited Saiyan race. But the most important thing was, that he finally had claimed the Mate he had wanted, since he laid eyes on her on Namek. How scared she was then, but also trying hard to be brave... She was his now, and he was hers, although she didn't realize it, yet. And, they had created a new life... A son, he knew. He would have an heir to pass on the secrets of his power, and his empire.
His Mate would finally get the children she wanted. He had seen her longing, whenever she saw a little baby smile, or children playing. His Woman had wanted so many things of her 'boyfriend', but he was much to weak to give her those things. He was much too *scared* of her. The weakling. Ha! Well, he wasn't scared of her. He admired her strengths and her intelligence. He wanted her for that. A perfect mate. He would never grow tired of her. He would never stop wanting her, needing her, or... Yes, he had admitted it a few times, mostly to himself, but still, it was hard to really say it. He loved her, although it was maybe not the right word... But why did he need to elaborate on it? He felt it, and that was enough.
Because what it all came down to was, that he now had his own piece of heaven, right here in his arms. The only way he could have a piece of light... He had stolen it, killed for it. And he wouldn't share. His love for her... nothing like love was supposed to be... too dark, too painful... wouldn't let it. He had her all for himself now. No one could take her away. She couldn't leave him herself; she had made a promise, and their unborn child was even a better way to keep her close... A child who shared both their blood.
He rested his head against her soft hair, and let her scent soothed him. And for the first time in his life he felt something like contentment. He felt something that could be... happiness? Whatever it was, it felt good. He wouldn't let anyone threaten this. He wouldn't let anyone take what was rightfully his.
A shudder ran through the body of his Mate. He stroke her cheek, while purring. Her mind was plagued by his memories. He reached out, and guarded her mind from them. She needed her rest now, she had been through much. He had put her through so much. Bulma hated him. For now. It burnt bright, showing him her inner fire. He knew she would love him with the same passion, one day. He had forever to make her love him. He closed his eyes, and let himself drift off, as his hand sought that of his Mate. Never to let go.
****
Dr. Briefs rummaged through his desk. What had she meant with 'cleaning up his desk'? She knew he never could find anything on it! Frustrated, he let himself fall back on his chair. He was tempted to just give up. His daughter, gone, their friends, dead. And a couple of very powerful Androids expected to appear next year. What was left to hope for?
Maybe he should search his files for something that could be used against artificial humans. Or at least he had to come up with some type of shelters, and storage facilities, and...
He stared at his computer screen, confused. There was a note sticked on it. He curiously read it.
"For the coordinates of New Namek, ask Mr. Popo."
Slowly, a tiny smile appeared on his face. All hope was maybe not lost yet...
*End*
Stop! Before you start throwing thrash at me, I have an important announcement: there will be a SEQUEL!!! But for me, this was a logical point to stop this story. Vegeta and Bulma have left Earth, to built a new life in space... and Dr. Briefs has to find a way to save Earth from the Androids... Well, you just have to wait for the sequel. Just let me know what you thought about this one. And many thanks for the reviews and emails. They are really appreciated. Just one thing; it seems that this story has many reviews, but that isn't right. Somehow, ff.net sometimes turns one (anonymous) review into fifty, or even more... It only happens to this story, and it is really annoying... I just hope it stays with this story...Till next time. Pallas