Chapter 6

Warmth surrounded her, she felt happy. Her mother was not far from her, attending her garden while her father relaxed in his favorite chair while sipping coffee watching his wife. She sat in a hammock adorned with pillows while strong warm arms held her tight. She was in the shade but there was light everywhere, the sun was bright, the sky was blue…blue…very blue. Her mother was humming, enjoying her garden while she let the strong arms hold her closer, she felt so safe. Blue sky…not red…blue…

Bulma woke from her dreams hoping that her dreams were reality. As she looked around the dark room, she noticed her hopes were in vain. She was in the medical office, obviously she just got out of a rejuvenation tank, not knowing why she was in there in the first place, but she knew by her smell. Her smell was clean but tinted with rejuvenation chemicals. Bulma’s time around the machines allowed her knowledge of such things. Her mind went blank after a moment…she was…alive? She knew if she blacked out when Chili was beating her, she was done for. Chili had beat her for two hours with his cruelest equipment. Bulma thought it was her end, after an hour she started to fight Chili but was restrained somehow. She was forced at the beginning, like every beating, to strip off all her clothing. She felt no shame, but it was degrading, and Chili always liked downgrading her in every possible way, just to add to the torment. Chili, though, never touched her. Bulma knew he had a thing for overweight women, and was silently grateful for that. Bulma blinked, she was alive! She was happy. So happy to simply be alive. And the whispers were oddly quiet. It left her feeling lonely but was grateful for some peace.

Bulma looked around again. She was the only one in the dark room, in a soft bed that felt both comfortable and uncomfortable. Sleeping on a hard floor like bed for four years could do that to a person. There were a few other beds but they looked unused for quite some time. Bulma then noticed she felt good. Better then she had been. She looked at her arms and most of her scars were gone. She got up to use the restroom. Once she was inside the adjoining bathing facility, she looked at the first mirror she saw. Bulma signed in relief when she saw her reflection. Her face held no scars, no marks and her teeth were clean and all present (something she worked very hard on for the last four years), she was grateful again that she could keep her beauty.

Outside the medical office’s holding room, three Saiya-jin’s discussed their next actions regarding their keep and future plans. All were silent on the Prince’s behavior. No one dared question him. He was their Prince and he was strong and capable, he held their loyalties. Seripa held Bulma’s things, but had gotten her a new slave robe and cleaned her training suit she had given Bulma. She held her belt and handmade pocket as well, but restrained herself from opening the pocket to look at its contents. Seripa’s face held a hint of concern, while Kakarotto looked overly concerned. Bardock seemed to care less. They all had other duties to perform.

“I wish to speak with her and take her back to her chambers.” Kakarotto had questions he wanted to ask the blue haired slave.

“I don’t think anyone should be here, let a slave take care of her, as she is a slave herself.” Bardock said.

“Let me at least give her back her things.” Seripa added hoping to see her slave, she wanted to ask why she didn’t fight back. As soon as she arrived in the Slave Master’s chambers, it was obvious that Bulma didn’t fight back. Seripa was disappointed and wanted to know why.

Bardock sighed, “Fine, you may both see to her, but I have important things to attend to and remember to ask her about her abilities.” With that Bardock left, he was relieved that the girl recovered just fine. When he pulled her out of the tank, her scars that adorned her face were gone and her long hair clung to her figure in a way that outlined her beauty. He was taken back by what he saw. In front of him stood the girl from his visions, the one about the Prince and another about the distant future. He had seen that last vision 4 years ago, when the Chikyuu-jins first arrived. It was about a woman with long blue hair, in her mid-twenties, leading a Saiya-jin army while holding a young boy in her arms. And now before him was the same person, only younger. But he didn’t know if his visions were for good or ill. So he left it alone. He wanted to leave the girl to fate, perhaps it would be best for all of them.

When Bardock had gone, Kakarotto and Seripa entered the room Bulma was being held in. When they entered they saw she was not in her bed. They looked at each other.

“At least we know she is awake.” Seripa said.

Bulma heard the comment and quickly rushed to her bedside. She was still naked from before, and she still held a bit a modesty left. The Saiya-jins watched her with raised eyebrows. It looked funny, as blue haired sixteen year old (Kakarotto was still in his teens as well, most likely a few years younger) ran from the restroom to her bed and wrapped herself in sheets, eyeing them with anger and embarrassment.

“Next time please knock!” Bulma shouted, letting herself be overcome with emotion. She forgot for a moment that she was a slave.

“Um…sorry.” Kakarotto said with a blush on his face. Bulma looked at him in surprise. He actually apologized! Bulma couldn’t believe it. No one has ever apologized to her since she got to Vegeta-sei.

“Oh, that’s ok, I guess you thought I was still out cold huh?” Bulma said a little more calmly.

Seripa scowled at the situation and before Kakarotto could speak she jumped in. “Bulma I have your things, dress. I have something I wish to ask you.”

Bulma nodded and Seripa handed her things to her rather abruptly. Bulma jumped a little at Seripa’s actions and rudeness. Bulma hid behind Seripa as she changed. Bulma had no need, Kakarotto turned and closed his eyes as she started changing.

“What’s wrong Seripa?” Bulma looked concerned, Seripa hasn’t acted this way in over 3 years.

Seripa growled, “Why didn’t you fight back when you knew he was going to kill you?”

“I couldn’t, I tried but something forced me still.”

“Did you feel anything on you when you started fighting him?” Seripa seemed calmer by Bulma’s answer.

“Hmm, now that you mention it…yeah I did. Odd, I swear he didn’t put anything on me..”

“Chili used his ultimate weapon…his Ki chains. He is a useless fighter but he knows how to use Ki to hold people in submission. I’m surprised he used it on you, he is not allowed to use it as he is a slave as well.” Seripa said emotionlessly.

“Um, who ever you are, I’m fully dressed now…you can turn around.” Bulma half yelled at Kakarotto. When he turned, he faced Seripa and nodded. She understood.

“Bulma, I have to return to my duties, but Kakarotto has to talk to you. He will escort you back to your chambers as well.” Seripa said with a little smile. Bulma gave her a full smile and then Seripa turned and left, passing a stilled and serious looking Kakarotto.

Kakarotto and Bulma just looked at each other for a undisturbed moment. It was a comfortable but nervous silence. Each had no clue what the next moment would bring. Kakarotto had questions, but he was captivated by the slaves beauty. She was the second or third Chikyuu-jin he meet since he had come to Vegeta-sei and by far the most beautiful. Her slave robes looked out of place on her. Bulma looked at Kakarotto unsure what he was looking at and what his intentions were, though she could tell he meant no harm. He was younger and shorter then her, but he seemed strong and mature in an odd naïve way. Bulma decided she would make the first move. She walked to him and offered her hand. To her surprise he took it and they shook hands. She didn’t know any Saiya-jins knew had to shake hands.

“I’m Bulma Briefs, from Chikyuu.”

“Kakarotto, but call me Goku…I’m from Chikyuu as well, well sort of.”

“REALLY?” This was Bulma’s happiest day here on this planet. She finally meet someone from Chikyuu as well, even though he was Saiya-jin. She understood than why he knew how to shake hands.

“Yeah, I was sent there when I was born from here, and 4 years ago, when you were taken, I was taken back as well.”

“oh…”

“But I love Chikyuu, I see myself more from there then I do here.”

Bulma smiled, “Well, then I guess that makes two of us...I mean about our love for Chikyuu.”

Again silence. Kakarotto’s face had at one point turned soft and sweet but then returned to a deep expression of seriousness. Bulma only looked at him, unsure of what to say or do. Her day had been odd, very different then any other day she had experienced since she arrived on Vegeta-sei. She then remembered what Seripa had mentioned to her.

“You wanted to talk to me?”

“Yeah, but about two things.”

“What’s the first?” Bulma bit her lip, she hoped it had nothing to do with her ‘whispers‘.

“Seripa said you had mental powers, that’s why the Prince ordered your beating to be stopped, is it true?”

Bulma’s eye twitched. Her hopes were dashed, now someone else knew about her secret, and she felt an odd emotion pass through her. It felt like rage, confusion, and gratefulness rolled into one. And this feeling was directed to the Prince. He saved me? He stop my beatings? THAT ASSHOLE! First he destroys my home then he saves me, what a hypocritical bastard! Her thoughts were cutoff by the little Saiya-jin in front of her.

“Bulma?”

“Oh, right…um, I can’t control it. I hear voices in my head. The voices are masculine and sound rather pissed most of the time. I started hearing the voices, more like echoed whispers, when the Saiya-jins came to Chikyuu.”

“So how did you know that Radditz wasn’t the one who betrayed the Prince?”

“Um, I heard the voice saying something about suspecting Raddtiz but I got this feeling that it wasn’t Radditz…wait a minute…where have a heard that name before?”

“Who?”

“Radditz…”

“My brother?”

“His your brother? That doesn’t matter, where…OH, I know Nappa said his name when we landed…”

“Huh?”

“Never mind. Was that all?” Bulma hoped that was all.

“No, I guess I have enough information about your abilities, does any other Chikyuu-jin have those kind of abilities?”

“I thought you would know?”

“Um, well I didn’t know many people while on Chikyuu.” For a moment Kakarotto looked like he blushed a little.

“…no, Chikyuu-jins usually don’t have mind powers, though some claim, but it was a bunch of bullshit.”

“Ok, then, Second thing: do you know Prince Vegeta?”

Disgust ran across Bulma’s face. She never seen the Prince, but she imagined as a tall hairy ugly fighting freak, full of muscle, cruelty and not much else. To have ever met the man would mean she would be dead right now, because she would attack him as soon as she saw him. If what they say is true, he is the strongest fighter on this planet and Bulma knew she would be dead for attacking him within moments, though she didn’t care, she still would attack him.

“No way in hell did I ever meet that prick of a Prince!” The anger in Bulma’s face and voice was quiet obvious.

“Um…uh…” Kakarotto was completely dumbfounded. He scratched his head in bewilderment. No one ever talked about the Prince like that, no one was ever allowed to. He didn’t know what to do. She has obviously never meet the Prince and she obviously hates him. He understood. He hated him too for destroying Chikyuu, but after a year with him serving Freeza, his hate became understanding and his understanding became friendship. The Prince could change, he saw it, the Prince could save his soul, he could turn around. The Prince wasn’t all that bad.

“The Prince isn’t all that bad, I spent time with him, he loves a Chikyuu-jin, I don’t know who, I thought it was you, but I guess not. He didn’t really want to destroy Chikyuu, but he had to.”

“I don’t care, and that Chikyuu-jin is a traitor. He destroyed everything I cared about, that ass, he must have fooled you too, cause…cause…” Her voice died on her. Bulma was shocked, he loved a Chikyuu-jin, was it even possible for the man to love. What about her revenge? Could she still kill him?…Probably…

“You must be hungry, lets go get you some food and I’ll take you back to your chambers.”

“Sure.” Bulma felt defeated. Were would she go now? What would be her main goal now after escaping? Where was she? As Kakarotto lead her out of the medical office, she felt more tried then she has ever felt. Putting up her hood, she stayed silent for the rest of the day.

***********( 2 years later )

Kakarotto walked around the Royal Science and Technology Division with pride. He loved his duties. He loved to protect. He was taller now, much taller, and he loved the new respect he got because of it. He even had to look down at Bulma to face her. Before he looked up, now down. It made him feel he could protect her better. Whenever he went to the 3^rd class brackets to meet with the Rebellion leaders, he always checked on Bulma. He would slip her food when she looked hungry or would warn someone when they looked at her with lust that they would have to answer to him if they touched her. Decree or no decree, Bulma was too beautiful to resist. Kakarotto loved her though like an older sister, he couldn‘t see her any other way. They talked somewhat, but never much. He wondered though, when he was with her, if that beaten, mixed look that was in her eyes had always been there. Seripa said that it wasn’t always there, but she wasn’t broken, just very lost. Kakarotto could see it very clearly in Bulma’s eyes that she was more then just lost, she was lonely. She had told him her whispers had almost completely disappeared, only rarely would she hear them. He knew he couldn’t be there for her when she needed it, he could only see her once every couple months. Now he had to deal with his Prince.

The odd thing was that the Prince always called on Kakarotto to accompany him while on missions for Freeza now. Before the Prince, unless it was a long mission, would go alone. Nowadays he called for Kakarotto every time. He didn’t mind though. Kakarotto was always allowed to return to this post, he loved to protect and he hated watching the Prince purge, but he still didn’t mind. Kakarotto would never help, just watch the Prince’s back, keep him safe and unharmed. After the tenth time he went with Prince Vegeta, he noticed the Prince had the same look in his eyes as Bulma’s. Prince Vegeta was lonely, he could see that, but while the Prince purged he took on horrific look of madness that seemed to grow, that was never there before. Kakarotto didn’t know what to do. He didn’t know what was wrong with the Prince. But he suspected it might have something to do with the Prince’s connection with his beloved, which seemed coldly absent in the Prince as of late. He still hated his betrothed, Yasai, he wouldn’t even allow himself in the same room with her. Truly the Prince seemed alone in the middle of a crowd.

Kakarotto now walked towards the lower levels of the building he protected. The levels were off limits to anyone, expect him. They were filled with large unused hangers that had been built years ago, when Freeza came and upgraded the technology on Vegeta-sei, the King ordered new facilities to be built on top of the these levels. The old hangers and labs now went unused and uncared for. The only elevator to reach these levels even needed a code to access. Now, in the lower levels, Prince Vegeta waited for him. The rebellion had grown, but they still were missing the necessary technology. Both Kakarotto and the Prince knew within the next two years, perhaps as late as three, the Rebellion could make itself known and begin its fight for freedom. Freeza had been delayed in his plans, but no one knew by what means. It had been a god-send, both for slowing the Cold Empire down and keeping the white lizard away from Vegeta-sei. It also gave the Prince more time here to perform his duties as Prince and act as the leader of the Rebellion. Kakarotto stepped inside a half lit abandoned lab in the lower levels. The Prince, now older, was keeping himself in half shadow. Kakarotto could see he wore his ‘costume’ that he would wear when he did business for the Rebellion. It was a hood and cape that completely hid his face, and a simple sleeveless blue training suit. Kakarotto almost chuckled, the Prince still wore his white gloves and boots, he knew the Prince would never part with them.

“What took you so long?” The Prince asked, his voice just a below annoyance and anger.

“I had to cover my tracks, make sure I wasn’t followed.” Kakarotto knew now how dangerous the situation they all were in, the Rebellion was too big now to keep secret much longer.

“Fine. Did you find anything useful?”

“Sorry, No. No one here can invent what you ask.”

“This is getting ridiculous, is the whole division a bunch of weak idiots? This will get the Rebellion no where!”

“We still need to meet with Bardock and the others to plan our next move.”

“I know that!”

“You have to make sure no one sees you.”

“Useless piece of shit, low class…don’t insult me, I’m not stupid like you.”

“What time should I tell the others to meet?”

“After 22 hundred hours.”

“Ok, I’ll let my father know.”

“I may arrive early tonight to discus something with Bardock. Make sure he is ready by 20 hundred hours.”

“Ok.”

“That’s all, get the fuck out of my sight!”

“Geee…yes, yes on my way out!” With that Kakarotto left. As Kakarotto made his way further from the Prince, he could tell, the Prince was losing himself to something worse then loneliness.

The Prince stood against the wall in the old lab feeling dejected. His plans were always changing, his mind kept playing tricks on him. His Rebellion and Empire was coming along great except for the technologies they needed. He knew once he killed Freeza he would rule all the galaxies. He would be the strongest. Though politics tired him, he loved being in control, which he wasn’t with himself. He had set up a barrier, to cut off his damned bonded. Unfortunately it had a serious side affect. He knew he was going more insane by the month, his mad rants he would have when alone proved it. The barrier did nothing to destroy the bond, it only kept him sorely lonely. Vegeta knew he wasn’t strong enough to destroy it yet. If he wasn’t strong enough to destroy a simple bond, he wasn’t strong enough to kill Freeza.

Now tonight would be his first meeting he would have to attend incognito. He would have to go through the old gardens and slip in the window of the slave chambers. The fact he had to sneak bothered him, but the fact he had to go into the slave chambers made it worse. And he would be able to see, finally see, the bitch he was bonded to and wouldn’t be able to kill her. Though she would be asleep, he would meet her, perhaps he could break her neck before she woke. But if he killed her would he really be free, or would his madness overtake him completely? He shook his head, he needed to train, and he could not train feeling his madness at the doorstep of his mind.

**********

The night was beautiful again, like almost every night, seamless in design. The air was cool, but not cold, just right for training. Bulma was, to her amazement, bored with training. She had finished and learned all the steps in the book she had. Now all she did was practice the same thing over and over again. Things over the past two years went from odd to overly weird. Her inventions she created were often big, complex things she had to capsulate, Chili still beat her but never as badly as he did before, her training was becoming tedious, Seripa was growing impatient, those whispers were almost non-existent, and she had ‘Goku’ to protect her. She wouldn’t call him a friend yet, she hardly saw him. Bulma was constantly being watched or looked at even with her slave hood on. Bulma didn’t know what to think of the Prince anymore. She still hated him but she didn’t know if she was going to kill him like she had wanted to. Her life was devoid of anyone that really cared for her, Goku seemed to protect her out of duty, leaving Bulma feeling hollow. She knew she was alone, she knew she was still weak to escape, and she still remembered her promise to Chi-chi. She hoped Chi-chi was still alive as well. What saddened Bulma the most was she had no idea what her future would bring. Lately it seemed she would spend the rest of her life here, under he heel of the blob that she had to call ‘Master’.

Bulma punched the air with both her fists, then did a spin kick, then did another combo. She was sweating, she smelled and she didn’t know what to think of it. Her rage took over, and she started to kick, low then high, furiously. She wanted to scream. She wanted to cry, she wanted…what did she want? Bulma started to punch, then went back to kicking. She continued changing from punches to kicks until she was deathly calm. Her hair stood up from the back of her neck, but she continued to train, unaware of anything around her. Her calmness allowed her to hear something she missed oh so much. She could hear those whispers in her calm. She felt nervous though, the whispers seemed so clear, so near.

***********

Vegeta wanted to scream. He used to know this garden, this stupid ugly garden. Now it wasn’t so ugly anymore. It looked like the palace’s garden. Green, vibrant, and alive, this garden he did not know his way around, the dangerous, brown, and weeded garden he could draw on the back of his hand. All he needed to do was find the path that would lead him to the damn slave chambers. He was nervous, he hated to admit it, but he was. Soon he would see what the gods saw as his other half. He knew she would be ugly, he was damned that way, his soul as ugly as his was only fit for an ugly bitch. Lately he was coming to acceptance with Yasai, the ugly. Perhaps he would sleep with her, to lose himself completely. Vegeta knew he was losing himself, and he would be forever damned sooner or later. If he could kill Freeza before he was forced to marry Yasai, then he could choose someone else. But he was damned, his luck wouldn’t grant him that. He would have to save his luck for his rebellion and his strength. He would have to become the legendary.

His pace was slow, he had arrived here early to talk with Bardock, but if he didn’t find his way around he would be late or even miss the meeting. He had been called on for missions so many times for Freeza, that him missing a meeting wasn’t unusual. He hated it when he had to miss them, but Vegeta has come to rely on Bardock for his leadership skills. Vegeta plans to raise his rank to second class when he is King, when things are not shadowed by Freeza.

The air was cool, not cold, and Vegeta wished he could train on a night like this. He sighed, perhaps he should just fly, instead of walking. But to fly would mean there would be a bigger chance of someone seeing him. As he let the last bit of air escape him through his sigh he heard something. It sounded like someone was training on this cool night. He decided to follow the sounds, get directions, then kill the witness. Vegeta’s resolve was melting with each step however, his barrier was crashing down. He could hear her, her voice was…was different he couldn’t place it. It sounded clearer, closer, and sad…much more so then before. His hair on his arms stood up, he felt tingles everywhere on his body. He let the barrier down and almost immediately it took him over. He walked towards his goal almost as if possessed. The world seemed fuzzy and tilted until he was in a small clearing and the whispers stopped and alien emotion took over. There he felt at peace, calm and the rest of the world had melted away. And there in front of him was a girl about his age, kicking the air, training. Her blue hair that was tied in the back followed her moves like a silk ribbon. Her eyes, so blue, were very determined. She wore a patched up old training suit that clung to every curve. Her training moves were solid but rough. She didn’t notice him yet, as she was wrapped up in her actions. He was glad for that, because it gave him more time to look at her. She was beautiful, she was perfect…was she his BONDED?