DISCLAIMER: DBZ I do not own.
A/N – Sorry these chapters are taking so long to get out! I know
I usually update faster and I’m sorry for the wait, it’s just that I’ve been
busy with university arrangements. Yeah that’s right – I’m off the learn how to
be a teacher…and an English & Drama teacher of all things…I mean can you
imagine me as a teacher?
Anyhow we’re drawing close to the finish with this fic;
everything is really going to fall apart in this chapter…
~*~
~*~ To sleep! Perchance to dream: - ay, there's the rub
~*~
~*~ For in that sleep of death what dreams may come, ~*~
~*~ When we have shuffled off this mortal coil, ~*~
-
Hamlet
from ‘Hamlet’
-
~*~
The
planet Taurine was a barren wasteland that bore only faint traces of the
previous inhabitants.
There
were no forests, only broken stumps.
There
were no cities, only craters filled with jagged metal and debris.
There
were no people, only decaying bodies that reeked of death.
Amongst
the destruction of what had clearly been a beautiful and fragile planet, four
beings stood on a jagged cliff overlooking what as left of a city, casting dark
shadows into the distance as they stared down at the still smoking rubble.
“This
planet was defenceless.” Goku’s voice seemed loud as it echoed into the silence
inevitably follows death. “Why did Frieza send us to a planet that was filled
with weak defenceless being and tell us that it would be a struggle for us to
take it over?”
“Maybe
there’s something here that we haven’t seen yet.” Nappa’s boomed out in a
desperate effort to break the depressing silence.
“Or
maybe he just wanted to distract us.” Vegeta spoke emotionlessly, but his eyes
as they clashed with Goku’s were worried. The usual cold detachment that was
usually visible in them had been burn away by fear.
“Bulma
is alive.” Goku answered Vegeta’s unasked question with a soothing voice. “I
doubt I’d be alive is she weren’t. Besides I can still feel her in my head.” He
looked away from his comrade uneasily.
Vegeta
watched Goku through narrowed eyes. “What aren’t you telling us?” He stalked
forward and grabbed the larger saiyan by his armour. “What are you hiding?”
“Nothing,
I just want to get back as soon as possible. Something about this whole
situation is making me uneasy.” Goku ran a hand through his hair, unable to
shake the feeling in the pit of stomach that something was wrong with Bulma. He
hadn’t felt this sick with gut wrenching fear since he had purged his first
planet. And they weren’t memories he wished to re-live. The screaming of women
ad children, the scent of fear and worst of all the knowledge that he was
responsible for everything that was happening around them. It was just as hard
these days to purge planets. While the others got excited at the prospect of
killing, Goku felt sick to his stomach. He still woke up sometimes at night,
imagining he could hear the screams of people dying…
And
yet he’d killed Turles, his own brother, with no problem.
Goku
jerked at the thought hit him, and he knew with unshakable faith that Bulma had
just thought the exact same thing. He had to get back to her, the longer he was
away from her the more isolated she was going to become.
“We’ll
leave straight away.” Vegeta had been watching the emotions play across Goku’s
face and although he couldn’t figure out just what Goku was thinking Vegeta did
know that it had him spooked.
“What
the hell is wrong with you two?” Nappa growled threateningly, sensing that
there was something going on that only Vegeta and Goku knew about.
“Should
we tell them?” Goku tossed a look at Vegeta over his shoulder as he began to
make his way back to the pods. “I mean, they do have a right to know, don’t
they?”
“Know
what?” Raditz glared at his brothers back. “Prince Vegeta, what is he talking
about?”
Vegeta
looked at Goku’s back with an eyebrow raised and his mouth twisted in
annoyance. “I had informed Nappa, but I’m going to have to tell Raditz now.” He
sarcastically threw his comment after Goku who shrugged and kept walking,
occasionally kicking a stone out of his path.
“Vegeta?”
Raditz prompted unsurely. “What’s going on?”
Vegeta
looked away from Goku’s retreating back with annoyance sparking in his eyes.
“Kakarot and I have managed to achieve the legendary.” Vegeta couldn’t keep a
note of pride out of his voice and his annoyance evaporated as he saw Nappa and
Raditz’s eyes widen in disbelief, even though Nappa already knew. “Both of us
are now able to transform into super saiyans at will.”
Raditz
opened his mouth ask something, but was interrupted by a sudden yell from Goku
who clutched at his head for a second and then bolted to his capsule.
“We
have to leave! Now!” There was something in his voice that hadn’t been there
before, an almost hysterical note had crept in and a shiver worked its way down
Vegeta’s spine.
~*~
“Let me
go!” Bulma struggled wildly in Zarbon’s grip, her legs thrashing as he lifted
her into the air and carried her out of her room. Behind him, Dodoria’s
replacement; Quaker, was carrying Raven who was bawling loudly, her tiny fists
waving in the air at her rude awakening.
“Miss
Briefs, I would suggest you settle down. You’re not going to be hurt; Frieza merely
has decided to transport you to a more secure location. He will be joining us
of course and inviting your ‘friends’ to come along too. You of course,
will be kept out of sight of your mate and his comrades until Frieza has
interrogated them. Your own mate is suspected in playing a crucial part in
Vegeta’s plans.”
“What
plans?” Bulma stopped struggling, afraid f what measures Zarbon might take if
she failed to obey him. There was a strange gleam in his eye which made Bulma
suspect that Zarbon liked nothing better then to hurt others.
“Oh,
master Frieza has not yet informed me of what Vegeta’s plans are, but he does
intend to share them with you. Just in case you lied to him the last time you
spoke.” Zarbon’s boots made clunking sounds as he walked down the corridor that
led away form her room. Bulma stayed silent, despite the questions burning in
her mind. Zarbon carried her all the way to the transport lift, which was open
and waiting for them. Inside he pressed a button that chilled Bulma to the
bone. It was the button marked ‘D’ which stood for ‘Docking Bay.’
Frieza
wasn’t just moving her out of her room. He was moving her off the entire
station! Bulma closed her eyes and opened her bond to Goku. Across the space
between them she reached out and just managed to touch his mind.
[Goku!
Goku, you have to get back! It’s Frieza! He’s taking Raven and I away! He’s
hiding us! Goku please!]
[Bulma?
Where is he taking...?]
Bulma
was jerked out of her trance and her mind was torn away from Goku’s as Zarbon
growled and shook her. “What was that?”
Bulma
stared at him and swallowed. “What was what?”
“I felt
something, something telepathic!” Zarbon looked at her with contempt. “But no,
it can’t have been you. Human beings don’t have telepathic abilities, are
medical tests on you proved that.” Zarbon’s yellow eyes flashed across to
Raven. “Of course! It must be the child!” Zarbon threw Bulma unceremoniously to
the ground. “Give me the child.” Zarbon held out his arms to Quaker, who handed
over Raven without a word.
“No!”
Bulma leapt up and hurled herself at Zarbon; catching him off guard she used
her shoulder to ram him into the wall of the lift. She snatched Raven out of
his arms and backed into the far corner of the lift.
Zarbon
pushed away from the wall and began to raise him power level. His aura flashed
a cold blue and a wind generated by it blew her hair wildly.
“I’m
going to rip you to shreds for that!” Zarbon took a step towards her, his eyes
burning with rage when the lift ground to a halt and the door slid open to
reveal Frieza. Immediately Zarbon’s aura faded and he stepped back from Bulma. Frieza’s
glowing red eyes took in Zarbon’s enraged state and Bulma’s trembling. His eyes
lowered to look at Raven who had stopped howling and was now glaring at Zarbon,
her tiny tail lashing about like a kittens and her eyes narrowed.
“Zarbon?”
Frieza stepped back from the lift and motioned for all of them to exit the
lift. His tone questioning as he continued to speak. “Did I instruct you to
kill or main the girl or her child?” His eyes gleamed dangerously as Zarbon
paled and shook his head.
“No
master Frieza, but you see…”
“Oh,
but I did see.” Frieza looked across at Bulma. “I am not so blind that I cannot
read power levels and track what they are doing. I know that the woman struck
you and took her child away from you. I assume she had a good reason.” Frieza
glared at Zarbon and his tail flicked one or twice, indicating his annoyance.
“I must add that I am surprised that a mere human woman could knock you aside
so easily.”
“I…She
took me by surprise, sire.” Zarbon knelt, trying to make up for his lack of
control in the lift.
“Don’t
worry Zarbon.” Frieza chuckled. “I won’t kill you just yet. I’m going to need
you around when those other monkeys get back.” Frieza looked at Bulma and
stepped towards her, prying Raven out of her arms and holding the child out in
front of him as though it had germs. “If what Nappa told me is true then we’re
going to have one hell of a fight on our hands when they return. And I for one
and looking forward to the challenge.” Frieza laughed again and handed Raven
back to Bulma. “Please my dear, follow me. We’re going on a tiny little trip to
my home planet, and then we’re going to wait for Vegeta and the others. If they
try anything, then I’m afraid I will have to hurt you, but I must trust that
they’ll be smart enough not to do anything rash.”
With
that Frieza strode across the cavernous docking bay were his troops had
assembled in straight ordered lines. They saluted him as he strode up the ramp
to his ship then followed him on. In the confusion Bulma only had time to hug
Raven to her and blindly allow herself to be led deep into the belly of the
ship. Too scared to risk opened her bond again while Zarbon was around.
~*~
A/N –
This isn’t good is it? It appears as though Nappa has been a bad little boy and
has ratted on his Prince. Well you’ll just have to wait until the next chapter
to find out what happens! Please Review! The more reviews I get the faster I
update!