Chapter 4

Bulma bustled about, setting the last-minute items into place in the
ship the soon-to-arrive Goku would take to Namek, including a stereo
system complete with speakers positioned for `the best possible
sound'. Her father insisted it was `an art form'.

Really, she didn't see a point in listening to music wile going into
space, but there was no real rush. Goku would make it to Namek in a
little over a month, and surely he wouldn't mind something other than
training, eating, sleeping, and staring into space. Although, knowing
Goku, there would be plenty of the first three and none of the
latter. Bulma was even hesitant to show him how the stereo worked. He
had, after all, never been good or interested in mechanics and the
like. She'd just show Krillin.

Finally, she tightened the last screw and stood.

"All done?"

She turned with a half-shriek on her lips; hand on her chest to view
Gohan behind her, smiling innocently. "Kami, Gohan, you scared—what
are you wearing?"

Gohan tugged distastefully at the suit he wore then ran his fingers
through his bowl-cut hair with a grimace. "Mom wanted me to look nice
to see dad and Krillin off. They're talking to Dr. Briefs right now
and your mom said something about drinks."

Bulma nodded absently and turned back around. "Well, it's ready.
Let's encapsulate this baby!"

Gohan shared in Bulma's enthusiastic grin as they exited the ship.
Bulma took out the appropriate capsule and threw it at the ship and
they both watched as it disappeared in a poof. Bulma caught the
capsule out of the air and slipped it in her pocket, patting it
reassuringly.

She turned to see Gohan looking at her with one eyebrow cocked. It
reminded her so much of Vegeta that she actually felt her breath
catch. "How is he?"

Bulma nodded. "Fine as far as I can tell. He doesn't look happy at
all."

Gohan nodded. "Yeah, he always seemed mad when I mentioned dad going
to Namek and using the dragonballs." There was a short pause. "Bulma?"

She could tell this was going to be a tough conversation. "Yeah?"

"Are you sure you're doing the right thing? I mean," he shuffled one
foot back nervously at the look she was giving him, "mom said it
wasn't any of my business, but—I don't think it's—right."

Bulma sighed, smiling softly when Gohan's head rose to meet her
eyes. "You might be right there, Gohan." He looked surprised by the
admission and she chuckled. "Yeah, even I can admit when I've done
something—not right. But," she shrugged, "what can I do now? He's
here. Maybe—maybe he'll—I won't have to give him the medicine—
forever."

Gohan beamed at her, making her feel as if the whole world was just
fine. "Yeah. Maybe."

"Hey, Bulma! Ready?"

Bulma turned and returned the grin being given by a seemingly
exuberant Goku. He approached swiftly, swinging her into his arms and
spinning her around until she laughed. Putting her down, he looked
around in confusion. "Where's the ship?"

She laughed, patting her pocket yet again. "Right here. Can't take
off inside."

Goku chuckled, rubbing the back of his head with one hand. "Heh,
that's right. Hey, Gohan, your mom's looking for you in the kitchen.
And Bulma's mom made some really good cookies."

Gohan nodded, smiling brightly, and practically skipped off to the
kitchen. As soon as he was gone, Goku turned serious. And Bulma knew
what speech was coming up. "Bulma—"

"We'll be fine! You'll only be gone for two months at the most. Then
you'll be back here and he'll still be drugged. See? No problem. In
fact, right after you leave, I give him another dose. He's been—
polite almost these last few days." She looked downward
thoughtfully. "It might be working."

Goku's eyebrows furrowed. "I don't think anyone can change if they
can't do anything."

Bulma stilled suddenly, her eyes wide. Finally, she put her hands on
her hip and faced her long-time friend. "So what? You're saying I
should just let him go? You're nuts!"

The Saiyan-turned-human actually had the audacity to roll his
eyes. "No. I'm just saying that he isn't going to improve any, be one
of the good guys, if he's never given a chance to act."

Sighing, Bulma turned from Goku and started outside. "You're probably
right. But there's no help for it until you get back. Then—we'll
decide something. Together. You know, a Z fighters' thing."

Goku grinned, practically skipping as he followed Bulma
outside. "Yeah, should be great to see everyone again. Plus—well, we
get to go to another planet. I wonder if the aliens are strong. Do
you think they'll spar with me?"

Bulma smiled back, stepping outside and breathing in the cool
air. "Sure, Goku. Just—ask them nicely or something."

As Goku spied his wife and Mrs. Briefs idly chatting, he left Bulma
to go—well, snatch some of the pastries Mrs. Briefs held. Bulma shook
her head, chuckling to herself, and brought out the capsule, pushing
the button and letting it go in a puff of smoke that revealed the
capsule spaceship.

She heard the sound of Goku and ChiChi coming up beside her and
joined them in just looking at the ship, or delaying Goku's leaving.
She felt Krillin come up beside Gohan, obviously having arrived a bit
later than everyone else.

Bulma finally let out a snort reminiscent of her reluctant guest and
turned toward them. "Well, Goku, Krillin, off you go."

ChiChi barely restrained her own snort at the dismissal and enveloped
her husband in a hug. "You make sure you shower every day. I know how
you are about keeping clean. And eat three meals a day and make sure
to call every night, you hear me?"

Goku chuckled, squeezing his wife briefly, and a little too hard, if
her muffled yelling could be interpreted. "Sure, Chi! See you in a
couple months!"

Reluctantly, ChiChi released her husband and watched as he gave Gohan
his goodbyes, admonishing him to mind his mother, which Gohan
promised solemnly he would do.

Krillin gave a wave to everyone in general and climbed up the ramp,
disappearing to make himself comfortable. Before they knew it, Goku
was also boarding the ship.

They all watched silently as he waved, the door closed, and the ship
slowly lifted off before rocketing into the air. The air wildly
whipped up hair and dust, and by the time everything had settled, the
ship was a mere speck in the air that they all watched disappear.

Bulma let out a sigh, brushing her hands on her pants. "Well, that's
done." She turned to ChiChi. "I was hoping Gohan could help me with
some odds and ends in the lab. He was a tremendous help on the ship,
I'd like him to continue for a few hours each day before lunch."

ChiChi looked startled by the sudden change in topic, but should've
known better. Bulma Briefs was never subtle about anything. "I don't
know. He has his studies—"

Bulma waved a hand in the air. "And you think he isn't learning
anything? Books and words and numbers are fine, but there's nothing
like hands-on experience. Think what his resume will look like with
Bulma Briefs' lab assistant on it."

As Bulma had known it would, ChiChi's eyes lit up. She turned to
Gohan, practically bouncing. "That's a wonderful idea! Why don't you
just help Bulma out some and then come home for lunch, okay? Make it—
your first job!"

Gohan stared up wide-eyed at his mother. He couldn't believe that
Bulma had just manipulated his mother so easily and was having a hard
time not staring at the genius in awe. "Um, sounds great."

ChiChi's hands pressed to her chest as her eyes filled with
tears. "My little boy's all grown up! His first job!" Luckily she
seemed to contain herself and he was saved from being bodily caught
up in an embarrassing hug. Instead, ChiChi said her goodbyes,
admonishing Gohan to obey Bulma, and took off with her father in his
car.

Bulma turned to Gohan, holding up a hand before he could speak. She
smirked, not realizing how like a certain Prince she looked. "Hold
the applause. Go get a snack and meet me upstairs, eh?"

Gohan nodded eagerly, rushing to the kitchen just as Bulma's mom
exited. Mrs. Briefs spared the boy one fond look before turning to
her daughter. "Oh, Bulma, your dad and I are going to go to bakery
real quick. I simply insisted he take a look at the new pastries they
have. They're shaped like planets and stars and I just thought our
dear foreign friend would just love them." The hands clasped to her
chest were reminiscent of ChiChi.

Bulma nodded with a slight grimace. Her parents knew Vegeta was an
alien, but she didn't think he'd appreciate the gesture Mrs. Briefs
was trying to give. "I'm sure he'll love it, mom."

Despite the lack of enthusiasm in the words, Mrs. Briefs merely
grinned cheekily and went back into the house. Bulma said a silent
prayer of pity for her father.

Shaking her head, she slowly made her way into the house. Staring up
the stairs toward Vegeta's room, she allowed a slight frown to mar
her features.

When she'd told Gohan that he was fine, what she meant was that he
hadn't spoken in her mind at all since that day she had been so—
disturbed.

She'd tried every way she could think of to provoke him, to get him
to scream or yell or anything. She'd continued to stay with him at
nights, but he had no more nightmares. And he ignored her too, as if
she wasn't there.

She was worried. And—concerned?

Sighing, she trudged up the stairs, knowing the Saiyan would hear her
long before she got near his door. But all was silent in her mind.
She missed the company, surprisingly.

Opening his door, she stood in the doorway, watching him lay there,
eyes turned away as if he didn't notice her. But she knew he did. She
knew that he knew what she was there for. The needle filled with the
drug that would keep him paralyzed was right across from the bed, on
the metal table she could wheel over next to him.

Taking a deep breath, she pushed herself forward and toward the cart.
She could feel his dark eyes on her back as soon as she turned away
from him, but knew the moment she turned back he would be looking
away.

She stood before the cart, staring blankly at the needle there. She
was so tired. Tired of vengeance, tired of feeling the stinging
emotion she was just now identifying as guilt, and tired of his
silence. She'd get him to talk today….

Slowly, she reached down and plucked up the needle, turning to see
that he had indeed averted his gaze. She walked steadily up to him,
nerves just keeping the needle from shaking in her grasp.

She stopped by his side, drug poised above him. "Vegeta?"

He did not acknowledge her, merely seemed to be waiting. But for what?

She swallowed heavily, feeling caution drag her words. "Vegeta? Is—
something wrong?"

His eyes turned to her, so slowly she felt a shudder run through her.
They bored into her, dark and seemingly empty. Filled with nothing.
She wondered if this was like looking at a black hole. Knowing that
there was nothing there, that it would suck someone in and crush them
without allowing them one glimpse of anything on the other side.

The gloved hand that shot out and grabbed her around the throat
squeezed the scream from her body, stole the breath from her lungs
with its suddenness. She barely blinked and found herself slammed
into the wall, pain erupting along her senses as the plaster buckled
beneath her.

A cruel smirk graced the features she had come to know over the last
month, eyes glittering with malice and sadistic glee. He leaned in
close to her, grin widening as her own hands clutched at the crushing
grasp he had on her throat, trying to pry iron from skin.

She could dimly see the needle in the other hand, his movements so
quick she hadn't even felt it taken from her hand. The lips moved
then, and the voice that came out was not unlike the one she heard in
her mind. What terrified her more was that it echoed in her mind, a
strange double that sent tremors down her spine.

"Surprise…."

The needle arced down to meet her skin, breaking through the thin
layer. A burning sensation preceded the liquid being forced into her
veins, and Bulma's world exploded in pain.

A/N: Boy! That was cruel. Do not worry, there's lots more, and it'll
be updated quickly. It took me so long to get the urge to get this
chapter out. I had to get past a point and now *BAM* it's all ready
to go. This'll be fun. And remember, rexpect the unexpected. Next
chapter will be a surprise! Heehee. Sadist Kahlan gets to play!
 
 

This chapter is dedicated to Kichi, who has waited a long time for
this chapter. Enjoy!

Chapter 5
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