DISCLAIMER: I don�t own DBZ or any of the rights to it�I just write fics for my own amusement and for non-profit entertainment purposes ^_^
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Trunks stared at Eighteen, �Vegeta? My daddy Vegeta?
You know my daddy?�
His eyes grew wide as Eighteen nodded, �Yep, I work with your father.� She turned
back to Bulma, �He so smart for such a young boy!�
�Oh that�s nothing!� Bulma
led her friend over to a chair and sat her down, �You should see the others!�
�The
others?� Eighteen looked
uncomfortable, �What do you mean by others?�
�The
other children that I�look after.�
Bulma motioned Trunks closer, �But that doesn�t matter, tell me what Vegeta�s
plan is and I know that he has a plan, he wouldn�t send you down here without
one would he?�
�Well actually�� Eighteen
giggled at Bulma�s shocked face, �Just kidding, he�s planning on getting down
to the surface the same way I did�by smuggling aboard a cargo vessel. He want�s
us to meet him in the docking bay, we�ll try to sneak back on board and
hopefully we�ll leave with out any problems.�
�That wont
work!� Bulma stood up and paced agitatedly and Trunks sat down in her vacated
chair and stared interestedly while his mother strode the length of the room
and strode back again, �I can�t leave those children here with him! Somebody
has to kill Cooler�otherwise he�ll just keep on�� Bulma shut her mouth before
she could finish what she was saying, �I can�t leave them with him.�
�Leave who?� Eighteen
stared at Bulma, �What children? Bulma, I know we haven�t seen each other in
years, I know that things have happened in both our lives that the other
couldn�t know about but what children? And why can�t we leave them? Why are
they so important?�
�Because�� Bulma looked
into Eighteen bright blue eyes and sighed, �Cooler
created another race of Projects, but he cloned them from my blood.�
�You mean there is a
laboratory here on this planet with several little Bulma�s running around?�
�Kind of�Cooler allowed
the DNA to be tampered with so that the children are al quite different, none
of them look like me although one or two of them do seem to have the same
tendencies and thought patterns.� Bulma sank wearily down into a chair and
Trunks climbed off his own chair to hug his mother, �I hate what Cooler has
done�how automated these children are but I can�t leave them, they have
potential to do great things, to be real people instead of just tools like we
were.� Bulma looked up and her eyes seemed to harden, �I wont
leave them.�
�Wow�� Eighteen slowly
shook her head, �I can�t believe that Cooler was insane enough to try to
re-create the Project, how many children have you lost?�
�From the original 50
created we only have 5 left, we lost another one just the other night.� Bulma
dropped her head into her hands, �I hate how powerless I am to stop Cooler. I
hate being so weak.�
Trunks looked at his
mother worriedly, �Don�t worry mommy, I�m sure you�ll get them out, your way
braver then Cooler! Not to mention way smarter!�
�He has a point!� Eighteen
smiled at Trunks ands ruffled his hair, �I never got a chance to meet Cooler
but I know from reputation that he was never exactly the sharpest tool in the
shed.� She fiddled with her hair for a moment before looking up, �Vegeta is
coming in three days time, when he gets here we�ll have figured something out
and we�ll get those kids off.� Eighteen cleared her throat, �On happier news
Krillen and I are getting married soon.�
Bulma let out a laugh and
tried to smother her giggles as Eighteen looked hurt, �It�s not that
Eighteen�it�s just that I don�t think I�ve ever heard you call Krillen,
Krillen. You�ve always called him Kremlin or something just as bizarre!�
�Come on Bulma, It might
have taken a while but it didn�t take seven years for me to remember his name!�
�How long did it take?�
Bulma bit her lip to stop laughing,
�Two years.� Eighteen
smiled as Bulma started laughing again, something was telling her that Bulma
didn�t laugh too much anymore, �And Goku and Chichi got married ages ago,
they�re currently trying to find a way for Chichi to get pregnant but so far
they haven�t had much luck.�
�Heh�I can barely remember
those two.� Bulma closed her eyes as if recalling a memory, �But I can remember
that they were a cute couple, albeit a very odd and annoying one.�
�And Vegeta never stopped
looking for you, he was�well, he almost went mad when he realised that Cooler
had you, he went berserk.� Eighteen made sure she had Bulma�s full attention
before she continued, �He loves you even more now then he did before.�
�That�s�that�s�� Bulma
took a deep breath as if to calm herself, �That is so
beautiful! I still love him too, but I was so afraid that he wouldn�t love me
anymore.�
�Well he does!�
Trunks got Eighteens
attention by jumping into her lap, �What�s my daddy like? Mom talks about him
but it doesn�t sound like she knew him for all that long because she always
tells the same story!�
�Well�� Eighteen glanced at
Bulma who nodded, �Your father is a prince, but more then that he�s the
Emperor. He�s brave and very, very strong and he can beat anyone in a fight.�
�Even
Cooler?�
�Even
Cooler.� Eighteen looked down
into Trunks face and even though he didn�t look like Vegeta immediately there
was something about him that reminded her of the Emperor, �But the one thing
that I know best about your father is that he loves your mom very, very much
and that he really want�s to meet you too.�
�Do you think he�ll like
me?� Trunks puffed out this chest and tried to look impressive, �I�m really
strong!�
�Oh I think he�ll be very
impressed, you certainly seem very strong to me!� Eight looked at Bulma and
smiled mouthing the words, �he�s so cute!� at her.
**********
Zardon lowered his gaze to
the floor as he knelt in front of Coolers throne; his long green hair brushed
the ground he knelt so low.
�Zardon? What is it?� Cooler sounded bored and slightly
annoyed, Zardon was careful not to look of the bodies of the Yardrat Ambassadors
as he approached the throne, caution in every step.
�I wish to ask a favour of
you my lord, perhaps a favour that I have no right to ask but one that I will
ask of you anyway. As you know I have been your loyal servant for many, many
years and have dedicated my entire life to bettering your Empire��
�Get on with it Zardon.� Cooler snapped sitting up straighter in the throne.
�My Lord I wish to ask you
for permission to marry the Princess Bulma.� Zardon held his breath, expecting
the wrath of Cooler to come crashing down on him at any moment for such
impudence, but instead he just heard Cooler give a low throaty chuckle.
�You, a scientist, wish to
marry a princess?�
�Yes my lord.�
�And what makes you think
I will agree to this?�
�I have given you many
years of loyal service and besides,� Zardon narrowed his blue eyes, �Once Bulma
is safely married to me it will be that little bit harder for her to escape
you.�
�I see.� Cooler looked off
into space, �I�ll think about it, Zardon. I�ll think about it.�