Fight or Flight?

Between them, they easily cleaned the carcass to mere bones. Raditz was picking his teeth with a shard while Goku licked his fingers and led the way to a gently rippling body of water. Sunlight gleamed across the small waves, low in the sky. Raditz saw the flash of smoke, and waved it away with a grunt when Goku clicked the plunger on his small capsule. When the effect cleared, two folding chairs and several boxes of fishing tackle and other items were neatly piled on the shore of the lake.

"You might want to put on a hat. The sun gets pretty bright," Goku said as he pulled off his weighted training boots and wristbands. He sat down and grabbed a woven straw hat from the clothing pile to jam over his head of spiky hair. Raditz grunted and tugged at the straps of his armor. He let the breastplate drop, revealing his spandex tank top. The straw hat he grabbed did shade his sensitive Saiyan vision from the bright reflections off the surface of the water. Goku had started to assemble a long segmented rod once in pieces in one of the boxes. He messed with other fishing accoutrements with a careful glance, and then tossed the first pole to Raditz.

"So this is what you consider entertainment then. Stellari said many males on this planet engage in fishing for leisure," Raditz observed, watching Goku put together his spare pole.

"Yep. Gohan and I love coming out here. Sometimes we don't always use the poles. But I figured nobody would mind since we'll end up bringing dinner home if we're lucky," Goku commented. He sat back in his chair, easily holding the pole in one hand with a relaxed grip. Raditz couldn't comprehend how just sitting still would be so easy for his brother, but he did have a healthy respect for activities centered on hunting and fishing. At least the males of this world had some sense in recreational activities. Sports made some sense, but Raditz hated chasing a ball when he could be fighting or wrestling. One sport that amused him was 'professional wrestling', and the sport of American Football. The others were considered a waste of time.

"Gohan calls you Daddy, not Father," said Raditz. "What's the difference in words?"

"Hmm?" Goku asked.

"On Planet Vegeta we call our parents Mother and Father. I'm not familiar with this strange word Daddy, or Papa," Raditz said.

"If someone says Daddy, that's because they feel close and comfortable around them," said Goku. "It's like me saying Grandpa even though my Grandfather Gohan was… well my Grandfather."

"You still act as if he were your blood," said Raditz. "I see that adoption is as strong as blood."

"You guys didn't value family much did you?" Goku said.

Raditz hung his head. "That was because of Freeza’s doing. Mother did not tolerate me acting with disrespect. But on Planet Vegeta, the children are taken from their parents at a young age. If they are not sent off, they remain in training camps. Third Class children are often raised by their Mothers. The Fathers are on some assignment or other. It wasn't till much later we sent the children off world."

"But you swallowed that stuff like it was Saiyan culture. And it wasn't," said Goku accusingly.

"Hell gives someone a long time to think about what they've done," said Raditz. He fumbled with the pole he clutched. Goku picked up his mug and took a huge swig of iced tea. He did not drink beer unless he was specifically partying. Even then he limited any alcoholic consumption, not that it affected him much due to high metabolism, but it wasn't of great nutritive value.

Raditz sipped the V8 from the tall sports bottle. He was glad that Goku knew his favorite beverage. Raditz consumed sport drinks and other high calorie liquids to fuel his athletic form. He shunned anything save these and wine or beer. Sweet drinks disagreed with him immensely. In the mornings he did drink coffee, but it was decaf since Stellari was pregnant. Besides, tomato juice looked like blood, and Raditz enjoyed the similarities. Saiyans drank beverages from fruits and vegetables while eating mostly meat. Yet they still needed their fiber like humans did.

"Is that so?" Goku asked. "I guess you had a long time out then, huh?"

"Very long," said Raditz quietly. "And I wasn't alone. The ones I killed wouldn't shut up. Neither would father."

"Burdock, huh," said Goku.

"He's your Father too," said Raditz.

"Maybe my birth father. But he wasn't my parent. Not like Grandpa Gohan," said Goku.

"I see," Raditz said softly. "Now I understand."

"Do you?" Goku asked.

"Stellari's boys call me Daddy. Like Gohan calls you," said Raditz sheepishly.

"Really, that's great!" Goku grinned. "No wonder you're different. You finally get it."

"Don't rub it in, Goku," Raditz growled.

"Hey, I'm just pointing out that having a family sure makes a man feel differently about fighting and killing," Goku said. "That's why Vegeta's so unhappy. He didn't have a loving Daddy or Mommy… or Grandparent."

"You don't get it. Fathers are not… affectionate in Saiyan culture. Mothers yes, but Fathers are strong and aloof…"

"So what?" Goku glared at him. "I'm not a Saiyan like you. I'm from Earth, Raditz. Planet Vegeta's gone! We can't go back to the past. We can make a NEW future on Earth, don't you see?"

"Kakarotto… Son Goku, that… that's absurd!" Raditz snapped.

"Maybe Vegeta makes you believe it, but just because you were that way doesn't mean you can't choose for yourself," Goku said as he tossed down his pole. "I don't WANT to be like that. And you don't have to either! You can decide for yourself who you want to be!"

"I serve the Prince," said Raditz angrily.

"Maybe you do. But it's still your choice. I don't. He's my friend, not my Prince," said Goku.

"You don't know what you're saying. It's treason!" Raditz snarled.

"Whoa, maybe for you. But he never ruled over me, remember?" Goku reminded him.

"You're right I suppose," Raditz snorted. "Damn it, Son Goku, this isn't easy for me!"

"No it isn't, is it? I just want you to see that what you're holding onto doesn't make you any better or worse than a man, Raditz. Loving someone makes you strong, not weak. It doesn't matter what Vegeta, or Burdock or anyone tells you! Because being cold and nasty and mean isn't the way you have to be…"

"You… I AM a Saiyan," Raditz snarled. "And so are you!"

"That isn’t so," Goku countered. "Not like you think. I'm who I am because Grandpa Gohan loved me. And I'm a husband, a father, and a fighter. I protect my friends and those I love. And you don't get that it's the most powerful weapon."

"How can LOVE be a weapon?"

"When you take it and make it a Spirit Bomb," Goku said sternly.

"A WHAT?" Raditz asked.

"Genki-dama. Spirit bomb," Goku said. "That's what defeated Vegeta. And Freeza. The most powerful attack I know. And it takes the energy of my friends, family, people I protect given willingly. The strongest weapon…"

"Insanity," said Raditz.

"Hate makes you strong Raditz, but love makes you even stronger," Goku said, grasping his hand. "Don't EVER be ashamed of being loved by your wife or children, or by me."

"You…" Raditz trailed off.

"That's right," Goku nodded. "You're not the Saiyan you were. You're better than that. Far stronger then you were before when you first came. Because you love her. And you love them."

"Love isn't something Saiyans feel! It's mushy and…"

"Love isn't that chocolates and flowers and stuff like that. That's just romance things that women like cause they feel sad if they don't get them on Valentine’s Day," Goku shook his head dismissively. "Love is who you are. In here… and here…"

Goku pointed to his head, and his heart. Then he placed Raditz hand over his own heart. "That's what makes you strong, Raditz. Believe it or not. And Vegeta will know it too. But he's too proud to admit it. And you are too. I know about that Saiyan pride whatever stuff. And it's stupid, but I respect it."

"Humph," Raditz mumbled, overcome with the weight of his brother's words. There was proof, the golden form with teal eyes that suddenly blazed into life before him. Goku's hair swam with energies as he stood up and seemed to gain height and bulk before Raditz.

"I was angry when this happened. Because Freeza took something away from me. That anger drove me over the edge. But it was anger from something that was done wrong. That's what it takes to be a Super Saiyan, Raditz. I know if Vegeta gets angry enough he can change. But his reasons are not good, but evil. Pure evil or pure goodness can make the change," said Goku.

"Prince Trunks can, but the Prince Vegeta cannot," Raditz admitted.

"You can," said Goku quietly. "You've got something to protect. And you're my brother. And Gohan and you both came close at one time or another. When you were facing me, protecting Stellari I saw one second when your eyes and hair flashed. It was just an instant, but your energies were amazing."

"You're lying," Raditz snorted.

"I'm not,' said Goku. "And I can help you. Like I am Gohan. Learn to use your power based on love, not hatred."

"The Prince will not allow this," said Raditz. Goku suddenly felt his strength fade, and slowly started to pant. He dropped, clutching his chest.

"Brother… what's wrong?" Raditz gasped, catching him.

"IT hurts…" Goku gasped. "I need… medicine…"

"Damn it," Raditz whispered, feeling the ebbing of Goku's strength. "Hold on… can you fly?"

"I… I'll try," Goku panted. "It only gets like this a bit… and then it goes…"

"Hold on, idiot," Raditz grunted, grabbing Goku's arm and wrapping it around his neck. Ashen faced, Goku felt his heart skipping and pounding against a great weight on his chest. He panted for the breath that was shallow and wouldn't come. Around him he felt Raditz strong arms holding him up. Growling, Raditz powered up his own ki, feeding a small amount into Goku's flagging strength. Concentration narrowed, forcing against the monster that consumed him from inside.

Goku felt energy slowly returning. He looked at Raditz with concern, panting for breath that seemed to revive him enough for him to stand on his own. "Thank you… that was close…"

"How often does this happen?" Raditz snapped. "You idiot, you shouldn't be changing!"

"I guess I'm too stubborn," Goku laughed.

Suddenly they both tensed. Raditz narrowed his eyes and growled while Goku stared sternly at the distant tree line. Both of them exchanged a glance of mutual understanding. They had felt the flare of ki, and then heard strange sounds. Yet there was no sense but rather an absence of ki. Raditz nose twitched with the scent of something not alive.

“There’s something that’s not organic nearby. I can smell the plastic. And it smells like my woman’s projects,” he whispered.

“How can you tell?” Goku asked. “I can’t sense any ki.”

“My sense of smell is better than yours, because you’ve lived on earth and I’m used to hunting by smell when I was doing my… ahem, hostile takeovers,” Raditz hissed. “Brother, we have to get the HELL out of here now!”

“Something’s there… I see two figures… an old man, and a fatso,” Goku gasped. "I don't sense them! Are those the androids?"

"Brother let's go! You're in no shape to fight!" Raditz hissed. But it was too late.

Raditz tensed in anger for he couldn't see anything on the scouter nor sense any life force. All that told him of the existence of these interlopers was the smell of petro plastic, and the distant visual contact. Part of him wanted to try the power ball his Father Burdock had shown him, but he was more worried about the implications of a Giant Ape. Already Goku said the populace had complained about the sightings. He sensed that topic would have to wait for another time to be broached.

"Hold onto me, Kakarotto," Raditz whispered.

He dragged Goku back into the trees, his warrior instincts telling him that flying was the worst possible thing. A thousand things flashed through his mind and he knew that they were far from any help. If only they had something like a Sensu bean. Yet he doubted even that natural cure would help his brother's flagging life force.

"I'm okay…" Goku panted, his life force causing Raditz scouter to beep.

"Humph, I still say we should retreat. My scouter's indicating these are artificial life forms," Raditz mumbled, changing the settings. "The scouter's unable to tell their exact levels, but it IS detecting them…"

"I can't see them. It's like they aren't even there," Goku whispered. "We've got to stop them…"

"No," Raditz growled. "You had best get the hell out of here! Run for it! I'll distract them."

"Raditz you can't take them on!"

"Don't underestimate me, Kakarotto. Power isn't everything," said Raditz with a small smirk that freaked Goku. "You're not ruthless enough to destroy them. I am."

"You may be right. Don't do anything stupid," Goku panted. He closed his eyes and cleared his mind. "Maybe I can call for help…"

However Raditz punched his scouter and whispered, "Raditz to the Prince… are you there? I've discovered two artificial life forms! I thought you'd like to know…"

"But Vegeta… isn't ready!" Goku gasped. Frantically Raditz awaited his Prince's reply. The space of a few seconds of static jarred his nerves.

"Silence, the Prince doesn't want you DEAD, brother. He still has a score to settle with you," said Raditz quietly. Goku staggered momentarily with Raditz arm supporting him further into the cover of the thick forest. Never would he have expected his brother to save him. Raditz grumbled to himself, trying to think of how to best deal with this till his Prince responded.

"Where are you?" Vegeta's voice echoed.

"The androids sire… and Kakarotto is having trouble…"

"Stay there and wait! Don't attack yet till I arrive!" Vegeta shouted. "I'm on my way!"

Carefully he held Goku to his body. "Hold on, Brother. I'm getting you out of here. You're in no shape to fight. And I cannot protect you at my current power level…"

Goku nodded, panting. Raditz punched his scouter and whispered, "Prince Vegeta… What should I do? Kakkarot's getting worse!"

"You had best get OUT of my way!" Vegeta snorted.

"But Kakarotto has fallen…" Raditz repeated, holding his brother who was panting more deeply. Against Raditz gauntleted hand, his brother's heart flubbed like a frightened bird.

"Get him out of there, Raditz. Make sure the idiot takes his medicine! I and Trunks will deal with this," said Vegeta. "I'm already halfway there! Take Kakarotto and fly away as fast as you can. Chances are those idiots will follow you!"

"Understood sire," Raditz nodded.

Raditz swept up Goku, locking his arms around his brother's body so his back was flush with his front. Goku gasped and panted, his ki senses detecting nothing, but his eyes and ears were screaming that someone was there. Blackness swarmed before his eyes as Raditz lifted up and surrounded them with a ki barrier.

"Now hold on, Goku. Listen to your brother for once!" Raditz snarled.

In the distance Raditz heard two voices talking. Speaking of a hunt for Son Goku. He could smell the petro plastic identical to Dr. Stellari's ki proof mixtures, encroaching. His scouter bleeped urgently as he recalibrated it for electronic beings. Thankfully Freeza’s scientists had engineered cyborg detection into the scouters. One advantage he and Nappa had over the Z warriors were these alien devices. In a burst of energy he blasted off, breaking the sound barrier.

More urgent bleeps flickered on his scouter's curved surface. No power readings but proximity detecting two mechanized traces. Somehow it honed in on the android's power batteries. Raditz clutched Goku closer, pushing his mind to the limits in an attempt to out fly them. Despite being called a weakling, Raditz was one of the fastest fliers among the lower level soldiers in his unit. Goku's hands grabbed his wrists, clenching convulsively tight.

"I can't… I can't hide my ki," Goku panted.

"Don't try, Brother. Let them follow us. The Prince will get them!"

Goku's eyes opened wide to see two distant traces blazing. To his shock one of them had the power level of Vegeta. His blue signature blasted hot on the horizon. Coming from the West were two traces, one of them equaling Trunks, while the other equaled the one called Bliss. He could even discern Gohan and Piccolo's traces nearby.

Goku's senses faded the moment Vegeta's form blew up into its usual size, and he hollered, "Kakarotto you IDIOT! Don't you DARE die on me before we've settled our feud!"

"Vegeta… you can't fight them… you can't even sense them. Be careful!" Goku gasped.

"Shut up clown! Raditz, get him the hell out of here!"

"As you command, my Prince," Raditz grunted. Goku's last traces of sound vanished with Vegeta uttering, "Take your medicine fool!"

Back at Capsule, Bulma was furious with Vegeta. She knew he wanted to fight the Androids, but this was getting ridiculous. Never had she hated feeling so helpless. However with her latest project, that would be a thing of the past. Or so she hoped as she readied her newest inventions. Around her body she wore a Capsule Corps jacket, buttoned over the clothing beneath.

Angrily Bulma climbed into her airship, carrying her child in her arms. Damn Vegeta leaving her behind again! She wanted to be at the front lines to stand at his side, but he stubbornly insisted she remain with Baby Trunks. Carefully she belted him into his chair, and he gurgled.

"I'd rather have you where I can see you," she muttered. He squealed and lifted his arms.

"We're going to see your older brother and father," she said, buckling her belt. Manicured nails flipped switches in a relay to fire up the engines. She guided the air car quickly up and out of the carport near her home.

"Honey, I don't think you should go!" echoed a transmission.

"Father, I have to!"

"You shouldn't take our grandson! What if there's danger?" Dr. Briefs shouted.

"Daddy, don't try to stop me! What if someone tries to attack you while I'm not here? I need Trunks where I can see him!" she shouted. "Now just tell Mommy I'll be back. I'm just going to see if Vegeta's all right!"

Transmissions bleeped off as she closed the link. Her eyes narrowed to the sky ahead. Picking up the scouter on her belt she placed it on her face. A quick touch activated it so she could train in on Vegeta and Trunks signatures. Suddenly she heard a bleeping.

"Who is it?"

"Mistress, you can't go! This is Lt. Commander Bliss!"

"Damn it don't stop me!"

"Let me in at least. I'll go with you if you persist in being foolish," said her voice. Bulma broke velocity enough to put the ship into hover. She heard the knocking on the door, and quickly hit the door release. Dressed in black and gold armor, Bliss hovered in her own shell of energy. She climbed in and sat down behind Bulma.

"I figured Vegeta would send you to discourage me. But I'm STILL going," said Bulma.

"Nothing I can say will convince you otherwise?" she asked.

"No. I love Vegeta and he taught me to fight. And if he's going to take those Androids on, he might be in over his head. Trunks has been very explicit about their capabilities. And I have the neutrino disrupters… they could be just as effective," Bulma insisted.

"But your son…"

"I won't be separated from the man I love. Trunks will be fine! Would you stand by while your mate was in trouble?" she asked. "I've studied Saiyan culture. A Queen can fight as well as a Princess. And isn't it Saiyan custom for a Princess to fight alongside her Prince to prove her worth?"

"Yes Mistress, but your boy…"

"You'll have to watch him. I demand the right to fight alongside Vegeta. I'm sick of hiding in the shadows," said Bulma.

"Then I'll have to help you. But you can't rely on a machine. If you only had the ability to fly," said Bliss.

"Leave that to me," Bulma said as Bliss blinked. The throttle gunned full force as she shot ahead as fast as she could go. Wildly she sped towards the source of the huge ki fluctuations.

Into view she saw Vegeta and Trunks speeding along, heading quickly towards an unknown source. Turning to Bliss she said, "take the controls. Take care of Trunks for me!"

"Mistress…" said Bliss. "I cannot allow you."

"I'm your Princess. Take care of Trunks. I'm getting off here. I won't let those machines face my Vegeta alone!" she said. She unstrapped herself, after setting the car into hover mode only ten miles from the scene of huge flashes of energy. Opening a compartment she strapped a holster around her leg with a neutrino disrupter. Bliss saw the gleam of white armor just under her jacket. Opening her capsule case she pulled out a number 10, and opened it. Smoke cleared to reveal a streamlined jetpack she was strapping on.

"Mistress?" Bliss asked.

"Top of the line. It has a solar regeneration cell. I've been practicing with one of these. Stay back!" Bulma said, opening the door. Before long she activated the pack and blasted off towards the scene of battle.

Vegeta snarled as 19 slammed into his gut. He rapidly punched left and right. Trunks slammed his fist into the chest plate of Dr. Gero. Raditz streaked off, carrying Goku in his arms as he made good his escape. Both Trunks and Vegeta wore gleaming armor. In their veins sung the full force of Saiyan bloodlust. Rapidly Trunks sword slashed back and forth, deflecting the energy beams thrown to him by Dr. Gero.

"Enough of this. I have business elsewhere," Gero said as he broke off the attack. "12, take care of this!"

"12?" gasped Trunks. Just then out of a blurring rip in space appeared a tall black haired muscular figure wearing an outfit similar to Gero's. Instead of a tall hat he wore a baseball cap, and his steel blue eyes fixed on Trunks.

"Scarlet, take care of this upstart while I find subject Goku!" Gero shouted.

"Come back here!" shouted Vegeta. It zipped out then phased before him. Trunks gasped as a scarlet sphere slammed into him unawares. Momentarily he'd been distracted by 12.

"You… you shouldn't exist!" gasped Trunks, struggling to right himself.

"Something that you didn't count on, runt," said 12. Grinning, he brought his two hands together, and formed a long stream of energy into a scarlet blade. It slashed towards Trunks in a trail of fire. Bringing his own sword up, Trunks blocked the energy cut. Back and forth they parried and thrust one enchanted blade versus one of science.

Vegeta snarled, fists pummeling as he struggled to summon his Saiyan form. Angrily he crammed down his rage, then had it explode. Before 19's optic sensors gold hair erupted with ki, and ebony eyes turned teal. Laughing, Super Saiyan Vegeta flared into life, his palm upraised. "Welcome to your doom!"

"Systems recalibrate… weak fighter has increased energy output! Compensating," 19 chirped.

"Trunks, keep that other monstrosity away! This one is MINE!" Vegeta laughed.

"But Father, 20's gone off after Goku!" shouted Trunks.

"Dammit," cursed Vegeta.

"You won't stop him!" laughed 19, powering up his energy field. Vegeta was repelled backwards at least fifty yards. Yet he hardly seemed phased in his Super-saiyan form.

"But I will turn you to scrap before he gets there! Nobody kills Kakarotto but me! Nappa, get your tail over and help Raditz! Go to Kakkarot's home!"

"Right at once, Sire!" came Nappa's voice. "I'm on my way!"

"Hah, try to stop them now!" laughed Vegeta.

"Insufficient force. You will fail," 19 laughed.

"Hah!"

"Already my fellow constructs are on their way. You have lost," said 19. "The Doctor's plan will succeed. There are others of us already in position."

"How MANY are there of you?"

"Count me among them!" laughed a voice from behind Vegeta. As he turned, an energy blast slammed into him. Cursing, he saw another gleaming form materialize wearing overalls and a baseball cap.

"Well howdy, y' upstart. Time to show you some manners!" laughed the voice of 13. 19's energy blast cut into Vegeta while 13 shot out a punch. Vegeta grunted, managing to lash out with a fist and block just in time. Energy sizzled as he zipped out, then raised his hand towards 19.

"BEGONE!" Vegeta snarled. His shot sizzled towards 19. Yet 13 zipped into view, and then peppered Vegeta with a series of kiko hah. This gave 19 time to evade Vegeta's shot.

"Father!" shouted Trunks, seeing his parent being pummeled by two androids.

"You won't save him brat," laughed 12. Trunks gasped as a kick landed in the pit of his stomach, and he shot backwards.

Suddenly a hand arrested his fall. He looked up to see a female figure with long blue hair flapping from a ponytail. Holding him with a gloved fist, Bulma shouted, "You leave my son alone you bastard!"

"Mom?" gasped Trunks, blinking up to see his Mother hovering in a blue field of ki. "How…"

"Help your father. I'll take care of this trash," Bulma said.

"But mom…"

"Do as you're told!" Bulma shouted. "I can handle him!"

She aimed a metallic pistol towards 12. The shot crashed into his shoulder, spoiling his aim as he approached. Trunks recognized the Neutrino disrupter's latest model, then noticed the gleaming armor encasing his mother's chest. It was a female version of what he and Vegeta wore. An armored skirt of three panels protected her hips and legs, while she tore off the jacket to reveal the armored straps. A pink lens scouter covered her face.

Trunks grunted, phasing out as Bulma aimed her weapon at Scarlet. Laughing 12 raised his hand to fire. Bulma brought up her gloved wrist, blocking the shot as an energy shield crackled off the wristband. Seconds later, a bewildered Android felt a blast slam into his shoulder. "You… you can't fight me!"

"Want to bet!" Bulma shouted, firing again. She hit him dead center, causing a crackling burst that disrupted his power. 12 gasped his circuits on fire with acid pain. How could something exist that could affect his energy?

Vegeta groaned as 19 and 13 repeatedly slammed him with punches and kicks. It took all his speed and skill to keep up with them. Out of the corner of his eye he saw 19's fat face, then a streak of blue. Seconds later 19's head dropped from his body with a look of shock. Vegeta slammed his elbow into 13's gut, then raised both fists to pummel him with a hammer blow. He panted, seeing Trunks hefting his gleaming blade. The youth's hair stood up on end, gleaming gold.

"Father, are you all right?"

"Where's the other?"

"There," panted Trunks.

"What… what the hell is Bulma doing here?"

"Winning it looks like," Trunks panted.

"Go help her. I'll finish this one personally…"

"You varmints can't win," 13 taunted them. Trunks and Vegeta simultaneously raised their hands, pointing them towards 13.

"Shall we?" asked Vegeta.

"Yes Father."

"Final Flash!" Vegeta shouted.

"Finish Buster!" shouted Trunks. Yellow and blue energies shot forth from their gloved hands, slamming into 13. He howled as the blast sizzled him. Smoking and charring, he dropped towards the ground far below.

"YES!" Vegeta laughed. "Die you worthless tin can! The Prince of All Saiyans has vanquished you!"

"Wait, 19's still active," gasped Trunks.

"Take care of him," said Vegeta. He blurred away from view, disappearing to materialize near where Bulma traded blasts with 12.

Meanwhile sweat poured down Bulma's face as she fired then blocked another volley. Even with the smoking damage to his arm and chest, 12 still functioned. In and out he zipped, but Bulma's adapted scouter managed to track him. She aimed her weapon, firing just before he appeared. Then he vanished altogether.

"Mother…" Trunks gasped.

Behind Bulma the scouter bleeped a warning. She whirled about, barely managing to bring her shield up to block the blast. Screaming she held her other hand up, shooting backwards in the wake of the scarlet nova erupting in midair. Scarlet laughed, his hands raised above his head as he drew more energy towards him.

"Foolish woman!" shouted Vegeta. Bulma slammed into his waiting arms, gasping as she blinked.

"V… veggie…"

"What the HELL are you doing here!" Vegeta snarled.

"Saving your ass," Bulma shouted, blinking as she saw double.

"You idiot!"

"Blood bomb!" yelled Scarlet. Red energy collected into a ball, suddenly rushing towards them. Vegeta's gloved hand raised to block while his other clutched Bulma. She screamed, lifting her pistol and wildly firing towards the source of the blast.

As Vegeta's hand blocked the ball, her shot zinged out and crackled into Scarlet's raised hands. He hissed with pain erupting down his arms, shorting out his control. Vegeta gritted, holding back the energy ball at bay. He grunted, then thrust it back towards the panicking 12.

"What the hell…" he gasped, seeing his own energy weapon sizzling back. Before he could move his paralyzed arms, the Blood Bomb crashed back into him. He howled at the blinding red flash frizzing his circuits.

"Heh, weakling," laughed Vegeta. Bulma panted, still holding her neutrino disrupter.

"Good shot, Veggie," she laughed.

"You… imbecile! You could have been killed!" Vegeta snapped at her.

"Aww Vegeta, you were worried!"

Vegeta struggled to grip his self-control. Inhaling deeply he clutched Bulma to him with both hands now. With is own eyes he had seen the effectiveness of the small pistol she held aloft. Where 12 had once been was nothing but a glittering cloud of machine parts slowly raining back to the earth. For a second the energy released from the gun's blast seemed to have worked against the android's own system.

"How… what is that, woman?"

"The final model of my little secret weapon. One that will help you win the battle," she said, whispering into his ear.

"But it was MY victory," Vegeta gritted. He transferred his grip to allow Bulma to rest on his hip. She hooked her arm around his neck, extending the one with the pistol to point towards the open sky before them. Vegeta's palm was still extended, anticipating any blasts from hitting them.

"There will still be plenty of tin cans for you to fight. But right now, Trunks needs us," Bulma said, pointing past them. He saw the scouter bleeping wildly nearby, to focus westwards. Energy explosions blossomed into death flowers only meters from where they hovered.

19's body still whizzed around; wildly firing blasts here and there. Trunks zipped into view above, his sword raised to cleave the monster in two. Vegeta's hand extended, vaporizing his remains to oblivion with another Final flash. Bulma clung to his muscular body, her arm hooked around his neck. Back lit by the force of the explosion, Bulma's features looked fierce and beautiful to the Saiyan Prince. She truly was a warrior queen, and she was all his.

"Isn't it Saiyan custom for a Princess to fight alongside her Prince to prove her worth?" asked Bulma.

"Woman, you fought well," Vegeta said, transfixed.

"Father, mother?" Trunks asked, hovering nearby. He sheathed his sword on the holster on his back, strapped across his armor.

"We're fine! Nice going guys!" Bulma exhaled.

"Mother… it works!" Trunks gasped.

"It does! Like a dream," Bulma laughed.

"While you two are mutually congratulating one another, we need to make sure Kakkarot's well," Vegeta interrupted.

"I thought you sent Nappa after him," said Trunks.

"Bulma, the baby…"

"Bliss is watching him."

"I can't take you back."

"Don't try, Vegeta," said Bulma, frowning. "You two are taking me along. Goku's my best friend!"

"So be it, Woman. But I'm not taking my eyes off you," Vegeta said as he gripped her to his hip. She hung onto her Prince, as he and Trunks streaked off at top speed towards Goku's home.

"Father… 13… he's getting away!" Trunks gasped.

"Trunks, you go after him! Your mother and I will see to Kakarotto," said Vegeta.

Just then Gohan and Piccolo materialized nearby. In shock they saw Vegeta and Trunks hovering with a fully armored Bulma. "What did we miss?" Piccolo grunted.

"Heh, wouldn't you like to know?" Vegeta snickered.

"You guys had better come with me," Trunks said. "There's another android named 13, and he's gone that way!"

"I'm on it! Vegeta… what's Bulma doing here?" asked Piccolo with a snarl on his face.

"Dad… is my daddy ok?"

"If you want to find out kid, come with us," said Vegeta. "That is if you can keep up! I suggest you accompany Trunks because otherwise you'll get in my way!"

"All right," Piccolo nodded. He and Trunks exchanged glances, then blasted off till they were only faint traces of ki in the far horizon. Gohan blinked at Bulma's armored figure encased in armor identical to Vegeta's with shock.

"What are you looking at?" Vegeta snapped.

"Bulma… you look different," Gohan said.

"Never seen a Saiyan Princess in armor?" she laughed holding onto Vegeta. Grumbling, Vegeta clutched her tightly. Blue ki flared around them both, and then Vegeta accelerated them after where Gero had gone. Gohan shrugged and rocketed after them.Top of Form