Disclaimer: I don't own Dragon Ball Z, Akira Toriyama does and created it. My fan character Tomic, and any others not part of the series belong to me. This story means no harm to the anime or manga

Second Chances for Bardock's Sons

By Trynia Merin

Beta read by Sarah Slutz January 2008

Bulma heard the harsh words of her rescuer nearby as she felt consciousness return, "Yes Nappa, I have the stupid female. I just blew up an annoying tin can. Have you found anything? No. Well come back soon as you are able. But don't blow up anything else that could affect the resale price of this planet! I still haven't decided if I want to put it on the market yet or keep it for myself."

Judging from the sense of position she guessed she was sitting up on something like a padded seat. Air whistled with the same temperature so she must be outside. Breath nearby wafted into her face along with the words, "Wake up you stupid woman. I know you're coming to, I can see your eyes moving!"

"Ooh, what the hell," Bulma blinked slowly. Something crackled over her body with an ozone smell. She blinked awake to stare into a pair of very dark eyes. Immediately she gasped, kicking backward at the confused face of the Prince. At least that is what he called himself. Pain erupted at the contact of a hard object on the back of her skull.

"OUCH!" Bulma cursed, rubbing the back of his head. "What the hell is that?"

"Can't you keep your mouth SHUT for one second?" Vegeta gritted in disgust, backing away. He bared his teeth hissing in anger at the female's loud cry.

"Wait a minute, what… oh yeah, you saved me," Bulma mumbled, still rubbing her bruised noggin. Around her curved the surface of a small spaceship. In a thickly padded seat she sat peering at a frowning alien prince through the open hatch curving above. Vegeta crouched on white booted feet peering in at her like she was a specimen or dangerous animal.

"No kidding female. Though why I bothered is eluding me at this moment," he answered in a thickly accented voice. Such a voice was just learning human speech, Bulma surmised from the inflexions, and his native tongue must be guttural indeed.

"So you're not kidding me? You're really a Prince?" she glanced up at him.

"Are you ignorant as well as loud female? I already told you that I am! You try my patience, fool!" he bared his teeth at her.

"EXCUSE me for freaking breathing, your high and mightiness!" Bulma yelled back at him, causing him to clamp a hand over the ear not covered by a scouter. "I've been through HELL and you're shouting at me!"

"You have no comprehension of what hell truly is, female," Vegeta glared back at her. To his satisfaction this caused Bulma to shut up. She trembled on the seat of the space pod, hugging her knees tightly to her chest. Fortunately she still wore her Capsule corps jacket, so she wasn't freezing to death.

"Crap, oh crap I can't believe this. I'm talking to a monkey prince who just vaporized a bad guy with his finger," she shook her head.

"Idiot," he grumbled, turning away. "Stay there. If you value your life. I'm sick of saving your ass. The next time you try and run for it and get killed I’m NOT coming after you!"

"Fine," Bulma mumbled. "So what fly crawled up your royal butt, huh?"

Snapping his head around Vegeta glared at her through his scouter. "Quite a tongue on you, woman. Be glad you amuse me or else I'd have vaporized you for your incessant babbling!"

"Hey, I'm cold, hungry and I DON'T do outdoors, your HIGHNESS! I'm stuck in the wilderness after being SHOT at, savaged by bug eyed robots, and I don't have an ice cream soda or a boyfriend so LAY Off!" Bulma yelled at him.

Vegeta blinked at her, astonished at her gall. "Spoiled brat," he snickered.

"Takes one to know one, Princey," she shot back. "As you said when we first had this convo!"

"How hard did you hit your head, female," he mumbled.

"My name is BULMA, BULMA got it, not BABE, female, or woman! Sheesh!" Bulma glared at him.

"Fine, BULMA, shut up," Vegeta glared at her. "Or else you'll be sorry!"

"You can't blow me up, Princey," she said with a mock cooing tone that made him sick to his stomach. "I'm beautiful, smart and I'm your information booth. So maybe you could act like a Prince and use some manners."

His chest heaved in and out as he grabbed the front of her shirt with one gloved hand. Hot breath pulsed against her lips, and Bulma did not back down. Moving his face within inches of her he hissed, "Don't push my buttons woman, you wouldn't like the result."

Just having him so close caused fluttering in her stomach, along with a skipping pulse. Flirting with danger was something Bulma did often, yet she knew he could easily destroy her. "I don't like men pushing me around, your Highness," Bulma breathed, staring him down. "So just chill, okay?"

"You're not scared of me are you? Are you insane or just stupid?" Vegeta marveled in disbelief.

"Are all Saiyans as handsome as you are?" she asked sweetly, mustering a smile though she was terrified.

Her statement caught him off guard. Vegeta's jaw opened but no sound came out. Inside his chest his heart thumped violently while the sweet scent of her beauty products overloaded his sense of smell. Surely she was just saying that to keep from being killed. Glancing into those eyes he saw his own image reflected, totally unnerving and un-Saiyan.

"Naturally," he said, smoothing his voice out and giving her his best diabolic smirk. So she wanted to play head games, he would bite.

"So, what do you want to know?" Bulma smiled, resting her hand on top of the gloved one holding her shirt. Lightly she ran her fingers over the back of it.

"Where are my soldiers, Bulma," Vegeta breathed, lips next to her ear.

Thrilled he had used her name, she felt the warmth of his body, suddenly feeling nervous and shaky. The Royal Brat was playing right back with her, she thought. "At the 23rd Budokai," she whispered. "A martial arts tournament. They're trying to stop Piccolo from taking over the world."

"And you say my men are there?" he half purred. This threw her off balance for she had first guessed he had no idea of what to do with women. Perhaps he had only reacted so to her kiss because it was alien, and he really was some sort of Don Juan when he wanted to be. Either that or he was used to screwing with people's heads to get what he wanted.

"One of them is fighting for Piccolo against her will, your Majesty," she said, glancing up at him wide eyed. Somehow her gut told her that he could tell truth from lies so she might as well come clean. "If you mean the guy named Raditz with the long spiky hair and stuff, he is with Goku I guess. He's fighting with the rest of Earth's Special Forces, I saw them on television."

"Idiotic buffoon I didn't give him leave to sightsee!" Vegeta snorted, retreating a bit. Still his hand clutched Bulma's shirt while his other pinned her shoulder into place. He shifted to sit on the edge of the seat so his armored hip brushed hers.

Dare she appeal to this strange alien for help? What could she offer him except a possible bartering chip? Bulma leaned on her side to squeeze her legs shut. She panted, "I don't know why, but Piccolo's trying to kill Goku. And I've no idea why you guys are here, but I'm guessing from your database that it's to blow this planet up. And I'm begging you not to."

"Begging me?" he snickered.

"Your majesty… Vegeta no Ouji… please listen to me. We can work something out," Bulma swallowed. "I mean I'm a scientist. What do you want? Power, universal domination? Cause I might be able to help you!"

"You, help me? Don't make me laugh!" he snorted.

"I decoded your scouter and made it speak my language, hot shot," she smirked at him. "And if you want to get stronger, I might know a way to help you."

"Who says I'm not already strong enough," he smirked.

"From what your database said, your profession it was something about selling and buying planets," Bulma swallowed. "And you must be doing that to get rich. And you must want to buy something. And you've got someone ELSE as your boss cause you said your name was Vegeta of the Saiyans, and another person was listed as the big boss. And judging from your personality, you don't like someone telling you what to do any more than I would."

"Woman, you presume much. You mean to tell me you translated a database in a matter of months?"

"Yes, I did say I was smart," she smirked.

"Take me to this tournament," he glared at her.

"Oh no, that would ruin it!" protested Bulma, grabbing onto strong muscle sheathed in tight blue fabric.

Vegeta reached down with his other hand and pried her death grip off his upper right arm. Clutching her wrist tightly he bared his fangs at her. "You dare question me?"

"If Goku and Piccolo don't fight, Piccolo would kill a lot of people. He wants to take over this planet! And if you're going to do something wasteful and stupid and blow it up, I'm sure he'll give you one hell of a fight! So why don't you just tell me what I can do to help convince you otherwise, hmm?" Bulma blurted out, voice shaky.

"You've got a lot of guts," Vegeta said. "You'd better not be jerking me around, because I'll show you how capable I am of blowing this entire world to space dust…"

"Whoa easy there your Majesty, then what good would it be for your boss? If you don't get anything out of your investments…" she trailed off. Sighing, Vegeta released her shirt. That shrewd minx had a point and he hated her for it. What sort of creature was she, but a Princess? She had knowledge of matters of state, and acted in a manner that suggested a life of pampering. Apparently his watching her had been fruitful after all, and he might well be looking at someone who would make an excellent mare for breeding new heirs.

"Very well then, Bulma, we'll play this your way. But I don't like my soldiers messing around when they're supposed to be securing this planet for MY use," Vegeta said.

"Capsule is very wealthy. You could easily get what you wanted by trade. My daddy owns a lot of…" she trailed off.

"Your primitive technology is nothing compared to ours. But I will bite. Provided you swear allegiance to me," he snickered.

"EXCUSE me?" she glared back.

"I don't like my allies and servants thinking they can out think a master strategist. And those foolish enough to betray me have paid a heavy price. So you'd BEST not try and double cross me, or your whole race will suffer the fate of your folly," he said with an icy tone that sent chills over her spine.

Realizing she might be making a deal with a devil, albeit a handsome one, she considered her options. Death at Piccolo's hand might happen if Goku could not defeat him. Either that or those stupid Red Ribbon soldiers might have nastier things up their sleeves. Where there was one android there might be more, and she would rather ally herself with an alien bad ass than chance things on her own.

"Okay, Vegeta, you've got a deal. I'll swear or whatever, but ONLY on one condition," Bulma said.

"You drive a hard bargain. What is it!" he snapped.

"Don't hurt or kill any of my friends," she said quietly.

"Fine. I can't promise that if they get in my way though, but I can promise that if you serve me well that you will not come to harm, although your life is insignificant in the long run," he snorted. "Such a weak creature like you could hardly pose a threat unless she had great faith in a hidden resource."

"Fine whatever," she glanced up at him. Extending her hand she said, "Shake?"

"Stupid Earth customs," he snorted, grabbing her hand and squeezing it. Bulma gritted her teeth at the sudden pressure in his gloved grasp.

"Ow!" she yelped, wincing as her face twisted into a grimace. Vegeta yanked her out of the space pod, and then gripped her around the waist.

"Hold on if you value your worthless life," he mumbled, levitating into the air. Bulma gulped, gripping him around his neck as he rocketed up with her in his grasp. Her feet dangled at the same height as his white boots with gold tips. It dawned on her that they were the same height give or take his crest of wiry spikes.

"Where are we going? Hey! They can sense your energy!" she cried.

"They cannot sense mine, simpleton. Not without scouters!," he laughed with a deep harshness. Bulma wondered if he could sense ki without the scouter, and realized he probably couldn't with such a statement.

Blue ki surged around his form, crackling over top Bulma to fold them in an envelope. Around them the ground raced at a blinding pace. Vegeta relentlessly thrust against the planet's atmosphere. Far below she saw the crackling surges of power accompanied by roiling dark storm clouds rolling all around. The very air burst with highly ionized particles tingling her scalp even through Vegeta's protective shield.

"What's he doing!" she gasped, pointing down at the armored figure of Nappa surging with electricity. Two other figures in Red Ribbon outfits rained energy blasts on him as he zipped in and out.

"What are those things, more tin cans?" Vegeta mumbled. "I can't see them on my scouter!"

"They're machines, Vegeta," she explained. "They were able to capture your soldier Tomic, and there might be many more of them. Some evil genius named Gero can created them, and your buddy may be powerful but…"

"My right hand man Nappa is an elite warrior, and those things are matching him. This is intolerable! Nappa what are you doing?"

"Having fun, your Majesty!" came Nappa's laugh through the speaker of Vegeta's scouter.

"Let yourself be captured. And see if you can learn anything about these tin cans," said Vegeta. "And send the Saibamen back to the pods. I'm going after Raditz and Tomic."

"Sure Vegeta," he laughed. "This will be a blast."

"Don't blow anything up till you've recorded a full assessment of their strength. Then you can atomize them," Vegeta emphasized..

"Wait," Bulma swallowed. "There could be more."

"Don't insult me, woman," Vegeta rolled his eyes. "Call me in two hours. Then blow their headquarters sky high!"

"Will do!" Nappa's voice crackled. "Nappa out!"

"Vegeta… I mean your Majesty… you can't just blow up a Red Ribbon base!"

"I can do as I please," he laughed. "Now tell me where this tournament is so that I might see if this Piccolo is a worthy adversary!"

"You're going to just WALTZ into a martial arts tournament like THAT?" she glanced at him. "Are you nuts?"

"Would you rather I blow it up first? I don't have time for your games woman," Vegeta glanced at her impatiently. "And who the hell is this GOKU?"

"Don't you know? He's just like you guys, with a tail and the hair!" she glanced at him.

"You mean to say he's a SAIYAN?" Vegeta gaped at her. "Then why in HELL can't I sense… damn it!"

"Um, he must be, because he has this weird power to change when he looks at the full moon, and I'm guessing you can do the same with that tail?" Bulma gasped.

Vegeta's face shifted in shock and he gaped at her, "You mean this Goku… he can transform?"

"I've seen it at least twice, your Majesty. It's only a miracle he survived when Yamcha and Puar cut off his tail…" Bulma trailed off eyes wide.

"No wonder this planet's still intact, that he can move among you unchallenged. Yet you say you've known him personally?"

"Goku's my friend. I've known him since he was a kid… and um… why are you staring at me like that?"

"This is just as they said," Vegeta mused. "He IS brain damaged. Stupid retarded third class warriors. Only they would suffer such obvious weaknesses."

"I thought you and your buddy had come to take him back," Bulma said nervously. "I mean that's what Tomic said…"

"Kakkarot was presumed missing… how a mere third class could evade capture so long… Just how powerful this Piccolo is, and why didn't Raditz report back?" Vegeta stammered in anger. "It all makes sense now."

"Easy Prince, let's just follow your plan. The tournament's about two hundred and fifty miles that way on the largest island," she pointed. "Due south."

"Raditz has a lot of explaining to do!" Vegeta snarled, gripping Bulma to him more tightly.

"OUCH not so hard you brute!" she yelped.

"Shut up or I'll drop you!" Vegeta barked. Bulma hung tightly to him, burying her face in his neck. The Saiyan Prince rocketed at twice the speed of sound, suppressing his true levels tightly under a shutter of mental might.