Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Against All Odds ❯ The Proposal ( Chapter 3 )

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Against all Odds

Chapter Three:

The Proposal

She was working in the Landing Bay when he came back. His two bodyguards sprung out of their pods and rushed over to his ship. There was a loud screech as they pried open the door. She angle around so she could get a better view and gasped at the sight. Vegeta was crumpled inside the pod covered in blood. His men reached in and grabbed him under the arms, hoisting him out of the pod

They were holding him slumped between them, when his onyx eyes opened and met hers across the dock. She inhaled sharply as she looked into the completely emotionless pits, before he was hauled away to the regen room.

Kami, did that man ever not get hurt? On the bright side, it's one injury closer to the goal at hand.

From his battered looks and the trail of blood leading out the door he would be in the tank for some time. She quickly took a swab of his blood so she could examine it later then she took her time finishing up her project before going back to her room to change.

One of the first things you learn at court is that appearance is everything. You dressed to attract or distract certain types of attention. Valuable information was commonly passed between two "flirtatious" people while in a room full of people. Appearances were deceiving.

She changed into a short dark blue mini skirt that hugged her thighs with a matching blue top with white highlights that framed her breasts perfectly. She pulled her hair up, allowing a few strands to dangle down her neck and donned a pair of white knee high boots. Dark blue, she had learned was one of the Prince's favorite colors. Or so it was assumed because that was one of the only colors he would wear. Thus equipped, she strode out of the room, ready to do battle.

She strolled into the regen room, trying to look as appealing as possible, making sure that the surveillance cameras caught her. She checked the dial on the tank and saw that Vegeta still had a half an hour before being released. Playing on a hunch, she reached up and knocked loudly on the glass while watching the immobile prince. His usually cold eyes popped open to display annoyance and a hint of anger.

Hmm, just as I thought, he doesn't sleep when he is in there.

Before she left her room she had snatched up some paper and a pen and she hurriedly began to write down something she thought would catch his attention. She placed the paper flat on the window so Vegeta could read what she wrote, but she was careful not to let the camera see. While she did this, she gave him her most seductive smile.

How badly do you want to kill Frieza?

His eyes drifted down to read her message and just as quickly darted back up to hers. His eyes no longer showed annoyance, but instead they blazed with white hot anger. She gulped but continued on.

I have a plan, but I need your help. When you get out of the tank, just follow my lead. The room is bugged and we are being watched.

He frowned as he read the words a sneer forming on his lips. She put her hand on her hip, tossing her head flirtatiously as she gave him a little wave. He just glared at her while she smiled back. As she waited for the timer to ding, she burned the papers, carefully making sure that nothing but ash remained.

When the fluid had completely drained, Vegeta launched himself out of the tank practically snarling. "What do you want?" He hissed.

She resisted the urge to roll his eyes at his inability to be subtle. She let her gaze roam slowly down his form, desperately trying not to blush at his nakedness. "I think its pretty obvious, big boy. I want you. Why don't you come back with me to my quarters?"
She smiled and winked at him alluringly.

He crossed his arms across his wet naked chest, his features becoming closed. "No."

What is he doing? He's not even going to hear me out?

"No? Why not?" She hissed before remembering her role. She plastered her smile back on and purred suggestively. "I will make it worth your while."

"It could be a trap." He stated impassively, not in the least affected by her appearance.

A trap? Kami, this guy is paranoid.

Her smile nearly faltered, while her brain raced for a solution. Hitting on the perfect idea she sauntered over to him, allowing her fingers to trail up his arm.

"Oh well, then I know the perfect spot. It's a little kinky, but it might be fun and since its spur of the moment, I couldn't possibly have planned a trap." She spat the last word out with a saucy tilt of her head.

She leaned in close to him, so she could whisper in his ear, while praying that he didn't blast her right on the spot. "The machinery in the Core Room on Sublevel Three will block any sound of our conversation, but we will still be watched." She brushed her lips against his ear before pulling away, to look into his eyes. They stared at each other for a few minutes and she desperately tried to decipher his thoughts. Finally, he moved away to dress himself, before motioning to the door. "Lead the way, woman."

She sashayed down the hall, putting on the best show possible for any audience that could be watching through the lens of a camera. They paused while they waited for the turbo lift and Bulma leaned close him. "We have to look like we are on our way to a tryst." She said in a low whisper.

He turned his head to look down at her a grimace curled on his lips. He opened his mouth to respond, but she was saved when the doors slid open to reveal an already occupied lift. She entered and stood next to the control panel while eyeing the young soldier inside. Vegeta entered behind her and leaned up against the wall, staring at her like she was a bug he was getting ready to squash.

The young man began to fidget nervously. He did not want to be trapped on the lift with one of the moodiest men alive and a woman whom three men had already died while in her company. Needless to say he got of at the next floor. After he exited, Bulma relayed her destination to the computer. No need to have more people than necessary knowing what they were up too.

When the lift started to move again, she found herself pinned up against the wall by a very solid male. She gasped in surprise and shot a startled look up at Vegeta. He was staring down at her with that same impassive expression on his face, before he leaned in close to her, his lips a hairsbreadth from hers.

"Is this what you were talking about Onna?" He questioned.

She was having a hard time ignoring the heat from his body as she swallowed convulsively at his husky words. She said the first thing that came to her mind. "My name is Bulma."

"I know." Was his only reply.

"Well you should try calling me that."

"Okay, Bulma." He reached down to grab her bottom, pulling her closer to him. She could feel the drool forming in her mouth when she caught his masculine scent.

"If you are playing with me Bulma. I will kill you." His hissed in her ear with cold, malicious intent. All of her spit dried up and she had instant cotton mouth. He pulled away to look at her and all she could do was nod.

The doors slid open and he sprang away from her shooting a look at the door. He reminded her of a coiled predator ready to spring into action.

I wonder what it's like to be on guard like that all the time. So watchful for any attack.

The computer announced that they were at their destination and they stepped out into the hall. It was low lit, as it was barely used. This was where all the machines that heated and cooled the installation were kept, along with various other types of plumbing. A great deal of it needed maintenance since there hadn't been anyone qualified on the base to repair it in many years. Her and her team had been doing what they could but they were techs not mechanics.

She led him to the room that housed the heating system and almost instantly broke into a sweat due to the intense humidity of the room. The Saiyan seemed to be unaffected though. This room was at least ninety degrees and very loud. Even if there were listening devices in here, they would not be able to pick up anything beyond the machines thumping. Another added benefit was that it was immersed in shadow. They could back themselves up in a corner and talk while embracing without actually having to do anything.

Vegeta seemed to figure this out as well because he grabbed her arm and dragged her over to the darkest corner. He lifted her up by the waist and sat her on a dirty pipe that was about hip high. Thoughts of her ruined skirt were quickly abandoned when Vegeta moved to stand between her legs, hiking the skirt even higher on her thighs. He wrapped his arms around her as he glared down at her. If anyone was watching, all they would be able to see would be their shrouded forms.

"Talk." He growled.

She took a deep breath before starting. "I want to help you kill Frieza." He looked at her expectantly.

"Once you kill him in combat, you can become the Emperor." He snarled angrily and began to pull away from her a ki ball already forming in his palm.

"Obviously, I am not strong enough to kill him Onna or I would have done it already. You are a waste of my time." He raised his hand to blast her.

"Wait, Wait!" She waved her arms in a panic. He paused, waiting for her to speak.

"I have the tools to help you become stronger." She rushed out

His frown grew and she knew that his patience was wearing thin. "Tools, don't make a person stronger woman."

"I know you have heard of me, and you must know that I am a genius. Do you really think I would go through all this if I didn't think it would be successful? Just hear me out." She snapped with desperation.

He must have considered the validity of her words because he lowered his arm and resumed his previous position.

"And just what sort of tools do you think will increase my strength?" Sarcasm dripped from every word.

"I have developed a new training room. You can adjust the gravity in steady increments allowing you to train under intense pressure. I have created robots that you can spar against that have the ability to reflect your ki back at you, increasing the intensity of the training. I have a new regeneration tank that will heal you in half the time of a normal tank. Also I have examined your blood closely and I think that I might be able to modify the tank to feed you the DNA sequence that programs your strength increasing ability. It would be small doses of course, but every time you are severely injured and have to go into the tank, it would increase your strength at least ten percent more than it usually would."

"It would be a lot of hard work on your end. You would need to train almost daily, but I feel that you would be able to eventually surpass Frieza in strength."

"I of course, will maintain the Gravity Room, the bots, the tank as well as try to develop even better machines as part of the deal."

With every word his face shifted from anger to disbelief to consideration. At the end of her stream of information his features were back to their normal stoic expression, but his eyes gleamed with an uncomfortable light.

"What do you get out of it?" He asked quietly

She swallowed, her throat suddenly dry. "Freedom." She croaked out in a cracked whisper.

He cocked his head. "What?"

She schooled her features into an unmovable mask. This last part was nonnegotiable. "Freedom, for myself and my people." She stated clearly.

His eyes narrowed. "How many people?"

"A few thousand." She replied in a controlled tone.

His eyes widened in shock as he stared down at her.

"I have an extensive spy network. Those people are loyal to me and have put their lives on the line to keep me informed. I want them to have the freedom they have worked for."

"That is a lot of people Onna."

"What do you care? You will be the Ruler of the Empire. Millions will be bowing at your feet. What is a couple thousand less? Besides they are all spies, they would not be desirable subjects, now would they?" She spat at him.

"Fine, you and two thousand people of your choosing will receive their freedom from me, IF I can defeat Frieza." He hissed.

"Not just our freedom, but your protection. I have a nice little world picked out for us to settle on. It would be redundant to get our freedom if some other enemy came along to conquer us."

He glared menacingly. "You ask too much Bulma."

"Oh? I didn't know there was a price tag on vengeance for your race." Inside she was shaking, but she didn't display any of her fear to him.

His faced darkened and his body tensed at her words. It felt like the temperature dropped ten degrees.

"You are quite right. Very well, I agree to your terms. But your plan better work or I will kill you instead."

"Fair enough, if my plan fails I don't think I want to live anyways." For a moment an expression of despair flashed across her face. It made him think that there was something that she wasn't telling him. Instantly she was all business again.

"Now for the hard part. You have to be able to train everyday without other people noticing. We have to keep the gravity room a secret and explain your absence."

"Hn. I don't see how you can hide something as big as a training facility, woman."

"That's where you are wrong. I have commandeered the entire west wing of the complex for my lab and living quarters. To get to my rooms you have to go through the labs and only through my rooms can you get to a second "lab". The doors to the main lab are locked with a security code known only to me and my people, the door to my rooms is only known by me."

"I can set up the Gravity room in the second lab, but there is one small problem."

"Yah, people are going to wonder what I am doing all day in your room."

"Precisely." She purred. She knew those high intelligence scores of his would come in handy.

"That means you are going to have to move in with me."

He reared back from her slightly, his nostrils flaring. She knew he didn't like that idea, and she knew he was going like the next one even less.

"The only way to explain that, is if everyone thinks we are lovers." She whispered.

He growled deep in his throat. "I do NOT take lovers, madam."

She sighed. "I know, I read it in your profile. You prefer occasional encounters with whores or one night stands. This is going to be completely out of character for you. We will just have to make it seem like we are head over heels and hope they buy it. That is going to require some acting on your part."

"You have read my profile?" He frowned.

"Of course, I had to find out about you if I was going to propose this little partnership." She answered offhandly.

"My file is classified."

"So, I'm a genius. When you are as smart as me, nothing stays classified for long." She preened under her own praise. He just snorted.

"There has to be another way, woman. I will not pretend to be in love with some silly weak female." He muttered something about bakas.

She cocked her head and flashed a smile at him. "Got a better idea?"

They paused for about five minutes, him still standing between her legs while she sat on the pipe.

"Hn." This translated into no.

"Good, then its settled. Tomorrow we will put our little plan in motion. The more public our display, the better." She hopped off the pipe and made her way to the door, followed by a groaning Saiyan.