Make a Difference von Nevaeh ================================================================================ Kapitel 10: ------------  “Why don’t we fly?”   Yasai only shot her an annoyed glance when they walked the steps down to the subway. It was still awfully cold but at least it wasn´t snowing. “Flying is not allowed in the city.” “Really? Why is that?”   Yasai didn’t answer. Goten just raised his eyebrow and shrugged. She was definitely nervous, it was obvious since she had picked them up earlier in the morning to check if they were dressed properly. Bra had even left her hair out and open so the King could be impressed how outlandish she looked. Yasai also didn´t stop fiddling with her phone or whatever it was. Bra couldn´t quite read it but it had to be her speech. After driving for five minutes she was fed up and poked Yasai.   “Why are you so nervous? It´s your father, he won´t say no. Just be nice.”   Yasai slowly turned her head, staring at Bra for a while. “What does that have to do with anything?”   “You´re family, right? If the system was supposed to be fair you wouldn´t have a monarchy.” Bra huffed but it kept stuck in her throat when Yasai grabbed her upper arm hard enough for her to gasp.   “How about you shut your damn mouth and speak only when you are asked to?” She shoved Bra´s arm away and went back to her phone. Bra rubbed her arm. It would leave a bruise.   “She´s right, Bra. Who knows how the people at the palace are if someone like Yasai is a wreck. Maybe… we should let things unfold first.” He had whispered. There was no need for it, no one understood them anyway.   “I just asked her something…” She shrugged. Whatever, she could shut up if need be.   ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~   They arrived shortly after. The subway station didn´t lead into the palace as Bra had assumed. Instead, they walked around for longer than she was happy with, considering she wasn´t wearing anything on her head and the wind was bitingly cold. Yasai had told them not to raise their power level if they are cold, which was cute. It´s not as if she could even if she wanted to. The palace itself was definitely more impressing than the photos she had seen. Most of it was rose up high enough to vanish in the morning mist. It was very round, almost like home, without any sharp angles. The main building had some banners on the outside and the royal emblem carved into the doors at the entrance. It was a bit tacky, though she had expected to be some statues here and there as well or columns or even a showy garden. The doors had to be enough it seemed.     Yasai led them to one of the side entrances and gave them both visitor passes. Some things were the same everywhere in the universe…   “Wear them on your front, the code visible. Otherwise the doors won´t open.” “Would be a shame if the toilet door won´t budge, eh?”   Goten snorted but he stopped immediately when Yasai gave them a dirty stare. “And shut up, both of you!” They made a short stop on the way and were left in the hallway. It wasn´t very impressive. Windowless, dark floor, light walls with a circular pattern carved into it. Made it look like the inside of a vase. When Yasai came back she was wearing a deep red cape, the same she had been wearing when they had first met. Her uniform was shining, she was walking straight enough to be mistaken for a broom and things were about to get serious. Bra felt her spirit rise for the first time in weeks. She was excited to meet the King, and maybe even… catch a glimpse of her dad.   The hallway layout changed, it became lighter, windows appeared that gave a view over the city which spread far on the horizon. She could see the lines of the train tracks going over the streets, the mess of different architectural styles, neon coloured advertisements blinking not too far away. It wasn´t as bright as on Dunja, but it made it more… cozy.   The people in the halls stared more than the ones in the ship. Probably wondering what a mixed was doing in their holy palace. Bra had noticed that there was no word for racist in Vegeta-go, but they definitely knew the concept. Yasai finally stopped in front of two huge doors and quickly walked inside. She stopped short, eyeing them both for a few seconds. “Stay here, I´ll call you when I need you. Don´t run around, don´t annoy her and just… don´t do anything.”   Yasai walked over to her, the receptionist of what was presumably the King´s office. It had a bench so they both walked over to it and sat down. Quietly. The receptionist gave them a once over and went back to her work while Yasai managed to walk even straighter and stiffer into the next room.   “Look at that…” Bra pointed behind them, were a huge relief was carved into the stone wall. The walls were very high and she couldn´t quite make out what it depicted from where she sat. “So they do have some arts here.” Goten tried to hold her back when she got up to look at it but resigned and got up as well. They were quiet, no one could complain. The relief showed a series of men, all in similar but slightly different uniforms, their feet on the remains of other species.   “It shows the succession to the throne and the enemies we defeated. It´s taught in school, if you went to one.” “We did.” Goten turned his head and walked a bit closer to the desk. “Your planet is not the only one that is any good, you know?”   “If you think that why are you here, then?” She grinned, showing a set of teeth with little rhinestones on it. “What enemies? Did someone attack? Is that why this is the third Vegeta-sei?” Bra wasn´t in the mood for another snarky asshole. This was their heritage. Finally something interesting, something maybe even her dad didn´t know. She could tell him when they got back.   “Of course not. The other two planets were drained of resources and the new ones had to be purged first. You really know nothing, do you?”   “We are not from here. Why should we?” So that was it. She had thought her dad had been forced to work for Freeza, but it seems as if he had just needed to adapt to a new boss. It was disgusting. And they had carved it in stone and taught it at school. Bra was ripped out of her thoughts by a beeping sound and the receptionist waved them to the door. Finally.   “Bra, don´t say anything stupid. We need them to get back home.” “I won´t, stop fretting.” She took a deep breath and walked inside.   ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~   Bra almost stopped when she saw him. He looked awfully like her father, so much it sent a little pain right through her chest. She hadn´t realized how much she had missed home until now. A few steps more and they stopped, waiting for something to happen. Yasai´s eyes widened and Bra realized that she had expected them to bow. Like hell she would. The King huffed and got a bit closer, inspecting them. Bra didn´t flinch when he grabbed her chin, but she was ready to punch him when he finally let go.   “Why did my son fuck some trash on an unknown planet?” He stared at her. Bra looked at Goten, uncertain if it was really a question, but Goten looked exactly as lost. “Because he liked my mother. I guess.”   “That´s no reason to impregnate someone.” “It is where I come from!” She had already enough of it. Goten didn´t hold her back this time when she got closer. The King wasn´t that much taller than her. “I´m not here to get insulted!”   “They are here because in their time our planet got destroyed. And we were still on it, as I said before. It doesn´t matter what could have happened in the future, now that we know we can avoid bastards.”   Yasai had stepped forward. She was still tense but looked as if she had the situation under control. Bra wasn´t that sure about it.   “I can teach your people how to become Super Saiyans. With that transformation you are stronger than Freeza and the threat is gone.”   The King looked up to Goten, frowning. “And how do you know that it works for real Saiyans?” Real Saiyans… She was about to punch him in the dick. “Because my father was one and Vegeta became one as well. Prince Vegeta, I mean.”   “My dad.” Yasai gestured her to shut up.   “We can´t try here, obviously. Yasai, you can take that one and pick four more. I want their files at four. You got one month. What about that one?”   “That one…!” “Bra, leave it.” Goten had put his hand on her shoulder and held her back.   “She is very intelligent, so my proposal stands.” “Hm. Give me the files first, then I decide. You can go.”   “My Lord.” Yasai bowed deep down before she grabbed Bra by the arm and forcefully pushed her outside. “Ninjin, we´re done.” The receptionist just lifted her head shortly in acknowledgement and Yasai didn´t even stop walking. When they were back in the hallway Bra tried to get her arm back but Yasai didn´t even slow down.   “Let me go!” “Shut your damn mouth. You almost ruined everything you damn brat!” She shook her for emphasis. “And you are not even important to any of this! I don´t care if you like it or not, you understand?” She shook Bra again. Goten didn´t do anything. There were a lot of people in the hallway.   “And where are you dragging me, Princess?”   “Not your business.”   She rolled her eyes and followed her unwillingly. She didn´t have another choice anyway.   ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~   “How did it go?”   They had barely entered the office when Yasai pushed Bra away who gladly rubbed her arm. The other one. “Fine, I guess. Wants the files of the four people I chose to come with me. I´ve got to go over them once more, but I guess we´re good to go.”   Nappa nodded, slowly. “And what about her?” Yasai stared daggers at Bra´s head before she patted against Nappa´s arm and gestured him to follow into the other room. Maybe to discuss how they should get rid of Bra´s dead body.   “You could´ve helped me.” “You´re not hurt, Bra. It´s your safety that´s in danger, not mine. You know they want to split us up. Couldn´t you have just played along?”   “Excuse me? Did you hear how that asshole talked to me? Who does he think he is?” Goten exhaled loudly and turned around where he stopped dead in his track.   “What is it? Goten?”   “Who are you?”   Bra got a bit closer for a better look. Sounded like a child. Like… “Oh my god. Oh my god, Goten.” “I see it.”   Prince Vegeta crossed his arms in front of his chest. It didn´t look very intimidating with his little, puffy arms. “Where is Nappa?”   “He´s… he´s talking with Yasai in the other room.” Goten grinned so bright he couldn´t shut his mouth anymore. Bra understood him completely. He was so tiny and squishy. She wanted to… hug him.   Little Vegeta looked at the door, contemplating. “Commander Yasai?” He looked back at them. “You didn´t bow. Why?” Bra started giggling and got on her knees. “Why should I? You´re not my Prince. I´m not from here.”   “You have weird eyes.” He got closer and touched her face, her hair. That was it. She had to hug him.   “Vegeta, get away from her. You, get up.”   Vegeta pouted but shuffled away, his tiny tail curling around his leg. Nappa went over to them and unceremoniously ripped the authorization cards from their chests. “You two stay here. Vegeta, come on.”   “What if I have to pee?” Yasai shoved her aside, hard enough to slam against the wall. “One more word…”   “It´s over there, in the other room!” Vegeta grinned at her, brightly. He made some indignant noise when Yasai shoved him along with his foot.   “Someone will pick you up later. Don´t do anything stupid.” This time, she at least considered them both.  The door closed and when Bra tested it, it didn´t open.   “You could´ve taken the cards back from him. You are stronger, Goten.”   “And what for? I won´t fight everyone on this planet about who´s gonna have the last word. And you shouldn´t, either.” Shouldn´t… what a hard task. She strolled over to the couch that was standing on the other side of the room, grey and angular and not very soft. “That was my dad. He was so cute and tiny.”   “I know. Who knew Vegeta had been like that once in his life. Not grumpy…”   Bra laughed, but it was stuck in her throat. Why had he fucked some trash on another planet? If they saved them all, would her dad end up like them as well? “I will never be born in this timeline.”   Goten smiled at her, softly. “You don´t know that. He was totally into your eyes. You just need to tell him where to find Bulma and everything else… will fall into place.” “Maybe.” If her mum became Queen of Vegeta-sei… that would change things around here quickly. “Wanna go through Nappa´s stuff? I´m interested in what they are doing here.”   “It´s probably locked anyway.” Bra stared at him until he rolled his eyes hard enough to hurt. “But we can try, Bra, sure. Where was the toilet again?” “Over there, other room. Come on, let´s have some fun!”   ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~   “You know I´m not into beards, but it suits you. You should keep it when we get back, it makes you look like one of those hipster models.” “Hm.”   “I thought about cutting my hair shorter, it grows so fast anyway. It´s actually quite uncomfortable when I put it in a bun but there´s really no other option for competitions. It hurts when you smack yourself with your ponytail.” “Hm.”   “Have you tried braiding? It´s so thick, would work fine. And healthy. What do you do with it?” “Not much. Don´t stop.”   Bra smiled a little bit when she continued running her fingers through his hair. He was lying on her lap, almost dozed off. It had been a few hours already and no one had came for them. She was starting to get really hungry and bored… “Do you miss writing?”   Goten opened his eyes slightly. She felt him tense. “A bit. What do you miss?” She hesitated, not wanting him to notice how her fingers started to shake a little bit. “Everything. He looked like dad. Both did.”   “Do you think dad is already on Earth?” “I don´t know. Maybe. Should we search for him?”   Goten smiled and closed his eyes again. “No. He´s gonna have a good life when Vegeta´s not there to mess it up.” Bra tugged on his hair hard enough for him to yelp. “Hey buddy, dad had been essential every time the Earth needed saving, alright?”   “Oh, besides that one time he came specifically to do it himself, you mean?”   “Asshole…” She grabbed his ears and started pulling which only made Goten laugh. She couldn´t help it and started as well, hard enough that they could barely breathe, couldn´t stop, couldn´t think. It was… relieving.   “I see you have fun.”   Bra let go of Goten so abruptly that he fell on the floor with a loud noise. She started laughing again, it was impossible not to. “Yeah. You too, Yasai?”   “Tremendously. Gohtin, you´re with me. Bura, Nappa will take care of you later. Come on, now!”   Goten got up, still out of breath and red faced. “What about our stuff? We´ve got some left at your place.” Yasai considered it for a second and waved it away. “You can pack for Bura, I´ll drop it off. Because I´m so nice.” She smiled and it was the most terrifying smile Bra had ever seen.   “We are all a bit happier with our delusions.”   Yasai snorted and walked to the door, impatiently. Goten didn´t follow immediately. They hadn´t expected to say goodbye so quickly. The King had said one month, but a month here was longer than on Earth and… “Hey. Take care. Don´t do something stupid. Do what Trunks would do.”   Bra punched him in the arm. “Same.” She hugged him shortly. Yasai was already pacing.   It was already dark when Nappa finally came to pick her up. Vegeta wasn´t with him. She wondered why, but didn´t ask. Nappa was an unknown entity and Goten was gone. No matter what, she wasn´t in the mood to test his patience yet.   “If I´m gonna have to stay here I really need to know how to get something to eat. Do you have take-out?” Nappa didn´t bother to answer it, he just handed her the access card back. They didn´t take the subway, he only walked over to one of the other buildings on the palace grounds. It were apartments after all, and nice ones. Maybe little Vegeta was waiting there…   “You can sleep on the couch tonight. Dinner will come over shortly. What was your name?” “Bra. Don´t you have a guest room?”   He raised an eyebrow. “No. Listen, a royal bastard is still a bastard. You don´t get to make demands.” “That title actually didn´t count at all at home. But my mum is the most important person on the planet.” Well. Not entirely, but Nappa didn´t know that.   “Oh, is that so? And I was afraid that I had raised our Prince wrong and he had settled down with some whore on a backwater planet.” He grinned at her threateningly. It made Bra shiver. She had been right to be careful around that one.   “From what I can tell you did a good job.”   He huffed and left for another room. Bra let out a breath she hadn´t even realized she had been holding. This… would be interesting. Hosted by Animexx e.V. (http://www.animexx.de)