The three warriors sat quietly, waiting for death to come and take them. They knew they would be first on Vejiita's list; Piccolo, Krullin and Gohan. Gohan sat on a rock next to a lake; he picked up a small stone and through it across the glassy water. Krullin sighed, 'Poor kid' he thought, 'he hasn't even seen Goku since Namek.'

Piccolo watched the two; silently cursing Dende for not being more careful with the new dragonballs. In the end however, Piccolo could blame no one. They had all been too trusting of Vejiita. Perhaps it was because he tried to make them believe that they couldn't trust him; making it seem like he had a wall around him. This whole time everyone, even himself, had believed it to be nothing more than Vejiita's imense pride hidding his true self; they never thought that they could be so wrong.

Then, he came. All three of them sensed it at the same time. Piccolo closed his eyes, sighing, Krullin put a hand on Gohan's shoulder as the young boy clenched his fists and glared at the sky. A blue aura appeared and in a flash he was there, death had arrived.

* * *

Bulma seemed to be oblivious to the hustle and preperations around Capsule Corp. All the employees and their families were busy getting organized to leave the building and go to the underground shelter just below the Capsule Corp. grounds. It was a sanctuary not even Vejiita knew about.

Bulma was still in shock, 'Should it be this hard for me to understand?' she asked herself, 'Why should it be so hard to understand that he never changed? He always tried to convience me he was still the same. I'm just so stupid! That's the only explination!'

Bulma was jolted from her thoughts by a gentle hand on her shoulder, she jumped. "Relax dear!" it was her mother, "Everyone else is in the shelter, we're the only two left up here. We should go now."

Bulma turned to face her mother, a look of pure detirmination across her face. "No." she said firmly, Mrs. Briefs appeared quite shocked, "I'm going to wait until he gets here. I have a few 'words' for him."

Mrs. Briefs went pale, "BULMA! You can't possibly be serious, he'll kill you on the spot!"

Bulma fought hard to keep the tears from coming, "Then let him! If he's going to kill me, I'd rather he did it and got it over with!"

Mrs Briefs burst into tears, "Please, you're my only daughter! I don't want to lose you!"

Bulma sighed, and hugged her mother, "I have to do this mother. I have to face Vejiita and show him that I'm not weak and I'm not going to bow down to him. He used me, but it won't happen again. I promise, if I'm still alive, I'll come down with you guys, but please understand that I have to do this."

Mrs. Briefs reluctantly gave in and turned and opened the hidden door to the shelter. Bulma sighed, there was nothing to do but wait.

* * *

Vejiita couldn't contain his laughter anymore. It was quite amusing to see these three beaten and broken. Their blood all over him and the ground; he enjoyed it imensly.

The three glared back at him, nursing their wounds. Krullin couldn't take it any more, "Just kill us already!" he spat, "This is your chance to finish what you started!"

Vejiita chuckled, smiling cruelly at his victims, "Now, what fun would that be!" he walked slowly towards Gohan, "If I killed you, that would end your suffering! No, I want you to suffer, watching Chikyuu and the rest of the Universe bow before Me!"

Krullin closed his eyes, "No." he whispered queitly.

Vejiita's smile widened as he stopped just before Gohan, "Perhaps the great Super Sayajin will return! Maybe he'll return to his planet and relize that I have beaten him, the great Super Sayajin!" he grabbed Gohan by the back of his shirt and dangled the boy in front of him, "Your father will live to see that he has failed!" Gohan growled and spat. "Little bastard." Vejiita growled, backhanding the boy, shattering his cheek bone. "Now, you three had better take good care of yourselves. I have other things to attend to."

* * *

Bulma gazed out at the sunset from her balcony; it was only a matter of time before he came. Would he kill her, or laugh at her for being such an idiot? Probably both. She sighed, turning inside and shutting the door behind her.

She wrapped her arms around herself, trying hard to keep from crying. How much damage had he done? How many lives has he ended? She prayed to Dende that he wouldn't find those hiding below the grounds.

Suddenly, she heard it. Quiet footsteps coming down the hallway. She held her breath, waiting. The door knob slowly turned and the door opened; it seemed like an eternity.

He had come, smiling cruelly, his tail waving lightly behind him. He was as arrogant as ever. She glared at him, "Bastard!" she muttered, "You arrogant Son of a bitch!"

Vejiita's smile widened, "Tsk, tsk. You had better watch your language, I am YOUR king after all."

"I'll die before I bow down to you!" Bulma spat, the smile on Vejiita's face faded.

"I thought you were somewhat intellegent woman!" he barked, "You WILL die if you don't learn your place!"

"FINE!" Bulma screamed, "Kill me then, I don't care, just like you never cared! You used me! I was just a toy, wasn't I? Damn you, I can't believe I actually cared about you. Kami, I was such a fool. So, kill me. Get it over with."

There was silence as Vejiita pondered her words, but after a few moments, that smirk of his returned. "No, to kill you would be a waste." Bulma went pale, "Yes, you're a fool to have fallen for me, but you must admit, it was enjoyable." Bulma clenched her fists to keep from slapping him, "Perhaps, someday, you'll come to your senses, and admit that I am your King." He reached out, she tried to slip away, but he was too quick. He pulled her to him and held her tightly.

"Let go!" Bulma demanded, struggling uselessly.

Vejiita only chuckled, "It will only be a matter if time before you fall for me again." He pressed his lips to her earlobe, kissing it lightly. His lips traveled down to her neck, where he bit it, hard. She cried out in pain, as he kissed the wound. He then released her, and turned to walk out the door, but before he left, he said, "Only a matter of time."

* * *

Dende stared down on earth, shame clear on his face. "What have I done?" he wondered aloud, though there was no one to hear him. "I've turned the entire Universe to Hell."

Dende turned, he could not watch anymore, a single tear escaped. Chikyuu was doomed, and it was his fault.

* * *

ChiChi was growing hysterical, "Where's Gohan?!" she demanded as Dr. Briefs tried to make sure everyon was situated.

The compounds underneath Capsule Corp. was much like that of a small city, there were houses and small shops. The people here could live like they had on the surface, just now they were safe from that tyrant Vejiita.

Dr. Briefs turned to ChiChi, "I don't know, but we're keeping an eye out for him, and the others. Krullin knows about this place, so he'll bring them here." Dr. Briefs said no more, for he feared that they were dead.

Yamucha was listening quietly, sure that they were dead as well, he would be to, if he hadn't came here. He felt like such a coward, but Mrs. Briefs had convinced him that it was for the better if he stayed here. They would fight someday when they could win. But Yamucha questioned that. Could they ever win?

* * *

Bulma held herself tightly, sobbing and trembling. "Oh Kami, why does it hurt so much?"

She had been there for hours, crying and trying to convince herself it wasn't because she still loved him. But she could no longer deny it, she loved him still. She didn't know why, but she did.

She slowly got up, her parents must be worried about her, she found the enterance to the city, the door slid open and she was greeted by her father, "Are you okay?" he demanded, she only nodded, "Good. We're going to give Krullin and the others a little more time to get here before we lock the door."

Bulma nodded, but she was unable to speak. A wave a nausea crashed into her; she felt dizzy and light headed. Unable to utter a sound, she passed out.

* * *

"Dende!" Gohan demanded, "You have to come with us!"

The three warriors had come to get their wounds healed and convince Dende to come with them. But Dende refused, "I am to blame for this, and I must be punished, I must force myself to suffer alone up here." Gohan was going to intervene, but Piccolo stopped him.

Piccolo didn't like the idea of going into hidding, but it would do no good to stay up and watch the world suffer while they could do nothing. Besides, Gohan's mother was probably there, so he had to make sure the kid got back to her.

The three warriors nodded solemly, and turned to Capsule Corp.

* * *

Bulma woke in the medical lab. Her mother and father were sitting next to her, a nervous look on their faces. Mrs. Briefs decided to break the silence, "Well, Krullin, Gohan and Piccolo are all here."

Bulma nodded, "What's going on?"

Dr. Briefs smiled, "Just waiting for test results."

Bulma was about to say something when, the door opened and a very nervous doctor walked in. She tried to smile, but it was clear she was nervous. "Well, Ms. Briefs, it would seem that you are quite healthy." Bulma nodded, there was a catch, "As is your baby."

* * *