OK, this is my first fic, so please be nice. This isnt necessarily the final draft, so please check out any updates. *WARNING* this may be a little dark as I have been going through a stage of depression recently and its good therapy.
ADDITIONAL NOTE: The timeline is well screwed in this, and so are some of the character's backgrounds. Please don't kill me. Basically, Bulma and Vegeta are already together when Frieza arrives the rest you can read and find out.
*stars* indicate emphasis and [square brackets] indicate thoughts
Disclaimer: I know that none of the characters from the show are mine, if it makes you happy you can sue me for a (now broken) disposable lighter and an NUS card, but thats about all I have.
Forgotten Past: The New Arrival
The Sun was beating down from a beautiful sky on yet another lovely day on Earth. However, the young woman could not relax as she stood maintaining a constant vigil on the training ground of the Z fighters. Ahead of her, Goku was taking a snack break. Never before had she seen so much food disappear in so little time. She gasped as an entire bag of apples was devoured in less than 10 seconds.
[Well, at least he burns off all those calories when he trains!] she thought to herself, losing concentration for a split second. Goku looked up, sensing the power level in the bushes. [Damnit! One more slip like that and I'm a goner.] She lowered her power level accordingly, but it took the arrival of the Saiyan prince to divert the attention of this human waste disposal unit.
"Kakarott! What are you doing? Where is my wife?" Vegeta overpowered the scene with his proud, yet some would call pompous voice. The woman gasped, and slid further back into the undergrowth. "Kakarott! Answer me!"
Goku sprayed his half chewed food over the surrounding square metre, "I don't know Vegeta, said she was going to go for a drive or something." He stuffed another loaf of bread into his mouth, "Have you two had another fight? She seemed pretty peeved when she came past here."
"The relations of a Saiyan prince is no concern of yours!" With that Vegeta stormed off in search of Bulma.
[Phew that was close, you're getting careless girl.] The young woman turned her back on Goku and diverted her attention to Vegeta. He was stomping around searching for, who was it? Oh yes, his wife. [Well I never, Vegeta got a girl. I would never have thought that would happen in a million years. I know he's a prince and all, but I never knew he would get a wife. I wonder if he has any children as well. That WOULD be a turn up for the books.]
Vegeta got closer to the hiding place, but for once he did not concern her. Even when he saw the flash of red-dyed hair and his face flickered she did not bother, for far away a great force was steadily approaching the little blue planet, and it was hell bent on destruction.
***
Vegeta was sure he had seen something in the bushes near Kakarott, but if the dopey Super-Saiyan wasn't bothered about it, then neither was he. They could kill him if they wanted, just one less job for him to do. For a second time he heard a rustle in the bush, and he turned his head to investigate further. A flash of red and then a blast of Ki as the figure sped of into the atmosphere. He wasn't going to let them get away without explaining why they were there. Hurriedly he followed, but was astounded that the female, for he was sure it was a girl, had out-flown him. The power level he had detected when she took off was amazing, and he was almost sure that he had felt that energy signature somewhere before, a long time ago but no, it was not even a hundredth of that strength, and she couldn't have improved that much. Could she?
Back in the house, Bulma had returned and was cooking a meal of rice, chicken and vegetables. She was still mad at Vegeta for reading those magazines with her next to him in bed. It was fine when she wasn't there, but when she was there? Oh! She could have killed him! Well, if he wasn't one of the strongest fighters on earth. Vegeta burst his way through the door and rushed upstairs without a word.
"VEGETA!!!! What do you think you're doing?!?" Bulma screamed up the stairs after him.
"Be quiet woman, I don't have to explain myself to you all of the time." Vegeta rummaged through some very old photographs, and eventually found the one that he was after. A photograph that was tattered at the edges, and had a burn mark from when it had been in the wrong pocket in a fight, but it reminded him of happy times. He gazed at the picture of two young Saiyan children, one a prince. The red streaked hair was unmistakable, and the smile one that made him feel strange inside. It couldn't have been her could it? [No! Stop being so stupid Vegeta, she died along with our planet, her death avenged with Kakarott's defeat of Frieza.] Even so, he held on to the hope that he would see that smile again one day, however slim that hope might be.
***
Catrik took a last look at the knife in her hands, and then closed her eyes. Years of pain and anguish were finally about to surface. There was no point in trying to find help on this planet. How do you explain that you're an alien who has no family, no friends and no hope? It just wasn't possible for anyone to remotely understand, never mind offer advice. She felt the cool metal slice through her skin and the warm blood running down her arms contrasted it perfectly. Her awareness of her body meant that she knew exactly where her veins ran, so it was no trouble to find them, unlike most humans who attempt it. This life was far too painful, maybe the next dimension would be better, there was no-one to wish her back with the dragonballs, so this was final, the way she wanted it. Even Vegeta would not be able to comprehend the emptiness she felt inside, and he was the only person who possibly could care, but knowing Vegeta he wouldn't care anyway, never mind interfere. No it had to end right here, right now. Within 30 seconds the blood loss was so severe that she blacked out. "This is it, it's finally over. I'm sorry Vegeta, I love you."
Inside himself, Vegeta felt something begin to falter, like a part of him was dying. He jolted up from the table, knocking the dishes and chair flying. Bulma just stared at him, didn't even bother shouting as he flew out of the window, searching desperately for a fading Ki. He found what he was looking for a hell of a lot quicker than he expected, in a forest not far from Capsule Corp. The Ki was very similar to his own, but far, far weaker. For once in his life he was afraid. He found her two minutes later, lying in a pool of blood, her hair matted into the puddle. He had seen hundreds, no thousands, of killings over the years but this was different. He actually felt something for her, not just hatred and contempt. He was shocked that it was possible to feel affection towards two people, it certainly had never happened before.
***
Catrik saw light again. [No! This wasn't meant to happen!] she cursed herself silently and attempted to sit up, with little success. This wasn't where she blacked out. Bulma, hearing this commotion decided to interrupt with a steaming bowl of a Saiyan recipe Vegeta had taught her in an attempt to teach her to cook edible food. "Here you go, special Saiyan recipe, get you back on your feet in no time!" Catrik looked up at her, wondering how she could maintain such mindless optimism no matter what was happening. She accepted the bowl, and saying thanks stuck in. It was nowhere near as good as her mother's, but it was edible. Obviously Vegeta had tried to teach his wife some decent recipes, but they were lost on her, and her lack of culinary skills. Before she realised the food was gone. [It was a very small portion, she obviously doesn't know that I'm a Saiyan, or she would have given me more.] Suddenly she became aware of that strange energy signature, and of her light-headedness. Come to mention it, she had seen it somewhere before, if only she could think of where and when. [Shit! It can't be!] Before she could warn anyone she returned to the blackness of unconsciousness.
***
It was hours before she rose from her slumber once again. Her arms ached like they had been sliced to ribbons... oh yeah, they had. She groaned softly and put a hand to her head. That hurt as well. Her whole body ached. Attempting to increase her Ki, she began to glow eerily with energy. [At least THAT works!] she thought to herself. She surveyed her body, it was covered in blood, her arms bandaged crudely to stop the bleeding, her tail was intact even though it hurt to move it. That was always a good sign. Her clothes were ruined, and her hair a complete state. She could have killed for a chance to go bathe in the lake, but these humans probably have a bathtub, so she would have to endure bathing in warm soapy water, which would irritate her wounds. Never mind, they were self-inflicted so she would have to live with the consequences. There was no time for regrets, you just had to cope with whatever you had done. Vegeta felt the increase in Ki and walked over to join the girl on the sofa. He sat down on the arm of the sofa that was near her feet. She propped herself up so that she could make eye contact with him. Her confidence began to flood through her veins, as it did every time she had a higher than normal power level, knowing that if she reached her maximum nobody could defeat her. She met his eyes and stared, waiting for him to make the first move. He sat and stared, without movement. Her eyes glazed over as she felt *something*, she wasn't sure quite what. She reached further with her senses, searching to locate it... There. Heading this way, and yes, she did recognise the signature, from a long time ago, almost all of her life had been spent running away from him, but it was now time to face up to her fears. Bringing her eyes back into focus, she looked at the clock on the wall, and then straight into Vegeta's eyes. "Something's coming." Was all that she said. Vegeta felt it too, he instantly recognised who it was. Years of competition between the two Saiyans had to be forgotten. Even with Kakarott as a Super-Saiyan it was going to be tough. Since the last battle, the enemy had become an awful lot stronger. It wasn't the time to be fighting each other for once, no matter how much fun they had. Both her and Vegeta knew she had to get her strength back, and fast. ***
Gohan slaved over his schoolwork. His mother refused to let him out to go and train with Piccolo until he had done his homework, and man was this exercise hard. Through the window he heard the sound of a sparring match, could feel the energy signatures growing with every attack, but was not permitted to join them. It made him mad, but he knew his mother only wanted the best for him. [This question is too hard!], he thought to himself. Almost on cue, there was a knock on his door. "Come in! Its open!" he shouted to his saviour from monotony. It wasn't his dad, as he had expected, but a strange woman. Gohan had finished his maths now, and was finally allowed outside, much to the dismay of his mother. Chi-Chi had nearly fainted when the two walked casually into the kitchen, laughing and joking. Gohan usually wandered in slowly with a face like thunder.
Cat watched solemnly as Gohan and Piccolo fired various energy attacks at each other across the valley. For some reason she couldn't seem to focus on her training. As a child her father had drilled it into her that the only thing that mattered was being the best warrior. [But that isn't all that matters to me dad, so why do I still believe it?] She wasn't surprised to get a reply, but this one was physical, not just in her head, ***
NOTE: If you want a little more insight reading my other part to this series "Catrik's Diary" may clear a lot of things up.
"So that's why I felt something die. Guess even Saiyans have weak spots. Please Kami don't die." He scooped her up and flew as fast as he could back to his home.
"Where... where am I?" The bright light hurt her eyes. Within a minute the familiar feeling of emptiness returned, and she remember exactly what she had done and why. A familiar, yet strange voice worked its way through the fuzziness,
"Shhhhh, don't try and move, you're gonna be fine." Wait a minute, this wasn't spoken in Earth language, it was in her native language. VEGETA!!!! With that thought she picked her head up with a start, and almost fainted again, but she resisted. Continuing in her native language she scolded the prince.
"Why didn't you leave me there? I had everything planned! Is it your mission in life to make mine a living hell?"
Vegeta, who had been holding back his anger, finally exploded, "So you saw this as the only solution? Choosing the cowardly option? You're a disgrace!"
She looked at the floor, light still hurting her eyes, but it wasn't that that made it impossible to look the man in the eye. It was the embarrassment that she had been cowardly. The one person who's opinion mattered to her, and he must have lost all respect for her now. Eventually she mustered enough strength to speak,
"You should have let me die."
"Why would you want to do that? You will bring dishonour on our race."
"They're all dead Vegeta, what does it matter any more? Everybody's dead, just like I should be."
"Don't say that!" He didn't know whether to shout at her, pick her up by the hair and make her fight or just kill her. She drove him crazy sometimes [Especially when she beat him sparring.]
"Hiya, just thought I'd introduce myself. I'm Catrik, but you can call me Cat. How's the homework coming on?"
"Umm, its not." He looked in horror at her arms, covered in cuts. He tried not to flinch, but failed. She just shrugged it off though,
"I was having a bad day. What you stuck on?" She grinned infectiously at him, causing his face to light up with a childish grin.
"It's Maths. My mum made me stay in until it's done."
"Yeah, you didn't see the trouble I went to to get up here and talk to you! Pythagoras is it? No trouble, you want a hand?" Gohan's face brightened up even more, pleased at the suggestion of an explanation. His teacher wasn't good at explaining things, especially when you didn't understand. She pulled a chair up next to him and started explaining.
"Can I go out and spar now mum?" He asked politely. Chi-Chi's face was not focused on him though, it was on this new arrival. She reminded her of someone, she just couldn't place the face. Her eyes dropped, and saw the bandages. Her face drained of its colour, and all she could manage was a nod.
"Don't worry Son Chi-Chi, I'm not going to do it again just yet, you need me here for more than just helping your son with his homework."
Chi-Chi finally managed to speak, "How do you know my name?" but they were gone.
"Because you always wanted to beat me."
She looked upwards, and above her was the hovering form of Vegeta.
"Yes, but I always *did* beat you, just not in my father's eyes. Anyway, I thought I told you to stop reading my mind?"
"You did, but did I ever tell you the truth?" Cat rolled her eyes and playfully threw an energy ball at him. It was easily caught, but to a human it would have meant death. "I hope that you can do better than *that* Catrik." The challenge was set, all it needed now was for someone to make the first move…
"Shit!" the pair exclaimed in unison. Vegeta took over, "What the hell…" only to have his sentence completed by this not so unfamiliar stranger, "…was that?" For a moment the surge in energy was forgotten, and the pair laughed. Gohan stopped and stared at Vegeta, his genuine laughter an unfamiliar sound, it made him seem almost… well approachable. An innocent grin spread across his face, hiding the almost melancholy look that his face expressed after the battle with Frieza, until he felt this strange but familiar power. Then the colour drained entirely from his face. He tried to ask a deathly important question, but his mouth and voice box failed to respond. He coughed a little and somehow managed to stutter the words,
"is… is that…. F… F… Frieza?"
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