The Bond

When she saw Vegeta go limp, and felt the Bond silence, something inside Katima snapped. She and the others were hovering just inside the wall, high above Eagla and Vegeta, who lay limp, tied to the end of Eagla's odd whip. Katima clenched her fists, her teeth grit, and a strange power began to rocket through her veins.

"NOOOOO!" she howled, her voice sounding like a thousand voices at once, and her hair spiked up, flashing to golden as she went Super Saiyan. The blast of her power sent the others away from her, shot back as if by a physical force.

She looked down at Eagla, who was looking up at her with shock and fear.

"Get away from him!" Katima shrieked, flying down at speed that even surprised herself.

Slamming into the ground between Eagla and Vegeta, she grabbed the cord of the whip and snapped it apart. Interestingly enough, this seemed to physically harm Eagla. He wailed in pain, and blood came out of the whip's end that was still in Katima's hand. She tossed it aside, glaring at him. Everything in her heart wanted to rip him apart, to make him pay.

"Keep Vegeta safe," snarled Katima over her shoulder, her voice still sounding like a thousand voices at once, "I will take care of Eagla."

There was… fear in Eagla's eyes. The whip came reeling back into his hand, or at least the half that was still connected to him. He took a step back, the green haze still swirling around him.

"You think that you can just hurt whoever you like?" Katima growled, advancing on him, "Have you no remorse for what you do?"

"You don't understand…" this voice was not Eagla, but a deeper, stranger voice, "I'm doing this for the safety of the universe! Don't you see? In order for there to be peace, there must be an army to enforce it!"

"What you suggest is foolish," snapped Katima, still walking toward him, power swirling around her, lightning flickering across her, "Using nothing but violence to obtain peace? What kind of idiot would think that this would work?"

Eagla, or was it Eagla? Continued backing away, looking at her in terror, "It's the only way!" he cried, still in that odd voice, "You have to understand! With the Bond, we could make an unbeatable army, and with that army, we could protect the entire universe, we could force peace!"

"Peace is not something you can just force!" Katima spat, now very close to him, "Causing death and despair in order to try and gain it will only make more war!"

She whipped out a hand and grabbed the front of his shirt, pulling him to her. He hissed and threw out a punch, but with her other arm, Katima blocked it easily, catching his arm. She quickly twisted it, and there was a sickening snap. Eagla wailed in pain.

"You… you fool!" Eagla howled, "I will not let you get in the way!"

A powerful burst of energy came from him. It pushed back Katima slightly, making her lose her grip on him. Eagla raised a hand and shot out a energy orb at her. She knocked it aside with a hiss of annoyance. Eagla growled and his whip came trailing out of his good arm. He threw it at her and it wrapped around her and grew tight.

"Katima!" she heard Krillin shout.

Eagla smiled victoriously at her, "I have you now, bitch, this took care of your friend quickly, it will do the same to you!"

Katima watched as the electricity came trailing up the whip, and soon, went all around her body to the tip. It flickered and hissed, but Katima did not flinch. She glared at Eagla as a look of pure shock crossed his face.

"I will make you regret everything…" she whispered.

With a cry of power, Katima flexed her arms and ripped out of the whip, tearing it to pieces. Blood spattered around her and Eagla screamed. She aimed a hand at him, and shot out a massive blast of energy. It sent Eagla into the building behind him. He crashed through the doors, and Katima saw several others come rushing to his aid from inside, helping him up.

"Where are you really?" Katima demanded, still holding her hand up, "You're controlling this body, but where are you, coward?"

Eagla glared at her, saying nothing. Katima growled and an orb of power formed in her hand.

"You come here, and take hold of these people, lying to them to get your way, 'awakening' things that are not natural for them. And you fight through one of their bodies. Come out and fight me yourself," the thousand voices spoke from Katima's mouth, "Or give up, and leave these people alone."

"I can never give up!" Eagla's mouth formed the words while the stranger's voice came out, "I am Dengen! I will bring order to the galaxy because no one else will! Everyone else is blind!"

"Then come out and fight me so I can end this," Katima snarled.

Eagla growled in anger, "You can't stop me! I won't let you!"

And with a flash, he, and those holding on to him, vanished.

Katima let out a hiss and whirled around, trying to find their power levels.

"Damn it!" she cried, clenching her fists.

"K- Katima…"

Katima relaxed at the sound of Vegeta's voice, she turned, seeing him look up at her from the ground where Krillin was kneeling by him.

"Vegeta…" Katima's voice was no longer amplified by the other voices, but back to normal.

She felt her power slowly fade, seeing Vegeta was conscious. Her hair went back to black, and she fell to her knees before falling forward limply.

"Katima!" she heard Krillin and Rilan cry.

Katima was completely drained, as if her body should not have been so strained, like it was not used to it. Her muscles were like noodles.

18 was at her side, kneeling and looking at her with a hard face.

"Hey, come on now," she snapped, as if irritated, "Get up. You were just showing more power… more power than Cell, Katima."

Katima slowly fell into darkness with these last words on her ears.

"…more power than Cell…"

*scene change*

Vegeta saw Katima fell and he tried to sit up. But the whip was still around him, and he was so weak that all he could manage was about an inch off the ground before falling.

"Katima!" he gasped.

Rilan went to Katima, 18 was already next to her, her eyes wide with shock. Krillin and the Namekian, Sol, reached down and helped Vegeta into a sitting position. Vegeta gritted his teeth in pain. They slowly unwound the whip from him and Vegeta leaned heavily against the Namekian, still very weak.

"Katima…" he said again, looking around to see that 18 had picked her up, frowning down at her unconscious body thoughtfully, "Is she okay?" he demanded, some strength coming to his voice.

18 looked at him, "She's tired." She said simply, "Her vital signs are fine."

Vegeta sighed in relief. He wasn't sure what he was going to do if Katima had been hurt because of him… and what a fool he had been…

"Can you walk?" Sol asked him.

Vegeta's pride flared and he attempted to get up on his own. He shakily got to his feet, only to groan in pain, and fall sideways. Hez, the younger Namekian, caught him and steadied him.

"G-get off…" stammered Vegeta, trying to push him away, trying to go toward Katima, "Give her to me, I'll… I'll carry her."

"You can barely carry yourself," said Rilan, stepping toward him, "Stop being so goddamn proud and let me help you," he offered his arm.

Vegeta hissed in annoyance, "I don't need your help!" he snarled, trying to push against Hez again, "Let go of me- Katima!"

Hez let him go, and Vegeta limped toward 18, who watched him with one brow raised. Vegeta raised his arms, "Give her to me…" he fell forward, landing on all fours, coughing.

Rilan's boots appeared to his right and Vegeta gritted his teeth. He didn't need his help! He was a Saiyan! A warrior!

"Vegeta."

"Shut up…" Vegeta rasped, shaking his head.

"Stop being stupid," Rilan said flatly, "I'm your friend."

Vegeta growled, "I… don't need… help!"

He felt his pride fire his heart, and he had a surge of energy. He stood up, going Super Saiyan for a moment, howling at the sky, his fists clenched, his eyes shut. But the surge died and he fell over limply, completely drained now. He could hardly raise his arm. His hair faded to black and he lay there on the concrete, panting.

"Are you done?" Rilan demanded, looming over him.

Vegeta glared, not looking at him.

"Good."

Rilan kneeled down and pulled Vegeta's arm over his broad shoulders. He hooked his arm around Vegeta's waist when they were upright, supporting him effectively.

"Where are we going?" asked 18, still holding Katima.

"Back to the building?" suggested Hez.

"No," said Sol, looking up at the sky, "Eagla will have a clue that we were in this area. We should head somewhere else farther away."

"Wouldn't there be more people in the building?" asked Krillin, looking at the castle.

Sol shook his head, "Do you feel any? I'm afraid that what we saw vanish with Eagla was what was left of the Xekians… his selfishness has destroyed them all…"

"But you heard," said Hez, "That wasn't Eagla in that body right then, his voice was different and everything."

"Some… freak… called Dengen… is somehow controlling him and giving him power…" Vegeta rasped as they took off into the sky, Rilan still supporting him, "I… have no clue what he is, or where he is… but he mentioned Frieza. Apparently his kind was killed by him as well."

Rilan snorted, "We didn't kill that bastard nearly as soon as we should have," he snarled, "Frieza was such a blight that his actions still haunt us. It sounded like that Dengen was trying to create an army!"

"He wants to use the Bond to create a captive army to enforce 'peace' in the galaxy," Vegeta scoffed, "Fool. Doesn't he see that peace can't happen?"

"There's no need to think like that," said Krillin, "I'm sure peace could happen! But he's just going about it the wrong way."

Vegeta spat, "Don't be an idiot. No matter what, darkness still lies in people's hearts. No amount of enforcing or kindness can cull all of it across the galaxy."

"Why don't we talk about what happened with Katima?" asked Sol, looking over.

18 nodded, "Her power level went above Cell's for a moment," she said.

Vegeta looked at Katima's sleeping face with aw. It had… she had been stronger than Cell for a split second, and she hadn't even been using her full potential… But as soon as she looked at him, it had stopped. He had felt her emotions through the Bond. It was all linked. Whenever he nearly died, or was in severe danger, it triggered her powers, then, when it was over, she collapsed. Her body wasn't strong enough to maintain when she went back to normal.

So how could they learn to control that?

Eagla knew… but they would never get the information from him…

What could he do? And… not to mention, it seemed that only Katima seemed to be able to get these random incredible powers. He had never experienced anything like it. Surely he could have that power too?

"We need to fine Dengen," said Krillin, "Not Eagla, but Dengen, wherever he's hiding, and stop him… if only Goku were here…"

Anger flared in Vegeta and he glared at Krillin, "We don't need Kakarot! I can take that guy down just as easily…"

"Like you did back there?" asked Rilan.

"I'm a Saiyan," growled Vegeta, "This defeat will only make me stronger, remember?" he coughed, a bit of blood coming out.

"We need to get you fixed up," said Hez, looking over at him with a worried face.

"This is stupid…" hissed Vegeta, "Why are we running when we should be hunting? It's not like he's going to come and find us after that beating, just land here…"

Rilan glanced at him, "I suppose you have a point. I don't think we have to worry about him."

They landed and Rilan hauled Vegeta into the nearest building. They found some cots in here, and Rilan gently set Vegeta on one. The Saiyan Prince leaned back, groaning slightly. He had taken quite the beating. His body ached and he had several burns from the shocking. 18 set Katima down on another cot not too far away. Vegeta gazed at her and felt slight regret pricking his heart. He had been reckless… all to try and go out to do something that would never happen…

No.

Vegeta gritted his teeth. Sudden understanding touched him. Maybe, what had made Kakarot so strong…. Was the love he felt for his family. The need to protect them… that's what made Katima strong too, in the Bond. Whenever he was in danger, she got powerful enough to take on any enemy… Was the key to strength… in his heart?

It seemed foolish. How could petty emotion lead to such power?

But he did love Katima… and he had been a fool to try and go out to confront Eagla. He had made himself look like an idiot, and placed Katima in danger, but she had used her love for him to fuel the strength she needed to defeat Dengen.

Could the key to controlling the Bond… lay within their feelings for each other?

That's stupid, his mind snapped. But Vegeta couldn't help but wonder. He remembered the stories, that Kakarot turned into a Super Saiyan the first time when Krillin was killed by Frieza. The anguish he felt for losing a lifelong friend, made his power unleash.

Could it be…?

"Hold still," said Sol, coming to him and hovering his hands over him, "I know a bit of healing. I'm not as good as Dende, but this should get you on your feet."

Vegeta remained still as a soothing light pulsated over his body. He felt the pain in his muscles ease and the sting in his flesh cool. He sighed in relief as his wounds closed up a bit. Sol lowered his hands.

"Better?"

Vegeta sat up and flexed his hands, "Yes," he said, and stood, going over to Katima. He stood over her, looking down at her with concerned eyes. This had happened before, after her displays of bizarre power, but he still couldn't help but worry.

"I'll get us some food," said Rilan, pulling out a capsule and popping it, revealing a small cooler. He rummaged in it and produced some sandwiches and canned drinks. He passed them out. When he got to Vegeta, the prince shook his head.

"You need this the most," said Rilan sternly, "To get your strength back."

Vegeta sighed and took it, sitting at the foot of Katima's bed and eating slowly. Rilan also took out the satellite phone and set it up. He placed it on speaker and phoned his wife. Bulma's voice answered eagerly.

"Rilan?"

"Bulma…"

"Rilan, I'm so glad you called!" Bulma said, "Are you okay? How are the others? Did you find Krillin?"

"I'm fine, Bulma," Krillin called.

"Oh thank goodness!" Bulma sighed and then, more perky asked, "So you guys are heading home right? You got Krillin back, now it's all over!"

"I'm afraid it's not that easy, babe," said Rilan, sitting down and munching on his sandwich, "We can't leave this guy out here, he's a danger to the entire universe."

He slowly told Bulma the whole story. As it went on, she said that she had to put us on speaker. Gohan and Piccolo were visiting, and she wanted them to hear the details too. When they mentioned the two Namekians, they heard Piccolo grunt in surprise.

"Sol and Hez? Neil knew them, I remember what they look like even though I never actually met them."

"So you're the one Neil fused with," Sol spoke toward the phone.

Rilan had pressed on with his story. Vegeta found himself redden a bit when he mentioned him running off and getting defeated by Dengen. When he finished, explaining Katima's collapse after her spark of power, Gohan's voice perked up.

"She's okay? And Vegeta?"

"I'm fine." Vegeta snapped.

"Katima will be too," said 18, "I'm not detecting any bad readings from her vital signs."

"So you guys are going to try and find this Dengen guy," said Piccolo slowly, "Do you even have any clue where he is?"

"Not really," said Rilan sadly, "We don't even know how he can control bodies. We think it must have to be a willing person to give him control, otherwise, wouldn't he try and steal Vegeta or Katima's body to get the Bond?"

"That seems likely," said Piccolo, "I've never heard of any techniques that allows someone to take over someone's body."

"I'm coming up there!" Gohan declared.

"No," snapped Rilan, "Gohan, we told you, you have to stay down there and protect the Earth. We can find Dengen and deal with this."

"But what if he's even stronger than when you saw him in Eagla's body?" Gohan demanded.

"When Katima fought him, her power level rivaled Cell's," said Krillin softly.

There was a shocked silence on the other end of the phone.

"But she can't control when that happens…" said Gohan slowly.

"No," said Vegeta, "But I know what triggers it. Every time my life is in danger, she snaps."

"So what are you saying, get yourself nearly killed and have Katima beat him? You could die, Vegeta, and then what?" Bulma snapped, "The last time you died, Katima couldn't even function!"

"I'm working on how to control it," Vegeta said sharply, "And after learning what the Namekian knows of this Bond, the pieces are coming together…"

"Are you saying you have an idea?" asked Rilan, looking at him.

Vegeta shook his head, "It's more like a theory. But I think finding Dengen should be our first priority."

"But where can we even start?" asked Krillin, "We don't even know where Eagla is."

Rilan looked thoughtful for a moment, "Why… why don't we ask King Kai?"

Krillin looked at him, "That's not a bad idea! But how do we contact him? Isn't it usually him contacting us? Can we do it the other way around?"

"Sure."

That was Yamcha's voice on the phone, and they looked at it.

"Yamcha?" Bulma's voice seems surprised.

"I'm here with Master Roshi," said Yamcha, "He's outside with your mom."

"Oh God, you left him alone out there with her?"

"Yamcha," Piccolo cut in, "You said there was a way to contact King Kai?"

"Sure, it's easy," said Yamcha, "You just have to think up to him."

"What?" Rilan blinked, "Just like that?"

"He should hear it if he's not too busy," said Yamcha.

Rilan looked up and seemed to concentrate, "King Kai!" he called.

There was a long pause.

"Well that worked real well," scoffed Vegeta.

Then, a voice echoed around them.

"What? I thought with Goku up here, I wouldn't be bothered nearly as much!"

"King Kai!" Krillin beamed, "King Kai, we need your help."

"What… are you guys doin' on Xeknos."

"What you mean you haven't been spying on us?" demanded Vegeta.

"Spying? How dare you accuse me of that!" King Kai's voice sounded indignant.

"It's a long story, King Kai," said Rilan, "I don't know if we've ever really spoken much, I'm Rilan."

"I know, I know," said King Kai, "And it looks like you guys are up to no good, I thought that the trouble makin' would stop!"

"King Kai…"

Vegeta whirled around, gasping as Katima slowly propped herself up on her elbow, "King Kai… You must know something about the Bond. These people say they created the technique… but how did my grandmother know it when she was a human?"

"I know that the Xekians created it, but I can't say for sure how your grandmother came to know it. What are you guys doing?"

Rilan quickly gave King Kai a run down of what had happened so far. "We need to find Dengen," said Rilan when he finished, "And make sure he doesn't finish what he's planning!"

"I see… Well I can try!" King Kai said.

There was a pause. Vegeta was sitting with his arm around Katima's shoulders. She seemed alright, like she had just woken from sleep.

"Oh my…"

"King Kai?" Rilan looked up.

"Well it seems that that this Dengen isn't in any state to fight at all! He's pretty far from you, but I bet if you sense real hard, you'll feel him and the other Xek- oh NO!"

They all flinched at King Kai's sudden cry.

"What?" gasped Rilan.

"You have to go NOW! He's using the life forces of the last Xekians to make himself stronger! He's killing them!" King Kai said frantically.

They all stood abruptly. Rilan pressed the button on the cooler, making it a capsule, "Bulma, I love you," he said before doing the same to the phone.

They heard Bulma cry, "Wait- Rila-" before it cut off.

"Which way?" Rilan asked, looking up.

"What's going on?"

Vegeta stiffened.

It was Kakarot. The sound of his voice make anger seethe inside Vegeta.

Katima squeezed his arm. Through the Bond, she was feeling happiness at the sound of her brother's voice.

"Goku!" she and Krillin both exclaimed.

"Hey guys!" Kakarot's voice laughed, "What are you guys doing away from Earth?"

"King Kai can explain," said Rilan sharple, "Which way is Dengen?"

"Just turn left when you go out the building and start flying!" King Kai instructed.

"Come on," said Katima, standing and grabbing Vegeta's hand. It was the first time since they had left that he felt warmth from her in the Bond.

She had forgiven him. But Vegeta couldn't help thinking that he didn't deserve it.