Dizziness was the first feeling Goku felt as she slowly regained her consciousness. Secondly, she felt as if she were about to puke her guts out. Her vision changed from a blurry image, to the shining bright light coming from a light fixture on the ceiling above her. She flinched as a vision of Vegeta's face came above her, and blocked out the bright light.
"Ugh…" groaned Goku weakly.
"You're finally awake," commented Vegeta, concern etched across his face, though he tried to hide it.
Goku forced herself to look him in the eyes and replied, "The androids, are they gone?"
Vegeta turned his penetrating gaze away from her delicate features, and glared at the ground in contempt.
"Android 19 has been taken care of. Though, not by any of your help," he replied.
Goku sat up, and groaned from the pain that the minuscule effort had caused. Vegeta jolted his attention toward her, and reached out his arm. What is he doing? thought Goku. Is he actually trying to help me?
Vegeta saw the surprised expression on Goku's face, and realized how foolish his intentions were. He lifted his arm up a bit, and struck her harshly across the face, instead of helping her up as he had first intended to do. The blow caused her to hit the hard floor with a resounding thump and yet another groan.
"Imbecile, stop trying to get up! You're using up what little energy you have, and we're not wasting another sensu bean on the likes of you! You're no use to us anyways!" spat Vegeta venomously, storming out of the room.
Goku tried to get up, but couldn't. Is this body really that weak? Is Vegeta right? Am I really worthless to them? Am I just getting in their way? thought Goku solemnly. She clenched her fists angrily at the thought, No! No, I'm not worthless! They need me, and Vegeta won't admit it, but he does too!
Goku moved her head from side to side looking for her friends, but they weren't there. Where is everyone? she questioned herself. Wait a second! He said that Android 19 had been taken care of, but what about 20? If nobody is here, does that mean that they're dead?
Goku unclenched her fists, and began to struggle to push herself up. "No… no…" she mumbled weakly, the simple thought not even occurring to check for their ki signals.
Tears began to build up in her deep onyx eyes, but she forced them to stay in. She pulled herself into a wobbly crouching position, but lost balance and fell. "No, I have to get up and help them! I'm not weak… not weak…" she mumbled before losing consciousness again.
𖦹𖦹𖦹
Vegeta strode quickly to his room, cursing himself for having feelings for that third class moron. I can't deny it anymore. I'm no idiot, and I know it would be foolish to keep ignoring it like this. Eventually, I'll break, but what if Kakarrot doesn't return the feelings I have for her. What if she rejects me? Am I really stooping to this level? mulled Vegeta.
Bulma turned around a corner of the Capsule Corp. building, and spotted Vegeta. Out of instinct, she ran up to him, and hugged him tightly, yanking him out of his train of thoughts. Vegeta looked down at Bulma deeply disturbed to have someone touching him. What does she think she's doing? he thought, trying to unlatch the blue haired woman from his body. Finally, she gave up, and hesitantly let go.
"Woman, just what do you think you're doing?" questioned Vegeta irritably.
Bulma blushed and replied, "Sorry Vegeta, I couldn't help it! I was so worried about you, and the others, that you might have gotten seriously hurt from the two murderers in town!"
"Me, get hurt by those two hunks of scrap-metal, don't make me laugh!" stated Vegeta, walking past Bulma, completely ignoring her heart-felt gesture.
Bulma walked past him with her head hung low, He didn't even notice me, she thought, Wait, I shouldn't care! Yamcha is the only man for me! He's my future, and I've got to lose these growing feelings for Vegeta, before I just crack!
Bulma gasped when she saw Goku lying on the floor unconscious and badly hurt. The killers must have done this, but how? she thought, just as she heard the patter of footsteps approaching her.
"How is she?" Bulma heard Yamcha's voice ask.
Bulma turned her head to face them and answered, "A bit beaten up, but nothing our Goku can't handle."
"I was a bit worried, those androids really beat her up!" added Krillin.
So they're androids. I knew no normal human could hurt Goku or Vegeta! thought Bulma. And that also explains why Vegeta referred to them as 'hunks of scrap-metal'.
"Dad," mumbled a worried Gohan incoherently, but Piccolo's keen ears picked it up.
Piccolo had decided to drop in, and see how Goku had been doing. He also needed to discuss what everyone was to do in the future, what with the android still out on the loose and all. They also needed to discuss what to do with the androids if there were to be more at the new Red Ribbon Army base.
He rested a hand on Gohan's shoulder and assured him, "Don't worry kid, your dad is going to be just fine. You should know more than any of us how strong your dad is. Goku just needs some rest, that's all."
"I know, Mr. Piccolo. I know my dad will be fine. I just didn't get to tell her, that even though dad's a girl now, I'm still proud of her, and that she's still my hero. I won't let any of those androids ever hurt her again, especially not when my dad's like this! They'll pay!" said Gohan, clenching his fists angrily.
"Don't worry, Gohan, we'll have plenty of time to get payback for all of the damage those androids have caused!" agreed Yamcha.
"In the meanwhile, I think I'm going to go wash Goku up, and put her to bed. You all should do the same," suggested Bulma.
With that said, all of the Z-Senshi went their separate ways.
Bulma was about to leave the room with Goku when Gohan spoke up from behind her, "Can I stay here with you and dad for awhile?"
Bulma turned around and replied, "I don't know, Chichi might not like the idea of that."
"I don't care, please Bulma! Dad needs me, I know she does!" pleaded Gohan.
"Oh, okay, I guess it couldn't hurt for a little while," caved Bulma.