In Your Dreams: Chapter 17

''This can't be right.''

Bulma looked out of her driver's side window as she steered the large hover van in a circle. According to the radar that was tracking the signal from Vegeta's cell phone, this was the general area they needed to search. However, the terrain below was a frozen wasteland filled with nothing but snow and ice for as far as the eye could see.

Trunks scanned the white landscape below and his frown deepened. ''No way. There's no way a lab is down there somewhere.''

The blue haired woman shook her head and began to descend. ''I know it seems strange, but this is where the signal is coming from. Goku and Vegeta are within twenty-five miles of this spot.''

Gohan, who had ditched his usual suit and tie for his old training gi, didn't seem convinced. He had his own suspicions about why they were tracking the signal to a place like this, though he wasn't sure he wanted to voice his thoughts out loud. Fortunately for him, or unfortunately depending on how you looked at it, Piccolo was more than willing to speak up.

''Are you sure they didn't just kill Vegeta and dump the body out here?''

Silence settled over the cabin until Trunks once again spoke; this time with a little anger in his voice. ''That's ridiculous! My father can't be killed by a bunch of humans! I can't believe you'd think so little of his skills as a warrior, Piccolo!''

The Namekian merely shrugged and continued to look out the window as the aircraft they all rode in finally landed in the deep snow. Regardless of whether or not the demi-Saiyajin wanted to believe it, they still needed to consider that scenario as a strong possibility. These humans had already proven themselves a worthy and capable opponent when it came to handling Saiyajins.

Once the vehicle was on the ground Bulma cut off the engine and stood up. She'd gathered Gohan, Trunks, Goten, and Piccolo together for this particular mission. She didn't feel the need to bring Yamcha, Tien, or Krillin along. None of them knew of what Goku had gone through, and she doubted the Saiyajin wanted that to change. Instead she'd opted to keep the rescue party as small as possible and she limited it to family and, in Piccolo's case, close friends.

''Alright. I'm getting a temperature reading of 40 below zero out there, so everyone limit your search time to no more than twenty minutes at a time. I want you all to return here to warm up and get progress reports from the others. If you find something, don't go in alone. Come back here and wait for the rest of us.''

Goten frowned and folded his arms. ''Only twenty minutes at a time? But it'll take forever to find them that way! Our ki should keep us warm enough...''

Bulma shook her head. ''No! Saiyajins or not, you were not made to withstand these kind of temperatures, with or without your ki to warm you. Goku fought an enemy in conditions like this years ago, and he even said he had trouble gathering his ki and focusing when he was so cold. It's very easy to get hypothermia in these conditions, so I BETTER see each one of you every twenty minutes.''

Low mumbles filled the cabin as the younger men mumbled under their breath, but they all reluctantly agreed to the rule; except for Piccolo.

''I can control my body temperature. There's no reason for me to stop until I find them.''

Sharp blue eyes snapped to the Namekians' suddenly tense form. ''I don't care about your alien abilities! I said every twenty minutes, and that means you too, mister!!''

Piccolo lowered his eyes away from the woman's fiery gaze and mumbled a low ''yes ma'am'' under his breath.

Bulma snorted and pointed to a storage area behind the group. ''Ok, everyone grab a coat before you go; along with gloves and a hat.''

Again Piccolo tried to resist, but another death glare from the blue haired woman had him scurrying to grab the extra clothes.

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It had been almost an hour since Vegeta had violated his fellow Saiyajin, and his guilt continued to build by the minute. He kept telling himself that he'd done the right thing. He needed to satiate Kakarotto's body in order for him to fight the drug induced heat without causing some serious damage, but the little voice in his head told him he'd enjoyed touching the younger man far too much for it to have been a 'selfless' act of preservation.

Goku had remained unconscious after he'd fallen asleep, but he was obviously still in a great amount of discomfort. His body was covered in a fine sheen of sweat and his muscles were tense. A low moan or whimper would occasionally escape his lips just before he'd flip himself over and curl into a tighter ball than he'd previously been in. His breathing remained erratic and uneven.

Vegeta sighed as he removed the now warm towels from Goku's forehead and arms and returned to the bathroom to soak them in cold water. The younger Saiyajin's temperature, though at a safer level than when he'd first been drugged, was still too high. The prince had been covering the other man's exposed flesh with cold towels periodically ever since in order to prevent the heat from building to unmanageable levels again. He didn't want to have to force himself on Goku a second time if it wasn't necessary.

Vegeta had just finished placing the freshly cooled towels on his cell-mate's heated skin when some movement out of the corner of his eye caught his attention. He growled when he identified the approaching humans as Dr. Villa and some of his assistants.

The always smiling man walked up to the intercom system and pressed the button.

''I take it everything went according to plan?''

The prince placed himself between the door and the bed that held the other Saiyajin. ''Fuck off!''

Dr. Villa tsked and pretended to look hurt. ''Now there's no reason for that kind of language, Vegeta. I thought you'd be happy to continue your race. However, I must ask that you stand aside for a few moments so we can complete a short examination on Goku.''

Vegeta narrowed his eyes as several more heavily armed body guards appeared behind the doctor. ''What do you need to examine him for?!''

''I just need to make sure you... Well, you know. In order to impregnate him, there needs to be a certain transfer of liquids from you to him.'' The man stopped and laughed at that. ''Since you blocked the camera's view, I need to insure that this transfer was made.''

The fur on Vegeta's tail stood on end and he backed up a couple of steps as the glass door that held them prisoner suddenly slid open. There had been no 'transfer', and if they found that out, there was no telling what the crazy bastards would do. The prince had no intention of impregnating Goku; at least not while there were held here as lab rats.

Vegeta crouched down into a defensive stance as the body guards slowly approached him, weapons drawn and ready. It seemed they had both tranquilizer guns and tasers, neither of which he cared to have used on him.

''Back off! What's the rush anyway?! Kakarotto isn't even awake yet!''

Dr. Villa smiled from behind the safety of his guards. ''It's easier to find evidence of your mating if I examine him now. There's no need for him to be conscious.''

Vegeta cursed as one of the guards tried to get between him and Goku, and he dropped to the ground and swept his leg out, knocking the man off his feet. He immediately rolled to the side in order to avoid getting zapped by a taser, but the move only left him further away from the other Saiyajin he was trying to protect. The armed men quickly took advantage of this and rushed forward, encircling Vegeta and leaving him backed into a corner. Many of the humans were left with bruises and scrapes before they were finally able to subdue the violently thrashing Saiyajin with a heavy jolt of electricity.

Vegeta hissed as his body convulsed, and he was paralyzed only long enough for one of the guards to shove him back against the wall and pin him there by placing his forearm against his throat. The others all aimed their weapons at him, sending a clear message that if he moved, he'd be in some serious pain.

Dr. Villa moved forward and approached the bed with some other scientists once he was given the 'ok' by his guards. ''Hm. It would appear the dominant Saiyajin in a mated couple is extremely protective of his submissive, even at the expense of his own well-being. Take note of that.'' he said to one of his partners.

The man reached out and pressed his hand to Goku's forehead a moment later before pulling out a syringe and injecting another foreign substance into the Saiyajin's blood stream.

''What was that?!'' Vegeta snapped.

''Just an antidote to the aphrodisiac. No need to stress his body more than is necessary.''

The men gathered around the prone Saiyajin waited a few moments, and sure enough, the fever that had been plaguing Goku broke and his body stopped trembling. His breathing returned to normal, and a moment later, black eyes slowly blinked open. It was obvious Goku was disoriented at first, but when he focused on Dr. Villa, the younger man quickly sat up and shoved himself away from the scientist until the wall brought him to a stop.

A chuckle. ''No need to be frightened. We only need to check to make sure you were properly mated.''

Though his face turned beat red at the implications, black eyes narrowed as the three scientists reached out for him, and Goku growled lowly as his tail thrashed around his legs. He kicked away one hand that got too close to him and attempted to bite another.

Dr. Villa sighed and looked back at the group of guards that were still detaining Vegeta.

''I need one of you to restrain him.''

With a nod, one of the armed men broke away from the pack. He placed his weapon in its holster around his waist and placed a knee on the bed in order to lean close enough to grab the hissing Saiyajin.

Goku snarled and squirmed when the large man managed to grab hold of his ankle and dragged him across the mattress, promptly flipping him onto his stomach and twisting his arms behind his back as he bent him over the side of the bed. The Saiyajin's growl was cut short as the air was forced from his lungs due to the force and amount of weight the guard used to press him down, and he had no choice but to still himself in order to prevent dislocating a shoulder.

''Good. Keep him there.''

Goku turned his head to the side in order to clear his airway, and his eyes widened when he just barely caught a flurry of movement behind him. When he felt hands suddenly tugging at his pants, the Saiyajin lashed out with his tail, striking whoever was touching him across both arms. The force behind the blow was the same as that of a whip, and the pained shout and smell of fresh blood confirmed that.

Unfortunately, it had been an assistant and not Dr. Villa who had taken the hit.
''Damn it! I'm going to need stitches!''

Dr. Villa was heard sighing. ''Go off to the medical ward then. Dr. Levern, please secure his tail. I'll check him myself.''

Goku tried to keep his tail moving in order to avoid having it captured, but since he couldn't see the men behind him, the appendage was soon quickly grabbed in a tight fist. A sharp cry left his lips as pain laced down his spine, and Goku was sure he could hear Vegeta shouting something in the background, but he wasn't sure. His senses were becoming hazy and he was only vaguely aware when his pants were pushed down and he was invaded by a probing digit. The young Saiyajin tried to squirm away from the uncomfortable feeling, but he was only pressed more heavily into the mattress, making it even harder to breathe.

A moment later his pants were pulled back up and his tail was released, but he remained pinned down by the guard. His hearing quickly came back as sharp as ever, and he could hear Dr. Villa talking to someone.

''You didn't mate with him. That aphrodisiac should have left you unable to control your urges.''

Goku could hear Vegeta snort in response. ''Fool! I'm not some animal who can't control their 'urges', so just forget about your little experiment!''

Though he couldn't see it, Goku could tell the smile had finally left Dr. Villa's face based on the way his voice dropped an octave. ''Very well then. Perhaps you'll change your mind, but in the meantime, there are other tests I can run.''

This made Vegeta pause. ''Like?''

The smile returned to Villa's voice. ''Like whether or not a human male can impregnate a Saiyajin male. I already know a human female can carry a Saiyajin male's child, so I'm confidant Goku can do the same.''

''WHAT?! You wouldn't dare!''

Goku was vaguely aware of the sounds of a struggle and muffled curses somewhere behind him, but his mind was focused on other things. His blood had run cold at Dr. Villa's words and his heart had begun to pound in his chest. It had been one thing when it had been Vegeta, but to have some random man rape him... He'd rather die!

Apparently the scuffle with Vegeta had gotten out of control, because the guard that had been holding Goku down suddenly released him and rushed to join the others in their attempt to subdue the Saiyajin prince. He pushed himself up off the mattress, wincing at the soreness in his arms at being held in the same uncomfortable position for so long. His eyes darted to the cell door, but it had been closed and locked to prevent them from escaping. The younger Saiyajin's gaze settled on the group of guards currently wrestling with Vegeta, and based on the bloody wounds he saw, the older man was holding his own... but not for long.

Goku raced over to the bathroom and, without thinking, smashed his fist into the mirror there. The delicate material shattered and fell to the tile floor in pieces. Ignoring the gash across his knuckles, the Saiyajin scooped up the larger pieces of glass, barely noticing that he was cutting up his hands in the process.

Once he had what he needed, Goku turned back into the room, picked a target, and hurled a piece of the jagged mirror into the dog pile. The shard sliced into one of the guards like a knife through butter, and the man howled in pain and desperately attempted to pull the sharp object from where it had imbedded itself in his back.

Goku continued this process until the men were no longer focused on the now severally beaten Vegeta, but him. In less than a minute he'd managed to wound four of the six guards rather severely, having aimed for places he knew could cause permanent damage. The remaining men abandoned their fight with the Saiyajin prince and began to advance on him instead.

Goku looked down at the only remaining shard in his hand, and he looked around the room for Dr. Villa. If he wanted to kill anyone, it was that man. Unfortunately, the scientist had retreated to the safety of the lab during all the confusion, and he was now safe behind the glass wall. The Saiyajin's eyes darted back to the two men in front of him, and just before they grabbed him, he raised the sharp piece of glass to his own throat.

''STOP!'' Dr. Villa shouted through the intercom.

Everyone still moving in the cell froze.

Goku took a step back and gripped his weapon in both trembling hands, hardly even aware that blood was flowing freely from his wounds and dripping onto the floor. He wanted so badly to just slit his own throat, partly to spite Dr. Villa, and partly to escape from this hell; but when his eyes met Vegeta's wide ones, he knew he couldn't do it. He couldn't leave the older man here alone to suffer the way he had for so many years. He'd come here to save him, after all.

The prince slowly sat up from the floor, raising a hand toward the younger man in an attempt to calm him. ''Kakarotto, don't do that.''

Goku grit his teeth as hot tears filled his eyes and he tightened his grip on the shard he held against his throat, digging the jagged edges deeper into his palms. It would be so easy!

Vegeta stood and began to slowly move toward the other Saiyajin, ignoring his own wounds and the pain that went along with them. His eyes hardened a bit when he saw a drop of blood form on the other's throat where the piece of glass rested. ''Don't you dare let these bastards win, Kakarotto! Suicide is the coward's way out! Think of your family! What the fuck am I supposed to tell them when they come for us and find out you're dead?!"

Goku focused his watery gaze on Vegeta and he began to tremble as he struggled with his decision. Part of him screamed to take the easy way out, to free himself; but a louder part shouted at him to hang on longer and wait for his family to find them, and to stay with Vegeta.

With an agonized cry the younger Saiyajin threw his weapon away, leaving it to shatter against the cell's glass wall. His knees finally gave way, but Vegeta caught him before he could collapse and they both slid to the floor together. The prince finally exhaled his held breath and buried his face in Goku's hair as he held him tightly against his chest.

''Baka...''

To be continue.