DB series Story collection

Point of no return II

Actually, a car wreck would probably be a mercy compared to this, Trunks thought solemnly as he gently grabbed Vegeta's arm. He put his other arm around his side, and as gently as he could, he pulled his father off the cot. Vegeta groaned and winced as Trunks single-handedly held him up on his feet. The teen put one of his father's arms over his own shoulders and put one of his arms around Vegeta's waist to steady him, being extremely mindful of his injured tail. Vegeta leaned heavily against him, his body trembling and practically dead weight. Trunks was impressed that he still had the wherewithal to walk a little, even though he was practically out on his feet.

Vegeta raised his head a little when he heard the door opening as they exited their personal chambers. He growled, his voice pained and raspy as he spoke, "Kid...don't...n-need..."

"Yeah, I know, you don't need help," Trunks responded kindly with a small smile. "I'm just making sure you walk in the right direction."

Vegeta turned his head a little towards Trunks curiously, before mumbling under his breath. Trunks was relieved that the argument he was anticipating never came.

Finally, he reached the room. He was grateful when the door opened automatically, slowly stepping inside with his father. Trunks glanced around curiously as a purple alien wearing black armor and a green scouter curiously strode over to him.

"So you're the new kid everyone's talking about," the alien said, drawing Trunks' attention. Trunks frowned at him, his coloring reminding him of the slaughter he witnessed when he first joined the Saiyans.

"Guess so," Trunks replied in a guarded tone.

"You don't look like any Saiyan I've ever seen," the alien said with a chuckle, before looking at Vegeta who was blinking slowly and struggling to keep his head up. "Then again, at least you look better than him," he said with a laugh.

Vegeta growled. "Piss...off...Cui..." he choked out, before coughing hoarsely. He winced and leaned more against Trunks, his trembling growing worse.

"Can you help him?" Trunks asked impatiently.

"Yeah, yeah," Cui said in a bored tone as he rolled his eyes, before studying Vegeta more closely. He looked behind him and gave a whistle when he saw his tail. "Man. Bet that one hurt! All right, the pants and boots can stay on. If we try to take the pants off, he'll keel over for sure with his tail like that and then Frieza will have my head. The top's got to go though. The more skin that's exposed, the faster he heals, and the faster I don't have to see his ugly face anymore," he laughed.

Trunks scowled but led his father towards the tank contraption in the center of the room that had the front glass raised. The teenager looked at it with wary eyes as Cui pressed some keys on the control panel for it.

"We're putting him in there?"

"Well, I suppose we don't have to if you'd rather him die instead. I know I wouldn't miss him," Cui said with a chuckle as he turned to them. He grabbed Vegeta's other arm and tugged him along a lot faster than Trunks had been, making Vegeta groan in pain. Trunks grit his teeth but didn't say anything as they sat him down together in the chamber.

Vegeta hissed when Cui tugged his armor off roughly. He started coughing again, hacking up blood in the process. Trunks glared at Cui, who caught his look and snickered. "What are you looking at, kid? Never seen someone handsome like me?"

"Would you watch it, he's not in good shape," Trunks snapped. Vegeta opened his one good eye a little to glance at Trunks with a hint of bewilderment as Cui just burst out laughing and shook his head.

"Good one you found here, Vegeta," Cui said as he continued laughing. Trunks just scowled and decided that maybe working faster wasn't a bad thing if it brought Vegeta relief faster.