think that's funny at all. The drive is running again, so come out of your hiding place!"
<br />
<br />
Again nothing. Bulma was getting nervous. She imagined that Vegeta might have fallen into some ancient basement hole in the ruins and was now bleeding to death somewhere. No, she couldn't think like that. She shook her head resolutely and stomped off in the direction of Vegeta's ship. She took a closer look at one ruin after the other. Since most of the buildings were only remnants of the walls, there was nowhere to hide in which Vegeta could have been. When she got to his ship, she climbed inside, wondered where the predator's carcass might have gone and searched all levels as far as they were accessible.
<br />
Nothing. Not a Vegeta.
<br />
<br />
Where could he be?Slowly but surely, Bulma panicked. She should never have let him go outside alone. If only had stayed with her in the ship ... "Vegeta! Ve..ge..ta!" No matter how loud she shouted, in which direction she turned, no answer broke the silence that tore at her nerves. Even if he was hurt, even if he ... she had to force herself to finish the thought ... even if he was dead, there had to be a trace of him, he had to lie or crouch somewhere. Bulma clasped her hands and struggled for strength and self-control. When that was all over, when they were both safely back home, she would start knitting socks, growing pansies or painting still lifes, in short doing something totally boring and enjoying it to the fullest ... This was enough excitement for ten Life.
<br />
<br />
Bulma collected herself and began to search the area around both ships systematically for any clue to Vegeta.An hour passed and another. Her mouth was dry as dust and it was difficult for her to breathe. Exhausted, she returned briefly to her ship for a drink and to get protective goggles, as her eyes were itchy and itchy from the dust. She also packed a second one for Vegeta. When she was outside again, squinting at the sky under the visor of her visor, it occurred to her how the satellites might be misled. The implementation of her idea meant that she had to postpone the further search for Vegeta a bit, but a feeling told her that she had to plan a quick escape now rather than later.
<br />
<br />
Bulma took long strides over to Vegeta's ship, climbed in and examined the remains of the drive. Her plan was not without risk, but she couldn't think of anything else at the moment. She connected all the necessary cables, got a few spare parts and, within half an hour, screwed a structure together that would not lift the ship an inch from the ground, but would generate roughly the same energy pattern as the real drive.All she had to do now was prepare the remains of the on-board computer for emergency operation and enter a countdown. The way back to her own ship seemed much longer than usual and she was completely out of breath when she staggered into the elevator and drove into the kitchen. A quarter of an hour later, just before the deadline, she came back outside and checked the chronometer on her wrist communicator. With her hand on the conscious switch on the cover, she counted the seconds half aloud. Four ... three ... two ... now! At the same moment as the wrong drive began to roar on the wreck, Bulma's ship disappeared with a plop into the capsule.
<br />
<br />
Satisfied, Bulma picked up the capsule and put it in her pocket. It's just a shame she couldn't tell if the satellites had taken the bait. If the power cells turned on and off as planned, the wrong engine would continue to power up and down for a few more days, long enough to keep the killer satellites going.<br />
<br />
The only thing missing was Vegeta. Bulma pulled out the raster map of the area that she had printed out from the on-board computer. She had already searched this and that area, but that one remained there and that one down there. With the help of a compass adjusted to this planet, Bulma determined your direction and set off.
<br />
<br />
She didn't have to look too far. As soon as she entered the best preserved building in town, it had two floors and an almost complete roof, she stumbled over Vegeta's water bottle.
<br />
<br />
Her hands shook slightly as she picked up the bottle and shook it. Empty. Maybe he had just thrown it away because there was nothing left in it? She bit her lip. No, he wouldn't have done that. He would rather have marched to the ship and screamed for supplies while waving the empty bottle. With this pressed close to her chest, Bulma fought the burgeoning despair down. "Vegeta! If this is all a stupid joke, I'll never speak to you again, understand ?!"Her shouting echoed off the stone walls. It occurred to her that her threat in his ears was more of a promise, he always complained that she was a chatterbox." You ... you idiot! ", she whispered, sniffing up." You can walk home from me. "Not exactly a walk in the park, given that there was a vacuum between this world and earth.
<br />
<br />
This threat, too, fizzled out. She turned to go around the house when it occurred to her that she wanted to examine the second floor as well. But no sooner had she taken a few steps towards the stone stairs, which still looked quite stable, when the ground began to shake under her feet. * Just get out of here before the thing collapses! * But she didn't get that far. A crevice opened silently between her and the door, getting wider and wider. The scream of fear stuck in her throat. The stairs suddenly seemed to be infinitely far away.Just as she put her hand on the elaborately chiseled railing, the ground reared up beneath her and she fell. Before her eyes widened with shock, another crack opened up just below the stairs and with a dull rumble and crash she fell step by step into the yawning black void.
<br />
<br />
“No!” The scream died in her throat, because while the hole that had devoured the stairs closed again as if nothing had happened, she felt the ground break away from under her. The water bottle slipped from her hands and rumbled down, she clung fearfully to a crack in the stone floor, but this pulled back and forth, while her whole body was already dangling over the abyss. It must have been like that to Vegeta. Maybe his shattered body was just below her. The strength in her fingertips subsided and she fell ... fell into nowhere.
<br />
<br />
It was strange, but now that it had happened she was no longer afraid.Whatever happened, she couldn't help it. It was said that at the hour of death, all life would pass before the mind of the dying, but her mind only seemed to care about those images where Vegeta was there. Especially the last moment, when she almost told him the truth, was burned into her mind. She regretted now that she could no longer tell him, never again ...
<br />
<br />
Suddenly an invisible force seemed to slow her down, her body no longer fell, it floated gently lower and lower like a leaf that the wind carries from the top of a tree to the forest floor.
<br />
Finally, minutes had passed, she felt solid ground under her feet. She was down wherever that was and she was alive.
<br />
<br />
"You took your time," came an ironic comment from a corner to her right. It was the most wonderful thing she had ever heard. She stumbled through the darkness and literally fell into his arms."Vegeta ..." Her hands felt his face, his arms, his shoulders.
<br />
<br />
"Are you hurt?"
<br />
<br />
"Not really. Just a few scratches."
<br />
<br />
"Where?"
<br />
<br />
"Can't you see that? On my face and hands. I thought I could blow this stupid hole to get out."
<br />
"It's so dark down here that I can't even see my own hands," laughed Bulma, relieved. "Just say you don't know what happens when you blow up a cavity so deep down."
<br />
<br />
"Well, I was pretty mad ..."
<br />
<br />
"... and turned off your brain," she added. "Any other idea how to get out of here?"
<br />
<br />
"You're the genius on duty, not me," he replied gruffly, but his hands were still on her shoulders and it didn't seem like he wanted to let go of them anytime soon. That made her soft and yielding. They could both have died in the fall, the chance to tell him would be gone forever.To hell with her own vulnerability! She would just risk it, then they would both finally know where they were.
<br />
<br />
"Vegeta." Something in her voice made him sit up and take notice. It was the same timid, determined tone she'd used in the ship before the alarm went off.
<br />
<br />
"Yes?"
<br />
<br />
"For quite a while ... I ... I have ...", she stretched out her arms and put them around his shoulders and snuggled up against him. The warm play of his muscles under the overalls, the liveliness, the strength that emanated from him made her heart beat faster. She didn't want to let go of him again. Never again, even if he rejected her now ... Maybe it would be easier if she whispered it in his ear instead of saying it out loud. "Vegeta, I'm li ..."
<br />
<br />
"Welcome."
<br />
<br />
Bulma and Vegeta started apart and stared in the direction from which the voice had come.
<br />
<br />
It got light without a transition.<br />
<br />
Just a few steps from Bulma stood a young man with long, blond hair that he had tied loosely at the back of the neck. His tanned, muscular form towered over them both by at least a head. The classic profile, white toga, and gold sandals looked a bit strange, given the situation and the environment in which they were
<br />
"What the hell ..." Vegeta growled, probing the speaker. No aura. , so one of the refined kind. Vegeta gritted her teeth and took on an attacking pose. "Who are you and what do you want here?"
<br />
<br />
"I want to take you to your quarters," smiled the young man. "Please follow me."
<br />
<br />
"Not without answering a few questions