Back on Earth...

Over a week had passed from Trunks' leaving of the planet. Bulma, feeling despair and loss tried valiantly to fill her son's shoes at the office, but Trunks had a different style of running the place. His employees enjoyed his style and his smooth talking ways always got the best negotiations and deals for the company. Trunks was indeed more valuable there than she ever gave him credit for. Sure he left the office frequently or played hooky from work rather often, but he had the place running so efficiently, that his presence wasn't always needed. The employees knew their jobs and did them well. Moral was high and smiles abounded with Trunks around, especially on the ladies. And now, Bulma, 'the bitch witch' as she was deemed by some, was desperately trying to keep the company unchanged. It was much harder than during the black star dragonball hunt. Trunks took to the job a little more seriously after that ordeal and had more years of experience now. She never realized until this point, Trunks' perspective on it. With his skills and ability, the seemingly stressful, complex job of corporate president was all too easy for him. As he had said before, it bored him. There was no challenge for him in it. She missed him even moreso now.

Meanwhile, Pan was coming to grips with Trunks' absence in her own way. She was moody and to many, seemed to be grieving a loss. She never realized how much of an impact the son of Vegeta had on her until now. Naturally, when you can't have what you want and now it's gone, you want it even more. But she wondered, where ever he might be, did he think the same of her or even his family? All had given him so much crap in the past weeks. His mother had even stooped to the level of comparing him to the 'other' Trunks. This was the worst possible insult for her 'present' son. Sure, she could understand Bulma's rationale, Trunks was mixing business and pleasure and it was affecting him and the company. For most, those can be fatal mistakes. A worried mother's approach ended up being an even bigger mistake. She drove her son away whether it was a direct result or not.

Marron too, was feeling the effects of his absence. She too, was depressed and sulking. Though she never really had as much exposure to Trunks in her early years due to Goten and Trunks always being together, Trunks made extra effort to get to know her better in his late teen and college years. Even kind-hearted, innocent Goten never made such an attempt. She had expected Goten, but never the dashingly handsome, heir to the Capsule Corporation dynasty. His kindness and attention to her, led her to choose business as her career choice. And now, he was gone and nobody knew if he was ever going to return. Leaving into the depths of space alone was like taking on an uncharted forest filled with savage beasts and unknown dangers alone. Most who tried, were foolish and never returned. Such was the mighty power of nature.

Onto space...

A couple more days had passed since Taree's attempted interrogation. Trunks was nearly full strength now, but made no attempt at his binds or confines yet. He wanted to know as much as possible before making his move. It was best to play along for a while. Something however, was keeping his brain fuzzy and it wasn't the after-effects of the concussion. He longed for his sword. It was in the ship. But wait? Where was his ship? How damaged was it? Had these saiyans destroyed it already!? Suddenly a new form of worry crossed Trunks' mind. He wasn't so concerned for his own captivity, but would he ever get off this place? Was he stranded, never to return to Earth? Wait, no. Saiyans had ships, strange ball-like ships, but they were ships nonetheless. If worse came to worse, he would steal one of those. But still, he would not leave without his sword. Bestowed to him by Tapion, he would never leave such an honorable item with such a dishonorable species, even if half of their blood ran in his own veins.

Elsewhere in the same area..

"He's nearly at 100% health?"

"Yes, Commander."

"Strange how he doesn't try an escape. He's half saiyan. Those binds should be nothing even if he had the minutest of saiyan blood in him."

"Perhaps it's the drug we're placing in his water?"

"No. That's merely a sedative. It shouldn't affect his desires or strength. He's more intelligent than we originally thought. If only we knew what other species he was! Damn him!" Taree said as her anger and frustration surged at the mere thought of her captive getting the best of her.

"Commander?"

"Add a dose of our pheromone to his water as well. I'm going to try a different approach with our stubborn captive."

"Yes, Commander." the soldier said as she saluted and departed.

*Oh yes strange one, you will break. You are only a male afterall.* Taree purred to herself as she stroked her tail and formualted her next plan of attack.

A few more days passed without any confrontations. Trunks however, was beginning to feel the effects of the new chemicals in his water. Though he didn't know they were there, his body did. He was seeing the female guards in a new perspective. They were a little more intersting to him now. To bide his time, he often watched their movements, his eyes taking in every supple ripple of flesh, every curve, every swish of tail. He wasn't consciously aware he was doing these things, his body was instinctively reacting to what nature intended it to. His brain hadn't registered this new behavior aside from it being something to do when one has nothing else to do.

Meanwhile, one of the guards, recently relieved of duty, reported to her commander.

"Yes Midori, how is our captive taking to our new approach?"

"He's watching us with interest. Though it is still difficult to tell if it's out of boredom or the pheromone."

"True. He could be deceiving us as well. Remote brainwave scans on him indicated extreme intelligence. There's something about him that still bother's me."

"I know it too. The younger females don't seem to see it, but those of us who were around when Frieza destroyed our planet see it. I have heard other elder females mention it too. His features..."

"That smirk." Taree interrupted.

"Yes, and it is matched with an icy glare on a well chiseled face. If not counting another species witihin him, I'd almost say I can guess his bloodline."

Taree's brows perked with intense curiousity. Did her lieutenant just say she could bring a bloodline name into this!? Still, she remained composed as any commander should. "So, which bloodline are you suggesting?"

"It's farfetched. I mean, there were so few to begin with, the odds---"

"Just name it."

"The Royal bloodline. King Vegeta's."

Taree thought. Yes! That smirk! It was seen on King Vegeta as well as his young son! So that's where that haunting smirk originated. But they knew for a fact King Vegeta was killed. His only surviving offspring, his young son and crowned prince, was with Frieza at that time and assumed dead as well. "Perhaps. His looks do resemble his Highness' remotely. We need to know for sure. Other Elites such as us have had our bloodlines crossed with the royal one as well however. He's not low class. We do know that much. He has too much intelligence about him to be such and his lines and features are too distinguished. He is of good breeding regardless of this other species within him. Well done Midori. You have given me a more solid angle of approach. Increase the pheromone level. Put some in the food as well. I will make him talk, even if it means starting at the bottom and working my way up."

Midori grinned mischievously. She knew what her commander's new tactic was. No male had ever withstood it and neither would this one. Even if he didn't talk, his body would. Thanks to other conquered planets, saiyans had acquired some rather high tech techniques and equipment. Fortunately for these survivors, they also had a couple of distinguished scientists and scholars among them. Their history and bloodline information had been preserved in a special archive. It would not be hard to test and compare this captive's saiyan lineage with that of the rest.

"As you command." Midori replied with a smile. Perhaps after Taree had gotten what she wanted from their exotic half-breed, she would allow those directly under her, an opportunity at him as well. Regardless of what his bloodline would reveal, he was worthy mating material.

to be continued...