The days on Namek grew longer as the Z-fighters continued their search for the Dragon Balls. Gohan and Krillin had ventured off in search of the remaining orbs using the Dragon Radar Bulma had provided. They were eager to finish the task and bring the journey to an end, but Goku, still recovering from the strain of his Kaioken x2, rested at the camp. He lay on the ground, his body still aching from the brutal fight with Frieza.
Meanwhile, Zane, completely unaffected by the battle, lay back with his head resting on Bulma's lap. His eyes were closed, feigning relaxation, though he was far from tired. In truth, he felt just as energetic as he did when he arrived on the planet. But for the first time in a long while, he allowed himself to be still, enjoying the comfort of Bulma's gentle touch.
Bulma, her hands gently running through Zane's hair, smiled softly. She was happy, no, more than happy. There was a warmth in her chest every time she looked at him. Zane had defeated Frieza just because she asked, and that thought alone made her heart swell. She had never expected someone like him to be so… affectionate, even if it was just for a moment.
With every tender stroke of his hair, she felt a deeper connection to him, and her mind began to wander. 'Could it be that he's starting to care for me?' she thought, the idea making her smile. She continued to run her fingers through his hair, clearly lost in the moment, letting her affection flow freely.
Zane, however, wasn't paying attention to her soft touches as much as he was planning. His eyes were still closed, but his thoughts were far from serene.
"Vegeta," Zane said, his voice breaking the silence, "Come here."
Bulma paused for a second, looking at Zane with a soft frown, but she didn't question him. Zane's tone had always been casual, but this time, there was something deeper in his words, an undercurrent of something bigger.
Within moments, Vegeta appeared before them, floating down to the ground with a scowl etched on his face. His pride never allowed him to approach quietly, and his eyes flicked between Zane and Bulma, narrowing in suspicion. "Why the hell would you want me here, Zane?" Vegeta sneered, arms crossed over his chest. "I have no business with either of you."
Zane didn't even sit up, his posture lazily sprawled across the ground. His eyes didn't even bother opening. "I want you to come back to Earth with us."
Vegeta scoffed, stepping forward. "Why would I go to that weak planet?" His voice was thick with disdain, but there was curiosity buried beneath his words. "I'm no fool. I'm not wasting my time with the earthlings."
Zane chuckled, a smirk curling on his lips. "Because there's power there. And I can help you achieve Super Saiyan."
Vegeta clenched his fists, his pride flaring as he looked Zane up and down. "So, you really think you can help me achieve Super Saiyan?" His voice was a mix of disbelief and curiosity. "How can you help me become stronger than I already am?"
Zane's smirk never faltered as he leaned back, still fully relaxed despite the tension in the air. "I know I can help you achieve Super Saiyan and become stronger than you ever thought possible, Vegeta," Zane said casually, his voice confident. "But that's just the beginning. There's more. Super Saiyan isn't just a single form; it's one of many. You can go beyond it, much further. But don't worry, I'm not gonna go into all the details right now. I'll show you when the time comes."
Vegeta's eyes narrowed, clearly skeptical but also intrigued. Zane didn't let that deter him as he continued.
"And after that, we can start rebuilding the Saiyan race. Maybe you'll even find a way to make your own legacy on Earth," Zane said, his tone casual but laced with an underlying seriousness.
Vegeta sneered, his pride flaring again. "Breed with an Earthling woman?" he scoffed. "Taint my Saiyan bloodline with that weak filth? No chance."
Zane's smirk never wavered. "Doesn't matter. If that's what you want, go ahead and breed with whoever you want. It's not about that, Vegeta. I'm asking you to join me, to become my right-hand man." Zane leaned in slightly, his eyes narrowing with a cold, determined focus. "You see, I'm planning on building something much bigger than Frieza ever dreamed of. An empire, Vegeta. An empire that will stretch across every corner of the universe. Not just my forces, but if necessary, we'll bring the other races under my name and unite them."
Vegeta's eyes glinted, a mix of intrigue and skepticism still present. "An empire, huh? And you want me to help you build it?"
Zane nodded, unfazed by Vegeta's doubts. "Exactly. You'll be my right-hand man, and together, we'll reshape the universe. No more rulers like Frieza, no more weakling tyrants. True strength, Vegeta. You'll see what real power looks like."
At that moment, Bulma, who had been quietly listening from the side, couldn't hold back a grin. She tilted her head slightly, a playful glint in her eyes. "So, if you're going to be building this empire, does that mean I'll be your queen or empress?" she asked, teasing Zane as she sat beside him, casually running her fingers through his hair.
Zane blinked lazily, not even glancing at her. "Sure. Whatever you want. Titles don't really matter to me." He shrugged, uninterested in the concept of ruling with titles, but his words carried no malice, he just wasn't invested in titles. His focus was on power.
Bulma grinned, lightly punching his chest. "You're so full of yourself, but I kind of like it. I've always wanted to be royalty. Maybe this is my chance."
Zane gave a nonchalant shrug. "Yeah, yeah, sure. You can be whatever you want. I'm just focused on getting stronger."
Bulma laughed softly but couldn't help teasing a little more. "So, if you're going to have an empire... does that mean you're going to make me your empress?" Her voice was light, but there was a sense of genuine curiosity behind it.
Zane smirked slightly but remained silent, his thoughts already drifting to the task at hand, building an empire and creating a new order. The title of empress didn't interest him as much as the power that would come with everything he planned to do.
Vegeta, who had been silent through the exchange, finally shook his head in frustration, his pride getting the better of him once again. "You talk too much. I'll think about your offer, Zane. But don't think I'm doing this for some ridiculous title or because of your grand plans." He turned to leave, flying off into the distance.
Zane merely watched him go, unfazed. "Take your time, Vegeta. You'll come around." He turned his attention back to Bulma, who was still smiling at him. "Let's just focus on getting stronger for now. Everything else will fall into place."