Erasa sat at her desk in her bedroom, staring dreamily out of the window. A lazy streak of late afternoon sunlight beamed into her girlish room, but missed her by an inch. Engulfed in her thoughts, she chewed the end of her pencil, while tactfully neglecting to think of the homework spread out in front of her.
Somehow, she had never imagined her boyfriend to be like this. She always imagined herself at the side of a strong, silent and mysterious type of guy, someone only she had the privilege of knowing on a personal level. Perhaps even someone like her friend Gohan. Erasa would never have imagined she would end up falling deeply in love with their mutual friend Sharpner.
In a way, she never experienced Sharpner to be silent, let alone mysterious. But then again, Sharpner never talked freely of his home. He was a rich kid, and somehow seemed deeply ashamed of it. None the less, a limousine drove him to school every day.
She giggled.
Just two days ago, Sharpner had offered her a ride home in that fancy limo of his, not knowing this had been a fantasy of hers ever since she found out she loved him.
Surely, its insides must have been amazing, but Erasa never really caught a glimpse of it. From the moment they set foot inside, to the moment they pulled over at Erasa's house, they had been caught up in a passionate kiss.
"I love you," Sharpner had whispered.
"I love you too," Erasa had whispered back.
As Sharpner drove off, she vaguely noticed a widely grinning driver, and the windows seemed significantly darker than when she got in.
Since then, they were pretty much dating.
Suddenly, a yell yanked her down from her fluffy pink cloud.
"Erasa! Take Benny out for a walk, will you?" her mom yelled from down the staircase.
"Sure thing mom!" replied a cheerful Erasa.
Whistling a tune, she skipped every other step coming down the stairs, snatched Benny's leash, and cornered the chocolate labrador.
"C'me here, Benny," she cooed, "We're going for a walk!"
Benny instantly jumped out of his comfy basket, and twirled the smiling girl. Petting him non-stop, she managed to clip the leash to his collar.
"There's a good boy, Benny! Come on! Let's go!"
Grinning she sighed happily, and blew a kiss to the framed picture of her boyfriend. She was such a lucky girl. She practically skipped down the hallway, ignored her amused mother, and yanked the door open.
No, she thought. A coat would most definitely not be necessary.
And Erasa grinned. Her life was so perfect... Benny was playful, as if sensing her mood. Erasa laughed at his silly antics. Slowly her eyes turned to glassy. Again she went off dreaming of her boyfriend, walking the brown dog automatically.
"Um, excuse me? Miss?" a man brutally tugged Erasa out of her daydreaming. Surprised she noticed she was three blocks further along the road all ready.
"Do you happen to know where Orange Star High is?" the man inquired, poking his head out of the van.
"Orange Star High? Wow, you're a long way from home, mister!" Erasa laughed sympathetically. Benny didn't seem to notice the van at all, but found himself a nice tree to pee against instead.
Erasa dared a glance at the actual driver, but couldn't see him. Disappointed she settled for the man in the passenger's seat.
"Do you know where it is?" he pushed on.
"Well, sure I know, I go there…" she mumbled out loud, "Um… Right, I suppose with a car you want to go straight ahead here for a while, then take the third, no, fourth, sorry, to your… right… And then you… just drive on until you get to the second roundabout, take that one left, and then… Well, I suppose it's best to just ask again when you get there…" she said, deeply ashamed of her lack of mapping skills.
By now Benny had finally seen the unknown vehicle, and resided in checking the wheels for unwarranted smells. Apparently he smelled something, because he let out a proud bark, wagging his tail.
Both Erasa and the man laughed at his simple joy.
"You know what," he tried, "Maybe you should drive along for a while, so you can show us."
Abruptly she felt her cheerful mood evaporate.
"No, no, I think I'll pass that!" she stuttered, "I can't leave Benny behind, you know…" Nervously, she attempted a smile, but failed horribly.
Backing up her statement, he stared at her, begging for a scratch behind the ears. She gave him one, but her heart wasn't behind it.
"Oh, come on…" he begged, too, "You seem to know it so well, you can prove you still know!"
"No, that's okay, I'll live. You'll find it, I'm sure."
She attempted to walk away, but the van slowly drove along with her. Somehow this frightened Benny, who tried to hide behind Erasa's legs.
"Miss? Miss?"
"Please leave me alone," she snapped, increasing her pace.
Finally picking up on something, Benny unearthed a low growl.
"Oh, come on, we only want your help!"
Now ignoring him completely, she increased her pace even more. The van followed.
"Miss!"
Her speed was making her pant as she continued to increase it. Benny was at a total loss, not sure whether to be happy with the prospect of running, or frightened of the fright his mistress was showing.
"Miss!"
"Go away!" she yelled, trying to sound under control.
"Please, miss!"
She broke into run.
Instantly the van's back door slid open, revealing three vicious looking men previously hidden. The man too got out and ran straight after her.
In an immediate response Benny pulled himself free and positioned himself between the men and Erasa, growling menacingly at the four men.
One of the men, holding a large stick, ruthlessly slammed him aside.
"I hate dogs," he needlessly supplied.
No longer daring to look back, Erasa ran up a driveway.
The men quickly followed.
"HELP! LET ME IN! ANYONE, LET ME IN!" she screamed hysterically, banging on a front door she had never even noticed before, "ANYONE!"
Strong arms grabbed her waist from behind.
Still screaming she lashed out at anything that could move, but a handkerchief was held over her nose and mouth, preventing her from making any more sound.
Feeling her muscles go strangely weak, she sensed the world turning black…
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Miles away, a young man in a suit walked up to an even younger woman dressed in a casual white T-shirt and black shorts. Covering her elegant hands were simple black biker gloves. Her long black hair was tied together in two loose pigtails.
"Miss Satan?" the man said rather than asked, "They have the girl. She is being brought here this moment. Do we still put her in the dungeons?"
"Yes," the teen replied, "I think it would suit her just fine. Has the boy been notified?"
"Happening this moment, miss."
"Very good," she said, and her eyes turned blank with thought. The man however boldly stayed put. Slowly this fact dawned on the girl.
"Well? What are you waiting for?" she snapped, "Get things ready for their arrivals!"
Still, he observed her with growing curiosity.
"Shouldn't you report to your father?" he finally asked.
She stared at him.
"You're new, aren't you?" she asked him rhetorically, "Very well, you may be right. Now go, please."
The young man performed a bow that showed he was indeed new, at least at showing respect to superiors, and left for the elevator.
The girl left as well, but went to a well-hidden staircase instead. The elevator couldn't reach the place she was heading for.
Next to the door that led to the stairway was some kind of doorbell, but the girl ignored it completely. Underneath it a shiny gold plaque said: "Hercule Satan, Chief Executive"
After a long climb the girl found herself in front of a huge oak door, which was, naturally, closed. Gathering courage, she knocked on the door.
Squealing was heard inside. By the sound of it, several women got out of some kind of water and ran for it. Then things went suspiciously quiet.
"Come in!" a deep male voice called.
The girl entered. There was no sign of the women, but the whole floor covered in wet footprints. In the back a huge Jacuzzi was bubbling. In front of it stood a broad man with an enormous bunch of afro-hair, with exception of a bald spot on top of his head. He was dripping wet, and was wearing a hastily slipped on bathrobe.
"Oh, it's you, Videl!" he nervously exclaimed, "Why don't you ever ring the bell before you drop in!"
Videl kept silent, standing tall but carefully evading her father's eyes.
He sighed.
"Okay, what's the matter?"
"The girl, Erasa, has been successfully kidnapped, sir. Her boyfriend is being notified this very moment."
"Good, good…" Hercule said, "… Well, surely that's not what you're here for?"
A quick nod made her pigtails fly briefly.
"I request full authority on the kidnapping."
Hercule sniggered.
"But Videl, you have - "
"Official authority." she cut in.
He fiddled his robes. Then his face cleared up, jerking into an unnaturally large smile.
"Of course you can, sweetie! You know your old man can't deny you anything, right, pumpkin? If there's - "
"Sir, I'm working." she snapped, throwing him an angry glance, then staring at the wall behind him again.
Hercule seemed shocked, but recovered quickly.
"Of course, you're as right as always…" By now his smile looked particularly painful. "Miss…"
His beloved daughter bowed professionally, turned round and left. As soon as she had closed the door behind her, she let the shudder she had been suppressing all along take over.
The last thing she had seen in that room, were three, maybe four curious women peeking around a corner. Three, maybe four naked women.
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"I need a taxi!" a blonde boy desperately yelled into a mobile phone, "Now!"
Quickly, Sharpner stated his address.
"Please, I'll pay you double! Triple! Just come, NOW!"
He hung up the phone, and sank down into the carefully cultivated flowerbed just outside his father's villa.
In one hand, he held his cellphone.
In the other, he held a piece of paper.
The message had been simple, but painfully clear.
It showed a picture of Erasa, lying on a cement floor, unconsious, all tethered up, surrounded by heavily armed men.
Below it was an address.
The paper had been tied to a rock, used to smash his bedroom window.
Sharpner broke into tears.
Why on earth did they take Erasa? Did they want his father's money? They could have just taken him instead! What on earth could they want her for! She had nothing to do with anything! Nothing!
"NOTHING!" he screamed. He hated the world. He hated the entire world from within the depths of his heart.
She had done nothing.
"Sir…?" a voice dared ask.
Sharpner turned away from the man, crushing even more prised flowers.
"Are you all right, sir?"
Enraged, Sharpner tossed the piece of paper at him.
Silence prevailed momentarily.
"Good lord…" the man murmured in shock, "Good heavens, I should inform - "
"You're not telling anyone!" Sharpner snapped.
"But…"
"She'll be killed if you do!"
"It doesn't say that…" he pushed on.
"See those men! It does!"
It fell silent around Sharpner again. He wasn't even sure the man was still there, when he spoke up again.
"So how is you lying here going to help?"
"I'm waiting for a cab!" he said angrily, turning around to face the man. Through his tears, he still couldn't recognise him.
"… And I didn't come to mind, sir?" Apparently, the servant had crouched to speak to him properly.
Sharpner wiped his eyes clean. Finally, he recognised the limo-driver.
By this time however the driver had already snatched his hands and jerked him up.
"Let's go!"
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When Erasa reached consciousness, she found herself in a moist cell. There were no windows anywhere, and the pressing silence told her she had to be underground. A guard resembling much of a troll guarded the only door leading from the area her cage was, to what had to contain either freedom or death. She stood up, feeling strangely surprised she could move around freely within the boundaries of her cage after blacking out in the firm grips of several men. For what seemed to be hours she had cried, lingering in her own misery, when a girl her age entered the space linked to her prison.
"Oh my god…" she said, genuinely shocked, "They told me someone would be here, but I never thought… I mean… You're…"
"Your age?" Erasa supplied, attempting a feint smile through her tears.
"Well… yeah!" she said apologetic, "Sorry, I'm Videl. Hercule Satan's daughter."
Videl closed her eyes, like she was about to take in a huge blow.
"Erasa," said Erasa.
Surprised, Videl opened one eye.
"You… you don't know?" she asked, her voice drowned in amazement.
"Know what?" Erasa asked confused. She was only vaguely aware of how her voice trembled.
"Oh, god…"
Videl started pacing. Confused beyond recognition, Erasa observed the bars flicking in front of the strange girl.
"I'm not sure I should be the one to tell you this, but…" Videl said uncomfortably, "Your boyfriend, Sharpner, he… He's not who he says he is. I'm sorry."
"What…!" Erasa stumbled. This wasn't happening… This was not…
"He's evil, Erasa."
Happening…?
"No!" she yelled, "No, he's a good guy, honestly!"
Videl eyed her sympathetically.
"I'm sorry…" she repeated.
Suddenly, a young man wearing a suit bolted thought the door. His relatively long black hair waved as he walked straight up to Videl.
He however swallowed whatever he had meant to say when he glanced at Erasa.
"Ginyu sends word." he said instead.
"Sharpner arrived? Already?" Videl replied.
"You just blew my cover." the man commented, frost crumbling from his voice.
"Sharpner is here?" Erasa cheered wild-eyed, "SHARPNER! SHARPNER, CAN YOU HEAR ME! I'M DOWN HERE! SHARPNER!"
"He can't hear you, you know," said Videl impatiently, showing a glimpse of a completely different woman. To erase the image, she threw in a caring smile.
Erasa shut up instantly. She was starting to trust this earnest girl, even though she was her enemy.
"Oh, sometimes I really HATE my father!" was Videl's sudden frustrated shout.
The man's eyes narrowed.
"He's having me talk to Sharpner! Darn it, he knows I hate doing his chores all the time!"
Again, she started to pace, staring angrily at her feet. Abruptly she stopped.
"That's it!" she exclaimed, snapping her fingers in the air, "You, get a TV down here right away!"
The man bowed as slightly as humanly possible, twirled around the troll-like guard and left discreetly.
"Why do you…" Erasa started, but Videl silently hushed her.
Five uncomfortable minutes later, he returned, rolling in a large TV on a food trolley.
"Small lift." he simply said, considering that a perfectly valid apology.
"Well, thanks, anyway," Videl said, "You can leave now."
He bowed again, remarkably enough even slighter this time, and left.
Videl glared at the guard. The guard coughed.
"Should I, um…" he suggested.
"Guard the door from the other side? Yes, good man. Please."
A sudden chill ran down Erasa's spine.
Videl smiled contentedly as soon as the door closed, and Erasa understood. She had been playing a part, to get the man to do what she wanted.
Almost immediately after that, Videl nearly attacked the surveillance camera with wires that were poking out the back of the TV.
"Hang on, almost there…" she muttered, and Erasa wondered whether it was addressed to her, or to herself.
Videl prodded the last plug into the camera. Then, the TV popped on, and showed a very close-up of Videl, who was still checking for loose ends.
"What are you doing?" Erasa dared ask.
"-ng?" the TV echoed.
"Keeping you posted," both Videl and her TV-image clarified, and she moved out of the camera's sight in order to climb back down.
For a moment she thought, then she resolutely typed '47' on the TV's number pad. A deserted entrance-hall popped into view.
"Huh? Weird…"
Numbers '6' and '1' were pressed. The hall now disappeared to make room for what seemed to be a lounge. In it sat a blond teenage boy, showing a variety of nervous ticks.
"Sharpner!" Erasa exclaimed.
Videl tonelessly hummed something that might have been a confirmation.
"I wish he'd say something," she added, "Now I don't knowwhether the sound's working."
Both girls stared at the screen for a few moments, but when Sharpner didn't so much as sigh, Videl sighed for him, and turned back to face Erasa.
"Well," she resentfully complied, "I have to go, before Captain Ginyu…" She spoke the name with clear disgust. "… goes berserk. I'll be - "
"… Have been here by now! What's KEEPING her so long!" someone cursed.
"Miss Satan has been delayed." someone else replied irritated. It seemed to be the young man from earlier. Erasa realised that the voices were coming from the TV speakers, yet besides Sharpner, she couldn't see anyone.
"She will arrive when she is ready." the young man continued. His voice grew louder.
"When SHE is ready!" the first voice sneered, "For Kami's sake, it's about time that girl is taught some RESPONSIBILI - "
The door to the lounge swung open, showing a broad horned man, dressed in a security outfit, stopping in his tracks to stare at Sharpner.
" - ty… What's he doing here? Wasn't he in the entrance hall?"
Behind him appeared the black haired man in the suit.
"It would appear not," he said, suppressing a grin.
Sharpner looked from one to the other, trying to find out whether either of them was even supposed to be there.
"The boy was not supposed to hear any of this!" the horned man fumed.
"Then let's go, Captain Ginyu, before he realises what he's hearing!" replied the other, now trying to control his sniggering.
Still furious, Captain Ginyu left the lounge.
"What…" Sharpner tried.
The young man however stared straight into the camera, looking two confused girls in the eye.
"Test, test." he said plainly, and left.
Back in the damp cell, Videl muttered: "Impatient frog!"
Quickly recovering from her clairvoyant moment, she continued: "Well, at least now I know the sound is working just fine. As I were saying, I'll be back soon, hopefully with a key."
She nodded a friendly goodbye to Erasa.
"Hang in there!" she added, and left. The security guard gave her five seconds, then sneaked back to his post on the right side of the door.
Erasa sighed. This way, Sharpner seemed so innocent. In fact, he had always appeared to be naive and gullible. Could she really believe Sharpner was… evil?
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"Sound check work out all right?" the young man asked as he and Videl made way to the lounge.
"Perfect. I take it you pre-set the TV?" Videl asked back.
"Are you mad? I had 19 do it."
"And made a fuss with Ginyu on purpose?"
"He made a fuss. I just led him there."
Videl stopped in her tracks. The young man, too, stopped, eyeing Videl most curiously.
"You, sir…?"
"17."
"Android?"
"Yes." 17 said chilly.
"You, Seventeen, are among the most brilliant minds I have ever come across." said Videl, with actual admiration in her voice.
"Thank you. That would be a list of…?"
Videl smiled.
"Well, for one, Ginyu won't be on it!"
The pair continued their path through the huge complex.
"Miss Satan…?" Seventeen ventured.
"Why did you plant the camera? I could identify your plan, but your course of action does not comply to any strategic data I have installed. Can I conclude you are helping the enemy, and thus a spy?"
"In English?"
"Why, you traitor." he effectively concluded.
A somewhat disturbing smile formed on Videl's lips.
"Simple. I just planted a mole."