Chapter 2

Bulma and Chi Chi walked through the crowded and crumbling streets of the city. The attack had left Earth in shambles and with Freeza kidnapping and using all of their most gifted citizens, there were very few people left with the skills to help rebuild. Many didn't even care because when they would attempt to restore their homes or businesses, Freeza's goons who were left behind to keep an eye out for Bulma would ransack and destroy.

The girls moved quickly making sure to not draw attention to them selves. They knew this city like the back of their hand. It was also in the job description to remain discreet. Bulma wore a baseball cap that her friend Yamcha had given her years ago and large sunglasses. Chi Chi, not needing to be as careful wore her long black hair down. She wore a black tank top similar to Bulma's and a pair of khaki shorts.

Neither spoke as they dodged fallen pieces of buildings and garbage that had just been discarded. It pained Bulma to see her once pristine city look like trash. However, she was learning to live with it as nothing was going to change.

The girls arrived at an abandoned building and walked inside through a blasted out wall. Inside there was very little light except for the beams of sunlight that streamed through the holes and windows of the old building. The girls made there way over to a cracked open door with some light shining out from under the door. They both seemed to take in a sharp breath as they pushed open the door.

Inside the small room was a man standing behind a dusty and broken desk in a very expensive pin striped suite. He was bald with piercing eyes. What was the most surprising was his tattoo in the middle of his forehead. Bulma would never understand why you would want anyone to think that you had three eyes, but there were a lot of things that she didn't understand anymore.

"Mr. Tien," Bulma said as she removed her sunglasses. He looked at the two girls without saying a thing but simply but a brief case on the table.

"My employer would like this delivered to the old business district. A contact will be waiting for it in the old Capsule Corp. building."

Bulma's chest tightened and she tried to mask her surprise when he mentioned her old home. Chi Chi quickly reached for the case hoping to take away from Bulma's reaction. It was important that no one figured out who Bulma really was, Freeza had an enormous ransom out for her.

"Is there a timeline?" Chi Chi asked as she inspected the case. It wasn't as heavy as she was expecting.

Tien hadn't seemed to notice Bulma's reaction and looked to Chi Chi. "Tomorrow morning at 8 am. Once the package is delivered and confirmed, you will receive your payment."

"Great – we will deliver this tomorrow am. Anything else?"

"Just be alert. This is a very important package and there are people who are on the lookout for it." Tien turned his gaze back to Bulma who was trying to remain calm while she felt herself slipping into shock. "I would go straight home and stay there until tomorrow."

With that, Chi Chi pulled on Bulma's arm and they retreated out of the room and then out of the building. When the air hit Bulma's face she was finally able to take a trembling breath; her hands were now clenched in tight fists as she fought to contain her anger and sadness. She had not been back to her home since she was sent away by her father and did not know if she would be able to face it.

"Are you okay? Let's get home and regroup." Chi Chi said as she placed her hand on her friend's shoulder. She knew that this would be difficult, but if she needed to, she could deliver the package herself to spare her friend the memories.

Bulma took another breath and looked to Chi Chi, "Thanks. I think that's a good idea. Let's get home and figure out what we are going to do."

With that the two girls walked a little faster back to their small apartment heeding Tien's warning. However, they were too immersed in thought to notice the shadow that followed.

Vegeta didn't need to be told twice to prepare as he left the war room after being given the order from his father. He was not sure how he felt about a retrieval mission, but he understood why his father entrusted it to him. If it was true that the scientist's daughter was still alive, the king needed someone he trusted to bring her back, and that was Vegeta.

Vegeta walked quickly down the medieval hallways of the palace. Although Saiyjins were a race of warriors, they were also traditionalists. The halls were adorned with the crest of Planet Vegeta and portraits of all of Vegeta's distant relatives. When he turned the corner he entered a large open room, standing in the middle of the room were a group of soldiers deep in conversation. Each wore Saiyjin armor with blue body suites underneath.

"We have a mission." Vegeta spoke as he walked toward the group. When they heard their prince, they all quickly stood in attention. "We will be traveling to Earth to retrieve a scientist in hopes that she can create a counter to the ki-shields."

"Alright! I can't wait. I am so sick of waiting to do something about that bastard!" One of the soldiers yelled while crouching down in what looked like a squat.

"Kakkorot," Vegeta snorted, "don't get too excited. Earth was all but destroyed by Freeza year ago. They have no fighting power at all so at best we will encounter some third rate guards."

Kakkorot giggled and ran his hand through his hair as he stood, now taller than Vegeta. "Oh well, can't blame me for getting a little excited!"

"How many of us are going?" Radditz asked.

"It needs to be a small team so that we do not draw attention to Freeza. We have no idea if this scientist is even alive. And if she is, she has successfully hidden from Freeza for two years. Kakkorot and myself will travel to Earth and you and Nappa will remain in orbit in case we need backup."

Nappa and Raditz smirked at one another happy that they were not being left completely out of the action.

"Alright," Kakkorot posed once again, "when do we leave?"

"Now." Vegeta said as he and his comrades turned and walked toward the launch pad.