Queen Luana: Here, I'm writing before I go on holiday so… no time to talk, here's the next chap!
Chapter V
Unks
Late that nighjt, in bed, Vegeta found himself still upset about that entire 'contact the dead' thing. It sounded so idiotic, his entire explanation. But then again, he had heard that woman speak and… Now he was kind of wondering whether Trunks truly had been messing with the tape. After all, he had stand his ground when Vegeta had laughed at him and told him there was no such thing. Why would he push it if it wasn't true?
With a moan Vegeta rolled over to his side and checked the clock. Almost midnight. He accepted the insomnia still had his grip on him and got up.
The house was dark, filled with the nightly silence. Everytime a car drove past, its headlights illuminated the hallway for a brief moment. Vegeta trudged down the stairs and rubbed his eyes. Brilliant, in bed he couldn't get any sleep, and when he was up, he was beat. When he reached the bottom step he saw the living room was illuminated, although no car was inside. When he approached he saw it was the TV, on static.
Vegeta groaned. "Trunks, will you finally-?" He closed his mouth when he saw little Trunks lying on the floor, curled into a ball and his headphones still on. Silently Vegeta shuffled closer. Trunks' cheeks were sparkling with tears. The poor kid had cried himself to sleep. Vegeta sighed and crouched next to his son. He carefully removed the headphones and put them down on the ground. Then he slid his hands under Trunks' sleeping body and picked him up from the floor.
After he had put Trunks into bed and tucked him in, Vegeta just sat down watching his son sleeping peacefully. Never had he longed to sleep this badly. He just wanted to close his eyes and drift off, if only for a little while. Just to escape from this confusing reality. All these emotions were just too hard for him to handle. Because these emotions were new…
Vegeta went downstairs again and took a can of beer out of the fridge, then headed back towards the living room. The TV-screen was still static and he noticed the VCR was recording. With a sigh he plumped into the couch and sipped his beer. Was Trunks really hoping to see his mother? To hear her? He heard a click and saw the VCR had stopped recording. He stared at the Tv, hesitating, pondering. Somehow he was struck with an enormous curiosity. He moaned and got up. "I must be going crazy…" And pressed rewind.
Trunks creeped down the stairs, careful not to make any sound. The bottom step creaked and he cramped up his eyes. And waited. But heard nothing. He exhaled in relief and tiptoed into the living room.
"What's with all the secrecy?"
Trunks jolted into the air. "Dad! Do you mind?" Vegeta was leaning against the doorway, a can in his hand. Trunks crouched in front of the TV and pressed the rewind button.
"There wasn't anything interesting on it." Trunks raised an eyebrow at his father, in utter confusion. Vegeta turned with a 'humph' and went back to the kitchen, looking for something to eat. Trunks smiled. Finally.
The next days Trunks spend like all the other days. Either in front of the Tv or at his radio. And his father didn't complain. He sometimes came in to check on him but left him alone in any other way. But Trunks was starting to get seriously pissed. He had recorded dozens of tapes and cassettes, but they were all insignificante unfamiliar voices.
Come on, mum, Trunks pleaded when he pressed play. Talk to me. He listened to the white noise, for hours. Sounded like there was nothing too important on the tape. Of course there were voices, and even faces now. Vague shapes of course, hidden in the static of the TV. Trunks checked his watch. It was almost midnight and he was getting drowsy. He was starting to nod off…
…Unks
Trunks shot back up, never as awake as he wa snow. Had he heard that correctly? Or had he just imagined it? Mybe his sleep was playing tricks on his mind. Desperately he clutched the remote control and pressed rewind, then play. He turned up the volume and listened, closely…
...Unks
Trunks leaped into the air with joy. There was no mistake, he recognised that voice! Finally, after all those weeks of recording rewinding and listening, finally, he heard her. He pressed pause and ripped of his headphones. "Dad!" He stormed into the kitchen. "Dad! Dad! Dad!"
"Hey, take it easy, I'm trying to eat!" Vegeta said, a piece of pizza carbonara in his hand.
"I did it dad!" Trunks cried pulling at his father's free hand. "I did it! Come on!" He finally convinced him and together they hurried back into the living room. "Listen," Trunks said and pulled out the headphones, pressed rewind, then play. In an instant, the room was filled in a loud rusttle. Vegeta crouched and listened. And soon again, the voice spoke.
...Unks
Trunks saw his father growing pale and leaning back against the couch. There was no face on the screen, but the voice was there, loud and clear. Bulma's voice.
Vegeta didn't now what to think or what to do. It really did sound like her and why wouldn't it be her? But it was just so surreal. After all, he had been to her funeral months ago, he had seen her, not moving, eyes closed. And now he heard her voice, on something recorded a couple of hours ago. If he would tell anyone about this, he would certainly be certified insane. By God, he certified himself insane! He was hearing his dead wife speak!
…Unks…Tell him I…
Trunks peaked at his father but all Vegeta did was stare at the screen. He wanted to see her, he didn't know why but… Hearing her voice made him want to see her and, he truly assumed he was going mad, hold her.
…Unks… Tell him I…
They heard a click, and the VCR stopped playing. "End of the tape," Trunks clarified and ejected the tape from the VCR. He picked up a felt-tip pen from the floor and proudly labelled the tape 'Mum I'. He placed it with the other tapes then looked had his father, who hadn't moved an inch. "We'll hear her again dad. Don't worry. We might even see her, as long as we're patient." He ripped the plastic foil from a new tape, enterred it and pressed record. When he turned again, his father was still in the same position as before, only now he had lowered his eyes towards the floor. Trunks hesitated, then sat down next to his father and wrapped his arms around him.
"Don't worry, dad," he comforted him and Vegeta felt his eyes burn. "We'll see her again."
Queen Luana: There, finished it! Phew, and it's eight o' clock now, let's see. I'm gonna watch my show at ten, do I have a small two hours to write some more. Well, then I'll be silent for ten days so hang in there! And enjoy your summer break! (And review .)