Chapter Six
The Beginning of the End
When the first light of the sun peaked over the horizon, my team gathered on the beach, getting ready to leave. Goku and the others stood around us, anxiously waiting. For an awkward moment we all just stood around staring at each other.
The events of last night had set everyone on edge. I could hear the whispers about how I had easily killed one of my own teammates.
"This was worse than when Vegeta first came to earth," Krillin had said, "What if she's just another evil Saiyan?"
"Krillin's right," Piccolo said, "We need to be ready if Lost attacks us after she kills Bunka."
"If it comes to that," Gohan had commented, "We'll have to take Goten as far away as we can. He won't let us hurt her."
Surprisingly, Goten continued to defend me. He kept making possible excuses for my actions, like how it wasn't my fault and telling everyone they shouldn't give up on me. I wonder if he would still be the way if I killed Goku. Even Gohan told Goten to be ready. I had rolled my eyes without realizing it. Despite everything, I didn't think I would ever hurt Goten intentionally.
Not because I cared about him, just because I had no intention of doing so. My feelings toward Goten were like the ones I had towards Stone. Despite the fact that Goten kept trying to hug me, I found him tolerable. It was strange, but whatever. Maybe I could recruit him to replace Kabuto.
With one last look at the kid, I set off toward Bunka's ship. Goku and the others would fallow behind later, after my team and I had gotten a head start. Or so they claimed. I couldn't shake the feeling that they were lying. Not about them fallowing, but their reason for staying behind.
It was because they, meaning the adults, were still uneasy when it came to trusting my team. I didn't blame them. I wouldn't trust me either. In this situation, however, I was completely trustworthy. I had bigger fish to fire then them.
"So what's the plan?" Jun asked flying up beside me. "Are we just going to walk in there and challenge Bunka to a fight?"
"Something like that," I said. If only it would be that easy.
"You know this isn't going to be that simple," Gyou said coming up to my other side, "Bunka is probably gunna know something's up."
"I'm expecting him too," I said. I turned my head to look at Gyou, "I'm just hoping by then it'll be too late for him to do anything about it."
"That's cutting it kinda close, don't you think?" Jun asked.
"With Bunka there's no other way, you know that," Stone said flying a few feet above the space between Gyou and I, "If we wait too long, he'll definitely get suspicious."
"He might already know," Jun said. He gave me a side long look, "I don't think Bunka would have sent you on a mission as tense as this and not watch you closely."
I came to a sudden stop. The others shot past me, before realizing I wasn't with them. Slowly they turned around and drifted back to me. Jun was right. He was always right. Why hadn't I thought of it before?
I tried to remember if there had been any strange people standing around and watching me, but I couldn't. I hadn't been paying attention. It didn't help that I couldn't sense power levels like everyone on the stupid planet seemed to be able to, but then why didn't Goku or someone else sense them?
Ugh! It was so frustrating. I really needed to learn how to pay closer attention. I had gotten too cocky over the years. I was so stupid.
"Are you okay, Lost?" Jun asked. He was giving me a worried look. It was usually the look he gave me when I was about to do something he didn't agree with.
I said, "You thing Bunka knows that I haven't killed Goku, that I killed Kabuto, and that now I'm coming to kill him?"
Jun shrugged, "It's a possibility. We shouldn't rule anything out."
I sighed in frustration, "Why didn't you mention this before?"
"I didn't think about it until now," Jun said.
"You're supposed to be our strategist!" I yelled, "Aren't you supposed to think about ever possible situation and their outcomes, before we go into a battle?"
"I don't know if you've noticed, Lost," Jun said angrily, "But there has been a lot going on."
"That's no excuse!" I growled.
Jun narrowed his eyes, "Well, you've known Bunka for longer than I have, shouldn't you know him better?"
I opened my mouth to yell back some witty excuse, but I couldn't think of one. Instead I said, "We need to hurry!"
I took off flying in my fastest speed. The others had a hard time keeping up, but I didn't care. If there was a chance, any kind of chance, that someone hadn't told Bunka that I was coming for him I had to get there.
I didn't slow down until we were at the landing site. I dropped out of sight and inspected the surroundings. The ship there, standing tall over the desert around us, just like the one Bunka had first taken me in. It was at least four stories high and just as wide, and made of dark silver metal. No one was standing guard. Never would Bunka leave his ship unguarded.
"Yep," Stone said, coming to the same conclusion I did, "He knows."
"We have to wait for Goku and the others," Jun said. "Not even you can take on his whole army, Lost. And we can't let the others walk into a trap."
"Good idea," I said, "You guys do that, I'm going to head inside and find Bunka."
"Are you serious?" Jun said, "You're not going to wait for backup? How do you plan to take him on by yourself?"
I stood up and glared at Jun. I said, "I don't need help. You go tell Goku and the others."
I rose into the air and flew calmly over to the entrance of the ship. I landed before the massive door and waited for the metallic whining of the thing rising. As the doorway appeared, an army of Bunka's warriors begun filling past me.
One of the soldiers paused as he past. I recognized him as Colin, the man who was Bunka's right hand man, the guy I replaced. He grinned at me and said, "Bunka is waiting for you in the throne room. I hope you're ready Lost, today is they day you die. And I will become leader of the Force."
I paused a moment to watch as Colin continued with the others. I lifted my hand, focusing my energy,
"Hey, Colin," He turned around and I said, "No, you won't."
I shot my energy wave at his stomach. Colin fell to the ground a few seconds later, dead. I turned back to the mouth of the ship and headed inside.
I knew this ship. It was the closest thing I had ever had to a home. I knew every corner, every hallway, and every room. I hated them all. I hated all the things that had been done to me and everything I was forced to do. It all ended today. It had to. I would no longer be Bunka's slave.
I made my way quickly toward the center of the ship where the throne room was. Every hall I went though was completely empty. Not a single soul to be found, which was weird because usually everyone had something important to be doing. So when I felt someone coming. I pressed myself into the shadows and waited for them to draw closer. When they were within range I swung out my leg.
Whoever it was caught my leg and swung me into the nearby wall. I slammed against it hard and the air was knocked out of my lungs. I didn't pause to feel the pain. I caught myself before I hit the ground and swung my fist out. I connected with the chin of my attacker and he stumbled backward.
It was when I turned on him again that I noticed it was Goten. I took a fist full of his shirt and pulled him up right.
"Really, kid?" I said shoving Goten up against the wall, "Are you crazy? What are you doing here?"
"Helping you, duh," Goten said, pulling my hand away, "Did you really think I was going to let you come in here and face Bunka by yourself?"
"Yeah, actually," I said, "I really, really did. Do you know how stupid you are? Does Goku even know you're in here?"
"Not as stupid as you," Trunks retorted, "You need someone to back you up."
"Great!" I threw my hands in the air and turned to face the other boy, "You here, too? I don't need you're guys help! Both of you get out of here now!"
"Or you'll do what exactly?" Goten challenged, "You'll kill us?"
I gritted my teeth, "Fine, but if you die I'm telling Goku on you."
Goten smiled, "Careful, you sounded like a big sister just now."
Trunks and I both rolled our eyes. I said, "Let's go."
Together we continued down the corridor. Running stealthily and side by side, we fell into a rhythm. It felt natural, like we had fought side by side for years. It was possible that we were both just exceptional fighters, but it felt deeper than that. The same blood pumped through our veins. This is what we did.
We rounded a corner. Just ahead I could see the door that led to the ships thrown room. I could feel that Bunka was close, patiently awaiting my return. I smiled, oh what a surprise he would be getting. All his years of planning ruined in a single day. His face would be priceless.
The boys and I reached the door and slid to a stop. I reached out and grabbed the handle, but before I opened it I turned to look at Goten and Trunks.
"I know you want to help," I said fixing my gaze on one boy and then the other, "but Trunks you need to stay here and guard the door. If you refuse I will hit you so hard you won't be able to see for a week. Goten, you need to hang back until I tell you, okay? This is my fight. I need to do this."
Trunks looked like he wanted to responded, but I gave him one of my I'll-kill-you looks he fell silent. Goten nodded. He was all business when he said, "We won't let you done."
"Good," I said.
I turned back to the door and opened it as quietly as I could. Slowly Goten and I slipped inside while Trunks stayed in the hallway. I knew something was wrong the moment the door shut behind Goten, but I couldn't put my finger on what it was. I could sense something, maybe an energy level that I almost recognized. It was Bunka.
I quickly pressed myself flat against the wall and started inching forward to see what it was. Goten grabbed the sleeve of my shirt to stop me. He gave me a weird look.
"What?" I mouthed.
He leaned forward and whispered, "Dad's here."
