Trunks was surrounded by tons of equipment with hundreds of lights, buttons, and monitors. The control panel launches was full of gadgets and buttons to make sure that the liftoff was successful, and to make sure that all of the ship's parts were functioning correctly. He sat in a chair looking over every detail of the ship on the several bright screens. This ship had taken a lot of damage the last time it had been used, but it was still functioning at a very high level. Anyways, the other ship that they could take was still in development, and Trunks was not the kind of person that would take unnecessary risks. Well, at least, not as of recently.
Chiyo lightly tapped on the entrance's wall into the launch area. As Trunks looked up to see her, his glance went directly to her forearm that was now wrapped in a cloth like material. It looked extremely painful when they had finally gotten to the house. Chiyo approached him and soon squatted to match his eye level. "Hey, this scratch is not that bad. It would be worse if there was absolutely no cure for the poison." She smiled at him.
Trunks just shook his head and turned back to the countless monitors in front of him. "I thought you said that there is no cure for this kind of poison." He typed in a code to bring up the view of the engine functions on the screen in front of his face.
Chiyo stood up and walked over to the back of Trunks' chair and gripped the edge of it with her hands. She looked over all the functions that he was searching through at a quick speed. He knew his stuff when it came down to it but so did she. "Well, honestly, there is only one place to get an antidote. I just didn't want to have to go back to the place I was getting away from in the first place."
She looked intently at the screen left to her. "So, I see that the water heater isn't working properly. Let me go take a look at it so you can check everything else." She headed toward the ship without looking back at Trunks. She knew where the heater was located on the ship, and she spotted a wrench. As she surveyed the heater, she realized that it was eerily similar to the one she had taken to Earth.
Trunks turned to watch her confidently walk toward the heater. She was becoming such a huge hassle, but she probably knew what she was doing. She went directly to the heater, but he knew as a Brief, he had to double check it. He looked on the screen to see that she was fixing it quickly and efficiently. Trunks smirked. She was a mechanic too. She was totally full of surprises.
Chiyo tightened the last loose screw in with the wrench and started to walk back toward Trunks. "So, when are we leav…" She suddenly looked at the ship and quickly climbed into it because of her curiosity.
It was so simple. It was just the way she would want a ship to be: more based on function more than elegance. She knew the Briefs designed it for that very reason. It also had an amazing looked into the cockpit and at all of the ship's functions. She unintentionally glanced out the side of it to see Trunks busy at work. She couldn't help but smile.
"You can't tell me you actually like him." She knew that voice. It was hoarse and very threatening. She turned to face Vegeta with a duffle bag in hand. She was not afraid of him per say, but she was going to give respect where respect was due. He had helped defend this planet time and time again, and he was the prince of Saiyans.
"I never said I did." In all honesty, she wasn't sure if she liked him, but she wasn't going to pour her feelings out to another Saiyan. She knew the boundaries of the race, and talking about emotions was definitely one of them. "Anyways, it would be stupid to think anything like that would work with me."Vegeta just gave a menacing look and grunted as he headed toward the pole that went to the lower level of the ship. "I get the lower level. Don't bother even attempting to come down here." And with that, he slid down the pole, and that was that.
If it were anyone else, that rude act directed at her would have pissed her off to the point of retaliation. However, Vegeta could definitely kick her ass within seconds, and honestly, she was trying avoid any conflict with the prince with her arm so bent out of shape. She didn't need another person disliking her anyways.
As she started to exit the ship, Goten suddenly climbed aboard along with Bra following a few steps behind. He leaned back to talk to her. "You know, this time I'm actually going on this ship. No one's going to push the big red button." They both started to laugh while Chiyo just smiled. As soon as they were on board, she started to walk off the ship.
Bra turned to watch Chiyo walk down the ladder that connected the ship to the floor. "You know, my brother will probably need some help. Mom's not around so he's doing all the behind-the-scenes stuff by himself." She winked as she headed back to talk to Goten. Chiyo ignored the comment as she started to dash toward Trunks' bedroom. She had left her box of capsules on the desk in his room. Plus, she wanted to change out of his clothes and into something that was more fitting of a homecoming. After all, everyone on her planet was going to be watching the ship land, and more than likely, Kanta had already informed them of her arrival. She was a public figure and coming down in guy's clothing would start so many rumors in tabloids that she's explode.
As she passed Trunks, she stopped. She paused to look at him busy at work and really started to ponder her emotions. Did she like him? "Hey, I'll be right back. Don't leave without me, okay?"
She didn't hold her smile back this time. It spread wide across her face. It was so inviting, and Trunks momentarily marveled at it. "Chiyo, trust me, you are the reason we are leaving in the first place."
They both smiled before she raced out of the area and up to Trunks' bedroom. As she made it halfway up the stairs, the front door flung open and made a crash against the wall. Chiyo glanced back to see a girl with a orange bandana draped on top of her head. She flew up to meet Chiyo's height. "Who are you?" Chiyo shook her head. She had briefly learned about Pan in the archives at Veneta, but she didn't pay much mind to the chapter. Pan was really the smallest pawn connected to her situation. That didn't make her insignificant; it simply made Pan someone she could figure out in person. Chiyo already learned Pan's first characteristic: she obviously couldn't hold her tongue. "I'm Chiyo. Everyone's in the control room if that is going to be your next question." Chiyo turned and ran into the bedroom only to find the place completely spotless and her box of capsules sitting on the bed with a note on top of it. It read "Thought you might need this. -Bulma"
Chiyo was not quite sure what to think of it, but she had to give Bulma credit. She somehow knew that there was going to be an adventure connected to that fight. Though, Chiyo was not completely shocked. Bulma was a Brief.
Chiyo closed the door and picked up her box of capsules off the bed. She surveyed her outfit options. She decided to go with a casual one. She clicked down on the capsule to reveal jean short shorts, a fitted blue and white striped tank top, and gladiator sandals. She looked at the last piece in the outfit. It was a necklace with seven keys on it. She quickly threw it over her head. She held the keys in her hand. It was the most important piece of jewelry she had ever received. The seven keys represented all of the princesses and their health. When one key fell off, it was easily reattached. However, it meant that someone was going to get sick or hurt. She got the necklace when she was thirteen. Two days later, her key fell off. That day, she experienced what no person should ever have to go through. She let the keys slip off her hand as she regained her composure.
There was a sudden knock on the door. The door slowly creaked open until it met the wall "You might want to get going," Chiyo turned to see Bulma. "They won't wait forever, you know. Saiyans are some of the most impatient people I have ever met." Chiyo just smiled as she gripped her box of capsules. "Thank you." She dashed once again; only, this time, it was back to the control room. She suddenly yelled back. "And you are completely right. I can never wait."
Bulma just smiled. "Good luck." Bulma peered into the bedroom once more and saw a pillow knocked onto the floor. As she looked on my bed, she spotted a small key that looked like a charm. It was beautifully decorated and twisted in a very unique way. She examined it for a few seconds before placing it on his desk. Chiyo would be back. "Though I don't think you will need it."
Chiyo arrived in the room to see an utterly chaotic scene between Pan and Trunks. The look on Trunks' face said it all. He was irritated, and the teenager was not going to help his irritability.
"Why can't I come? That's not fair if she can go! She's only a year older! " And there was the immaturity of a teenager radiating from Pan. But she had a point. Bra was not that much older than Pan was, and it shouldn't have mattered if she went or not.
Trunks stood up. "Go away Pan! I need to finish the final touches on the ship." He leaned over the control panel to make sure that every system was go. As the monitors flashed through all of the various parts connected to the ship, Pan quickly resorted to pouting to get her way as small tears appeared in her eyes. Chiyo remembered the numerous times when she was denied doing something and was given no reason as to why. Chiyo sighed as she crossed her arms. Why did she always have to do the right thing? Trunks glanced up for the monitors to see Chiyo walking toward him with a sour look on her face. She had changed, and it was new look on her. Really, though, she could pull off any look in the most stunning way. He looked back down at the various controls on the panel. He reached for a blue button to open the roof's hatches. He pushed it down angrily and violently. Pan had a way of pissing him off. She didn't realize what was even going on so why was she insisting on going? "You know, there's plenty of room on the ship and in the palace on Veneta." Chiyo looked down at the control panel again. Everything on the ship was working properly. That was a good sign.
Trunks pushed a yellow button to release the secure locks on the ship's bottom. He used more force with the yellow button than with the blue one. "She's not coming. I'm not going to change my mind, Chiyo."
He turned to see her face. She was smirking at him. Honestly, he loved and hated that look all at once. He really didn't know how it was even possible. "What?"
She just looked at him. "You know, you were a kid one day a while back. A little kid that wanted to save the world with his dad, but Vegeta wouldn't let you. So, you and Goten did it anyways. Pan doesn't really have that opportunity. Now, why would you do the same thing your father did to you to Pan?"
Trunks paused before he sighed. "Fine. She can come." He looked at an orange button and purple button. He calmly pushed them down. They gave all control to the cockpit inside the ship. "Everyone should start to get on board."Chiyo nodded and looked at Pan whose demeanor had taken a three-hundred and sixty degree turn. She rushed into the ship quickly, and she waved thankfully to Chiyo. Chiyo turned her head back to Trunks who was still engulfed in the controls. "You know, I can pilot a ship. I learned how to a young age." She walked behind Trunks and uncharacteristically hugged him from behind. "But with my arm, I would like some back-up." She let go of him, and she began to get onboard the ship.
Trunks sighed before following her. "Chiyo?"
She turned back and smiled. "So, you are joining us." Trunks shook his head as he climbed on the ladder leading into the ship. It was exactly the way he remembered it being. "What was that for? Back at the control panel?"
Chiyo went in the cockpit and sat in the copilot's chair. "It was for changing your mind."
Trunks just sat in the pilot's chair as he looked back to make sure everyone was safely inside. He knew his father was already training downstairs. He motioned for everyone to sit down, and as they did so, he started the engines. "Chiyo, how are the heaters and coolers looking?"Chiyo quickly looked through the data that had popped up on the screen. "Everything's doing just fine."Trunks buckled up and pressed the red launch button. They steadily lifted into the sky and soon left Earth's atmosphere.
"Chiyo, what are Veneta's coordinates?" Trunks pulled up a screen that contained the universe mapped out in squares. It reminded Chiyo of checkers.
She forgot about the gravitational pull as she unbuckled her seatbelt and headed toward the keypad. Her legs gave out as she toppled over the pilot's chair's arm and into Trunks' lap. Her cheeks instantly turned bright red as she started to laugh. "Let me type it in." She quickly typed it in as Trunks sat dangerously still. He had never been in this situation before. Then again, judging by her nervous laugh, she hadn't either.
Chiyo quickly flew back to her copilot seat to avoid her legs doing that to her again. She buckled in and suddenly felt an intense throbbing in her arm. She could feel the poison slowly spreading up her arm. The cut was nothing compared to the pain inside of her. She patiently waited it out before looking to her left to see Trunks looking at her. She suddenly saw the world around her close little by little until there was nothing left but darkness. And yet, the throbbing was still there. She could only hear herself breathing, but she felt a warm embrace on her shoulders shaking her violently.
Trunks had seen the look of pain she displayed before her eyes had closed. It was one he had seen a few times before, but it was never a good one. Saiyans embraced pain like humans would embrace money or fame. It was just in their nature, and Chiyo was not going to be an exception. But as she closed her eyes, something was not right. She had gripped her arm, but when he asked if she was okay, there was no response.
Trunks called Goten to make sure the ship didn't crash into space debris while Trunks began to shake Chiyo at the shoulders. She was completely conscious. That was a big fear to Trunks. It meant one of two things. She had become handicapped or lost her hearing and sight. Chiyo began to talk. "Help me, Trunks. I…I can't hear or see because of the poison. It spread faster than I thought."
Trunks somewhat sighed. There was a reason for what was happening. He looked over at Goten. He didn't want to do this because the engines were not fully charged, but he didn't really have much of a choice now. "Goten, hit that black button in the left corner. We are going into hyper Goten nodded and did as he was told, Trunks realized how grateful he was that the two girls were in the loft. He didn't need another problem on his plate. Trunks flinched when Chiyo gripped his arm tightly. She smiled. "Thank you. But can you lead me to the couch?"It was then that Trunks realized that Chiyo was one of the smartest people he had ever met. He held her hand as he led her to the couch and watched her curl up into a ball and drift to sleep. They both had kept their calm in a seemingly bizarre situation. He spotted a blanket folded in the corner of the ship across from the couch. It had a sticky note on it. "Chiyo is going to need this. -your mother" For once, Trunks thanked his mother. He draped the blanket over her as her figure quickly got lost in it. Once again, Trunks couldn't help but marvel at her.
Suddenly, Goten hollered from inside the cockpit. "Trunks, I think you need to take back control."Trunks took one more glance at her before heading back to the pilot's seat. He sat down and took back control over his vessel. He looked at the distance separating them from Veneta. It was probably only a twelve hour distance if nothing went wrong. That was not much time, and he figured that he might be able to get it down to ten hours if he did it right.
Vegeta finished his one millionth sit-up as he took a break to get water. This scenario was completely stupid. He had heard of such poison that was in the sword, and at any moment, she was going to lose her senses of hearing and sight. He suddenly punched the ground. He never wanted to see his sister again. She never embraced her true heritage, and that was a disgrace. She had talent, but she never applied it. It was such a waste of a Saiyan. At least Chiyo knew it as well.
Vegeta sighed. He was exactly like her at that age. Well, he was a little rougher around the edges, but the same attitude was there.
The ship's speed suddenly increased. It must have already begun.
He sighed as he mumbled to himself. "This is absurd."
