Hey all. Sorry for the huge delays in this story. It is on going, but you'll have to be patient. The chapters will come.
I was going to make this another 10,000 word chapter, but i feel as if I've made you lovely readers wait long enough.
Enjoy!
"I think it's time." Piccolo said once Gohan had arrived, finding the Namek and Vegeta waiting for him.
"I agree." Vegeta nodded.
"I'll gather the fighters." Gohan sighed, turning around to head back to the group.
Disclaimer -I do not own DBZ or any of it characters. or places...ect.
Chapter 10 - The Threat
"Whats goin' on, you guys?" Krillin asked, sitting down with Yamcha in an empty conference room.
"I think we'd all like to know that." Tien added, entering the room, with Trunks, joining the others at the table.
"Do you remember what you asked of us, three years after the Cell games?" Gohan asked, standing at the front of the room, Piccolo and Vegeta next to him.
"We do." Krillin replied, glancing at Tien, Yamcha and Chazou, who with Trunks, were sitting at the other side of a round table.
"What did you ask of them?" Mirai replied, looking around the room.
"We were completely out matched against Cell." Krillin started, looking down at the table. "We knew that if our planet was ever in danger again, it would fall to one of these three to defend us."
"We would still fight, if we were needed." Tien asked, noticing the disbelieving look forming on Trunks face. "But we wouldn't make that much difference in a fight that these three couldn't handle."
"So we asked them, for the peace of our families, that unless we were under any realistic threat, or unless we were needed, then -" Krillin continued but he was interrupted.
"You asked them to deal with the planets defence?" Mirai asked, nodding in understanding.
"We agreed," Vegeta started, "That causing worry and concern for the rest of the group would not benefit our defence in any way. So we agreed on several conditions."
"You have to understand, that it wasn't just these guys that approached us." Gohan continued. "Mom and Bulma approached us too, it was the full group."
"They were placing the lives of everyone we know and care about in our hands." Vegeta said, "We took this seriously."
"You mentioned conditions?" Mirai asked.
"All decisions, when it comes to the defence of this planet must be accepted. We must be allowed to train to our maximum. We will not inform you of any threat unless it is important that you know. And we must be allowed to train the boys when they are old enough."
"So you bringing us in here isn't for good news then?" Mirai asked, getting a small grin from Gohan.
"We have been following a threat for the past five years." Piccolo began, gaining the full attention. "It was first found by Gohan and Vegeta during their trip to the moon."
"I always wondered what happened up there." Krilln started, ignoring a glare from Vegeta for interrupting.
"We we're planning on building a early detection system." Gohan continued, "but we found there was already a base there."
"Naturally, we investigated." Vegeta added. "We found that they were tracking us. So we annihilated them." The other raised their eyebrows and looked at Gohan, who just smirked and continued the story.
"We found that they were the main scouting force from Planet Cold, the home Planet of Frieza and his father. They had learned that Freeza fought and lost to two Saiyans, with the help from One Namek, One Human and One Demi-Saiyan. They were there to monitor us for the right time to attack."
"For revenge?" Tien asked, seemingly unconcerned.
"Correct." Piccolo nodded. "We wiped out their entire Royal Family, and leadership. They wanted to wiped out the families of the those who committed the crimes. They knew they couldn't beat us all if they attacked straight away, not with two super Sayians and two more on the way. So they waited. Began building their force."
"They had gained DNA samples from five of us." Began Vegeta. "From our exploits on Namek. Their equipment allows them to track power levels, as long as they have a sample of a beings DNA."
"Who's..." Krillin asked softly.
"Mine, Vegeta's, my dad's, Piccolo's and yours." Gohan replied, smiling back at Krillin, bringing most of the fear out of him.
"According to the logs." Gohan restarted, "They had four capsules. So they could track four of us. Their fear of Saiyans forced them to track myself, Vegeta and my dad, the last one was tracking Piccolo."
"Whew..." Krillin sighed, getting a friendly pat on the back from Yamcha.
"These machine tracked us for four years. Keeping up to date with our power levels, and passing the information back to their forces...Fortunately, the training we had undertaken, thanks to Trunks' warning, had kept us a few steps ahead of their power."
"Then Cell arrived." Piccolo added. "The crippling of Goku gave them a little hope, but by that point, both Trunks had returned, and Vegeta had ascended, so they were still heavily out matched. Goku's recovery and the training we all spent in the Hyperbolic Time-chamber helped to hinder their plans even more."
"So Cell... Helped?" Yamcha asked, trying to get his head around the information.
"In a twisted way.. yeah." Gohan replied, nodding at Vegeta to continue.
"The next important event, was the Cell games. The second ascension of Gohan, demolished one of their machines. Causing them to reprogram them, as well as take Piccolo's DNA out to continue to track our strongest. The death of Kakarot gave them a chance to continue to track the Namek."
"You said they had to reprogram the machines." Trunks pointed out. "What did you mean."
"Originally, they were able to keep up and show an relativity accurate account of our power. The sudden increase from Gohan's ascension to the second level over loaded their machine. In fear of losing any more machines, they had to dilute the readings to show a percentage of our power."
"So it's much less accurate?"
"Correct." Vegeta nodded. "However, it was still accurate enough for them to work off."
"Why didn't they just leave and return with more machines?" Yamcha asked.
"That is what I wondered origionally." Piccolo admitted, "However, they arrived on the back of Frieza's ship, so they were undetected. The moon's natural gravity kept them hidden from Earth's detections. If they left, they would have been noticed."
"How did we not detect them? Their power?" Tien wondered.
"They possessed the power level which was slightly above an average human." Vegeta answered. "Over that distance, we would not detect them unless we were looking for them."
"So...Why bring this up now?" Tien asked, "From your words, you seem to have dealt with the issue."
"After we returned." Gohan explained. "We asked Dende in assistance in searching for their home planet, to see if we could sense their force. It took six month of training our senses and searching, but we finally found them."
"Their power had grown, but not enough to pose a threat, but enough to perhaps pose one in the future." Piccolo took over. "So we have kept watch, for five years. Assuring we were strong enough, and assuring the training of the boys had begun."
"But you now think they're a threat?" Tien asked.
"Correct." Vegeta answered.
"You have to be aware." Gohan interrupted. "From now on, it is all estimations, assumptions and making sure we are prepared. At the distance we're talking we can not be more that 50 or 60% accurate with power levels, But we know what we're capable of, and what your all capable of. Vegeta is aware of the basic biology of Frieza's people, and we are using what we can to prepare."
The others nodded, pausing for a moment before Yamcha broke the silence.
"You think they've found away to increase their power enough to challenge you? Us all?"
"As Gohan said, we can not tell individual power levels at this range." Piccolo replied, "However, the power of their overall force has increased more rapidly than ever before. Knowing the basic aims of their plan, allowed us to make a reasonable assumption -"
"Numbers." Mirai interrupted. "The only way they could ever really beat us. Thats right." He looked up at Gohan, Vegeta and Piccolo. "Right?"
"We cannot be certain." Piccolo again replied. "But it is the conclusion we came to as well."
"Their goal is to wipe out our families and destroy us." Vegeta bluntly announced.
"And regardless of our individual strength. They just need to send a hand full over here, while we're dealing with the main force and they win." Gohan finished.
"That's not the only possibility, Gohan." Lime's voice rang from the intercom of the room.
"We we're starting to wonder when you would show yourself." Vegeta smirked, nodding at Gohan, Trunks and Piccolo.
"You knew they were listening?" Krillin asked skeptically.
"We all heard the intercom power up." Piccolo replied.
"Come on down Lime, you too Bulma. The more brains on this the better." Gohan's voice rang out, with a hint of amusement.
"I hate it when you do that." Bulma grumbled as she walked through the door. There were a few soft chuckles until Tien brought the conversation back to a more serious level.
"So what is our plan?"
"We need to be able to adapt, depending on their move." Lime added.
"We need to know what we're working with first." Vegeta announced, bringing all attention onto him. "We need to know who we can count on to fight."
"We're in." Yamcha declared, getting nods from Tien and Krillin.
"Me too." Mirai added as if it was obvious.
"I don't want to have to include the boys." Gohan admitted. "If we can keep them here. They'd be good at keeping them occupied until help arrives, if they don't play around."
"If they do what we think they're going to do." Began Piccolo. "Then at least three of us," He pointed to himself and the three Super-Saiyans, "Will have to go and intercept them."
"The rest of you can stand guard over this building." Vegeta continued. "This will be our main base, if there is an attack, we'll use Piccolo and Dende's telepathic abilities to alert you all."
"Gohan." Vegeta turned to the strongest Demi-Saiyan. "Your mother can ride that blasted cloud, Correct?"
"Yeah."
"Good. Goten will be responsible for bringing her to Capsule Corp." Vegeta held his hand to stop Gohan's interruption. "Young Trunks will remain the guardian of the inhabitants of this building until the human fighters can arrive. You must bring Lime here while I advance with the Namek to delay any rush advance of the enemy."
"If she is willing." Vegeta turned to the remaining members in the room. "The android will lead the defence along side the boys. If not, Krillin will lead the defence as the strongest of the remaining defenders."
"What about me?" Mirai asked, curious to his fathers plans.
"Depending on the scale and strengths of the attack, either yourself or Piccolo will remain hidden, somewhere between the main attack and this location. Dende will send you to where you are most needed."
"Why either Piccolo or Trunks?" Bulma asked, "Surely Yourself and Gohan are quicker?"
"True." Vegeta answered, turning to his mate. "Gohan is the most powerful out of us all. It would make no sense to keep him here. His power will force more of the enemy to move on his location. And together we possess the largest chance of fighting them back and returning here to aid you."
"If we have one of those two with us, it gives us more than enough to fight them back, assuring us that we will still be in fighting condition." Gohan explained.
"We have a small shield generator for the building, it should hold back small blasts, but anything bigger and the boys will have to combat it. Don't be heroes, just hold them off, finish them if you can, but stay allive." Vegeta finished.
"This is our main plan." Piccolo started, "It is not final, any suggestions are welcome."
"The only part that is final, is what we do when we are alerted to an attack." Gohan said as he stood. "Young Trunks will protect Bulma and the building. Goten will fly along side my mom on the Nimbus cloud and bring her here. I will make sure Lime gets here safely. Mirai will meet you all half way." Gohan nodded to the human fighters. "Flying support as you get your families here. He wont leave until either myself or Goten have returned to back the other Trunks up."
"What about when everyone is all here?" Yamcha asked, nodding at the first part of the plan.
"Myself and Piccolo will have already set off to intercept the first wave of opponents." Vegeta began. "Depending on who's strengths we could use with more, either Trunks or Piccolo will move back to a point between the main force and here."
"Once I have brought Lime here." Gohan smiled at her. "I'll wait till Goten has returned and join Vegeta. Trunks..." Gohan turned to Mirai. "Once you have helped the other arrive, fly to Piccolo's position. Bulma -"
"What about if they just decide to blow the earth up from space?" Lime interrupted, pausing the explanation.
"Any attack that has the power to destroy the planet will be detected by myself, Gohan, Trunks, Piccolo and Dende. The boys and the human fighters should detect it as it comes closer." Vegeta replied with a thoughtful look. "We should be fast enough to intercept it."
"The early detection system on the moon will alert us if they come to close and we can prepare." Gohan finished, nodding and Lime's point. "But she has a point Vegeta. They could just fly over head and bombard this area till the hit something. There's not enough of us to cover a constant bombardment."
"And we can't breathe in space to intercept them." Tien added.
"A shield." Yamcha replied, drawing everyone's eyes to him. "We can all create strong shields around our bodies to protect ourselves." He sat up a little more in his chair. "We should be able to increase them to hold of most attacks. Especially if we work together."
"We all possess the power to blast them out of space, we just need away to see where they are." Krillin added.
"I'm sure I could come up with something, to help there." Bulma added as they turned back to the main three in the room.
"A sound plan." Piccolo nodded. "But it depends on he strength of the shield. Who ever supplies the shield will be open to physical attack too."
"We will be strong enough to create the shield, although it will still require bringing everyone to this location, before it is set up." Vegeta agreed, nodding towards Gohan.
"We will be checking daily to see their current location." Gohan announced, "We still have time before anything happens. Use it well. Pass on the information to the rest of the group."
"Remember.." Piccolo began as the group began to stand. "This is not an immediate threat. We still have time. We just need you all to be aware."
There was a quiet but confident attitude in the room as the occupants began to leave, heading back to the rest of the group.
"Gohan...?" Lime's quite voice started. "I'm scared."
They had been the last to leave the conference room, and Gohan had flown Lime up to the roof of the Capsule Corp. dome, a spot they had used for privacy many times.
Gohan simply extended his arm from his position of lying on his back, allowing Lime to shuffle across, resting her head on his shoulder.
"You know I wont lie to you." Gohan replied, staring up at the sky. "There wont be any threat for a while yet, of that I'm certain."
"Then why did-"
"Would you have rather we left you in the dark?" Lime sighed, knowing Gohan was right.
"It's just..." She began, hesitating.
"This if the first time you've been involved with something like this." Gohan responded, looking down at her. "You know that the people you care about will be putting their lives on the line to save you. You don't know whether your more worried about the huge threat over the planet, or the risk we're all taking?"
Lime nodded against Gohan's shoulder.
"You can't be physically harmed by anything on this planet... yet we're now facing a threat that could defeat you." She began after a couple of moments. "That's kinda terrifying."
Gohan sighed, there were no words to help Lime here. She wouldn't fall for false hope even if she knew that the odds on Gohan being seriously injured were slim. No, the main issued was that Gohan had no experience of what Lime was going through.
Yeah, he had been in count less battles, yet he was never in a position where he was completely helpless, he always possessed the ability and power to do something about it, or at least try. He had never been through what Lime was about to go through, what his Mom or Bulma went through.
"I can only tell you what I'm going to do." Gohan said slowly, trying to word this right. "You know i've never been on the side that you have, I've always been in the middle of it. I can give you all the reassurances in the world, but I can't tell you how to get through this." Lime looked up at him, locking her eyes with his for a moment before he looked away, back to the darkening sky.
"You know I can't stay here and protect you. I have to fight."
"I know." Lime sighed as she turned to look back up at the sky, her head back on Gohan's shoulder.
"You should talk to Bulma." Gohan said after a few moments. "Sooner rather than later."
"Yeah..." Lime nodded, not looking forward to the conversation. "You'll be alright... wont you?"
"You know I will." Gohan replied, his Sayian side hinting in his voice. "With Vegeta, Mirai and Piccolo along side me, We'll be fine." His voice turned to a softer tone. "It's you lot we're worried about."
"You know Goten will protect me." Lime replied with a small grin.
"GOHAN! LIME!"
Gohan's mouth snapped shut, her reply lost as quickly scooped Lime up and slid down the side of the dome, landing softy next to Bulma.
"I hate it when you do that." Bulma grumbled, turning to face a grinning Gohan.
"You called?" He replied grinning, his grin increasing as Lime tried to elbow him in the side before grabbing her elbow and trying to rub away the pain.
"Bed." Bulma said simply, "Early start tomorrow with Vegeta and Trunks."
Gohan's eyes shone. Shooting Lime a knowing look, he darted off to get a late snack before his mom could catch him.
"Hey..Bulma.." Lime started quietly, watching as Bulma turned around from watching Gohan dash off. "Can we talk?"
Bulma smiled sadly, Poor kid. This is her first time in all this.
"Sure. Come on, lets get some privacy."
Feel free to give me any advice or point out any mistakes i make, I'll be happy to change them, as long as your polite about it.
Manners and all that :)
Let me know what you think :)