Sorry for the very long update, busy busy! Hope you like this chapter; I have much more to come as the story gets more complex! Thank you for reading!

I do not own Dragonball Z or any of its characters or contents; I do however own everything else :p

Chapter 10 – To see your face again

-Ethan-

His eyes had narrowed, the pale of his skin contrasting with his hair so strikingly that Ethan became surreal as he paced in the moonlight. The ferocity of his mood was ebbing at his reason, and the unfamiliar feeling of losing control swam in his veins. The trees passed him rapidly as his speed increased, the anger in his steps forcing his boots to collide with the ground in haste. As his walk blurred into a run he bared his fangs, hissing at the unknown ahead of him, intent on massacring anything in his path.

-The Beach-

Once the sun's last heated ray had dissipated, leaving only it's reddened path in the dark blue sky, Bulma had arranged their mechanical defences. As her pale fingers operated the device, her eyes dimmed into their sullen, watered lids as she attempted to blink away the tears. Their defensive system was obsolete, perhaps only serving to alarm them when it's too late and ensuring they watch on as the creatures dispatch each and every one of them. She slammed the small hatch closed and each of the mechanisms beeped and flashed once, informing her of their received upgrade. 'Useless piece of crap'. She leaned on the upright machine to stand, her transparent nail varnish glittering in the moon's now dominant glow.

Goku's demeanour was murderous, his gaze violating anyone's attempt at consolation. His folded arms boasted his muscle tone, and his dark eyes echoed his frame's intimidating appearance. As Vegeta walked by him, an incredible urge consumed him, testing his already tattered patience and resolve. The smaller Saiyan quickened his pace, very aware of Goku's angered and vengeful mood, and he strode towards his wife.

Noting Bulma's defeated slump as she sat against a smooth, grey rock he chose to stare off into the night, not wanting to drown in the melancholy. The dark blue was now becoming black and several stars had shone through before the others, some closer and more intense. When he had let his eyes slip closed the previous night, his drowsy consciousness prevailing through his once strong ability to force awareness. He had been so sure Gohan would stay awake and rouse him after a while; he only wanted a few minutes rest. The calm serenity of the galaxies above him mocked his mind's turmoil, and as he let his gaze wander to the ocean below he felt the painful pang of regret claw at his chest. 'It wasn't my fault; he should have woken me, bloody half breed'.

"Tell me Vegeta, do you ever take the blame for anything?"

Goku's cold growl was unfamiliar, each word armed with ferocity and malice. Vegeta's eyes flickered in the other Saiyan's direction, not wishing to make proper contact. He knew any kind of argument would escalate, and result in bloodshed, all of which would be his own. 'Forget it Kakkarot, I won't let you beat me, not because of her. For her maybe, but not because of her'. Goku heeded his silent words, not allowing his own rage to mar the day of Pan's death.

-Gohan and Piccolo-

Gohan was holding Piccolo securely when he felt his grip tear from the emerald chest he was clutching. The sleep he had fallen into had been empty, content and the shock he felt was extreme as he felt his hands let go of Piccolo. The pain in his upper back hit him immediately, the stinging of pierced flesh strumming down his spine. He made a noise then, startled and strangled, rousing the Namekian from his slumber. Ethan's claws had carved their way into Gohan's body and he expended no time in throwing the half-Saiyan aside. The intensity of his rage burned in his vision, and as Gohan thumped to the ground a few metres away he yelled out Piccolo's name, loud and struggling, and clambered to his feet.

Piccolo had stood; his healing body now standing vast but his composure was incomparable to Ethan's, who still dwarfed Piccolo's size. The silver blue of the creature's eyes bored through the Namek's and for a moment, glimmered to their original colour before resuming their menacing hue. The sharp metal which had protruded from his hands when he threw Gohan began to retract as he stared at Piccolo, becoming almost mesmerised by the Namek's gaze. Gohan watched as the creature calmed and immediately stole the opportunity to hurtle towards the leader, gathering momentum as he ran.

As the half-Saiyan quickened his pace, Piccolo watched as Ethan's fists curled and the metallic weapons protruded from his skin once more. Once Gohan was only a hand's breadth away Piccolo threw himself at Ethan, grabbing the creature and shoving him to the dirt beneath them. Piccolo's deep, baritone voice spilled from his lips more certain then he had expected.

"What the Fuck do you want?!"

Ethan's sharp teeth glimmered as he laughed at the Namek, who was grinding his claws into the creature's arms.

"Answer me!"

Ethan's eyes calmed to their warm brown and his hands retracted their blades, his body resuming its normal state.

"Perhaps, Piccolo, we need to talk"

Piccolo's startled expression made Ethan smile; knowing that he still had the upper hand.

"Release me and I will answer your questions"

Gohan realised at once Ethan's deception, and the creature's inability to fight Piccolo's grip. 'He can't defeat Piccolo? Or he won't?'

"Piccolo, don't let him go! He's lying to you!"

The Namek looked towards Gohan and then back at the serene Ethan, whose eyes were lulling him into submission. The creature's thick dark hair had sprawled slightly, exposing his smooth, pale forehead and slightly pointed ears. Piccolo fought against the urge to give in and roughly demanded.

"How can I trust you?"

Ethan then twisted his arms around Piccolo's, taking advantage of the Namek's loose grip, and sat up. The movement threw Piccolo and he found himself stumbling for words. Straddling Ethan, and with the creature's chest firm against his own, their heads were level. Holding Piccolo's arms in a strong grip, Ethan's smooth, deep voice echoed from his lips.

"You can't"

Piccolo, swallowed by his now submissive position remained silent for a moment, before anger forced him to slam his chest down onto Ethan's. Not expecting the action, the creature made an alarmed grunt as he was shoved once again into the dirt. Gohan then intervened, choosing to fire his onslaught of curiosity before Ethan disappeared.

"What did you do to our Chi?"

"I didn't have to do anything; your power is pathetic"

Infuriated, Gohan ran towards Ethan and before the creature could speak, punched the side of his face. He then asked the question which had revolved in his head since they left Capsule Corp.

"Why do you want Piccolo?"

Ethan laughed, resulting in another punch, making Ethan bleed for what seems to be the first time. Gohan watches the small river of red snake down pale skin as he speaks.

"Why do you want Piccolo?"

"The virus we transmit reacts differently with him. It kills humans, but not him."

"So it doesn't kill Namek's? Then why not go to Namek?"

The creature shakes his head, his voice beginning to emit an exasperated quality.

"I didn't say Nameks, I said him. You don't understand the dynamics of the situation Gohan, I suggest you stop trying"

Gohan was becoming frustrated with Ethan and slammed the creature's head on the ground, feeling a sort of satisfaction when he heard a slight crack. Piccolo looked up at his former pupil and concern flashed in his eyes for a moment at the younger man's ferocity. With his hands clutching either side of Ethan's skull, Gohan's words rushed from his lips.

"Why did he kill Pan?!"

At this, Piccolo's mouth fell agape slightly, and he swallowed, the events of the previous night crashing into his consciousness.

"You really don't understand do you? He didn't kill her; he let her escape humanity"

Once the cold words left Ethan's mouth Gohan moved to slam the creature's head into the ground once again. When his fingers clenched however, they immediately slammed into one another, the force of the collide making him fall forward into Piccolo. When he did, anger flooded his mind, the familiar emotion making his skin itch. He shoved Piccolo away, hitting him, not really in control of his movements. Ethan had vanished, again, and it made Gohan want to scream.

When he stopped his onslaught, he sat back, tired of the rage coursing through him. Leaning back on his knees, his judgemental gaze fell upon Piccolo's seated, bruised body. He couldn't stop the sneering question from leaving his mouth.

"Is that what you thought you were doing? Freeing her?"

Piccolo narrowed his eyes, losing his patience for the constant temper from Gohan. He was brimming with regret, guilt and misery; leaving no energy to deal with his temperamental friend. 'I did kill his daughter though, murdered her', and for that reason he watched on as Gohan screamed at him.

-The Beach-

Sun rise was only two hours away, and the sky was still dark and unforgiving, blending with the now depthless ocean. Goku and Eighteen had guarded the group that night, neither of them succumbing to sleep nor needing it. Goku clenched his fists in uncontained grief while Eighteen simply sat, serene, content to mourn Pan quietly and without motion. He glanced at her forever perfect hair and sighed, she would never change, and in his eyes, neither would Pan.

He looked towards her grave, some metres away, and felt the soft burn of tears assault his senses. They had given her a shallow burial; the desperation to complete the dig in time for sunset had overwhelmed their determination to find a deep enough hole. As he stared he felt upset swarm in his mind and the unpleasant pull on his heart made him want to wretch.

He glanced toward the ocean and noticed its pure surface broken by the gentle crashing as the tide neared them. It wouldn't reach them though and would soon leave again, forever a slave to its own cycle. He listened to its quiet caress as it reached up the sand, his ears pricking at every rock which crashed with it. As his closed his eyes, he heard the soft patter of sand moving and the scuff of struggling. He snapped his eyes open and immediately centred his vision on the sound to his left. He alerted the others with a yell and Eighteen stood and ran towards him. As everyone clambered up in fright and alarm Bulma threw a flashlight in Goku's direction.

Once he caught it he immediately shone the light in the direction of the noise, Krillan then pointing a fairly obsolete gun in the same direction. In the sand, with the dark behind her, Pan stood wavering on her feet, raising her bloodied and ragged arms to block out the light. Shock washed over them and in an instant Chi-chi began to run towards her Granddaughter, yelling her name. Eighteen grabbed her and pulled her back, confusion and wariness evident on her beautiful features.

Goku continued to point the light in Pan's direction and waited to see if he was hallucinating. Around her the sand was mounded and had been kicked by her small feet. As she stood, the light identified the wounds she was supporting and to everyone's horror, as she lowered her arm, part of her jawbone was jutting out. Goku's throat bobbed as he swallowed and saw the deformed version of his granddaughter look back at them. Bulma then took the opportunity to speak, her voice as gentle and as calm as she could manage.

"Pan, honey, are you ok?"

Her wide eyes looked at Bulma, their innocence bright in their colour. She then opened her mouth, but instead of words, she bared her teeth. They soon sharpened into fangs, unusually large next to her small molars, and she growled loudly at Bulma. Pan's feet then moved so rapidly not even Goku could intervene in her path towards Bulma, her speed so comparable to the 'breed' it made him want to scream. As Pan reached out towards her, her nails lengthening and her deformed, bloodied face falling agape to accommodate her fangs a loud sound echoed throughout the beach. Her surprised eyes would never leave Goku's mind, the one beautiful portrayal of his granddaughter marred by this horrid version. The bullet had hit her hard in the head and Krillan's hand still shook from pulling the trigger. His mouth lay open, his cheeks red and his features obviously overwhelmed by fear and surprise. He had shot Pan.

Goku watched on as her delicate body fell to the ground and her head bounced on the sand. His precious granddaughter had been murdered a second time.

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