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The environment had suddenly changed from solid ground to that of no ground whatsoever. Eighteen could feel herself falling through the air. Things were going so fast that she couldn't even take note of where she really was. Before she could stop herself, she felt her body slam onto a dumpster. Pain throbbed in her now newly formed injuries and her shinged back.

Writhing in agony, Eighteen rolled off the dumpster and right onto the hard granite. "Uhn..." she grunted, scrunching her eyes.

Before he touched ground she knew she just had to get up! She couldn't let him get the upperhand again or she'd be toast- literally! Using shear will power, she forced herself back up to her feet. Glancing around the area, she took note that she was in an alleyway. Thank goodness that it was fairly well lit or she wouldn't have been able to see Brandon approaching the ground.

Something caught her eyes- a sign on the building next to them. It read 'South city genetics research lab'. Could this have anything to do with Brandon?

"Any specific reason for the location?" Eighteen asked once he landed.

He smiled at her. He was fully in the light now and you could finally make out his facial appearence. He was very attractive. "Does there have to be a reason?"

"No," Eighteen replied.

"So," he changed the subject "missed me much?"

"Tch," Eighteen rolled her eyes.

"I'm guessing that's a no, correct?" Brandon asked.

"Duh," she snapped. "now where's Maron?!"

"You've forgotten that quickly?" He questioned "You lost the bet."

Eighteen didn't know how to respond any other way. "You can't possibly be serious!"

"I am a man of my word," he replied "but, the thing is, are you a woman of your word?"

When Eighteen didn't respond, he spoke again. "I guess not," he shrugged "so this must mean I will have to force you to do what I want."

After all this time of searching for Maron- this was how it would end! Just that- she lost a bet! There was no way she would let Brandon get away with not telling her where Maron was! Gritting her teeth and balling her hands into fists out of frustration, she finally said something.

"What do you even want with me?!" She snarled. "You have no use for me now!"

"How can you be so certain when I am the one who reconstructed you?" He said. "After all, I know every inch of your body, inside and out."

"Just tell me where she is!!" Eighteen shouted. "I don't care about how you reconstructed me! It doesn't matter anymore!"

"I should've known you'd be this stubborn," he sighed.

"So you're just not going to tell me?!" Eighteen demanded. "I lost a bet and that's the end of it?!"

"Pretty much," he replied. "I'm really sorry that it had to turn out that way for you, but that's just the way the cookie crumbles."

Eighteen growled in rage. Kicking up into the sky, she disappeared out of nowhere. Brandon seemed to remain calm because all he did was cross his arms and smile.

"Playing dirty, now are we?" He commented.

Suddenly, Eighteen reappeared above Brandon's head; her hands balled up into a fist together above her own head. She came swooping down and attempted to slam her fists into his head, but he twisted around right before she landed her attack and slammed his own fist right into her gut. Before she could get herself together, he kicked her feet out from under her. Right as her feet went up from under her, he grabbed her by the foot and began to swing her around. Purposely, he let go of her where she could slam into the pavement instead of a building.

Regaining herself, she jumped back up immediately. If it wasn't for Maron fueling her onward, she would have been beaten way earlier. Kicking off, she flew towards Brandon. She could do this! All she had to do was picture Maron- scared for her life, waiting on her mommy and daddy to come to her rescue and that was enough to give her hope. She could do anything as long as she knew Maron needed her.

Right as Eighteen got close enough to Brandon she began to send a flurry of punches and kicks at Brandon. Just as anyone would have guessed, he dodged them all with ease.

"You done yet?" He said it just to get her more going.

"No!" Eighteen emphasized the word.

Unexpectantly, Eighteen put her hands together and fired a pink ki blast right at Brandon's midsection. He flew back until he forced himself from doing so. He regained his composure immediately.

"Great job," he clapped sarcastically. "you finally got me."

Eighteen took a few deep breathes. She was getting a little worn out.

"So, when do you think I should have a turn?" He asked.

"I never said you couldn't," Eighteen replied.

"So much for an attempt at being polite." Brandon sighed.

"What do you mean?" Eighteen raised an eyebrow.

"You know, usually it's ladies first," Brandon said. "but it's my turn now."

Just as she had expected, Brandon came blasting off towards her. Finally not using any teleportation, he raised hjis leg up and slammed it into her arm. Pain surged through her. Backing away, he watched her fall to the ground on her knees, grabbing at her arm.

"Did I break it?" He asked sarcastically. "Whoops."

"Uhn..." She closed her eyes as she tried to will away the pain.

She had to get back up! It couldn't end this way- her never seeing her daughter again all because of some ridiculous bet! She could see it...Maron- in some dark, weary, unknown place crying out for help. She refused to leave her daughter in that position! Slowly, Eighteen managed to pull it together and get back up on her shaky legs.

"You're pathetic," he insulted. "really, you are."

"Y- you're the one who's pathetic..." Eighteen muttered, still holding onto her arm.

"Oh really?" He raised an eyebrow in amusement. "I can't tell."

Suddenly, Eighteen felt a familiar arm wrap around half her neck. Right as she began to turn her head around to see who it was, she felt a sharp needle pierce the skin of her neck. She could feel whatever that was inside the needle begin to dispurse it's liquids into her body. It felt disgustingly cold as it passed through her veins.

Her senses began to fade away. She could feel her body fall into whoever it was arms as they began to drag her.

"Open the door for me, please." She could recognize that voice from anywhere! But how could it be possible? Gero- he was dead!

Everything was fading away into a dark abyss. She could kind of make out a ceiling. They obviously had brought her into some room. But what room exactly?

Right as Eighteen's vision began to go totally out, she heard another recognizable. You could easily guess whose it was.

"Mommy!!!"

Meanwhile, back at Kame house, things were going just fine. Well, if you just tried to forget about Eighteen's mother's presence anyway.

"Turn that racket off!!" Eighteen's mother shrieked at the top of her lungs as she entered the room.

Krillin and Master Roshi almost jumped out their skin. The two had been listening to more techno. Sure, it seemed odd for them to be doing so with such awful conditions- Eighteen risking it by being out so late, Maron being gone and all, but they were trying to brighten their spirits. Both of them, mostly Krillin though, were in high hopes of having Maron back in their arms again. Dancing was the best way to shove his worrying to the back of his mind.

Her mother put just as much fear into their hearts as Eighteen herself, so they did as she commanded and turned off the stereo.

"Sorry," Krillin attempted at being polite. He wanted her mother to like him. "were you trying to sleep or something?"

"No," she replied rudely "but you know if you would just take me home you won't have to listen to my complaining anymore, right?"

"I think Eighteen wants you to stay here." Krillin guessed.

"She has no use for me now, though," she pointed out "I don't see any point in being here any longer."

"You know," Roshi spoke up bravely. "maybe Eighteen wants you to meet Maron?"

"Who is that?" She obviously didn't care.

"Our child, of course," Krillin answered for her. "you'll love her when you get to meet her. She's really sweet."

"I don't want to meet her." She made a bold statement.

Krillin was very taken aback. "W-why? That's your granddaughter we're talking about! Your own flesh and-"

"I don't care," she stated. "I never thought Rose was of any importance, so why would I suddenly find her daughter to be of any?"

Krillin's jaw dropped in awe. What was wrong with this lady? Was she nuts or something? How could she be so cold? He didn't know how to reply in any other way but to sound aggravated.

"How can you be that cold?!" Krillin exclaimed.

"Well, if you must know," she began. "I never wanted Rose to begin with."

"What do you mean?" Krillin asked.

"She was forced on me," she replied. "she had never even crossed my mind."

"That's not forced," Krillin seemed confused. "it had never crossed Eighteen and I's mind to have a baby, but it still happened."

"That's not what I mean," she sighed in frustration.

Krillin seemed to catch the drift. "Oh..." he understood. "but that that isn't her fault! She didn't ask to be born! So why take it out on her?!"

"We're drifting off into an area I wouldn't like to touch up on," she stated, crossing her arms. "so, since there is no longer any point in me being here, why don't you just go ahead and take me home?"

"Fine then," Krillin sighed in defeat. "You know what? Since you don't want to be here, then go. I'm not stopping you- the door is right over there." He pointed.

"You're asking me to swim across the ocean?" She sounded taken aback. "That's impossible!"

"You're the one who wants to leave." Krillin made a point.

"Tch, forget it!" She snarled, twisting back around and heading up the stairs. "I'll just go back to bed!"

Once she finally had left the room, Roshi spoke up again. He seemed pretty shocked that her mother was so apathetic towards her own daughter- not to mention her own granddaughter who she had never even met before. "No wonder why Eighteen never talked about her past," he continued. "that lady is a witch!"

"Yeah..." Krillin sighed sadly.

Eighteen's mother had caused the worry to return; thanks to her having them turn off the music. He hadn't heard a word yet from Eighteen. Then again, the clock had just struck midnight. Not to mention, her mother had never given them a specific time that this Brandon guy had wanted to meet Eighteen. For all they knew he would show up right before the crack of dawn.

"How 'bout I make us some strawberry daikaries?" Roshi probably could tell that Krillin was feeling down again. "Probably would do us both some good."

"No thanks..." Krillin plopped down on the couch.

Disclaimer: Thanks for the reviews, guys. My boyfriend is being good again and reading this story- he LOVES it! I told him he would! I don't know how long it'll take to update this story, but I am not giving up. Oh and sorry for making this a little shorter than most chapters.

Love,

Jenny