Disclaimer: This is a Fan-fiction. Dragonball, Z, GT and Super are the property of Akira Toriyama. Please support the official release.
Chapter 11
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Videl walked the hallways of her school. She must have arrived quite early, because the corridors seemed unusually quiet. Turning the last corner on the way to her class, the young Satan saw the one person she wanted to see. The one she wanted to confront; Son Gohan. The tall boy was standing in the centre or the hallway, with his back to her. "Gohan." The pig-tailed fighter called out. The figure before her didn't move. "I know your secret." She continued, stepping closer to him. "You can either talk to me now or the whole school can find out that your dad is a world champion too, it won't take long for everyone to work out it was you at the bank yesterday." Videl's confidence began to turn to anger as the boy in question still hadn't moved a muscle. "Look at me when I'm talking to you." She shouted. Gohan's form turned side-on to her, but his head continued to turn; looking over his shoulder. Videl recoiled, as the usually friendly and happy face of her new classmate was twisted into an ominous scowl, his piercing onyx eyes were solid black and a cold air seemed to surround him. Steeling her resolve, Videl took another step toward him, careful to keep a few feet of empty air between them. "Are you okay, Gohan?" Concern overwhelming her previous anger. "What happened…"
Videl was stopped mid-sentence. Gohan had smacked her with the back of his right hand, sending her sprawling across the well waxed floor. Sitting up and rubbing her chin, it surprised Videl how much the strike hurt. "You are either stupid or crazy. You know that, right?" She spat getting to her feet. No one got the best of Videl Satan, if the math nerd didn't know that now, he would soon. The pride of Satan City launched herself at her classmate, showering him with blows from both foot and fist. It was, however, useless as the strikes seemed to pass straight through him. Videl stopped her onslaught and stared in shock, unable to move, as Gohan reached out and grasped her head. His hand seemed to enlarge so much, it encapsulated the top of her head and seemingly without effort. The black-eyed teen began to crush her skull as he lifted her off the ground.
An unbridled scream erupted from her. Her eyes darted around frantically, desperately searching for something to aid her. Videl suddenly realised that her father was standing right next to her in one of his common poster poses. More pressure against her skull caused her to scream louder, her eyes watered as she looked to her father for help. "What are you doing, Videl? He's just a no-good trickster. You ain't gonna let a cheater get the better of you, are ya?" The Champ said before walking away. "I would help, but I gotta go get a doctor to look at this stomach ache." Videl tried to call to him, to plead for him to come back, but he continued to walk away laughing his unique laugh. The pressure Gohan was putting on her skull peaked.
"Aaaagh." Videl bolted upright. Her scream echoing through her spacious room. She was in bed, covered in a cold sweat. It had been a dream, a nightmare. Pulling her knees to her chest Videl sat trying to will her body to calm down. She hadn't had a dream like that in years, not since her hospital stay after the terrorist attack. Videl took deep breaths and thought back to the one memory that calmed her, the floating feeling of safety and love. Opening her eyes again she looked to the window and noticed the sun was just rising. Realising that there was no way she would get back to sleep now, the tired teen got out of bed.
She walked toward her balcony, picking up a photo frame from her desk as she passed. Opening the door to the balcony, Videl stepped out into the morning air. It felt brisk against her skin, the pyjamas she was wearing were still soaked with sweat, her body shivered but she fought it down and looked at the photo. It was of her and her parents, taken eleven years ago, at the Orange Star Martial Arts competition just a few weeks before it had happened, before the world had gone nuts and taken her mother from her. Videl hugged the photo, while the memory she had clung too wasn't depicted in the picture, it was the only photo she had of her mother and her together.
A knock on her door caused Videl to turn and walk back into her room. The door cracked open slightly and her father's gravelly voice softly called out. "Sweet pea, are you okay?"
Videl smiled, her father may be the strongest man in the world, and at times, the world's biggest goofball. But when they were alone, he was just her loving and caring daddy. "I'm fine." The younger Satan replied. "I had a bad dream is all." Hercule entered the room.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Hercule inquired, he took a seat at the foot of her bed. Videl smiled, but shook her head. She didn't want to dwell on the dream, it had truly rattled her. "You know you can tell me anything, right?"
"Of course, daddy." Videl sighed, and stilled her face to present a happy front. "I don't really remember it anyway." Though this wasn't exactly the truth, it wasn't a lie either. As dreams do, the details had begun to slip from her. "But I did want to ask you about something." Hercule grinned broadly. "I was reading about the previous world champion." Videl had turned to place the photo back on the desk. "I was wondering what you knew about him." The boisterous laugh from behind her, told her that her daddy was gone and the world's saviour had returned. Taking a deep breath, Videl faced the champ.
"I know all about the old-world champ, his name is Goku." Hercule said lifting himself of the bed. "He is a magician, not fighter. Uses all kinds of light tricks and deceptions to win his match's, see." The Champs voice was increasing in pace and fever. "He doesn't have the brute strength your father does, Videl. He is a sissy compared to me and no one can defeat the man who saved the world." Her father was nearly shouting now. "No one, do you hear me Goku? Bahahaha." Videl was simply staring blankly at her dad. The teen had never seen her dad turn on his public persona so quickly, at least when no cameras were present.
"Oh, uh right." Videl uttered. "I just." Videl bit back her next statement. She was going to inform her dad that Gohan had joined her class, but something about his reaction gave her pause. "Of course, daddy, you are the champ." Hercule beamed another warm smile. "If you don't mind, I need to get dressed. I have a big day today."
"Sure thing, sweet-pea." Hercule made his way to the door. "I'll get the cooks to start breakfast." With that statement, he exited and shut the door behind him. Leaving Videl to her thoughts.
She stared at the closed door. Videl had never heard that from her father before. While ego boosting speeches were Hercules bread and butter, never had Videl heard her father doing it for his own peace of mind. What was going on? Why was it that, in the last twenty-four hours, Videl had felt that everything solid in her world had wisped away, as if turned to steam. No, she would not let this go, she needed answers and it seemed as though only one person had all the answers she wanted. Gohan. Videl looked to the photo on her desk again, it filled her with a new resolve. Uncertainty and ignorance were a darkness that she would never again endure. Today, she would get the truth.
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Videl walked the familiar path to her school, passing both shops and people the dark-haired teen had seen every day for years. She exchanged pleasantries with those who spoke to her. Videl was pre-occupied with formulating a strategy on how to proceed in her quests for answers. Usually Videl would just demand the information. The intimidation and respect her name commanded allowed this, for the most part, but Gohan seemed different. If fact he seemed indifferent to her status, while this was refreshing, at this moment it was just frustrating.
"Videl." A sing-song voice rang out. Videl shook her head as a smile graced her features. Looking over her shoulder she could see Erasa running towards her. "Wait up." Videl looked forward and continued her walk, her pace not slowing. When the blonde had caught up, Videl noticed that she did not look happy. "Hey, I asked you to wait. Why did you make me run like that?"
Videl laughed. "I didn't make you run. You were the one running." Videl joked. "You really need to get more exercise." Erasa stuck her tongue out and the pair shared a laugh.
"So, you are early today." Erasa commented. "Shouldn't you be doing your own morning workout?"
"Not today." Videl replied, her voice holding a serious tone. "I found out something last night and I wanted to check on them first thing." The crime fighter explained. Erasa gave her a curious so she elaborated. "The world champion before my dad was a person called, Son Goku. This Goku character had a son named Gohan." Erasa's eyes lit up. Videl felt comforted that someone else found this news exciting. "So, I want to ask him again about the bank and his part in it."
Videl Satan's childhood friend stopped dead in her tracks. Videl turned to her, curious as to the reason. A feeling of dread replaced the comfort she'd had just a moment ago. "Wow, if he did you two could be a crime fighting couple." Videl let out a dejected sigh, for she knew that Erasa was now on train of thought that couldn't be derailed. "The former champion's son and the champ's daughter, stopping the forces of evil by day and holding each other close at night. It's so romantic." The raven-haired teen watched her blonde counterpart as she continued her trip to dreamland, Erasa hadn't taken a breath. Videl revaluated her assessment of the chatterbox's fitness. "…be able to pass your dad's test."
"Hah, I doubt it." Videl conceded. While she had tuned out, the last few words Videl had understood perfectly. Her father's stupid boyfriend rule. While she had no real interest in anyone at present, the fact that her father had taken it upon himself to determine who she could date, infuriated her. "but it doesn't matter. He may be arrested today if I don't like the answers he has to give me."
"Oh, come on Videl." Erasa pleaded. "Gohan's not a bad guy."
"How do you know that?" Videl retorted. "You have only known him for one day."
"How long did you know me before you realised we'd be best friends?" Erasa said, with an air of triumph.
"Still working on that one." Videl said plainly, though she was trying her hardest not to laugh. The task became near impossible when Erasa's shock presented. The school gates were close and Videl turned to the upset blonde. "You know I'm kidding. But seriously Erasa, he's not our friend. I have a feeling about Gohan, there is something dangerous about him. You shouldn't just trust him. Please just let this drop, at least until I get my answers." Erasa returned the serious stare.
"I won't say anything to him, but I think you're wrong." Erasa turned and began to walk into the school. She stopped before entering the gates though. "You complain to me about your dad's rules and yet you say he's not my friend. I don't need anyone to tell me who I should or shouldn't be friends with." Videl felt the sting of her statement, though the young Satan could tell that there was no malice behind the words. Erasa knew Videl was a cautious one, especially since her life became one in the spotlight. Videl sighed, if she was wrong about Gohan she would have to give her friend one hell of an apology. The teen steeled herself and walked inside to wait for Gohan.
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Gohan had risen early, and slipped out of the house without waking his brother. After saying goodbye to his mother, the young Saiyan had made his way to Satan City. He had organised to meet Professor Dome before class started to discuss his equations at greater length. The discussion had been animated and both had been so engrossed that neither had noticed the time until the first of Gohan's peers had entered the room. Wis told the lucky student that his class had been cancelled and that they had a free period in which to study. After the new-comer had left, Professor Dome placed a sign on the door explaining the change. He was currently arguing with the mathematician. Not about the math itself, but the scale. Gohan knew that this could one day help Bulma develop technology that could utilise the Z fighters Ki, but trying to get the professor to bend his theories was becoming frustrating. Wis had no idea that Ki could be manipulated at will, Gohan was hoping his input would open the professor's mind. It had however just resulted in the discussion breaking down. "It isn't the numbers or the theory I disagree with professor. It's the scale." Gohan said with a measured calm. "if we could just expand the set values…"
"You would kill anything that the tech was hooked up to." Professor Dome interrupted. "Look Gohan you are a smart kid, but this theorem relates to bio-energy. You can't just turn up the voltage." Gohan let out an involuntary chuckle.
"No, I guess you are right. But humour me." Gohan walked up to the blackboard and began to erase a vast swath of numbers.
"What do you think you're doing, Gohan?" The Professor shouted, his voice echoing around the room. "Stop that right now." Gohan was about to respond when a loud crash erupted from behind him.
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Videl walked the hallways of the school, the memory of her dream echoing within her. As she turned the final corner, the teen crime fighter almost expected to see the figure from her nightmare standing in wait. The only person there though was a beaming Erasa, who was quickly making her way back to Videl. "Videl, we have a free period. There is a note on the door saying we don't need to attend class until after first break." Videl wondered if something was wrong but her friends continued the excited exposition. "Professor Dome is busy so we get to have a revision session, but I don't have any tests coming up, so do you want to work on our tan?" Videl saw her opportunity to mend a fence with the blonde so she nodded her head.
As the two friends turned to make their way back outside, a shout echoed through the hallway. "What do you think you're doing, Gohan? Stop that right now." Videl recognised the voice, it was Professor Dome. Her eyes steeled and the Protector of Satan City made for the classroom at full speed. The crime fighter entered the room so quickly, opening the door so forcefully that the door flexed when it hit the door-stop, shattering the window that was framed in its centre. Videl had been unsure of what to expect when she entered, what she was faced with though, completely stumped her.
Professor Dome and Gohan were standing at the blackboard, Gohan had a duster in his hand and it seemed Professor Dome was attempting to wrestle it out of the teens grasp. Both had turned at the violent sound of Videl's entrance, yet it was her teacher who broke the small awkward silence that had followed. "Videl. What is the meaning of this?"
"I thought there was trouble? You… you were shouting." Videl stammered, suddenly feeling embarrassed.
"So, you heard a disagreement and decided to break school property, to what? Arrest us?" The educator let go of Gohan's arm and walked up to the teen. "I know that you have a strong sense of justice, but I remind you that this is a school, not a gang hangout. You cannot just break down doors because you help the police." Videl was stunned, she had not been reprimanded by any of the teachers at this school in years. She was unsure of how to respond. Luckily, she didn't have to. "While the others of your class are revising their schoolwork outside, you will be cleaning this mess up. Is that understood?"
"Yes professor, I'm sorry. I don't know…" Videl said softly, her eyes looking anywhere but at the disappointed face of her educator. She had never been this embarrassed, Gohan and the Professor had been arguing over a piece of chalk.
"Save the excuses Ms Satan. Go to the faculty room and collect the supplies you'll need to clean this glass up." Videl nodded at the order. She backed out of the room and began to walk up the hallway. Videl passed Erasa and her friend was looking at her with a mix of shock, confusion and sympathy. As the teen crime fighter walked she could hear Erasa start to talk with the teacher, presumably to apologise on her behalf.
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Gohan watched the exchange between Videl and Professor Dome. It seems that his mere presence at the school had gotten under Videl's skin, he smiled slightly. This may be easier than he thought. It was when Erasa walked in though, that the young Saiyan remembered he what he was presently engaged in. Quickly erasing more of the offending equation which tried to justify the underlying premise until just the base theorem remained, he interrupted the conversation which had started between teacher and student. "Erasa, could you come have a look at this?" the pair at the door turned to face him. Erasa looked confused, Wis looked furious. "Tell me what you would do to balance this equation."
"Gohan, Erasa is an intelligent girl but this is a bit advanced, even for her." Professor Dome interjected.
The young Saiyan merely smiled politely, handing a piece of chalk to Erasa. The young blonde stared at the chalk before looking at the board. "But I don't know what some of the symbols values are?"
Professor Dome looked as though he were about to continue his pessimistic line of reasoning but Gohan pressed forward. "Ignore the values, this equation is about harnessing a natural bio-kinetic wave function. Can you balance it?"
"With any value? Of course." Erasa gleefully took the chalk and began to write on the blackboard. She only paused briefly to review some of the equation periodically, before turning back to Gohan and the professor. She looked to the pair with an air of apprehension. "Is that right?"
Gohan smiled broadly at her, the professor however was studiously looking over the results Erasa had produced. "It has the same problem that your one did. The power is just too high!" Wiz complained. Erasa suddenly looked down trodden.
"Professor, when two different people independently come to the same conclusion…" Gohan left the statement hanging for a moment as he looked to Erasa and gave her a confident look. "It should be explored more thoroughly, don't you agree?" Gohan watched as the older educator seemed to accept the logic, but he did not seem pleased. Gohan attempted to console the man. "Bulma will be so excited at the breakthrough that we achieved today. I am sure that she will request that you go to Capsule Corps and continue your research with her." Both Gohan and Wiz turned when a sharp gasp was let out by their companion.
"Bulma? You don't mean Bulma Briefs, do you?" Erasa asked with an excited tone. "You are so lucky professor; the Capsule Corps labs are the best in the world. I am sure you will be able to get the answer you want." Gohan couldn't help but laugh, his classmate had already solved the issue and in an even more elegant way than he could. Erasa shot him a confused look.
"If I know Bulma, you will be invited too." Gohan laughed again at the disbelief he saw reflected in her eyes. "Your approach to this is innovative, I'm sure professor Dome agrees. Both Bulma and her father will be excited to hear your take on this research." Erasa let out a loud squeal and embraced the teen Saiyan. "Let me just phone her and tell her the good news." Another squeal erupted from the blonde, this time though she hugged her teacher, surprising the elder. Gohan turned to make his way to the head office to make a phone call when he noticed Videl standing in the doorway.
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Videl had retrieved the dustpan and broom she would need to clean the glass up and was making her way back to the classroom. She was still confused and embarrassed by what had happened. Her conversation with Erasa was also ringing through her head. Maybe she was being too critical, too sceptical of him but it was her nature. Her job. Too many people had ulterior motives when it came to her or her friends, Videl couldn't and wouldn't let her friends become pawns in other people's plays for power. It had just been a weird day yesterday, and today wasn't shaping up to be any better. Ever since the intergalactic tournament, Videl had always sought to find the logical answer. Occam's Razor: the simplest explanation was most often the correct one. Gohan's arrival had triggered something, the oddly dressed boy had raised so many questions in her mind, and even if she got the answers she wanted to hear it only raised more questions. The feeling vexed the young Satan. When she arrived at her class though, yet another strange sight greeted the daughter of the champ, Erasa was squealing excitedly and hugging professor Dome. Videl stopped at the doorway and simply stared at the sight before noticing that Gohan had turned and was walking toward her. "Erasa. What did I miss?" Videl asked her friend while looking at Gohan.
"Oh Videl, I've got great news." Erasa said bounding her way past the suspicious teen and embracing her, the sudden impact of the girl caused the crime fighter to drop the cleaning supplies. "You would not believe what Gohan is going to do." Videl narrowed her eyes at the tall teen. Before Videl could hear any more about this latest development, her watch began to sound.
"Videl, are you there?" the disembodied voice of the commissioner called out.
"Yes chief. I'm here. What's the problem?" Videl replied.
"There has been a hijacking." The voice replied. "The kidnappers have demanded the money which was saved from the robbery attempt earlier. We've already begun to organise the payment. You have to get down here!" Videl set her features firm.
"I'm sorry Professor but duty calls." Videl said simply as she spun and dashed out into the hall and made for the front of the school. The young crime fighter forced herself to focus. Whatever Erasa was going to say, whatever Gohan was going to do would have to wait. Right now, people needed her.
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Gohan stepped out into the hall and watched Videl's retreating form until it passed out of sight. "Does she always get calls like that? Hijackings and bank robberies?" Gohan asked his blonde classmate.
A small flash of worry seemed to cross Erasa's face before it was stamped down by a brilliantly confident smile. "That's our Videl always going out and saving us from the nasties." Gohan could not tell if the display was for his benefit or her own, but he returned his gaze to the empty hallway. "You don't have to worry, Videl is more than capable. She's the strongest person I know." Erasa continued beside him. "I even think she is stronger than her dad now."
"I think you may be right." Gohan replied, take in the hallway one last time before returning his gaze to his classmate. "I will call Bulma now, would you please tell Wis that I will be back." Erasa nodded her consent. The teen began to walk down the hallway. As he turned the corner he pulled a communicator from his pocket. It was a device that Bulma gave to him. It had been designed so that the Z fighters could train anywhere on the planet and still be contactable, should the need arise. Gohan chuckled internally, as the individual communicators didn't transmit to each other, only to the main base station, which Bulma was in possession of. Gohan had surmised long ago that Bulma had built in this design flaw, for the sole reason that it meant the heiress would never be left out of the loop. "Bulma. Bulma, are you there?" He asked as he put the device to his ear.
"Gohan? What's up?" Was the relaxed reply of his friend.
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Videl flew her jet copter low over the escaping bus. The chief had informed her on route, that the bus was full of senior citizens on a tour of Satan Cities famous landmarks. Videl judged the road ahead and made her decision. Flicking on the auto-pilot, Videl open the door and stepped out onto the skid-rails lining the underside of the machine. With one last measured breathe the teen dropped from the sky and landed lightly on the roof of the hijacked bus. She had endeavoured to keep her presence unnoticed for as long as possible but as the teen made her way up to the front of the vehicle, a shower of bullets began to pepper the steel in front of her feet. Swiftly hopping backward, Videl dodged the spray. It was now or never. Leaping sideways, the crimefighter reached for the edged lip of the busses roof. Upon grasping it, Videl could feel the metal begin to twist as she sought for purchase on it, the young Satan twisted her frame around and used her momentum to kick through the window beneath her.
The window gave way with little resistance and her boots impacted solidly against the face of the man with the machine gun. After a few more errant shots, both the gun and gunman fell the floor silently. Videl scanned the bus and saw that there were only two more hijackers, both where at the front, the large one was driving and the shorter one was standing in the door well. Without giving a moments thought, Videl ran toward them, flicking an item off the ground and catching it as she went. The item in question was a camera. Videl threw the camera at the shorter ones gun, it hit its mark and took a picture, the flash aiding in disorientating the crook. The distance between them was quickly closed and Videl began to rained blows on the hijacker.
A noise from behind her alerted the crime fighter to the conscious state of the first of the trio. Videl grasped the shorter ones shirt and threw him into his tall blonde colleague. Videl began to follow her quarry when a large hand grasped for her, she quickly deflected it and struck out at its owner. Videl felt a certain satisfaction at the feeling it made when it connected, but refused to let it break her focus the blonde one still had a gun. She darted forward kneeing the blonde in the chin as he finally stood tall, she the grasped the gun and twisted it free of the crook's grip. With the danger gone Videl quickly dispatched the two, disarming the firearms as she went. "Videl." A croaky voice broke through. "Videl. Who's driving the bus?" Her eyes darted to the front, the driver was slumped over unconscious. She had knocked him out. Panic filled her as she saw that they were just about to drive over a cliff, a loud bang shook the bus. Sheer terror followed as Videl felt the floor fall away beneath her and the bus took the plunge.
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"Gohan? What's up?"
"I have had a bit of a breakthrough here, I think you should considering sending someone over to pick up Professor Dome and a student named Erasa." Gohan said quickly as he made his way outside. "I am following up on something else right now."
"I hope you aren't causing trouble." Bulma chastised jokingly.
"Of course, not." Gohan replied defensively. "I just thought you may want to know why I wouldn't just bring them myself."
"I'm just kidding, kid. I'll come and collect them myself, but I can't make it there until tomorrow. This business with the foundation has tied up my afternoon and I want you to be there when this professor gets his due. It's only right, you were the one who told me about his work. Still, there is one thing I want to speak to you about, y'know you can't just use the fact you know me to get a girlfriend. Erasa is that her name?" This statement caused the teen Saiyan to stop dead in his tracks and begin to sputter. "Oh, I hit a sore spot. Well I'll get to meet her soon enough." With that the line disconnected with Gohan still mouthing silent words. To passing students he looked like a gaping fish. Shaking his head in an attempt to rid himself of this new problem, Gohan focused on his destination. Videl was moving at great speed to the south, choosing a path that took him down a darkened alleyway the teen lifted off into the sky.
The rooftops and dome houses soon gave way to an arid landscape, the road was winding its way along the cliffs which overlooked the Bandit's Dessert. The one Yamcha once called home. At the speed he was travelling, it was not long before he caught up to the raven-haired girl. She was leaping from her jet copter to land on the busses roof. Gohan couldn't help but smile, this girl was insane. The smile was momentary though as a hail of bullets shot into the air, for just a fleeting second, the teen contemplated rushing down to help. His assistance was unnecessary, however, as Videl soon entered the bus and Gohan could tell she was giving the hijackers a hard time.
When the bus swerved slightly, Gohan's eyes narrowed. Though the bus didn't continue the erratic movement, it didn't slow down either. Sweeping his eyes forward, the young Saiyan noticed a sharp corner approaching. Increasing his speed to pull ahead of the hijacked bus, Gohan attempted to look through the front windshield, a difficult feat at his current height but the ruff form slumped over the wheel, gave him all the information he needed. With a crack that sent shockwaves across the sky, Gohan shot downward stopping only once he was positioned beneath the stricken tour bus. He placed his hands on the chassis and fell with it, gradually slowing their decent until coming to a complete stop. The teen let out a sigh, while he was glad everyone was safe, he couldn't exactly let everyone see him. Satan City was not the place for flying super heroes.
Lifting the bus back up the cliff, Gohan devised a plan. He turned the bus around and, once it was level, threw it back onto the road. With that done the Saiyan teen used every ounce of energy he had, to run away. As the dust cleared from the buses rough landing, Gohan was already halfway to Satan City.
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Videl had watched significant moments in her life flash before her eyes. The field of flowers by a beautiful waterfall, her mother and father hugging her, the rain and the sunrise on the darkest night of her life. Videl had felt her decent slow, stop and reverse direction, felt the tyres of the bus hit solid ground and through all of this, Videl hadn't moved. Not a muscle. The prospect of her imminent death had halted any thought from passing through her mind, it was only when the bus shook with another loud bang echoed off the steel chassis that Videl began to process what just happened.
She should be dead. Why wasn't she dead? She had blown it, by knocking out the driver, Videl had killed everyone on the bus. So, why weren't they dead? "That was amazing." One elderly gentle said, looking at her in admiration. "How did you manage that?" Videl just stared at him blankly.
"Haven't seen a martial artist that strong since Jackie Chun." Another voice called out from the back of the bus.
"That was a splendid tour." The old lady, sporting a camera, exclaimed. "Do you think we could get a photo with our savoir?" Videl was still trying to understand and did a double take at the woman's request.
"Oh ah, sure." Videl managed to get out. It would be best to get everyone off the bus; the police should be along soon and they would bring alternate transport with them. Videl needed some familiarity at the moment and just solid ground would do. The crime fighter began to evacuate the passengers, making sure they stayed close to the bus. Once this way complete, the teen closed her eyes, stepped onto the ground and took a deep breath. The sound of approaching sirens calmed her, the feel of the ground beneath her feet centred her mind. She let out the breath and opened her eyes.
The cliff they had just careened over was before her. Videl could see the tyre tracks which disappeared over the edge, she swallowed hard. Steeling herself and her expression the teen walked toward the edge. Getting as close as she dared, Videl peered over the edge. The drop was impressive, at least three hundred metres, she most certainly should be dead. But something had stopped them, then lifted them back and then thrown them back to where they started. Looking over the edge proved there was no physical reason this should have happened, and the police were just now arriving so they couldn't have done anything even if they wanted to. Scratch that, Videl thought, her mind at full speed again, the police have nothing that could have thrown them back to the road anyway. Maybe some Capsule Corp super-magnet contraption on a powerful jet copter could catch a bus like that, but it wouldn't set it down by tossing it haphazardly to the ground.
"Do you think it was the same guy who saved those townsfolk in Jingeru Village?" The elderly gentleman from earlier questioned, startling the young crime-fighter.
Videl covered her confusion with a confident smile. "Uh, What guy?" She had no clue what the old man was talking about, nor did she really care what he was talking about but Videl had an image to uphold.
"The man who saved that air-cab full of people outside of Jingeru Village." The man repeated. "Apparently, he leapt off the ground, caught the air-cab after the engines failed and landed them safely on the road." He looked directly into her eyes. "Do you think it was the same guy?"
"I didn't see anyone." Videl replied.
"Oh, neither did I." Videl's public front nearly dissolved. "It's the only thing I can think of for what put us back up here." the old man concluded. Videl had to give it to him there, she was at a loss to explain it either. "Ha, look at me." The gentleman continued awkwardly, when Videl said nothing. "An old man dreaming wistfully of a white cloaked superhero."
This caught Videl's full attention. "Did you say white cloaked?" She inquired.
"Oh yeah, the guy from Jingeru. He wore an old style white traveling cloak, martial artists used to wear them when I was young." The man answered, his eyes misting in nostalgia. Videl had seen a person wearing that exact type of item. Her eyes gleamed slightly.
"What else?" Videl inquired, snapping the old man from his reminiscing. "What else do you know about this man from Jingeru?"
"Oh, well he wasn't from Jingeru. He was just passing through." The elderly man replied, Videl couldn't help but notice that this fit Gohan perfectly. "He saved those people and then disappeared into the sky." Videl raised an eyebrow. She was hoping for something a little less theatrical. "He wore martial arts clothes and a white traveling cloak." Videl had an image of her first meeting with Gohan in her mind. "With a bald head, and three eyes." The image of Gohan warped to suit the new details and Videl snorted.
"Sorry." Videl said emphatically. "A bald head and three eyes?" She repeated. The old man nodded, he looked slightly offended at her accidental outburst. "That's a pretty unique facial feature." She added trying to undo her faux par.
"Rare." Corrected the gentleman before turning toward the arriving police cars. "Not unique, just rare." Videl watched him for a few moments before turning back to the cliffs edge. The last few days had been trying on her, for a reason she couldn't fathom, today had be downright crazy." Videl needed a simple conversation, something to ground her so she could sort all this out. The young Satan couldn't wait to get back to her friend.
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The Supreme Kai sat in thought, his body was perched on a stool by a pond, his mind was half a galaxy away. The way to the Dark Realm was stilled sealed, it's key had moved but the way was shut and that's all that mattered. The Lord of lords opened his eyes and stood. He had a conversation to have that he was not going to enjoy. Shin sighed and began to walk out into the hall they were using as a sort of conference area. North Kai and Goku were waiting for him. Goku was, in fact, doing a set of push ups one handed and the North Kai was yelling at him to have more respect for their current location.
"North Kai, Goku. May I have a word?" Supreme Kai interrupted politely. The other Kai's in the room fell silent. In fact, the only sound was of the grunts Goku gave as he sprang to his feet and replied with a cheery smile. Even the north Kai seemed stunned by the gesture, but followed the deity and his pupil into the room the Supreme Kai had entered from. Once they were inside the door closed behind them. "Please first allow me to say that it is not my intent to intestinally put you or your family and friends in any undue distress. That having been said, I had not wanted my plan known to many, as our enemy can see into the minds of mortals to warp them to his will. Is there not one among the fighters of Earth who you think Bobbidi would attempt to control?" The Supreme Kai narrowed his gaze. "Yes, Vegeta. Both of you thought that." Goku coughed uncomfortably. "There are reasons I do what I do."
"Shin." Goku said bluntly. "I trust every one of my friends. I think if Bobbidi were to try to control any of them, he would fail miserably." The Supreme Kai bit back his retort, allowing the mortal to continue. "I want to see my son." The statement summed up Goku's mindset.
"I understand that." He took a deep breath, this was not going to be fun. "You cannot. I have found something troubling and I need you to look into it." The Supreme Kai said firmly. He could see the emotion pass through Goku's eyes, though none crossed the Saiyans face. "I would not ask if I did not have too, Goku please. I want this whole situation resolved as much as you do and until it is I don't want the Earth put in peril because you are there. The Enemy know that you are working with us, if they notice you going home all the time they will investigate the planet, and that, is the last thing I want." Shin concluded. "The trouble I need you to look for is a particular concern for me as I have worried about it since I witnessed your strength Goku. I believe there is another Saiyan that our enemy may attempt to recruit, I want you to either convince him to reject Bobbidi's offer or dispatch him if he succumbs."
"You're not talking about Vegeta are you?" Goku asked rubbing the back of his head. "I don't think that he would go for that, now. Y'see he's got a kid and..."
"No Goku, it's not Vegeta. I do not know his name, only that he has destroyed two worlds so far." Shin informed them. "I haven't sensed any of Bobbidi's presence from him but if I can find him, I'm sure the enemy can too." The god of gods faced Goku. "You cannot take this opponent lightly, even without Bobbidi's influence he is a genuine rival to your strength Goku." The Saiyan nodded seriously. "Heavens help us if Bobbidi does claim him."
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A/N: I'm sorry for taking this long to update. I have been busy as work and it has just been too hot to even think about doing any typing afterward. But I will endeavour to put out more chapters before I fly back out.
Thank you again, to all those who have taken the time to read my story and especially those who have reviewed, followed or favorited. I assure all those dedicated to read this to its end, I am dedicated get it there.