Imminent Threat
GUSTAT
Huddled inside of his small ship, Gustat set course for the next source of power he could detect. The last planetoid had yielded nothing in terms of a challenge for him. Most of his opponents lacked the brains to put up a challenge, it seemed. All brute strength, no intelligence. What's gone wrong in the galaxy? There once was a time when the sign of a great warrior was his mind as well as his brawn. Gustat sighed, relaxing his tensed shoulders.
Closing his eyes, Gustat reflected on his most recent opponent. They had known he was coming, and were waiting for him once he landed in a lush forest. They were weak. Weaker than his true power, which wasn't saying much. Stepping out of his ship, Gustat bowed low. In his gravelly voice, Gustat rumbled "Greetings most worthy opponents! What are you?" The indigenous species frowned, clearing his throat. "We are Yylets. We live on this planet in peace, disturbing no one. Why have you come, stranger?"
Gustat smiled wide. "I come in peace, also, my friend! I have been searching the galaxy for some time now, but my query is not in sight, unfortunately." The leader of the Yylets smiled back warily, taking a step forward. "If you come in peace, you are welcome to stay with us until you depart. We will treat you as an honored guest, for we rarely have any visitors to our planet. If I may be so bold, what is it that you seek?
Gustat grinned. Perhaps these fools will know of what I seek? "I know not its name. All I know of the creature is that it can power itself up to immense levels, and has an appetite that cannot be bested at the table. The Yylets frowned, talking amongst themselves. "We might know of what you speak, friend. Let us return to our city to discern more information. Surely you must be hungry! Let us eat!" Clapping his broad hands, Gustat followed them to their city.
Relaxing in the quarters shown to him, Gustat pondered when he should finish up on this planetoid. The food is nice, and they're friendly. Too bad I'm not looking for a home. I suppose once I find out if they know anything about the creatures I seek, I can finish up and get on out of here. I can feel a strong power source off in the distance… much stronger than anything I've ever fought. It will surely be my next destination.
Waking from his thoughts, Gustat rises to answer his door. "Friend! We believe we know of the creatures you seek, though it took us awhile to figure it out with so little information." Gustat raised his eyebrows, intrigued. "Ahh, so you know of it, then? Please, tell me! The more I know of them, the sooner I can find them!"
The Yylet leader grinned widely. "Indeed! They are race we have never encountered personally, but we have heard of them from past visitors and from observing events in distant space. They are a humanoid race called 'Saiyan'." Gustat clapped his hands giddily. "Excellent! Excellent! What more do you know of these Saiyans?"
"We know where they are located in the galaxy, but not much else."
Gustat couldn't believe his luck. The pathetic race of peace-lovers had actually been useful to him! Maybe he would be nice, let them live.
Gustat laughed. "How utterly delightful, my hosts! I must thank you for your hospitality! It has been much appreciated. If I could just take the location of the planetoid where the Saiyans are, I will be on my way!"
The Yylet grinned widely. "Certainly! We will transmit them to your ship. We were most honored to have you!"
Gustat opened his eyes again. "Fools." Stopping his ship, he opens the hatch and floats into space. Turning towards the planet, he extends his arm, palm facing the planet. Channeling the energy of the planet, he powers up a blast, snickering the entire time. "Unfortunately, you met me. You know what I seek, and I can't have any loose ends, friends. Farewell!" With his snicker turning into a loud cackle, he shoots off the blast, watching it embed itself into the planet's surface before exploding. "I love the smell of burning planetoid in the morning!"
VIDEL
"Wait a minute, Videl. That doesn't make any sense. Gohan said his father was dead, right? So, who is this you're going to meet? His step-father?" Erasa slowly put that sentence together over the phone, as if struggling to understand. "I don't even know, Erasa. He said it was his dead father. I'm pretty sure he was just scrambling for an excuse for leaving me hanging on the phone."
Videl flew quickly in her JetCopter towards Gohan's distant home in the mountains. It took heir a few hours to get to his house, so she wondered how early he had to get up to get to school. I couldn't wake up that early. I would die.
"I mean, Videl," Erasa continued over the phone slowly, "Why would he said his dead father is alive? No one would do that, unless they are really messed up."
"That's my point, Erasa. Gohan is a weird guy, after all."
Erasa giggled momentarily, immediately giving Videl the desire to punch Erasa in her imagination. "Don't be silly, Videl! Gohan's just a country boy! He's not used to the big city. Socially awkward, you know?" Videl rolled her eyes. "Socially awkward doesn't really get to the bottom of it, Erasa. I'm almost there, so I'll talk to you later." Videl turned off her phone, drowning out Erasa's needy reminders.
Spotting his house down below, she began to descend quickly. Let's see what you have to show me, Son Gohan…
Videl landed neatly a few feet from his house, briskly jumping out of the JetCopter and putting it back inside its capsule. A man in orange clothes stretched by the house as she walked towards it. "Hi, is Gohan here?"
The man stopped stretching, turning to look at her. "Oh, hi! You must be Videl! I'm Goku, Gohan's dad!" Videl stared at Goku. Well, they do look alike… "Uh, hi…"
Goku smiled at Videl, taking her in. "So, you're Gohan's girlfriend, right?" Videl blushed immediately, coughing and shaking her head. "Ha, I don't know If I'd say girlfriend…" Goku laughed. "What else would you be, huh?" Goku laughed as Videl walked, still blushing, towards the front door. "Did you say Gohan was inside?" This is embarrassing…
Goku scratched his head as he thought. "I'm not sure. He and Goten went off to train earlier today. They were supposed to be back for lunch, and they still haven't come back."
Videl glanced around silently for a moment. "Aren't you worried about them?" Goku cocked his eyebrow. "Not really. Not really anything dangerous around here."
Videl was beginning to consider taking out her JetCopter and taking off when Chichi opened the front door. "Videl! Oh, I'm so happy you came over! Gohan is out at the moment, though. He should be back soon!" Chichi glanced between Videl and Goku. "Have you met my husband, Goku?"
Videl nodded. "Yeaaah. Just had the pleasure." Goku smiled and nodded. "I think I'm going to go look for the boys, be nice Chichi!" Goku took off running behind the house, leaving Chichi fuming and Videl jaw-dropped. "He runs so…fast" Videl said as she strained her eyes looking for him. Chichi mumbled to herself as she walked towards Videl. "Don't mind him, Videl. I'm sure the boys will be back soon. Let's go inside! I have some food if you're hungry."
Videl followed Chichi into the tiny house, noticing just how small it was. "I like your house, Mrs. Son." Chichi smiled widely. "Thank you! I'm sure you're used to much nicer than this though. What's it like living in the city?" Videl shrugged. "I guess it's busy. Always something to do, somewhere to be. I like your house though, really. It's cozy."
Chichi smiled, motioning towards the kitchen. "Would you like something to eat? The boy's didn't come in for lunch, so there is plenty left over!"
"No thank you. I'm sure Gohan will devour it when he does get back." Chichi laughed, looking out the window. "So you've seen Gohan's appetite, then?" Videl snorted. "Appetite? He could've fed an impoverished nation with what he ate. How do you feed him?"
Chichi sighed. "I spend a lot of my time cooking food, and cleaning dishes. They boy's eat so much… you'd be alarmed. But you do get used to it after a few years." Picking up a dish and a rag, Chichi begins to wash. Videl walks over and does the same, earning an appreciative look from Chichi. They wash the plethora of dishes together, talking about their respective families and gazing out at the sunset.
"So, why have you and Gohan been spending so much time together?" Chichi asked as she began drying the stack of dishes by hand. Videl shrugged. "We haven't really, until recently at least. Your son is interesting, Mrs. Son. Your whole family is, really. I've never met anybody similar to you."
Chichi smiled, her eyes on the horizon. "I can believe that, sister!"
Videl smiled with her, gazing out the window. Such a pretty place to live.
Videl's eye caught something outside. "Chichi, what's that, over the tree line?"
Chichi squinted her eyes, looking for Videl's object. Finding it, she smirked. "Oh, it's Goten! That boy has some explaining to do…"
Videl's jaw dropped. WHAT? "Wait, Mr. Son. That's your son, Goten? Is he… flying?"
Chichi nodded nonchalantly. Videl brought her eyes back to the tiny object moving ever closer to the house, finally beginning to make out a small boy, zooming several feet over the ground.
How is he flying? That is impossible.
Well, maybe it isn't impossible, Saiyaman can fly. But, Goten, Gohan's little brother can fly? This is insane! "How… how does he fly?"
Chichi glanced at Videl, surprised. "Wait a second, Videl. You didn't know that they could fly? I'm so sorry, honey! I thought you'd know by now…"
Videl stared at Chichi blankly. "Who can fly, again?"
"Goten, Gohan, Goku… All of their friends. Well, I guess I shouldn't be surprised that you're surprised. It isn't really normal to see people fly, is it? But then again, we aren't a normal family!" Chichi laughed, wiping her hands on her apron and walking toward the door. Videl bore a hole into the ground, her mind firing off thoughts rapidly. Gohan can fly? Why didn't he tell me? What else can he do? I knew I was right about him! Erasa can suck it!
Videl followed Chichi outside, finding her scolding the little boy, Goten. Goten smiled widely and waved both his hands at Videl, yelling "Hi! Hi! Hi!" the whole time Chichi yelled at him. Videl gave a half wave, still thinking too hard and growing faint. Goten apologized to his mother for being so late, and bounded over towards Videl. "Hi! I'm Goten! What's your name?"
Videl smiled weakly. "Hey Goten. I'm Videl." Goten kept grinning widely as he skipped around her in circles. "Are you Gohan's lady friend? He said I'd get to meet you! What's your favorite color? Do you like to eat? I love to eat! Can you fly? Do you practice martial arts? Do you like to swim?"
Videl watched the kid spout off questions without a break, dumbfounded. I'm really freaking out here…
"Goten! Hold on just a second. Where is Gohan?"
"Oh yeah! He'll be here soon! He was right behind me, but I beat him here! He's a slow poke, haha!"
Chichi yelled from inside the house for Goten, and he smiled and waved as he ran into the house. Videl sat down, cross her legs, and put her head in her hands. "Who are these people?"
Videl took out her phone, turning it on. "Erasa will go nuts when I tell her what I just saw." She dialed Erasa's number, laying on her back and putting the phone to her ear. "Hey Videl! How's the cutie's house-date going?"
"Shutup Erasa. I just saw the freakiest thing ever. Goten, Gohan's little brother, can fly. I just saw him do it. His mom said that Gohan, his dad, Goten, and their friends can all fly. I'm really starting to freak out. Did Gohan ever tell you he could fly?"
Silence across the line. "Erasa, hello? Answer me!"
Erasa coughed. "Well, yeah, he did. Sort of. I actually kind of caught him doing it…"
Videl bolted upright, her jaw dropping in disbelief. "You WHAT?"
"Videl, don't be mad at me! He made me swear not to tell anyone! Gosh, I knew you would get all mad…"
Videl rubbed her temples with her fingers. "Ok, ok. You caught Gohan flying or something, and he made you promise not to tell?" Videl asked slowly. "Yes! Look, Videl, I know we're best friends, but it's a really big secret! Gohan would probably never talk to me again if I had told anyone… especially you!"
Videl frowned. "That makes sense, Erasa. I don't blame you." Erasa sighed in relief on the other side of the line. "But," Videl continued, "I think you're starting to care more about your friendship with Gohan than mine. You still should have told me. Thanks a lot, Erasa."
Hanging up her phone, she lay back in the grass. This is the shittiest day ever.
"Hey, Videl! How long have you been here?" Gohan, wearing the same orange outfit his father was wearing, jogged over to her. Videl stood her, glaring at Gohan. "I don't know, thirty minutes or so. You have anything you want to tell me, Gohan?"
Gohan scratched his head, thinking. "I… Oh, did you want to meet my dad? He might be inside, let's go check…"
"I already met him, Gohan. Is there anything else you want to tell me?"
Gohan stared blankly at her. "What is it, Videl?"
Her brow furrowing, she punched Gohan in the gut as hard as possible. "THAT YOU CAN FLY?"
Gohan took a step backwards, grimacing. "Oh, that…" Videl nodded vigorously, taking a step towards him. "Yes, that! And your whole family can! What the hell, Gohan?"
"Videl, I can explain, I really can…"
Goku appeared beside the pair via instant transmission, sending Videl screeching to the ground. Goku smiled and laughed. "Hey, you two! How's it going?"
"Not too great right now, dad… go on in, I'll be there soon." Goku nodded and trotted off towards the house as Gohan reached down towards Videl. "Are you ok, Videl?"
"Don't touch me! Stay back, Gohan!" She breathed heavily as she helped herself up, giving Gohan the stink eye. "I don't know how you can fly, and I don't really care right now. I'm just a bit pissed off you didn't tell me, but you let Erasa of ALL people find out."
Gohan groaned. "Videl, please let me explain! It's so complicated, and Erasa wasn't supposed to find out! No one was…"
Videl stopped short of another rant, cocking her head at him curiously. "Find out what, Gohan? That you could fly?"
"What? Oh, yeah. No one should know that! I get enough attention as the new guy, anyway…"
Videl glared at him. I'm missing a piece here. What does everyone else know that I don't?
"How'd you learn to fly, Gohan? Tell me."
Gohan rubbed the back of his neck. "I… well… Saiyaman taught me."
Videl's face turned to stone as Gohan groaned again. "Videl, wait, please, let me explain…"
Videl pulled out her JetCopter capsule, throwing it into the grass and watching it expand before her. "Go away, Gohan." She hopped inside, starting it up and taking off into the air towards Satan City. Looking back down towards Gohan's house, she eyes him still on the ground. Good. Stay on the ground, Gohan.
NOTES
Hey! Short and riddled with mistakes, this is my chapter for now. Will update again soon, I hope.
Double Edit:So! I totally had this chapter wrote up last weekend, but the site was being a tool and not letting me update until now! Sincere apologies, friends...
New favorite show: Archer
New favorite artist: Coheed and Cambria
