12.
Driving was… nice. Easy. Safe.
Sure, they hit the occasional roadblock or two. Wreckage sprawled out, blocking the roadways was the most common reason for Bulma commanding the group to stop.
They stopped twice a day to stretch and eat. Tien sighed, already missing the farm fresh food Mrs. Brief prepared. Stale protein bars and water filtered from his canteen was hardly the breakfast, lunch and dinner of champions.
But it seemed to be that of the living, so he ate without audible complaint. Mrs. Brief's occasional comment about looking for another place with a kitchen cut through the silence. Usually, Bulma just frowned and chewed on her own 1,000 calorie brick. Sometimes she would calmly explain that they were going to the coast. To the island where Goku's martial arts trainer resided. An island they had no proof was untouched by this plague.
Although, Bulma had a point. Even if its inhabitants had Turned, it would be easy to wipe them out and take the island for themselves. It would be good, settling down again. Chiaotzu needed something stable. Tien had allowed himself to think for a few moments that they'd been safe on the farm, but it was too open, too exposed. Whatever it was that triggered hordes of Biters - maybe a flock of animals or the sound of something in the distance or a passing helicopter or plane, if there were any of those still flying - it meant they'd never be safe on the mainland.
And he was content to stick with Bulma and Goku. Bulma was smart and savvy. She had an air of importance about her, a good head on her shoulders even if she tended to be a bit of a bitch about it. Goku, however, was the real reason he wanted to remain with this particular group.
He was strong, uncanningly good at taking out Walkers. The best in the group, hands down. Given that he'd had martial arts experience, it shouldn't have come as much a surprise. But even with Lunch's skill with a pistol and his own past as an assassin, they still had nothing on Goku.
Tien had watched, dumbfounded, as a group of seven Biters dragged themselves in their direction. Goku had taken them each out, single handedly, with nothing more than bare fists and a shovel.
"You okay?" Lunch asked, kneeling to his side. Tien shrugged in reply. He tossed his empty wrapper onto the grass. Littering wouldn't do any damage to the world now.
When he looked over, Bulma was helping Chiaotzu with his water filter. When Tien glanced back at Lunch, he frowned.
"I like these people."
She lifted a brow. Her face was smudged with dirt, her clothes dingy. "O-kay."
"I don't want you to mess this up. Chiaotzu needs this."
Lunch nodded, looking at the boy and exhaling through her nose. "Fine. I won't shoot Bulma or Chichi or anyone. Even if they're asking for it."
"Good."
Lunch got to her feet. "Good then. Let's go."
Once back in the vehicles, Tien slid into the passenger's seat. Chiaotzu and Mrs. Brief nestled into the bench seat behind him. Lunch, Goku and Chichi took the pickup truck; he could already hear its hearty engine rumbling to life.
"Shit," Bulma cursed. He didn't have to ask what it was. The look on her face spoke volumes.
"How low?" he asked, keeping his voice quiet. Not that Chiaotzu or Mrs. Breif would clue into the impact of his works anyway.
Bulma bit her lip. "Pretty low. We'll make it another 45, maybe 50 miles tops."
He glanced at the map. That would put them in the outskirts of a small mountain city. Not anywhere near the coast.
"Just keep your eyes peeled for another car. Something sturdy or at least fuel efficient. These roads have been traveled on; I doubt we'll find any fuel to syphon but maybe…"
Tien nodded. "We'll go as far as we can manage."
So they drove. Bulma tried to keep her speed consistent. To coast whenever possible until the jeep sputtered to a stop.
"I guess this is it," she whispered. She put on a brave face but Tien didn't miss the way her hands shook. Up ahead, the pickup slowed to a stop. Lunch hopped out first, followed by its other passengers. Chichi raised her gun, but no Biters lunged out of the woods.
"We're out of fuel."
Lunch replied, "The truck only has 15 or so miles left. Some of us can sit in back until..."
Until they had to continue on foot. And so they made quick work of it, stretching the last few miles with the sun still high in the sky before they set out on foot. Bulma gripped her map like a lifeline, but there wasn't another town for another few miles yet. She hated walking in the open, but it was a bit more comforting in a larger group.
Their labored breathing and dull footsteps filled the silence. By the time they hit Mountain Pass City, it was sprinkling. Her clothes damp, her map rolled safely into her pack, Bulma clutched her shotgun and breathed a sigh of relief.
"Maybe we should find a safe place for tonight. We can find some cars in the morning."
Mountain Pass City was just a roadstop. A single fuel station that was deserted, its convenience store picked through. Goku and Lunch took out the pair of Walkers inside, but it didn't seem to matter. They'd be surviving on rationed protein bars another day at least. Tien felt a stone settle low in his belly. Chiaotzu smiled tightly at him and stuffed a lighter in his pack.
When the group opened the door, they froze.
Two men stood, one wielding a knife the other a hatchet.
"Don't shoot," one said, raising his hands in surrender. He was tall and waifish, shoulder-length hair tied at the nape of his neck. Despite his companion's surrender, the other man didn't budge. Hatchet still in hand, glare etched on his features.
"We don't want any trouble," Goku said, voice affable. Smile dazzling. Though Tien caught a slight, untrusting edge in his eyes. "We aren't Lurkers. We aren't the enemy. We're just passing through."
"Then keep walking," the bald one with the hatchet growled.
Some of the group was already turning when Goku tilted his head to one side, squinted, and laughed. "Hey, I know you."
The pair of strangers exchanged a look.
"Nappa," Goku said. "You're Nappa. You served with my brother. I had your picture sitting by my bedside, the one of his squad on his first tour. Raditz sent it to me, and I always thought you looked a bit constipated."
The bald one - Nappa, apparently - lowered his machete.
"Holy shit. Raditz is sure going to be glad to see you."
Goku blinked. "You're with Raditz?"
Nappa nodded. "This here is, uh - 17 or 18."
"17," he deadpanned.
"We've got a place set up for the night near the pass." Then his eyes darted from Raditz's brother to a petite Asian girl in painted on jeans, a blue haired woman with come-hither cleavage, a blonde who looked ready to cut off his dick where he stood - he ignored that one, they had one of those back at the safehouse - and finally to another lady, older than the rest, the definition of MILF.
He grinned at the latter and she gave a girlish giggle.
"Do you boys have a stove? I've got a pack full of snap peas and rice, and I'd love to cook something."
Bulma rolled her eyes and followed the group towards the supposedly safe house. If Goku trusted these men, she'd try to as well.
She met Tien's eyes and he frowned. Nappa didn't seem the kind of guy to shit rainbows. Certainly more the type to murder you in your sleep for your gun. She didn't miss that he was only carrying a hatchet. Lunch, on the other hand, had a pack full of guns and ammo. It wasn't a position Bulma was eager to put herself in. She glanced at Chiaotzu, the small, pale boy walking beside Goku. Then she turned to her mother who was prattling on about her sore ankles and how she'd positively kill for a hot bath.
"There's strength in numbers," Tien said. Bulma thought he was trying to convince her. More likely, however, he was attempting to convince himself.
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