Thanks to Ivanoma for beta reading and so much more!
Disclaimer: I do not own. Nope, not mine.
Chapter 21. Ghosts from the past.
During their trip, Vegeta convinced Gohan to talk about the traps and they agreed to forget about it. Raditz leaned back in his seat after he grabbed a small black notebook."You know, Vegeta gave me a small present yesterday." He began earning a smirk from Vegeta.
"What's that?" Nappa asked interested.
Gohan was trying to get to sleep in his Space Pod and cuddled up in his chair. "It's a small notebook in which…"
Gohan shot up and interrupted him: "Damn it, Vegeta, I said you couldn't give it away!"
Vegeta laughed. "Did you really think I would listen to that?" Gohan frowned and leaned back in his chair with crossed arms.
Raditz was flipping through the pages amused. "Don't worry half-breed. We know you were just a cub when you made this."
"I still don't like it." Gohan answered still frowning. He couldn't get to Raditz now because they were separated in their space pods. "Just wait until we arrive on the planet."
Vegeta laughed. "Oh no. We have to watch our backs. The big bad cub's after us." He said mockingly.
Gohan rolled his eyes. "I'm not a cub anymore."
"You're a cub until you go into heat." Raditz said looking at the book. Gohan pulled on his black uniform. "Vegeta said something like that a while ago. What's that?"
"Nothing." Nappa said smirking earning a frown from Gohan.
"That's not fair. You get to look into my past but you can't even give me a little information about my future in return."
Vegeta shook his head amused. "Nope."
Raditz frowned when he read a little piece in the book. "What's with this Himona guy you are talking about?"
"How old was I?" Gohan asked frowning. He knew who Raditz was talking about, but tried to think of a good answer.
"Seven. Hey, wasn't he the one who talked to you a while ago?" Raditz answered looking at the page.
Gohan shrugged. "Yes, He's just an old bully. He stayed in the camp for a long time. I didn't like him." It was all true, he just 'forgot' to mention a few things.
Raditz nodded and flipped the page again. "Your entries here are kind of sad." He mentioned. Gohan bent to grab his video game. He wasn't able to fall asleep anyway.
"Camp wasn't a nice time." Gohan remarked smirking. He grabbed the game and opened it.
"Seen the picture of us already?" Vegeta asked with a smile.
Raditz laughed and nodded. "I saw it. It's great."
"Shut up." Gohan said frowning as he played his game. Nappa frowned when he heard strange sounds and asked: "Who's making those sounds?"
"Not me." The two adults answered. Gohan pulled a guilty face and ignored the question.
"Half-breed." Nappa started. "Can you stop that?"
"How do you know it's me? It can be someone else." Gohan answered amused, crossing his legs.
Nappa smirked. "You're probably playing your game."
Gohan laughed and nodded. "Yes, I am. I'll silence it." He put the volume down and Nappa thanked him.
Nappa looked out the window and leaned back in his chair. "I want to read that notebook too." He demanded.
"No way. I'm getting it back on the next planet." Gohan answered pushing on the buttons on his game.
"That's not fair. The others read it too." Nappa whined.
Gohan nodded and bent his legs to put his feet on the seat. "They did without my permission."
"We never listen to you half-breed." Vegeta said while he grabbed a few papers. "Besides, you belong to us so your stuff belongs to us too."
Gohan rolled his eyes. "Yeah right. What happened to that 'you get your personality back when you listen to us' shit you told me once?" he said, lowering his voice to imitate Vegeta's.
"You still remember that?" Vegeta asked with a smile.
Gohan nodded and shifted on his seat. "Sure. That's something you can't really forget."
"What are you talking about?" Raditz asked frowning. Vegeta smirked and answered: "Something I told him during that punishment when he was tied to a tree."
"Wow that was a while ago." Nappa answered nodding.
Vegeta shrugged. "I guess I made an impression since you still remember it." He said satisfied.
Gohan shifted on his seat. "Don't get your hopes up Vegeta. You're just lucky I remembered that. Unlike someone I could name I don't have the long-term memory of a rock." The boy put his feet on the window.
"Wonder who he means?" Nappa wondered aloud. Raditz snickered.
"Right." Vegeta chuckled. "Anyway, that was about your right to defend yourself. We'll give you the chance to take it back. You just won't succeed."
"We'll see about that." Gohan shifted again and tried to find a comfortable position. After this he growled. "These Space Pods are terrible." He muttered.
Vegeta laughed. "Sorry, you'll have to spend another twenty days in there."
"Twenty days?" Gohan whined. "I thought we already sat in here for a while."
"We've been traveling for a day now." Raditz answered still reading the notebook.
Gohan frowned and kicked against the door. He widened his eyes when the door opened. Gohan gasped for air when the sudden decompression started pulling him out. "HELP."
"Half-breed?" Vegeta asked. "What's going on?"
"My door opened!" Gohan answered panicking.
Vegeta jerked up and looked out at Gohan's Space Pod. "Damn it! Press the red button next to the door."
Gohan pressed it. "It's not working!" Ge yelled grabbing on to his seat.
Raditz frowned. "That's odd."
"Half-breed." Vegeta said calmly as he pressed the button to stop the Space Pods. "Don't panic." Gohan rolled his eyes while Vegeta continued. "Take a deep breath. The oxygen is going to fade."
"O..okay." Gohan took a deep breath and held it.
"All right. Now let the air pull you out." Gohan widened his eyes and made a desperate sound. "We can't make another Space Pod so you'll have to travel with one of us."
'Great, less room.' Gohan thought frowning. "Now let go of the Space Pod and fly to mine." Vegeta continued calmly.
Gohan closed his eyes and let go of his seat. He felt the air sucking on his clothes and in a flash he was floating in Space. He saw Vegeta's Space Pod. "Half-breed. I can see you." Vegeta said still very calm. "Now come to my Space Pod and I'll open the door."
Gohan nodded and tried his hardest to keep his breath inside. He floated to Vegeta's Space Pod, which was now floating too. There he knocked on the window. "Good. Now I'll open it and you have to grab my hand and crawl in as fast as you can okay?" Gohan nodded again. Vegeta counted. "Three, two one. Now!"
The door opened and Vegeta's hand came out. Gohan grabbed it and Vegeta pulled back. Gohan put his feet on the edge of the Space Pod and grabbed hold of the seat. He nodded to Vegeta, saying he was in.
The door closed and Gohan, who wasn't prepared for the gravity change, fell on Vegeta. He quickly crept away and sat next to him. Gohan noticed he was still holding his breath and he exhaled. "Wow." He said breathing hard. "That was great."
Vegeta frowned and shifted a bit. "Great. Twenty days in a Space Pod with you."
Gohan shrugged and shifted away to the wall. Raditz frowned. "That door wasn't supposed to open." He kicked against his own door. "They should be able to handle everything."
"They can handle anything except a small boy who jumps out of it." Nappa continued smirking. Gohan pulled a guilty face and answered: "Those Space Pods don't like me."
"I guess." Vegeta said crossing his arms. "I think someone sabotaged your Space Pod."
Gohan looked at him. "Really?"
Vegeta nodded. "The Space Pods get reserved for the people who have to fly on a certain day. Your Space Pod was reserved for yesterday so someone could easily sabotage it. You said the closing button didn't work?"
Gohan shook his head. "It didn't work."
Nappa smirked. "Wow, that's great, really clever"
Vegeta nodded amused. "Well, at least now I have a teddy bear." The man put his hands around Gohan and pulled him closer.
Gohan growled and pulled away. "Shut up."
Gohan looked out the window and hugged his legs to his body. "Why couldn't I get in with Raditz?"
"Aren't I good enough?" Vegeta asked frowning.
Gohan shook his head. "No it's fine like this but with Raditz I could have stolen the notebook back."
Raditz laughed. "You wouldn't even have a chance, Half-breed." Gohan shrugged while a silence fell over them. Gohan pulled on his boot and sighed. Vegeta closed his eyes. Gohan looked at Vegeta and decided to leave him alone. The boy leaned back for a while until a question popped in his mind.
Gohan looked at Vegeta. "Vegeta?" The older Saiyan opened his eyes and growled as an answer. Gohan looked back at his black uniform. "Do you miss your planet?"
Vegeta glanced at Gohan, who was still staring at his uniform. The prince shrugged and looked out the window. "Of course I miss it. I feel the same about my planet as you feel about your little planet." He answered glumly. Raditz flipped a page in the notebook while saying: "The only difference is that our planet was gone long before you were born. We've gotten over it by now."
Vegeta raised an eyebrow. "You're saying you wouldn't want to see the planet again?"
Raditz shook his head. "I didn't say that. I would love to go there and see the planet again."
"I wonder how that planet was." Gohan said staring out the window. "I can't imagine a planet loaded with Saiyans. On earth I was the only one with a real tail."
Vegeta looked at Gohan. "You wouldn't be welcome on our planet though." He said amused. Gohan frowned and asked: "Why not?"
Nappa leaned back in his seat. "You're a half-breed, Boy. On Planet Vegeta that was a crime. It was reason enough to kill someone. If someone wanted a child so badly they should choose from among the Saiyans, not elsewhere."
Gohan looked back at Vegeta. "So? What would happen if I landed there and someone found out I was one?" He asked as a small shudder traveled through his body.
Vegeta noticed this and grinned teasingly. "I don't know. It depends on who you would've met. If it would have been me I probably would have tortured you to death. I met a few half-breeds. They were born on other planets and wanted to learn their heritage. One was installed as a slave in the palace. Another was thrown in the dungeon." Vegeta's amusement got bigger as Gohan paled. "I wouldn't recommend it."
Vegeta gave a calculating glance at Gohan. "You would probably be tested first." Gohan looked up. "Tested?"
Vegeta nodded. "Too see if you're worthy to walk on the planet. Fight the strongest of the Royal Guard or maybe even the king. You're free if you win. With your temperament, you would easily get a test like that. Saiyans know talent when they see it and understand it's a waste if they kill the strong ones."
Gohan felt a small compliment in this and smiled. This smile faded when he recognized a playful look on Vegeta's face as the man turned to him. Raditz looked at a drawing in the notebook. A woman with black hair and a purple dress was in it. "Half-breed?"
"Yes?" Gohan answered pushing Vegeta away. The man was annoying him by trying to pull his hair band out.
Raditz looked back at the notebook. "There is a picture of a human looking female with black hair. Who's that?"
"My mother." Gohan answered turning to Vegeta, pulling his legs up and pushing them between him and Vegeta. The boy stuck out his tongue to the older Saiyan. Vegeta smirked and just climbed over the legs.
Raditz was still looking at the drawing. "It's your mother? She had black hair too?"
"Yes, she did." Gohan answered trying to push Vegeta off. "Vegeta get off." Vegeta shook his head and reached to the boy's hair.
Raditz smirked. "What the heck are you doing?"
"The prince is trying to relive his younger years." Gohan answered shifting back to the wall.
Vegeta chuckled. "Seeing your baby face makes me feel like a kid again." He sneered back.
Gohan pulled a face at him. "Go away. You're not getting it!" He snapped as he shielded his hair from Vegeta. This only made Vegeta want to fetch it more.
Raditz was still examining the drawing. "What was she like?"
Gohan fell off the seat and leaned against the window, trying to get away from Vegeta. "Who?"
Raditz looked up. "Your mother."
"Why do you want to know?" Gohan asked leaning back. Vegeta locked on to him and reached behind the boy. Gohan smacked his hands away. Raditz flipped a page further.
"I can be curious about my sister-in-law. Besides, she's the one who raised you until we took over." Raditz answered.
"She raised me until camp took over." Gohan corrected pushing Vegeta away. The boy growled and went to attack. Vegeta smirked and turned them around, pinning Gohan to the seat. The boy frowned and struggled. "God, you're heavy." He muttered smirking.
Vegeta returned the smirk and replied. "You're just too light. We already told you that on the last planet."
Gohan shrugged and turned his attention to the scouter when Raditz started talking: "So tell me something."
Gohan frowned. "I don't know much about her." He answered looking at Vegeta. "Can you get off?" Vegeta shook his head amused. The boy sighed. "Let's see. My mom, she was very feisty."
Gohan shifted and pushed Vegeta off. The man fell against the window with a growl. "She always told me to go study. My father tried to spar with me but my mother wouldn't allow it. She was too strict." Gohan put his foot on Vegeta's chest to keep him there while he was talking. The man frowned at the smirking boy and tried to push him away. "My father couldn't stand up to her. She was the man in the house."
Raditz chuckled. "I always wondered where you got that temperament. It couldn't be from Kakarot since he cried out after one punch."
Gohan frowned. "Shut up. That's not true."
Raditz ignored this and looked back at the book. Vegeta growled at the boy. "Get off me." Gohan crossed his arms and asked: "Promise to stop?"
Vegeta raised an eyebrow. "Would you believe the promise?" He asked amused. The boy shrugged and answered: "It's better than nothing."
Vegeta nodded and Gohan let him go. The boy shifted away. Vegeta sat down on the seat next to him and stretched his arms. "That camp didn't do well at raising you, though." Vegeta stated.
Gohan gave a confused glance at him. "What?"
Vegeta looked at the boy. "Well, you said that camp took over after your mother. They didn't do very good though since you weren't very obedient."
Gohan chuckled. "Towards you I wasn't. " Gohan answered looking outside. "I was towards them though and definitely to mom."
Raditz looked up. "Really?"
Gohan nodded. "Sure. I had to be." The boy yawned and stretched.
Vegeta looked outside. "The main reason I dropped you there was because I spent a few years there too."
"I know." Gohan answered crossing his arms. Vegeta looked at him. Gohan nodded again. "Crimon told me."
"Who's Crimon?" Raditz asked frowning.
Vegeta nodded. "That's the specialist who teaches only hand to hand to hand combat. No blasts or anything. Just fighting stances and killing."
Gohan smiled. "He refused me in the killing classes until I was twelve." He muttered looking down. "I remember trying to sneak in but he caught me every time. I once asked him why he couldn't just let me in and he said: "Saiyan, if someone is going to screw you up, it's not going to be me. Now get lost."" The boy laughed. "He was great."
"Did he call you half-breed too?" Raditz asked looking up from the notebook.
Gohan shook his head with a smile. "It was always Saiyan. He started it from the moment I got there. I hated it in the beginning though. I told him he couldn't call me that because I was a human. He ignored this and after a while I got used to it."
Vegeta smirked. "Yes, Crimon is great. He called me Prince. I didn't think much about it. It was like he made up names for everyone. Headmaster is a softy though."
Gohan frowned and looked back at him. "No he isn't."
Vegeta raised an eyebrow. "Did I catch on to something? What's wrong half-breed? Don't tell me you like the Specialists."
Gohan shrugged. "Like I said: they raised me. They're nice, for warriors."
Vegeta nodded amused. "Right." Gohan nodded and leaned back in the seat. Vegeta smirked. "Good night." Gohan gave him a confused look and widened his eyes when Vegeta's hand hit him in the neck. The boy's eyes closed and his body slumped. Vegeta pushed him to the back and sat down on the seat.
Raditz raised his eyebrows. "What did you do?"
"I knocked him out." Vegeta answered amused. "Hey, it's my Space Pod and I want to sit normally."
Raditz smiled. "He's not going to like that."
Vegeta shrugged and turned around to push Gohan back a bit more. "He'll be stuck when he wakes up so there's nothing he can do about it."
Nappa shook his head and leaned back in the seat. "Well, at least he's still alive."
Vegeta nodded while he pushed Gohan's legs behind the seat. "Yes," he said thoughtfully. "The one who tried to kill him earlier must have noticed he was still alive." He pushed the boy in a comfortable position.
Raditz was still looking in the notebook. "That person forgot about us though. We're not letting the boy go so easily."
Vegeta brushed the boy's hair out of his face. He watched the boy's features as Gohan yawned, tried to shift, noticed this didn't work and put his hands under his head. A small warm smile spread over his face. "No way. He won't get rid of us for a while."
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DREAM
A tall muscular man walked through the room watching the boxes with old uniforms going out the door. He nodded to a few workers and stretched his lilac arms. The man called Crimon was wearing a blue version of the camp uniform with a black belt. The man frowned when he noticed a power level on his scouter. He never wore the scouter during this kind of thing but today he felt like wearing one.
The man pushed on his scouter and watched the numbers. "A power level of a 1000." The man crossed his arms, wondering what could have that power level. Then a small light appeared above his head and he walked to the box, which showed the power level.
There he moved some uniforms away and found a small frightened face looking up at him. The man laughed and pulled the boy out on his hair. "Did you really think this would succeed?"
Gohan frowned and tried to pull loose. "Let me go!"
Crimon let the boy fall on the ground. Gohan got up and looked up at the man. He got to his knees but felt a lot smaller. Crimon looked down at him. "So, what do we have to say for ourselves?"
Gohan shrugged and looked down. "I just gave it a shot." He muttered softly. Crimon smirked and pushed the boy forward. "Okay, let's see what the headmaster says about this."
Gohan widened his eyes and shook his head. "No, please don't."
Crimon shook his head determined. "Sorry boy. I don't know what to do with you yet. We have to go to him." Gohan looked down and walked when the Crimon pushed him forward. ''I must say I'm impressed. Trying to escape like that at your age is very brave. Too bad it didn't succeed."
They ended up at the Specialists lounge and Crimon pushed him in. Just Gohan's luck, the other six Specialists were all there. They all looked down at the boy, which came to camp seven months earlier.
He was the youngest cadet in centuries and a very nice and polite boy. Most Specialists loved him from the beginning. Gohan looked at his feet and blushed with all the stares on him. Crimon pushed the boy forward and pointed at the couch in the middle of the room. "Sit there."
Gohan nodded quickly and climbed on the couch. The boy took a deep breath and looked at his knees. Crimon shook his head and walked to the headmaster, who raised an eyebrow."He tried to escape." Crimon said to Headmaster, who pulled an impressed face. "Really? Wow, that's quick."
"What do you mean by that?" Crimon asked frowning. Headmaster shrugged and closed his book. "He came here against his own will. That means escape attempts will follow. I didn't think he would be this soon though." Headmaster smirked and got up. "He's a fast one. We'll have trouble with him."
They both walked to the couch, where Gohan looked up at them. Headmaster sat down next to him. "So, trying to runaway?" Gohan blushed and looked down again. Headmaster looked at the other specialists in the room. They were all eager to know what would happen. "Why did you try it?"
Gohan shrugged. "I don't want to stay here." He muttered. "Can't you just let me go?" he asked looking up at the headmaster with his brown eyes. Headmaster shook his head. "Sorry, those Saiyans would kill us if we'd let you go."
Gohan frowned and clenched his fists. "Who cares about them!" he said madly. "They're just blown up bastards."
Crimon frowned. "Wow, I didn't think a four year old would have a vocabulary like that. I don't want to hear that again Saiyan." He said strictly.
"Don't call me that." Gohan said crossing his arms. "I'm not a Saiyan. I'm a human."
Headmaster chuckled. "Sorry Gohan but you can't choose your race. That tail makes it very clear."
Gohan looked away and Headmaster sighed. After this he motioned for the others to come. Gohan shifted uncomfortable when the other specialists sat on the couch and chairs. Gohan fell outside the circle but he could hear what they said. The boy hugged his legs to his body and stared in front of him. Headmaster frowned. "I think we should punish him for this." Gohan looked up and widened his eyes.
Crimon crossed his arms. "We can't deliver him to the guards. He won't survive that." Headmaster nodded. "Any suggestions?" He asked looking around.
"Lock him up in his room?" Drirmo suggested. The big man with long brown hair gave a glance at the small boy. Headmaster shook his head. "His room can't be locked."
"Why not?" Crimon asked frowning. Headmaster shrugged. "Guards"' He muttered. The others nodded understanding. The guards had the keys to every room which meant Gohan's room wasn't locked for long.
"We could keep him here." Crimon suggested. Headmaster frowned and answered: "It's supposed to be a punishment."
Crimon smirked and gave a glance at the uncomfortable Gohan. "Trust me. It is." Headmaster caught the look and gave a glance at Gohan too. After this he shook his head amused and turned to the others. "We can keep him in the kitchen."
The others nodded. "Good idea." Headmaster turned to Gohan. "Well, you heard what your place will be the next few days." Headmaster pointed at a door in the corner of the grey room. Gohan got off the couch and followed Headmaster to the kitchen.
The boy looked around in the room with gray walls. Machines and refrigerators leaned against the wall. Gohan looked sideways to find one wall was a big window. He could see the great hall from there. Headmaster nodded. "We have a great view." Gohan looked up at him again. "Now, you have to stay here."
Crimon walked in and gave Gohan and pillow and sheet. "You can find a place to sleep for yourself."
Gohan nodded and put them in a corner. After this he looked up at Headmaster, who brushed over the boy's hair. "Sorry little one, but we have to be strict. You can't escape from this place."
"I'm sorry." Gohan whispered looking down. "I just want to go home." Headmaster looked at the boy and pity was shown in his eyes. Crimon, who followed the conversation, cleared his throat. Headmaster looked up and nodded. "We'll keep an eye on you here Gohan. Don't leave this room."
"Yes sir." Gohan muttered. The door closed and Gohan sat down on the ground. He leaned against the wall and sighed.
END OF DREAM
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Gohan stirred and muttered something. Vegeta opened his eyes and frowned. "I love those nightmares he has."
Raditz looked up. "Another one?" Vegeta had been knocking Gohan out every time he woke up. Gohan kept having nightmare after nightmare.
"Yes, and it's keeping me awake." Vegeta answered frowning. He looked back at the frowning boy. The boy tried to shift but couldn't and whimpered.
Vegeta raised his eyebrows. Is it me or is he still in touch with the real world?
Vegeta turned to the window again and closed his eyes. After ignoring the muttering boy behind him for a while he gave up. Vegeta turned to Gohan and poked him. "Wake up."
Gohan obeyed the command and opened his eyes. After this he yawned and looked around sheepishly. Then he noticed he couldn't move and looked at his body. "Wow, I didn't even know I could fit in here." A sharp sting from his neck made the boy grab it. "Damn it, Vegeta, what did you do to me?" He growled massaging his neck. Vegeta shrugged and ignored the question.
Gohan tried to shift and let his head fall down. "Wow, I'm actually lying in a Space Pod. That's a great innovation."
"Just wait until we get on the planet, Brat. I don't know how to get you out yet." Vegeta answered looking back at him. Gohan nodded and looked at the ceiling.
The boy shifted again and frowned. "Why did you wake me up anyway?"
Vegeta frowned. "You were having a nightmare." He answered. "You're having quite lot nightmares lately. What are they about?"
"Nothing." Gohan answered uninterested. "They're about my time in Camp and some things that happened there."
Vegeta nodded and shifted. "Well, think you can get out of there?"
Gohan looked at him. "Really?"
Vegeta shrugged. "It must be very uncomfortable there. We have another six days to go so you can sit here." He patted on the area next to him.
Gohan nodded and tried to crawl out of the small space behind the seat. Vegeta watched Gohan trying to climb out with amusement. "Think you're going to get out within the six days?"
Gohan gave him a glare. "It's not that easy you know. Damn, you really jammed me in." Vegeta shrugged and gave a pull on the boy's arm. Gohan fell down and growled.
The fifteen year old sat down next to Vegeta and hugged his legs to his body. "Cozy in there?" Raditz asked smirking.
Vegeta frowned. "It's cozier than with you."
Raditz shrugged. "I have my own Space Pod. I don't have to share."
"I guess that's better." Gohan answered. "I love Space Pods. I especially love them when they break on me."
Vegeta nodded. "The Space Pods really hate you."
"And I hate them." Gohan answered nodding fiercely. Vegeta smirked and grabbed the boy. Gohan frowned. "What do you think you.." Gohan yelped as Vegeta pulled the boy on his lap. Gohan tried to crawl back but Vegeta kept pulling him back.
Noticing Gohan was climbing back Vegeta started the tickle torture on the boy. Gohan gasped and laughed. "This… isn't…. fair!" He chocked between laughs.
Vegeta laughed and just attacked him again. Gohan attacked back making it a fight. Raditz smirked and looked out the window. Nappa shook his head. "I don't even want to know what they're doing in there." He muttered.
Raditz laughed and nodded. "Ditto."
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Yay, another chapter done. Please review and let me know what you think.