Dragon Ball-GT - Pan's Innocence

Disclaimer: I own nothing and no one in this story except Kezz, I claim him and the Trentore race but nothing else.

Authors Note: Hajimemashite readers? Well you might notice the culture of the Trentore is sort of a combination of things I've read or seen in movies, but I am trying to make everything up myself as much as possible, so please don't flame me too bad.

Chapter Twenty Five – Rich in Hospitality

While the Trentore General remained outside the gates momentarily to speak with the Captain, Giru suddenly flew past the open gates and perched himself on Pan's shoulder, blipping and chirping his usual greetings. "Giru! Where have you been anyway? You little coward, were you hiding?" Pan hissed at the white clad robot on her shoulder.

After a few more beeps he replied, "Giru searched all around wall, Giru, wall never ends, Giru, Giru."

Pan looked to Trunks, puzzled. "What's he mean?"

Trunks crossed his arms and flinched a bit as his left arm was still quite tender, nevertheless he chuckled at the question. "He means that the wall goes all the way around, like a fortress," he explained with enthusiasm; he seemed to be in a much better mood now that things were starting to work out for the better, and although their ship was still out there waiting to be stolen, he decided to enjoy the experience at hand, these were interesting creatures with a culture built upon a pure honor and a wholesome moral that seemed refreshing to even be graced with the acceptance to be among them.

With a few last words to the Captain, the General entered behind them and ordered the gates to be closed as he drew near to Kezz. "Brother, if I may have a word with you," he said while stepped to the side, urging Kezz to follow. "Before I announce your companions I would know whether or not they intend to help protect the city, if so it comes to a defense needed."

Kezz listened and looked to Pan and Trunks who now watched and waited patiently for him. "This much I will promise you General, they will label for themselves allies to whom they believe are their allies, therefore if the innocent are the ones to whom you mean by protecting the city then yes, I believe that they would do well to protect what needs protecting and fight what needs be fought," replied the former Captain.

Troh-Rok smirked, amused. "You are wise in words Kezz-Tire, I gladly receive your promise and your meaning is understood. I shall proceed with the introductions then," the General said as he stepped toward the middle of the large marketplace.

"Attention Brothers!" he demanded. "I am sure you have already noticed the newcomers, however, they are not normal visitors, they are of a legendary race, they are Saiyans," he paused as the crowd gasped and murmured among the silence and fear that hung in air. The General looked at them with a maniacal grin and continued. "And they come asking nothing but our hospitality, and in return they offer their superior fighting abilities for as long as they reside here with us," he paused again as the crowd's murmurs grew louder and excitement began taking over their fear very quickly. The General raised his hands somewhat and went on. "And as you know, with the coming invasion ordered by our betraying Prince, this will give our defending army an immense advantage. Therefore let us make their stay as enjoyable as possible!" he shouted intensely, lifting his forepaws even higher as the audience suddenly changed their tune considerably and exploded into praises and cheers.

By now Kezz stood beside his companions and listened warily to the General's announcements and nodded back when Troh-Rok approached and asked if that would suffice. "My friends and I are hungry and tired General, would-"

"Say no more Brother," Troh-Rok interrupted and motioned for a young female Trentore to approach. "Show our guests to their quarters, and give the orders to prepare their dinner," he ordered the grey scaled Trentore, she was hardly taller than Trunks and she nodded timidly, first to Troh-Rok and then to the group of four.

"This way," she told them as she turned and started leading them to a large blue tent.

"We have quarters already," Pan said, whispering to Trunks when they were out of hearing range of the General.

Trunks chuckled and Giru launched himself from Pan's shoulder and began jumping from one foot to the other. "Quarters ready! Quarters ready! Giru, Giru."

When the female Trentore reached the tent's entrance she pulled back one of the door flaps and bowed, waiting for them to enter. "Here you are," she said.

Trunks entered first with Kezz and Ledgic following as Pan came last and she looked at the Trentore, still holding the flap. "Thank you, but… why are you bowing?" she asked with a raised eyebrow.

The grey female glanced up slightly but quickly corrected herself in a panic. "You are welcome Milady," she replied but conveniently avoided the question as she kept her eyes to the ground.

Pan's expression froze into a blank stare as she looked to Trunks and shook her head. Almost a moment passed and Pan finally realized, after Trunks motioned for her to enter, that this Trentore was not going to move until Pan stepped into the tent. She quickly did so and the small Trentore rushed off, much to Pan's dismay; she did not approve of this treatment. "What… Did… She… Call… Me…?" she asked numbly.

Trunks stepped beside her, a grin on his face. "I believe you are royalty now Pan, get used to it, Milady," he jeered.

"No, I refuse! This is going to change right now!" Pan shouted.

She was about to burst out of the tent when Kezz spoke up. "That is her job, she works by taking care of all our honored guests, all cities have workers like her," he explained and that seemed to calm Pan's nerves on the matter, still, the bowing would have to be put to rest, she decided.

Looking around the expanse of the tent, Pan found that it seemed quite cozy yet so simple, if you could get over the sandy ground.

There was three twin sized beds with a space of five feet in between each of them and in the largest area of the room there was a place for Kezz with an assortment of bedding and blankets laid out as his bed; it seemed as though that was the most comfortable way for a Trentore to sleep.

Trunks crossed to the middle bed and dropped backwards onto it as he stared up at the curved ceiling of their tent, he frowned and pushed himself up by his elbows, flinching at his arm again while he looked to see Pan taking the bed closest to Kezz and the Trentore gratefully collapsed to his bedding. "Kezz, it doesn't feel right telling everyone that we're Saiyans, remember we're only part Saiyan," Trunks said.

"Trunks, there is no reason to complicate the matter, I believe it does not matter if you are full blooded or not, it would only make the subject more difficult to approach," Kezz told him.

"Besides Trunks, who cares about little details like that? All they care about is that we help defend their city while we're here, you heard the General," Pan reasoned as she lay on her back with her hands cupped behind her head.

"What's this Pan? I thought only a second ago you were against this royal treatment," Trunks mocked with a tilt of his head and a smirk on his face.

Pan sat up and aimed her index finger at him seriously. "The titles and the bowing are uncalled for, but everything else is ok," she said, indicated everything in their tent as 'everything else'.

"Child, that is something the maids are taught to do, it is simply their way of showing respect, nothing more," Kezz chuckled after replying.

"It just makes me uncomfortable, that's all," Pan mumbled and then looked to Kezz curiously. "Say, Kezz, I was wondering about something earlier," she said, waiting for him to nod. "Why is it when we first met, you told us only the first half of your name?" Pan wanted to know.

"That is a good question Pan." Kezz smiled at her as he went on, "it is a simple matter of formality. With family and friends we use only the first half of our name, with anyone else our entire name is used as a sense of respect," he told her.

Pan nodded with interest, now sitting cross legged on her bed. "So tell me about your family Kezz, are you married or do you have any kids?"

"Pan! That's a very personal question to just blurt out like that," Trunks scolded, earning a glare from Pan and an odd look from Kezz.

"Why? He's my friend, I want to know more about his family," was Pan's retort.

"It is alright Trunks," Kezz told him. "It is a very common subject for our kind, I do not mind." He looked back to Pan, his expression soft. "My answer would be no, I do not have a mate. You see, before my capture I concentrated on nothing else besides my career as a soldier, I had no plans to look for a mate, for fear if I died in action it would leave her heartbroken," he paused and stared down sadly, "as it did my mother."

Pan frowned at his last sentence; his father must have died in battle. "I'm sorry Kezz, I didn't know."

Kezz smiled back up at her; however his eyes still shown unshed tears as he gazed towards her and Trunks. "Enough about me, what of you two? It seems obvious to me by now that you are indeed very close, do you plan-"

"I asked something very similar," Ledgic called from the other end of the tent. "Be careful how you word things Kezz-Tire, you could end up regretting it," the warrior warned him with his back turned to them; he sat on the floor seeming to be in meditation.

Kezz glared at Ledgic for a few seconds but quickly looked back to see that the two Saiyans were both blushing from embarrassment. "Perhaps it is not such a common subject where you come from?" Kezz wondered aloud.

"No, it's pretty common on Earth," Trunks answered as the face of Goten flashed across his mind, all the while Pan was silent as she stared at her lap, her tail flipping nervously.

With a confused hum Kezz pushed himself to all fours when a number of maids entered the tent with multiple dishes of food and set them along the extremely long table that stretched from the first bed to the last.

Pan suddenly perked up and hopped off her bed as she rubbed her hands together when she seen the glorious meal set before her.

Not much was said during dinner, since Pan was the one that made most of the conversations and she was too intent on eating; she was really starting to wonder what she was becoming, it almost scared her because this was how Goku used to eat, but she shook her head and reasoned that she was only eating this way because she was starved for a week, that was all, and she would be back to normal, hopefully, within another week.

Once Kezz had finished eating, he excused himself and left the tent, saying something about how he needed to speak with the General, but other than that Pan didn't pay a whole lot of attention, tending to her stomach was of most importance at that moment.

Trunks and Ledgic finished soon afterward and went to their respective beds, but Pan kept eating until finally she had to ease backwards and lay flat on the floor for fear if she moved any more than that she would blow up. She lay there, blankly staring at the roof of the tent, not even bothering to make an attempt toward her bed.

---

When Kezz stepped out of the tent, he noticed the sky had darkened considerably and was getting darker as a red planet slowly ascended the Trentore sky, serving as their moon. He sighed as he started his way toward the General's tent; it was time to hear about the 'pain' which had been implied before he had been granted admittance.

The wind was blowing slightly as he stood outside the flapping doorway and requested permission to enter. When it was granted, he held the blood red cloth back and moved into the General's quarters.

Another soldier stood across from the General with a tall desk between them as they seemed to be in deep discussion about something. "I apologize for the intrusion," Kezz started but the General held up a forepaw.

"No need Kezz-Tire, tell me what you need," replied Troh-Rok, dismissing the other soldier with a mild gesture.

"I was told pain awaited me before I requested your presence, I know half of it was the news about the Prince, however, you also mentioned something about what remained of my family. Please, explain," Kezz urged, he was not sad, nor was he exactly serious, rather his face remained placid as he awaited the answer.

With a heavy sigh the General nodded soberly. "The city your family was located in was attacked a month ago, we had our suspicions but we only took precautions with the children," he told Kezz gravely. "The result was a horrific genocide, no survivors. So far this has happened with five of our major cities and ours is the one next in line."

Kezz could no longer hone his calm features, his muzzle wrinkled into a scowl and he found it impossible to hold back a pained growl. "This already is civil war!" he snarled.

"Not yet," Troh-Rok replied firmly. "It is not considered war until we fight back, we have done nothing more than defend ourselves, but regardless, you wanted to know of your family's condition and there it is, I believe your nephew is all the family you have left, and as it is he is currently an orphan in a refugee camp north of here." The General crossed to the cloth doorway and held the flap open, urging Kezz to exit. "I am truly sorry Kezz-Tire; however we have all suffered losses in our own way. Please understand, I must continue planning a strategy for our defense if we ourselves are to survive."

Kezz nodded, extremely troubled by the information; just like that his mother and sister had died and his sister's son was left orphaned. He was starting to think about Pan's words, about how she asked him why he was returning to a war torn world. It was a hard thing to swallow but he bowed in respect at the General before leaving and heading back to his companion's tent for the night.

---

As Trunks lay in his bed that night, he stayed awake thinking about all the different things that had happened since their departure more than a week ago. He thought about how that last little threat on Slaves Arena, and what could have happened had they not escaped, but he stopped himself right there, he didn't dare think of the outcome if that situation had continued for more than a few days.

He turned his head to look at Pan, sound asleep in her bed and five feet away. No doubt she was still confused about what was going on when they were under the effects of the stimulant. But since she hadn't brought the subject up or asked any questions yet, Trunks had assumed she understood the situation somewhat, and she was either too embarrassed to talk about it or she simply hadn't thought about it yet, either way Trunks wasn't exactly looking forward to that conversation... Not yet anyway.

Pan's sleeping form was the last thing he seen before sleep overtook him; he dreamed but nightmares did not torment him that night.

---

The Next day Ledgic went to explore the city on his own while the other three remained in the vicinity of the marketplace. There were Trentore children that stood on their hind legs and only managed to rival Pan's height as they played a game of tag in an open part of the marketplace.

The General stood outside his tent, observing the morning and activities of the people. Trunks saw him and decided to take this time to ask about getting their space ship back. "Pan, Kezz, I'm going to talk with him about our ship," he told them and they nodded.

"We will be here Trunks, feel free to ask of my assistance if you need it," Kezz replied.

Trunks nodded and approached Troh-Rok. "Excuse me, uh General?" he addressed the monstrous Trentore.

Troh-Rok turned to look at him. "Aye, what is it you need of me Saiyan? I have yet to learn your name and the name of your other companion, whom seems to have disappeared."

"Sorry Sir, my name is Trunks and his name is Ledgic," said Trunks.

With a heavy, slow nod Troh-Rok focused on Trunks. "Continue Trunks," he urged with a slight gesture of his forepaw.

Trunks met the large Trentore's red eyes as he spoke. "Please General, I want to retrieve our abandoned ship and fix it, but in order to get it here I need help, not to mention it could already be in your enemy's possession."

Troh-Rok nodded in understanding. "I know your situation well. But I have a dilemma of my own, for if I am to give you my soldiers I will be leaving the city unguarded," said he.

The General looked at Trunks' expression of dismay before adding, "However, I have a proposition. What if you were to go with 15 of my strongest soldiers, not counting Kezz, and all I ask is that Pan Son stays here to protect the city in my soldiers' stead?"

Trunks thought for a moment, his hand rubbing his chin in deliberation. "That will work, but I think I should check with Pan and Kezz first," he said as he looked back to Pan, who now joined in on the game of tag while Kezz watched humorously as Giru was 'it'.

"A very wise answer," the General told Trunks before following his gaze and smirking. "Tell me Saiyan, for I am curious. Are you siblings with that girl or am I right to assume she is your mate?"

Trunks looked at him and stepped back with a start. "Wha-wha-well, neither," he stuttered with a shocked expression on his face as his mouth was left ajar from the sudden inquiry.

The General snorted impulsively. "Neither?" he asked in a slightly mocking tone. "That is impossible Saiyan, either she is related to you by blood or not, which is it?"

For a good minute, Trunks thought hard about his question, but finally answered hesitantly, "not."

"Then she is your consort; one of you has already established this, it is obvious since you travel together and by the way you stick beside each other," said the General.

Trunks sighed in exasperation; why did everyone have to concern themselves with this subject all the time? "It's that obvious is it?"

"My Boy you have no idea." Troh-Rok chuckled as an amused look glazed over his fiery eyes before seriousness returned to them. "Though it is not a shameful thing; your race was thought to be extinct, is it not your duty to keep your bloodline alive?"

Trunks sighed again and looked to see Pan tackle Giru while the small robot sounded something about 'danger'. "With all honesty General, she's too young, I mean look at her, she's still just a kid," Trunks indicated with his good arm to the playing field.

Troh-Rok took his eyes toward the game of tag, which was more like a game of tackle and run now, before looking back to Trunks again, all seriousness reigned on his face. "Too young? May I ask you, when she would not be too young? Are you too young? I regret my ignorance in this matter, for these are not things I trouble myself in contemplation."

Trunks had to blink, dumbfounded for awhile before he was able to discern all that was said. "I'm sorry General, is there some conclusion you want me to come to by this conversation? Or are you trying to reach a question that you haven't yet mentioned?" the half-Saiyan wanted to know.

Troh-Rok chuckled again. "You catch on quickly Saiyan. Aye, I have reserved a question, but you have already answered it."

Trunks' eyebrows curved as he looked up at the General in confusion; how did he answer a question when it wasn't even asked? "Let me explain first by asking a question. Would you consider us allies Trunks?" Troh-Rok questioned.

Trunks gazed up at the virtuous face of the General, this creature was someone Trunks knew he could trust with his life, he wasn't sure how or why, but he knew as he nodded solemnly and added with a hint of humor, "aye."

The General chuckled; these Saiyans were the most amusing thing to ever grace this city. "Very good, for you have earned my trust as well, now I shall explain. Please, come," said Troh-Rok as he gracefully dropped to all fours and urged Trunks to follow him.

Trunks did, but first looked to Pan until she averted her attention to him momentarily. He waved and Pan waved back, clearly getting the message and turning back to the game.

"We as Trentore have a ritual with our Brotherhood of cities across the planet," Troh-Rok began as the two of them walked through the streets of the city; Trentore and other species of children ran across their path, and it didn't seem to phase the General as he continued. "You see, a long time ago our ancestors experienced a massive sickness that slowly killed off only the royal lineage of our major cities, might you take a guess of the sickness of which I speak?"

Trunks lowered his eyes to the ground in deep thought, but was unable to think of a sickness which only seemed to target the royal line. "My only guess would be assassinations, but that is not a sickness," he said finally as they approached a park area which was surprisingly flourishing with trees and plant life, considering they were in the middle of a desert.

"That would have been my guess had I not known the answer," said Troh-Rok, inclining his head slightly. "I will explain though. Now, back then, our reigning king was old, his mate had died along with their three heirs and he was very ill. Now with no heir to his throne he ordered all the medical researchers to concentrate on the cause of this sickness instead of trying to find out ways to cure it. Not long after that and he died, his bloodline died with him and there was much deliberation over the next king, however that is not my point," explained the General, now they were walking down a path through the tropical-like park, while workers tended to the plants and Trunks was beginning to wonder if the General was ever going to get to the point.

"Soon after his death the cause of the sickness was revealed," Troh-Rok went on. "Because of a law our race followed from the beginning of imperial rule, nobles were only to marry nobles, therefore after centuries of this law, an illusive sickness began picking off random heirs and relatives of the royal line one by one."

"Inbreeding," Trunks answered when the gears finally clicked in his mind.

"Aye," Troh-Rok said and continued. "Ever since then, we have exercised a very successful solution. In each city on this planet there is a chosen royal line, and records are now kept of one's lineage, this brings me to the ritual I spoke of before. You see, when a Trentore is born of a royal bloodline it is then traded with another from a fellow city, this fulfills two purposes, the first being that it protects our royal bloodlines but the second reason we do this is because it is the very essence of trust between our Brothers, our Allies. For it is beyond words to express the pain of that when a child is taken from its parents."

Trunks took a moment to meditate on the General's words but he still could not link the story with their earlier discussion. "Troh-Rok, I'm sorry but I forgot why you even started telling me this," he told the large Trentore sadly.

"That is good, it means you were paying attention," said the General with a smirk, amused with himself. "My point is that you and Pan Son are my allies now Trunks and I would have suggested this trade with you; however it is quite apparent you have no offspring, which is what I meant when I said you answered my silent question."

A shade of red played across the half-Saiyan's face as he shook his head in a fluster. "Besides that how would that work with a Saiyan?" he wanted to know, and was becoming quite uncomfortable being labeled as one, much less saying it himself.

"It does not matter Trunks, this ritual has been done with many other creatures, some of which came from the enemy as a sign of trust when a cease fire was issued," Troh-Rok told him.

"Well, I have to say, it was an interesting discussion Troh-Rok, but I really should go get the ship now," Trunks said, hoping the General would make this easy.

"Aye, you should, that is why I have brought you here," the General told him as he led him through the last area of the park and towards a large building with two brick double-doors and above them, two swords crossed blades, indicating that this was the building where training of the soldiers took place. Troh-Rok crossed to the building and proceeded to open the heavy double-doors with little effort. He turned to Trunks and held his forearm toward the training soldiers. "It is time to recruit your army Trunks, however small it may be."

---

AN: Well there were some little historic facts about the Trentore race, hope I didn't bore you, but I'm sort of building up the characters for a climactic battle on Trentore, hope you stay tuned, it should be good, I have many plans for this planet.