She Must Survive
Kakarot, while he liked to read, never thought Pepper did. Seeing the pile of books, newspapers and maps scattered around the library had him watching in a state of baffled amusement. She didn't just glance at the pages. Pepper read them all, one book after another stacking higher and higher until he had to set some of them on the floor. While they hadn't seen Bulma, he didn't mind hanging out with Pepper either. He had always just assumed she loved combat... so much that she would jump at any excuse to jump head first into any conflict she could find.
"You're an idiot," Pepper whispered. "I don't just find a war, pick a side, and start fighting! It's a lot more complicated than that, and it has nothing to do with politics or religion! Have you ever taken into account the people that are caught in the middle?"
"No."
"Perhaps you should... Look at what was happening with the Ice-jin and Saiya-jin Empires. How many planets and races did we wipe out because we were ordered to fight? Think of the wars that happen here, but on a much smaller scale. Soldiers are ordered to fight and kill... They sweep through the land like a plague, and they don't give a damn about all the lives that are snuffed out as they achieve their objectives. You hate to kill, and I have no patience or tolerance for people that kill just because they're ordered to do it. There's no value behind following their orders... It's just a command, and never once do they stop to consider if what they're doing is right or wrong."
"Does that mean you hate Raditz or Bardock?"
"I'm not saying that what they did was right, but like the Soldiers that are trained and conditioned into mindless puppets; that was how the Saiya-jins were until sixteen years ago. Kakarot, I'm not asking that any of you understand, and I don't think I care if I ever get their support. I will not let innocent people suffer while an army or two want to fight and wipe out an entire country just because of the resources they have. Planets like this one are valuable to the Ice-jin Empire; so sometimes it doesn't hurt for you to put into perspective why it's never a good idea to let a military or government get out of control."
An hour before the library was supposed to close, Kakarot saw her. She was returning a book on robotics when she started asking them about a book that was on their table. The librarian pointed in their direction, and the girl seemed to hesitate, biting at her lower lip before approaching. "Are you guys going to check out that book on magical items and dragons?"
"Yes." Kakarot started to say no, but Pepper cut him off. They didn't even have a library card, but Pepper had that look; she had no intentions of letting Bulma have it.
Bulma seemed taken aback... While she tried to respect another's claim on stuff, she had searched for a copy that still existed, and this library was the only place that had it. "Please... I'm in the middle of researching something..."
Instead of letting her finish, Pepper slid a newspaper across the table. On it was a headline of an Army and a city of one million that they had wiped out. "I'm sure that someone as smart as you are, is aware of what that Army is looking for."
Pepper slid over another paper... Again it had the same type of headline. Hundreds dead, several more enslaved... The army didn't care if the cities they searched had the items they wanted or not. They destroyed, hurt, enslaved, and killed because they thrived on suffering. "Pepper stop," Kakarot growled. Bulma was pale and shaking, staggering back as Pepper continued, her golden eyes locking onto her blue ones.
"What's in that book is dangerous and I have no intention of giving it to you unless you can explain why you want it and what you plan on doing with the two dragon balls that you've already found? And before you ask how I know about them... The army has a way of finding them and they will come here... Did you think that they'd spare this city if you handed them over? If you were lucky, they'll simply kill you. However, that's not always the case."
Kakarot jumped between Pepper and Bulma, bristling with anger. "That's enough!"
"She's right," Bulma whispered, Kakarot turning to look at her. "I do have two of them, but I thought that if I can gather more information, I could try to find the others before they did. As soon as I did, I had planned on taking them out of the city."
"Can you fight, Bulma?" Pepper demanded.
"No."
"How far can you run?"
"Half a mile..."
"These are trained Soldiers, Bulma. While I wouldn't necessarily say they can fight, you don't have the strength or the skills to protect yourself. The minute you step outside this city, you would be handing the dragon balls and yourself to them on a silver platter with a gold lining around it."
Kakarot slapped his tail against the table, cracking it in half, starling Bulma and Pepper both. He didn't like the wounded look on Bulma's face, and each question had her flinching. Reaching for Bulma's wrist, he dragged her out of the library, snatching the book with the dragon balls on it at the same time. When he glanced over his shoulder to see if she would stop him, she was gone. Why do I feel like she just set me up?
Bulma stopped, Kakarot turning to see her crying. Handing her the book, she took it. "I thought she said..."
"While I might not understand what her goal is; I think she did that on purpose."
"Is she right? Will the Army come here?"
"If she brought it up; it's a good possibility. Damn it!" Kakarot couldn't believe how easily he had played into Pepper's hands. From the moment she had come to the Island, she had known about Bulma, and because of that...
"Are the people in this city going to die?!" Bulma started to back away, but Kakarot didn't let her go. "I'm so stupid..." she sobbed, angry and frightened tears sliding down her face. "My mom... my dad... if I go home... I thought that if I found them, I could stop them from hurting other people. I'm sorry... I don't know what to do or where to go!"
"Do you really want to save these people?" Kakarot asked. He couldn't believe he was doing this, and Raditz was so going to kill him. Still... Pepper never did anything without a reason and while he didn't agree with how she had set all of this up, Bulma wasn't trying to argue or resist.
Nodding, she tried to calm down. "Do you have those dragon balls, Pepper was talking about?"
"They're in my bag inside the library." Waiting for her to get them, Kakarot already sensed a massive force heading in their direction. "We need to hurry. Look, I know you're going to have a lot of questions, but if you can wait to ask them until we get out of the city. Climb on and wrap your arms around my neck."
Bulma had no idea what that was supposed to do, but she was too scared to say anything and did as he asked. "Are you afraid of heights?"
"No. Why?"
Kakarot blasted off, and with a squeal of fright, he was already in the sky before she could process that they were flying. Beneath them, they could already see the Soldiers closing in on West City. When the formations halted, it confirmed that Pepper was right; they did have a way to track the dragon balls, and he surged forward, wondering if the Island was going to be enough to keep her safe. As he thought about it, he decided that the best place to take her was the lookout.
Pepper watched them go. She knew she had been baiting Kakarot, but she didn't have any other way to get them out of the city. Now that the dragon balls were moving away from their radars, she could focus on the massive army sitting on West City's door step. The small military force that was trying to gather, wouldn't stand a chance against these robotic Soldiers and their machines.
Bombs exploded on the out skirts of the city, missiles flew into buildings and parking lots, and people tried to evacuate to Capsule Corporation. Dr. Briefs had told the city council that if a war were to ever break out, that he would try to shelter as many as he could in under ground bunkers, putting in place an energy shield that would be difficult for the Red Ribbon Army to break through. It didn't just surround Capsule Corporation; but it went above and below it, protecting those inside completely. Pepper landed beside the news reporter and told him to evacuate, but he shook his head.
"I know that staying here is dangerous, but I'm not asking for your protection. The newspapers have very little information about what these bastards are doing, and they need to see it on live television for them to take the threat that they are seriously. I'm not going to ask if you'll be okay, kid. Go out there and fight like you did Eight years ago."
Nodding, Pepper walked to the front of West City's military and police force. Just as they started to ask her to leave, she fired several energy blasts at the buildings, cutting them off from the invasion force that approached. Climbing to the top, the reporter waited for his camera man, and took a deep breath. He was scared, but there wasn't a reporter a live that would run with a chance to witness the greatest battles that history had to offer. "Is that girl crazy?" the camera man whispered, afraid that the army she faced would hear.
"Son... if you had seen her fight, you wouldn't be asking that question. In my very first World Martial Arts Tournament, I watched her fight a man half her size; while it ended in a tie, many considered her the winner because of how old she was. The timer ran out, and while he did stand back up two minutes later, that didn't matter to a lot of people. There's a lot of fighters that would like to see them face off again... It's divided the Martial Arts world, but many looked up to her because of how small she was, striving to do the impossible, never giving up regardless of how big or strong their opponents were."
The Red Ribbon Army halted, surprised to see the city prepared for war. Most never knew they were coming, and they could see that it had buildings being used as natural barricades to their advance teams. Unless they plowed and dug through it, it was going to take them several days to continue marching forward.
"Ladies and Gentlemen. I come here live to you from West City. While many of you know me from the World Martial Arts Tournament, there was no way that I couldn't broadcast what is happening in front of me. As the city continues their evacuations, a brigade of Soldiers stand outside, facing off against the runner up from the World Martial Arts Tournament eight years ago. She stands proud and tall like any champion would, and while there's no title for the winner, we can only hope that her bravery will not go unnoticed by the world. Please keep us in your thoughts and hearts as West City prepares to fight off this invasion... Our very lives depend on this brave sixteen year old girl."
A general walked up to her... He had no words to describe her... While it was suicide to stand against them, the city cowering behind their temporary barricades, he respected her selfless courage. "Kid... While I think you're insane, I would like to avoid killing someone that has the guts to fight us the way you are... I'll let you leave."
"Why are you doing this commander?" Pepper demanded. "You value human life and yet here you are, helping them to invade a city that has done nothing wrong. The dragon balls these Soldiers are after are no longer here, and yet you'll invade them anyway? Why?"
"I'm surprised that you're aware of those. Do you have them?"
"You already know that answer. Commander, I will destroy everyone here... Walk away... now..."
"I can't... I love my family too much. Probably for the same reasons that you stand before this city, I must see this through." He thought he saw a flash of understanding in her eyes. Nodding, she waited for him to retreat, and as he lifted his hand, he memorized the look of true strength before he lowered it. In unison, the missiles and heavy artillery opened fire on her a cloud of smoke engulfing her.
Bardock... I know he'll try to come back. If the Army kills Bulma or gets their hands on those dragon balls, we won't have to worry about Frieza.
I know. Is there any chance that Raditz or Vegeta will know what's happening?
They don't exactly watch or read the news.
The new moon is tomorrow night.
I'm aware of that... It's my greatest weakness; you didn't tell Raditz about it did you?
I don't have to tell them anything; Turles does.
