Sorry, for the delay. But I couldn't make myself write because neither I had any content to write nor the motivation – the latter can be explained.
Firstly, I thank you for making the story exceed 200 follower mark, but the sad irony is that the reviews I have received, had always been in single digit in every chapter – in the last chapter they were only three.
So, I urge you to, at least, leave a single word review. It surely helps.
Disclaimer:- I don't own Dragon ball and related series or products.
"Ya sure girl, you'll be good?"
"Ya Erasa," Videl gave a very pronounced nod to the girl sitting beside her. "It's just light surveillance which I am only doing 'coz we're in the area otherwise, I'll have taken my sweet time."
Truth be told, she had an eerie feeling about this. Red shark gang was tough to deal with on its own and now they had an ally in the snipers which screamed dangerous.
She was definite of her own skills but involving the blondes would not only risk them but also hinder her. Besides, she wasn't sure of finding anything noteworthy. So, why waste the time of the blondes?
"How 'bout it? I accompany you. More the merrier."
"You already know the protocols." Voicing, she lowered the jet to the ground, the trip from Gohan's house to the border of Mt Paozu having taken half an hour.
The muscleful blonde grumbled something under his breath while exiting the plane, though realising the situation was beyond his control as it wasn't like a mild natural phenomenon where volunteers would be eagerly accepted.
Though unwillingly, he relented knowing it would only come back to bite both of them.You should've thought twice before taking a civilian on such a dangerous mission. Yeah, that was totally what the chief would say to them.
Apart from revoking Videl's licence.
After all, with Mr Satan gone, there was no one to rescue them if and when things went south. Better be safe than sorry.
Seeing the still unsure looks on the faces of the blonde duo, Videl clasped their hands. "Don't worry. If time calls, I can always call Gohan." That immediately eased their worries. After today's enlightening day, nobody could deny the strength of the Son of Goku.
"Fine," The blonde girl too relented with a sigh. "But take care, hn." Next to her, the male blonde nodded seriously.
"Sure."
After a hug from Erasa and an attempted one from Sharpner, the tank tube top girl decapsulized her jet, the blondes boarding it before taking off towards the city.
Alright girl. Let's do it. Videl entered her jet and also took off towards the skies, the sun already having set, shading the blue into the orange hue.
Despite everything, she couldn't deny her high spirits. Now-a-days, police work was sporadic at best. She only got this one for being in the right area and the chief's apparent guess that by the time her work would be done, it would be evening - the perfect time to spot any unwanted activity.
Reaching the appropriate altitude, she took in the area below her, the bird's eye view giving her a perfect vision point of several miles of area.
The border area of Mt Paozu was a mostly rocky area in contrast to the lush greenery near the centre. The earth colored boulders were glistening with the same orange hue as the skies.
Overall, it was a pretty sight - another side of the same coin which was nature.
Satisfied, she steered the jet towards east while keeping an eye on the activities below. In the meantime, she decided to direct her thoughts towards the enigma - Son Gohan.
Even now, her mind was a whirlwind of emotions - entirely positive though. Amazement that a boy of her age was so advanced in martial arts that she could very well be equivalent to a toddler.
The knowledge, the abilities, the control he had was simply breathtaking. And, yet, he was humble to his very core contradicting the centuries old sayings that power corrupted its weilder.
It was really hard to believe despite seeing it with her own eyes. Moreover, he was the son of legendary Son Goku and equally prominent Son Chichi, and yet, they had such a simplistic lifestyle.
Quite diametrical to her past self.
Along with abundant awe, determination also rushed through her being to not only reach Gohan but also surpass him. No matter what it took. Just like that ninja show, I have decided you to be my eternal rival - Son Gohan.
Apart from that, she felt pure gratitude that Son family had not only forgiven her but also accepted her even after their continuous pejoration at her father's hands.
While still engrossed in her thoughts, Videl steered towards a couple of vehicles on the road below her. Quickly making an ambulance with a slightly faded out paint and a couple of police cars, she shrugged it away as a normal police check.
Continuing on her route, she resumed her musings.
Fifteen minutes, and Videl hadn't observed even a single activity that could remotely deserve her attention. The single thoroughfare and a couple of ramifications were totally empty.
Though, she would be lying if she had expected anything else either. What were the odds that on the day she decided to survey the area, something was going to pop up?
Moreover, according to the chief, the sightings had occurred from the past two weeks, and coupled with the unexpected alliance of snipers and red sharks, it was highly likely that those bastards were aiming for something big.
Two weeks were not enough for that. It was as simple as that if her experience had anything to say.
Deciding to change the direction, she had barely tugged at the steering when a black van caught her attention, coming into her line of sight from just below of her jet.
Apart from the fact that these villainous sort often favoured black color, it was the frantic driving that awoke the detective inside her from the slumber.
The vehicle was going at an absurdly fast pace as if the driver was late from whatever purpose he had.
Alright buddy. You got my attention. Deciding it as the best course of action, Videl immediately started pursuing the vehicle, a part of her thrilled at the prospect.
She matched the pace for pace, every turn for turn, hell, she even did an one eighty when the vehicle took a sharp turn, while maintaining a safe distance such that she couldn't be seen.
However, a few minutes into the chase, Videl began to suspect that somehow the driver knew she was on his tail. After all, this sort of driving was usually done with a view to lose the pursuer. Not to mention, the driver was now off road.
But how?
She had maintained a safe distance, her jet was nearly silent, and yet it seemed that she wasn't as successful as she thought. But there's no way I am giving up.
Her musings halted when the van seemed to be slowing down. Finally
After some moments, the van came to a complete halt in the middle of nowhere. A quick glance around her revealed that they had ventured far into the rocky areas of Mt Paozu.
A perfect set up for a nefarious deed. Agreeing with the answer her mind supplied, she focused on the vehicle as the driver door opened.
A leg came out and was shakingly placed on the ground. A hand followed the suit before the driver managed to pull himself out.
Only to fall to his knees.
Is he injured?
Then he wobbly stood up before turning.
Videl's eye started twitching.
The bastard was an old geezer, and obviously, a drunk, if the bottle in his hand had anything to say. And she was a fool who had gone on a blind chase as her overly paranoid mind had come up with some stupid conclusions.
Any lingering doubts that she had were vanished when the man opened the back door, and she saw nothing except a fuel container which he wobbly picked up and started refueling the van.
Sighing heavily, she immediately turned the steering towards the opposite direction, deciding to continue the survey for another half an hour before departing towards Orange star city.
Nothing came up.
The entire one hour survey was a waste of time. A quick glance at the cockpit showed the digital clock showing six.
Hmm… If I fly at a mild pace, I can easily reach the city by nine. Add ten minutes for a takeaway, twenty for a quick shower and another ten for dinner, and I can go to bed by ten…. good enough.
Her mind set, the blue-eyed girl steered her copter towards the city. The chief can wait till morning… what's… that?
Halting in the motion, not at all wanting to pursue another blind chase but still seeking to confirm the seemingly familiar vehicle that was drifting towards east, she used the camera in the cockpit, adjusting the plane while zooming on the moving vehicle.
Her eyes narrowed. It was the same ambulance, with faded paint, from earlier. What's it doing here?
As far as she knew there wasn't even a locality much less a health care centre in the direction the ambulance was going.
Still, seeing a small divergence a bit ahead from the road which, she was certain, would join the main road to Orange Star city, she decided to reserve her judgement.
Though the alarms had already begun ringing in her mind. For the ambulance driver to travel so far without taking any previous diversions, it was highly unlikely he was going to take the last one.
Any last thoughts to depart to the city were thrown out of the window when the ambulance totally bypassed the divergence, continuing on the same route.
Well, duty calls. Sighing a bit, she began the pursue.
There wasn't even a shred of doubt that they were going towards the sea shore, the blue of the skies meeting with the equally blue of the waters at the skyline.
Another couple of minutes went by, and Videl began seeing some movement on the seashore which, again, was weird due to lack of any locality for miles.
And, from the singular road and the ambulance's adherence to it, it was also blatant that her target's target was the seashore.
Contemplating for a moment, she started lowering the copter while still in pursuit. Espionage wasn't possible from such an altitude and even if the in built camera had a microphone, it wouldn't have been feasible.
Landing in the cover of pedestal rocks which thankfully were quite abundant in the area, she exited the plane before capsulizing it and placing in the capsule kit.
Taking the one beside it, she decapsulized it, the customary smoke appearing before whisking away with flowing breeze, revealing the object.
Immediately her mind brought the memories of her eleventh birthday to the front when her mom had gifted this silent hover bike, but she immediately shook them away. Never thought you'll come in handy like this.
Not wasting any further moment, the raven haired girl drove towards the seashore, taking the diagonal route off road to save time.
As she expected, both the vehicles reached the sea shore at the same time, the ambulance, fortunately, driving the others' attention towards it, allowing her to capsulize her ride and take cover behind an average sized pedestal rock.
Let's see what you got there.
Five men exited from the ambulance – two from front while three from back out of which one was in a patient's getup. Another group of three men walked from the sea shore. A glance behind them revealed a series of motorboats.
If the remote destination of the ambulance wasn't enough of a proof, then the fact that the patient with his leg in a cast was moving without any care in the world, was quite connoting.
"Is it done?" The voice was deep and rough.
What? Withdrawing her attention from the other facts, She immediately focused on the conversation.
"Yeah. Stacked it enough." This voice was comparatively soft.
"Hmmm… and time?"
"Exact two hours."
"Good. The others will begin only after that."
"Oh, it's gonna be one hell of a signal." There was a chorus of chuckles.
The alarms in her head were now screaming. Whatever these guys were planning was definitely something huge and bad.
Immediately, she pressed the black button on her watch. A second later it vibrated on her wrist, the screen flashing with the reply from the chief.
"Are you sure?"
As if I would initiate a city wide distress call on a whim. Curbing the urge to roll her eyes, she pressed the green button for affirmation, thanking the Cc for inventing such a fine piece of technology.
Now, hopefully, the chief would at least evacuate the sensitive areas and also relay the same command to the authorities in Mt Paozu while…
The cold sensation of a metal appearing on the back of her neck, rendered her frozen, stopping her thoughts, the telltale signs coupled with her experience, immediately providing a name to the weapon – Longslide. Fuck
"Now, what do we have here?" The man's voice was loud enough to reverberate in the surroundings, the utter silence in the area not helping her case either.
"What's it Rado?" The man with the deeper voice asked sharply.
The man behind her let a harsh chuckle. "Oh, just a little girl playing spy."
"What?!" There was slight shuffling for a moment. "Who dares?" The man all but hissed.
The man pushed the barrel into her neck. "C'mon, let's not make 'em wait." She ignored him, running her mind for any opening. A second later, there was a familiar clicking sound from the gun. "Now."
Closing her eyes for a bit, and resigning to her fate, she slowly got up and walked out into the clearing, the weapon shifting above to her head.
Immediately, two others surrounded her, their rifles pointed. Any audacious plans her mind was cooking, went into drain.
The one in the lead squinted for a bit before understanding dawned on his face. Slight rage flashed on his face for a moment before humour replaced it. "Ah. The daughter of champion of frauds."
He looked at her up and down, hand raking in his moustache. "Ya got some serious guts girly… spying on us here," He waved his hand around for emphasis. "Not even for once I could've expected this. Nevertheless, it works better for us. Now… "
RRRIIINNNGG
Slight irritation flashing on his countenance, he picked up his hand held phone. "Make it quick."
Confusion appeared on his face after a couple of moments before he glared at Videl. "No fools. The plan will go on… Yeah, I get it but it's only a minor setback… what's he saying?... exactly… go for it."
Any confusion Videl felt at his words was overshadowed by her paranoid mind bringing the distress signal she had relayed to chief – both the things were definitely related.
"Boss?" The one behind the now confirmed boss asked.
Glare becoming more pronounced, the boss spoke through slightly clenched teeth. "Those donut eaters have called for a city wide evacuation."
Her stomach twisted into a knot. Whatever these bastards were planning, it was definitely related to Orange Star city. And, with her being here…
"What? How's that possible?" It was Rado – the one behind her.
"Bitch here is somehow responsible for that." The boss growled before taking some deep breaths. "Don't worry, they have commenced the operation. Two hours won't make a difference."
"Hmmm.. I see," Rado chuckled. "Without her, those idiots are practically incompetent."
That was quite a correct insinuation, Videl mused to herself. Even though the cops were improving on a daily basis, they still couldn't be called self-sustaining. Though, even I will be ineffective against such a wide scale operation.
The boss again chuckled. "Right. Now let's go to the base," He glanced at her again. "Ya know what to do with her."
Even before Videl could comprehend his words, pain flared in the back of her head.
"Dump the ambulance in the sea."
Those were the last words she heard before her vision went dark.
Slight throbbing present in her head, Videl returned to the land of consciousness, the immediate urge to open her eyes and release a groan seeming too tempting.
However, training skills from the police course kicking in, she effectively snubbed both the urges, focusing on her other senses to get a feel of her surroundings.
The first thing she noticed was that her mouth was covered with, apparently, duct tape, her hands and feets tied also by the same, the lack of rough texture of rope, a dead giveaway.
Immediate after, a strong stench of alcohol invaded her nose while her ears adjusted on the voice that was drowning the others.
"... last ten minutes we have started receiving reports from Orange Star city about a city wide gang assault... "
Dread flooded her being as the gravity of the situation made itself known. Her home was under an attack and she was practically useless. However, confusion immediately replaced the cold feeling as she registered the initial words.
The reporter was saying ten minutes. But how was that possible? She couldn't have remained unconscious for such a short duration, not after a direct blow to her head.. Moreover, the pain in her head was faint which couldn't have been possible in the span of ten minutes.
Then she could also recognise the voice of the female reporter from the West city. Why wasn't it one of the news channels from her home city?
"... they have seized the news agencies to hinder the chain of communication… "
Oh.
This was bad. Just how many gang members were there to carry such a massive operation? And why…
"Forty minutes more and there will be fireworks." Laughter and hiccups followed the words.
Videl's eyes flew open in shock, her body jerking and hitting something, the sound of which was bound to alert her captors.
But she could care less about them. The bastard just said forty minutes… Forty Minutes! She could clearly remember they had said two hours… it meant she was unconscious for more than an hour.
The pictures of the civilians she could remember, Erasa, Sharpner, the police chief and many others flashed in her mind. Who knew in what conditions they were right now?
Then there were the …
"Boss, the bitch's awake."
The blue-eyed girl immediately glared at the bastard appearing in her line of sight and he actually flinched a bit. A moment later others surrounded her, clearly drunk.
"Glad you're awake," The boss slightly slurred in mock relief, "For a moment, I felt you've left us alone in this cruel world," There were chuckles from the others. "Anyway, let's get you updated."
He pointed towards the screen behind him. "Right now, your precious city is under attack. Our men are ripping it apart and as usual, those donut eaters are incompetent, and you can't do shit. So tell me, how does it feel?"
'Stop it! Why are you doing this? They are innocent civilians' All that was she wanted to say but only came out as incoherent sounds.
Desperation and helplessness quickly morphing into frustration, a myriad of emotions flashed on her visage, open for the world to see.
Slowly, fury started seeping in.
She clenched her teeth, and directed a ferocious glare at the bastards responsible for the entire situation. These scums! who gave them the right to play with the lives of others?
"The bitch's got a lot of spunk," The boss chuckled. "But it won't help you."
At the moment, she wanted nothing more than to beat the hell out of them, make them beg for mercy, make them painfully realise the mistake of their ways.
Hell, a part of her also wanted to pump their bodies with all the lead she could see around her… the scums like these didn't deserve a chance at life.
"Ya know boss, there are actual sayings about her in the city."
"Huh? Really?"
"Yeah. Some say she got a will of iron. Another is she will die but not break nor bend," A smirk flashed on the face of the bald, skinny man. "I wonder how true they're?"
"Hmmm… " The boss stroked his mustache for a moment. "Let's test that, shall we?" His eyes immediately began roaming on her figure.
Her blood ran cold as the implications quickly made themselves known. No… no no! As if the situation wasn't bad enough, and now this…
As she was still frozen in shock, the boss lowered down his track pants in one smooth motion, his semi erect penis naked for the world to see.
Videl started thrashing.
"Get 'er boys."
Two muscular arms suddenly caught her arms, folding them behind her head, effectively pinning her body to their own before effortlessly shifting her into a crouched position.
Videl screamed and snarled but the tape prevented any sound before her head was suddenly jerked upwards, the man behind her roughly pulling on her hair.
Tears started appearing in the corner of her eyes yet she glared at the bastard, not wanting to give him an ounce of satisfaction from her plight.
The boss only smirked at her before grabbing the top of her shirt and…
Thwack!
CRASH!
She blinked, the grip on her hair loosening due to the sudden moment, before shifting her vision towards the wall on the opposite side where the man's body was now slumped.
"Are you alright, Videl?"
The words registered later before the familiarity of the voice triggered in, the blue-eyed girl instantaneously veering her head to see a familiar figure in front of her.
Pure relief filled in her body, calming her frantic senses. The tears she was vehemently trying to hold back, began percolating down her cheeks.
Still, she managed to nod.
"Get the bastard."
The voice of Rado jolting the others from their stupor, the goons hurried to grab any weapon they could get hold off, the thumping of footsteps and curses resounding in the cave like area.
However, her saviour was far faster than the best they were capable of. His figure blurred out only to reappear a second or two later.
The sounds of crashes followed before the group of ten men dropped like puppets whose strings were just severed, some crashing into the crates alongside the rocky wall, one even slamming into the tv screen.
The next moment, the pressure of her binds suddenly vanished, the sensation bringing her focus on her unbind limbs. Not wasting any moment, she tore off the tape on her mouth, taking a deep gulp of the air.
Standing up, she bowed low. "Thank you, master." She poured as much gratitude as she could in the three words, and would have hugged him if her master was the one for such customary decorum.
Tien only nodded, looking around. "How'd you end up here?"
Videl sighed. "A light surveillance led to me spying on their meeting and I was discovered and caught."
Tien opened his mouth but halted when Videl shook her head. "We don't have time, master. Orange star city is under attack. We… " She halted when Tien raised his hand.
"Don't worry. I can sense Yamcha in the city, and from his movements, he is definitely helping."
Instantly, most of her worries alleviated. With Yamcha there, the situation was much more manageable. But the problems were still there. "They are also onto something else… something big and we only have half an hour to prevent that. Sorry… I don't know the details."
Tien's eyes narrowed for a bit. "Wait," He walked towards the prone body to his left before crouching down. Placing his hand on the forehead of the unconscious man, he closed his third eye.
Videl found herself concentrated on the spectacle. This was the first time she had seen Tien using his third eye which itself was a strange element in their world where even other bi-pedal species were a common occurrence.
Tien stayed still for a minute before he stood up, his third eye opening as he did so. When he turned to face her, his face was grim. "You're right. They rigged the passenger train enroute to the city with explosives set to detonate in half an hour."
Videl's eyes widened in utter shock. This wasn't… this couldn't… The… the sheer destruction that would follow, the lives… she shook her head not at all wanting to delve into such perilous thoughts.
She opened her mouth but snapped it shut as her mind connected the dots. Of course the ambulance was a decoy to throw off the police check from earlier, and she was sure that route connected to the train station in Mt Paozu. Of course they would've rigged it there.
"Not only that… "
There was more?!
"... they also stacked your copter with explosives before sending it towards the police headquarters."
"We've to stop them," She nearly shouted, the gravity of the situation sending her emotions into upheaval. She wouldn't be able to forgive herself if even a single life were lost.
But… how?
"It's alright Videl. I have already called for help."
"You've?"
Tien nodded. "They will be here in a couple of minutes. Let's go outside."
Krillin halted in mid push up, head shifting towards the skies, sensing Tien's Ki spike three times. That's the distress signal but why is he in Mt Paozu?
Deeming it as something urgent, he stood up with a flip before facing the two most important females of his life. "Hey Eighteen, Tien's calling. Gotta go."
Not waiting for any response, his aura surged around him, and he took off towards Mt Paozu.
Eighteen watched him till he was nothing more than a shining speck in the skies. "So cool."
"Yeah! Papa is the coolest."
Standing at the edge of the sea, Gohan waited, his emotions in deep turmoil, a strong urge rising to ignore Tien's words and check Videl's condition himself.
His musings halted when he sensed Tien's signal. Not wasting a moment, he took off towards the location.
"Gohan. Stop."
The demi-Saiyan halted mid air, irritated at being interrupted again. "What's it Dende?"
"Transform now."
"Why? I can't sense anything big?"
"Who're you going to meet there?"
"Eh. Vid… el… " Oh! Rubbing the back of his head in embarrassment, he transformed.
"Good. Now listen here… "
Videl's frenzied nerves calmed down a bit hearing that. Of course if Tien could call the others in his group, the situation could be salvaged.
Nodding, she fell in line with Tien. "By the way, how did you find me?"
"I have been following your Ki since yesterday; it was distraught to say the least. Since Gohan was with you yesterday, and you visited him today, I realised it must be somehow related to him."
"However today, by the evening, your Ki was normal. So, is it safe to assume that he told you about his heritage?"
"Yeah."
Tien nodded in understanding. "After that, I was about to stop the sensing but suddenly you stopped at the borders of Mt Paozu before returning back."
"Call it curiosity, but I kept following you and then your Ki suddenly disappeared. Immediately, I flew towards your last location but still it took me some time. By the time I arrived, you're gone."
"I have been searching for you since then, and arrived here as soon as your Ki resurfaced," He paused for a bit. "I didn't even think about searching around the sea."
Sea? What does he… Her thoughts halted when she saw the scenery in front of her as they walked out of the cave area.
As far as eye could see, only water was visible. The motorboats of course. Still… "I can't thank you enough master."
Tein simply waved her off.
As they continued to wait in silence, another thought struck her. She looked at the Tien. "Is Gohan also here?" If Tien could arrive here by sensing her Ki, then at least Gohan should have sensed Tien's Ki if not her.
Their heads swerved in a single motion as Videl's Ki resurfaced.
There was no need to say anything. His Aura flashing around him, Gohan took off or he would have if not for Tien's arm appearing in her vision.
"You stay here."
Gohan looked at the older man in confusion. "What? Why?"
"We might need you as Bardock."
Confusion appeared on his face for split second before understanding dawned. He nodded in accord.
Tien shook his head. "His Ki left the area as soon as you departed from his house. Currently, he's on the other side of the planet."
Before she could say anything in reply, a figure dropped before them. Her breath hitched seeing the golden spiky hair, blue gi, and a chiseled face, the twins of teal eyes only emphasizing that.
A myriad of emotions arose in her being but at the same time the gravity of the situation reasserted itself, causing her to curb her feelings.
"Tien," Bardock greeted and Tien nodded in reply. Then he looked at her. "Videl-san."
Clearing her mind, she also nodded. "Bardock. It's good to see you."
Suddenly, another figure dropped besides them. Clad in his customary orange colored gi, Krillin walked towards them, face already grim.
Only nods were exchanged in greeting.
"We have a grave situation… " Tien began…
"Dende already told me," Krillin interrupted the taller man. Besides him, Bardock also nodded in accord.
Dende? Whose he? No, where's he if he's already informed the situation? However she knew better than to voice her thoughts.
"That saves time," Tien voiced. "Bardock, you're the best suited to stop the train in the available time-frame, and Krillin, I want you to go after Videl's copter before assisting the cops in the southern district."
Both the men nodded before taking off towards the skies, the blue-eyed girl watching them with barely concealed awe.
"Videl."
Even before she could heed to Tien's voice, she found herself defying gravity, a gasp escaping her mouth. Shifting her vision towards Tien, she witnessed his aura flash around him before it suddenly expanded, enveloping her.
She had a second to relish in the warm sensation before her surroundings blurred.
"... the operation has been going for almost two hours but there has been no decline… "
Vegeta picked the remote, the irritating voice of the female reporter grating on his nerves, but before he could change the channel, Bulma covered it with her hands, halting any transmission.
"You're not going to change the channel, mister."
"Remove your hands, woman."
"No," Bulma grabbed the remote and placed it on her side. "Now, why don't you make yourself useful and help those people?"
Vegeta raised an eyebrow. "You seriously want me to go?"
'Of course' was the response that originated from her heart but before it could escape from her mouth,, her brain caught up and halted her.
Sighing, she could only shake her head.
The Saiyan Prince only smirked.
"Can I go?"
"No!" Both Vegeta and Bulma replied in unison before Vegeta continued. "You'll only waste your time."
Bulma slapped on his arm before looking at Trunks. "It won't be safe Trunks."
"Exactly, for the weaklings there."
Trunks laughed at that, even Vegeta chuckled a bit.
Bulma could only fist her hair in frustration.
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