Disclaimer on chapter one.

Author's Note:

This took a while. I know, I apologize. School caught up to me after the blessed spring break. At any rate, you all were awaiting a trial, right? Read, review and ENJOY!

Painful Truths

Dodging artfully from shadow to shadow, Piccolo avoided being seen by the humans of the city. His business could only be concluded after nightfall. He looked up and gauged the position of the sun. Darkness would fully cloak the world in only a matter of moments. Very well.

The Namek moved across the city towards the police department and, inevitably, the jail. He was not best pleased by this situation. Gohan was a fool, thick headed, son of Son Goku to ever consider letting the police force to throw him in jail. Such a transgression would be inexcusable in Piccolo's strict sense of right and wrong. He knew however, that his pupil would be helping them again as soon as Great Saiyaman was proven innocent.

Piccolo shook his head. Truth or not, Gohan's reaction post trial was not of importance at the moment. Informing the boy about the investigation was. The Namek was actually quite pleased with himself. He had followed Bulma and Gohan's woman to a large office building that morning. There, he had discretely over heard their conversation with the boy's defense counsel (Namek ears were useful things). Apparently, on this the day before trial, a few minor wrinkles had needed straightening.

Such as the fact that it had come out about what exactly the prosecutor's witness had seen. Piccolo knew that Gohan would be very pleased by that information. Or, at the very least his mood would be lifted. The Namek scowled.

Gohan, as he had been seen last, was not handling this lock down thing well. Were Piccolo himself in the same position, he would simply meditate. It had crossed his mind to suggest the same to Gohan. Then, he also remembered the boy's difficulty with that task out in the middle of an open and breezy field, let alone a cramped and tiny cell. He would have no concentration span what so ever.

The sun fully set, it last light fading into the horizon, Piccolo breeched the jail doors. All of the security measures the humans had put in were quite inadequate when faced with the prowess of a certain Namek. Falling back on skills remembered from his demon past, Piccolo avoided all notice of the guards as he entered the elevator and exited on the appropriate floor. At which he moved at such a pace that no guard no door stood a chance.

He stopped quietly and agily just inside of Gohan's cell, having not disturbed a thing in the entirety of the jail. The boy lay on his bunk staring blankly at the ceiling. Piccolo eyes narrowed. He did not like that look. He had seen it far to often in the years following Cell. It was a look that suggested Gohan was hiding from his current circumstance.

After a moment when the boy had not apparently noticed his presence, Piccolo gruffly cleared his throat. Instead of jumping, smiling, or offering any sort of emotional response, Gohan simply shifted his eyes to meet his teacher's. The Namek made no physical change to this, but frowned mentally.

"Mr. Piccolo, I stink."

The Namek blinked. That had not been anywhere near the conversation he had been planning to start. The Boy shifted himself into an up right position and continued. "They haven't let me shower all week. I'm going to go to trial smelling like a… like a…"

Oh. That was part of the problem then. Piccolo smirked. "Like a Saiyan?"

The boy leaned back. "Yeah." The statement was punctuated by a growl. "And I'm hungry."

Piccolo snorted. This was Gohan's typical way of skirting emotional truths with his mentor. True, Piccolo had taught him to keep emotions buried if at all possible, but the Namek had since realized that this was a potentially un healthy habit for the boy. However, Piccolo would let it slide. "Indeed." He held out two apples in his hand toward the boy. It was nothing to satisfy a Saiyan appetite, Piccolo did it to evoke memories.

The tact worked, as Gohan looked for a long moment at the apples, a slow smile creeping to his face, before enthusiastically swiping them from his mentor's emerald hand. "Thank you, Mr. Piccolo!" was stated around a mouthful of fruity goodness.

"Your welcome, Gohan. I have come to tell you how the investigation fairs. And of the news on the trial front."

Gohan inclined his head for Piccolo to continue. "It seems the witness that saw Great Saiyaman was asked to describe the outfit exactly. To your benefit, the true perpetrator was wearing the helmet, not your newest trade mark sash."

The boy's eyes widened. "That's, that's great!"

Piccolo nodded. "Perhaps. We have also discovered a name that seems to be closely associated to all parts of this crime."

"We?"

"Vegita and I. Do not ask further. Does the name Siaka mean anything to you?"

Gohan's eyebrows drew together in thought. "I think I may have heard it before, but…. I can't remember where at the moment. I think he may be an actor."

"An actor. I will look into it." Piccolo took a step towards the door, he business here was through. "Good luck at trial tomorrow. When is it?"

"At ten in the morning. And I… Thanks Mr. Piccolo."

"Hn." was the response Piccolo could muster as he disappeared quietly out of the room.

****************************************

Shifting uneasily in her seat, Videl checked her watch for what had to have been the millionth time. The large court room on the second story of the court/jail building, was packed full of milling on lookers. And media people. The girl smiled slightly. They would all be very amused by the evidence, once they saw it. Gohan was going to positively die.

She shifted again and looked out of the corner of her eye at the stiff backed woman who sat beside her. Chi Chi would never let him live amongst the real world after this. Videl cringed. She would be lucky if Gohan would be allowed to go to school after this, let alone have her come over…

The Son family sat to her right side and the briefs family had her left. They were in the first row of benches. And they had come early. A stir of excitement rippled through the crowd and Videl looked up to see Great Saiyaman being lead in by handcuffs. He offered no struggle, and while he did not stand fully straight, Gohan was not necessarily slouched. That was a good sign.

Behind him came Miss Sweena. She had had three hours with Saiyaman this morning, the only time given to her to talk to him, to catch her client up to speed. Neither Videl nor Sarah had been pleased by that turn of events, but the police were particularly cautious about Saiyaman. They all knew what he was capable of. Even the court bastiff shifted uncomfortably with Saiyaman's entrance.

But Videl understood what Great Saiyaman would do. That was quite a difference from could.

If the court were stirred by that, they were just as impressed by the appearance of the prosecuting attorney. Mr. Schmalleger was famous in the law world. Sarah had grimaced when informed that she was to be working against him. It was a small token that she had also said that Schmalleger out of the court room was a very pleasant man. That said nothing of him in the court room.

The court was then hushed by the appearance of the judge. He was a small, frail looking, old man with a fringe of gray on his top. The lack of size was easily made up by his steadfast glare. A little court secretary stood . "All rise before Judge Murdstone."

The jury, the officers, everyone obliged, only sitting again when the judge said they could. Including Vegita, much to Videl's surprise. Bulma must have threatened him in some ungodly way to ever get this sort of behavior. Videl didn't think she really wanted to know what that threat was. She was eternally grateful that Goten and Trunks had been left with Bulma's parents. This was no place for those little hellions.

The prosecuting attorney was first on his feet and laying out the facts as he saw them before the judge and jury. Videl only half listened. She knew about all of this. It was fascinating the way he told it. She had expected Mr. Schmalleger to be a vicious and cruel man, attacking his opponent with every word. However, he did not. He just told the facts that aided his side.

He then called his one witness to the stand. "Now, Mr. Laus. Tell us what exactly you saw in the morning hours of Sunday, March third."

"I ah…. I saw Great Saiyaman."

"How could you tell, in the dark, that it was him?"

"I don't know anyone else who wears that colorful an outfit. I'd recognize Great Saiyaman's red cape anywhere."

"And, at what time of the morning did you see this?"

"Round about 12:15."

"Thank you, Mr. Laus. Miss Sweena, your witness."

Sarah stood and walked easily up to the witness stand. "Mr. Laus, you say you distinctly know Saiyaman's outfit, correct?"

"Yes."

"All right. Describe to me what the man you saw walking into the building that night was dressed like."

"Well, like Great Saiyaman."

"And what was on his head?"

"Saiyaman's old helmet."

"Thank you. No further questions."

Miss Sweena then took her seat beside Saiyaman, having made her point. Sharpner, Erasa, and Videl were each individually brought up as witness for Sarah. All were cross examined, all telling essentially the same story. After all, they each told the truth. Carefully omitting Gohan. Once finished testifying, Videl cautiously took her seat. The cat was out of the bag about the party. Chi Chi was shaking beside her and Videl was pretty sure that it was caused by rage. The woman didn't even know that Gohan had been drunk, yet.

And that was when Miss Sarah Sweena pulled out her fatal evidence. The picture had all ready gone through all the procedures, authentication and such. She showed it first to the judge, and then to the jury. "This picture says, that Great Saiyaman was no where near the crime scene on Sunday morning."

The picture was then flashed briefly to the audience before Sarah dropped it on the judge's podium and took her seat with a satisfied smile. Videl knew that Saiyaman must have seen it as well, he was alternating between pale and bright red where he sat. Mrs. Son, was sitting much to quietly.

Judge Murdstone was raising his mallet, apparently ready to call a recess. Videl sat back confidently, she knew what the jury would say. All were surprised when Mr. Schmalleger stood abruptly. "Your honor, my client and I would like to declare nolle prosequi at this point."

Videl was confused. Lawyer lingo was beyond her. Bulma cocked her head to the side and whispered quietly. "I think he just said that the prosecution is dropping the charges."

Videl had no chance to reply as the Judge's mallet struck. "The charges against Great Saiyaman have been dropped. Further deliberation is not required. You are free to go, Mr. Saiyaman."

Videl stared in shocked silence along with the rest of the audience as the Judge left the court room. Abruptly the court guard jerked into motion, untangling his keys to release Saiyaman's cuffs. And then the court room exploded. Screaming people and flashing bulbs. They were, Videl realized, screaming for Great Saiyaman. Maybe they did care.

Videl jumped the benches and ran up to Gohan, who had Miss Sweena caught up in a hug. The young woman was way to excited to wait her turn and leapt up on his back, fairly strangling him. Gohan didn't apparently mind as he pulled back from Miss Sweena and swung Videl around to his front, grinning from ear to ear. Videl felt he was about to break every rib in her body, and didn't care.

Saiyaman then set her down and looked around at the group of family and friends surrounding him before his eyes came to rest on is three teen friends. "How did, when did you get that picture?"

Sharpner grinned. "Its dated at the bottom Saiyaman."

"No, no… I mean…"

Videl was grinning to at Gohan's obvious confusion and embarrassment, until she happened to look at Chi Chi. The woman stood with both hands clenched in the sides of her dress, her eyes were closed, head tilted slightly down, and her right eyebrow was twitching. Videl, who realized she was physically powerful enough to pummel Chi Chi, cowered. The woman was about to go on the war path.

"Saiyaman!" she yelled, her voice rising with the word.

And the rest of the group quailed as well. Gohan was very pale looking. Chi Chi opened her dark eyes and glared at her son. "What do you think you were doing getting DRUNK at a PARTY Saturday night!?!"

"Uh… Mom I…"

Instead of exploding in her typical manner, the woman fell forward into her son's chest and began sobbing. "I was so afraid for you, being out in the real world. I knew they'd get you into these things. I knew it! Oh, my baby is an alcoholic!"

Saiyaman's arms slowly encircled his mother. "Mom, that was the first time. I know it as a mistake and I won't do it again."

She looked up at him through a tearful gaze. "You mean that?"

"Yes Mom."

She smiled then. "That's my little boy!" as she began straightening his outfit.

Gohan blushed. "Mom…."

Videl couldn't help but grin. It was funny to watch the hero Great Saiyaman get alternately pampered and reprimanded by his mother. It was wonderful that he was innocent again. Now all they had to do, was bag the real culprit.

*Disclaimer* This is after the fact and all, but I have NO idea how the Japanese law system works. And this is only loosely based on American law. Were some trial to work like this for real, my criminal justice teacher would role over in his grave, and he isn't dead! I know, you all realized that by now. I just needed to say it.