Disclaimer: Think real hard on this one…

Author's Note:

All right kids, I'm working on continually typing on this. Maybe I can finish the story before running out of creative juice, wouldn't that be pleasant? Oh well, read and enjoy! (And Review!)

Trapped

"Man, Gohan, couldn't you have found something a little less gaudy to play detective in?" Sharpner was frustrated to say the least. "Seriously, it's hard to go unnoticed with you looking like a fugitive from a b-rated karate movie."

Gohan sighed. "It's the only thing that we had clean around after I took my shower. Sorry."

"Yeah, yeah, fine. Just, try to stay kind of hidden and look threatening, if you can. If you don't act right in this part of town, they'll eat you alive."

"'Look threatening'?" He knew people were strange in this area of town, but Gohan hadn't really noticed how strange. He and Videl had chased a few of their nastiest criminals here before though, and lost a couple of them, at that.

"Yeah," Erasa said with a wink, "Maybe if they think you're the real thing, they'll leave us alone. "

"But," Gohan's eyebrows drew together, "How can I be the real thing when I don't know Karate, per say. I know a couple of other forms of martial arts but…"

"Shut up, Brains. No passing thug on the street will know the difference. Only weirdoes that study that sort of thing like you would."

All of the conversation was being held in low tones. Gohan understood that, there was a certain aura about this place, a taint that tasted like blood on the lips. It was enough to set a half Saiyan on edge. So they kept the conversation going. "Weirdoes, Sharpner?" Videl put in, "I study the martial arts. And I do know Karate, should I show you? Personally?"

Sharpner sped ahead of the group by about two feet throwing over his shoulder, "No, that's all right."

They continued on in silence for a way, Sharpner leading as he was the only one who had ever really explored this area. Erasa shuddered and finally said what had been bothering them all. "This place is really scary feeling, Sharpner. How could you ever come here alone to visit these 'buddies' of yours? How could they live in a place like this?"

The blonde male stiffened and said in tight, defensive tones, "Erasa, just because some of my friends grew up in the wrong part of the city, it doesn't mean that they're bad guys." He paused as they all heard a gunshot about four blocks down. Not the first since they had stepped into the gang sector. "As for how I can walk alone, my parents and I used to live in these parts when I was little. It wasn't until after that whole Cell thing that the job market opened up enough for them to get decent jobs and us a decent house. I know these streets like the back of my hand."

Erasa looked at her feet. "I'm sorry, I didn't know that you had to grow up under such horrible conditions."

"Yeah well, not many people do. It doesn't matter, everything is cool now. The building we're looking for is right up there on the corner, right hand side."

Gohan studied his tentative friend as they continued up to the dilapidated building. The half Saiyan felt a bit foolish. He had spent so much time feeling sorry for himself after… after Cell that until his mother sent him out to school, it really hadn't occurred to him that other people also had dark pasts. Gohan glanced at Videl, her arm still entwined with his and considered her. Her past could not have been all peaches and cream either. Maybe she was right, and they should talk.

Gohan flinched as two more gunshots echoed about the brick and cement. He would have to discuss a lot more than that with her however, if everyone survived this.

Sharpner stopped them short of entering through the rusted door. "All right guys, we are all going up to the third floor. I'll talk to my buddies there, but I need to ask that you all stay in the hall and be quiet, they're kind of skittish."

He received three nods and they were all off and moving through the halls of the old apartment building. It was like walking through some bad horror flick. The yellowed paint on the walls was cracked and peeling and only three out of four hall lights worked. Many of those flickered and buzzed. Midden piles were in some corners and escaping some doors. Erasa squeaked and latched onto Sharpner as a rat ran across they're path. The smell was enough to kill it seemed, or for something (someone?) to be all ready dead.

Nothing moved in those solemn halls and rickety stair cases save the four teen-agers. Videl had pulled herself closer to Gohan, as Erasa had not let go of Sharpner. Gohan could have almost thought she was scared, but nothing seemed to frighten Videl. One of the stairs squealed under the weight of the passersby and all of them stopped. A communal breath was taken before the began they're treck up the last flight of stairs again.

At the third floor door, Sharpner eased the old hinges open slowely as he had done with both of the other doors. Instead of moving on this time, the blonde stopped and staired. Gohan and Videl came up behind him just in time to see a flash of green outfit and red cape dissapear into the door at the far end of the hall.

Sharpner swallowed hard before backing out o the door frame with Erasa in tow. He looked to his three companions. "Guys, did you just see what I just saw?"

Erasa was pale, "Yeah…. You don't suppose that was the guy? The Great Saiyaman impersonator?"

"My guys did say that he lived in the building…"

Videl abruptly broke her hold on Gohan's arm and brushed past Sharpner into the hall. "I'm going to find out."

Gohan fairly plowed over Sharpner and Erasa in his effort to catch up with Videl. The idea of her going on alone was frightening. Sure she knew full well how to defend herself, but with all the gunshots he had heard, could still hear… She was only human after all. He caught up to her, pacing himself to her stride and a few moments later Erasa and Sharpner had caught up as well.

Despite of the fear he knew the risk involved, Gohan knew he had to let Videl open the door first. She did and he entered the apartment right behind her… only to find it empty. Sharpner and Erasa walked in behind them, the male grumbling about the stupidity of all this. "Me and Erasa will look to see if we find anything over here, you two check over there," He directed by jerking his thumb to their destinations. "What ever you do, use the buddy system, and don't break with your buddy."

It was agreed with out argument and Videl dragged Gohan to the far left rooms of the apartment, which seemed to be the living and kitchen areas. The demi-Saiyan reached out with his senses as Videl searched with her eyes and fingers. The problem was, he did not know the ki he was searching for. Gohan did not sense any one that did not belong in the apartment though. Though he felt the life lines of those that milled about the rest of the building. It was frustrating, not knowing who the dangerous person amongst those ki's was.

He was roused from his reverie by a summons from the other side of the apartment. "Psst, guys, come over here, we found something in the bedroom that you may want to see!"

Videl looked up and began guiding him back to their friends, Gohan however slowed as he got nearer to the bedroom. "What's that noise?"

Videl gave him an appraising look. "I don't hear anything."

"There is this, really high pitched whine. It kind of sounds mechanical…"

"I think maybe your just hearing the sounds of the city Gohan. Come on."

Gohan wasn't so sure of that, but he nodded and followed her into the room. Sharpner pointed to the bed. There, sprawled across the recluse covers was a blood stained Great Saiyaman costume. Videl stepped back against him and then everything seemed to happen at once.

Sensing a presence from behind Gohan coiled his arms about Videl and hunched over slightly just as he heard the explosion of a gun barrel behind him. Erasa inhaled and shrieked just as the pain of the blast exploded in Gohan's lower back. Above the girls screams a distinct whirring sound had begun. Having stumbled slightly when the bullet hit, Gohan looked up in time to see clear, plexi glass sort of looking walls slam down in front of the window and door. He only managed to turn fast enough to see a red cape disappearing back out of the apartment.

The entire thing had taken only a matter of two minutes.

Gohan looked about to make sure everyone was all right and was met by concerned looks from everyone, including the young woman still held tightly in his arms. Videl in fact, looked ready to cry again. She pulled back and made as if to steady him. "Oh, Dende, Gohan! He shot you!"

Gohan nodded, not understanding what had her so worked up. Her concerned look turned to one of confusion as she slowly stepped around him to look at his back. "Wh…. Why isn't there any blood?"

Videl touched the part of the Gi where the bullet had torn its way through. She pressed in touching the skin and pulled back just as fast when Gohan hissed. "I'm sorry, Gohan! But, I don't understand, why aren't you bleeding?"

Sharpner and Erasa had stepped around behind him at this point as well. Gohan smiled slightly, it had finally dawned on him why she had looked so frightened. The half Saiyan un-tucked the back of the Gi and all three of his human friends stared at the flattened bullet that hit the ground with a ting. Any problems with being trapped in a small room by weird see-through walls vanished in that moment. Sharpner was the first to speak. "What the fuck are you to be shot point blank and not get hurt?"

Videl shook her head at Sharpner, "Not unhurt entirely." And she pulled the Gi out the rest of the way, reveling a dark red spot on Gohan's back that was all ready beginning to swell and darken. "As for what he is, he's the same guy that can pick up cars with out blinking an eye is what he is."

"Shit," Sharpner stated as he picked up the flat bullet and compared it to the welt on Gohan's back, "Remind me never to tick you off, Brains."

Erasa, it being in her nature to flit from one topic to another with out hesitation, brought up the other problem. She stood by the glass and pressed against it with all of her weight. "Uh guys? I don't think these wall things are good…"

Sharpner moved to the wall over the door then along with Videl. Both Pressed against it with nothing happening. "Damn," swore Videl, "And that fucker is just getting away while we sit here!"

She grabbed the Saiyaman helmet from off the bed and flung it with all of her fury at the wall. The helmet shattered and the glass remained un scratched. Videl barley blinked before she launched a flying kick at the clear barrier. The attack made no impression on the wall and left her lying momentarily stunned on the floor.

Gohan helped Videl back to her feet and she glared at him, something like paranoia edging into her angry tones. "All right Gohan, you're the strong man here, punch that thing, or something!"

Gohan shook his head. He knew that Videl was no weakling, and he had seen the absolute lack of response from the glass. Pointing to one of the unguarded walls he said, "Why don't we try just getting through some brick and mortar, it looks like that may be easier to get around."

Videl and the other two agreed to that and they all began tearing at the inner wall of the room.

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

He had seen the man encroach upon his student's back, had assumed with all of the skills he himself had instilled into Gohan that the boy would notice. It was with that in mind that Piccolo allowed the man his freedom. And flinched despite himself when Gohan got shot. Some days the boy had an attention span of a two year old. All well, that little sting would perhaps help to drive the lesson home for future use.

Piccolo was also there to watch as the man palmed a hidden panel in the wall quick as he turned to run. The Namek's acute hearing had made him aware of the mechanical whine that permeated the apartment and as the glass looking walls slammed down, he understood that this was the mechanism making the noise. Piccolo stepped silently into the shadows of the hall as Siaka fled passed him.

The Namek looked back for a moment, studying the wall. Deciding that Gohan would have no problem getting out of there, he ghosted after the criminal. Piccolo decided that were he to catch the man, the problems would be solved. He would be able to go back to his territory and meditate in piece, with out having to worry that the boy was going to go and get himself locked down again. Or something else just as stupid related to this man.

Sometimes Piccolo really wished that his student would just fess up to his mental instability and quite doing these things which would induce a nervous breakdown. Unfortunately, the boy had learned all to well from his father on some points.

Piccolo followed Siaka unnoticed out of the building, where he began allowing himself to be seen, heard, sensed. He to had felt the aura of this place, the demon in him was excited by it. Piccolo knew that with the right incentive he could scare a human out of his wits. It was good to be hulking and green some days.

As the blocks wore on, the man who voluntarily wore his students costume began acting more skittish, checking over his shoulder more often and such. Despite his stoic demeanor, Piccolo was enjoying this chase. This was a game he was not often allowed to partake in. It was not something that Gohan would approve of. Not that he needed his student's approval to do something.

A near by gun shot made Siaka jump and Piccolo took the opportunity to step fully out of the shadows and just to paces behind the mans flowing red cape. Siaka walked on a distance further before checking over his shoulder again. The man's eyes went as wide a saucers and this strangled keening sound escaped his lips. Siaka did not even make the effort to run.

Piccolo grinned viscously and picked the man up by his neck. Vegita had some fair tricks up his sleeve when the man so choose to use them. The Namek was not above such methods himself. "I believe you have wronged Great Saiyaman greatly. And now you choose to hold mere teen-agers hostage. I do not think highly of men like you." Piccolo bared his fangs at this.

Siaka, half strangled as he was, finally found his voice. "Look, Saiyaman wronged me first! And those kids, I don't even know them, except the Satan girl. That trap was built for Saiyaman though, with all of his known specs in mind. The kids wont get out of there alive. I don't care who the fuck you are, or how your attached to Saiyaman, but you won't be able to get those meddlesome kids out no matter what you do!"

Despite himself, Piccolo's fist clenched tightly about the man's neck. Siaka squirmed and began turning purple. "You are in no position to be insinuating such things." He told the man as he thrashed his last and hung limply in one great emerald hand.

The Namek sighed, disgusted with himself for loosing his temper and simply disgusted with Siaka. He dropped the limp body to the ground and watched with morbid fascination as after a moment that body dragged a breath of air in, and then another. Piccolo would not kill him. Fair was fair and this man would be spending a great deal more time in a cell that Gohan had.

Tearing strips from the impersonators cape, Piccolo proceeded to bind his hands and feet together behind his back and instill a gag before picking him up. He traveled by the shadows back to the Precinct where this all began and dropped Siaka none to gently on his stomach before the great doors. Pulling a particular paper from the folds of his outfit, Piccolo laid this on the man's back before disappearing back into the shadows and heading back towards Gohan's Ki.

That piece of paper would be the fatal evidence which would put both Siaka and Hernandez into prison for two murders. It would also place one Mr. Satan under no little suspicion. Piccolo grinned at that.