TITLE: Chapter Three - The Missions
AUTHOR: Rachel Wong
AUTHOR'S EMAIL: Hidden_Angel_83@hotmail.com
RATING: PG-13
PAIRINGS: None
WARNINGS: None
SUMMARY: A certain girl has Vegeta's mind and heart twisted in knots. He, Goku and Krillen set off on their missions.
NOTE: This is set in an alternate universe. Please do not read it if you do not like A/U's. This is about B/V and G/CC. Please read and review. I'd like to know what you guys think. If you guys have ever heard of or watched the Chinese movie Storm Rider, this is a bit similar. By the way, Goku and Vegeta are not Saiyan. There are no Saiyans. This is set strictly on Earth and everyone is human.
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Dragonball Z and am in no way connected to them. I only wish I was, than I'd have at least SOME $$$. I also do not own and am in no way related to the creators or producers or anything of Storm Rider. Seeing as how I am broke, sueing me would do you no good. =Þ
Last time on Cloud, Wind, Fist:
Bulma sighed as strange feelings shot through her body. She didn't understand why, but whenever she thought about Vegeta, she felt warm all over. In the ten years that they had grown up together, he had probably said no more than twenty words to her. She sighed again as she could think of no logical explanation for her behaviour. Slowly, she got up, planning to find her cousin Chi Chi so that they could go out and do something fun. As she began to walk out the door, unconciously, her mind began to drift back to Vegeta once more.
*****
Han stood looking at his three students, Vegeta, Goku and Krillen. Each one specialized in a different technique of fighting. Undoubtedly, Vegeta was the stronger of the three. Han could sense that Vegeta wasn't completely loyal to him, only loyal because he couldn't rebel. He didn't care. Vegeta wasn't strong enought to beat him and he would make sure it stayed that way. Goku and Krillen on the other hand, were undoubtedly loyal.
"I have misssions for you three." Han stood up from where he was sitting looking down on the three. "Goku, Krillen, I want you to find and bring a seer named Buddopa to me. He has been spotted in the vicinity of Fish Lake." Han had spent countless years searching out the existence of the seer. Finally, after ten years, he knew that the seer and shape shifter did exist. As luck would have it, Buddopa had been spotted by some of his scouts not long ago. Since than, they had trailed him and continued to send his location to Han.
"Yes sensei. We shall not fail you."
"I hope not." They had never failed in a mission before, but all the other missions had been with him there, overseeing all their battles, making sure everything was done right. Over the years, they had gone on many missions with him, slowing taking over the world. Now, the Han Clan ruled just slightly over one third of the world while the Taun Clan ruled another third of the world and yet another, smaller third was nothing but small, free countries.
Han's gaze fell on Vegeta. As always, he stood in his favourite pose, arms across chest, head held high, eyes and face betraying nothing. "Vegeta, I have a different misson for you. The Taun Clan has always believed that they are equal to us in might and power." Pause. "They are not. Now, they wish to join with us. I can not allow such a thing. An open battle between the two clans would mean much bloodshed. I will not risk losing the lives of my men if I don't have to. The saying goes, 'The best way to beat a group is to take down the leader'. Today is Taun's birthday. I want you, along with Bat and Rabbit to attend his party and wish him a long life. Afterwards, you should know what to do."
Vegeta merely nodded. He understood.
"Good. You know your missions, now you can..."
"Father." Bulma cut in. "Chi Chi and I were wondering if we could go along with the boys."
Han looked at his daughter. She looked so much like her deceased mother. He found it hard to deny her anything that she wanted. "You girls? Why do you girls want to go? You girls should stay home where it is safe and sound."
Bulma made a face at her father before explaining. "But there's nothing to do here. At least when we go, we get to see new places and meet new people. We're not saying you're boring or anything daddy. Please?" She gave her father the sweetest look she could.
Han laughed. "Fine fine. You know I can't deny you anything. Who do you girl want to go with?"
The two girls looked at each other. Chi Chi spoke up. "Uncle, Vegeta's mission is a serious and dangerous mission. He is going to kill people. We don't want to see any bloodshed. Can we go with Goku and Krillen instead?"
"Alright girls. I think that is for the best. Make sure you are all out by sunset tonight."
Chi Chi talked excitedly to Bulma as they packed whatever they thought they would need. Bulma had long sinced tuned her cousin out. True, Vegeta's mission was much more dangerous and it did involve killing, but she still had wanted to go with him. She just wanted to be around the arrogant warrior. She wanted to make sure he didn't do something stupid and get himself killed.
*****
A lone figure sat atop the main compound of the Han Clan's headquarters. The figure leaned back and stared up at the star filled night completely lost in thought. A light breeze blew down on the figure and his cloak was swept tighter around his muscular body. Vegeta didn't notice, his mind too far gone in thought to notice anything.
He didn't understand Bulma at all. At times, he would catch her looking at him as if she wanted him while at others, she was always around Goku. What exactly did she want? Did she feel the same way about him as he did for her? He had denied it for nine years, but now he could deny it no more. He loved her. He loved everything about her from her kindness to her persistance. He loved her smile. He loved her laugh. He loved...EVERYTHING! Yet, he couldn't say anything because he wasn't sure how she felt.
Vegeta sighed. Why were women so confusing?
*****
Vegeta stood staring down at Taun city, the headquarters for the Taun Clan, from a nearby mountain. Bat and Rabbit were attending the birthday party. He had told them to return to him early. Afterall, they had a mission to fulfill. He watched unmoving as the little dots of people swarmed around the city, not knowing of the fate that awaited them later that night.
Against his will, memories began flooding through his mind. The shock, the surprise, the horror, the pain of watching his father's heart get pierced by the family sword. He fought the emotions as the faces of his friends, his aunts, his uncles all began to rush by in his mind. His hands tightened into a fist. He would make Han pay. One of these days, he would teach Han a lesson he would not soon forget.
*****
Fish Lake...
An old man walked slowly by, dragging his injured leg along with him. He looked up, curiosity showing on his face as a monk flew by. The hoofs of approaching horses sounded like thunder to his ears. The monk stopped nearby and threw the pot that he was carrying down. "Old sir, I ask you to leave this area. There will be a fight here and I cannot guarantee your safety." The old man nodded his head and walked a bit further before stopping again. Who could resist watching a fight?
"Hey Mr. Monk, how about you hand over that little monkey you have in that pot."
Wun, the monk, looked at the group of men who had now circled and surrounded him. "Fire Monkey has only one use, to seek out Buddopa the seer. What do you want with Buddopa?"
The young man, obviously the leader of the group smirked. "You're not as dumb as you look are you monk? Anyway, if you must know, today is my father, Taun's, birthday. We want to find Buddopa so he can go and tell my father that he will live for many more years."
"Destiny is created by the Gods. What if Buddopa went and told your father he would live a hundred more years and than he died tonight. What than?" Wun smacked a hand down on the lid of the pot as Fire Monkey tried to escape. He had been left in charge of the monkey by his sensei of the Shaolin temple. Everyone knew that the only way to find Buddopa without searching the whole world was to use Fire Monkey. Fire Monkey seemed to always know where Buddopa was. That was why he himself was always on the run, keeping Fire Monkey out of the grasp of everyone else. He couldn't let anyone find Buddopa. That was messing with fate and tempting the Gods, two unforgivable acts.
"Why you little..." The young man calmed down a bit. "Listen, I will ask you nicely one more time seeing how you are a holy monk and all that. Give me the monkey or I, Yip, will take it from you by force.
Wun stood unmoving.
With one wave of his hand, Yip's men rushed at Wun.
Wun waited for the men to get closer to him before pulling his hand towards him, and allowing energy to build up there. Without warning, Wun released his energy and ten fairly large balls flew out of his palm. He watched each ball as he maneuvered them, making them hit each oncoming man and therefore knocking them painfully down.
Chaos reined on the group as the men desperately tried to get away from the painfully hot balls of energy. Riders began to lose control of their horses while people on feet began to scramble out of the way of those very horses. Yip ungraciously fell off of his horse as he was one of those unfortunate people who hadn't been able to remain straddled.
Feeling that he had caused enough chaos, Wun recalled his balls of energy back into his palms with a few small arm movements.
A blur came spinning down towards Wun who once again let loose with his balls of energy, this time concentrating them all on the new attacker . The blur continued to spin closer towards Wun, forcing him away from the pot and the monkey, dispite his futile attempts. The lid of the pot began to open up again as the monkey tried to get out. The blur was replaced by a shroud of mist and as the mist began to clear, the form of a man could be made out.
The attacker landed, one foot on top of the pot, as he prevented Fire Monkey from flying loose and Wun recalled his energy balls once more. "I am Goku, also known as Whispering Wind. Please forgive my rudeness for dropping in in such a manner."
The old man, who had been standing watching the entire time, turned around and began to walk away. He mumbled something about being too dangerous. Krillen dropped down in front of him at that moment. "Old man, why don't you stay and watch it all. You don't know what else is out there. It may be dangerous and this could be fun." The old man couldn't do anything else with Krillen blocking his path. He turned around to watch the rest of the fight.
Yip, trying to regain his look of dignity stumbled forward to stand beside Wun. "How dare you be so arrogant." His hand reached down to his sword and drew it out a bit.
Wun put his hands together (like the monks from Shaolin do), "God bless us all. Wind Kick, Frost Fist. You don't know the young masters of the Han Clan yet you wish to join with them, how sad it is indeed."
A commotion broke out from behind Goku as Krillen came rushing in to stand beside Goku. In the process of fighting his way through, he froze many of Yip's men who stood in his path, with the Ice Palm technique. Goku flew off of the pot as Krillen arrived at his side.
Yip realized who the two young men were and sheathed his sword. His attitude immediately changed from one of arrogance to friendliness. "The Han and the Taun Clans are about to join together. So you and I are like a family. There is no need to fight for the same thing. Why don't you guys help me instead...brothers?"
"Ha! Don't be serious." Goku snorted. "Don't speak our names in the same sentence. You are disgraceful. All of you men against one monk. You people can't possibly be good guys."
"We like to take advantage of our numbers, so what?"
No response. Instead, Krillen flew at the cluster of men that was closest to him, palms lashing out. More men turned into ice at the impact of his hands against their bodies. Yip, seeing that his men were no match for the two powerful warriors, began to run away.
Goku grinned. The man was such a wimp. He flew after him quickly overtaking the much weaker fighter. Goku elbowed Yip in the chest, forcing him to fly backwards. Without warning, he stopped and snapped down on Yip's arm with his fist causing Yip to drop his sword. As if this weren't already humiliating enough, Goku spun around and delivered a kick to the middle section of Yip's back. Yip landed unceremoniously and painfully on his stomach.
Goku and Krillen flew back to meet each other in front of the monk. "Krillen, you didn't kill them did you?" Goku didn't like killing people unneccessarily.
"No. I merely froze them. They should be fine in a few hours."
Wun bowed his head and murmered, "God bless us all." He was glad their was no bloodshed. People's lives were precious gifts from the fates, even if the people who lived them didn't deserve it.
Goku walked over to the monk. "Your holiness. I am on an important mission and I cannot fail. Please lend me Fire Monkey for a month and than I shall return him to you personally."
"The monkey belongs to the Shaolin Temple. If you take it from me, you will be no different than these men that you have just beaten up."
Goku thought for a second. "Without Fire Monkey, we can't find Buddopa. What will I tell my sensei?"
Wun looked up startled. "You're looking for Buddopa too? You ARE no different than these men."
Goku looked away in shame. Wun was right. They were being no different than Yip other than the fact that they weren't using numbers as an advantage.
"You have no respect for me at all!" Yip's annoying voice yelled out in anger.
Goku and Krillen glared at the weakling. "That's right. Shut up!" Completely ignoring the now enraged Yip, Krillen approached Wun. "Please your holiness. We really need to borrow Fire Monkey."
Wun replied without hesitation. "I'm sorry. I cannot help you out." He turned around and began to walk away.
Krillen and Goku looked at each other. They really could not fail this mission. Goku was the first to react. "Than please excuse my rudeness." Goku flew towards Wun, kicks flying faster than rain during a storm. Wun was doing well against Goku until he let Goku's foot land on his shoulder. Goku now stood on top of Wun and held on tight with his feet, refusing to let go. He smirked. Spinning slowly at first, Goku sped up, drilling the monk deep into the ground. Goku finally stopped spinning and Wun found himself shoulder deep under a pile of rocks.
Without anyone to hold onto the lid, Fire Monkey jumped out of the pot. Immediately, a net was thrown at him. "Fire..." Krillen shot a look in the direction of the all but forgotten old man.
Yip and his men now had possession of the monkey. Yip mocked the two warriors and the monk. "You may mock me as much as you want, but I have the monkey. So long!" Without another look backward, Yip and his men began a hasty retreat.
Goku jumped off the monk's shoulder ready to give chase. Krillen held him back. Wun, enraged at himself for letting Fire Monkey get away, flew out of his hole and gave chase. Goku looked at Krillen in shock. "We can't stand around. We have to get..."
"No need to buddy. We needed Fire Monkey to find Buddopa. Who would have known that Buddopa had found Fire Monkey?" Goku gave his friend an inquistive look. Krillen merely smiled and walked over to the old man. "Hello Buddopa. It's a pleasure to meet you."
*****
All the lights were out in the city of Taun and all the watchmen killed. Taun sat up as he heard someone enter his room. "Who goes?" He saw Vegeta's face and relaxed a bit recognizing him as one of Han's men. His face immediately changed as Vegeta advanced towards him. Realization dawned on him. He was going to be murdered. Taun reached for his sword.
A few seconds later, Vegeta emerged from Taun's room, not even a scratch on his well toned body, where he was greeted by a waiting Bat and Rabbit. "Have you killed everyone in the city and burned the buildings like I told you to?"
"Yes Master Vegeta. We killed all the adults and have set fire to everything. But we weren't sure what to do with the kids."
Vegeta looked behind them and spotted a group of kids, all huddled together, crying and screaming in fear. Without hesitation Vegeta gave his order. "Kill them. All of them."
NEXT TIME ON STORM RIDERS: Buddopa is kidnapped from Goku and Krillen. A bit of Goku and Chi Chi romance and Han finally finds out what the ending to his dream/vision is like.