WHERE ARE YOU

WHERE ARE YOU???

CHAPTER 6

Disclaimer: If you don't already know I don't own them, go look at the Prologue.

After Krillin and Gohan had eaten a space-sandwich, though they were not sure what was exactly in it, they walked to the spot that was indicated with a star on the card. When they were there, they knocked on the door, because they couldn't find something that looked like a doorbell. The door wasn't opened, but they clearly heard a male voice inviting them to come in. So they went in, and landed in a comfortable looking living room.

"Well, my friends, what brings you here?" the alien asked. It were almost the exact same words Ikala's father had spoken to them when they arrived on Mayoshi-sei, but for some weird reason, the way this alien spoke them wasn't nearly as nice. Krillin bowed a little and he and Gohan sat down. "We came here to inform about a guy named Vegeta." Krillin said, carefully examining the face across him for the reaction. He could see nothing on the features of this man. "Yes, I'll tell you about him, after you tell me what you want him for. But first, let's have a drink." He snapped his fingers, and a beautiful girl came in, carrying a plate with three glasses and a bottle of wine.

Krillin looked at her and his mouth dropped open in surprise. "I know. She is beautiful isn't she?" Zarbon said, when he saw Krillin's reaction to Bulma. "But if you will excuse me for a minute, I need to go have a word with my slave." Krillin wordlessly nodded, and kept staring at Bulma. He stared at the door a long while after she and Zarbon had left the room for their word. Gohan hit him, and that snapped him out of it. "Gohan… was that really B-B-Bulma?" Krillin stammered, looking at Gohan wide eyed. "Yes, it was, and I'm sure she recognized you too." Gohan said, "But, we musn't let the officer know that we're after her. He seemed quite pleased with her. We have to think of a plan to kidnap her, and take her back home. So let's just finish this meeting with an excuse about wanting to know who the famous Prince Vegeta was, and come back tonight to take Bulma." Gohan explained. "Yeah, that sounds like a good plan, but how could she have ended up here? What happened to that bast…"

He was cut of when Zarbon re-entered, with Bulma close behind him. She poured in the glasses with a steal mask on her face, but Gohan could clearly see the hint of sadness in her eyes, just like the glint in the eyes of Ikala's mom. Jeez, I didn't know she loved Krillin so much. But why doesn't she even smile at us or something? He held his head a little turned to the side, as in deep thought. Bulma briefly looked at him, but turned away as soon as their eyes locked. I bet they're gonna try and save me, and I know I won't refuse to go. I'll finally see my friends again. At least, if they succeed. But even dying would be better than live with the loss of my prince. a fresh tear spilled across her cheek. Zarbon saw it, and mentally grumbled, because he knew she was still crying for the stupid good for nothing full of himself prince. Gohan saw it too, and promised to himself that they would get her out of there as soon as possible, thinking that she was treated so badly that she cried. And also Krillin saw it, and barely restrained himself from running towards her, and taking her into his arms to comfort her. Or run to Zarbon and rip his eyes out.

They finished the conversation with Zarbon quickly, and tried to act disappointed when they heard Vegeta was dead. Bulma quickly wiped her eyes at this, but then, just that moment a genial idea jumped to her mind When they do succeed, and we get back to earth, I can use the Dragonballs to wish Vegeta back!!! Zarbon noticed how happy Bulma suddenly looked, and wondered what was going on in that pretty head of hers. But he was pleased to see her happy again. When Krillin and Gohan had left, he pulled her onto his lap. "What made your face turn all happy a minute ago?" he asked her. "Did that handsome boy wink at you or something?" Bulma smiled again, this time barely restraining her laugh. But she put on a flattered little girls' face and just nodded. Zarbon threw back his head in laughter, to cover his jealousy. "Well, dear, as long as you remember that you belong to Freeza alone." Bulma turned humble again. "Yes, my Lord." She whispered. Zarbon then let her go and walked away.

***

That night, Gohan and Krillin flew to Zarbon's quarters as quietly as possible. But before they entered the door, Gohan realized that this alien might be sleeping with Bulma, and that Krillin wouldn't be as quiet as he was now, if he would see that. So he whispered to Krillin: "Hey Krillin, this creature must have very sensitive senses, and be incredibly strong if he's Freeza's first man, so I think it would be better if I go alone, since I have these supersensitive senses to, by being a Saiyan and all." Krillin thought that would be better. "Yeah, kay, but hurry!"

Gohan nodded and sneaked in. He went to where he thought the bedroom was, and found that in the enormous bed Zarbon and Bulma indeed lay together. Zarbon was peacefully asleep, at least, according to his snoring Gohan thought he was, but Bulma was still awake. Her face brightened when she noticed Gohan. "Hey, good to see ya." She whispered. But when Zarbon stirred she spoke no more. She just pointed to Zarbon, indicating Zarbons left arm, tied around her waist, and his right hand resting on her breast. Gohan turned red as a tomato when he realized that Bulma was only wearing a see-through nighty. Great, now I get to see the girlfriend of my best friend almost naked. I hope Krillin won't kill me immediately! He softly tiptoed to Zarbons side of the bed, hovered above them, and began lifting Zarbons right hand off Bulma, carefully keeping his eyes only on Zarbon. When it was lifted, he put the arm on Zarbons side, and gulped when he realized that the only way to get Bulma out was to lift her and carry her out the room. But he had to, he couldn't let his friend stay enslaved just because he was afraid to see her naked. So he nervously smiled at her, and took her in his arms, keeping his eyes only on her face. But Bulma, scared, flung her arms around his neck and pressed herself against him. Oh great, forget my former wish, I just hope Krillin will kill me instead of torture me to death. Gohan thought, when he softly flew out of the room.

He took Bulma out of the room, and just then noticed she had picked up her backpack on the way out. She took out some clothes, and quickly put them on, smiling when she saw Gohan looking the other way. He was blushing. She thought of Krillins temper, and knew for sure that he would make a scene if he would see Gohan carrying her this way. So she had taken the backpack just in time. Gohan lifted her again when she was dressed, flying to avoid the sound of footsteps, and went out of the room.

He flew straight to Krillin, and nearly tossed Bulma into his arms. Krillin stared at Gohan in surprise, and then at Bulma who was giggling. Luckily for Gohan he didn't put the two things together, but just kissed Bulma and carried her all the way to their ship.

Gohan set coordinates for earth and the ship took off. Silently, because that was included in the wish. The ship was to make no noise at takeoff. Krillin laid Bulma in bed, because he could see how tired she was. He then thanked Gohan and went to sleep. Gohan just smiled, and blushed a little when he remembered Bulma. He would have to remember to thank her for saving him from the wrath of Krillin. He then undressed, tugged himself in and fell asleep, dreaming of Ikala.

***

The next morning Gohan checked how long it would take them to go to Earth, and told them it was three days. This surprised Bulma, because it had taken her and Vegeta nearly a month to reach the last base. The journey from that base to planet Allowis was two days, so that left about twenty-six, or twenty-seven days for the journey back to earth. She asked Krillin why this ship could go so much faster without harming her. "Well," Krillin said, "this isn't exactly a normal ship, it is a ship I wished for from the Eternal Dragon, when I found out I couldn't wish you back…" Bulma thought back about that incident. How warm had Vegeta's protecting arms around her been. It made her feel all fuzzy. "… So I included in my wish that it would have a noiseless takeoff, and could travel enormously fast without the passengers being crushed by the force. So that's why. But now, I don't care anymore how long it takes, as long as I'm with you." He hugged Bulma, and she hugged him back, but her heart was with Vegeta. But I can't tell Krillin, it would break his heart! she thought. Oh, this is so tough! Well, at least I can finally wish Vegeta back when we're on earth!

***

Two days later a royal looking man arrived on base 34'72. His flaming black hair stood up straight, and his ebony eyes looked furious. "What do you mean, you don't know where Freeza went? Of course you know!!" Vegeta roared to the shaking man in the check-in. "If you don't tell me where Freeza went in two seconds, I'll blast you to Hell!" The man almost fainted, and thought to himself I don't care about Freeza's order anymore. I mean what's the chance he'll find out it was I who told Vegeta? Second to nothing! "H-h-he went to planet Allowis a w-week ago." The alien stammered. "Only an hour after your departure, your highness. And he took all of your possessions, and told us not to respond on your calls anymore. He personally cut off your radio. Will you spare me now please?" he begged. And though Vegeta hated people begging for their lives, he spared the man this time. He just punched him in the gut and went back into his spaceship. Two minutes after his arrival he had left already. New course set for Allowis.

***

"WHAT!!! GONE!!!" Freeza shouted. "Yes, Master Freeza, I was sleeping with her, I mean actually asleep, and when I woke up she was gone. I don't know how this could've happened without me noticing, I was holding her in my arms. She couldn't have possibly…" Freeza interrupted him sneering: "Well, apparently she could. And may I ask, Zarbon, why you're telling me this two whole days after it happened?" Zarbon cringed at the fury of Freeza. "I-I was hoping to find her somewhere on the base, Master Freeza." He softly answered. "Well, Zarbon, smart move. She is probably long gone by now." He pressed a button on his chair and bend down to the receiver. "Send Captain Ginyu in here immediately!" he shouted. "Yes sir!" the man on the other end answered, and ran away to find the infamous captain of the Ginyu Force. "Well, Zarbon, I bet you feel really stupid right now, after letting a slave escape that I had such great plans with." Freeza mercilessly continued. "And you know what's even worse, at least for you, I'm in a really bad mood today!" At that moment Captain Ginyu stalked in, and bowed before Freeza. "Greetings Master Freeza, I heard you called for me?" Freeza looked at him and answered. "Yes Ginyu, Zarbon here let a very valuable slave escape, and I want her back. Here is a picture of her." Ginyu looked at it, and was very surprised. Wow! She's hot! Too bad she's Freeza's. I wonder where he got this chick from! "I have personally put a metal band around her thigh, which has a tracking device built in, and I have the receiver right here. I want you to gather up the Ginyu Force and go retrieve her immediately."

"Yes Master Freeza, as you wish." Ginyu took the receiver and walked out to gather Burter, Recoome, Jeice and Guldo. Ah Guldo. He smirked to himself when he remembered how he had punished him two days ago. Sitting in the info center, where every alien on the planet could see him being embarrassed! That had been a great plan. And grinning to himself, Ginyu went to get his men.

***

One day later Vegeta finally arrived at planet Allowis. He stormed out of his spaceship and sped off to Freeza. "FREEZA!" he roared, as he smashed the door in. "What have you done with my slave?" Freeza lifted an eyebrow. "Well, well, If it isn't Vegeta. I'm amazed at how little time it took for you to find me. But what was your question again, boy?" he smirked. I will die before I admit that I let a puny slave with almost no powerlevel escape. "You heard me!! What have you done with my slave!!! NO ONE is allowed to take what belongs to me!!" he shouted, and attacked Freeza head on. "Oh, yes, the slave." Freeza said, while transforming and in the meanwhile throwing fierce punches and kicks. "Well, I first wanted to take her for myself, but as soon as she was told that the radiocontact with your ship had been broken off, and that that usually means that the ship has been destroyed, she was in tears." Vegeta growled and hit Freeza hard in the stomach. "My complements, you've gotten better, too bad you have to die soon." Freeza mocked, and kicked Vegeta back against the wall, where he lied dazed for a second, and then jumped back in to fight on, but he was getting tired. "Now, where was I?" Freeza said, while blasting Vegeta upwards, then quickly appearing above him to smash him down into the ground. "Oh, right, the slave. Well, she just couldn't stop crying, and it annoyed the shit out of me," he continued, while elbowing Vegeta into the wall, where Vegeta laid unmoving, because he couldn't get up anymore. He just didn't have the strength. "… so I killed her." Freeza finished coolly, while preparing the final blast to finish off Vegeta.

"Y-YOU WHAT!! YOU KILLED MY MATE??" Vegeta yelled. Standing up again, with sudden new strength. So that's why Vegeta was so keen about her. He was planning to marry her! "Yeah, who cares!" Freeza mocked. "HOW DARE YOU!" Vegeta shouted, his hair flashing gold for a second. Freeza saw it, and stepped back a little. "Now, Vegeta, don't take this too hard, she isn't that important is she?" he said, looking a little scared. "HOW DARE YOU EVEN TOUGH MY MATE, LET ALONE KILL HER!!!" Vegeta screamed at the top of his lungs. "BULMAAAAAAAAAAAH" he shouted, as he finally transformed into what he had always wanted, always trained for to be. "Uhm Vegeta, can't we just talk this out?" Freeza said, now really scared. "You don't have to transform on me. I always fed you, clothed you, and trained you. You can't just kill me, I was always so good to you. I – AAAAAAAAAH" he also shouted, as Vegeta blasted him. "I should kill you slowly and painful," Vegeta growled to him, just before he killed Freeza. "But you're not even worth the trouble. Say Goodbye! FINAL FLASH." And Freeza was no more.

When it was over Vegeta sank to the floor. He had finally attained his goal, he finally was a Super Saiyan, but for to high a price. His mate, his princess, his Bulma was dead. Killed by his tyrannical master. He should've been there. He should've protected her. Now he had nothing left to live for.

He was just about to send a powered up, ki filled fist into his chest when Freeza communication unit bleeped. "Master Freeza, this is a message sent by the Ginyu Force. The slave called Bulma Briefs has arrived on a planet called Chikyuu, or Earth. The Ginyu Force will arrive there in half a day. Unless they get other orders, they are just going to do what they are told to. Kill all inhabitants and take the slave back to this base." With another bleep the message ended. Vegeta was smashed. "He lied. He lied to me. Bulma isn't dead. She has just escaped back to her planet. MY PRINCESS IS ALIVE! But she thinks I'm dead. I must go there. I must save her from the Ginyu Force!" and again Vegeta sped back to his space ship, leaving planet Allowis behind him, two hours after he had arrived there.

***

Bulma, Krillin and Gohan had finally arrived on earth. All the Z-senshi and there families were waiting for them in the desert. The happiness was enormous "My Baby!!" Chi Chi yelled, as she ran to her seventeen-year-old son to hug him tightly. "Oh honey, are you okay?" "Yeah, mom," Gohan said, his head muffled in Chi Chi's embrace, "I'm fine." Bulma was also hugged to death by her crying mother. "Oh, sweetheart, I thought I would never see you again, I'm so happy to have you back!" The air was filled with happiness and after everyone had hugged and kissed Gohan, Krillin and Bulma, they all went to Capsule Corp to have breakfast.

After the enormous meal, Bulma took Goku apart in another room. "Goku, I need you to do me a favor." She whispered excitedly. "Sure Bulma, what do I have to do?" Goku answered, scratching his head. "I need you to find me the Dragonballs, as soon as possible. I need them. Please?" she asked, giving him the puppy dog look. "Of course Bulma, I would do anything for you. But you're forgetting that the Dragonballs aren't active anymore, since me and all the others were wished back remember? But what's the prob.? Maybe I can help?" Tears sprang to Bulma's eyes. "No, no, you can't. And I can't tell you. But please Goku, hold me, hug me. I really need some comfort right now!" she sniffed. "Of course. You know I love you! You're my best friend!" Goku said and hugged Bulma tightly. She rested her head on his shoulder and sobbed uncontrollably. They stood there like that for ten minutes, and Goku softly caressed Bulma's hair. "Are you sure you can't say what's wrong? Not even to your best friend?" He asked again. "N-no. I want to tell you, but I can't." Bulma whispered. "But, why are you coming to me with this? You have Krillin now don't you?" he said, trying to stop her crying, as he wiped her tears away with his thumb. "Y-yes, but I love… " And she cried again. Goku just hugged her again, but was astonished. She was in love with some one back there! It – It must've been Vegeta! Oh Kami! Krillin is not going to like this! "What happened, Bulma? Where's Vegeta now?" he softly asked. He felt Bulma tense in his arms. "How did you guess? Don't tell anyone!!" she panicked. "Don't worry honey, I won't tell. But where is he?" Bulma started sobbing again. "He – He's dead!!" she yelled, and held Goku so tight that he could hardly breathe anymore. "Oh Bulma. You poor girl…" Goku said, and held her for the next hour, waiting patiently till she felt better.

***

Vegeta was panicking. "I will never make it in time when I'm going this slow! I have to… " And then he remembered a emergency disconnecter. "Yes! Yes, that's it. When I press that button, I can travel much faster in a pod!" He wasted no more time, stepped in the pod and launched himself. "With some luck I will arrive there in time." he said to himself and looked at the travel time. "SHIT! One hour late. I will arrive one hour too late!!! Well, all I can do is hope that she's okay when I arrive. Darned slow pods!!!" he cursed and fell in a restless sleep.

***

Some time later Gohan stretched his senses. He jumped and looked at Yamcha, Krillin and Tien. "Guys, do you feel it too?" Gohan asked the others. "Yeah, five enormously high powerlevels are coming this way, who could they be?" Yamcha asked. Gohan and Krillin looked to each other and thought the same thing. "Shit! They came after us!" Krillin said. "Yeah, but how?" Gohan asked. "I don't know… Oh Kami! It must've been that weird white band around her leg! I couldn't get it off without hurting her, so forgot it, thinking that we could get it off later, back on CC." Krillin stammered. "And where's Goku? We need him for this battle! I'll go find him. I can sense his ki." Gohan flew off to the room Bulma and Goku came out. "Dad! Do you feel it?" he asked. "Yes, son I know. They are coming here for Bulma, I'm sure. We must stand together, or we won't even have a chance. Do you know who these aliens can be?" Goku said, directing the last part to Bulma. "Well, describe them."

"There are five enormously high powerlevels, and… that's all I can say for now."

"I… I don't know… Oh! They must be the Ginyu Force. I don't know much about them, but there are five of them, and they're Freeza's personal army. They are incredibly strong…" Bulma answered, looking up at Goku with fear. "Thanks, we have to go now. You stay here." "No! I won't! They came here for me, so I want to see them. And besides, maybe I can help!" Bulma said. "I guess we can't stop you even if we want to, right?" Gohan asked, smiling at her. "You bet not!" Bulma answered, looking ready for battle. "Oh well, then come along, but stay out of trouble okay?"

"Sure. You know me!" Bulma smiled. "Yeah, that's why I'm worried." Gohan answered. He then picked her up, forgetting all about his trauma the last time he carried her, and all the Z-senshi flew to the desert.

When they got there, the Ginyu Force had already arrived. They were standing in a circle, whispering, and when Goku understood that they hadn't been seen yet, he yelled to be noticed. "What are you doing here?" even though he knew perfectly well that they came to get Bulma back. The heads of the members of the Ginyu Force jumped up, and they immediately began one of their introduction dances.

The first one to introduce himself was a small fat green alien with four eyes. He turned a pirouette and froze in end position. "Guldo!!" he yelled. "Hey Gohan! Ain't that the guy who was sitting in the info center? I didn't know he was that dangerous!" Krillin whispered to his friend. Then a huge man looking humanoid with red hair did a very elegant dance, which looked very stupid on him, and ended standing on one leg with his arms spread. "Recoome!!" he shouted. Thirdly a very tall blue fish-like man with blood red eyes did his personal dance and froze hissing: "Burter!!" The fourth who introduced himself was a red man, not so tall with long white hair, a handsome face and an Australian accent. "Jeice!!!" he screamed. "And last but not least," another voice spoke, which belonged to the tall purple alien with the horns, who did a flip and neatly landed on his feet. "Captaaaaain Ginyu!!!" they stood like that for a second and then all together shouted. "Together we are… THE GINYU FORCE!!"

All the Z-senshi were stunned. "What kind of idiots are they?" Piccolo whispered to Gohan. Gohan happily turned around. "Mr. Piccolo!" he yelled happy like a child "I didn't know you would come!" Piccolo just smiled and nodded at the teen that looked up at him with admiration. He then turned his attention back to the Ginyu Force, as did everyone else. "They may be idiots, but they're unimaginably strong!" Krillin said, feeling the powerlevels. Gohan just looked at Jeice. So that's Ikala's brother! He looks like her. How can he be this evil!

Before anyone realized it, the Ginyu Force attacked.

***