REASON
Disclaimer: I do not own Dragonball Z or any of the Dragonball Z characters, they belong to Akira Toriyama. I am not making any money off posting this story so don't sue me. (Trust me, it isn't worth it!)
Reason transformed into prejudice is the worst form of prejudice, because reason is the only instrument for liberation from prejudice.
-Allan Bloom
Chapter 2: A single blast
"Dammit Vegeta, there is no way you are leaving me here with Trunk's like this."
"I'm sure the brat will cope, just let him rest."
"But we don't have any senzu Vegeta."
"He doesn't need one, he's just a little beat up."
"Vegeta you practically blasted him into the next dimension."
"Maybe he will train harder then to avoid such incidents in the future."
"Vegeta, you are not going."
"Woman, you can't stop me."
"Maybe not, but I can make your life a living hell when you come back."
"Perhaps I won't then."
Bulma was surprised Vegeta had let up so easily, far too easily for her liking, but tried to hide it. "I knew you'd come to your senses."
"No, I meant I won't come back."
"Oh yeah, you'll be back. Just you wait."
The words were wasted on thin air. Vegeta had long since departed to his sparring session with Goku leaving Bulma to look after her unconscious son.
As Vegeta flew he sensed a familiar power. He would almost have gone so far as to say that it was Goku himself if it had not been so undeniably low. Intending to ignore it Vegeta put on a burst of speed and carried on. However, on contemplation Vegeta could not differentiate between the mysterious power and that of Goku and curiosity overcame him. Slightly altering his course he headed towards it, scolding himself for his idiocy the whole way.
There was no doubt about it now - it was Goku. Now Vegeta was faced with a decision, either Goku had been defeated by some power that he was unable to sense in which case Vegeta should power up, or Goku was hiding his power in order to hide in which case Vegeta should be doing the same. A snap decision was made and Vegeta dropped to the forest floor and continued on foot. "I trust that idiot too much," Vegeta muttered.
When the power seemed closer Vegeta began to encounter craters and burnt scrub indicating a battle had taken place recently. Starting to doubt his decision to mask his power Vegeta reminded himself that Goku was far too powerful to be defeated by a battle that nobody else had sensed. There had been no powers raised to a fighting level for ages and Goku wouldn't have gone down without an almighty battle. Despite the logic, something still bothered Vegeta, something he couldn't put his finger on.
A flash of orange could be seen behind a large bush. Vegeta knew now, not only from the power signal, that it was Goku. He stealthily crept towards the orange, glad he could finally clear up this whole episode. However, as he approached he became more aware of the other colour standing out in the clearing, red. No longer bothering to hide Vegeta dashed out from his hiding place and knelt beside the unconscious Goku who was bleeding from a huge wound in his stomach. Vegeta checked for other injuries, unable to find how such a relatively small wound could cause a Saiyan to be knocked unconscious.
"Kakkarot," Vegeta urged, shaking Goku's shoulder. Goku's head lolled from side to side, but it seemed that he was out cold. Vegeta began to shake Goku more violently now, desperate for some kind of explanation.
A small groan cracked from Goku's lips and his eyes partially opened, but dropped leaving only two small slits. "Vegeta," he said, his voice strained and his throat sounded dry. "They're...they're coming." With that his head rolled sideways and his body loosened. Instinctively Vegeta's hand started to head out towards Goku's carotid artery, but he withdrew his hand without touching him comforted by the fact that he could still sense Goku's power. "That woman's had too much of an influence on me," he mumbled under his breath.
Once more something began to nag at Vegeta's mind and he tried to brush the feeling aside, but it wouldn't fade. Ignoring it he grabbed Goku's arm and held it over his shoulders and Vegeta wrapped his other arm about Goku's waist and was about to take off when he felt pain, then nothing more.
"Trunks, honey, it's OK." Bulma sat at her son's bedside whispering softly to him as he groaned softly and shifted. She had been sitting with him for most of the day and he was only just starting to come around. Silently, Bulma cursed Vegeta. He and Trunks had been sparring and as usual Vegeta had pushed too far. Normally Vegeta was rough, but Trunks had not trained for some time making the session that much worse. Still, none of this justified Vegeta throwing his most powerful attack at his own son when he was fully aware that Trunks was too weak to take it. Bulma constantly ridiculed Vegeta for his Saiyan pride. To him it was the be all and end all and that in itself made his life miserable. There was no way that Vegeta would ever surpass Goku, he just didn't have the right state of mind. However, if her husband wanted a tormented existence that was his choice. He did not have the right to force Trunks in the same direction. Not once did Bulma consider she was doing the same thing by pushing Trunks into Capsule Corporation.
Her thoughts were interrupted when Trunks's eyes fluttered open, but quickly shut again trying to avoid the glare in his eyes. Pushing the blanket and sheet aside he swung about on his bed and rested his feet on the floor. Forcing his eyes open he found himself facing out his window where the sun was beginning to sink low in the sky.
"Whoa, what's the time Mum?" Trunks groaned groggily, fearing the answer.
"It's almost 5 o'clock."
"Damn, Dad's gonna kill me. How long was I out for?" Trunks asked, his eyes slowly attempting to open.
"Almost 9 hours, but don't worry about it. I'm going to kill your father before he ever lay's a finger on you again."
Trunks tried to exonerate his father's actions, but found it hard considering he didn't really condone them himself. He just didn't want his parents to start fighting again because it always ended with Bulma in tears and Vegeta taking off to some damn island halfway across the world. As a result he would have to pick up the pieces which was not always easy. As much as he dreaded an enraged Saiyan that had far superior power, he still hated seeing his mother distraught the most and it took nothing short of a dam to stop the tears. "He's only trying to train me Mum. It's for my own good really. It's just that I haven't been training much lately and..."
Trunks was cut of by his mother, "and he shouldn't have been so hard on you."
"But still, I shouldn't have been sleeping for so long. Dad is so going to kill me." Trunks let his self preservation kick in.
"You weren't sleeping, you were unconscious and I'll cut a deal with you. Your Dad's not home yet, he's training with Goku, so I will tell him that you came 'round shortly after he left if you will rest a little longer."
"Mum, I'm fine, really. I think I can get up."
"Then you should be well enough to face your father when he finds out you were sleeping for a whole day." Bulma already knew she had won. As brave as Trunks would act at times he still was able to feel fear. She hated using her son's father against him, but it was for his own good.
Resigned to his fate Trunks swung his feet back into his bed and lay his head on the pillow, not even realising that he was still only semiconscious.
Bulma nodded in approval and crept out of the room leaving her son to regain his strength.
A few hours later Trunks took in a deep breath and let his eyes shoot open. He felt around his floor for his watch. When he found it he fell back into his bed and read the time, 8.38. As if stung he leapt out of his bed and began tossing on some clothes before running towards the kitchen to grab a snack, fearing the worst from his father. He began to imagine the gruelling hours of training that surely lay ahead of him. It's not that he didn't like training, in fact it was quite the opposite. It was about the only time he got to spend with his father, but Vegeta took it way too seriously. It would seem that the world was at peace, so why did they have to constantly prepare for war? However, of all the things Trunks had expected from his father, he had not anticipated the sight that was about to greet his eyes. When he entered the kitchen he found his mother sitting at the breakfast bar next to the phone with her chin resting on her hands, what he had not expected was the tears that ran down his mother's face.
"Mum, what's wrong?"
Startled Bulma jerked her head up and she hurriedly wiped the tears from her eyes. "Trunks, you're up. How do you feel?"
"Fine. What's wrong?"
Bulma seemed to pause for a second before she said, "It's your father, he's still not come home."
"I thought he went training with Goku, he's probably just lost track of time."
Bulma reached an arm out for her son and he quietly approached and wrapped his arms about her. Bulma began to speak a lot more quietly as if she no longer had any strength. "Normally Chi-Chi would have sent him home by now, but I haven't heard anything from her either."
"Mum, Dad's always disappearing without a word. It's kinda rough for you I know, but you've gotten pretty used to it over the years, so what's the real problem?"
"You're not your father's son for no reason are you? You always want an explanation don't you?"
"I just want to help Mum."
"I know, but you can't help me. I really need to talk to Vegeta about this one first and we had a fight before he left and I just wish he'd come home so I could tell him." Bulma's words began to speed up and she ended up in tears with her face buried in her son's torso.
Trunks silently cursed his father for leaving his mother like this. He didn't really understand what had happened, but if his Mum wanted Vegeta around then he would get him. Placing his hands gently on Bulma's shoulders he drew her back. "I'll go find him for you, OK?"
Her son's kindness brought more tears to her eyes, but she managed a small thank you.
Unsure about leaving his mother in this state Trunks glanced backwards as he was about to take off. Thinking quickly he ran to his room and when he returned he waved his cell-phone by Bulma. "I'll take my phone and if Vegeta turns up or you need me for any reason, just give me a ring."
"Mmhm, thanks Trunks."
Trunks shot his mother one final smile then blasted off towards the Son house.
As he flew Trunks grew more and more angry with his father. It was not about the constant insults he received from Vegeta, but rather his attitude towards Bulma. She needed him and he was out sparring with Goku. He had no idea what his mother could need someone like Vegeta so desperately to talk to, but accepted the fact that she had her reasons. She obviously saw something in Vegeta or they wouldn't still be together after all those fights and arguments. It never ceased to amaze him the number of times Vegeta could insult his mother without the whole relationship crumbling to nothing. Not that Bulma didn't get her own back. She displayed a real flair for getting Vegeta to do things he didn't want to. Trunks assumed that deep down Vegeta probably wanted to take part in all those things with Bulma, otherwise he would never have given in. He would have easily managed to get out of whatever punishment Bulma designated, but out of respect or laziness he would let Bulma win occasionally. This was an astonishing thing to see a proud prince let someone win. He would never even let his son win a fight, ever. Despite this sign of affection that few noticed, Trunks was still angry with his father. While Vegeta could be a very good gentleman, sometimes he was just an arrogant warrior.
Before long he began to wonder where his father could possibly be. Trunks was close enough to the Son house to locate the power, especially if Vegeta was training with Goku, but he couldn't feel a thing. "What are you up to Dad?" Trunks spoke quietly to himself, almost wishing his father would answer.
Suddenly Trunks felt something, a faint power, but very familiar. "It can't be Dad," Trunks said to nobody in particular. "It's far too weak..." he trailed off realising the implications of his words and repeated them as if hoping it would change something, "It's far too weak." Thinking back to his numerous lectures he recalled that a low power would mean someone hiding equally as often as someone badly injured. Proud he had recalled his lessons he pushed his power down and began to approach the power on foot. Once again he began to wonder what was going on.
"Dad! Goku!" Trunks yelled when he saw his father and Goku. He pressed his fingers onto his father's neck, then repeated the process on Goku. He found that each of their pulses were weak and rapid. He shook his father, hoping for some kind of response but got none. Panic began to set in because there was no way he could carry both Goku and his dad at once and he surely couldn't leave one of them alone in case whatever attacked them returned. Whatever had done this was strong and clever. They had taken down two of the world's strongest men without anyone even sensing a battle. This was what worried Trunks the most, the fact that neither Goku's or Vegeta's power levels had been raised significantly today, at least not that he had noticed. He had been unconscious, but he was sure that the other Z-Warriors would have come running at any indication of such a fight and there was an apparent lack of anyone other than himself.
Not wanting to waste time reflecting on the situation while his father and close friend bled to death he pulled out the cell-phone and called Gohan's house on the automatic dial.
"Hello, this is Videl speaking."
"Videl, its Trunks here. Can I please speak to Gohan? It's urgent."
"Sure, just a sec Trunks." Videl hadn't wasted time in dragging Gohan away from his book, knowing that something was very wrong, just from the tone Trunks had used. Indecipherable mutterings were heard in the background as Videl gave Gohan the phone.
"Trunks? You there?" Gohan spoke with more than a slight edge.
"Yeah. Gohan we've got trouble."
"What?" Gohan felt his throat clench and a small amount of adrenaline was released into his system.
Trunks hesitated, wondering how he should tell Gohan. Opting not to waste time on minding Gohan's reactions he blurted out, "I've just found Dad and Goku lying unconscious in the middle of nowhere."
"What happened?" Gohan was trying to stay calm, hoping there was a perfectly logical explanation.
"I don't know, but it looks a lot like they were attacked."
Gohan's hopes were crushed, but his education and tactical training pointed out the obvious flaw in this bringing him a little more hope. "But we would have sensed any major battle going on. That's not right. Are you sure?"
"Pretty sure, but Gohan, we haven't got time for this. I need help getting them out of here."
Gohan resigned himself to reality and accepted the fact that there would be time for doubt and fear later. "Sure, sorry. Where is the middle of nowhere? Tell me and I'll be right there."
"Umm, well about four fifths of the way between my house and your dad's."
"OK, I'm on my way. Oh, and Trunks, do we need senzu?"
"Definitely."
The simple reply caused Gohan to worry even more. Gohan turned off the phone and turned towards his wife who had been listening to the conversation. "Where's Pan?"
"She's sleeping in her crib. Why? What's happened?" Videl snapped fearing something was wrong with her daughter.
"Dad and Vegeta are in trouble. Can you take Pan to your father to take care of, then go to Karin's tower and get some senzu."
Just as she was about to leave she turned back and looked at Gohan and asked him what he would be doing. Gohan confirmed Videl's fears by telling her that he was going to get his father. She knew that there were no alternatives, but still did not want her husband running into such dangerous situations. She had never liked it and probably would never get used to it. Being a good wife though she tried to disguise her own uncertainty knowing that Gohan should have more important things on his mind than worrying about his obsessive wife. Thinking that he probably already knew how she felt about the whole situation she settled for a simple, "Be careful." Gohan looked knowingly back at her confirming her previous assumption. Videl did not stop to ask further questions realising the necessity of immediate action. Instead she dashed to Pan's room and lifted the small bundle into her arms. Taking a double take of the room she realised she had left the bag of Pan's necessity's that had been lugged everywhere for the last year. Throwing this over he shoulder she took to the sky heading straight for her father's house.
When she touched down at her fathers house Pan was wide awake and had only just stopped screaming. She rocked her gently hoping to settle her down before presenting her father with her daughter. Realising that calming down an upset quarter Saiyan within moments was too much of a challenge she knocked on the door and entered without waiting for a reply.
Mister Satan was sitting in the lounge sprawled across a couch sleeping. Videl wondered how he managed to sleep with the TV as loud as it was. Not wasting time on such trivial matters she shifted Pan to one arm and attempted to rouse her father, to no avail. Getting desperate she tried to think of an alternative method. While doing so her eyes fell on the remote. She picked it up and pressed the power button. In an instant Mister Satan was awake and found himself face to face with his daughter. "Hey hun, what's up?"
Videl let out an exasperated sigh and thrust her only child into his arms and asked, "Can you take care of Pan for a while? I have to-" Videl wondered what she should tell her father. He had always been a coward, but she still loved him and didn't want to point out his inadequacies unless it was absolutely necessary.
"You have to what?" Mister Satan looked at his daughter, his curiosity piqued.
"Gohan and I are, well, we are going off somewhere together." Videl was mentally smacking herself for her idiotic explanation while still hoping he would buy it.
"Ohhh," he replied in a very sly manner, obviously thinking Videl was up to something very different to what she actually had planned.
Realising this Videl opened her mouth to protest and tell him to get his head out of the gutter, but caught herself. Trying to suppress the urge to protect her pride she just smiled and muttered thanks before she was out the door.
Once in the sky again Videl headed towards Karin's tower trying to put on as much speed a possible. Even when pushing herself really hard she found the trip slow. It had been a little over a year and a half since she'd done any serious form of training and this was now catching up on her. Looking after Pan had been a full time job for her and she hadn't seen the point in pretending that she could keep up fighting. Her father had acted disappointed, but secretly he had been pleased that she had settled down and was prepared to stay out of any serious combat.
Trunks had considered ringing his mother, but decided against it. She would only get really worried and then start crying again and both of these activities would not prove fruitful. Instead he went about trying to stop the bleeding on the two unconscious warriors, without much success.
By the time Gohan arrived Goku's power had slipped even more and Vegeta was beginning to follow suit. "Dad!" Gohan's voice echoed through the forest and caused Trunks to wince. However, he did not blame Gohan for his shock. It was a truly scary sight to see the strongest man alive lying in a pool of his own blood. Taking his father in his arms Gohan said to Trunks, "We'd better take them to your place. It's further, but I can't think of a better plan. We don't really want them in a hospital because the questions tend to get a little hard to answer when they want to know what the scar at the bottom of the spine is from and other stuff like that. Plus Capsule Corporation is as well equipped as any hospital, if not better."
"Kay, but what about the senzu beans?"
"Well, I sent Videl to go and get some so she'll meet us at your place. The sooner we get there the better."
With that the two took their fathers and blasted off towards Capsule Corporation as fast as the laws of physics would allow.
Meanwhile Videl had just about reached the top of Karin's tower. A strangely familiar smell seemed to penetrate Videl's consciousness vaguely reminding her of something that she could not put her finger on.
When she set her feet onto the platform Videl felt the blood in her veins freeze then begin to race erratically through her body. Her head seemed to float away from her shoulders and she was vaguely aware of her stomach churning. Without realising it Videl forced her lunch back down and forced herself to get a closer to assess the situation. The entire place was falling apart. Tiles and brick lay randomly scattered across Videl's path. The smell that she had sensed not long ago now permeated her entire nose, taking control. Finally she was able to put a name to the smell, burning flesh and rubble. It was a smell she shouldn't have to know, one that she had tried to wring from her own memories. Without thinking she understood the significance of this and began to search through the rubble desperately seeking life.
It wasn't long before she came across what remained of the tower's residents. The sight itself was enough to cause a person to lapse into a dizzy unconsciousness and Videl had to fight to avoid such an occurrence. Dropping her head she whispered an apology, unsure of how it was her fault in the first place. Then she turned away from the sight and began to search through the rubble again, this time hoping to find some senzu. Already she knew it was hopeless, someone hadn't done this for the sake of it. It was a tactical strike with one thing in mind. Someone didn't want Goku and Vegeta getting better any time soon. It wasn't long before she gave up and decided to return to her husband to see if she could be of any assistance, even if it was only moral support. Knowing how close Gohan and Goku were she knew that Gohan would be pretty upset by now.
Bulma opened the door curiously, but her face still stained by her previous tears. "Videl, hello. Please come in. How are you?"
"Fine, thank you." Videl wondered if Bulma realised how far from the truth that really was. She was fairly sure her face looked like someone had dropped a bucket of bleach on it. Her stomach still felt light from the lack of blood and her head was spinning. She had been away from battlefields so long the horrible memories had faded away and left her in a happy paradise without pain and suffering. To be thrown back into those pits of misery so quickly and unexpectedly had taken its toll on her.
Bulma however was far too distracted by her own concerns that she did not notice the telltale signs of anxiety written across Videls face. Instead she continued to hold up her cheerful facade, "Where's Gohan and Pan today?"
Videl faulted. "Bulma, don't you know?"
Bulma stared Videl straight in the eye and shook her head slightly.
Videl led Bulma to the lounge and sat her down and explained the afternoon's events to her. The whole time she was wondering why Bulma was the last to know about this.
When they touched down Trunks and Gohan wasted no time in getting their fathers inside and onto a bed in the medical section of Capsule Corporation. Bulma and Videl had followed trying to keep up with the two boys. Bulma had been asking questions left, right and centre, most of which Trunks couldn't answer.
It did not take long for Bulma's medical knowledge to kick in and she began to hook up the two injured men to every machine imaginable. Trunks and Gohan stood back, suddenly feeling very stupid and helpless.
"Videl, have you got the senzu beans?" Trunks enquired. Gohan had completely forgotten, having been swept up by the shock of seeing his father so vulnerable. Bulma who hadn't even known of the plan also stopped to see if Videl did indeed have any senzu beans.
"Umm..."
"Oh damn. You haven't have you." Trunks seemed to become highly agitated and Gohan could tell he was trying his hardest to restrain himself. It seemed strange to Gohan that Trunks could still love his father so devotedly despite the treatment he constantly received.
"Well, I really need to talk to you about that. You see, when I got to the top of Karin's tower the whole place was pretty torn up, like there had been a fight or something. There was no survivors and there was no senzu beans or senzu plant in sight."
The room fell silent except for the quiet beeping of Goku and Vegeta's heart monitors. Gohan was the first to speak up, "We should ring the others and get them together. Whatever is going on it's not good and with Dad and Vegeta down we are going to need all the help we can get."
Bulma and Videl nodded in agreement, but Trunks just stood at his father's side staring at the calm face. Gohan noticed, but said nothing, making a mental note to talk to Trunks as soon as he got the chance.
Videl noticed the tension present in the silence and offered to go and make the phone calls. Bulma announced that she would help her. Had either of the boys been in their right minds they would have realised that it only took one person to make a phone call, but neither noticed this flaw in Bulma's normally impeccable logic. Their thoughts were on the apparent task ahead of them, which at the time seemed far too big for the entire Z-Force combined without the help of Goku and Vegeta.
"Wake up soon Dad," Gohan whispered.
"I'm sorry Dad," Trunks whispered.
Back in the kitchen Videl had rung Yamucha, Tien, Chaotzu and Master Roshi. Each had promised to come over as fast as they could. Now Videl had left the two hardest calls to last.
"Hi Marron, it's Videl. Is your Dad there please?"
"Yup, just a minute please Videl."
Videl took the silence as a chance to rub Bulma's arm in silent support. Videl had wondered why Bulma hadn't stayed with Vegeta and Goku, but decided against saying anything.
"Hello, Krillen here."
"Hi Krillen, its Videl."
"Hi Videl. How are you?"
"Fine thanks. Krillen, you'd better come over to Capsule Corporation and bring Juuhachigou. Goku and Vegeta have been attacked and Karin's tower looks like it's had similar treatment." Videl had been around the Son family more than long enough to know what Goku and Krillen meant to each other. This knowledge only made breaking the news harder.
"Is Goku OK?" Krillen's voice stung of urgency.
"We don't really know." The painful truth seemed to hit Videl, although she was not directly related to Goku she still really cared about him, not to mention how much Gohan's happiness meant to her. Saying the words seemed to suddenly make it real and she blinked hard trying to force back the tears.
"How did that happen. Goku's power has barely risen today and he wouldn't have gone down without a fight."
"We don't know, just come and we'll discuss it then." It seemed that not knowing was to become the catch-cry of the day.
"OK, I'll be right there."
The uncertainty of the situation caused Videl to add one final point. "Umm, Krillen."
"Yeah."
"You might want to take Marron to my dad's place. He's looking after Pan so I'm sure he won't mind." Videl considered getting the kids as far away from this whole mess as possible as a very high priority right now. With all this uncertainty it would pay to watch their backs.
"Well, OK." Krillen was clearly wondering why it was so necessary to keep the kids away, but he was a smart guy and Videl knew he would figure it out for himself.
"Bye Krillen."
"Bye."
Videl hung up the phone then began to dial Chichi's number. This would be the hardest call to make. Bulma saw the hesitation and held out her hand for the phone. "Let me Videl. I've known Chichi forever." Videl didn't take much convincing to take up Bulma on this offer and passed the phone over and watched as Bulma's shaking hands dialled Chichi's number.
Back in the infirmary Gohan was trying to talk to Trunks. He really needed to know if there was anything that Trunks could tell him about this nameless foe. "Trunks, I realise that you are worried about your father, but we need to know what happened."
"Why should I be worried about him, Gohan? He doesn't really care what happens to me, so what makes you think that I care what happens to him." Trunks realised how stupid he probably looked sitting at the side of the man he just declared meant nothing to him. He half expected a snide remark from Gohan, but knew that wasn't his style.
"He's your father, Trunks."
"And I'm his son."
Gohan realised the futility of his enterprise and decided to change the topic before things got heated. The last thing he needed to deal with right now was a furious Saiyan. "Just tell me what you know."
Trunks thought of a thousand trite comments that he could make regarding Gohan's blatant change of subject, but saw that he was only trying to help. "I don't really know anything."
"Just start from the beginning." Gohan felt like he was speaking to a five year old and tried to make the request a little less condescending, but still remember that Trunks was only thirteen. "You never know what might help."
Trunks took in a deep breath, "I was...umm...sleeping 'till about 5 o'clock." Trunks saw the questioning stare, but disregarded it. "When I woke up Mum told me to get some more rest and I did just that. Then when I woke up again I found Mum crying about how she had to tell Dad something and he wasn't there. I said that I'd go and find him. He was meant to be training with you Dad, but I couldn't sense either of their powers. Then when I was nearly at your Dad's place I felt a really weak power. It felt a lot like Dad's, but just too weak. I flew down anyway and found them in that clearing. Then I rang you and I think you know the rest of it."
Gohan tried not to seem disappointed. He had hoped Trunks would have been able to tell him something that might help them. "Are you sure that's all?"
"Yeah, sorry." Trunks started to feel very inadequate.
Neither of the two knew what to say so both sat in silence with their respective fathers.
Videl poked her head around the corner and beckoned to Gohan who silently rose and left. He stared at her puzzled at what she could possibly want. While waiting for her to speak Gohan noticed that Videl's face was very pale and she seemed somewhat subdued. He was about to ask what was wrong fearing something might have happened to his mother or brother.
"We just rang your mum. She's on her way and bringing Goten."
Relieved Gohan asked, "How'd she take it."
"Not good."
"I'm not surprised." Gohan could just imagine how his mother would have reacted and tried to smile but didn't manage more than a tiny twist of his lips.
Seemingly unaware of his attempts Videl continued on her own agenda. "Gohan, do you know where Piccolo is?"
"No, but he wouldn't be hard to find."
"Would you mind? Yamcha, Tien and Chaotzu probably won't be any more than backup and Piccolo, well, he's Piccolo."
At that Gohan did smile. "Nah, it's OK. I'm probably the only one who could find him anyway. Just..." Gohan trailed off for a second as he glanced back towards his father. "Just look after my Dad, please."
"Sure honey." With that Videl drew Gohan towards her and hugged him for a moment before he gently broke the embrace. Videl watched as her husband strode down the corridor, but no with his usual confidence. Now he walked with an air of fear and uncertainty, one that haunted all of the Z-Warriors right now.
*
"Jaques, Gohyakugou and Yonhyakugou have destroyed Karin tower. Sanbyakugou and Nihykugou have incapacitated Goku and Vegeta."
"Are they dead?"
"There was a small error in my calculations and..."
"Are they dead?" The demand was spat into Paul's face and he leaned back in his chair trying to avoid further confrontation.
"No, as I said there was a small error in my calculations and it would seem that too much power was put into the blasts causing the androids to run out of power before they could destroy Goku and Vegeta."
"So we are going to need Hyakugou?"
"I don't know yet, but I'd say so. Goku will not go down without a fight."
"Goku is a Saiyan. We have five of the most perfect warriors ever. We will win this time." Paul was concerned by Jaques's blind faith. He claimed to know the enemy intimately, but didn't seem to know his most famous quality, a solid determination that was yet to be rivalled.
"I'm just saying that we are going to need to let Nihyakugou, Sanbyakugou, Yonhyakugou and Gohyakugou recharge before we jump into battle again."
"We don't really want to wait. I want Goku out of the equation as soon as possible. Anyway, I thought the androids had unlimited power source."
"They do, but if it is heavily exerted it can take some time to restore the battery to its previous levels. I'll just alter the programming to avoid such an incident again. Do you want me to send out Hyakugou too?"
"Yes. We will not allow them a chance to know what hit them?"
*
The ringing of a phone brought her ears alive. Rubbing a hand across her face Trina realised that she must have fallen asleep at some point last night. Without opening her eyes Trina leaned across the bed and grabbed the phone, grateful for the silence that followed. Raising the phone to her ear she stuttered through a greeting.
"Morning babe. How you feeling?"
"Mmm, tired. What do you want?" Trina was able to answer the question seconds after the words had escaped her mouth as the memories of yesterday came flooding back.
"I said last night I was going to call you, remember?"
"Yeah, sorry. You just woke me up and I didn't get a very good sleep last night."
"Me either."
Both Trina and Mike began to wonder if the recent train of events had affected the other as much as it had them. Despite their open relationship there were still some topics that were taboo so the statements were taken at face value.
"Do you want me to ring you later?" Mike continued hoping that she would let him get this over and done with. This was the part of the relationship that both struggled to endure and he didn't want to drag it out if he could avoid it at all.
Obviously thinking along the same lines Trina said, "No, I think we should talk. If you give me half an hour I can have a shower and some breakfast then we can meet somewhere and talk face to face."
Not wanting to pressure Trina, Mike decided to check that his wishes weren't affecting her decision. "Are you sure that's what you want?"
"Yeah, why not?" Trina wasn't even sure if it was the truth or not. Lately truth and lies seemed to blur into one at times, each indistinguishable from the other.
"Shall I meet you at The Bassment then?"
"Sounds good, see you then."
Trina hung up the phone and rolled back over thinking she would just rest for a moment before she got up.
Once more the ringing of a phone sounded. Trina's eyes shot open, "Damn." Looking at the clock she began to appreciate how long that minute rest had taken. "Hello," she yelled into the phone.
"Trina, its Mike. Don't shoot." Mike began to wonder if he was about to be blown off. Trina had not been at The Bassment and when he knocked on the door he received no reply. Now he knew for sure she was home.
"Damn, damn, Mike, I'm so sorry. I was just resting for a second and I must have fallen asleep."
Mike fears were assuaged. "It's alright. Just open the door."
"What?" Trina began to wonder what Mike had been smoking, it wouldn't be a first. However thanks to her he did not make it a habit.
"I'm standing on your doorstep and its freezing out here."
Trina was now really baffled, she hated it when he played mind games. "Why didn't you just knock?"
"I did."
Highly embarrassed and unsure of how to reply Trina let out a simple, "Oh."
"Trina, just open the door."
"Yeah right, sorry."
"Stop apologising and get out of bed."
Trina dropped the phone back in its place and stumbled across the mess she had thrown on the floor last night. Still trying to get the sleep out of her eyes she slid the door open and found Mike standing there with a cell phone in his hands. "Morning babe."
"Just come in before the whole place freezes."
Mike shuffled in and took off his trench coat and hung it on the hook at the back of the door. Then he went to the kitchen and began shuffling through the cupboards to get some coffee to take the chill off the day and the edge off their relationship. Really he knew he was kidding himself, there was no coffee that good.
The two sat on opposite ends of the couch cupping the faded mugs. "Feeling more awake yet?" Mike asked.
"Uh, yeah."
There was a second of silence before each started to talk at once.
"Listen Mike, I-"
"Trina I think you-"
Both dropped their heads waiting for the other to continue. Mike was the first to speak. "Trina, think you really need to sort yourself out. You can't stand half in and half out. If anyone ever finds out how you feel about our little society I think you'll find yourself sitting at the top of the missing persons list. If you walk away now they'll probably just let you go unless you try to expose them. But if you chose to stay you have to accept the group and its ideals. Before long there will be no way to turn back. I don't want to have to live with the fact that I made you live a life you didn't want. I think you know what I'd prefer you did, but this isn't my choice and it never was. I've tried to talk you into staying too many times. For once I think you need to decide for yourself. Whatever you decide I'll respect your decision, but make sure you decide soon." With that Mike got up and wrapped his coat around his shoulders and tipped his coffee down the sink. It wasn't very good anyway - so much for that idea.
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Thanks for reading. Please review. I'd love to know what you think.
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