CHAPTER EIGHT





Videl awoke to the sounds of the wind and an empty bed. She rolled over and patted the side Gohan was at last night. He wasn't there. Panic began to set in and then she remembered.
"The mission." she said rubbing her eyes. Then suddenly, she began laughing and couldn't stop. Her sides ached and tears ran down her cheeks. She shakely got up and went into the bathroom, still giggleing. She took a quick shower and changed into a clean blue top and pants.
She sent most of the day tidying up and shopping at the market. Then she came home and patched Gohans clothes and made a new training outfit for herself.
Videl thought of how wonderful things were. She now knew she was in love. There was no serious long thought or warning. It just happened. Like she always was and just now realized it. As soom as Gohan came home she was going to tell him.

The next day she was down at the fountian when Qupr ran up excitedly. She was smiling big and practicaly ran her over.
"Videl guess what? I just heard yesterday but it's really really great!" Qupr said quickly.
"Calm down, Qupr." Videl said. "Sit down and tell me. Slowly."
She sat down and took a few deep breaths. "Okey. Last night I was cleaning up in my masters room. You remember him right? Doand?"
"Oh yeah," Videl said recalling the fight she got into.
"Well I was clearing off some papers," she continued. "when he came into the other room. He was talking to someone and they mentioned Earthlings. So I listened. The guy Doand was talking to said that some airships by some doctor had saved some humans from the attack. Something like Bottle Corp? Or was it Cable Corp?"
"Was it Capsule Corp?"
"That's it!" Qupr said. "A Dr. Breifs had created some ships and managed to get some humans out before Sassafrass got there."
"THE Dr.Breifs?" Videl asked.
"You know him?"
"Only by his reputation. He was a rich and amazing creator." Videl said. She reached over and clasped Quprs hand. "Do you know who escaped? Where they went? How many-"
Qupr hushed her. "I do not know who was on the ships. But I know there was four that made it. Each one containing a few hundred. As for where, they are at Norcom!"
Videl and Qupr jumped up and down holding hands. A few other slaves looked at them like they were nuts. The girls sat down and lowered their voices.
"If you win you freedom then you can live with your own kind." Qupr whispered. "Maybe your family is there."
"I don't want to jinx it." Videl said imagining. "Are you sure it is true?"
She nodded. "My friend at the launching stationed comfirmed it."
Videl leaned back and smiled. "Today is too good to be true."
"How so?"
"Promise you won't tell?" Videl asked. Qupr nodded. "Last night me and Gohan made love." She looked at Qupr hoping to see a reaction but Quprs smile fadded.
"Videl." she said as if she was comforting her. "Sayjins are not known for being with slaves. Gohan is a nice guy but . . . . don't read too much into it."
"What are you talking about?" Videl asked. She loved Gohan. And she was sure he felt the same. "Gohan and me are friends. Now we are something more."
"What about Norcom?" Qupr asked.
Videl realized what she ment now. "I can go and see if my family and friends are there. If not then I will come back and be with Gohan. But if they are then Gohan can come to Norcom with me."
"Do you really think Gohan will drop all he has here for you?" Qupr asked. "Men around here do this all the time. They act like they love you then sell you off."
"Gohan isn't like that!" Videl shouted. She saw Qupr cringe back and felt bad. "I-I'm sorry. But he isn't. He doesn't like it here. He said so himself. Also fighters always are comming to Norcom to live in peace. Hackbacks or even Qualeese."
"But he is a sayjin! A warrior race. They fight and kill for fun and profit. Nothing will ever change that."
"NO!" Videl yelled getting up. "I don't beleive you!" She ran away from Qupr who was calling after her.

Videl came in and noticed that she was crying again. But these were not from joy. She wipped them away. Gohan was fighter. There was no mistaking that. But he was different from the others. He cared and had feelings.
There was a knock at the door and she wipped her eyes again. She walked over and opened it to see Selek.
Selek stood confident and beautiful. every inch of her from her well polished boots to her red wild hair proclaimed she was someone important.
"Is Gohan here?" she asked looking past Videl as if she was nothing.
"He is off on a mission with the other Saru ranks." Videl said. "I'll be sure to tell him you came by." Not.
Selek smiled thinly at her. "You are the slave Gohan had to beat into line a while back. The one he said was too much trouble."
"Where did you hear him say that?" Videl asked not beleiving a word that came out of the sayjins mouth.
"Told me personaly if you get my drift." she said as she tossed her hair over her shoulders. "He also told me you were entering the tournament to win your freedom. Hope you do and leave."
"I'll be around for a little longer." Videl said. "Maybe for much longer, if you get MY drift."
Selek smiled and laughed. "You are such a sweet little thing. Gohan was right. You are nieve. Bye." She turned and flew away.
Videl slammed the door. She will beat that trash down at the tournament. Before she was just planning to win her freedom then drop out. Not anymore. She won't stop till she beats Selek!

"AHHHHHHHHHH!" Gohan shouted as Mame twisted his arm back into joint. Mame backed up and Gohan rotated it a few times. "Thanks Mame."
Mame smiled proudly and sat back on his chair. Toma rolled his eyes as if to ask, why me?
"It's fine, Toma. Really." Gohan said punching in the air a few times to prove it. "See?"
"Well I'mm just glad this was our last mission before the full moon." Remon said flopping down into his seat and putting his feet on the table. "I could use a break."
"What?" Gohan asked sarcaticly. "From all the tossing around the Dracins did to you?"
Remon jumped up like he was about to start another fight but Toma waved a hand.
"That's enough out of you two." he said sternly. "The next time we meet it will be after the full moon and you will all go through the final test. The winner will join me on the board as a Saru Low-Level Rep. The rest can clear out."
Mame grunted and motioned his head to the map on the opposite wall.
"That's right, Mame. Good eyes." Toma cleared his throat and sat down. "That map has the three optional planets where we will hold the final test. Reedor, Shi14 and Yova. All with different atmospheres and landscapes. I want you to study hard men. This is your last chance to prove yourselves."
Toma walked over and press a panel. "Menwhile, enjoy yourselves and have fun during the full moon." He turned and left the room.
"I know I will." Remon said placeing his arms behind his head. "I'm going to watch the females go at it and maybe grab me a mate. How about you Mame?"
Mame nodded. He too was looking forward to the tournoment.
"And you gohan? Or are you still with that earthling?"
Gohan glared at him but kept his temper in check. "She's entering the tournament to win her freedom. Of course she really won't need to."
Mame looked at him with a puzzled look on his scared face.
Gohan smiled. "I'm going to make her my official mate."
Remon, who was tipping back on his chair at the time, fell over and then jumped up. "Are you nuts?! Making some-some EARTHLING your mate? She probly cannot even bare your children!"
"She is alot stronger then she looks, remember?" Gohan said. "Also she is amazing. Did you know that the adverage power level of a Earthling is only 2.3? And hers is over 3000!"
"Is that why you haven't been wearing your scounter?" Remon asked looking at the place his scounter should be. "She show you how to mask ki?"
"Maybe." he said enjoying how jelious Remon looked.
Mame looked back and forth at the pair then shrugged and grabed a bowl of soup from the kitchen. When he came back Gohan and Remon were still haveing an old fashioned stare down. He sighed and sat down to enjoy his soup.



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