Disclaimer: I do not own these respective characters or settings. They belong to Pioneer, Sunrise/Bandi, and Fundimation.

Bounty Hunters, Outlaws, Princesses, and Pirates

Part Four:

By: Elf

He felt like he was home. The steaming cup of tea looked inviting as the raven haired beauty broke up a Kold Pack. She set it upon Duo's neck, lifting his braid up to do so, and stated, "Hold that there. It should help the swelling."

Duo smiled as he held it and said, "Thanks."

Heero studied him and asked, "How did you run into the Sayans?"

Duo smiled for a moment and let his mind drift . . .

"You stupid child, you don't know what you're dealing with," the wizard cackled at him, raising his aged, clawed fingers at him.

Duo stood there and wiped blood off of his mouth. Washu told him that he had natural talent, but the wizard had skill to counter Duo's raw power. "Fuck you," he chirped, smiling his infuriating grin.

"Why did you do this, idiot? Why did you attack us?"

Duo smiled again and answered, "Because everyone needs a hobby."

"Then die," the wizard snarled as he gathered up his magic again.

"I don't think so," a male voice calmly stated as there was a bright silver flash. Standing there was a tall, muscular boy dressed all in black except for a blue jacket. Strands of lavender hair fell into an angular face and intense blue eyes. He sheathed the sword and looked at Duo.

Duo smirked as he wiped his mouth off. He stated, "I could of taken him."

The guy smiled and replied, "Of course you could. So what are you doing going after a bunch of Kei pirates?"

"Stealing technology and the like from them," Duo replied with a simple shrug. Then he asked, "What are you doing here?"

"Looking for answers. I'm Trunks Briefs by the way," he answered,

Duo held out his hand and said, "I'm the God of Death, but you can call me Duo."

"Trunks and I have been working for a while, actually, I've just met Vegeta, and I'll tell you something Heero, I'm not liking him," Duo said, winching at the pain in his neck.

Heero smiled for a moment and said, "That's Hotaru Tomoe."

"Hello there," Duo replied with a smile, looking her over. Then he looked at Heero and Heero simply shrugged.

This was wrong. He flexed his empty hand around the mug and snapped, "I thought you were dead, Heero. I . . . dammit, Heero . . ."

"I know you did. You always thought with your heart more than your head," Heero replied, tapping at his temple.

Duo frowned and gripped his tea even harder. Energy, magic, whatever, cackled around him. He heard Hotaru gasp beside him and watched as Heero's dark blue eyes widened. "I should have pulled you out though. Why didn't you let me?"

"Because you couldn't handle this," Heero calmly stated as he raised up his hand. Duo noted the unnatural looking lines, almost unnoticeable, but where there when one looked, on his arm. Then his hand rotated a full 360 degrees.

Duo felt like vomiting. He'd seen cybernetic replacements before, even in his own time. He firmly believed in letting man be and only using medical science to heal and not to make monsters. He didn't believe in cloning and had even started a protesting group in the Preventers to stop the cloning project that Sally Po was starting.

Instead, he moaned, "Oh, God."

Heero shrugged and said, "I don't mind it. I actually like it. I'm stronger and faster than I was before."

"Oh, so you can leap tall buildings in a single bound?" Duo replied sarcastically, "Heero, they turned you into a cyborg."

"Is there something wrong with that?" the coldly seductive female voice asked. Android 18, Trunks' nightmare made real, stood there, one hand on her hip as she leaned on the doorway with the other.

Hotaru stated, "18, leave him alone."

"I won't," she replied as she turned back to Duo. She placed both hands on her hips and snapped, "You've cost us a lot of damned money, you know. And business. Heero had to leave everything to come find you."

Duo looked at her and back at Heero. Heero stated, "Shut up, 18. It's not his fault."

"Sure it is," Duo replied, standing up and dropping the pack. He couldn't stand being in this room with Heero like that. He left to his quarters which he shared with Trunks and Vegeta. He sighed as he sat on his bunk, running his fingers through his bangs.

There was a soft knock on the door and Hotaru's sweet voice asking, "Duo, can I come in?"

"Sure, Dragonfly," Duo answered, realizing that the name did fit her. The door slid open and in stepped the black clad girl. She walked over to him and sat down beside him.

She whispered, "It wasn't your fault."

"I could have done something . . ." he began as he scratched his nose.

Hotaru took his hand and gently sat it down on his lap. She smiled kindly at him and said, "No, you couldn't. Heero's told me the story before. He thought he was dead for a moment before Hilda dug him out. Besides, Heero is actually one of the few people that I've met that actually enjoy their replacements. Trust me, Heero's helped more people because of them."

"You mean he didn't just point his gun and say, 'Omae O Korosu' to everyone he ran into?" Duo asked with disbelief.

Hotaru laughed, a light and lilting sound, like the twinkling of a silver bell. She shook her head and chuckled, "Only to Android 18 at their first meeting, but she reminded him of that."

Curious, he asked, "What did she do?"

"Melted his pistol with an energy blast before she slammed him into a wall," Hotaru answered with a gleam of amusement in her eyes. He decided that he liked those eyes, wide, dark, and velvety. Besides, there was just something about her. The gentleness of those pale hands yet there was something else he couldn't put his finger on. Something that seemed to call out to him, since he heard that lovely voice.

Duo moved closer to her, leaned forward and asked, "So, how long have you been with Heero?"

"Ever since he got those implants, a year ago, 18's known him almost as long," Hotaru answered, smiling.

He leaned in closer and asked, "So, how did Heero get involved with two very beautiful women while all I got was a Super Sayan?"

Hotaru blushed and looked down at her hands. "I've heard rumors that the Space Demon Ryoko has taken a new lover. A pilot of a mysterious dark ship that appears from nowhere. A powerful wizard," she replied, looking up at him.

Duo couldn't help the guilty look that formed on his face. Hotaru stood up and smiled sadly. "So, that was you. Maybe 18 was right about you," she added as she started to walk out of the room, leaving Duo very alone.

******

"Cell was brought back. I was there when Gohan killed him, hell, I even helped," Vegeta snapped, punching the wall beside him. Trunks flinched and was about to remind his father that they were on a space ship and punching the wall would be very bad. Then he noticed how Vegeta had pulled the punch, leaving nothing, not even an imprint of his knuckles.

Trunks sighed and answered, "I think he knows that we can't be killed."

"So, are you suggesting that someone's using Cell as a tool. Cell wouldn't be used as a tool," Vegeta growled as he began to pace again, the energy rippling palatable around him.

Trunks studied his father and thought for a moment. He said, "Maybe that the person using Cell is even more powerful than we are, Father. We are the two most powerful beings in the universe. You've even said it yourself."

"That's sheer, raw power, natural abilities that we've honed over the years Trunks. I'm loathing admitting this, but, while traveling the galaxy to look for a cure for your mother, I've heard things. I've met a few of the Scouts," he smiled at this, "Uranus and Neptune, the lesbians." Again, there was that smile on his face.

Trunks blushed. He'd seen a photo of the tall blond and her delicate, aqua haired lover. He asked, "You didn't watch them, did you, Father?"

"Don't worry, Trunks, Bulma is the only woman in my heart," Vegeta reassured, still, he added, "It was interesting to say the least though."

Trunks blushed even brighter. He wondered what would happen if he got Duo and Vegeta in the same room with a lesbian couple. He then decided that was something he had no desire of seeing. He swallowed and asked, "So, what sort of forces were you talking about?"

"Demons, like Buu, and then there are others, like Baby, that I couldn't even begin to explain to you son. I've been bound by magic before and it's powerful, but I still managed to fight it, still, there are even more powerful than Babidi," Vegeta explained.

Trunks asked, "I thought Piccolo killed him and you and Goku fused to make Vegetto to defeat Buu?"

"I'm talking more of the lines of the Messiah of Silence, boy," Vegeta replied.

Trunks nodded and said, "And what about that Hotaru girl? I got a cold feeling about her today, like Duo's but even more intense."

"Death. Another thing I've seen in my travels, sensed rather, people who are close to Death. Apparently, Death is an entity as real as Shenlong or Majin Buu, or the Kais that rule the universe," Vegeta explained.

Trunks nodded and kicked his legs up on the table, something that his mother had shouted at him for many times before. "I did not raise you like your father!" He ran his fingers through his silky hair and sighed. "So, Cell might be a part of something bigger. What about the little girl?"

"Washu knew her. She may go after Ryoko and prince Tenchi. They're the other force that would need to be watched right now. The Scouts are living their own lives without any worry, Serenity and Endymon are ruling on Earth's moon, and the other Scouts are scattered through the four winds. The only real trouble is the Kei pirates, which we could easily get rid of if we wished," Vegeta elaborated.

"What are you two talking about?" 18 asked as she sauntered into the room. She added, "I think I should be worried, Sayan father and son all serious."

Trunks placed his fingers on his sword handle. Over come with hatred, he snapped, "It doesn't matter to you, witch."

"Cell is alive and well. I suggest you walk your back," Vegeta answered.

18 smiled and said, "Thank you, Vegeta. I'm still at odds on why Trunks wants to kill me."

"Because you're responsible for the deaths of countless lives on my world, android," Trunks snapped. He could still see the android duo smiling at them with their palms pointed as they prepared to kill him. He could see the joy in those pale blue eyes as they watched him writhe in agony.

Vegeta, of all people, placed his hand on Trunks' arm and stated, "This rage will do you no good. This is not the android who did those things. Trust me. She doesn't have the power to do so."

A look of anger passed on 18's beautiful features as she stood there. She smirked then tilted her head so that pale blond hair only made those pale blue eyes even bluer. Trunks remembered the first time he saw the beautiful android and thought of that beauty before he saw her blast through a teenage girl. Still, this android was a bit different, even if he didn't want to admit it himself.

She replied, "No, I've been using my powers for good."

"As a bounty hunter," the distant monotone voice of Duo's friend stated as he walked into the room. His dark brown hair fell into his angular, almost delicate features as he looked around with his intense, dark blue eyes. He asked, "Have you seen Duo?"

"No, last time I've seen him was when he walked out of your conversation before Hotaru followed him," 18 answered. Then she added, "Cute boy, a little strange."

Heero sighed as he leaned against the wall. He looked at his wrist as it disturbingly turned 360 degrees. Trunks blinked and Vegeta frowned. Heero stated, "I've even got the room where Starwind put you three down in my computer's databanks. I've been past it three times, but as soon as I get to the door it vanishes. And that's impossible."

"Not if you're using magic," 18 suggested, "Hotaru can do the same thing when she concentrates, it just gives her a nose bleed. As Sailor Saturn she could transport herself to other dimensions."

"Sailor Saturn?" Vegeta and Trunks asked together. The one who could destroy and bring back worlds?

18 and Heero nodded together. 18 stated, "Yeah, I thought you two Sayans could sense that about her. Geeze, I guess the mighty Vegeta is losing his touch."

"All we sensed was Death, android," Vegeta bit back.

18 smirked and replied, "Well, maybe you're out of touch."

None of them were able to blink when Vegeta had 18 pressed up against the wall with his hand over her throat. He asked calmly, "What where you saying, android?"

She slapped his hand away and rubbed her throat. She tucked strands of her pale hair behind her ears and looked absolutely defiant. Beautiful. Trunks swallowed as he watched her. She held out her palm in front of them in a motion that was all too familiar to Trunks. The familiar pink energy began to blossom there like an obscene rose and Trunks growled.

The sword was unsheathed without a thought, his energy spiked, his hair lengthened, stood up on end, and turned bright gold as his eyes shifted from their normal blue to their intense aqua. He shouted as he charged her, "Never again, you bitch!"

A bright blue energy dragon appeared between them, dissolving into smoke. Trunks froze and so did 18 as Gene Starwind stood there, holding a polished, older gun in his hands. Trunks recognized the pistol. Duo had one too, but he never used it because he had advanced past that stage. "Not on my ship. If you wanna have your kick ass brawl or if this is your idea of foreplay, that's just fine, but not on my ship!" Gene snapped.

"Foreplay?" Trunks and 18 spat in disbelief as they looked at each other. There was a sort of dawning in each other's eyes as they stared at each other as blue eyes locked with aqua. Then the moment was broken when Trunks powered down and sheathed his sword.

"I would never touch her, not even if she's the last woman in the galaxy!" Trunks snapped.

18 snickered and pushed her hair behind her ear in a haughty fashion. She stated, "Like I would fuck a dirty monkey."

Vegeta bristled at the insult and snapped, "But bald midgets are fine, android?"

"Don't you dare talk about Krillin that way!" she raged as she pointed her hand at him again.

Gene held up the Caster and stated, "Not on my damned ship! Take it outside!"

"We heard a Caster blast, what happened!" Jim Hawkings shouted as he, Melfina, and Ashia rushed into the room.

Ashia stated, "Hey, they're getting into a fight, Gene!"

"Oh my gosh," Melfina gasped.

Suzuka entered the room with her sword drawn. She looked at Heero and asked, "What happened?"

"18 and the Sayans are blowing some steam. Seems like they have a past," Heero answered in his emotionless voice.

Hotaru ran into the room, holding a dark violet stick with a small sculpture of the planet Saturn on top of it. She asked, "Heero, 18, are you two all right?"

"We're fine, Hotaru," Heero assured her.

Finally Duo rushed into the room, his braid whipping behind him like a second life form. "What the fuck is going on? Is the green fucker back?" he exclaimed as he looked around, one hand already glowing with that mysterious violet tinged black energy of his.

Trunks sighed and said, "Maybe we need to land somewhere."

"Blue Haven," 18 and Gene said at once, looking at each other.

18 said, "I don't know why you want to go there, but our business is set up there."

"Yeah, since my ship is blasted to hell," Duo grumbled.

Vegeta snapped, "We have other things that are more important than your damned ship, boy."

"Dad's right, Duo, we better land and talk things out," Trunks told his agitated friend.

******

"You didn't get me a body, I can still feel Hotaru out there, and worse yet, Washu, Ryoko, and Tenchi are still alive and there's a new player, a powerful magic user who works along with the Sayans, who have found Saturn!" Nine raged as she paced among her minions.

Cell bowed politely and stated, "Washu proved more resourceful than we thought, still, we can fight the Sayans."

"Exactly. I will make Vegeta and that brat wish that they were dead!" Freeza shouted, magenta energy crackling around his doll like body.

Wicked Lady bowed respectively and stated, "I will get you a new body, it was just that ship that appeared out of nowhere, my lady."

Nine sighed as Yugi said, "I'll try to stop Washu and Ryoko to the best of my abilities, Mistress Nine, but Washu has mastered dimensional travel. I have not."

Nine sighed as her hair and dress floated all around her. She said, "Fine, whatever. Just get rid of Saturn and get me a new body. I can deal with all other threats when the time comes."

All four of her servants bowed before they went on their ways. Nine sighed. She was beginning to feel hollow. She needed a body and soon.

******

"What's Cell?" Heero asked.

Duo blinked and looked at his friend. He answered, "A genetically created being made from cells from Vegeta, Goku, Gohan, Nappa, Freeza, and King Cold."

"What?" Heero asked confused.

18 answered, "Three Sayans, a half breed, and two Icejinns. Aliens along with Namick's strongest warrior."

"Yeah, him too," Duo nodded as they walked into Heero's office.

Hotaru asked, "How dangerous is he?"

"Very, but don't worry, Hotaru, Trunks and Vegeta won't let him hurt anyone," 18 soothed, patting the girl's shoulder. Duo had discovered that Heero and 18 were both very protective of Hotaru Tomoe. Duo watched her, seeing that long, raven hair floating behind her, almost to her waist, the gentle curves of her body, and just her voice was enough to instill feelings in even the coldest of hearts.

18 stated, "Vegeta thinks that Cell is only part of a larger puzzle. I can't fault his logic and few can, especially in things of this nature. So, we're giving you three a chance to run."

"We won't fault you if you did," Vegeta stated with his arms crossed in his normal arrogant manner.

Trunks added, "It would be safer if you did. Duo, please listen to us."

18 smirked and said, "You're not getting any pleading from me. This is up to you three."

Hotaru smiled and said, "I'm in. You may need Saturn's help."

Heero looked over at Duo. Duo shrugged. Heero smirked and Duo smiled. They were back. They were a team again. "Baka," Heero grumbled with a smirk.

"Emotionless bastard," Duo replied.

The others looked at each other in confusion before looking at the friends. "Well?" Vegeta snapped, tapping his foot on the ground.

"I think the God of Death needs to be brought back," Heero stated.

Duo smirked as he replied, "The Perfect Soldier could do some damage."

"What the hell are you two talking about?" 18 snapped.

They smiled back at each other and looked at Vegeta. "We're in," they chorused together.

Then Heero squared his shoulders and stated, "Mission Accepted." Then Duo laughed. It was like old times.

To Be Continued!

Sorry this chapter was so short, but it was more of a plot motivation than anything. I promise that you'll get the same action, more of Duo's trash talking to "The Green Fucker", more magic usage, and if you'll guess the romantic pairings other than Bulma/Vegeta and Tenchi/Ryoko (I'm not considering Duo/Ryoko romantic) I'll give you a cookie. Okay, I won't but I'm doing my job if you guess correctly.

Oh, I like reviews! Please send me more reviews. The more reviews, the better the story.

To Nate Grey.

In Loving Memory of Vegeta.