1 Chapter 1

The trip to Capsule Corp. was quick and uneventful. However, once they arrived, the group was in for a shock! The bubble-like buildings that composed Capsule Corporation were shattered, burnt, and broken. "What happened here?" asked Lina. "I don't know," answered Gokuu, a little shaken.

"Greetings Kakarot," muttered a familiar voice from behind the group.

The group turned and saw a man of some-what short stature with long spiky black hair floating in the air. His dark blue training clothes (does he wear anything else?) were tattered and ripped. His well-muscled arms were crossing his chest, and there was a faint smile on his lips. "Vegeta!" exclaimed Gokuu, now a bit more relaxed. "What happened here? Are Bulma and Trunks all right?"

"They are fine, Kakarot. I take it these two are the ones that the Dark One is looking for?"

"What are you talking about?" asked Zelgadis with his teeth clenched. He was really starting to hate what was going on around here, especially since Lina and him seem to be the cause of it. "Who is this Dark One," queried Lina.

"I don't know," Vegeta replied. "After Piccolo left with his warning we got another visitor dressed in black robes, demanding where the Girl of Red was. Naturally, I politely asked him to leave (heavy sarcasm). He declined, and you can see what happened next," he gestured over the devastation.

"His power is quite strong," Vegeta's head lowered," possibly stronger than even I. If his true intention was to destroy me.I don't know. I didn't transform, I didn't want him to know about that." Vegeta left out that it might not have been enough anyway.

"Transform?" asked Lina.

"Don't worry about it," replied Gokuu, "it's our way of increasing our energy."

"I see," Lina answered back, although she really didn't.

"We don't have time for lessons," snapped Vegeta, "The Dark One's energy dropped when he left, so I don't know where he could have gone. A great many people are at risk here. We need to find this Dark One and stop him before he does any more damage."

Gokuu's eyes widened. ***He's changed so much in these past few years. His goodness has really started to shine through, and his strength! He's still training, probably just as hard as he was before. I guess there's still a part of him that still wants to be better than me. He smiled, It's good that he did! I'd be very interested in seeing how far he's come. I'd welcome a rematch anytime! *** Gokuu's thoughts were interrupted by a teen's voice coming from below. "Hey dad! Mom says we got power again!"

"Excellent Trunks," said Vegeta, as he hovered down toward the voice. Gokuu, Lina and Zel followed suit. They soon arrived at a tunnel leading down further into the destroyed complex. A young boy with short-cropped purple hair met them. "Hi Trunks", Gokuu said as he smiled. "Hi Gokuu," Trunk replied as he smiled back. "My mom's been asking about you lately, before this happened," he gestured around. "We need to talk to her. This is Lina Inverse and Zelgadis." They nodded at the little boy. "They're not from around here, and we were going to ask your mother if she had any kind of device that might help them get home, and if not, we'd like to borrow the Dragonball Tracker." Vegeta's eyebrow raised at this.

"I don't know Gokuu. Most of mom's gadgets are all broken. We've been working all night trying to get power up."

"What do you want the Dragonballs for Kakarot?" Vegeta asked.

Before Gokuu could answer, Lina broke him off. "We heard that these Dragonballs can grant wishes. If worse comes to worse, we'd like to .uhh..summon the dragon and wish ourselves back home."

Vegeta looked over to Gokuu who just nodded. "Humph. I don't see why this Dark One is interested in these two weaklings. I'll bet they can't even fight."

"Oh really," said Lina, her voice low and dangerous. "Hey," spoke up Zel, also angry," we know how to defend ourselves when we have to," his hand went to his sword," do you want us to prove it?"

"Uhh guys," said Gokuu stepping in," I don't think we really have time for this, you know? Calm down guys!"

Vegeta stared at both Lina and Zel who weren't backing down either. Finally Vegeta laughed to himself," Very well, perhaps at a later time."

"Whenever," replied Lina. She drew closer to Zel," I don't like him one bit."

"I agree with you there," he whispered back.

Trunks led the group down past the rubble to a lighted room with a whole lot of noise going on. Bulma, in a mechanics outfit was lying on the ground working under one of the many myriad shattered control panels. She had lit wielders in each hand and saw the group enter. She rolled out from under the control panel and removed the shield from her face, revealing her very dirty and tired expression. But as soon as she saw Gokuu she brightened. "Gokuu! Thanks for coming!"

"Hi Bulma, are you all right?"

"Yeah, I'm fine, Just a little shaken up is all. Hey," she looked at Lina and Zelgadis," who are your new friends?

"They're actually the reason why we came here. This is Lina Inverse, and this is Zelgadis Greywords. They're not from this planet, and I was wondering if you had something that might be able to get them home."

"Well, as you can see, most of my inventions and equipment were destroyed when we were attacked yesterday. I'm sorry Gokuu, but I can't help you."

"Well then, could you let us borrow the Dragonball Tracker?"

Bulma frowned for a second," I don't know where it is. What? You want to use the powers of the Dragonballs to wish them home?" Lina and Zel nodded vehemently.

"Yeah, that's the plan," replied Gokuu.

Bulma got up, and went over to a pile of tools and pieces of equipment. "Let's see.I know its around here somewhere.a-ha! I found it!" She raised up the Dragonball Tracker. "Here you go Gokuu," she tossed it over to him and he caught it. "What are you going to do about the attacker from last night?"

"Well, we're going to try to stop him before he can do any more damage. You might want to think about moving away from here for the time being. You never know if he might show back up again."

"Where do you suggest Kakarot?" asked Vegeta.

"I don't know, maybe Kame's House, or maybe even at my place."

"Ugh! Don't play with me Kakarot, you know I'll not rest until I meet up with the Dark One again. And when I do," he clenched his fist," he's mine."

Everyone stared at Vegeta for a few long seconds. Lina and Zel didn't know what to make of him. Lina looked at Zel who merely shrugged. "Uhh, right Vegeta," Bulma said sardonically. Vegeta, ego crushed, was brought back to the real world. "Listen woman," he commanded, "I want you to drop whatever it is your doing and pack your bags. You and Trunks are going to Gokuu's house." "Now wait a minute Vegeta." "Just do as I say, woman!"

"Listen here," spoke Lina, "You can't talk to her that way!"

"Just who is going to stop me red-head, you?"

"You bet yer.", Lina was two seconds away from knocking Vegeta's lights out, but Zelgadis grabbed her.

"We don't have time for this Lina," he whispered.

She dropped her fists and calmed down.

"Ha! You would do well to know when to pick your fights runt."

"What did you call me?" Lina said in a dangerous tone.

"Vegeta," Gokuu warned.

"I called you a runt, take it as you will."

"THAT'S IT! NO ONE CALLS ME A RUNT!" Lina's arms raised up.

"Lina, no!" screamed Zelgadis.

"What's." said Bulma.

"FIREBALL!"

Vegeta had barely a split-second to cross his arms up in defense against the rising energy surge. The blast hit him full on, the explosion blew apart whatever equipment, and gadgets were remaining down below. Bulma and Zelgadis went flying due to the close quarters of the blast. Bulma, was screaming, while Zelgadis wore the expression of this happening to him too often. When the smoke finally cleared Vegeta's ripped clothes were now smoldering as were the tips of his hair and his arms and face were a bit charred. His arms lowered and he coughed out smoke. Then his eyes closed and he smiled.

"Humph, is that all you got.runt?"

Lina's eyes were wide with shock, but she was beyond the point of reason. "Darkness from twilight, crimson from blood that flows,"

"NO LINA!" cried Zelgadis and tackled her, causing her spell to fail.

Gokuu was charred and he blinked, to awestruck to do anything. Until he realized that his hair was on fire. He screamed and ran frantically in circles patting his head in a feverish attempt to put it out.

".happening?" asked Bulma now stuck in a tree, her clothes singed and smoking.

Trunks peeked back into the now demolished room. "Did I miss something," he asked with a mouthful of food.