Sequel to A New Problem
Alex's Note: Ok, short chapter AND its out late. I'm jumping in time next chapter! Also, the Free Trade talk, or the Summit Meeting in Canada may or may not be something you now about. Anyway, I'm Canadian and it was either that or the Maple Leafs as the recent issues.
Chapter 22
"This is it?" Ranmata looked around especially at the room most of the Saiyan knew a little too much. "Bandages?" he flung a roll of gauze over his shoulder. "Out of that stuff? I wonder how you heal. Maybe if you were a field doctor but in a medical bay?"
"We have healing tanks too," Gohan said. He looked a bit muffed at the last comment. He pointed a thumb in the direction of the tanks. Ranmata frowned and walk over to them. He tapped the glass with a finger and walked over to the controls.
"Primitive but it could work," Ranmata shrugged and ripped of the panel for the controls.
"Hey!" Gohan ran forward in protest. "Don't break them!" Gohan grabbed the twisted metal and glared at the young Saiyan. Ranmata just shrugged and looked closely at the jumble of wires.
"Not to be rude or anything," Kara turned to Bra. "But Tara and I haven't had anything to eat for a while and-"
"Food!" Tara rushed forward and grabbed Bra's hand tightly in her own tiny ones with a desperate plead in her voice. "Please tell me you have food! I'll beg, I'll steal, I'll even KILL!"
"Down Tara," Kara blushed and detached her sister from Bra's arm. Holding Tara tightly in her own arms as the small 5-year-old struggled, she gave a polite cough. "We were wondering if you had any food."
"Sure," Bra got over her initial surprise and smiled. "Let's leave, er, Ranmata and get a snack."
There was a flurry of activity as Trunks, Goten and Goku darted from the room in a huge scrambled. Vegeta was more dignified but was close on their heels. Zergon, as always, clutched widely as he struggled to keep his perch on Vegeta's shoulder. Pan waited impatiently for Bra and Kara. Then those 3 left. Tara was left in the room with Gohan and Ranmata, shocked at the speed of the people that had been around her. Then her stomach caught up to her brain and she dashed from the room for fear of having only the leftovers to eat.
Gohan hesitated and looked longingly at the door but then looked back at Ranmata. Ranmata ignored the mention of food and continued to poke and prod at the healing tank. With a sigh of long suffering, Gohan reluctantly left the door to stand by Ranmata. He might consider him an ally but there was no way he was going to let this teenager fiddle with their equipment unattended.
"Junk," Ranmata frowned. He straightened and reached in his black bag. He blinked startled as he realised the room was empty except for himself and Gohan. "Where did they go?"
"For food," Gohan replied a bit grumpy. It was around noon and the only food in his body was the capsule food he had spilt between Trunks. That little meal seemed days ago and he was a bit annoyed that he had to baby-sit the young Saiyan.
"Oh," Ranmata either didn't pick up or ignored the hints Gohan was giving him. "Hey, how many more of these things do you have?"
"There are some more over there," Gohan answered. "Aren't you going for a meal now? You are a Saiyan."
"Food," Ranmata blinked. "Yes, I suppose I should but..." he looked down at the exposed machinery. He sighed and gave in. "Alright, let's go."
The kitchen was a disaster area when they reached it. The once clean, Saiyan-stocked, Olympic stadium-sized room was crawling with noisy, hungry Saiyan, hybrids and humans alike. Cupboards, bags and all the freezers were open and the food almost ripped out. Some of the mob at with more dignity but for the most part, it was watch your fingers. Ranmata and Gohan both winced slightly at the primal scene and looked at each other astonished.
"Want to go find a restaurant?" Gohan asked, nervous to venture into the infested kitchen
"Please," Ranmata and Gohan hurried out of the kitchen. Waiting by the door for them was Kara. She watched impatiently for them to hurry up.
"Come on," she shifted her weight from foot to foot. She looked at Gohan's quizzed face. "I may be hungry but not that hungry."
That was the only answer the two needed. They walked out into the fresh air and Gohan popped out a capsule car. In a short amount of time the three were piled in the small car and hurrying to the nearest fast food centre.
***
Nabukia glared out the wide window in his ship that let the dim star light float in, just barely lighting up his face's profile. In the depressing light, a creature crouched on the faded red carpet leading up to the chair. Nabukia didn't turn to face the cowering Second but merely waited the report.
"Sire, the Insect group was unexpectedly delayed," the humanoid struggled to keep the tremor of fear from his voice as his forehead touched the worn threads.
"How?" Nabukia asked simply, no reaction or expression passed over his dimly lit face.
"The ex-Saiyan, Sire," the Second said, close to trembling in fear. "He- he destroyed the pods and has entered the atmosphere of the planet."
"There is something you are not telling me," Nabukia rested his chin on a balled fist and waited with patience as the Second gulped loudly.
"The Android, Tranculus, has broken contact. The traces of his signature reading have disappeared from the planet."
"So he was destroyed," Nabukia consitered it, more talking to himself then the Second.
"Possibly, Sire," the Second continued hesitantly. "If you would grant it, Sire, we could interrogate the other scientists involved in the making of the android. It is possible that there were...malfunctions."
"Permission granted," Nabukia nodded. Then as an after thought he told the trembling Second gently, "Try not to kill them. They are useful. You are dismissed."
"Yes Sire," the Second stood up and bowed deeply, making sure his eyes didn't stray to Nabukia's face. He turned smartly and hurried down the long hallway and out the tall steel doors.
Nabukia sighed and looked at he stars. "Sometimes being the evil bad guy has its disadvantages," Nabukia sighed wishfully. "Next time I find ther person responsible to telling me the bad guy role was fun, remind me to shot them. It's not fair! Where are my little yes men that hang on to my every word? Where are the hot babes that seduce me? Where is the action and adventure! I'm so sick of floating in this stupid black nothingness uttering death threat no one can here. I'm acting like there's an invisible camera around here or something. I feel so stupid looking out the window and saying "Soon, my dear Ranmata, soon you're death will come!"
He sighed and settled back in the uncomfortable chair. "Mental note to self, get cushions. Might as well get some shut eye." His eye's brightened at a thought. "Hey, maybe some hormonal teenager out there is having a really great dream. What am I saying, of course they are!"
He chucked and closed his eyes.
***
The Earth Gang had forgotten a tiny detail. Ranmata's ship had crashed near a small Japanese farm. The residents had watched the whole exchange and had a camera rolling. The youngest daughter, no more then 5, had snapped pictures on the family camera. Now, the poor family was subject to having their quiet lives interrupted by the media from around the world.
People everywhere watched the video on the international news cast. It reminded some of the martial arts tournaments but most saw it was a bizarre signed. One certain family on the coast of British Columbia, Canada, watched in horror at one part.
"No, Kara, don't eat that! Put it-no, don't DO that!" a short sandy haired woman groaned as the small figure in the distance swallowed the strange bean. Her husband comforted her.
"Now, now," he rubbed her back soothingly. "They are alright."
"No, look at Kara. She's got a bloody bandage around her head! Oh no, wait. It's gone. But I can't tell if it's bleeding or not...That's it! I swear, she is grounded for the rest of her life! No more allowance! She will never see the light of day if I can just get my hands on her..."
"Dear, I'm sure you are over-exaggerating," her husband said calmly, trying to calm his wide before anything got out of hand. His wife was a very determined lady. After the initial shock of seeing their only two missing daughter appear on an international broadcast, she had vowed to kill their oldest with her bare hands.
"Look, there she goes! I thought she was afraid of heights! And look at how she is holding on to that boy! I bet he's on something. How dare she drag her little sister into this! Tara is probably scared and wants to come home. I'm going! Rick, get the telephone! We're going to Japan."
"Yes dear," Rick knew better then to argue.
***
Dende, Mr. Popo and Herman sat in Heaven, discussing the recent isusses down on Earth. Well, Herman and Dende were, Mr. Popo was content to listen and water his plants.
"Can you believe that! Quebec is a historical city! Now they have to bar the windows and put up that chain link fence. It spoils the whole look. I hope that have plans to take it down when the whole Free Trade talk is over."
"I agree, Herman," Dende nodded. "I just hope the leaders strike a deal that helps everybody. But now getting off topic, shouldn't we be thinking about that problem with Goku and Ranmata?"
"I guess you're right. It IS important right now. What can we do about it?"
"Well, if I remember correctly, Ranmata said he need the human bodies for the soul reattachment procedure to work. From here we can find anything! Why don't' we find the bodies and save them some work?"
"Excellent idea!"
Alex's Note: Ok, short chapter AND its out late. I'm jumping in time next chapter! Also, the Free Trade talk, or the Summit Meeting in Canada may or may not be something you now about. Anyway, I'm Canadian and it was either that or the Maple Leafs as the recent issues.
Chapter 22
"This is it?" Ranmata looked around especially at the room most of the Saiyan knew a little too much. "Bandages?" he flung a roll of gauze over his shoulder. "Out of that stuff? I wonder how you heal. Maybe if you were a field doctor but in a medical bay?"
"We have healing tanks too," Gohan said. He looked a bit muffed at the last comment. He pointed a thumb in the direction of the tanks. Ranmata frowned and walk over to them. He tapped the glass with a finger and walked over to the controls.
"Primitive but it could work," Ranmata shrugged and ripped of the panel for the controls.
"Hey!" Gohan ran forward in protest. "Don't break them!" Gohan grabbed the twisted metal and glared at the young Saiyan. Ranmata just shrugged and looked closely at the jumble of wires.
"Not to be rude or anything," Kara turned to Bra. "But Tara and I haven't had anything to eat for a while and-"
"Food!" Tara rushed forward and grabbed Bra's hand tightly in her own tiny ones with a desperate plead in her voice. "Please tell me you have food! I'll beg, I'll steal, I'll even KILL!"
"Down Tara," Kara blushed and detached her sister from Bra's arm. Holding Tara tightly in her own arms as the small 5-year-old struggled, she gave a polite cough. "We were wondering if you had any food."
"Sure," Bra got over her initial surprise and smiled. "Let's leave, er, Ranmata and get a snack."
There was a flurry of activity as Trunks, Goten and Goku darted from the room in a huge scrambled. Vegeta was more dignified but was close on their heels. Zergon, as always, clutched widely as he struggled to keep his perch on Vegeta's shoulder. Pan waited impatiently for Bra and Kara. Then those 3 left. Tara was left in the room with Gohan and Ranmata, shocked at the speed of the people that had been around her. Then her stomach caught up to her brain and she dashed from the room for fear of having only the leftovers to eat.
Gohan hesitated and looked longingly at the door but then looked back at Ranmata. Ranmata ignored the mention of food and continued to poke and prod at the healing tank. With a sigh of long suffering, Gohan reluctantly left the door to stand by Ranmata. He might consider him an ally but there was no way he was going to let this teenager fiddle with their equipment unattended.
"Junk," Ranmata frowned. He straightened and reached in his black bag. He blinked startled as he realised the room was empty except for himself and Gohan. "Where did they go?"
"For food," Gohan replied a bit grumpy. It was around noon and the only food in his body was the capsule food he had spilt between Trunks. That little meal seemed days ago and he was a bit annoyed that he had to baby-sit the young Saiyan.
"Oh," Ranmata either didn't pick up or ignored the hints Gohan was giving him. "Hey, how many more of these things do you have?"
"There are some more over there," Gohan answered. "Aren't you going for a meal now? You are a Saiyan."
"Food," Ranmata blinked. "Yes, I suppose I should but..." he looked down at the exposed machinery. He sighed and gave in. "Alright, let's go."
The kitchen was a disaster area when they reached it. The once clean, Saiyan-stocked, Olympic stadium-sized room was crawling with noisy, hungry Saiyan, hybrids and humans alike. Cupboards, bags and all the freezers were open and the food almost ripped out. Some of the mob at with more dignity but for the most part, it was watch your fingers. Ranmata and Gohan both winced slightly at the primal scene and looked at each other astonished.
"Want to go find a restaurant?" Gohan asked, nervous to venture into the infested kitchen
"Please," Ranmata and Gohan hurried out of the kitchen. Waiting by the door for them was Kara. She watched impatiently for them to hurry up.
"Come on," she shifted her weight from foot to foot. She looked at Gohan's quizzed face. "I may be hungry but not that hungry."
That was the only answer the two needed. They walked out into the fresh air and Gohan popped out a capsule car. In a short amount of time the three were piled in the small car and hurrying to the nearest fast food centre.
***
Nabukia glared out the wide window in his ship that let the dim star light float in, just barely lighting up his face's profile. In the depressing light, a creature crouched on the faded red carpet leading up to the chair. Nabukia didn't turn to face the cowering Second but merely waited the report.
"Sire, the Insect group was unexpectedly delayed," the humanoid struggled to keep the tremor of fear from his voice as his forehead touched the worn threads.
"How?" Nabukia asked simply, no reaction or expression passed over his dimly lit face.
"The ex-Saiyan, Sire," the Second said, close to trembling in fear. "He- he destroyed the pods and has entered the atmosphere of the planet."
"There is something you are not telling me," Nabukia rested his chin on a balled fist and waited with patience as the Second gulped loudly.
"The Android, Tranculus, has broken contact. The traces of his signature reading have disappeared from the planet."
"So he was destroyed," Nabukia consitered it, more talking to himself then the Second.
"Possibly, Sire," the Second continued hesitantly. "If you would grant it, Sire, we could interrogate the other scientists involved in the making of the android. It is possible that there were...malfunctions."
"Permission granted," Nabukia nodded. Then as an after thought he told the trembling Second gently, "Try not to kill them. They are useful. You are dismissed."
"Yes Sire," the Second stood up and bowed deeply, making sure his eyes didn't stray to Nabukia's face. He turned smartly and hurried down the long hallway and out the tall steel doors.
Nabukia sighed and looked at he stars. "Sometimes being the evil bad guy has its disadvantages," Nabukia sighed wishfully. "Next time I find ther person responsible to telling me the bad guy role was fun, remind me to shot them. It's not fair! Where are my little yes men that hang on to my every word? Where are the hot babes that seduce me? Where is the action and adventure! I'm so sick of floating in this stupid black nothingness uttering death threat no one can here. I'm acting like there's an invisible camera around here or something. I feel so stupid looking out the window and saying "Soon, my dear Ranmata, soon you're death will come!"
He sighed and settled back in the uncomfortable chair. "Mental note to self, get cushions. Might as well get some shut eye." His eye's brightened at a thought. "Hey, maybe some hormonal teenager out there is having a really great dream. What am I saying, of course they are!"
He chucked and closed his eyes.
***
The Earth Gang had forgotten a tiny detail. Ranmata's ship had crashed near a small Japanese farm. The residents had watched the whole exchange and had a camera rolling. The youngest daughter, no more then 5, had snapped pictures on the family camera. Now, the poor family was subject to having their quiet lives interrupted by the media from around the world.
People everywhere watched the video on the international news cast. It reminded some of the martial arts tournaments but most saw it was a bizarre signed. One certain family on the coast of British Columbia, Canada, watched in horror at one part.
"No, Kara, don't eat that! Put it-no, don't DO that!" a short sandy haired woman groaned as the small figure in the distance swallowed the strange bean. Her husband comforted her.
"Now, now," he rubbed her back soothingly. "They are alright."
"No, look at Kara. She's got a bloody bandage around her head! Oh no, wait. It's gone. But I can't tell if it's bleeding or not...That's it! I swear, she is grounded for the rest of her life! No more allowance! She will never see the light of day if I can just get my hands on her..."
"Dear, I'm sure you are over-exaggerating," her husband said calmly, trying to calm his wide before anything got out of hand. His wife was a very determined lady. After the initial shock of seeing their only two missing daughter appear on an international broadcast, she had vowed to kill their oldest with her bare hands.
"Look, there she goes! I thought she was afraid of heights! And look at how she is holding on to that boy! I bet he's on something. How dare she drag her little sister into this! Tara is probably scared and wants to come home. I'm going! Rick, get the telephone! We're going to Japan."
"Yes dear," Rick knew better then to argue.
***
Dende, Mr. Popo and Herman sat in Heaven, discussing the recent isusses down on Earth. Well, Herman and Dende were, Mr. Popo was content to listen and water his plants.
"Can you believe that! Quebec is a historical city! Now they have to bar the windows and put up that chain link fence. It spoils the whole look. I hope that have plans to take it down when the whole Free Trade talk is over."
"I agree, Herman," Dende nodded. "I just hope the leaders strike a deal that helps everybody. But now getting off topic, shouldn't we be thinking about that problem with Goku and Ranmata?"
"I guess you're right. It IS important right now. What can we do about it?"
"Well, if I remember correctly, Ranmata said he need the human bodies for the soul reattachment procedure to work. From here we can find anything! Why don't' we find the bodies and save them some work?"
"Excellent idea!"