Author notes;

"...that's it videl...just give up..." The sound of the television carried far in the small sitting room but that didn't seem to bother the occupants. What with both parents out for the day...the sentence would've been completed with '...the mice will play' if it were to have been spoken. Aymei, who's eyeballs had till now been carrying of a love affair with the television screen suddenly closed them and clasped her hands together sighing dreamily as the dark haired youth on the television screen seemed to be having a hard time controlling his rapidly boiling anger over the fight going on on the tournament stage. This didn't draw any attention at all. *sigh* "oh Gohan, why not get all angry over me some time...You'll go super saiyan all just for me...just cause you loooove meee sooooo much and forever more I will doodle little love hearts all round you and you will say oh Aymei what you do to me...!" That drew some attention. Marvin and Lexi looked up at her almost instantly with stunned expressions and if only they had actually been able to say anything it would have gone something along the lines of 'what in the...'. Insted they just gaped. An eyelid opened slowly followed by it's counterpart a second after adding the finishing touch to an expression just as shocked at that of her siblings. A simple look at the table were five 'tracker' bar wrappers lay and then back at her siblings ended up in her next words as she pointed at them quickly the very action accusatory; "I swear...those cereal bars are drugged."


Disclaimers; Oh for the love of Pete, ...see the others

Noties;

(Hey it sounded cuter than the blank oh hey oh here's a 'note'. I know it makes no sense and probably doesn't exist but since when were any of my words found to exist or make sense huh. Yup even I despair of myself sometimes oh thankeeeeee for reviewing Leia it was really appreciated (very much so especially the cool plushie and voodoo doll.) Ah, Chantelle...past deeds are forgiven. For a beta/proof reader...one could do worse Chaz. *kidding...I'm kidding sheesh!* ^____^
Juu52 thank you for reviewing too...you're sweet...(probably wrong...but sweet nonetheless.) (Everyone else cruising in) Apologies beforehand for spelling mistakes, having taken awhile and such like and I hope the whole thing turned out okay. Oh yeah...last diary entry you'll be seeing guys (I bet people will be singing songs for that tiny fact...meanies...I thought you liked em. ^__^).



Chapter 7; Revelations and...possessions?

Diary entry;

After all this time, and it does seem like forever but it's probably not really that long...could have been longer, I've done it. Yet I can't still believe it...even if I should really. It's just the significance. It's like being given a second chance to start all over again. The fact that it was the same position I held before the 'incident' doesn't matter really. I don't care. I may not get called to ever go to earth or anything but at least I'll be among the second choices, if say anything went wrong and reinforcements were needed. Then again things rarely go wrong. Strange...only the day before I was actually told that such a thing did happen. I wonder if I would proberbly be with them by now. They left a while ago. Some of the others say the planet is strangely quiet somehow now. Everyone's hiding, though they don't seem to know...as at the time anyway that they can be found still. Scouters can make a job easier and yet they could also be considered by the humans as evil little devices. I want to see the place. Call it what you would I just do. Now there would be more of a chance for that. I had waited a time before and I could wait again. Maybe... ...I can hear her...but I can't sense her, I thought I was good at that, seems Phebes is better at it then...but I know she's not far away...I could just so easily walk in there and tell her everything. Just open my mouth and blurt it all out. Things hold me back though and they are more than enough to chase that idea out of my head...I won't let myself, not because I feel it is the 'right' thing to do but rather because it 'has' to be done. I wanted to keep her safe right from the beginning, for her , granted with somewhat of an ulterior motive but too many people lost things. I started out to keep her from people like me and that is what I am going to continue doing as far as I can... yet I am worse than the others, I am the only one out of them that could end up getting her killed. I suppose I've done a whole lot of things wrong when I meant to do them right...and it surprises even me.

-----------------------------------------

And your heart's left in doubt
Don't give up on your faith…

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Zahi sighed as he sat back closing his eyes for a second before opening them again a slight smile touching his face as he flipped the pen and caught it rising soon after that. He sighed again but it was a happy sigh. Somehow he always felt better after writing everything down...less worried and bogged down. It may not solve anything but at least he knew what it was that needed solving after tangling it all out.

Another day and it was going to be different, it was going to be a first day spent yet another rung higher on that proverbial ladder. Sure it was the same position he'd had before everything had gone haywire back then but he'd had to go through a lot to re-earn it and that wasn't to be sniffed at. He felt he should be proud. He placed the pen back on the table as he reached for the book and went about returning it to it's hiding place only briefly glancing at the other two more weathered looking ones that lay there. He knew exactly what each held without having to look through them, each were different in contents for one held the dreams an aspirations of what he now realised was a very naive little boy and the other held just how much of those things were shattered and replaced with reality if only that bit too late.

He placed the one he was holding a different colour to the others and definitely newer on top of the others. 'And now the more recent...the salvaging attempts. A Saiyan with a diary...It was laughable really, he thought with a small smile teeth closing over his lower lip.

Juuhachigou opened the door, instinctively doing so in answer to the bell. She avoided answering doors usually she couldn't care less who was at it anyway and 'he' seemed to do it all the time but this time she was the nearest. It was almost an 'oh-I-might-as-well' reflex. However she soon regretted it once it was open for it was the same time as she recognised who it was that was out there without having seen him yet. Dark and familiar hated eyes met hers and the instant glare she gave him more than silently and befittingly replaced the distasteful 'you' she could have said. She turned to walk away, Zahi could well handle his own walking problems, but a hand snaked out clamping round her arm tightly and with amazing speed.

"Don't you dare walk away from me." Came the hissed voice.

She said nothing in answer but it was a dangerous silence, her intense dislike of him let alone him touching her at all pushing at being the last straw to break the camel's back especially when even with the tug she gave he wasn't letting her go. "Get.Off.Me." she pushed through clenched teeth.

"I see you still haven't learnt much about who your betters are."

A sliver of a brow rose derisively "you?"

There was an undertone of mockery in the way she said it and he picked up on it easily and immediately his gaze darkening dangerously. A mixture of wild fire and amazingly stoked anger. She just glared him right back down. The atmosphere practically crackled.

"Phebes."

They both looked towards the owner of the voice. Zahi stood there with an unreadable expression on his face his gaze ignoring her but clamping instead on Phebes with such an intensity it would almost seem they were arguing without actual words.

"Leave her alone." He said finally. His voice however wasn't as unreadable as his expression had been though. It held faint exasperation tinged with something like tense worry and though it seemed to hide something else that was almost barely there. Being used to having Zahi's compliance however Phebes picked up on what it like a hawk. It was that annoying 'mother hen' thing that Zahi had albeit be the same thing that he himself had relied on many a time but hey if Zahi was willing to keep putting his neck out for him what should he care especially if it got him out of trouble but now he'd somehow seemed to have extended it to this piece of filth. He practically bristled his features darkening even more if that was possible.

A smile suddenly made its way across his face. Smug, malicious and self satisfied. "We have to talk." He said simply to Zahi leaving no doubt as to who and what was going to be the topic of this 'talk' as he let go.

"O-okay." Zahi answered somewhat left lagging behind the sudden change wondering slightly what it could be that Phebes was smiling at. He only smiled like that or should the phrase be 'smirked like that', when he had something up his sleeve.

"What are you doing here?" he asked once they'd entered the sitting room unable to wait any longer.

"Don't I feel welcome." Phebes said sarcastically at the wary look Zahi fixed him with. Zahi stared at him awhile but when he wasn't forthcoming he sighed.

"I'm sorry." He apologised stepping aside to let him in further but his gaze never left him not even for a second. He continued "But what do you expect…you never come with anything other than bad news."

"What?!" Phebes said indignantly then after a quick mental recollection he said nothing more. Zahi suddenly stopped the thought hitting him right out of nowhere. "You told him." He said an accusing tone to his voice. He'd thought he wouldn't. After not hearing a single word on the matter and after such a while he'd thought...well he'd actually believed he wouldn't be getting this kind of news.

"I did not!" Phebes said sharply a frown forming at the questioning of his integrity even if he knew he wasn't the most trustworthy person around how dare anyone actually suggest such to his face and think he would sit back and accept it. "I said I wouldn't and I didn't but I'm not here to argue, I'm just here to get her."

"But..." Zahi began "Did he actually ask specifically for her?"

"Yes." was the smirked reply.

It was a brief frustrated lost look that sat on his face before anger coloured it "You had something to do with this Phebes, I know you did…you hate her, that much is visible." he bit off accusingly.

Phebes rolled his eyes a clear show of indifference and irritation all rolled into one "No, I won't say she ranks very favorably with me and I don't particularly give a damn about what happens to her but what I do care about is me. We had an agreement and don't you dare try and back out of it. You know exactly what will happen if I go back empty handed."

"Like you don't deserve it." Zahi bit back scathingly his voice angrily low. The look on Phebes' face at that wasn't adequately described with just the word 'dangerous'. "Wait..." He said quickly as Phebes made to push him aside his intent no doubt to go in and drag her out himself. "You can change his mind can't you...and don't say you can't because that would be a lie what with all those half baked plans you come up with... if you really wanted to you would talk him out of it."

For a moment it looked like he was going argue with Zahi's very insinuation that his plans were 'half baked' but instead he said "and why would I want to do that?"

"because...because you'd have no problem finding another blonde haired human. The prince wouldn't notice one from the next. I mean he hasn't even seen her." he said an almost indistinguishable hint of hopefulness to his voice.

"It has nothing to do with the prince anymore Zahi, it's the king…" he said with an almost sadistic smile. "Seems like your little slave girl has caught his eye."

...of course much to my benefit as well, he thought silently.

"but…but how did he know--?!" Zahi spluttered confused.

"He saw her how else?…and I didn't have anything to do with that either!" Phebes retorted at the look Zahi threw him.

Well there went the 'another blonde theory'. "it's impossible to change his mind..." he ventured unsure of whether he was actually asking or just stating the obvious.

Phebes' gaze suddenly narrowed suspiciously his keen gaze zeroing in on every single emotion that filtered across his face. "She that good?" he leered suddenly making Zahi look at him questioningly confused for a second his preoccupation causing the words to sink in slower than they would have. However one look at those lewd features and instantly knew what he was getting at. His brows drew together in anger

"I told you before it's not like..." he began reflexively defensive before skirting to a stop face suddenly blank upon the realisation of where this could end up. With questions 'why' and proddings that he would prefer to avoid.

"I mean, " Phebes said slowlyhis tone as if nothing was amiss despite having notice the almost sharp halt "...why else would you want to keep her so badly…she must be one of two things...damn good..."

A lack of a reply made him continue

"...or someone you have feelings for."

"That's stupid. That's just ridiculous!" he bit off.

Phebes' expression was one of fleeting fearful anger and whether it was at the fact that Zahi had just had the balls to insult him to his face by implying he was being stupid wasn't very clear but it soon became a more gentle kind of anger almost like a cloak had fallen over it and yet not quite doing a very good job of it for it looked more scary than the former anger because it was so unreal. It was rather like being stuck against a wall separated from a blazing fire by a single wooden door. You knew exactly what was behind it and you knew well enough that the door was no protection at all even if it seemed on the face of it to be.

"it is stupid… because that would be the most idiotic thing you could ever do…remember what she is...forget and find yourself with a lot of enemies..." It was the dangerous undertone that made Zahi look at him. It didn't need to be said to know that those 'enemies' would include the man before him if he dared confess as much. He said nothing for to have said anything else would've have been to take the risk of dropping some kind of verbal proof. One which Phebes suddenly seemed to be in pursuit of like a wolf on the hunt.

"...and she would no doubt have you to thank for her death. I mean...you can't ever 'care' too much can you. It's dangerous...but then again you know that well enough." Phebes finished. Zahi's gaze narrowed. He wouldn't.

"Are you blackmailing me?"

Phebes adopted a hurt look "Tsk...such a dark word 'blackmail' lets just call it an understanding. A game you adopted yourself when you wanted your own way." he said voice syrupy.

"The end of the week." Was the only thing Zahi said instead. "He won't want to see her straight away."

"Now." Phebes said simply gaze hard almost boring holes into the man before him.

"But she's only going to have to end up waiting in the cells again...she could just wait here instead--"

"Are you deaf or something?" Phebes asked quietly "I said now. I'll send a guard over to get her. You've made me late." His tone suggested no argument and Zahi knew that to insist beyond this wouldn't be advisable but he also knew there was no reason for her to have to go right now and it was more to do with Phebes' seeming enjoyment in making her life a misery.

"Why are you doing this..." Zahi bit off voice angrily low as if suddenly he didn't want anyone else to hear him.

Phebes scoffed lightly "I'm doing nothing more than I've been told to..." he grinning widely "Don't worry..." he said suddenly voice offering a false kind of comfort "…If you feel you're going to miss her attentions there's a whole bunch more to choose from each mainly the same as the next…heck I'll even buy it for you if you want it so bad and it could have blonde hair too" He said as he walked off ignoring the angry growl Zahi issued in high offence.

"Oh and congratulations on the attainment of your job..." he flung over his shoulder. "...again."

He said nothing as he watched the man leave more because he didn't trust what he would say if he did.
He suddenly spotted movement somewhere to his side and he turned to find blue eyes regarding him coldly and the first thing that hit him was the question of how long exactly had she been there? He said the first thing that came out and it was on the assumption that she'd heard more than a substantial amount to understand what was going on.. "I'm sorry."

He was unable to read what was going on behind her expressionless face. He was going on what he thought she would be thinking. He was in a way glad that he didn't have to tell her where she'd be going...it was pretty obvious but he was deliberating on whether he was assuming too much. Maybe she'd only just appeared which would mean she hadn't heard a thing. He felt he should offer some explanation as to his inability to do a thing. But before he could sort that jumble of thoughts out to actually say something she wasn't there anymore. By the time he'd looked up she'd gone and he wondered how it was she could do that.


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Bulma looked up at the walls without really seeing them at all and for the first time in a while it wasn't plans on getting her own back on a certain royal pain that was the main focus of the day. In fact she'd kept smiling and he'd no doubt noticed it by now but she couldn't care less and that was what he'd noticed even more and had kept fixing her with a questioning glance that in itself held blatant curiosity but she knew he would never condescend to ask, so that solved the problem of her never telling him anyway. This time is was something that surpassed that. It had come about more so now and with a certain surity after she'd finally got time to study closely the weapon she'd found...or rather walked within an inch of her life to take.

Her father had been brought to this planet...he was either still here or...wasn't. This she was more sure of than anything else because she really wanted to believe it and because she was sure so much so she would bet her life on it that she was right. She'd come across the one thing that had told her as much as she'd taken the weapon apart. Sure she'd managed to make some modifications with the crude things she'd been able to come across but by far the best thing of the day was finding that one single clue that seemed to prove beyond any doubt that he was at sometime here on this planet and hopefully still here.

To someone else it might seem like such a tiny thing to base so much faith on and she would have no doubt agreed with them if it wasn't for the tiny fact that this was her 'father' and in this case where she did know his habits, 'they' didn't.

It hadn't just been the simple things that after years of sitting along side him and working with him that she'd picked up on and noticed clearly like just the simple way he preferred using one thing as opposed to the other. It was the one other thing he seemed to do a lot. Something that no matter if she went senile she would definitely remember with a conviction.

An insignia.

A symbol it could be said. It could be whatever you chose to call it.

Something she was so familiar with...just a single letter really.

A bold letter that for all intents and purposes was a 'C' even though both ends very nearly touched surrounded by a circle.

It could have well meant copyright, she knew that much but seriously...'copyright', she was hardly on earth here and she seriously doubted that this race bothered themselves with things like that. Besides it was the way and manner in which it was placed there that had convinced her. He was here...he must have been alive for it was more than possible he'd designed the weapon or this version of it and that's what made it even easier to work with. She knew most of his methods and it had been about as hard as skipping through a field of flowers but it had been done with a happy jaunt at the new found knowledge that he could still be alive and just somewhere...proberbly so close she'd all but passed him by. All she had to do was find him.
Easier said than done...but when did that ever stop her.


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"I sure hope we don't get anymore children...There aren't anymore children on the planet, right?" Yamucha asked looking over at the pigtailed woman ushering the ringlet haired girl over to her mother. She looked up at him with a questioning look as if to question whether he thought her god.

"How exactly am I supposed to know that..." she snapped "if there are anymore cases like that..." she pointed over to a woman cradling a baby girl in her arms.

The baby wasn't the surprising thing...it was the tail that protruded from its lower back. "caused by Saiyan men who can't keep their hands to themselves...then I don't know. Maybe we'll get more." Angela finished with an almost scarcastic edge to her tone fixing him a gaze that bespoke of her jaded view of all men except one. It was all too easy to see she wasn't just referring to Saiyan men at all and even more so that she had a bee in her bonnet about something else.

Yamucha looked over at the woman. Her story was usually a rare one, the rarity wasn't in the fact of a human actually having a child of a Saiyan. The rarity lay in the fact that the mother and moreso the child was still alive and even more surprising was the fact that 'both' had managed to escape. He didn't have anything against children the thing was it was difficult to handle them when it came to getting off the planet. The people needed to be silent and children were prone to unexpected sounds and constant fidgeting. They didn't stay quiet and that could jeopardize the lives of others.

There was a clear tension in the air and it was heavy. Every time they did this there was that looming fear in the background...that this time they just might be caught...that this time they would be found out. It was so easy to go wrong. His breathing had increased in the past few minutes as it came nearer to the time...or was he just being affected by the unspoken fears of others. No trip was taken for granted though that was for sure.

He felt the slight touch and almost skyrocketed. The culprit fixed him with an apologetic smile before reassuming the worried look. "Puar...?" he said questioningly prompting the blue creature to start talking instantly assuming the worry reflected in those eyes to be for something other than who it was actually meant for.

"Are you okay Lord Yamucha?"

"Yes." he said feeling silly for worrying at all even giving a smile. Apparently satisfied Puar said nothing else but certainly didn't leave his side.

Stow away trips, squashed into small spaces they were virtually taking their very lives in their hands and yet each time it was seemingly worth the piled up risks for them. He could understand it, for hadn't he been willing to take this same trip all that while ago. Some people felt it was worth it and others were willing to just stay right where they were. Yet there was one rule they'd stuck by till now and that was to only ever take the ones that made it far enough, the ones that actually escaped. Sometimes it didn't go quite to plan as it had been just awhile ago. They would never usually kill any one but they would if it seemed they were coming too close to finding out where they were hidden and those guards had practically been on top of them. Also they wouldn't stand around and allow anyone of the escaping slaves just be brutally killed on their own turf. It would be like sitting back and watching a murder without doing a thing about it. The good thing was it had only happened a few times and that had been over a long period considering.

He watched as Angela moved over to the woman with the child and handed her a package holding a quick conversation before moving on to the other people.

Angel.

That girl was nothing of the kind. She may be young...she may be a scientific geek in that all things scientific was her life and she may even strike you as an endearingly cute and giggly female but that was all when you'd only just met her, it was all when you hadn't seen her fight. It was when you hadn't seen her hot headedly mad. Positively evil was what she was and he'd learnt the hard way right after getting a pummeling all that time ago when he'd first run across her. She wasn't strong that didn't make her dangerous in the slightest. It was more her craftiness, speed and her ability to turn strength into a disadvantage. It had taken him a lot of landings on his tush to realize what she was doing and after that she'd been the one on her tush. Again you could almost never figure out what she was thinking until it was thought and then you'd only have a split second to react and she didn't spare two thoughts worrying over whether or not to use low down dirty tricks to win either and it included the 'I'm just a weak female' ruse as well.

He looked around again. In all there were only seven people if you didn't count the child. It had raised an issue beforehand but the woman had been sure the child wouldn't make a sound. It wasn't the largest number they'd had but this many were still a rare thing and having to wait for the right moments meant they would have to stay awhile with them. The couple that they'd brought in towards the end seemed to have gotten over the initial fright and had obviously grown closer. It was obvious from the way they kept holding hands and smiling at each other...for no apparent reason sometimes.

It was annoying...but only because it made him think about Bulma. Jealousy was horrible and having loss added to it just bites all-round. It seemed like forever now. Sure he'd been having cold feet about her desire to get married and he hadn't been too sure...heck who was he kidding, he hadn't been sure period, that wasn't a crime, but he hadn't wanted to end up being taken away from her. That was the last thing he'd wanted and he'd had more than enough time to realize that with an unshakable conviction.

He looked over as Juunanagou entered his gaze sweeping the place in less than a second. That guy had an agenda of his own and what it was exactly Yamucha wasn't too sure but as predicted Puar clung to him terrified of the dark haired boy that had pulled one too many nasty tricks on her. If it hadn't been for her ability to change form she probably wouldn't be here with him now.

"Okay...we're moving." came the a new voice as a man entered. Yamucha turned to him noticing in a single glance that someone was missing. His gaze took in the new person suspiciously as he smiled giving the people a mini introduction of himself as being 'Monty'. Having never trusted the man no matter how many times he heard his name it still struck him as being an untrustworthy name. Who in the world...universe, was called 'Monty' nowadays. Besides one just had to take a look at the person to whom the name belonged. Unshaven, pony tailed, un caringly dressed and twirling a cocktail stick round his mouth, an annoying habit he had. He looked like something out of a John Wayne movie right down to how he talked.

"Where's Dr Briefs?" he asked looking at Yamucha fleetingly his gaze doing the once over on an unsuspecting Angel however she chose that time to bend down unknowingly giving him eyeful of a round pert bottom which had an unfortunate effect on him since he lost co-ordination of the cocktail stick and inadvertently ended up skewering his tongue. His reaction was evident pain though he tried to mask it well and he had to be given that much even though his eyes went red with unshead tears. Suffice it to say he wouldn't be talking for a while as he gingerly removed the cocktail stick and returned the offending item to his shirt pocket..

"Right here." another voice picked up as its owner entered a few seconds later, almost jauntily trailing off the checklists and what was to be done. "It's okay. It's all set. The ships are there and it will be virtually undetected. They just have to be led there Juunana's going to go along with them. Angel's going too." he said in his calm rational voice that seemed to have got them through many an upset just as Angela reappeared having left earlier, now disposed of her googles to be replaced by a headband that conveniently held back her wayward curl and now in white boots as opposed to the almost ballerina type slipper shoes she'd had on before.

Now that was the 'evil' Angel the giggly cute exterior was still there and anyone would be forgiven for thinking she was only going to end up getting in the way but he knew better. She flashed Briefs a bright smile of acknowledgement just before they all left. It was a thing she always seemed to do before she left. He'd gathered that having seen it long enough and the assumption was it was her silent way of not to worry she would be fine. Briefs gave an gentle nod smiling as she left before turning to Yamucha.

"...I need your help that's why I didn't send you with them." he said almost quietly before Yamucha could say anything as the people left. He looked at the man he followed into the next room which the word 'lab' would fit even if it was not up to the standards a laboratory would be held at. Yet the man seemed to be able to make the best out of everything.

"How do we know we can trust him." Yamucha asked. Monty knew too much and he wasn't sure he trusted him wholeheartedly even if he was good at what he did. It was just that compared to the rest of them Monty was a stranger. He had no ties to any of them. Angel would never sell them out for she cared about Briefs. He wouldn't...well because he wouldn't...and because he was in a way tied to Briefs too. Juunana wouldn't for beyond that facade there was a reason he seemed to need them albeit unknown to him right now but he knew it hadn't been accomplished yet and till then they were okay. Monty however was tied to none of them. Sure he talked a lot with them all and reported almost always to Briefs but still...no tie. What would stop him from selling them out.

Thing was he knew very little, even if he was supposed to be one of this impromptu group. He was never told of the details. Who helped, where the ships came from but it was clear that Dr Briefs knew but he never told him. He never told anyone come to think of it. He supposed he should be satisfied that they had that kind of help but it did feel like being kept in the dark about something so important.

When he'd run into his father in law to have been he couldn't believe it. It was near nigh impossible to have predicted it but when they'd found a way of getting off the planet they'd hit something big. It had then arose 'what if they could help others?' a question raised by a sharp spoken strawberry brown haired girl that'd hung after Dr Briefs like his personal bodyguard or such equivalent (and yet in a way she was aside from her humongous crush on him which Briefs either didn't see or was just nice about since he treated her like a daughter.). He on the other hand hadn't wanted to stay on the planet a second longer. He'd wanted to leave, he'd been close to doing so too but then he wasn't about to insist on going when everyone else had agreed to stay and were going to whatever he decided.

His staying hadn't been based on wanting to be a hero or due to some selfless quality he had...far from it. The reason was a little bit disappointing when compared to the ones of everyone else. It had just been a case of 'if you're staying I might as well stay least I look like a self thinking and cowardly prat'.

He smiled to himself as he took a seat. He'd named them. He'd decided a cool group like theirs should have a name that held some 'umph' to it and hey, he was good at 'umph' why when he and Puar were on earth people shuddered at the sound of his name. He felt he hadn't done too bad besides. He might as well have that...and soon after he realised he made the right decision in staying in the end even if his initial motives for doing so hadn't been so great.

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He looked briefly at the girl that refused to look at him at all preferring to believe he didn't exist. Whether or not she ignored him didn't ultimately matter he figured. He didn't really care either way but for some reason he somehow wanted a reaction. Others would have had 'some' kind of reaction by now. She on the other hand just sat there staring defiantly ahead of her as if nothing else existed. She'd been staring so long he was actually wondering how long she could keep it up and to make matters worse it was making him edgy...edgy just waiting on a response...an action, just for her to move her finger, some indication and yet it was supposed to be the other way round. After two days he figured cracks should be showing.

He looked up at the guard that entered carrying a food tray and his gaze practically burned holes through the man and he quietly and quickly left the tray on the floor steps away from him exiting in the space of time it took to inhale. Phebes didn't say anything but he had specifically ordered that no food be brought all of those two days ago. She wasn't showing any signs of being hungry in the slightest. So that didn't seem to be working.

However he suddenly didn't mind the mistake as much now for the smell albeit slop might remind her that she was hungry. She didn't look up at him or even at the food that he used his feet to push towards the bars. This cell was different from the others it was stark and white he supposed it was so there couldn't be any nasty surprises. and the only exit as with any cell was the one he was standing at which the almost invisible bars kept the person within secure. The bars weren't deadly, to anyone or anything else for anything could get in and out of the cell only she couldn't. Though it could be made to keep persons out.

He looked round briefly at the other three similar cells and their occupants. They were as silent as she was but unlike her they seemed about ready to give up totally. None of them were going anywhere as long as they had that similar band round their necks and ankles both tamperproof you walked through the bars with them on and it meant instant disintegration and if you managed by some unknown way to get through one the other will automatically set off it's own alarm system and there was again a self detonation even before they had attempted to try and get it off. There wasn't a chance to replace the former cause it wouldn't stop the deactivation. Till now no one had been stupid enough unless they had wanted to die and to do so they had to try and attempt the impossible. Try and get out of the straps in the first place.

True they only kept the dangerous prisoners and those people weren't willing to take the chance with, locked up so but she was important too. He wanted her going nowhere. His former plans may have been foiled but this time it might turn out not to be a total waste...just changed slightly especially since this time he actually had help. It seemed then that he wasn't the only unhappy one. It was like being handed another chance. This could be it. This time it could be over possibly without him even being involved. However he might be able to kill two birds with one stone. Besides if it worked it would mean there was one less person to worry about and everything might be achieved a lot quicker.

"You know, if you ask nicely enough you could actually have it." he said.

She looked at him then, her cat-like eyes seeming to mock him seeing well enough through him and knowing full well that even if she did ask for it he wouldn't give it to her anyway. "If I wanted it you'd know...because of where I would shove it."

What got his blood boiling was the fact that she dared talk to him like he was supposed to be the lowest thing here and in front of the other prisoners who were looking with some intrest at them. She was supposed to be cracking at the seams not making wise cracks with a bald faced cheek that he was not going to just let pass. He stormed in somewhat amazed at how easily incensed she could get him and his hand clamped round the neck of her dress yanking her to her feet with such an angry speed that almost indecently exposed peachy white legs had to grapple a bit to attain what balance they could bare feet stumbling as they stepped on his owned shoed feet in its effort to achieve it's goal. She dangled an inch from the bars. Ones that she could faintly see but hear even more now she was this close to them. A humming sound that almost wasn't there but made hairs stand on end with the knowledge of something almost being there. He just had to let her go and she would fall back completely and right through. That much was clear even without the shocked gasps from the other cells. She knew what would happen for he'd told her many enough times.

"I could just drop you. You rely on my mercy more than you know."

She smiled at that one. It was more of a defiant smirk as if challenging him to go ahead and do so only without any uttered words just her eyes, when they did look up at him, were amazingly devoid of fear, no what he saw instead was something like a silent promise as if she were simply biding her time waiting for something. She made no effort to retaliate or anything and yet he knew beneeth that calm exterior there was a strength she was hiding, he'd found that awhile ago and now and it was what he was going to use it to his advantage though he seriously doubted she knew to what extent he was well aware of it.

"You'll get exactly what you deserve soon. Then we'll see who'll be laughing." he said pushing her back over to the corner where she simply resumed her seat the unphazed calmness in which she did it makeing him unreasonably angry. She wouldn't be looking so smug when she came up against the king and if all went accordingly then with the preferred outcome she'd be dead and so would another.


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Chichi hummed to herself as she prepared dinner. It was really at times like this that she felt no one could tell her what to do because they were more than willing to let her go crazy in the kitchen. Being also the only one in the place that could actually do something with it all. She could decide whatever it was that they were going to have for breakfast lunch or dinner and every time they were happy with it; no complaints whatsoever and most especially she noticed Goku more than enjoyed her cooking. True it would be hard to know if he did or not what with his tendency to shovel down almost anything yet when he kept saying so almost after every mouth full it would be safe to assume he meant it. She smiled to herself as she continued with the tasks at hand and it was a big one that she'd finished but needed to add the finishing touches.

So intent on her task she didn't notice her silent visitor or the eyes that traveled down long bare legs that tapered into gentle ankles and the daintiest feet. Over small hands that moved with an almost creative finesse and some what of an inbred proficiency of what to use and how to use it. Every now and then dark tresses danced across her back and over her shoulders sometimes briefly giving off glimpses of her profile clearly intent on what she was doing. She rose with a satisfied smile and turned her intention to a spoon only to come to an abrupt and startled stop at finding the man lounging in the doorway dark spiky hair falling to his waist his build in itself terrifying even if he was built like his brother. There was built and 'fearful' and then there was the version that had 'kind' attached...much easier for her to deal with. She had the distinct feeling he'd been there a while and he'd been watching her and she wished that the one time she'd decided to bend down, earlier , she had done it a bit more gracefully. She looked at him expecting him to say something as she had never, with no obvious need to, spoken to Goku's brother before unless answering a direct question which was very rare fromhim. He barked simple orders and people flew.

The slight smile she could swear was on his face was more than a little unnerving too. She could figure out if he was trying to smile or if he was just smirking. She hoped to God it wasn't the former. She decided to ask.

"did you need me?" she asked

He left the doorway approaching her making her step back in surprise and mounting fear. She was even more surprised when she found herself against the counter but he was still barely inches from her. Her voice died in her throat as he spoke. "Yes."

'For what' would have been the next good question to ask but she didn't need to. The whole atmosphere screamed it, she was screaming it, the way he was looking at her was trumpeting it. There was no doubt as to what he meant.

"I-I-Goku" she ended up squawking. What she'd wanted to say was that she wasn't a house slave she belonged to Goku and belonging to him was a very good thing at the moment because he wouldn't look at her like a raw piece of meat with legs attached…he just wouldn't and that was that. She gasped as she felt his fingers sink into her hair and grasp a tight handful of black strands. What she wanted to do was to ask him to leave her alone as nicely as possible but the way he'd angled her head she wasn't quite sure she could get it past her throat.

He was going to kiss her. He was actually going to well go ahead and do it. The disgust that she couldn't quite get out in words was well enough reflected in the look on her face.

"Chichi have you seen Krillin cause--What are you doing." Came the new voice she instantly recognized and gave a sigh of relief. Goku. Yet she wasn't the only one that recognised him.

"Go away…" was the given reply said simply in a 'you're-disturbing-me' tone.

"Leave her alone--" he began

"Do you mind?" Raditz said glaringly. Chichi attempted to use that distraction to escape but Raditz caught her pushing her back against the counter with more force than she was used to but to, before turning to face a very angry Goku who looked livid and had it jumped up a notch with the sound of pain that escaped her as her waist slammed into the edge of the counter.

A fist slammed into the perpetrators face just a split second after and Raditz could only look back at his brother in stunned silence as if trying to come to understand his very gall. To hit him but not just that but to actually hit him over a slave...even more so where he never had before for where he would have simply annoyed him to the point of loosing intrest he'd actually just hit him. That just couldn't be allowed to slip by unanswered.

He growled angrily the only indication Goku got before his brother's own fist landed squared in his face sending him reeling backwards sufficiently erradicating the second of of stunned silence that had flitered across his face at his own actions though not regreting them at all.

"You stupid fool!" Raditz practically roared at his glaring brother that had an unbreakable look of defiance on his face. A definate silent sign that he was not about to give up on this one and if it damn well meant a fight so be it. He picked himself up almost instantly. Raditz though was much too livid to recognise it, and he would have having seen it a few occasions before. "How dare you hit me...and in front of and over a stupid slave. She's a slave woman and I can do what I like!" he said the last part of his sentence sounding like he knew that with a conviction and his brother was the one in the wrong.

" ...and she belongs to me!" Goku bit back, brows heavy with darkening anger as he blocked another blow aimed for his head, and one definately meant to hurt, and practically flipped his brother to the side when he came at him again. Raditz ended up against the nearby wall cracks making their ways in different directions as they spread out behind him.. "while she does you're staying away from her." Chichi's hand went to her mouth as she watched the display. Now if the shorter haired Saiyan currently fighting over her had had the time to sufficently explain it properly his sentence would have gone something like 'she isn't your slave and that means you haven't any right to touch her at all so you will stay away from her' but trying to fend off blows from a very offended Saiyan and speaking at the same time weren't meant to go very well together and hence his inevitable 'she belongs to me' speech which ended up making ChiChi's blood boil in anger.

The very fact that they were fighting and claiming some kind of hold over her was enough to make her more than a litle angry and frankly she did not quite care to be owned by either of them right now not even her so called 'saviour'. It was like she was merely some sort of cattle. Even more so now than before and it was the most infruiratingly degrading thing possible.

The brawl seemed to be spreading as Raditz's large hands closed round his younger brother's neck pushing him backwards as they crashed into the living room. "You want a fight brother…you chose the wrong person to pick it with but you've got it!"

The house! was her first disbeliving mental gasp.

Goku flung him off rising. This time it was not going to happen again and especially not to Chichi. The last mistake was more than just an eye opener and almost getting into trouble over actually letting the girl escape when Raditz wouldn't actually admit that he was more than responsible for her state of affairs was bad enough.

She could only stare as they went for each other again. How dare they fight over her like she was some kind of commodity no better than a chair or a book, she was a living being...how dare they act as if she wasn't there...how DARE they! To make matters worse if they didn't stop there would be no house left! What was she supposed to say when the owner of the house returned to find an absence of a house? it would no doubt all boil down to her, what with being the slave and everything she would get the blame. How dare they actually even attempt to put her in such a situation. Of all people Goku ought to know better and that outraged her even more than everything else. He was absolutely no better than the rest of them where she had thought he was. Her breathing indicated the rising of her anger and it suddenly blew without warning and she was done. That was all she was taking.

"ALRIGHT THAT'S IT! THE PAIR OF YOU WILL STOP THIS RIGHT NOW!!!" She roared slamming her foot on the floor a demanding gesture that ordered she be listened to. They looked up from their death grips on each other. Having the ability to stop a riot dead on with her voice it certainly came in handy now as all they could do was stare at her their expressions halfway between that of admonished children and bewilderment as they wondered what exactly was wrong about this scene as they beheld that fiery gaze.

Right now, she was blindingly angry. "Why I am utterly disgusted!" she spat her sneer actually proving she was.

She suddenly had the attention of the whole room and if a pin had dropped it would have been heard. It also sufficed to actually bring her anger down a notch and make her realise what she'd just done and she couldn't quite believe it. Yet she pushed down her own surprise at her reaction and how it could get her into a whole range of trouble and continued before any of them could get over their own surprise and realise what she had just.

"You will both stop fighting and sit down at that table or that food is out in a heartbeat!" she said shrilly, hand on hip pointing towards what was left of the eating table now paralyzed as a result of their attentions. Her burning gaze left no reasoning space for any argument whatsoever.

Much to her surprise they actually did too and she felt she should attibute it to the smell coming from the kitchen now as it seemed it was ready. She'd been expecting quite the opposite outcome. She'd expected to be finished there and then and as she turned and walked into the kitchen her trembling fingers attested to the truth of that. She'd turned away long before the terrified expression showed on her face. They wouldn't have heard either the almost frantic pounding of her heart.

She really hoped she wouldn't be made to pay for what she'd just done.


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Seripa glanced at Bardock gaze wide as they took in the semi destruction in the house and the dark haired woman hurrying round to get everything fixed. She looked up sharply as they entered looking a lot like a deer caught in the headlights of a car and she seemed to be waiting on what would be said next as she visibly swallowed. Seripa simply looked at Bardock who was taking in his semi demolished home before looking at the guilty looking girl as if reasons were taped to her head.

The girl's mouth moved a few times but nothing came out until the last try wherein it was squeakily sharp. "I'll have this fixed soon..." then she glanced over at the wall to her side looking back just as quickly as if realising that she had no way to fix a wall and yet realising at the same time that she might have drawn his attention to it even if the very idea that he wouldn't notice it in the first place was a ridiculous one.

Seripa took one look at the mess, the girl, the huge hole in the wall in which she could see the sibblings at the table (or rather what was left of the legless table balanced on their laps) and practically feel the heavy silence above them as they glared at each other in almost every pause between mouthfuls of food and mentally came to a conclusion of what must have happened almost instantly.

"I have a pretty good idea of what happened here." she said folding her arms and nodding gently in a wise manner a smug smile that had 'told you so' even as she managed to keep a serious look. ChiChi's gaze flew to the woman grinning up at Bardock with a silently satisfied look on her face and if she'd acutally said anything she would have hit eerily close to the mark but she wasn't allowed too for Bardock still remembered that conversation awhile ago and was ending this before she started on him again.

"What happened here." he questioned and much to his annoyance he didn't get a reply. Goku said nothing. Raditz just glared at his brother's bent head.

He groaned lightly "I expect explanations later." he said pausing for his words to sink in albeit he got no response apart from an almost innocent look from Goku and an 'I couldn't care less one way or the other' glance from Raditz as he silently continued eating taking care to avoid his swollen lip.

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Krillin looked up as another presence became known. He turned to look over his shoulder finding ChiChi standing a few feet from him no doubt having come out thinking herself to be alone. It was there in the mild surprise on her face. A smile touched her lips even as her brow rose questioningly. "What are you doing out here?" she asked.

He thought awhile...what was he doing anyway..."thinking." he supplied as she took a seat too. She gave a small laugh "let me guess...you're worried about someone."

He looked at her sharply. "How did you know that."

She grinned smugly "There are only very few things that people on this planet can have on their minds. You're either worried for yourself or someone else."

Yes, he supposed he was worried...and had been worried. It would explain the, till now, inexplicable shadow looming after him for awhile now. Like somehow under the facade of what he was seeing daily something was lurking. It was almost like a bad feeling but one that didn't explain itself and till now he hadn't been able to put a finger on it till now. More so after what Goku had told him he was rightly worried. Now if Goku had seen no way out of it...what could he do? Where he couldn't do anything previously he could do less where the king was suddenly involved. The frown of concentration that had been on his friend's face more than told him he couldn't do anything before he even knew he couldn't and not even the desire to was worth a thing. If nothing else she was his friend and...well...he just had to be able to do something.

The details had been sketchy. Goku had been told by a friend that had almost barreled into him as he'd been exiting and it had come up when he had asked why he was hurrying so. Right after getting an earful about a man named 'Phebes' and how his gaze was something devil sent. Yet how he came to know wasn't what was on Krillins mind. The main thing was she was in trouble whichever way you looked at it. His head tilted slightly in an unconsciously questioning action.

"Chichi...have you ever heard of the bandits." he asked suddenly.

Chichi looked a bit surprised "What brought that up?" she said but when it seemed like she wasn't going to get an answer she continued "yes...but they're a make belief heros of some sort aren't they...well at least that's what I picked up."

"Some seem to think they aren't make believe." he said thinking back to the incident at the table when Oswald had practically jumped down Bisman's throat. The way he'd left it open ended...he felt it was more proof than anything. He hadn't outright denied their existence.

"They have to be, because I certainly haven't seen them. You should ask Goku..." a tint of affection coloured her tone "he'll know."

Krillin didn't say anything to that. Her answers to everything now a days seemed to revolve round Goku...he could do all where she was concerned and the funny thing was she barely realised she was doing it half the time. It made him laugh...and also pay more attention to himself when he was speaking.

"Bulma believed it though...then again she was always coming up with one idea or the other for the perfect escape. I doubt she's given up now. So if it were true she would make it her business to know I'm sure of it."

"I believe it." he said.

She smiled "Yeah well...it's nice to believe in things and for some it's just not enough to grasp hold of, let alone believe in..." a far off smile touched her face again. "besides...reality isn't all bad." she said, her mind wandering and it was obvious as to who occupied her thoughts. She'd long forgiven the culprit for his claim to owning her...It was hard to stay angry at him for long and in reality she could belong to someone worse. "Hey," she said suddenly snapping out of them "she'll be fine." she said obliviously unaware as to any of the circumstances as she hadn't been told.

His brows rose...

"Woman's intuition. It just had to be a she." she filled with an amused grin.

"yeah." he said politely enough though he didn't believe it. Too many things could easily go so very wrong...and she had a blunt way of handling things which didn't bode well for the approach of anything remotely 'fine'.





Notes; (I just assumed Puar's female...sorry. Thing is I can't figure out if she is or not...I've only read the first few issues of dragonball so sue me geez...but I think she's a she...I mean she acts like a she. (man how stupid will I look if I got it wrong huh?). Oh and I naturally like the way she calls him lord yamcha what can I say...^_^) As for Chichi if you disagree that she could get them two to actually listen just check the many episodes when she's shouting. Their house has left the ground many a time. She's scary, If she was to shout at me I would 'dig' the hole that would swallow me rather than stand there and 'wish' for it. oh and again I apologize for the crappiness of the chapter and spelling mistakes and basically all mistakes. It should be perfect shouldn't it. Yes it should. I'm on a deadline here and using the library computer as well so I am so sorry.Oh and as for Goku, I suppose OOC will arise huh...sorry but he did have reasons...(and I wanted entertainment ^_____^) Oh (yeah, another 'oh') I bet none of you were suprised the diary belonged to you know who. I mean who else right?

The next chapter may be a while (getting a lot busier, not me...the chapters...although I am busy too *huge grin* naturally) I will try sooo much not to let it take too long... I promise to try. It doesn't help that its a busy chapter either *sigh* I take these things on don't I? You know...my short writing streak just might be over soon...if there was even one in the first place. (*mumbles* jumped up little madam getting ideas above her station *wags finger admonishingly* 'tut-tut'). Oh and please review too...(it makes Aymei a happy little bunny!) thank you and that's also for just coming this far...cheerio! ^ __^. Oh and don't worry about it being slow, it really ain't...we're getting there. This is just chapter 7 and did I mention something happens to Vegeta too next chapter. 18 isn't just the only one with something to deal with you know and Krillin is about to walk right smack bam into a whole lot of trouble himself. Now...if I can just get enough time to start writing...

( here's your usual clues) Chapter eight;

I've promised to never leave you…
Hearts betray you but they won't ever lie
Trust isn't something asked for…it's freely given.
and death can lie in the most beautiful of hands.

(A/N) you know I do believe these are starting to get cornier by the day...^__^