Chapter Two
"Stop pulling at your collar, Trunks-san, it's not gentlemanly," Bulma hissed at him.
"It's too tight!" Trunks hissed back, maintaining a smile.
Gathered below the balcony on which they were standing was a throng of people, anyone from local rich merchants to other political denizens. It was, after all, a ball to celebrate the return of House Vegeta to their planet.
Bulma was pointing out people of importance to Vegeta and Bra was with their nanny- an Outlander who had found work at the palace as a servant. Trunks had come to find out that Outlanders were their preference, as they were hard, sturdy people and hard workers.
Trunks saw Goten and waved. Goten waved back, motioning for him to come down the stairway to join him, Gohan, and Kakarroto. He looked at his parents. Vegeta nodded, and Bulma sighed, adding something about not wreaking havoc.
Gohan, Goten, and Kakarroto were dressed in Saiya-jin uniforms, Trunks in the tight, high-collared jacket over the uniform showing he was a member of the royal family.
"Have you made contact with the Outlanders yet, Kakarroto-san?" Trunks asked.
He thought carefully, "Hai. They are a suspicious people at best. It will take time."
"Those suits, though, tousan- they're..." Gohan began, his voice trailing off as he watched the daughter of a diplomat cross the room.
"Incredible, hai," Kakarroto agreed, "much more advanced than ours, although that is not surprising. They deal with much more adverse conditions than we do. Still, an alliance will hopefully bring our technologies together."
As a loud, brassy fanfare filled the room, everyone turned, looking up at the balcony entrance.
"Presenting, the Princess Arial Gustine," someone announced over the speakers. The hall erupted in applause- the daughter of the emperor had come to pay her respects to the new King of Vegeta-sei.
Trunks frowned, looking at his friends, "Duty calls. I hate being a prince."
He walked forward, joining his parents. Vegeta bowed deeply, "What a pleasant surprise, your highness."
"My father sends his warmest regards, King Vegeta."
Bulma bowed as well, and when she caught Trunks' eye she smiled, "I've not seen you since we were children, Trunks-san. You've grown."
"Always a pleasure, your highness," Trunks said, trying to maintain a genuine looking smile. It was hard however, as all he remembered of Arial was that she was a spoiled brat who had cut his hair once as a child when he had been forced to play with her.
When the welcoming was quite over, dinner was called to order. On the way to the table, Goten whispered, "Talk about the Ugly Duckling in reverse."
Trunks stifled a laugh, but getting a better look at her, decided it might not be quite true. She had been an extremely beautiful child- that had been true, but now she was more plain- despite the cosmetics and stylized hair. Trunks sat across from her at the table, looking at the glass of wine in front of him. He raised it as his father toasted the Emperor, then drowned it in one gulp. A servant rushed forward to refill it, giving him an exasperated look as some splashed down onto the tablecloth.
"I'm sorry, m'lord," she said quickly, blotting it with her sleeves, "that was careless of me."
"It was an accident," Trunks said, curious at the sudden, fearful reaction she displayed, "don't worry about it."
Once dinner was finally over, Trunks joined Kakarroto and Gohan in the corner of the room.
"What is with the servants?" Trunks asked, "They act as though they're walking on eggs- as if the slightest slip will result in some horrifying punishment."
Gohan nodded, "I've noticed as well. It seems that most of the current servants were also the house servants when House Kold was here. Those that weren't killed or brutalized that is."
Kakarroto frowned, "The slightest slip inside House Kold could result in disfigurement. Like that one over there- with the scar across her cheek? I asked her and she said it was for not having Freeza's bath the right temperature. They're all waiting to see what you will be like."
"I'll run my own damn bath," Trunks scowled, "why did the emperor make our family move anyway?"
"Well, it would seem that Chickyuu was abundant with natural resources. But, it needed someone to control the people there and your grandfather was chosen. When he died, that was left to your father."
"And now, he makes us return just because his precious water was mismanaged by pink lizards?"
Kakarroto laughed, "Hai, Prince, it seems so. Besides, House Kold fears the Saiya-jin, especially since some of us have learned the secret of becoming Super Saiya-jin. Many royal houses fear our power- fear that we will one day try and take over the empire."
"Which is why we must be careful," Trunks mused, "because our being sent here may be a trap."
"Surely you do not think that my father would deliberately send you to your doom, do you, Prince Trunks-san?" Arial asked.
Trunks coughed, "Maybe not your father, highness, but surely no one believes House Kold has just packed up and left."
"House Kold-" she sniffed, "despicable creatures. But, perhaps, useful in their own way."
Trunks grunted something he thought sounded like approval, turning as the Princess' guards approached.
"Are you hurt?"
"Stand down, Captain," she said, disbelieving he had asked such a question.
"The princess is unharmed. She has been in my care," Trunks said.
"It is time to leave, Highness," the captain said.
"I am not ready to go," she said, looking at him.
"We were left strict orders, Highness, so if you please-"
"I give the orders, Captain!"
"Your father said-"
"Damn him! You see? I am treated as a child." she pouted.
Trunks looked at her, "Then perhaps we should be the adults," he said, bowing, kissing the top of her hand, "I wish you a pleasant and safe journey home, your highness."
Dinner long over and the princess having long departed, Trunks and Goten snuck out of the palace to do some exploring. Taking to the air, Trunks was finally getting a good look at his new home.
"Over there- to the south- is where the Outlanders live," Goten explained, "they're very hard to find- they know the lowlands and swamps so well that if an intruder were to get into their space, they can track them for days without being seen- or even sensed."
"They can suppress their ki that well?" Trunks asked.
"It is said that in their suits, they can even fly without their ki being noticed. That's why Freeza-san had so much trouble with them. When they were caught, they were tortured and brutally killed."
"You've met them?"
"One group, hai. There are many others- possibly hundreds of thousands. The swamplands are considered uninhabitable- at least by our standards."
They flew southwards, hoping to at least see one of the Outlanders. When Trunks turned, the palace was barely visible on the horizon. The moon was high in the sky by then- and Goten landed on a dry ridge in the middle of the swamp. When Trunks landed, he began to speak.
Goten cut him off harshly, "We're being watched. Over there," he pointed to a dark area covered in vegetation.
"Is it an Outlander?"
Goten shook his head, "Can't be. An Outlander wouldn't be found out so easily. Can't you feel the ki?"
Trunks could sense it- strong, but not as strong as he and Goten put together. He watched the space Goten had pointed to intently, but wasn't prepared when their attacker launched out of the bushes at them, raining ki blasts.
"Get out of here, Trunks-san," Goten said, "get tot he palace."
"I'm not leaving you."
"Trunks- it's Ginyu—go warn the others-" Trunks watched as a ki blast sent Goten flying- landing unconscious on another rise. Trunks flew upwards, powering up, igniting his purple hair to gold. The member of the Ginyu force met him in mid-air and they exchanged blows.
"He's strong," Trunks panted, firing a blast that he brushed away as though it was a fly. They met again, grappling in mid-air until a point blank shot of ki sent him flying backwards. Something caught him and he let out a sigh of relief.
"Goten," he said softly, "let's get out of here."
"Good idea," a female voice answered, and Trunks contracted all of his muscles, throwing her over his shoulders, towards the ground. He watched as she let herself fall for a moment, then righted herself.
The Ginyu soldier attacked and she raised one hand, igniting a hail of ki blasts, sending him sprawling to the ground, where more blasts- all from different people- lit up the dark jungle.
His savior- or his possible attacker, looked at him, "We know who you are and that is the only reason you're alive at this moment. Take your friend and go back to the palace."
"You- you're an Outlander- but how did-"
"There is little we do not know. We have some of our people in the palace. You are not safe- get back to the palace and do not return here."
"THEY TRIED TO TAKE THE LIFE OF MY SON!" Vegeta roared.
"He managed himself well, m'lord," Gohan said.
"I do not care. If these Outlanders hadn't intervened-"
"We do owe them our gratitude, sire," Kakarroto agreed, "for both our sons."
Goten smiled weakly, still clutching his broken ribs.
"Who is this- girl, Kakarroto- have you met her yet?"
He shrugged, "We've only made contact with a small band. True, it was in that area, but I can't give names with a certainty. If I had to guess, I'd say it was Allegra, but-"
"It wasn't Allegra," Goten said, "it wasn't her voice."
"Goten-san, if you know who she is-"
Goten shook his head, "Gomen nasai, sire, but I don't."
"Goddamn it!" Vegeta roared again, "I want every crevice of the surrounding area searched. Any members of the Ginyu Force are to be executed immediately."
"Yes, sire," Radditz, always eager for a conflict, agreed.
"Kakarroto-san, I want you to go out and see if the people you met know anything about this."
"Hai, sire," Kakarroto said, turning to go out the door.
THE OUTLANDERS
"We are aware, Kakarroto-san, the Ginyu member has been killed," Soren said gruffly, "but as to who intervened- that I can not tell you."
"Can't or won't? Which is it?"
"As leader of this particular tribe I can't."
"Then she must be a member of this tribe," Gohan ventured.
Soren shot him a fatal look, then nodded, "That much I can tell you. Hai, she is a member of this tribe."
"Soren-san, the king just wishes to reward her-" Kakarroto began.
"And I have to protect my people!"
"We're not like House Kold, Soren-san," Kakarroto said gently, "but if your reasons for protecting her are as you say, then we'll let it be."
"Arigato," Soren said, "I will tell you this. There is a traitor among you. You best all be careful in the coming days."
"A traitor? Who?" Gohan demanded.
"That I do not know, but the Ginyu soldier said that they were being given information by someone in that palace."
Goten looked at Trunks, who was deep in thought.
"Still thinking about last night?" he ventured.
"Hn?" Trunks grunted, "No, not really."
Goten observed his friend, who had become distant ever since the move to Vegeta-sei.
"Then, you're thinking about Kai, right?"
From Trunks' expression, Goten could tell that he was right. Kai had been a girl they'd hung around at Satan City High. She and Trunks were "friends"- meaning that they slept together, but didn't date. Goten had always suspected there was more there. He was beginning to think he was right.
"I didn't have the nerve to tell her-" Trunks said.
"Neither did I. Capsule Corp.'s being run by strangers now, isn't it?"
"Top executives, yeah," Trunks nodded, "but my mom really runs it from afar."
"Trunks-kun," Goten started, "do you think you'll ever know who it was?"
"Who what was?"
"The girl from last night."
Trunks shrugged. It didn't matter. He hated it here. He wanted to be back on Chikyuu with his friends. Goten coming along had been great, but being a prince on Chikyuu was mainly just a title. Here, he had to act the part. He was curious about their helper the night before, but knew from Kakarroto that her identity was a closely guarded secret- for whatever reason.
"Gohan figures that if we were told who it was the Ginyu Force might seek revenge," Goten said.
Trunks said nothing, but sat up and balled his fist, "They're Saiya-jin, right? What do they have to fear from us?"
Goten shrugged, "I met them when tousan and I first went out. They're- strange- even for Saiya-jin. Most of the younger ones- those our age and older- can turn Super Saiya-jin. The older ones can't- or won't- or something."
"They- have stronger powers?"
Goten shrugged, "If they do, it's because of the conditions they live in."
"Who's Allegra?"
Goten looked at Trunks, red coloring his nose and cheeks, "She's an Outlander I met."
"You're sure it wasn't her?"
Goten nodded, "I'm positive. Allegra's got a higher voice."
Trunks looked at Goten and smiled, "Maybe we'll become allies with them."
THE OUTLANDERS
"You shouldn't have interfered!" Soren charged.
"But Soren-san, they were in trouble- and they're Saiya-jin!"
"I don't care, Skye-san! You're the last family I have left. My brother's daughter! When he died I swore to protect you!"
"I was ten! I needed protecting then! I'm eighteen now and-"
"As reckless as your father and as beautiful as your mother. Someday, you'll make someone a fine mate, but until then-"
"I know, I know, I have to do everything you say. I'm not a slave, Soren-san!"
"Have I ever treated you like one?"
"No, just like a child."
"You are still a child, Skye-chan. You're the child I never had a chance to have. I raised you as a daughter!"
"YOU'RE NOT MY FATHER! STOP PRETENDING TO BE!"
Skye took off into the purple sky, leaving Soren there both regretting his harsh words and wondering what to do with her. Shaking his head, he ducked back into the cavern that he called home, which was really and inter-connected labyrinth of caves, rooms, and passages. She would come home after she had calmed down.