Disclaimer's Note: Feh. Do I like all that rich? Do I have a Battle Angel DVD? Do I have Armitage III DVD? Do I have Blood the Last Vampire DVD?NO! So guess the answer to this last question: Do I own DBZ?
Chapter Six- Hope
Gohan was rocking back and forth in the tiny cell he had been placed in as all the memories flooded his mind. He couldn't take it. All he could focus on was the horror of his last enslavement. The pain, the tortures, the blood, the tears. How his father had almost given up his hope. How Krillin and Yamcha had given up hope. How he has last his own hope slowly. Gohan would never admit, but yes, his hope had slowly dwindled out too, like a flame in the breeze. Their hope had been given back though, yes. In the form of a brave, green haired female.
But their hope had lost her life in the process.
Gohan's eyes began to tear us as he thought of Minsa.
Who would give him back his hope when he lost it this time?
********
Unknown to Gohan, he was being watched by a soldier of Frieza.
But this warrior of Frieza was different.
There were on of the most pure that could be found on the ship of the tyrant lizard.
And their heart ached for the child that sat, muttering to himself about the pain and heartbreak of his past.
But they could do nothing.
They were pure, but wise.
Frieza, you could not stand against alone. The warrior knew this better then anyone, and would not let their hope for freedom cloud their judgment of life. However, they would not give up their hope for freedom. It was something that they had to cling too, even though their cling was so tight, that it was nearly tearing the hope to shreds, the wouldn't release. So they offered the child not words of wisdom, but words of personal hardship in a time when hope can not shine through.
"Don't let go of your hope yet, Gohan. Help will come."
**********
Gohan jumped up as two guards come by and opened his cell door. Instead of racing towards the front though, he retreated into the dim interior.
The taller of the brutes laughed.
"Don't worry kid... we got a gift for you."
The other guard hooted, and then they both threw a limp bundle to the floor at Gohan's feet.
Gohan wasn't sure what it was at first, but as he knelt closer to the ground, he realized exactly what it was, and choked back the bile that quickly rose in his threat. He squeezed his eyes shut, trying not to cry out.
It was Vegeta.
Badly cut, and bleeding. Bruised everywhere. Clothes turned into rags.
Gohan rolled Vegeta over to see his face, and suppressed the urge to throw up. Vegeta's face looked like a piece of raw meat that had been thrown against the wall hundreds of times.
"Vegeta..." Gohan whispered, trying to rouse the Saiyan prince.
"Vegeta, please wake up!" Gohan said, with a larger hint of urgency in his voice.
Gohan had never particularly liked Vegeta, but he didn't want Vegeta to die. He did have great respect for the short Saiyan warrior. After all, Vegeta had lost almost as much as all of them during that awful time at the Saiyan planet.
Gohan shook Vegeta gently again.
He didn't want Vegeta to die. Gohan didn't want to be alone in this hell.
'I have to hope... I have to hope, and pray that Vegeta will live.... however, after I try to treat his wounds...'
Gohan looked around, trying to figure out what to do. There was a tiny sink in the cell. Gohan got up off his haunches, and walked over. Carefully he ripped off an arm of his shirt, and dipped into the dirty water.
"I'm sorry Vegeta," Gohan said quietly as he walked back over. "But it's the best I can do."
Gohan began to carefully wash, and tie strips of cloth around Vegeta's numerous wounds. When Gohan was nearly done, Vegeta started to cough up blood, and then sat up groggily.
"Uhh... Holy shit... I feel like hell." Vegeta grumbled.
Gohan grinned, glad to see that Vegeta was back in action.
Vegeta's eyes finally focused, after his head cleared a little, and the world stopped spinning to see Kakarott's brat grinning at him.
"What are you so happy about?" Vegeta snarled.
"Well... I thought you were going to die..." Gohan trailed off uneasily.
"No such luck for you kid..." Vegeta mumbled, standing.
"What happened to you anyway?" Gohan asked.
"Frieza. We're in Frieza's land. And he wants the Saiyans."
Realization dawned across Gohan's features.
"Dad! Goten! Is he going to get them?!"
Vegeta shook his head.
"Bulma took steps to insure that something like that wouldn't happen... It seems none of his fighters can remember where Earth is, however that also means..." Vegeta trailed off.
"He wants you to tell him!" Gohan almost yelled, fear blossoming in him.
Vegeta nodded.
"Did you tell him!?" Gohan questioned, starting to panic.
"I'm not that weak!" Vegeta retorted.
"I didn't think so... But we must hold out against Frieza." Gohan stated.
"How do you plan to do that brat? Die groveling at Frieza's feet?" Vegeta questioned, just generally interested to hear what Gohan would say.
"I'm not going to give him my hope this time."
*************
Bulma woke the next morning to find herself in bed alone.
"Vegeta..." she mumbled, wondering where he was. "Training... of course. Stupid me." Bulma continued as she padded down to Trunks's nursery, and then to the kitchen.
When she reached the kitchen, she stopped as she read a piece of paper that was on the table.
Dear Bulma,
I have gone to fight our new enemy to get Goku's son, Gohan back.
-Vegeta
Bulma felt tears tinge at her eyes.
"You stupid bak-"
Then something caught her attention.
"This can't be from Vegeta!"
The purple-haired baby in her arms, stared up at her.
"He would never call Goku, Goku... It's always Kakarott, this and Kakarott that.... And Gohan! He never calls Gohan by his name! Oh my Kami! What does this mean then?! Who can it be from?"
"Bulma."
"Who's there!?" Bulma called out.
"I'm speaking in your mind."
Bulma felt panic start to rise, as she listened to the voice. It was completely neutral. Monotone. No hints of female or male. No emotions.
"Please don't be frightened of me. Trust me. Vegeta's and Gohan's life depends on it. On the planet the others were supposed to fight on, is Frieza's headquarters. But it is in the center of the planet. That is all I can tell you. I am sorry... but good luck"
Bulma felt flashes of fear as she heard that word.
Frieze.
And Vegeta and Gohan were in his clutches!
"Wait!" Bulma cried out to her mysterious helper, but they had already disappeared.
Bulma knew there was only one thing she could do now. Go see Goku, and see what they would decide...
But as she raced out the door, she felt the traces of three words brush against her mind.
"Keep your hope."
Author's Note: ^^ *is happy kid, nothing else to say!* Anyway review! You can however, email me or join my mailing list at vegetaztwin@hotmail.com. Also big news to the fact, that Gothic Bunny Anime (me website) gots a new message board! So if you like those, check it out at http://gothicbunny.suddenlaunch.com. Hope to see you there!