CHAPTER 5
LANDING
She flew, losing herself in the feel of the air rushing around her. Tears would have been streaming down her face if they were available to her; instead she felt a great pain within her heart. Why? Why do they mock me? She asked herself, Why do they laugh at me?
"WHY DO I CARE?" she screamed into the empty sky, feeling torn, broken. For some reason, some strange and incomprehensible reason, she hurt now more than she could ever remember.
Landing on a branch, high above all other trees, she cried. Not with tears, for she had been denied them from the day of her creation, but with the sorrow in her soul. Soundless sobs escaped her lips, traitorous sounds, indicating that a heart was incased in her lithe figure. That a soul, tormented and in pain, did in fact exist within the once-cruel and aloof android. And that she cared more than she would ever admit. More than anyone could tell.
After what seemed hours, she stood and floated to the ground of the forest that surrounded her. Pain still burned, buried deep and concealed from all. Walking, peacefully, along an old animal trail, 18 found time to think about herself, her brother, her life, her hopes and Krillin. A small smile lit her features as she imagined the ex-monk and how life with him could be. He knew her as well as her brother did, and she liked the feeling, knowing that he was always there for her.
Making a final decision, she frowned to herself, running through excuses and likely case scenarios. Finally nodding, she smiled and took off, unaware of a streak of light shooting across the velvet sky.
***
Krillin stood, laughing with Tien, Choutzu and Launch as they told him all about the year they had spent training. He, in turn told them about his own life, meeting 18 and asking her out, his surprise at her acceptance of him and how he had never been so happy in his life.
Vegeta, like Piccolo, lurked in the shadows by a tree. His eyes were glued to Bulma as she grabbed Launch and Chi Chi to talk and giggle like teenage girls. Goku was speaking to Yumcha about wrestling, Gohan watching them, bored.
Piccolo watched the group, eyes passing from one face to another. Turning to glare at Vegeta, he caught a glimpse of light in the sky. Hmm. He thought, using his Ki to hover above the treetops. I wonder what that is? Definitely NOT a star. I think I'll go and see. "Hey Piccolo! What's wrong?" Gohan stood before him, back turned on the phenomenon.
How does he do that? I didn't even feel him. He's getting better.
A laugh inside his head indicated another presence. Not at all, Old Boy. He's not getting better, you're slipping. That's all…
Go away Nail. Piccolo growled menacingly. I'm not in the mood for your…
"Mister Piccolo? Namek to Piccolo! Are you there? HEY! Look at that!" Gohan had turned around and spotted the light. "Hey Piccolo, let's check it out!" he said before flying off towards the shooting thing.
Piccolo, snapping out of his self-argument flew after the kid, mumbling about cheeky monkeys and just what he'd like to do with them.
***
18 walked into the light, feeling eyes instantly turn to her. She had deliberately landed away from the camp and took full advantage of the other's inability to sense her. Standing there, she sought out Krillin's face and waited until he walked towards her. Then she made her move. She smiled. A full smile, full of trust, love and every good thing she had been able to find within her soul.
Krillin and the others stopped everything as she strode into the light. She looks so beautiful. He thought as she stood there, searching for something. Somehow he knew it was he that she was looking for. He was proved right as her eyes found him and stayed where they were. She's waiting for something. But what? He thought about what she might want, but couldn't come up with any ideas. Taking a step forward he saw her relax a little. Oh, he thought, is that all? And I thought it was something serious!
She waited until he came face to face {so to speak} with her before she said anything. Leaning down to look into his eyes, she whispered two words before kissing him lightly on the lips.
Marry me…
***
Gohan had stopped in mid-air, looking for any sign of the light that he and Piccolo had been following. His best friend stopped not far behind him. Gohan bet that if he turned around he would find Piccolo scouring the sky; arms folded and cloak swirling in the wind. Turning slightly, he mentally patted himself on the back as Piccolo came into view.
"It's gone," he reported to his mentor as he also resumed his watch on the sky. A green arm shot past his face, pointing towards a dark spot on the horizon. Catching his breath – having a green arm come out of nowhere sort of alarms you a bit – he nodded and waited for Piccolo to move before setting out.
"Lets go, kid" came the gruff command, and a blur of green shot past him, towards the east. Gohan took the hint and flew after his mentor, carefully masking his Ki as he did so.
***
"Cheap material! How could it break so easily! This is not good." The feminine voice startled birds from their nests as its owner stomped through the woods angrily. "I can't believe this. Arggghh! This is so annoying. How dare they cheat me! ME! Ooower, they are so DEAD! If I EVER see them again I'll … Ooooh … I'll … do something they really WON"T like!"
Stopping sharply, the cloaked woman cocked her head to one side, listening intently. The sound of two fast-flying somethings could be heard overhead. Still listening after the sound had gone, she shook her head and continued on her way.
LANDING
She flew, losing herself in the feel of the air rushing around her. Tears would have been streaming down her face if they were available to her; instead she felt a great pain within her heart. Why? Why do they mock me? She asked herself, Why do they laugh at me?
"WHY DO I CARE?" she screamed into the empty sky, feeling torn, broken. For some reason, some strange and incomprehensible reason, she hurt now more than she could ever remember.
Landing on a branch, high above all other trees, she cried. Not with tears, for she had been denied them from the day of her creation, but with the sorrow in her soul. Soundless sobs escaped her lips, traitorous sounds, indicating that a heart was incased in her lithe figure. That a soul, tormented and in pain, did in fact exist within the once-cruel and aloof android. And that she cared more than she would ever admit. More than anyone could tell.
After what seemed hours, she stood and floated to the ground of the forest that surrounded her. Pain still burned, buried deep and concealed from all. Walking, peacefully, along an old animal trail, 18 found time to think about herself, her brother, her life, her hopes and Krillin. A small smile lit her features as she imagined the ex-monk and how life with him could be. He knew her as well as her brother did, and she liked the feeling, knowing that he was always there for her.
Making a final decision, she frowned to herself, running through excuses and likely case scenarios. Finally nodding, she smiled and took off, unaware of a streak of light shooting across the velvet sky.
***
Krillin stood, laughing with Tien, Choutzu and Launch as they told him all about the year they had spent training. He, in turn told them about his own life, meeting 18 and asking her out, his surprise at her acceptance of him and how he had never been so happy in his life.
Vegeta, like Piccolo, lurked in the shadows by a tree. His eyes were glued to Bulma as she grabbed Launch and Chi Chi to talk and giggle like teenage girls. Goku was speaking to Yumcha about wrestling, Gohan watching them, bored.
Piccolo watched the group, eyes passing from one face to another. Turning to glare at Vegeta, he caught a glimpse of light in the sky. Hmm. He thought, using his Ki to hover above the treetops. I wonder what that is? Definitely NOT a star. I think I'll go and see. "Hey Piccolo! What's wrong?" Gohan stood before him, back turned on the phenomenon.
How does he do that? I didn't even feel him. He's getting better.
A laugh inside his head indicated another presence. Not at all, Old Boy. He's not getting better, you're slipping. That's all…
Go away Nail. Piccolo growled menacingly. I'm not in the mood for your…
"Mister Piccolo? Namek to Piccolo! Are you there? HEY! Look at that!" Gohan had turned around and spotted the light. "Hey Piccolo, let's check it out!" he said before flying off towards the shooting thing.
Piccolo, snapping out of his self-argument flew after the kid, mumbling about cheeky monkeys and just what he'd like to do with them.
***
18 walked into the light, feeling eyes instantly turn to her. She had deliberately landed away from the camp and took full advantage of the other's inability to sense her. Standing there, she sought out Krillin's face and waited until he walked towards her. Then she made her move. She smiled. A full smile, full of trust, love and every good thing she had been able to find within her soul.
Krillin and the others stopped everything as she strode into the light. She looks so beautiful. He thought as she stood there, searching for something. Somehow he knew it was he that she was looking for. He was proved right as her eyes found him and stayed where they were. She's waiting for something. But what? He thought about what she might want, but couldn't come up with any ideas. Taking a step forward he saw her relax a little. Oh, he thought, is that all? And I thought it was something serious!
She waited until he came face to face {so to speak} with her before she said anything. Leaning down to look into his eyes, she whispered two words before kissing him lightly on the lips.
Marry me…
***
Gohan had stopped in mid-air, looking for any sign of the light that he and Piccolo had been following. His best friend stopped not far behind him. Gohan bet that if he turned around he would find Piccolo scouring the sky; arms folded and cloak swirling in the wind. Turning slightly, he mentally patted himself on the back as Piccolo came into view.
"It's gone," he reported to his mentor as he also resumed his watch on the sky. A green arm shot past his face, pointing towards a dark spot on the horizon. Catching his breath – having a green arm come out of nowhere sort of alarms you a bit – he nodded and waited for Piccolo to move before setting out.
"Lets go, kid" came the gruff command, and a blur of green shot past him, towards the east. Gohan took the hint and flew after his mentor, carefully masking his Ki as he did so.
***
"Cheap material! How could it break so easily! This is not good." The feminine voice startled birds from their nests as its owner stomped through the woods angrily. "I can't believe this. Arggghh! This is so annoying. How dare they cheat me! ME! Ooower, they are so DEAD! If I EVER see them again I'll … Ooooh … I'll … do something they really WON"T like!"
Stopping sharply, the cloaked woman cocked her head to one side, listening intently. The sound of two fast-flying somethings could be heard overhead. Still listening after the sound had gone, she shook her head and continued on her way.