Author's Note – Hey!! That's right, Chapter 4 is OUT!! Already!! Bet you weren't expecting that ;). Hehe, anyway, answering some questions/comments I received: First off, someone mentioned something about Gohan not begin such an idiot. Oh I know, I just overplay it for humor, it's called exaggerating character. And another comment I got was about how he wouldn't talk about Bond so much. Well, of course not in the real show, but this fic is a James Bond parody, that is just an added comedy effect. Something was also said about how in Japanese, they place last names before first. LOL, trust me, I know this. I am actually studying Japanese, so don't worry, I'm no baka ^^. However, I put his first name before his last as in English tradition simply because it seemed to work more smoothly during his conversation with Zoa. Finally, someone wanted to know if Videl would be in this fic. Well I can say that yes she will, however her role is going to be rather small at first considering the fact that Gohan in Europe at the moment. But she will still be mentioned. Oh! And just one last note; the bold italics near the end of the chap are people talking on a movie, though you probably would have figured that out, just wanted to clarify ^^. Anyhow, with no further ado, hope you enjoy the chap!!
Chapter 4 - Compatibility
Zoa quickly got to work spreading maps out on the floor, pinning certain points around what was to be their destination. Gohan rooted around through his bag, studying the various items that his superiors had packed to help him on his mission. He put them down however as he noticed what she was doing and hopped over her, kneeling down and looking at the map from upside down.
"Can I help?"
In response Zoa handed him a small marker and pointed to two blue tacks placed firmly around the northern border. "Sure! Okay, see that pencil line? Well just go over it with red. That way I can scan it onto an electrical map-reader easily. We have a rough layout already, but I want a few more, just in case we," She frowned. "Can't make it past that way."
Gohan nodded seriously, getting quickly to work on his first task. Of course, it wasn't long before the map work was done, and Zoa started to pack them back up into one of her bags. Gohan walked over to the window and gazed out at the city. They were on one of the top floors, and the view was pretty nice. He paused a moment before turning around and waiting for her to notice him.
"So!! What do we do now??"
Zoa frowned and shrugged her shoulders, putting her hands on her hips. "Well uh, we don't leave till tomorrow like I said earlier, so I guess we can do whatever we want till then."
Gohan grinned. "Could you take me on a tour of London then? Oh!! And let's go get something to eat, I'm famished!!"
Zoa chuckled and nodded, shoving the room key in her pocket and grabbing her jacket off the rack. "Yeah, sounds good." She tossed him his jacket also and narrowed her eyebrows. "But remember, while we're out, we can't talk any 'spy talk' about the current mission. Don't want to give anything away you know."
Gohan nodded his understanding quickly and hurried towards the door after her. "Yeah, of course!!"
"So," Zoa began as she took a sip of her water. "How's life treating you Gohan? I hear you're still in high school huh? Yeah… Me too. How's it treating you?"
Gohan nodded, pausing between bites to answer, quickly swallowing as to not be rude and talk with his mouth full. "It's cool!! I've only been there for a little while, but I've made some friends. Or at least I think so…"
Zoa frowned. "What do you mean by that?"
Gohan shrugged and put down his fork, rolling his eyes. "Well, there's this girl Erassa, she's really nice. She helped me out a lot on my first day. Then there's Sharpner… He's okay, but I don't know if he really likes me… He calls me 'Brain' and 'Nerd' and stuff. And then there's Videl…"
Zoa paused and put a finger to her bottom lip. "Videl? Why does that name sound so familiar…?"
"Cause she's Hercules daughter." Gohan scoffed as he took a swig of his drink. Zoa sat back a bit at this and nodded. "Hercule, that's right. Yes, he's the World Champion huh? And from Orange Star too, have you ever met him?"
Gohan sighed as many memories flooded back to him. "Well, not directly. But trust me, he's not all he's cracked up to be…"
Zoa smiled, munching on a piece of bread. "All media hype hey? Yeah, I'm not that surprised. He just looks like a big gorilla to me."
"Hehe, yeah…" Gohan sighed, his voracious appetite partially satisfied, and leaned back in his chair heavily. "He's… Defiantly got his faults… Not to mention his daughter's out to get me…"
"How so?"
"Well," Gohan frowned, "She's all suspicious of me being strong and stuff. You see, I don't really want everyone to know how strong I am… I mean, don't want the publicity and stuff you know?? So I hide it. Well, she and Sharpner make fun of me; they don't know, and they still figure I'm just weak. And I can deal with that."
Zoa shook her head, patting Gohan sympathetically on the shoulder. "Hey, that's really cool of you, you know, to not care what anybody else thinks about you." Gohan watched her carefully as her eyes suddenly seemed to drift away from him and towards the wall. She smiled slightly to herself, lost in some kind of thought.
"You okay?"
Zoa shook her head and looked up, nodding haphazardly. "Oh, yeah, don't worry. Just thinking of some stuff…"
Gohan crossed his arms and waved his hand for her to continue. "Well come on! You want to get to know me, and I want to get to know you!"
She shifted in her chair and let out a small breath, nodding and running a hand through her long blonde hair. "Well it's just… My father was an agen- well 'in the business' too, that's why I got into it… But our system here, it's very strict… My father and mother died when I was only five, so one of my dad's friends at the agency kinda took me under her wing and raised me there… I guess I was just destined to end up with this job! Well anyway, I kept going to school, but wasn't allowed to get really close to anyone my age, cause they were worried I might let something slip about my 'other life'. So I kept to myself. Of course this lead to problems, haha, high school girls can be so cruel. They made fun of me, called me a loner, and I was. Just an outcast… I tried not to let it get to me, but it always seems to, no matter how hard you try you know?"
Gohan nodded somberly and gave her a reassuring smile. "Wow… I'm so sorry about your parents… And yeah, I know what you mean… But hey!" He smiled, attempting to lighten the atmosphere once again. "Those girls, they must have been crazy! You seem like someone who'd be really popular to me!"
Zoa smiled and blushed, playing with a ring she was wearing around her neck. "Thanks Gohan… Haha, we kind of got off to a rough start huh? But I like you. It's been so long since I've gotten to do a mission with someone I can talk to… It's always just, 'focus on the task at hand and ONLY the task at hand."
Gohan grinned. "Well right now I think the task at hand should be getting some desert!"
"Okay!! I'll meet you outside then, but hurry!!"
Zoa couldn't help but laugh as Gohan waved exuberantly in response as he took off back inside towards the bathroom. It was pretty late, and dark as hell already. She smiled and wrapped her coat more tightly around her as she kicked a small stone, wandering around the corner slightly and looking past through the dark alley behind the building. Gohan may have initially come across as a little childish, but it was in a cool way… Like he hadn't been affected by all the depressing stuff in the world that makes you grow up too fast. Little did Zoa know of all the hardships Gohan had really gone through…
"Hey, it's pretty late for a little girl to be out you know…"
Zoa spun around as she heard the voice behind her. A large man headed towards her, his face hidden by a high collar. "What do you say you come with me…?"
Zoa laughed and creased her brow. "I don't think so buddy, why don't you go find someone else to bother."
However, the man wasn't about ready to give up. He produced a small dagger from his pocket and held it threateningly towards her. "You'd better watch your mouth girly or I'll get angry."
Zoa snickered. This guy has no idea what he's getting into… She waved a hand, turning her back on him to show that she wasn't too worried. "Oh, I'm scared, look at me shaking." She frowned, thanking God for her fighting skills. It was jerks like this who preyed on poor defenseless women… She was just lucky that she wasn't so 'defenseless'. And she'd teach him a lesson… "Asshole..."
"That does it!!" The man jumped towards her, Zoa spinning back around to counter his attack. However before she could do anything, the man fell over backwards in pain. She jumped as Gohan seemed to just appear beside her. H-how!? I didn't even hear him coming…
Gohan frowned as he watched the man stumble away, barely able to walk. He turned to Zoa, his face filled with concern. "Are you okay?!"
Zoa nodded slowly, eyes wide. "Y-yeah, I'm fine… W-where did you come from?!"
Gohan looked back, pointing towards the entrance. "Well from the front entryway there!!"
Zoa shook her head and laughed. "Wow… You really impressed me Gohan!! I didn't even notice you coming… Haha, maybe I'm losing my 'spider senses'."
Gohan grinned and patted her on the back, steering them back towards the parking lot. "I wouldn't worry about it if I were you. Let's just say I have some 'special' abilities…"
"You're insane Goldmember!!"
"And that's the way uh huh uh huh I like it! Casey and the Sunshine Band…"
"HAHA! God! This movie is so funny, I can't believe that one guy plays four characters!" Zoa shook her head as she watched the screen. After the 'Grand Tour' of London, she and Gohan had decided to rent a movie and just hang out for the last few hours before they would have to pack up and get to sleep. It would be a while till the next time that relaxing was possible, if the mission took longer than expected…
Gohan burst out laughing suddenly, causing Zoa to avert her attention back to the present and away from the mission. He gave her a cheesy grin and a wink, mustering up his best Austin Powers impression. "Yeah Baby!!"
Zoa laughed as well as they both turned back to the movie. So maybe this mission wouldn't be so bad after all…