Rise and Shine
By Duran the Gladiator
Chapter 4: Circle of friends
The next day, Gohan and Goten were awakened by the computer voice:
"Earth in sight, estimated time of arrival two hours." As they got dressed and looked on the screen, they indeed saw the sun as a tiny star in front of them. The ring of space dust and meteoroids was in front of them. The automatic pilot easily manoeuvred them through it, and they soon saw Pluto at their right, shimmering in the pale light the sun shed there, a welcoming beacon of sorts. Suddenly, the computer voice said:
"Shockwave approaching!", making Gohan and Goten brace. Goten remembered their patient – he assured she was safe by pressing a button to engage the shock-absorbing measures in the rejuvenation room. The shock hit their ship right after that. Goten took a look at the screen, and he alarmed his brother.
"Look, Gohan!" A ship was speeding towards Earth, going past them and quickly passing Neptune.
"Damn, who could that have been? It was definitely one of our ships… Maybe it was Dr. Briefs, testing newer ultra boosters."
"Nope, he told us this is the fastest he can make them with the current heat shields. He might be testing new shields, though - lord knows he would love to go as fast as light speed!"
"Well, whoever it was, he's going to Earth allright…", said Gohan as he saw the computer draw out their courses. The second ship had followed the same course as them, and had been forced to blow through the meteoroids to get a clear path with their speed. It had also been forced to fly around them, altering their course slightly. "Computer, can you identify that ship?"
"No. The ship's speed is too high to determine identity or establish radio contact."
"Well," said Goten, while he returned the rejuvenation room to normal condition, "it's sure a fast thing. Maybe it's not one of ours. I mean, isn't this the fastest our ships can travel?", he said when they neared Uranus (damn planet name –DtG).
"Well, it's heading for Earth, so we'll find out anyway. According to the computer, it'll arrive there in half an hour. We will in an hour and a half. The spaceport police will know who has landed…"
Pan set the auto pilot to "obstacle destruction" once they neared the meteoroid belt around the solar system. Tora and Fern were watching her operate the controls as they sped past another ship.
"Damn, that was dad and uncle Goten. …Don't worry, you'll be introduced to them. But, oh boy, are they going to be surprised when they found out who passed them! Arrival in half an hour, guys! Get ready for landing, gather your stuff a bit and then come sit here. I'll try to land at gramps' private spaceport…" She said as they passed Uranus (again, damn planet name – DtG) and were rapidly nearing Saturn. She went to her own quarters put on her spare royal garb: a red-and-black gi, some black shoes, the pendant her father had given her, and a red bandana she was used to wear whenever she went to her grandfather. He disliked seeing her wear nothing on her head, so she pleased him and herself – she hated wearing her crown for semi-formal occasions.
Fifteen minutes later, the two men were sitting beside her and watched her pilot the ship in pure awe. She controlled it manually as soon as they had passed Mars and flew it to the side of the Earth where it was completely green instead of grey.
"Now, as I fly here, I'll fly across the forest to the lakeside where my grandfather has his private spaceport. It's just a small landing site, but it's only a few miles away from the palace. Well, if you can call it a "palace"… it's more like an elaborate mansion to me." Pan then flew through the ozone (sp?) layer, over a big green mass of trees, to a grey patch where bright lights flashed awaiting her coming. She landed it on the blue light – signalling who she was. As she and the two men descended, they were greeted by two soldiers.
"Good day, princess. Would you like us to escort you to the palace?"
"No, thanks, I'll just take hover car nr. 5, if that's okay with you, sergeant."
"Yes, miss.", said the sergeant, while saluting. Pan saluted too, and then smiled. "Tora, Fern, follow me."
Hover car nr.5 turned out to be a small car, fit for four persons. Pan and Tora sat in front while Fern had the whole backseat to himself. Pan drove them over a road that lead directly to the edge of the city. There, amidst of the green, stood the "palace" of Goku: a very big house with a huge garden surrounding it.
"This is where you live?!", said Tora incredulously.
"No. Thanks to my father, I live a little more near the city. I have to, for my studies. It's also very easy to live close to Capsule Corp."
"Ah, I presume the oily guy we saw yesterday has something to do with that?", said Fern, mocking.
"No. Seventeen is way too old for me, plus he's an android. When I want to mate, I'll choose a Saiyan, thank you very much. No, the reason I live so close to Capsule Corp. is that I am working there, in the office. Only for a few months, mind you. But gramps and my parents think it's good for me to work there. Doc Briefs is an old friend of the family, and he sees me as a granddaughter or something. Maybe he can give you a job as well. Who knows…"
She stopped in front of the house, opening the door and asking the maid where Goku was.
"He's where he has been the past three days – sitting by miss Chichi's side. Second floor, left corridor, second door to the left, princess."
"Thanks, Maya", she said, and sped off. When she entered the corridor, she asked the two guys to sit on a chair until she got back.
"Family affairs, you know… besides, my grandmother is very ill, and I doubt it she'll like to see two perfect strangers in her condition.", she explained before running off to see her grandfather. After a soft knock on the door, she opened it.
"Panny! Oh, Panny, why did you return?", asked Chichi, lifting herself a bit.
"Long story, grandmamma. I'll tell you once you get better. Let's just say that King Vegeta suspected me of something I, nor dad and Goten, did. I passed them on the way here, they should arrive in half an hour as well. No, actually, I wanted to speak to gramps for a moment… if you can miss him, that is.", she added with a smile.
"Well…", said Chichi, grinning. It pleased Pan to see that her grandmother hadn't given in to the disease completely. "Okay, I suppose. But only for a minute!"
Goku followed her outside, where she motioned for Tora and Fern to approach. The two bowed in front of Goku.
"Grandfather, these are Tora and Fern, the two men that saved my life. They request to be given a second chance here on Earth – to start over with a clean slate is what they deserve for saving me from certain death, don't you agree, gramps?"
"Okay, first of all, tell them that they don't need to bow in front of me if they're friends." Tora and Fern stood, a bit relieved by the friendly King. "Tora, Fern, if you're under Pan's protection, that means you're under mine as well. If you're her friends, then you're friends of the entire royal family and their friends. And friends of the royal family don't bow in front of them, or use their titles. That's for formalities. Also, know that you will never be forced to go somewhere, do something, say something, but that you are free persons. As for work… Pan, maybe Dr. Briefs has some work for them."
"Good. I'll go see him right away. By the way, give my regards to Krillin and Sixteen – they're such close friends of grandmamma, it must be hard on them too. When will she be operated?"
"She'll go to hospital as soon as she has spoken to Gohan and Goten. My guess is the operation will be done tonight." Goku sighed and let his composure crumble. Tora felt compassion with the man, and stepped towards him.
"Don't worry, King… err, Goku, I have the feeling your wife will be fine. She's strong to be able to keep up with Saiyans as a human."
"Thank you, Tora!", said Goku, his face clearing up a bit. "Dr. Briefs might have work for you two yet!"
Gohan landed the ship on the King's own spaceport, where he had spotted the other ship. As he and his brother descended from their ship, they were greeted by the sergeant.
"Good day, Prince Gohan, Prince Goten. Heading to the palace?"
"Yes. Say, who has arrived before us, Bill?", answered Gohan.
"Princess Pan, sir. She left here about an hour ago, accompanied by two friends. But, and excuse me for saying so, both were a bit shabbily dressed… Will you need to be escorted?"
"No, we'll take the van. Goten, will you bring out the rejuvenation tank?" Goten obliged, and came out five minutes later with the tank floating in front of him. It was pushed into the van and fastened so it wouldn't move too much. Gohan got behind the wheel and drove to the palace.
"Bro, would you like to be dropped off at home? I wanna get this girl to Doc Briefs as soon as humanly – or Saiyanly – possible. She was really out of shape, and can use a check-up, you know…"
"Okay. Drop me off at the house. But try to drive responsibly this time. Doctor Briefs still looks at me a bit P.O.ed (sp?), you know." Goten shivered at the outburst of anger the scientist had had when Goten had wrecked the newest model of Capsule-car in the test-drive.
"Don't worry, I fear the doctor more than I fear mom… this baby's safe with me!", he concluded as he stopped at the gates, and Gohan got out. Goten drove ahead and arrived at the world's largest company in a few minutes. Judging by the hover car tracks that he saw, Pan was there too. He got the rejuvenation tank out and took it with him to the laboratory, where Pan had just been brought to by Seventeen.
"Pan! Long time no see, eh girl!", he shouted, a bit ironical, as Pan talked to the professor.
"Uncle Goten! Yeah, it's nice to see you too. Oh, uncle, these are Tora and Fern, they saved my life back on Vegeta – I'll tell you later. Tora, Fern, this my uncle Goten. You'll surely get to know him. He's the youngest prince – well, except for my baby brother Terence. Now, Dr. Briefs, to return to my question, could you perhaps give these two a job?"
"Well, let's see what their qualities are first. Which of you can read and write?" Tora nodded. "Do you know mathematics, Tora? No? Well, Pan, if you train him a bit, he can work at the office with you. As for you, Fern, I've long sought for a handyman. Think you'll be able to do that?" Fern grinned.
"Can I ever! If you've lived in a forest with minimal means your entire life, you learn to be handy…"
"That's that, then! Pan, think you can train him in simple maths by the end of the week? Then, when you come to work on Monday, you can bring him along! So, Goten," said the older man when he turned to the prince, "what can I help you with?"
"Well, on our way here, we've discovered a stoleaway. Her constitution seems to be very low, despite her being a Saiyan. Maybe she needs specific care. Can you have someone take a look at her?"
"Sure… give me your cell phone number, and I'll call you as soon as the doctors have checked her up." Goten scribbled his number on a paper, then went outside together with Pan and Tora – Fern would stay at Capsule Corp., in the side building where the workers were put up. Seventeen had put him up, and he greeted the prince and princess when they went outside.
"Bye Goten! Hey, Pan, be sure to come by if you're going to work. I've missed you…"
"Seventeen, stop flirting with my niece.", said Goten, smiling.
"Nah, he isn't flirting, uncle. He knows I would never try to mate with an android… isn't that right, Seventeen?"
"Hell yeah!", said the dark-haired android with an overly accent, like Pan was used to saying it. "Although…"
"Are you prepared to fight my father over me, oh courageous darling?", she said. Seventeen paled. "Ah. There you see it, he doesn't dare fight my father, so mating is out of the question. See you later, Seventeen!"
In the meanwhile, Dr. Briefs got a phone call. When he showed it on screen, Bulma's face appeared.
"Bulma! Oh, dear girl, how I've missed you! Why haven't you called me?! It's been what? Twenty years?"
"Yes, I'm sorry, I know… Dad, I wanted to tell you first."
"What, dear?"
"Well, I'm coming back! You won't believe what has happened to me in those twenty years… anyway, I'll tell it when I'm home, which will be in approximately four days. I've left yesterday and am now at planet Salina. Well, I've gotta call Goku to inform him that I'm coming. Take care, father…", she said as the image faded. Gary Briefs, main inventor at Capsule Corp., took a picture from the cupboard, and looked at it. He was always amazed at how quickly his lavender hair had turned white when he saw it, but this time it did not bother him. He stood there, holding the picture which showed a younger version of him together with Mrs. Briefs and a young woman with bright green hair – and now, after twenty years, the long lost daughter would finally return.
"Gary, what was that about?", shouted Mrs. Briefs from the kitchen.
"It's Bulma, dear. She's coming home!" From the kitchen came the sound of falling pots and pans, then his wife's pale face appeared, tears spilling from her cheeks from pure happiness.
AN: Yes, I know. It's a new trend.
I still haven't gotten a question about the ages, but since I am also very confused… Pan's 18 and a half, Trunks is a year older (nearly 20), Goten is 23, Bra's 15. Goku and Chichi are both 56, Bulma's 40 and Vegeta is 44. Doc Briefs and his wife are in their sixties. And yes, Seventeen is being trained to succeed the inventor – because he lacks a proper heir. That'll change, heh heh… Oh, and also: don't sue me for portraying their "palace" like that. I shouldn't overdo it, now should I? As always, feel free to comment. Thanks to the reviewers. And my apologies if the story seems hastened/slow. Greetings!